The Marriage Contract

By

P. G. Van

© 2017 P.G.Van

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic
or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of
the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses,

places, events, and incidents are either the product of the
author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or
actual events, is purely coincidental.
 About the Author

P. G. Van lives in San Francisco. She published her first

novel of The Pure Destiny Series in October 2015 and cannot
stop writing. She loves to spend time with family and is a
strong believer of retail therapy (mostly shops for boots and
purses!!). She enjoys giving her readers an escape to the world
of love and romance.

http://www.amazon.com/author/pgvan

Contact P. G. Van at pgvanpublish@gmail.com

Twitter - @authpgvan
Instagram - @authorpgvan

Books by P.G.Van

Destiny Decides..

Destiny Embraces..

The Evil Twin?

A Reckless Night

Hold Me Captive…Forever
 Chapter 1

“Dad, please tell me you’re kidding,” Kari slammed the

envelope of legal documents on the glass coffee table with a
thud.
“Karina Vora, behave.” Her mother issued a friendly
warning looking up at her from the couch.
“Stay out of this, Mom. Dad, I refuse to sign the
contract. This is ridiculous.” She had lost her composure and
made no attempt to regain it.
“Why is it ridiculous? I am the CEO and President of the
company, and I decided it was time to retire.” Her father took
a sip of his whiskey without looking at her.
“Dad… you know I wanted to manage the hotels, you
know I can. Why did you enter into this contract?” It felt like
everything she worked for was falling apart.
“I know you are capable; you are my daughter.” Her
father maintained his calm tone.
“Then why do I have a pending contract in front of me
requiring my signature to close the deal?” She slumped her
body in the soft leather chair across from her dad in the family
room of her parents’ home.
“Kari, your dad did what’s best for everyone,” her mom
interjected.
“How is this good? You guys know how hard I’ve been
working to take our hotels to the next level.” She raked her
nails through her thick, dark hair.
“I want you to have a life, sweetie. We want
grandchildren, and you’re not getting any younger,” her dad’s
voice was soft.
“You’re kidding, right? I turned twenty-seven just a
month ago.” She shook her head in disbelief.
 “You’ve spent the last year in a dungeon with your
friends working on the software that we have no clue what it
does, and you broke up with your boyfriend claiming he was
needy… don’t you see what’s happening, baby? You’ve turned
into a workaholic,” her mom’s voice held a question.
“I asked your dad to sell it so we can retire, and you
can…” Kari’s anger was out of control to let her mother finish.
“So I can live off of your earnings?”
“Kari, this deal has a good payout for you as well…”
The look on her face made her dad’s voice trail off.
“Go on, Dad,” she urged knowing exactly what he had
done with her share of the payout.
“We want you to get married and be happy, so you will
get your payout once you are married.”
“You two are fucking with my life,” her voice blared in
the large family room.
“Kari, watch your tongue.” Her mom was furious.
“This is ridiculous! Is my software part of the deal?” She
pressed her fingers into her temple looking at the floor.
“Everything that belongs to the Vora Group of Hotels
will be part of the Kennedy Group of Companies.” Her dad’s
voice was not as controlled as it was at the beginning of the
conversation.
“Why, Dad, Why?” She couldn’t believe her dad had
made a deal to give away the newest concept in customer
service. She and her friends had been working on a software
program that would take the service at any hotel to the next
level. It would change the total experience of any hotel guest,
and her plan was to make it big by providing personalization
services to guests of all hotels across the globe.
“Hotels don’t run on software, sweetie,” her dad’s voice
was devastatingly ignorant.
“I refuse to sign this contract. I can’t let the deal go
through.” She crossed her arms in front of her adamantly.
 Her dad stood up and looked at her. “You will sign this
and graciously take your payout, or I will fire you and get a
new Chief Operating Officer to sign the contract.”
“What?” she snapped.
“You know he is capable,” her mom teased shaking her
head.
“Why don’t you guys understand? I’m trying to save the
company from a bad deal. Kennedy is getting a sweet deal out
of your desperation.” She tried hard to maintain a steady
voice.
“We are not desperate. It’s high time you start thinking
about getting a life,” her dad said.
“I have a life, Dad, I’m trying to do something with it,”
she responded.
“From my perspective, the deal is already made. If you
want to discuss this with Mr. Kennedy, I can have Linda set up
an appointment for you tomorrow.”
She rolled her eyes looking forward to the conversation
with a man as old as her dad to discuss her software.
“I’m willing to give up my payout if I get to keep my
software,” she declared.
“I won’t let you do that, Kari.” Her dad was not going to
budge, and she knew it by the look on his face.
“Fine, I am free to see him after seven tomorrow.”
“It’s not up to you as to when you can meet him. Linda
will tell you when he is available,” her dad snapped.
“Fine.” She got up to leave and turned when her dad
called out to her.
“You better take this envelope with you. I expect you to
sign it before midnight tomorrow.” Her dad was a ruthless
boss.
She did not respond and started to walk away before her
mom called out to her. “Kari, it’s dark outside, and you know
it scares me when you ride your motorbike this late at night.”
 “Mom, I need to go. I’ll come by tomorrow night. I have
a feeling I’ll be talking to Dad again tomorrow after I meet Mr.
Kennedy.” She smiled with confidence. She was confident she
could convince the elderly man to add a clause that would
exclude her software product, and she was ready to give up her
share of the deal if necessary.

*****

“Kari, this is Linda.” Her dad’s assistant was always

extremely polite.
“Hi, Linda. How are you?” Kari asked cheerfully.
“I’m good. I am calling to remind you about your
meeting with Mr. Kennedy at six-thirty tonight,” her voice was
shaky.
Shit!
“Oh… I’m on my way out.” She looked at the clock and
realized it was almost six-fifteen, and she had to get to
downtown San Francisco from the pier.
“I’ll take my motorbike, and it shouldn’t take me more
than ten minutes to get there.” She waved to her team as she
grabbed her helmet and dashed toward the elevator.
“That was close,” she breathed out as the elevator doors
closed. She ran her fingers through her thick, dark hair and
took a quick peek at herself in the elevator mirror. She had
thought through the different options she would present to the
president of the company, which was easily ten times bigger
than her dad’s company. She knew she could take her dad’s
company to that level in a few years, and the software was the
missing piece of the puzzle.
She ran toward her bike zipping up her motorcycle
jacket and pulling her backpack securely over her shoulders.
She had less than fifteen minutes to get to Kennedy’s
downtown headquarters.
 Her bike zipped through the traffic squeezing through
small gaps to make it on time. She cut in front of a slow-
moving town car before pulling into the underground parking
of the building where the Kennedy Group of Companies
occupied three floors in one of San Francisco’s skyscrapers.
She ran her fingers through her hair and sprinted toward
the sliding doors, her boots clicking on the concrete floor. She
signed the visitors’ log and headed to the bank of elevators to
one side of the front desk.
She was waiting for the elevator doors to open when she
felt someone approach her from behind. She turned to look
into glorious green eyes tinted with a sliver of mischief. She
cast a polite smile at the man approaching her just for a brief
moment, but it was long enough for her to take in the rugged
features that were the exact opposite of the luxurious suit
stretched over his broad shoulders. She wondered if he worked
as a model at one of the brands listed on the building roster. A
twitching started deep inside reminding her she had not been
with a guy in a long time.
“Ms. Vora,” a deep male voice called out just as the
elevator dinged open making her wonder if she was imagining
someone addressing her.
She turned around to look at the man standing behind her
with a surprised look on her face. “Yes.”
He held out a firm hand. “I’m Blake Kennedy, how are
you?”
“Oh… I’m Kari, nice to meet you, Blake.” She smiled
and placed her hand in his large, yet soft palm.
“After you.” He smiled following her into the elevator.
“That’s a wicked bike you have there.”
“Thank you!” She smiled feeling the warmth radiate
from within. The guy was charming and had made it to her
good guys’ list with a single compliment about her bike. It was
her 25th birthday gift to herself—a BMW Roadster—and his
description of the bike as ‘wicked’ was apt.
 “I could tell you were in a hurry when you cut in front of
my car,” he drawled.
“Sorry, I have a meeting with your father in about a
minute and didn’t want to be late,” she said sheepishly.
“My father?” The side of his mouth twisted making her
twitch deep inside.
“Yes, right now.” She looked at her watch as the elevator
doors opened.
“Interesting.” His voice was smooth as he held the
elevator door for her to step out.
“It was nice to meet you, Blake.” She smiled and turned
away to walk ahead of him toward the receptionist.
“Hello, I’m here to see Mr. Kennedy.” Her voice was
extremely polite.
“Ms. Vora?”
“Yes.”
“Mr. Kennedy, Oh… here he is… perfect timing,” she
cheered and looked past Kari.
She turned to look at Blake walking toward the desk
with a smile that had a devious tinge to it.
“Do you prefer the conference room, or do you want to
talk in your office?” the woman at the front desk asked. It took
her a moment to realize she was set up to meet with Blake and
not his father.
“Blake, I didn’t realize I was meeting you.” She
maintained a calm tone even though her mind was on
overdrive trying to figure out what to tell him and how to
present her offer. She had rehearsed her pitch with an elderly
gentleman in mind, and now she was left to convince a man
who was probably a few years older than her and distractingly
good looking.
“I am your Mr. Kennedy. Sorry to disappoint you,” he
chuckled making heat rush to her cheeks.
 “My bad, I should have known.” She smiled trying hard
to regain her composure while she debated on the sequence of
her presentation in her mind.
“Do you mind if we talk in my office?” he asked leading
her toward a set of hazy glass doors. “Jen, it’s late. You should
go home.”
“Thanks, Blake. I will in a few minutes.” The woman
smiled at him as he led Kari to his office. His office was
massive with a glass wall running on one side, and the Bay
Bridge shone proudly in the darkness.
“You have an amazing view,” she commented setting her
backpack on one of the chairs at the round conference table to
one side of his office.
He placed his phone and computer bag on his desk and
walked toward the table where Kari had her laptop up and
running. He sat across from her, his eyes not showing any
emotion or reaction. “What is this meeting for, Ms. Vora?”
“Kari, please. I understand my father and you talked
about a deal, but I need a few more things clarified.”
He broke into a glorious smile, and when he started to
shake his head with the sarcasm playing on his face, she
wanted to reach out and claw it.
“The deal is done, Kari.” His voice was gruff.
“I haven’t signed it yet, and I won’t until you agree to
my terms.”
“Terms?” he snorted. “I didn’t really make a deal with
you. Why are we discussing terms?”
“If you want the deal to go through, you will listen to
what I have to say.” She didn’t back down.
“There are a dozen other hotel owners who would strike
a deal with me in a blink. What makes you think you are in a
position to dictate terms?” His voice held a thread of anger
dominated by his cockiness.
“I am not my father, Mr. Kennedy. Our company owns
prime locations in all the beach towns; the locations you need
for your high-end resorts.” She had a tough time controlling
her need to snarl at him.
He leaned back in his chair without taking his eyes off
her determined face. “You do, but you are not the only
company that owns hotels along the coast.”
“I don’t need to tell you why you reached out to us when
you had all these hotel owners lined up to strike a deal with
you,” she snapped.
“I’m listening.” His words seared her skin.
“The contract my father signed refers to the physical
assets and operational bindings, but there is something I want
specifically deleted so there is no confusion in the future.” She
closed her computer realizing she didn’t need to show him
much.
“Ms. Vora, the deal is done. There is no room for
negotiation.”
“It’s Kari, and I am not asking you for anything that is
already in the contract.” She held his burning gaze.
“I don’t understand.” He leaned forward, his elbows
resting on the edge of the table.
“My company owns a product which is not listed in the
contract. Since there is no reference to this product in the
contract, it is not part of the deal, but I need it to be clarified,”
she stated.
“What is this asset and why would it not be part of the
contract if it belongs to the company that I am a signature
away from owning entirely?” His jaw clenched like he
couldn’t believe the contract had gaps.
“The asset is a software program that my team has been
working on for about a year now. Your interest is in the
locations and the vendor relations our company has, so I need
the clause added, and then I will leave you alone.
“What if I don’t?” he challenged.
“I will never let the deal go through, and you have no
idea how pleasant I can be to work with in the court system.”
She batted her eyelashes almost mockingly at him.
The end of his mouth twisted up, but he didn’t respond
immediately. “I’m pretty sure you are very pleasant to work
with, and I look forward to working with you.”
“Blake, I don’t need the hotels, and you don’t need my
software. What is the issue here?” She leaned forward
mimicking his body language.
“What does the software do?”
“It’s proprietary, and I can’t discuss the details.” She
smiled.
“You can either tell me now, or we take this to court. I
have a lot more time and money to fight for what’s mine. Are
you willing to spend time in court for your asset?”
A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of failure. “I
wouldn’t be here if I intended to go to court and ruin both our
company’s reputations,” she rasped.
He scanned her face, his dark eyes taking in the most
beautiful yet fiery eyes he had ever seen. Her cheeks were
flushed with the passion for her work, and her lips quivered.
His eyes rested on her pillow lips for a moment longer than
needed taking his brain down the wrong road.
“Blake, Kari… are you guys doing okay?” A female
voice interrupted the electric silence in the room. “I’m heading
out for the day. Alex is downstairs if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Jen. Good night and have a good weekend,” he
cheered—the concrete wall look on his face disappearing like
it never existed.
“It was nice to meet you, Jen,” Kari called out matching
his cheerfulness.
After a few moments of silence, he finally smiled. “What
if I want the software too? I might be willing to re-negotiate if
I know what I am dealing with here.”
Her heart took a nosedive into her stomach. She did not
want to give up her software; she knew what it was capable of
and needed it to be an independent product. “We don’t have
enough for you to see what we envision from the product.”
“What if I’m willing to take that risk if you tell me what
it is I could be getting along with the physical assets?”
A small voice in her mind told her he might just be
playing her and may not be interested in the software at all. It
would put the conversation to an end if she let him in on a
little bit of detail.
“The software is the next generation of personalizing a
guest’s stay at a hotel.” She managed to keep her voice steady.
She paused when she caught a flicker of interest in his eyes.
“What personalization?”
“The goal is to take the guest’s experience to the next
level by gathering information about them which we could use
to enhance the experience of their stay.” Her voice was steady
while her mind raced.
“Example?” he prompted.
“As a guest, if I register in the app that I am allergic to
nuts, I will never have to worry about the food I order at any
of the hotels using the information from our system.” She tried
hard to read his reaction but got nothing.
“What else?”
“That is all I am allowed to share, and all other
information is only for our investors,” she declared.
“What if I want to invest?” He threw an imaginary
sparkly monkey wrench at her.
“What?” There was no hiding her surprise. She was not
prepared to have someone express interest in her software.
“I am willing to add a clause to the deal I made with
your father.” He leaned back like he had made up his mind.
“No, I am not looking for an investor.” She was hoping
to get the software excluded from the deal, sign the contract,
take her portion of the sale and use that money to invest in the
software.
 “How are you planning to continue working on your
software with no investors?” His eyebrow shot up.
“I have my own payout from the deal, and I will use my
own money.” She held her chin high.
He laughed, and it triggered an acidic reaction inside her.
His laugh taunted her resolve and mocked her dedication
making her want to get up and leave, but she knew better.
“What is so funny, Mr. Kennedy?” She flashed a fake
smile.
“Aren’t we on a first-name basis anymore?” he teased
easing her anger only by a thread.
When she didn’t respond and continued to look at him,
her beautiful brown eyes blistered, he finally spoke. “Were
you counting on the payout my company would release the
day you get married?”
Fuck, he knew everything, and he controlled her payout.
“Why do you control my payout?” she snapped
inadvertently.
“Because I can.” His voice was cool, but she wanted to
slap him. She wondered how his cheek would feel under her
palm.
Her mind was in turmoil; her plan to walk away that
night with a small clause added to the contract came crashing
and burning to the floor. She smiled at him in spite of the
crazy web that was about to wrap around her.
“Mr. Kennedy, you will need to marry me. This is the
only way to finalize the contract and for you to have a piece of
my software.” Her voice held a command, and she felt the
glow on her face when she took in the shocked expression on
his face.
She expected him to laugh, but to her surprise, he looked
at her for a long moment. “I like the way you think, and I’m
willing to discuss this further if you agree to meet me for
dinner tonight.”
 “I’m sorry, I am not proposing we get married for real.”
She shook her head in disbelief.
“Why should I be part of your mess?” He couldn’t help
but provoke her—it fueled him, and the rush brought a smile
to his face.
“Mr. Kennedy, you became part of my mess when you
agreed to make a payment when I get married. Who agrees to
such crap?” she blistered, and it only made it all the more
intriguing.
He couldn’t understand why Kari reminded him of the
woman he hadn’t thought about in seven years. They were
very different, but he couldn’t help but notice the similarities.
He wasn’t sure if he should avoid her or keep her close. She
threatened to break through the barrier he had built, and he
wondered if he secretly hoped for someone to crack through it.
“Mr. Kennedy!” She was getting annoyed with his
silence.
“We will discuss this at dinner, and the deal is off if you
call me Mr. Kennedy one more time.”
“We are discussing business, Blake. We talk now, or we
walk away from this,” she snapped.
“It’s not just business if my personal life is impacted. I
want to meet you outside this environment. I will send a car
for you at eight.” His tone indicated he wasn’t asking, and she
realized she had to abide if she wanted to get the funding she
needed to launch the software.
“Fine, I’ll see you at eight.” She stood up gathering her
things.
“I hope you have thought this through, Ms. Vora.” His
voice was cold.
“Yes, I have, and it looks like you are the one that needs
time to think before you pick me up at eight.” She let sarcasm
weigh on her words.
“I was hoping you would show me why I should
consider marrying you.” His smile was devious.
 “Show you? The marriage is just another contract.” She
looked down at him as he casually looked up at her while
seated at the table.
“I have a certain standard for the women I hang out with
and need to make sure the contract doesn’t ruin my personal
reputation for my choice of women.” The words left his mouth
with a certain level of cool, but it only infuriated her.
“I will show you,” she snapped and stormed out of his
office.
“I know where you live,” he called out laughing as she
left his office. He knew more than she had wanted him to
know. The contract had to specifically list every property that
was included and excluded, and she was relieved when she
saw her San Francisco condominium listed on the exclusion
list of the contract.
 Chapter 2

Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the underground

parking lot of her condominium community. The click of her
boots’ heels bouncing off the parking structure walls was only
a slight indication of how pissed she was with the situation she
put herself in. She was desperate, but she was going nowhere
with the negotiations with Blake, and she had hoped he would
back down with her ridiculous proposition.
She stood in front of her closet and pulled out the little
black dress she had worn to her best friend’s bachelorette
party. She shook her head and put the dress away. She didn’t
need to show him her body; she needed to show him she
wasn’t a geek just because she was an engineer.
After a few minutes of self-debate, she decided on a
baby pink maxi dress cut from a floral print chiffon. The pleats
on the bodice crowned elegantly, and the thin belt showed off
her narrow waist. She ran her palms over her exposed
shoulders wondering if she should wear a cardigan. The
cutaway shoulders on the dress made her feel more confident
and decided against hiding under another layer.
She was ready to go and make the deal of a lifetime with
thirty minutes to spare. She wanted to get married on paper so
the funds would be released and give Blake a certain
percentage of her software company. He was worth a lot more
than her company and knew he would want a prenuptial
agreement, so she didn’t have claim to his assets.
Her heart raced just at the thought of entering into a
contract with Blake. He seemed wild and brutal enough to
very easily destroy her if he wanted. She took a deep breath
and turned on her laptop. She wanted to see if she could find
anything about him on the Internet.
The search engine returned more than a dozen links for
his name search—the top of the page was the announcement
from the Kennedy Group of Companies’ website with the
announcement about Blake taking over as CEO and President
of a multi-billion dollar company.
She clicked on the link to a page that had more
information about him. His resume looked pretty impressive
with a bachelor’s degree from Stanford and an advanced
degree in business management. He was successful in
expanding their hotel business internationally and returned to
the United States from London less than a year ago.
She wished she had done some homework before
walking into her own web of ignorance and layering in another
layer of complication by proposing marriage with a complete
stranger just because he held the key to her payout.
She clicked on the other links that seemed to be personal
profiles of women, and Blake was shirtless in most of the
pictures. He was sometimes on a yacht surrounded by women
who looked like models, or he was partying by a pool. There
were a few pictures of him at business events, but the endless
pictures she saw of him with the numerous women confirmed
her suspicions. He was unbelievably good-looking not to be a
womanizer, and she had proposed a marriage of convenience.
She sighed, shut off her laptop, and reached for her
phone. She had twenty more minutes before she needed to
head out. She looked up at the ceiling trying to imagine what
her parents would say if she did agree to a marriage contract
with Blake. She wondered if she should tell them the real story
or pretend she and Blake fell for each other at their first
meeting. Her parents were way too smart, and she would need
Blake’s help to make the whole deal seem like a love-at-first-
sight fairy tale.
She threw her phone on the bed taking in a deep breath,
and it beeped almost at the same time indicating a message.

Unknown: Hey there, getting impatient, are we?

Unknown: This is Blake, save my number, sweetheart.
You’re gonna need it.
Kari: Hello, Blake. I’ll be ready at 8.
 She was ready to go, but she didn’t want him to get the
feeling she was waiting around impatiently, even if that was
the truth.

Blake: Liar!
Kari:??
Blake: You can’t wait to see me again…
Kari: Don’t flatter yourself too much.
Blake: I can’t wait to see you again.

Her breath caught in her throat when she read the

message. She shook the thread of lust that threatened to take
over and reminded herself he was a flirt, and he was exercising
his sharp skills.

Kari: I’m sure you are eager to take my company away

from me.
Blake: We are not talking business tonight. I want to
know if I can work with you before I make a deal with you.
Kari: I’m not interested in you. All I want to talk is
business.
Blake: I find you interesting.
Kari: I do not want to go if this is the kind of
conversation we are going to have tonight.
Blake: Fine, you get ten minutes for the deal, and then I
want to talk about my terms.
Kari: Fine.
Blake: Good… why wait… meet me downstairs in two
minutes?
Kari: Sure.
 Blake: Liar
Kari: ??
Blake: You were sitting around waiting… for me?

She gritted her teeth and let out her favorite curse word.
She knew she needed to be careful with Blake. He was as
smart as his gorgeous looks—a lethal combination.

Blake: I’m here… waiting for you.

Kari: Heading down.
Blake: The car is downstairs.

She picked up her clutch and phone on her way out the
door. She didn’t need her laptop for making the deal; the
single pen she carried in her clutch was enough to seal the
deal.
Her palms ran along the smoothness of her dress as she
took one last look at herself in the elevator mirror. She poked
her tongue at the woman she had not seen in almost a year.
Her outfits since the day she started working on the software
program have been jeans and t-shirts, and the dress almost
made her feel lightweight.
She turned away from the mirror when the elevator
dinged open, and her dark eyes met sea-green eyes smiling at
her. Blake was standing right outside the elevator, his lips
curved up into a glorious smile.
“Oh… hi, Blake.” She managed to maintain her
composure.
“You clean up real good.” He smiled taking her hand in
his as he led her toward a waiting stretch limo.
“A limo?” She laughed almost nervously feeling the
gentle pressure on her palm from his large hand. He was tall
and broad filling the dark suit to perfection.
 “I’m really interested in…” He turned to run his eyes
over her body in open admiration, “in your software.”
“We need to discuss terms first,” she declared and was
sure she heard him groan deep inside. The next thing she
knew, her chest crashed into his making her let out a surprised
squeal.
He looked down into her questioning eyes. “I have my
terms, too.”
She wiggled out of his hold and took a step back.
“Blake, the proposal is for me to be able to get what I want…”
She lost her words when he took a step toward her making her
freeze in her spot.
“Do you think this is some kind of a game? What kind of
a fucking proposal are you talking about? You will go out to
dinner with me, sign the fucking contract, and close the deal I
made with your father tonight.” His voice was gruff, his breath
was hot on her cheek, and the burn in his eyes sent shivers
down her spine.
“You can’t make me.”
“What makes you think you have a choice? I was nice to
you for your father’s sake, and all you talk about is the
software that I’m yet to find out what it does,” he snarled.
“Blake, I will spend the rest of my life fighting you, but I
will not sign the contract.” Her voice wobbled with tremors
running through her body.
“You’d rather marry a stranger to get your payout?”
“Yes,” she hissed. “A stranger can give me the payout
immediately.”
“And you want me to agree to marry you because I will
benefit from it?”
“Yes, I know my product will make it big.” She held her
chin up looking into his blazing eyes as she drew the warmth
from his chest through her palms.
“I need to know everything about what the crap you do
and not just the marketing pitch; the deal is off if you don’t
give me all the information.” He let go of her and took a step
back.
“I can give you a demo right now. I have my laptop
upstairs.”
“Are you inviting me upstairs?” His voice was smooth,
and the shift in his tone made her body calm down a bit.
“Yes, but only to discuss business, Blake, grow up. This
is America; women don’t just throw themselves at men just
because…” She bit her tongue and swallowed her words.
“Just because?” he probed cockily.
“You don’t have any confidence issues—I get it, but I
am not here to give you compliments.” She laughed walking
back toward the elevator.
“How long do you think we need? I can move our
reservation to a later time.”
“If you were taking me out to convince me to sign the
contract, you won’t need to because once you see what the
product is capable of, you’ll want a piece of it.” She smiled
confidently stepping into the elevator. “We can order pizza if
that works for you.”
“Will I be begging you to marry me by the end of the
demo?” he teased.
“You might be.” She laughed feeling completely at ease.
“I might as well ask you since you look so beautiful.”
His voice was casual, but it ignited something deep inside. Her
cheeks burned red-hot, and her stomach clenched in reaction
to his proximity.
“Do you have a girlfriend?” She flattened her back to the
wall of the elevator looking at him.
“Why do you ask?”
“She might be heartbroken if you asked me to marry you
after the demo.” She laughed trying to ease her raging heart.
“Very confident, are we?” He smiled holding the
elevator door open for her.
 “You’ll see.” She chuckled leading him toward her front
door.
“Your place is awesome.” He smiled stepping into her
decent-sized two-bedroom condo for San Francisco.
“Thank you. What part of the city are you from?” She
walked to the table and sat in front of the laptop gesturing him
to join her.
“I live on the Peninsula.”
“Peninsula? How old are you, again?” she teased as he
sat down at the table.
“Keep talking, and I’ll start wondering why I should
stick around.”
“Don’t give me that crap. There is no way you would
have walked into my home if you didn’t think I had something
useful.”
“I like that.” He smiled.
“What?”
“Your no bullshit attitude.” He winked.
“Yeah, I’m sure you find it cute but get used to it. We
will be working together and might even get married if you
like the software.” She winked.
“Did you walk into my office with the marriage plan?”
His voice was calm but intent.
She laughed tilting her head back. “Blake, I told you I
thought I was meeting your dad. Stop asking such questions.”
He laughed, and it was genuine for the first time since
she met him—his smile made it to his eyes, and they sparkled
making her folds clench deep inside. There was no denying it,
she was attracted to him, and it threatened to overpower her.
“Okay, down to business.” She flipped the laptop toward
him and walked him through every single feature of the
application that she believed was her ticket to fame and
prosperity.
 His expression was intense while he took in the details
on every screen and every time she looked up at him, he was
looking at the screen and did not make eye contact with her.
She wrapped up her demo with a summary of the features and
waited for him to look at her.
He finally looked into her eyes, and after a brief moment
of silence, his face broke into a smile. “I like it.”
“You don’t love it? This also allows a hotel guest to rent
out their home as a vacation home for others and use that
money to pay for their vacation.”
“What?” he asked in disbelief.
“Is that love I hear in your voice?” she teased.
“Maybe,” he drawled. “I want the software.”
“Nice try, Blake.” She winked.
“Name your price.” He stood up and dug his fingers into
his pockets looking down at her.
“Not happening. I’d rather get fake married than sell it.”
“Let me invest in it then. We can be partners, and you
don’t need to get fake married,” he teased.
“I am not willing to give up more than a certain
percentage even if you invest in it. I will use my payout to
retain my share,” she declared. It would have been so much
easier to pick a random dude for a fake marriage, but she
didn’t have the time to look for someone and write contracts
that wouldn’t put her in a weird spot.
“What is your software called?”
“Well… it’s a beta name, but we call it BINA.”
“BINA?” He was clearly taken aback.
“Business Intelligence & Network Analytics—it’s
everything we need to know about the guests to make their
stay stellar.”
“Stellar?” He raised a cocky eyebrow high up.
 “Yes, unforgettable.” She stood up to walk toward the
kitchen. “What would you like to drink?”
He followed her to the kitchen. “Kari, I’ll make it worth
your while.”
“Blake, you don’t understand. I spent the last five years
putting the design together and finally started working on it a
year ago. One more year, and I will be ready, and there will be
nothing like it in the market.” She popped open a bottle of
wine and stood looking at him leaning against the stone
counter.
“You’re crazy.” He shook his head almost in disbelief.
“Yeah, crazy good.” She held out a glass of wine for
him, a cocky grin on her face.
“Are you really that good?” He ran his fingertips on the
back of her hand making her shudder. She stood frozen
holding the wine glass in her hand as his fingertips grazed the
length of her arm.
“You have beautiful skin.” His palm caressed her
shoulder making her gasp. His free hand took the glass of wine
that she managed to hold onto in spite of the chaos inside her.
“Blake,” she muttered as he placed the wine glass on the
counter before wrapping his arm around her waist pulling her
against his scorching hot body.
Her fingers fisted on the fabric on his chest as she looked
up into his eyes. The primal look in his eyes made her wet in
her depths. It was a novelty for her because she had never had
an instant attraction to anyone before tonight.
She leaned in closer and met his lips half way in a raging
hunger. Their lips clashed, hands wandering over each other’s
bodies like they couldn’t breathe on their own.
“You’re hot… so hot I want to peel your clothes off,” he
growled into her mouth. He pushed her into the kitchen unit,
his fingertips digging into the tight flesh of her ass making her
moan in his mouth.
 “I want you,” a plea rolled off her lips when he trailed
his lips down the column of her neck, nipping and biting along
the way.
“I’ve wanted you since the moment you cut me off on
your bike,” he groaned making ripples of raw energy zap
through her nerves.
One palm left her perfect globes of flesh on her backside
to find her yearning nipple longing for his touch. He squeezed
her breast with so much authority, she was ready to beg him to
take her right there on the kitchen floor.
“Please tell me you are not messing with my head,” she
rasped.
“You’re the one messing with my head.” His voice was a
rough whisper.
She threw her head back gritting her teeth when he took
a bite of her breast over the sheer fabric making her yelp in
delight.
His demanding lips found hers and sucked them into his
mouth like he couldn’t get enough. She snaked her fingers in
his thick, dark hair. His lips assaulted hers, and she moaned in
pure delight.
“Is this part of the deal?” he crooned running his tongue
along her neck.
“No… strictly business after today.” She sunk her teeth
into his shoulder over his shirt and heard him groan deep
inside. She froze when she heard a chime and a knock on the
front door almost at the same time.
She pulled back and let go of the fabric of his shirt
crumpled in her hand and looked up at him.
“Is that your boyfriend?” he teased coolly.
“Yes, I invited him for a threesome,” she mocked and
tiptoed to the front door and peeked through the peephole. Her
heart sank when she saw her mom and dad standing outside
her door.
Fuck!!
 She tiptoed back to where Blake was standing looking at
her with amusement.
“It’s my mom and dad. If you want a piece of BINA, you
will play along.” It was an order, and he was too intrigued to
not go with the flow.
“Coming,” she called out when she heard the chime
again.
 Chapter 3

“Hi, guys, what a pleasant surprise,” she cheered looking

at her parents.
“It was your mom’s idea. We called a few times, and she
freaked out when you didn’t answer.” Her dad put his arm
around her as he stepped into the living area.
“You look nice, baby. I haven’t seen you dress up in such
a long time,” her mom observed, and just as she was about to
respond, Blake stepped out of the kitchen.
She saw the expression on her parents’ face and bit down
on her lip to stop laughing.
“Mr. and Mrs. Vora. How are you doing?” Blake’s voice
was calm.
“Blake… what are you doing here?” Her dad was too
shocked to be diplomatic.
“Mom and Dad, I’m sorry I’ve been so secretive about
our relationship. Blake is my boyfriend,” she declared coyly.
“What?” It was her mom who had lost her cool.
“It’s good to see you, Mrs. Vora.” Blake took her mom’s
hand in his as if to calm her down.
“I don’t understand.” Her dad was in a daze.
“Can we sit down and talk?” she urged leading her
parents toward the couch.
Her parents sat on the sofa, and she settled in next to
Blake on the loveseat. She was too close to him for comfort
and deeply inhaled his musky cologne hoping to calm her
nerves. He slid his arm around her waist making her body
tremble.
“Dad and Mom, Blake and I met after he returned from
London last year. I was upset yesterday because he didn’t tell
me anything about the deal.” She smiled looking at Blake.
 “I’m a man of my word. The deal was strictly between
Mr. Vora and me.” His voice was modulated, but she was
having a tough time processing the situation even though it
was her plan.
“Blake, I’m impressed.” Her dad laughed victoriously.
“Not funny, Dad,” she fumed.
“Kari, I don’t think we should keep them in the dark
anymore. Do you want to tell them?” Blake nudged.
She took a deep breath. “Dad, Mom, Blake and I are
planning to get married,” she declared and felt Blake’s arm
shift slightly around her waist, but he did not move it.
“With your permission,” Blake added.
“What? Really?” Her mom was ecstatic, but her dad did
not move from his spot. She wrapped her arms around her
mom and saw her hug Blake, tears of joy running down her
cheeks.
Her dad finally stood up and looked at Blake. “Looks
like we made a deal of a lifetime, Blake.”
“Yes, sir, we did. I was hoping to ask you for Kari’s
hand, but you know how she is.” He smiled shaking her dad’s
hand.
“I worry about you, Blake.” Her dad laughed holding her
to his large frame and kissed her on her cheek.
“We need to plan for a wedding now. I have dreamed of
this day for years.” Her mom hugged her.
“Easy, Mom, we are not doing anything big. We are
going to the city hall, and it will be a small ceremony.” Kari
did not want an extravagant ceremony for a marriage of
convenience.
“Not happening. We will have a ceremony at our resort
hotel in Santa Cruz,” her dad declared adamantly.
“Dad, why do…” Her voice trailed off when she caught
Blake’s expression. She was arguing about locations for the
ceremony with her parents, and she hoped he wouldn’t back
out of the deal.
“Kari, I’d say let your parents have their way with the
wedding.” His tone was soft but steady.
“Okay.” She didn’t want to push back too much, and the
way he said it sounded like it was one of the terms and
conditions he wanted to enforce.
“Really? You got her to agree so easily? You are her true
soul mate.” Her mom smiled at Blake.
“Congrats, you two. We need to get going. We are
meeting friends for dessert.” Her dad smiled and shook hands
with Blake before heading out the door.
“I should have guessed when I saw Blake’s car in the
parking lot,” her dad called out before stepping into the
elevator making her cheeks turn crimson.
“Bye, Mom and Dad.” She smiled and shut the door. She
stood with her back to the door trying to regain her
composure.
Blake stood in the middle of the living room, his fingers
stuffed into his pockets taking in the sight in front of him. Kari
had turned out to be a complete surprise. He had not met a
woman who was so passionate about her work. She was a
smart businesswoman who went to any length to get what she
wanted, and that intrigued him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” She raised a
questioning eyebrow.
“Like what?”
“Like you want to eat me.” She laughed.
“Maybe I want to. I am wondering if we should pick up
where we left off,” he suggested walking toward her.
“It was fun, but I think it’s a bad idea, Blake. We should
keep this strictly business.” She flattened her back further into
the door as he moved closer to her.
 “What if I want this to be a part of the deal?” He ran his
lips along her jawline sending tremors down her spine.
“I want it, too, but there’s too much at stake. I can’t
afford a distraction when I am so close to launching my
software.”
“Our software,” he corrected her.
“So is the deal on?” she asked, excitement fueling her
voice.
“Yes, but I have my terms and conditions.”
“Sure. I’ll sign a prenup. I don’t need your money. I just
want what’s mine.” She gently pushed him away to look up at
him.
“I have more conditions.” He nuzzled her neck causing
her skin to tingle.
“Can we sit at the table?” she asked running her palms
over his chest.
“After you.” He stepped aside scanning her face as if to
take in her reaction to his proximity.
She sat at the same position at the table as when she gave
him the demo, but Blake took the seat next to her instead of
the one across where he was seated earlier that night.
“What are your conditions?” Her voice was professional.
“I want fifty percent of the software for the deal. You can
have the payout your father wants you to have from the
contract, and I will invest what is needed for it to launch.” He
took her palm in his and gently ran his thumb over the back of
her hand.
“I own ninety percent of it. My team owns ten percent.”
“I’ll take fifty percent of my to-be-wife’s share then,” he
snorted.
“Forty percent only,” she retorted.
“I want forty-four, and you get to keep forty-six. That’s
the best I can do,” he declared adamantly.
 “I put in a lot of time, Blake. I am not giving up more
than forty percent,” she snapped back.
“Are you saying you are willing to walk away from this
deal?”
“I told you I am willing to fight you for the rest of my
life if I have to, but I won’t give up more than I want.” Her
chest heaved from the outburst of emotions. “It’s against my
principles, but I won’t shy away from shedding a few fake
tears to make my dad walk away from the original deal.”
“You’re tough, I like that.” He smiled tightening his hold
on her palm.
“What’s next?” she challenged.
“How long do we need to be in contract?”
“I need another year to soft launch the software. If we
achieve good results from the initial pilots, we can go in
sooner.” She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with
enthusiasm.
“Works for me. If we are not picking up where we left
off, do we get to see other people?”
She felt a sting of jealousy at the thought of another
woman with him, but she shrugged it off. “I know I won’t
have time for anybody, but if you…”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He winked.
“Blake, we will be going back to what we have today in
a year. I don’t want to start something that can mess up our
relationship as partners.” She wanted to be professional with
him because she knew he would fancy being with her for a
few months and then move on when she had no time to be the
ideal girlfriend.
“I need you to move into my place.” His tone was
determined as if he knew he would get some opposition.
“Umm… you don’t like my place?” she teased.
“Do you feel safer with the half dozen deadbolts on your
front door?” He snickered taking her by surprise.
 She had her reasons for the deadbolts, but she didn’t
want her habits to be in the way of closing the deal. “Fine, I’ll
move in with you. I’ll make some money renting my
apartment as a vacation home.”
“I don’t want anyone to know about this deal. It’s not
just your parents, I’ve got my dad to deal with as well,” he
grumbled.
“Oh… I get it. I wondered why you were even willing to
consider the marriage deal. Pressure from dad, eh?” She
laughed when he shook his head.
“My dad and I don’t talk about anything other than
business. This is strictly business.” He smiled looking into her
deep eyes.
“I get it. As long as I stay on schedule for the launch, I
might even go out on a date with you.” She winked.
“Great, you bring a date, and I’ll bring mine, and we can
go on a double date,” he taunted.
“Right, exactly what I was thinking.” She stood up to get
their wines glasses from the kitchen.
She barely took a step before she was yanked back
toward him by her hand.
“Blake, what the…” she cursed.
“Did I say I was done?” he growled breathing fire on her
cheek.
“Easy tiger, I was gonna go get our drinks.”
“Sit down… please.” His voice was shaky, and she
wondered what he was going to say that made him so nervous.
She sat on the chair taking in his expression. He
suddenly looked frazzled, like he was fighting an emotion he
couldn’t control.
“Blake, what is it?”
“I—I need you to stop riding your motorcycle as long as
we are together.” His voice was modulated but low.
 “You’re kidding! Why?”
“I have my reasons. This is my last condition. If you are
good with this, we have a deal; if not, you can sign the deal I
made with your father and get married to someone else.”
“What the fuck, Blake?”
“I have laid out my terms and conditions. You got what
you want, and I want everything I asked for.” His eyes were
burning with emotion, and she couldn’t quite figure out what it
was as she fumed on the inside. She loved her motorcycle, but
it wasn’t a big deal for her to not ride for a year. She was
bothered by something but couldn’t put her finger on it.
“Fine, I won’t ride my bike. I also need my own space at
your place. I work late and wake up early, and it’s best to have
some separation.” She had assumed she would have her own
room when she moved into his house but felt the need to
reiterate.
“Good. Pick a date for the ceremony and text me. I hope
you’ll save your future husband’s phone number.” He picked
up his phone from the table and headed to the door.
“See you, Blake,” she murmured feeling weak in her
knees. She hadn’t given much thought about getting married,
but she never expected it to be lacking any sentiments and
emotions.
She heard the door close as Blake left the apartment. She
was excited and terrified at the same time. He never asked her
what she would do if the software were to fail, and a shiver ran
through her spine just at the thought of failure.

*****
“You’re fucking with me,” Nicole, her best friend and
cousin’s wife, barked at Kari on the phone.
“Nicole, the baby can hear you,” she laughed.
“Exactly why I’m pissed—you couldn’t wait for me to
have the baby and then ask me to be your maid of honor?” Her
friend was running high on hormones and was eight weeks
away from having a baby boy.
“You’ll need to be a mom after the baby arrives, so my
wedding has to be before my nephew comes out,” she cheered.
“That is just ridiculous and what’s even more ridiculous
is you getting married, and I haven’t met the dude yet.” Nicole
was upset, but Kari made a deal with Blake she wouldn’t tell
anyone outside the legal team.
“Well, he and I have…”
Nicole didn’t let Kari continue. “Don’t bullshit me, girl;
you and I have known each other way too long. I can see right
through the crap. Either you tell me, or I figure it out myself.”
“There is no such thing as a pregnancy brain when it
comes to you, Nicole.” Kari laughed.
“I didn’t go to law school for nothing,” she snapped.
“True. So, since you are my lawyer, I can probably tell
you and not get into trouble.”
“Now what?”
“I made a deal with the CEO of Kennedy Group,” she
whispered into the phone. “You can’t tell anyone, not even
Dev.”
“Fine, Dev will never know. What deal did you make
and why him?” Nicole couldn’t get a handle on the situation.
Kari told her every detail of what happened from the time her
dad made the deal with Blake, and how she ended up making
the deal of a lifetime with him.
“And he agreed to your deal?” Nicole asked in disbelief.
“He had no choice. I gave him a demo of my product.”
She laughed, a small voice reminding her of his weird
condition about not riding her motorbike, but it didn’t bother
her enough to probe into it too much.
“Did you demo anything else?” Nicole mocked.
“You are one dirty, pregnant woman,” she fired back at
her best friend.
 “From what I see online, the dude is pretty hot. Have
you slept with him yet?”
“Nicole, the baby can hear you.” Kari couldn’t believe
her friend’s questioning.
“I asked you a question.”
“We kind of got started but decided not to—it’s
complicated.” Kari shook her head to wipe out the memory
from the previous night.
“You find him hot?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Did you pull out your toys last night after he left?”
Nicole knew no boundaries.
“Nicole, you are my cousin’s wife, and we are not in
college anymore. I’m not discussing my relationship with my
toys,” she blurted and ended up laughing.
“That’s my girl! If you find him hot and you kinda have
to stick together, you might as well… you know.”
Kari shook her head. “You know why I broke up with
my ex. I don’t want to waste my time on something that has no
future.”
“What if this guy is the one?” Nicole made Kari lose her
train of thought with the question.
“If he is… I will start dating him after I launch my
product and see where it goes.” She hadn’t really given any
thought to how she would spend a year so close to Blake. The
air hummed with sexual tension when he was in the same
room with her, and she couldn’t deny the impending and
undeniable attraction.
“I have a feeling he might be the one. Everything that’s
happened feels like it happened for you to make a deal with
him,” Nicole declared.
“I’m sure you can try your hand at being a psychic or a
fortune teller,” she mocked Nicole.
 “Oooh, this guy knows a lot of women.” Nicole was
skimming through the online search results.
“Stop looking up more details about him. He’s been
everywhere. One other reason to keep this strictly business.”
Kari didn’t want anything to do with him however hot he was
or how tempting the situation became over the next year.
“I can’t believe you are getting married next week,”
Nicole said it like she still couldn’t believe it. “Is the event my
surprise baby shower, and you’re just making it up?”
Kari was stung with guilt when she realized she had not
planned for her friend’s baby shower. She made a mental note
to plan the shower after the wedding.
“You know I will tell you even if it is supposed to be a
surprise. You always have to look fashionable, right?”
“Damn right!” Nicole laughed.
“I got to go… I’m meeting my mom in an hour at an
Indian boutique to pick my wedding outfit. I told her I didn’t
want to spend too much, and she gave me the silent
treatment.”
“If you need things to go as per your plan, you need to
let your mom and dad have their way with the wedding
arrangements,” Nicole suggested laughing.
“Very Indianized California girl, eh?”
“By choice because I love the culture not because your
cousin is Indian.”
“Dev is barely Indian.” Kari laughed.
“This is true.”
“You take care and be nice to my cousin. I will take you
out to pick an outfit for you,” Kari cheered.
“Find me an outfit that’ll fit my tummy.”
“We will find you an outfit for you to fit that cute belly
in for sure. Got to go, take care of my nephew.”
Kari ended the call and noticed she had messages.
 Blake: Good morning, gorgeous.
Kari: Stop flirting with me
Blake: Oops sorry, wrong person.

Kari clenched her teeth and fumed at the phone. She

wasn’t sure how she felt about Blake being with another
woman while they were in contract.

Blake: I’m kidding, don’t throw your phone out.

Kari: Not cool.
Blake: Got it.
Blake: You picked a date yet?
Kari: Yes, next Saturday.
Blake: Can’t wait to be my wife, eh?
Kari: Can’t wait to get my money.
Blake: Where’s the love, baby?
Kari: I guess that message was for someone else
Blake: Yes, not for you
Kari: Got to go. You have fun with your lady friends.

He smiled looking at the phone. It had been years since

he met a woman who excited him as much as Kari. He had
conquered power and success but had started to long for more,
and knew she had the right amount of spice to make his life
more interesting. He had been in too many short-term
relationships and never wanted something longer term than a
few weeks. Kari would be the one to give him a taste of an
extended relationship, and she came with no strings attached
and a promise to not be clingy but with enough jet fuel to
ignite him.
 She wanted it to be strictly business, but he wanted
more, especially after he had a taste of how delectable it was
to sink his fingertips into her flesh. He knew she wanted him
and knew she would eventually come around; he would make
her give into her temptation if she didn’t do it herself. He
knew how to keep his distance, but Kari was different.
Perfect challenge!!
Kari was not like the other women who confused lust for
love. She was a woman with a vision, and he saw that vision
so clearly; he knew this was just the beginning of a lifetime of
fun both at work and at home.
 Chapter 4

Kari ran her palms over the soft silk of her wedding
outfit as she looked at her glowing self in the bathroom mirror.
It had been a week since she told her parents she and Blake
wanted to get married. Her mom and dad moved at the speed
of light as if they were scared she would change her mind
about marriage.
“You look beautiful in that outfit,” Blake’s deep voice
interrupted her thoughts. She looked into the mirror and met
his eyes through the mirror as he walked into the massive
bathroom of their wedding suite.
“You do know how to compliment,” she teased fighting
the fluttering that started in her tummy. Blake looked right
sexy in his white silk shirt and navy dress pants. The wedding
ceremony was held late afternoon on a gorgeous California
spring day, and they were back in their suite getting ready for
the reception that night.
“It’s tough not to admire such beauty.” His voice was so
intense her breath caught in her throat.
She couldn’t hold his gaze in the mirror anymore. She
looked down at her hands admiring the ring he had given her
during the ceremony while her cheeks burned under his gaze.
“This is a beautiful ring.” She ran her finger over the
vintage wedding ring that looked like a mini crown with a
large diamond on it.
“It’s my mom’s ring.” His voice was surprisingly shaky.
“Oh… It’s beautiful.” Her voice was soft like velvet.
“I’m glad you like it,” he calmly declared, gloom
darkening his eyes.
She swirled around in his arms making the
embellishments on her dress jingle a soothing sound. His
expression was grim.
 “I’m sure you miss her… I’ll keep the ring safe.” She
took a few steps closer to him as he dug his fingers into his
pockets.
“Kari, my mother passed away during childbirth.”
Blake’s eyes were blank, but she knew he ached for the person
who he never met.
“I’m sorry.” Her arms wrapped around him, and she
flattened her cheek on his chest as if to calm him. His palm
gently grazed her back before stopping at the nape of her neck.
She pulled back slightly to look up at him. “So… did
your dad…?”
“Nope, mostly nannies until I went to boarding school.”
He shrugged, but his eyes showed the gaping hole that would
never be filled with the love of a mother.
She didn’t know what to say, but it explained a few
things about him. The playboy side of him she saw on the
Internet was a manifestation of the love he didn’t get, the love
only a mother can shower.
She planted a kiss on his cheek and let her lips linger
longer than necessary taking in his masculine smell. He
tightened his hold around her and held her close to him.
“Were you planning to show up at the reception after
your first-hand experience with an Indian wedding?” She tried
to ease the sexual tension that was building while they
casually held each other.
“Why wouldn’t I show up? It’s fun, and I feel like I
know a little bit about my mother today.” He stroked her back.
“I don’t understand.” She shook her head wondering
why he was talking about someone who he had never met or
known in his life.
“My mother was from India. My mom and dad met in
college.”
“Shut the front door. You are half Indian?” She was in
disbelief.
“Is that a deal breaker?”
 “No… but it explains a few things?” She laughed.
“Like what?” A curious eyebrow rose up.
“My very old-fashioned dad didn’t object a tiny bit to
our wedding, and you wanted the Indian wedding when all I
wanted was a ceremony at the city hall.” She laughed.
“Well, it’s fun. I’ve been to a few Indian weddings.” He
smiled.
“I guess I owe you a wedding gift since you got me this
beautiful ring.” She smiled looking at the ring that fit snugly
on her finger.
“You could give me your software,” he teased. “It should
be mine because it’s named after my mom.”
“What?” She shrieked.
“Yeah… my mom’s name was Bina.” His voice was
calm, but she sensed something deeper.
“Oh my God… that is surreal. What are the odds?”
“I should have your software because I am your loving
husband,” he teased.
“I’m sorry, I don’t love you enough to give up my
BINA,” she said as she ran a fist into his chest.
“Would you have given it to your husband if you had
gotten married for real?”
“Not happening,” she retorted.
“I cut a pretty sweet deal then.”
“Yes, you did. You took advantage of my desperation,”
she said playfully.
His arms tightened around her pulling her closer to him.
A gasp rolled off her lips when she felt his lips graze her
jawline before trailing down the column of her throat. “Taking
advantage is doing things to you to make you give into your
temptation.”
She gathered strength fighting back her treacherous body
that begged her to give in and pushed him away looking into
his smoldering dark eyes with sheer desire. “Point taken. You
didn’t take advantage of me.”
“I like this contract already. It’s so easy to deal with
you.” He smirked making her stomach clench.
“I’m easy to work with. I’ll let you enjoy your
honeymoon by yourself,” she teased.
“Exactly what I was hoping for.” He didn’t blink as he
took a step toward her making her walk backward to the
vanity.
“You just need to make sure people don’t spot you with
other women considering we are supposed to honeymoon at
my dad’s resort.” She winked trying to ease the hum of sexual
tension that was building up.
“My resort… that’s gonna be tough. How about we both
skip our honeymoon.”
“Fine, your resort… but skipping the honeymoon would
raise questions especially with my side of the family. How
about you go check out the hotels in Europe, and I stay home
to work so I can finish by the end of the month?”
“Not a bad idea.”
“I have one more idea. I’d like to talk to you about it at
the reception.” She leaned back, the edge of the marble vanity
digging into her ass cheeks.
“You are full of ideas.” He leaned close enough for his
breath to fan her cheek. “Why wait to talk at the reception?”
“Well, we will look like a happy, chatty newlywed
couple while we talk business.” She held her breath hoping her
voice didn’t echo the turmoil inside her. Her skin tingled and
longed for his touch while her body involuntarily arched
toward him as if inviting him to take her.
“What do you want to talk about?” His voice was
professional, but he made no attempt to move away from her.
She finally dared to take her palms off the edge of the
vanity and placed them on his chest. “I can’t talk when you are
trying so hard to seduce me.”
 He laughed, the depth of his joy resonating the walls of
the large bathroom. “I wasn’t even trying. You won’t be on
your feet the minute I start seducing you.”
“I’m sure you had every other woman swoon the
moment you laid eyes on them—I’m not one of them. Don’t
expect me to stroke your ego because I have no time for that
crap,” she snapped, suddenly in control of her emotions. Her
passion to succeed was stronger than her need, and she hoped
it would help her stay on course for the next year.
“I hear you loud and clear. Can we talk now so I can
enjoy my reception? I don’t think I’ll get married again, so I
might as well enjoy the experience.”
“Whatever.” She smiled suddenly at ease.
“So, what is this idea and do you ever stop thinking
about work and do something else?”
“I don’t think about work all the time. You’ve barely
spent a day with me to make that assumption,” she sneered.
“My bad…”
“Okay, I won’t take long because I’m supposed to go to
the salon for hair and makeup again in an hour.” She shook her
head in disbelief.
“You’re beautiful the way you are—you don’t need
makeup.” He smiled at her.
“Stop flirting with me. I’m your fake wife with a real
ring.” She laughed holding up her hand pointing at the ring.
“All right, out. I don’t talk business in the bathroom.” He
urged her by her elbow.
“So, I’ve been talking to this emerging brand about using
their beddings for our hotels.” She turned to look at him as she
walked backward into the bedroom of the hotel suite.
“Which brand? Are you in contract?” His face was
suddenly unreadable.
“I can’t tell you the brand, but I may have a fluid
contract with them with a well-negotiated price for a five-
hotel pilot.” She sat on the edge of the bed and followed his
tall figure to the plush chair by the large window.
“Why wasn’t it in the deal?”
“Because the contract was super confidential. My dad
didn’t know about it either.”
“How many more of these ridiculous contracts will I
need to deal with over the next year?” He wasn’t thrilled, and
she was tempted to crawl under the sheets and hide when she
saw the anger seething in his eyes.
“Blake, we can walk away from it if you don’t want it. I
will face the consequences for breaking the contract,” she
managed to say.
He took a deep and loud breath as if he was trying to get
a handle on his temper. “What value will it add to the hotels?”
“Better customer experience, and the brand has a lot of
customers with an obsession for quality. Think about customer
acquisition for your hotels if we up the quality, and we give
them a discount to buy the bedding after they’ve tried it at the
hotel.” Her face beamed with newfound excitement when his
face relaxed.
“Interesting, but would that mean we are accepting we
have inferior quality bedding?” he challenged.
“Nope, it’s about the experience. We will have select
rooms in select hotels set up like the bedroom in the catalog of
the brand. It’ll look so good, you’ll want to spend the night,”
she cheered.
“I need to think through this a bit, and I’d like my Chief
Financial Officer to look at the projections. I hope you have
some numbers for this plan?”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m a teenager. I have a masters in
Business with Finance.”
“Impressive resume. I have to ask if you want to
contribute to the hotel business along with the software.”
“I’m listening.” She was encouraged by his calm tone.
 “I need you to continue in your current position and lead
the operations and technology. Can you handle that?” He
narrowed his eyes as if challenging her.
“Yes,” she hissed. “That’s what I’ve been doing with my
dad’s company and a few extra hotels… no big deal.” She
winked.
“You do realize it’s more than just a few more hotels,” he
snorted.
“I’m kidding. This is exciting. Thank you!”
“I want you and your team to move into the headquarters
so you can work with the rest of the team.”
“Deal!” She stood up and held her hand out to close the
deal.
He stood up slowly and took her hand in his looking
down into her eyes. “You sound pretty exciting as an
employee, but are you a boring person outside of work?”
“Dude, what the heck?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know anything about you, and I’m
married to you on the books.”
“Yes, the key being ‘on the books.’ Why do you care
what I am as a person? We’ll be under the same roof just like
roommates.”
“Well, I’ll need you to accompany me to events, and I’ll
do the same for you,” he declared.
“Sure, I’ll go with you, but I don’t think I’ll go anywhere
for the next year, so you’re good.”
“Are you sure about that?” His voice held mockery.
“Yeah!”
“What if you need me to go somewhere with you?”
“Not happening. Now can we go so you can enjoy your
fake reception, or let’s call it Nicole’s baby shower?” she
laughed.
 “No, I’m not done talking.” He securely held her palm in
his.
“What’s your point?” She was growing impatient by the
minute.
“There might be a time when you need me.” His voice
was low emphasizing on ‘need.’
“Need you?”
“Need me to go with you or do something for you,” he
clarified, but she knew he was misleading her further.
“Blake…” Her words drove into her when he yanked her
into his arms by her hand. Her body went into a delectable
state while her brain froze in utter shock. His arms held her to
him possessively as he nuzzled the side of her neck.
“Blake, what are you doing?” Her voice was a whisper
only he could hear.
“I’m doing something you want me to do but too chicken
to ask for it,” he mumbled against her neck nipping on her
sensitive skin.
“I don’t want any of this,” she rasped snaking her fingers
into his dark hair.
“Liar! I don’t know why you are fighting this.”
“You’re a fucking distraction, Blake. I don’t need any
distractions.” She sunk her teeth into his outer ear and felt the
shudder that ran through him.
“You look so hot, it’s wrong to not do anything to you,”
he growled sucking her lower lip.
“I don’t get involved with anyone I work with.” She
gasped when he gripped her hair between his fingers crushing
his lips into hers with a primal drive.
“I’m your fucking husband, remember?”
“Fake husband,” she corrected.
“I can’t think of fucking anyone else when I have such a
gorgeous wife,” he crooned.
 Butterflies took off in her stomach as her body
responded to what she heard, but a voice deep inside kept
reminding her of the lie and the inevitable separation. His
fingers dug into her sore muscles as he pulled her closer into
his embrace.
He let go of her mouth to trail his lips to the cleavage
that peeped through the sheer material of the sash that was part
of her traditional Indian wedding outfit. She threw her head
back letting her back be supported by his muscled arm as he
nuzzled her chest.
His palm ran up her back to find the zipper pull of the
fitted cropped blouse. He pulled down the zipper so slowly
that she felt the need to pull it down herself.
A moan escaped her when he pushed aside the thin
fabric spread across her chest and midriff. Her blouse slid off
the shoulder slightly, and the next thing she knew her nipples
were being sucked into his warm mouth. He had no trouble
scooping her breast out of her blouse.
Her body shook with an insurmountable amount of
sensations. The burn on her waist from his fingertips digging
into her delicate skin was becoming painfully enjoyable to the
point of making her folds weep in anticipation. She bit down
on her lip when he let go of one breast to take in the other
pebbled nipple.
She wanted him to go on, but she wanted it to stop
before it got out of hand. She couldn’t take the risk of ruining
what they could be building at a professional level.
“Blake, I want you, but we can’t do this,” she confessed
unable to control herself.
“You know I want you bad. We can make the contract so
much more interesting.” He let go of her nipple to run his lips
on her bare belly digging his tongue into her belly button.
“No… it’s a bad idea.” A plea rolled off her lips, and she
immediately felt his lips freeze on her skin.
He straightened up and helped her pull up. She
consciously adjusted her blouse and held one palm to her chest
to keep it in place.
“This won’t happen again until you want it.” He turned
and walked away from her. She watched as the athletic figure
disappeared into the bathroom.
Her nipples tingled from the residual moisture as she
pulled on her blouse. She let out a sigh of relief when she
heard the shower run. “That was close.”
 Chapter 5

“Sean, I take it you’ve met Kari.” Blake sat in a rich

leather chair in his office with Sean and Kari at the other end
of the table.
He had been away for a week under the pretext of a
honeymoon while she camped out at his place and continued
working on their product. He hadn’t seen her in a week, and
she had left for work before he had woken up that morning.
“We’ve met more than once,” Sean snapped.
Blake knew his best friend who was also his Chief
Financial Officer wasn’t thrilled to have the operations taken
away from him and handed over to Kari. He had known Sean
since college and was his most trusted friend, but he didn’t
know anything about the deal Blake had made with Kari.
Kari smiled at the irritation in Sean’s voice looking right
at Blake making him turn hard. The woman was feisty, and she
had the power to make him lose his control just to bury his
face between her legs.
“What do you think of the proposal with the brand for
the new bedding?” Blake managed to keep his voice steady.
“It’s bullshit. We never get into crappy deals like that.
Our brand is our brand, why do we need to promote another
brand,” Sean objected.
“There’s a lot of potential in promoting a brand that’s not
our competition. It gives us an edge,” Kari declared.
“You’ve learned that from running how many hotels,
darling? Our organization runs over five hundred hotels on
four continents.” Sean was outraged for more than one reason,
and Blake knew it. Sean was on vacation when Blake decided
to go ahead with the deal, got married without even a text
message, and disappeared right after the reception. Blake
knew his friend was hurting on more than one front.
 “Hey… you don’t get to call my wife ‘darling.’” Blake
tried to ease the tension and saw Kari blush. He was surprised
to see her reaction to a simple comment. “It doesn’t matter
how many hotels she was responsible for, it’s something we
need to evaluate.”
“Seriously, Blake? Have you lost it? Has she sucked
your brains out while she worked on your balls?” Sean crossed
a line, and he knew it.
Sean retreated visibly even before Blake spoke when he
saw the way Kari looked at him. She would have burned Sean
alive if she had the smallest ounce of laser power.
“You keep talking, and I won’t bother saving you from
her, and she can most definitely kick the crap out of your balls.
She is exercising a lot of restraint out of respect for the
workplace so don’t push her,” Blake declared laughing trying
to save his friend’s face and putting Kari at ease at the same
time.
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand why we are even
considering this?” Sean asked sheepishly.
“Sean, I’ve given you all the projections and the forecast
numbers. What more do you need to see this is a good
approach?” Kari sat back in her chair crossing her legs looking
at Sean.
Blake took the opportunity to take in her chiseled profile
as she talked to Sean and responded to his questions. She had
no clue how ravishing she looked in her professional attire,
and he knew she didn’t give a damn about what people
thought of her.
“Sean, have you seen the projections?” Blake finally
interjected when Sean started to lose his cool again.
“Yes.”
“Are they good?”
“Yes, but…” Sean started to say, but Blake held his hand
up.
 “You will only respond to my questions. Are the
projections overly optimistic?”
“No. They are conservative.” Sean’s voice was soft.
“What is the risk of going in with this for a five-hotel
pilot for ten percent of the rooms?” Blake challenged.
“Low.”
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s not our model, Blake.” Sean’s voice was elevated.
“Sean, I hear you, but the only input I need from you is
from a financial perspective. Kari owns operations for all the
hotels going forward. She is answerable to me when it doesn’t
go as planned.”
“Are we good with this?” Blake wasn’t really asking,
and Sean knew it.
“Yes, we are,” Sean murmured.
“Can we talk about the next acquisition?” Blake was
quick to shift topics, but he did not fail to catch the anger and
disgust in Kari’s eyes. “I’ll let you go first, Sean. What do the
numbers say?”
“It’s a chain of twenty hotels, the same size as the Vora’s,
operated much better than the Vora’s so if we made a deal with
them, we should go ahead with the acquisition.” Sean’s voice
was cool, but Blake did not like the way he tried to get back at
Kari. To his surprise, Kari nodded in agreement as if Sean’s
comments didn’t bother her.
“Sean, how are their books? That’s all I asked you for,”
Blake snapped.
“They look good. We should go ahead.”
“Kari, your thoughts?” Blake turned to look at her.
“I agree with Sean. Their numbers are solid, and their
operations are a level higher than the Vora Group of Hotels,”
she stated objectively. “There is something odd about this
whole situation, though.” She stared right at Blake while she
put two and two together.
 “What is odd? That they run better than your father’s
hotels?” Sean snickered.
“Sean, I will hire a new CFO in a blink. You are crossing
a line,” Blake barked.
To Blake’s surprise, Kari laughed looking at Sean.
“Sean, don’t let him threaten you. He can’t just fire a C-class
executive. I’ll fight for you if he does anything remotely like
that.”
Blake saw the shock on Sean’s face and smiled. “I told
you she’s good. She will make a good partner, dude.”
“Thank you, Blake. Why don’t you let Sean figure out if
I’m a good partner and if he should trust me?” she retorted.
“So, Sean, back to your question about what’s odd. The odd
part is that the Sonoma Group is running well and is making
money. They have the right team to grow their business, so
why do they want to get rid of their cash cow?”
“I asked their CEO that same question during my first
meeting, and it looks like they plan on investing in vineyards,”
Blake said casually. “They’ve made some huge investments
already.”
“Believable, but I’m not convinced,” Kari declared.
“Let’s do the homework then. Sean, double check their
numbers and Kari, check out their operations.” Blake closed
the file indicating the end of their meeting.
“Sounds good. Sean, why don’t you and I talk later
today? We can start by bitching about our boss and then talk
about the Sonoma Group.” She winked at Blake.
“I’m sure that’ll be a lot of fun.” Blake laughed. “Oh…
hang on, Sean.” He walked around his desk to stand next to
Kari and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Kari, this is my best friend, Sean. He can be an ass
when he is in meetings, but he is a good guy.” Blake smiled at
Sean who ran his fingers through his hair almost in
embarrassment.
“Sean, we missed you at the wedding,” Kari smiled.
 “Dude, this is my new wife, and she is going to kick my
butt later today because you were an ass in this meeting.”
Blake laughed pulling her closer to him and nuzzled her cheek.
He took the opportunity to bring her close to him, feeding his
body the warmth it craved to make him want her more and
send the dull ache right to his balls.
“Very nice to meet you, Kari. I can’t be Blake’s buddy if
I’m not an ass.” Sean laughed driving a fist into Blake’s arm.
“I’m sure you guys have a lot to catch up on. I’ll talk to
you later, Sean.” Kari wiggled out of Blake’s arms to gather
her laptop and notebook.
“Kari, I need to talk to you. Sean, do you mind locking
the door on your way out?” Blake asked and got a kick out of
Kari’s flushed expression as she smiled at Sean.
“You guys keep it down, okay?” Sean laughed closing
the door.
“Blake… what was that?” she snapped as soon as his
office door was shut.
“What?” He shrugged settling back into his chair. “Have
a seat, please.” Blake knew she was annoyed, but it fired him
up even more—he loved the way her eyes blazed.
“What do you want to talk about, Blake?” Kari was
annoyed with the image Blake tried to portray with Sean.
“I want to apologize for the way Sean talked to you and
about the Vora Group. He is pissed I got married while he was
away. He knows me too well to believe I got married
especially since he knew what my activities were like since I
came back from London.” He looked at her and sensed the
relief sweep over her.
“I figured, but wasn’t sure why he was acting like an
idiot.” She smiled.
“He has no idea that I’m nowhere close to getting my
balls sucked, so he thinks you have me twirling around you,
wrapped around your little finger.” He laughed, and she turned
crimson.
 “You look beautiful when you blush like that,” he
crooned and heard her catch her breath.
“Are you in the habit of complimenting all your
operations leaders?”
“I’m not into complimenting my best friend.” He
laughed taking in her beautifully-shaped eyes trying hard to
read them.
“Good to have you back, Blake.”
“Did Erin take good care of you while I was gone?” he
asked just as she was about to stand up.
“She tortured me, and I knew you had something to do
with it.” She laughed thinking of Blake’s personal chef who
showed up at his home office exactly every four hours from
the early hours of the morning to well into the night while she
worked.
“I didn’t want you passing out from lack of food and
slow down the progress,” he said with a smile.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you remembered about my
binge-coding phase.” She shook her head.
“I don’t forget anything.” He winked.
“She was very sweet. I didn’t miss my mom when she
was around.” She laughed.
“Yeah… I’m sure you missed me,” he declared searching
for a reaction on her face.
“Aww… I’m sure you missed me, too. We made good
progress. My team thinks I was working on my honeymoon.”
She changed topics on him, but he didn’t mind. He loved the
easy banter with her.
“Good, I guess that calls for a celebration. Dinner at
seven?” He looked at his computer to check his schedule.
“Not yet,” she warned. “We have a long way to go.”
“I still want to take you out for dinner.” He leaned back
scanning her face.
 “Dinner at home? We haven’t really spent time at your
place.”
“Our place, and I like that idea better. I’ll have Erin
make us dinner and set it in the oven.” He picked up his phone
to send a message to Erin.
“Boring… didn’t you ever cook for your girlfriends?”
she teased, and he went stiff from the old memories he had
wiped out of his life.
Kari saw the sudden shift in his expression. “Blake, I
was just kidding.”
“I don’t cook for anyone.” He tried not to sound shaky.
The laughs, the dirty kisses, the fun flashed in front of his eyes
threatening to crack his heart.
“Blake, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing… see you at eight at home.” He looked away
making her wonder what she said that was so wrong. She
made a mental note to hit up Sean for some more information,
if there was any.
“Can I get a ride home?” she asked taking him by
surprise. “My husband says I can’t ride my bike, and I had to
take a cab to work—I don’t think I can afford that for too
long.”
He smiled shaking his head. “Yes, I usually leave at
seven, but since I have a date tonight, I’ll leave at six-thirty.
We should get you a company car, so you are not relying on
my schedule.”
“I’ll work with your schedule. Add the car budget to the
BINA software budget,” she pleaded dramatically making him
laugh. “See you, Blake.”
He watched her walk away from him, her hips swaying
beautifully.
She stopped at the door and looked at him. “You pull this
‘lock the door on your way out’ crap one more time when I’m
in your office, and I’ll report you to the HR team.”
“I’m scared.” He laughed making her laugh.
 She walked away from his office with a million
questions running through her mind. He was a womanizer
based on the Internet images, but there seemed to be more than
what she had assumed about him. He was unpredictable and
never expected him to ask her to stop riding her bike. She
didn’t think much about it, but she wanted to know why.

*****
“Hey, Sean.” She stepped into his office later that day to
talk about the next acquisition. Her team moved into the
headquarters of the Kennedy Group and was placed on a
different floor. She chose to sit with her team even with the
new responsibilities.
There was a buzz in the office about Blake getting
married, but very few people knew anything about whom he
was married to, but she knew the word would get around very
fast.
“Hey… I have a question for you, and if I don’t ask, I
might just die from high blood pressure,” Sean declared as she
settled into the chair across from him.
“Yeah… shoot.” She smiled.
“How did you get that bastard to marry you?” His voice
was casual, but something deep inside her twitched.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“If there was one guy who I never expected to get
married… like ever… like never… that sucker is married by
the time I get back from vacation?” He shook his head in
disbelief.
“Did you ask him how he got me to marry him?” She
smiled politely not sure where Sean was headed with his
question.
“I have no idea how he landed you, but my only guess is
with the whole Vora deal. That deal was set in stone when I
left so I don’t know how you showed up taking away the most
boring part of my job, and you’re his wife? Mind boggling.”
Sean was onto them, and she wasn’t sure how much she could
reveal to Sean.
“Well, we met and we…”
“Don’t bullshit me, I wasn’t born yesterday.” Sean
leaned forward placing his elbows on his table. “I also need to
know why a mysterious group of geeks moved upstairs.”
“Hey, that’s my team, and they are not geeks.”
“So what’s the scoop, Kari?” His eyes screwed like he
was trying to read her mind.
She looked at Sean and saw a huge opportunity for her to
get more information about the man she was going to live with
for the next year. “I’ll let you in on the secret. What’s in it for
me?”
He laughed tilting his head back. “You’re good. No
wonder he got married to you in a hurry.”
“So you go first, what’s the deal with my husband?” she
whispered.
“Now you sound all spooky. How did you marry him
without… wait, when did you guys meet?” Sean fired back.
“You tell me why you thought he would never marry?”
He shook his head, and she noticed gloom take over his
expression. “I can’t talk about it. I never will.”
“Why doesn’t he want me to ride my bike?” she fired her
questions.
“What? Oh my God. I’m sorry I started this
conversation. I really can’t talk about any of this.”
“Sean, you’re horrible,” she declared laughing.
“Kari, I don’t know how you guys got together, and you
don’t need to tell me, but do not…” His voice trailed off, and
Kari realized Sean was looking over her shoulder.
She turned to see Blake approach his office and saw him
smile at her when their eyes met.
 Blake walked into Sean’s office and shut the glass door
behind him. “Can I steal my wife?”
“Dude, who are you?” Sean asked in disbelief.
“Can we talk tomorrow, Sean?” Kari stood up to leave.
“I’m heading home. I have to cook dinner for my wife.”
Blake winked at Sean.
“What?” Kari and Sean asked in unison.
“I don’t get to cook for my wife?”
“Who is this guy? Did you cast a spell on him?” Sean
was in shock.
“Get a life, dude.” Blake turned to look at Kari who sat
frozen in her seat. “Babe, you ready to go?”
Babe?
“You are totally creepy. I need to talk to you when you
are done being a love-sick puppy,” Sean taunted.
“You will understand when you fall in love with your
soul mate.” Blake smiled at Kari making her skin crawl.
“That’s enough, both of you out of my office,” Sean
growled.
Kari left without a word, and Blake followed her out the
door.
“What the heck was that? Soul mate? Really?” she
grumbled under her breath as they walked down the hallway
between a sea of cubicles.
Blake laughed running his fingers through his hair. “I
love messing with Sean. That’s what he gets for talking about
my balls this morning.”
Kari was relieved to hear Blake was only playing Sean.
The knot that had formed in her stomach in response to what
Blake had spewed in Sean’s office started to ease slowly but
cautiously.
 Chapter 6

“It’s confirmed, Blake. The Sonoma Group is toying

with contracts and getting a boatload of money out of the deals
even if the acquisition doesn’t go through,” she declared
slumping her body on the ultra plush couch in the family
room. “They either mess up the contract by making it look like
their vendors are being difficult or, in one case, they
threatened to file a sexual harassment lawsuit.”
“Sexual harassment?” He looked puzzled.
“One of their female executives was used as bait… it
doesn’t matter. They are into cheap tricks.” She scrunched her
nose in disgust.
It had been three weeks since they were married, and
they were settled in as ideal roommates. She had moved into
the second bedroom suite on the upper level of Blake’s
massive house. She kept to her routine as she continued to
work with her team. Her favorite part of Blake’s house was the
private pool on the upper level where she had access to it from
her bedroom. She had caught him looking at her like he
wanted to eat her when she stepped out of the water a few
times, but he made no attempt to seduce her since the day of
the wedding.
They spent time watching a football game or a Formula
One car race but mostly spent their time playing snooker in the
lower level of the house. They talked business and strategy as
they played.
The snooker games got so competitive that she would
wake up in the middle of the night to get in a round of practice
only to be caught by Blake as she was aiming at the eight ball
in her night clothes. They had challenged each other to a strip-
snooker game, and it was about to get out of hand as she
leaned on the snooker table with her breasts spilling out of her
bra cup as Blake watched on fully clothed. She thanked her
stars when he was pulled into an emergency overseas call and
had not dared to agree to a strip game again.
The arrangement seemed to work out perfectly for both
of them, but they both refused to think about the growing
elephant in the room, which threatened to consume their
resolve and keep their relationship strictly business.
“I’m impressed.” Blake smiled. “You do have a lot of
connections in the hotel business.”
“I might have been off the grid the past year, but I was
good with building my network.” She grinned.
“Who is your source?”
“It’s a trusted source, and I’m not ready to give it up
yet,” she declared adamantly.
“How close is the source to the Sonoma Group?”
“Very… very close—let’s say one of the core members. I
got them to brag about their so-called deals that didn’t go
through but still ended up making money out of it.”
“I’m very impressed,” he drawled. “What do you think
we should do, go ahead or back out of the deal?”
“What do you want to do?” she probed.
He looked at her in silence making her laugh. “I know
exactly what you are thinking. You want to go ahead with the
deal but beat those bastards at their own game.”
“You up to play some politics?” he growled.
“Yes! You know I want to. What’s the game plan?” She
practically bounced on the couch with excitement.
“Can you work your Sonoma Group contact?” He looked
up at her as she stood up from the couch.
“Maybe, what’s in it for me?”
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I want the entire upper floor to myself and the pool.”
She winked.
 “You really like the pool, huh? I’ve seen you swim at
two in the morning.”
“Do we have a deal?” She probed him with her palms on
her hips.
“I need to think about it, how about we talk about it
tomorrow night. If you make a sweet deal with them and you
beat me in strip snooker, I might give up the entire upper floor
for you.”
“That would be so awesome; I will convert your
bedroom into a home office with my own conference room.”
She clapped with excitement.
“You’re a silly workaholic,” he declared as she walked
away from him.
“We’ll talk about how silly I can be while we move your
things into the bedroom downstairs,” she called out without
turning to look at him.

*****

She heard the blaring alarm before she realized where

she was and when the water hit her face, she swallowed the
same amount of water that made it to the lungs through her
nose. She went underwater, and her body went into shock and
failed to remember she was a strong swimmer. She flapped her
arms in a frenzy resurfacing in the seven-foot pool.
“I got this, just turn off the alarm,” Blake barked into the
phone and threw it aside before diving into the pool.
“Blake… I… don’t let me go.” Kari’s voice was shaky,
and her body trembled as he wrapped his arms pulling her to
him.
“What the fuck are you doing trying to swim in your
pajamas?” He gritted his teeth as he picked her up placing her
on the edge of the pool. She coughed the water out as he
pulled himself out of the pool.
 “Kari, are you okay?” His voice was soothing and didn’t
hold the annoyance it did a few moments ago.
She nodded trying to sit up but barely managed to roll to
her side.
“You need to get out of these clothes. Can you stand
up?” Blake looked at her curled up body.
“Fuck it,” he grunted lifting her off the tiles into his
arms. He carried her toward his bedroom dripping water all
over the oak wood floors.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her
cheek on his bare chest taking in the warmth. Her body shook
from the cold and shock, and all she wanted to do was close
her eyes and shut everything out.
She squeaked in pleasant surprise tightening her hold
around his neck when she felt the stream of warm water over
her cold body.
“You need to get rid of these wet clothes.” He breathed
on her cheek making her body heat up from within. “Can you
stand?” She moaned unable to speak and held on to him like
her life depended on it.
“Kari…” Blake started to say and held back when she
opened her eyes to look at him.
“I’m sorry, Blake. I forgot to lock the door,” she
murmured.
“Keep talking, but I need you to take off your clothes,”
he urged holding her under the steady stream of warm water.
“No, I want to go to sleep,” she mumbled against his
chest as he set her feet on the wet shower floor.
“Hold on,” he called out before ripping open her pajama
top and pushing it off her shoulders leaving her bare- chested.
“Hey.” Her senses jolted awake, but he paid no attention
to her objection. He bent down to pull her dripping pajamas
down her legs leaving her standing in her drenched panties.
 “You should have given it some thought before jumping
into the pool dressed like this.” He laughed looking at her as
she covered her breasts with her hands.
Her chest heaved heavily as he came up to take her into
his arms. “Why do you need to lock your door?”
“I—I fell in the pool because… I was sleepwalking,” she
confessed looking into his eyes.
“What? For real?” He shook his head in disbelief. “You
walk around in your sleep every day?”
“Don’t be silly. I think I talk in my sleep almost every
day, but I don’t walk every day.” She shivered wrapping her
arms around him flattening her chest further into his tight
chest.
“Is that why you had a million deadbolts on your door at
your apartment?”
She was surprised he remembered such a random detail.
“Yes.”
He laughed making her wonder what was so funny. “I
don’t know if I can trust you to keep company confidential
stuff if you are announcing everything in your sleep.”
“Shut up and get me a towel,” she snapped suddenly
feeling conscious of the warmth his body emitted.
“I’m yet to hear the magic words. No ‘Thank you for
pulling me out of the pool’ or ‘Please bring me a towel.’”
“Thank you, and if you look away I can go get my own
towel,” she retorted.
“Fine, go ahead.” He let go of her and turned away
standing partially under the shower in his boxers.
She took one step away from the warm stream and felt
her feet turn to ice, and her knees turned to jelly. She let out a
shriek when her body started to collapse as she frantically
reached out to grab onto something.
She felt the shiver that ran through her body but also felt
the vise-like grip that held her securely to the well-built
structure.
“Kari, what’s wrong, baby?” His voice held concern, and
it simmered something deep inside her.
“Don’t let me go, Blake,” she begged.
“I promise, I won’t. Hold me.” He scooped her into his
arms once again and stepped out of the shower. He didn’t
bother picking up the towels that were stacked on one side of
the massive bathroom but took her straight to the bed. He
placed her on the thick cotton sheets and pulled the sheets over
her trembling body.
“Hang on.” He went back into the bathroom to grab the
entire stack of towels. Her body was shivering as he patted her
dry and wrapped her body in a couple of dry ones.
“You can sleep here tonight.” He planted a kiss on her
cheek, and before he could pull away, she ran her arm around
his neck.
“Please take me to my room. I will sleep here when I
close the Sonoma deal,” she mumbled against his neck.
“You are unbelievable.” He laughed sliding under the
sheets with her.
“I’m cold, Blake,” she complained tightening her hold
on him.
“Do you still have your panties on?” He ran his palm
over the towel and felt the wet patch on the dry towel.
He yanked open the towel that cocooned her body and
ripped off her wet lacy panties. “There, you should warm up
soon.”
“Don’t go, Blake. Stay with me, I’m freezing.” Her teeth
chattered.
“This is some adventure at two in the morning.” He
laughed pulling her close to him.
She squealed when his wet boxers came in touch with
her belly. “You’re wet, Blake. Take off your clothes.”
 “Kari… do you realize what you’re asking for?” He was
turning hard just from her touch.
“I know, Blake. I’m done starving myself,” she rasped
sinking her teeth into his shoulder.
He groaned deep inside kicking away his wet boxers and
dug his fingertips into her back bringing his throbbing shaft to
her belly. “I dreamed of this a million times in the last few
weeks.”
“Will you fuck me, Blake?” It was a desperate plea.
“You don’t have to ask, sweetheart. It is my pleasure to
fuck you,” he growled sucking her lips into his mouth.
She moaned at the raw hunger as he melded her body to
his etching the shape of his muscles on her delicate skin.
“I can’t wait to be buried inside you,” he mumbled
sucking on her upper lip.
“Yes, I want you to punish me, punish me for making
you wait, punish me for being an idiot,” she moaned sending
shudders through his body.
He moved on top of her unable to contain his need to fill
her, bury himself to her deepest point. “I want to taste you
before I take you, sweetness.”
He let go of her lips and trailed his lips down her body,
kissing each perked-up nipple, his tongue laying a trail of fire
on her belly before digging into her belly button. She clenched
her stomach in anticipation and fisted her fingers in his damp
hair as he headed south into the darkness of her desires.
She was wet with her arousal and gasped when he
nuzzled her folds. “You smell so good.”
“Blake, don’t tease me like that.” It was an order, and he
knew he needed to meet her need before she lost her cool.
“Patience, sweetheart. The waiting will make it that
much sweeter.”
He let his tongue caress every longing fold of her
deepest desires sending waves of ecstasy throughout her body.
Blood coursed through her veins in a mad rush to meet the
speed of her raging heart. She lifted the small of her back off
the mattress to open up to his assault.
He sucked on her clit between his teeth and pumped two
fingers into her pleasure cave making her yelp in delight.
“You like that, baby?” he hummed against her mound.
“Yes!! I want more. Don’t stop.”
He pumped into her with three fingers while setting her
clit on fire. She let go of his hair worried she might rip some
off his scalp as she tried to get a hold of her turbulent
emotions.
She fisted the cotton sheets when she felt her peak
building up and tossed her head unable to contain her senses
and the sensations she was experiencing. She had never felt
this high as he claimed towards the ultimate pleasure and
feared a cardiac arrest at the rate her heart was pounding in her
chest.
She screamed his name when the surge of pleasure hit
her inner walls stabbing uncontrollable amounts of gushing
energy into her bloodstream. She moaned riding her best
orgasm by far as he lapped on her release like he couldn’t get
enough of her.
“You are so fucking tasty, I could eat you every meal,”
he groaned bringing his lips to hers. She tasted herself on his
lips and came again with the dirty pleasure.
“Baby, I waited so long to do this,” he growled reaching
over to his right to open the drawer on the nightstand.
“Blake, I’m on birth control. Just fuck me. I want you in
the raw,” she rasped making him almost blast off.
“Don’t you dare ask me to slow down.” He hit her
mound with his hardness in warning. She could see his shaft in
the dim light, but she had felt the thick rod against her belly
and knew he was gifted.
“I promise.” She gritted her teeth, sinking her nails into
his biceps.
 “Hold on, baby, it’s going to be one crazy ride,” he
growled before driving his steely rod into her throbbing folds
with uncontainable hunger. Her inner muscles clenched around
him, never wanting him to leave.
“I want to live inside you forever,” he groaned feeling
her muscles meld to his shaft.
“I want you to come inside me,” she moaned driving him
to the edge.
He placed his palms on her shoulders supporting his
upper body as he thrust into her without holding back. She let
out a curse word every time he drove into her, and he built up
the rhythm.
She partially lay under him as he took control, and she
drowned in the sea of pleasure and emotions so powerful she
couldn’t handle the implosion. Her body shook as tremors
ripped through her every time his tip grazed over her deepest
spot, and when he picked up the velocity, she was sure she was
going to go blind from the pleasure.
She cried out his name when she peaked and felt his
warmth blast inside her sending waves of unconquered
pleasure throughout. He collapsed on top of her threatening to
crush her with his weight, but she was swirling in her own
sensations as tears rolled down her cheeks.
His heart thudded so hard it surprised him. It wasn’t like
him to get carried away and have sex when the woman wanted
it, it was he that had to be in control; but with Kari, she was a
wildcat, a firecracker that knew no bounds.
He shifted his body off her chest still buried deep into
her and brushed a goodnight kiss on her cheek. His lips froze
when he felt the moisture, and then he heard the sobbing. He
reached for the light and turned it on his mind on high alert.
She buried her face in his chest as soon as the lights
came on refusing to let him see her face.
“Kari, what’s the matter?” His voice was shaky from his
mind-blowing orgasm and threatened to consume him on
many levels.
 “Blake,” she sobbed holding on to him.
“Look at me,” he ordered as she responded to the
concern in his voice.
She pulled away from his chest and looked up into his
eyes, sniffling from her outburst.
“What’s wrong?” The clench in his jaw indicated he was
expecting the worse.
“Blake, you fucked me so well. It was awesome.” Her
voice was soft, but her voice held excitement.
“What?”
“I don’t know why but when you hit deep inside, I felt it
everywhere and it was… I can’t explain it.” She blushed
looking at his face that had a cocky grin.
“I’m glad to be of service.” He nuzzled her ear pulling
her to him.
She ran her palms over his right arm and noticed the
scratches on his biceps. “I’m sorry I scratched you.”
“I’m not sorry you scratched me. I like wildcats in my
bed.” He sunk his teeth into the side of her neck making her
yelp.
She sat up rubbing her neck. “I can’t go into work with a
hickey.”
“Yes, you can. It’s sexy,” he grunted pulling her onto his
chest.
She laughed rolling her head on his chest. Running her
palm on his left arm, she felt something odd on his muscled
arm. “What is that?” She ran her finger over a scar, which ran
along his outer arm.
“You scratched me,” he laughed without looking where
she was tracing her finger.
“Blake, is this from an accident?” Her lips caressed the
scar that seemed to be more than a few years old. Her tongue
ran along the length of the scar like she wanted to heal it.
 “It’s nothing.” He brushed aside her question and pulled
her over him.
“I will go back to my room if you don’t tell me,” she
squealed as he held her back to his chest.
“Please don’t go, I promise to fuck you until you cry.”
“I’m sure you will.” She pulled his arm around her waist
and rested her cheek on the back of his hand. “Good night.”
“Don’t go wandering off into the pool again.” He kissed
the back of her head.
“I won’t,” she whispered running her palm on the scar
like she wanted to read it. She was pretty sure the scar was
from a motorcycle accident—a bad one.
Something clicked in her mind, and she wondered if he
had a bad motorcycle accident and that was the reason why he
didn’t want her to ride hers.
How could he care so much about her to make that one
of the important conditions of their deal?
She knew there was more to it, but for that night, she
delved into slumber as his warm body cocooned her and lulled
her back to sleep.
 Chapter 7

The early morning light brought him out of his

suspended state. He groaned reaching out for the softness that
set him ablaze well into the early morning hours.
He reached out between the sheets for her only to be
greeted by emptiness. “Kari…”
There was no response, and the clock on the end table
showed a few minutes past seven. He barely got a couple of
hours of sleep. He blinked a few times looking around for any
sign of Kari, and there was nothing.
The towels that rolled around with them in bed were
gone, his wet boxers lay on the floor looking sorry, the room
looked tidy as all the things that were thrown around while he
pounded hard into her were back in their place. He walked into
the bathroom to look for her clothes but nothing.
An eerie feeling settled over him as he wondered if last
night was real. It felt real, he could still remember the way she
called out his name so erotic that he was getting hard again.
He raked his fingers through his hair looking at himself in the
bathroom mirror.
A smile crept up his face when he saw the souvenir
scratches she had left on his arms. Her beautiful smell lingered
in his bathroom, but it seemed like she was never there—
however, the memories from the time she cuddled into him
until they both collapsed in each other’s arms was something
he would remember for a long time, even forever.
There was no stopping Kari, and he didn’t want her to
stop. She knew the right cord to strike, and every time he came
into her arms, it was powerful and enlightening.
He walked back to the end table and picked up his phone
and sent her a message.
 Blake: Why are you not here with me?
Kari: Good morning.
Kari: We are all set for the meeting with Sonoma Group
at 9.

Blake shook his head. He had sent her an intimate

message, and she was responding back with a professional
message.

Blake: I can’t make it by 9. I had a wildcat in my bed

last night.
Kari: Oh… do you need help calling animal control.
Please make sure that thing stays out of my room.

She was messing with him, and he was enjoying it.

Blake: I need to tame it a bit and clip the nails.

Kari: Blake, we cannot move the meeting. The Sonoma
Group Board, which is their entire family, is going on a family
vacation for a week. We need to talk to them today so we have
a week to strategize.
Blake: Really? How do I clip the nails on my kitty?
Kari: I’m sorry I can’t help you. Sean and I need you to
be in the office by 8:30 so we can prep for the meeting.
Blake: My kitty is in so much trouble.
Kari: See you around 8:30?
Blake: Seriously? You know it takes more than an hour
to reach the office.
Kari: I know you’ll figure it out.
 Sean and Kari were in Blake’s office looking at the
financials for the company that was to be acquired when Blake
loudly walked in. She looked up and caught her breath when
she saw him looking super sexy in his dark wash jeans and a
motorcycle jacket. He placed his helmet on the side table and
winked at the two blank faces.
Kari was pale with need, but Sean had an ominous
expression on his face.
“You rode your motorcycle to work?” Sean asked in
disbelief.
“Yeah… now look away because I am going to kiss my
beautiful wife,” he said pulling Kari out of the chair and into
his arms.
She let out a sound that was barely a protest and
shuddered when she felt his hungry lips on her sore ones. It
was a reminder of how much time she spent with her lips
pressed against his. He sucked out the air in her lungs before
letting her go. “You are in so much trouble. Meet me in my
office at noon,” he whispered making her shiver.
“Break it up you two, we need to talk,” Sean grumbled
still turned away from what looked like a loving couple.
“Can’t you two ride together, so I don’t have to get a show
every morning.”
“Not a bad idea,” Blake crooned nipping on her cheek.
“Blake, we only have twenty minutes before the
meeting. Can we talk?” she questioned hoping her voice didn’t
sound wobbly.
“There is nothing to talk about. We know what they are
up to, and we need to beat them at their own game.” Blake sat
down on the plush chair and took off his jacket.
“What the heck?” Sean demanded. “You show up an
hour later than usual, riding your motorcycle, and in that
pathetic t-shirt for one of the most important meetings of the
year?”
Kari turned crimson when she saw the minor scratches
on his arms. She gripped the armrest of the chair and turned to
look at Sean who was visibly fuming.
“Relax, you guys, I got this. I have nothing to worry
about.”
“What have you been smoking?” Sean was outraged.
“Sean…” Blake did not appreciate his friend’s tone.
“Sean, he is right. The contract is clean. We just need to
talk terms with them when they get here,” Kari declared.
“It’s not the contract I’m concerned about. Are you not
at all shocked by the fact he rode his motorcycle?” Sean
looked flustered making her wonder what the big deal was
with the motorcycle. If he had an accident and had stopped
riding and felt like riding again, she didn’t see why Sean
needed to make a huge deal about it.
“I know, I need to talk to him. We will meet you in the
conference room in ten minutes,” she declared smiling.
“Lock the door on your way out, buddy,” Blake called
out ticking her off.
She huffed and puffed on the inside until the door closed
shut behind Sean. “What the heck are you doing? You just
blew up our advantage over the Sonoma Group. I am supposed
to be a mole, remember?”
Her eyes blazed at him setting his shaft on fire. She
looked stunning in a dark suit—the skirt hugged her delectable
globes on her back.
He stood up and walked over to where she sat, her palms
fisted in anger. He went on his knees before her to bring his
eyes to the same level as hers.
“Why did you leave me alone in bed?” His voice was
gruff.
“What are you talking about?” She was trembling on the
inside to his proximity but tried hard to be nonchalant.
“I know what you are trying to do,” he snickered. “You
think you can pretend like none of it happened.”
“What happened?” She looked at him innocently.
 He ran his fingers on his arms. “This happened so why
are you pretending like nothing happened?”
“Because nothing happened,” she glowered.
He swiftly reached out and ran the rough pad of his
thumb on the side of her neck. Her breath hitched when she
felt a sweet pain in the area.
“This is proof I didn’t just imagine the wildcat in my
bed,” he smirked. “I want to see you in my office at noon.”
He stood up and walked toward a bookshelf and opened
it revealing a small closet. He put on a sports jacket over his t-
shirt. “It’s casual Friday so this should work, and you might
need some makeup if you want your Sonoma contact to think
you are in an unhappy marriage of convenience.”
“What? They don’t know we are married,” she shrugged.
“You think?”
“No one knows outside the legal team,” she objected.
“How is it that your best friend knows about our deal?”
“Umm… she is technically my attorney,” she snapped.
“I bet half the company knows we are in some kind of a
relationship,” he declared.
“Should we tell Sean about our deal? Would it help in
any way?”
“Nope, he is happy knowing I am a married man for
more than one reason.” Blake laughed.
“About that… is why…” Her voice trailed off when
Blake started to move toward her purposefully.
“We can sit here and talk all day, but contracts don’t get
signed on their own. Time for you to be my conniving wife,”
he chuckled running the tip of his fingers along her jawline
making her skin tingle.
“Crap, I didn’t realize it was time already.”
“I enjoy your company, too.” He turned to look at her
with an evil smile on his face as he walked toward the door.
 Ten minutes later, she was seated next to Sean with a
room full of men of varying ages but mostly men in her dad’s
age group. It didn’t bother her that she was the only female
executive in the room.
“Can we get started?” Blake was extremely polite.
“We need Roger, and he should be here any minute,” the
Sonoma Group CEO declared. “He was just a few minutes
behind us and… Oh, here he is.”
Kari sat frozen in her chair looking at Blake as Roger
walked into the room. Roger and she had dated when they
were in college and had been friendly since then. She hadn’t
seen Roger in years and wondered how he would react to find
her in the conference room with Blake.
“Kari… Kari Vora?” he croaked in sheer surprise.
Roger was decent looking, but he wasn’t her type and
needed a lot of smothering. She had fallen for his cute,
charming looks, but she knew on the second date he wasn’t
her type.
“Roger… it’s so good to see you.” She smiled as he
swept her off her feet and into his arms.
She managed to catch the annoyed look on Blake’s face
when Roger pulled up a chair next to her after dragging it all
the way over from the other side of the room.
Jealous? It can’t be.
The conversations continued between the group, and
Roger started texting her while he sat right next to her.

Roger: What the F are you doing here?

She slowly reached for her phone and glared sideways at

Roger.
 Roger: You know it’s gonna take another ten meetings to
close the contract. So why are you here?
Kari: I work here, part of the deal my dad made.
Roger: Crap, I heard about it… and I heard there was
more.
Kari: There is nothing more, but what did you hear?
Roger: Do you have a deal with Blake?
Kari: I am his Chief Operations Officer.
Roger: Just at corporate?
Kari: What’s that supposed to mean?
Roger: Here’s what I heard… you were part of some deal
to pay back your dad’s debt
Kari: Huh?
Roger: By sleeping with him
“What? No,” she involuntarily snapped glaring at Roger
and realized the room full of men were looking at her.
“Everything okay?” Blake asked his eyes narrowed.
“Yes, sorry. I’ll be right back.” She stepped out of the
conference room hyperventilating.
“Fuck,” she muttered under her breath running her
fingers through her hair. Her reaction would have been a lot
more toned down if she hadn’t crawled into Blake’s bed in the
early hours of the morning.
“Kari, I’m so sorry that came out wrong. I had no idea
what really happened. You need to go back in; everyone is
waiting for you,” Roger said as he came out of the room
urging her to go back in.
“What kind of a sick person is your source, Roger?” she
snapped.
“I know, I’m sorry. I didn’t have my filters on.” He
followed her into the conference room.
 She stopped short when everyone in the room stood up
to cheer for her. She heard people congratulate her, and she
smiled politely wondering what they were all so happy about.
A moment later Blake came to stand next to her and ran his
arm around her waist.
“Gentlemen, please meet my lovely wife and my Chief
Operating Officer, Kari Vora Kennedy,” Blake announced and
held her with a vice-like grip.
She felt the blood drain from her face but managed to
paint a smile on her face. The secret they had to keep in hopes
of staying on top of the deal was out in the open.
What was he thinking?

She sat in her office almost three hours later, exhausted

from the back-to-back presentations and meetings. Her mind
was racing as she thought about how she could stay ahead on
the deal with the secret out about their marriage. It wasn’t
really a complete secret especially when a thousand guests
attended their wedding, but it could have come in handy with
the deal.
She picked up her phone when she heard it beep.

Blake: It’s noon, and you have a date with your husband.
Kari: I don’t.
Blake: You’re in so much trouble; I’ll be nicer if you
show up in the next two minutes.
Kari: I’m not going anywhere. I have work to do.
Blake: I will come see you if you don’t move your tush
off that chair… it won’t be good if you make me come down
there.
Kari: I don’t give a damn fuck what you do.
 She put the phone away on her desk and stood to look
out the glass wall to one side of her office. She stared out at
the San Francisco Bay unable to contain her thoughts. Her
body still shuddered from the memory of every orgasm that
rippled through her body until she passed out in his arms.
She would be lying to herself if she thought it was a
spur-of-the-moment thing, and it just happened. She had
wanted it the moment he laid his finger on her but denied it for
way too long. Her need to be consumed by him had only built
up, and it unleashed itself setting her resolve on fire.
She turned when she heard a knock on her door. Blake
walked in wearing only his t-shirt and his dark wash jeans. He
probably didn’t have time to shave, and he had a stubble,
which made him look all the more irresistible.
“I thought we made a deal.” His voice was calm, like the
calm before the storm.
“Which deal are you talking about? The deal where we
agreed not to make this fake marriage of ours public?” she
snarled.
“You were supposed to be in my office at noon?”
“Why, so you could have your way with me? Last night
was a mistake, huge mistake.” She slumped her body on her
chair and gasped for air.
“Sweetheart, I’m so glad you walk in your sleep. I wish
you had walked right into my bed. I’ve been sleeping rock
hard since the day you moved in,” he drawled.
“Stop it, Blake.”
“I’m done playing games. I want you so bad, I want to
fuck you right now.” He gritted his teeth moving toward her.
“Blake, why did you have to tell them we were
married?” She held her head in her palm without looking at
him.
“They knew… they had known all along. They knew
you were going to leverage your relationship with Roger. He
wasn’t even on the invitee list for the meeting. Why do you
think he showed up?” Blake challenged.
“Roger is not my source,” she declared.
“I know he isn’t.”
“Why did you have to announce it and make it a big
deal?” She shook her head in disbelief.
“You’re mine!” he declared. “For however long we are
in the contract, you’re mine, and I will tell all those assholes
that look at you like you are available, they need to know
you’re mine.”
Her heart fluttered, her stomach clenched in response to
the sheer possessiveness in his voice. She smiled at him to
ease the tension that had built up in the room.
“Fine, what do we do now?” she asked.
“Your noon date just got moved to seven, and if you
need to catch up on some sleep in the office, I really don’t
mind. You’re not sleeping tonight.” His voice held a
command, and all she could do was rub the skin on her neck
that tingled and look away from him.
 Chapter 8

“You look beautiful, mommy,” Kari teased hugging

Nicole.
“And you look like walking sex, girl,” Nicole teased. “I
haven’t seen you in weeks. Does he have you bound to the bed
at night and to his desk during the day?”
“Nicole, the baby can hear you. He’s going to think his
aunt is a slut.” She laughed running her palm on Nicole’s
tummy.
“He’ll be fine, he is used to it now. I’ve been watching a
hell of a lot of TV lately.” She winked.
“How much longer before the baby arrives?”
“Four more weeks, and I told Dev he couldn’t travel
anymore until the baby is two years old.” She giggled. “That’s
enough about the G-rated stuff, I want more of the R-rated
stuff—what’s with you and your fake hubby?”
“Well, it’s okay.” She hoped Nicole wouldn’t see how
her body was fluttering with joy just at the thought of Blake. It
had been six weeks since she embarked on the so-called
journey, and all she could say was it was mind blowing in
every way, the sex, the fun, and the adventure.
“Stop lying to me. Look at you, you are like a fucking
glow toy, your eyes are sparkling, and Oh my God, I haven’t
seen you so relaxed in… like forever.”
“Well, he is good… I mean damn good. I cried the first
time we did it,” she squeaked like a schoolgirl.
“Oh my God… that good? Crap, I want an orgasm like
that… right now.” Nicole was loud enough that the older
woman sitting behind her froze for a second before taking a
sip of her tea.
 “Nicole, you’ve turned into a complete weirdo. Easy
girl,” she whispered.
“It’s the hormones. It was so bad at one point, Dev had
to run away from me. I want him to fuck me all the time,”
Nicole groaned.
“Okay… we are changing topics now. G-rated, please,”
she teased.
“How’s work?” Nicole laughed.
“It’s good. It’s coming along well. I’m excited.” She
took a sip of her tea and smiled at her friend.
“Seriously? That’s all you are going to tell me?” Nicole
taunted.
“What?”
“Do you not remember how you would talk endlessly
about your work, and what do I get today? An ‘it’s okay?’
What got into you?” Nicole probed.
“I’m just tired. It’s Friday night, and I’ve had a long
week.” She shook her head fighting a yawn.
“So he is fucking your brains out all night?” Nicole
leaned in closer and whispered.
“Yes, and I’m having so much fun every night. I took a
nap under my desk today. First time ever in my career.” She
blushed.
“Finally, a dude who got you out of the geek phase,” she
stated.
“Yeah, he is a lot of fun.”
“And… where’s the but?” Nicole teased.
“Blake is not available emotionally,” she declared rather
sadly.
“What?”
“He is weird. Doesn’t share anything with me. I know he
wants me for more than just my body but… something’s
missing.”
 “Commitment issues?” Nicole whispered.
“Ahem… he gave me his mother’s ring which he didn’t
have to but, he is odd in some ways.”
“Why?” Nicole was clearly itching for gossip.
“Enough about us. When are you guys going on a
babymoon?” She tried to distract.
“Stop it… don’t switch topics on me. Why is he weird?
He seems fine to me.”
“I don’t know… it didn’t take me long to figure out he is
not a flowers and chocolate kind of guy and not that I want
one but…” She struggled to find the right words.
“But what?”
“I—I don’t feel needed… like I know he wants to be, but
he doesn’t need me… you know what I mean?” She looked at
the ceiling unable to pinpoint what was it that nagged at her.
“Is he cold? Is he not caring?” Nicole pondered.
“He is not cold, he is aloof, and I feel like I know
nothing about him,” she blurted.
“Didn’t you want it to be this way?” Her friend pointed
out rightfully.
“Yes!” She threw her arms in the air. “But I want a little
more, so I don’t feel like a whore.”
“Maybe that’s how he is… does he not care for you
outside the bedroom?” Nicole winked.
“I know this is turning out to be a very entertaining night
for you,” she mocked.
“C’mon, I’m just trying to help. Does he not care for
you?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she questioned.
“Like does he cook for you or does he feel possessive
about you?” Nicole leaned forward like she was analyzing a
case.
 “No lovey-dovey stuff, but he sure feels jealous and can
be possessive,” she commented thinking about a couple of
incidents.
“Details,” Nicole probed.
“So… we were at this car show a few weeks ago, and I
was talking to this dude about the work he’d done on his car,
and he was clearly flirting with me. Blake showed up out of
nowhere, and he started pawing me like wanted to show the
guy I wasn’t available. I found that totally silly, but it was hot,
and we had a nice… you know… after that.” She laughed.
“Stop now, my baby can hear you,” Nicole teased.
“Looks like he has something for you so why fight it? Does he
not believe in love and relationships?”
“I don’t know… maybe because he didn’t have his mom
around when he was growing up,” she wondered out loud.
“How old was he when…” Nicole’s voiced trailed off
when she saw Kari shake her head.
“Blake lost his mother during childbirth, never met her.
It’s almost like he doesn’t want to share anything… like he has
a moat around him.”
“I had no idea, and his dad… he never married again?”
Nicole whispered.
“I don’t think he did and from what I know and what I
saw… they aren’t really like how Dev and Uncle Raj are… I
mean I don’t know if they even talk,” she wondered out loud.
“I can’t even begin to imagine not being around for my
baby.” Nicole ran her palm on her tummy. “Maybe it is
something about not getting that unconditional love; I wonder
if he has that sense of loss.”
“I don’t know… and there are the things that I just don’t
understand… like I still have no idea why he doesn’t want me
to ride my motorbike. I could have parked my bike right
outside tonight, but he insists on picking me up after we are
done with dinner.” She shrugged. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You are in love, sucker,” Nicole teased.
 “Bullshit.”
“You’ve gotten to a point where he wants something, and
you want the same thing but more, and you can’t have it, or he
doesn’t know how to give it?” Nicole thought out loud.
“Right… lawyer turned shrink. I don’t need any advice.”
She laughed.
“I told you this guy might be the one. I’ve never seen
you blush like this… ever,” Nicole cheered.
“Enough about me, did you pick a name for the baby
yet?”
“I need to look at the baby to know what he is going to
be called.” Nicole winked.
“That’s ridiculous, how will you know?”
“Remember, I’m an aspiring shrink slash psychic… I
should know.” She giggled.
“Whatever,” she mocked taking a sip of her drink.
“So… if you decide to stay with Blake, can you refuse to
sign the divorce next year?” Nicole prodded.
“Cut it out girl, it’s been six weeks since I got married,
and you want me to get divorced already,” she pouted
teasingly.
“I bet Blake needs to fight tooth and nail if he needs to
get out. You won’t let go, I know.”
“No, if he wants out, I can’t hold onto him…” She
looked down at her food, and Nicole completed for her, “just
because you love him?”
“I don’t love him… I enjoy being with him,” she
snapped.
“Fine, I hope you have a plan to explain to your mom
and dad as to why you are getting divorced.”
“That’s a challenge—my only option is to show them
that Blake is an asshole, but I don’t know if I can do that to
him.” She looked down at her food unable to handle the dull
pain that gripped her heart just at the thought of not having
Blake in her life.
“Forget about the right thing to do. Promise me you will
fight for what you want.” Nicole’s tone had suddenly shifted to
serious, and all she could do was nod in agreement.
“Good.” Nicole put her napkin away and stood up. “I got
to go pee; the little guy is kicking on my bladder.
“I’ll go with you.” She stood up but sat down when
Nicole put a hand on her shoulder.
“I can take you home if Blake can’t make it,” Nicole
offered.
“I don’t know if you should really be driving but sure.”
She laughed pulling out her phone.
“Hey, babe… miss me?” Blake teased on the phone.
“Yeah, I already started taking off my clothes,” she
whispered.
“I knew it, there is only so much time you can stay away
from me. I am a few minutes away. Are you ready to go?” he
crooned.
“Yes, Nicole is in the restroom. Are you driving?”
“I’m in the limo… why do you ask?” Blake sounded
surprised.
“I don’t have a good feeling about Nicole driving back
home, and Dev is away on business. Can we take her home?
I’ll drive her car,” Kari asked hesitantly.
“Sure, I’ll let you ladies enjoy the limo ride and follow
you in her car,” he suggested.
“You can be a sweet guy,” she teased.
“Yes, but you don’t really need a sweet guy in bed do
you?” he retorted.
“I’m more into bad boys than a boring prince charming.”
She laughed.
 “Right on.” Blake laughed, and Kari turned around when
she heard him behind her.
“Hey… stop being sneaky.” She stood up throwing her
arms around him and let him brush his lips on hers.
“I missed you all day,” he murmured against her lips.
“It was your plan to go on a day trip. I took a nap under
my desk today, so I’m all yours tonight,” she whispered
nipping on his jawline and heard him groan deep inside.
“Let’s go,” he urged impatiently.
“Hang on… the mommy is still in the restroom. I’ll go
check on her.” Kari moved away from Blake and went looking
for Nicole.
“Nicole, you in there?” Kari stuck her head into the
ladies.
“Yes.” Nicole’s voice was shaky. “I’m glad you came
looking for me. I left my phone at the table.”
“Nicole, are you okay?” Kari walked toward the stall.
“I think my water broke, and I’m spilling like crazy.”
Nicole declared.
“Oh my God, what does that mean? Is the baby
coming?” Kari jumped with joy.
“I—I need Dev. Call him. We need to go to the hospital.”
Nicole was freaking out.
“Dev is at least seven hours away even if he starts
driving right now. I’ll take you to the hospital, get out of the
restroom,” Kari ordered affectionately.
“I’m going to ruin everything. I am dripping,” Nicole
whined.
Kari pulled out a sanitary pad from the dispenser. “Put
this pad on, and it’s okay if you make a mess in the car. Open
up now.”
She gave Nicole the sanitary pad. “Hang on one second.
I will be back.”
 “Where are you going?” Nicole called out, but Kari was
out of the door.
“Blake.” She waved at him and ushered him over.
She saw the concern creep up in his face as he walked
toward her. “Is she okay?”
“Her water broke. We need to take her to the hospital.”
Kari’s voice was shaky.
Blake pulled out his phone and called the driver to bring
the limo to the front of the restaurant.
“Is she inside? Can she walk?” Blake stepped into the
women’s restroom before Kari could respond.
“Nicole, can you walk?” Blake called out.
“Blake… oh… I don’t know.” Nicole stepped out of the
stall holding her tummy.
“The car is right outside the entrance. Nicole, promise to
hold on and Kari hold the door and clear the way for me,” he
ordered before bending down to scoop Nicole off her feet and
into his arms.
She squealed in surprise. “Blake… I—I’m fucking
heavy. Put me down.”
“You’ll be fine.” Blake walked past the open door and
walked behind Kari as she frantically ran in front of him
alerting the crowd. She grabbed Nicole’s stuff on her way out
and stood by the car watching Blake set Nicole down on the
seat and gently lift her feet and place them inside the car.
She hugged him, overcome by emotion before getting
into the limo after Nicole. She settled in next to Nicole and
hugged her.
Blake sat on the side bench inside the limo and looked
extremely concerned. “Nicole, are you in pain?”
“No. I don’t have any contractions, but I’m going to
mess up your car… sorry, Blake,” Nicole said sheepishly.
“Least of my concerns. Kari, did you call Dev?”
 “I haven’t because I’m losing my mind with the
excitement,” she squeaked dialing Dev.
“You are messing with me, she is not due until the end of
the month,” Dev objected when Kari told her cousin about
Nicole.
“We are on our way to the hospital in style,” she told
Dev and winked at Nicole. “We are headed over in a friggin
limo so get your ass back to San Francisco.”
“Let me talk to Dev.” Blake reached out and took the
phone from Kari.
“Dev, don’t rush. I’ll have a car pick you up in thirty
minutes. I’ll have the company jet come get you in about an
hour,” Blake declared and listened as Dev spoke on the other
end of the line. “Not a problem, my pleasure. Text Kari your
address and don’t worry about Nicole. We got this.”
“Blake, thank you so much.” Nicole’s eyes were teary.
“You don’t need to thank me.” He smiled at her, and
Kari’s heart melted for the man who she thought was only
capable of giving her bodily pleasure.
“You freaked me out when you picked her up,” Kari
confessed.
“Yeah, I weigh more than my husband with my tummy
which… I know it’s not hard considering how lean he is
but…” Nicole laughed wiping the edge of her eye.
“Okay, girl, you better be ready with a name if you are
going to have this baby tonight,” Kari teased.
“Last thing on my mind right now.” Nicole laughed. “I
guess I should call my parents.”
“I’ll make the calls once you are all checked into the
hospital,” Kari assured her. “Blake, I sent you Dev’s location
for pick up.”
“Kari, here… look up the number of a Dr. Jones, and let
her know I’m on my way to the hospital,” Nicole asked
handing her phone to Kari.
 “How is your mind still working?” Kari teased dialing
the number.
 Chapter 9

Ten minutes later, they pulled in front of the emergency

room of the San Francisco General Hospital and rolled Nicole
inside in a wheelchair. She was checked into the labor and
delivery section by the time Dev boarded the company jet in
Los Angeles for a short but nerve-wracking ride home.
“I’ve called your parents, Dev’s, and mine. Anyone
else?” Kari asked looking at Nicole.
“That’s good for now. You guys should go. I’ll be fine,
and Dev should be here in a few hours.” Nicole smiled taking
Kari’s hand in hers. “Thank you. I’m just glad you came to
check on me. I would have sat on that potty for I don’t know
how long before I realized I had to go.”
“We’re not going anywhere, Nicole,” Blake declared
settling into a chair to one side of the room.
“I don’t want your wife complaining about ruining your
romantic evening,” Nicole teased.
“I’ll make it up to her,” Blake drawled making Kari
blush.
“There you go again,” Nicole teased. “Blake, I’ve never
seen her blush like that, and I’ve known this girl for a long… I
mean a long, time.”
Blake laughed. “So were you two friends and that’s how
you and Dev met?”
“She set us up. She comes off as a geek, but she is a true
romantic at heart.” Nicole laughed. “Your cousin better show
up before the baby arrives.”
“He should be here in less than three hours,” Blake
declared looking at his phone.
“C’mon, think of a name for the baby,” Kari urged
sitting next to Nicole on the bed.
 “Not now. You ask me that one more time, I’ll have your
husband throw you out of the room,” Nicole warned laughing.

An hour later, Blake and Kari paced outside the labor

room and could hear Nicole talk to the doctor. The doctor had
to induce contractions for Nicole, and shortly after, a group of
nurses came rushing in out of nowhere.
“What’s going on, doctor?” Blake’s voice was wobbly.
“The baby has managed to put the umbilical cord around
his neck more than once, and the baby’s heart rate is dropping.
We need to perform a C-section for the baby’s safety,” the
doctor stated with no emotion.
“Is Nicole doing okay?” Blake demanded.
“The mother is doing fine. We need authorization to
perform the procedure. Are you guys family?” The doctor
signaled a nurse to prep for the procedure as she spoke.
A shiver ran through her spine at the mention of a
complication. “Yes, we are family and her husband is on his
way here. He should be here in an hour.”
“Is the procedure safe for the mother?” Blake interjected
before the doctor could speak.
“Yes, very low risk. It’s the right thing to do, and I don’t
think we can wait for her husband to arrive.” The doctor
declared placing a release form on a pad in front of them.
“Blake… I…” Her mind was a mess, and she couldn’t
think straight.
“I will sign this if you assure me the procedure is safe for
the mother,” Blake growled.
“Yes,” the doctor hissed under her breath.
“I want to be with Nicole in the room,” Kari blurted.
“Sure, please follow me, and we will get you suited up,”
the doctor called out without turning back.
 “Blake, will you be okay here?” Kari placed her palm on
his cheek. His eyes held fear, something she had never known
to affect him.
“I’ll be fine. Take care of Nicole,” he said softly, fear
refusing to let go of his body.

Blake paced the hallway and could hear Nicole and

Kari’s muffled voices. His body was numb with fear, a feeling
he had been able to control, but at that moment, he feared for
the life of the mother. He couldn’t think of another child
growing up never knowing the mother that birthed them or to
grow up with the void only a mother’s love can fill.
He sat down cradling his head in his palms unable to
stand with the powerful emotions that threatened to consume
him.
He wasn’t sure how much time passed before he heard
the door open. He looked into smiling dark eyes and relief
swept over him. “Kari, is Nicole okay?”
“Yes, she is and here is our little monster.” Kari held the
cutest baby he had ever seen and with one look at the baby, he
knew he had nothing to worry about anymore.
“I cut the cord, Blake,” Kari said teary eyed.
He stood to gently put an arm around her and kissed her
on her temple.
“What is his name?” Blake asked looking at the bundle
in her arms.
“The mommy is yet to pick the name. Where is Dev?”
Kari smiled looking at the baby.
Blake pulled out his phone. “Oh… he landed ten minutes
ago, on his way here.”

Dev rushed into the room looking frantic. “Nicole, are

you okay, baby? I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you.” Tears of
joy ran down her cousin’s face as he kissed his wife.
 “Dude, say hi to your son,” Kari teased when Dev
hugged her before looking at his baby.
“Blake, you’re the man.” Dev hugged Blake.
“My pleasure. Congrats you guys,” Blake cheered.
“You two are my rock stars,” Nicole smiled at Blake and
Kari.
“Dev, Kari wants to know the baby’s name.” Nicole ran
her arm around her husband as he sat next to her holding their
newborn.
“I think Aunt Kari should pick his name, what do you
think, babe?” Dev winked at Nicole, and she nodded in
agreement.
“No… you guys are silly,” Kari objected.
“Kari, you should be the one because you saw him even
before I did,” Nicole encouraged.
Dev stood up and handed the baby to Kari. “You pick a
name for him.”
“Dev, don’t do this.” Kari laughed. “Blake, I can use
some help here.”
“I’m staying out of this.” Blake laughed.
“No, you’re not. Both of you need to pick a name. Do
it!” Nicole ordered impatiently.
“I—I don’t know…” She looked up into Blake’s sea-
green eyes and something went off in her head. “How about
Krishna? He can be called Kris.”
She felt the shudder run through him, and the arm that
was wrapped around her waist tightened when he heard the
name Kari suggested.
“Beautiful name, and it’s Indian. My mom will love you
for it, Kari,” Dev cheered hugging Nicole.
“It’s Blake’s middle name. He is the one to be thanked
for making this happen.” Kari rested her head on his chest
holding her newborn nephew.
 “I love him so much,” she muttered looking at the
sleeping baby and asked herself whom she was referring to
loving so much.

*****

“That kid is doomed for life,” Blake laughed.

“Why? Because I picked your name?” Kari teased
getting out of the car. It was past two in the morning by the
time they reached home.
“No other reason.” He winked.
“No, he won’t. He will be smart, successful, and caring
like you.” Her voice was soft, and she saw him clench his
teeth like he didn’t have any of those qualities.
She walked upstairs without another word and was about
to walk toward her room when he embraced her from behind.
“Come sleep with me.” It was a plea.
She laughed resting the back of her head on his chest.
“I’m sure you’re tired. You don’t want a sleep talker tonight.”
“I sleep better when you talk all night. It’s like you are
letting me in on everything that goes on in your head.” He
nuzzled the nape of her neck.
She swirled in his arms to look at him. “What have I
been talking about lately?”
“Everything.” He led her toward her bedroom.
“Like what? Work stuff?”
“Mostly. The other night you were having a conversation
with your dad. You were asking him why he sold everything
and moved to Carmel.” He laughed walking into her closet.
“Can I pick what I want you to wear tonight?”
“Sure… what else do I talk about?”
He picked a red satin nightgown for her and walked back
to her. “Random stuff.”
 “Do I talk about you?” She bit her tongue after the words
stumbled out.
“What do you think?” He took her by her hand and led
her out of her room toward his room.
“C’mon, don’t do this, please.”
She followed him to his closet and watched him as he
took off his clothes. She smiled looking at the various nail
marks she had left from their night together and walked over
to where he stood purposefully.
She hugged him from behind and placed her cheek to his
bareback. “I’m too excited to sleep. Kris is so cute.”
“He is cute. He is the cutest baby I’ve ever seen.” He
smiled at her in the mirror.
“That’s because we are biased. Let’s try to be good
godparents.” She tightened her hold on him.
“What? Godparents?”
“Oh… you missed the part where Nicole cried right after
Kris was born. She announced in her dazed state that you and I
are his godparents.”
“Not a good idea, Kari. We can’t…” He stopped when
she turned him around to look at him.
“We don’t need to be married to be godparents, we just
need to be there for him.” She swallowed the painful lump that
formed in her throat.
“I can’t…” he started, but she didn’t let him finish. She
went up on her toes and sucked his lower lip between her teeth
making him groan. He ran his palms on her bottom lifting her
feet off the floor. She hooked her legs around him taking his
lips hungrily.
“Baby, aren’t you tired?” He walked them to the bed
without letting go of her mouth.
“I am… but I want you,” she murmured against his lips.
He laughed throwing her on the bed and throwing
himself next to her making her squeak in surprise. He pushed
her blouse up over her head revealing the red bra that teased
him.
He pinned her to the mattress as he scooped her breast
out of the bra cup and sucked it into his warm mouth. She
raised her hips and dug her fingertips into his scalp.
“Fuck me… fuck me hard.”
“Slow down, sweetheart…”
“No. Now!” she ordered.
“Sweetness, I don’t want to hurt you.” He raised his head
up to look at her.
“Who says I don’t enjoy the sweet pain?” she challenged
pushing him off her to kick off her leggings. She reached for
the lounge pants he had on and dug her fingers into the molten
darkness in search of his shaft of pleasure.
She pushed him back on the mattress and pulled the
throbbing beast out in the open. His girth was intimidating and
delicious at the same time.
Her fingers circled his erection as she took the head into
her mouth worshipping it with her juices. He groaned gripping
her hair when she took him into her mouth as much as she
could.
She felt her body beg for the hardness to fill a different
cavity, and she gave in letting him go with a pop. She
straddled him and lifted her hips to drive the threatening big
rod in and collapsed on his chest.
“I want you to destroy me tonight, take me to a place
I’ve never been to, and fuck me till I cry with pleasure,” she
rasped and saw him grit his teeth. He held her by her shoulders
and raised his upper body to crash his lips into hers.
She moaned in sweet pain and was sure she had a
bruised lip but was eager for more. He pushed her back onto
the mattress without pulling himself out of her and drove into
her womb to fill the remaining gap.
His name played on her lips with every drive getting
deeper and deliberate. It was all she wanted, his fingertips
digging into her hips as he held her possessively, his teeth
gritted like he was on the edge of losing himself to her and his
eyes—they spoke volumes and told her she was the reason he
was losing control. The waves of pleasure surged building up
her climax that threatened to incinerate her.
“Kari…” He groaned as he came, and her body shook
with a nerve-blasting orgasm ripping through her when he
coated her inner walls with his warmth.
“Blake…” she cried, and her emotions knew no bounds.
She hugged him, her body trembling from the overwhelming
sensations never wanting to let go when he collapsed crushing
her with his weight.
They lay in each other’s arms steadying their breathing.
“That was wicked.” He brushed his lips on her sweaty
forehead pulling her closer into his arms.
“A good way to end an awesome night,” she cheered.
“What a night.” His voice was soft like he was replaying
every moment of it.
“It was beautiful.” She met the softness in his tone.
“You made it beautiful not just here, but… you picked
my middle name for that kid.” He laughed.
“Are you upset I did?”
“No… don’t be silly… it’s interesting.” He was
struggling to articulate his emotions.
“Interesting because I picked your middle name?” she
teased shifting her body to place her chin on his chest to look
at him.
“Yes, and you picked something my mother had chosen
for me and tonight… I felt something for her.” He was lost in a
sea of emotions, and she knew it. Blake was not the kind to
talk about emotions and feelings, and for him to feel
something and express it to her was a novelty. In the time they
had been sexually involved, nothing had felt more meaningful
or intimate. She wanted him to pour his heart out to her.
 “Did you think of your mother?” Her voice was weak as
she wasn’t sure how he would react to her question.
“I did… and I think I know how my dad felt or even still
feels every time he sees me.” His voice was gruff.
“What do you mean?” She cupped his cheek with her
palm.
“My dad lost the love of his life because of me… I know
he hates me,” he blurted making Kari’s stomach clench.
“Blake, you can’t say that about him.”
“I don’t expect him to feel any differently about his
loss.” His voice held sorrow.
“Blake, your dad doesn’t hate you—you are the true
symbol of their love.” She reached up to kiss his cheek as she
lay in his arms.
“That’s probably the only reason why he put up with me
when I was a teenager.” He laughed.
“What were you like as a teenager?” She ran her
fingertip along the light trail of hair on his chest.
“Rowdy, spoiled, rogue.” He laughed.
“What did you do?”
“Oh, everything… took one of his collectible cars on a
joy ride and wrecked it, crashed at least five bikes in college,
and totaled countless cars.”
“Wow, you had a sweet life,” she teased.
“Well, it was fun, but somewhere deep inside, I wanted
my dad to be angry with me,” he hissed.
She sat up surprised with what she heard. “Angry?
Why?”
“I was a child who lost his mother during childbirth. I
never felt loved, it was all pity and sympathy. If I had my
mother, I would think she would have yelled, screamed, or
even smacked me in the face. I wanted that… every kid in my
class complained about getting into trouble, and all I felt was
jealousy because it felt like my dad didn’t care for me enough
to punish me when I did something wrong.”
“Dude… you are weird.”
“I know.” He laughed. “I wished so many times as a kid
that I should have been the one my mom and dad lost that
night. I think my mom and dad would have had another kid
and been happy.”
“That’s ridiculous… what would I do then? I wouldn’t
have anyone to make a deal with.” She giggled falling back
onto his chest.
“My dad should have chosen my mother’s life over
mine,” he declared, and she felt the burn from his tone on her
skin.
“Don’t say that. You can’t think you are the reason you
mother is not around.”
“I am the sole reason she is not around.” His voice held
contempt, and she chose not to argue.
“When did you find out about your mother?” she asked
cautiously.
He took a deep breath. “I think I was seven. I asked my
dad why I don’t get to celebrate my birthday, and my dad told
me it wasn’t just my birthday but also my mother’s…”
“I’m sorry.” She rested her head in the crook of his arm.
“I didn’t know what to say, but as I got older, I saw it in
my dad’s eyes—the pain of losing my mother instead of me…
especially when I broke my hip in a motorcycle accident.”
“Blake, your mother passing away during childbirth is
not your fault.” Her voice elevated taking her by surprise.
“Would you blame Kris for the pain Nicole is going to go
through with the C-section?”
He smiled shaking his head running his palm along her
bare back. “I wish I had someone like you tell me that when I
was little.”
 “I’m telling you now, and the pain you saw in your dad’s
eyes was a father worried about his son,” she rasped.
“Thank you. I believe everything you say,” he teased.
“You better, mister, I’m your wife.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nuzzled her neck making her skin
tingle.
“Is that when you got this scar? Your motorcycle
accident?” Her voice was soft, but she felt his breath quicken
against her neck.
“One of them,” he mumbled burying his face into the
side of her neck.
“What happened?” She probed carefully refusing to let
go. She had been itching to find put why Sean reacted the way
he did the day Blake rode his bike to work.
He went silent on her holding on to her and even though
she wanted him to talk more, she was happy with what he had
shared with her. It was the first time in the weeks they had
spent together that she felt an emotional and intimate
connection with him which was far greater than the physical
craving they had for each other.
 Chapter 10

“I want you to go with me,” Kari declared walking into

Blake’s office.
“It’s your baby, you don’t need me stealing the show.”
He leaned back in his chair casually.
“Blake, this is the pilot weekend, and you know we
could not have done it without your support.” She was
adamant.
“I need to schmooze the Sonoma Group tonight,
remember?” Blake winked.
“Reschedule them,” she snapped.
He stood up to walk over to where she was standing.
“The last time I was supposed to meet them, I rescheduled
because you ordered me to rip your clothes off your smoking-
hot body.”
She shuddered at the intensity of the memory and smiled
at him. “It was your fault you seduced me to the point where I
had to call the shots.”
“I like that…” He ran his lips along her jawline. “I’ll see
you tomorrow night.”
“I want you to go with me,” she pouted.
“Stop being a baby,” Blake teased.
“Oh… talking about babies, we have a photo shoot next
week with the three-week-old hunk.” Kari laughed.
“A photo shoot?”
“Dev and Nicole made some deal with this photographer
dude to take monthly pictures of Kris and family for a year.”
“Wait… we need to be in the pictures?” Blake asked in
disbelief.
“We are his godparents.”
 “Every month?” His expression was unbelievably cute.
“Yup… they are willing to work with our schedules but
will not take no for an answer.” Kari rolled her eyes.
“They want pictures with us?” He laughed like he
couldn’t believe it.
“Yeah, get over it. I already promised them.”
“What if I refuse to keep the promise?” he asked
playfully.
“Let’s see how you can say no to the cutest face.”
“That kid is darn cute.” He smiled pulling her back into
his arms.
“How many kids have you really known at that age?”
“None, just him.” He laughed.
She planted a kiss on his cheek. “I’m leaving at noon.
I’m still nervous.”
“You’ll have a blast sleeping in those new beddings we
got for the hotel.”
“We are fully booked, and I really hope this works out.”
She clung to him.
“It’s your idea… it can’t go wrong. I love the sheets and
glad we tried them in our bed first.” He nipped her earlobe
sending dirty pleasure down to her folds.
“Be good to Roger when you meet him.” She kissed him
and left his office to prep for the event at one of the hotels
along the coast to partner with a home goods brand to use their
products. Blake was an excellent boss and had given her all
the support she needed. He was good at connecting with the
vision of his team and guide them along the right track, which
made his company one of the most successful hotel chains in
the country.
“You be nice to Sean. He tends to freak out every time
we launch something.”
 “He is freaking out already, so I asked him to ride with
me,” she snickered.
“Good thinking… are you taking the limo?”
“Eew no, I’m taking my husband’s convertible.” She
blew him an air kiss.
He smiled sheepishly running his fingers through his
hair.
“Did you just blush?”
“You have fun at the launch. Good luck!” He stood with
his fingers in his pockets.
She walked away from his office feeling heavy on the
inside, especially her chest. It felt like she was leaving behind
something precious. She brushed away the nagging voice and
stepped into Sean’s office.
“Hey, numbers guy… the boss says I need to be nice to
you so be downstairs in thirty minutes or else I’m leaving
without you.” She laughed.
“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled nervously, and she knew he
was freaking out as much as she was but refused to let it get to
her head. She couldn’t afford to be paranoid for the pilot. She
had a long way to go.

Thirty minutes later, Sean and Kari pulled out of the

parking lot of the office building headed to the resort a couple
of hours away.
“Sean, I know you’re freaking out, and I need you to
take a deep breath when you are about to panic.” She
maintained a steady tone.
“Okay, mommy!” he sneered.
“Dude, I’m trying to be helpful.”
He laughed easing into the passenger seat. “I’m not
freaking out as much because you got us all paranoid with
your daily meetings and planned everything months ago,” he
declared.
 “I’m glad to hear that. I hope I didn’t piss off the
manager at the resort. I’m bringing her candy and flowers for
the launch.” She winked.
“You’re good… I mean I know now why Blake married
you.” His voice was soft but steady.
“I don’t know if you just snubbed me,” she grumbled.
“No, it’s a compliment. That guy has very high standards
even if it’s a fake marriage.” He laughed.
“You know?”
“Hey… the guy’s my best friend. There is no way he is
getting married when I’m away. I knew it all along but was
pissed he wouldn’t confess,” he growled.
“Sean… I—I’m sorry, but we had to kind of keep it a
secret because we didn’t want our families to know,” she
murmured.
“Yeah, I know especially after what he has been
through… well, how he’s been the past years.” He stumbled,
and Kari picked up on the first reference he made.
“What has he been through?” She took the opportunity
to find out more if there was more to Blake.
“It’s nothing. He was branded a playboy, and that didn’t
gel well with his dad, so I’m sure he was glad you guys got
married.”
“Sean, is there something I need to know about Blake?”
She was done beating around the bush.
“Nothing.”
The way he responded, she knew something was off.
“Why did Blake stop riding his motorcycle?”
“He did not… he rode it to work the other day,” he
objected.
“Yes, and I saw how you reacted to it,” she fired back.
“Kari… I… it’s not my place to talk about it.” He ran his
fingers through his hair, and she knew for sure Sean had all the
answers.
“Why do you think he asked me not to ride my bike?”
she asked without looking at his face but caught the surprise
on his face from the corner of his eye.
“You ride?” His voice was a dead whisper.
“Yes, I wanted to be on the race track but settled for the
San Francisco city streets.” She laughed, and her laughter died
when she caught Sean’s pale expression.
“Sean?”
“Oh, I didn’t know you rode a motorcycle.” His voice
was shaky, and she wished she wasn’t having the conversation
while she was driving.
“Sean, we haven’t known each other for long, but I’m
married to your best friend. What do I need to know?”
“Nothing that affects your fake marriage,” he said softly.
“We may not be a real couple, but we are in some kind
of relationship, and I don’t know what kind of relationship it is
because… never mind.” She slumped her shoulders and
gripped the wheel feeling frustrated.
“Don’t build up hope, Kari. He is not the same guy I met
in college… we lost the fun-loving radical dude after the
accident.”
“Is that when he got that deadly scar on his arm?” She
wasn’t ready to give up. She felt this compelling force to find
out more about Blake, whatever she can get out of Sean.
“The injuries from the accident were nothing. I lost my
best friend to…” he was struggling to speak, and Kari was
getting impatient.
“Sean… what if I fall for Blake? I need to know if I
can,” she blurted, and she had no idea what made her say those
words.
“Kari… gosh… don’t do this to me,” Sean pleaded.
“I need to know Sean,” she pleaded.
 “Kari, I can only speculate why he wanted you to stop
riding your bike, but it won’t be the entire truth.”
“What was so bad about the accident that he would ask
me… a complete stranger who was getting into a business
contract with him to stop riding their friggin bike?” She was
angry, and she wasn’t sure if it was because she couldn’t figure
out why or because Sean wasn’t spilling his guts.
“Do you love him?” It was Sean’s turn to probe her.
“I—I don’t know,” she confessed.
“If it’s not a straight ‘No, I don’t love him,’ you probably
feel something for him,” he declared.
“I—I want to be with him, and we enjoy each other’s
company, but he is distant. In all these months, the only thing
he has talked to me about is his mother and only because he
was in the hospital with me when my cousin’s wife had the
baby.” Her voice was charged.
“Kari, whatever you do, don’t…” his voice trailed off
like he couldn’t talk.
“I don’t want to hurt him, Sean. I could have asked him
all these questions, but something told me it bothered him, so I
didn’t ask him… so I’m not asking again. Tell me what
happened.”
He took a deep breath like he was gathering strength to
speak. “He lost the woman he loved after the accident.”
“What? Who died in the accident?” she almost yelled
and felt a knot of pain in her stomach.
“No one died, but his girlfriend blamed him for causing
a near-death experience for her. She lashed out at him even
before he got out of the hospital.” He sounded angry.
“How could she blame him? Was she riding with him?”
She blinked her eyes fighting back the burn the crept up.
“No, they were both into professional bike racing, and
they were both equally competitive and almost took each other
out in that race.”
 “Fuck!”
“I don’t know what more to tell you,” Sean was visibly
drawn.
“Sean, this explains a few things but… why is he still
hung up on that woman? She can’t blame him for the
accident,” she snarled.
“It was actually her fault the accident happened and
still…”
“Fuck her. I’m glad he moved on.”
“I don’t know if he did, Kari… he’s never been in a
serious relationship in almost eight years, and he… I think he
likes you.” He smiled looking at her.
“I don’t know, Sean. I don’t want to think about any of
this. You know how much we have at stake here.”
“If there is any hope for him to really move on, it’s you,
so please don’t fuck him up.” He warned.
She went dead silent, her mind reeling from the intensity
in Sean’s voice.
“I’m sorry, I know you don’t mean to hurt him, but you
know now…”
“If she was a bitch and they broke up… why is he…”
She wasn’t sure what she was trying to get to, and her voice
trailed off.
“The guy was in love even if he denied it then. He got a
taste of the true meaning of love after only getting nothing but
pity from everyone around him, and once she walked away
from his life, she dug an even bigger hole in him.” He
clenched his teeth like he was reliving those days.
“You are a good friend, Sean. Thank you for keeping an
eye on him.” Kari’s heart wretched with Blake’s pain and felt
the ache consume her. She wanted to soothe his pain, make it
disappear like it never existed. She didn’t know why, but she
felt the need to be the one to heal him if he let her close to
him.
 *****

“Is everything okay? How was the launch?” Nicole

asked looking at Kari on a video call.
“Yes, and I had a blast.” Kari slumped her body on the
plush bed at the hotel where she launched the new brand
earlier that night.
“How much did you drink tonight?”
“I didn’t drink much. Why do you ask?” she laughed.
“Well… it’s past one, and you texted me if I was up.”
Nicole raised her eyebrows.
“Why are you up so late?” Kari asked curiously.
“I’m a new mom, remember? There is no specific time
for anything. The big question is why did you text me?” she
probed Kari.
“I—I’m a total mess, and I…” She shook her head and
hid her face in her palms.
“I have all night for you… Dev is in the nursery. Talk to
me… what’s going on?” Nicole encouraged.
“I don’t know where to start.” She shook her head
looking up at the ceiling.
“Is this about Blake?” Nicole asked and got Kari to look
at her.
“Yes,” she whined.
“What about him?” Her friend knew her too well.
Kari told her about the conversation she had with Sean in
the car earlier that day.
“What are you worried about? He had a break up that he
may not have gotten over, but…”
“I don’t want to hurt him, Nicole,” she interrupted her
friend. “It’s too much pressure. I don’t think I can have this
casual thing we’ve been having all along.” She fisted her
palms in her hair in confusion.
 “Kari… calm down. It may have been a convenience
thing, but I don’t think it’s a fling for you anymore—you care
for him more than you think you do. You won’t like it when
you hear this, but I’m sure you are in love with him.” Nicole’s
voice rang in Kari’s ears and generated vibrations through her
body.
“Nicole… I… I…”
“You named my baby after him, Kari. Why do you think
you did that?” Nicole prodded.
“He was the one who brought you to the hospital—he
needed to be thanked,” she reasoned with her friend.
“Keep lying to yourself but don’t tell me I didn’t tell
you. I told you the night we had Kris, you’ve fallen face-first
for him,” Nicole said playfully.
“I don’t know what I feel for him, and I don’t know if he
wants anything more than my body,” she finally confessed.
“Blake is hard to read, but why wouldn’t he want to be
with you?”
“I don’t know if he wants to be with anyone, period.
He’s obviously lost faith in the female clan and thinks
everyone’s a bitch.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine not being around for my
child, and it just burns me to think of what would have
happened to Dev and Kris if you guys weren’t there to take
care of me.” Nicole wiped a tear off the edge of her eye.
“Stop being silly. You would have been fine.”
“Blake may have had a lot of things happen to him and
may have been a fucking playboy, but if you want to be his
future, you need to be very clear what you want from him.”
Nicole made it sound like a verdict.
“I know… thanks for listening. Now go to sleep. I’ll see
you at the photo shoot.” Kari blew her a kiss before ending the
video call.
She pulled the sheets over her shoulder and hugged the
pillow as she lost herself in a deep sleep with her mind
whirling with unanswered questions.
 Chapter 11

Her body was on fire, her skin tingled with new

sensations, and she missed the muscled body that cocooned
her every night with a feather-light hold. The soft sheets felt
heavenly, and all she wanted was for him to be lying next to
her while he stroked every sense awake.
She moaned when her nipples perked up like they
remembered the feeling, and her breath hitched when she felt
the warmth around them. Her body was tricking her, but
something deep inside was growing. Her mind was conjuring
the sensations and driving her to the edge. Her clit throbbed,
and her folds drenched in her arousal, and as if her body
sensed her frustration, she felt the pressure ease off her
swollen clit. She grabbed her breast like he would have when
she was about to lose herself and drown in the depths of
pleasure.
“Blake…” she whispered in a sleep soft voice.
“I’m right here, sweetheart.” His voice shook her senses
awake, and her eyes flew open.
He was lying next to her, his palm deep in her panties,
and her nipple shone in the dim light with the residual
moisture from his mouth.
“Blake, I missed you,” she cried throwing her arms
around him crushing her breasts into his chest.
“Baby… I wanted to see you, too.” He kissed her like he
hadn’t seen her in years—hungrily, greedily like he couldn’t
get enough of her lips. His fingers dug into her molten depths
as he caressed her lips with his.
She was in seventh heaven—there was no better way to
wake up thinking it was the most beautiful dream only to
realize it was real. His fingers plunged into her with a primal
need while his tongue explored her mouth like never before.
He ran his free palm all over her body before clutching her
breast with raw need.
The ripples of pleasure built up with every plunge into
her folds, every stroke over her bulging clit, and the sweet pain
she felt on her nipple that was pressed between his fingers. He
sucked her mouth like he couldn’t get enough of her
sweetness.
She groaned with an undying need to come, but he held
it at bay, just out of her reach as he set her body ablaze.
“Blake, I need to come,” she begged.
“Promise me.” His voice felt like a whiplash as he
pressed on her clit lightly. “You’ll never spend a night away
from me.”
Her breath hitched. “I—I promise, please let me come.”
“Do I get to fuck you till I break you if you spend a night
away from me?” His voice was jarring, and the intensity
scared her.
She groaned in response when he let go of her mouth to
bite down on the nipple he had not touched all night. Her body
went tense with the sudden thread of pain that traveled through
her veins. The waves of pain traveled down south to clash with
the surge of pleasure, and the landfall was seismic as she
shook with an orgasm that threatened to claim her making her
heated blood course through her body.
She collapsed in his arms like a rag doll and watched
him take his fingers coated in her release to his lips. His lips
closed around his fingers and his eyes closed as if in
decadence. Another series of mini-orgasms shook her just
from watching him enjoy her like it was the purest and richest
form of something divine.
“Blake, how did you get in?”
“This is my fucking wife’s room in my fucking hotel,”
he growled like he was still frustrated with the fact that they
had spent the night apart.
 “”I’m so glad you came.” She reached for the buttons on
his silk shirt and got through two before ripping open the rest
of them.
“I really want to come now.” His voice was gruff.
She reached for the belt buckle and pulled it open before
pulling open the clasp on his jeans. He got off the bed to
remove his jeans and pulled his boxers down along with them.
“Stand here,” she ordered going down on her knees in
front of him.
She took his throbbing shaft between her fingers and
looked up at him. His eyes held a primitive need that only
fueled her drive to satisfy and drive him over the edge.
“Take me, sweetheart,” he urged grasping her hair
between his fingers.
“Will you promise to fuck me till I beg you to stop?”
“Yes,” he groaned when she took him in all the way
down her throat, and he swore he felt her lips on the hilt,
which was a novelty. He was large, and most women barely
got half of his hardness in before gagging, but with Kari, she
knew how to play with his steel rod. She had fun doing it and
knew how to set him on fire.
She took him out slowly and let her teeth graze the
velvety skin—she knew he liked it when the grip in her hair
tightened. She swirled her tongue around the pink tip while her
fingers pumped him for a release. Her palms roamed his thighs
as she worshipped him for the right moment and just as she
sensed his peak building, she felt another peak building inside
her and all she could do was figure out a way to come with
him.
She let go of his thigh and took her shaky fingers to her
folds and found her clit painfully erect.
“Fuck baby, are you shagging yourself while you fuck
me?”
She hummed a response as she took him in deeper and
sunk her fingers deeper into her depths looking for the patch of
skin that promised the ultimate release.
“I can’t let you shag yourself, I want you in my mouth.”
He pulled himself out of her and lifted her off the floor by her
shoulders.
“How dare you touch what’s mine,” he growled sinking
his face between her legs as soon as her back hit the mattress.
“Blake, I want you,” she demanded.
“Jeez, you’re going to make me come just with your
words,” he growled lying next to her and let her take his shaft
into her mouth with an impending hunger while he devoured
on her silken folds.
Her hair veiled her face as she took him in, the
sensations threatening to shred her body. She came like never
before when he rimmed her clit between his teeth applying the
pressure she needed to explode, and she felt him shoot down
her throat as she moaned with unmanageable emotions.
Her mind screamed ‘He’s mine’ as she drank in his
release and felt high from the satiated desires.
He moved bringing his lips to hers and mashing their
releases together to satisfy each other’s need.
“You’re fucking awesome, baby,” he crooned nipping
the skin on her collarbone.
“You’re not done yet, remember you need to fuck me till
I beg you to stop.” She gasped for air.
“Right, as soon as you’re ready.” He dug his tongue into
her earlobe teasing a spot no one had ever caressed.
“Now,” she ordered, and he groaned deeply driving into
her cavity that had barely recovered from her previous climax.

*****

The soft sheets caressed her bare skin as she moved

slowly taking in the sweet ache in every single muscle. She
heard the steady breathing of the man who raided her sleep in
the middle of the night to take her to new depths of decadent
pleasure.
She turned to look at Blake and took in his dangerously
chiseled profile and the ever-so-beautiful smile that played on
his lips even as he slept. She had the most memorable night
and knew he had spoiled her rotten.
Her eyes took in the dark thick lashes that framed his
intense green eyes and how deep they looked when he was
buried into her.
A dull pain clenched her heart when her eyes fell on the
brutal scar on his arm, and it threatened to take him away from
her.
“You’re mine,” she whispered in her sleep-soft voice and
planted a gentle kiss on his forehead before slipping out of bed
and heading to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, she stood in the bathroom looking

at herself in the mirror. Her face had a perpetual smile that she
couldn’t turn off. It was like she had no control over her lips.
Her skin glowed like she had been to the spa for seven days
straight, and she felt something deep inside, something she had
never felt before. The feeling of relief like she had nothing to
worry about, the happiness of surrendering herself to the man
who was capable of caring for her like she was a delicate
porcelain doll but could unleash his desire and take her like
she was unbreakable.
The time had come for her to accept that she had fallen
for him—there was no return from where she was, and she
was going to fight for him. She shifted to look at him in the
mirror as he slept peacefully and wanted that peace to be with
him every waking moment. She was ready to fight for what
her heart wanted and let her resolve consume her, and she
made a promise to herself never to let him go.
She gingerly stepped into the bedroom and saw him stir
in his sleep. She froze in her spot and waited for him to fall
back into his rhythm. He had started driving after midnight to
see her, and she wanted him to get some more sleep.
His eyes fluttered open, and after a second of confusion,
his gaze traveled to where she stood, and she saw the beaming
smile on his glorious face.
“Good morning, beautiful… what was your name
again?” he croaked.
“Dude, we had a great night but get out before my
husband shows up.” She laughed walking toward the bed with
a glimmer in her eyes.
“It’s the prick’s loss. I found you hot and heavy last
night,” he groaned pulling her on top of him.
“My husband is pretty cool, you know?” She pecked his
lips with hers.
“Really? What makes him cooler than me?” He ran his
cheeks along her jawline making her skin tingle.
“He drove all the way here last night because he missed
me.” She looked into his eyes hoping to see a reaction.
“What makes you think he is here for you—he is here to
check on the launch.” He laughed.
“Fine,” she grumbled getting out of his arms only to be
pulled into his arms.
“Baby, your husband is here to check on business, but
I’m here for you.” He sucked the skin on her neck between his
teeth. “I didn’t want to go home when you weren’t there.” It
was the closest to knowing he probably felt something for her,
but she wasn’t convinced.
“You didn’t think to call one of your other lady friends?”
She taunted trying to wiggle out of his hold.
“I’m a married man, woman, and I have a beautiful wife.
Why would I want anyone else?” He slid his palm up her
cheek to turn her face making her lips meet his.
“I can lay here all day, but we need to go check on the
survey results. Move your hot ass off the bed if you want to
review them with Sean and me.” She pulled away from him
and rolled off the bed.
“Hey…” he called out, and she turned to look at him.
“Last night was amazing.”
She blushed looking away from him and moved before
he caught her turning crimson.
“See you in the conference room downstairs,” she called
out before closing the door shut.

Sean was pacing the conference room burning a hole

into the new rug.
“Good morning, Sean, you okay?” She knew something
was bothering him.
“It’s Blake… he’s lost it completely,” he barked.
“Sean, sit down and talk to me. What happened?” she
urged.
“He has agreed to transfer one hundred percent of the
sale amount to the Sonoma Group, one single fucking
transaction.” He clenched his teeth, and her stomach twisted
nervously when she heard what Blake had agreed to do.
“Not good, but maybe there is a reason why he agreed to
that,” she pondered out loud.
“I have no fucking clue,” he growled.
“Sean, I need you to pull it together. Where is the
contract?” She fired up her laptop and connected to the
company network.
“I didn’t bring my laptop with me for once, and he
makes all the changes,” he complained.
“How did you know about the contract payment?” she
asked curiously.
“It is sitting in my inbox for my approval to release the
payment and I can’t see all the details on my phone,” he
sneered.
 “Wow, how did it move so fast? Legal looked at it, and
it’s pending your approval?” Kari was taken aback with how
quickly Blake was moving with the contract.
“Yes… now you know why I’m losing my mind.” He
tried to justify his erratic behavior, but she had learned Sean’s
method of operation over the past few months.
“I need to talk to him, and the idiot is not answering his
phone,” Sean’s voice blared.
“I know where he is.” She reached for the phone in the
conference room and dialed the number for the room.
“Kennedy,” he answered his voice spewing authority.
“Vora… Sean and I need to talk to you… now!” She
maintained a calm tone looking at Sean’s surprised look.
“Where is he?” Sean asked as if he knew but just needed
confirmation.
“In my room upstairs.” She blushed.
“It’s very cute you are a loving couple, and I’m sure it’s
a good honeymoon spot, but I need you to stop him from
fucking up this contract,” Sean barked.
“Stop panicking and slide over to my side so we can
look at the contract.” Kari laughed trying to ease out of his
hyper mode.
Sean was leaning over her shoulder as they reviewed the
amended contract when Blake strode into the conference room
whistling.
“What the heck, Blake?” Sean was always the first one
to react.
“I will deal with you in a minute… now get out of my
way.” He pushed Sean aside and bent down to kiss Kari on her
lips taking her by surprise. Her fingers involuntarily snaked
into his thick, dark hair, and Sean’s annoyance hit the roof as
Blake continued to take her in for a devouring kiss.
“Blake… Sean knows,” she murmured under her breath.
“About?”
 “Us… the contract,” she whispered.
“Oh, I’m sure he figured we had some deal going on.”
He brushed away her concerning look and went to hug his
buddy.
“Blake, what did you do?” Sean barked.
“Sit down, Sean,” he ordered settling into a chair next to
Kari.
“I’m sure you read and re-read the contract a million
times in the last ten minutes, but did you guys notice the
contract amount is twenty-five percent lower than our target?”
He pointed at the section with the updated number.
“You got them to go lower?” Sean and Kari cried, almost
in unison.
“And I know what they have been up to, and I know how
to beat them at their game,” he laughed victoriously.
“Did you talk to someone from the Palermo Group?”
Kari asked softly. “They were the most affected by the
Sonoma Group.”
“Yes, I did. My wife is the queen bee of hotel
networking.” He winked at her surprised expression. “Sorry
honey, I had to make sure you weren’t a double agent, so I’ve
been listening to your calls.”
“What?” Her stomach clenched just at the thought of
him not trusting her.
“Don’t be mad… you’ll get used to it. He is sick!” Sean
growled.
“I’m a leader in the business because I’m always ten
steps ahead of everyone,” he boasted.
“Very modest of you.” Kari glared at him. “So you know
what the Sonoma Group is up to. What’s the plan?”
“I don’t need a plan as long as one of you don’t turn out
to be a mole. We will be buying a huge organization for a
fraction of the cost.” Blake seemed relaxed, but Kari knew it
wasn’t that straightforward, but she admired his cockiness. It
made him that much more alluring.
 Chapter 12

“You made news, sweetheart.” He slapped the

newspaper on her bottom. She was in the kitchen sipping her
coffee.
“Is it my nude picture from college?” she squeaked.
“I’d like a copy of that if you have one, but it’s good
news this time. Economists are calling the partnership with the
bedding company a bold and innovative idea.”
“Nice, and the brand products are exclusive to our
hotels,” she cheered.
“I’m impressed. Would you consider an extension of our
contract beyond a year?” he teased and her breath hitched. It
had been a little over three months since she proposed the deal
to Blake, and he was talking about an extension. She wasn’t
sure how to react.
“You’ll have to talk to my lawyer once she is back from
her maternity leave.” She winked taking a sip of her coffee.
“Nicole… piece of cake. I just need to give Kris a few
compliments, and she’ll write the contract the way I want it.”
“Yeah? You think? Let’s see how to convince her to
extend my contract when we see them for the photo shoot in a
few hours.” She poked her tongue at him.
“I’m excited about the photo shoot. Is that weird?” He
scrunched his nose.
“Yeah, why are you excited?”
“I like Dev, and I like it that you and Nicole are best
friends and Kris is such a good kid. Jeez, I want to have a kid
like him.” He laughed making her breath catch in her throat.
She gripped the stone counter for support but did not say
anything.
 It was only a few days ago when she was video chatting
with Nicole, and she had told her she wanted a kid like Kris.
Now, for Blake to say something like that was surreal. She had
never given much thought about what she wanted for her
family life, and she knew for sure whom she wanted and how
she wanted to spread the love.
“I’ll be sure to tell Nicole and Dev to never leave Kris
alone with you… flight risk,” she taunted.
“What time do we leave?”
“In about an hour? We are driving to the beach for a
picnic and pictures.” She rolled her eyes.
“You can’t be annoyed with this—this is an honor,” he
chided.
“Fine, you can be the godmother, too,” she retorted.
“Not cool.” He started to go up the stairs. “I’m going to
the shower, and it can accommodate two people.”
“I know, I’ve been in your shower. Thank you, but I’m
gonna use the small shower in my room.”
“I can try and fit in yours if that’s what you prefer.” He
stopped halfway up the stairs looking at her.
“I’ll see you in your shower in two minutes.” She
winked, and he smiled heading up the stairs leaving her
grinning like a fool in the middle of the kitchen.

*****
“I see Dev’s car; I think this is the location,” Kari
squeaked in excitement.
“Someone’s excited,” he observed turning off the engine.
“Why wouldn’t I be especially when I put on a face for
these pictures,” she teased pretending to frame her face with
her palms.
He took in the glowing face and the shining eyes and
smiled at her. “You don’t have any makeup on. I didn’t give
you much time to put on a face, did I?”
“I’m sure I’m basking from my multiple orgasms this
morning,” she kissed his jawline as they walked toward the
beach.
The breeze carried the sounds of a wailing baby, and it
took them only a few minutes to spot the newborn, his
frenzied parents, and the impatient photographer.
“Nicole… you okay, babe?” Kari called out from a few
feet away when she saw her hovered over the stroller.
“Kris does not like taking pictures,” she whined.
“Okay, give him some space and let him settle down.”
She put her arms around her friend and peeked at the baby. He
was dressed in a cute baby tuxedo and looked up at her with
skewed-up eyes.
“It’s too bright, the dude needs sunglasses.” Kari
laughed.
“Well, this is his first time outdoors other than his doctor
visits.” Dev nodded in agreement.
“We need to wait for the sun to cast a shadow, and we
should be good, right Kris?” Kari cooed.
“It is so beautiful; we can’t waste this lighting,” the
photographer chimed in.
“Blake and Kari, you guys should get your pictures
taken, you’re all dressed up anyways.” Nicole winked.
“No, we are fine.” She smiled sheepishly looking at
Blake.
“I think the lighting is perfect. Let’s try a few shots…
long distance with the water in the background?” The
photographer got all excited and started switching out lenses
and pulled out his equipment.
“Let’s do it,” Blake encouraged.
“I need you guys to be in one position for a few minutes
at a time, you can talk and do what you feel like, and I will
capture you from different angles.”
 “I know why Kris was all pissed with taking pictures,”
she whispered as Blake led her toward the water.
“Because this guy is not annoying at all?” he offered
laughing.
Blake and Kari stood in the middle of the beach holding
hands waiting for the photographer to click.
“I need you guys to talk, like say something nice to each
other,” the photographer called out.
“How did we get roped into this?” she grumbled.
“Do you know what your name means?” he asked
completely out of context.
“Huh?”
“The guy says we need to talk. You don’t want me
talking dirty right now, do you?” His eyes bore into hers
making her blush.
“Love it!! Keep talking, sir,” the photographer cheered.
“Maybe you should talk dirty.” She tilted her chin up and
pouted her lips ever so lightly so only he could see the pout.
“I would have to start ripping your clothes off if I need
to talk dirty,” he groaned.
“Let’s talk about my name then.” She smiled. “What
does Kari mean to you?”
“Kari is pure in Scandinavian.” He brushed his lips on
her jawline making her heart flutter.
The photographer continued to cheer them as he clicked
pictures, but they soon tuned him out.
“When I saw you in the elevator for the first time, as
soon as you introduced yourself, that’s the word that came to
my mind—pure—it suits you.”
“And I thought you were a supermodel,” she confessed.
“What if I wasn’t the guy you were making a deal with?
Would you have made out with me in the elevator?” His voice
was lost in the breeze, but she heard every word.
 “Yes, I was itching to touch you.” She giggled.
“You should have, I wouldn’t have objected.”
“I can’t believe we went from that elevator ride to…
here right now,” she said finding it hard to swallow the lump,
which had formed in her throat.
“It’s been fun, don’t you think?”
“Blake, it’s been more than fun for me.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He planted a kiss on her
forehead.
“Were you serious about extending our contract?”
“Why wouldn’t I want to? I’m at an all-time high
professionally and personally because of you,” he declared.
“If you want an extension, there will be no contract.”
She managed to utter with trembling lips.
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“If you want this to go on past a year, I want it all. I want
the real thing.” She was glad she was able to get it out of her
mind.
“Kari… why are you…” he started to say, but she didn’t
let him finish.
“Blake, I—I want you, and I don’t want it any other
way.”
“Why baby? This is fun.” He ran his lips along her
jawline and got a shout out from the photographer.
She pulled back to look into his eyes. “This is not
enough for me, Blake. I want more of you. I want you to love
me like I love you.”
“What?” His voice was calm, but there was a storm
brewing in his eyes.
“You heard me… I love you, Blake.” She gritted her
teeth and rested her cheek on his chest.
“Give us a few.” Blake signaled the photographer.
 She turned away from him unable to look at him.
“Kari, you don’t want me. You’re just in this phase, and
you’ll get over it.” He put his arms around her from behind
and buried his face in her hair.
“That’s not up to you to decide, Blake. I’m not a
teenager going through a phase. I know what I want, and if
there is no way to get what I want, I don’t want the
relationship we have.” She turned around to look at him with
the most precious smile on her face making his breath hiss.

*****

She was in the home office later that day when Blake
walked in quietly from behind. She continued to type on her
laptop as he moved closer to her. They had a good time with
Dev and Nicole and played the part of good godparents.
She managed a casual manner even after their
conversation during their photo shoot. She didn’t prolong their
conversation and did not bring it up on their drive back home.
“Working on something?” His voice was soft as he came
to lean against the desk next to her.
“I’m almost done.” She smiled looking up at him. “Do
you want to go for a run before dinner?”
“I need to show you something before that. Come find
me when you are done.” He started to move away, and she
held his hand before he moved away.
“I’m done.” She shut her laptop and stood up looking at
him.
“Can I show you something?” he asked taking her palm
in his.
“Yes, and why do you sound so ominous?” she teased in
an attempt to lighten the mood and was relieved to see a smile
light up his face.
 “You might find this interesting.” He led her to the deck
from the family room. She followed him quietly as they
walked through the endless green grass toward an outhouse.
The outhouse was not occupied but looked cute with a little
red door and a single-car garage.
“Does someone live here?” she asked looking around at
the small patio furniture set and the potted plants that were
neatly arranged.
“Nope,” he grunted holding the door slightly open for
her. She stepped into a dark room that smelled of grease and
metal. The windows that were visible from the outside were
either completely covered, or they were fake because there
was no light streaming in from them.
He hit the switch, and bright lights illuminated a garage
full of motorcycles. Five magnificent looking motorcycles
stood proudly under the spotlights.
“Wow, so this is where you keep all your bikes?” She
walked away from him to admire a Ducati Super sports bike
that she had her eye on the day it was released.
She ran her palm on the handle and turned back to look
at him. “Did you ride this bike to work the other day?”
He nodded, a light smile on his face.
“How could you?” she growled. “You have all these
bikes, and you didn’t bother sharing.”
“I don’t ride much anymore,” he shrugged digging his
hands into his shorts’ pockets.
“You rode to work the other day,” she pointed out
winking at him.
He ran his fingers through his hair and smiled
sheepishly. “You made me do it, and it was the first time in
years.”
“What? You can’t just walk to your secret garage and
just drive off after years, and this baby here is new. What am I
missing?” She lightly leaned against the parked bike a million
questions in her eyes.
 “I have a guy who comes by twice a week to condition
the bikes and take them for a ride, so they are ready to go
when I want them. Sean kept telling me it was a ridiculous
thing to do, but it came in handy.” He laughed breaking the
invisible barrier that had built up between them.
“What were you going to show me?” She crossed her
arms in front of her chest.
His eyes showed signs of gloom as he walked past her to
a dark corner of the garage. He turned on the light, and she
saw a beat up and broken racing motorcycle that still had the
sponsor stickers on it.
“Is that your racing bike you crashed?” she asked
forgetting Sean told her what he told her in confidence.
“So Mr. Sean Prick has been talking, huh?” he growled.
She went silent for a few moments as she gathered her
thoughts under his scrutiny. “Yeah… he mentioned when we
were talking bike safety and stuff.”
“Don’t bullshit me.”
“Blake, I was curious how you got that scar, and he told
me. Why are you showing me the bike you crashed?” She
hoped for a shift in subject.
“Kari, the day I had the accident, I crashed to save the
woman who claimed to love me. I came close to thinking I
could love someone, but I can’t do it again.” He blurted like he
had no control over his tongue.
“I don’t understand. What does it have to do with your
crash?” She knew what Sean had told her about Blake’s ex,
but she wanted to hear it from him.
He took a deep breath like he needed the strength to keep
talking. “Simmy and I met in Europe, and the moment I saw
her on her bike, I knew she was something.”
She looked at him in silence as he read her expression.
“She told me she loved me and one crash… one crash
and suddenly she was convinced I was the reason her life was
in danger.” He gritted his teeth as he spoke.
 “What the fuck, Blake?” Kari was angry on his behalf.
“It wasn’t easy to walk away especially when I was
starting to see what she felt for me, and I’m sure I felt
something for her, but now I wonder if what I felt was real,
and if it was real, would it have lasted?”
“Blake, if you felt it, it was real, never doubt it.”
“I was a fool not to see it wasn’t all real when she said
she loved me,” he rasped making her feel a painful sting of
jealousy deep inside. She couldn’t deal with the reality that
Blake was once in love, capable of loving someone, but now
he was slowly concluding that it wasn’t real or he didn’t
believe what she felt for him to be real.
“What happened during the race?”
He shook his head like it was no use talking about it.
“Blake, I want to know why you are penalizing yourself
just because one woman walked away from you,” she
demanded.
“She just didn’t walk away from me, she left me with the
truth—something I will never forget.” His voice was gruff but
low.
“What truth?” she urged.
He couldn’t forget the acid in Simmy’s eyes and the
anger and pain it caused him until he decided to fuck
everything and move on. A reminder that he laid a path of
destruction for anyone who came close to him. Was she right?
“You were better off not entering into this contract with
me,” he murmured.
“What truth were you talking about?” She moved toward
him and stood a foot away, her eyes boring into his.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
She looked at the bike and realized he was as broken as
his racing bike on the inside.
“Why did you keep your broken bike?” she asked
placing her palm on his cheek. “Why didn’t you fix it if you
kept it?”
“It is a reminder. It is a reminder so I don’t go back to
racing.” He sounded dejected, and she couldn’t help but put
her arms around him.
“I am not what you want, Kari, and I’m not the guy who
can give you the things you want from a real relationship.” He
gently placed his palms on her upper back.
“I know what I want,” she mumbled against his chest.
“What you want to do is to end the contract. We don’t
need to do this anymore. We can annul the marriage,” he
offered.
She tightened her hold on him never wanting to let go.
“I’m going out of town and will be back on Friday. You
tell me what you want to do and we can work out the details.
You will continue as my Chief Operations Officer until it is
working out for you with your company.”
“Blake…”
“Nothing will change… the funding for BINA will
continue… things between us ought to be different going
forward.” He held her by her shoulders to make her look at
him. “Just like you said the day we met, you don’t need any
distractions while you work on the next big thing.”
She had the largest lump in her throat that she couldn’t
swallow; her stomach was knotted, and her heart took a
nosedive into her stomach. She felt miserable in spite of being
in his arms.
He led her back to the house without another word, and
she knew he was running away from her under the pretext of
traveling for work, running away from what she believed to be
pure and joyful. She wanted him more; she wanted to soothe
his pain away and show him what she saw as their future
together.
 Chapter 13

“Urgent meeting on a Monday morning when the boss is

away?” Sean teased walking into Kari’s office.
“Sean, I want to know more about Simmy,” she declared.
“How do you know her name?” Sean was visibly shaken.
“Your buddy. Oh, I’m sorry. My husband told me last
night.”
“What did he tell you?”
“He showed me the bike he wrecked and told me I
couldn’t have what I wanted.” She shook her head.
“What do you want?” Sean was caught by surprise.
“I love him, Sean, and I want a life with him.”
“Holy shit… you’re not fucking with me, are you?” He
threw his hands up in the air.
“I’m dead serious about this, and I want to know how
one broken relationship can break a man to this point.” She
looked straight at Sean.
“Kari… I can’t…”
“Sean, if you care for your friend and if you think I am
the woman he needs in his life, you will start talking.” She
wasn’t ready to take no for an answer.
“Fuck… what do you want to know?”
“Why did his ex break up with him?” she growled.
“She didn’t… He broke up with her and swore he would
never see her again.” Sean’s voice was soft.
“What?”
 “She blamed him for her accident and… she… she
called him a destructor,” his voice wobbled as he wiped off a
bead of sweat from his temple.
“Fuck her… how can she blame…” Her voice trailed off
when she picked up an inference but wanted confirmation.
“What do you mean destructor, Sean?”
“She… she… he lost his cool when she said he was the
reason his racing partner died.” Sean was visibly shaken.
“What the heck, Sean? Wasn’t she his race partner?”
Kari’s head was starting to spin.
“Kari, she joined his racing team after Blake’s teammate
drove off a cliff on his bike when he was told he was the
backup driver for the team.” His voice was a whisper.
“Holy Mother of God,” she looked up at the ceiling in
disbelief.
“She blamed Blake for her near-death experience, for his
teammate’s death just like…” His voice trailed off like he
didn’t have the energy to speak.
“Like what…” She knew as soon as the words left her
mouth. “That fucking bitch, how dare she talk about his dead
mother? Who the fuck does she think she is?”
“Kari… calm down.”
“Why did that bitch have to ruin him for me? I love him,
Sean, and I want him.” Her eyes burned with unshed tears.
“Kari… calm down,” he pleaded.
She hid her face in her palm as a sharp pain ripped
through her chest. “I can’t let him keep thinking he is some
kind of bad luck, and I’m sure that’s what he thinks of
himself.”
“I don’t know how he feels about it because he hasn’t
had a meaningful relationship until… until you guys got
married.” Sean’s voice was soft.
“He’s broke on the inside, Sean. How do I get him
back?”
 “If I’m reading him right, he feels something for you; he
just doesn’t want to take the risk.”
“No, he doesn’t.” She sounded dejected.
“The day he rode his bike to work, he did it because he
felt different and only you could have brought that change,”
Sean observed.
“I don’t know, Sean.”
“The only reason he announced your marriage to the
Sonoma Group in the first meeting was because there were
rumors floating around that you were paying off your father’s
debt by… you know.” He shook his head in disgust.
“Oh my God. I heard that, too, from Roger. Where did
you hear it?”
“Multiple sources,” he stated. “Kari, if you want Blake,
you need to figure out a way to get him.”
“I will, Sean… I will.” Her mind went to work on what
she needed to do about the nagging feeling she had—the
feeling of anger around Blake’s ex and what she blamed him
for.
“Sean, what is Simmy’s last name?”
“Please don’t go after her, it’s not worth it,” Sean
warned.
“I don’t know what I want to do yet. What is her full
name? Simone…” she prompted.
“Simone Wells,” he whispered. “She’s a blogger, and
you’ll easily find her online.”
She said the woman’s name under her breath like a curse
word. She was itching to find out what the woman did with her
precious life after she ruined Blake for her. She typed her
name into the search engine and closed it without looking
when she decided it wasn’t worth looking her up.

*****
 She had laid her plans, and she was ready to execute
them. She stared at her phone for a long moment before typing
a text message to Blake.

Kari: I miss you, Blake.

Blake: In a meeting.

She knew he was ignoring her on purpose. She had

checked his calendar before she texted him and knew there
was no meeting. It was the night before Blake was to return,
and she lay in his bed that she claimed to be hers while he was
away and enjoyed the sweet feeling of his shirt she had on for
the night. The shirt wasn’t as warm as his skin, but it had come
in contact with his skin at some point, and that worked for her.
She had dared to move all her things from her bedroom
into his bedroom and declared to all the walls that the room
was theirs, and she was there to stay. She rolled in the
darkness unable to fall asleep for the fourth night in a row.

Kari: I’ve made my decision.

Blake: ??
Kari: Forget what I told you, I want more, but I will take
what we have for now.
Blake: Bad idea.
Kari: What is bad… wearing your shirt and feeling you
around me?

She smiled when she didn’t get a response back

immediately.

Blake: Kari.
 Kari: Blake.
Blake: Not good.
Kari: Very good.

She sat up in bed and turned on the lamp and took a

picture of her lying in bed, her hair sprawled over the soft
sheets. She bit her lip and sent him the picture.

Blake: What are you doing in my bed?

Kari: Our… our bed.
Blake: Don’t do this… we talked about it.
Kari: No, Blake, we did not talk, only you talked and
assumed what I wanted.

She unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a good chunk of her

breast and clicked another picture and sent it to him.

Blake: Hold it in, woman, what the heck is up with you?

Kari: Don’t pretend like you aren’t enjoying this. I’m
sure you’re rock solid right now.
Blake: Maybe.
Kari: Come to me, baby, I will take away the ache in
your balls.
Blake: I can’t.
Kari: Tomorrow? Date night?
Blake: After I kick you out of my bed.
Kari: Really?
Blake: Are you challenging me?
Kari: I dare you to come carry me out of bed into the
shower and make me wet… without turning on the water…
 Blake: Fuck.
Kari: Exactly!
Blake: Are you the woman who made a deal with me the
night we met?
Kari: The woman who knows how to make you lose it.
Blake: I want you.
Kari: You can have me tomorrow night… run your
fingers on your shaft for me while I squeeze my boobs like you
do.
Blake: Don’t you dare touch them, they are mine.
Kari: They are yours when you show up… now start
shagging.

She closed her eyes, and her fingers found the hardened
nipple, and the other palm went south to tame the throbbing
between her legs. The dull ache threatened to consume her if
she didn’t tackle it.
“Not on my watch,” the all-too-familiar voice interrupted
her state of bliss making her jump.
“Blake…” she cried sitting up in bed and opening up her
arms for the man her heart had yearned for more than her
body.
His hungry lips found hers. “How dare you fuck yourself
without me?”
“I had no choice.” She gritted her teeth opening her neck
for his invasion.
“Why did you have to send me the picture?” he growled.
“Why are you back already?” She gasped when he took
her taut nipple between his teeth before sucking it into his
mouth.
“Because you are in my bed.” He nipped his way toward
her steaming epicenter.
 “It’s our bed,” she growled making him groan deep
inside, burying his face into the depths of the apex of her
thighs.
“You taste so good… every time,” he hummed making
her breath hiss. She grabbed his hair between her fingers and a
handful of the cotton sheets with the other palm arching her
back opening and inviting him deeper.
He slowed down as soon as she raised her lower back off
the mattress, and his tongue slithered over every fold with
painful leisure.
“I don’t want any of this; I need you inside.” It was a
demand that made his blood rush to his steely shaft that was
begging for release. He missed her, and it was the truth even if
he wasn’t ready to admit it. He missed more than just her
body, he missed her touch, her soft sweet smell, her pillow-
like lips that begged him to never let their lips separate and her
eyes… her eyes spoke volumes and talked to him. They told
him what she wasn’t able to tell him.
He couldn’t take the risk again and not for his sake; he
couldn’t lie to those large beautiful eyes. He wouldn’t be able
to live with himself if something happened to her, just like
people who came too close to him in the past. He was
indestructible but could destroy her, and it ached deep inside
his chest to think of her in pain, a novel feeling.

*****
He turned in his sleep, and her eyes shot open with tears
brimming. She couldn’t lie to herself for one more second. She
wanted him, and the pain of wanting him was growing, and
she couldn’t bear his touch knowing he didn’t feel the way she
did. She slid out slowly and rolled to her side before a strong
arm wrapped her waist and pulled her back against his tight
chest.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He nuzzled her
neck.
 “I want to… I want to sleep in the other room,” she
mumbled feeling the warmth of his body mock her that she
couldn’t have him.
“No you don’t, you want to sleep here.” He laid his leg
over her body, trapping her.
“I can’t fool myself for one more minute, Blake.” Her
tone held sadness as if everything was lost.
“I want to be yours forever. I’ll give you whatever you
want,” she sobbed.
“Hey… stop being silly.” He brushed his lips on her
cheek.
“Blake, it’s like I’m the happiest person in the world
when I’m with you. I want more of you… I want…” she
whispered and felt the shudder that rippled through him.
“Kari, time to sleep. You are tired.” He held her to him
and pulled the sheets over their trembling bodies.
“Blake, I’ll give you whatever you want. You can have
my software—all of it. I want you.” Her voice was a weak
whisper, but it sent more shock waves through his body.
He never saw it coming, but he was faced with yet
another challenge that he refused to give in to. He came close
to trusting his heart once and felt betrayed, and if he gave in
one more time, there was no point of return.
 Chapter 14

Kari woke up to a warm morning and an empty bed. It

was not a good feeling, and she felt worse when she
remembered everything she told him. She pulled the sheets
over her body when she a blast of cold air sent a shiver down
her spine.
Nicole was right the night Kris was born when she said
she had fallen for Blake. It’s too bad he didn’t feel the same
way, and she knew it, but it still upset her. Nothing in the
world mattered to her when she was in his arms.
Blake was nowhere in sight when she went downstairs
for coffee. It was Saturday morning, and the past few months
she had become accustomed to waking up in his arms. She
missed him, but she wasn’t ready to face him. It was clear in
her mind what she wanted, but she had no clue how to get
what she craved for, and the unknown threatened to burn her
to the ground.
The door from the garage opened, and she froze. It had
to be Blake, and she wondered where he had been so early in
the morning.
“Good morning, sunshine,” he said and sat on the bar
stool at the island. He made no attempt to touch her, and it
killed her inside. It wasn’t just a bodily need to be touched
anymore—she needed the warmth to heat up her body in the
form of love and reassurance.
“Coffee?” She offered holding up her mug.
“No, I’m good.”
“Where did you go so early in the morning?”
“I went for a ride,” he said looking at his phone.
“Blake…” She sighed, and he looked up from his phone.
“I’m sorry I changed my mind, but I want it all. I can’t deal
with a half-assed relationship anymore.”
 He placed his phone on the stone counter and looked up
at her. “Wasn’t part of the contract, Kari.” It hurt him deep
inside to see the disappointment in her eyes.
“Don’t fucking talk to me about contracts. I’m talking
about real things, Blake.” Her anger was simmering.
“What real things? The only thing real is purely a
physical attraction… nothing more than that,” he declared.
“Are you mocking me? Are you kidding me by telling
me what I feel is not real?” she snapped.
“I like things to go as planned and…” His voice trailed
off when he saw her glare at him.
“Go on, Blake. Everything needs to be in your control
and as per plan. This is life, not an acquisition. I am not an
acquisition.”
“You offered up yourself as part of the acquisition.” His
words felt acidic, and she knew he was right. It was her
obsession with success that had gotten her into the mess, and
now the same success meant everything was nothing when
compared to what she wanted out of life. She wanted to be part
of his life, and he made it evident there was no room for her.
“Right, thank you for reminding me that I was the fool
all along.” She dropped her mug into the sink in a clamor and
walked away from him without turning back.
Her head hurt like someone was working with a
sledgehammer on the inside. She went straight to her room and
collapsed on her bed. Life as she knew it had changed and
changed for the worse.

*****
She sat in the conference room thinking of the blur of the
past few days. She spent most of the time working on the final
contract for the Sonoma Group acquisition. Blake didn’t
attempt to talk to her, but she knew he was as messed up as
she was on the inside, and tears rolled down uncontrollably
every time she heard his motorcycle as he took one bike after
another for a ride.
She knew he wanted more than what they had, but
something was stopping him, and she wasn’t sure how to make
him come out of his shell and embrace their relationship. She
had never had so much fun in any relationship. Starting with
the great sex, it soon turned out to be more than just the urges
to destroy each other’s desires; it was about being each other’s
desire. She saw it in his eyes and knew he cared for her,
respected her enough to keep the feminist in her at bay and
most of all, she was important to him.
When he went away for a few days, she knew he felt the
void and just wasn’t ready to accept it. She knew it the
moment he showed up a day early.
“Kari.” A familiar male voice interrupted her thoughts.
Roger was flashing his charming smile and walked
toward her with Blake and the rest of the Sonoma Group right
behind him.
“Roger,” she squeaked inadvertently and stood up from
her chair. She put her arms around her friend blowing him an
air kiss and caught the glare Blake sent her way. She returned
the glare enjoying the way his gaze heated her. He had that
effect on her since the day she met him; it wasn’t just the
physical attraction, it was more of a gravitational pull from
deep within.
“I’m so happy to see you.” He settled in the chair next to
her.
“Good to see you, Ms. Vora,” one of the Sonoma Group
lawyers greeted. She had worked with him in the past when
she worked for her father’s hotel chain.
“Good to see you, too, Mr. Preston, and I’m Mrs.
Kennedy now.” She laughed flashing her ring and smiling at
Blake.
“Congratulations, I had no idea.” He smiled sheepishly
shaking Blake’s hand. Blake cast a puzzled look in her
direction before smiling at the lawyer.
 She was getting impatient by the minute, and she was on
a mission. Her mission was to get him to accept that they made
a good couple and had a connection with which they could
build a sustainable relationship.
She sat in the conference room, her eyes on Blake. She
was in a position where he was in her line of sight. She
couldn’t believe she was behaving like a teenager unable to
avert her eyes from his determined face as the lawyers
discussed the terms of the merger, which was close to
completion.
“What do you think, Kari? Why do we have that
clause?” Blake turned to her, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
She was startled by the sudden shift but smiled back at him.
“Is this the part where we take over the chain of hotels ten
days into the cooling-off period?” She took a shot in the dark.
“Yes.” His voice was soft like he couldn’t believe she
was following the conversation. He knew she was observing
him, and that brought a smile to her face.
“We are paying a hundred percent of the deal amount,
unlike other deals where you pay out as you hand over bits and
pieces.” She straightened her back looking at the CEO of the
Sonoma Group.
“We can’t do that, Mrs. Kennedy. We need the transition
to be slow and steady for our employees and customers.” The
elderly man shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“Thank you, I love being called Mrs. Kennedy.” She
smiled at the CEO who looked at her like she was high, but
she caught the expression on Blake’s face from the corner of
her eye. “We adopted the quick transition plan for the Vora
Group of Hotels, and you know we have been successful.”
“Well, that’s because you are married to Blake, and he
has no choice but to follow what you recommend,” the elderly
man mocked.
She laughed surprising most everybody in the room. “I
need to talk to your wife for some tips about getting my
husband to do what I want him to do. I wish it were that easy.”
 She cast a quick glance his way before continuing.
“Jokes apart, Blake gave you his word on a single payment,
and that is final. We are here to tell you what we want because
he has made an exception for you because of your investment
needs. We need the turnover within ten days, and it’s best for
everyone.”
“We need to think about that, the vendor and supply
contracts need to be reviewed and approved,” one of the
Sonoma Group executives chimed in, and the CEO nodded in
agreement.
“That is not a concern. I have reached out to all of your
vendors, and I am close to transferring all the contracts to
Kennedy Group. We just need the legal documentation to be
complete.” She smiled looking at Blake who looked at her like
he couldn’t believe that’s what she had been working on for
the past two months.
“What? How is that possible?” The elderly man almost
fell off his chair.
“Your vendor list is not a secret, and I reached out to
them about switching over to a new contract on the tenth day
from the day we sign the contract.” She leaned back in her
chair.
“No, we can’t let you take over… not so fast,” the
elderly man objected.
“We need to keep moving. I think we have provided the
information about the clause, and there will be no change to
it,” Blake interjected before Kari could explain further.
“We can’t go on until we get consensus on this, Mr.
Kennedy. We will need to pick this up after I have discussed it
internally.” The CEO stood up and gestured his team to leave
with him.
A few minutes later, it was just Blake and Kari left
looking at each other in silence while they refused to break
their gaze. Sean had followed the group to let them out.
“I’m impressed,” he finally broke their long gaze to look
at the paperwork in front of him.
 “I take my job very seriously, Mr. Kennedy. I really want
that entire floor in the house to myself,” she said playfully. He
smiled making her heart flutter. They hadn’t had an easy
conversation in a few days, and it felt like a lot of weight was
lifted from her chest.
“You never forget anything do you,” he teased running
his fingers through his hair.
“Not for that killer bedroom of yours with a private
pool,” she taunted. She had moved her clothes into his closet
and didn’t bother moving them out even after their talk. She
slept in her room and had a few clothes in her closet but
couldn’t get herself to move her clothes back into her room.
He didn’t object, and she wasn’t going to move her clothes
back until he complained.
“I feel like I need to cook dinner for you.” He smiled.
“Nice try, you still need to move out.” She laughed.
“At this rate, I guess I will be sleeping in my motorcycle
garage.”
“That was wicked.” Sean burst through the doors before
she could respond.
“Dude, where are your manners? What if I was kissing
my wife,” Blake taunted.
“Bullshit!” Sean knew more than Blake realized.
Sean turned to look at her. “That was nicely done, Kari.”
“Is Roger your source for the information?” Blake asked
like he couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“No, but I will never give up my sources. You know that
about me already.” She winked.
“I know. How are we going to secure the contract
bypassing the moles within our organization?” Blake asked,
his voice as cold as the tundra.
“Blake…” Sean lost his voice.
“Accept it you guys. The Sonoma Group has moles, but
since Kari added the clause in at the very last minute, and they
didn’t know about it, it was a fake surprise for all the other
conditions.”
“What do you think they are planning?” Sean asked, his
voice wobbly.
“They are not giving up a half-billion dollar company for
less than half the price—they are up to something,” Blake
challenged.
“They hired a hacker,” Kari’s voice was flat.
Sean was visibly taken aback, but Blake was calm like
nothing would surprise him.
“You’re kidding… a hacker for what?” Sean was
confused.
“They want our payment for free and never had the
intention to sell,” Kari declared.
“What do they get out of it?” Sean shook his head.
“They get to know a lot more about our operations and a
boatload of money when the contract conveniently goes
south.” Blake leaned in his chair.
“How do we secure the documents?” Sean looked at
Kari.
“We are all set, Sean. We upgraded our security software
a few months ago, and I am the only one who can manage it.”
Kari sounded confident with what she had done.
“Do you guys go back home and keep working?” he
teased moving toward the door. “We need to kick off a
celebration. I’m going to go order lunch for us. Stay put you
two.”
“Are you mad?” Blake asked after a few minutes of
silence when she refused to look at him and stared at her
laptop screen aimlessly.
“Mad about what?” She hoped she sounded nonchalant
as she typed garbage on her screen.
“I will do what you think is best, Kari. You’ve done so
well the past few months. I don’t want the Kennedy Group to
lose you.” His voice was soft and picked up on some tension.
“I don’t want to talk about it, Blake. I told you I would
stick to the plan—launch the software and get out of your
life.” She almost snapped.
“You don’t need to get out of my life, Kari. We can be
friends.” He smiled.
“I can’t… I can’t be friends with you, Blake. I can’t live
in denial or keep lying to myself. I’m a big girl, and I can
accept the facts.” She looked him, her eyes threatening to lift
up the dam gates.
“Kari, don’t be like that. It’s…”
She didn’t let him finish. “You don’t need to explain it.
I’m good.” She looked away and started typing on her laptop.
“Good… are we on for dinner?”
“No.” She wasn’t in the state of mind to spend alone
time with him as they had in the past months. They were a riot
in bed but more than that, she felt the connection on many
levels starting with the love of motorcycles and how
passionate they were for achieving their goals. Blake was
smart and a very shrewd businessman, and that drew Kari to
him. She couldn’t forget the first time she lost a bet with him
and had to be in his sports team jersey for an entire evening or
the time she was half naked while playing strip snooker. They
enjoyed yelling at the TV as they watched Sunday Night
Football and their endless runs in the middle of the night.
“Kari, until we are not in contract, you need to abide by
the rules,” he retorted.
“No.”
“Yes, you will stop being difficult and either go back to
what we had or cancel the contract,” he snarled.
“Blake, I can’t do that now. We are about to close the
deal with the Sonoma Group,” she reasoned.
“Then, you will be a good wife and go out to dinner with
me. I have a call with the Australian Manager at six, and we
can head out after I am done.”
 “Fine.” She shut her laptop off and stood to leave.
“Not yet. Sean wants us to wait for him here,
remember?” His eyes followed her as she walked toward the
door.
“You have my husband come get me when the food is
here,” she taunted holding her chin high as she left Blake all
by himself in the conference room.
 Chapter 15

“Is that how you guys dress at home in the states?”

Blake’s Australian hotel manager teased when he saw him on
the video conference later that day.
“Yes, unlike the Aussie’s, we are overly presentable at
home, too,” Blake fired back laughing. His hotel manager had
been with the company from the day Kennedy Group opened
the first international hotel right after he joined his dad seven
years ago.
Blake was mid-sentence when he heard her in her room.
The sound that traveled to his room was not a pleasant one.
“John, I need to go. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Kari,” he called out as he walked toward her room. He
heard her but what he heard was so foreign to him, he wasn’t
sure what it was, but his heart started to thump rapidly.
He pushed open the door to find her curled up on the
floor, her beautiful silk dress twisted around her legs. Her face
was buried in her arms, and her body shook violently. He went
on his knees next to her and pulled her into his arms.
“Blake… I’m…” She was crying, and he had no idea
why. Tears rolled down carrying the dark smear from her
mascara on her cheeks as she continued to wail as if in pain.
“Kari, are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“Blake… I…” She tried to talk, but she was struggling to
breathe.
“Baby, are you hurt?” He pulled out his phone to call the
ambulance, and she pushed his phone away from his hands
shaking her head.
He picked her up off the floor and into his arms. He
carried her a few feet to her bed and gently placed her on the
mattress and sat next to her. She clung to him, her fingers
gripping the collar of his dress shirt as she buried her face into
the softness of the silk material.
“Blake, she loved you,” her voice was muffled.
“Kari, sweetheart… talk to me. What’s wrong?” Blake’s
voice was wobbly as he cupped her cheek with his palm.
She finally looked into his eyes, and the beautiful eyes
that sparkled for him were glistening with tears. His heart
twisted in pain when he saw the gloom in her eyes. He was
growing impatient by the second and wanted to know what
caused the sorrow.
“Blake, I’m sorry I didn’t understand when you said…”
her voice trailed off when another round of sobs consumed
her.
He held her to him, rocking her in his arms, and waited
for her sobs to calm down. Something shook her to her core,
and he needed to know what but didn’t want to push her.
A few minutes later, she sniffled as she pulled away
from him. She wasn’t looking into his eyes, and that worried
him more.
Tears continued to run down her cheeks as she gathered
the strength to speak. “Blake, you were wrong about Simmy…
she loved you.”
“What? Why are we talking about Simmy? Did she get
in touch with you? What does she want?” He was angry. She
had walked away from him once, and he wondered if she had
reached out to Kari.
“Blake… you… I…” She lost her voice as she started to
cry again. Her body shook uncontrollably causing his stomach
to churn.
“Sweetheart, why the heck did you talk to Simmy?” His
voice reflected the simmering anger.
“No, Blake… she is gone… she… fuck it… where is
your phone?” Kari sobbed.
He got off the bed and picked up the phone that lay on
the floor from when Kari pushed it away from his hand.
 “She is not who you think she is, Blake, and I…” He
handed her his phone. She took his phone and held it in her
trembling palms and typed the two words she entered into a
search engine while she waited for Blake to finish his call.
‘Simone Wells’
A few search results showed up on the screen, and Kari
looked up into his eyes, as she stood tall next to the bed.
“Blake, sit down.”
“What the heck, Kari?” He was annoyed as he sat next to
her.
“Blake, click on the link to the video and promise me
you will listen to the entire video,” she pleaded handing him
the phone and wrapping her arms around him.
“What is this?” He scrunched his nose. He clicked on the
link, and when a familiar face showed up on the screen, he
froze. He hadn’t seen her in eight years, and she was the way
he had remembered her. Anger gripped his body as memories
came rushing through from the very back of his mind.
Kari tightened her hold on him when she felt him shift
and shut her eyes tightly. She had watched the video once, and
the words still rang in her ears.
“Blake, I can’t tell you how glad I am you are watching
this video. I’m not sure where I will be when you watch this,
and it doesn’t matter. I am making this video so I can say ‘I’m
sorry.’ I’m sorry for everything I said, but I have no regrets. I
said what I said because it was the right thing to say after the
accident.”
He paused the video and looked down at her. “What the
heck is this?”
“Blake, please continue,” she sniffled.
He hit the play button again. “I know why the accident
happened, it’s because I was blinded by the need to win, and I
was the one who put your life at risk, and I’m still kicking
myself for it.
 “I blamed you for Kevin’s death even though I knew he
ended his own life because he suffered from depression, not
because he was not picked as the primary driver for the race. I
went too far when I said you were responsible for your mom
not being around and… and I still don’t know how I got myself
to say that, but I needed to say it at the time.
“I needed to say it so I could get out of your life. You
didn’t need another… well, the thing is… I am not going to be
around for long. The doctor was checking something after the
accident, and he used some alien language to describe my
condition but, long story short, I am not going to make it. I
have a few months left, and I am going to give that time as a
gift to my mom and dad. You need to move on with your life
and find yourself a woman who will kick and scream but will
never let go of you.
“I couldn’t see you go through what I am going through;
it’s not fair, and you don’t deserve to be with a person who is
going to vanish soon.”
Kari started to shiver when she heard the words again,
and she struggled to keep her sobs down as he sat quietly
almost in shock.
“It was real, Blake, she loved you.” Kari buried her face
into his chest. “That video was posted a few months after the
accident. I don’t know if she is still…” She sobbed.
Blake held Kari and ran his palm along her back as he let
the phone fall onto the mattress. He felt numb on the inside
like he was in a dream, and he couldn’t move. The only thing
he was aware of was Kari, her touch, the warmth, and the
slight moisture that lingered on his chest that made it through
his silk shirt.
“Kari, can I get you something to drink?” He ran his
palm over her hair.
She pulled out of his embrace and looked at him in
disbelief. “Blake, I—“
“Where do you want to go for dinner?” Blake was
talking to her like nothing happened.
 “Blake, this is the woman who loved you, she… she
loved you so much she let go of you so you could be happy.”
She cupped her palms on his cheeks.
He felt an ache deep inside his chest cut through the
initial numbness when he looked into her eyes. It took him a
few moments to realize he was still processing the video he
had watched, but the pain that consumed him was a result of
the tears that ran down the cheeks of the woman he held in his
arms.
“Blake, I’m so sorry.” She wound her arms around him.
“Kari, how did you find the video?” He shook his head.
“I—I was curious, Blake. The woman who was so
competitive to the point where she gave up on a relationship. I
wanted to see if she made it big in the racing world, and I
found this video.”
She felt pathetic every time she thought of Simmy, and
the tears rolled down endlessly. “Blake, I can’t go out
anymore.”
“What do you feel like eating?” He tucked a loose lock
of hair behind her ear.
“Blake… stop… Simmy… she…” she stuttered.
“Simmy is notorious for such pranks… for all you know
it’s one of those videos.” He bent down to scoop her into his
arms.
“What? No.”
“You don’t know her.” He smiled carrying her into his
room. “Let’s get you something to eat and put you to sleep.”
“No prankster puts up a video like that,” she objected.
He laughed walking into his closet. “It’s the theme of her
blog site; she talks about how she pranks everyone. She told
her parents at a family dinner she was pregnant with my child,
and the worst part was we weren’t even together at that time.”
“What?”
 “Yes, and I don’t want you thinking about the video and
get upset with it.” He brushed his lips on her forehead after
setting her back on her feet.
“But… what if it’s true?” The choking feeling was
creeping back.
“She is a born actress, and she has such videos on her
blog site all the time.” He ran the back of his hand along her
cheek which was smudged with her mascara. “You should
show up to work looking like this—it’d suit your part. The hot
witch who casts her spell on contracts.”
She turned around to look at herself in the mirror and
was convinced he was right about looking like a witch by the
way she looked—her hair was a mess, and whatever small
amount of makeup she had put on was washed away by her
tears—but she didn’t care how she looked. The only thing that
mattered to her was being with him, in his arms; his touch told
her he wanted her, and she was willing to wait for him to come
around. She let him wipe her face clean and change her into
her pajamas enjoying the care, but a voice kept telling her
Simmy was gone and when Blake accepted it as the truth, she
feared she might lose him once and for all with no hope of
returning.

Later that night, Blake lay awake in bed after Kari had
finally drifted off to sleep. He smiled in the darkness when she
mumbled in her sleep and knew she was stressed enough to be
sleep talking. He wanted her with him, so she didn’t end up in
the pool like last time.
He tightened his hold on her waist when she turned in
her sleep to throw her arm and leg over him. He knew what
she felt for him, but he was torn that he couldn’t reciprocate.
The first time he saw Kari, it reminded him of how he felt
when he saw Simmy ride her bike; and even though they were
very different, Kari woke up a lot of dormant feelings he had
ignored or never let influence him. He knew Kari was different
from Simmy, but she invoked a lot of the emotions Simmy
was able to trigger. He never in all those years had any woman
get close to making him feel as excited as Kari did, and he
knew they were a whole new range of emotions.
It surprised him that Kari had reacted the way she did to
a prank video but what surprised him most was his own
reaction. He didn’t care for the fact that he was seeing Simmy
after all those years, and the anger and the disgust at the way
Simmy had spoken to him after the accident didn’t bother him
anymore. All he could think about was to calm Kari down.
Something deep inside sawed through him when he found her
curled up on the floor.
She moaned murmuring in her sleep.
“Kari…”
A moment later she moaned.
“Why were you so upset?” He didn’t understand why she
cared for a woman she had never met.
She moaned in her sleep but did not respond
immediately. He ran his fingers through her dark, silky hair
never realizing how soft it felt between his fingers. He
remembered gripping her hair as she took him deep into her
throat, but the softness caressed his fingertips making him
smile.
“Your hair is beautiful… don’t let me hurt it… don’t let
me hurt you,” he murmured into the darkness. He knew he was
hurting her and wondered how much of her reaction was
because of not getting what she wanted from their relationship.
“She loved you, Blake.” Kari was fast asleep, but her
voice was as clear as daylight.
“Who, baby?” he asked like he was having a regular
conversation with her. He had done that with her in the past
and was extremely entertained. She would be asleep, but her
responses were clear and precise.
“Simmy… she loved you enough to let you go,” she
muttered without making a move, sending shock waves
through his body. Simmy was extremely competitive, and she
had to win every race; he wasn’t entirely surprised with her
reaction but what surprised him were the things she said to
him.
Simmy was aggressive enough to demand his love and
Kari, she wanted to fight for his love; she didn’t rub it in like
Simmy did and announced her feelings for him to the entire
world before she had told him.
He lay lost in thought as to what was stopping him from
taking Kari’s hand and let her lead him into her world of fun
and love. It had to be because of what Simmy had done and
even after an endless number of detached relationships, he
could never allow himself to trust someone to keep their
promise.
He took a deep breath when he realized that’s what
bugged him most—the abandonment when he lay in the
hospital with multiple broken bones and a year-long recovery.
He had spent that year recovering and learning more about his
father’s business. He got out of rehab and negotiated the first
international acquisition, and since that day, he never looked
back. He expanded his father’s hotel business into an empire
of companies which made the company grow at an unexpected
rate.
When Kari’s father approached him for the deal almost
six months ago with a clause to release his daughter’s payout
after her marriage, he found it silly and strange but didn’t give
it much thought. When he was scheduled to meet her, he had
never in a million years expected her to be the woman who
took over his operations and set them up for further rapid
growth. She was a smart, caring, and a beautifully ruthless
businesswoman who had her heart throbbing for him, and he
couldn’t get himself to take her hand.
“You will be sad, very sad, and I cannot see you sad,”
she murmured again in her sleep.
“It makes me sad when you cry,” he responded. “Please
don’t shed a tear for anyone ever.”
“I’m yours, Blake… I love you.” Her voice held
sweetness that burned his heart followed by a gripping pain
when he realized the words rolled off her lips even in her
suspended state of consciousness. It had to be real; there was
no other explanation, but he didn’t know if he could feel what
she felt for him.
Love.
He wasn’t capable of loving someone—he had told
Simmy the same thing when she expressed her love. He
wouldn’t be able to tell what it felt like to be loved by a
mother or his father. He never saw love in his father’s eyes; he
only saw sadness—the sadness of losing the love of his life.
He didn’t know how to care for people because people didn’t
take care of him with love when he was a child; they took care
of him out of pity or duty. Kari was way too precious to be in a
relationship with no love to match what she showered.
Simmy was probably right when she said he wasn’t
capable of loving someone or to put the other person ahead of
him, and that he had started his path of destruction the day he
was born.
 Chapter 16

“You took a sick day? For real?” Nicole was in disbelief.

“Yeah, didn’t get to sleep much last night,” Kari said
switching channels absentmindedly.
“Really? Not much sleep?” her best friend teased.
“Okay, not that way, I—I was a mess last night,” she
confessed.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I stumbled across a video online of Blake’s ex-
girlfriend.” She placed her palm on her chest when her heart
started to thud like it did the previous night.
“Sex tape?” Nicole squealed.
“No, it was a goodbye video, and she said she was dying,
but Blake seems to think it was a prank video.” A shiver ran
through her spine when she remembered the look in Simmy’s
eyes.
“Who makes videos like that anyway?” Nicole pondered.
“Blake said it was the theme of her blog. Putting up
prank videos or talking about how she pranks people.”
“What’s the name of the website?” Nicole was excited.
“No… let’s not talk about it,” Kari declared.
“Why were you upset with the video?”
A shiver ran through her spine. “What if it’s real,
Nicole? I don’t know how Blake is going to take it… what if
he… I don’t know… drops everything and leaves?”
“What the crap are you talking about?” Nicole was
confused.
“I love him, Nicole, and I can’t get him to see how much
I love him,” she blurted.
 “Shut the front door… you’ve been sitting in a corner
like a love-sick puppy and didn’t have the decency to tell me
you were in love?” Nicole laughed making her smile.
“I know, I told him, but he doesn’t want any of it,” she
shared.
“This is so exciting. It’s so real, Kari; I’ve never seen
you like this. Something told me the day you told me about the
marriage that this guy was going to sweep you off your feet
and also sweep your very pregnant friend off her feet…
literally,” Nicole teased.
“Oh well… he was like your guardian angel that night at
the hospital ready to punch the doctor if he came close to
hurting you,” Kari laughed.
“Don’t let him go, girl. Work it. You know how to get a
man’s attention and keep him twisted around your little
finger,” Nicole blurted.
“Right, I do.” Kari agreed.
“Okay… jokes aside, you need to fight for him if you
want him.”
“I don’t know what to do… all he wants to do is be
friends, and I fucking can’t do that,” she snapped angrily at her
situation.
“My kid is named after him. You guys better get your act
together and stay together. I want to tell my kid a beautiful
love story and not a sob story,” Nicole demanded.
“I don’t know what I thought when I picked the name. I
knew we weren’t going to be together, but…”
Her friend interrupted her. “You probably knew but
weren’t ready to acknowledge you had feelings for him.”
“I stopped thinking about it for now. We have a big
acquisition that we’ve been working on for months.” Kari
pressed her fingers into her temples.
“You have to relax and give him some space… make
him miss you a bit. Do you want to come watch your nephew
so I can go on a date night with my husband?” Nicole teased.
 “I would love to watch him. Do you guys want to go
tonight?” she asked.
“You’re kidding, right?” Nicole asked in disbelief.
“No, I’m serious. I’ll watch him. He is such a good
baby.”
“You don’t have to,” her friend said sheepishly.
“It happens tonight or don’t ask me until I’m done
launching my software.” She laughed genuinely excited about
spending time with the baby.
“Do you want to check with Blake?” Nicole suggested.
“Umm… I probably should. He should be back soon. I’ll
ask him if he wants to go with me.” Kari laughed.
“Is he not at work?”
“We… err… took a sick day. Don’t get creative now.”
Kari warned.
“How exciting. I’ll text Dev and ask him to come home
early, and I’ll start pumping for tonight.” Her friend squeaked
with excitement before ending the call.

*****
“You didn’t need to go, you know,” she said as they
stepped out of the car in Nicole’s driveway.
“I needed some entertainment.” He winked following her
to the main door.
Even before she knocked, Nicole opened the door, her
face glowing like a bulb. “I love you guys so much; you have
no clue.”
“Glad to help, I brought reinforcements.” Kari laughed
pointing to Blake.
“I’m useless. I’m probably more useful as a chauffeur.
You guys sure you don’t need a ride?” Blake offered.
“We don’t need a chaperone but need someone to keep
an eye on Aunt Kari,” Dev teased wrapping his arm around his
cousin.
“Whatever, Dev, I talk to you because you’re married to
my besty,” she retorted.
After fifteen minutes of written and oral instructions and
a few tears, Nicole finally went out with Dev for the first time
since they became parents.
“They’re so perfect together.” She smiled at Blake and
blew her friend a kiss before closing the door.
“Did you really set them up?” Blake asked as she walked
back into the living room.
“Yeah, I didn’t have to plan much. They were meant to
be.” She smiled turning up the volume on the baby monitor.
“So… now what?” Blake prompted.
“We baby… sit.”
He laughed. “You mean we literally sit while the baby
sleeps?”
“I told you it’s not like how they show in the movies.
Little babies don’t walk around puking all over the house,” she
teased.
“Drink?” he offered as he stood up.
“Hey… I’m on duty, so I’ll get a beer.” She laughed.
“Yes, ma’am.”
They were in a deep argument about who was going win
the next World Cup championship when they heard the
crackling sound on the monitor.
“Showtime, baby.” She winked at Blake before running
upstairs to pick up the baby. “Grab me that sheet of
instructions and meet me upstairs.”
“Really?”
“Yes, now.”
She went up the stairs to the nursery taking two steps at a
time. Kris was sleeping when they arrived, and Nicole
wouldn’t let her peek into the nursery to see him.
 “Look who’s up, the hottest dude in California,” she
cooed as she walked toward the crib in the middle of the
nursery.
She turned up the light and picked up the three-month-
old baby in her arms. “You are a big boy. You fit in my palm
when you were born, you know.”
“She’s lying buddy… you were way bigger than her
palm,” Blake interjected.
“Yes, Aunt Kari is lying.” She poked her tongue at him.
“What were you thinking when you offered to help with
Kris? You have no idea what to do, do you?”
“I don’t, but I’ll figure it out.”
“Watch out for her, Kris.” Blake laughed as Kari carried
him to the changing table to change his diaper.
“Make yourself useful and read my instructions.” She
placed the baby on the changing table and located the things
she needed as Blake read the instructions Nicole had written.
“It say’s you need to hold his pee pee down while you
put the diaper on,” Blake declared.
“What?”
“His pee pee.” Blake shrugged smiling sheepishly.
“I know what a pee pee is, Blake, what does hold down
mean, and how do I do it when I put on the diaper?” She shook
her head in confusion.
“I guess I really am the reinforcement.” Blake laughed
walking toward the changing table.

Thirty minutes later, she held a baby who seemed to be

in the zone after being changed and fed. She held him in her
arms and rocked him to sleep.
“I feel like running away with you. Do you think
mommy and daddy will find me if I did?” She cooed to her
nephew.
 “I’ll bail you out if you get caught running away with
him. I can’t lose my operations officer.”
“How generous!” she snapped.
“Are you sure you haven’t done this before?” Blake
asked curiously.
“What? Run away with babies?” She looked shocked.
He shook his head laughing at her expression.
“Babysitting. You seem to be doing well.”
“I guess it’s in my nature to be a soothing person,” she
boasted.
He laughed so hard, waves of thrill coursed through her
veins even though she was annoyed with his laughter.
“I will dye my hair blue if you can get one person in the
office to agree with you,” he challenged.
“Hey, just because I am a certain way at work, doesn’t
mean I am a mean bitch,” she snarled.
“I didn’t call you a mean bitch, you did.” He laughed.
“Sean will probably agree with me just to see you flaunt
your blue locks,” she mocked.
“Good luck with that,” he said confidently.
“Sean’s a double agent,” she grumbled moving toward
the crib. “Hey, come here. I need your help.”
Blake got off the chair and walked to where she stood
holding the sleeping baby. “How may I assist?”
“Reach for my phone in my back pocket. I need proof
that I put him to sleep.” She winked.
He reached for her phone letting his fingers wander on
her back before she called out impatiently. “Left cheek
pocket.”
“My left or your left,” he asked before pulling her phone
out.
“Do you want a picture with him?” she asked after Blake
took a few pictures.
 “I’m good,” he blurted.
“All right, go over to the other side and help me lower
him into the crib.” She signaled Blake to move to the other
side of the crib. Blake placed his palms under the baby’s back
and lowered him onto the mattress and gingerly removed his
palms from under the sleeping baby.
“Oh my God, mission accomplished.” She threw her
arms up in celebration and wound them around his neck
laughing when he took her into his arms.
“You have a new skill set now,” he teased brushing his
lips on her temple.
“I know. I want to do more of this before he grows up
and starts pretending like he doesn’t know me.” She laughed
looking up at Blake in the dimly-lit room. His eyes bore into
hers, and something flickered in them making her catch her
breath.
A beautiful spark appeared in his eyes as he placed his
palm on her cheek, his thumb running over her bold
cheekbones.
“Blake…” Her words dove into her throat when his lips
captured hers in an undeniable hunger and longing to keep
them plastered to his forever. His tongue speared through her
soft lips, and she met him with equal ferocity. His lips teased
hers swollen before his tongue started invading her mouth
exploring every corner of the warmth while he sucked the air
out of her lungs.
Her fingers snaked into the thick, dark hair eagerly
fisting her hand. She moaned running her other hand lower
along his chest and realized how much she had missed his
touch. She felt the void deep inside when he pulled her closer
into his arms.
As if her moan was a sign to slow down even as he
pressed her body deeper into his with all his strength, he
slowed down bringing his other palm to hold her face in his
hands. His lips worshipped her like she was the goddess of
sweetness, and he devoured the beautiful taste.
 She sighed into his mouth making him groan deep
inside. She slipped her other arm around his neck like she had
no strength in her knees to stand up as he kissed her, his lips
treating hers like they were delicate petals. His feral hunger
was gone and replaced by something new, something she had
never experienced. He was kissing her like she had never been
kissed before, not even by Blake. It wasn’t a kiss of passion
where his palms wandered all over her body triggering waves
of electricity; it was a kiss of love.
He kissed her like she was the only woman he wanted,
and the kiss held a promise that he would treasure and cherish
her. The sensations on her lips made her heart swell to the
point of suffocation in her chest. She lost herself to the
intensity of the moment, and all she could do was moan, and
all she could think of was Blake. She wanted to be his
everything, to be consumed by his need and be the one to
spend the rest of her life with.
“Kari…I…” he murmured before pulling away abruptly
like he was pulled away by someone but managed to catch her
before she crumbled to the floor. His chest heaved heavily as
he looked at her, disbelief in his eyes. It was as if he couldn’t
believe he kissed her the way he did.
She looked away and buried her face into his chest,
taking in his spicy smell. Her fingertips dug into his back
holding him never wanting to let go. She knew she couldn’t
have him, but the kiss gave her hope.
“What if I refuse to move out of your place?” she asked
inadvertently.
He held her by her shoulders pulling away to look at her
with a puzzled look on his face. “What are you talking about?”
She fisted her palms pulling on the fabric of his shirt. “I
can’t force you into anything, Blake, but what if I refuse to
leave your place at the end of the contract?”
He smiled pulling her back into his arms. “I’ll have
payroll deduct the rent amount from your paycheck.”
 “Will you move into the bedroom downstairs if I make a
bigger payroll deduction?” She smiled hiding her face in his
chest.
“I might consider it,” he crooned.
“What if I want more than that?”
“More?”
She had never thought about her future as much as she
did standing in his arms. If she couldn’t have him, she wanted
something that was his, a baby; a symbol of her love for him.
“I… I want a baby… our baby.” She pulled back to look
into his eyes.
“Kari…”
She didn’t let him continue. “I know what I am asking
for, Blake. You don’t need to be with me; I just want you to be
the father of my child.”
He had nothing to tell her, and the silence threatened to
consume them as they stood wrapped in each other’s arms not
wanting to let go. She had managed to awaken something deep
inside him, and he couldn’t figure out what it was that started
to stir him inside.
 Chapter 17

She was in her office when Sean came by after returning

from a week long trip to New York. “Where’s Blake?”
“Welcome back, Sean. How do you like the bedding in
the New York hotel?”
“Oh… good, so good, I didn’t want to get out. Congrats,
Kari! This is a huge success for you and for the company.”
Sean smiled settling into a chair.
“Thanks, Sean.”
“How are you doing?” Sean’s tone shifted.
“I’m fine, why do you sound worried?” Kari scrunched
her nose.
“Where is Blake? Why is he not in his office?” Sean
demanded.
“Easy buddy, it wasn’t my turn to watch him,” she
teased.
“Kari… is he okay?” Sean looked concerned making her
stomach knot in anticipation.
“Yeah, he’s at home… he was away for a few days
meeting with the Sonoma Group, and he came back late last
night. Why do you ask?” Her heart was thudding against her
ribcage.
“Did he not tell you?” His voice was weighed down by
sadness.
“What?”
“Simmy… that video you showed him…” He looked up
at the ceiling like he couldn’t talk.
“Was it real? Did she walk away from him because she
knew she wasn’t…” It was her turn to lose her voice.
 “Yes, he found out on Monday, and told me when I
talked to him.” Sean’s voice wavered.
“Fuck… I need to go.” Kari closed her laptop and
dashed out of her office.
“Kari, let me take you to him. Where is he?” Sean called
out.
“No, I’m fine. I know where he is.” She ran to the
elevators as the tears started to sting her eyes.

An hour later, she watched as the automatic gate opened

to the huge mansion that had been her home for the past six
months. She drove her little sports car straight to the back of
the house to the edge of the plush green grass. She fumbled
out of the car eagerly running toward the little outhouse-
looking bike garage. She was sure that’s where he would be,
she knew why.
She pushed the door open without a second thought
about it being possibly locked. The door opened loudly and
stopped banging against the wall.
Blake looked up at her as he squatted next to one of his
bikes. “Hey…” his voice was soft.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She fell to her knees next to
him wrapping her arms around him. He had been away the
past few days, and she had barely talked to him. She gave him
his space especially after she dropped a bombshell on him a
week ago about wanting to be the mother of his child.
“I guess she does post some real videos sometimes.” His
voice was muffled against her hair.
“Blake…” She didn’t know what to say and hugged him
to her like she wanted to absorb and take away all his pain like
a sponge. He was hurting, but he wasn’t ready to share it with
her. She was worried the sadness would burn him and make
him dead on the inside.
“Let’s go back to the house.” She stood up taking his
hand in hers. He didn’t stand up with her; instead, he knelt on
the floor holding her hand.
“Kari, why did you react the way you did when you
watched Simmy’s video?” Blake looked up into her eyes
making her stomach clench. She watched in utter silence as he
looked away from her to bury his face into her belly. She took
in a sharp breath when she felt his face digging into her core.
She ran her fingers through his hair and hugged his head
to her and let him take his time to open up. He had opened up
to her in the past on very few occasions, and she knew she
needed to put on a strong front while he lets the truth of his
once best friend and girlfriend’s death sink in. It wasn’t just
that she was gone, that fact that she chose to let go to save him
from the pain.
“You were wrong when she said she loved me,” his
voice was muffled in the softness of her blouse as he hugged
her harder.
“Blake… look at me,” she pleaded.
He took a moment before he looked up into her eyes.
“What makes you think she didn’t love you?” she
challenged, as he stood up tall in front of her.
“She didn’t want me. She knew I was incapable of
loving her in the short time she had,” he seethed, and it hit her
at that moment that his emotion was drenched in anger more
than sadness.
“Blake, she didn’t want you to be devastated when
she…” She broke off when he shook his head.
“She gave up on her so-called love and vanished. She
didn’t want me around because she was convinced I wasn’t
capable of giving her the support she needed the last few
months of her life,” he declared adamantly.
“Blake, she loved you, and she left because she couldn’t
bear to see you miserable. There was no way you could have
helped her after the accident,” she reasoned and added
cautiously, “Not after knowing how you felt on the inside
about your mother.”
 He looked at her, and she saw the anger in his eyes and
realized he was dealing with the situation very differently. He
was sad about what happened to Simmy but was angrier about
what happened.
“That’s bullshit, and I still don’t understand why you
cried your lungs out the other night.” His tone was elevated.
“I was sad, she did what she did because she loved you
and I… I can understand because I have the same feelings for
you,” she managed in a steady tone.
“Were you sad or did you feel sorry… sorry for me just
like every other person I know feels about me. I hate it when
people take pity on me; I don’t need their pity. Simmy walked
away because she felt sorry for me,” he sneered.
“You really have no idea how I feel about you, and I
don’t have a way to explain it. I was sad for what happened to
her, I was scared I would lose you forever because of what she
did to you, and I even had an insurmountable amount of
jealousy because she loved you enough to let you go, and my
love for you is not as divine as hers,” she blurted as her eyes
burned with angry tears. “I want you to love me, and I won’t
give up. I just can’t because what I feel for you is nothing like
I’ve ever felt before.”
She turned on her heels and left the bike garage before
she let him see tears of sadness and anger roll down her
cheeks. It was hard for her to walk away from him, but he
needed the space, and she had to give him the time to mourn a
loss he wasn’t ready to acknowledge.

*****
It was Friday morning, and her head ached like someone
scooped the insides out. She hadn’t seen Blake after their talk
the previous day, but he moved around the house like any
other day. He had canceled all his meetings and told the office
he was going to be out for a week. He pushed the merger for
the Sonoma Group out by a week and advised his assistant not
to call him.
 Kari watched him from the living room as he ran around
the house that morning, a grim expression on his face. He was
lost in thought as he made rounds around the mansion along
the trail that was built to run without having to leave the
premises.
She didn’t know when the right time was to intervene
and help him let out the emotions that he was fighting hard to
control. Anger was at the tip of the iceberg, and she knew he
felt a lot more on the inside—it was a matter of time before he
went numb on the inside. She could let her fear become a
reality and decided to find a way for him to let out his
emotions.
She ran up the stairs to the bedroom for her running
shorts with no idea how she was going to soothe his pain.

Five minutes later, she stood on the deck waiting for him
to go around the house, so he didn’t see her go to the running
track. She didn’t know what was going on in his mind, but she
would never find out if she never tried. She hoped he would
come up from behind her and say something to her or ignore
her. She wasn’t sure what he would do.
She ran along the track that had natural curves as it led
through the rose garden and the vegetable patch on the side of
the house. Her spine froze for a moment when she felt him
behind her. She didn’t stop and continued to run expecting him
to ignore her and run past her.
She heard his footsteps thud closer and moved to one
side of the track without turning around to look at him. She
kept running with her heart banging away in her chest and let
out a squeal when she felt herself being lifted off the ground.
“Are you ignoring me?” he growled in her ear spinning
her around one more time before setting her feet back on the
track.
“Huh?”
“You don’t show up for dinner, ignore all my messages,
and now you don’t even say ‘good morning.’”
 “I… good morning,” she said with a confused look on
her face. He suddenly looked cheerful making her wonder if
she had dreamed about everything that had happened the
previous day.
“Why are you home? Shouldn’t you be at the office
working on the merger so you can kick me out of the master
suite?” he teased.
She wasn’t sure how to handle his overly casual manner.
The grim expression he had on when she had seen him earlier
was gone, but his eyes couldn’t hide the truth from her. They
were red like he hadn’t slept all night.
“I have a week before I have to worry about the merger,
thanks to my lazy ass boss,” she said.
“Good, why don’t we go to breakfast? There’s an
amazing place in Half Moon Bay that’s open only for
breakfast,” he suggested making her feel more worrisome.
“Okay… I need twenty minutes.”
“Twenty minutes, and if you don’t show up, I’ll go get
breakfast without you.” He laughed leading her back into the
house.
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes at him.

The house was quiet when she went downstairs after

showering. She walked around the house and realized Blake
had pulled out his bike to ride that morning and was nowhere
in sight. She saw two helmets resting on the seat and smiled.
She turned away from the bike to go back to the garage
to let him know she was ready to go, and something went off
in her mind. She changed directions and ran upstairs to find
her motorcycle jacket.
She picked up her boots on her way out and went
downstairs. She slipped her feet into her boots and put on her
motorcycle jacket after almost six months.
She had no idea if her plan would work, but she had to
try, she had to start somewhere. She walked to the motorcycle
with the sole aim to get him to react, let out his emotions in
some form, so she didn’t lose him forever. She knew his heart
longed for her, but he had built up a huge wall around him that
he had to crack through to reach her.
She clipped on the helmet and set the spare one on the
ground next to the bike. She started the engine after looking
over her shoulder one last time, and the engine growled to life.
She had missed riding her bike, and the first ride she was
going to take after six months of not riding was going to either
help the situation or make it worse. Blake could kick her out of
the house for breaking the contract and riding a motorcycle.
Whatever the result, she wasn’t going to stop trying.
She accelerated the motorcycle a few times to make sure
Blake could hear the engine before she rode onto the driveway
through the open gate. She caught an image of Blake in her
side mirror running to where the bike was parked.
She cursed when she saw him rooted to the spot and
looking at her as she drove onto the main street. She shook her
head when she realized she wasn’t really sure what she
expected him to do—chase her down the driveway and drag
her off the bike or have her things packed up for her to be
thrown out of his house on her return.
The latter scared her more than making her sad, but she
kept riding enjoying the feel of the morning breeze on the
exposed skin at her wrists. She didn’t know what she would do
if he didn’t care and shrugged it off.
She was on a scenic highway and had probably driven
twenty miles when the engine shut off with no warning. She
pulled over to the side of the road cursing under her breath.
She sat on the bike looking at the display—the fuel gauge
showed a full tank of gas, and there were no other warnings.
She twisted the key on the dashboard and tried to restart
the bike, but it was dead. She slipped the parking brake on and
got off the bike pulling out her phone. She was looking
through her list of mechanics to figure out who would be a
better choice for the kind of bike that sat dormant in front of
her.
 She left messages for two mechanics but it was too early
for them to be open. The morning commute traffic was heavy,
and the highway sounded crazy.
Five minutes passed, and when she didn’t hear back
from her mechanics, she decided it was time to call Blake. Her
fingers trembled as she stared at his name on the phone screen.
She dialed his number, and he answered on the first ring.
“Kari.”
“Umm… Blake, I…”
He didn’t let her complete. “I know where you are, sit
tight.” He didn’t wait for her to respond and ended the call.
“Idiot,” she said under her breath leaning against the
bike.
Her phone went off a few minutes later, and Blake’s
name flashed on the screen.
“Hi, Blake.” She tried real hard to sound casual.
“Do you see the black limo?”
She looked at the oncoming traffic and spotted a stretch
limo. “Yes.”
“Give the guy that gets out of the limo the bike keys and
get into the car,” he ordered.
“Fuck.” She couldn’t read his voice. She didn’t know
how mad he was but was sure he was angry.
The black car pulled up right behind the bike, and a guy
in his twenties jumped out of the car and held the back door
open for her.
“Thank you.” She smiled handing over the keys and
helmet to him.
“You are welcome, miss.” He smiled before shutting the
door.
She hadn’t gone too far from Blake’s place on the bike,
but her body started to tremble in anticipation, as they got
closer. The separation window between the driver and the back
was closed, and she had no idea who was driving which added
more chaos in her already wild-running brain.
 Chapter 18

The limo made its way slowly past the main gates of the
premises making her stomach bellow. She felt like a kid who
was being taken to the principal’s office for being bad. The
only difference was she knew what a principal did, but with
Blake, she wasn’t sure what to expect.
She held her breath waiting for the door of the limo to
open, but neither the driver got out nor did the doors unlock.
Amidst a weird moment where she started thinking about
cracking open the window and climbing out of the car, the
door opened, and blazing green eyes met her almond-brown
eyes.
“Welcome back, I’ll see you in the study in a few
minutes.” His voice was smooth, but his breath that brushed
her cheek as he leaned in to whisper threatened to burn her
skin.
“Okay.” She smiled weakly as she ran indoors while
Blake gave the driver instructions to do something that she
didn’t care about.
Her stomach was grumbling as he walked into the study
five minutes later.
“Kari, are you trying to get out of the contract?” He
wasn’t going to beat around the bush.
“No,” she responded quickly.
“What was the first condition I had in the contract?” He
snarled standing next to her chair.
“I don’t know, Blake, I didn’t memorize the contract,”
she snapped. He was extremely calm, and she knew it was the
calm before the storm.
“Kari, do not push it.”
 She stood up from her chair, her chin held high. “I don’t
have time for this. I am sorry I took your bike, it was supposed
to be a prank.”
Darkness settled over his sea green eyes sending a shiver
down her spine. “A prank?”
She shrugged taking a step away from him and felt his
fingers dig into her arm.
“Do not walk away from me,” he barked in her ear.
“Let go, Blake. Just because I said I loved you, it doesn’t
mean I’ll let you trample over me,” she snapped freeing her
hand from his grip.
“It means nothing to me. Your so-called love could be
another prank you play on me,” he growled taking a step
closer to her.
She was furious, furious at herself for thinking her
actions from that day would create an opportunity for him to
open up and vent. It turned out to have the opposite effect, and
she wasn’t going to let him make fun of what she felt for him
even if the feelings were toward him. She fisted her palm
trying to control herself.
“I probably shouldn’t be surprised if you rode off with
my bike hoping to break the contract,” he snickered, and that
did it for her.
The noise of her palm coming in contact with his cheek
sent a jolt of energy through her body. She stood looking at
him as he took in the moment, rubbing his cheek
absentmindedly.
His gaze held the heat of the inferno threatening to burn
her on the spot. She met his gaze with equal power and just as
she was thinking about stepping away from the situation, he
scowled. “You tell me now if you want to get out of the
contract.”
“No, I don’t,” she yelled making him narrow his eyes.
“Then why did you ride my bike?” He wrapped his
fingers around her forearm pulling her back to him.
 “I told you it was a prank,” she retorted emphasizing on
the word prank.
He growled reminding her of a lion in the wild. “I’m
done being pranked by women who claim to love me.”
“I love you, and I want to be with you, but I am not
going to beg you to accept my love when you are in no
position to handle a small pun,” she yelled back and felt the
heat from his rage.
He slammed into her with his mighty strength as he
pushed her onto the large office desk. “You think this is a
joke?” The question left his mouth, but he never gave her the
opportunity to respond. His eyes held a dangerous blend of fire
and lust that blazed her to the core.
His lips were unforgiving as they latched onto hers
forcing the oxygen to rapidly escape her lungs. Her soft lips
were bruising under his as his palm roamed her chest to cup
her breast with one while the other rested on her hips, his
fingertips denting her delicate flesh.
The kiss was the exact opposite of what they shared
almost a week ago at Nicole’s place. His hands were all over
her body causing pain, and the way his mouth sucked on her
lips was nothing but punishing.
“How dare you break a promise!” he grunted against her
lips sinking his teeth into her lower lip. She felt the sting and
took in her true taste as he relished on her blood. He was
angry, and he needed an outlet, and if this would stop him
from turning cold on the inside, so be it.
She realized the only way to get him to open up was to
keep provoking him. “A promise is a form of love, if you
don’t care for love, why do you care for a stupid promise?”
“It’s not stupid… it was to protect you.” His lips left hers
to wander along the length of her neck to halt at her
collarbone. “Motorcycles don’t gel well with people around
me. People always get hurt.”
She shivered in his arms at the raw declaration. He cared
enough about her when she was a total stranger to keep her
safe. She closed her eyes to wallow only to be shaken out of
her state of bliss by a shooting sweet pain on her collarbone.
He had delectably sucked in the layer of skin on her collarbone
between his teeth. He licked over the burning skin making her
moan into his ear.
“I have nothing to worry about… you’ll protect me.” She
arched her back opening herself up for his invasion.
He snorted against the soft skin on her neck. “I’m the
cause of all the destruction. You need to get out of my life.”
“I won’t, and you can’t make me.” She bit into his outer
ear making him groan.
“Simmy ran away from me hoping to live, but…” His
voice trailed off when Kari took her lips to his, her touch so
soft in an effort to comfort him.
“You can’t hurt me, you’ve only protected me,” she
mumbled against his lips.
“I’ll ruin you, and you can’t stop it.”
“Do it, ruin me. I’d rather be destroyed by you than not
to mean anything to you.” Her voice shook with
determination.
“I want to hurt you so bad for making me feel helpless.”
He gritted his teeth pressing his lips together as he was
blocking her.
“I deserve it, punish me for driving off without you,” she
challenged.
“You’re going to regret it. I don’t know when to stop,”
he warned.
“You’ll know when to stop, your heart will tell you.” She
plunged her lips in between his lips forcing them open. His
breath hissed at her bold move, but he didn’t push her away.
Instead, his face contorted with confusion and regret.
His heart was never capable of making a decision for
him; it was a useless organ that just pumped blood for him. “I
don’t think I’m capable.”
 “I couldn’t have fallen for you if you weren’t responding
to my feelings,” she rasped.
“I responded to your lust, sweetheart, don’t mix that up
with love,” he growled.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been a teenager. I know the
difference.” She pulled back to look at him.
“I’m always the same. I look at you the same way. I
touch you like I always do… like I want to savor every inch of
you.” He took a bite of her shoulder making her moan.
“Liar.” She pushed him away playfully and got off the
desk she had been all along. She pushed past him and tried to
get away.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he grunted pulling
her back into his arms.
“I don’t talk to liars.” She elbowed him in his chest
trying to get away.
“Talk to me, baby, I’m heartbroken because my wife
eloped with my bike,” he purred turning her around in his
arms.
“I still have to dump you because I’m in love with my
husband.” She nuzzled his neck nipping along the way.
“What did that loser do to make you love him so much?”
His voice was wobbly as she swirled her tongue along his
jawline.
“Unlike you, he kisses me like he wants to taste every
inch of my mouth, he doesn’t have his hands wandering under
my skirt, he kisses me with love, and he knows it. He is just
not ready to accept it.” She pulled back to look into his eyes,
and he looked away like he feared she would look into his
soul.
He knew what she was talking about—the night he
kissed her in the nursery when they were babysitting Kris. It
was a kiss that threatened to make him hers.
“Does he fuck you like I do?” He gritted his teeth
squeezing her breast savagely making her gasp.
 “He kisses me like I am the only one in the galaxy,” she
exclaimed, her eyes blazing with passion.
“Really?” He tightened his hold on her digging his
hardness into her belly.
“When he kisses me, I forget who I am. The only thing I
feel is his love,” she rasped placing her palm on his cheek.
He moved closer, his eyes glaring at her. He reached for
her t-shirt and ripped it off her chest and scooped her breast
out. “I will fuck you so hard you will forget your name.”
She moaned when he pinched her nipple rolling it
between his thumb and index finger. “I may forget my name
but I will never forget his name.”
“I will fuck you till you forget his name.” He sucked her
lower lip between his teeth.
“Never,” she growled against his lips.
He shoved the piece of fabric that clung to her shoulders
and set her on the desk. His lips trailed down her neck nibbling
on the delicate skin. “You need to be punished for breaking the
contract.”
She fisted her fingers on his shirt collar. “I dare you to
punish me.”
He grunted deep inside before pushing her onto the desk
and taking her tortured nipple into his mouth. She arched her
back on the desk pushing her nipple deeper into his mouth.
“How dare you leave me and run away with my bike?”
His palm swiftly landed on her jean-clad ass cheek making her
wince.
She smiled a wicked gleam in her eyes. “I had so much
fun riding that beast. I cheated on you with it.”
“You’re in so much trouble,” he growled letting go of
her nipple to fumble with the button on her jeans. He ripped
open the zipper and pulled her jeans and panties down to her
ankles. He held her knees together and twisted her body to one
side exposing her bare bottom.
 She moaned with dirty pleasure at the sound of flesh on
flesh when his fingers came in contact with her soft skin.
Molten heat surged between her legs as the pain waves rippled
through her body.
“You like that?” he sneered.
“So much I want to take that baby out for a ride again,”
she purred.
He let out a low grunt, and a moment later she felt a
sharp pain shoot up her spine almost pushing her over the
edge.
Blake ran his tongue over the burning skin where his
teeth had sunk in a moment ago. He sucked on the skin that
was turning red leaving an imprint of his teeth on her ass
cheek.
“Branded as mine… for tonight,” he declared flattening
her back on the desk. He impatiently pulled at her jeans that
were gathered at her ankle, freeing her legs.
Her body quivered at the feral look on his face. “Fuck
me like I’m yours… only yours.”
He pushed two fingers into her throbbing sex running his
thumb in circles over her clit. “I will fuck you till you beg me
to stop and that’s a promise, baby.”

*****
“Good morning.” He left a flurry of kisses on her upper
back as she lay powerless in his arms.
“How did I get up here?” She turned in bed to look into
his mischievous eyes. The last thing she remembered was the
mindfucking orgasm that threatened to shred her nerves to
pieces as she lay on the heavy desk.
“I told you I’d fuck you into amnesia.” He laughed
brushing his lips over hers. There was no way she could forget
the beautiful day even though it started off with the drama in
the morning. He made breakfast for her as she lay on the desk
exhausted from their tryst. She slept all afternoon and was lost
in the merger files when he found her in the office later in the
evening. He gave her an encore of the earlier action carrying
her into bed where the party continued into the wee hours of
the morning.
“Oh, I still love my husband,” she teased as he pulled on
her lower lip with his fingers.
“Are you okay?” he whispered.
She stretched feeling every muscle in her body sore from
the intensity of each orgasm she rode well into the morning
hours. “I feel awesome except for my butt.”
“I got carried away.” He ran his fingers over the skin that
held the symbol of his primitive need.
“I love it. I want another one,” she pleaded nuzzling his
chest.
He was silent for a moment. “Why did you take off
yesterday morning?”
She buried her face deeper into his chest refusing to look
up.
He gave her a few seconds to respond, and when she
didn’t, he took his hand to her cheek. “You couldn’t have
ridden off like that for no reason.”
She looked into his eyes when he lifted her chin to bring
her eyes to his level. “Talk to me, sweetheart.”
She looked at him in silence as she gathered the strength
to handle the intensity in his eyes. “I needed to get you to
unleash and let out your anger so you can mourn your loss,
however much you deny it—you need to mourn so the sadness
doesn’t settle into your heart.”
He held her to him but did not utter a word. She could
tell she hit the nail on the head when she felt the thudding in
his chest.
“You need to miss her and be sad about it and stop
pretending like she didn’t matter to you.” Her voice was soft
but steady.
 “Simmy matters… more as a friend and my racing
partner. I can’t be sad… I…”
She didn’t let him finish. “Why not? You need to deal
with it.”
He took her face between his palms and smiled at her. “I
will miss Simmy…and I am sad about what she had to go
through, but I cannot be sad because my wife can’t bear to see
me sad.”
“What?” Kari was taken aback.
He smiled pulling her closer. “My sleep-talking and
sleep-walking wife told me one night that she can’t see me
sad.”
“No, I did not,” she objected.
“Wasn’t talking about you, sweetness,” he teased making
her heart flutter. She smiled when she picked up on the
underlying intent. He didn’t want her to see him sad.
Butterflies took off in her stomach when she realized his
manner had changed from the night they kissed like never
before.
Hope rose in her heart when she started to process his
words and his manner.
“I don’t mind staring at you while you keep smiling like
that, but I’d like to take you out for breakfast today.
“I’ll go out with you if you drive me to work to pick up
my laptop. I forgot to bring it with me the other day, and I
can’t finish up without all the files I have on my system.”
“I need to talk to your boss about making you work on
the weekends.” He laughed.
“Yeah, that’ll help,” she teased rolling out of bed.
“What time do we need to leave for Nicole’s party?” he
called out.
“Are you going?” she asked grinning like a teenager.
“I was planning to unless you don’t want me to.”
 “No, I want you to.”
“For real?” he teased.
“Yes, and we need to gather before six so Dev can bring
Nicole back home.” She smiled and added winking, “If you
are not ready to go, I’ll take your bike and leave without you.”
“Really?” He threw a pillow at her.
“Yes.” She caught the pillow and tossed it back to him.
“I’m gonna have to tie you up now.” He rolled out of bed
and dashed toward her making her laugh as she tried to run
away from him only to be captured in his arms that melded her
to his body like there was no escape from him. She didn’t want
the escape; she wanted to stay captured in his arms forever.
 Chapter 19

“Kari…” he called out walking into the bedroom and let

out a low whistle taking in the sight in front of him. She turned
around to look at him as she walked into the closet in a dress.
It was time for them to go to Dev and Nicole’s house for
Nicole’s surprise birthday party.
“Thank you, I’ll take that as a compliment.” She winked
running her hands over her red dress she was wearing for the
party making the blood rush to the convulsing beast between
his legs. Her beautiful brown eyes twinkled, and her lips
looked so kissable he wanted to rip the dress off and take her
on the floor of the closet.
She turned away to look at herself in the mirror as he
wound his arms around her from behind holding the gaze with
her reflection.
“You don’t look too bad,” she muttered as he took in a
deep breath of her hair. He was losing it and that had been the
case in the recent weeks. He felt like a friggin teenager who
couldn’t keep his junk in his pants and came so close to losing
it just with the way she moaned countless times.
He smiled at her in the mirror. “If you are done gawking
at me, we can leave.”
“Whatever,” she taunted walking away from him to pick
up her shoes and clutch.
“Are you sure it’s Nicole’s birthday party?” he teased.
“What? Why?” She seemed overly alarmed.
“You look like you might steal the show tonight.” He
laughed following her out of the bedroom.
She stopped short and turned around to look at him, her
eyes beaming. “We will be in the spotlight—I hope that’s
okay.”
 “Huh?” He saw a ray of fear cross her eyes, and it
vanished.
“We are technically newlyweds, so we will be in the
spotlight.”
“Interesting.” He knew a lot of her friends couldn’t make
it to the wedding given the timing and knew he would be
meeting a few of them tonight.
“Are we taking your bike?”
“Sweetheart, not in that dress.” He took her hand
swirling her into his arms. “This makes a good dance dress.”
“All my clothes are motorcycle friendly,” she declared.
“Not happening.” He led her toward the garage and to
his car.
“I want to drive, Blake.” She walked to her car
adamantly.
“What’s going on?” Blake shook his head wondering
why her behavior was erratic.
“I’m the designated driver tonight, and I don’t want to
drive your behemoth Hummer,” she grumbled.
“You are acting like a child.” He laughed slipping into
the passenger seat of her Alpha Romeo.
“Really?”
“Yes, I’m still pissed you reported your bike stolen when
I took it out for a ride,” she growled putting her car in gear.
He laughed shaking his head. “That’s the only way I
could get the anti-theft trigger to turn off the engine.”
“I was ready to kill you when the police officer showed
up in the afternoon following up on the theft report.” She
fumed raising the engine.
“Why didn’t you?” He laughed, his arousal was fueled
by her annoyance. He loved setting her on fire, loved the way
she looked at him with her eyes threatening to burn through
him. Loved? He did love more than a few things about her.
 “That’s because I had amnesia from yesterday and last
night’s fun,” she purred.
“Really?” Something deep inside him twitched with the
way the words rolled off her lips. He reached out to run his
hand along her thigh making her dress ride up.
“Blake, you do realize I’m driving.” Her breath hitched.
“How is this preventing you from driving?” He ran his
fingertips along her inner thigh pushing her dress up further.
He stopped inches from her radiating core and felt the warmth
that held a promise to cocoon him.
“You’re hot for me, sweetness.” He ran his fingertips
delicately over the soft silkiness of her panties before
retrieving his hand.
“Don’t…” She pleaded while watching the road.
“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t be doing that when you are
driving.” He looked at her heaving chest.
“You don’t get so close and not touch me,” she snarled.
He smiled resting his palm on her thigh. “We can call in
a fake emergency, sweetheart. Let’s throw Nicole a bigger
party at the resort hotel.”
“No…” Her voice wavered.
He ran his fingers back to her throbbing core and drew
circles over the silky smoothness. “I will make tonight a night
to remember… forever.”
“Me, too,” she rasped wanting to pull over and have him
take her in the car.
“What time does the party end?” he asked his voice
shaky.
“It ends when you say it ends.”
“Can’t wait to taste you, sweetheart,” he crooned and
saw her swallow hard. It drove him over the edge to watch her
lose control. The woman who was always under so much
control had no fight left in her when they were together, and
that made his chest warm. She was the only one who
awakened something he never felt for any other woman—the
need to hold her and want to be with her even when they were
not having mind-blowing sex.
She pulled into the quiet community with the engine
roaring to match the roar of emotions inside him. “Easy,
sweetness, this is a neighborhood with kids.”
She laughed pulling the car into the driveway.
“Kari, Nicole will recognize your car.” He held her hand
not letting her get out of the car.
“We’ll be fine.” She smiled getting out of the car and
walking over to the passenger side of the car.
“Kari, you don’t want to ruin the surprise do you?”
Blake’s questioning eyebrow rose high.
She didn’t respond but walked up to him and put her
arms around him. She gently kissed him on his lips. “If you
are pissed at the party, you can punish me when we get
home… punish me like you did yesterday.”
“Kari?”
“I want to be yours, Blake, and I want your happiness to
be mine and all your pain to be mine, only mine,” she
whispered, running her palm up to cup his cheek.
“Baby, what are…” His voice trailed off when she
placed her thumb on his lips.
“My gift to you is the BINA… all of it, no strings
attached.” She smiled making him wince deep inside.
Something was off, but he was too distracted by what he saw
in her eyes. Her eyes had raw emotion that held him captive.
“Kari…no,” he objected, but she smiled slipping her
hand through his elbow and leading him toward the main door.
She stopped at the door and stepped aside smiling at him, her
eyes glittering in the twilight.
“What is going on? Why are you…” He lost his voice
when the door flew open, and the entire area was illuminated
with bright, flashy lights.
 She hugged him from behind. “Happy 30th Birthday,
Blake!”
The words rang in his ears followed by a loud applause.
She clung to him from behind as he stood frozen in his spot.
The weird behavior, the talk about punishing her, and the gift
— everything fell into place. She had pulled off a surprise
birthday party, and he had not seen it coming.
His dad stepped in front of him his eyes filled with joy.
Kari let go of Blake to hug his dad and watched his dad smile
at her planting a kiss on her forehead.
“Happy Birthday, Blake,” the group cheered in unison
but all he processed was the joy on his father’s face. The man
who told him on his seventh birthday that he lost the love of
his life seven years ago. The man who held sadness and pity in
his eyes was cheerful today on his birthday. The years of not
celebrating it had made the day insignificant. The last time he
remembered doing something different was his official beer on
his twenty-first birthday.
His eyes locked with hers that shone with happy tears
brimming her eyelids. She looked at him and mouthed ‘I love
you’ making him smile. He had mixed emotions as he stepped
into the living room filled with people he hadn’t seen in years.
He scanned the room to realize he knew almost everyone
—his nannies, guys from high school he had stayed in touch,
and his friends from London. There were about forty people
overflowing into the dining area and kitchen.
Nicole appeared out of the crowd and threw her arms
around him planting a kiss on his cheek. “Happy Birthday,
Blake.”
“Thanks, Nicole. It was supposed to be your birthday
party,” he managed to say with a weak smile.
“I know, it’s your birthday, Blake.” She smiled turning to
look at Kari.

It was thirty minutes of greeting his guests while he

frequently followed Kari around the room with his eyes never
wanting to look away from her beautiful smile and beaming
face. Blake was mid-conversation with Kari’s dad when he
heard her voice on the speaker.
“Thank you all for being here for Blake’s birthday. I
hope you guys are having fun,” she cheered, and the group
roared in approval. She had the party set up with a motorcycle
race theme and props that looked like little helmets and bikes.
“Who here didn’t hear my car when we got closer. I need
to know if I can use the same thing as a signal for the future.”
She was smart and funny and knew how to entertain a crowd.
Blake was feeding off of her energy smiling at her as she
spoke into the microphone when Sean came up from behind.
“Dude, you better hang onto this one. She was able to pull off
something I couldn’t dare to do in the twelve years we’ve been
friends.”
“Thanks, Sean.” He smiled feeling his heart swell. She
didn’t know how he would react; hell, he didn’t know how he
would react to a surprise birthday party because he never had
one before.
“Happy Birthday, man!” Sean ran his fist into his arm.
“Thanks, bro.”
He turned away from Sean to look at Kari who was
talking about why she picked the motorcycle theme for the
party, and his eyes wandered to his dad. The reaction on his
dad’s face caught him by surprise. The father who had looked
at him with despise every time he had a motorcycle accident
was nodding and cheering as Kari talked about his accidents
making them sound like they were fun and adventurous.
Not so much the pain of recovery, but he had a hell of a
time when he rode, and at that moment, his breath trapped in
his throat. He finally realized what it was that Kari triggered in
him—it was the emotions he experienced when he was in the
race—the adrenaline rush when he went off the ground into
the air with his bike. He looked into her eyes and felt that rush
every time their eyes clashed.
 She was the excitement he was missing in his life from
the day he gave up racing. She reminded him of his
experiences the day he saw her cut in front of his limo when
they met for the first time.
She was capable of giving him everything he wanted, but
he had nothing to offer. He was incapable of loving someone
which may be a trait that runs in the family. His father hated
him, let alone love him, and the family he had only pitied him
to the point where he saw no distinction between pity and
love.
He looked down unable to hold her gaze as she walked
away from the center of the room. She handed the microphone
to Nicole as she walked into the kitchen with Dev.
“Hello, everyone, thank you all for coming. I want to say
a few words while Kari and Dev get the cake ready.” She
smiled when the crowd cheered.
“Blake, Happy Birthday, and I want to thank you and
Kari for being our son’s godparents.” The crowd cheered, and
she continued rather emotionally. “I still remember the night I
had our child, but what I remember most is how I got to the
hospital and not how I gave birth to my child. Four weeks
before my due date, I was lost sitting in a women’s restroom
not knowing what to do, and if it weren’t for Blake, I probably
would have sat there for another day.”
She paused wiping off the edge of her eyes looking at
Blake. “If you hadn’t taken me out of the restroom and carried
me… literally, people, he carried me to the car in his arms. I
am sure Dev would have run in the opposite direction if I had
suggested he carry me to the car… but… oh, I love you, Dev.”
She winked at her husband who popped his head out of the
kitchen as the crowd cheered before continuing.
“I lost my older brother to an accident when I was nine,
and that night when Blake took me to the hospital, I felt my
brother’s presence. The brother I no longer have in my life, the
void I had felt all these years… Blake, I don’t feel that
anymore. I know you are there to watch out for my child and
me. Happy Birthday, Blake!”
 Blake felt his heart weigh him down with Nicole’s kind
words, but something deep inside twitched, and a huge relief
fell over him—he couldn’t tell what it was but stood still as
people around him cheered. He watched as Nicole walked and
put her arms around him.
“Thank you, Blake, for being there for me.” Nicole
smiled.
“Nicole, you don’t need to thank me. It was Kari who
took care of you,” Blake objected smiling.
“Kari did because she is my best friend, you didn’t need
to do what you did, and that makes it special.” She smiled
looking at Blake’s dad who joined them.
“Nicole, that was a beautiful speech, and you made me a
proud father today,” his dad declared surprising him. “I was
such a bad parent. I hated myself every time Blake got into
trouble at school or broke a bone in an accident. I was furious
at myself for not being there for him, but I am glad he isn’t
entirely clueless like me. I had no idea what to do when his
mother went into labor, and I still wonder if she would have
been around if I had taken her to the hospital sooner.”
“Dad, what are you…” His voice trailed off when his
dad shook his head.
“I may be wrong, but I think her idea of wanting to have
a baby at home is the reason she is not with us. If I had done
what you had done with Nicole… maybe…” His father
shrugged, his eyes darkening with gloom.
Blake had no words to say, and everything fell into
place. His dad held himself responsible for his wife’s death
just like he had all these years. It was guilt he had seen in his
dad’s eyes and the sadness of not doing everything he could to
keep the mother of his child safe.
“Blake, you have no idea how much I wanted to be there
for you, but I didn’t have it in me to take care of another
person after I lost your mother. Your mother was the most
caring and loving person, and tonight when Nicole said what
she said, I saw your mother in you just like Nicole saw her
brother in you.”
Blake felt the ground under him shake with the new
revelation. His dad’s words were like music to his ears. “You
were the only part of Bina left for me to take care of and every
time I tried, something went south, and I gave up.”
“Dad, it’s not your fault Mom is not around.” He hugged
his father like he never had before. “I know you did your best,
and I know it was hard to deal with me when I was such a dick
growing up.”
“I’m so happy to see you enjoy your birthday. Kari did
something I couldn’t do… throw the best party ever for you.”
His dad cheered patting him on the shoulder. “Nicole, thank
you for being the daughter I never had.” He watched as his dad
hugged Nicole who was smiling happy tears running down her
cheeks.
“I guess we all need to thank Kari. She was the one who
brought us all together,” Nicole cheered looking around for
her.
“Damn right,” he muttered looking around for her. Kari
was not only the reason for bringing people together. She had
taught him how to love and care for someone, she was the cure
for his self-loathing of things he conjured in his mind based on
nothing, and she healed him and did it with her love.
He walked into the kitchen and saw Dev dealing with a
cake shaped like a motorcycle. “Dev, where’s Kari?”
“She got a phone call and stepped outside,” Dev said
without looking away from the cake.
He walked out of the kitchen back to the main door to
find Sean standing in the driveway. He was on the phone and
looked frazzled.
The next thing he noticed was the empty driveway.
Kari’s car was missing.
“Sean, what’s going on?” he barked unable to contain the
fear that crept up his spine.
 Sean handed Blake his phone. “It’s Kari.”
“Kari, where are you?” Blake’s voice wobbled.
“Blake, those bastards are trying to get into our data
center,” she yelled, and he knew she was furious.
“Kari, slow down, baby. What is going on?”
“The Sonoma Group is trying to hack into our systems to
wipe out the contracts so they can keep the money we
transferred and their hotels,” she snapped.
He took a deep breath to calm himself down. “There is
nothing they can do. We have everything backed up. Where
are you headed?”
“We’ve delayed the merger by a week already, and they
will take the opportunity to back out with the money.” She was
pissed and wouldn’t let go.
“Kari, I don’t want you to go wherever you are going. I
don’t care about the money. Come back,” he pleaded.
“I’m not going to beat the crap out of the people trying
to hack our systems, I’m just going to secure the systems we
really care about. I just need to get them off the Internet.” She
laughed easing the pressure in his chest slightly.
“We can have someone else do it, come back.”
“Blake, you are acting like a baby. I am the only one
with the access and well, you can, too, if you can remember
the override codes I gave you. I am walking to my office now,
and I need you to chill and enjoy your party. I will be back in
less than twenty minutes.”
“Stay on the phone with me,” he pleaded.
“Okay… good… my laptop was off the network so they
couldn’t have gotten to mine… we are still good with the
contract.” She cheered. “My office is fucking hot…”
“Just get out of there.” It was an order, and he didn’t like
the way he was talking to her. She needed to be treated like a
queen, the queen of his heart.
 “Okay, I just put the laptop in the safe and…fuck!” she
yelled out.
“Kari… what is it?” His heart was in his mouth.
“The fucking sprinklers went off in my office,” she
growled. “Those bastards wanted to get my laptop wet so we
would lose the last copy of the contract.”
“Kari… get out of there… there could be a fire that set
off the sprinkler,” he screamed into the phone, and the line
went dead.
“Kari!” he yelled on the empty street holding the phone.
“Sean, call her back,” he ordered pulling out his phone to
dial the building security.
“Hello, this is Blake Kennedy. What is going on in the
building?” he asked when the security team answered his call.
“Sir, we just lost power, and a number of sprinklers went
off on multiple floors.” The person on the phone was shaken
up.
“Call the ambulance, fire, and police departments.
Now!” he yelled at the top of his voice as fear gripped his
heart and his body shivered fearing the worse.
 Chapter 20

“Blake, please let me drive,” Sean pleaded as Blake

stormed into Nicole’s garage.
“I’ll be fine, Sean. Keep me posted on the updates. I
should be in the building in less than fifteen minutes.” Blake
pulled out in Nicole’s minivan.
He floored the vehicle he had considered a ‘mommy car’
toward the highway. He pulled his phone out and called Sean.
“Sean, I want the Sonoma Group to go down hard. I
don’t care what it takes, but I want that hacker to testify
against them,” he barked into the phone when Sean answered.
“Blake… calm down. She will be fine.” He tried to
reason with Blake.
“I don’t care, Sean. She shouldn’t have been in the
situation to begin with, and I’m just mad… mad at myself for
not realizing what was happening,” Blake confessed.
“Blake, I need you to relax…” Sean couldn’t finish his
sentence.
“I can’t Sean, and you know why. I should have never
agreed to the contract. We could have avoided this entire
situation.” He was angry and furious that his ill luck was
sucking her into its vortex just like it did the day he was born,
and he hoped it wasn’t a repeat on his birthday.
“Blake, she will be okay…” He shivered feeding off of
Blake’s emotions.
She had to be, or he was going to go after someone’s
blood. He had no hope of having a promising life without her.
She hadn’t awakened the deepest desires but also filled his
heart with hope, showed him he was capable of loving
someone, loving her.
 “Fuck…” he screamed into the emptiness of the car that
smelled of baby powder. He had been living in denial for way
too long and wasn’t ready to accept what she meant to him.
She intrigued him the moment he met her, and when she
reminded him of emotions he hadn’t experienced, he fought
them thinking she reminded him of Simmy. But what he didn’t
know was she was only capable of making him feel emotions
he had never felt. She taught him to believe in love, something
that he had never truly experienced—at least he thought he
hadn’t.
She was perfect for him with all her little imperfections.
Her sleep talking cajoled him when he lay awake at night, and
he held onto her not wanting her to walk away from him in her
sleep. He held onto her so tight he didn’t know how to let go,
he couldn’t even if he wanted to. He wanted her to be with
him, and he had to figure out a way to protect her from his line
of destruction.

After fifteen minutes of frenzy driving and not running

over any pedestrians, he pulled to the side of the street a block
away from the building. The police and fire departments were
setting up the perimeter for the block with the connected
buildings that reported a fire alarm.
He walked past the police officer through the open door
and headed straight to the door that led to the stairs.
“Sir, you can’t go in there,” the police officer called out
following him, but he walked up without turning back.
“Sir, stop. I can’t let you go by yourself.” The officer
shined his flashlight up the staircase.
“I need to go get my wife; she is stuck on the fourteenth
floor,” Blake declared adamantly and kept running up the
stairs two at a time.
Blake’s heart thudded in his chest as he walked up the
stairs in the dimly-lit stairway. He had all the override codes
for the entrance door.
 He entered the override code on the keypad to enter the
office space from the stairs. He stepped into the dark office
that looked eerie with emergency lights turned on along the
main pathway.
“Kari,” he called out into the open area. There was no
response, and he started to panic and started calling out her
name numerous times. He went into her office and saw her
office was in a puddle of water. Something had set off the
sprinklers only in her office.
He raked his fingers through his hair looking around the
large office calling out her name. He pulled out his phone and
called her. He held his breath and tried hard to listen to her
phone going off.
He kept dialing and walking around. He was passing by
the section where the desktop team was located and saw
something that triggered a memory. She had told him she had
a secondary set of computers she was using for the software
program. She talked about the fancy lock installed on the glass
doors.
“Not for the friggin software,” he cursed hoping her
obsession with her product didn’t get her into trouble. He ran
his palm over the keypad and the coupled lock that held the
glass doors securely. The power was down, and he tried to
enter his override code, but the keypad did not respond.
“Kari, baby are you in there?” he called out desperately.
He turned the light on his phone and shined it through
the small gap between the doors, and his heart sank into an
abyss. He saw the red from her dress as she lay still.
“Wake up, Kari.” He was loud, but his words were a
plea. Her dress was twisted around her weighing her down to
the floor.
He tried to pull on the door and didn’t dare kick it open
as she lay only a couple of feet from the door.
“Karina…” he called out, shining his light over her
through the small opening. His heart was ready to stop beating
with the trauma. He was turning numb, but he wasn’t ready to
give up. She was his, and it was only a glass door that
separated them. He got off the floor and pushed on the door
which was intact with a solid lock holding it together. He
growled with anger and called out to her at the top of his lungs
and saw her wince, and his heart woke up from the depths of
doom.
“Baby, wake up.” It was a plea.
She moaned and murmured his name, and it was the
most beautiful sound he had ever heard.
“Sweetheart, are you hurt?” He leaned into the door
looking at her.
She rolled to her side on the floor and shook her head.
“Blake, what’s going on?”
“Kari… if you are not in pain, I want you to get away
from the door. I am going to knock it down.”
“No, Blake. I tried already,” she said weakly rolling
away from the door. He watched her with wrenching pain in
his chest as she slowly moved away from the door.
“I want you to pull that chair in front of you and protect
your head under it. Close your eyes,” he called out and
watched her nod and roll a chair in front of her, so it was
between the glass door and her.
“Hold on, baby,” he called out before taking a few steps
away from the glass door that ran from wall to wall. He
gathered all the strength and lifted his foot and landed it right
in the middle of it and watched in horror when the entire wall
of glass shook but did not give in.
“Fucking strong glass,” he grunted before taking one
more shot at it. He ran back a few feet and jammed into the
door with his shoulder only to be thrown back to the floor with
force.
“Kari, I got this. Stay put,” he called out looking around
for something he could use to break the glass down. When he
didn’t find anything, he gave the door one more blow with
both his feet on the door as he bounced back to the floor.
 A beautiful cracking sound reached his ears, and he got
to his feet to see the glass crack in place. He laughed giving it
one final kick, and it opened, enough for him to walk into the
room.
“Kari, are you okay?” Blake pulled her cold and wet
body into his arms.
“Blake, I’m cold, and my shoulder hurts.” She wrapped
her arms around his neck. He shined the light on her shoulder
and saw the telling bruise, and he knew he would have a
matching one on his shoulder from trying to break the door
open.
“Why, baby? Why did you leave? Nothing is more
important than you.” He pulled himself up off the floor pulling
her off the floor.
“Those bastards tried to steal from us. I didn’t let them.”
She laughed victoriously.
“Let’s get you out of here.” He slipped his suit jacket off
his shoulders and pulled it around her quivering body. He
wrapped his arms around her thighs and lifted her over his
shoulder.
“Hey, I can walk,” she objected.
“Yes, I know you can, but I want to carry you,
sweetheart.” He held her securely as he walked away from the
pile of broken glass.
“How dare they try to steal something that’s yours. I’m
going to sue those fucking bastards,” she mumbled.
“It’s all good. Hang tight.”
“Blake, those morons ruined your birthday party. I’m
gonna throw another party in their biggest banquet hall.”
He reached the door leading to the stairs and saw the
firemen walk by him.
“We didn’t know someone was in the building,” one of
the firemen declared.
 “You’re cool guys… I’ve been rescued… this is my
husband, boys, and it’s his birthday today,” she cheered
slumped over his shoulder. He laughed shaking his head as the
group of firemen cheered and applauded as he made his way
down the stairs.
“Are you mad at me?” she asked halfway down the
stairs.
He didn’t respond. He was still processing everything
that happened and was just glad she was okay and in his arms.
“How can I be mad at you, sweetness? I am mad at
myself for making you do all this for…”
“I love you, Blake. I’ll do anything for you.” Her voice
was soft like she was talking in her sleep.
“Will you promise never to do scary things like this
again?”
“Blake, I don’t break promises,” she drawled, and he
knew she was spent. Her body was warmer, but he knew he
had to get her out of the damp clothes.
“Stay with me, sweetheart,” he pleaded as he walked
toward the ambulance that was parked outside. He placed her
on the gurney as instructed by the emergency response person.
His heart drummed making it the only sound that
boomed inside his head. He picked her up and put her back on
his shoulder after being instructed to ice her shoulder to
relieve the bruising.
“Stop staring at my husband.” She almost barked at a
woman who stood in awe staring at probably the way he was
carrying her, but she was jealous, and that brought a smile to
his face. One of the reasons he ran up before the firemen did
was because he couldn’t let anyone else touch her. Even if she
was in danger, he wanted to be the one to save her and keep
her safe forever.
He opened the back door and slipped her onto the seat.
She clung to him even after he set her on the seat.
“Blake, you are my hero. I never thought fairy tales were real.
I feel like Rapunzel rescued from a lonely tower.”
“Are you sure you didn’t hit your head, sweetheart,” he
teased gently running his palm over her shoulder. It was
obvious she tried to ram into the door to get out when the
power went out.
“Who the heck do you think is going to pay for that
door?” she growled as if the memory of the cracked door hit
her.
“Your husband is going to pay for it. Can I get you out of
this dress?” He pulled at the seam of her damp dress.
“Get off, I’m not sleeping with you anymore. I want my
husband.” She laughed hugging him.
“I am your husband, sweetness, and I’m never letting
you go.” He kissed her forehead wanting to suck all the pain
he caused out of her.
“You are not…” she mumbled as he took off his jacket to
get her out of her dress. He left the thin silky slip on and put
his jacket back on her shoulders. Her legs shivered, and he
didn’t find anything else in the car to cover them.
He started to unbutton his shirt, and she shook her head
in objection. “Don’t, I don’t want anyone looking at you.”
“You sure are jealous, and how did I not see that
before?” he snorted peeling the shirt off his back to wrap it
around her legs. She was in a trance and had no filters on.
He clipped her securely in the back seat and went around
to get into the driver’s seat.
“You drove this thing to get me?” She was talking like
she was drunk.
“Yes. Your master plan of having everyone park their
cars a mile away from Nicole’s house didn’t leave me much
choice for transportation.” He grumbled driving toward the
local hospital. She looked fine and the paramedic cleared her,
but he wasn’t going to take a chance.
 It was almost midnight before he brought her back home.
Sean had messaged him that it was one of their legal assistants
who was bought out by the Sonoma Group. They got their
hands on their marriage contract from that person and found
out about the software.
He wasn’t ready to tell her who the mole was especially
since she was treating every woman who glanced his way as
her enemy.
“Those fucking women were like vultures. Didn’t they
see a ring on my finger and not hear me say you were my
husband?” she growled as he carried her up the stairs to the
bedroom.
“Sweetness, they weren’t looking at me.” He smiled
finding her reaction enjoyable.
“Oh, yes they were until you put your shirt back on,” she
rasped.
“Well, it was more like you forcing me to wear a hospital
gown or my wet shirt.” He laughed placing her on the bed. It
was a night he will remember for the rest of his life.
“Whatever.” She rolled to her side pulling his arm into
her chest making him lie down next to her.
“Baby, are you hungry?” He kissed her ear and heard her
moan.
“I want to sleep, and when I wake up tomorrow, I want
to kick those fucking morons who tried to steal your gift.”
“Stop talking now. Good night.” He ran his palm over
her cheek hoping to calm her down.
“The merger wasn’t enough, and they wanted to get their
hands on the software. They wanted to keep us busy with the
acquisition and let us think they were doing something messy
with the contract while they snuck up and stole what is yours.”
She was angry and looked furious even with her eyes closed
and her face turned away.
“It’s not mine, Kari, it’s yours, and you worked so hard
for it. You shouldn’t just be giving it away to anyone.” He
pulled her into his arms.
“You are not just anyone, you are the man I love and the
father of my future children. Well, and this is the only way I
can make sure you can support our children even if your other
businesses go south,” she taunted making him warm all over.
It was the sense of humor even after being in a dire situation
that made Kari so special. She was the cool cucumber he
needed in his life.
“Why do you think the nurses at the hospital were… if
they really were, gawking at me?” he whispered into her ear.
“You know I’m not good at giving anyone compliments,
and I can tell when someone is fishing for one.” She pulled his
arm in closer but did not open her eyes.
“It’s because I don’t have a wedding band,” he crooned.
“Well… I can’t really get you one because you are my
fake husband,” she grumbled.
“Why do you wear a ring, Kari, when our relationship is
fake?” His voice was smooth, but she winced, and he knew
she did not like the sound of it.
“It’s not fake. We might have started it off a weird way,
but it’s real, I know what I feel is real, and I…” Her voice
trailed off when he reached for the side table and opened the
drawer.
“Would you hold it against me if I told you I’ve loved
you longer than I even realized and was too stubborn to accept
it?” He opened a small velvet box to reveal a plain wide
wedding band.
“Blake….”
“I love you, Kari. I have for a long time, and I guess I
needed a kick in the rear to accept it.” He took the wedding
band out of the box and handed it to her.
He kissed her on her lips smiling at her shocked
expression but let her take in the moment. She turned the ring
between her fingers and gasped when she saw the etching on
the inside of the wide band.
 “It has my name on it,” she cried looking into his eyes.
“How long have you had this ring?”
“A long time. Are you convinced that I can be your real
husband?” He smiled into the depths of her beautiful eyes.
“Yes,” she hissed slipping the ring on his finger. “You
are mine.”
“I am yours and have been yours longer than you can
imagine,” he confessed taking her into his arms.
“I love you, Blake,” she mumbled into his chest.
He felt the warmth sweep over him when he realized
what he had for Kari was eternal and deeper. He may not have
acknowledged it, but he had loved Simmy, and he understood
why she did what she did, and the reason for him to make
peace with the anger and the hate was Kari. She taught him
how to forgive and be grateful for the things people do for you
even if they hurt initially. She taught him how to fight for love
and showed him the true meaning of love. A feeling that was
undeniable and was so strong and deep rooted, and he didn’t
have it in him to fight or deny it. Not anymore.
“I love you, too, baby, and I promise to kick the balls of
those guys who ruined my birthday party,” he declared pulling
the sheets over them not wanting to wait for her to start talking
in her sleep while he lay awake listening to her mumbling
knowing he wanted to do it the rest of his life.
 Chapter 21

One Year Later…

“Happy launch day, baby, you did it,” Blake cheered

tipping his glass of thirty-year-old whiskey in her direction.
The software launch that brought Kari and Blake together was
a tremendous success and had brought in more-than-expected
profits.
They were celebrating the launch of opening the
software for other hotels and service centers to use for a
royalty fee. Their hotels had expanded by twenty-five percent
in a year with many successful acquisitions including the
Sonoma Group which no longer existed after Blake went after
them with multiple lawsuits.
“Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.” She
smiled, her face glowing with the love for him. They were
spending the night in one of their newest hotels, and she
couldn’t wait to try the services for herself.
“So, is the whiskey what you wanted?” she teased
knowing exactly what he wanted.
“Yes.” Blake did not look at her but smiled and nodded
looking out at the spread of dark greenery lost in thought.
“Blake, what are you thinking about?” she asked
hesitantly. He was abnormally calm since they got back from
the launch party.
He turned to look at her and smiled. “Thinking about
you… thinking about everything you did for me.”
She scrunched her nose and shook her head. “What did I
do?”
He leaned closer taking her palm in his on the table.
“Everything. Before I met you, I kept fooling myself that I had
everything.” His voice was rough.
“Blake…” she started to say and stopped when he shook
his head.
“My life would have been so much different if you and I
had met sooner.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” she teased.
“I don’t know what it would have been if you hadn’t
shown up in my office to fight for what was yours.”
She laughed trying to ease the intensity building in his
eyes. “I think that’s enough flattery for the night.”
“How can I make it up to you? All the lost time, the time
I spent denying what we had, and the pain I caused you.” His
voice was steady, but she knew he was shaken on the inside.
She stood up to walk over to his chair and slid onto his
lap kissing him on his cheek. “You are the best thing that
happened to me, you are a true match for my arrogance,
adamancy, and you are the only man who sees my vision…
not now but the day we met. You knew what I was talking
about… right?”
“You make me sound like the perfect man, and I know
I’m not,” he teased nipping her earlobe.
“You are for me—every part of me has been made for
you,” she rasped setting him on fire.
“You are the perfect woman.” He dug his fingertips into
her soft flesh.
“I have something to show you.” She left a trail of kisses
along his jawline and his neck.
His palm roamed up her back to grasp her hair
possessively. “What are you going to show me.”
Without another word, she stood up with her back to
him. “Unzip my dress.”
“New lingerie?” His breath hitched as he ran the zipper
down her back.
 “You’ll see.” She held her breath as the dress started to
from her shoulders.
He stopped at the bottom of the zipper and looked up her
back running his palm. “Your skin is so beautiful I want to
make you my blanket.”
“Pull my dress lower.” She breathed heavily.
He ran his palms over her shoulders and gently let the
dress free fall to her feet. She stood in a red bra that teased him
while her red thong made his steely rod cry for release. His
eyes widened when he saw a telling mark on her ass cheek just
below the string of the thong.
“Sweetheart…”
“That’s your mark, Blake, I’m yours forever.” She
smiled as he took his lips to the ink art that was an exact copy
of his bite. She loved the marks on her body, but her favorite
spot was the first one he made, and she wanted it forever. “I
got it done two days ago for the launch.”
He ran his lips over the newly-etched tattoo. “Baby, how
did I miss this last night and the night before?”
“Blindfold.” She laughed.
“Trickster, I love it.” He nuzzled the tattoo.
“It’s not just any bite mark, that’s the impression of your
teeth. I had to beg your dentist to give it to me.”
“What?”
“He almost hid his face with his lab coat when I told him
I was going to make a tattoo out of your teeth impression. It’s
a good thing he doesn’t know where.” She laughed turning
around to look at him.
He buried his face into her belly taking in the beautiful
scent of her skin and her arousal that called for him. “Baby,
will you let me be the father of your child? I want our baby.”
“Blake, you are the only man that will be the father of
my children.” She held his head to her bare belly and felt his
warm breath warm up her core.
 “Will you give me a daughter that’s just like my mom?”
She gasped clenching her stomach at the intensity of the
moment.
He kissed her belly button; gentle butterfly kisses driving
waves of pleasure through her body making the blood course
through her veins. She gripped his hair between her fingers as
the kisses turned to gentle nips and then into intimate bites.
“Karina… you are everything I’ve ever wanted and
more.” He looked up into her eyes making her weak to her
knees.
“I love it when you call me by my full name.” Her
breathing hitched, and her voice wobbled. “That night when I
passed out after running into the glass door, I heard you call
me ‘Karina,’ and that woke me up.”
He buried his face into her soft skin again unable to
handle the pain from the memory of that night. “I don’t want
to think about that night.”
“Blake, remember the happy moments we had that night.
Don’t let the craziness wipe out your birthday memory.”
“The only thing I remember from that night is the way
you moaned my name. It was like my heart was ready to
flatline when you didn’t move, and then it woke up to the
softest sound.” He stood up slowly to wrap his arms around
her.
“I’m glad you came for me, not that I didn’t want the
firemen to rescue me…” She smiled, and something sparkled
in her eyes. “On second thought, I think you ruined my only
chance to be rescued by those hot firemen.”
He growled, sheer jealousy burning his skin. “I wouldn’t
let anyone touch you.”
“Really? What if I want a fireman and not a stuck-up
businessman?” she rasped.
“What do you think a fireman would do that a
businessman cannot?” He breathed fire across her cheek as he
dug his fingertips possessively into her ass cheeks.
 “The fireman would carry me to his bed.” She bit into
his earlobe knowing he was fuming.
“Like this?” He toted her over his shoulder in one swift
move and crashed his palm over her bare bottom. “That’s for
fantasizing about a fireman.”
She laughed enjoying his jealousy. “I love how hot they
look but one particular businessman is really hot, but the fire
guys are dirty hot.”
He pushed her body off his shoulder onto the bed
making her laugh.
“You like it dirty?” He ran his thumb over her eyes
picking up the smoky makeup and running streaks of coal on
his face.
She gasped at the fury in his voice making her hot for
him. He was a million times hotter than a fireman when he
was burning with jealousy. “You know what I love more than a
fireman… a hot biker… a grease monkey.”
“Really?” he grunted.
“Yeah, a biker who knows how to ride me,” she purred.
“A biker that’s going to make you beg to stop,” he
challenged.
“Not happening. I’ll pass out before I ask you to stop.”
She reached for his shirt ripping it making buttons fly.
“I won’t let you.” He pulled the dress that barely clung
to her waist.
He shrugged off his shirt before bringing his weight onto
her. He rubbed his throbbing beast over her mound teasing her
clit through his dress pants making her want to scream in
frustration.
She was dying on the inside with his expert seduction,
and she impatiently reached for his belt buckle and pulled it
open. The zipper pull was no match to her fury to find the
promising throb she had felt against her burning folds
moments ago.
 Her palm slipped through the opening and stroked the
convulsing beast over the soft cotton boxers, and she heard his
groan deep inside. He was thick and hard, and all she wanted
was to be filled to the brim.
“Fill me, brand me as yours deep inside.” It was a plea,
and she knew that would give him the ego boost he craved in
bed.
“I want to fill you to the max and stay inside you
forever,” he grunted kicking off his pants and tipping the head
of his hardness over her weeping folds.
“Please…” Her body twisted in anticipation.
“Baby, I want to be part of your every fantasy.” He
rammed into her with unbound need.
She arched her back raising her hips to take him in
deeper. “You are my everything. I love you.”
“I love you, sweetheart. Now hold onto the headboard
for the ride of your lifetime.” He pounded into her relentlessly
until they crashed on the bed catching their breath.
“You are my only fantasy.” She ran her finger on his
chest following the sweat trail and then taking the finger to her
mouth and sucking it as he watched. “I want the biker in you
in my life.”
She was his perfect woman, and he had everything he
needed in life. He was going give her everything she wanted
and needed, and he would hold onto her forever no matter
what life threw his way.
 Epilogue

Five Years Later…

“Blakely, look, that’s daddy on the blue bike,” Kari said

to the little girl who stared at her car with noise-canceling
headphones on as she sat on her mother’s lap.
“Uncle Blake,” her six-year-old nephew, Kris, lisped
from the stands.
“This is so cool, Kari.” Nicole laughed looking around at
the racetrack that opened a few months ago for local
motorcycle race clubs.
“Thanks, Nicole. This is just the start of a fun weekend.”
Kari smiled. She had taken the initiative to purchase land next
to one of their resorts and built a racetrack. It was the only
way she could get Blake to do what he loved to do. He kept his
side of the bargain and had been kicking off the races every
season even if he didn’t race. It had turned into the kick-off
event of the family reunion weekend.
It was the weekend the entire family had started looking
forward to the past few years. The entire resort was blocked
out for the entire weekend. The first family event was when
Blake met his mother’s family for the first time, and the joy on
his face showed how much he felt deprived of the bonds.

“That was fast.” Kari smiled at Blake as he stepped out

of Blakely’s room in their suite at the resort later that night.
“She was tired. She dozed off halfway through her
airplane book.” Blake slid into bed next to Kari.
“I had fun, too.” He brushed his lips over hers pulling
her to him.
 “I’m glad you did, and you know we still have the
weekend ahead of us.” Kari rested her cheek on his chest
enjoying the warm softness of his shirt. “You are such a good
body pillow, no wonder Blakely dozes off within minutes on
your chest.”
He nuzzled her hair sliding down onto to the bed taking
her with him. “I’m glad to be of service tonight and every
night.”
“Blake, I need to tell you something.” Kari’s voice was
soft yet firm.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Blake pulled back to look at
her.
“Are you kidding, I’m the happiest woman on this
earth.” She laughed taking her lips to his cheek. “I love to
watch you ride your bike. It makes me so hot for you, I want
you to take me there in the stands… it’s too bad we turned this
into a family weekend.”
“We can block the weekend for just you and me if that’s
what you want, hotness,” he crooned. “Aunt Nicole always
wants to watch Blakely.”
“I would love that, but we may need to hold off a bit…
just a tiny bit.” She smiled, her eyes glowing at him.
He looked at her with a puzzled smile on his face.
“One more baby… we have another one on the way.”
She tightened her hold on him.
“Really?”
“Yeah… I peed on the stick when you were putting
Blakely to sleep.” Kari smiled, joy overflowing her heart.
“Baby, this is awesome. I promise to behave in the
delivery room this time,” he declared. Blake was a riot in the
delivery room when Blakely was born, and it took an entire
panel of doctors to keep him contained and comfortable. He
was a mess and was in tears with happiness when they handed
him his daughter.
 “I know you do it out of love, and I totally enjoyed the
craziness. It was a good distraction from the pain,” she teased.
“I love you, Kari—you are my everything.” Blake ran
his lips along her jawline as his palm cupped over her belly
possessively.
“Blake, I guess I need to thank my dad for making that
deal with you.” She smiled.
“You know I won’t freak out if you ride your bike. Why
don’t you go back to riding it?” He kissed her cheek.
“I don’t break promises. I agreed not to ride as long as
we were together.” She winked at him.
“I wonder what I would be doing if you hadn’t walked
into my office and asked me to marry you,” Blake teased.
“Fake proposal,” she corrected.
“I’m so glad you did, sweetheart, and there is nothing
fake about what we have now.” He laughed.
“We technically had a fake wedding,” she teased.
“Well… you’re right. I guess we need to fix that,” Blake
declared reaching for the drawer on the end table. He pulled
out a small velvet box and sat up smiling at her, his eyes
shining like emeralds.
He opened the box to reveal a heart-shaped diamond
ring that dazzled under the light of the lamp. “You’ve had my
heart for a long time, this is just symbolic.” He slid the ring on
her finger. “Karina Vora Kennedy, will you marry me and be
the mother of my children?”
She laughed hugging him, tears of joy welling her eyes.
“Blake, our marriage is as real as our love. We don’t need to
have another ceremony.”
“We do, and we have everyone we ever cared about
under one roof. Say it, and I will make it happen,” he urged.
“Blake Krishna Kennedy, I will marry you with our
daughter Blakely Katrina Kennedy as a witness.” She laughed,
tears rolling down her cheeks.
 “Do you need a prenuptial agreement, sweetheart?” he
purred sucking her lips into his mouth.
“I might end up ripping it to pieces just like you did with
ours, so why bother,” she murmured against his lips as he
devoured her.
He pulled back slightly tightening his hold on her. “I
promise to take good care of you and our children and guard
you with my life.”
She placed her cheek on his chest deafened by the
thumping in his heart. “I love you, Blake. The marriage
contract I made with you is by far the best contract I ever
entered into, and I never want to break it… ever.”

*** The end ***

Thank you for reading the love story of Blake and Kari.
If you loved to read this book you will surely like one of my
other books, The Evil Twin?

Read on for bonus chapter!!

 The Evil Twin?

By

P. G. Van

© 2016 P. G. Van

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic
or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of
the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses,

places, events, and incidents are either the product of the
author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner.

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or

actual events is purely coincidental.
 Chapter 1
“911, what is your emergency?” I heard the firm voice of
a woman as I got out of my car at two o’clock in the morning.
“Hi, I’m reporting an accident. A car just went off the
highway.” I looked at the dark colored sports car that was now
lodged against a tree with its headlights pointed at the
branches above.
The car had driven past me just a few seconds earlier as I
took the exit. Half way through the exit, the car spun out of
control, and I saw it roll off the road down the slope on one
side of the curvy exit ramp. The driver wasn’t going that much
faster than me to have lost control, and I was sure there was
ice on the road. The temperatures had been too low for a
California winter day, and I was sure a nice layer of ice had
formed on the road.
“What is your location, Ma’am?”
“I’m on 280 northbound at the 380 exit ramp,” I said,
debating if I should go down the slope to check on the people
in the car.
“Can you describe the vehicle to me?”
“It’s a black sports car.”
“Make and model?”
“It’s a BMW coupe, one of those tiny sports cars.”
“Ma’am, are you at a safe location?”
“Yes, I am, and I’m walking down the slope to check on
the driver.”
“You should wait for the first responders, Ma’am. It may
not be safe for you.”
I hesitated for a moment before I took the next step and
looked at the car for signs of fire.
 A moment later, I saw the driver’s side door open and
heard someone coughing.
“The driver just opened the door,” I reported walking
down the slope.
I saw a guy step out of the car holding his chest and
coughing. The light from the headlights was enough for me to
safely make it to the driver.
“Hey, you okay?” I asked as the guy got out and leaned
against the vehicle. The guy was taller than me, and I
wondered how he fit into the tiny sports car. He did not
respond and as I got closer, I heard him breathing rapidly and
his nose was bleeding.
“This guy has blood all over his face. Send an
ambulance fast.”
“First responders are on route, Ma’am. What other
injuries does he have and are there any passengers?”
“He is the only one, and I don’t see any other injuries but
it’s hard to tell in the dark.” I scanned the guy’s tall structure
as I spoke to the operator.
“Thank you, Ma’am. Can I get your name and contact
number?”
“Vinnie…Vinitha Raj.” I almost stumbled as I rarely
used my official name.
I gave the operator my contact information and the
description of my car. I told her I would wait for the first
responders to arrive as it would be difficult for them to locate
the sports car without a visual cue.
I flashed the light from my phone screen over the guy’s
face. “Hey, help is on the way. Are you okay?”
He nodded as he dusted the powder from the air bags off
of what looked like a motorcycle jacket.
“Thanks for calling for…” His voice trailed off and his
eyes widened. His face went pale as if he saw a ghost.
“Dude, are you alright?”
 He firmly wrapped his fingers around my wrist and
slurred, “Don’t leave, please.”
Before I could process his reaction, I saw his eyes close
and he slid off the side of the car pulling me on to him
collapsing to the ground. I cursed, expecting the worst— either
he had a concussion or some major internal injury.
I took a deep breath to steady myself and placed my ear
to his chest to check his heart rate. I was relieved to find his
heart beating and hoped he was fine. His face had traces of the
blood from his nosebleed, but he seemed to be breathing
normally. A few moments later, I heard the sirens approaching
and stood up to signal to the first responders.

Fifteen minutes later, I watched the emergency response

team carry the guy on the gurney into the ambulance. I turned
on my engine satisfied he was in safe hands. I paused before I
put my car in gear when I saw the police officer approach me.
“Hi officer, is he doing okay?”
“Yes, Ma’am, and your friend is asking for you.”
“I am sorry, what?”
“Your friend wants you to ride with him in the
ambulance. I can have one of the guys drive your car to the
hospital.”
A long night of bartending, a long drive back home, and
now a ride in an ambulance with a complete stranger. I was
pretty sure at that point the night couldn’t get any more
interesting.
“Am I allowed in the ambulance?” Please say no.
“Absolutely!!” Crap!!
“Okay.” Why Vinnie? Why?
I grabbed my tote and handed my keys to the police
officer and followed him to the emergency vehicle. The officer
helped me climb into the ambulance and directed me to take a
seat next to one of the paramedics who was still checking on
the guy on the gurney.
I looked at the oxygen mask clad face of the guy who
was awake and was staring at me as if I was an alien. His
brown eyes were riveted on my face as if he could not get
enough of my tired and sleepy face.
“Hey, are you okay?” I asked softly.
He nodded as I sat on the bench next to him.
He finally looked away to respond to the paramedic’s
questions, and I took the opportunity to scan his well-built
body to see if he had any other visible injuries. He was taller
than I thought he was when I had seen him next to the car in
the dark. Again, I wondered how he managed to fit his broad
shoulders into the tiny sports car.
He still had his motorcycle jacket on and his dark hair
was messed up, yet he managed to look presentable while
lying on a gurney.
Party animal.
He seemed to dominate the space even when he was in
such a vulnerable state and as I watched him respond to the
paramedic, I realized he was not the kind that needed help or
reassurance from a stranger. I tore my eyes away from his face
and wondered why he had asked me not to leave before he lost
consciousness and why he needed me to ride in the ambulance
with him.

Fifteen minutes later, the ambulance pulled in front of

the emergency entrance of the hospital, and the first response
team ushered him through the double doors. I looked around
wondering where my car was and asked the driver of the
ambulance about the whereabouts of my car.
After a few minutes of back and forth, I was informed
my car would arrive in a few minutes. It was freezing outside,
and I went into the lobby to wait. It was almost three in the
morning, and I was barely awake as I settled into a chair in the
emergency room waiting area.
 “I am looking for Mr. Bhatia’s friend.” A woman in her
mid-twenties in a hospital uniform announced in a firm voice
and shook me out of my partial sleep mode. I looked at her
and turned around to look at the elderly woman and middle-
aged man that were waiting in the lobby.
The medical assistant looked right at me and said,
“Ma’am, are you here for Mr. Reyan Bhatia?”
I stared at the medical assistant as she approached me
and continued to speak to me even though I had not responded
to her question.
“Mr. Bhatia is doing fine, and he is being checked for
internal injuries.”
Oh, the dude from the car was Reyan whatever.
The medical assistant continued on as if she was on a
mission to give me all the information.
“He should be done with his tests in the next thirty
minutes and will be back in room 21. If you want, you can
wait there instead of sitting here.”
“Ummm…that’s okay…I got to…” Get out of there,
Vinnie.
“We have some coffee and hot chocolate in the break
room. I am sure you’ll enjoy a warm drink.”
Coffee sounded very appealing, and I followed her past
the double doors in a daze. I asked the security guard in the
lobby to hang on to my car keys until I came back. I grabbed a
cup of steaming coffee and went towards the room where the
dude was supposed to be. I told myself I would check on him
one last time and head home.
My sleep deprived brain remembered being told that he
was being examined when I was welcomed by an empty bed
and beeping machines.
“Here you go. This is Mr. Bhatia’s belongings, Ma’am.
He reminded me twice about giving you his stuff,” the woman
said as she handed me a transparent plastic bag with some
personal items and pointed to another bag and added, “and his
clothes are in there.”
I swallowed wondering if I should tell the medical
assistant that I was a complete stranger, and I shouldn’t be
taking his belongings. I shut my mouth as I couldn’t figure out
why I got into that dang ambulance with the guy to begin with
when he was a nobody, especially when all I wanted to do that
night was to go home and crash.
I sat down on an uncomfortable chair holding the plastic
bag the medical assistant had handed to me. The bag had a
phone, a wallet, a watch with its face cracked, and some
access cards. I stared at the phone and wondered if his family
was notified about the accident. I set my coffee on the side
table and reached into the plastic bag and pulled out his phone.
I placed the plastic bag with his belongings in my tote and
powered on the phone.
As expected, the phone required a passcode, and I
wondered if I was supposed to call or if someone was already
called. I sipped on the coffee wondering when would be a
good time for me to leave. I told myself I would stick around
until I finished my coffee and then head out.
The coffee wasn’t great, but it did its job as the caffeine
kicked in. I felt the familiar pain grip my heart as I realized
what made me get into that ambulance for a complete stranger
a short while ago.
“Which way is room 21?” An anxious male voice just
outside the room interrupted my thoughts. A few seconds later,
a guy peeked his head into the room and looked straight at me.
“Where’s Reyan?”
“Ummm…I think…”
“Oh my god, are you the girl that called 911? I was
relieved that someone reported the accident,” he said his voice
shaky.
I nodded at the twenty-something guy who looked
extremely well dressed to be in an ER at three in the morning.
 “Thank you!!!” he said and pulled me into his arms for a
bear hug.
“Reyan and I had an argument before he stormed out,
and I am sure he had the accident because he was distracted.
We have been together for so long I should have known
better.”
“Are you his…errr…friend?”
“Reyan is more than my friend.” He released me.
“Oh…okay, did he call you?”
“Yes, he did, and I freaked out.” The way he talked was
way too effeminate, and I wondered if the guys were a couple.
“Thank you so much for bringing him to the hospital.”
“You don’t need to thank me for anything. Any good
samaritan would have done what I did.” I knew that wasn’t the
entire truth, but there was no need to tell him why I felt
compelled to do what I did that night.
“No way girl!! You are an angel. I am Neel by the way,
and thank you for sticking around for Reyan.”
“Nice to meet you Neel, I am Vinnie.” We shook hands.
“Neel, I hope Reyan feels better soon.” I handed him the
phone and the bag of Reyan’s stuff. I took a few steps away
from the room and heard Neel call out.
“Vinnie, can I have your phone number?” Really you
want my number?
“I am sure Reyan will want to thank you.”

Thirty minutes later, I entered my room from the side

door of the garage. I tiptoed into the once tandem garage that
was converted into two bedrooms connected by a bathroom. I
threw my tote on the chair and crashed on the bed. Sleep came
to me with no difficulty that night.
The last thing I remembered before I dozed off were
those penetrating eyes looking at me in disbelief. I was sure he
was shocked that I agreed to ride in the ambulance with him. I
knew why I felt the need to do what I did, and I knew my
mom and dad would have been proud of the simple gesture.
I love you and miss you mom and dad!!
I didn’t know why our paths crossed and why he felt the
need for me to be around him. I hope it helped him to feel
secure in such a vulnerable state after a near-death experience.
Have a good life dude!!
 Chapter 2
“Vinnie!! Open up!!”
I woke up next day to the annoying knock on the
bathroom door.
“Go away, Meg. I am sleepy,” I said to my fourteen-
year-old cousin who I loved to death.
“I will when I get what you brought me.”
I rolled out of bed grumbling to myself, opening the door
to let her in, and crashed back onto the bed. I pulled the sheet
over my head and ignored the teenage blabber.
Meg started rummaging through my tote for the
souvenirs the club handed out to their VIP members on event
nights.
“Meg, I need to sleep, take the crap and disappear.”
“Yeah, I love you too Vinnie,” she snorted.
“Sorry…that’s not what…” I was interrupted by her
excited squeals.
“What the…who is this hottie and why do you have his
wallet?”
“Shit!!” I got out of bed and charged towards her.
“Did you sleep with this dude?” She ran around the room
holding the plastic bag and the wallet.
“Meg!!” I growled grabbing the plastic bag and the
wallet from her hands. I had handed Neel the phone and the
bag of clothes at the hospital but had forgotten to give him the
smaller plastic bag with Reyan’s wallet, watch, and other stuff.
“Vinnie, please let me look at his picture one more time,
he is so hot!!”
 “Stop it!! He is too old for you, and he is not into women
let alone teenage girls.”
“What?” Meg was more disappointed than shocked that
the guy wasn’t into women.
“No way. He is way too hot and it is not fair.”
“Get over it, Meg. Can you please take your stuff and let
me go back to sleep? I didn’t get home until four in the
morning.”
“You’re just lying to me. You partied hard with that guy
and you’re making up stories.”
I rolled my eyes at her theory. “Yup, partied hard serving
up a million drinks a minute at the club.”
“Well, that’s why they ask you to work when they have
those events.” Meg shrugged.
“Yeah, yeah…whatever!!”
“Vinnie, let me please look at his driver’s license one
more time.”
“Absolutely not!!”
“Please,” she whined.
“Okay, but be careful with the watch. It’s already
broken.”
“Vinnie, who is this guy? Please tell me this is your
boyfriend.”
“I don’t know him. I accidentally brought his stuff
home.”
“That’s doesn’t make any sense.”
I took a deep breath telling her about the events from the
night before, and saw Meg’s face go pale as I told her about
the accident and how the car spun off of the highway.
She listened quietly as I told her about how he wanted
me to ride with him in the ambulance.
“So, now you know why I have his stuff.”
 “Are you okay?” she asked boring her dark brown
almond eyes into me.
“What? Are you asking if the guy is okay?”
“No, Vinnie. Are you okay?”
I weakly smiled when I realized she had figured out why
I felt compelled to accompany a stranger to the hospital.
“Stop trying to be my older sister,” I taunted.
“There is no need to be mean.”
“I know, I am sorry.” I wrapped my arms around her
petite structure and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for
asking. I am fine.”
“Good,” she smirked and added, “Can we talk about the
dude now?”
“Meghan Gill, let it go. That guy is not into women.”
“That’s not possible. Can I look him up online?”
“No.”
“Do you have his phone number?”
“I don’t.”
“How do you plan on returning his stuff if you don’t
have his phone number. Please let me look him up. I just need
his last name”
“No, you won’t. If I don’t have a way to contact him, I
will send a snail mail to his address with his stuff.”
“You’re so boring.”
“Oh, the same boring person that is going to give you a
ride to the rescue center?” I mocked.
“Whatever!! How do you know the guy is gay?”
“Fudge, Meg. Stop it!!”
“I want you to have a hot boyfriend like him…he’s like a
model!!!”
 “Well, he didn’t look model like with blood on his face,
but he doesn’t look too bad in that picture.”
“Don’t be a snob. Are you sure you didn’t follow him to
the hospital drooling over his rugged looks?”
“Yup, and I was heartbroken when his boyfriend showed
up.”
“Darn it!!”
I laughed at the disappointment on her face. “I have had
a lot of women at the bar complain that all the good guys are
either taken or they are gay.”
“What about Jason?”
“What about him?” I snorted.
“Did Jason try to get into your pants again?”
I rolled my eyes but did not respond to her. Jason was
the bar owner’s son who managed the club and took every
opportunity to ask me out. I would politely decline by
reminding him about the club’s employee policy.
“Jason is cute too.”
“That’s enough, Meg. Out!!”
“I am not leaving because you have to take me to the
rescue center for my volunteer hours.”
“That’s in the afternoon, and I can use a few hours
without Ms.Match.com in my room.”
“It is afternoon, Ms. Sleeping Beauty,” she retorted.
I pulled out my phone to look at the time, only to realize
I had slept for ten hours straight.
A new record.
I noticed I had messages from an unknown number sent
that morning.
Unknown: Hey…This is Reyan.
Unknown: Ping me when you have a moment.
 “Meg, I have a text from the guy who is not my
boyfriend.”
“Is he asking you out?”
“Yup, that’s exactly what he said, and that means I can’t
take you to the rescue center.”
“You know I won’t mind…so…are you going to sext
him back?”
“Watch it, Meg.”
“Okay, fiiiine.”

Thirty minutes later, I sat in the car outside the rescue

center where Meg was volunteering that afternoon and stared
at my phone. I debated about calling or texting Reyan back. I
was in no mood to make small talk so I typed a reply to his
text.
Me: Hey…
I got a response back almost immediately. Meg would
have confirmed that he was staring at the phone waiting for
my response.
Reyan: Hi Vinnie…
Me: Hey…you feel’n better?
Reyan: Yes
Me: Still at the hospital?
Reyan: Nope.
Me: Good…so no broken bones..
Reyan: My wrist…hairline
Me: I have your stuff
Reyan: Oh…really?
I realized that he texted me to say hi and not for the stuff.
Seems to be a nice guy.
Me: I have your wallet, watch, and some other stuff…
 Reyan: Oh…Neel said he had my stuff so I didn’t realize
you had them…
Me: Yup I have your wallet too and I am about to go
shopping..
Reyan: Anything you want!!!
Me: Really?
Reyan: Anything!!!
Me: Oh you need to head back to the hospital buddy…
get yourself checked for brain damage
Reyan: I will only if you go with me…Again
Me: Noooo
Reyan: C’mon
Me: C’mon
Reyan: Are you copying me?
Me: Are you copying me?
Reyan: You are silly
Me: You are silly
Reyan: You are hot
Me: You are hot
Reyan: I want to kiss you.
Shit!! What the…
Me: Hey got to go…some dude wants to kiss me.
Reyan: Got you!!!!
Me: Yes, you did
I realized I was grinning, as I was texting with him.
Me: Don’t worry…I am not going shopping or going to
kiss you…
Stop flirting Vinnie!! He is gay!!
Reyan: I won’t stop you if you want to…
 He’s flirting back?
Me: Still have your stuff…
Reyan: How about I swing by tomorrow and pick’m up?
Me: What time?
Reyan: 6?
Me: Meet me at Pier 33…at the bar
Reyan: Are you asking me out?
Me: Duuude.I work at the bar…come by and pick up
your stuff…
Reyan: You can ask me out…I don’t mind…
Me: You really are silly…
Reyan: ??
Me: Bring Neel with you…I will get you guys a drink on
the house..
Reyan: Will be there…
I scrolled through the conversation and couldn’t believe
the conversation I had with Reyan. I knew at that point he
could be the friend I have always wanted, someone who can
give me a tough fight.

*****

“Good morning, Vi!!” Jen cheered as I walked into the

Starbucks coffee shop for my day job.
“Hey, Jen. Did you have a good weekend?”
“Oh, the usual,” Jen scrunched her nose. She worked as
a waitress and always recovered during the weekdays.
“Ready for the Monday morning madness?” she cheered.
“As always, and I doubt if it’d be crazier than my
Saturday night.”
 “Oh, anything fun?”
“Not really.” I shook my head smiling as I remembered
my text conversation with Reyan.
Jen and I worked the counter for two hours nonstop until
the Monday morning rush died down. I was rearranging the
pastries in the refrigerator when Jen nudged me.
“I think I see someone that may be buddies with your
doppelganger.”
I shook my head at the memory of random people asking
me if they had met me before, and I could tell from the overly
familiar accent they were all from India. It was the accent my
mom and dad had, and it was hard to miss.
I had initially presumed it was a way for the shy Indian
guys to have a conversation with me but when I had a couple
of elderly women ask me the same question, I figured I had a
doppelganger or a twin from another mother that has been
socializing in excess within the local Indian community.
I looked at the guy Jen pointed to as my doppelganger’s
friend as he approached the counter.
“Hi, there. What can I get you?” I chirped and saw his
expression freeze. I could tell he was holding his breath and
was looking at me like he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Ummm…Nandi?” his voice was shaky.
“I’m sorry what?”
“Are you…are you Nandi?”
“Not sure what that means.”
“I am sorry…you look just like one of my friends from
school.”
“Sorry, not me. I haven’t seen you before. What can I get
you?”
“Are you sure?”
I darted a not so friendly look towards him but did not
respond.
 “I am sorry. I’ll get two tall lattes, please.”
I picked up the cups and asked for his name for the
order.
“What is your name? I am only asking your name for the
order.”
“Sorry, I still can’t believe you are not Nandi. I haven’t
seen her since school.” I noticed that he kept staring at my left
hand as I took the payment for the order.
Weirdo.
“Are you from India?” he asked weakly.
“Are you from India?” I bounced the question back to
him.
“Yes, I am. I am here for grad school,” he said without
moving away from the register. I hoped another customer
would come by so he would move on. I looked at Jen hoping
she would interject, but it seemed like she wanted to know
why the guy kept staring at me.
“Oh, okay.”
“The last thing I heard about Nandi was that she was in a
car accident and she died.”
“What the…” I uttered and heard Jen gasp at the same
time.
“When I saw you, I was hopeful that I had heard
incorrectly about her,” the guy said softly.
“I am sorry, but I am not your friend. My mom and dad
were from India, but I’ve never been to India.”
“Your drinks are ready,” Jen interjected just when the
guy was about to say something. He smiled at Jen and picked
up the two cups of coffee and started walking away; he
stopped short when he saw a woman walk towards the
entrance.
He turned around to look at me and said, “That’s my
girlfriend and she knew Nandi too…I wonder if she thinks you
look like her too.” He stepped away from her view and stood
facing me. I looked at the woman who seemed to be my age as
she walked into the coffee shop. She looked around and then
looked right at me.
She froze in her spot dropping the bag she was holding
and stood staring at me. She stood a few feet away from me,
and I could see the blood draining from her face. She covered
her mouth with her palm as she approached me.
“Nandi?” she cried.
Seriously??
The guy reached out and put his arms around the woman
and said, “I know, but that’s not her.”
“Oh my gosh…it’s got to be her.” The woman quivered.
I turned to look at Jen, and it looked like she was as
shocked as the woman. The guy took a few minutes to calm
his girlfriend while she continued to stare at me.
“Hi…I am Geeta.” She held her hand out after she
calmed down.
“I’m Vinnie.” The woman took my right hand in both
her hands and continued to look at my left hand.
“Vinnie, very nice to meet you and sorry about my
reaction,” she managed in a steady voice.
“Can I please look at your left hand?” Geeta asked
softly.
“Geeta, it’s not her,” the guy chimed in.
“I still can’t believe it,” Geeta said in disbelief.
The couple spoke amongst themselves for a few more
minutes and left quietly.
“What was that?” Jen asked shaking her head.
“That was weird.” I took a deep breath and continued
what I was doing before the guy strolled into the coffee shop.
“Well, we at least we know for sure you have a
doppelganger.” Jen sounded relieved.
 “Had a doppelganger…Jen. I think the girl they were
talking about died in an accident and she was from India.”
“Yeah…so?” Jen wondered.
“All the others who asked me if we had met prior did not
have the same reaction. I wonder if I have another
doppelganger in San Francisco.” I giggled.
“That’s freaky!!” Jen declared.
“Yup…I wonder when I’ll get to meet my clone.”
 Chapter 3
“There’s the face I love,” Dave, my co-bartender said as
I walked into the back room of the bar and restaurant on the
pier.
“Good to see you too, Dave.” I smiled as he wrapped his
arms around me for a bear hug.
“Did you have a good weekend?” I asked smiling at him.
“I had a crappy Saturday night. I should have worked at
the club with you,” he grumbled and added, “The speed dating
thing was not worth it.”
“The club was crazy that night, and Jason was being a
total dick as usual,” I grumbled.
Dave and I worked in the club on event nights so the
owner of the bar didn’t have to hire temp help. The money was
good, and the tips were great on those nights so I didn’t mind
the fifty-mile drive south of San Francisco.
“That guy has a nice piece of ass, but I want to kick him
every time I see him. What did he do?” Dave growled like a
protective brother.
“Easy buddy…Jason doesn’t have the balls to go past the
dirty talk.”
“That’s my girl!!” Dave cheered and asked, “Why do I
see a break in your schedule for fifteen minutes on the
schedule at six today? You normally don’t take a break till
eight.”
“I know, I am meeting a guy for a few minutes at six.”
“Like a date?”
“No, Dave!! Long story, but I have some of the guy’s
stuff, and he is coming to get them from me.”
 “You need to go on a date, hon…it’s been such a long
time since I’ve seen you with a dude.”
“That’s because not everybody is as interesting as you
are Dave,” I teased, tying my apron around my waist.
“Aww…you are a darling and too smart for those lame
guys that are all over the city.”
Dave and I had worked together for over a year, and he
was a good friend. He was a few years older than I was and a
few inches taller than me. He had crystal blue eyes and styled
his dark blond hair differently every day.
We clicked the first day I started working at the bar. He
was very protective and would stay past his schedule on days I
was closing to make sure the stragglers didn’t cause any
trouble. I had my own set-up of a baseball bat and a can of
pepper spray just in case I needed it, but I never had to use it
with Dave hanging around and walking me to my car.
“Who is the guy that’s coming to see you at six? A date,
special friend?”
“None of the above. In fact, I maybe able to set you up
with him if his boyfriend doesn’t show up.”
“Sounds good and here’s our first customer for the
night,” Dave said wiping his palms on the bar towel.
“Okay Dave, here we go, five bucks he is going to order
a lite beer.”
Dave and I always bet on the drink the first customer of
the night would order, and it so happened that nine out of the
ten times I was right. I had a good streak lately and have been
pretty successful.
Dave shook his head looking at the thirty-something guy
and said, “It looks like he had a pretty shitty day, and he is
going to get a Jack’n’Coke.”
Two minutes later, Dave handed me a five-dollar bill
looking very dejected.
“You will win one of these days Dave, don’t lose hope.”
 The crowd at the bar was light as a lot of people were at
the tables for an early dinner. It was ten to six when Dave
came rushing to the back room where I was filling up a
canister with hard liquor.
“Your dude is here with another hot dude.” I rolled my
eyes at Dave’s excitement.
“They are a couple Dave, please don’t hit on the guy you
like.”
“There is no way in hell…” Dave’s voice drifted off
when he caught my stern expression.
“Behave, and I will introduce you to the guy you are
interested in.”
I walked back to the bar to find Reyan and Neel talking
to Tanya, the hostess. Tanya was clearly blushing looking at
Reyan, and I wondered if it was that hard to tell that Reyan
and Neel were a couple.
Reyan and Neel were standing with their backs to the
bar. Reyan was a few inches taller than Neel and carried his
business suit with ease over his broad shoulders. I had my eyes
fixated on Reyan’s shoulders when he turned to look straight
at me. His face broke into a smile as soon as our eyes met, and
I felt my heart skip a beat and my lips parted automatically.
My memory of Reyan’s face did not do justice to his
rugged looks and the masculinity his body emitted. I smiled at
him casually as he approached the bar with a glorious smile
pasted on his face.
Just another eye candy!!
“Hey…” His voice was husky and modulated.
“Hi Reyan, hi Neel…you guys are early. I have a
scheduled break at six.”
“Hey Vinnie…Reyan tells me we are getting a free
drink.” Neel winked.
“Sure, Dave can make your drink, and I can make
Reyan’s. What would you like Reyan?”
 “What do you think I am in the mood for?” he asked
softly.
I smiled and grabbed a bottle of beer and set it in front of
him. He looked at me as if he was looking for an explanation,
and I gave him one.
“I am sure you are popping pain killers like it’s nobody’s
business for that injured wrist. You can’t handle anything
stronger than this tonight.” His face broke into a gorgeous
smile and his eyes deepened.
“That’s very thoughtful of you. Neel and I will hang out
at that table. Come join us when you start your break.”
He is gay!!! Right?
I stared at Reyan as he walked back to the table where
Neel was seated chatting away with Dave. Dave came back a
few minutes later to the bar grinning.
“Vinnie, Neel is so cute…thank you, thank you!! Oh,
and I saw sparks between you and that other guy…what’s goin
on?”
“What sparks? The boys are not into women Dave.” I
rolled my eyes at Dave.
“You got this all wrong girl. Neel’s the only guy on my
team. The hot one was drooling all over you.”
“No he wasn’t, but I have to agree that Reyan has the
smile that can move mounds, but too bad he is not into
women.”
“Twenty bucks that he will rip your clothes off in
seconds if you are willing,” Dave challenged.
I laughed and agreed to the bet. I took off my apron as I
headed towards the back room.
“Get ready to kiss your twenty bucks goodbye, Dave.”
“Don’t be too cocky girl!!” Dave winked.
I grabbed the plastic bag with Reyan’s stuff from the
back room and walked towards the table where Neel and
Reyan were seated. Reyan stood up as I got closer to the table.
He smiled and put his arms around me gently. My free hand
automatically ran along the smooth material of his suit jacket,
and my fingers gripped around the plastic bag.
“Are you back to work already?” I asked Reyan as I
settled down next to Neel.
“Yes, I just need to wear the sleeve for a week for my
wrist, but I am good. Neel is my designated driver because I
am grounded.”
“Why are you grounded?” I asked laughing.
“Well, I totalled Neel’s car and you ran away with my
driver’s license.”
“I did not run away with your stuff; actually I did, but
Neel said it was okay for me to run.” I winked at Neel.
“That’s true. Reyan is in so much trouble for ruining my
car.”
“I did you a favor Neel, that thing is like a toy car. You
need something with more muscle,” Reyan teased.
“You are buying me the same exact car, no more
discussions,” Neel declared.
Reyan shook his head but did not say anything.
“Vinnie, is Dave single?” Neel whispered.
“Ummm…he is but…” My voice trailed off as I looked
at Reyan who was looking at me with his scorching eyes.
“Neel, Dave looks lonely at the bar, you should go talk
to him,” Reyan encouraged.
I realized at that point it was time for me to kiss my
twenty bucks goodbye. I pulled out a twenty-dollar bill and
handed it to Neel and said, “Neel, hand this to Dave and tell
him I lost the bet.”
“What bet?” Neel took the bill from me.
“He’ll know what I am talking about,” I snickered.
Neel chuckled and walked to the bar settling on one of
the bar stools.
 “How long have you known Neel?” I asked looking at
Reyan as he sipped his beer.
“Since elementary school. My dad and Neel’s dad are
very good friends,” he said casually.
“Oh…that’s a long time, and it’s cool that you hang out
together.” I said, feeling a pang of jealousy that I didn’t have a
friend like that.
“Neel is more like a brother than a friend,” Reyan said
looking over my shoulder at the bar where Neel and Dave
continued to chat.
I smiled when I realized that’s what Neel meant when he
had said that Reyan was more than a friend, and I just went
with the boyfriend theory. I knew Dave would rub it in big
time as soon as I got back to the bar; I wondered what Meg
would do if I told her I was wrong about Reyan.
Meg would never find out, I couldn’t let her know that
she was right. She would chastise me for telling her that Reyan
was gay.
“What are you thinking about?” Reyan interrupted my
thoughts.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Do you need to go back to the hospital
for a follow up?”
“Maybe in a week to get my wrist checked.”
I nodded looking at the plastic sleeve on his left hand.
“Thank you, Vinnie.” Reyan reached to take my hands in
his and held them firmly.
“You are welcome,” I said smiling at him.
“It was ridiculous of me to have you ride in the
ambulance with me, but I am glad you did.”
I sat in silence unable to make eye contact with him and
ended up staring at his thumb that gently stroked the back of
my hand. I sat deliriously wondering why I followed him to
the hospital in an ambulance, shamelessly flirted with him
even when I thought he was gay, and I was letting him touch
me.
“You are the hero of our family, and you have your
Bhatia family fan base.”
I looked into his eyes and smiled taking in the intensity
in the air.
“I am glad you are feeling better, and I agree with you
about Neel’s car. When you squeezed out of the car, I
wondered how you fit in it.”
Reyan threw his head back and laughed. The sound of
his sheer joy echoed in the empty space and sent my heart on a
rampage. I struggled to maintain my composure and took in a
few quick deep breaths. He smiled looking at me as if he could
see through me and feel everything I felt.
“What happened that night? Why did the car go off
road? You weren’t going that fast,” I asked hoping to distract
myself.
He smiled leaning forward and whispered. “I fell asleep
at the wheel.”
“What?” I almost screamed.
“Do not tell Neel. He thinks I was distracted because of
the argument we had just before I left his place. I am going to
use that to get him a real car.”
It was my turn to laugh and as my laughter died, I
noticed the wicked smile on his face, and I knew he was
enjoying the effect he had on me.
Get a grip Vinnie!! He is just another pretty face!!
“What did you guys argue about?” I was curious to find
out what grown men argued about to storm out of someone’s
house.
“Well, Neel is technically still in the closet,” he
whispered.
“What?” I asked in disbelief.
 “With his family, I mean,” he clarified and added, “His
brother is getting married in the summer, and I wanted him to
tell everyone before the wedding.”
“Why did you leave in Neel’s toy car?”
“He didn’t want me to leave and took my keys so I
grabbed his keys and left.”
“You guys are so silly,” I said, shaking my head.
“I know!!” he said taking another sip of his beer.
“I have to go…my break is almost up.” I stood up and
smiled at him.
“Will you text me when you are free?” he asked standing
up.
“Maybe!!” I smirked, tilting my chin up and quickly
turned away from him to walk back to the bar.
“Vinnie…” he called out.
I turned around smiling only to crash into Reyan’s chest
and felt his arms wrap around me. I got a whiff of his sexy
cologne as his lips brushed against my cheek.
“I am a man of my word, and I do what I say. I told you I
wanted to kiss you.”
I smiled remembering our flirtatious texting and said,
“Very smooth, Reyan. I am tempted to crush your family
jewel, but I will spare you this time.”
“Thank you for not cracking my assets,” Reyan planted a
kiss on my other cheek and said, “I will see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I asked curiously.
Reyan stepped away from me and smiled without
responding as he walked backwards away from me towards
the bar. I stood rooted in my spot and watched Reyan and Neel
leave.
He is not like the other guys!!
“You let the guy kiss you, and he walked out of this
place in one piece,” Dave summarized in disbelief.
 I shook my head refusing to let the conversation
continue. All I could think about was when I would see Reyan
again. I knew I had to figure out what it was about him that
turned me into a softy when I had punched and crushed
numerous balls when men misbehaved with me in the past.

***** End of Bonus chapter *****