by Layla Hagen
“I think that she is, yes. We might squash her.” Val laughed but saw right through me. “Want to hold her?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” I rubbed my hands in excitement, then held out my arms. “But wait... won’t she wake up?”
“She’ll just fall back asleep, don’t worry. Here—take care with her head.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve been an aunt for ten years, remember?”
Oh my God. She was the cutest thing. She instantly snuggled up to me, seeking skin contact, so I shifted her until her head was right under my collarbone. Val was right. She barely woke up, then fell back asleep.
Val looked at me with warm eyes, then fiddled with the bedcover, looking at the door.
“So, you’re alone?”
I chuckled. “You deserve precisely zero details. Don’t think I don’t know what you did.”
“Did it work?” Val asked eagerly. “Is he here with you?”
“Yep.”
“Where?”
“Facing Will and Jace just outside the door.”
“Oh, sweet baby Jesus,” Val exclaimed. “Should we save him?”
“Already got Lori on it.”
“Good thinking.” Val batted her eyelashes. “At least one detail? Pretty please?”
“Nope.”
“I’ve had a rough seven hours. And you weren’t here to calm everyone down. I deserve some juicy details.”
“I can’t believe you’re guilting me into this. Have you no shame?”
“I’ve had half the hospital staff look at my lady bits and give their opinion. I have literally lost all my shame.”
Laughing, I settled on the edge of the bed, with Carla still sleeping safely on me, and spoke in a low voice.
“Why are you whispering?”
“Because there are two pairs of brotherly ears in front of that door.”
“Oh, right. Great thinking.”
I didn’t get a chance to finish the story because Reid himself entered the room.
“Val, congratulations,” he said.
“Thank you. And congrats to you too. Heard you made it to Houston after all.”
“As if Bianca didn’t keep you informed.”
“You’re a fast learner. And Bianca is an excellent partner in crime. But I didn’t get any actual details until now.”
Reid looked from Val to me, and when I got to my feet, fully turning to him, he noticed Carla. His gaze softened, and I felt warm all over. I held the little nugget even tighter, not really wanting to let her go but knowing I had to clear the room because Val was yawning. My sister needed to rest.
As carefully as possible, I laid Carla in the small bassinet next to Val’s bed.
Val yawned again. “What are you doing? No, don’t go. We were just getting to the good part.”
“Go to sleep.”
“Bossy,” Val murmured. “But I am sleepy.”
“I’ll tell everyone you’re resting, okay?”
Val nodded, arranging the pillow under her head. I drew the covers up to her chin. Poor Val fell asleep almost instantly.
Reid and I tiptoed out of the room. The corridor was Connor-free.
“Where are Jace and Will?” I asked.
“Lori declared everyone should go grab a bite.”
“And saved your ass in the process.”
I smiled. “What are you talking about? I’d completely won over your brothers.”
“In the two minutes I left you alone with them?”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell them?” I asked suspiciously.
“Word has it you’re not the most reliable Connor when it comes to secrets, so I can’t tell you.”
“You’re keeping secrets with my brothers?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I opened my mouth, but Reid shook his head. “Don’t ask. I won’t tell.” Pulling me close, he brought his mouth to my ear.
“But I’ll tell you something else. I want this,” he whispered, bringing his arms around me. “You, me, a girl. Or a boy.”
Oh, God! I was so aware of his presence, of that deep bond between us that I couldn’t even begin to describe, of the way his arms tightened around me, of his fingertips applying pressure on my lower back. Flat against his chest, I felt his heart rate quickening. I shuddered lightly, unable to contain all that emotion coursing through me.
“There’s a good chance we’ll have one or the other,” I teased, but only because I was afraid I’d tear up if I didn’t make both of us chuckle. I’d been an aunt three times over, but I’d never wanted a little nugget of my own as badly as today. All because of this beautiful man.
“Yeah?” he whispered, pulling back a little, looking straight at me.
I nodded. “A little scary, huh? But a certain someone told me that it’s okay to want things that scare us.”
“He sounds smart.”
“He is. Aaand... I’m still waiting for him to kiss me.”
Reid laughed but didn’t kiss me. “We’re expected to join the others too, you know.”
“We are? Damn. And I was hoping you’d throw me over your shoulder and take me home.”
He tightened his arm around me. His eyes blazed. I swallowed hard.
Heat seared through me, overwhelming me. I couldn’t believe just how much I needed him in my life. How much I wanted to need him. It wasn’t scaring me at all.
“That’s certainly on today’s schedule, love. We still have some kissing to catch up on.”
***
Reid
It was late at night when we arrived at the penthouse. Grabbing a bite had lasted well into the evening, and then we’d all paid Val another visit.
“You were actually right about winning over my brothers.”
“You doubted me?”
“I thought you might just be bragging.”
I cocked a brow.
“What? You do that sometimes. What I don’t get is how you did it. And they refused to tell me anything. Refused.” She held her hands up, as if she couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea of her brothers refusing her something.
“Come here, pretty girl. If I remember correctly, we have some unfinished business.”
Hailey smiled coyly. “Oh, really? What was that exactly? I’m afraid I don’t remember.”
I lifted her in my arms the next second. She shrieked, then laughed as I planted a kiss on her neck, then her shoulder.
Fuck, I was so close to just pushing her against the wall, hiking the skirt up her waist, and burying myself inside her. I needed her too much. And I needed her now. It didn’t help that Hailey was already reaching for my belt, letting out a low sound of frustration when she realized there wasn’t enough space between us to undo it. She set to work on my shirt instead. We made it into the bedroom, but only barely.
“I’ve missed kissing you.” I congratulated myself on managing to take off her dress without damaging it. I spoke against her skin while laying her on her back. I unclasped her bra, burying my face between her gorgeous breasts before lavishing each with kisses, teasing the nipple while lowering a hand between her legs, inside her panties.
“Touching you. These past few days were so hard. Being close to you but not being able to touch you.”
She dug her heels in the mattress when I circled her clit in a light movement, whimpered when I slid two fingers inside her.
“Reid. Get naked. Please.”
“You get me naked, beautiful.”
Hailey didn’t hesitate. She went straight for the buttons she hadn’t yet undone, pulling with such force that she ripped the fabric.
She grinned. “I guess I owe you a shirt.”
Laughing, I took off the rest of my clothes and her panties before kissing her again, twirling our tongues, needing the connection. Needing to touch her.
I stroked her tongue fast and deep, sitting on the bed, pulling her over me. I wanted her on top so I could watch her chase her own pleasure. She teased me, rubbing herself against me without
taking me in. I dropped my head back, breathing in through my nose, trying to hang on to my control. I lost the battle when she gasped, sliding in just my tip. Gripping her hips, I slid her all the way down until I was so deep inside her that my vision blurred.
“F-f-uck, Hailey.”
She gasped, clenching tight around me. I kissed her again, moving her hips to my rhythm. I didn’t want to stop kissing her, touching her.
The rational part of me knew she wasn’t going anywhere, but the weeks without her had left their mark. I was overwhelmed by the all-consuming feeling of having Hailey again, of having her bare skin against mine, her lips on my mouth.
I focused on her pleasure until she clenched tight. Oh, I was chasing my own climax too, but I waited, holding back, pacing myself, watching her beautiful face when she came, knowing that it was all for me.
It would be all for me for all times.
I cradled her in my arms for a long time after we were both spent, still unwilling to break our connection.
After we cleaned ourselves up, I lured her back into bed, holding her close, only letting her go enough to order room service.
“Nooo... you’re spoiling me again,” she said when she took stock of all the food I’d asked for. “I missed all these treats in Houston. I missed this penthouse too.” She looked around the living room, stroking the bar counter.
“And me?”
“Maybe.”
I bit her shoulder lightly. She pouted.
“I don’t want to go back.”
“It’s just for a few months. And just putting it out there, I am renting the largest suite at the Westin. They have excellent room service. I’d love to share it with you.”
“Wait... what do you mean? Why would you keep that?”
“Because I plan to split my time between Houston and LA for as long as you’re there.”
She blinked, looking to my right, then to my left. “Where are you hiding broody, I-like-my-fortress Reid? Tell the truth.”
I hooked an arm around her waist, pinning her against the counter.
“Still here, but I like you more than my fortress.”
“You do, huh?”
“Yes. And I want you to have no doubt that I’ll be by your side no matter what.”
“We can make everything work,” she whispered.
“We will. Because my place is right next to you, Hailey Connor.”
First Epilogue
One month later
Reid
“Do you see yourself living in the penthouse in LA?” I asked her one evening in Houston. We were in the hotel suite I was renting, lying on the couch side by side.
“Twenty-four-hour room service and a view to die for? I’m in. And by the way, the spa at your hotel is so much better than the one here. I booked one of their massages here when you were in LA last week, and I swear that woman displaced my bones.”
“I can give you a massage.”
“Oh, please do.” Wiggling her eyebrows, she turned on one side. “You can start with the neck.”
I brought one hand to the back of her neck, stroking my thumb on her nape before planting a quick kiss. She gasped lightly. Pulling back, I pressed my fingers into her pressure points, watching her relax under my touch.
I loved this woman. And I had a few surprises in store for her, but I was waiting for us to return to LA before putting my plan into action.
“Can’t wait for this placement to be over,” she murmured. “I’m dying to get back into the trenches with my Hollywood scandals. I miss the adrenaline.”
I laughed, burying my face in her neck. “I love you, baby.”
She snuggled closer, sighing in happiness. “I feel guilty that you have to jet between LA and Houston.”
“I’ve gotten used to it. Not as bad as I thought. Turns out the secret to wanting to go somewhere is having someone to go to. You have that effect on me, Hailey Connor.”
Not only did she make me get out of my comfort zone, but she made me want things I’d been blind to before. I’d discovered a new dimension of life with her, and I couldn’t wait to explore more.
She was about to turn around completely when we were interrupted by the ping of her phone. When she picked it up from the floor, I noticed my sister was texting her.
“Why is Bianca sending you pictures?” I asked.
“Wants to know what outfit to wear tonight when she’s going out with her friends.”
“Do I want to know details?”
“Absolutely not.”
My sister was having the summer of her life, enjoying the free time until she started college this fall. Her last month of school up until graduation was intense, given all the media interest in me, but my sister had taken it in stride. I’ll never see these people again, she’d told me. Who cares what they think?
“Got it. Come to think of it, it was good I wasn’t there for her prom either. Heard she had a date—wait a second, you look a little guilty.”
“Do I?”
“Definitely. What aren’t you telling me?”
She focused on the phone, clearly avoiding my eyes.
“Hailey...?”
“Bianca asked me to keep you busy, okay? Just don’t tell her I told you that.”
I loved that she couldn’t keep secrets from me. “And you thought that was a good idea... why?”
“Will and Jace nearly scared my prom date away. Didn’t want poor Bianca to go through the same.”
“So, you just took matters into your own hands.”
“Yup.”
“In that case, you don’t look nearly as guilty as you should.”
She gave me a sheepish smile. “That’s because I don’t feel too guilty. I was just buying time until I can properly teach her Handling Brothers 101.”
“I have to do something about this.” I pinned her wrists above the armrest, leaning in to kiss her.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Second Epilogue
Hailey
“Mmm... you seminaked, and the pool all to ourselves? I’ll take it,” I said.
“Good. Let’s go. Already asked the staff to open it early especially for us.”
“You knew I was going to wake up at the crack of dawn today?”
“Babe. It’s your brother’s wedding. You’ve been up at the crack of dawn for a week.”
“I have, haven’t I? I just have too much energy.”
“Come on. Let’s work off some of that energy in the pool.”
I looked at him speculatively, wondering why he wasn’t suggesting other activities to burn off the energy.
This was my favorite time of the day to swim in the pool. The morning sun shone directly on us, inundating everything with light.
I couldn’t believe the day of Jace’s wedding was finally here. The last few months had been a bit of a whirlwind. I’d gotten back from Houston two weeks ago. Cameron had been beside himself to have me in LA again, and I was happy to be rid of the drudgery that was corporate PR and dig into my usual Hollywood cases.
The media’s interest in Marion dropped considerably after Reid’s statement, and then reached insignificant levels once news spread that her show wasn’t happening. She wasn’t even getting coverage in trashy gossip outlets, and Macy’s had dropped her exclusive lingerie line.
I had a slight hunch that that hadn’t happened out of the blue. I also had a slightly bigger hunch that Reid had pulled some strings. I’d asked exactly once, and he’d exhibited suspicious signs: evasive maneuvers, distracting me with sexy activities. Honestly, though, I didn’t need to know everything.
The media interest in Reid was slowly fading as well, though I had a hunch it might increase again next year, because he was opening a third hotel.
“What a way to start Saturday,” I murmured after finishing a round of backstroke. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a few waiters laying trays on the pool bar.
“You ordered breakfast?” I asked, thrilled.
&
nbsp; “All your favorites.”
“You devil.”
Yum. For some reason, he looked even hotter than usual, which was saying something. My mouth went dry.
“And what did I do to earn that nickname?” His lips curled in a breathtaking smile as he swam to me.
I tilted my head, considering an appropriate answer. “Hmm... something about the way you look in board shorts.”
He laughed. “I can’t be blamed for being too good-looking.”
“Or humble. Can you fasten the knot of my bra?”
He stepped behind me, running his fingers over my bare shoulder blade, then lingering on the patch of skin just under the knot. I shivered, licking my lips.
“I’d rather take it off.”
“See? And you’re wondering what you did to earn that nickname. You, mister, will not make me late to my brother’s wedding.”
If I was honest, being late was impossible; Lori was running everything with an iron fist. But I never knew what this handsome devil could talk me into.
“We have time. There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
“And it has to be right now?”
“Afraid so.”
He took a step back, spun me around. What was going on? My pulse sped up, the muscles in my belly clenched.
“What is it?”
He kissed one of my hands, then brushed his thumbs over my knuckles.
“I’ve been wondering for a while how to best do this.”
“Do what?”
He flashed my favorite wolfish smile, which was when I realized that he was teasing me.
“Reid! What’s going on?”
His smile widened, and he pulled me toward the pool bar, where our breakfast was laid out.
I took stock of all the delicious treats. Hard-boiled eggs with vegetables, pancakes, waffles, fresh orange juice, coffee, apple—
Oh my God.
Right between the coffee and the apple was a small jewelry box with the Bennett Enterprises logo embossed on the clasp. My entire body strummed tight in anticipation. Was he—Oh God, yes, yes, he was. As if in slow motion, I watched him take the jewelry box in one hand.
My vision was blurry before he even opened the lid, but then, at the sight of the beautiful diamond ring, I became wobbly. There went my determination not to shed tears today.