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might be true. I took all the blame, terrified something could hap-
pen to you and your grandmother even Patrick. Everywhere I
went, people seemed to turn up dead and Lohan put the blame on
me. Then I discovered the harsh reality of what I d been married to
and realized I d been lied to. Because of him and not me, people I
cared about either died, got hurt or lived under his threat. I
couldn t put either one of you through that so I ran away like a co-
ward not from you but from myself.
So you expect me to believe you had a sudden epiphany and
everything can be fine between us just because you told me about
your bastard husband and his threats? What did he do screw
around on you?
Right across the hall, she said quietly. Her name is Tiffany
and she tried to say that Lohan left her the estate. My attorney won
that argument and she walked away with only what she d been giv-
en while they slept together. While I locked myself in my room so
he wouldn t touch me, they had fun across the hall from me know-
ing I d never catch them no matter what took place. He saw me
as a trophy wife who d become a liability to him. Had he survived
that night, I d be dead because I lied to him about the Lawford
money and I can guarantee, he had plans for you and Leighton. I
didn t want any more of the Billings poison touching either of you.
Now, if you ll excuse me, I think I d better leave.
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No Deal
Why?
You are so angry that you refuse to believe me. I ll have to
live with that. I m sorry, Blake, she apologized. Honestly, I am.
Alicia, I spent weeks trying to figure out what the hell went
wrong. I ve heard about everything you ve done and I m im-
pressed. You have no idea how many times I tried to pick up the
phone but didn t because I couldn t bear being hurt again. To lose
both loves in my life hurt and it became worse every day.
Both?
The sport I m married to and the woman I wanted to marry.
Wanted to marry? she asked, her stomach feeling nauseated.
I hurt you that much?
Yes, he said. Gran can tell you that I swore off women to-
tally. My heart couldn t have taken the pain again. I put everything
into the time we spent together only to have it thrown in my face. I
can t forget you because of what we shared plus the pain I live with
thanks to what Billings did to my ankle.
I am so very sorry. I wanted to say something and fight him
but Lohan made sure I couldn t. If he hadn t stopped Bruno, he
would have broken my neck and left me there.
They told me you shot him&
Yes and I d do it again. I vowed that night that no one would
ever touch me again with the exception of the man who, I thought,
lay dead on the warehouse floor below me. When Patrick told me
you d been taken to a hospital, I breathed a huge sigh of relief but
thanks to Bruno, I couldn t cry because it hurt so damned much. I
wanted to die yet I wanted to live so we could be together. Now, I
wonder why. I ve never seen you so damned bitter. I understood
about our being separated until they informed me I couldn t see
you when&
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No Deal
I d had so many operations, Phillip feared opening me up
again. I ve never been in any pain near what I experienced yet the
woman I d fallen in love with caused me more than the surgeries
did.
And I m sorry but that doesn t help if you won t believe me.
Blake, I didn t stop loving you. I hated myself more along with the
dangerous liability I d become to all of you. I ran so you all could
live. The world didn t know me but it knows you and your grand-
mother. In a warped way, I believed my sacrifice would be worth it
if you both survived.
But we never even talked&
No one would let me near you. Once I got to the clinic, I
kept asking to see you and they kept saying no. What else could I
do?
Blake didn t answer her though he remained in front of the
door barring her from leaving.
Several of Billings associates had to be apprehended along
with two men the Feds believe wanted to open more clubs in New
England and Canada the reason he wanted your money. From
what Patrick told me, these guys didn t care who they hurt to get
what they wanted. One had ties to the Russian mob. Our original
plan had been to keep you safe and out of the limelight in Newport
and then I d meet you at the house. The best laid plans never fig-
ured that asshole s cold ruthlessness into the equation. From the
moment his men left me the note at Cheers, all strategy went out
the window. Patrick and my grandmother became extremely over-
protective but when you became despondent over everything while
dwelling on everything being your fault&
Alicia listened to Blake wanting to believe him. The only thing
she could trust had been the still evident heat between them.
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No Deal
All right, to make things simpler everyone involved han-
dled the entire situation in the worst possible manner. Where does
that leave us?
I don t know, he said, taking out his cell phone, Alicia
watching as he sent a text message.
Telling Leighton about our conversation?
No, I m telling her to forget auctioning off the dinner.
Why, it s&
It s our place where we had our first date, so to speak. I
don t want to share it.
What difference does it make now? Are we together?
Alicia, a great deal s been said but one thing remained alive in
all this.
What?
The incredible bond and heat between us. I felt it when I
grabbed your arm. Something s still there.
Like I ve told you, Blake I never stopped loving you.
Blake found a chair and shoved it under the doorknob then
pulled another over to sit down on. Loosening his tie, he sat back
making sure he eased the pressure on his ankle.
Can you think of any way to solve this?
Alicia grinned as she reached behind her back and unzipped
her gown letting it fall to the floor before she went to him wearing
only her thong and a pair of stilettos, seducing him as she did.
Kneeling before him, she undid his pants and took his waiting cock
deep into her throat.
My God, Alicia, are&
Nodding, she took him deeper until her lips brushed his balls,
Blake groaning. As her pace quickened, she felt his fingers tangling
in her hair before he pressed her head closer.
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Damn, woman, I can t hold it any longer, he gasped as he
felt her fingertips teasing his balls. Moments later, weeks of pent-
up frustration exploded into her throat, Alicia taking it all.
She pulled back, laving his slit before gazing at him while she
snaked her body along his. Their lips met, their kiss brutally pas-
sionate as his hands cupped her breasts firmly as if he refused to ev-
er let go of her.
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