At Any Cost (25 page)

“I want Frank Junior to live with us,” she whispered. “Can you handle sharing me with him?”

God, he loved her quirkiness. Nick smiled. “I'm a man who's secure in his masculinity. Frank Junior doesn't threaten me. Besides, I owe him one.”

Livy's smile grew from sheepish to blindingly brilliant.

She'd been through so much and not only tonight. Nick realized that she was afraid to trust. Afraid to let go. She'd been hurt over and again. She pushed Nick away because she was used to being left. Aside from her mother, she'd always been alone. “I'm not leaving you, Livy,” he said. “I told you I wouldn't let you down and I meant it. I'm not going
anywhere
.” Nick would make sure that she didn't have to go through anything else alone. He'd be there for her no matter what. Whatever happened after tonight, they'd deal with it together.

“I love you, Livy.” Nick couldn't say it enough. Would never get tired of telling her.

Her eyes pooled with tears and joy lit her face. “I love you, too.”

He kissed her gently. When he pulled away Livy's expression shone with mischief and a smile tugged at her lips.

“What?”

“You do realize that I'm going to have to teach you to ski, right? By the time I'm through with you, you'll be shredding pow with the pros.”

Nick quirked a brow. His own silly smile couldn't be quelled. Goddamn. He loved her so much. “Pow? Is that like going ham?”

Livy's lighthearted laughter was the sweetest music to his ears. “No,” she said. “But you'll catch on.”

“You'll have to go easy on me,” he replied. “I know I told you I skied when I was a kid but the truth is, I quit after the first run because I was tired of falling.”

“That's because you never had me as a teacher,” Livy said with pride. “We'll start with pizza wedges and French fries, and go from there.”

“I don't understand a word you're saying, but I can take whatever you throw at me.”

Livy's expression became serious. “Are you sure, Nick? Are you sure you're ready for this? For me?”

She'd been alone for so long. Had lived her life with so little love. Nick would spend every day of the rest of his life making sure she knew how much he cared. How much he loved her. He put his mouth to hers, a gentle kiss that ended far too quickly. When he pulled away, Nick smiled.

“Try me.”

Love the U.S. Marshals? Keep an eye out for

 

LOCKED AND LOADED
,

 

the latest in Mandy Baxter's series,
available in Fall, 2016
from Zebra Books.

Mandy Baxter
lives in rural Idaho. She's a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshipper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves black clothes, pink appliances, and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock. She also writes urban fantasy under Amanda Bonilla. For more about Mandy, visit
www.mandy-baxter.com
.

ONE NIGHT MORE

 

Getting saved from disaster by a handsome
stranger—Harper Allen has no problem with
that
.
But when he leaves without a word or a clue to his
real identity, the newbie reporter writes it off
as the best one-night stand she'll ever have.
Until a year later, when Harper comes face-to-face
with the man assigned to hide her
from a senator's killer....

 

Galen Kelly hasn't forgotten a single sensual
minute of his night with Harper . . .
or that she betrayed him. With the FBI also on
their trail, he's got to pretend he's never met her
or risk both their lives. But as danger closes in,
Galen may not be able to protect himself
from taking the biggest risk of all....

ONE KISS MORE

 

Emma Ruiz knows her father is innocent.
But that doesn't help her convince the law—
not even smoking hot U.S. Marshal Landon
McCabe. When McCabe bangs on her door
demanding information about how her
cancer-stricken father escaped from
federal prison, she'll have to distract him
somehow—it may as well be with a stolen kiss.

 

Landon gets why Emma isn't saying all she knows.
What he doesn't understand is why he's putting
his reputation, his case, and his badge on the line
for a gorgeous person of interest. Much as he'd
love to, he can't let Emma play him. The stakes
are higher than either of them can guess.
The only way to survive is to trust their instincts.
But their instincts want more than one kiss....

ONE TOUCH MORE

 

 

For hotel manager Tabitha Martin, bad boys
usually spell disaster. And her new guest
promises just that, with his formidable build,
tattooed biceps, and quiet take-no-mess attitude.
Tabitha is already putting everything on the line
to escape her vicious drug-dealing ex's control
for good—but a single sizzling moment in
“Damien Evans's” arms has her wanting
all the trouble he can give....

 

He's been undercover too long and likes living
dangerously too much. U.S. Marshal Parker Evans
figures maybe that's why he doesn't immediately
put Tabitha in custody. Sure, she's his one chance
to finally take down a major drug ring. But every
minute he protects this mostly innocent blonde
leaves his heart all too vulnerable. And the cost
of desire could be a deadly endgame. . . .

ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

 

Copyright © 2016 by Amanda Bonilla

 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

 

To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

 

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

 

 

Zebra and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

 

ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-4105-4
ISBN-10: 1-4201-4105-8

ISBN: 978-1-4201-4105-4