The Billionaire’s Forgotten Fiancée
Page 17
He plucked two bowls of soup sitting on a bed of ice and placed one in front of her. It was refreshing and flavorful. She licked her lips. She couldn’t believe how hungry she was.
They ate in silence, but it didn’t make her uncomfortable. There was something very companionable and lovely about just being with him.
After she polished off two slices of cheesecake, he poured her the last of the champagne. “You don’t want any more?” she asked, glancing at his empty glass.
“Probably better if you have it.” He placed the bottle by the clean platters. “I debated the wisdom of bringing Trevor here and having him tell you everything. I thought it might help you to know, but I should’ve thought about how you would feel, hearing that your brother did it.”
She took a big sip. The food and alcohol seemed to have somehow blunted her reaction to that. It still hurt, but not enough to make her cry all over again. “How did you find out?”
“He tracked me down at La Mer to tell me.”
Stunned, she almost dropped her glass.
Shane gave her a small, ironic smile. “I was looking into who’d masterminded the whole thing, but none of the investigators were able to find anything. Then voilà, he confessed to it.”
“Why were you looking into it?”
“Honestly? I was planning to bring you their head on a silver platter.”
She bit her lip. “I spoke to him a few days ago and told him that the photos messed up everything. I guess he felt guilty. I don’t even know what to say, except that I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Why? Trevor’s a big boy. It has nothing to do with you.”
“But he’s my brother.”
“Ginger.” Shane held her hand in his and squeezed. “If we had to pay for all our family’s sins, we’d spend our lives apologizing. For example, I know Dane forced you into going to Thailand. And Vanessa wasn’t very nice to you after you came back. My parents were never gracious to you—”
“That’s not true.”
“Fake smiles don’t count.” Shane put a finger over her mouth. “Do you realize how much time we lost because of those damn photos? Let’s not let them take more, okay? Every moment with you is too precious to waste.”
Something hot and sweet blossomed in her chest. This man always knew what to say and do to make her heart flutter. You would think that after being together for over ten years, she would be immune.
She kissed his finger. “Okay.”
He slanted his mouth over hers, his hands cradling her face with infinite care. She opened up to him in every way, her heart and soul bared to him. He was everything she’d ever dreamed of, everything that made her life brighter and worth living for. He groaned deeply in his throat, and carried her to the bedroom.
There he put her down in the center of the bed. His knuckle grazed her skin as he pulled her shirt and shorts away with infinite care. She trembled at the feathery sensation. Goosebumps rose, and he traced the same path with his hot mouth as he disposed of his own clothes.
As her body grew tight and slick with anticipation, her heart raced, swelling with emotion. She’d never imagined she’d have this again with Shane. It was a miracle.
“No, baby, you’re the miracle,” he whispered against her lips, and her eyes widened as she realized she’d spoken aloud. “You have no idea how precious you are.”
He claimed her mouth, hungry, hot and wet. She kissed him back eagerly, putting her hand behind his neck and caressing his beloved face. Her blood heated at the throaty moan he made, and she wanted him inside her, connecting them in the most intimate way a man and a woman could be.
Instead he took his time kissing her. When he finally pulled back from her mouth, he gently pinched her nipples, licking the path between her breasts. “When I lost my memory, I sometimes dreamed of a sanctuary. I just knew it was out there somewhere for me, but I thought it was a place. But now I know it’s you I was searching for all along.”
“Shane,” she sobbed. “Make love to me.”
Desire suffused his face. He linked their hands together, one on each side of her head. “I love you, Ginger,” he said, filling her with one smooth stroke. His darkened eyes bore down on hers as he set a sweet rhythm. “I love you. I love you.”
Pleasure unfurled in her belly, and she felt like her heart would explode with tenderness. “I love you,” she said. “I love you, love you, love—”
He swallowed the rest with his mouth. She arched into him, wanting him to feel how fast her heart was beating for him. She’d never been this exposed and vulnerable, but she felt safe and secure in his arms. He adjusted his angle, turning every thrust into an unbearable jolt of pleasure. Ecstasy sizzled through her veins, and she tightened her fingers around his as she came apart.
“You’re the only one, Ginger,” he groaned into her neck then exploded inside her.
She squeezed his hands. She knew.
* * *
“You need to move in with me,” Shane said with a small groan. “This bed’s too damn small.”
She giggled. “I think it was designed for cuddling.”
“We can cuddle in my bed more comfortably.” Shane’s was a California king.
“Okay.”
“Oh, and I almost forgot…” He reached back and picked up his slacks off the floor.
“I’m not doing your laundry,” she half-joked. Unless it was cotton, she was afraid to wash anything in his closet given most of his clothes cost more than what she made in a month.
“Don’t worry. I’m not marrying you for your housekeeping.”
She started to laugh, and then froze. Her heart pounded as he pulled out the engagement ring. He kissed her knuckles, his mouth lingering over her sensitive skin, then slid the ring back on her hand. “There. Now it’s back exactly where it belongs.”
“Shane…”
“Third time’s the charm.” He smiled. “What do you say?”
“You’re right.” She smiled back. “And, yes.”
His smile turned into a huge grin. “Oh, and we’re getting married ASAP.”
“We are?”
“Yep. Don’t want Trevor to get any ideas.”
“I don’t think he will.” She paused. “Are you ever going to be able to forgive him?”
“Probably. At some point. Because you love him and you’re going to forgive him…and he’s your brother,” Shane said, then kissed her on the mouth again.
When he pulled back, she was breathless, her cheeks flushed and her body tingling with need again. “So how soon is ASAP?”
“In a week or two?”
“We should wait until Mark’s wedding at least.”
“That late?” Shane scowled. “I need to cement my future”—his fingertips traced the curve of her breast—“make sure the best thing that’s ever happened to me doesn’t get away.”
She laughed. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I’m not going anywhere,” she said with a throaty moan as his lips glided down her belly.
Epilogue
–Fifteen months later
Shane pulled Ginger behind the barn. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting to drag you out of that living room?”
She giggled as his lips found the sensitive spot on her neck. Her parents had been too busy oohing and aahing over their first grandchild to let them go so easily. Besides, Rachel Pryce was not an easy baby to ignore, with her charming smile and bright eyes that were the exact carbon copy of her mother’s.
It was only because Trevor’s arrival had interrupted them that Shane had gotten a chance to get Ginger and himself out, leaving their sleeping baby in the excellent care of his in-laws.
Her laughter soon turned into a soft moan. She had no idea what she did to him these days. Motherhood suited her, and she literally glowed.
It had been the most nerve-wrecking nine months of his life—Shane hadn’t even allowed her to carry a cup of water, just in case. But it had been soooo worth it.
“Hey! Ginger! Where did you go?” came Trevor’s loud voice. “Rachel wants her mommy!”
Sure enough, a piercing cry followed.
Shane closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. “I’m going to kill your brother.”
“Poor baby.” She leaned in and whispered, “Maybe later tonight,” her breath hot in his ear, then pulled back and gave him a wicked grin. “I still remember what you did when I snuck into your bed that time,” she said, cutting her eyes meaningfully toward the second floor of her parents’ house.
He licked her mouth. “Go, before I forget where we are.”
She gave him a sassy look and sashayed away. His body was still rock hard, but his heart swelled with contentment. This was exactly what he’d wanted for himself and Ginger.
“Hey,” Trevor said to Shane after handing off the crying baby to Ginger.
“Hey.”
“Rachel’s gorgeous.”
“That she is.” Shane paused for a moment. “Please don’t interfere in her life when she starts dating.” He smiled slightly as he said it.
“I won’t.” Trevor raised his hands, palms out, his expression solemn. “I’ve learned my lesson. But I’ll be on call for you when she’s old enough to date. She’s bound to attract a few assholes.”
Shane’s jaw flexed. Trevor was most likely right. The world was full of assholes. “Okay.”
“Maybe we can team up.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Ginger came toward them, Rachel cradled in her arms. Trevor nodded at them and returned to the house.
“What were you talking about?” she asked.
“Protecting our precious.” He kissed Rachel’s smooth forehead. She gurgled. “She’s such a treasure. She already gives me so much joy it makes my heart ache.” He pulled Ginger close and squeezed, careful not to crush the baby between them. “You and Rachel are the best things that ever happened to me. I told you I didn’t think I could love you more. But that’s not true. It is possible for me to love you even more. You’re my everything.”
“You’re my everything, too, Shane.” She laid her head on his chest. “You have always been my one and only.”
——
Thank you for reading The Billionaire’s Forgotten Fiancée. I hope you enjoyed it! The Pryce Family Series continues with The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire featuring Dane Pryce.
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What’s Next?
Coming up next is The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire, featuring Dane Pryce. Order your copy from iBooks today!
Titles by Nadia Lee
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——
The Pryce Family Series
Book 1: The Billionaire’s Counterfeit Girlfriend (Mark Pryce’s Story)
Book 2: The Billionaire’s Inconvenient Obsession (Iain Pryce’s Story)
Book 3: The Billionaire’s Secret Wife (Vanessa Pryce’s Story)
Book 4: The Billionaire’s Forgotten Fiancée
Book 5: The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire (Dane Pryce’s Story - coming summer 2015)
——
Billionaires in Love Series
Book 1: Vengeful in Love
Book 2: Reunited in Love
Book 3: Redemption in Love
Book 3.5: Sweet in Love
Book 4: Forever in Love
Book 5: Merry in Love
——
If you want to receive notices about my latest books, please join my new release alert at nadialee.net or send a blank message to new-from-nadia@aweber.com!
Acknowledgments
This book couldn’t have been written without the following people and groups:
My husband and son who are understanding of my erratic schedule and obsession over every little detail in Shane and Ginger’s romance;
The members of Awesome Indie Collective and my writing buddies who kept me sane;
Jodi Henley for helping me whip this book into shape;
Sharon Muha for proofreading because the version I sent her had lots of typos and errors;
The staff at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort for helping me with my Thailand research and provided the most excellent local cuisine and hospitality;
The members of my ARC review and street teams for their support and love;
Jennifer Wedmore for taking on a lot of admin tasks that I know I wouldn’t have had the time to do;
Frauke Spanuth for creating the most perfect cover for Shane and Ginger’s story;
Mr. Marumoto for making sure I can write relatively pain-free;
Last but definitely not least, my fans for making it possible for me to write. I’m so grateful—without you, this book would never have happened.
About Nadia Lee
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nadia Lee writes sexy, emotional contemporary romance. Born with a love for excellent food, travel and adventure, she has lived in four different countries, kissed stingrays, been bitten by a shark, ridden an elephant and petted tigers.
Currently, she shares a condo overlooking a small river and sakura trees in Japan with her husband and son. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading books by her favorite authors or planning another trip.
To learn more about Nadia and her projects, please visit www.nadialee.net. To receive updates about upcoming works from Nadia, please visit www.nadialee.net to subscribe to her new release alert.
The Billionaire’s Forgotten Fiancée
Copyright © 2015 by Hyun J Kyung
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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