by Susan Stoker
Love is in the Air
A.M. Kusi
Abbie Zanders
Alley Ciz
Anna Blakely
Anna Brooks
Becca Steele
Cora Kenborn
Darcy Burke
Elizabeth SaFleur
Emery Rose
Greer Bailey
Ivy Layne
Jeana E. Mann
Joslyn Westbrook
Kailee Reese Samuels
Kait Nolan
Lexi C. Foss
Lisa Suzanne
Lynne St. James
Maria Luis
PJ Fiala
Rebecca Sharp
Susan Stoker
Riley Edwards
S.E. Rose
Saffron A. Kent
Samantha Lind
Taylor Danae Colbert
J. Kenner
Contents
One Holiday Kiss
A.M. Kusi
1. Amara
2. Lyric
3. Amara
4. Amara
5. Lyric
6. Amara
7. Amara
8. Lyric
About the Author
The Proposal
Abbie Zanders
1. Heff
2. Sandy
3. Heff
4. Sandy
5. Heff
A Note From The Author
Cut Above The Rest
Alley Ciz
Author Note
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Also by Alley Ciz
About the Author
Her Risk To Take
Anna Blakely
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Epilogue
A Note From The Author
Where I’ll Be
Anna Brooks
Chapter 1
A Note From The Author
The Offer
Becca Steele
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Illicit Acts
Cora Kenborn
Warning
1. Mikhail
2. Mikhail
3. Zasha
4. Zasha
5. Mikhail
6. Zasha
7. Zasha
8. Mikhail
9. Zasha
10. Mikhail
About the Author
Author Library
Author Links
Invitation
Darcy Burke
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
About the Author
Also by Darcy Burke
Getting Lucky
Elizabeth SaFleur
Chapter 1
Stripped Love
Emery Rose
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Foot in the Door
Greer Bailey
1. Kalen
2. Kalen
3. Kalen
4. Kalen
5. Kalen
A Note From The Author
Griffen’s Mission
Ivy Layne
1. Hope
2. Griffen
3. Hope
4. Griffen
Tragic Hearts
Jeana E. Mann
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
When Jameson Met Chloe
Joslyn Westbrook
1. Chloe
2. Jameson
3. Chloe
4. Jameson
5. Chloe
6. Jameson
7. Jameson
8. Chloe
9. Chloe
10. Jameson
11. Chloe
Gasping in His Grasp
Kailee Reese Samuels
Chapter 1
A Note From The Author
Bad Case of Loving You
Kait Nolan
Chapter 1
A Note From The Author
Rotanev
Lexi C. Foss
Introduction
Part I
Prologue
1. Liani
2. Nero
3. Liani
About Lexi C. Foss
Tell Her Tonight
Lisa Suzanne
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
About the Author
Marrying His Spitfire
Lynne St. James
Chapter 1
About the Author
Bound To You
Maria Luis
Author’s Note
1. John
2. Blanche
3. Blanche
4. John
5. Blanche
6. John
7. Blanche
8. John
Also by Maria Luis
Hawk’s Haven
PJ Fiala
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Epilogue
The Betrayal
Rebecca Sharp
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Holly & Dash
Susan Stoker
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Stella & Magic
Riley Edwards
About the Book
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Occupied with Love
S.E. Rose
1. Molly
2. Blake
3. Molly
4. Molly
5. Blake
Epilogue
Stay Connected
About the Author
Also by S.E. Rose
Arrow & Salem
Saffron A. Kent
1. Salem
2. Salem
3. Arrow
Just A Kiss
Samantha Lind
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Out of the Woods
Taylor Danae Colbert
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
The Fling
J. Kenner
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter
3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
One Holiday Kiss
A Shattered Cove Short Story
A.M. Kusi
This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, organizations, events, and incidents are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental. Any trademarks, product names, service marks, and named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are only used for references.
Copyright © 2021 by A. M. Kusi.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified, distributed, stored, transmitted in any form or by any means, or adapted without the prior written consent of the authors and publisher.
Published by A. M. Kusi 2021
[email protected]
Visit our website at www.amkusi.com
Editor: Kelly of CREATING ink
Sensitivity Edit: Renita McKinney of A Book A Day
Proofreader: Judy’s Proofreading
1
Amara
Amara squeezed the bag with all her might, managing to pull the zipper closed at the same time. You never knew what you’d need for two nights in an isolated cabin in the mountains. She was better off packing a little of everything.
Knock. Knock.
She turned toward her bedroom door just as Belle walked in. “Hey, Mom.”
Belle’s red lips turned up into a warm smile before she surveyed the room. Amara’s clothes were strewn all over the bed, and even the floor. It looked as if a hurricane had swept through. A sliver of panic flit through Amara before it disappeared. She wasn’t back in any of the twenty-nine foster homes she’d stayed at before finally settling at Belle and Bently’s at age seventeen. Because if she were at any of those dreadful places, she’d have reason to feel panicked. Nobody wanted a dark-skinned teenager with kinky hair. She didn’t fit into their cookie-cutter family. As soon as they’d soaked up the attention from their communities as being the brave, caring saints they pretended to be, she was shipped off to the next home for being too “troubled.” Here she was safe. She was allowed to be messy and let her guard down. This was the first and only home she’d ever known.
Belle chuckled and lifted a sweater off the corner of Amara’s bed before she sat down. “I see four years of college hasn’t made you more organized.”
Amara hefted the suitcase onto the floor. “Almost four, still have one semester left.”
“And then you will have your degree and get to apply at the Shattered Cove hospital with me.” Belle tucked a dark curl behind her ear.
Amara shrugged. “Maybe. Although, Boston has a great children’s hospital.”
“Is that what you want?” Belle asked, giving her a kind smile. That’s one of the things that helped Amara trust Belle so quickly; Belle truly wanted her foster kids to be happy and to chase their dreams.
“I don’t know. Still thinking it over.”
Bently peeked his head into the room, his eyes lighting up when they landed on his wife. “Hey, you. I was just about to leave for my shift.” He walked in, eyes widening at Amara’s suitcase. “Aren’t you only going for two days?”
She and Belle laughed.
“A girl has to be prepared.” Belle winked.
He gave Amara a hug and a kiss on the temple, his utility belt pressing into her side. Turning to his wife, his tan sheriff’s uniform crinkled as he leaned down to kiss Belle on the mouth, his lips lingering.
Amara groaned. They were her adoptive parents, but still. These two were always finding some corner to make out in. They were worse than freshmen. However, her heart panged with longing. She wanted a man to look at her the way Bently looked at Belle. To love her even with all her scars and baggage. But that wasn’t in the cards for her. Everyone who was supposed to love her passed her over to someone else at some point. Everyone except these two. Belle and Bently had been her rock. When she’d turned eighteen and aged out of the system, she’d thought for sure they’d kick her out. Instead, they’d asked if she wanted to be adopted.
“Are you driving up in your car?” Bently asked, jarring her from the past.
Amara blinked. “No, Ric’s picking me up in his Jeep.”
“Lyric’s still driving that old thing?” Bently frowned.
“Yes, and it’s completely safe.”
“It better be.” He nearly growled. “You got your phone charged? Taser? First aid kit?”
“Yes, Dad. That’s another reason my suitcase is so full.”
Bently’s eyes lit up every time she called him dad. It was a sure way to butter him up, she’d discovered.
Ding-dong.
“That must be him.” Amara reached for the handle of her bag, but her dad beat her to it. “Thanks.”
Her parents followed her down the stairs. She ran to open the door with a huge smile on her face. Her best friend in the world stood there with his dirty blond hair, grown out over his eyes, as if he could hide from the world behind it. His blue eyes sparkled as he grinned, half his mouth turning up a little higher than the other.
Her heart flipped. “Ric!” She jumped into his arms. He caught her, holding her tight. It had only been a couple weeks since she’d seen him on Thanksgiving break, but each time the man showed up it was like a piece of herself coming home.
“H-hey, cupcake.” Lyric chuckled and kissed her temple before releasing her.
“You got roadside service?” Bently asked, interrupting their reunion.
Lyric faced her father. “Yes, I d-do.”
Bently nodded and handed over the suitcase to Lyric.
“You guys have fun.” Belle waved.
Amara gave them each a quick hug goodbye before following her friend out to his Jeep. She opened the door and climbed in, buckling the seat belt as he shut her things into the trunk. She switched the radio on, finding a station that played a mix.
Lyric shook his head and tapped the lid of one of the drinks in his cup holders.
Her eyes widened. “For me? Oh my God, I love you.” She picked up the first one and sipped the hot chocolate down. Her favorite.
“Ready?” He pointed towards the road.
“As I’ll ever be.”
He pulled out, driving them towards their destination.
“Wh-who’s gonna be at th-this c-c-cabin?”
His stutter always got worse when he was nervous. Social situations did that to him, which is why she made sure only four other people would be there and not a whole crowd.
“My friend Krystin from school and her boyfriend, Cooper. And then her friend Samantha is coming and Cooper’s friend Chris.” She reached over and grabbed his hand to comfort him. “It’s just a weekend with food, games, drinks, and snowmobiling.”
He squeezed her hand but didn’t let it go.
“I appreciate you coming with me.”
He nodded.
The song Kryptonite by Three Doors Down came on the radio. She turned it up and started singing along at the top of her lungs. Her silliness never failed to make him smile.