He leaned back against the wall behind him and met her gaze, steady. “Because you are Kiera Stanfield.”
She lifted open hands at her side. “And. What does that have to do with anything?”
“Kiera Stanfield a.k.a Kiera Branson. You’re Richard Branson’s daughter. Your father owns a quarter of all the businesses in the world. Including our fueling distributor.”
It was becoming very clear to her now. Ironically. The men in her past dated her and took from her because of her connection to her father in hopes that she would supply all of their financial needs while they attempted to discover themselves. Or worse, get her father to back them in various ventures. However, the man who truly captured her heart didn’t want anything to do with her because of who her father was.
“You didn’t want to risk my father finding out and pulling out of his deal with you all?”
“Yes. Because when I stood beside your father in his office and saw you smiling back from that family portrait it destroyed something inside of me.” He cupped her cheek briefly before lowering his hand. “My hope in us. This business and your father’s contract meant way too much to my brother…to me. I couldn’t ruin things for Vance, not before we even got off the ground. Literally.”
Sinking her teeth into the flesh of the inside of her bottom lip, she lowered her gaze. She stared at the floor before the pointed toes of her teal heels that matched her halter teal dress with cinched waist. Her dress seemed to showcase the difference between them loud and clear. Drake was a man who wore suits with no tie, while she was a woman raised in designer dresses more than she’d ever worn jeans.
At that moment, the distance between them seemed insurmountable.
“I hate to admit that maybe my mother had it right all along. It’s best for me to just stick to her socio-economic demographics. No matter what I feel is right for myself.”
“No, Kiera.” Swift, he moved from the wall and stepped directly before her, not touching, but close. “I thought the same at first. Tried to convince myself that you were just slumming with me. That maybe I wasn’t good enough to be with you.” He cupped her shoulder and glided his hand down to hers. His fingers brushed the tips of hers as if he wanted to take her hand but waited for her permission.
Her heart raced and she desired to give it, but she held back. She had to guard her heart.
“Maybe you’re not,” she declared as she met his gaze. “Because I need a man who’s willing to risk it all to be with me, for me. Not because of who my father is. It’s the reason I use my mother’s maiden name. It wasn’t just to build my career of my own capabilities, but I always wanted someone to see the real me and love me. Just me. Not Richard Branson’s daughter.” Her voice felt raspy to her own ears because of the strain of reigning in the emotions that wanted to explode inside of her. “I thought that was you, but—”
“It is me.” He grasped her hand. “That’s what I cam—”
“Kiera, there you are.” The center of their discussion stopped at the edge of the alcove when he saw her. “I’ve been looking for my dance partner.”
Pulling her hand away from Drake, she glanced over at her father. “Hi, Dad. I’m coming. I was delayed by…” She wasn’t sure how to describe Drake. “A contributor.”
Her father moved closer, until he saw Drake standing on the other side of the wall.
The beating of her heart intensified as the two men who were important in her life came face to face in front of her.
“Well, Drake!” Richard Branson’s face broke into a smile. “Glad you could make it. I saw Vance just a few moments ago. He said you were on your way in, but I didn’t know you were already here.”
“Yes, sir.” Drake stepped to her father, confident and strong as they shook hands. “Thanks again for the invite. Sorry to keep your daughter away from her guests.”
“Nonsense.” Her father placed a hand on Drake’s shoulder. “In actuality, I’m glad to see you’ve had a chance to meet my daughter.”
“Excuse me?” Drake’s tight brows matched her own. “You mean so I could give her the donation for her center?”
She stood there feeling a little dumbfounded. She felt like there were two conversations going on that weren’t matching up.
Her dad waved his free hand, dismissing Drake’s words. “I have no doubt you will take care of that. However, I’ve been wanting to introduce you to Kiera for months now. Since you and your brother first came to town and we spoke out at the airport with Gil. I liked not only your business sense, but you’re a driven man not afraid to stand beside his brother in a new venture. That kind of courage shows the truth of a man.” He patted Drake’s shoulder. “You impressed me. Hearing my daughter over the years about the kind of man she wanted to date, you seemed like the perfect match to me.”
“I’m not sure what to say.” Drake’s features were now relaxed. He appeared somewhat stunned.
Recalling that day months ago, when her father stopped by her center and spoke about a guy he found who was perfect for her, she felt light-headed. If she would have just allowed her father to tell her about the guy, so much of the confusion between her and Drake could have been avoided.
“You were talking about Drake?” she mumbled.
Pulling her into his side, her father confirmed her words, “Yes, I was talking about Drake Rhine.” His smile was bold and wide. “However, it seems that fate took over anyway since you two seem to have made a connection. Am I wrong?” He glanced from her to Drake.
Drake shook his head, but his gaze was steady on her. “You’re not wrong, sir. To be totally honest, fate showed up over two months ago in Chicago.”
Leaning back, her father looked down at her. “Really, sweetheart?”
“Really, Dad. I had a layover from hell at O’Hare and I was sent a knight in blue coveralls.” She shifted her gaze from her father to Drake. “A caring gentleman.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” her father declared.
Tossing his head back, Drake let out a loud chuckle.
Her father joined him.
Kiera stared at both men as if they’d lost their grip on reality.
“Come find me after you’re done here, sweetheart.” Her father kissed her forehead, then patted Drake on the back once more before leaving them alone.
The silence left in her father’s wake stretched between them. Kiera wasn’t sure what to say. Finding the words that she hoped would place her and Drake back on a path together, she met his gaze. His deep-set eyes held hers.
“It’s nice to have your father’s support. It definitely makes things easier not to worry about us impacting the airport.” Closing the distance between them, he took both of her hands in his. “However…I don’t care about it.”
“What?” She would have tugged her hands away, but Drake kept a firm grasp on them. “So, you’re still determined to walk away from what we have between us.”
“Hell, no.” He drew her closer.
Dizzy from the heat of his body she felt caressing hers, she searched his gaze. “I don’t understand.”
“Let me make it plain.” Slipping his arms around her, he pulled her to him and lowered his mouth onto hers.
The kiss was bold, deep and mind-blowing.
When he pulled away, she was panting with desire and pleasure of what it meant.
“The old saying states that distance make the heart grow fonder. I fully believe it, because this last month has just proved to me that I love you.”
“You what?” She wasn’t sure if the words actually came out of her mouth.
Then Drake offered her one of his wicked, tilted smiled. “I love you, Kiera Stanfield Branson.” His hands stroked her back. “I came here tonight to apologize for my crass behavior and tell you that I don’t care about anything more than having a relationship with you.”
“For real?” She presse
d her hands along his sides, drawing his warmth and strength into her.
“Yes. I’m glad your father is all for us, but I was prepared to seek out another fuel source if I had to. I refuse to lose you again, sweet lady.” His eyes, appearing more blue than gray, searched hers. “If you will still have me.”
“I’ll have you.” She didn’t hesitate in her response. “How can I not love a man who has grotesque taste in gowns?”
His smile turned wicked. “How about after this shindig is through I take you home and remind you just what I enjoy doing to you in that gown? I’ve had fantasies about us re-enacting Lady and the Tramp. Instead of pizza, like last time, I can see myself eating spaghetti off your luscious body.”
She giggled at he placed tiny kisses along the side of her neck. “Um, I don’t think that’s quite how the children’s classic movie went.”
He moved his lips to hers and whispered, “I know. I figured we could make the adult version of it.”
“I’m game.” Slipping her hand behind his head, she pulled him closer and kissed him.
When they parted, he said, “A woman after my own heart.”
That was all that she wanted. His heart, because he had hers. “Thanks for being willing to fight for me. I love you, Drake.”
Stepping back, he took her hand and squeezed it. “Then let’s go find your father so you can give him the dance you owe him and hopefully get out of here soon.”
“You lead and I’ll follow.”
Her heart soared as they walked out of the alcove hand in hand.
Epilogue
Eight months later, to the dismay of her mother and pride of her father, Kiera Branson walked down a makeshift aisle between over a hundred guests in the middle of the Harrisburg Airport runway—closed for the day.
As the attendees sat in elegantly decorated chairs and looked on, the minister had them recite their vows.
“Do you Kiera Macy Stanfield Branson, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
Staring at the man she loved with all her heart, she nodded and proclaimed, “I do!”
Shifting his attention to her groom, the older man asked, “Do you, Drake Morris Rhine, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“For the rest of my life, I do!”
Standing before him, she trembled with indescribable joy.
“The rings, please,” the minister requested.
She turned to Brigitte, who stood beside her, as Drake faced Antwan and got their rings.
Once they were facing each other again, the holy man continued, “Please repeat after me. With this ring I thee wed.”
Both of them had agreed that they would place the rings on each other’s fingers simultaneously. Doing so, they recited the words as they held each other’s stare and held the rings at the base of each finger.
“Now, it is my honor to pronounce you husband and wife. You may salute your bride.”
“Have I told you lately I love you?” Drake pulled her body against his.
“Not today you haven’t.” She slipped her arms around his neck.
“Well, I do love you, more today than yesterday.”
“Good, because my love has grown too.” She smiled at him.
“Kiss her already,” Antwan shouted.
Taking his best man’s advice, Drake sealed their union with a kiss.
About the Author
Yvette Hines may be a USA Today bestselling author, but she's still simply called SASSE or SASSE Yvette by some people. She's an erotica author who loves pleasurable hours between the sheets, whether it is a blended tale of interracial lovers, the clandestine bite and wicked passion of paranormal mates, or the sting of a commanding whip against tender flesh. Even better, make her day and toss in two gorgeously, decadent men who only want to pleasure their woman. She writes Short and Sexy, Sensual Erotica (SASSE). Occasionally, you may get a full-length novel from her. However, life is too busy and most of us have more than one job, family and other activities that don't allow us long hours to read any more.
For more information on other books by Yvette, visit her official website: YvetteHines.com
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