“Sick of winter. I want my bike,” she informed him once he settled in.
“Time to plan a vacation to a beach,” he replied.
“A beach where they have places to rent bikes,” she amended, and he grinned.
He’d give her that.
He’d give Hanna Miller anything.
Her eyes dropped to his mouth and her lips tipped up.
That lip tip meant she knew he’d give her anything.
Then she turned her head, bent her neck and touched those smiling lips to the baby beanie covering Clay’s head.
After that, her gaze moved to the yard.
Raid stretched out his legs, crossed them at the ankles and didn’t take his eyes off his wife and child.
They stayed that way for a while. Silent. Comfortable. Together.
Hanna broke the quiet.
“It was a dare,” she announced.
“Come again?” he asked.
She didn’t move her eyes from the yard when she answered, “I’ve been thinking about it and figured it out. She knew what I’d do when she told me you were dangerous.”
Raid felt his shoulders tense.
“What?” he asked.
Finally, her eyes came to his. “Grams. She loved you. She respected you. She wanted me to have you. She knew exactly who you were. She knew everything. And she was worried I might not go the distance. So she warned me off you, knowing the minute she did I would not back down. She did this by scaring the pants off me then telling me that if I saw it through, I’d know nothing sweeter in my whole life,” she snuggled Clay closer before she rocked his world, “than the love you’d give to me.”
Raid held her eyes.
“She was always right,” Hanna finished, and that burn came back into his chest.
Fuck.
Fuck, but he loved his wife.
And he missed her great-grandmother.
“Raiden?” she called even though his eyes were locked on her.
“Right here, baby,” he answered quietly.
“I figure she thought she knew something else and I have to know if she was right about that too.”
“What?” he asked.
“Only you can answer,” she told him.
“What is it, honey?”
She gave it to him.
“She knew you’d know nothing sweeter than the love I give to you.”
Jesus, fuck.
“Was she right?” Hanna asked.
Raid held her eyes.
Then he unfolded his body from his chair, taking her in swaying on her porch swing with his son held close to her chest, wrapped up in home, warmth, comfort, nurture.
Love.
He got near and bent deep, put his face close to hers, looked into her pretty blue eyes and curled a hand around the side of her head.
Only then did he reply, “Absolutely.”
####
Author’s Note
Readers of the Unfinished Heroes Series and loyal readers of my books will note that in Raid, I revisited a theme I have touched on before in other books, including the first book in this series, Knight.
This theme being Hanna’s issues with her figure, primarily her stomach.
In the editing phase of this book, my editor, Chas, and I discussed this repetition and I thought long and hard about deleting references to Hanna’s “pouch” and the two scenes in Chapter 13, “That Kind of Love”, that explored Hanna’s hang-ups with her body and Raid’s response.
In finalizing this book, I found that, even though I was aware of this repetition and my readers would certainly notice it, I could not delete it.
I’ll explain why.
First, I need to go where my characters take me and Hanna had a variety of lingering, though vague, issues regarding Raid’s attraction to her after she crushed on him so long. It was important that Raid have the opportunity to sweep these away, one by one.
Second, there was a nuance of difference regarding this theme in this book as it manifests itself during sex when Hanna adjusted Raid’s lovemaking unconsciously in order to take his attention away from a part of her body that she disliked.
It’s a sad fact of life that many women have hang-ups about their bodies and these can manifest themselves during intimacy in not very good ways. At best, it can inhibit the experience for them and their partner. At worst, it can take them out of “the zone” so what is being shared isn’t all it could be or even not enjoyed at all.
I have many heart’s desires and one of them is the slim chance that my books will guide women to accepting themselves as they are, having confidence in their bodies, brains and beauty and letting all that poison go so they can enjoy their lives, including sexually. I know I’m drilling this home by repeating this theme. But I decided it was important enough to do it. So I left those bits in.
And last, those scenes in Chapter 13 are funny, sweet and hot. I liked them. Hanna liked them. Raid liked them. So we left them.
For my loyal readers, I hope this didn’t take you out of those moments. They were left in with intent and the intent was good.
Actually, I hope you were so into the book, you didn’t notice at all.
But if you did, now you know why I did it.
About the Author
Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.
Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).
Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.
And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Discover other Titles by Kristen Ashley
Rock Chick Series:
Rock Chick
Rock Chick Rescue
Rock Chick Redemption
Rock Chick Renegade
Rock Chick Revenge
Rock Chick Reckoning
Rock Chick Regret
The ‘Burg Series:
For You
At Peace
Golden Trail
Games of the Heart
The Colorado Mountain Series:
The Gamble
Sweet Dreams
Lady Luck
Breathe
Dream Man Series:
Mystery Man
Wild Man
Law Man
Motorcycle Man
The Fantasyland Series:
Wildest Dreams
The Golden Dynasty
Fantastical
The Three Series:
Until the Sun Falls from the Sky
With Everything I Am
The Unfinished Hero Series:
Knight
Creed
Other Titles by Kristen Ashley:
Fairytale Come Alive
Heaven and Hell
Lacybourne Manor
Lucky Stars
Mathilda, SuperWitch
Penmort Castle
Play It Safe
Sommersgate House
Three Wishes
Connect with Kristen Online:
Official Website: www.kristenashley.net
Kristen’s Blog: www.kristenashley.net/menu/blog.html
Kristen’s Facebook Page
Follow Kristen on Twitter: KristenAshley68
Need support for your Kit Crack Addiction?
Join the Kristen Ashley Addict’s Support Group on Goodreads
Table of Contents
Raid BN Final for Publication
rchive.
Raid Page 28