Beautiful Ties Read online

  Copyright © 2014 by Alicia Rae

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Designer: Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations

  Editor and Interior Designer: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Visit my website at www.aliciaraeauthor.com

  To Cole, Chase, and Jake—

  You boys light up my world.

  Words can never express how much I love each of you.

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Epilogue

  Dear Readers

  Acknowledgments

  Today was my brother, Kyle’s, wedding.

  Only a few short hours ago on a sandy beach in Lake Tahoe, California, he had said, “I do,” to his bride, Lily, the woman who had stolen his heart.

  Nearly every guest had been moved to tears as the loving couple had pledged their vows to one another in front of their family and friends under the clear blue skies. I was unbelievably happy to see my brother so in love. I had felt truly honored when Lily asked me to be one of her bridesmaids.

  It was only times like these that made me wish I had a special someone in my life. The rest of the days, I would be perfectly content with being alone. I had been blessed with a great job and wonderful family and friends to keep me busy. But when I was surrounded by love, I couldn’t help but yearn to have it myself.

  Every man who had caught my eye always seemed to be taken already, or he would be a one-night kind of guy. Even worse, I would find the ones with no aspirations who were seeking out a free ride in life. Sometimes, it had seemed like the odds were stacked against me.

  I wanted a partner, someone to share my hopes and dreams with, a man who would kiss me good night, and a companion who would pull me close after a long, hard day of work or just because he wanted to. I wanted a fairy tale and my career. Tying those two notions together had not been working out in my favor so far. Therefore, I’d pushed aside those romantic daydreams of falling in love someday and locked them tightly in a box as I decided to focus on advancing my profession to its fullest potential.

  Many mixed emotions flooded my thoughts while I observed Kyle and Lily dancing at their reception in the newlyweds’ backyard. I felt like that locked box was being rattled.

  “I can see your mind racing a mile a minute, sweetheart,” my mother, Grace, said, coming up from behind me.

  She stood at my left side. I turned my head to meet her gaze as she warmly put her arm around me.

  “I’m just so happy for Kyle, Mom,” I said.

  “Me, too,” she sighed. Her eyes shimmered as she watched her son and new daughter-in-law dancing together under the beaming lights. “I feared that his military days had wounded his chance at love and happiness, yet that beautiful woman waltzed into his life and shifted the very ground he had been walking on. I feel like I owe her so much for saving my boy.”

  I leaned my head against hers, savoring this moment with her. “I couldn’t agree more, Mom,” I said softly. “She gave us our Kyle back.”

  “Yes, she did,” my mother agreed while rubbing my arm affectionately. “I can’t wait until it’s your turn to be swept off your feet,” she added, catching me off guard.

  Gosh, I love my mom so much. This woman was my rock. I would be lost without her unconditional love and support.

  She was one of those people who always knew when someone was lost in deep thought, and she would come to soothe away the worries. Whether one of her children had needed tending to a playground wound or had just wanted a loving hug, my mother would always be there. It was one of many traits that I endlessly admired about her. She had a heart of gold.

  I let out a quiet, nervous laugh at her reassuring outlook on my nonexistent dating life. “Uh…I don’t think that will be happening anytime soon but maybe someday,” I offered, not wanting to get my hopes up.

  “Love happens when you least expect it, Abbey,” my mother replied.

  I could tell by the tone in her voice that she was glowing on the inside. And next, she would bring up my dad, Gavin.

  “I was just like you, you know. Independent, strong, content, and then bam”—she raised her other hand to snap her fingers gently—“your father came out of the blue—”

  “And snatched you off your feet,” I finished her sentence with a tender smile on my face. I’d heard this story over and over for many years.

  “That’s right.” She chortled softly. “Well, speaking of your father”—she glanced around—“I better go find him.”

  “Okay. I better find Brooke, too. She was supposed to be ordering us another round of drinks.”

  “Have fun, sweetie.” My mother smiled before walking off.

  I found Brooke, Lily’s maid of honor, by the reception bar. At the sound of Lily’s laughter filling the air, my head turned to see Kyle once again twirling her around the dance floor in beat to the music. I smiled affectionately at the couple before I suddenly felt eyes burning into me from afar. I slightly rotated to the right to see Lily’s cousin, Jason, whom I had walked down the aisle with only hours before, looking at me with such heat in his eyes that my body temperature raised a degree or two. His gaze had me shifting on my feet.

  I had been deliberately avoiding Jason since the ceremony. When I’d hooked my arm with his before he led me out for the processional, his touch had made me weak in the knees, and the husky scent of his cologne had etched itself into my memory. By the time he had dragged me the first five steps, I’d felt like a silly teenager swooning over the first good-looking boy at school. To avoid any embarrassment, I had promised myself that I would stay far away from him for the rest of the night.

  His body had delicious temptation written all over it, but his demeanor screamed that he was not boyfriend material. He was the good-for-one-night-of-hot-passionate-sex type. And I was over that type.

  Yep, completely over it.

  I wanted the fairy tale that my brothers, Ryan and Kyle, had each found with their wives.

  Yet, my eyes were betraying me right now as they locked on Jason’s ever-present features for the second time today.

  The strands of outdoor lighting hanging throughout the backyard allowed my eyes to take in his dirty-blond hair. From what I assumed was a result of spending many hours out in the sun, a few natural highlights outlined the front of his face. His gorgeous eyes had a certain darkness about them that oozed sex with a mixture of pleasure and mischief lurking in the depths of them.

  I had to fight the sudden impulse to close the distance between us, so I could get a better peek at him. Every attempt I made to look away, I failed miserably. It was as if he had some sort of magnetic pull over me. He must have reciprocated the feeling because his younger brother, Damon, was standing next to him, talking, and J
ason did not seem to hear one word as his stare was transfixed on me.

  Jason let out a slow, deliberate grin that was illuminated by the glowing lights. I sucked in a deep breath as I forced myself to divert my attention back to Brooke.

  “Whoa,” she said, sounding completely stunned while fanning her face. “With the way you two were eyeing each other, I feel like I was peeping in on a private moment.”

  The heat in my cheeks flamed at knowing Brooke had caught me eyeing Jason. I slowly shook my head in denial while trying to wrap my mind around what had just happened. “No, it’s nothing like that,” I said with a nervous laugh. “I don’t even know him.” And I plan to keep it that way, I added inwardly.

  “Well, I think he wants to know you,” Brooke countered.

  Her husband, John, wrapped both of his arms around her while still holding his beer, and he kissed her cheek affectionately.

  “Who wants to know Abbey?” John asked, nuzzling his wife.

  He kissed her temple as we continued to wait for the bartender, who was shuffling out drinks as fast as he could.

  “Lily’s cousin,” Brooke answered, nodding in Jason’s direction. “Jason Johnson has the hots for Abbey.”

  I snorted with a roll of my eyes. “He certainly has the looks of a hot one-nighter,” I muttered while pondering the idea. God, he is the perfect male. I imagined him wrapping his muscular arms around me as I ran my hands up the hard planes of his chest. I licked my lips as I glanced at him one more time out of the corner of my eye.

  Damon was saying something, and Jason’s responding laughter was rich and deep. His breathtaking smile hit me hard. It was a sight to behold. I slightly tilted my head toward Jason, so my gaze could continue its downward path across the contours of his full broad chest and shoulders. He had to be at least six-two, and his excellent physique made me wonder if he still worked side-by-side with the men in his construction company in Colorado.

  And soon, Jason would be moving here to Lake Tahoe to partner with Kyle. I had no idea how to feel about the fact that Jason and I would soon be working together. The only part I knew for sure was that I had to keep things strictly professional.

  I snapped myself out of my daydream with a quick shake of my head, only to come face-to-face with Brooke’s amused expression. I had a feeling she was never going to let this go.

  “I’m over the ones who want only one night in between the sheets. I want more.” I shrugged.

  “Yeah, I can see that.” Brooke chuckled.

  “Besides, we’ll be working together, and having one night of fun with him would complicate things,” I said, more for myself than Brooke.

  “True,” she agreed as she reached for John’s beer. After taking a swallow, she nearly choked on a mouthful. Her eyes bulged as she glanced over my shoulder. “Uh…Abbey,” she muttered while gesturing behind me.

  I already knew who it was without seeing him. My pulse spiked as I spun to face Jason, tipping my head up to meet his eyes. His presence seemed to take over the room. He was so much taller than my petite five-five frame.

  “Abbey…” Jason drawled in a sexy tone. It was low and deep, just like his laugh.

  The sound instantly filled my insides with butterflies and sent a warm shiver pulsing down my spine.

  His eyes glinted with a hint of bad-boy quality. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were avoiding me,” he added, revealing a heart-melting smile.

  “I am,” slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. Shit. “I mean, I’m just trying to have a good time tonight with my family and friends,” I added lightly as an explanation.

  God, he is so handsome.

  I could not seem to form a complete thought with him standing so close to me. I needed to keep a great deal of distance between him and me. He had trouble written all over him, and I did not want to sign up for voluntary heartbreak.

  No, thank you.

  “Oh,” Jason said thoughtfully while staring at me with his gorgeous eyes.

  I could now see they were the color of a clear blue sky, and they seemed to have the power to pull me in.

  “Well, seeing as though we are going to be working together now, how about I buy you a drink?”

  I slowly blinked as I focused on what he was saying. The corner of his mouth curved up, creating the slightest dimple. I wanted to lean forward and kiss the soft curve just once. Luckily, the bartender swooped in and saved me, setting my screwdriver on the counter.

  “Thank you, but I just ordered one,” I replied kindly while lifting my glass.

  “Maybe another time then,” Jason responded casually.

  He looked as though he was going to say more, but then Lily came out of nowhere and tugged on my arm. I was relieved for the interruption because I was still so unsure of what to think about Jason and the feelings he seemed to stir in me.

  “You’re not getting out of this, missy,” Lily said teasingly in my ear while yanking me toward the dance floor.

  “Getting out of what?” I screeched, grasping that I must have missed something important.

  “Catching my bouquet, so you can get your happily ever after,” Lily said, meaning every word.

  I laughed silently, remembering Lily was forever the romantic type.

  “Oh my God! Yes!” Brooke hollered humorously from her seat at the bar. “She’s definitely next on the list to get tied down!”

  When I rotated to glare at Brooke, she only laughed harder.

  I turned back to Lily. “Ugh…you know that’s totally not my style, Lily.” I pouted at her, hoping she would take pity on me and let me go. I was already missing my drink.

  The DJ announced, “Last call for single ladies to make their way to the dance floor.”

  Ah crap!

  “Then, you’ll just have to step out of your bubble and try something new. You’ve got this, Abbey.” Lily grinned, maneuvering me to the end of the line.

  My eyes scanned the row of women. They all had this fierce look in their eyes, ready to tackle anyone who stepped in their way of catching that bouquet. I returned my attention back to Lily to see that her eyes were sincere and friendly.

  Double crap!

  Her sweet demeanor was too hard to resist. She had the persona to pull anyone in with her kind heart.

  “Okay,” I sighed exasperatedly, caving to her charm.

  The DJ changed the song to Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” I let out a slow grin at the song Lily had chosen. It was the same song Brooke, Lily, and I had danced to at the bar where we had Lily’s bachelorette party. My eyes snapped back to Lily just as the DJ counted to three with quick succession. Lily wasted no time. She cranked her arm forward and then whipped the bouquet back, the force making a few petals fall to the floor. My eyes widened in surprise as the flowers barreled straight for me. I had no choice but to lift my arms and catch it, or it was going to smack me straight in the face.

  Bouquet in hand, I glanced up to see Lily looking over her shoulder at me, eyes beaming, as a grin stretched across her face. I lifted my brow at her as she spun around and headed straight for me. She stopped in front of me.

  “No fair! You totally did that on purpose!” I shouted good-naturedly at her.

  Brooke cheered in the background. Kate, Ryan’s wife, joined in with Brooke. My eyes briefly lingered on Jason, who was smirking at me. His eyes danced with emotions I could not place, but I was pretty sure I recognized one of them as pure challenge. My heart rate spiked into overdrive. I always loved a good challenge, and I never backed down from one.

  What could he possibly be up to?

  I hurriedly refocused my attention back on Lily. She innocently shrugged her shoulders at me. It was then that I detected the wicked gleam in her eyes. It seems my sweet sister-in-law had a dirty side. I was quite impressed.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lily winked at me, feigning innocence.

  Kyle pulled her into his arms and whisked her away to remove the g
arter. All the guests gathered around the couple as Kyle helped Lily to the chair in the center of the wooden dance floor. He gave her an impish smile before slowly sneaking his head under her dress. Embarrassed, Lily’s face turned bright pink, and she covered her eyes with her hands as she shook her head. Cheers resonated through the backyard.

  Suddenly, I felt a warm breath right next to my ear, and I inhaled a familiar husky cologne, the same scent I had smelled for the first time only hours ago.

  “If I catch that garter, Abbey, I get to dance with you for a whole three minutes, and you won’t be able to run off,” Jason whispered seductively in my ear.

  I kept my gaze on the couple in front of me. There was no way I could fall for his sweet charms since we would be working together soon. However, I couldn’t resist a good challenge. I was competitive in every sense of the word, and I also couldn’t ignore the effect he had on me.

  I tilted my head to look up into his eyes, ignoring the way they made me feel inside. “Then, I hope you miss,” I replied, stifling my smile.

  He let out a throaty laugh, causing delicious goose bumps to break out across my skin.

  “Oh, Abbey, one thing about me you’ll learn quickly is that I never back down from a challenge, and I never miss a good catch,” he responded confidently.

  Before I could figure out what he’d meant or voice my retort, the crowd roared with clapping and laughter. I brought my attention back to Kyle, who was holding a small football in his hand. My jaw dropped. Surely, he had not pulled that out of Lily’s dress, but the look in his eyes told me differently. I had to chuckle at Lily’s creativeness. Kyle ducked his head again and went back under Lily’s dress for round two.

  As I wondered if a garter was even under there, Jason bent forward and spoke lowly in my ear, “A football?” He grinned. “The odds are definitely in my favor now.”

  I bit my lip, praying an all-star college quarterback wasn’t behind me. Out of all the single men here tonight, I had to have a good chance that someone else, anyone else besides Jason, could catch that damn football. I was not sure if I could survive having his hands on me for three minutes without wanting to taste his lips.