My Best Friend's Father (A Best Friend's Series Book 3)

by Eliza Ellis

  “Hi. I’m Marshall. I’m looking for—”

  “My sister Kori. I’m Katrina.” She smiled and offered her hand.

  Marshall shook Katrina’s hand and nodded. “Yes. Yes, I’m looking for Kori.”

  Katrina raised her brows, and her smile turned knowing. “You’re in luck. Kori’s in the back helping me out. Follow me.”

  Marshall’s heart sped up, and his palms began to sweat. He shoved his hands into his pants pockets to dry them. Kori was feet away. He’d prepared a speech, but what if she said no? What if she had moved on now and didn’t want anything to do with him? The last time a woman had rejected him, he’d lost his marriage. If Kori said no, he’d lose his heart. He couldn’t come back from that.

  He entered the kitchen and scanned the expansive space. He saw several workers in various bright-colored aprons and hairnets. He tried to pick out the tall, brown-skinned goddess he had remembered from Italy. A few backs faced him, their identities hidden. Panic started to rise from his gut.

  “Kornelia!” Katrina’s singsong voice rang out. “You have a visitor.”

  One of the backs straightened and turned.

  Marshall’s heart stopped. There she was. There was the woman he had dreamed about since she’d stepped off the plane on the runway in Italy. She looked beautiful in a dusty apron and hairnet, flour smudged on her chin. His tongue felt thick in his mouth, and his feet were cemented to the floor.

  “Marshall?”

  He willed himself to be a man and speak. “Kornelia.” He still couldn’t move. It was taking a lot of effort.

  Kori placed the tube of icing she had in her hands on the counter. She stood still, her lips slightly parted, her eyes full of surprise. Marshall mustered the courage and moved forward.

  “If you two want to talk, you can use the breakroom,” Katrina said, while gesturing to a door off the exit, leading to the back of the store.

  Kori nodded and led the way.

  Once inside and the door shut, Kori faced Marshall, her expression unchanged.

  Marshall smiled and looked her over. “You look…good.” Kori touched her hairnet, her gaze dropping and her lips twitching upward. “I mean…you always look fantastic, but… I didn’t know you baked. Or—”

  “I’m just helping out when I have free time,” she said softly. Her eyes remained downcast.

  “Kornelia—”

  “Why didn’t you call?” she said accusingly.

  Her eyes snapped up, and the fury in them made Marshall take a step back. He landed in the door. He took a deep breath and surged forward, but then Kori took a step back, so he paused his pursuit. “I should’ve called, you’re right. When you left—”

  “I’m sorry,” she rushed to say. She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have left that way. You were right not to call. I should’ve been the one.”

  “I…I went to visit Sabrina after I left the company, because I wanted to apologize and—”

  “You left the company?”

  He nodded. “I did.” He grinned widely. “But I’m starting another one. Completely different. Remember Daemon? He gave me an idea. By the time I get it up and running, I was thinking of partnering with him when Bendola is ready to receive support.”

  “Marshall, that’s wonderful. Congratulations.”

  She looked confused, and he wondered if she wrestled with feeling happy for him while at the same time being mad that he hadn’t reached out to her. He understood. He was showing up unannounced. What if she’d moved on by now? He hadn’t and probably wouldn’t ever move on, but he was only sure of how he felt. He hadn’t heard from her own lips that she loved him.

  “Thank you,” he said quietly. “I…I swore Sabrina to secrecy, about my coming back.”

  “I haven’t heard from her in days.”

  “I’m sorry about that. She said no contact would be the only way she could do it, and that you’d probably hate her for it. Please don’t blame her. I…I wanted to surprise you.” He gave a weak smile, feeling he was losing her when she hadn’t yet looked pleased to see him. “Kori—”

  “Marshall, I am happy to see you. I…I had thought that…” She shook her head and chuckled. “It doesn’t matter now. I’m glad to hear you’re starting again, although I am sorry that you lost your first company.”

  “I didn’t lose it. I let it go. The board was willing to keep me if I fired you. I told them I wasn’t about to do that. I would resign first. They wanted a few days to think it over. When I came to tell you about it, you were gone.” She looked away. “No goodbye.”

  “I thought it would be easier that way,” she whispered. A finger went to her eye.

  She was crying. That broke Marshall. He quickly drew her into his embrace.

  “Marshall—”

  “Kornelia Kaye, I am in love with you,” he breathed. “Please look at me.” She met his gaze, and tears slipped down her cheeks. “I want you. I need you, not just to help me with this new company—so I’m offering you a job, but we can talk about that later—but because my heart won’t be able to take it if I lose you. Please, please tell me that I haven’t made a mistake in coming here.”

  The corners of her mouth—her glorious, plump mouth—rose. “You haven’t made a mistake,” she whispered.

  He grunted and captured her lips with his. Desperation drove him to devour her in a wild, hungry kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. He crushed her into his chest, not wanting any space between their bodies. All he wanted to feel and taste was Kori.

  “Marshall, Marshall…”

  He heard her cry out when he allowed her a moment to breathe before he was back to demanding her full surrender in the kiss. He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her back until they bumped into a counter. He sat her down, cradled her head in his hands, and tenderly brushed his lips across her mouth over and over, cherishing the feel of her lips as they pressed into his. Her legs remained locked around his waist, but the counter was getting in the way, so he dragged her off it and held her close, deepening the kiss.

  This is where he wanted to be at all times.

  A throat cleared behind them. With Kori still hoisted up, Marshall turned around. Katrina’s toothy grin greeted him.

  “I was just checking. Making sure everything was okay here and that you were treating my sister with the respect she deserves.” Her eyes scanned the two of them. “I can see you are giving her all the respect she wants.”

  Kori buried her face into Marshall’s shoulder and untangled her legs. Marshall didn’t want to set her down, but he did. “I am.”

  “Kat, could you give us a minute please?” Kori asked without facing her sister.

  Kat chuckled. “Take more than a minute.” She winked and then shut the door.

  Marshall laughed. “I like your sister. I think I won her over.”

  “Kat’s the sweetest, and the most romantic, out of all of us. She’s definitely your ally.”

  “Good. I’m glad.”

  Kat stared up at him, uncertainty in her eyes. “Are you sure, though? About us?”

  “Do you doubt me?” He cupped her face. “Kori, I am absolutely certain you are the woman for me. There are just a few words that I’m waiting to hear.” His brows raised in anticipation.

  “Before that…” Marshall’s brows angled down. “No, don’t look like that,” Kori chuckled. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “I just want to say thank you for what you did for me—helping me win my case against Brigham. Why didn’t you tell me he had contacted you?”

  “At first, I didn’t listen to it. Then I remembered later on. Either way, you were my employee. It was my job to have your back and protect you. And I didn’t want you distracted when we had so much to do. Brigham’s predatory, and I figured I was enough of a barrier to keep you safe.”

  Kori smiled, her gaze full of awe. “You did. You should’ve seen Brigham’s face when Robin quoted his voicemail.”

  �
��Yeah, what an idiot. He sounded drunk when he left it. I guess he just had to have his say.”

  “I can’t believe he threatened you and your company. Your board must’ve been so afraid for its bottom line.”

  Marshall snorted. “Bunch of wimps. I’m sorry they didn’t have faith in me—in us.”

  She cupped his cheek. “You don’t have any regrets, do you? About leaving your company?”

  Marshall kissed the tip of her nose and then softly brushed his lips over hers. “None. Although I’m sure they regret letting me go. Letting you go too, since wherever you go is where I want to be.”

  Her full lips parted. Her mouth was driving him crazy. There were three words she hadn’t said, and he was torn as to whether to wait to hear them or just kiss her senseless.

  “Marshall, are you sure?”

  “Positive. Do you want to stay here?”

  Kori shrugged. “I’m not married to here either way.”

  “Okay, Kornelia, I can’t stand it anymore. You’ve kept me in suspense long enough. Now, you know I love you, how do you feel about me?” He pinned her with his sternest gaze, hoping she got the idea that he meant business.

  She fingered his shirt and drew her finger around the curve of his mouth. His lips crashed into hers. She laughed. “I love you! I love you! I love you!”

  He picked her up. “Finally,” he said with a growl, laying her on a table and placing firm kisses along her neck, his teeth nipping at her flesh.

  “Stop!” she said, laughing. “Stop! I’m at work.”

  He paused, his body angled over hers. “You want to work with me?”

  “You mean for you?”

  He shook his head. “I mean partners. I couldn’t be with you if you were my employee.”

  She grinned, showing teeth. “What’s the compensation package?”

  He looked down at his body. “Me, obviously.” She closed her eyes and laughed out loud. “And it’ll be six figures, I promise. Right after we get it off the ground.”

  She drew his face down to hers. “I accept, but I only want you.” She kissed him full on the mouth, and he savored the sweet flavor of her kiss.

  Chapter 23

  Kat and Keke stood behind Kori on either side of her, holding her train. Their mother took Kori’s hands in hers. “Are you ready?”

  Kori nodded. Her cheeks hurt from grinning all morning—and the night before in her sleep.

  “Good. I’m so happy that all of my daughters have found the loves of their lives. Men who will treat you and your daughters with love and respect.” She looked over Kori’s shoulder with concern. “Keke, honey, please don’t let that massive ring get snagged in Kori’s train.”

  Keke groaned. “It’s fine!” She rotated the engagement ring Pete had given her into her palm.

  Kori chuckled. “It’s a gorgeous ring, Keke. Congratulations.”

  “Kori, I know you’re marrying my dad, and I couldn’t be happier for you two,” Sabrina said, giving Kori a hug. “It’s still a little Game of Thrones icky.”

  Kori rolled her eyes. Kat shrugged, and Keke laughed.

  Marshall wasted no time, proposing a month later. He and Kori had settled on Denver as the place to live and start their business. Kori already had a few clients signed to her virtual assistant firm, the money they generated being more than enough to keep her employed. She wanted to spend as much time as she could with Marshall and get their company off the ground. Marshall was a money guy at heart, but he had always had a thing for investigation. Fraud was a natural choice. They had partnered with Daemon Knight, and would officially launch after their honeymoon.

  Sabrina followed both Kat and Keke down the short aisle as the maid of honor. Mary escorted her daughter.

  Kori took in the gorgeous Italian sunset backdrop; deep hues of purple, orange, and blue reflecting off the waters that surrounded their yacht. Treating their closest friends and family to a destination wedding had been the perfect idea. Since Kori didn’t have a chance to see much of Italy, she and her husband would go on a cruise, followed by a European tour, a few nights in Bora Bora, and then a quick stop in Fiji.

  At the altar, Marshall took Kori’s hands in his own. “You look stunning,” he whispered.

  “Thank you, so do you,” she said while allowing her gaze to roam over his body fitted perfectly in his tuxedo. He was going to be all hers in a few moments. Her body hummed with excitement. Kori couldn’t wait.

  Neither could Marshall. After only a month of dating, he’d proposed. Kori immediately accepted but took three months to plan the wedding so Marshall could be sure. She never should’ve doubted his intentions. He was as driven in his pursuit of her as he was in their new business venture. Their three-month engagement seemed like forever. She had a whole life to look forward to with Marshall.

  Her lips met Marshall’s in their first kiss as a married couple, full of protection and promise. They faced a cheering crowd. Mary’s face was wet with tears. Kori smiled at her mother and then her sisters.

  They had made it. Despite everything, there truly was such a thing as happily ever after.

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you loved Kori and Marshall’s story! There’s more to come. Mary Kaye has finally been freed from her oppressive marriage, is emotionally on the mend, and ready to live life to the fullest.

  All that’s missing is…Steven.

  If you’d like to read the conclusion to Mary Kaye’s dramatic story, then join my reader group. It’s currently in the works, and will be given to members of my reader group for free.

  If you can’t wait, then follow Daemon Knight in The Billionaire Bodyguard as he attempts to protect a stubborn Zuri Msongo while she frees her country of Bendola from a despot.

  Daemon doesn’t need his father’s money. He’s making his own way out from the suffocating shadow of Arthur Knight. Zuri has one mission in life: a free and democratic Bendola—and a gorgeous bodyguard is getting in the way of that. If either of them fail, Bendola is lost and so is Zuri’s life.

  Get The Billionaire Bodyguard.

  As always, if you enjoyed the read, please consider leaving a review. It helps me find new readers.

  Time to write another romance!

  Eliza