No One's Hero (Chadwell Hearts) (26 page)

Anna and I have talked on the phone just about every day, and we've gotten together for lunch a few times. We both want to take it slow, but we already feel like sisters. I guess that's because we are.

My father pulls into a parking spot next to mine, and my mother flashes me a huge smile from the passenger seat. I open the door for her and she wraps her arms around me in a too-tight hug. Not that I mind. For just a moment I rest my cheek on my mother’s shoulder, grateful for what I have. When she pulls away, there are tears pooled above her eyelashes. “For so long, I imagined what this would have been like, never in a million years believing it could be a reality. I’m sorry I’ve missed so much of you growing up. From now on, things are going to be different.”

Now it’s me crying as my father strides around the car, joining in the hug. A moment later, another pair of arms dives into the mix and I lock hands with my sister. We stay like that for a long time, just enjoying being us, our own little complete family, and life is good. Maybe it’s not exactly what we pictured, but it sure is good.

“Wait,” my father says, “I need to get a picture before we go in.” This picture thing has become a
very
frequent occurrence. I don't know about Anna, but I'm tired of all the pictures. Not that I can bring myself to deny my parents this. And I get it. They missed out on years with Anna, so now they want to record every moment. Me? I just want to move on, and let things feel normal.

Dad glances around and then waves an arm, beckoning someone over.

I stretch up, looking and see Kevin striding down the steps of the front porch, his hands tucked in his pants pockets for warmth. There’s a bitter chill to the late November air, and I shiver, though not from cold. I haven’t seen him since the night I told him he could go. And what’s worse, I haven’t talked to him either. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Now the sight of him takes my breath away. He’s got a black wool peacoat buttoned all the way up over his dark gray slacks and his freshly shaved jaw is tense, but his eyes light up as they meet mine. I wonder if his belly is doing the same nervous flip-flop that mine is.

“Would you mind taking a photo of the four of us together?” Dad asks Kevin.

“I’d be honored,” Kevin says, stopping in front of us. His eyes never leave mine and my breath catches in my throat. What do I say to him? Do I tell him I miss him, that I made a mistake? Or casually ask how he is? “Smile.” Kevin commands, and I feel like he’s talking specifically to me. I force the corners of my lips upward while my heart hammers in my chest. The flash goes off and I blink. “Perfect,” he announces after reviewing the shot.

My mother shivers beside me and my dad starts to guide us toward the front door. I’m swept up in the movement of the group at first, until I hear Kevin call my name.

“Lexi.”

I turn slowly, trying to keep my emotions masked.

“Would you take a quick walk with me?”

My father gives me a look of concern, but I wave him on ahead. It seems everyone knows how I feel about Kevin, except Kevin himself. Or maybe I’m just fooling myself, and he knows too. Not that it really matters either way.

We head to the barn, where at least it’s a little warmer. We’re silent, just walking side by side until I stop at Fannie’s stall, patting her outstretched nose. “So, how are things?” I ask, the silence becoming too uncomfortable.

“Okay, I guess. They could be better.”

Better how? What’s he mean by that? “Yeah, same here.”

Kevin crowds close behind me and I can feel his nearness along every inch of my body. It takes all my willpower not to back into his arms. “I decided to open an office, sort of set up a home base.”

“Really?” I turn, curious. “Here in town?” I guess there are several places he could set up an office. He does most of his work for Axel I think, but Axel splits his time between Philadelphia and the farm.

“Nope.”

I’m about to ask where, but I don’t get the chance. Kevin’s lips find mine, and I melt against him, helpless to fight the raging torrent of emotions his kiss conjures within me. Kissing him is like finally coming up for air after being trapped under the surface of the ocean, knowing you’re about to drown and then suddenly being offered life. I cling to it. To him. And I never want to let go.

His mouth is needy and insistent and there’s no mistaking the desire in the way his hands burrow under my jacket, settling on my waist, pulling me against his lithe body. When we come up for air, I call his name, but it sounds like a plea. “Kevin.”

“Shhh.” Kevin rests a gloved fingertip against my list. “You had your turn to talk the night I left, and every night since. Except you didn’t call. I waited, and you didn’t call, so you don’t get a say in this. I want you Alexis. Hell, no, that’s wrong. I
need
you. I don’t know who you were protecting by trying to send me away—you or me—but it doesn’t matter, because I won’t be deterred unless you tell me I’m wrong, and that you don’t still want me.”

I press my lips into a thin line, making sure no stupid words accidentally come out.

Kevin grins, then continues. “Good. I’ve rented the townhouse next to yours. The front room will serve as my office. Although I don’t foresee myself spending much time in it, because if I have my way, you and I are going to be taking up quite a lot of each other’s time.”

I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry.

I didn’t even ask him, and Kevin’s choosing me. I’m enough for him, and he’s more than enough for me.

For now, that’s all I need.

“You’re so bossy,” I mock tease. “Didn’t I tell you I don’t take well with being told what to do?”

Kevin isn’t fooled. “Judging by that shit-eating grin, I’d have to say you’ve changed in that regard.”

And he’s right. Because I totally don’t mind that he made all these decisions without my input. After all, it isn’t like I gave him much of a choice. I think maybe we’ve changed each other for the better and I can’t wait to see what the future will hold for us.

“I missed you,” I whisper, leaning forward to press a kiss to his lips.

Kevin returns the kiss, then nods. “I missed you too.”

“I was beginning to think I was going to have to hire you to protect me again to get you back.”

At this, he laughs, a deep body shaking laugh that warms me to my toes. “Sweet girl, you couldn’t afford me.”

“That shows what you know. I got a reward for my part in breaking up Matt’s little thug ring.”

Kevin laughs harder, making me suspicious. “What? What is it?”

“I just can’t believe you fell for that. I was sure you were going to call me out on it.” Kevin takes my hand and leads me toward the barn exit.

“What do you mean ‘fell for that’?” I ask quickly. And then, I get it. “It wasn’t a reward, was it?”

He pauses and for a moment I’m worried I’m not going to get an answer. “I was worried that if I let Axel pay me for the time we spent together, it might cheapen it somehow. I think I needed to affirm to myself that what we have is real. So I gave the money to O’ Brien to give to you. I knew you wouldn’t take it from me or Axel, and I hated the thought of you in that piece of crap car.”

I’m too happy by the thought behind the gesture to be annoyed. A huge grin covers my face. “So you mean I was never just a job?”

“No Lexi. You’re never
just
anything. You’re everything.”

We kiss again, and need no more words. I have complete faith that whatever comes for us next, we’ll face it together.

We’ve almost made it to the front steps of the house when the sound of another car coming up the lane causes us both to turn our heads. “Who’s that?” I ask, staring at the beat-up old truck with Carolina license plates coming to a stop nearby. There’s a boy a bit older than me behind the wheel, and a woman in the passenger seat, and I don’t recognize either of them.

“Trouble,” Kevin mutters. “I told them to wait, obviously they didn’t listen.”

“Wait? Who are they?” Dread seeps through me, darkening my mood like storm clouds billowing across the sky.

“That,” Kevin says with worry, “is Axel’s mother.”

His Mother?
Holy shit. “And the boy?” I ask, although I think I already know.

“Warren Chadwell. Axel’s brother. Angel asked me to look into Axel’s mother’s whereabouts, to see what I could find.”

My eyes are glued to the pair as they climb out of the truck. “Does Axel know he has a brother?”

“Nope. But it looks like he’s about to.”

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A Note From The Author:

I
can't believe we're at the end of another book. Each time it comes to write the special note that goes in the back, I find myself at a loss for words. At least for any that make sense. How can I possibly thank every single person who has made this journey so amazing for me?

In a moment, I'll try to do just that. But first, I want to talk to you about this book you've just read. When I wrote
No One's Angel
, I never expected that it would turn into a series. One thing I feel very strongly about is that in a romance, you should be fulfilled at the end, not wondering if the characters are going to get together. Because let's face it, we know their relationship is going to work out—after all, it is a romance. So I didn't want to drag out Angel and Arion's happily ever after. But I do have more I want to say about their lives and their future. Like, you  know, that brother thing. And a few side characters from their story started to matter, and I think they need their own books. (And I've heard those of you who love Chelsea, and don't worry, her book is coming.) So I hope you enjoyed
No One's Hero
, and getting to know Lexi and Kevin. Each book in Chadwell Hearts will follow a new couple, somehow related to Axel and Chadwell farms.

While just about everywhere in No One's Angel is a real place, for No One's Hero, I made a few places up. There is no Chancellorsville College, no downtown club hopping area in Chancellorsville either. There's also no 326
^th
unit stationed at Camp Pendleton. My intent with this one was to have the book rooted in reality, but that's as far as it goes. Having the freedom to navigate a fictional college campus let me take a lot of creative license, and I hope you like the result.

And now, on to the thanks.

First, thank YOU for being so patient while I got this book out. It's been longer in coming than I'd hoped. As always, thank you to Alexis Arendt of Word Vagabond. Without your edits, I'd be entirely lost. To my Indie Inked sister authors, how did I ever navigate this crazy world of publishing without you all? You keep me up late reading your books, and you keep me sane during long working hours. You are all awesome. And to my hardworking, very patient assistant, Melissa Stickney, “thanks” just doesn't even begin to describe how grateful I am for you.

THE REEDUCATION

OF

SAVANNAH MCGUIRE

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By: Heidi McLaughlin

© 2014

Coming August 11, 2014

Chapter 1

Tyler

W
atching Savannah McGuire step off the rusty ole Greyhound and onto the cracked pavement is a sight to behold. The pictures I’ve seen dotted around her uncle’s house do not do her justice. For years I’ve watched her grow up through the photographs that her mama would send from New York. Always smiling and looking happy, I’ve looked forward to the day when she would come home. I’m not stupid to think things would be the same. Hell, I’m past the stage of making mud pies and cow tipping, but am planning on showing her around.  Of course, now that I look at Savannah and remember the pictures on the wall, they showed no indication of her long tan legs or the four inch high shoes she’s wearing. She’s going to be every males’ wet dream in a forty mile radius and I just know I’m going to be tasked with taking care of her. Just call me the glorified babysitter of the farm girl turned New York socialite, a job that I did not sign up for.