Will Never Fade (Riley O'Brien & Co. #4.75) Read online

  PRAISE FOR THE RILEY O’BRIEN & CO. ROMANCES

  “If you like tension filled and chemistry charged romance, this is the series for you. I want more of Riley O’Brien & Co. right now!” —Book Briefs

  “This series and author are a true gem in the Contemporary Romance genre!” —The Book Reading Gals

  WILL NEVER FADE/published by Jenna Sutton

  Copyright © 2016 by Jenna Sutton

  ISBN: 978-0-9974032-2-0

  Publishing history: Jenna Sutton eBook edition/December 2016

  Published in the United States of America

  Cover photos: San Francisco skyline and Bay Bridge at sunset © IM_photo/Shutterstock; Couple image © Kamil Siekierka/Shutterstock; Denim seam © vadimmmus/Shutterstock

  Cover design by Asha Hossain Design.

  Copyediting by Amy Knupp of Blue Otter Editing.

  Formatting by Polgarus Studio.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  To everyone who chooses to stand in the light. Shine on.

  Will Never Fade

  By Jenna Sutton

  Table of Contents

  PRAISE FOR THE RILEY O’BRIEN & CO. ROMANCES

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  EPILOGUE

  AUTHOR LETTER

  Don’t Miss the Other Riley O’Brien & Co. Novellas!

  CHAPTER ONE

  Party. Get-together. Bash. Fete. Shindig. Celebrating New Year’s Eve with a bunch of tipsy strangers wasn’t Phoebe Werner’s idea of a good time. She would much rather hang out with a small group of people at home.

  But she hadn’t lived in San Francisco long enough to make more than a handful of friends, and she refused to sit in her apartment alone on this special night, especially since there had been a time when she’d wondered if she would live to see the new year.

  Pulling the glittery invitation from her beaded clutch, Phoebe double-checked the address for the party. She wasn’t familiar with this part of the city, even though it was only a few blocks from Riley Plaza, the skyscraper in which she worked.

  She didn’t want to go to the wrong location and end up wandering around, alone and in the dark. Given the way she was dressed, someone might mistake her for a hooker.

  She glanced at the oversized metal numbers hanging above the high-rise’s sliding glass doors. This was the right place.

  After tucking the invitation back into her clutch, Phoebe thanked the Uber driver. She opened the door and climbed out as gracefully as possible, tugging down her short skirt so she wouldn’t flash anyone.

  Once she was inside the building, she checked in with the security guard behind the reception desk and followed his directions to the elevator bank. As she waited, she evaluated her reflection in the mirrored surface of the elevator doors.

  She barely recognized the woman staring back at her. She wasn’t the same Phoebe she had been three years ago.

  It wasn’t just the sparkly silver tank top and tight black skirt, although she rarely wore such sexy or revealing clothes. And it wasn’t the smoky eye shadow and bright red lipstick, although she couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn this much makeup, if ever.

  I’m different. Inside and out.

  The elevator dinged, the mirrored panels opening with a swoosh. She followed a couple of people into the cab and pressed the button for the twenty-fourth floor.

  Moments later she stood in front of a natural maple door. Music filtered from inside, a song she didn’t recognize. As she lifted her fist to knock, she wondered if anyone would even hear her.

  Her hand trembled just a little, and she clenched it into a tighter fist. She hadn’t been to a party like this since … before … and she was nervous. For a moment she thought about turning around and going home. Would it really be so bad to welcome the new year wearing her favorite pajamas and eating a bowl of rocky road ice cream?

  Her clutch vibrated in her other hand, signaling a text, and she fished out her phone to read it. The message was from Kyla Lilliard, her closest friend in San Francisco. Kyla and her new husband, Jake, were hosting the party.

  “Where are you?” Kyla’s text read.

  Phoebe typed her reply, “At the door.”

  Before she could knock, the door flew open, revealing Kyla on the other side. The curvy blonde grasped Phoebe’s hand and tugged her into the foyer.

  “You’re finally here!” Kyla said with an excited grin.

  Phoebe couldn’t help but smile at the other woman’s exuberance. She probably had wondered if Phoebe was going to show up at all. It was late—only about forty minutes ‘til midnight.

  Phoebe had waffled about whether to attend the party. Eventually, though, she had decided to come. Kyla was one of the sweetest women Phoebe had ever known, and she hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings by snubbing her invitation.

  “Thanks for inviting me,” Phoebe said, brushing back one of the dark curls that had fallen into her face.

  Kyla gave her a brief hug. “I’m so glad you came.”

  The two of them had known each other for less than a year, but it seemed as if they’d been friends forever. They both worked for Riley O’Brien & Co., the nation’s oldest designer and manufacturer of blue jeans. People around the world wore its signature jeans, known as Rileys.

  Draping her arm over Phoebe’s shoulders, Kyla brought her deeper into the apartment before turning to face her. “Let me take your coat.”

  Kyla held out a hand tipped with raspberry-colored nails. They were a perfect match for her slinky, sleeveless dress, which sparkled with strategically placed sequins.

  Phoebe unwound the soft red scarf from her neck. Made of cashmere, it was a favorite piece, one she’d knitted herself. After shoving it into her pocket along with her clutch and phone, she shrugged out of her coat and passed it to the other woman.

  “Stay right here,” Kyla ordered. “I’m going to put this in my bedroom. I’ll be right back.”

  As Kyla headed down the corridor, her silver metallic stilettos clacking on the gray slate floor, Phoebe glanced around the spacious apartment. Housing in the Bay Area was outrageously expensive, especially compared to her hometown of Boise, Idaho. She could only imagine how high the monthly mortgage on a place like this would be.

  Jake must be doing pretty well if he could afford this apartment. Of course, he had recently been promoted to CFO of Riley O’Brien & Co., and he’d probably received a significant raise.

  The apartment had an open floorplan, and the kitchen, dining room, and living room flowed together. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided an amazing view of the San Francisco skyline.

  Through the crowd, Phoebe could see several people mingling outside on the balcony. To her surprise, she recognized quite a few of the revelers. Maybe she wasn’t going to welcome the new year surrounded by strangers after all.

  As her gaze wandered, it la
nded on a tall guy across the room. His back was to her, but he reminded her of someone she used to know … someone she had wanted from the first moment she had seen him smile.

  His dark hair was short, and a black dress shirt stretched over his broad shoulders. A black leather belt cinched his lean waist, and his black trousers outlined his butt. It looked tight and squeezable even from twenty feet away.

  “Do you want something to drink? Beer? Wine? Something non-alcoholic?”

  Phoebe snapped her head toward Kyla, surprised her friend had returned already. “I’ll have some wine. Chardonnay if you have it.”

  With a nod, Kyla skirted the granite bar that separated the kitchen from the dining room and living area. She plucked a bottle from the counter and poured a splash of Napa Valley vintage into a plastic wine goblet.

  Kyla’s glossy lips tilted into a small smile. “Fancy, huh?” she asked, passing the wine to Phoebe.

  She laughed. “Very. I should have worn a ball gown and a tiara.”

  “And we have champagne for later.”

  After pouring herself a glass of ruby red wine, Kyla tapped her goblet against Phoebe’s and took a sip. Her silvery-gray gaze swept over Phoebe.

  “I like that top,” she said, gesturing toward Phoebe’s tank with her wine goblet. “Your girls look good.”

  Phoebe looked down, grimacing a little when she saw the expanse of exposed cleavage. “Too much?”

  “No.” Kyla shook her head emphatically. “You look hot.”

  Surprised, but pleased, Phoebe said, “Thanks.”

  She’d had to buy a new outfit for the party because her old “going out” clothes had no longer fit. By habit, she’d started her search in the plus size section, as she’d done since she had been a pre-teen. But then she’d remembered that those sizes were now too large. Shopping in the regular section was just another reminder of the changes she’d experienced.

  “It’s so good to see you,” Kyla said. “I missed you.”

  Phoebe had spent the weeks before and after Christmas in Boise. Her entire family lived there. She was the only Werner who had dared to leave the state.

  “We texted every day while I was gone,” Phoebe pointed out.

  Shaking her head, Kyla said, “Texting is a poor substitute for meaningful conversation.”

  “Meaningful?” Phoebe repeated with a laugh. “When do we have meaningful conversations?”

  Kyla giggled. “Good point.”

  Just then, Margo May appeared beside them. “Phoebe!” she exclaimed, her mouth lifting in a delighted smile. “I was hoping you would be here!”

  Margo reminded Phoebe of sunshine. Just being in the other woman’s presence warmed her up and brightened her day.

  Margo gave Phoebe a careful hug, mindful of the wine she held. The younger woman wore a halter dress with a glittery lace bodice in a hue somewhere between emerald green and teal. It looked amazing with her strawberry blond hair, dark blue eyes, and creamy complexion.

  “How was your visit to Asheville?” Phoebe asked Margo.

  “Wonderful. I was so sad to leave.”

  Margo’s husband, Zeke, had grown up in North Carolina. They had decided to spend their first Christmas as a married couple with his family.

  “The Mays are the most incredible family,” Margo added. “They’re not dysfunctional at all.”

  Phoebe laughed. “Every family is dysfunctional.”

  “Is your family?” Kyla asked.

  “They are if you consider nosy and overprotective to be dysfunctional.”

  “Okay, then the Mays are a bit dysfunctional.” Margo’s eyes narrowed speculatively as she gazed at Phoebe. “You know, Zeke’s youngest brother, Noah, is single. He’s a really nice guy. And good-looking, too … almost as good-looking as Zeke.”

  That comment gave Phoebe pause because Zeke was F-I-N-E. If Noah was even half as good-looking as his older brother, then he was hot with a capital H.

  Margo tipped her head toward Phoebe. “Noah’s coming to visit next month. Maybe you and he could go out and do something fun.” Her lips twitched. “Or stay in and do something fun.”

  Before Phoebe could express her lack of interest in either option, Zeke joined them. Like Phoebe and Kyla, he also worked for Riley O’Brien & Co. He’d joined the organization after serving in the Army for more than a decade. Supply chain and logistics was his forte.

  Margo and Zeke had met when she’d moved to San Francisco to join a local veterinary practice. She had needed a place to live, and Zeke had needed someone to help with the rent.

  It was easy to see why he had fallen head-over-heels for his roommate. Frankly, it was impossible not to love Margo. He hadn’t stood a chance against her extreme lovability.

  Zeke wrapped his arms around his wife from behind and nuzzled her ear. “I love you, Go-go.” He must have been oblivious to the fact that his deep voice was audible over the music because he added, “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

  He also must have been oblivious to the fact that he had an audience in the form of Phoebe and Kyla because he nudged his wife’s head to the side to give him access to her neck. As he lavished kisses on it, he said, “Let’s go home and make a baby. I want a mini Go-go so badly.”

  Margo glanced at Kyla and Phoebe, amusement sparkling in her eyes. “Looks like someone’s had a little too much to drink.”

  Phoebe wondered if the newlyweds really were trying to get pregnant or if that was just the alcohol talking. Although they had been married for only six months or so, Zeke was quite a bit older than his wife, nearing forty. This was his second marriage, and he probably wanted to have children sooner rather than later.

  Margo gave them a little wave. “I’ll see you later. Happy New Year!” She led her husband away, leaving Phoebe and Kyla alone.

  “There’s someone I want you to meet,” Kyla announced.

  “Male or female?” Phoebe asked suspiciously.

  A naughty smile curved Kyla’s mouth. “Definitely male.”

  “I already told you that I’m not interested in meeting any guys.”

  Kyla’s smile widened. “Trust me, Phoebe. You want to meet this one. I’ve told him all about you.”

  “I should have stayed home,” she muttered.

  Laughing, Kyla grasped Phoebe’s hand. “He’s nice. You’ll like him. I promise.”

  With Phoebe’s hand gripped snugly within hers, Kyla left the kitchen, weaving her way through the crowd. Phoebe trailed after her, nearly dragging her feet.

  She didn’t want to meet a nice guy. It would just remind her of the things she wanted desperately but could never have—a long, happy life with a loving husband and a houseful of kids.

  Kyla stopped abruptly, and Phoebe careened into her, bobbling her wine. She barely managed not to spill it down her front. As she clutched the plastic goblet, she heard a deep laugh. It reminded her of another laugh … another man. Pleasurable tingles danced up and down her spine.

  “I found her,” Kyla announced, letting go of Phoebe’s hand and shifting to the side.

  Phoebe stared at the broad back she had ogled earlier, and the man turned to face her. He was taller than she’d thought, probably close to six-three. Even in her heels, she barely reached his shoulders.

  She glanced up, past the onyx buttons on his shirt and the tan column of his strong neck, over a square jaw covered with dark stubble to a set of full lips and a straight, bold nose. Finally, she met his eyes, the same bright turquoise of the Caribbean and edged with long, sooty lashes the exact shade as his thick, shiny hair.

  No. It couldn’t be.

  “Garrett?” she breathed.

  All the blood drained from her head, making spots dance in her vision. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply. His scent overwhelmed her, the spicy notes of his cologne mixing with a darker, more potent aroma that was all him.

  She lifted her eyelids and met his gaze, the pulsing music fad
ing into the background. Those amazing eyes widened in shock. “Phoebe?”

  “You know each other?” Kyla asked, looking back and forth between them.

  With her gaze captured by Garrett’s, Phoebe couldn’t do anything but nod. Her lips were stiff and dry, so she licked them. His ocean-blue eyes dropped to her mouth before snapping back up.

  “You do?” Kyla asked, a bewildered note in her voice. “How?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Garrett Gale had never expected to lay eyes on Phoebe Werner again. The last time he’d seen her she’d been curled up in his bed, deliciously naked. And he had been right beside her, equally naked.

  “How do you guys know each other?” Kyla asked.

  Somehow, he managed to drag his eyes away from Phoebe and focus his attention on Kyla. She moved closer to Jake, and her husband looped his arm around her slender waist and pulled her against his side.

  Garrett could barely think … could barely comprehend that the woman he had wanted almost to the point of obsession stood right in front of him. His chest felt tight and achy, just like when he’d had that bad chest cold last year. He took a deep breath, and then another, trying to lessen the pressure.

  “How do you guys know each other?” Kyla repeated with sharp impatience.

  He shook his head, trying to get his brain and his mouth to work in concert. “We were…”

  Classmates. Study partners. Friends. Lovers.

  When he couldn’t finish his sentence, Phoebe stepped in to explain, “We went to grad school together at the University of Washington.”

  “Oh.” Disappointment shaded Kyla’s voice. “I was so excited to introduce you to each other.”

  Garrett arched his eyebrows. “Phoebe is the friend you wanted me to meet?” he asked, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice.

  Kyla had described her friend as cute, sweet, and funny, but painfully shy. Phoebe was all those things and more, but he’d never imagined that Kyla had been talking about the woman who had crawled out of his bed in the middle of the night while he’d slept … the woman who had ignored his phone calls, emails, and texts after he’d touched every inch of her body.