“You’re the very best thing.”
It had been a long time since Elias thought he might settle down with someone. He’d thought that chapter was over after his accident. Instead, he’d been waiting for Jo all along and now she was here. She might never have had the happy, healthy home life he had, but he had decades to show her what it could be like. What they could be like. Together.
Epilogue.
Saturday. Elias’ Home, Seattle, Washington.
Jo followed Elias up the stairs to his Seattle apartment. It was still out of this world to think that a day ago they’d been in Jersey, and now she was here. Not that she knew what here implied, but all of her worldly possessions were in the suitcase Elias had taken from her.
She climbed the stairs slower. Anxiety and excitement swirled in her chest.
Last night she’d listened to Elias try to fend off this Merida character. She sounded like a force of nature. Jo was glad the woman was engaged and seemed more like a sister to him. It would seriously put things on a bad start if Jo’s first act of visiting Elias was to put his friend in her place.
God, even thinking that was strange.
And yet, when she looked at Elias she knew she’d go to some pretty extreme lengths to remove whatever came between her and that man. He made her want to be better, for herself and him.
She smiled and climbed to the landing, joining Elias at his door.
“Okay, I don’t know what to expect,” he grumbled. “I’m sorry in advance.”
Jo chuckled and peered over his shoulder.
Elias pushed the front door open and wrapped his left arm around her shoulders.
“Holy shit,” he muttered.
Jo sputtered a laugh.
The space was nice, much bigger than her postage stamp sized apartment. The furniture was oversized, comfortable, very manly. The twinkling lights hanging off everything weren’t.
“Welcome home,” Elias said with a touch of dread.
Jo stepped over the threshold, taking in the Christmas cheer. There was a seven foot tree partially blocking the view of the TV from the door. It dripped with tinsel, red lights and wooden ornaments. Two pairs of red and black plaid slippers waited just on the carpet.
She couldn’t help chuckling at that either and toed off her shoes, sliding her feet into the fuzzy house slippers.
“Merida did all this in a few hours?” she asked.
“Yeah. That’s Merida.” He sighed. “I’ll put your stuff in the bedroom.”
She smirked at his backside. “Presumptuous.”
He was smiling. She didn’t have to see his face to know he was.
Jo ambled after him, still soaking it all in.
There was a decidedly lived in and home-like feel to the place her apartment never had.
She peered into a small bonus room that served as an office and bicycle stash before exploring the bedroom.
Elias placed her suitcase on the bed, then proceeded to open almost half the drawers on the long, low dresser.
They were empty.
She paused, looking from the drawers to him.
He gestured at the space. “I asked Merida if she’d toss out some old stuff. I figured you’d be more comfortable not living in a suitcase while you’re here.”
Jo froze. He was making space for her. In his life. In his home. It seemed like ever since they met, he’d shown her all along where she belonged.
“If you want a different drawer, I can move things,” he said quickly.
“Shut up.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks and let go of her reservations. “It’s perfect.”
He took a step toward her, closing the distance, and gently pulled her to him.
“You’re perfect,” he muttered.
She wrinkled her nose. “Too cheesy.”
“We’ll have to agree to disagree.”
“Fine.”
He bent his head and kissed her briefly.
All of this felt like a dream. A wonderful, beautiful dream she didn’t want to wake up from.
“I love you,” he whispered.
She shivered and buried her face against his chest.
Love was new and scary, but with Elias at her side, she was finally excited about what the future held for them.
SATURDAY. ELIAS’ HOME, Seattle, Washington.
Elias placed the photograph from the day of the soccer game on the dresser in a black frame Merida had left for him. Seriously, he didn’t know what he’d do without a friend like her. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to what it would be like when Jo and Merida finished feeling each other out. Once those two combined their power, he had a feeling he would be in a lot of trouble all the time.
It would be worth it.
The shower shut off, and he glanced at the bathroom door.
He had a few more minutes.
He pulled out his phone and quickly skimmed his messages.
Both Merida and Zain had checked in to let him know Rusty was enthusiastic about the possibility of Jo transferring. Of course, Jo didn’t know about that yet. He hadn’t expected the others to move quite so fast.
One thing was certain, he didn’t want Jo to leave. Ever. He’d gotten her here with all her worldly possessions and if he had his way, she’d never leave again. He had a sneaking suspicion she was onto him, and that was okay. He wanted her to know she had a place here, where she belonged.
She made him remember that there were things worth living for. His life wasn’t over. She’d woken him up to that, and now he wanted to spend the rest of his life figuring out how to love her.
The bathroom door opened, and he turned, only to freeze with his tongue practically hanging out.
Jo stood in the doorway, her hair piled on top of her head, wearing a red lacey number he’d bought. The barely opaque fabric hinted at the bounty underneath.
“Well, hello there, coffee boy.” She grinned.
Coffee.
Right.
Elias picked up the little festive mugs and crossed the room.
She arched a brow. “Are you wearing anything under that apron?”
It was his turn to grin at her. “Care to find out?”
This was going to be the best Christmas ever.
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EXPLORE THE WHOLE AEGIS world in these series...
It all began with the Aegis Group.
Dangerous Attraction
Dangerous in Training
Dangerous Games
Dangerous Assignment
Dangerous Protector
Dangerous Secrets
Dangerous Betrayal
Dangerous Heat
Dangerous Connections
Dangerous Exposure (TBA)
More Coming Soon!
Within Aegis Group, special teams take on special jobs, beginning with the Alpha Team.
Dangerous in Love
Dangerous in Action
Dangerous in Transit
Dangerous in Motion
Dangerous in Charge
Other specialized teams exist under the Aegis Group umbrella, including Lepta Team.
Dangerously Taken
Dangerously Involved
Dangerously Deceived
Dangerously Broken
Dangerously Entwined
Troy Team has signed on to work an ultra-secret case in the Aegis Group Task Force series.
(prequel) First Risk: a newsletter exclusive serial
Stolen Risk
Forged Risk
Technical Risk
Necessary Risk
Intercepted Risk (TBA)
Targeted Risk (TBA)
Hard Risk (TBA)
Burned Risk (TBA)
Final Risk (TBA)
You’ve heard about them and got your first glimpse in Necessary Risk, but now the Dangerous Ladies are here to play!
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p; Just Friends (TBA)
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Stay tuned for the appearance of the Omega Team.
In Dangerous Games it continued with the Gone Geek girls.
Beauty and the Geek
Mr. Purr-fect and the Geek
The Jock and the Geek
The Gamer and the Geek
The Adorkable Girl and the Geek
The Fake Boyfriend and the Geek
When the Seattle office of Aegis Group opened the Twisted Royals took the stage.
The Origin Story
Alpha Prince
Her Prince
Bad Boy Prince
Noble Prince
For short reads, tune in this December for the Body of Danger novella series kick-off.
Heart of Danger
Spirit of Danger
Mind of Danger (2020)
The other Smith brother takes us to the Texas SWAT series, a small town suspense series.
Fighting Redemption
Stolen Redemption
Forbidden Redemption
Reckless Redemption (coming soon)
Thanks to the SWAT team, Ransom, Texas enjoys a slower pace of life beginning in The Love Barn.
Give Me Back My Man
Summer of Love
Party out of Bounds
Heart of Danger
Body of Danger #1
Christmas is a special time of year for Valentina. Nothing beats the lights and the food of her home town. Which is why she can't wait to share it with her best friend, who also happens to be her very attractive boss. Val vows that the only treat she'll give Duke this Christmas is one of Abuela’s cookies. Except when they arrive home, no one is celebrating Christmas at all.
After suffering devastating losses, the only comfort Duke has known is in his work—at least that was until Val. Her vivacious personality has reminded him that life is worth living. Keeping their relationship friends only is the hardest challenge of all. When Val goes into a near panic at the abandoned streets of her home town personal feelings are put on the back burner.
From the moment the friends arrive home it's obvious something is wrong, and it's up to Val and Duke to figure out what could have a whole town afraid to celebrate Christmas.
Spirit of Danger
Body of Danger #2
Merida just wants to get through Christmas this year, but after a disastrous day at work and her house flooding, it's not shaping up to be a great holiday. At least until her neighbor, best friend, and totally-off-limits crush comes to her rescue.
Finley walks a fine line of respecting Merida's boundaries while lusting over her body. He should have never struck up a friendship with his sassy neighbor. He knew that the moment he first saw her. This Christmas he wants one thing he can't have: her.
A home disaster quickly spins out of control when Merida is called into work for a strange emergency. Finley can't shake the feeling that something isn't right. He'll stick close to her until the lines are blurred because her body is his to protect.
See where it all started...
Blind: Killer Instincts
Available Now
He recognizes the darkness in her. It’s in him, too.
Detective Jacob Payton knows the clock is ticking down. Someone is about to die, and his best suspect is also his only source of information. He’s known Emma Ration’s story for years—after all, a brutal serial killer left his mark on both their lives when they were still young. Meeting her is another experience altogether. She challenges his control and entices him in ways no other woman has.
But is she the killer? As the bodies pile up and their passion ignite, Jacob runs the risk of losing his control. Falling for Emma was never in his plan, but now that she’s part of his life he’s not about to give her up. Not even to the FBI on the trail of the very same killer.
Jacob must figure out if it’s Emma in danger, or himself. If he can’t uncover the identity of the copycat killer, it could be the end for both him and the woman who has fast become the center of his life.
Blind, a new romantic suspense book for fans of Criminal Minds and The Following, from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Sidney Bristol.
Dangerous Attraction
Ex-Navy SEAL Travis Ration is an expert hunter. Whether his prey is criminal or victim, he always gets his mark. He's no hero, just a man doing his job. It’s all he has after a felony conviction after a bad judgment call. When the FBI call in a favor and ask him to look into a serial killer over the holiday break, he jumps at the opportunity to fill the long, cold days with something besides regret and bad movies. In Las Vegas, he's on the hunt for a prolific serial killer no one wants to admit exists. The leads are dry and the evidence gone, until she walks into his life. Bliss Giles—curvy, sassy and everything he can't have.
What’s worse, Travis knows Bliss’ sister is the killer's latest victim. She fits the profile. Time is running out and the fastest way to retrace the killer's path is with Bliss at Travis' side. In the seat of danger. He vows to keep Bliss safe and his hands to himself, after all, a nice girl like her doesn't need a guy like him in her life. Too bad no one told Bliss Travis was off-limits. She tests his boundaries and pushes his control every minute they're together until he can't remember why wanting her is a bad idea.
The hunters become the hunted in this tale of serial killers and SEALs for hire. One broken man must unpack his baggage, a woman has make a leap of faith and a sister chooses to live in this new, romantic suspense serial by NYT & USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Bristol.
Warning: Hold onto your panties, because nothing is safe.
Dangerous in Training
Disgraced Navy SEAL Mason Clark knows how to track his prey. He is an expert operative with a history of wrong-place-wrong-time luck. Landing a gig as a vacation bodyguard should have been an easy job—if he wasn't supposed to be protecting her body.
Hannah Stevens. His boss's virgin daughter. Their lust is forbidden and a relationship is out of the question—but what happens in Mexico is their secret. Getting lost between the sheets is their one and only goal, until Hannah's friends are brutally kidnapped by a human-trafficking ring. Things quickly spiral out of control when the kidnappers put Hannah in their cross hairs.
Mason is a man ready to put it all on the line to rescue the woman he loves. Love and honor are put to the test in this new, romantic suspense series by NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Bristol.
Warning: Deflowering virgins doesn't come with volume control.
Dangerous Games
Ex-Navy SEAL Zain Lloyd is good with his hands and even better with his head. As the chief intelligence officer for the private security firm, Aegis Group, it's his job to tackle problems before they costs his friend's their lives. Which is why R&R time away from the high-stress environment is always a top priority, and a week at ComicCon is just what this closet-geek wants most, until a fateful elevator ride with the woman of his internet fantasies.
Andrea Clark can't trust anyone, least of all the mysteriously sexy man she meets outside of her trashed hotel room. But Zain might be her only hope of making it through the convention and home alive. He's her very own superhero, made of all the stuff to make her fall fast and hard. With no safety net in place, she can only pray that Zain will catch her when she falls.
A web of lies and deceit ensnare two lovers. Zain must use more than his brain and quick fingers to put a stop to the doxxing and death threats before a killer emerges from the ranks of Andrea's friends.
Warning: The geeks do it better.
Dangerous Assignment
Veteran Navy SEAL Luke Briar has a solution for every problem, except when his latest job goes sideways. Things were so much simpler when all he had to worry about was how to put a smile on Abigail's face, though nothing he does chases the shadows from her eyes. Now Luke and his lovely new partner must protect a pair of criminals from people trying to kill them.
Abigail is a lie. Everyth
ing about her is false, but keeping the truth from her partner is becoming increasingly difficult. Her mission was simple, kill two internationally wanted criminals and get out. But she wasn't counting on him. Luke. He awakens parts of her she long thought were dead. But people like her don’t get second chances at life, and her betrayal will crush any happiness they might have had. Falling for Luke can't happen.
When the tables are turned and someone else gets to Abigail's targets before she can, all hell breaks loose. Luke doesn’t know if the woman he’s fallen for is a terrorist or something worse. Explosive desire isn't a license for murder, but he can’t live without her. With the authorities closing in, Luke must decide who to trust—law or love.
Warning: Explosive chemistry ahead.
Dangerous Protector
Retired Navy SEAL Marco Benally knows the cost of right and wrong, and he's willing to pay the price. After his family's home is stolen out from under them by a company covering up their illegal activities, Marco takes matters into his own hands. No cost is too great to reclaim the generational homestead. Even if that means someone else has to take the fall. Or that's what he tells himself until he meets her. The woman with the tight skirt, tall heels and darkness in her eyes. One night, one lie to get the evidence he needs and then it's over. Or at least that's what he tells himself.
Fiona Goero survives by following very careful rules. She's lived more of her life in Witness Protection than out of it. As one of the Internet's Most Wanted for helping the FBI put away a group of hackers, she is never safe. She's the traitor. The hacker who turned against her own. For one night she wants to indulge her every desire. To be held. To feel again. What should have been a passionate encounter becomes a snarled mess of lies and spies. Someone close to her is not only using her, they're trying to kill her. Her one-night-stand might be the only thing between her and being six foot under.
Marco is a man on a mission to set things right before Fiona discovers that not all of the danger can be laid at her enemies' feet. The greatest danger Fiona faces just might be from Marco—the man she's falling for.
Mind of Danger (Body of Danger, #3) Page 14