Paradise Wild (Wild At Heart Book 2) (22 page)
Read Paradise Wild (Wild At Heart Book 2) Online
Authors: Christine Hartmann
Denver’s face sparkled. He tugged her gently against him. “You’ve always been kick-ass as far as I’m concerned.” He hesitated. “But what about me? I’m not who you thought I was.”
“Yes, you are.” Ellie tugged her hand from his grasp and ran her fingers through his hair. “You’re kind. Intelligent. Loyal. You came back for me when you thought I’d given you up.”
Denver smiled. “Does that mean you’ll give me another chance?”
“I’m not giving you another chance.” Ellie maneuvered her wounded arm around his waist and steered him up the stairs. “Your first chance never ended.”
***
Denver cradled Ellie’s head in the crook of his arm. Afternoon light filtered through the orange curtains of the guest bedroom, casting their naked bodies in shades of copper. Ellie wandered the fingers of her good hand absently around the line of stitches on his smooth chest.
“Does it hurt?”
“Nope. It’s only a flesh wound. He hardly even grazed me.”
He wound his fingers around hers, tilted her head, and kissed her, a tender, lingering kiss of sated passion and contentment.
Ellie closed her eyes. “I wish we could stay like this forever.”
“I eventually have to go to work.”
She prodded his ribs. “Why? I thought you said your company was going under.”
Denver grinned. “No need to rub it in. But I’ve already found another job.”
“Seriously?”
“You sound disappointed.”
Viv jumped onto the bed and poked his head under the covers. Denver shooed the cat away.
“I kind of liked the idea of your being a kept man.”
“I’ll be working for my parents’ company. It’s a job I should have taken a long time ago.”
Ellie roughed up his hair and then smoothed it again. “What will you be doing?”
“Learning the ropes, mostly. They eventually want to retire. If I’m any good, they might ask me to take over. But that’s far down the road, Ellie.”
Ellie smiled. “I’m patient.”
“In the meantime, it will at least keep a roof over our heads.”
Ellie slid her hand into his. “I wasn’t worried about that. I’ve been pulling in some decent money these past months. And my prospects are good after I finish school. Even at a not-for-profit, I’ll pull my weight financially.”
Denver coughed. “Yeah, well, speaking of the money you’ve been pulling in…”
Ellie scooted sideways to look him full in the face. “You’re not upset that I’m still taking Vivyenne’s money, are you?”
“Um, no. Because you’re not.”
She leaned on one elbow. “What do you mean?” The sheet fell from her body and Denver’s hands reached toward her. “Hold on.” She pulled the sheet back up. “Tell me first what you mean.”
He reluctantly pulled back. “You’ve been taking
my
money. Vivyenne wanted me to take Viv back that night you saw us. She wanted to fire you. I didn’t want you to lose your job. So I said I’d pay your salary if she’d keep you on.”
Ellie fell back onto the pillows and laughed. “No wonder you need another job. I’m costing you a bundle.”
“Worth every penny.” Denver kissed her again, his lips slowly working their way from the bend in her neck to her mouth.
Ellie snuggled against him. “So I’m a kept woman?”
“You’re mine for keeps if you’ll have me.”
“I’ll have you.” Her hand encircled his neck.
Viv’s paws and ears appeared on Ellie’s the side of the bed. He hopped across the pillow and nuzzled her hair. “No, Viv. Not now.” Ellie shooed him away.
She nibbled Denver’s ear. “Why did you name the cat after Vivyenne?”
“I didn’t. Viv’s short for
Vivamus
. It’s Latin for airplane.”
Ellie’s eyes opened wide. “That explains a lot.”
Denver’s hands cupped her backside and pulled her toward him. “Like what?”
She arched into him, rubbing her torso rhythmically against his. “Like why Vivyenne never liked him. And why he never liked Vivyenne.”
“The cat’s got taste.” Denver flipped her onto her back and straddled her hips.
Ellie stretched her good arm overhead. “So I guess you’ll have to find an apartment in Seattle that takes pets.”
Denver leaned forward and clasped her hand gently. “You mean in San Francisco. My new bosses are good with my telecommuting.” He groaned as she wriggled her hips into place.
“A place for the two of us?”
He lowered himself gently onto her. “For the three of us. You, Viv, and me. Any requests?”
Ellie’s breath quickened. “Yes. The walls.”
Denver groaned. “What about the walls?”
She stared into his eyes. “They can be any color.” Her eyelids fluttered. “Except white.”
Denver laughed. Ellie relaxed and lost herself in the dazzling sunlight, the warmth of his skin, and the mutual passion of their bodies.
He whispered, his words thick with longing. “Ellie, I’m yours.”
He’s mine
, Ellie thought.
I’m his. And
this
, finally, is paradise.
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Acknowledgments
Writing, for me, is a group process. My gratitude to everyone who touched this project, both in detailed and fleeting ways, is deep.
The generosity of our cherished friend Sonja Schluter made this book possible. She introduced us to life on Maui in ways we had never dreamed were possible. Once there, countless individuals enthralled me with their enthusiasm, knowledge, and insights about the Valley Isle. I am deeply indebted to Kelly and Rich Brunner, Ivy and Gavin Campbell, Tracy Lamon for their help.
The staff at Limitless Publishing was, as always, outstanding, including my amazing editor, Rosa Sophia. Readers of my Wild at Heart Newsletter, a wonderful group, helped choose this book’s title. My husband, Ron Strickland, unfailingly supported me throughout the months of this project. And my best friend, Antje Hofmeister, patiently coached me, once again, through the nuances of writing romance.
Now, on to book three!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christine Hartmann grew up in Ohio and Delaware and loves traveling to exotic, romantic settings. After a college semester in Kathmandu, her first three “real” jobs were all in northern Japan, where she lived for almost 10 years. She currently splits her career between her daytime occupation (improving the quality of veterans’ nursing home care) and her nights/weekend avocation (writing both fiction and non-fiction books). Her husband, Ron Strickland, is a well-known long-distance hiker, trail guide writer, and the founder of the 1,200-mile Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Christine loves reading, pilates, bicycling, snorkeling, and health foods that taste like they’re bad for you. You will often find her at a keyboard, with Ron whispering sweet edits over her shoulder.
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