Harlequin Kimani Romance January 2018 Box Set

by Reese Ryan

  “Then we’ve definitely moved up in the world. The girls will be glad to hear it.” Dash chuckled.

  Wes checked his watch and stood. “The party limo will be here in ten. Where is Maya’s brother Cole?”

  Liam scrolled through the messages on his phone. “Cole will meet us at the limo.”

  “Then we’d better head downstairs. Everyone else is meeting us at the limo, too.”

  They loaded the beer onto a luggage cart and headed out into the hallway. Dash pushed the cart onto the partially full elevator. Nate and Hunter got on, too. Wes was about to join them when Liam grabbed his arm.

  “You go on. We’ll catch the next lift.” Liam turned to him as the elevator doors closed.

  “Look, I know we were joking around in there, but Bree really is phenomenal. If you’re this miserable because she’s gone, that should tell you something, mate.”

  “I like her, okay?” Wes looked away from his friend. “I maybe even love her. But what if I’m wrong? What if in six months or two years I feel differently?”

  “Love is a gamble, my friend. None of us knows what will happen tomorrow or next year. But if you truly care for her, tell her how you feel and why.”

  “What if I tell her the truth and she hates me for it?”

  “Then you’ll know she’s not the one for you.”

  Wesley’s chest felt hollow at the thought of peering into his favorite brown eyes and seeing genuine contempt.

  Still, in light of the pain her absence had caused him, it was worth the risk.

  CHAPTER 20

  Bree stood on her back deck watering her poor, neglected flowers and enjoying the California sun. She put down the watering can and sat at the patio table with Bex, who was reviewing samples for the camp logo.

  “Another cup of coffee?” Bree offered.

  “No thanks.” Bex studied her for a moment, then sighed. “Look, I’m just going to say this. I was wrong about you and Wesley.”

  “No, you weren’t. You were exactly right. You said I would get hurt and I did. I should’ve listened.”

  “But you were so happy. You practically glowed on video chat.” Bex closed her laptop. “It was annoying.”

  “Then you should be happy I’m…” Bree sighed, not wanting to finish the sentence.

  “Miserable?” Bex squeezed her arm. “I could never be happy about that.”

  Bree checked her phone. No calls or text messages from Wes.

  “He hasn’t contacted me, so obviously he doesn’t feel the same.”

  “Maybe that’s because you cut him off so abruptly last time he called.” Bex had been there when she’d taken the call.

  “It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t want a relationship, and I do. So there’s really nothing for us to talk about.”

  “Start there. Wes doesn’t seem like the typical guy who just can’t be bothered to keep it in his pants. Something’s got this guy spooked about being in a relationship. You need to find out what it is.”

  “I can’t make him tell me.”

  “Then ask his mother. She adores you.”

  “I won’t pry into his life behind his back. When he’s ready to tell me, he will.”

  Bex pulled up a photo Bree had sent her. It was her and Wesley at the top of the Shard. She scrolled to another of them atop Looking Glass Rock.

  “See what I mean? You never looked that happy when you were with that jerk Alex. Not even in the beginning. Can you believe he had the audacity to email me about you?”

  Bree dropped her gaze, sinking her teeth into her lower lip.

  “What aren’t you telling me, Bree? Has Alex been bothering you?”

  “He’s left messages. I haven’t answered any of them, but he keeps calling. And while I was in London, he sent a postcard to me in Pleasure Cove.”

  “He’s stalking you?” Bex’s nostrils flared. Her forehead and cheeks reddened.

  “I wouldn’t call it that. He’s just having a really tough time taking no for an answer. Something I can relate to.”

  “You were not a stalker. A determined seductress? Yes. A stalker? Definitely not.”

  Bex picked up Bree’s phone and handed it to her.

  “You want me to call him?”

  “No, I want you to call the police.”

  “Let’s just take a minute and breathe, Bex. Alex will eventually get the message or he’ll find someone new to harass.”

  “So you admit he’s harassing you?”

  “Yes… I mean, no. Look, I don’t want to end up on some tacky gossip show, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen if I make that call.” Bree tried to reason with her friend. Bex knew from experience how persistent the paparazzi could be.

  “I don’t know, Bree. Alex sounds a little unhinged right now. What if his behavior escalates?” Bex folded her arms, her eyebrows drawn together.

  “If things get worse, I swear you’ll be the first to know.”

  “What time does your flight leave tomorrow?”

  “Ten.”

  “You should, at least, tell Wes about this guy.” Bex frowned.

  “It isn’t his problem. It’s mine. It’ll be okay. I promise. Now, let’s see those logo samples.”

  Bree opened Bex’s laptop and studied the artwork proofs as if they were the only worry she had in the world.

  * * *

  Wes stepped outside his door as Bree descended her front stairs.

  “Good morning, Wesley.” She offered a polite wave.

  Her willingness to speak first was a good sign, despite the formal address and schoolteacher tone.

  “Hi.” He caught up with her and fell in step as she walked toward the main building, where the meeting was being held. “Wasn’t sure you’d be here in person for today’s meeting.”

  “It’s the last one before Liam goes on his honeymoon. So I thought I should be here.”

  “I’m glad you’re here, Bree. I’ve missed you.”

  Bree didn’t break her stride or in any way acknowledge his words.

  Maybe Bree had found someone else. Someone who wasn’t afraid to commit. Someone with less egregious sins in his past.

  “I’m sorry about before. I was an ass—”

  “On that we can agree.” Bree gave him a quick glance.

  “But not for the reasons you might think,” Wes said quickly. “It’s just that when you said…well, what you said, I panicked. Relationships aren’t my usual MO. I wasn’t sure how to respond.”

  She stopped and turned to him. “You seemed sure about it being a mistake for us to have gotten involved.”

  When Wes lowered his gaze, Bree walked away.

  “Bree, I’m trying to explain how I felt…how I feel.”

  She stopped again and glared up at him. “I’ll admit, maybe I said it too soon. But the fact that you seem incapable of saying the words doesn’t bode well for us.”

  Bree checked the time on her phone.

  “Look, if you want to talk about what went wrong with us…fine. But let’s do it after the meeting. I need to have a clear head right now and this isn’t helping.”

  “I’ll throw some steaks on the grill, and we can talk over dinner.” That would give him time to get his thoughts together. He couldn’t afford a repeat performance of his blabbering-idiot show.

  She shrugged her agreement.

  It wasn’t an enthusiastic acceptance, but at least she hadn’t turned him down.

  CHAPTER 21

  Bree kicked off her heels and unzipped her skirt. It’d been a long, but productive meeting. They’d sold out of the majority of their sponsorships and were at nearly three quarters of their registration capacity.

  They’d gotten the local shop owners onboa
rd by opening the vendor opportunities up to them first at a special rate. Everything was organized and running smoothly and many of the local townsfolk had signed up to serve as volunteers for the event. They were in excellent shape.

  Bree changed into shorts and a tank, then grabbed her phone to respond to a few emails before dinner. She opened the patio door and let the cool breeze drift in. The smell of charcoal indicated that Wes had already fired up the grill.

  She opened the front door to get a nice cross breeze in the guest house.

  “Hello, Brianna.”

  Bree froze, a chill running down her spine. Her hands trembled and her heart raced. She didn’t need to look in those icy blue eyes to know whose voice it was.

  “Alex, what are you doing here?”

  His toothy smile quickly dissolved into an equally disturbing frown. “I’ve been trying to reach you for months. You haven’t responded to any of my messages.”

  She stood taller, narrowing her gaze. “Then you should’ve taken the hint.”

  The frown morphed into a scowl. “I understand why you’re treating me this way, Bree. But I just want to talk.”

  “There is nothing for us to talk about. Not now. Not ever.” She stuffed her hands in her pockets, hoping he couldn’t see how badly they were shaking.

  “I’ve come all this way to talk to you. The least you could do is let me take you out to dinner, so I can explain. I know I wasn’t the best person back then, but I’m different now. I just want to show you that I’m not that man anymore.”

  “Maybe you are different now. If so, that’s great. But you put your hands on me, Alex. I can never trust you again.”

  “It was one time, and I told you how sorry I was. That I didn’t mean to do it. I was so stressed out back then, you know?”

  “That’s not an acceptable excuse for how you treated me. I should’ve left you long before I did.”

  “I told you, I’m not that guy anymore.” A vein bulged in his forehead. “If you can’t go to dinner, we can talk now. I only need ten minutes. Let me come in. We can sit down and hash this out.”

  “I don’t want to hash things out. I don’t miss you or us or the way things were. I don’t want any of it, and I don’t want you. Please, just go away.” She scanned the room for something she could use as a weapon if he tried to force his way inside the door. “I don’t want to get the police involved, but I will if I have to.”

  Bree recognized the signs of rage building. The muscles of his neck corded, his pale skin was mottled and his nostrils flared.

  “I’m simply asking for a chance to explain myself, and you’re threatening to call the cops on me?” he practically shouted as he dragged his fingernails through his dirty blond hair.

  Bree didn’t flinch, determined not to show any fear. It was fear that fed the monster.

  “I’d do it in an instant and happily watch them drag your ass to jail. That probably wouldn’t go over too well with that investment bank of yours.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Try me.” She stood her ground. Her chest heaved and her breath came in noisy pants as her own anger overtook any fear she might have had facing him again.

  “Everything all right, babe?” Wes was suddenly behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist possessively.

  “Peachy.” She wasn’t sure when Wes had entered through her patio door, but she was grateful he was there.

  “Who is this?” Alex’s gaze shifted from Bree to Wes and back again.

  “The man who plans to marry her. And the owner of an aluminum bat with your name on it if you don’t turn around right now and walk your happy ass outta here. While you still can.” Wes’s voice was calm and his tone icy as he dropped his hand from her waist and stepped in front of her.

  Alex huffed, his jaw clenched. “You’re as crazy as she is. Who needs this? You two deserve each other.”

  He turned and stomped down the stairs to his Mercedes-Benz parked outside. Neither of them moved until he drove away.

  When Alex’s car left the lot, Bree released a noisy breath, her hands to her mouth.

  “Are you okay, baby?” He gripped her shoulders gently. When she nodded, he pulled her into his arms and held her. Wes closed and locked the front door. “Here, come sit down.”

  He got her a bottle of water and sat on the sofa beside her.

  She took a sip, her hands still shaking. “I can’t believe he showed up here.”

  “Tell me everything you know about this guy.”

  “The short answer? Biggest mistake of my life. That’s what happens when you don’t listen to your gut,” she added under her breath.

  “Go on.” He leaned forward intently.

  Bree brought Wes up to speed on her history with Alex Hunt, and his persistent attempts to contact her over the past few months.

  She drank more of her water. “That line about the bat…that was good. Sounds like something your mother would say.”

  “Who do you think gave me the bat?” Wes walked over to the window and looked out of it again. “I don’t trust this guy to act in his own best interest. You’re staying with me tonight.”

  “Wes, I appreciate what you did. I really do. But I’m fine. Alex won’t be back.”

  “Didn’t seem like he was too good at taking a hint or following instructions.” Wes crossed his arms, his expression grave. “Guys like that are unpredictable. You never know how far they’ll take things. Do you have a restraining order against this guy?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Then get one.”

  “I don’t want the negative publicity, especially with the tournament coming up. Nor do I want to be seen as a victim.” She paced the floor. “That would tank my endorsement stock ten times faster than a male athlete being convicted of an actual crime.”

  “You don’t want to be seen as a victim. I get that, but I’m far more concerned about you actually becoming one.” A deep frown made his brows appear as angry slashes. “This isn’t something to play with.”

  “And it isn’t fair. I never asked for this.”

  Wes cupped her cheek and spoke softly, his eyes filled with concern. “I know it isn’t, honey. But the priority is to keep you safe. You believe that taking action against this guy will make you look weak, but it will empower you. You, in turn, can empower other women dealing with the same bullshit. You want to help people? This is a way to do it.”

  “Okay.” Bree nodded begrudgingly. “I promised Bex I’d get the police involved if the situation escalated.”

  “You should’ve told me about this guy earlier. We could’ve put a halt to this before it got this far.”

  “I know that we’re friends, and you want to help, but I’m not looking for a man to save me. And I don’t need a knight in shining armor who walks away the first time he gets freaked out or things get tough.”

  “Fair enough.” Wes wiped his palms on his black basketball shorts. “Now, about why I have trouble saying…” He sighed, then stood again. “It’ll be easier if I show you.”

  * * *

  Wes led Bree through the patio door and over to his place. He went to his bedroom and retrieved the most precious thing he owned. A black leather photo album with gold lettering on front.

  His heart hammered in his chest as he handed the photo album to Bree.

  What would she think of him once she knew the truth?

  He didn’t doubt her discretion. But would she look at him differently? See him as the monster he saw in the mirror?

  Bree seemed as nervous as he was. She opened the book reverently. As if it was an artifact that needed to be handled with care.

  She studied the pictures on the first two pages. Pictures of the same little boy at various ages from newborn to about twelve years old.


  “He’s your son.” She nearly whispered the words, her fingers delicately tracing the boy’s nose and mouth. Mirror images of his own.

  “Yes.” Wes nodded, taking the seat across from her. “His name is Gray Grammerson.”

  Her eyes lit with recognition. “The facing capital Gs that form the door of the cage on your tattoo. That’s for your son.”

  Wes didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.

  She turned more pages. “Most of these photos were taken from a distance. So you obviously don’t share custody of him.”

  “Right again.”

  “So he lives with his mother?” Bree stopped turning the pages.

  “Not his bio mom. She gave him up for adoption without ever telling me. In fact, I’d never have known about my son had it not been for a mutual friend from university.”

  “That’s awful. Why would she do that?”

  “Probably because she didn’t think I was worthy of being a father to our child. We weren’t together by the time she learned about the pregnancy. I think she also wanted to punish me for hurting her.”

  Bree raised an eyebrow. “What did you do to make her hate you?”

  “I was young and selfish. My life was about meaningless hookups. I wanted her, and she didn’t want to be with someone who didn’t love her. So I told her I did.” He swallowed hard. “We were together a few weeks. Maybe a month. When I was ready to move on, she was devastated.”

  Bree’s eyes were misty. Her expression relayed both disappointment and compassion. “What happened to her?”

  “She was an American expat, too. She returned to America. At the time, I was a selfish little prick. I thought, good riddance. I had no idea…” He winced, his eyes not meeting hers. “I had no idea she was pregnant with my son. A few years later, a fellow classmate contacted me. She’d run in to my ex, who told her about the baby. Our baby. She’d given him up without notifying me. I was devastated.”

  “Where’s his mother now?”

  “She’s an international-aid worker stationed at one of the largest refugee camps in Uganda.”

  “Have you talked to her since you learned about your son?”

  Wes’s jaw clenched involuntarily at the thought of confronting Janine. He shook his head. “It’s a conversation I can’t imagine going well.”