With This Kiss: A First-In Series Romance Collection

by Kerrigan Byrne

Smiling, Jesse wanted to reassure him. But the child was not comforted. It seemed that he was genuinely afraid of Jesse. Because he was so big, and because he was different, boys and girls were often afraid of him. The older ones sometimes made up stories to scare the youngers. They made Jesse out to be the bogeyman of the mountain. That was sad. Jesse liked children a lot. He had a niece about the same age as the little boy. But his niece loved him. Baby-Paisley clearly did not.

  The word dogs captured Jesse's attention and he glanced up to Miss Althea and Mr. Phillips. The storekeeper's expression was preachy and self-righteous. From his position, Jesse couldn't see Miss Althea's face, but the stiffness in her shoulders was evident. When she spoke, her words were crisp and cold.

  "There does seem to be a great deal of interest in my late husband's dogs," she said. "Why don't you, Mr. Phillips, be so good as to get the word out to the men on the mountain that as of today, that pack of dogs is for sale to the highest bidder."

  "You're selling Paisley's dogs?" Phillips sounded horrified. "You cain't do that."

  "They are mine to sell, sir," she snapped. "I most certainly can."

  "But your new husband—"

  "I do not intend to remarry," she interrupted. "I have said that several times, but no one seems to listen. Just so that there is no misunderstanding, please let everyone know that I am selling those dogs."

  She turned then, her eyes blazing with anger and her head held high.

  "Come along, Baby-Paisley," she said. "I don't believe that there is a thing we want to buy in the store today."

  Buy Simple Jess

  About the Author

  National bestseller and two-time RITA Award winner, Pamela Morsi was duly warned. “Lots of people mistakenly think they are writers,” her mother told her. She’d be smart to give it up before she embarrassed herself. Fortunately, she rarely took her mother’s advice. With 30 published titles and millions of copies in print, she loves to hear from readers.

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  Thank you…

  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading our books. If you loved this anthology, please be sure to follow each of the authors. To find more books available for Kindle Unlimited, please check out the authors on Amazon. Happy reading!

  Jill Barnett

  Kerrigan Byrne

  Kimberly Cates

  Tanya Anne Crosby

  Colleen Gleason

  Danelle Harmon

  Amy Jarecki

  Miriam Minger

  Pamela Morsi