Miami Bodyguard (Kendall Family Book 5)(24)

"Oh my god, I'd love that." With a little huff, she presses her face against my chest and sinks into me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "But I don't know why you're making me wait to kiss you. It's not like I'm drunk. I'm just … feelin' good. Really good now that I'm here with you."

I wrap her in my arms and inhale her feminine scent, briefly wondering the same damn thing. "Because you're the kind of amazing girl a guy like me can't afford to screw things up with. And if I get a taste of your lips right now, I don't know how I'll stop myself from wanting more."

"Wow … " She breaths in deeply, tightening her hold on me. "You somehow just got even hotter."

With a chuckle, I squeeze her back before releasing her. "Now let's go wait for the others in the lobby before I do something I'll hate myself for later."



The last night of their stay, I take Harlow to a new hibachi place one town over as Levi and Harper get it on in his room. During our day trip, the two of them couldn't keep their hands off each other. I could sense it was making Harlow uncomfortable. Hard to say if it was because she regretted hitting on me the other night, or that she didn't like the idea of her sister hooking up with my cousin. Either way, I kept her involved in the conversations with the new friends to keep her mind off them.

Over dinner, Harlow's in a carefree and fun mood, telling me the kinds of shenanigans her and Harper would do as kids to mess with people. I share similar stories of the things James and I did, surprised by how much we have in common. Two hours later, we return to buy ice cream cones from the resort's little candy shop, and eat them by the massive brick fireplace in the lobby.

Once Harlow has finished her double scoop of mint, she wipes her face and grins shyly. "Thanks for dinner … and the ice cream."

"Any time. I had a blast with you tonight."

"Me too." She scoots over closer, wrapping her fingers with mine. "Is this the part where you take me back to your room and give me that kiss you promised? I've been thinking about it all night."

The need to claim her lips burns through my chest, making what I'm about to say suck ass even more. "I'm not taking you up to my room. The temptation to take it further would all but kill me. I'm seriously attracted to you, Harlow, but I don't want this to be a cheap fling like what your sister and my cousin have going."

Her eyebrows draw down. "Who said it would be a fling?"

"I'm looking at where you and I could possibly go in the long run, and it's headed nowhere. I make a living farming land that's over four hours from where you live. It's part of my dad's legacy. That's not something I can just sell and move on to something else. And with your plans to become an FBI agent, there wouldn't be anything for you in Blue River. That means whatever happens between us could never be anything more than a fling, and I don't want to do that to you. You're a good, sweet girl, and you deserve better."                       
       
           



       

Wincing, she removes her hand from mine, averting her gaze to the crackling fire. "Wow. I can't believe I put myself out there to a guy for once, and I'm being turned down."

"I'd rather take the easier route and drag your beautiful ass upstairs." My blunt fingernails dig into the palms of my hands. Of all the times I had to grow a conscience, why does this have to be the one? "You're every guy's dream girl, Harlow. The right one for you is out there somewhere. I'm not going to waste your time when I already know going into this I can't be him."

"You can't be sweet like that in the same breath you're telling me the reasons why we can't be together." She turns with a funny little smirk on her lips, but sadness in her gaze. "That's not fair."

"The entire situation isn't fair. This sucks ass."

Looking down at my clenched hands, she brushes them with her fingertips. "The least you can do is kiss me goodbye … right here, where it's safe."

I try to swallow. "Are you sure?"

"I don't date. I don't have time for it. You're the closest thing I've had to a boyfriend in forever. Besides … I have yet to be kissed as a twenty-one-year-old."

Through thick lashes, her eyes meet mine. Her cheeks are flushed the prettiest shade of pink. The need to take a picture of this beautiful girl scratches at my chest.

I tip her chin up with a finger, locking our eyes as I bend in for a taste of her mint ice cream flavored lips. They're cold and sticky sweet, parting slightly with a sharp sigh. She cradles my jaw in her fingers, gently slipping her tongue between my lips. As our tongues tangle, the need for more takes over every last molecule of my body, seizing my groin.

She's even softer than I had dreamed a year ago. I want to devour her in every way imaginable, and drown myself in her feminine scent. There's no question she wants it too the way she's kissing me back. Yet I know it'd only be the start down a dead-end road.

I pull back to offer a pathetic smile. "Goodbye, Harlow."

Then I walk away.





14





Angie





I stand on my patio on the Upper East Side, taking in the brand new skyline stretched out in front of my eyes. The mix of Central Park and skyscrapers isn't quite as refreshing as the panoramic view I had of the ocean, but it's a close second. Either way, a fresh start meant relocating. If I wanted to rebuild my career, my options were limited. I wasn't even remotely interested in moving to LA. New York made sense for too many reasons to be denied.

So much has changed since I completed treatment that sometimes I swear I'm living someone else's life. My counselors helped me realize my addiction to anxiety meds wasn't the only part of my life that needed detoxifying. Surrounding myself with a stronger support system was key not only to my success as an actress, but staying sane.

I teetered on the edge when I couldn't accept that John had moved on with someone else. Though the incident at the clinic truthfully was a coincidence as his wife requested to be seen after-hours before they left on a trip to Spain, I can't exactly blame her for thinking I was still stalking them. If an ex had crashed my wedding reception while loaded, I don't know that I would've been quite as calm or graceful as they had been. Sending them a handwritten apology was one of the hardest steps I had to take in the healing process.

I rub my swollen belly, wishing I had even a fraction of elegance that my little sister possessed at the Vampire's Kiss premiere when she was seven months pregnant with Olivia. It's unfair that I'm obnoxiously round and my face has bloated with the added weight gain. I've tried avoiding being seen at all costs, which is ten times easier on the streets of New York than it was in Miami. People generally leave me alone here unless I'm making a scheduled appearance. At least I won't have to worry about toning my body back into shape right away. Filming for my latest role doesn't start for another six months after the baby is due to arrive.

I was sure my career was over when they wrote my character off of Vampire's Kiss. The writers were livid with my departure, while Eddie and my cast-mates were somewhat understanding. At least it's expected they'll be okay since it's becoming the new trend in television series to kill off main characters. It was pure luck that the director of Broken Melodies loved my acting in Vampire's Kiss, and campaigned to have me cast in one of the lead roles after discovering I was available. As one of four main characters portraying up-and-coming musicians living in New York, my hours aren't anything near as gruesome as they were in Miami, and I won't be filming any racy scenes. It'll be my family's chance to watch my work without there being any awkwardness.                       
       
           



       

Plus I'm a cab ride away from James and my two sisters. Recovering alone has been far from easy, but between having them nearby and the great NA sponsor I met through Charlie, I couldn't ask for a better support team.

Well, that's not exactly true. I miss Asher something awful. I'd do anything to find a way to win him back. Although his resentment was completely justified when the blood test came back proving Theo was the father, I've spent every night since praying to whoever's listening that he'd find a way to forgive me. I wasn't brave enough to admit to myself that I love him, or that I both wanted and needed him more than anyone.

Now that he's gone, I'm able to see that truth. I took advantage of his kindness, using him to fill the empty void when the pressure of fame had become overwhelming. If I were stronger, and had more to offer him other than a life with a recovering addict and raising someone else's child, I'd literally get down on my knees and beg him to take me back. My heart aches to a crippling degree whenever I think of him still living in Miami without me.

I was oddly relieved when Theo said he wanted nothing to do with the baby. He immediately signed away his rights, and threw $300k into an account for the baby's college fund. The kiddo and I will be better off on our own anyway. Even if my newest gig is the last role I ever play, I won't have to worry about providing for my child as long as I live modestly.