Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology

by Anthony, Jane

  When there was another knock at the door, Dani wondered if she’d have to put someone out there on guard. That was until her mom poked her head around the door.

  “It’s time.”

  The butterflies in Dani’s stomach danced around until it felt like they might take off. She hadn’t seen Nate for over thirty-six hours. It wasn’t because anyone wanted it that way. He had gotten a call a week ago asking if he’d be willing to do a collaboration with another artist. They were on a huge time crunch and Nate, being the guy he was, didn’t want to leave them hanging. Dani didn’t want him to either. Maybe if it were for someone well established in the business, but this was for a younger girl starting out in her career. Lexi James was a sweet girl with a heart of gold and reminded her of what a grown-up Reece might be like.

  “That’s my cue,” Austin said as he came over, kissed her cheek, and headed out the door.

  “How’s Reece?” Dani asked her mom.

  “Having the time of her life with Nate. She’s so pretty, just like her momma,” she told her.

  “Well, ladies, shall we?” Reagan asked as he held his arm out for Dani.

  “Yes, yes we shall,” she said as she hooked her arm in her brother’s and then reached out a hand for her mom. She might not have her dad here, but it wasn’t putting a damper on her day. Her mother deserved the honor to walk with her down the aisle, and she’d be by her side the whole way.

  When Dani stepped out of the room, she walked with her mom and brother down the path and heard her brother singing. She loved hearing him sing, and she was so happy he was getting to live his dream.

  As they turned the corner, she took in the paradise her brother had put together for her. Chairs were set up on a bluff. In the distance was blue water, as far as the eye could see, and in front of her was Nate with Reece.

  “Momma’s real pretty,” Reece said as she took her in.

  Their friends and family laughed, but Dani didn’t look around. She only had eyes for the man who held her daughter’s hand and her heart.

  When they finally reached the front, her mom and brother handed her over to Nate. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. While Austin finished his song, she looked at Nate.

  “Love you,” Nate mouthed.

  “Love you too,” she mouthed back.

  As Dani stood hand in hand with Nate, the minister started the ceremony. Both of them had wanted something simple.

  She wasn’t even paying attention and then the minister said, “If any of you has a reason why these two should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

  Dani had told the guy to take this out because her brothers could cause all sorts of trouble. They loved Nate, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t pull a prank at their expense. However, a second or two came and went and everyone was silent. It didn’t mean she wouldn’t put the hurt on Austin for slipping it back in.

  “The couple has written their own vows.”

  Dani took a deep breath. There wasn’t a question that she had to go first because she’d be a blubbering mess after Nate’s vows, and there was no way she’d make it through if she was.

  “I never realized I needed you until you were there in my life, and suddenly the future I thought was mine wasn’t the only one I had to choose from anymore. Not only did you love me through all I put you through, you love Reece like she’s your own. From today and until forever I vow to love you with all that I am, and all that I have. I’ll let you take care of us, even when it goes against everything in my nature, and I’ll do everything I can to do the same for you, even if you don’t want me to. No matter what life throws at us, we’ll be okay because I have you by my side, and you can count on me to be by your side too. Until my last breath.”

  Nate blew out a breath and smiled at her. “I’m going to take you up on all that.”

  “I hope you do.”

  His eyes moved from hers to Reece’s as he held out his hand. “Hey, Reece? Can you come here?”

  Dani wasn’t sure what he was doing. They hadn’t talked about Nate doing anything with her, but Reece didn’t hesitate to get up and go to him.

  Getting down on his knees so he was eye level with her, Nate grabbed her hands. “Today isn’t just about your mom and me,” he said as he looked up at Dani. “I’m not your daddy. I’ll never be your daddy. Your daddy was a great man. Today I’m here marrying your mom, and I promise to love her for the rest of my life. But I’m making you a promise too. I might not be the man responsible for you being here, but I’m promising to be someone you can count on in your life. If you need someone to read you bedtime stories or watch cartoons, I’ll be there. When you get older and want to learn to ride a bike, I’m going to be by your side to help you with that. There will come a day when a boy will break your heart, and I’ll hold you when you’re crying, and then I’ll go pay the guy a visit to make sure he knows not to mess with my little girl. Someday you’ll be in a pretty dress like your mom, and I hope to be by your side on that day too. Reece, I love you.”

  “Lub you too, Unc Nate,” Reece told him as she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug and Dani’s heart melted.

  When Reece didn’t want to let go, he picked her up and moved her to his hip before he grabbed Dani’s hand. “Now, I need to make your mom a lot of promises,” he told her.

  “You’re lucky I love you, or I’d throat punch you too,” Dani said with a small smile as tears ran down her face.

  “Dani, I love you and Reece so much. No matter what comes our way, we will make it through together. I’m going to be there every step of the way. When you’re having a bad day, I’ll make it better. We’ll celebrate all the good days. When you want to binge watch shows, I’ll be there for that too. It’s you and me against the world, and we’ll take it by storm. I love you now. I’ll love you tomorrow, and I’ll love you forever.”

  After that the minister announced them husband and wife and invited them to share their first kiss. With Reece between them, it was a little awkward, but she wouldn’t want it any other way.

  Their family and friends cheered and Reece clapped. “Does this mean you get to play mommies and daddies now?”

  “NO!” Austin said from his seat.

  Dani didn’t even bother with a response. As they walked hand in hand away from the group, she knew that no matter what came their way, they could conquer it together.

  To be continued…

  Read the Love and Harmony series from the beginning.

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  About the Author

  Emily Robertson’s creativity started early in life on stage. Now instead of theatre, she spends her time creating worlds on the page for others to enjoy. As an avid reader, she enjoys reading New Adult and Contemporary Romance as much as she does writing them. When her dog isn’t keeping her company in her office, she might be anywhere. She’s recently learned all about baseball when her son took up the sport, playing mom taxi for one of the many activities that’s going on, or binging on some reality TV show she can’t get enough of.

  Read More from Emily Robertson

  https://authoremily.com/books-2/

  Gorgeous Baller

  Melissa Belle

  Gorgeous Baller © 2019 Melissa Belle

  * * *

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorize
d reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Created with Vellum

  Gorgeous Baller

  A hot forbidden second chance romance. One sexy football star collides with the woman who’s off limits…

  * * *

  I met him when I was at rock bottom. I fell for him then. Hard. And he saved me. We saved each other. But that was years ago. I was a kid who had nothing to lose, and he was way out of my league.

  * * *

  Today, I’m a self-made businesswoman with everything on the line. I can’t afford to lose my company along with my heart. The problem is, this is the kind of game I can’t win…

  Jade isn’t someone you easily forget. She saved me. And all these years later, I still can’t take my eyes off of her…

  * * *

  But she’s the new fitness consultant for my football team, and Coach immediately gives the “hands off” speech. But I need to forget my life for a weekend. She needs muscle to block for her at her sister’s wedding. I do my part, and God, does Jade do hers. When we’re together, she makes me forget everything but her. It’s supposed to be one reckless night. Then, one night turns into two, and we could have stayed in that hotel forever.

  * * *

  But now we’re back in L.A., and I want another two nights like that weekend. I need a lifetime of them. So what does a baller do when he’s always known how to reach the end zone, but the woman he wants to score with is off-limits?

  1

  Nine Years Ago

  Jade

  Venice Beach is crowded, but nobody comes near the homeless. The beach-goers keep a wide berth around us. They carry towels, lounge chairs, and coolers of food down toward the brilliant blue ocean. But we’re full from our lunch at the Santa Monica Soup Kitchen, so we don’t envy them today.

  Today, we enjoy the spring weather where it’s not so hot you have to run and find shade, and not so cold that it hurts your bones and you can still feel the cold long after it’s warmed up.

  A bag of all my possessions sits next to my feet, and I finger the black cross necklace around my neck that I keep hidden inside my shirt; no need to give a mugger something to decide to try and steal.

  I stay close to Mariah and Darren. We’ve found a patch of grass by the outdoor gym on the sand, and we watch the beautiful people work out on the parallel bars, gymnastics rings, and pull-up bars. Mariah and I laugh as Darren, his gray hair hanging down to his shoulders, makes up story after story about them.

  “That guy’s clearly a wanna-be,” he says, pointing at a handsome blond doing pull-ups. “He can’t do nearly as many as I can.”

  “You’re a stud,” I agree. “But we can’t all be ex-Marines who are stronger than most humans.”

  He chuckles. “I’d still be a crumpled old thing if you hadn’t fixed my back. You and your yoga thing.”

  I know I blush, which just makes Darren chuckle more. He’s more of a father figure than my own was, and I cherish the compliments.

  “You’ve got something you’re good at that you love to do,” he insists. “You need to hold onto that. But that guy?” He jerks his chin at the blond guy. “He doesn’t love what he’s doing. I bet you he’s Hollywood.”

  “You don’t know he’s an actor,” I protest as I pick at an orange stain on my worn cut-offs and try to smooth out the wrinkled oversized tunic shirt I’ve been wearing for three days and counting. “He could just as easily be an artist.”

  “He’s an actor,” Darren says. “I can tell by that smile he’s forcing on his face.”

  “Regardless of his profession,” Mariah pipes in. “He’s not as strong as you, Darren.”

  Darren beams at her as I laugh.

  “Jade, you should try setting up your yoga mat,” Mariah urges me. “Maybe you could pick up a paying client.”

  I make a face. “Yeah, right. Like that’s going to happen. I need to get off the streets first.”

  “And you will,” she says confidently. “By your eighteenth birthday, you’ll be going places.”

  “That’s not too far from now,” I murmur. “And every job I’ve applied to so far has said no.”

  “One will say yes soon,” she insists. “You know what you need to do? Put some color in that gorgeous halo of yours. You’re like a human angel, darling. Don’t hide your talents anymore.”

  Mariah’s more on the left side of normal, which I love about her. Doesn’t mean I understand everything that comes out of her mouth.

  I shrug. “I’ll be right back—watch my stuff.”

  As I start walking toward the water, I notice a group of local guys with skateboards sitting on the nearby cement wall. I’ve seen them here before, and they recognize me too. One of the guys calls out in an obnoxious tone. I ignore him and keep walking, but I have to pass the group of them in order to get to where I want to go.

  The leader whistles and leaves his group of friends. As he reaches my side, he whistles at me again, right in my face, and grabs my arm.

  The moment his fingers close around my forearm, I drop my wrist in a quick motion, forcing him to release his hold on me. He scowls.

  “You know I’ve got nothing for you,” I say to him. “So just leave me alone, please.”

  He growls at me rudely and raises his hand like he’s going to strike me. I stare back at him before he blows me a kiss with a creepy smile and then turns back to join his group of friends.

  After rinsing my face and hands in the ocean water, I feel revived, almost hopeful.

  I pull my tangled, bottled-dyed blond hair up into a rubber band. Mariah convinced me to let her dye my hair on the beach one night, and having nothing better to do, I agreed. I miss my black hair, though, and I can’t wait for the dye to wash out.

  The rubber band hurts as I tighten my ponytail, but it’s all I’ve got right now.

  I’m on my way back to Mariah and Darren when I see the skateboarders aren’t done having fun for the day. They move like sharks, casually swerving in and around their would-be prey. This time, they’ve targeted a guy about my age but probably at least twenty. His left shoulder is in a sling, and he’s wearing black pants and a green and white checkered collared shirt and a ballcap.

  He’s in great shape and has a confidence about him that gets my attention. I squint to see what his cap says—California Cougars—the professional football team here in Los Angeles. I don’t know anything about football. I don’t follow it at all. Besides, judging from this guy’s looks, he must be an actor or a model.

  He’s walking along the beach path, and he’s about ten feet ahead of a white-haired gentleman in a three-piece suit and a red-headed guy in a pinstriped suit who keeps looking around with his head on a swivel. None of them fit in here, and the skateboarders know an outsider when they see one.

  They close in on the Cougar guy and surround him. He pushes two of them off with his right arm. But it’s six on one, and I bet at least two of those guys are carrying knives. The Cougar is strong, though, and it’s obvious he’s used to fighting. He nails one of the skateboarders in the jaw with a nasty right hook, but without his left arm available, he’s at a clear disadvantage. And from his scowl, he’s majorly pissed off about that.

  The two suits behind him stop in their tracks like they don’t have a clue how to help.

  I always stay out of other people’s business. As a young, homeless woman, the fastest way to get in trouble is to step into somebody else’s drama.

  But I can’t take my attention off the Cougar guy. Without thinking about what I’m doing or why, I shift directions and head toward him.

  I’m just a few feet away when the leader says to him, “Your wallet.”

  The Cougar guy pauses, his eyes cold and unwavering.

  “Come on, I don’t have all day,” the skateboarder says as his friends try to c
rowd around and give him no room to move. “Give me your fucking wallet.”

  I step between two of the skateboarders and throw up my hands so fast the leader jumps.

  “Back off of him!” I say loudly.

  “Hey, bitch, stay out of this if you know what’s good for you,” the leader says, waving his knife at me.

  But he doesn’t focus on me because money is what he wants, and I don’t have any. I scan the group of guys and realize he’s the only one with a knife on him.

  As soon as he turns back around to face the Cougar guy, I sense my opening. Using the point of one of my Army boots for all it’s worth, I kick the skateboarder in the back of the knee. He cries out in pain, and his leg buckles as he bends over. His knife drops out of his hand and scatters to the sand.

  “Back off of him or I’ll fucking scream so loud you’ll attract attention you don’t want!” I say.

  The skateboarder grabs his leg and hops backward as his friends scatter. “Jesus Christ, stay away from me, Bag Lady,” he mutters to me as he turns and stumbles off.

  I can’t stop the flinch that goes through me. Bitch I can handle. Bag lady hurts a lot more for some reason.

  I shake off the hurt and turn to the Cougar guy, who’s staring at me with eyes the color of the California sky when it’s ice blue and cloudless.

  “You okay?” I ask him. “They’re just big fucking bullies.”

  He nods and holds the eye contact with me until my cheeks heat.