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  Chapter 4

  Ian

  I rolled over and pulled her on top of me, rubbing her back in a slow circular motion. This place was magical. I thought about the fact I’d just lost my virginity and took hers at the same time in the middle of a castle’s ruins. The storm picked up again, but we were sheltered from most of the rain. We had to get out of here before it got dark and colder. Though we laid there in a wet and sweaty pile, I could stay like this forever, and I planned to make it happen.

  “Sweetheart, we’ve got to get going. The sun is about to set and don’t know how cold it’s going to get,” I whispered, rubbing her bared flesh. I could feel the slight chill on her skin and worried that she’d get sick because of me. I couldn’t let that happen. She was mine to protect.

  “Oh, yeah,” she said groggily. She got up, naked, and I groaned because I wanted her again. She turned to look at me and blushed. I stared at her, licking my lips.

  “Get dressed and then we’ll go back to my hotel for dinner. There’s a restaurant inside it.”

  “Um…sure,” she stammered, looking for her panties.

  “I can’t find my underwear,” she said while I buttoned my pants and did my best to hide my smile.

  I looked up and smirked. “Just go without them,” I suggested, sliding my shirt over my head. My button up shirt was now too dirty to put back on.

  “But my pants are white and almost see-thru,” she exclaimed, looking around the ruins fruitlessly.

  “Well, then maybe we can just eat in my room,” I suggested with a wag of my brows.

  “That’s okay with me.” She smirked back. My heart went wild with happiness.

  I took her hand and led her to my car. “I don’t normally do this,” she said. I figured that much from the whole virginity thing, but I got where she was coming from.

  I laughed inwardly, then awkwardly admitted, “Sweetheart, I get it. I have to admit that I held the same status you had.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean—you took my virginity, too.” It should have been a hard thing to admit, but I wanted her to know the truth.

  “Okay, what would make you think I’d buy that.”

  “Because it’s true. I know it’s rare for a twenty-three-year-old, but it’s the truth.”

  “Wow, really? I can’t believe it. You’re a guy.”

  “Yes, I can’t say I didn’t get horny or that I haven’t taken matters into my own hands, but I figured it should be special.”

  “So, having sex in the middle of nowhere on the floor of a castle in ruins qualified?”

  “You were there and that’s all that I needed to make it special.”

  She blushed and stopped the questioning. “Did you come to Italy alone?” I should have asked that before, but the thought of another man in her life ticked me off. Seeing that she gave me her virginity, I felt confident enough to ask.

  “I came with my parents, but they had to leave early.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Well, not quite since I got to spend time with you.”

  We continued to talk about her trip and how she’d traveled around Europe. With her leaving in a couple days, I had to convince her that this wasn’t a one-off. We’d be together come hell or high water.

  As much as I wanted to claim her again, I didn’t press it. Instead, I carried her to bed and we fell asleep.

  Chapter 5

  Charlotte

  I woke up shortly after Ian and I had fallen asleep. Doing the right thing hurt, never more than now. I had to leave even if it cut me deep. We didn’t know each other, and I was too damn broken and fragile to let him break me anymore. I’d still been reeling from my parents’ deceit, hurting that they could do that to me.

  Creeping out of the room with my clothes tossed on and my thighs still shaky, I headed to my hotel. I darted into my room without being seen. I’d never had to be this sneaky. Immediately, I grabbed all my things and loaded them into my suitcase. Damn, my body ached. I couldn’t believe we made love in an old ruin in the rain. I blushed thinking about it while sitting in my room.

  I booked my flight for this afternoon, but I wanted to be at the airport well before that. As I checked out, I glanced around, hoping Ian didn’t come looking for me. Yesterday had been amazing, but it was a whim. Something I did to feel wanted. I couldn’t handle Ian’s rejection later, so it would be better if I did the leaving first.

  The taxi driver helped me into the back and loaded my luggage. As I sat there, I saw him coming. I ducked my head and it worked. The driver pulled away without Ian seeing me. “Miss, you’re leaving a lover behind? That is quite unkind,” he said with a smirk.

  I blushed and shook my head, focusing on the view. We passed by the ruins where Ian and I lost ourselves and my eyes couldn’t look away. A new bus full of tourists exited in front of the ruins.

  “Did you get to see them?”

  “Yes, I took the tour.”

  “Good, there are many things to see, but that is one that shouldn’t be missed. They say it is where many go and fall in love.”

  “Really? You’re joking.”

  “I am not. It’s the castle of love. The couple had been married for sixty years, the longest in their time, dying on the same day.”

  “That’s incredible.”

  “Yes, many couples meet their spouses there.”

  I took what he said and let it simmer the entire trip home.

  The moment I landed at the airport, I felt the need to turn back, but it had been too late. It wasn’t as if Ian would want more than a night together. He made it seem that way, but I’d been fooled my entire life. I gave him my virginity. I should regret it and yet, I didn’t. In fact, I’d do it all over again, except I wouldn’t have left.

  When I got to the house, I saw a notice stating they’d sold our house. My belongings had been put into a storage facility and paid for one month. I sat on the steps and cried. What the hell was I going to do now?

  Chapter 6

  Ian

  I searched around town trying to find my runaway bride. We hadn’t actually gotten married, but I was sure once I’d found her we would. It was something set in my mind from the first moment I’d laid eyes on her. Spending my last two days looking for her with no luck, I was forced to return home. With a book publishing company to run, I didn’t have time to be leading a fruitless search. Being smart, I hired someone skilled to do it for me. I looked through my contacts as soon as I arrived, and found the perfect person to handle the matter. After giving him all the information I had on my future wife, I hung up and went to sleep. I needed it. The trip had worn me out.

  ~~~~

  A month into the search, my man still doesn’t have anything for me. “What the hell?” I asked myself.

  “What’s wrong with you, Ian?” Nick asked, walking into my office without knocking.

  “Nothing. What makes you think something is?” I challenged. I thought my attitude had been the same, busy, hardworking, and somewhat lighthearted.

  “Dude, you’ve been phoning that shit in for the past month. The second you returned from Italy, it’s like you’re a new man and that’s not a compliment.”

  “Thanks, dick, but I’m fine, just busy. Taking time off put me behind.”

  “You were over there working except for the last three days, so don’t try and pull that shit with me. I checked our upcoming author releases and contracts. Besides, for someone so busy, how come you haven’t gotten on the thief we have?”

  “That’s because I haven’t heard from the lawyers,” I lied, considering I’d just ended the call with Jax. They handled our business as a favor to our friendship.

  Nick clasped his hands together, then leaned over with his elbows on my desk. “Really, since I just heard you on the phone with Harvey and Croix, I call bullshit.”

  “It’s a different matter. Nothing work related,” I argued and knew that I’d fucked up. Nick was persistent if nothing else. He was pining after a woman who
wouldn’t give him the time of day. She was one of our authors and a really pretty woman, but she didn’t deal well with people. She liked to be left alone all the time, especially when it came to Nick.

  “Could it have to do with your asshole mood?” I couldn’t believe he had the nerve to say that considering since he’d met her he’s been a total dickhead.

  “No, it doesn’t, not that it’s any of your business.” It was the way he’d been with us, but we didn’t let up on him because she was a client of ours.

  He shook his head, not letting up, not that I’d figured he would. “Since we’re family and this is our business, it is. I’m your older brother and I’m worried about you.”

  “Fine, I found a woman in Italy and she ran after an amazing day. I can’t find her anywhere.”

  “Wait, you met someone? Holy fuck, that’s not even possible. You’re like the oldest fucking virgin in the world. Seriously, you’re like twenty-three. Did you end up trying to put it in dry, making her split?” he joked. The asshole needed to chill because I was tempted to jump over my desk.

  “Fuck off. It’s none of your business that I waited that long. The sex was fucking amazing and I wasn’t the only one inexperienced.” It was great for me, but I didn’t know if she had been disappointed. It was crazy, but I always thought I would know if a woman faked it, but if she did I’d had no clue. Maybe he had a point. Shit, I should just tell Jax to forget it, but I knew I couldn’t.

  “Well, good luck finding her. If not there’s other fish in the sea.” I flipped him off only to see my assistant walk into the office. Doesn’t anyone freaking knock? She’s worked for me for three years and has never once walked into my office without knocking. I had a bad feeling about this.

  “What’s going on, Daisy?” She rubbed her hands on her arms.

  “Your mom’s on the phone and something’s not right.” I nodded and she did an about face, leaving us alone.

  “Mom, Nick’s here with me,” I said after putting the phone on speaker.

  “Boys, Dad had a heart attack. We’re at General,” she spouted.

  “We’re on our way.” Nothing else had to be said. In two minutes we were in the elevator and on the way down to my car. God, I hope he’d make it.

  “Bro, he’s going to be fine,” Nick muttered as if convincing himself too.

  Chapter 7

  Charlotte

  “Hello, you must be Charlotte Cross. Welcome to Harvey Croix. I’m Natalie Croix, and this is Eden Harvey.”

  “Oh heavens, you’re Harvey and Croix,” I stated foolishly, well beyond my league. What possessed me to take a job offer that I wasn’t qualified for? Oh yeah, I thought, rubbing my small belly. I couldn’t believe my manager fired me the instant he found out I was pregnant. I should sue his ass for discrimination.

  “Actually, we’re the Mrs. Harvey and Croix. I am not a lawyer, but this beauty is. Right, I know brains, beauty, and the height too. I just want to kick her in her shins.”

  “Don’t mind her, she gets a little talkative…well, all the time. Come with us and we’ll conduct the interview in my office.” I followed behind two of the most beautiful women who couldn’t be more opposite. I felt like I was in the middle of them both in an appearance at least. Mrs. Croix was a tall, leggy, and slender woman. Mrs. Harvey had more curves but was shorter. They were both impeccably dressed, hair perfectly in place. Even in the only dress suit I owned, I felt lost.

  “Relax, Ms. Cross. We don’t bite anyone,” Mrs. Harvey said, catching a side-eye from Mrs. Croix. “Okay, well just our husbands. Anyways, have a seat so we can get started.”

  “First, I know this is a very personal question, but are you?” She gave a circular motion around her belly. I wanted to laugh at her antics.

  “Mrs. Harvey,” I started to say but was quickly stopped.

  “Call me Eden,” she told me.

  I smiled, feeling a little awkward because my situation had gotten me fired from the last place. Most people weren’t interested in hiring anyone when they were going to need time off in less than a year. “Eden, I’m not fat, just pregnant. That’s kind of why I really need this job.”

  Both ladies nodded with kind smiles. “I see. Well, we don’t discriminate, I’m just curious.”

  “That’s nice to know.”

  “So tell us, when can you start?” Eden asked with a smirk on her face. “After all, we can’t wait that long.” She winked, pointedly staring at my belly.

  “Um, what? I thought this was an interview.”

  Mrs. Croix then added, “We do background checks on all potential employees, Ms. Cross. We looked into yours, and with your personable demeanor, you’ll be perfect for working as the receptionist. You can call me Natalie.”

  I practically jumped out of my seat with joy. It took two interviews just to get my tip-based waitress job. I took home great money there because I had a genuine smile and gave flawless service. The money I made allowed me to save a little for community college. I managed to finish one semester before my parents lost their job and I had to drop out, so I could pay the bills.

  Now I was surrounded by well-educated women who were married to their baby’s fathers.

  “I can’t thank you enough,” I exclaimed. “I got canned for being pregnant.”

  “Oh no, that’s not good. We could file a suit against him,”

  “No, thank you. Just having a new one is all that matters to me. I have to be prepared for this baby when he or she comes along.”

  “When are you due?” Mrs. Croix asked.

  “In about five months.”

  “Great, that’ll give you a lot of time to save.”

  “Yes, it will. Thank you so much for this opportunity.”

  I filled out paperwork, then was given a rundown of my daily duties.

  ~~~~~

  Three weeks after working for Harvey and Croix, I was called into the big boss’s office. “Mr. Croix, you needed to see me?”

  “Yes, please take a seat.” I did, feeling nervous due to the way he was looking at me. He’d been nice since I’d met him, but right now I was getting a very unsettling feeling. “I received a request from a friend of mine. He has been sending ‘Cease and Desist’ letters to someone trying to steal from him, but it seems the home where the person lived has been sold. Is there anything you need to tell me?”

  “Um, what? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Look at this.”

  “Oh my God.” I clasped my hand to my face. “I don’t know what this is about. Or even why this person thinks I’m plagiarizing his client’s works. I remember this letter right before the trip I took with my parents. I tossed it out because I thought it was just gibberish. You know how companies send you stuff, so you’ll contact them and they get your personal information. Or like when the people call claiming they’re the IRS. I don’t write and I sure as heck didn’t have time to read before I started working here.”

  “Don’t worry, Charlotte. I know you aren’t the one. Remember my team ran your background before hiring you. Right now the client is going to come in to discuss the matter. I’d like you to meet with us and get it all cleared up. Can you do that?”

  “Oh yes,” I said shakily. The tears in my eyes threatened to fall.

  “Don’t cry, Charlotte. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I just want you to be aware of what’s going on.”

  “Sorry, it’s my hormones.”

  “Here,” he said, handing me a tissue. “I understand. Steady yourself and come into Conference Room A. I want you seated when he comes so you have the upper hand.”

  “Okay,” I muttered, getting up and heading out of his office. Eden was outside the door waiting for me. She gave me a hug. “You’ve got this. Come on, let’s wash your face and get you ready to deal with this nonsense.”

  “You’ve been an amazing boss.”

  “I’d like to think of us as friends.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders and walked me into the
bathroom to freshen up. After feeling somewhat normal again, I stepped into the conference room and took a seat to hear my fate.

  Chapter 8

  Ian

  The past four months had been hell. My father’s recovery had been scary for all of us. He’d been in and out of therapy. They said he’d been overworked and needed to take it easy. He’d been the head of the company since he’d opened it almost thirty years ago. Nick and I took the lead now, but my mother wanted us to slow down even more and let others take over parts so our schedules weren’t bogged down.

  Unfortunately, neither of us could stop working hard. One reason was that I needed to forget about the lack of progress on the search. Apparently, they had a big case that took up their time. Since this was something I only trusted to Jax, I didn’t want anyone but him and Harvey on it.

  Right now, I was meeting them about a stupid thief who refused to acknowledge our cease and desist letters. The bastard had been plagiarizing one of our author’s books and reproducing them as their own with just the names of the characters changed. No one was that foolish. Usually, once we spotted an attempt to rob us, that did the trick, but this guy didn’t stop.

  “Ian, it’s good to see you. How’s your father?”

  “He’s almost back to normal. My mom is refusing to let him lift a finger.”

  “I bet he’s losing his mind,” Jax said with a chuckle.

  I nodded. “He sure is. He wants to get back to work.”

  “Maybe only part-time though,” he suggested. Jax worked harder than most and took great pride in it, so he understood where my dad was coming from.

  “We talked about it and it’s a possibility.” My mom was the ultimate decision maker on that one. I wasn’t going to get between them. She’d ruled the roost since they met. He tried to get Nick and me to back him, but we knew better.

  “Come on, let’s get this over with,” he muttered. I could tell there was something different about his tone, but I shook it off until he opened the door.

  My eyes popped wide open. This fucker lied to me. I leaned over and whispered, “Wait, I thought you said this meeting was about the book thief.”