After cutting the cake and throwing the bouquet, which Alex catches, we say our goodbyes and drive to the airport. We’re heading to Quebec for our honeymoon. My father’s side of the family is originally from there, and I’ve always wanted to go. Zane planned it all out for us. I’m in the backseat with Landon. Alex is in the front with Zane; she’ll be taking Landon home with her while Zane and I are on our honeymoon. When I tell him I want to adopt him, he hugs me tight and tells me he loves me. I say it back to him. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have these two guys in my life, All I know is that I’ll never let either of them go.
Acknowledgements
To Dominique: Sorry to keep embarrassing you, but I know you love me anyway!
To Gabi: Thanks for making me write, and telling me to take breaks!
I love you both, and I’m so proud to be your mom!
To Tera Childs: One of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. I’m honored to be your friend!
Helen Williams never fails to make me laugh when we chat, or make me smile when I see the covers she’s done for me. Love you lots and lots!
Jesse Gordon is always the best!
Alexandra Murphy fixed my commas because she’s just awesome!
Mallory Daybell, and Jessica Hinners beta read for me and their input made this book better! They never fail me :)
Love to Cyndi Porter always!
Courtney Axelrod-thanks for reading everything I tell you to. I’m glad you’ve loved them all so far!
Sam, Cel, Rose, Addy, Laura Ann, Velvet, April, Jenny, Kevin, and Alex: Best book club ever!
Also have to give love to Lisa Dess & Sarah Vela for their continued support!
Scott and Drew really are opening a bookstore in downtown Las Vegas called The Writer’s Block. They’re great guys and I can’t wait to see the finished store.
Downtown Las Vegas is really a cool place to be, and will be featured more in my new series!
Tracy Wolff rocks my socks off on a daily basis! Love you so much!
To all the readers and fans, you’ve been awesome, and I love you all! Always feel free to reach out, because I love to hear from you! Thanks for buying my books, and loving my boys—and girls! Don’t worry, you’ll still see the Griffins in the new series from time to time!
If I’ve forgotten anyone, it was a complete accident and I’ll catch you next book!
Turn the page for a Sneak Peek of the
final book in The Griffin Brothers series,
Working on Love,
Miles & Alex’s novella
This book introduces you to the characters and
background story of my new series, Corrigan & Co.
Book 1, Fielding Her SECRET
will be out in January 2015!
Chapter 1
Alex
I’m excited as I walk into the Corrigan & Co. Las Vegas building for my first day of work. I’ll be working with Jane Corrigan in the foundation part of the company. Well actually, I guess I’ll be directly reporting to Reina, who’s her second-in-command. I’ve seen the foundation on the news quite often, helping women around the world. I can’t wait to be part of something like that, even if I might need help myself.
I’m supposed to be in summer school right now, taking extra voice lessons, but I just couldn’t do it. I loved to sing in high school, and thought it was what I wanted to do as a career. Until that love was taken from me, stolen from me by the boy I pretended to love. I say pretended, because only one boy has ever held my heart. He didn’t want it then, and now, as a man, he’d want it even less. But it’s his, and it always will be.
I thought Nick would be a good substitute. He’s definitely hot, and he seemed nice when I met him at The Smith Center, where I was watching a performance. It wasn’t until after we slept together, and he told me I wasn’t adventurous enough, that things took a bad turn. Never mind that I’d been a virgin when we got together. He thought I was going to be like that girl, in that book. He even built himself a “special” room. I haven’t been in that room, but I have let him tie me up, and spank me a little. I mean, I was going to keep having sex with him anyway—it’s not like I’ll be virgin again if I don’t, so the sex isn’t big deal—but I’m not interested in doing the things he wants to do with me. To me.
Unfortunately, I may not have much of a choice. The bastard secretly videotaped our first time. He threatened to release the tape when I told him I was leaving him. I have no doubt that he’s continued to videotape us, but I’m powerless to stop it. My uncles were all a little wild, but my family would seriously freak if I had a sex tape released. They all think I’m so sweet and innocent. I’m not. I mean. I’m not wild, but I’m almost nineteen, not a little girl.
On top of pressuring me for crazy sex, Nick also likes to tell me how much I suck at singing. I thought our shared love of music is what attracted him to me, but I was wrong. So wrong. He belittles me every chance he gets. Not just about singing, either. I’m confident enough in myself to not let it get me down, but it’s draining to listen to it over and over again.
I’m hoping that working here, with this group of strong women who help others, will give me an idea of how to extricate myself from this mess. I’ve been doing okay so far, but I have a feeling things are going to escalate. His emotional abuse has been ramping up, and I know I’m not going to be able to keep holding out on him when it comes to his kinkier fantasies. Something’s coming, and I think it may happen around my birthday next month.
I push those thoughts aside as I walk into the Corrigan & Co. Foundation offices. I see my desk. Or what will be my desk once I’m trained. Right now there’s a beautiful woman with red hair manning it. She’s intent on whatever’s on her tablet, so she doesn’t notice me right away. When she does, she surprises me by jumping up and coming around the desk to hug me.
I’m surprised to see her plaid shirt, and the jeans tucked into cowboy books. Especially when she speaks to me, and there’s no southern accent. “Hi Alex. I can call you, Alex, right?”
I come out of my daze at her question, and look up into her smiling face. “Yeah. Sure. You can call me that.”
“Great. I’m Tegan. Let me tell you, the girls and I are beyond happy that you’re here. We’ve been taking turns covering this desk, but we kind of suck at it.”
“It’s that hard? I didn’t think it was that hard.”
“It probably isn’t, but we’re used to doing other things, so it’s hard for us.” She laughs, and I join in.
“Okay, good. You scared me a little.”
“Don’t be scared of us. We’ve all got your back, and we absolutely love your grandma and your aunts.”
“You’ve met them?”
“Yep. And now I’ve said more than I should.”
“What? Why?”
Before she can answer, Reina walks into the lobby. I met her when I interviewed with Jane. She is drop-dead gorgeous, and kind of scary, if I’m being honest. She’s about 5’8” tall, with long black hair that has some brown mixed in. Her skin is tan, but it looks as flawless as porcelain, although she’s not someone I would ever think of as fragile. She’s in a dress that’s definitely sexy, but makes her look powerful at the same time. I think she’s in her late twenties or early thirties, but although she’s young, you can tell she’s someone you wouldn’t want to mess with. I also know she’s compassionate. She wouldn’t have her job if she wasn’t.
“There you are, Alex. I had a feeling that Tegan might have been detaining you.”
“Sorry, Rei. I was just so excited to meet her.”
“Everyone else is, too. Lock the door, Teeg, and meet us in the Society conference room.”
“You got it, boss.”
Reina and I start to walk away, but she frowns and turns before we get far. “And, Tegan? Why is country music playing in here?”
“You know it’s my favorite.”
“Switch it back,” she tells her, sounding stern but smiling at the same time.
/>
“Tegan’s nice.”
“Yes she is, Alex. We have a group of wonderful women who work for the foundation. I’m glad you’ll be joining us.”
“Me too. Thanks for hiring me.”
“You’re welcome, although you actually did us a favor. We weren’t sure who we could get for the job, although Olivia was going to try and fill in part-time until we did.”
“Olivia?”
“Yes, Olivia,” she tells me as she steps in front of some large doors. There are no door handles, and I know my eyes widen as she places her palm on the wall beside it and proceeds to have both her hand, and her eye scanned. Through the wall. It’s like something out of a sci-fi movie. The doors slide open, and she motions me in.
I walk in and what I see stops me in my tracks. There’s a huge table in the middle of this giant room. It’s shaped like a star, and has seats around all the points. There are also seats in a circle around the main table. The walls have monitors on all sides, along with some desks. It’s not the set-up that’s freaking me out. It’s who’s at the table and chairs.
Jane is at the top tip of the star. Rein goes to sit next to her, and a blonde is already sitting on her other side. She’s dressed nothing like Reina—she has on glasses, her hair is in a messy bun, and she’s got on a baggy sweatshirt—but, she’s just as gorgeous. Matt is sitting in the chair behind them. That’s a little weird, too. He’s the President and CEO of Corrigan, so I wouldn’t expect him to be sitting in the second ring of chairs. He’s not the only surprise, though.
My grandma’s at the point to her left. She has a stunning woman on each side of her, as well. One has light brown, almost blonde, hair and blue eyes. The other is Latin and smoking hot. I’m not gay, but even I can appreciate the sexiness radiating off of her. Behind them, in the outer chairs, are my aunts, who are all smiling at me. Against the wall is my Uncle Scott. He’s smiling, too. I’m not sure what to make of this, but I decide to finish looking around before I speak.
On the other side of Jane is Cyndi Evans and two more women. One of them is Tegan. The other looks like she may be part Asian, with brown hair going past where I can see it. Where do they find all these women? Are they models? Cyndi’s granddaughter Mara, and her wife, Leila, are sitting behind them.
Closer to me, Mallory Daniels sits with another two women, and Quinn behind her. These women are like pin-ups, one with long, white blonde hair, the other with bright orange hair that barely brushes her shoulder. Both are flawlessly made up, although they’re dressed very differently. The blonde looks like she walked off the pages of a magazine, while the redhead is in a black leather dress.
Finally, I look to the other side and see Helen Wilson. The women with her, are of course beautiful, but also as different as the other pairs are. The one with reddish brown hair looks almost royal, while the one with brown hair and short bangs, could be a rock star. Zane is at a desk behind her.
After I look around at everyone, I turn back to look at Jane. She smiles at me, and then turns to Reina, who stands. “Welcome to the Society, Alex.”
Matt bursts out laughing before I can respond. “Really, Princess? You sound like some 90s movie.”
“That’s enough, Matthew. Please continue, Reina.” Matt shuts up and looks serious again. His grandmother’s not someone you mess with. Neither is mine.
“As I was saying, we’re more than just a foundation, Alex. On a daily basis, all of us do help women around the world, but we do so much more. As a Griffin woman, you were going to find this all out on your twenty-first birthday, but since you are our receptionist, you’ll need to know it all now. You may sit in the seat right there. It will be your seat for our meetings in here.”
I’d noticed the extra chair in the middle of the bottom of the star. I pull it out, and sit down. Once I’m comfortable, Reina continues. “Over a decade ago, Jane and Cyndi decided that they wanted to be more than just socialites. They wanted to make a difference. One of their friends had been beaten by her husband, but was too scared to go to the police because he was a powerful man. With the help of a woman high up in law enforcement, they took him down on their own.
“Soon after, they met your grandmother. Your grandfather’s business was taking off, and she was attending society functions. They saw a kindred spirit in her, and when they told her what they were thinking of, she immediately agreed. She suggested that they include her friends, Helen and Mallory. A few well-placed calls and anonymous investments allowed their families to move up the social ladder as well. It was important that all the women held powerful positions, so that they could meet more people and find women to recruit. Jane convinced her husband to create this foundation, although he didn’t know what it’s true purpose would be.
“The first women who were recruited were all law enforcement and military trained. The parameters of recruitment have changed, as times have changed. The ten of us here with you bring different strengths to the table. Once we were invited in, we all had weapons, martial arts, technology, language, fashion and etiquette training. The only grades for those classes, which are taught by past and present agents, is pass/fail. Failure is not an option if you want to remain here, so we all made sure we passed. While we still retain our original strengths, we can seamlessly fit into any situation.
“That’s exactly what we do. We go undercover and rescue women who need it, we take down, and sometimes, out, men and women who are victimizing women, and just generally try to do what we can to protect as many people as we can. We can’t save everyone, and not every mission is a success, but we do the best that we can, always. We also help friends and family on smaller missions when they need it.”
My mouth is hanging open. I know it is. This is just…wow. My grandma’s part of a group of secret agents.
About the Author
Crystal Perkins has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write her own book, until she did. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can find her running author events and selling books at conventions when she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts online or finding a place to put all of her Pop! figurines. A mac and cheese connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version, while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her research. The Griffin Brothers series are all International Best Sellers, and she’s thankful to all the readers who made that happen!
Find her here:
www.crystalperkinsauthor.com
facebook.com/crystalperkinsauthor
@wondermomlv
[email protected]
Designing the Love Page 9