Ironically, by forcing himself to do what he’d avoided all those years—undergo hypnosis to deliberately tap in to Ray’s last days—he’d freed himself of the hold the other man had on him. In order to rescue Kit, he’d laid himself open to his worst fears, to the dark, malevolent thing inside, and had not only survived, but triumphed.
Noah said, “Jo’s book is pretty amazing. The way she got into Bettina’s head. Exposed her whole warped mind-set, her twisted rationalizations. All the details of Anita’s murder and what led up to it.”
“What’s really amazing is that no one had managed to do it before her. Like thirty-two years before.”
“No one cared enough. Or was dedicated enough. Or detached enough. Or...” Noah sighed. “I don’t know. I just wish to God she’d let us in on what she was digging up before it was too late.”
Kit shivered, and Noah held her tighter. In a sense, she’d achieved her own liberation. She’d discharged her final obligation to her friend, by avenging her murder. It wasn’t enough. It hadn’t assuaged her grief or filled the chasm in her soul left by Jo’s death. But something about it felt complete.
With a lopsided smile, Kit said, “Could you imagine Jo doing that? Sharing her work in progress with anyone? Even you or me?”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “What was I thinking?”
“So tell me, Dr. Stewart...” She twisted her body to hook her legs over his lap and snuggle closer. “How do the karma points stack up for you now?”
“Karma points?”
“Way I figure it, you’ve racked up a few lifetimes’ worth of good deeds. Wrapping up Ray’s unfinished business. Foiling the bad guys and all that. The reward comes in your next life, right? You get to be a megagazillionaire rock star or something.”
“Finding my soul mate in this life is reward enough.” His warm hand slid up her jean-clad leg from ankle to waist. She noticed his touch was extra gentle on her thigh, though the bullet wound had healed nicely.
“You mean we were meant to be together?” she asked.
“Can there be any doubt?” His hand slowly caressed her hip, slid under her bottom. “We were probably, I don’t know, Antony and Cleopatra.”
“I’ll go get the eyeliner and the asp.”
“I like this asp,” he said, with a pointed squeeze. When Kit’s fingers found the buttons of his flannel shirt and became very busy, he asked, “Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to finish stripping these walls today?”
“First things first,” she admonished. “It’s time for your wound check.” She slipped her fingers inside his open shirt to burrow through the crisp golden hairs and tease a flat nipple. He sucked in a breath.
“Wound check?” His smiling eyes darkened to a smoky green.
She moaned in affirmation, nuzzling his chest. The scent of him was an aphrodisiac. “Your health is my primary concern.”
Noah pressed a hand over hers through the shirt, his voice a low rumble of frustration. “Darlin’, this is nowhere near where I hurt.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll work my way around to the spot eventually. I’m—”
“I know, I know,” he groaned, as her tongue joined the diagnostic arsenal. “You’re very thorough.”
###
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Copyright
Ebook edition published by Radical Poodle Press, 2016
Copyright © 1996, 2016 by Pamela Burford
First print and ebook editions published as His Secret Side in 1996 and 2011
ISBN 978-1-939215-93-2
Cover design by Austin DesignWorks
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.
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Did you love A Case of You? Then you should read Rags to Bitches by Pamela Burford!
“If you love reunion stories, then I’ve got the book for you.”
— The Romance Reader (4 stars)
The boy named Most Likely to Succeed back in high school? That would be handsome, wealthy Gabe Moreau. Everyone assumed Gabe’s devotion to girlfriend Dena Devlin was mere puppy love, a rebellious stroll on the wrong side of the tracks. Dena was, after all, the janitor’s daughter. Unfortunately, even a love as strong as theirs couldn’t withstand Gabe’s act of betrayal.
At their 15th high school reunion, Dena comes face-to-face with the cheating boyfriend who broke her fragile young heart. The good news is, Dena is now a self-made millionaire, thanks to the pet-resort empire she built, inspired by her love of dogs—a true Cinderella story! The bad news is, Gabe is sexier than ever. Well, no worries. She’s no longer the shy, self-conscious girl she was back then. She can handle one awkward evening.
What she doesn’t count on is a full week at a Long Island B&B with Gabe and a quirky cast of characters from the old days. One of their housemates is the girl Gabe cheated with all those years ago, the “appropriate” girl his parents always intended for him to settle down with. Well, so what? Dena is over him. Really. All she wants is to get through the week and never lay eyes on the infuriating man again.
If only there weren’t all those unanswered questions, all the doubts and longing she’s repressed for so long. If only she could ignore the magnetic attraction that still hummed between them. Forgiveness and second chances were far from her mind when she signed up for her high school reunion. How is she supposed to get through a whole week under the same roof with Gabe?
A feel-good romantic comedy! Originally published as A Class Act.
Read more at Pamela Burford’s site.
Also by Pamela Burford
Double Dare
Twice Burned (Coming Soon)
Jane Delaney Mysteries
Undertaking Irene
Uprooting Ernie
Perforating Pierre (Coming Soon)
Standalone
Snatched
Snowed
Too Darn Hot
The Boss's Runaway Bride
Rags to Bitches
In the Dark
Going Commando
Storming Meg (Coming Soon)
A Case of You (Coming Soon)
Watch for more at Pamela Burford’s site.
About the Author
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