Dream (Rosewood Bay Series Book 4) Page 15

  “Wherever you’re comfortable.” He waited patiently, his handsome face set in a serious expression.

  “I was young and stupid–” She held up a hand before he could argue with her. “Naïve. I was young and naïve. I didn’t have a mother to look out for me and say, Andi, you’re making a mistake. And I didn’t trust in the one person who did tell me just that. I didn’t believe in you and for that I’ll always be sorry.” She drew a deep breath. “But I meant what I said to Billy. I’ll never regret Nicky.”

  Kyle’s expression softened. “He’s a great kid. Amazing, actually. And that’s all because of you. He’s the best of you, Andi. That’s what he is.”

  She smiled, grateful he didn’t look at her beloved boy and see his father. Hurdle one down, she thought.

  “And then I compounded my mistakes by thinking what Billy wanted me to think. That his abuse was my fault, that I deserved it. That I needed to hide it from the people who cared about me. And I really messed up when I cut you off and pushed you away. I should have believed you could handle yourself with Kyle, but I was so afraid, I couldn’t see beyond my own fear. I hurt you and I know I didn’t deserve a second chance at friendship, let alone the relationship we have now.”

  He shook his head. “You’re wrong, Andi. Abusers succeed because they know just who to target. That doesn’t make you wrong or bad or stupid or anything else you might think of yourself.”

  “I don’t think that really. Not anymore. I say some of those things out of habit, but I know that I’ve worked hard to get past what happened. To be strong and independent – and that’s where I made another mistake. I thought that I needed to go it alone.”

  He squeezed her hand, and she said, “You taught me that I don’t have to. More than that, you taught me that I don’t want to.”

  He smiled at her words. “Glad my teaching degree came in handy for something that means the world to me.”

  She laughed but her next words were serious. “I love you, Kyle. You’re my best friend and you’re the man I love. The only man I’ve ever really loved.”

  His golden-brown eyes softened. “That’s good to know. Because I love you, too. I always have. And to set the record straight, you’re not the only one who makes mistakes. I should have told you how I felt years ago. Maybe I could have spared you–” He trailed off with a shake of his head.

  “Nicky,” they both said at the same time.

  “If I’d told you I loved you sooner, if you’d wised up about Billy, you wouldn’t have Nicky.” He met her gaze. “We wouldn’t have Nicky.”

  “I love you,” she said again, her voice thick with emotion. Emotion she’d been afraid to feel until he’d come back into her life.

  He lifted her chin, looking into her eyes. “I love you, too. And when the time is right, I want to marry you and make Nicky my son.”

  She blinked, her eyes opening wide.

  He grinned, unrepentant for throwing that at her out of the blue. And she didn’t care. Not one bit. She grinned back at him, happier than she’d ever been.

  “Now kiss me,” he said.

  With a smile on her face, she leaned over and sealed her lips over his, knowing with everything in her that the dreams she’d had as a young girl, of falling in love, marrying a good man, and having the family she’d always wanted, had finally come true.

  Epilogue

  Summer

  I now pronounce you husband and wife.

  The words still rang in Kyle’s ears as the celebration portion of his and Andi’s wedding continued in the backyard of Halley and Kane’s beach house. They’d opted for a small gathering of close friends and family, the people who meant the most to them.

  Kyle had waited a lifetime for Andi, first because he’d been too shy to admit to his feelings and later because he’d waited too long and lost his chance. He’d had his life in Chicago, dated his share of women, but none had lived up to the memory of the girl who had his heart.

  Now she was his. Her son was his.

  Billy, difficult and narcissistic as usual, was fighting all the charges against him. The prosecutors were convinced he would end up with a longer sentence on the assault, kidnapping, and the host of other charges in both New York and Connecticut that were pending against him. Suffice it to say, the man would be going away for a long time.

  Kyle and Andi had hired a lawyer who had no problem convincing Billy to sign away for good the parental rights he’d never wanted to begin with and the state of Connecticut had officially signed off on the termination because the man was a risk to his own son. Thus, the door had been opened for Kyle to adopt Nicky, which they’d done before getting married. He and Andi agreed, they wanted to be a family in every sense of the word.

  Andi glided up to him, glowing in her white wedding gown and bare feet on the sand. As far as she was concerned, this was the marriage that counted and she’d wanted to do it right.

  “Did you hear the news?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  He shook his head. “I don’t think so. What’s up?”

  “Braden proposed to Juliette. They didn’t want to take the spotlight off our wedding and they tried to keep it quiet, but she has a pretty sparkling ring on her finger that says it all. And I’m so happy for them!”

  Clearly Andi didn’t mind sharing that spotlight. He couldn’t imagine that she would be anything but thrilled for the other couple.

  “And they’re talking about a destination wedding. Sounds heavenly.” Her eyes glittered with happiness.

  “As long as no one shows up on our honeymoon in Turks and Caicos, I’m good.” He was happy to share most things, but not his island time with his wife.

  In addition to waiting on the adoption to be legalized, they’d also waited until the summer to marry, when Kyle wouldn’t be working, so they could take their honeymoon.

  Kane and Halley had had a baby girl a few months ago, a beautiful baby who was loved and welcomed into the family with so much joy. Phoebe, meanwhile, was waddling around the beach at the wedding, hugely pregnant. So Kyle’s mom would watch Nicky during the honeymoon and he couldn’t wait to get his wife alone.

  “Mom?”

  Andi glanced at Nicky, wearing a mini version of Kyle’s tuxedo… and bare feet.

  “What’s up?” she asked, although he had Halley’s little black dog in his arms, which gave Kyle a clue.

  “I was wondering… if when you got back from your honeymoon… could we get a dog? Please? I’ll walk him and feed him. Please?” He looked up at her with big… puppy dog eyes.

  “Umm… Kyle and I need to discuss it,” she said.

  Nicky turned that big-eyed gaze Kyle’s way. “Dad?” he asked. “Can we get a dog?”

  Dad.

  Nicky had called him Dad for the first time.

  At his words, the blood rushed from Kyle’s head. He was so shocked, he was glad he still had one arm wrapped around Andi to hold him up and keep him from falling.

  Just like that, the boy had gotten himself a dog, Kyle thought.

  “We’ll talk about it after the honeymoon,” Andi said when Kyle was obviously too overcome to find words.

  “You’re going to get a friend,” Nicky whispered to the dog in his arms as he walked away.

  “He’s pretty sure of himself,” Andi said. She glanced at Kyle. “Are you okay, Dad?” she asked with a pleased grin.

  “I’m better than I’ve ever been.” He spun her around and dipped her, kissing her long and hard before letting her up for air. “I can’t wait to get you alone, Mrs. Davenport.” His dick hardened inside his pants, and he silently cursed that they had the rest of the reception to get through before he could truly make her his.

  “And I’m looking forward to some of your dirty talking, Mr. Davenport.”

  “We have a lifetime of dirty talk and more to look forward to.” He grasped her hand. “Now let’s go celebrate with our family and friends.”

  Stay tuned for Carly’s next super sexy re
ad, TAKE ME AGAIN and read on for more information including an excerpt!

  Order TAKE ME AGAIN by clicking HERE.

  Read a Teaser of TAKE ME AGAIN by clicking HERE.

  TAKE ME AGAIN

  He’s used to getting what he wants… but she’s going to make him work for it.

  Sebastian Knight is a closer. Be it a real estate deal or the woman of his choice, everything he wants is his for the taking.

  Sexy and irresistible, a wink, a smile, or a handshake always seals the deal.

  Until everything unravels around him.

  After Ashley Easton’s social climbing mother married into the Knight family, Ashley knew better than to get involved with sexy, trouble making Sebastian Knight but their attraction is undeniable, their chemistry intense, and in a moment of weakness, she turns to him, a mistake that cost her her home and her family. After she was sent away, she swore she’d never come back.

  Sebastian never expected to see Ashley, the one woman he’s never been able to get over, again.

  When she walks back into his life at the worst possible time, more beautiful than ever, he’s ready for a second chance. She’s sassy and sexy everything he’s ever desired. And she’s back for good. Except Ashley wants nothing to do with the playboy who broke her heart. Too bad his sex appeal makes it harder and harder to keep him at arm’s length.

  Sebastian Knight might have a talent for sealing the deal but this is one game he’s going to have to work to win.

  Order TAKE ME AGAIN by clicking HERE.

  Read a Teaser of TAKE ME AGAIN by clicking HERE.

  TAKE ME AGAIN

  Please note: This is an unedited excerpt for your enjoyment.

  Chapter One

  Sebastian Knight’s head pounded like a mother fucker and light streamed in from the window, piercing through one eye and into his brain. He groaned and rolled over, burying his face in the pillow. At twenty-six, wasn’t he too damned old for a hangover like this? Yeah, he’d have to remember that the next time he picked up a glass of tequila and asked the bartender to keep them coming to celebrate closing a huge land deal with his brothers. Except Ethan and Parker had gone home after toasting their success. After that, Sebastian didn’t remember much.

  A flash of red flickered through his mind. A woman with flame-hued hair had joined him at the bar. He recalled the unusual color and the obviously fake but very tempting breasts that protruded over the top of her tight dress along with his body’s reaction to her assets.

  Shit.

  Was he alone now?

  He lifted his head and opened his eyes, not seeing anyone laying beside him and not recognizing where he was, but from the abundance of white furniture and the generic feel and look of the place, it was definitely a hotel room. An upscale suite but a hotel nevertheless.

  Memory came back in small increments.

  The huge parcel of land they’d bought, outbidding some major players because Sebastian had stepped in and closed the deal, something he excelled at and which his brothers counted on him to do.

  He and his brothers choosing The Bar at the Baccarat Hotel in which to celebrate.

  The toast and his first sip of Don Julio 1942 and how smooth it felt going down his throat.

  And though he might not remember making the elevator ride up to this hotel room, he was here. Which meant he’d be the one making his escape from this one night stand, hopefully without too much of a scene.

  The click of a door sounded and the redhead walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body. Her cleavage was as ample as he remembered, her hair as red, her face? Not as pretty as he’d have hoped or as she’d probably appeared to his drunk self.

  He scrubbed a hand over his gritty eyes and pushed up to a sitting position.

  “Morning, lover.” She started towards him, her stride confident, but he wasn’t in the mood for small talk or sex.

  Instead of waiting for her to ease onto the mattress alongside him, he slid out of bed and rose to his feet. He glanced down to find his pants, grateful to see a torn condom package on the floor beside his clothes. Thank God, even in his inebriated state, he’d been smart about wrapping up.

  “Aren’t you going to stick around for a morning quickie?” she asked, as she opened the towel, revealing her naked body, his for the taking.

  His dick didn’t even perked up at the sight of her tits and he shook his head. “Sorry, doll,” he said, because he didn’t remember her name, dressing as he spoke. “I have a meeting I need to get to.”

  Her pout was real. “Didn’t you have a good time last night?” she asked, sounding hurt, fumbling to cover herself with the towel again in the face of his rejection.

  I don’t remember wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

  He zipped his trousers and slid on his white dress shirt, buttoning up. “It was great. But now it’s over,” he said, knowing he had to be very clear about his intentions or lack thereof. Socks and shoes went on next and he was dressed and ready to go.

  He patted his pockets, double checking for his wallet and cell phone and headed for the door. As awkward as this was, no need to prolong it or make it worse.

  “Bastard,” she muttered.

  And after he’d pulled the door closed, he heard what sounded like a shoe being thrown as the door clicked shut behind him. Yeah, he really was getting too old for this shit.

  He pulled out his phone, only to discover he’d turned off the ringer sometime during the night and his brothers had tried to reach him numerous times. So had his younger sister, Sierra.

  He narrowed his gaze. Why the hell had everyone been looking for him?

  He took the elevator down to the first floor and walked through the lobby, across the white marble and out into the Manhattan sunshine before hitting redial and calling his oldest brother, Ethan. When the call went direct to voicemail, he dialed Parker next.

  “Where the fuck have you been?” his middle sibling all but yelled.

  “Calm yourself, Switzerland,” he said, using the nickname the family had for Parker when he wouldn’t take one side or another in an argument and always tended to remain neutral. “I’m here now. What’s going on?”

  Squinting into the sun, Sebastian hailed the first empty cab he saw, the driver coming to a skidding stop on his side of the street.

  “Mandy died, Sebastian.”

  He froze, his hand on the taxi door handle. “Say that again.”

  “Mandy died,” he said of Ethan’s wife. “I’ve been with E. all night. So has Sierra. So get your ass to his place like yesterday.”

  The cab driver honked the horn, letting Sebastian know he’d better climb in in the back seat or the man would take off. He opened the door and slid onto the taped up pleather, his heart heavy and thudding inside his chest.

  “What happened?” he asked through his thick throat and dry mouth.

  Everyone loved Ethan’s wife, Amanda, Mandy for short, who ran the accounting for Knight Associates, their land development/real estate firm.

  “Buddy, where to?” the cab driver asked, impatiently.

  He gave the address of the apartment building uptown that Knight Associates owned, where all the siblings resided.

  Parker waited for Sebastian to finish before he answered. “Accidental overdose.”

  “What the fuck?” Mandy didn’t take drugs, not that he knew of.

  “It’s a long story.” Parker sounded exhausted. “Just come home and I’ll explain everything.”

  “How’s Ethan?” he asked, worried about his older brother who felt it was his job to look after everyone else.

  He’d taken on the role of caretaker after their mother passed away when Sebastian had been fifteen. Only nineteen at the time, Ethan had stepped up because frankly, their father had never been the responsible parent.

  “About as good as you’d expect,” Parker muttered.

  Which meant not good at all.

  He needed to get to his sibling but the Manhattan traffic moved at
a snail’s pace and the ride seemed to take forever. He closed his eyes throughout the trip uptown and pictured Ethan’s wife, a petite brunette with a vibrant personality. Granted, she’d been more subdued lately, her shoulder surgery last year having been hard on her physically and mentally. But an accidental overdose? It didn’t compute.

  The cab finally came to a stop. He shoved his credit card into the slot and completed the transaction, climbing out of the car and making his way past the doorman, into the building and up the elevator, another ride which seemed endless.

  Arriving at Ethan’s door, he knocked once and Sierra let him in, wrapping her arms around him, her smaller body shaking as she cried. The Knight siblings were each two years apart and he was close to his twenty-four year old baby sister. He walked into the apartment, Sierra holding onto him, and found his brothers in the living room.

  She stepped away, sniffing as she sank into an oversized chair. From his place on the sofa, Ethan rose to his feet. His brother’s dark hair was disheveled, his eyes bloodshot and red.

  In silence, Sebastian stepped forward and pulled him into a brotherly embrace. “I’m sorry man,” he said at last. “What happened?”

  Ethan straightened to his full height. “I came home. Thought she was napping but I couldn’t wake her up. I called 911 but it was too late.” His voice sounded like gravel, the pain etched in his face raw and real.

  “Parker–” Sebastian gestured to his brother who was now sitting on the far side of the couch. “Parker said it was an overdose but I don’t understand. Overdose on what?”

  “Sit,” Ethan said and Sebastian chose a matching chair next to Sierra’s. “It was Oxy.”

  “What the fuck!?”

  Ethan shook his head, obviously at a loss.

  “It started after the shoulder surgery,” Parker said, taking over when Ethan’s voice failed him. “The doctors loaded her up with drugs to help with the pain. We had no idea they kept giving them to her until she was hooked.”