Relentless (7 page)

“If you don’t utter those words, I take you in my
arms and kiss you like I’ve wanted to do since I saw you standing
here.” He stepped closer. “Then, after I make love to you for a
good few hours, I will tell you about what’s going to happen here
in Cottonwood Falls with the backing of L&P Global
Funding.”

“I’ve heard the rumors.”

“I searched, and I found the beat I’d been unable to
hear.”

Her smile was sad. “I’m glad. But, what does all of
this have to do with me?”

“I want you to share it with me.”

“In what fashion? I’m not moving to New York City.
I’ve done a large place, and I prefer it here. I’m not into
long-distance relationships either. So, how is this going to
work?”

He cupped her upper arms and smoothed his hands
along her skin. “I would like you to move in with me.”

Her brows rose below her hair. “In your parents’
place? I don’t think so.”

“God, no. That was just where I stayed the first
time I was back. I have a house here. I bought the old Felton
place.” Her shocked expression had him chuckling. “Glad to know not
all secrets are spilled in this town.”

“You bought a house.”

“Yes. Somewhere, in all this craziness we’ve been
going through, Mellie, I fell in love with you. Yes, we started
with nothing but passion, but out of those flames grew something
more. I want you to give me,
us
, a chance.”

Her fingers trailed along the collar of his suit
jacket as she mouthed the words he’d just said to her. One day,
she’d say them back; he had utter confidence in that belief.

“So, you’re staying here, then.”

“Yes, woman. I’m staying. Would you tell me if I can
kiss you now or if I have to leave?”

She bestowed upon him a crooked grin. “Well, I’m
dirty and sweaty while you’re in this nice suit.”

“Fuck the suit.”

“Rather fuck you, instead,” she mumbled before
covering his lips with hers.

“You’re the doctor,” he replied, lifting her in his
arms and making his way back to her bedroom.

He didn’t have a crystal ball for their future, but
given his gut reaction to this woman, the visceral and newfound
emotional one, he was doing the right thing. It had taken him years
to find his way back home, and he had no intention of leaving
again.

“Tell me again,” she said as he slid into her
welcoming heat.

“I love you, Mellie.”

“I figure I must love you, as well, for you’re the
only one I allow to call me that dreadful name.”

He stared into her eyes. “I think the name fits you.
Sexy.”

She wrapped her legs around his waist. “You had an
agenda of what to do, and I believe this was down for a few hours.
Get to it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He kissed her and began moving within
her.

***

Epilogue

Melinda wiped the tears from her eyes as she
listened to the preacher speak over her father’s casket. He’d never
fully recovered from his cancer and hadn’t made it past the New
Year. At her left, her mother sat rigid, face devoid of emotion.
Melinda reached over and cupped her hand. There was no response,
nothing back.

The majority of Cottonwood Falls had turned out for
the funeral. The cold winter day had thick clouds skimming the sky
overhead. The man at her right squeezed her hand in his show of
silent support.

She slanted her gaze toward Toby, grateful he was
here. He’d been at her side since she’d gotten the call about her
father. He’d assisted in the preparations and doing what he could
to lighten the load on her shoulders.

She rose with her mother, taking the rose from her
lap to lay it across the casket. Then they gathered in the limo to
ride back to her mom’s house where they would have the wake.

Toby slid his arm around her in the back of the car.
“How are you holding up?”

“I’m on automatic right now. I’ll be strong until
this is over then I’m going to be the one who’s a wreck.”

“You have every right to be, Mellie.” He brushed his
lips along her cheek. “I know people will want to be around you at
the house but if you need me, I will be there for you, okay?”

She rested her head on his shoulder. She couldn’t
say how she would have managed to do all this without him beside
her, offering support. “Thank you.”

With the passing of each hour, her own grief grew.
Only after the last person left and she’d finally gotten her mother
to take to her bed, did Melinda make her way to the couch and sink
to the cushion.

Hands over her eyes she allowed more tears to fall.
The light touch at her ankles had her looking through her fingers.
Toby was there, suit shirt unbuttoned at the top, his tie
loosened.

He removed her shoes for her and set them aside
before he rose to pour her a drink. She took the tumbler and drank
some whiskey, the burn welcome as it slid down her throat.

“Thank you for everything, Toby,” she mumbled.

“You don’t have to thank me for being there for you,
Mellie. I love you. It’s what couples do for one another. I’m just
sorry you had to go through it at all.” He sat beside her on the
couch.

She curled up against him, head on his shoulder, and
arm over his torso. “I miss him so much.”

The tears began again. He kissed her forehead and
allowed to cry it all out. When she woke later, she noticed the
kitchen light was on. She pushed up from where she lay on the
couch. Toby wasn’t with her. Sliding to her feet, she padded into
the kitchen. He was doing dishes and cleaning up.

He’d rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and had
completely discarded his jacket and tie.

“What are you doing?” she asked, walking to his
side.

“Dishes.” A brief kiss for her. “What are you doing
awake?”

“Just woke up.”

“Are you hungry? I think there’s some leftover
casserole from Ms. Candace that I haven’t put away yet.”

She wrapped her arms around him and just held him.
“Eat something with me?”

“Let me just finish this up.”

Tears threatened. “I’m going to miss him so much.
His smile. His laugh. His hugs.”

He rinsed off one hand and tipped her chin up. “It
will get easier, Mellie. It’ll take time, but eventually, it will
get easier.”

“I love you, Toby.”

His smile meant the world to her. “And you, Melinda
Glazer, are my everything.”

She believed him. On both fronts. One day it would
get easier and until then, she had him at her side to be her
support when she needed it.

Additional Books by Aliyah Burke:

Megalodon Team

Kincade’s Rose

Harrier’s Healer

Connelly’s Flame

Greeley’s Spyce

Vittano’s Willow

Dimitri’s Moon

O’Shea’s Love

Chayton’s Tempest

Haikon

A Love for Lera

Denim &
Spurs

With This Ring

Cottonwood
Falls

Relentless

Fracture

Ravish

Spark

Savor (releasing March 2015)

Intensity (releasing June 2015)

Serial

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 1

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 2

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 3

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 4

Keeper of the Stars Pt. 5

Astral
Guardians

Chasing the Storm

Highlands at Dawn

Interludes

Temporary Home

Alone with You

Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore

In Aeternum

Casanova in Training

Harbour of Refuge

Protected by Shadows

Polar Opposites

Rakes &
Rogues

What the Earl Desires

Her Reluctant Viscount

Her Pirate Rogue

Code of Honour

A Marriage of Convenience

The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife

A Man Like No Other

When Stars Collide

Born to Fly

Landing in Love

You Save Me

Wild as the Wind

Zulu Spectre

Hearth, Holly, & Honor (3 in 1)

Standalone

Preconception

If You Dare

May You Always

Dutch & Lobo (in In the Trenches
collection)

His Purrfect Mate

Under the Mask

That Fateful Ride

On the High Seas (in What White Boyz Desire
collection)

The Detective’s Lover

Just a Dream

Love Under the Endless African Sky

Add A Little Mistletoe

Something Tangible

Seducing Damian

Through the Fire

Sin is Not a Four Letter Word

Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped

Raw Exposure

Holiday Liaison

The Right to Love

Co-written with Taige
Crenshaw

Talios

Devi

Linc

Saffron

Taber

Ashia

Co-written with McKenna
Jeffries

All the Wright Moves

The Best Thing Yet

Risky Pleasures

Pure Harmony

Irresistible Forces

Seductions Dance

About the Author:

Aliyah Burke is an avid
reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She
loves to hear from her readers and can be reached
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She is married to a career military man.
They are owned by three Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days
sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.

I hope you enjoyed
reading,
Relentless
. If you could help others to find and enjoy this book as
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Thank you so much for your support!!

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