Going in Deep (Billionaire Bad Boys 4)

“I accept those terms,” Julian finally said, extending a hand for Kade to shake.

Kade glanced down… and completed the gesture, causing grateful tears to fill Kendall’s eyes. She glanced at her sister, who was equally touched and affected.

She knew better than to think everything was perfect, but they’d forged a truce, and that was all she could hope for right now. Time would prove to her sister and Kade that Julian was honorable and trustworthy.

As Kade and Lexie walked out of his office, Kade turned back. “Don’t do anything in here. I don’t think my anxiety or OCD could handle the thought.” And then he was gone and they were alone.

* * *

Julian waited for Kade and Lexie to walk out the door before locking it behind them. He wasn’t so much shutting them out as closing Kendall in. To say this afternoon hadn’t gone the way he’d expected was an understatement.

He’d been prepared for a fight or, at the very least, an argument.

What he hadn’t been prepared to see or hear was Kendall standing up to her sister and Kade—who was intimidating on his best day—for him. Kendall, declaring her love for him, consequences be damned. His girl was brave. Braver than he was, and he was humbled by it all. And he couldn’t wait another minute to touch her again.

He turned, and before he knew it, she’d bolted forward and jumped into his arms.

He caught her, stumbling back before he could steady himself, and looked into her eyes. “Jesus, I was a fucking moron.”

She laced her fingers behind his neck to hold on. “I think I gave you plenty of reason to think breaking up with me was the right thing to do.” She bit down on her lower lip, something he would much rather be the one doing. “But don’t try something like that again. From now on we communicate. Agreed?”

He answered by sealing his lips over hers and kissing her for all he was worth, breathing her in as if he couldn’t get enough. Because he couldn’t. He’d missed her touch, her scent, the very essence of her being, and he never wanted to let her go.

He slid his fingers through her hair and slicked his tongue past her parted lips. She moaned and kissed him back, all the while holding him close.

His cock throbbed inside his jeans, reminding him of Kade’s warning, and unbidden, a laugh bubbled up in his throat.

“Oh my God. What’s so funny?” she asked, her eyes twinkling with relief and happiness. A happiness that matched his.

“I was just thinking about what Kade said about us not doing anything in his office.”

A smile tweaked her lips. “You so want to do it on his desk, don’t you?”

“Don’t give me any ideas, you bad girl. The man’s just given me a partial opening. I don’t want to screw it up.” He grew more serious, gazing into her eyes. “You’re too important to me. I love you, Kendall.”

She brushed her thumb over his cheek. “I love you, too. Enough to risk everything.”

“I won’t let you regret it. I’m all in. I promise. No walking away, backing out, or doing something stupid to screw things up. I’m in too deep.”

She grinned. “I’m glad to hear it because I’m in deep, too. And I’m not going anywhere, either.”

Epilogue

Miracles did happen and today was proof.

Thanksgiving, a year and three months after Kendall and Julian first reunited, Kendall invited everyone over to their new house for the holiday. As she set the table and got everything ready, she trembled, knowing she had so much to be grateful for.

She looked around her kitchen, in her house, in a neighborhood with a cul-de-sac on the same street as Nick and Lauren, in renewed disbelief. A glance at the wedding ring on her finger was yet another shock every time she looked down… and she’d been blissfully, happily married for four months.

Was it fast? Yes. Was it right? Without a doubt.

The fact that Kade and Lexie and their six-month-old baby, Matthew, and the other Blink partners had agreed to join them for the holiday was nothing short of a miracle. One she would never take for granted. And neither would Julian, who was outside placing the turkey in the deep fryer.

He was a different man now. A happy man who’d stopped kicking himself for his past mistakes and who rarely looked back, unless it was to acknowledge how much better his life was today.

Along with the Blink contingent, Julian’s sister was coming, as were Lauren, Nick, and Brian. Alex was upstairs and her boyfriend would join them, too.

She was a flexible kid, she’d had to be after all her moving around in foster care, and so she’d been willing to switch schools for her senior year. She was brave. And it had worked out. She’d made a few select friends and even met a boy. She’d applied to colleges and was going to New York University next year, smart girl, living in a dorm, and her entire life would change.