Beauty and the Bachelor(38)

"Did you know?" she asked.

"Not until I arrived here today," he said, his piercing scrutiny focused on her.

"Why are you here, Lucas?" Even to her own ears, she sounded tired,  wary. Her father's confession and declaration had taken a lot out of her  emotionally. After their last confrontation, part of her feared what  Lucas sat here, ready to tell her. And though she loved him, he'd hurt  the hell out of her with his deception. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you  about not turning in my father, but you still lied to me about buying up  the Blake Corp. stock and trying to take the company over-"

"I came to tell your father the truth about who I was, about our  marriage, and why you left me." A pause. "He beat me to two of those."

She rocked back against the arm of the couch. Why would he reveal his secret, expose himself?

"Before I met you, revenge was my one purpose. It drove me, it defined  me. And I tried to hold on to it, because without my anger, I didn't  know who I was. But over the last few weeks, I've discovered who and  what I am. I'm your husband. I'm free of guilt. I'm more. Because of  you. And I'm in love with you."

God. Hope, beautiful but so fragile hope, fluttered inside her like a  butterfly battling its way out of its cocoon. "Lucas … " she murmured.

"I own 46 percent of your father's company, which makes me the majority  shareholder. But this morning, I had my lawyers draw up another  contract. This one signs over every share to you. You can give them to  your father or keep them. It's up to you. And no matter what you decide,  I'm still going to place the full influence and money of Bay Bridge  Industries behind Blake Corporation to make it solvent once again. Even  if your father has to step down because of his plea bargain, the company  will remain in your family. Your legacy," he murmured. "I've caused you  so much pain, Sydney. And I'm sorry. I never want to see hurt and  disappointment in your eyes again. I know I don't deserve your  forgiveness, but I'm going to ask for it anyway. Forgive me, sweetheart.  And come home to me. I love you with everything I am." He paused.  "Please … love me."         

     



 

Love, powerful and huge, swelled in her chest, filling her, spilling out  of her. That this beautiful, strong, prideful man would humble himself  before her and the man he'd considered his enemy to ask for her  forgiveness and declare his love for her-for her.

After seeing the file he'd possessed and added to for years, she  understood the enormity of his sacrifice. For half his life, he'd  planned his revenge, but he'd placed her above it … loved her more.

"I love you," she confessed, voice soft, trembling. Then stronger, louder. "I love you."

With a groan, he launched himself across the length of the couch,  crushing his mouth to hers. As always, she opened to him, accepting him,  embracing him. The kiss was familiar and new. Their present and future.

"Say it again," he whispered against her lips. "Please. I need to hear you say it again."

"I love you." She pressed a kiss to each corner of his mouth, to his  scar. "Who you were, who you are, and who you'll be. I love you."

And sealed the vow with a kiss of passion. Of trust. Of forever.





Epilogue


One year later

"How in the world did you convince him to participate?" Sydney demanded.  Lucas grinned, and she groaned in return, rolling her eyes. "Oh, God.  You're smiling," she drawled.

Lucas laughed, catching the irony of her words since, just a year  earlier, Aiden had said almost the same thing to him at this same venue.  Except this time Lucas was attending the Rhodonite Society's annual  Masquerade Bachelor Auction with his wife, and his smile was one of pure  joy.

"I told Aiden his taking part in the auction would be wonderful  publicity for the company … and I may know the location of certain  pictures from our college days that would be pretty embarrassing were  they ever to see the light of day."

"That's so wrong. Effective, but wrong." She snickered. "Why wouldn't he  want to join in? This is, after all, the place you and I met. Who  knows? Maybe he could find the future Mrs. Kent tonight."

"Yeah, sweetheart, not a selling point."

She gasped in mock outrage, jamming a fist on her hip, the mound of her belly more pronounced. "I beg your pardon."

"For him, of course." He smoothed a hand over her stomach and the baby  sleeping inside. Excitement and delight pulsed through him when he felt a  small nudge against his palm. Three more months, and he would be able  to hold his precious daughter in his arms. "The night I came here was  the luckiest and best of my life."

A warm, beautiful smile lit her face, and he couldn't resist placing a  kiss on those gorgeous, sexy lips. God, he loved her. He didn't think it  was possible to adore one person so much that life without her scared  the shit out of him. She'd taught him forgiveness, blessed him with a  family, brought life into the darkness that had been his life.

The hostess for the evening stepped out onto the stage, signaling the  start of the auction. The same MC he'd bribed to supply Sydney with the  wrong bachelor number. He laughed softly and guided Sydney to their  table, seating his wife before settling next to her. She glanced around,  and he clasped her hand. Charlene hadn't attended the event this year.  Since Jason had pleaded guilty to several federal charges related to the  fraud and started his three-year sentence six months earlier, Charlene  had become something of a social hermit. She'd found it hard to face the  people she'd called friends, embarrassed over her husband's actions.  Sydney worried about her mother but also understood she could only do so  much. At least finding out she would soon be a grandmother had brought  some joy to the older woman. Hopefully, this new life would help bring  healing.

In the meantime, Sydney had blossomed. She'd enrolled in a master's  program at Boston University to earn a degree in social work, as well as  continuing to mentor and work at the youth center. Though touched by  his signing over his shares in her family's company to her, she'd  trusted him with the management of the assets, and he hadn't betrayed  that belief in him. Just a year had passed, but the reputation and  financial health of the business was improving bit by bit, so when the  time came, her legacy would pass along to their legacy.

"You're thinking too hard," she whispered, her lips brushing against his  jaw and setting a match to the desire that always simmered for her. He  returned the caress, grazing her mouth with his and inhaling her  honeysuckle scent.

"I love you," he murmured. Settling a hand over her belly and his child,  he pressed a kiss to her gold and brown curls. "Both of you."         

     

His tale had begun with blackmail and revenge and ended in joy and love.

Now that the beast had his beauty.



Did you love this Indulgence? Check out more of our category romance 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


First and always, I give thanks to my Father, who has blessed me time  and time again. Just when I start to think I've reached my limit of  strength, creativity, and peace, You prove me wrong. And the best  moments of my life are when You prove me wrong. Looking forward to  co-authoring more books with You.

To Gary. If there is a man who is more supportive, kind, loving, and  patient, he's probably wearing a halo over his head. LOL! I love you,  admire you, and strive to be more like you.

To, Debra Glass. You never fail to make me feel like a glittery,  princess version of Nalini Singh. Your selflessness has been a true  blessing. You are a true blessing, and I thank you for your time,  advice, that beautiful brain of yours and Daredevil.

To Jessica Lee. You've been my partner in this journey, and I can't  think of a better wingman-or wingwoman. Or whatever. Bottom line, you  rock, lady!

To Tracy Montoya. Thank you for the following: Challenging me. Pushing  me to dig deeper and be a better writer. Encouraging me. Being such a  wonderful editor. Always going to bat for me. Being you. And-which might  be the most important of all-introducing me to Firefly.

To The Saints and Sinners. The best street team EVAH!! Y'all are my  comic relief, my peeps, my sounding boards, and just a plain good time. I  love hanging out with you guys! And I love each and every one of you!