by Jill Sanders
“Dante, all these last few weeks, I’ve only been thinking about one thing, Katie. I couldn’t care less that you’re my half-brother. No, wait, that came out wrong. I’m happy, happy to have you and accept you. There isn’t anything I can do to change the fact or the past, of what our mother has done. But, my main focus is the damage it has done to the one of the people I care about most in this world. My, our little sister is the most caring, trust worthy person I’ve ever met. And the fact that I haven’t heard from her in almost a month, scares and pisses me off. Knowing that she is dealing with this by herself…”
“I understand. I’ve tried calling her myself. Mom has tried. Even my father has tried contacting her.” His worried face matched Ric’s.
“She asked me for time and I’m trying to give it to her. I don’t know you from Jack.” Upon hearing his name the cat walked over and plopped down in Ric’s lap. “But, I’d be happy to get to know you and give this a chance.”
“I’m happy to hear that,” relief washed over Dante’s face, “I’ve thought about this day for years. I can’t tell you how happy I am to know that mom’s secret is out. That I can finally call you family.”
His whole attitude changed right in front of Rob. To look at the man now, she would have never pegged him the way she had just a short time ago. The concern and fear for a sister he’d never known had changed the way she looked at him and she could tell that this was the one man she’d misjudged, just as she had done for his brother.
After Dante left, they sat there and ate the delivered Chinese. It wasn’t as good as his old delivery place, but it would have to do.
He noticed Rob’s head drooping several times and when he picked her up and carried her to the bed, she held on tight and kissed his neck.
Knowing she was still weak, he tried to lay her down on the new mattress.
“No, mmm,” she continued her soft kisses along his jaw line.
“Rob, you’re killing me,” he closed his eyes and just for a moment, enjoyed the feather light kisses.
“Please, Ric. It’s killing me,” she tried to pull him down on the bed.
He laid down next to her and pulled her closer, “Honey, it’s too soon. You’re still hurting.”
“I’ll let you know when I’m hurting, right now, I’m only hurting for you.” She rolled over, on top of him. Her wrapped shoulder still held close to her in a sling. She sat over him and smiled, slowly pulling her arm out, he reached up and helped her remove the sling, then watched as she tossed it to the floor with a sigh.
When she reached for her shirt, he helped release the small buttons that ran up the front, going slower than he knew she wanted him to. Her eyes clouded and he watched as she rolled her head back.
Gently removing her shirt, he cupped her and let out a moan himself. He almost had forgotten what she looked and felt like. Leaning up, he put his mouth to her and remembered her taste, and wanted more. He saw her fresh bandage and knew that she held her arm close to her side for comfort. Trying not to disturb her shoulder, he played his hands all over her skin until he could see small bumps rising everywhere.
When she reached to remove his shirt, he sat up and quickly removed it then pulled her pants and his off at the same time. Then they were back on the bed, her straddling him, hovering above him. He reached up and cupping the back of her neck, pulled her down to his mouth.
Desire so strong pounded throughout his body. He felt every muscle vibrate with want, his senses filled with her, running his hands over her hips, he held on as she slowly rubbed herself against him.
“Please,” now he was begging her.
“What? What do you want Ric?” she teased him.
How could she be in such control? Wasn’t she burning as much as he was? Running his hands slowly towards her core, he slid his fingers under the red silk and watched as she threw her head back on a moan.
Unclasping her bra in an expert move, he freed her to his view and his mouth. Taking her into his mouth, he enjoyed the taste and slowly pushed his fingers into her slick heat at the same time.
One thing ran through his mind, he didn’t want to go this long without her again.
Then she leaned forward and removed her panties then wrapped her fingers around him and slowly slid down until she was fully impaled on his length. When she moaned and started to move, he grabbed her hips and held on.
“This is bull and you know it,” Ric said, pacing her small living room. “You are not ready to go in. I don’t care what those doctors say.”
“Ric,” she waited until he turned and looked at her. “It’s been almost two months. I want to get back to work. No I need to go back.” She was completely mended. She had a scar just below her left shoulder blade and every now and then, she’d felt a little tightness in her arm, but other than that, she was ready.
He’d hovered over her, not allowing her to do or lift anything heavy since they’d been back. She was happy that he cared, but it was starting to drive her crazy.
She’d yet to say the words she’d wanted to, some how saying them to the sergeant was easier than saying them to Ric.
“Besides, you have that charity event in New York.” She knew that he was already late leaving for the airport. “You can’t expect me to stay home forever. You have your job, I have mine.” She tucked her shirt in and strapped on her gun. She missed the weight of it. “Besides, you know the sergeant. Do you honestly think he’s going to let me do anything more than push a stack of papers around until he makes sure I’m ready?”
Ric looked concerned, his forehead was squashed in concentration. “Fine, I know you’re right.”
She left the room and he followed, he stopped to pick up his bag which was sitting by the front door. She turned, “Go, you’re already late. You know how the airports are now that you have to strip naked upon command,” she joked.
Driving to the office, fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the parking garage and almost had a panic attack. Closing her eyes, she tried to breathe slowly.
What was wrong with her? Resting her head on the steering wheel, she closed her eyes.
It had been so close, what would she have done if it had been Ric that had been shot? That thought had crossed her mind for the past few weeks. Now she was sending him to New York for almost a week. What would she do if he didn’t return?
Images flashed through her mind of them on the beach together, or in the kitchen making dinner, making love in the shower or the bedroom…
Making up her mind she turned on her car, placing her lights on the roof, she bolted from the parking garage and got on her phone.
“What am I on some sort of watch list?” Ric had enough. He’d been pulled out of the line for the third time to be searched. He held his shoes in his hands, his wallet and brief case were being searched for the second time. The damn wand hadn’t even beeped when, for the tenth time, someone ran it over every inch of him.
“This is harassment, I mean, how many times can you search a man?” Just then he heard the last call for his flight. “Great, now I’ve missed my…”
“Is there a problem here?” he heard a sexy voice behind him and spun around.
“You? You did this?” He dropped his shoes.
“I had to stall you, you were leaving before I could tell you something.” He tried to pull her over, out of the main section, where there were at least a hundred people watching them. She stopped him.
“Ric Derby, would you do me the honor of marrying me?” She said in a loud clear voice, which had many more people looking in their direction, laughing and cheering.
He stood there and looked at her like he’d been hit over the head.
“I love you and I think that you…” she chewed her bottom lip.
“Of course, I love you.” He interrupted, looking relieved.
Smiling, she continued, “Make an honest woman out of me and marry me.”
“Isn’t this kind of backwards?” He asked looking around at all the faces
of the people waiting to hear his answer. Everyone stood there holding their breaths, totally involved in his private affairs. He could see fear starting to show in Rob’s eyes.
“I want nothing more in my life than to be married to a hot-headed detective who has bedroom eyes. Yes, of course I’ll marry you Roberta Stanton.” He pulled her close and kissed her to the cheers of everyone around them.
Epilogue
“You know, you could have chosen anywhere to go for our honeymoon,” Ric pulled her closer.
“I know, I married a millionaire who could fly me to the ends of the earth and back,” she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. “But, I still prefer staying here.”
They stood on the deck of the small cabin and looked out at the ocean as the sun was setting. The colors were something she’d never forget. Never wanted to forget.
This small cabin was her happy place. So naturally when he told her to pick where she wanted to go, she’d chosen the one place she’d been the happiest.
The small town of Pride had not only grown on her, she believed they belonged here, together.
“Well, this time next year we should be in our own place,” he kissed the top of her head.
He’d surprised her with an early wedding present, the title to ten acres just down the road from where they now stood. The beach front property was beautiful, they’d picked the house plans out together. By the time they’d officially been married, the foundation had already been poured.
Now, she just needed to convince Ric to spend more than half a year there.
She’d quietly resigned from the department. It had taken some convincing, but after getting a lucrative offer from a private company to oversee their security, she just couldn’t turned it or him down.
After all, who would be better to protect his business than an ex thief?
If you’ve enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review where you purchased it. Thanks! --Jill
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Secret Seduction
To Katie life was simple, she wanted; a little house in upper Boston, and four kids, fathered by her best friend, who she’s been infatuated with since she was eight. After a devastating family secret is exposed, all she wants now is to escape the media hype that follows her everywhere she turns. Leaving her family, friends, and Jason behind, she travels to places she’s only read about, to find a father she’s never known.
Jason is on a mission and he’s come half-way around the world to complete it. Despite his feelings for Katie, he won’t let her resistance detour him, even if it means she’ll never trust him again. As their world spirals out of control, their relationship will be tested and changed forever. If he can only keep them alive and out of harms way, he may have a chance to make everything right.
About the Author
Jill Sanders survived 80′s pop music, and life as an identical twin in a chaotic family of nine. A feat by any standard! She was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, relocating to Colorado for college and a successful IT career at IBM in Boulder.
Narrowly escaping before all creativity was squashed, she jumped at the chance to trade the mundane world of computers for the sexy, exciting world of her own imagination. She now lives in charming rural Texas writing wonderful novels such as the Pride series.
Her debut novel, Finding Pride, was shortlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards 2013, and has since climbed to #1 on Amazon Bestsellers – Contemporary Romance & Romantic Suspense. Each Pride Series novel has spent time on bestseller lists for Amazon, Barns & Noble, and Apple. Watch out New York Times, here she comes!