Today, however, was different.

  Today was her day.

  “Where are the rest?” she asked.

  “Somewhere back there.” Aarōn waved a negligent hand behind him.

  “They’ll get here eventually.” Isaák smiled at her. “But we wanted to get here first.”

  “To be the first to congratulate you.”

  Her boys. Launched into the world and a testament to the love she’d given them. If only Haimon had loved them as she had, maybe he wouldn’t have disappeared from their lives forever. Instead, maybe, somehow she could have given him a slice of the twins’ lives. But Rafe had confessed he’d told Haimon to leave and never come back, and for once the old man had kept his promise. In all these years, she’d never heard a word. Perhaps it was for the best.

  “Rafe’s going to be angry,” Aarōn sniggered.

  Isaák’s eyes twinkled as he glanced at his brother. “Yeah, he sure is.”

  “Why?” She frowned, her happy emotions cut short. This was her day. She didn’t want anyone being anything except happy.

  “He warned us.” By the expression on Aarōn’s face, he didn’t seem to be too worried.

  “He wanted to be the first to hug you,” his twin chimed in. “You should have seen the look on his face when we took off to find you.”

  Tam’s frown disappeared. “Oh, you both are teasing—”

  “No, both of us aren’t,” Isaák said. “He’s going to be mad.”

  “The poor guy’s saddled with so much extra baggage, though, it’s impossible for him to be faster than us.” Aarōn’s grin was as wide as his brother’s.

  She knew these threats and dire predictions were merely a sham. This was only the usual between the twins and her husband. The boys loved to rib their uncle and he loved to rib them right back. Rafe might cuff both of the boys when he got here, but it would be with affection.

  “Tamsin.” Rhachel’s shriek made the three of them turn their heads. Her sister-in-law bounded toward them, a big smile on her face. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled as she received another warm hug. “It feels great to get this done.”

  “You have every right to feel super great,” Rhachel said. “It’s a huge accomplishment.”

  “It did take her eight long years.” Isaák’s eyes lit with teasing. “That’s a long time.”

  “Well, she did have some other things going on.” His aunt stepped toward him and gave his shoulder a shove. “Like taking care of you and your brother.”

  “And assorted others,” Aarōn said wryly.

  “Tamsin.” Nephele’s smile was wide and bright as she walked up to the group. A line of laughing, giggling grandchildren trailed behind her.

  With one swoop, she found herself in the familiar arms of someone who’d become beyond dear to her. The woman’s signature scent of lilacs swirled in her nose and Tam’s eyes welled with grateful tears. Nephele had given her something she’d never had.

  “Mamá,” she whispered in the older woman’s ear.

  “Congratulations.” Her mother-in-law eased out of the embrace to gaze into Tam’s eyes. “You worked so hard for this, for so long. I’m proud of you.”

  For a moment, she thought of Skylla, so broken and damaged she’d never once given her daughter anything but negative. Yet Tam had long ago forgiven her and now was not the time to dredge up old hurts.

  Now was the time to be supremely happy.

  “Tamsin.” Rhouth broke through the throng of gathering relatives, her amber eyes warm, her face filled with an affectionate greeting. “You did it, girlfriend.”

  “I did, didn’t I?” She threw her arms around the woman, laughing with delight. Rhouth had just given birth three days ago and Tam hadn’t been sure she should be here. Still, her best friend had been adamant. This was Tamsin’s special day and nothing would cause her to miss it.

  “I’m so glad you’re done.” Her best friend eased back from the hug they shared.

  “I am too. Now, Rafe can practice medicine full time.”

  “He’ll finally do what he was meant to do all along.”

  “Yes.” A wash of tears filled Tam’s eyes. “He’s been so patient.”

  “Of course he has.” Rhouth’s mouth curved into a knowing smile. “He’d do anything for you. Plus the distractions have been as much his fault as yours.”

  She laughed. “True.”

  “And the company had to keep operating.”

  Her company. Viper Enterprises might still have the guiding hand of its founder holding the reins of power, but during the last two years, she had steadily taken on more and more of the daily decisions. This MBA degree would only solidify a respect she’d been developing among the staff. She loved the business, much more than her husband. Now she’d have a chance to take full control of it, freeing Rafe to go full-time in the fledgling pediatric practice he’d started four years ago when he’d graduated from medical school.

  “Just think. Rafe will be doing what he promised his father he’d do.” A deep stab of satisfaction and joy ran through her. “What he should have been doing all his life.”

  Rhouth looked her straight in the eye, a grave smile on her face. “Because of you. If you hadn’t walked back into his life and forced him to see what was in front of him, my brother would have been too stubborn to do it on his own.”

  “Well—”

  “Thank you.” Her best friend hugged her again with a fierce grip. “Thank you for giving us back our Raphael.”

  “Don’t make me cry.” She smiled through her tears.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll leave it that I couldn’t be happier you’ll be doing what you do best, and my brother will be doing what he does best.”

  “Exactly.” Giving Rhouth another smile, she turned around to stare into the sea of people. “Speaking of which—where is he?”

  “I’m right here.”

  Tam jerked around and finally spotted her husband. He strode over to the crowd of Vounós, a grin on his face for them all, but his black gaze centered on her.

  “Took you awhile,” Aarōn crowed.

  She glanced down at the obvious reason for the delay. The child stroller Rafe pushed was filled with three of the most important people in her life. One of them was sobbing as if her life were ending.

  “I’m afraid Téleia isn’t the center of attention.” Rafe’s mouth quirked. “So she’s mad.”

  “Té.” Bending down, she plucked her five-year-old daughter out of the stroller. “Shush, now. Mamá’s here.”

  Aarōn knelt in front of the other two children in the stroller. “No temper tantrums from my two guys, huh?”

  “Of course not.” Isaák tugged one of the babies out of his straps and lifted him high above him. “Ben and Loukas are too cool to cry.”

  The one-year-old twins cried all the time. Yet today they appeared to be on their best behavior, thank goodness.

  “Mamá.” Téleia brushed her fingers across her cheeks, the glitter of the silver and pearl bracelet that was her prized possession sparkling in the light. Her green eyes glittered with stray tears. “Let’s go home.”

  Home, Tam knew, meant Sparti where Titus awaited to charm his favorite human being. From the moment the dog had spotted Té’s dark curls bouncing in her father’s grasp, he’d been a devoted slave. “Soon, Té.” She kissed the wet cheeks. “Soon.”

  “Guess who got to hug Tam first, Rafe?” Isaák grinned as he snuggled Loukas into his big arms. The baby gurgled, the blond fluff of his head waving like a white cloud around his head, contentment filling his face as he lay in the grasp of someone who loved him unconditionally.

  “It’s not the first that matters, but the last.” A warm hand slipped across her stomach. “How’s our baby?”

  “She’s fine.” Another child on the way in two short months. Sometimes Tam wondered whether she and Rafe would be able to handle the children, the work, the schooling, but then her strong, loving husband would take her in his arms and cuddle her fears away. And somehow, with the help of the family, the nanny they’d hired, and the loyal staff at Viper Enterprises everything important always got done.

  “Kardiá mou.” A long-fingered hand nudged Tam’s chin and her gaze met his intense one. “You did it.”

  “Yes. I did.” Her smile felt as wide as the Aegean sea. “Aren’t you proud?”

  “Nai, very proud.” Rafe’s eyes held the familiar darkness mixed with the light of love. “Proud to be your husband.”

  “Oh, Raphael.” She leaned into his hand, his palm cupping her face. “Everything’s going to be perfect now.”

  “Now, Tammy?” A dark brow arched and a smile edged his mouth. “It already is.”

  Just click on the book itself to get your free copy!

  Thank you!

  Thanks for reading A Perfect Love. I hope you enjoyed it!

  I would appreciate a review if you have the time. You can click here to leave one. Reviews help other readers find books. Any review is welcome, whether positive or negative.

  What's next? Would you like to know when my next book is available? You can sign up for my new release email list at www.carolafever.com, follow me on twitter at @caro_lafever, or like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CaroLaFever.

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  Check out the rest of the series. There are two other stories within the Greek trilogy of the International Billionaires series. You can check out A Perfect Man and A Perfect Wife by clicking on each title.

  A Perfect Man

  A bitter and betrayed beau. A furious and forced fiancee. A recipe for rebellion and…rapture.

  A Perfect Wife

  A mogul intent on only success. A curious reporter searching for the real story. A journey back to a homeland rejected years ago.

  Lion of Caledonia

  International Billionaires VII: The Scots

  by Caro LaFever

  Jennet Douglas doesn’t do anything other than play it safe. Learning to be passive gained her a foothold in her grandfather’s house and it’s become a solid habit. But the burning, passionate nature she refuses to acknowledge has finally met its match. A match that lights a fire inside her she can’t deny.

  Cameron Steward lives for adventure. Getting stuck in the wilds of Scotland, with an angry son who hates him, wasn’t part of his plan. But a crazy, dead wife and a demanding, dead mother had other ideas and now, here he is—desperate to find something to alight his interest once more.

  With Jennet tied to a family demand to steal and Cameron bound by long held beliefs, both are caught in a maze of past hurts and future fears. Only the flash of a match made in heaven can light the flame of love in their souls.

  Excerpt:

  “I don’t want to be here.” No words could ever be truer. Jen didn’t want to be here to steal or have her heart stolen. “You can’t make me stay.”

  “Hmm.” Purring his signature sound, Cameron Steward stationed himself at the door, arms crossed, a formidable barrier.

  “Move.” She kept herself behind the desk, unwilling to place herself within his grasp.

  “All right.” His gaze never left hers. “We’ll leave that particular subject alone for now, since you’re being obstinate.”

  Obstinate. A word that had never been used about her before. She supposed she should be offended, yet something deep inside swelled with an odd pride. “Then I’ll stay. If we work.”

  “Let’s instead talk about why ye were in my bedroom.”

  His swift switch back to the topic she’d dreaded made her brain freeze.

  His mouth curled at her silence. “Nothing to say once again. That’s interesting.”

  “I was interested,” she blurted, grabbing onto his last words as inspiration.

  “What?” His big body straightened, and the light of something she didn’t want to deal with flashed in his eyes. “What do ye mean by that?”

  She couldn’t go backward. She couldn’t tell him she was snooping. The only way was forward. Sod it. Shrugging her shoulders, she pasted a bland look on her face. “I just was looking around.”

  “In my bedroom.” His voice had gone silky, an implicit message rounding each word.

  Jen’s heart trembled as the message wove around and around her. “I need to leave.”

  “Ye do that a lot, don’t ye?” He didn’t move from his stance. “Leave when things get a bit rough.”

  He had no idea what he was talking about. The opposite was true, so true it had almost ruined her life. Not until two years ago, when she had made her stand. Finally leaving behind a life fashioned for her far before she’d had the courage to say no. “Please move away from the door.”

  He did, yet not in the direction she’d wanted him to go. Instead of pacing to the window bay, he prowled right toward her.

  Her heart rose to her throat. What she saw in his eyes made her want to squeak and run. Rather than do those ignoble things, she started around the other side of the desk.

  “No, ye don’t.” Chuckling, a soft, satisfied sound, he shot out his hand to snag her arm.

  “Let me go.” Jen didn’t want to give him any more satisfaction, but it was hard not to wiggle.

  He used this to his advantage, pulling her into his grasp in one short jerk. “I don’t think so. At least, not for now.”

  The wool of his jumper—another of his inevitable black jumpers—scratched her hands as she pushed on his chest. “This is unacceptable.”

  His chuckle turned into a laugh. The movement of his chest beneath her hands made her heart gallop. “I love it when ye get all English on me.”

  The implied slur made her glance up into his face. “I’m English. What else would I be?”

  “What else indeed.” His odd eyes gleamed with…interest. And something else, something that matched what ran in her blood against her will. “So you’re interested, eh?”

  “I think you should let me go.”

  “And I’m thinking I should be giving ye a wee kiss.”

  Available in March 2016! Join the LaFever reading group at www.carolafever.com so you'll know when Lion of Caledonia is out!

  Also by Caro LaFever

  The Italians

  Mistress By Blackmail

  Wife By Force

  Baby By Accident

  The Greeks

  A Perfect Man

  A Perfect Wife

  A Perfect Love

  The Scots

  Lion of Caledonia coming March 2016!

  Lord of the Isles coming April 2016!

  Laird of the Highlands coming May 2016!

  Nonfiction

  The Complete Guide to Heroes and Heroines

  About the Author

  Double finalist and winner of the Golden Heart, one of Romance Writer's of America's highest awards, Caro LaFever writes timeless romantic tales as well as nonfiction advice for writers. Her book, Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes, has been a go-to resource for writers for more than a decade. Her romantic novels have won or been a finalist in such prestigious contests as the Golden Pen, the Orange Rose, and the Emily. She lives in the Rocky Mtns.

  @caro_lafever

  CaroLaFever

  www.carolafever.com

  caro@carolafever.com

  Acknowledgments

  I appreciate every bit of advice and commentary that I've received from numerous critique group buddies, workshops, classes, and beta readers. After years of honing my craft, I still find new and important nuggets of wisdom every time I put my writing out there for review.

  Thanks to my developmental editor, Allie Burton, who is truly my conscience and calls me on my idiot imaginings. Thanks to Sue Viders, who always catches when a character has moved across the room, but I haven't mentioned it. And thanks to Tanya Saari, my proofreader, who diligently goes with me into the correct way to spell numerous foreign foods and phrases.

  Finally, thanks to my family, who taught me to love books and appreciate a story well-told.

  Copyright © 2016 by Caro LaFever

  All rights reserved.

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

  Book cover: Kim Killion

  Interior design: Caro LaFever

  ISBN: 978-1-945007-05-7

  Contents

  A male bent on revenge. A female determined to prevail. Young lovers ripped apart...forever?

  Free book offer

  Epigraph

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Epilogue

  Free book offer

  Thank you!

  Excerpt from Lion of Caledonia

  Also by Caro LaFever

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Copyright

 

 

  Caro LaFever, A Perfect Love: International Billionaires VI: The Greeks

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