Second Chance Seduction

by Monica Richardson

  “I’ll do that,” said Nyle.

  Edward lifted their bags out of the trunk and set them at the curb. He glanced at their airline tickets and then at his watch. “We should get going if we’re going to make our flight.”

  Nyle hugged Savannah, then Edward. She gave Chloe a strong hug and then lit an herbal cigarette. She hopped into the front seat of Xander’s cab and let the window down, rested her chin on the door.

  As he pulled away from the curb, she yelled out the window. “Go make me some more grandchildren. I need about five more like her!”

  “Bye, Gigi!” Chloe yelled.

  “Bye, my little Chloe. Be sweet!” she hollered back.

  “I will.”

  Savannah watched as the hackney carriage disappeared into traffic. She shook her head, and a slight smile danced in the corner of her mouth. She sighed and followed Edward through the airport’s automatic doors.

  The plane ride home didn’t seem as long as it had coming. She and Edward laughed and discussed the antics of Nyle. Savannah wondered how she would survive without someone there to keep her in line. She hoped that she would manage to get her life together. They talked about their future together and what it would look like.

  “I don’t want another wedding. Do you?” asked Savannah.

  “I want what you want.”

  “I think we can just go to the justice of the peace,” she said.

  “I don’t care about the formalities, I just want you.” Edward grabbed her hand and held on to it.

  “Maybe we can have a barbecue or some little get-together. Invite our friends.”

  “Okay.”

  “I need to call my daddy,” said Savannah. “Let him know.”

  “He won’t be happy for us. He still blames me for hurting you the first time.”

  “He just wants what’s best for me. And once he sees how happy I am, he’ll be happy for us.”

  Edward looked at her. “I should call him. Tell him myself. I called him the first time...asked him for your hand in marriage. I’ll call him again.”

  “You sure?”

  “No. But I’m a man. I can do this.”

  Savannah placed her hand gently against his cheek. “You are a man. My man.”

  Edward leaned over and kissed her lips. “I can’t wait to call my parents. They’ll be thrilled. They love you.”

  “And I love them.” Savannah smiled.

  “We should plan another trip there. Soon.”

  “I’m always up for a trip to the Bahamas,” she said.

  They discussed their finances and taking the house off the market. They would remain in their dream home—the one they’d built together the first time around. It was a perfectly good house. Edward would sell his house instead.

  * * *

  Savannah was thrilled to see the Florida palm trees that she’d missed so much. She inhaled the moist air and breathed in the smell of the ocean. It was great to be home. Edward took the scenic route and then pulled the car into the driveway of their home. She appreciated the thought of their home. They would soon be a family again, and living under one roof. He would be her man again, her husband, her lover. She looked at the emerald on her finger and smiled.

  “Take Chloe in and get her settled. I’ll get the bags,” he said and stepped out of the car.

  Savannah helped her daughter out of her seat and led her into the house. She started her a warm bath and found a pair of pajamas. She tucked Chloe into bed and turned off the light. She rushed to her bedroom and ran her own bath, squeezed bubbles into the tub. She laid out her favorite pair of lace panties—a pair she’d picked up at Victoria’s Secret months ago, but had never worn. She didn’t even know why she bothered. But tonight she was glad she had. It would be her first night with Edward in their home.

  She lit a few candles and then turned down the lights. She stepped into the tub and relaxed against the porcelain, closed her eyes and listened as Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” filled the master bathroom. When she heard the light tap on the door, she opened her eyes as Edward walked in.

  “Care if I join you?” he asked.

  “Not at all,” she said. “Where have you been?”

  “Caught the end of the game. Thought I’d come and see what you were up to.”

  He shut the door, and when he returned he was completely naked. Savannah admired the beauty of his chiseled, well-endowed body. She’d missed it. Those strong arms had always held her close, kept her safe. Those legs had braced her when she’d found herself on top. She’d rested her head on that chest more times than she could count. And what lay between his thighs had given her so much pleasure.

  He stepped into the bathtub and took a seat behind her. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and caressed her breasts, pinched her tender nipples. He squeezed shower gel into his palms, lathered it, and caressed her. This time he gently planted kisses against the back of her neck. She moaned when his fingertips found their way between her legs, danced there until she couldn’t stand it any longer.

  “Welcome home,” she whispered.

  “It’s so good to be home,” he said.

  She relaxed her head against his chest, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. He held her until Marvin finished singing about sexual healing. She turned around in the tub and washed his chest, arms and parts that belonged to her again. She kissed his lips and rested her behind on his hardness until she felt him inside her, wrapped her legs around his waist. He grabbed the roundness of her cheeks and squeezed.

  She loved him again. In fact, she’d never stopped. And all things were well again in the Talbot household.

  Chapter 29

  The first thing Edward wanted to do was take Savannah and Chloe to his parents’ home on Eleuthera, Bahamas. Show them off. Let everyone know that they’d been right all along—he did still love Savannah, and they were a family again. When they heard the news of the engagement, they insisted on a celebration in the couple’s honor at the Grove. It was a happy time for the Talbot family.

  Savannah wore a navy blue after-five dress with a one-shoulder silhouette. Edward wore a navy tie that accented his gray suit. The Grove was beautifully decorated in navy and silver, and crystal lights beamed throughout the Grand Room. White roses were sprinkled about, and silver candles burned on every table. A traditional Caribbean meal was prepared—baked cod, conch fritters, conch salad and Edward’s favorite papaya soup. Raquel had captured his recipe down to the smallest ingredient.

  Music filled the Grand Room, and Edward stood next to his two favorite girls. He beamed with pride and his heart was filled with joy. His life would be different—his family had become his priority, and his career had taken a backseat. He was a new man. All the Talbots were in attendance. Even Denny had flown in early that morning. He held on to Sage’s hand. Edward was happy to see that his younger brother had manned up and patched things up with his ex-fiancée. He knew that a good woman was a rare commodity, and losing one was unacceptable. Edward could attest to this, and he didn’t want to see his brother endure the same pain.

  When Edward saw Nate, he went over to him.

  “Little brother.” He reached for Nate’s hand.

  Nate embraced him. “I’m sorry.”

  “Water under the bridge,” said Edward. “You only spoke the truth.”

  “I’m glad you got your girl,” Nate said. “Happy that you found love again.”

  “What about you? Will you find love again?” asked Edward.

  “Probably not. But I’m okay with that. I’m happy to be alone.”

  “No one should be alone. It’s a lonely world out there,” said Edward. “Maybe you’ll find a woman...or not...someday.”

  Edward was in denial about his brother’s sexuality. He’d chosen not to think
about it.

  “Maybe.”

  Jasmine’s voice interrupted their moment. She grabbed the microphone and tapped on it to see if it was on.

  “Hello.”

  “I think it’s on,” Edward told her.

  “I’d like to make an announcement,” she began. “Where’s Jackson?”

  Jackson raised his hand in the air as if he were in an elementary school classroom.

  “Come up here, babe.”

  Jackson maneuvered his way through the crowd and stood next to Jasmine.

  “We would like to announce that we are with child...”

  Jackson looked shocked. It was the first he’d heard of it. “We are?” he asked.

  She grabbed his hands in hers and placed them on her stomach. “I don’t mean to steal your moment, Edward and Savannah.”

  “It’s okay,” said Edward. “Congratulations.”

  Jackson grabbed Jasmine in his arms, lifted her in the air. He beamed with pride as Jasmine grabbed his face in her hands. She kissed his lips. Edward remembered what that moment felt like—the moment when he first learned that Chloe was growing inside Savannah’s stomach. He had rushed out and purchased a soccer ball and a baseball glove, had the glove engraved with the Talbot name. He had plans of teaching his son the basics of soccer. He would encourage him to follow his footsteps in politics. He felt a bit of disappointment when the doctor announced that his son was a daughter instead. He even walked out of the room to gather himself. When he returned and held that little girl in his arms, he felt better. But the first time she peered into his eyes and gave him a half smile, his heart melted. Chloe had him doing her every bidding since that moment.

  “Just hope it’s not a girl,” Edward whispered to Jackson. “You’re doomed if it is. She’ll have you wrapped around her skinny little finger before you know what’s going on.”

  “I’m confident that it’s not a girl,” said Jackson. “I don’t make girls.”

  Edward’s laughter caught the attention of his sister.

  “What are you two over here laughing about?” Jasmine asked.

  “Nothing,” the two of them said in unison.

  Edward finally retrieved the microphone from his sister. He offered a toast to his bride-to-be. He talked about how lucky he was to have her back in his life, and he meant every word of it. He looked at his parents. His father held on tightly to his mother’s waist. Their love was a true example of what it was supposed to look like. If he could keep Savannah contented for that many years, he would die a happy man. He held his glass in the air, and so did everyone in the room.

  “Cheers!” he said.

  “Cheers!” the crowd repeated.

  He kissed Savannah’s lips, and everyone applauded.

  After the toast, Edward glanced across the room and spotted a familiar face in the midst of the crowd. Nyle raised a champagne flute into the air, a wide grin on her face. He gave her a wink. Savannah spotted her, too, and he watched as she sighed deeply. He had to admit it was good seeing Nyle, and he knew that Savannah would feel the same way. Although things hadn’t worked out for her in London, he knew that she still loved her mother and had hopes of salvaging some type of relationship with her. Perhaps there was hope for them after all.

  Everything in Savannah’s life seemed to be falling right into place. She’d even been successful at finding work with another fashion design company in Florida, and Edward was happy about that. He’d assured her that she didn’t need to work, that he would take care of them. But Savannah loved her career, and fashion had been her lifeline. She wanted to work.

  Chloe had already reconnected with her Gigi and the two were engaged in a conversation. At that moment, he knew that whatever Nyle had missed with Savannah, she would regain through Chloe. The two had become friends. He knew they would. And he knew that she had been excited about his and Savannah’s newfound love, which was why he’d sent her an airline ticket to the Bahamas. He wanted her there to share their moment.

  “She’s coming to stay in Florida with us for a little while,” he whispered to Savannah. “Is that okay?”

  She gave him a genuine smile and a nod. A tear crept down the side of her face.

  “I love you,” she whispered in his ear.

  “I love you more.”

  Edward gazed in her eyes and made a note of how happy she looked at that moment. Her heart was full, and so was his. He’d managed to snag the woman of his dreams and sweep her off of her feet—again. Which only proved that love really was sweeter the second time around.

  * * * * *

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  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Kimani Romance.

  You dream in vibrant hues! Harlequin Kimani Romance stories feature sophisticated, soulful and sensual African-American and multicultural heroes and heroines who develop fulfilling relationships as they lead lives full of drama, glamour and passion.

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  ISBN-13: 9781488003622

  Second Chance Seduction

  Copyright © 2016 by Monica Richardson

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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