Forbidden Kiss (Carson Cove Scandals 1)

“Alexis Devereaux is an opportunist,” I sighed. “All I can say is that she obtained access to something that would have ruined someone’s life—and I wasn’t going to let that happen—even if I had to marry her. I can assure you that I am not a criminal, and the situation has been addressed by the proper authorities.”

That much was true. The police wouldn’t have a

rrested Shaina without actual evidence and there was none in her apartment. My explanation seemed to quell the reporters, and they fired off a few more questions that I was able to easily answer. I didn’t know if it would be enough to undo the damage that Alexis caused, but I would have to carry the weight of my part in it. I made a decision to protect my family, and I didn’t regret that. I was just glad it was over. As soon as the press conference ended, I reconvened with my lawyer, we put together an official statement for the people that might not have seen the press conference, and I was finally able to head home. Taylor’s car was in the driveway, and I couldn’t even begin to contain my excitement.

“Welcome home…” Taylor walked out of the house as soon as I stepped out of my car—and the smile on her face was radiant.

“You don’t know how long I’ve waited to see that smile.” I ascended the stairs and nearly tackled Taylor as I pulled her into my arms for a kiss.

“I did a little redecorating while I was waiting…” She leaned back from our embrace after our lips finally parted.

“Really?” I raised an eyebrow and followed her inside.

“I think this is everything that Alexis changed.” She motioned to a pile on the floor. “I don’t know where the stuff you had there before went…”

“She had some movers put it in the west wing of the house. I’ll take care of it later…” I put an arm around Taylor. “God, I just want to burn all of this shit.”

“Why can’t we?” Taylor grinned and looked up at me.

She was right, so that’s exactly what we did. We carried everything that belonged to Alexis out of the house and set it on fire. It was rather cathartic to see all of the stuff Alexis brought to my house go up in flames—and get reduced to ash. I fought her changes in the beginning, but she was persistent—I didn’t even realize she had moved so much stuff in—obviously she had used my trip to the city as an excuse to make some changes I previously stopped her making. We saved the art for Mr. Wellington. He could keep the profits for charity for all I cared. We watched until the fire burned out, and then we walked back inside—where we shared a long, passionate kiss before we went into the living room to talk. I didn’t want to talk—I wanted to take her upstairs immediately—but there were a few things we needed to work through first.

“You know…” I looked up at the wall when we got into the living room. “I think instead of replacing the Monet, I want to put something else there.”

“Oh?” Taylor raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“I’m thinking—a new artist.” I nodded. “It looks like a good place for my first Taylor Abernathy.”

“You’ve never even seen my work.” She laughed and shook her head.

“Then I guess you better show it all to me—that way I can figure out which one I want to buy.” I shrugged and chuckled under my breath.

“It’s really over…” Taylor moved closer to me.

“Yes.” I kissed her forehead. “Which means the two of us can pick up where we left off the last time we were in here…”

“I wish we could, but Victoria will be here soon.” Taylor looked up at me. “She asked me to text her once you arrived—I can’t put it off all night.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “I guess you’re right—she probably does want to celebrate.”

“You and I can celebrate later tonight…” Taylor put her hand on my thigh and teased me with a touch.

“Text Victoria—the faster we get that part of the evening over with, the faster we can have our own celebration.” I kissed Taylor’s neck and pressed my lips to her ear. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she moaned and finally broke away from our embrace to pick up her cell phone.

Taylor and I made out for a few minutes, and then discussed a few things about our relationship while we waited on Victoria. She wanted to come clean with her mother, and I agreed that it was the right thing to do. I still needed to tell the rest of my family—I hoped they would react as well as Victoria had. Taylor was a part of my world regardless, and I wasn’t going to let anything come between us again. Our relationship was nearly derailed before it could truly begin, but we had the rest of our lives to make up for it.

All that matters, is that she’s in my arms now—and that’s where she’s going to stay.

Epilogue

Taylor

Three months later

The police arrested Aidan Devereaux within a few days of the story breaking—the District Attorney just had to figure out which charges he deserved for his part in everything that happened in Carson Cove. Alexis tried to run—which wasn’t that surprising. She hid out in the city with a friend for a few weeks, but she was finally arrested when she got into an argument with an employee at a coffee shop because her order wasn’t right. Someone in the crowd recognized her, and it didn’t take the police long to show up.

There was a mountain of evidence against her, and lives that had been destroyed by the Devereaux siblings, but she still managed to cut a deal with the District Attorney. Ten years in a white collar prison that was basically a resort wasn’t nearly enough for everything she had done, but at least she was gone. The deal, of course, was to testify against her brother—which she turned into a performance that could have earned her an Emmy. If I didn’t know how much of a venomous, manipulative bitch she was, I might have believed it myself. Aidan got forty years in a federal prison—with no possibility of parole. He would be an old man before he ever saw the light of day—if he lived that long.