Six Hot Summer Nights. Leslie Kelly

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СКАЧАТЬ eased back, bent down and picked her up to carry her. “Where to?”

      “Bronson, I’m getting too heavy for you to carry,” she scolded. “Put me down.”

      “You’ve barely gained anything, and if I want to carry my family, I will.”

      Mia’s eyes stung as she stared back at him. “Your family? In that case, take me anywhere you want.”

      Hope sprang to life within her. He thought of them as a family. Did he intend to make them a family in the legal way?

      Oh, God. Her dreams of a family, a real unit, could come true and with a man she was totally in love with. She realized she’d never want a family with anyone but Bronson.

      He carried her down the narrow, stone hallway out one of the back doors. “I want to make love to you outside, in the open, under the stars.”

      Mia knew there was no one around to see since the castle sat on a huge lot and they were the only residents.

      He set her on her feet, wrapping his arms around her. “Look at me, Mia.”

      She lifted her face, knowing her love shone in her eyes.

      “Know that I care for you, know that what is between us is real to me and that I’m giving all I can emotionally.”

      Mia smiled, holding his face between her hands. “I know, Bronson. I know more about you than you know about yourself. Make love to me.”

      With soft, tender touches, he kissed her as he rid her of her bra and panties. Once she stood wearing only a kiss of the moonlight, Bronson placed his hands on her belly. He leaned down, kissed her stomach and murmured, “I love you” to the baby.

      Mia choked back tears, knowing he was taking a giant leap outside his comfort zone by declaring his feelings aloud. His vulnerability was now out in the open for her to see. Which told her right there that he trusted her—and possibly loved her, too.

      Bronson came up to his full height, framed her face with his hands and kissed her, backing her up until her legs hit the outdoor sofa. He spun them around and took a seat, urging her down to straddle him.

      Mia hovered with her face above his, looking into his eyes, needing him to know that her love was genuine. “I love you.”

      As they became one, Bronson’s eyes closed. Mia leaned down to kiss him as he stroked his hands up and down her bare back. The crisp night air pricked her skin, sending even more sensations surging through her.

      She tilted her hips, arching her back as she lifted her face to the night sky. Bronson’s talented hands found her breasts and sent Mia over the edge. She cried out and let the climax spread through her.

      In no time Bronson’s body stiffened as he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back against him, capturing her mouth.

      Mia held on to his shoulders as their tremors merged into one and knew that this was the man she was meant to spend her life with. There would be heartache, she had no doubt about that, but she intended to fight for him, for their family.

      He loved her. Now she just had to pray that love was strong enough to get them through the next few days.

       Fifteen

      Once Bronson’s jet landed back in L.A., Bronson dropped Mia off at her cottage because his mother had called his cell and told him to come to the house before going anywhere else. She assured him her health was fine, but they urgently needed to talk in private.

      He hadn’t told Mia about the message because he didn’t want to alarm her. What else could be wrong? If her health was fine, what else could she have to discuss that was so important?

      Even though his mother was a Hollywood icon, she’d never been one for personal drama. Twice in one week she’d needed to see him in private—that made him a bit nervous.

      Bronson entered the main house, smiling at one of the staff as they passed each other on the wide, curved stairs. As he entered the grand study where his mother spent nearly all her time, he noticed two things right off the bat:

      one, his mother had been crying and two, Anthony Price stood right next to her.

      “What the hell is going on?” he demanded.

      Olivia gestured toward the sofa where his sister sat. “Please, Bronson, sit with your sister. There’s something you both need to know”

      Remaining on his feet, Bronson eyed Anthony. “What’s he doing in your house? Did you go around me and hire him for the project? We were supposed to discuss this when I returned.”

      Olivia’s eyes, now misting back up, turned to Anthony. “No, this has nothing to do with the film.”

      A sickening pit bottomed out in his stomach. Nothing, absolutely nothing good was going to come from the next few minutes. Of that he was certain.

      “Why are you upset?” he asked, fear of the unknown gripping at his chest.

      “These are tears of joy,” his mother assured him. “And a little of fear, I must say.”

      “Come sit, Bronson.” Victoria shifted on the sofa and smiled. “I’m sure whatever Mom has to say is very important.”

      “If it’s that important, maybe just family should be here.”

      Why was Anthony looking so … comfortable? What the hell did the man have to do with anything that his mother could have to say?

      “Actually, that’s precisely what I need to talk to you both about,” Olivia said. “Family. Bronson, I want you to promise not to speak until I’m done talking.”

      He never, ever liked the sound of that, especially coming from his own mother. Who wanted to give up the right to interrupt when the conversation wasn’t going in a satisfactory direction?

      “Bronson?” she asked.

      “Fine.”

      Olivia came to her feet, crossed the room to stand in front of the French doors that opened on to the patio. Silence settled into the room and Bronson knew his mother was having a hard time voicing her thoughts. Whatever she wanted to say obviously upset her.

      And there was no script to follow in real life.

      Olivia smiled. “I never thought this day would come. I dreamed of how I’d handle it, but I never thought it would be a reality.”

      Victoria reached over and grabbed Bronson’s hand, and honestly he wanted that connection. Who knew what was going to come next from his mother’s lips.

      “I was at a pivotal point in my career nearly forty years ago,” she went on. “I had one of the biggest roles of my life handed to me without an audition. The industry adored me. I had never been so alive, so happy. I was only twenty years old, and I was pregnant by a man I didn’t love enough to marry.”

      Bronson СКАЧАТЬ