For His Forever (17 page)

“Kallie, Nicole and I’ve been thinking about our situation. She’s going to likely be recovering for the next few weeks, and we don’t want to take any chances with her health.”

Nicole scooted up in her bed a little and continued. “We figured that it might be nice for all of us if you stayed on,” she said.

“Stayed on?”

Nicole smiled. “We’re asking if you want to be our nanny.”

Kallie was surprised. She hadn’t seen that coming at all. And then she realized that she wanted to do it very much. She liked being around Red and Nicole. She liked their energy, and their love, and she valued Nicole’s friendship so much already.

“I’d love to,” she replied.

After some more celebrating, Red asked if Kallie wouldn’t mind running back to the Connecticut house to pick up some things for Nicole, since she didn’t have anything prepared for a hospital stay. “I’ll have a car come and meet you out in front of the main entrance,” he told her.

Kallie got the house key and the alarm code, and then made her way down to the main entrance. Her head was spinning. So much had changed in just the last twenty-four hours and she didn’t know how to process it all.

But she did know that she was happy to have this job, and to be working with people she liked and respected.

As she waited out front for the car that Red had sent to pick her up, Kallie looked around at all the passing traffic and people going about their daily lives. There was something so connected about it all, she decided. People were driving, honking, running, walking, talking on phones, listening to headphones. But somehow they were all a part of this, all together in this weird little world.

For the first time in a long time, she felt connected—truly connected to the world around her. And that’s when she knew she’d made the right decision to leave home and come to New York.

Everything had led her to this place and this moment.

A second later, a black car pulled up beside her on the street. The passenger door was pushed open from the inside, and Kallie pulled it the rest of the way open and bent down to peer inside.

This wasn’t the car that Red had sent for her.

Because Hunter Reardon was sitting in the driver’s seat, looking at her as if there were nothing strange about him showing up here.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Get in,” he said.

“I can’t,” she told him, even though her heart was pounding—and telling her yes.

She wanted to get in. She couldn’t lie to herself—she was happy to see him.

“You can.”

“I’m waiting for another car to pick me up and take me somewhere important.”

Hunter smiled enigmatically. “That’s fine. You can wait for it with me. Just give me five minutes of your time, Kallie. I’ve come a long way to see you.”

Sighing, she got inside and immediately the air was charged. She couldn’t look at him for fear that he’d see in her eyes how much she still wanted him.

“Why did you come?” she asked.

“Because, I need to explain why I act the way I do. I need to help you understand.”

“You don’t owe me any explanations,” she said.

“But it’s important to me. You’re important to me.”

There was a long silence after he said it, and Kallie’s pulse raced. Was it crazy that she loved hearing those words, even as she dreaded what it might mean for her?

“I feel like I might get hurt if I keep seeing you,” she said softly.

Hunter licked his lips and looked straight at her. Slowly, he reached out and put his hand under her chin, nudging her so that she would meet his gaze. “I never want to hurt you. But there’s something I need to explain.”

“Okay, explain.”

“It’s a lot to get into in five minutes,” he replied carefully.

“You said that’s all you needed.”

Hunter grinned. “Okay, fair enough.”

She suddenly realized that Hunter Reardon was nervous. What about her and this conversation could possibly make him nervous?

“I’m listening,” she said. “But I’m getting out of this car unless you tell me what you want from me.”

Hunter grew quiet, and he seemed to search for words. Finally, he spoke.

“Have you ever heard of BDSM?”

Kallie heard the words and didn’t know what to say. She nodded slowly, and then Hunter began to speak. And she couldn’t believe what he said next.

THE END

Stay tuned for Book 7 in the series, arriving in September! And below, you can read a new note from Kelly Favor…

Letter From Kelly Favor

Dear Reader,

I hope you have enjoyed FOR HIS FOREVER. I certainly had a great time writing it – it was good to finally give Nicole and Red the happily ever after they deserve!

Now it’s time to follow Kallie and Hunter as they go in search of their happy ending.

The next book will be called HIS EVERY DESIRE, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

And for those readers who just aren’t ready to leave Red and Nicole, don’t worry

– we will see glimpses of them in the books to come, and peek in on them as they start their lives together as new parents.

I am so grateful for all your support. The glowing reviews and pleas for the next book keep me going while I log long hours at the computer. I cannot tell you how much it means to me, except to say thank you, even though I’m not sure those words suffice.

I hope you will join me as we watch Kallie and Hunter go in search of their happiness – will Kallie ever penetrate the castle walls that Hunter has erected around his heart?

Stay tuned for HIS EVERY DESIRE, coming September 2012.

And on that note, I better get back to writing!

Thanks again for everything.

All my very best,

Kelly Favor