Secret Caress

by Victoria Pinder

  He loved her. She pressed her lips to his for a fast kiss and then shook her head. “You don’t have to prove anything.”

  He held her tighter and shook his head. “You don’t have to run. I can protect you.”

  She laughed and, for the first time in a long time, the sound felt honest and true. She needed him. She kissed his deliciously salty but sweet skin of his cheek but then stopped. She lowered her gaze and looked at his bruised hand. “This isn’t about protecting me. I wouldn’t care if you had nothing or if your home was a shack…”

  Her voice trailed off because she needed a second. It was important he understood this wasn’t about his money. She’d never let that into her heart.

  Todd tried to kiss her lips as he said, “Andrea, I know—”

  “No.” She stopped the kiss and opened her eyes. He needed to know her truth. She took a deep breath. “Let me finish.”

  “Okay,” he said, sitting back.

  The distance felt like a gush of cold wind, but she held his hand firmly, still at her breast. “You took my daughter and me in. You helped me find her. You risked your life for us. I could never meet anyone else who put himself on the line like that for me.”

  Todd then closed the gap he’d created, and she felt like they were one again. “I did that because I was already in love with you, Andrea. I normally don’t put my neck out like that.”

  If he loved her, then she somehow won the lottery, and it wasn’t for money. She’d never spend anything of his, but she won a chance at happily ever after for herself and for Camila, and it was all because Todd loved her.

  She smiled at him. “You’re a good man, Todd Morgan. I stopped believing in happiness for myself, and then you walked into my life.”

  “Andrea, marry me,” Todd said in a lower voice.

  Her breath caught in her throat. He was serious. She swallowed and felt how every cell in her body was alive. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  He tugged her closer. “Absolutely.”

  “Yes,” she said, throwing her arms around him and kissing him.

  The world faded away. Somehow, she now had almost everything. She lowered herself on the couch, and he stayed with her as the kiss continued and scorched her soul.

  Footsteps interrupted.

  Todd sat up and she followed. It took a second to let her gaze focus, but then she saw it was his security guard, Miguel, who stood a short distance from them and bowed. “Mr. Morgan. Ms. Andrea.”

  Todd stood. “Miguel? What’s going on?”

  Miguel spoke like he was a soldier who was lined up for morning roll call as he said, “The police raided Santiago Batrez’s penthouse tonight and arrested him on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. The FBI are currently filing to transfer him to federal prison on similar federal charges, including conspiracy.”

  Her mind was muddled, knowing she’d be with Todd forever. For her possible happiness, but the needle in the haystack was what was being said.

  She blinked and asked, “What does that mean?”

  Todd kissed her hands and smiled brightly at her. “It means that Batrez will never bother you, or Camila, ever again.”

  The words all finalized in her mind. No one was after her daughter now. She understood. “Thank you both.”

  “I’m just doing my job, ma’am,” Miguel said, and turned on his heels like he was in the army and marched out.

  Neither of them said a word until they couldn’t hear Miguel anymore. Then Todd whispered, “He’s back in his office.”

  She let out a small sigh and curled into Todd. They were in love and getting married. This evening felt like a dream come true, except she had one thought that held her down.

  She turned toward Todd and whispered, “Todd, I don’t want to tell Camila about her real father or who he was. She doesn’t know anything.”

  He kissed her cheek. “I’ll respect your wishes.”

  Perfect. Today ended wonderfully. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “I know you will. Todd, I’m excited this is all over.”

  He pressed his lips against hers, and fireworks went off. He pulled back way too fast. “You and I are just the beginning, Andrea. I have big plans for us.”

  Her heart melted a little. She laughed. “Including Camila?”

  This time his hand went down her sides, and heat coursed through her. She needed to be with Todd again, so she closed her eyes and puckered her lips.

  “She’ll go to the best schools, and when she needs a father figure, I’ll happily step in.”

  “I love you,” she whispered, waiting for him to get a clue on what she wanted.

  “Good, because I love you, too,” he said, and before she could utter another word, his warm lips met hers.

  His kiss and his touch were all she craved. Tonight, she was his, and she’d stay here, forever. With Todd, she’d somehow met the man of her dreams.

  Chapter 8

  Andrea heard the string quartet they’d hired for their wedding. She glanced out the window and saw the green trees. California’s temperature was much nicer than the humidity of Florida, but their life here was going to be great.

  Yesterday, she toured the private school they were sending Camila to, and her daughter was on track to get one of the best educations in the world.

  And today, Andrea was in her white wedding gown, which made her silhouette seem perfect, and her makeup was impeccable. She looked like she was a modern day Great Gatsby bride.

  Someone knocked on the bridal suite door. Andrea turned and saw her maid of honor, Pilar Soliz, in a royal blue dress with beads.

  She knocked again and asked, “Andrea, are you ready?”

  Andrea waved her in and hugged her. “Pilar, thank you for flying out here for today.”

  Without Pilar, she’d have never met Todd or gone to his house that night they’d met. Andrea let her go as Pilar adjusted her shawl.

  “This is the first time I’ve been invited as a work trip to watch the Morgan children on the plane,” Pilar said.

  Andrea picked up the diamond necklace she needed to put on and worked on the clasp. “I’m glad you could bring your own children, too, and that Todd could see his niece and nephews.” Pilar came over and helped her put the necklace on as Andrea continued, “He’s missed them since we moved to California.”

  “Done,” Pilar said and then picked up the bracelet that was on the table.

  Andrea turned her wrist, and Pilar effortlessly clasped it to Andrea’s arm.

  “I hope you and Todd can find time to invite the three of them to your house for a while. Without their mom, Peter, Victoria, and John aren’t happy at home.”

  It was sweet actually that Pilar talked about the three Morgan children more than her own children with her, but then again, she’d want to keep her own son and daughter close. Andrea understood that.

  “We will do what we can for them,” she said.

  Pilar let out a huge sigh, like she’d been holding her breath. “I hope one day they all grow up and are able to withstand their father’s influence. I do my best for them, but I’m only the housekeeper.”

  A housekeeper with the aura of a mama bear who no one would mess with if they wanted to live. She couldn’t think of anyone else more qualified to watch after children, but Andrea hoped they might be friends.

  “What happened to your husband, Pilar?” she asked.

  Pilar’s entire body went white as she hugged her waist. “He disappeared the same night as Isabelle Morgan.”

  The two of them went together? Andrea kept her voice low and hoped she was wrong, but asked the obvious question anyhow. “Do you think they went together?”

  Pilar shook her head. “I think my husband saw whatever happened to Isabelle and tried to interfere. My husband was a good man.”

  Good. If he were anything like his wife, he must be an angel too.

  Andrea fixed her earrings and then took Pilar’s hands. “I’m so sorry. Mitch is why Todd
insisted we move Camila to our home in California.”

  The string quartet outside began a new melody, the bridal march song.

  Pilar slipped her hands back and smiled. “Stop talking to me. Your husband-to-be is getting impatient.”

  Her heart lifted. Finally, she’d be with Todd again. She nodded and said, “Then go, Pilar, so I can follow.”

  Pilar handed her the bridal bouquet from the pedestal near the door and then took her own before heading out.

  Andrea closed her eyes and counted twenty breaths, as she had practiced, though her feet ached to run forward and be with Todd. Finished, she clutched the stems and walked out into her beautiful green, fenced-in backyard.

  The white folding chairs on both sides were filled with people, but Andrea’s gaze went right to Todd and her daughter, who stood with him.

  Today was perfect. The birds chirped in the trees like they sang with the stringed violin.

  Finally, she made it to the front and took Todd’s hand.

  He whispered to her, “You look beautiful, Andrea.”

  Her heart floated in happiness. She had a zip in her veins that was like the spark when they’d first touched.

  The minister spoke, addressing the crowd.

  “Todd, there is something I need to tell you,” Andrea whispered.

  “Now?” He leaned closer.

  She nodded, and then whispered into his ear so only he would hear her. The test this morning just added to her happiness, and Todd needed to know. “I’m pregnant.”

  His eyes widened, and he squeezed her sides like a sideways hug. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Those at-home tests were usually accurate, and with Todd, she’d found the only man she could share her life with. This was just icing on the cake. “You’re going to be a father.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Life with you is always an adventure, Andrea.”

  The minister looked at them, and they quieted down. He continued to address the crowd with words of vows and promises.

  When she was sure he was in the middle of his speech again, Andrea whispered, “I just want a happy life.”

  Todd winked at her, and those eyes of his had a gleam that made her believe in the impossible. “We’re on track for happily ever after.”

  Now, Andrea believed him. With Todd, anything was possible. They loved each other, and nothing else mattered. Life had the power to be better than she ever imagined.

  Start Reading the House of Morgan Now

  Secret Crush

  For some, joining the FBI is a long-term goal. For billionaire John Morgan, joining the Bureau is a stepping stone to proving his father is culpable for his sister’s death. After his estranged father dies, John is forced to return home and face the ghosts of his past. But that proves to be more difficult than he ever imagined.

  After losing her best friend under inexplicable circumstances, Alice Collins’ world view shifts until her small town sensibilities convinced her to attend Mr. Morgan’s funeral. Soon, the past and the present collide, and Alice is caught in the crosshairs. But when John comes to her aid, it only serves to complicate matters for both of them.

  Can a handsome billionaire on a vendetta fall for a small town girl…or does he have something else in mind?

  Secret Baby

  Victoria thought her baby died. Colt thought Victoria abandoned their daughter at birth. Her father had destroyed them both with a single lie. But will the truth be enough to bring them back together?

  To escape her billionaire father’s cruel manipulations, Victoria let everyone believe she was dead. Burdened with a broken heart and the tragic loss of her baby, she felt there was nothing left for her. But her return uncovers an avalanche of secrets and lies, starting with the fact that the child she thought had died is alive…and being raised by the very man who broke her heart.

  Ex-Marine Colt Collins has been raising his daughter alone while nursing a burning resentment for the woman who abandoned them both and then died before he could find out why. Determined to move on and make a life for himself, Colt plans to marry and give his daughter the childhood she deserves. But then Victoria Morgan returns from the dead, and he learns that nothing about their past is what it seems.

  Victoria wants to claim her child, but Colt isn’t sure he can believe his former lover. After all, it’s her word against a dead man’s. She could say anything is true. Together, they will have to sift through the lies and unravel the truth. But can they learn to trust each other again and find find a happily ever after, or is too late for a second chance at romance?

  Secret Bet

  One Cocky Billionaire. One former Marine jilted at the alter. And one bet that forces them back together and threatens to tear them apart.

  With a history of women sticking around only long enough to win over his money, not earn his love, Peter has learned to keep women at arm’s length. But as much as he plays it smart with romance, he’s still a sucker for a challenge. So when his brother bets that he can’t date the same woman for thirty days, it’s game on. Wooing a woman for one month and then walking away unscathed sounds almost too easy. Until his brother announces who the woman will be.

  Former Marine Belle Jordan has lived through the scandal of being jilted at the altar. Ever since, she protects her heart, knowing she can never go through that kind of heartbreak again. Now the brother of the woman who tore her life apart is pursuing her with an intensity that is hard to resist. Her brain warns her to stay away, but her heart wants to trust his seductive words.

  Before long, Peter finds that Belle is turning his cynical world on its head and awakening his long-dormant heart. When the truth comes out about the secret bet, Peter fears he may lose the one woman who can look past the dollar signs to see the man behind the throne. But will the realization be too little too later?

  Secret Wish

  She kept him in the friend zone for years. Now she’s single with a secret…and living in his family home.

  With little memory of his mother and a strained relationship with his father, it’s difficult for Dr. Luke Morgan to reconcile between who he is and who he wants to be. But when he returns to the House of Morgan to accept his place in the family, painful secrets come to the surface, leading Luke to believe his family name is the reason behind his niece’s kidnapping.

  After months spent rejecting Luke’s advances, one kiss changed everything for Caro Soliz. Now, her world is about to change again. Just like her mother before her, she’s accepted a position as the Morgan family maid. This time, her reunion with Luke leads to a whirlwind romance that puts her dream to become a fashion designer in jeopardy—a loss that could leave her penniless and without a job or a future.

  With Luke’s family secrets leading them both on a path to doom, can true love flourish in the face of so many unanswered questions? Or will this spell the second and final end to their whirlwind romance?

  Secret Dad

  When Elizabeth’s son is kidnapped, the cop called out to help find him doesn’t know he’s the father.

  Elizabeth Morgan rejoined the House of Morgan hoping her family’s law enforcement connections might help her get her son back. What she doesn’t expect is that the Miami Dade Police Officer that her entire family depends on is none other than her missing son’s father.

  Rafe Soliz doesn’t know what shocks him more: that his one night stand in Vegas is actually a Morgan, or that the kidnapped child he’s helping her track down is actually his son. Either way, he’ll use all of his detective skills to bring the child home and keep Liz safe from whoever is threatening them.

  The investigation leads them closer to answers and deeper into their feelings for one another, but in the end, the House of Morgan will always be way above his pay grade. Once the child is found, will things have to go back to the way they were?

  Secret Heir

  The last person Mitch Morgan should be attracted to is the corporate raider sent from his half brother’s company.

  Tes
s Taylor already lost everything once. The last thing she needs is another failure. If she can prove successful in Mergers and Acquisitions, she’ll never have to worry about money again. But no amount of hard work has prepared her for Mitch Morgan. He’s the kind of distraction she doesn’t need, and the banker she’s supposed to destroy.

  Mitch Morgan III may bear his father’s good looks and his name, but he certainly didn’t inherit his father’s trust. Born the child of a torrid affair, nothing was handed to him, and no one wants him to succeed. When the rep from Morgan Enterprises storms through his door, he knows he’s in for a challenge, but nothing in life prepared him for how hard he falls for Tess.

  They were supposed to be bitter enemies. Love wasn’t part of the deal. Now, they’re forced to make a decision neither could have imagined.

  Secret Tryst

  When the one you're supposed to hate turns out to be the only one you crave...

  Damien Morgan learned a long time ago that love was just a figment of someone’s warped imagination and good girls simply didn’t exist. Women, he knew, were master manipulators. Nonetheless, he’s happy to wish his brother well when he decides to take the plunge.

  Serenity Hanscom is shocked that she’s been invited to the wedding a year after her sister played matchmaker for the groom and plotted to murder his sister-in-law. Despite the unusual circumstances, Serenity accepts the invitation as an opportunity to mingle with Miami’s elites.

  The second she catches sight of Damien, she’s reminded of the horrible events that led to her father’s imprisonment, all because of him. But even though she’s determined to ignore him, she finds herself drawn to him more and more. And that could spell disaster for them both.