“Oh God, Clio, TMI,” Izzy states.
She pouts. “I’m with Jules. I hate you all.”
“You need to get out more,” I tell her. “All you do is work, Clio. Now you’re qualified, maybe you can take your foot off the pedal and socialize a bit.”
“Not if Stefan has his way,” she grumbles. Stefan’s the head of the veterinary center, and she’s often complained that he’s a slave driver. “I swear, if I left early, that Viking would run out and drag me back by my hair.” She purses her lips. “Not that that would necessarily be a bad thing.”
“Oh…” Nix says. “Got the hots for the sexy vet, have you?”
“He’s gorgeous,” Clio admits. “I’m thinking of asking him out for a drink. Maybe if I write an invite in runes he’ll think about it.”
“I know what you’re doing,” Jules says mildly, “and it’s not going to work.”
“Told you,” Clio says to Nix. “She’s too wise to fall for your dastardly plot.”
I smile. I know Jules likes Stefan, and that she’s been angling for a date with him for some time. So far, though, he’s studiously avoided her. None of us is sure why. She’s lovely—bright, bubbly, and sexy in a girl-next-door kinda way. Mind you, I have seen a couple of the women he’s dated in the past, and they’ve all been like models, near to six foot and stunningly beautiful, so maybe she’s just not his type.
“I’m moving on,” Jules says. “He’s not interested in me, and that’s fine. It’s about time I focused my laser-beam-like gaze elsewhere. Like William the groundskeeper.”
We all laugh—William is about seventy-five and has about two hairs on his head.
“What about you?” I ask Clio. “Got your eye on anyone?”
She shrugs. “Nope.”
“Liar,” Remy says in her beautiful French accent. “I saw you ogling Ryan the other day.”
Clio’s eyes widen. “Ogling? Jesus, Remy, where do you learn these words?”
“Albie teaches me. And do not change the subject. You were looking at his butt when he bent over the table.”
“He has a nice butt,” Clio protests, ignoring our sniggers. “Very tight. A girl can window shop, can’t she?”
“Are you interested in him?” I ask her. He’s quite a catch. He’s Hal’s and Jules’s half-brother, adopted by Brock King when he met their mother, Erin. He’s three years older than me, and I’ve known him all my life, as our fathers have always spent a lot of time together. By the time Clio was in her teens, though, Ryan had left home, so I guess she doesn’t know him as well as I do. When he was younger, he was never without a girlfriend, although he was faithful to his ex-wife, as far as I know. His recent divorce was a tough one, and has left him reluctant to date again, so he’s thrown himself into his work.
“I’d do him tomorrow,” Clio admits, making us all laugh. “I’ve had a crush on him for years.”
“Really?” Jules looks amused. “I never knew.”
“Well I’ve never acted on it,” Clio says. “For Reasons, with a capital R.”
“What kind of reasons?” Nix asks. “He’s single. His divorce came through at Christmas.”
“I know,” Clio says. “He’s my cousin, though.”
“By adoption,” Nix replies. “And anyway, it’s not illegal to marry your first cousin in New Zealand. It’s not in many places. Charles Darwin married his first cousin, Emma Wedgwood.”
Clio blinks at that information. “Ryan is also eight years older than me.”
“Noah’s ten years older than me,” Abby comments. She’s been quiet, listening while she nurses Ethan, but he’s now in his carry-seat, and she raises her eyebrows to challenge the younger girl.
“Yeah,” Clio says. “True. But you and Noah are so well suited. Ryan’s… I don’t know, mature. Confident. I get all tongue-tied with him.”
“You, tongue-tied?” Jules laughs.
“I do,” Clio protests. “I can never think what to say.”
“Flash your boobs at him,” Nix says. “That’ll do the trick.” She gestures at where Clio’s blouse is unbuttoned to show an inch of cleavage. She’s a D cup, with a tiny waist and wide hips, your typical hourglass, so she tends to draw a lot of male attention, especially with her blonde hair.
“Ha!” Clio rolls her eyes. “Anyway, I can’t imagine he’d be interested in me. His ex was so elegant and composed. She was a lawyer, for Christ’s sake. Really intelligent.”
“You’re a vet,” Izzy points out. “You’re hardly dumb.”
“Yeah, but I’m, like, blah, blah, blah all the time. I’m too in your face. He’s very quiet.”
“He wasn’t when he was younger,” Jules states. “He was quite the lad.”
“Really?” Clio’s eyebrows rise.
Jules sips her wine with a knowing smirk, glances around, then leans forward conspiratorially. We all lean forward with her. “I overheard him arguing with his ex once,” she whispers. “Samantha called him ‘insatiable’ and said she was fed up with him trying to wear her out.”
“Ooh,” we all say, and Clio’s jaw drops.
“Wow,” she says, looking over at him. “Really?”
All the girls’ eyes widen. The knowledge that he’s secretly a sex god is a revelation to everyone here.
“That’s it,” Nix announces. “Clio’s homed in on him. Like a guided missile, about to blow him out of the water.”
“Clio’s not allowed to blow anyone while I’m still single,” Jules states, prompting us all to erupt into laughter. “Sorry,” she adds as we descend into giggles, “I’ve drunk too much champagne. That’s your fault, Poppy. This is really good stuff.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” I’ve only had a small glass, topping it up with lemonade so hopefully nobody notices.
I lift my face to the sea breeze and sigh. “Thank you all for coming tonight. I’ve had such a wonderful day.”
“Aw,” Izzy says, “I’m so pleased you got your happily-ever-after. You deserve it.”
“You too,” I tell her, and we reach out and hold hands for a moment. She’s officially my sister-in-law now, and we’ve been spending quite a lot of time together over the past two weeks, talking about her and Marc’s mom. She’s given me a lot of insight into their childhood, which has helped me understand him more, and I think she’s appreciated being able to talk about the problems she had with her mom with someone other than Hal.
“What’s going on over here?” Marc says, approaching with the rest of the guys. “There’s far too much fun being had without us.”
“We’re talking about Clio being a guided missile,” I begin, then laugh as she shoots daggers at me. “Come on,” I say, taking Marc’s hand. “Dance with me.”
I lead him back to the small dance floor, and lift my arms around his neck as he pulls me close. Around me, some of the others also start dancing, and I sigh and give him a dreamy smile.
“Having a good time?” he murmurs, bending to kiss my nose.
“Wonderful. I’m trying to fix Jules and Clio up,” I tell him. “I want everyone to be as happy as I am.”
“Aw.” He bends his head and kisses my lips. “I’m so glad you’re not regretting marrying me.”
That makes me laugh. “Not at all. I’m so happy, Marc. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” He glances down at my belly. “And little Fitz.”
I giggle and glance around. “Shh.”
“You still haven’t told anyone?”
I shake my head. “I want to wait until I’m three months. It’s our secret. I still can’t quite believe it.”
“Me either. It’s so funny to think there’s a little person growing inside you.”
“Your little person,” I whisper, looking up into his eyes.
“My little person. And now you’re my woman.” He takes my hand from behind his neck and shows me my wedding ring. “I’ve branded you. So every man will know you belong to me. Do you mind?”
“No,�
� I say honestly.
He releases my hand and lowers his hand back to my hips, pulling me close. “And tonight I’m going to brand you in another way. I’m going to write my name all over you, on every inch of your skin, so you never forget whose girl you are.”
“How could I forget?” I lift my face to his for a kiss. “You’re the only man for me, Marc Fitzgerald. Till death do us part.”
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My Wicked Billionaire
Pre-order My Wicked Billionaire (Book 6) – Clio and Ryan’s story – or join the Kiwi Birds to be informed when it’s out!
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Can’t wait? Have you read the Three Wise Men?
Available as individual books or a USA Today bestselling box set! Read more here
Book 1: The Perfect Gift
Consultant pediatrician Brock King lost his wife to cancer two years ago, and he’s convinced the love he felt for her only comes around once in a lifetime. Then, while visiting the children’s ward, he meets single mom Erin, and suddenly his future doesn’t seem so bleak. Brock offers to take Erin away for her birthday, no strings attached, to give her the perfect gift every single mom would kill for—a night in an exclusive hotel. Will she take him up on his offer, which might (if she’s very lucky) end up with hot sex with a billionaire? Or should she take the moral high ground and say no?
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Other Series by Serenity Woods
For an up-to-date list of available books, please visit the Books page on my website.
Bay of Islands Brides
Between the Sheets
Blue Penguin Bay
Christmas Wishes
Dartmoor Big Cat Brides
Heartfelt
Like a Boss
Love Comes Later
Sensual Healing
Serenity’s Standalones
The Billionaire Kings
The Four Seasons
Three Wise Men
Treats to Tempt You
Collections
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About the Author
Serenity Woods lives in the sub-tropical Northland of New Zealand with her wonderful husband and gorgeous son. She writes hot and sultry contemporary romances with a happy ever after, and would much rather immerse herself in reading or writing romance than do the dusting and ironing, which is why it’s not a great idea to pop round if you have any allergies.
Website: http://www.serenitywoodsromance.com
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My Wounded Billionaire (The Billionaire Kings Book 5) Page 19