Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (48 page)

“Is she going to be okay?” he whispered to the nurse, his heart aching over seeing Ronnie injured and helpless.
And all because of him.

The nurse opened the chart and read it, the seconds ticking by like hours until she looked up and met his eyes. “The CAT scan showed she suffered a mild concussion. She was banged up pretty badly, it’s amazing she didn’t break any bones. We’ll have the rest of the results in a few hours,” she said cautiously. “Dr. Draver wants to keep her overnight for observation.

“Okay,” Nick said quietly.

“I’m taking her to a room now.”

“I’ll follow you.” Nick wished with all his heart he could pick Ronnie up and take her back to Starfish Island. He hated that his Ronnie, a free spirit who loved nature so much, was stuck in a sterile hospital like a wounded butterfly.

“Are you related to her?”

“No, but I’m responsible for her. I brought her to the hospital and signed her in.”

When they arrived at the designated room, the nurse said, “There’s a painkiller and sedative in her IV. If she needs anything or wakes up in pain, press this button.” She indicated a remote control button on the monitor beside the hospital bed and left.

Nick stood beside the bed, willing Veronique to open her eyes. When she didn’t, he dropped to his knees on the floor and bowed his head. He hadn’t prayed since he was a little boy, when he would beg God to help them escape his monstrous father. Now he prayed for Ronnie to be well enough for him to take her home and nurse her with tender loving care.

“Please God. Make her be well,” he repeated over and over again.

* * *

Ronnie’s eyelids fluttered as she struggled to center her vision. Her head felt fuzzy and her throat was parched. She slowly began to make out shapes in the room. It was dimly lit and a man was kneeling floor beside her bed. Disoriented, she stared at him.

“Nick?” she said groggily when his features finally came into focus. “What are you doing?”

“I was praying,” he said quietly.

“Why?”

“For you to be okay. You had an accident, honey.”

He was praying for her?
“Am I in the hospital?” she said after processing what he’d just said.

“Yes, the doctor wants to monitor you. How do you feel?”

“Like I was hit by a car. Now I remember how I got here,” she said after a weighted pause.

Nick flinched. “Want me to ask the nurse for more pain killer?”

“No, I don’t want to be doped up.” She stared at him as flashbacks of the accident invaded her mind. “You saved my life,” she marveled. “
Thank you
. If I hadn’t turned when you called out, the car would have killed me.”

Nick heaved a tormented sigh. “Don’t say that. You almost got killed because of me! I don’t ever want to lose you. I’ll never forgive myself for lashing out at you. I’m sorry I hurt you. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

“Yes, but you need to hear me out first.” She sighed. “First get up. You look positively tragic. No one is getting rid of me that easily.”

“Good thing, cause I’d miss your sassy mouth.” Nick sank into a chair beside her.

“I want to explain about the video. You deserve the truth, but oh God, it’s embarrassing.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Embarrassing? How?”

Veronique inhaled much-needed air into her lungs and said, “When I saw you working outside shirtless, I had to capture how hot you looked. I told you I wouldn’t take more pictures, so I filmed you instead.” She looked away from his searching gaze. “I didn’t know how much longer I’d have with you and I wanted to keep it as a memory. For my eyes only. I swear,” she said, her cheeks ablaze.

He leaned forward and gently kissed her head where it wasn’t bandaged. “It’s okay, I believe you, honey. I’m no longer upset about it. I’m, well… I’m flattered,” he said with a lopsided grin.

She expelled a deep sigh of relief. “You’re flattered and I’m mortified,” she said ironically, wishing her vivid blush would fade as she searched the room. “Where’s my purse? You needed the flash drive for the meeting.”

“Don’t worry, I sent it by courier and it got there on time.”

“What happened at the meeting?”

“Elizabeth got kicked out as CEO and was promptly arrested and hauled away in handcuffs.”

“Good!”

“She’s in jail. And I just got a text from Fred that the hit man was caught near the Canadian border.”

“Yay,” she said weakly. “I’d smile, but it hurts too much.” She looked around the room. “How long have I been in the hospital?”

“It’s four o’clock. The ambulance brought you in around ten this morning. Do you remember anything about this morning?” he asked earnestly.

“I do. The most important thing,” she said softly, her gaze tenderly roving his face.

“What’s that? Did you see the hit man’s face?”

“No, I meant when you shouted out that you loved me.” She drew in a tremulous breath, hoping he’d say it again.

“I do love you, Ronnie. I was too damned stubborn and too blinded by past hurt to admit it.”

“Really?” she whispered, deeply touched by his humble tone. Her heart expanded with happiness.

He loved her!

“Yes, really.” He smiled and shook his head. “When I saw you that first day through the window doing a happy dance in the rain, it occurred to me how dull my life had been the past six months. I don’t want to go back to Starfish Island alone. I want you beside me, making life beautiful. I can’t live without you, baby.”

Her heart nearly stopped with joy when he dropped to his knees again and she saw pure love reflected in his eyes. She held her breath and gazed into his beautiful eyes. He looked like he had something very important to say.

“I don’t have a ring for you yet, but I’m giving you my heart since you’ve already stolen mine. Marry me, Ronnie. Make my life complete,” Nick said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

She searched his tortured eyes. He looked so distressed, she could only imagine how guilty he felt over her almost getting killed. “You don’t have to do it out of guilt, Nick. None of this was your fault. I know how you feel about marriage—”

“Hush, now you’re making me upset,” he growled. “I need you more than the air I breathe. If it weren’t for those tubes you’re connected to, I’d show you just how much right now.”

“Oh, how I wish you would.” Her heart felt close to bursting with so much love, it was almost painful.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll make up for lost time when I bring you home with me. We have a lifetime of loving ahead,” Nick said, rising from the floor to deposit a tender kiss on her lips.

“A
whole
lifetime,” Veronique agreed. Happy tears welled up as she gazed at the wonderful man who raided her heart many years ago and never let go.

Epilogue

Two months later on Starfish Island…

Veronique sat next to Nick on the porch step with her white kitten asleep on her lap. Nick had bought her the kitten when they’d returned from New York. As soon as she’d stopped bawling like a baby that he’d brought her a kitty that looked just like Slinky, she’d promptly named her Abby.

Veronique had recuperated from the accident and her bruised body was healing nicely. The doctors had voiced their amazement that she hadn’t broken anything. She loved telling everyone it was hearing Nick say, “I love you,” that had made her bounce, rather than break.

The past two months, Nick had watched over her like a hawk, making sure she rested and ate healthily. It was a good thing too, because she would need the extra nutrition now. Maman was in a tizzy planning her wedding and her Heart sisters had assured her they’d drop everything to be her bridesmaids. They were all rejoicing that she’d be marrying Nick. Teddy had let out such a loud whoop that Veronique almost dropped the phone.

It seemed the happiest of all was Nick’s mom, Susan. From the moment Veronique met Susan, she felt an affinity with her. A warm, affectionate woman, she’d pulled Veronique into her arms for a tight hug. When she’d stolen a moment alone with her, Susan had said, “You’ve made my son so happy, I love you already, Ronnie!”

Nick was happier than ever these days. The missing funds had been returned to the Cameron Hope Foundation and he was at the helm as CEO again. His next project was to fund a shelter in Miami for abused women hiding from their violent partners. Veronique was already planning a series of articles to bring awareness to their plight.

She was relieved Elizabeth was in jail awaiting trial. Vying for a lenient sentence, the hit man had pleaded guilty and confessed to killing Slinky and targeting Veronique to kill her on Elizabeth’s orders.

“Look at her.” Nick’s voice stirred her from her musings and brought her to the present as he nodded at the tiny white kitten curled on her lap purring softly. He petted Abby’s head and said, “You’d think she was attached to your lap.”

“She’ll have to make room for another soon,” Veronique said happily.

Nick’s hand went still on Abby’s head as he looked up. “What do you mean?”

“Contrary to what you might think, you are not infertile, Nick Cameron,” she said, grinning broadly.

“You mean?” His beautiful blue eyes searched hers with wonder.

“Yes! You’re going to be a daddy.”

His eyes widened as his jaw dropped. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” she said proudly.

“You’ve made me so happy!” He took Abby off her lap and set the kitten on the floor. Lifting Veronique in his arms, he carried her inside, huskily murmuring in her ear, “I’m going to show you just how happy.”

And he did until she was speechless with bliss.

THE END

About the Author

Sophia Knightly

USA Today bestselling author, Sophia Knightly, loves to cook up hot romance and delicious humor in her feel-good stories. Whether it's romantic suspense, romantic comedy or chick lit, her books are fun and sexy contemporary romances that feature hot alpha heroes and strong, smart women.

A two-time Maggie award finalist and a P&E Readers' Poll finalist, she is traditionally published by St. Martin's Press, Kensington and Samhain Publishing. Her popular Tropical Heat Series books,
Wild for You
and
Sold on You
, have consistently been on multiple Amazon bestselling lists and sold over 100,000 copies.

When not writing or reading, she loves walking the beach, exploring museums, going to the theatre, enjoying good food, and watching movies. One of her favorite pastimes remains simply watching people, especially those in love!

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Additional Books by Sophia Knightly

HEART MELTER
(Heartthrob Series, Book Two)

SOLD ON YOU
(Tropical Heat Series, Book Two)

GRILL ME, BABY

NAUGHTY VEGAS NIGHTS

by Tawny Weber

Chapter One

“Does Las Vegas do crazy things to people’s sex drives?”

Natasha Stover looked around the convention center, wondering how many times these people thought they’d be getting laid over this five day event.

“We’ve only been at this for a few hours and we’re already running low on condoms. At this rate, I’ll be out before the weekend.”

She’d thought her years of prophylactic paranoia were long gone. But here she was again, thanks to Las Vegas, lingerie and a desperate need to prove herself.

“Well, how could you know? You’d think two cases would be enough for a five day convention.” Lanie Burton, Natasha’s assistant for the week and her best friend for always, burrowed under the draped table for the second case.

Even muffled, her tone echoed Natasha’s stunned reaction. And with good reason. It was barely noon on Wednesday, the first day of the
Las Vegas Lingerie Convention
, one of the biggest in the industry. And that meant venders, buyers, designers and wholesalers from all over the world would be traipsing through this hall over the next five days.

Natasha’s frugal soul shuddered as Lanie ripped open the second box of assorted prophylactics and refilled the large brandy snifter display bowl. The harsh overhead lights glinted off the foil squares and a small sign requesting business cards in exchange for a condom advertising her aunt’s company,
Sensual Support Lingerie
. Natasha flicked her thumbnail over the dozen or so cards and sighed. Apparently the convention-goers were reading-challenged, although they clearly weren’t performance-challenged.