Carved in Stone (The Stone Series) (25 page)

             
“When you spend more time doing your job there,” deadpanned Aidan.

             
For years Aidan thought he was all alone in that dysfunctional nightmare of a family, but when he finally made his move to regain complete control of his fathers company, and remove every trace of Virginia Stone along with her thieving, manipulating schemes from his life, the last thing he expected was the alliance of Sebastian, his half-brother.

After thirty-two years, Virginia was out of his life and his business permanently… and revenge was a
delicious dish best served cold.

             
When he finally made his move against Virginia and Blake, even Caleb Norwood proved to have his back by offering him a temporary and no-strings partnership. Aidan knew of course, Gabriella had a large part to play in both Sebastian and Caleb’s alliances with Aidan and the Stone Corporation – she had a natural God-given gift of drawing people together and this barbeque lunch at his fucking house this afternoon more than proved it.

             
Aidan glance around at the small but rowdy gathering, Mia was swimming in his pool, several girlfriends of Gabriella and Mia’s were over by the bar mixing fucking cocktails and Jeremiah and Molly, two of Gabriella’s work colleagues were lounging on his deck chairs drinking. Christ, even two of his own PA’s were here, Alisha and William, both sitting at the edge of the pool, feet dangling in the water with beers in their hands. To top it all off, Caleb Norwood and Sebastian were stood around his barbeque cooking steaks which Aidan would not fucking allow. It was his house, his barbeque and his goddamn steaks – he would be the one to cook them.

             
“Get your hands off my grill Norwood,” growled Aidan, scowling at Caleb who smirked and held his hands up in a placating gesture.

             
“I’d rather be over drinking with the lovely ladies at the bar anyway,” he shrugged backing away and chuckling to himself.

             
Turning his glare to Sebastian, Aidan rumbled, “ And you, make your self useful and grab me a drink.”

             
He scowled further when Sebastian merely shook his head and laughed before walking away towards the kitchen.

             
As Aidan was flipping the steaks over on the grill, he felt Gabriella walk up behind him, pressing her front to his back and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.               “Hey honey,” she whispered into his ear. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to have the quiet relaxing Sunday you wanted,” she said, kissing his neck.

             
“It was just meant to be Mia and Sebastian dropping by for a coffee and then Jeremiah called me and I casually mentioned to him that Mia was coming over so invited himself and brought Molly with him. Then when Mia found out Jeremiah was coming she suggested the girls come around for cocktails as we missed last week’s girl’s night. Then Caleb rang Sebastian who mentioned having a barbeque lunch here today with Mia and some others so Caleb invited himself. Before I knew it the whole thing snowballed totally out of control.”

             
Shaking his head, he lifted an arm and slid it around Gabriella’s shoulders, tucking her into his side. “It’s ok button, I don’t mind as long as they’re all gone in a few hours. If not, I’ll be personally kicking all their free-loading assess out,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head.

             
“Okay… but if you have to kick them out, do it in a nice way. Please,” she pleaded, grinning at him.

             
“I’m making no promises,” he warned her. “They have exactly two hours, then they’re all gone so I can spend the rest of my day off… working in you,” he winked, grinning back at her.

             
“Agreed,” she said, reaching up on her toes to place a kiss on his mouth.

              Firstly, I would like to thank all you wonderful readers out there who took a chance on a new author (me) and decided to read my first book “Heart of Stone” and liking Gabby & Aidan, you have taken another chance and read the sequel, “Carved in Stone”. I sincerely hope you enjoyed this book and Gabriella & Aidan’s story.

This maybe the end of their story but it’s certainly not the end of the Stone Series as Sebastian & Mia have their own story to tell and someone down the road Caleb Norwood
will meet his own ‘Pollyanna, Mary-fucking-Poppins and Gidget all rolled into one’, so stay tuned.

I’d like to
acknowledge and thank from the bottom of my heart my wonderful hubby for his endless support, fervent encouragement and cooking his own dinner for the past few months while I was hold up at my desk writing. Babe, your simply the best! I love you. xoxo

To my gals, Tamara, Brigette & Ebony, thank you for listening to
my endless jabbering about Aidan Stone until I’m sure all your ears bled and a huge thank you for proof reading – if there are any mistakes, then it’s your fault… LOL   … I love you gals. xoxo

To Cambria, Karen &
Niki - your support & encouragement means the world to me – Hugs & Kisses. xoxo

Last
ly, thank you to Melody Simmons of eBookindiecovers who created & designed this book cover – you nailed it!

~~~~~

              If you’d like to contact me, post a comment or follow what books I have coming out next please feel welcome to on ~

My Facebook Page -
https://www.facebook.com/Noree.Kahika.books/
  

Or My Goodreads Page -
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7095370.Noree_Kahika

              Coming this fall is a new novel, Spiraling Deception, the first in the Knight’s Domain Series.

Spiraling Deception is a
bout a complex love story spanning three countries with a devastatingly handsome and compellingly dominate billionaire who is more enigmatic than the Bermuda Triangle with a cruel streak thrown in for good measure and a beautifully young talented aerial artist with a tragic past. Their first meeting is an explosive event leading to a brief intensely passionate affair and a twisted web of deceit and manipulation.