Ruined: A Contemporary Bad Boy Romance

by Lisa Lace

  When I’d heard about what Jenna had done at Kacey’s apartment, I’d been angry and in awe at the same time. I’d been furious that she’d gone after Victor on her own—she could have been killed—but also so proud of her. She’d faced him for Kacey’s sake, and mine. Even knowing that Victor was dangerous, she refused to let his evil affect Kacey. I thought she’d been incredibly selfless and brave.

  More than that, she’d won. Victor had been arrested, and the trial was forthcoming. Jenna’s 911 transcript was on record, and Victor had as good as confessed about the fire. With the footage of his truck from the traffic cameras and the recovered gasoline cans from Kacey’s backyard, his conviction was looking pretty certain.

  Turns out that he had taken the truck from the police impound as well, so there was a whole other set of charges he was facing. Arson, breaking the terms of a restraining order, assault, and theft. The prosecutors were attempting to try him for attempted murder because of the fire, but even if they failed to pin him on that charge, there was a multitude of others he had to account for that would see him put away for a long time.

  After dinner, Kacey joined me in the kitchen to help clear away the dishes while Jenna hosted Sam and Carla.

  She gave me a friendly nudge as she was drying a plate, and smiled. “I think she’s a keeper, you know. She’s got some guts. That’s for sure.”

  “I think she’s incredible.”

  Kacey’s smile became softer. “I’m glad. You deserve some happiness. And I think Jenna makes you happy. Hold onto her, Nate. If you two can get through something like this, then you can get through anything. Seems like you’re made for each other.”

  Jenna

  Everybody had left, and I was feeling good as I cleared away the last of the wine glasses from the table.

  “That was a lovely evening, wasn’t it? I think we all needed a night like that.”

  “I’m not so sure.”

  My face fell. “Really? Why not?”

  “Because you said something that’s been bothering me.”

  Slowly, I put down the empty wine glass I was holding and tried to recall what I might have said to have upset Nate. After how far we’d come, I’d have been devastated if I’d said something at the last minute to make him doubt I was worth the fight.

  “What did I say?”

  Nate took a step closer to me, and when he smiled, I knew that nothing was wrong. “You said that you were going to find your own place.”

  My heart skipped a beat with joy when he said that, and I clicked what he was trying to say. I smiled. “And?”

  “And I don’t want you to find another place to live. I want you to stay here with Harriet and I.”

  I could have burst with excitement. Tears sprung to my eyes; I couldn’t control them. I was so happy. “If it’s all right with Harriet, then yes. I’d love to live with you.”

  No more holding back. No more pretending that I didn’t want something I wanted more than anything. No more fears stopping me from holding onto Nate for dear life and laying it all out as it was.

  Nate swept me up in his arms and kissed me passionately. I melted into his embrace, and wrapped my arms around him, letting each kiss send my spirit soaring higher.

  Taking my hand, he pulled me after him into the bedroom. I threw back my head and let a laugh escape my throat. It felt so good to hear it echo down the hall. I stifled my laughs after that to make sure I didn’t wake up Harriet.

  In the bedroom, we ripped the clothes off each other and threw them to the ground. We couldn’t stop laughing. We were both elated.

  When I was completely naked, Nate lifted me up, smothering me with kisses, and took me to the bed.

  I lay back and grinned up at him. “Let’s start this new living arrangement off right. I’m all yours, Nate Blaze.”

  Nate let out a little growl of approval and grinned as he moved over me.

  I reached out for him and closed my hand around his thick, hard erection. He let out a soft, husky sound of approval, and I felt him swell larger. As I pleasured him with my hands, Nate’s mouth sought my breasts, and his hands ran over my body.

  I arched my back and sighed with pleasure as his teeth gently brushed against my nipple, and his palm cupped my breast. He moved his kisses upwards; along my collarbone, on my throat. Back to my mouth.

  I pressed my tongue into his mouth and felt the heat of his kiss. He pressed his lips harder against my mouth, and his tongue circled mine. I wanted him. And now I was free to have him.

  I pushed Nate onto his back, and he grinned. I mounted him, running my hands down his strong pecs, and perfect six-pack. I felt myself yearning for him and guided him into me.

  Pressing myself against him, I began to grind my hips against his pelvis, feeling the full length of him inside me. I felt the steady tingle of an orgasm beginning to grow, and I steadied myself with my palms pressed against Nate’s chest.

  He closed his hands around my wrists gently and let his head fall back onto the pillow. He groaned softly, and I rocked my hips again.

  Each thrust was pure bliss, and I came closer and closer… I began to move faster and faster against Nate. He began to press down just above my hips, at the base of my spine, to push himself deeper into me. He filled me entirely, and I moaned.

  Just as I was about to come, Nate sat up, so that he was face to face with me, and wrapped his arms around me. He held me against him in a close, tight embrace; the most loved I’d ever felt in my life.

  I was skin to skin with him as I orgasmed, his arms around me. After I came, he pressed his lips once more against mine, in a passionate, deep kiss. One hand was in my hair, the other pressing down against my lower back to keep me moving with him.

  Moments later, Nate let out a soft cry and then rested his head against my shoulder. I kissed his forehead and stayed entwined with him as the beautiful feeling slowly dissolved.

  Then, we lay in each other’s arms. As I stared at the ceiling, wrapped up in Nate, and whispered to him in the dark, my heart swelled with joy. All my wildest dreams had come true.

  I was going to live with Nate. We were going to be together. It had happened. A beautiful life lay ahead of me. So much happiness was yet to come.

  Epilogue

  Jenna

  Life with Nate was everything I dreamed it would be and more. I was deliriously happy with him, and with Harriet, too. She was such a sweet little girl, and when I asked her if I could live with her and Daddy, she gave me her blessing as only a four-year-old can—by screaming in delight and starting to talk about all the things we would do together.

  Those things happened. Life was sweet and simple. Walks in the park, feeding the ducks, going to the movies. There was nothing to spoil the most perfect life apart from the worry I felt every time Nate was on shift, which disappeared the second he walked through the door, and I got to leap into his arms.

  In time, Victor’s case went to trial, and he was sentenced to nineteen years for attempted murder and arson. He was well and truly out of our lives, and I soon forgot all about him. I was too happy to carry painful memories of him anymore. I was too busy making wonderful new ones.

  I’d been living with Nate and Harriet for about eighteen months. One Saturday, as had become our little tradition, we went to feed the ducks. It was winter, and there was fresh snow on the ground. The brown drakes with their white-tipped wings left webbed footprints where they waddled. Harriet was running ahead to build snowmen and trying to catch Nate with snowballs when he wasn’t looking. It was a fun morning.

  The sun was bright, the snow was fresh, the laughter was easy. Everything was right with the world.

  I watched Harriet picking up different sticks for her snowman’s arms with a contented smile on my face. When I turned away, I felt my breath catch in my throat, and I let out the most joyful cry of surprise.

  Nate was on one knee, right there in the snow. He was grinning ear-to-ear, and in his palm was a little velvet box with an engageme
nt ring.

  “Jenna, before I met you, I didn’t even realize that life was passing me by. You bring so much to my life. Your smile. Your laughter. Your love. You make me happy, Jenna, and I can’t imagine life without you. Will you marry me?”

  I screamed. I think I cried. I know I threw myself into Nate’s arms, and screamed, “Yes! Yes!”

  One more dream come true.

  We got married in the spring. I wore the most beautiful wedding dress with lace embellishments and a long, glittering veil. I’d felt radiant as I walked down the aisle, and overwhelmed with happiness when I first spotted Nate waiting for me to say “I do.”

  After we’d said our vows, my sister Charlotte congratulated me with a hug. She was at the wedding with her husband and my niece and nephew, and so were my parents. Everyone was there.

  After she’d hugged me, Charlotte held me at arm’s length and looked me up and down. She smiled. “I thought you said four months on the phone?”

  “I am!”

  “Are you sure? You can hardly tell!”

  I was sure. I was pregnant with Nate’s child, and it was only five months until we would welcome a sister for Harriet into the world. She couldn’t wait.

  I was on top of the world for the whole wedding, but it was the first dance that really made it hit home just how lucky I was. As Nate wrapped his arm around my waist, looking more handsome than ever in his black suit, and when he looked deeply into my eyes and smiled, I felt myself swoon. I was marrying the man who took my breath away.

  “I love you, Nate.”

  He just held me tighter. His eyes said it all.

  It only seemed fitting that a fire engine took us to the airport for our honeymoon. Two weeks in Paris, and then back to Brayford, where we would live out our own happily ever after.

  At last, I had escaped from all the ghosts of my past and was free to live life to its fullest. No more looking over my shoulder. No more holding back. All my dreams were in reach; some had already come true.

  I held Nate’s hand as we drove away and watched Brayford fly past. Here I was, with the man I loved, in the town that had set me free, ready to live out my fairytale ending. I looked up at him, drinking in the sight of my new husband. He turned to me. When our eyes met, Nate broke into a smile and leaned in to kiss me.

  My heart fluttered and then soared until I felt lightheaded with joy. I was free.

  Unwrapping Daddy

  A Bad Boy Holiday Romance

  Zoe

  “Jack, turn that down, will you?” Laura casts me an apologetic smile and rolls her eyes. After a long day at work, she’s taken down her high ponytail, ruffling her sleek, polished hair. Her suit jacket is thrown over the arm of her sofa, her high heels kicked off.

  Her five-year-old, Jack, is watching some cartoon on the television, the volume blaring. He huffs dramatically at the request but does as he’s told.

  “Thank you, sweetheart. Now I can hear your Aunt Zoe talk.”

  I smile. I’m not related to Laura, but we’ve been best friends for years. Close as sisters, we’ve been joined at the hip since we were children ourselves. We’ve become very different people over the years, but the bond has always stayed the same.

  Laura married her wonderful husband Mike when they were both young. It was a tragedy when he died of an undiagnosed heart murmur in his late twenties, leaving Laura a single mother. She stepped up to the challenge—she’s Super Mom. Yes, Laura does it all.

  I, on the other hand, have yet to settle down. The right man has just never come along.

  Instead, I’m Aunt Zoe.

  “Mom, can I have twenty dollars for the mall?” This time, it’s Laura’s eldest, Megan. She stands with one hand on her hip, the other held out expectantly, her eyebrows raised. Her long blonde hair tilts in a wave over her bare shoulder, exposed in a tight top with no sleeves. Her attitude began to develop about six months ago, just after her fifteenth birthday.

  Laura frowns. “I gave you twenty dollars just a couple of days ago.”

  “So?”

  “I’m not made of money, Megan.”

  Megan rolls her eyes back into her head and slumps dramatically. “Mom, please?”

  Reluctantly, Laura reaches into her purse and draws out a bill. She fixes Megan with a knowing look. “Maybe buy a more appropriate top while you’re at the mall, hmm?”

  “Fine.”

  “No ‘thanks, Mom’?”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Back by eight, please.”

  Megan sweeps out the door; we hear it slam behind her. Jack takes advantage of the distraction, pressing down on the volume button a couple of notches.

  “Kids,” Laura says, offering a light laugh. “Count yourself lucky that you’re not there yet.”

  “Yeah, because I’m forever alone. I’m an old maid.”

  “I’m pretty sure you’re not old enough for that. Besides, from what you’ve told me, the tides may be about to turn.”

  I smile knowingly, twisting a strand of my long red hair around my finger. I sit back on the sofa, my legs knocking against Laura’s. “Uh-huh. My mystery man and I are supposed to be meeting next week.”

  “Really? So I’m going to be going on my business trip just as things take off? Typical. I wait all this time for some decent gossip, and I won’t even get to hear about it first.”

  I laugh. “I’ll tell you all about it when you get back. You’ll be around for the first date, anyway.”

  “I can’t wait. It’s been so long since you’ve clicked with anyone.”

  “No kidding. I thought the ass-scratcher would be the last straw.”

  We both giggle. The “ass-scratcher” was the last person I went on a date with. We met online, but the attraction quickly dwindled when we met in person. I found out that he had what seemed to be a very persistent itch on his behind, which he’d scratched all night, never neglecting it.

  “God, wouldn’t it be awful if this guy had some disgusting habit, too?”

  “Like eating his own earwax?”

  “Snapping his fingers at waitresses.”

  “Being on his cell phone all night.”

  “Cologne overdose.”

  “Bringing his mother to the restaurant.”

  I laugh loudly, then shake my head. “Please, Laura, don’t. I don’t think I could stand it if this guy were another bust. I really like him.”

  “How long have you guys been talking now?”

  I bite down on my lip, counting in my head. “Six months?”

  “That’s longer than most of your relationships.”

  “I know.” I smile, leaning against the back of the sofa, my fingers trailing through my hair. “There’s something about this one. He’s funny, sweet, engaging. He makes me feel like he actually gives a damn.”

  “Good for you. It’s about time you met someone and settled down. I’m telling you, the years I had with Mike were the best of my life.”

  I reach out and lay my hand on Laura’s. She looks up at me and smiles bravely. “I’m fine, Zoe. It’s been four years.”

  “It seems like only yesterday the four of us used to hang out.” Me, Laura, Mike, and TJ. “How is TJ doing these days?”

  Laura makes a face at the mention of her younger brother. “He’s being a massive dick lately.”

  Jack turns around, his mouth forming a small “oh” of surprise. Laura backtracks. “I mean, nitwit. He’s being a massive nitwit.” Laura grins, then turns back to me. “He’s just made another billion dollars or something. Doesn’t call on my birthday, but makes sure I know he was on the cover of the New York Times. That man hasn’t got his priorities in place at all.”

  “He’s always had an ego the size of Mars. At least now he’s got a reason to be pig-headed, I guess.”

  “Thank God you don’t have to talk to him anymore, Zoe. He’s my brother, and I love him, but he’s a chore. Did I tell you that he’s visiting?”

  “What? The great Turbo TJ is going to descend
to us lowly mortals?”

  Laura giggles and claps her hands. “Turbo TJ! I forgot we used to call him that. Yes, he’s coming to Portland.”

  “How did you manage that?”

  “Literally months of guilt-tripping him. I haven’t seen him since Mike’s funeral.”

  “That’s terrible.”

  “I’ve told TJ that he either spends Christmas with me this year, or he can forget about talking to me at all. If he’s not going to bother with me, then I’ll stop trying.”

  “So, he’s coming?”

  “Yes. From October until the New Year. Can you believe it?” Laura’s mouth curls into a mischievous grin, and she leans in toward me, lowering her voice so Jack can’t hear. “What’s more, TJ doesn’t know yet that he’s going to be spending some quality time with his niece and nephew.”

  “What are you plotting?”

  “Only unfortunate, entirely unforeseen circumstances that mean my regular sitter is completely unavailable at the last minute, and there is absolutely no option but for TJ to take care of the kids while I’m on my trip.”

  My eyes widen. “Would you trust him with them?”

  “Not really. But I was hoping you’d agree to keep an eye on them for me.” She casts a hopeful look in my direction. “Plus, Megan’s not afraid to say it like it is. She’ll keep TJ in line.” Laura’s face becomes drawn. “Dad’s gone, Mom’s in a home. TJ’s really the only family I’ve got left. I mean, I’ve got the kids, but you know.”

  “Sure.”

  “I want them to have a family. TJ could be a great uncle if he’d step up. He’s always been a cocky bast—” her eyes dart to Jack, “—rascal, but he was good fun, too.”

  “Yeah, he was. Do you still speak to him much?”

  “Now and then. If I call and leave a thousand messages, he might return one.”

  “That’s something, I guess.”

  “It’s just to keep me off his back. I don’t know, Zoe. I’m hoping that some time back in Maine, with the kids and me, will help knock him off his high horse and remind him that we’re here. As much of a pain as he’s always been, I miss my brother. And I need him right now. It’s hard raising the kids and running a company. I could do with some support. A few months back home should do trick. Maybe he’ll remember what he left behind.”