Bachelor For Hire

“You have to ask him. Go right up to him and say, you’re absolutely gorgeous and I want to take your picture. Shirtless. It’s perfect!”

Ava laughed at her friend’s exuberance. “Sophie you’re crazy. If I say that I’ll sound more like a horny stalker than a photographer.”

Sophie shook her short brown curls. “That’s where you’re wrong. It’s because you’re a photographer that you can say things like that. Call it a…professional observation,” her hands flourished to make her point.

Ava shook her head at Sophie. She could really use the help of someone like Kade Steele to get her revamped photo studio, Bow & Arrow, off the ground. She’d been open for three months and all she’d done were portrait studios for anniversaries, first birthdays, headshots and the like. Ava loved being a photographer but an actual photographer not a human tripod. Her grandmother loved studio portraits because she loved the controlled environment and documenting special occasions. She spent two years traveling the globe capturing the most spectacular images of poverty in Africa, war in the Middle East, natural disasters everywhere and all the beauty the world had to offer. Those two years revitalized her and fostered her love of photography and she was on her way to becoming a great photojournalist. Then grandma got sick and she had to return to Rainbow Springs. “I don’t think that will work Soph.”

She shrugged, tucking her hair behind her ear. “It’s worth a shot. What else are you going to do?”

Wasn’t that the million dollar question? She had a few ideas swirling around in her head but she had to pick one and figure out how to make it work. “As soon as I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know. I promise.”

“You better figure it out soon girlie, you can’t afford another three months without making a profit.”

Ava groaned. That was the problem. She knew she could come up with a good idea and make it work. Eventually. She needed a great idea that would work almost immediately and only one man in Rainbow Springs could do that. Kade Steele. “I guess I better go see Mr. Steele.”

Three days later Ava was dressed in her best outfit to meet the billionaire who could save her business. She’d worn all white because it complemented her cocoa brown skin, a fitted white tank dress with a trendy white half jacket. Her stilettos were a vibrant sexy red, the only nod to color. I look good, she thought as she twirled in the mirror to make sure she looked like a respectable businesswoman. Her brown waves were still sun kissed a dark gold color from the years spent in warm climates and she let them hang free. “Okay we’re ready to go.”

She was nervous about her meeting with Kade. Not only was he more handsome than any man ought to be, he was as rich as an oil sheik and as ruthless as any psychopath. She’d never met anyone like him, ever. In her travels she’d come across dignitaries and celebrities but out in the field the job was to focus on those who needed you, needed resources, so they were all equal. Actresses wore ponytails and khaki pants, and slathered their skin in sunscreen, they didn’t worry about makeup and designer clothes.

Ava needed this to work. She needed to keep some form of her grandma’s studio thriving to maintain a connection to her and to this town that had taken in a young distraught and instantly orphaned Ava and welcomed her. She couldn’t fail.

She wouldn’t.

“Dammit! Violet get in here, now.” When he didn’t hear the familiar shuffle of her nude colored pumps, Kade added an annoyed, “please.”

Two seconds later the grey haired dynamo who was the keeper of his secrets, his life, his business and his schedule scurried in with an amused glint in her eye. “Yes, Mr. Steele?”

He tried to fight it but the smile at her impertinence broke free but his smile quickly faded. “Bruce Henderson is considering selling Cakes A-shakin’ to Jax Barrington, can you believe that? All because Jax has a pretty little fiancé and they’re planning a big society wedding.” He scoffed, “There’s no society in Rainbow Springs.” He wanted to buy the chain of bakeries because they’d shown tremendous promise in the last few years, and with a growing customer base the opportunity to franchise was right there waiting.

“One could argue having five billionaires in a town this small is high society.”

Kade rolled his eyes at her comment. He hated those over the top, ostentatious displays of money. He wore tailored designer suits to work and his clothes were expensive but after work he wore jeans, t-shirts and board shorts. He didn’t wear a tie when he didn’t have to and he had no plans to settle down with some gold digger just to please an old fashioned dinosaur. But if he wanted Bruce to at least consider him, he needed to look like he wasn’t a playboy. Then he would sell Henderson on his skill and personality to the old man. “Do we know anyone appropriate to play the doting girlfriend?”

Violet’s laugh was melodic as it carried on longer than it should have. “I’m sure any girl in town would love a chance to be on your arm Mr. Steele.”

“True but my usual dates won’t satisfy Henderson. I need someone sweet and wholesome, a girlfriend who looks like the settling down type, without stars in her eyes about actually settling down with me.”

She stood and straightened her grey wool suit, patted her bun to ensure not a hair broke free. “Maybe you ought to consider taking time to get a real relationship.”

“Not a chance.” Women were too much work and much too complicated to make any one of them permanent. They either wanted to spend his money or take up all of his time, neither of which he was prepared to give. So he stayed happily single, easily able to secure a date or bedmate when he needed one. Violet shook her head and walked out but he was sure she said something about seeing the show when he fell. Fat chance of that happening, he thought bitterly.

Half an hour later Violet escorted his next appointment into the office. Ava Nelson was a 25 year old photographer in town and he had no idea why she wanted to meet with him. He didn’t recognize her and he was certain if he’d ever met this goddess with brown sugar skin he’d have remembered. She was a breathtaking beauty and he was captivated by her from the moment he set eyes on those plump pink lips and those toned legs looking endless in the sexiest pair of red heels he’d ever seen. “Ms. Nelson,” he stood and put on the smile that was guaranteed to make women melt, his hand extended to hers.

She smiled and prayed her smile didn’t falter at the sight of his gorgeous smile at full wattage. Goodness the man looked even better up close than he did in pictures. His sandy hair was slightly tousled, his green eyes sparkled like emeralds and diamonds and those dimples said he wasn’t all bad boy. She didn’t believe that for a second. Those dimples lied. “Mr. Steele, please call me Ava.”

“Ava,” her name rolled off his tongue.

Her body shivered at the sound of her name in his mouth. Control your hormones, this is a meeting not a date! She couldn’t allow herself to become distracted. There would be plenty of time to fondle his male beauty with her eyes during the photo shoot. “Thank you for meeting me today Mr. Steele. I really appreciate it.”

He hadn’t even heard her, only knew she was talking because his eyes were riveted on her full mouth. Perfect for kissing…and other things. The smile her gave her this time was placid, professional. “How can I help you today Ava?”

Ava smiled, nervous. His rich deep voice made the question seem a lot dirtier than she was sure he’d intended. “I’d like your help.”

He groaned inwardly. Of course she did. Beautiful women didn’t just show up at his office to take him out to lunch or out of the goodness of their hearts. “We have a charitable donations department, perhaps they can help you.”

Ava was confused. “Why would I need them? I need you.” Her eyes widened at the slip. “I mean I need you, uh, okay let’s start over. I’m not here for charity, not really.” She went on to explain, mostly without a stutter, what she needed from him and why. For his part he listened intently for which she was eternally grateful.

Kade leaned back in his chair and looked her over, an idea forming in his head. She could be perfect. “You want me to model for you?” Although well hidden under her dark brown skin, her innocent blush made Kade smile and want to do other things that would make her blush. “Why?”

Come on Ava. This is it. She could tell he was having fun at her expense and she didn’t mind. Especially if it persuaded him to agree to model for her. “Because you are incredibly good looking,” her eyes widened again, “You are attractive” he cut her off with a slice of his hand in the air.

“You said ‘incredibly good looking’” he teased.

“Attractive, single, and a high profile man in Rainbow Springs. You’d be perfect.”

“For what?”

“My ad campaign and calendar.”

“Calendar?” His brows rose in suspicion. She nodded. “Yes businessmen bachelors would be the calendar and then there’d be some studio shots of you for the marketing campaign.”

“You’re asking quite a lot, you know.”

She nodded. She did know she was asking a lot, probably too much. But she hoped his sense of philanthropy would make it difficult to say no. “Yes I’m aware it is a lot. However I’d be willing to hire you for your time and provide you with free professional headshots.”

He thought about it. He wasn’t a model that was for sure but he knew he was attractive, incredibly good looking, he amended with a smile, and he could use more headshots. But he also needed something else. “I’ll do it.” He’d said the words before he could fully think them through.

Her eyes widened, the gold flecks highlighted in the midday sun. “You will? That’s great!” She stood and bent over his desk, her hand reaching out to him. “Thank you so much Mr. Steele, I truly appreciate it.”

“But I require something in return.”

Her smiled dimmed at the tone in his voice. Surely he wouldn’t be requesting that, she thought. He was Kade Steele and he always had a beautiful woman on his arm. “Sure. What is it you require Mr. Steele?”

“A fiancé.”

She gasped. “A fiancé? I have a few single friends but I assure you Mr. Steele I’m no matchmaker.”

He wanted to laugh at her ramblings. Goodness he actually thought they were…cute. He groaned inwardly and stood. “You misunderstand me Ava.” At her confused look he leaned forward until his face, his mouth was inches from hers. “You should get used to calling me Kade since you’ve agreed to be my fiancé for the next few months.”

“It’s just a date Sophie, no big deal.”

“No big deal?” Sophie looked around Ava’s empty bedroom as though she were addressing a crowd. “She’s going on a date with Kade Steele, mega hot billionaire and she says it’s ‘no big deal’!” Sophie was overexcited and a tad jealous of her friend. “How can you say this is no big deal?”

Because none of it is real, she thought sadly. Yes she had agreed to become Kade’s fiancé, fake fiancé she amended, but the fake part was to remain between them. So they had to go on few dates because in a town as small as Rainbow Springs, word of their relationship would spread quickly. Like a virus. Ava sighed sadly. Of course the first relationship she’d had in years would have to be with a gorgeous man totally out of her league, oh and completely fictional. “It’s just dinner.”

“With Kade Steele! Might I remind that you he’s hot enough to set a girl’s panties on fire? Your words, not mine.” Sophie smoothed Ava’s dress over her hips, “I hope you’ve decided to spare your panties death by smoldering,” she laughed, looking at her friend in the mirror.

Ava couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay yes he’ll make fine eye candy for a few hours. But I’m not expecting anything.” The truth was Ava rarely expected anything of men. After a few failed relationships on her travels Ava figured she wasn’t meant to have that kind of connection with anyone. Her most recent relationship with a dentist had ended two years ago when she surprised him with lunch at his office. Turns out she was the one surprised when she found him buried deep in his receptionist. She walked away and never looked back. She was content to be on her own, most of the time.

“You’re nuts Ava, you should be expecting everything!” She shook her friend with excitement. “Everyone knows Kade doesn’t date women in Rainbow Springs. If he asked you out, he must really like you.”

Ava released a long patient breath. “Sophie he doesn’t really know me. I’m sure he asked me out because I wasn’t impressed with him.” That much was true. She knew he could easily spot her attraction to him but she hadn’t angled for more than his help with her studio and that either surprised him or bruised his ego, hence this ridiculous proposition.

“That’s even better.” She shrugged, “This way he’ll know you’re not interested in him for his money.”

She couldn’t deny she was impressed by his success but it was his face and his body that had her most intrigued. Too intrigued. “Don’t get your hopes up, Soph.” Or mine.

Ava listened and tried to dress while Sophie continued to prattle on about how cool it would be if she and Kade got married and had gorgeous coffee & cream babies. It was impossible to block out her chatter so Ava tried to redirect it. “What do you think,” she asked and twirled in a borrowed red cocktail dress that hugged her waist and flared out at the hips.

“I think I’m coming over tomorrow morning for all the dirty details!” Sophie laughed and pulled a pair of red wedges with silky red ribbons from her closet. “Wear these and you’ll be happily married in six months.”

If only you knew, girl.

Kade waited, a bit impatiently, for Ava to arrive at the restaurant he’d chosen for their first date. He wanted to pick her up but she told him, “I don’t know you well enough for that.” He smiled even now, thinking about her answer. Normally he would have fought her on it but he understood a single girl had to be diligent about her safety. His gaze drifted to his watch yet again even though she wasn’t late. Yet.

He was used to women playing games and making him wait in hopes of blowing him away with some grand entrance. It never worked and it only served to piss him off. He hoped Ava wasn’t one of those women and quickly shook off the thought. Unlikely. She was an artist so chances were good she frequently lost track of time. “Holy hell,” he muttered when he caught sight of the vision in red sashaying his way. He stood to greet her.

“Hi,” she said softly when she was a few feet from him.

“Hi,” he barked out and cleared his throat. “You look beautiful,” he said, this time his voice was low and deep. Seductive.

She blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Thanks. You, uh, look pretty great too.”

Kade laughed and pulled her chair out. When he sat his laughter had subsided. “Thank you Ava. I can’t remember the last time a woman complimented me.”

It was her turn to laugh only it came out more like a snort of disbelief. “I sincerely doubt that Kade.” She refused to believe women let a moment pass without telling him exactly how mouth-watering he looked.

“Mouth-watering, huh?” He tried to hold in his laughter since she clearly hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but he couldn’t. “You’re good for my ego.”

When he flashed that smile at her, both dimples winking and those green eyes reeling her in, Ava knew this man could wreak havoc on a girl’s libido. Her smile was sweet, “I doubt you need any ego massage from me. After all you are the Man of Steele.”

Kade groaned as she mentioned his nickname. It was an unfortunate moniker that had stuck thanks to a particularly talkative bed partner of his. He knew he should be flattered but he wasn’t. His bedmates knew he was more than capable of pleasing them so the whole world didn’t need to know. “I guess you heard about that too.”

She chuckled but said nothing as the waiter approached. They ordered drinks and when the waiter left she leaned in conspiratorially, “Don’t worry Kade, your virtue is safe with me.”

He stared at her for a few seconds and then laughed. For the second time since she arrived. That had to be a personal best for his dates. “I’m wounded,” he clutched his heart with a smile, “you have no plans to ravish me this evening?”

“No not this evening.” Her face was totally deadpan and her smile broke when he tried to fight his laughter. “I like you Kade Steele, you’re a funny guy.”

Kade liked Ava too, a strange twist of events he hadn’t anticipated. She’d ordered a dark ale to drink, not wine, and she made him laugh. So far this was the strangest, most fun date he’d been on and the food hadn’t even arrived. “Thanks Ava.”

She took a sip of her beer and licked the foam from her lip. She did a damn good job of ignoring the groan coming from the other side of the table, thank you very much. “So what should we talk about? Stock market? Football? Babes?”

“Babes?” His face was going to ache from smiling so much but it was worth it. “If I said babes, what would you say?”

She shrugged. “I spent about six months doing fashion photography in Europe so I can talk babes all day,” she gave him a cheeky wink that was so unlike her she felt her skin heat with embarrassment.

“I thought you did portrait photography like your grandmother.”

Her eyes widened. “You knew my grandma?”

His eyes lit with amusement. “Who do you think did my ‘stuffy outdated’ headshots?”

She cringed as he repeated her words back to him. “Luckily you don’t know how to take a bad photo.”

He laughed. “Nice save.”

“Thanks.” They placed their orders and she spoke again, “I spent the years before Grandma got sick traveling the globe as a photojournalist. I covered the flooding in New Zealand, the drought in Zimbabwe and the refugees in Syria before coming back to Rainbow Springs.” She took a long sip of her beer. “Sorry I tend to ramble about my work and I haven’t dated in awhile so I’m a tad rusty.”

Kade stared at the brown skinned stunner across from him in complete awe. She was smart, ambitious, witty and she seemed to genuinely like him. Too bad you’ve forced her to be your fake fiancé. He was starting to think maybe Violet was right, he should have gotten a real girlfriend. “You’re a pretty impressive woman Ava.” He held his drink up and she knocked her glass with his. “I have to know Ava. You’re gorgeous, smart, funny and ambitious, why haven’t you dated in awhile?”

She shrugged and told him the whole sordid tale of Robert and her failed relationships on the road. She wasn’t ashamed, well maybe about the whole Robert thing, and it’s not like this was a real date anyway. Even if it felt like it was.

“I know what your problem is,” he said smugly, sitting back in his chair with those muscular arms folded over his chest.

She wanted to be offended except that teasing glint in those mesmerizing green eyes gave him way. “Oh yeah? Do tell.”

“The guys you date are blind, deaf and dumb.”

Now it was her turn to toss her head back and laugh, probably louder than was acceptable in a restaurant like the one they were in, but she couldn’t help it. “Present company excluded.”

Kade couldn’t tear his gaze away from the long column of her neck as she leaned back laughing. The tops of her breasts shook ever so slightly with laughter and he was enchanted, something he hadn’t been in a long time. “Damn straight,” he smiled in response.

“I’m moving in with Kade,” Ava figured it was best to tell her best friend by ripping the Band-Aid off.

Sophie looked up from her laptop, eyes wide with shock and something else. She tossed her laptop aside and jumped up, wrapping her arms tight around Ava’s neck. “Is this for real? Are you serious? Are you guys serious?”

Ava peeled Sophie’s strong arms from her neck and stepped back. She hated lying but she made a promise. “Yes I’m for real and quite serious. As far as us being serious,” she lifted up her hand to show off the ridiculous diamond Kade insisted she wear, “he’s asked me to marry him.” Ava braced herself.

Sophie jumped up and down screaming, “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!”

“Calm down Soph, I think all of Rainbow Springs can hear you.” She wished she could be as excited as her friend. Unfortunately Ava was stuck with truth and reality.

“Why aren’t you more excited? Don’t you love it, love him?”

This was it, the first test. Ava pinned a smile to her face and let her eyes go dreamy. “Of course I do Soph, but I can’t help but be skeptical. What does a billionaire want with me?” That stung a little, was a bit too close to home but luckily Kade didn’t really love her so it was a fictional sting.

“Get outta here,” Sophie wrapped an arm around Ava’s shoulder. “He’d have to be an idiot not to realize how stunning you look, that crazy sexy body and that wicked sharp intelligence. I know it hasn’t been long but you’re awesome and if he doesn’t know that, well send him to me and I’ll tell him a thing or two.”

“Trust me, I know,” a familiar voice boomed in her small apartment.

Both women turned at the deep voice and gasped. Sophie recovered faster. “Kade Steele you are one lucky man. Ava is the best,” she extended a hand out to him. “And just wow, you really are better looking in person.” She turned to hug Ava. “Let me know if I need to beat him up, okay? Call me, love you!” And she was gone and Ava was alone in her apartment. With Kade.

He laughed, “Your friend is quite the character. I like her.”

His kind words were enough to settle her nerves. “Yeah Sophie is my best friend. She’s crazy but I love her.”

“Not that crazy,” he stroked his chin, “After all she did say I was better looking in person.”

Ava laughed and tossed a throw pillow at him. “I said she was crazy, not blind.” She turned back to him, “What are you doing here?”

Kade frowned, “You’re moving in today.” At her blank stare his voice turned gruff. “I’m helping you move your stuff.”

She smiled. “Oh. You didn’t have to do that.”

Kade crossed the room in several long strides, his expression dark. “Let’s get one thing straight honey. I’m not about to let you move into my house all by yourself. That’s not how I do things.”

“Let? Kade Steele you may be the master of your universe,” she poked him in the chest, “but you can’t let me do anything. I don’t ask permission from you or anyone else. Got it?”

“As long as you’re not doing anything crazy or dangerous, maybe.” At her incredulous look he leaned down until her breath fanned his face. “Ava I take care of what’s mine and like it or not, you’re mine.”

Whoa. How could a girl not like being the focus of all that masculine energy? She sucked in a breath and closed her eyes to shut down the desire suddenly bubbling to the surface. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time Kade, and I’ve done just fine.”

Kade reached out and grasped her chin in his fingers, tilting her head so she was looking at him. “You’re not alone now Ava and for as long as that’s true I’m going to look out for you. Get used to it.”

There was no point arguing with him when he got all alpha, she realized and she removed herself from his grasp and walked to her bedroom. She looked over her shoulder, “Since you want to be so helpful, pack up the list in the kitchen, the box is on the floor.” She quietly closed the door behind her. Being in such close proximity to him was messing with her head, her body. It was making her want things she’d shut down years ago, after Robert.

Falling for and losing a man like Kade would destroy her.

“Is this okay?”

Kade turned at Ava’s soft husky voice. He held in a groan when she sank her teeth into that sexy red bottom lip.

“So…not okay?”

“No,” he spat and looked at her hurt expression. “I mean no, it’s not not okay.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “I’m saying no don’t change you look breathtaking.” She really did in the pink rose dress she wore that skimmed her knees and hugged her breasts. She wore a dark pink cashmere sweater and pink heels. She looked like the perfect fiancé and every dirty dream he’d had for the past two weeks.

“Really?” She didn’t want to believe him but the way he stared at her set her body on fire in a way that said he meant every single word.

“Hell yes. In that dress Henderson will have no doubts about how we’ll spend the evening once he leaves.”

She shook her head with a smile to cover her blush. “Kade, the things you say to me, I swear. No wonder everyone woman in town is in love with you.”

His gaze darkened for a second before returning to normal. “No sweetheart, that’s the money.”

She cupped his jaw, “Don’t sell yourself short Kade, you’re also hot with a sexy body.”

He turned his head slightly and kept those enchanting green eyes trained on her, he kissed the center of her palm. “It’s yours anytime you want it.”

She smiled. He’d said that more than once in the two weeks since she moved in and she always said the same thing. “I don’t think I could handle it.”

“Maybe some other time,” he always said with a smile. This time he pulled her in and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

She sucked in a breath and a lungful of that smell that was all Kade, sandalwood and bergamot and stepped back. “You are way too potent for my peace of mind. Now tell me what I should know about tonight.” It was their first dinner with the Hendersons and Ava wanted to do a good job, not just because they were helping each other out but because she liked Kade.

“Henderson is a dinosaur. Very old fashioned and he thinks a man without a wife and family can’t run a business as well as a man with them.”

She smiled up at him and it was his turn to suck in a breath. “Perfect. I cooked a meal that proves I’ll be a good little wifey, at home cooking for my big strong man.” She squeezed his bicep with a laugh but implored her mind to remember the details for later.

When the Hendersons arrived Kade felt no nerves, he was confident he and Ava would pull it off. Over the past few weeks they’d become friends and even developed a friendly flirtation so they were easy together. She was so natural all evening with Helena and Bruce, surprising even him with her gentle touches and caresses throughout the evening.

Her black forest cake wowed Helena, who asked for the recipe, making Bruce joke that he’d sign a contract with Kade just because Ava got Helena in the kitchen again. It was a good night, fun even. When they left Henderson told Kade, “I don’t know what you did to get a woman as beautiful and talented as that to agree to marry you son, but keep her happy and you will be successful.” Hearing those words had shaken something loose in Kade. He didn’t know what, couldn’t even explain it if forced but he felt different.

“I won’t Bruce.” He shook the man’s hand and closed the door behind him. The first hurdle had been cleared. When he opened his eyes he found Ava’s pink sweater laying on the back of a chair and the coffee table clear of glasses, so he went in search of his fiancé. Fake fiancé, he reminded himself. “There you are,” he said with a smile. “The evening went fantastically. Bruce and Helena loved you.”

Ava pulled two dark brown bottles from the fridge and held one up for him. At his nod she popped open the bottles and handed one over. “I’m glad, I thought they were pretty great too.” They were funny and kind just like her parents, at least what she could remember of them. She turned and walked through the open doors off the kitchen. “It’s such a beautiful night,” she whispered to herself.

“It’s not as beautiful as you Ava. Not by a long shot.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her and here, under the pale moonlight she looked stunning he couldn’t breathe for wanting to touch her. Taste her. Without the sweater the prim and proper dress became a means to torture him, with her long neck on display, the tops of her breasts peeking out and that beauty mark in the center of her back. He wanted to explore her body, to see if there were other marks like it. One finger slowly caressed the length of her exposed back until she shivered.

“Kade,” she whispered and turned to him, desire making her eyes nearly black.

It was that plea, that longing he heard in her voice that snapped his control. Pulling her to him, Kade’s strong arms banded around her middle until there was no space between them and his large hands cradled her face.

Thumbs caressing her jaw line made her moan and reach up for those lips and that mouth she’d dreamed of kissing since the first time her name left his lips. His mouth moved against hers, hungry and seeking, and she gave back as good as she got. His mouth was warm and soft and it tasted like chocolate and cherries. His skin was so soft, his muscles underneath forged steel, his heart hammered his passion against her hands. This kiss, this moment was everything she had ever dreamed of and she had to stop. She would. In a moment. “Kade,” she moaned into the night as his mouth peppered kisses down the column of her throat.

“I’ve wanted to taste you there all night,” he said, his words choppy from his heavy breathing. He had to feel more of her and commanded his hands to leave her face and trail down her body until he cupped her backside to press her deeper into him. They groaned simultaneously when their bodies connected in that perfect spot.

The words were on the tip of her tongue, “Take me to bed Kade,” but she couldn’t bring herself to say them. She wanted Kade, of course she did. He was handsome and smart, funny and kind and he could turn her on with a smile. But she couldn’t give her body to him knowing it was temporary and she knew it could never be anything but. She had to stop. “Kade, please,” she pushed gently on his chest. “I can’t.”

He looked at her in confusion until the lust cleared. “What’s wrong?”

Her head fell to his large, muscled chest. “Nothing’s wrong it’s me. I can’t have sex with you.”

“Are you a virgin?” He knew she was young but not that young.

She gave him a get real look. “No I’m not. But I am a realist Kade and in the real world you don’t fall for a girl like me and if we have sex I know it’ll be good.”

“It would be damn good,” he growled.

She smiled wistfully. “Okay damn good. But I like you Kade, not your money just you and sex would only make me fall in love with you and I know neither of us wants that.”

Kade knew she was right but at the moment his body was in charge. He wanted to be the bastard the world knew him to be and seduce her, he could do it easily here under the moonlight after a kiss so hot it knocked his world off its axis. But he couldn’t do that because he liked her too.

Dammit.

“Your fiancé is quite a peach Kade, Helena is quite taken with her.”

Kade looked at the relaxed features on Bruce’s face. The man was completely at ease as though deciding to sell his life’s work was no big deal. But he too felt a sense of ease as Ava’s jasmine scent wafted over to him. “Yeah she’s the best.” His gaze wandered over to where she sat laughing with Helena.

“Talented too,” Bruce said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Yeah she is. How do you know?”

Bruce laughed, the deep lines in his face evidence of a lifetime of laughter. “She did anniversary shots for Helena and I two weeks ago and,” he leaned in close to whisper, “she did those sexy boudoir shots of Helena. I saw them yesterday and about died on the spot.” He fanned himself and leaned back full of mirth. “Hotter than hell, son.”

Kade shot another glance at Ava who caught him staring and smiled. She scooted back over and laid her hand on his thigh. “If you fellas are done taking over the world, I have a surprise for you.” She waved for the waiter and looked to Helena, “Since your anniversary is tomorrow I wanted to give you something special to honor your 35 years together.” The waiter placed a cupcake tower in the middle of the table and Helena squealed. “I made you red velvet cupcakes to remind you both of your humble beginnings and a champagne crème frosting as a sign of how much you’ve achieved.”

Kade watched in awe as Helena practically leapt over the table to gather Ava into a hug, a few stray tears rolling down her face. Even Bruce, stern and hard-assed Bruce had a watery gaze as he reached for Ava’s hand and kissed it. “You are the sweetest thing,” he said with a hand to his heart.

“Nonsense,” she waved away the compliment. “What you’ve achieved is amazing. I hope to have that one day. Now, let’s dig in!”

And they did, dig into the cupcakes like they were the last food items on earth. Tons of moaning and groaning came from their table until finally everyone was satisfied. “You ought to let her loose in the bakeries Kade, you’d be bigger than any donut shop in the nation.”

He said nothing at what those words meant because right now they meant nothing, not until they were printed on paper and browsed with a fine tooth comb by overpriced lawyers. “You try to take the camera from her hands Bruce, just you try it.”

It was another incredible dinner and without a doubt, it was all thanks to Ava. “They loved you,” she whispered as they waited for the valet to bring his car around.

Ava shrugged. “They’re very nice people. Can you believe they’ve been married for 35 years? That’s amazing. You should have seen them during their photo shoot, kissing between frames and couldn’t keep their hands off one another. It was so sweet.”

Her words made him cold. “Soliciting them for business, Ava?”

She stiffened at his words and his tone. “No. Helena called and asked if I could do it. I couldn’t say no, could I?” She took a few steps away and bit her lip. She couldn’t believe after six weeks living together he would think she’d do such a thing. This is what she got for treating him like a friend. For caring.

The ride home was silent and tense. Kade kicked himself for ruining a great night with his insinuations and insecurities. He knew she wouldn’t go after his clients, potential clients, for business. But he was so used to women using him the accusation came naturally. “Ava, I’m sorry.”

She stayed facing the window, watching the night scenery go by. “Don’t worry about it, Kade.”

He knew he should have kept his mouth shut.

Days later and Ava was still fuming over Kade’s careless words. How could he think she’d try to drum up business over dinner. She had pretty much been avoiding him since that night. She woke up later than usual to miss him in the morning and she ate dinner early and left a plate for him at night. They hadn’t spoken aside from his hasty apology in the car and she preferred to keep it that way.

She was in too deep with Kade Steele. The time they spent together when they didn’t have to—hiking, concerts, dinner and movie nights—had done the one thing she couldn’t abide. They had made her fall in love with a man guaranteed to hurt her. He’d already done it with his words but once this was over, this charade, she would also lose Bruce and Helena whom she bonded with during those photo sessions. It was okay, really it was. She’d known from the beginning that nothing would come of her time with Kade, she was expecting it. What she hadn’t expected was to like him, to love him.

So she decided she wouldn’t think about it. Instead she would spend the day searching the grounds with her camera. After breakfast she made her way to the rose garden, where she spent more than an hour capturing the rainbow of roses, some with the sunlight glinting off the morning dew others in full bloom showing off their color to spectators. She went deeper into the property to check out the manmade pond she’d seen on one of her early morning walks. She took really great shots, a frog on a water lily, a salamander on a slim tree branch and moss growing on a tree.

She was satisfied with the shots she’d taken so far. Her hope was to sell these prints, along with others of Rainbow Springs landmarks and landscapes in her shop. It would provide additional income and give her an excuse to get out in the world and take photographs.

“I’ve been calling you all morning. Where the hell have you been?”

Ava didn’t acknowledge his anger and she didn’t turn to him. But she did answer, “You’re looking at it Kade. I’ve been here at your house all day.”

His house. He heard her words and he knew they were meant to distance them and he guessed he deserved it. “Where’s your phone?”

She shrugged, lining up a shot of a cricket on a fallen white rose petal. “In the guest room, I suppose.” She captured a few shots before it hopped away. “Is there something you need?”

“How long are we going to keep this up?”

“I imagine Bruce will make up his mind in the next month,” she answered, purposely misunderstanding him.

“Dammit Ava,” he traipsed through the muddy grass and spun her to face him. “I’m sorry okay? I shouldn’t have said that. It was a reflex that had nothing to do with you.”

She sighed and looked past him, refusing to take in those green eyes that made her knees turn to goo. “I accept your apology Kade.” She had forgiven him days ago. She should thank him for reminding her that this was fake and temporary.

He wanted to kiss that impertinent look right off her face. So he did.

Ava let the kiss progress for a few minutes, taking these moments for herself, allowing herself to have this time with him. Then she stepped back. “Meet me at the pool tonight after dinner and wear your swim trunks,” she ordered and walked away.

After the kiss that still had her body humming with desire, Ava spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening inside her studio. She had selected about a dozen photos to send to the printer and made her way back to Kade’s mansion. She changed into shorts and a t-shirt over her white bikini and grabbed her underwater camera so she could make her way to the pool. When she got there, Kade was already there.

“I was beginning to think you stood me up.”

The sight of Kade all slick with water and smiling casually from the lit pool made the moisture pool between her legs. She shook her head to answer him and to shake the lust from her brain. “I just needed to change,” she held up her camera bags and set them on the table and pulled the t-shirt over her head. “I thought we’d get a few shots of you in the water, maybe under water.” She kicked off her shorts and looked at him, his mouth open and his eyes burning with desire. “What?”

“You take my breath away, Ava.”

She wanted to run to him, to wrap her legs around him and steal another one of those amazing kisses. Instead she pulled out her camera and captured him, looking like the biggest sexiest predator on the block. Water clung to his eyelashes and his green eyes burned with sensual hunger. She knew these shots would be magic and they would be hers when their fake engagement inevitably ended. “Wow,” she breathed out as she looked at the screen on her camera. “You are stunning on camera.” She looked at him and all that fiery masculine hunger was focused on her.

“Come here, Ava.”

His voice was deep and strong and crisp. The words were spoken with command, as though he just expected she would obey. She stood still, transfixed by the look of him, the sound of his voice but then her feet betrayed her, pushing her closer and closer until her toes curled over the edge of the pool. Her eyes closed when his hand closed around her ankle and gently caressed her leg. “Kade,” she pleaded with him, to stop or continue she didn’t know.

“Ava.”

She couldn’t resist him any longer, the photo shoot she had planned long forgotten as his hand continued its gentle persuasion on her leg. Before she knew what was happening Ava felt her body sinking slowly into the warm water, Kade’s hands skimming every inch of her body on the way down. A desperate moan escaped when his lips touched her neck and she knew this was happening. She was going to give her body and her heart to Kade. “Yes, Kade.”

Those words were sweeter than any he’d ever heard. Her surrender to the passion flaring between them touched his heart and stirred his longing for her. Kade couldn’t believe after more than two months of resisting her, resisting this thing between them he was finally free to touch her, to taste her, and take her body and join it with his until they could no longer breathe for wanting each other. He wasted no time when his mouth was upon her, placing slow—excruciatingly slow—open mouth kisses along her neck until her legs tightened around his middle. “You taste so good,” he told her as his mouth trailed down between her breasts and over to focus his mouth on that tight bud calling out to him.

She hissed when his tongue curled around that peak, taking her passion to heights until now unknown to her. She panted and writhed when he kissed a trail to her other breast, her hips grinding against him and legs tightening to pull him closer. “Kade oh yes!” Before she could say more she felt her bikini top hit the water and float away, his warm strong hands replacing the white fabric. “Kade, you are…yes,” she moaned beneath him.

Kade couldn’t get enough of her sweet responsive body. It took all the restraint he had to go slow, to savor the moment between them. He was close to bursting from the tight black swim shorts she requested he wear as her warmth cradled him. His hands snaked down her body of their own accord, a finger slipped inside the bottoms and then inside her body and he growled his appreciation. She was wet and hot, tight and so eager. “Ava, I want you.”

Rolling her hips against that finger her fire was quickly raging out of control and she knew she was moments away from her climax. “Kade,” she squeezed his shoulders and her tongue swiped his neck. “Yes Kade, yes. I. Want. You.” She did. Goodness she wanted him, his body in this moment more than she wanted more between them. Since this is all there could be, she would jump in with both feet and enjoy every blissful moment.

Her breathy words washed over his body in gentlest sexiest caress and his control snapped. With one tug of a few strings her bikini bottoms went the way of her top and Kade lined himself up with her and pushed in gently. “So, tight,” he groaned and allowed her a moment to adjust to his size.

“Don’t stop.” Her words were frantic, hands gripping and scratching at his back, her teeth sank into the tendons where neck and shoulder met. “I want you Kade. Want this.” She screamed when he pulled out and thrust in again. Over and over he did this, picking up speed and slowing down, torturing her with his erratic pace. She loved it, her body craved it, craved him. He gripped her hips hard and pounded into her body again and again until she was screaming as wave after wave overtook her body in violent shudders. “Kade, yes. Oh, yes. Yes!” His thrusts continued, her orgasm still going. Each time she felt herself coming down, he would lift her back up until she was floating on that precipice waiting for him to take her over.

Then, he did.

Grunting and groaning, Kade finally stilled with a firm grip on her hips as he spilled into her. Never had he felt so much during sex, or for a woman in general. Ava was one of a kind and not just because she’d given him the most powerful orgasm he’d ever experienced. She gave everything of herself to him and he was humbled by it. By her. He didn’t know when it had happened but sometime in the past couple of months, Kade had fallen for the sweet little photographer a decade his junior. “That was amazing, sweetheart.”

Ava couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move. She could only think and feel. Think about the way her body was still buzzing for him, think about how in one interlude Kade Steele had claimed her body and stolen her heart. She could feel him still throbbing inside her, felt her heart pounding rapidly as it worked to figure out this unfamiliar feeling. Love her body whispered and she knew it was true but none of that mattered. This was sex, plain and simple. She realized he was staring at her, waiting for a response. “I-I-I’ve never felt anything like that before.” She’d had sex before but she had never given herself so freely to a man, had never made love before.

Wrapping her hair around his hand, Kade tugged until she was at the perfect angle to fuse their mouths together in a kiss that had him growing hard inside her again. He growled when she squeezed him, “Neither have I, sweetheart.” And he knew he was in real trouble. Over the next few weeks Ava found herself living a lie. Each day she got up and went to her studio or to the outskirts of Rainbow Springs in search of something amazing. She’d nearly finished the Businessmen Bachelors calendar and she’d already started selling the prints that would supplement her income. She went through every day smiling when the old ladies in town told her how glad they were she’d finally settled down Kade and how much they were looking forward to the wedding. She gushed lovingly when Helena Henderson called for recipe tips and advice on marital bliss.

Then at night she would open her body and her heart to Kade without thought to the pain that was sure to come. Soon. Tonight was their third dinner with the Hendersons and she knew, based on hints Helena dropped, that Bruce had made a decision. Kade would very likely soon own Cakes A-shakin’ which meant their fake relationship was almost over. She hadn’t fooled herself that their arrangement was anything more than temporary but her stupid heart hadn’t gotten the memo.

Times like this, when she felt herself bursting with love for Kade she would repeat, temporary, temporary, temporary until she beat her heart into submission. She checked herself out in the mirror, the purple shirt dress was cinched at the waist by a silver belt and she wore matching flats. It was pretty and comfortable, and tonight that was enough.

Her pistachio and lavender macaroons were fresh from the oven and she was ready. Kade might not love her back but she would do everything she could to make sure he got what he wanted tonight.

When the doorbell rang she greeted the Hendersons with hugs and kisses, while Kade offered a stern handshake. Helena followed her into the kitchen with a bowl of red wine mousse she’d brought. “Oh Helena this looks fantastic! Do you mind if I steal a taste?”

“Please do. Make sure it’s edible before we serve it,” she laughed nervously.

Eyes closed, Ava let loose an erotic moan at the taste of it. “Maybe you should have kept this for you and Bruce,” she winked with mischief shining in her eyes.

“Really?”

“Definitely.” She absorbed the affection in Helena’s hug. “I hope we can still be friends once the deal is closed.” She knew she shouldn’t have said that the moment the words flew out of her mouth. “I’m sorry I didn’t meant to presume.”

“Nonsense Ava. You’ve been like the daughter we’ve always wanted and we’d be honored to keep you in our lives.”

It was inevitable to stem the flow of tears but she dabbed discreetly with a smile. “Thank you.” She’d shared with Helena the death of her parents and most recently of her grandmother so the woman knew she had a craving for family.

“You might find you have your own family sooner than you think.”

“Oh I don’t think,” she stopped because she couldn’t finish that sentence truthfully. It had just hit her. She’d had sex with Kate dozens of time in the past few weeks and neither of them had mentioned a word about protection. Oh no, oh no, oh no! She sagged into the nearest chair. Please don’t let this be true. She looked to Helena, “Please don’t say anything.”

“Of course not, dear.” She dabbed at Ava’s eyes. “Now let’s get out there before they spend all night talking business.”

The rest of the meal was fairly uneventful yet entertaining all the same. She tried to avoid Kade’s gaze just in case he saw the truth in her eyes but she kept up her role as the devoted fiancé. Bruce turned his attention to her and she listened with a serene smile on her face.

“Ava, as I’m sure you know, I had my doubts about Kade. About him taking over the business I built with my wife. Tell me why I should sell to him.”

Ava’s smile brightened in Bruce’s direction but her gaze turned to Kade. She looked at him with all the love she felt shining in her eyes, radiating from every pore. She told Bruce everything. “Kade is a man of honor even when it’s difficult. He works harder than anyone I know and he genuinely loves what he does. He takes an interest in every business he owns. But more than that Bruce, Kade is a great man. He treats everyone around him like an equal and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Most of all Kade has a way of making everyone in his orbit feel important, loved, special and that is a skill not many people have. It’s what I love most about him.” Helena dabbed the corners of her eyes and Bruce’s face was a blank mask. She turned her gaze away from the scowl growing on Kade’s face. “At least that’s what I think, but maybe I’m biased.”

Bruce smiled. “I’m sure you are biased as his fiancé and all, but I’m sold. You’ve a good woman there, Kade. Marry her soon.” He stood holding a glass in his hand. “I’d like to make a toast to Kade and Ava, may your love last long and grow stronger every day. To Helena, get ready to spend the next decade traveling the world because I’m selling Cakes A-shakin!” She squealed at the news and draped herself over her husband. “Kade we’ll talk tomorrow about the details.”

That was it. This was all over. “Congratulations,” she told Kade and pressed her lips to his.

They saw the Hendersons out and Ava was ready to turn in but Kade was giddy with excitement and she wouldn’t abandon him at this moment when he’d just gotten what he wanted. “You were fantastic Ava! The best fake fiancé I ever had,” he smiled and squeezed her tight around the shoulders. He laughed, “All that stuff about ‘that’s why I love him’ it was fantastic! I can’t thank you enough Ava.”

Her heart sank to the ground and shattered into too many shards to count at his words. Of course he’d never believe she really loved him because he saw her as a friend and convenient bed partner. “I aim to please,” she said with more bite than she intended. “I’m tired Kade, I’m going to bed.”

Something was wrong with Ava. Kade knew it from the moment she had emerged from the kitchen with Helena. Her eyes were glassy with tears and she was more subdued than normal. Her words at dinner left him shaken and hopeful that she was doing more than acting but she’d gone to bed in her room. Alone. He hated that he was thinking about this when he was set to close the deal he’d been working on for months.

“What’s on your mind, son?” Bruce Henderson strode into his office and took a seat, giving Kade a quizzical look.

“Nothing.” He sighed heavily. “It’s Ava, she was strange last night.”

Bruce nodded knowingly and stroked the early stages of what Kade assumed was his retirement beard. “Son I’d guess that your fake fiancé has fallen in love with you and just realized it.”

Kade nodded and then his entire body froze. “Fake fiancé?”

Bruce’s laugh was deep and booming. “You thought I didn’t know?” Bruce told Kade how he’d done his homework and knew Ava was a recent addition to his life. “You were too affectionate that first night. Dead giveaway. Helena was so nervous during her first business dinner part she barely ate or said word.” His laugh was wistful at the memory. “But I can tell you now, that sweet girl is deeply in love with you and terrified you won’t love her back.”

“No Bruce, you’re wrong.”

“No son, you’re blind or dumb. Helena told me the girl lost her parents as a child and most recently the only other family she had. It was her poor luck to fall in love with a playboy she’s not sure could love her back. But you can and you do.”

It wasn’t a question from Bruce. Did he love Ava? Yes, without a doubt. “Dammit Bruce.”

Again Bruce laughed. “You’re welcome son. Now send those contracts to my lawyer so I can take my wife on a cruise around the world. And Kade? Good luck with Ava.”

Most of his day after Bruce’s visit was spent staring out the window thinking about the fact that Ava was in love with him. Could it be true? She hadn’t said anything but Bruce seemed so sure. He stood and grabbed his jacket. He needed to see Ava.

“Ava you can not sulk around here forever.”

“Sure I can,” she told Sophie without even looking up. “As long as I’m cheery when clients show up, who cares?”

“For starters, I do. You won’t tell me what happened with you and Kade yet every time I see you your eyes are red and glassy from crying, you’re quiet and you look like someone ate your kitten.”

Ava glared at her friend. “Look I was stupid okay and now I’m embarrassed and heartbroken. I need to work through it and I will.” She knew the last few weeks she was a nightmare to be around because she was weepy, emotional and tired all the time. Kade was only part of the reason why but she wasn’t ready to share that just yet.

“There’s nothing wrong with falling in love. If the idiot doesn’t love you back, then he’s as dumb as he is hot.” Sophie wrapped Ava in a hug and kissed her cheek. “What did he say when you left?”

That was the part that broke her heart all over again every time she thought about it. She’d packed up and left the morning after dinner with Bruce and Helena. She couldn’t stay there loving him and him thinking it was all a big joke. But the joke was on her because it had been a month and Kade hadn’t called or texted or stopped by. He hadn’t even arranged a time to do a full photo shoot so she used one of the few shots she had.

Even though her heart was broken she had begun to turn a profit. The postcards and prints were selling like crazy thanks to the bucolic scenery in Rainbow Springs, and a few other businesses wanted to start selling her postcards. Business was looking good and in a few weeks she would have her grand re-opening. “I haven’t heard from him since the night before I left.”

“What! You didn’t call or leave a note that you were leaving?”

“There was no need Soph. I’d served my purpose and if I wasn’t sure if that was true, his radio silence confirmed it.” She didn’t tell Sophie it took ten days of silence before she realized it, and that’s when her heart officially broke. Now she spent her time taking photos inside the studio and out and getting over her ill-advised love for Kade Steele.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Sophie pointed to the angry green eyed man standing behind her.

She turned to Kade. “What are you doing here?”

His green eyes were dark with anger. “I was driving by and imagine my surprise at finding a giant photo of me—shirtless—in the window for all to see. Didn’t waste much time at all, did you?”

Was he for real? “Well Kade since you got what you wanted and you seemed to have forgotten about the photos I needed. I had to use what I had.” She refused to back down. She might love him but she would not take crap from him.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” His fingers raked through his hair. “But you could have gotten your photos you know, if you hadn’t left.”

“Why would I stay? You didn’t need me anymore Kade.”

“I wish that was true Ava. I do need you, so much and I didn’t realize it until you weren’t there.” He took her hands in his. “It’s not just the sex although that was out of this world, but I miss your smile Ava and your taste and that sexy little laugh of yours, even when its at my expense.” Then his expression sobered. “I rushed home to tell you all about the Henderson deal and you were gone. I was devastated. How could you leave me like that, Ava?”

She hugged herself around the middle. “You wouldn’t understand Kade. It doesn’t matter.”

His features darkened. “Well which is it, I wouldn’t understand or it doesn’t matter.”

“Both.”

“Can you just give me a straight answer! Why did you leave?”

She shrunk away at his volume but her anger was good and brewing at his tone. Who was he to be angry with her? “It’s because I fell in love with you jackass!” She began to pace, “How dare you come in here and yell at me after you, Kade Steele, got everything you wanted! What did I get? I’ll tell you. I got a dozen photos, a broken heart and a baby!”

He stared for a long moment, his thoughts indecipherable through the mask he wore. Then he walked away.

Ava collapsed back into her desk chair and cried.

Kade couldn’t believe it, not any of it. Ava had proclaimed her love for him in one breath and told him he was going to be a father in the next. It was too much information all at once and he’d responded poorly. Hell he hadn’t responded at all. Kade Steele had walked away.

He walked away two weeks ago and he hadn’t tried to call her once. To be fair neither had she but then again he was the one who had walked away. But a visit from Sophie had confirmed everything. Ava had fallen in love with him and left because she didn’t think he could love her back. She found out she was pregnant after she’d left and spent weeks crying for him and the family she would never have.

He was gutted by the time Sophie had finished telling him off. But she was still hopeful and that made him hopeful. Before leaving she left an invite for the grand re-opening of the photo studio and that’s where he stood right now.

“Coming in or are you going to stay out here all night?”

He sighed, the weight of what he had to do, weighed heavily on him. This would be the first time he set eyes on her since walking away. “I guess I’m coming in.” When he walked in there was a party going on. Several of the calendar bachelors were seated at a long table, posing for photos with the women of Rainbow Springs. Ava was selling postcards and prints on the other side of the room. He made his way to her. “Ava. Can we talk?”

“There’s nothing to talk about Kade. I’m keeping the baby but I don’t expect anything from you. Be involved as little or as much as you want.” Her attention went back to a few tourists buying prints.

“I don’t think so, Ava.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her around the tall counter, a gasp escaped at the small bump at her middle, showing clearly in the fitted dress she wore. His hand went to her stomach, awe on his face. “We should talk.”

“There’s nothing left to say, Kade.”

“Fine you listen and I’ll talk.” He pulled her behind him away from the crowd and into one of the small studios. He turned and pulled her hands to his heart. “Ava I’m so sorry for walking out last week, for laughing about what you said to Bruce. It touched me, so damn much. I just couldn’t believe that a woman as smart and beautiful and kind as you could actually love me.” He smiled and kissed her forehead, “I didn’t even think I was capable of loving anyone until Bruce told me my fake fiancé was in love with me.”

Her eyes widened. “He did? And he still signed the contract anyway?”

Kade nodded with a smile. “Said he was impressed with my business skill but more impressed I was able to get a woman like you to fall for me.” He reached for the brown paper covered package against the wall. “I have something for you Ava.” He unwrapped the photo while he spoke. “You see I was convinced we were both playing at being in love that I was too blind to see we had both fallen. I admit I was skeptical when Bruce said you loved me even though I was pretty sure I loved you.” He grabbed her shoulders and twirled her to face the photo. “But when I looked at this photo of us, I knew we were both fooling ourselves. I love you so much Ava and I want us to be a family, me and you and our baby.”

Ava looked at the photo and tears sprang instantly at the look of love she saw shining, in both their eyes. She couldn’t believe it. This man, this big lovable man who took care of everyone was hers. “I love you too Kade and I want to be yours and I want you to be mine. Forever.”

Kade looked down at the love shining in her eyes and he was sure she could see the same reflected back in his. He knew he would do anything in the world to keep that beautiful smile on her face, to have her always look at him like he was some kind of hero. “I’ll be yours for forever and beyond Ava. As long as you let me love you, I will.”

“Good because I already tried to stop loving you and I couldn’t. So I think you’re stuck with me.” She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss.

“Baby there’s no person I’d rather be stuck to in all the world.” He planted a soft kiss on her lips. “Ava you beautiful creature, will you marry me?”

She nodded, her smile so wide her face hurt. “Really? Kade I’d marry you tomorrow if I could.”

“Sweetheart I’m a billionaire, you want to get married tomorrow then we’ll get married tomorrow.”

Her eyes widened and she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Sophie, I’m getting married tomorrow!”

“It’s about damn time.”

THE END