Roc Hard Read online

  “Hopefully I’ll get the chance to,” I told him as he walked me out and bid me farewell. I stepped out into the blistering South African sun and exhaled as I removed my jacket. The weather was hot and humid but I knew we could handle it if we had to.

  And we did.

  A quick check of my watch told me I had about six hours before my plane took off so I decided to walk around, maybe pick up a few gifts to get Lily used to the idea of moving. I found plenty for her and Aunt Mel, along with a gift of thanks for Cecelia who had been instrumental in my success.

  I could get used to living here. It was another version of the paradise that was St. Lucia and Puerto Rico. It sounded cynical but if you’ve seen one paradise you’ve seen them all. Still, it would be nice to explore with Lily and teach her all about the country. Maybe when she was older we’d go on a safari together.

  On the way back to the hotel, I spotted a familiar figure with a flop of too familiar black hair. It could be anyone, at least I tried to convince myself of that fact because otherwise it meant that my mind was conjuring the image of Roc on its own. Without my permission. I didn’t want to think about him anymore than I had to, and when I returned to Puerto Rico we would have to officially settle things regarding visitation of our daughter. He could wait until then, I didn’t need him intruding on my thoughts one moment sooner than that.

  When I finally stepped inside the Cannassas, I knew I’d been hallucinating before because he lounged in a chair directly in the center of the lobby as I walked in. Head ducked and walking with purpose, I tried to just pass by him, but life wasn’t on my side lately.

  “Abby.”

  “Roc.”

  “You look good.” His gaze raked over me and yes, my body responded. But she was a hussy so that was to be expected.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “I came to talk to you.”

  Arms crossed, I glared at him, ignoring the stares we drew around us. “It’s too late for talking, Roc.”

  “No it’s not. I need you to understand that I forgot all about Clara as soon as I found out about Lily.”

  Unbelievable! “So you’d already planned to fire me before you even got to Azurel and it’s my fault that you forgot to tell me? Sure, Roc, let’s go with that.”

  “I’m not saying that. I honestly forgot I’d hired her.”

  I see. “But you didn’t forget that you planned to fire me, did you? You didn’t forget to fuck me, either! And you still said nothing.” I grew more and more disgusted as it all became so clear. “So that’s what the thanks was for, right? Thanks for making it so easy to fuck me and fuck me over. Well played, Roc. Soon I won’t be your problem.”

  He frowned, tired blue eyes looking at me, pleading with me. “We have a daughter together.”

  I rolled my eyes at his words. “I have no plans to keep her from you.”

  He stood and stepped close enough that his scent enveloped me. I nearly held my breath to stop it, instead I just took a step back. “And what about you?”

  “I’m irrelevant as far as you’re concerned.”

  He barked out a harsh laugh. “That’s not even fucking close to the truth, Abby. You’re very relevant.”

  I didn’t believe his words and I quickly killed the hope that started to blossom in my chest. “No I’m not. I am a means to an end and I see that now.”

  “You were never that, Abby, I need you to know that.” His hands wrapped around my arms and pulled me close. I resisted and held my body stiff but again that damn masculine scent brought tears to my eyes.

  “I don’t believe you, Roc. You had plenty of time to tell me about this, hell, I was expecting it. But you know I have a child and you still didn’t tell me, so please spare me your pretty words because I don’t want them.” I didn’t need pretty words, not from him. Just honesty.

  “Finding out you have a child tends to make everything else…unimportant.” His half-smile melted my heart a little.

  “When I return to the island we can figure out the details of visitation.”

  “I don’t want visitation.”

  Of course he didn’t. “Then I guess I’ll see you in court.”

  He frowned and raked a hand through his thick black hair. “Dammit Abby. I don’t want that. I want you. I want Lily. I want us. You and me, together.”

  I couldn’t believe my ears. After everything we’d been through, everything we’d said and done to one another, he wanted me? It didn’t make sense. And I couldn’t be completely sure he’d said those words or my traitorous heart just heard them. “What?”

  He grabbed my hands in his, pressing a gentle kiss to each one. “I understand your confusion and anger. I know I haven’t been consistent in my feelings for you, but Abby, I love you.”

  “You do?”

  He nodded, a slow sensual smile kicked up one side of his kissable mouth. “Damn right I do. I was in love with you when you left St. Lucia, it’s why I was so damn angry.”

  Tears formed in my eyes, but I refused to be one of those women crying all the damn time. “I was in love with you and that’s why I left. If you loved me, why didn’t you come looking for me?”

  He cupped my face lovingly, eyes scanning my face in search of I don’t know what. “I wish I could say I did, but I didn’t. I’m a selfish son of a bitch and you broke my heart. But I want you with me. I want Lily with me—with us. Can you do that?”

  Even after everything that had happened, I knew I could—or at least try. I still loved him. It didn’t matter that he’d broke my heart. Or that his brothers were complete assholes. My heart knew what it wanted, and as much as I hated to admit it, it wanted Roc. Lily would be over the moon to have her parents together. I nodded and placed a hand over his heart. “I know I can be happy with you, Roc, because I love you. But I have to work.” I couldn’t be totally dependent on him, not now.

  “Of course you do, and I’ll work from home and be a full-time daddy to our little girl.”

  “You’d do that?”

  “Hell, yes, I’d do it. But not for just anyone. Only for you and Lily.”

  “So you don’t mind moving all the way to South Africa with your girlfriend?” I gave him a playful smile that he didn’t return. “What’s wrong?”

  Roc brushed a gentle kiss against my lips and I moaned. “Nothing is wrong but I don’t want to move for my girlfriend.” He took a step back and pulled a black box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a sapphire and black diamond ring. “I would do anything for my wife and daughter though, so, Abigail June Blakely, what do you say? Will you put me out of my misery and make me the happiest house husband in the world?”

  I laughed and threw myself into his arms without waiting for the ring. “Oh, Roc, are you sure?”

  “More sure than anything in my life.”

  “Yes! And you’ll be the best house husband ever. Especially in the sexy little cabana boy shorts I’ll make you wear.”

  His deep laugh rumbled through him and vibrated my whole body. “Whatever you want, my love. I’m yours.”

  “Mine.”

  “Forever,” he grinned and licked his lips.

  “And then some.” I pressed my mouth to his, licking the seam of his lips until his mouth opened and I delved in, taking what he offered and savoring it. His grip tightened around me and I deepened the kiss, knowing it meant more to us because it was the first kiss of the beginning of the rest of our lives.

  Roc set me down and slid the gorgeous ring onto my left hand, holding my hand out and examining it. “You should wear it tonight for our celebratory dinner.”

  I gave a fake pout and stepped closer, placing my hand over his racing heart once again. “And I was thinking I would wear only this for our celebration.” I squealed when he lifted me in his arms and marched towards the elevator.

  “I like your idea better.”

  A silly grin split my face. “Words every wife longs to hear.”

  “Don’t get used to it,”
he grumbled good naturedly.

  “Oh no, I’ve already been promised forever.”

  Roc smiled and stepped inside the elevator with me still in his arms. He leaned forward and said, “and then some,” before kissing me long enough and hard enough I knew he meant it.

  * * * *

  ~ T H E E N D ~

  Wow! I hope you loved the story of Roc and Abby as much as I loved writing it! Turn the page for more yummy goodness!

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  Acknowledgements

  Thank you! I love you all and thank you for making my books a success!! I appreciate each and every one of you.

  Thanks to all of my beta readers, street teamers, ARC readers and Facebook fans. Y’all are THE BEST!

  And a huge very special thanks to my wonderful PA, Silla. Without you, I’d be a *hot mess! I’m still a hot mess, but without your keen sense of organization and skills, I’d be a burny fiery inferno of hot mess!! Thank you!

  And a very special thanks to my editor, Tina Rucci (who sometimes has to work all through the night! *See HOT MESS above!) Thank you for making my words make sense.

  Copyright © 2017 BookBoyfriends Publishing LLC

  About The Author

  KB Winters has an addiction to caffeine, tattoos and hard-bodied alpha males. The men in her books are very sexy, protective and sometimes bossy, her ladies are…well…bossier!

  Living in sunny Southern California, the embarrassingly hopeless romantic writes every chance she gets!

  You can connect with KB on Facebook and Twitter!

  Or stop by her website at KBWinters.com!