Authors: Tessa Bailey
Owned By Fate (18 page)
Her arms banded around him, pulling him closer, mouth moving across his sweat-dampened skin. “Jonah…it’s so much, you know?”
Jonah knew exactly what she meant. The driving need to get closer to her than humanly possible, the fear of not having her…it exceeded his once impossible hopes to know she felt it, too. They’d both tasted what it felt like to be apart when the need to be close was so great. It would take them a while before the unique sense of panic left. He’d work on her every day until she didn’t have a single worry. Then, and only then, he’d tackle his own.
“Not for us, sweetheart.” Slowly, he turned her over onto her stomach and lifted her hips. In one smooth movement, he filled her, savoring her hoarse moan. “Too much is never enough.”
Epilogue
Jonah had actually built Gabby a park.
Caroline still couldn’t quite figure out how he’d managed to keep it a secret from her over the last two months. While the transformation of
Preston’s
had kept her working far more than Jonah preferred, they shared everything. Except, apparently, a half-a-million-dollars park construction around the corner from where they’d been cohabitating for months. That was Jonah, though. Strong, quiet, and yet brimming with determination. Especially where Caroline and his daughter were concerned.
As they walked hand in hand along the tree-lined street, back toward his Brooklyn house, which he stubbornly referred to as
their
Brooklyn house, Caroline marveled over how much had changed since their televised reunion outside of Serve. That night, all hell had broken loose. Not for them, but for everyone else. They had turned off their phones and stayed locked in Jonah’s bedroom for two days. Suffice it to say, Caroline had gotten an education over the course of forty-eight hours. The kind of education that didn’t come with a diploma to frame above your desk, and she continued to receive it every day. Eagerly.
Caroline hadn’t been the only one to mold into the shape of their unique relationship. Jonah dominated her inside their bedroom, and she wouldn’t have it any other way, but she took her turn in the boardroom. In fact, her confidence strengthened with each passing day, proving once and for all that Jonah’s constant reminder that she held the power was accurate. Their relationship made them better. Knowing they wouldn’t lose each other meant going for broke everywhere else. And boy, had it paid off.
Thanks to a feature story on Serve in the first groundbreaking issue of
Preston’s ReVAMPed
, business had grown to the point that Jonah was considering opening a second location uptown. Caroline was committed to helping every step of the way.
Their biggest challenge had been her father. While Oliver hadn’t stopped laughing for an hour at seeing his once-prudish little sister professing her love to a BDSM club owner on network news, her father had been less than thrilled. Understandable, since he’d long envisioned his daughter having a respectable courtship with an investment banker followed by a tasteful wedding and two grandbabies. He’d gotten something quite different. But just as her father had surprised her by giving his blessing in the boardroom, he’d shown up one afternoon during a scheduled visitation with Gabby, bearing a teddy bear. To which Gabby had said, “Is that for some baby? Because I don’t see any babies ’round here.”
It had been love at first sight.
Seeing the love showered on Gabby from Jonah and her family every two weeks had led Renee to agree to overnight stays twice a month. Tonight would be their first.
They reached the stoop of their brownstone then, Jonah’s stoic expression telling her how nervous he was for the visit. Two-hour visits with Gabby were one thing, but a full night represented a whole new ballgame. Anxious for the chance to comfort him, since Jonah was usually the one comforting her, Caroline draped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly. Immediately, his hands went to her hips to pull her closer, the way she craved.
“It’s going to be fine.” She massaged the back of his neck until his eyes closed. “She’s going to adore her new bedroom. We’re going to spoil her and send her home dying to come back. Just like every other time, but longer.”
“I can’t believe she asked for a dragon-themed bedroom.” He shook his head. “After all the pink flowers and princesses I waded through…”
Caroline pressed her forehead against his chest and laughed. “I think our motto with Gabby is ‘Expect the unexpected.’”
“Yeah.” Jonah focused his intensity on her. “I know someone else like that.”
A familiar hunger rippled in her belly. “Last night—”
“Don’t. If we talk about it, I’m going to drag you inside and do it again.”
Caroline laid her lips on top of his. “She has to go to sleep sometime.”
He melded their mouths together in a mind-bending kiss. “I’m counting on it.”
“Good God.” Oliver’s voice interrupted the direction of their thoughts as he approached them on the sidewalk, carrying a fistful of balloons. “I didn’t know you guys made out in public without a camera crew to record it.”
Reluctantly, she stepped away from Jonah. He drew her back into the circle of his arms with a grunt. “Could you let it go, Oliver?”
He pretended to consider it. “Nope. Never.”
Jonah shook his head and laid a kiss on her temple. A moment later, Caroline felt the tension build in his body. Knowing what it meant, she eased away from him and took his hand. The three of them watched, tentative smiles on their faces, as Renee’s station wagon pulled up along the curb. Before Renee had even turned off the engine, Gabby jumped out of the passenger side wearing heart-shaped red sunglasses.
“All right.” She tossed her sandy blond hair over her shoulder. “Let’s do this, Dad. I’ve got rainbow sherbet and a Disney movie with my name on it.”
Oliver burst out laughing beside them, but Jonah merely reached out his hand. “I’ve got something to show you first.”
They all walked to Gabby’s park.
Did you love this Brazen? Check out more of our steamy titles
here
!
And for exclusive sneak peeks at our upcoming books, excerpts, contests, chats with our authors and editors, and more…
Be sure to like us on
Facebook
Follow us on
Twitter
Acknowledgments
As always, to my husband and daughter, thank you for putting up with me. This book meant lots of trips to the park to get out of my hair, and I appreciated the silence very much. I love you both.
To my editors, Heather Howland and Kari Olson, thank you for all your amazing work and helpful suggestions to make this book the best it could be. Not to mention the beautiful cover, designed by Heather.
To Cari Quinn and Katee Robert for coming up with the particulars of Serve right alongside me and beta-reading the book. Thank you for being just as excited as I was about these characters/ideas.
To Christine Smith for reading an early draft and helping me fine-tune the dominant/submissive relationship between Jonah and Caroline. Your insight was invaluable.
To a certain Greek family who inspired the dynamic/working relationship between Caroline/Oliver/Philip Preston, I won’t mention you by name, but thank you just the same.
About the Author
NYT and USA TODAY bestselling author Tessa Bailey lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, she enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.
Sign up for our
Steals & Deals newsletter
and be the first to hear about 99¢ releases from Tessa Bailey and other fantastic Entangled authors!
Reviews help other readers find books. We appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative. Thank you for reading!
Discover Tessa Bailey’s NYT bestselling
Line of Duty
series…
Sassy bartender Ginger Peet just committed the perfect crime. Life-sized Dolly Parton statue in tow, Ginger and her sister flee Nashville. But their new neighbor, straight-laced Chicago homicide cop Derek Tyler, knows something’s up—something
big
—and he won’t rest until Ginger’s safe…and in his bed for good.
Also by Tessa Bailey
Willa Peet isn’t interested in love. She’s been there, done that, and has the shattered heart to prove it. Ready to shake the breakup, she heads to Dublin, Ireland. But there’s a problem. A dark-haired, blue-eyed problem with a bad attitude that rivals her own. And he’s not doling out friendly Irish welcomes. Shane Claymore is only in Dublin long enough to sell the Claymore Inn and get things in order for his mother and younger sister. Meeting a sarcastic American girl makes him question everything, but will their pasts destroy any hope of a future together?
If you love sexy romance, one-click these steamy Brazen releases…
a novel by
Amy Andrews
Newly single Josie Butler just made herself a Sexy To-Do list (featuring Bad Boys only). To her mortification, her best friend’s gorgeous older brother Mack finds it… and laughs. But when Josie goes looking for some sexy fun, Mack’s nice guy side turns all hot bad-assery, and suddenly she’s pinned against an alley wall.
Hottest. Sex. Ever.
Now Josie has found the perfect guy to work through her list. And it’s the perfect plan, as long as no one finds out…and no one falls in love.
a novel by
Joan Kilby
Designer Layla Langham is on a mission to convince the House of Borhlenghi to buy her designs. Now she’s been given a chance at her dream… but only if she “lures” reclusive and work-obsessed (and really,
really
hot) billionaire Georgio Borlenghi to his family’s yacht in Capri. With her career on the line and a very sexy Italian in her sights, each night with Georgio becomes a lesson in seduction and pleasure. But now the only way to achieve her dream is to lose the man she’s falling for…
a novella by
Angela Claire
Lawyer Angie O’Hare hates New York City. More so, now that she’s locked out of her room and stranded in the hallway. Wearing only a towel. But then, rescue arrives—in the form of the wickedly hot, funny guy in the penthouse next door. But things with Mr. Sexy Salvation don’t stop at just a drink. Cue one night of hot, ultra-x-rated sexy time. Until the next morning, when Angie attends her meeting and is introduced to CEO Jed Worth…whose bed she did everything
but
sleep in last night.
a
Chasing Love
novel by
Joya Ryan
Kindergarten teacher Jenna Justice has lived her life by the book—right school, right career, right image. Too bad the townsfolk of Diamond, Kansas, have a hard time forgetting that she wasn’t born on the right side of the tracks. Away from prying eyes, she allows herself one sizzling, fantasy-filled night with her best friend’s bad boy brother, Colt McCade. His fast-and-loose reputation could cost her everything she’s worked for, but walking away might cost him more…
an
After Hours
novel by
Elle Kennedy
Newly single teacher Darcy Grant is tired of walking the straight and narrow path. She’s on the hunt for passion, and there’s no denying ex-fighter Reed Miller is just the man to give it to her. There’s only one problem—Reed is her ex’s best friend. Now it’s just a matter of setting a few ground rules…and hoping her rule-breaking, sweet-talking bad boy agrees to follow them. But if she lets Reed into her bed, does she stand a chance of keeping him out of her heart?
a
Shillings Agency
novel by
Diane Alberts
Tara Harris steals from the rich and corrupted, returning objects to their rightful owners one case at a time. But when her former partner, Jake Forsythe, shows up ready to blackmail her into submission—or throw her in jail—it’s a choice between two evils. These two can’t deny the passion burning between them, but when push comes to shove, they’ll have to lay their hearts and their lives on the line.
Introducing Entangled’s newest category romance imprint…
Lovestruck
!
a novel by
Heather Thurmeier
Wedding gown designer Daisy Willows is desperate for an influx of cash to cover the costs of running her company and her mother’s homecare bills. With subscriptions to his father’s wedding magazine plummeting, playboy Cole Benton needs to find a way to stimulate sales, and
fast
. So when a renowned bridal show expo owner offers to bail them out—
if
they rekindle their failed relationship and plan the fake wedding of the century—neither can refuse. But will they survive the publicity stunt with their hearts intact?
Fiancé
e for Hire
a
Front and Center
novel by
Tawna Fenske
Former Marine MacArthur Patton is used to handling top-secret government contracts and black-ops missions, but his new assignment involves something more dangerous—
marriage
. Enter his little sister’s best friend Kelli Landers. She can’t wait to bring Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Detached to his knees, and her longtime crush on the commitment-phobe makes her plan to seduce him even sweeter. Love wasn’t part of the plan, but soon Mac and Kelli find that more than a weapons deal is on the line…
an
Anderson Brothers
novel by
Marissa Clarke
Claire Williams is off to see the world, but first, she needs quick cash. A temp job at Anderson Auctions seems perfect, especially with the unexpected benefit of the hottest man she’s ever laid eyes—or hands—on. William Anderson’s military training makes him the perfect man to flush out the spy undercutting his family business, but no amount of time in the Marines could prepare him for the suspicious—and sexy—new temp. Desire lands them in bed…but duty may cost him his heart.
a
What Happens in Vegas
novella by
Gina L. Maxwell
Tired of waiting for her best friend to see her as more, Alyssa Miller heads to Las Vegas for a romance book convention. But when Dillon Alexander realizes his best friend plans to have a one-night stand on her vacation, he hauls ass after her to make sure he’s the one to scratch her itch—commitment issues be damned. Neither of them expects their chemistry to be so explosive, but with a little help, what happens in Vegas might not stay in Vegas…
Meeting His Match
a
Match Me
novel by
Katee Robert
The last thing Caine McNeill needs is a matchmaker—especially a gorgeous redhead who critiques what he drives and how he dresses, and buys him a dog. But the sexy southern CEO is a challenge Addison St. Claire can’t resist. She recognizes misery when she sees it, and if anyone needs to meet his soul mate, it’s
this
man. Addison is determined to stick to her plan despite the chemistry flaring between them, but the only woman Caine intends to seduce is
her
.