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“To have sex?” She nods. “I had opportunities. There was always someone I tried to date or some flirty dude at a party. But I never wanted any of them. No one made me feel like you.”

  “No one has ever made me feel like you, either.” When I’m with Whitney, I’m centered. I’m myself. I’m whole. I never got married or serious with another woman because I couldn’t replicate the feeling I had when I was with her. “How were you going to marry some guy you’d never slept with? And didn’t love?”

  She grimaces. “It was a business deal. You know Vance needs money. My fiancé needs plausible cover because he’s in love with someone he can’t have. He doesn’t have any more interest in me than I have in him.”

  As far as I’m concerned, he’s her former fiancé, but I’ll get to that. “So he never touched you?”

  “Except to give me a peck for some engagement photos, no.”

  Then I won’t have to kill him. Good.

  Reluctantly, I pull free of Whitney’s body. When she winces and shifts, I’m instantly concerned. “You okay, princess? Sore?”

  “A little, but I’m fine.”

  That’s a relief because I’m going to want her again soon.

  For now, I lie back and nestle her body against mine. She rests her head on my chest as if curling up against me is the most natural thing in the world. I caress my way down her back with a light stroke.

  I sigh. We may be in love, but that doesn’t make the road in front of us easy. Eventually, I’ll have to be unflinchingly honest.

  But first, it’s time to talk about the elephant in the room. “What about your brother?”

  We can’t let him stand between us.

  She nibbles on her bottom lip for a long minute. “Being here with you has made me realize I can’t sacrifice my future for him. He has to stop being impulsive and getting himself into stupid situations. And if he doesn’t, I have to stop bailing him out. He regrets everything eventually, but by then…it’s usually too late. I think that’s especially true of you.”

  I have mixed feelings about that. I’ll deal with those later. “Tell me how he got in his current financial situation.”

  How much does she know?

  “A few months ago in Vegas, he was drunk, and some asshole—he won’t tell me who—dared him to bet a stupid amount of money on a hand of poker. It just happened to coincide with the value of his company. I think it was a setup. But like an idiot, Vance did it. And he lost. I was crushed because I went to school to help save and grow this company. Now it’s…gone.” She looks so distressed that I soothe her with a caress.

  “Has he signed it over to this guy yet?”

  “He refused to. I told him that’s not the way the world works, that he needs to grow up and face his consequences. His answer was to call Michael, someone we’ve known personally and professionally for a few years. Vance begged him for a bailout. Michael agreed if I would marry him. Not that anyone asked me.” She shakes her head. “I’ve had cold feet from day one. I’ve wracked my brain to figure out how I can help my brother without sacrificing my future. Then the courier knocked on my door with your note.”

  “And you met me in the bar.”

  Her face softens as she nods. “Not for the money. I couldn’t not see you. I had to know…”

  “If there was anything left between us? I needed to know, too.” And it’s time to come clean. “That’s why I created a fail-safe plan…or so I thought.”

  She props her chin on my chest with a frown. “What plan?”

  “I’m the, um…asshole who got Vance drunk in Vegas and encouraged him to bet the value of his business. I knew he’d lose. For me, it was a win-win. Either I’d get back the company I lost or—more importantly—I could use the debt as leverage to see you again. So I’d finally know if I was still as much in love with you as I suspected. If so, I planned to forgive Vance’s debt if you’d marry me.”

  Whitney gapes. “Why go to all that trouble? Why not just reach out and talk to me?”

  “And risk rejection? My fragile male ego…” I roll my eyes at my foolishness. I’m usually so fearless, especially in business, but knowing Whitney would likely rebuff me terrified me. “I thought you’d tell me to go fuck myself. My negotiations with Vance seemed to be going great—until he suddenly stopped responding to my calls. Then I heard whispers that he’d arranged your marriage to someone else for money. So I came straight to you.”

  “And you sent me the note?”

  I nod. “One way or another, I was going to get my hands on you, princess.”

  She giggles. “I’d say you got a lot more on me than your hands.”

  “Thank god. My sanity couldn’t stand not touching you anymore.” I tuck a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “I think I’ve always known you were it for me.”

  “You always have been for me.” She caresses my chest. “I’m sorry I took my brother’s side after that summer. He told me you gave him a few pointers on the app but that he’d actually written it. According to him, you only said you’d created it to impress me. I didn’t believe him, but my dad pressured me to support Vance. If I didn’t, he threatened to have you arrested for touching me. I had no reason to doubt him.”

  As she should have. Vance no doubt spilled my “transgression” to their father to use as leverage. The old man never liked me much and probably saw my lust as leverage to use against me.

  “I get it. You were so young, and they didn’t leave you much choice.”

  “I’ve spent a lot of time hoping I didn’t hurt you too much.” She bit her lip. “But I did.”

  There’s no point in lying. Whitney crushed me. “You didn’t mean to.”

  I see that now.

  “I didn’t,” she rushes to agree. “Even the thought of it killed me. I suspected you hated me for my decision.”

  “I’ll be honest. I tried.”

  “I know. After that summer, you flaunted all your hookups like you were trying to throw them in my face.”

  When I think back on the way I acted out after the rift between Vance and me, I’m ashamed. “I kept hoping like hell you would say or do something because I mattered to you.”

  “You did, and I was hurt.”

  Her quiet admission makes me feel like an ass. “I’m sorry. I wish I could take all that back. The whole rift seems stupid in hindsight. But I was young and dumb, too.”

  “What happens next, Jett?”

  “What do you want?”

  Whitney stretches up and plants a soft kiss on my lips. “I think you know. I want you. I want everything we should have had all along.”

  “I do, too.” My heart starts pounding again for a totally different reason as I reach across the mattress and manage to fumble my way into the top drawer of the nightstand. I pull out an oblong box. “This is yours, no matter what happens between us.”

  She scrambles to sit up as she takes the box in hand. I’d protest the loss of her warm skin against mine, but the view of her breasts is spectacular. And I want to see her face.

  She lifts the lid and plucks up the letter inside. As she scans it, her lips slowly part until she’s gaping. “You’re giving me forty-nine percent of Vance’s company? I don’t understand.”

  “You’ve more than earned it. I know you’ve been trying to advise him for years. I know you’re the reason the business has survived at all. He hasn’t been a good financial steward, but he’s occasionally listened to you. Now I’m giving you real power.”

  “How is this possible? You don’t own—”

  “I do. While Valentin drove you here, I called your brother again. It took some doing, but we finally hashed out a deal. So I own the company. Well, fifty-one percent as of now.”

  “What are you going to do with your part? And with Vance out of the organization, who will run it?”

  “That depends on you. If you want the job, it’s yours.”

  “Really?” Her hazel eyes widen. “You’d let me?”

  “I can’t think of an
yone I’d trust more.” I kiss her.

  “Oh, my god. This is like a dream come true,” she squeals. “I went to school for a position like this, so I could handle the responsibility and grow the organization. I mean, it’s still relatively small, but it has so much potential and—”

  “It absolutely does.” Her enthusiasm makes me smile. “You’ve got some amazing tech developers on staff, too.”

  She nods. “I’m so excited about new products and updates we have in the works.”

  “So you’re saying yes to the job?”

  “Yes!”

  “Excellent. I know you’ll be great. And I’ll be your supportive but silent partner.”

  Suddenly, her expression falls. “Is that all?”

  I smile. “What do you think?”

  Whitney looks nervous to jinx herself, but she draws up her courage. “You want to marry me.”

  “I do.” Again, I reach into the drawer at my side and pluck out a smaller, plush square box. “And you want to marry me.”

  “You intend to ask me?”

  Her hint of mischief makes me laugh as I sit up and pull her into my lap with a long, sweet kiss. Then I open the box to reveal a simple, elegant engagement ring that looked like it belonged on her finger the moment I saw it earlier this evening.

  “I love you, Whitney. We’ve both made mistakes and wish we could take back some things we said and did, but all roads led us back to each other. I can’t imagine the journey ahead with anyone but you. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

  “Yes!” As I slip the ring on her finger, she cuddles closer and kisses my face. “I love you, too. Oh, my god, now we’re official!”

  Her excitement makes me laugh. I haven’t felt this light in years. “We are.”

  “Why do I get the feeling this may be one of the last times you ask rather than demand anything of me?” She grins.

  “You know me well.”

  “Yes, Sir.” She presses her lips to mine once more.

  From there, I take over, already hard for her again. I’m so aroused by the idea of making love to Whitney when she’s wearing nothing but my engagement ring, I can’t wait to get inside her.

  Rolling her onto her back, I follow her to the mattress, fasten my mouth over hers, then ease inside her swollen, sweltering pussy with a groan.

  Beneath me, she gasps and digs her nails into my shoulders. “Jett!”

  “Yes, princess. Want more?”

  “Yes. God, yes…” She wraps her legs around me. “But fair warning… I might need help with my job.”

  She wants to talk about work now? “If you need sex to do it right, I’m your man.”

  Whitney curls her arms around my neck and rocks with me. “I just might. But then I’ll need time off. Unless we start being safer, we’re going to have some babies.”

  Ah, she’s figured out the other part of my plan—and she seems blessedly happy with it. “I sure hope so. I want you pregnant now.”

  “Me, too.”

  After we share bodies, passion, and our love, we fall into a heap, arms around each other. I cup Whitney’s still-rosy cheek. “You happy?”

  “Since you’ve made my every dream come true? Yes, Sir.”

  Epilogue

  Sunshine Coast Bed-and-Breakfast, Maui

  A month later…

  * * *

  Whitney

  Dreams really do come true! Jett has found nearly every moment of every day to prove that to me. He’s worshipped me. He’s kept every promise. And he’s made me fall even more in love with him.

  Finally—after a lot of rushed planning and tricky arrangements—we’re standing on the beach at the most beautiful bed-and-breakfast in Maui, just about to say “I do.”

  “Are you ready?” my brother asks, looking surprisingly dapper in a pale blue suit.

  “Beyond. Thanks for being here and walking me down the aisle.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. I just want you to be happy.” He kisses my temple and offers me his arm, then he escorts me toward the palms swaying gently in the sunset and my waiting groom.

  I’m about to burst with joy.

  For the last month, my brother has been a lot different—quiet and contemplative. He started seeing a therapist. He admitted he’s had a drinking problem since college. He started apologizing to me a lot for things he’s done over the years. And he’s doing his best to mend fences with Jett. My husband-to-be, bless him, has been receptive. Guarded, yes. That’s Jett, and Vance burned him horribly once. But they’re working it out. Jett reached out with an olive branch—and offered to let Vance stay on as head of development. My brother reciprocated by inviting Jett to join an upcoming fantasy football league. It’s progress. That’s all I can ask for now.

  The inn’s owner, Keeley Reed, sings me down the aisle with her lilting, melodic voice. The gentle music carries on the breeze as my bare feet pad over the white runner, flanked by tiki torches leading me under a trio of arches seemingly braided out of twigs and bright pink flowers. At the end, we stop under a tall white awning framed by soft, draped swaths of white gauze. In front of an altar adorned by a floral garland stands the officiant.

  And Jett, waiting for me.

  He looks so handsome in tan pants, a billowy white shirt, and a navy jacket. As I approach, his smile turns brilliant. He has eyes only for me. Which is perfect because my heart is only for him.

  Vance gives me away. Jett sticks out his hand. My heart threatens to turn over with love.

  My brother shakes it, then pulls my fiancé in for a bro hug. “There’s no one I trust more than you to make my sister happy.”

  There are a hundred caustic things Jett could say, but he doesn’t. “I love Whitney. I always have. Thank you for your blessing.”

  With a final nod, Vance makes his way to my side of the small crowd, consisting mostly of friends and a few cousins, and sits next to my mom. Jett’s side of the aisle is filled with his father and new stepmom, Iris. The woman’s daughter, Calla, recently married Jett’s older brother, Quint. They announced last night that they’re expecting a baby in the spring. His sister Ivy came with her husband Derrick. The younger sister, Lacey, is a wild child. I don’t know if she’ll ever settle down. It will take quite a man to tame her.

  “Dearly beloved…” the officiant begins the ceremony.

  My heart takes flight while Jett and I look into each other’s eyes. The sun dips down the vivid, cloudless sky toward the horizon as we commit our lives together. Then Jett slips a wedding band on my finger, and I slide one on his. We seal our bond with a lingering kiss.

  Finally, we’re man and wife.

  “Are you happy, Mrs. Dean?” my husband asks as we make our way down the aisle, toward our reception. He’s all smiles.

  If he’s happy now, just wait. I’m going to give him the best wedding present ever.

  I send him a glance so full of love and joy. I never imagined my life could be so sweet. “I am. How about you…Daddy?”

  As we reach the threshold to the inn, he stops in his tracks and searches my face. “Are you saying…”

  “I’m pregnant. I found out this morning.”

  He embraces me with a hearty laugh. “Well, that’s one thing I can cross off my honeymoon honey-do list.”

  “You were making it your mission to knock me up?”

  “Hell yeah.” He kisses me. “I’ve missed out on eight years of being with you. I need to accelerate the timetable to start this family. Besides, you’re going to be hot all round and pregnant.”

  I beam a smile at him. “You always seem to think I’m hot.”

  “Because you are. But it’s more. You’re smart. You’re funny and understanding. And you’re my other half. I love you, princess.”

  “If you had told me that afternoon you summoned me to the hotel bar that we’d wind up deliriously in love, married, and pregnant within a month, I would have called you crazy.”

  “I’m sure. But I arranged
everything because I hoped all those things would happen.” He swallows. “I would have done anything to be with you.”

  “I know.” I cup his beloved face. “So instead of calling you my enemy that day, I guess I should have called you a genius.”

  “Oh, I like that,” he kids. “A visionary genius, even. Maybe add brilliant to that, too.”

  I laugh. “Now you’re laying it on thick. I don’t need to inflate your ego any more.”

  He leans in for a long, slow kiss. “It’s not my ego you’re inflating, wife.”

  When he rocks into me, I giggle. “I can tell.”

  My husband takes my hand and leads me inside, facing me in all sincerity. “Can I do anything to make you happier? Nothing is more important to me.”

  When Jett looks at me like he could blissfully stare at me forever as he brushes a gentle thumb over my lower lip, I melt. “Why?”

  “You’ve made me ecstatic every day since you came back into my life. I’m going to make you happy for the next seventy years.”

  “That’s a deal I can get behind. I love you, too.”

  Then we seal our forever with a kiss.

  * * *

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  * * *

  SEDUCING THE INNOCENT

  by Shayla Black

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  * * *

  I’m Kayla.

  I’m twenty one.

  I’m afraid because ever since a sudden, terrible tragedy, I’m alone in the world—except for my brother’s best friend. But now Oliver intends to move back to London.

  I’m in love with him. And I have to persuade him to stay…somehow.