She whispered the memories in Jake’s ear on their private limo ride to the reception, loving the hungry glint her words sparked in her husband’s eyes.
A low growl rumbled from his chest. “Keep that up and I won’t hesitate to drag you into the coat room later.”
“Promises, promises.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it’s been keeping my hands off you in that dress?”
She smoothed her palm along the pale pink satin covering her thighs and gazed up through her lashes. “So don’t try so hard.”
The invitation spurred him into action. His hand covered hers, then slid beneath the hem of her dress and inched upward. One second away from capturing her lips with his, his hand froze.
“Stockings,” he breathed. “Garters, too?”
Loral grinned. “All for you, babe.”
His mouth covered hers, possessive and passionate.
By the time they reached the supper club for the reception, she had to readjust her dress, find her shoes, and pin a few curls back in place. Jake straightened his tie and reluctantly ducked to exit the door their driver opened. Loral yanked him back.
“One sec...”
She reached up to finger-comb some order back into his dark hair. Desire simmered in his eyes as he waited for her to finish, then he kissed off the clear gloss she’d hastily reapplied.
“How long do we have to stay again?”
“Stop it.” She pushed for him to get out.
He grinned as he reached back to help her from the vehicle. “You know it’s going to be a long night.”
Once she straightened, a wave of dizziness swamped her. To cover it, she leaned against her husband. “Time will pass much quicker than you know.”
“Not knowing you’re wearing those garters, it won’t.”
In the late afternoon sunlight, a pair of dragonflies buzzed past Loral and Jake and nose-dived toward the overflowing flower borders flanking the sidewalk. Loral sucked in a breath of wonder at the sign and seized the moment.
“How about if...” She lifted on tiptoes and whispered the rest of the sentence into his ear.
Jake stiffened. Pulled back until he could see her face. Loral smiled and nodded, and kept nodding until his mouth curved into the widest grin she’d ever seen. With a loud whoop, he picked her up off her feet and swung her in a circle. Other arriving wedding guests smiled while moving out of the way.
She gasped as her stomach protested. “Easy, sweetie.”
“Sorry.”
Back on her feet, she hadn’t even caught her breath before Jake kissed her again. Mmm...she loved her life.
“What’s going on?”
They broke apart and Loral jerked around in Jake’s arms to face the bride and groom with a quick, “Hey, you’re here.”
Phil smiled, his arm stealing around his wife. “That we are. And what are you two lovebirds celebrating?”
“Nothing,” Loral said, hoping Jake would keep quiet. Jake’s hold tightened as she crossed her arms over his forearms. “We’re just happy for you.”
Her mother tilted her head and raised her eyebrows, clearly not buying that explanation.
Jake spoke low in her ear. “You don’t want to tell them?”
“It’s their day,” she hissed back.
“I don’t think they’ll mind.”
Loral hesitated; Jake didn’t say a word. She glanced up; he shrugged as if to say, “It’s up to you.”
“Loral?” her mother prompted.
Resigned, she finally gave in and let her joy reign free. “Remember how you always say I’m not getting any younger?”
Her mother’s brow creased, then the words registered. Her eyes opened wide and she threw her arms up with a shriek. Jake let go when Loral moved forward to hug her mom. After all they’d been through the past few years, they were more than due their happiness, and she’d remember the delight on her mother’s face for years.
Loral blinked to combat her happy tears, but figured she’d be making a trip to repair her make-up no matter what.
“This is so wonderful!” Her mother stepped back, wiping at her eyes, too. She laughed when she saw Loral. “Don’t we make a pair?”
“I know.”
“Ah...someone want to clue me in here?” Phil requested as Jake gathered Loral close again.
“Today it’s husband and wife,” Jake advised the former confirmed bachelor. “In about seven months you’ll be answering to Grandma and Grandpa.”
~*~*~
Thank you for reading!
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Stacey Joy Netzel
I fell in love with books at a young age, so for me it seemed only natural to graduate to writing them...when I'm not chained to my desk at the day job as a corporate travel agent. I credit my parents for encouraging my dreams of becoming a published author, as well as the very talented friends I've made in Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers (WisRWA) since joining in 2004.
An avid reader and lover of movies with happy endings, I still live in Wisconsin with my husband and three children, a couple horses and some barn cats. In my limited free time I enjoy gardening and canning, and visiting my parents up north at the cabin on the lake with the whole family.
Follow me online:
~~~
Smashwords
Website and Blog: http://www.StaceyJoyNetzel.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/StaceyJoyNetzel
Twitter: http://twitter.com/StaceyJoyNetzel
Stacey’s Other Titles:
Lost In Italy (romantic suspense)
**first chapter sneak peek below
Dragonfly Dreams (Christmas novella)
If Tombstones Could Talk (paranormal ghost novella)
Mistletoe Rules (Christmas anthology-3 stories in one book)
Mistletoe Mischief, Mistletoe Magic, Mistletoe Match-Up
Chasin’ Mason (contemporary western)
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Colorado Trust Series
**excerpts below
Trust In The Lawe (western romantic suspense)
Shattered Trust (romantic suspense)
Shadowed Trust (romantic suspense)
Other titles by Stacey Joy Netzel
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Available at : Smashwords
Welcome to Redemption Series...
(with Donna Marie Rogers)
Buy the individual stories or the Boxed Set
~~~
...a small town in Northeast Wisconsin where second chances don’t always come easy, but if you’re willing to try, anything is possible.
Book 1: A Fair Of The Heart, by Donna Marie Rogers
Single mother, and work-at-home beautician, Lauren Frazier can barely keep a roof over her head, let alone stop it from falling down around her. When handyman Caleb Hunter shows up at her door for a haircut, it’s like the answer to her prayers—and the attraction is instantaneous. Too bad her troublesome ten-year-old son isn’t quite as thrilled to have Caleb hanging around.
Old wounds have kept Caleb from returning to Redemption permanently. When he receives word of his mother’s unexpected death, guilt and regret bring him home again, but will the love of a good woman keep him there? Beautiful, witty, and strong, Lauren excites Caleb like no woman ever has, but she’s a package deal, and he’s not sure he’s prepared to take on a ready-made family.
Book 2: A Fair To Remember, by Stacey Joy Netzel
Reformed gang member Wes Carter feels Redemption, Wisconsin, is just the place to relocate his financial business for reasons more than just the name. He’s ready for a nice, quiet life in small town USA. Tara Russell has decided it’s time to add some excitement to her life and get a little wild—no matter how uncomfortable it makes her or her overprotective family. They meet at the local fair one warm summer night and discover opposites attract for all the right reasons. Add a dash of Sugar in the form of an incorrigible Great Dane, and it’s destined to be A Fair To Remember.
Book 3:
The Perfect Blend, by Donna Marie Rogers
Carrie Lowell swears off men for good after nearly losing her business in a bitter divorce settlement to her abusive ex-husband. She’s on the verge of filing bankruptcy when handsome librarian Matt Jacobs walks into her shop and offers sound—if unwanted—business advice. Sure, financially he’s a godsend, but emotionally he’s a threat to the barricade she’s built around her heart.
Heir to a vast fortune, Jacob Spalding flees LA for the tiny Midwest town of Redemption, Wisconsin to escape the scandalous nightmare his life has become. Now known as Matt Jacobs, he buys a little cottage and settles in to small town life. Soon, he finds himself infatuated with the owner of the coffee shop across the street. Too bad the infuriating woman is as contrary as she is beautiful.
Book 4: Grounds For Change, by Stacey Joy Netzel
Charlie Russell lived with a secret for fourteen years, but now guilt has pushed him to the breaking point. He meets psychologist Dana McClain and feels an instant connection that has nothing to do with his Great Dane, Sugar, spilling coffee down her shirt. Dana switched to counseling animals because she has a history of becoming too emotionally involved with her clients. She figures she’s safe helping Charlie with Sugar’s issues, until he reveals his secret and asks for her help. She tries to convince herself it's all about the dog, not the guy, but history has a way of repeating itself.
Book 5: Home Is Where the Heart Is, by Donna Marie Rogers
Used to the finer things in life, heiress Melinda Spalding is thrown for a loop when her brother relocates to the Midwest. Her parents even expand their business to the small town and put her in charge of the project. Discovering she likes “Mayberry” and its quirky inhabitants is almost as shocking as her growing attraction to the local auto mechanic. But LA is where she belongs…or is home truly where the heart is?
Drew Porter learned at his mother’s knee how treacherous women can be—and when snooty "Lindy" Spalding skids into his life and nearly hits his dog, she seems worse than most. An unlikely bond between their pets gives him an intriguing glimpse behind her pretentious exterior. While his heart wonders if there more to her than meets the eye, his head tells him to run as fast as he can in the opposite direction.
Book 6: The Heart of the Matter, by Stacey Joy Netzel
All Allie Daniels ever wanted was a family of her own—until her doctor informs her she’ll never be able to have children. She hides her desolation, refusing to let any man close enough to see her broken heart. Most certainly not the town veterinarian, who’s cute three-year-old son reminds her of what she’ll never have.
Rick Wilde had a serious crush on Allie back in high school, but life took them in different directions. Now a single parent, he returns to Redemption several years later to raise his son, Lukas. His interest in Allie is renewed, but her shoulder is colder than the bitter winter wind.
Brought together by an orphaned kitten, Allie finds herself helpless to resist Lukas’s impish innocence—not to mention Rick’s warm charm and sexy good looks. Does she dare take a chance on an impossible dream, or will Rick’s desire for more kids devastate their future?
~*~
Colorado Trust Series
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Trust in the Lawe (Book 1)
Kendra Zelner has three brothers: Eight-year old Noah she's determined to protect, Joel who has no clue she exists, and Robert who wants her dead.
With reason to be distrustful of cops, she takes Noah and flees their Manhattan home for Joel’s ranch in Colorado. Under the pretense of needing a job, she plans to hide out until her twenty-fifth birthday, when she’ll inherit her trust fund and legally gain custody of Noah away from Robert’s greedy hands. Unfortunately, her brother’s sexy, infuriating ranch manager insists on demolishing her defenses and digging into her past.
Colton Lawe has good reason to suspect Joel’s beautiful, long-lost sister isn’t what she seems—the little liar stole from him! He silently vows to expose her secrets, but long hours together on the ranch fosters a closeness and fiery attraction neither of them expects. Can Kendra trust Colton with the full truth before Robert finds them?
EXCERPT:
“I’d like you to meet Kendra Zelner,” Joel said. “Kendra, this is the JBM Ranch manager, Colton Lawe.”
Colton extended a hand toward Kendra. Okay. Fine. He’d play along; see where this was all headed. She bit her lip as she hesitated, and his gaze was drawn to her white teeth against her full bottom lip. It distracted him enough that when she placed her small, cool palm against his, he flinched in surprise.
He kept his grip gentle at first, and then tightened it. Her eyes widened, and her nostrils flared as she drew in a quick breath.
“Nice to meet you,” Colton murmured.
“Kendra’s my sister.”
Colton released her hand and whipped his head around. Joel didn’t appear to be joking. “Didn’t know you had a sister,” he commented.
“Me neither. And technically, she’s my half sister.”
Focusing his narrowed gaze on Kendra again, Colton read genuine fear. Of him. That ruled out the practical joke angle real quick.
She was right to be worried. Because in a second, he was going to expose her for a lying thief.
Joel and Britt were more than his employers, more than his friends even, they were as close to family as it got without blood ties.
Colton had applied at JBM Ranch fresh out of high school, feeling guilty as hell and scared to death because someone had to pay the medical bills from his father’s accident. Joel took him under his wing and taught him everything about running the ranch. A few weeks ago, when the previous manager, Todd, had gotten married and left to work on his wife’s ranch, Joel turned management over to Colton so he could continue to concentrate on training the horses with Britt.
He couldn’t let Joel down now; he owed him the truth. But before he could form the words, Joel spoke. “Kendra, and her brother, Noah, will be staying for awhile.”
Colton glanced at Joel. “There’s a brother, too?”
Joel smiled. “Yeah. Cody thinks it’s hilarious that a kid his age is actually his uncle.”
Colton’s gut clenched. Joel appeared to have accepted every word the girl said. Whatever line of bull she’d fed him, it must’ve been good, because Joel wasn’t easily fooled. Worse, he looked genuinely happy about the supposed new additions to his family. With everyone watching, no way could Colton tell him he’d been played for a fool. He’d have to wait and talk to Joel in private.
But he couldn’t help commenting, “Wow, a sister and a brother, all in one day.”
The apprehension in Kendra’s eyes increased when his subtle sarcasm registered with her, as he’d intended. She swallowed hard and seemed to be waiting for him to lower the ax. Oh, how he’d love to do that—payback for the sidewalk humiliation. Just the thought of it—
“They can stay in the guesthouse,” Britt said.
Colton and Joel both swung around.
“What?” she asked. “It makes sense—give them some privacy as we all get to know each other. Besides, we don’t have any clients planning to use it anytime in the near…” Her gaze shifted from one to the other. “What?”
“Colton’s roommate is moving to Toronto. I told Colton yesterday he could use the guesthouse instead of finding someone else or looking for a different apartment,” Joel explained. “I should’ve talked to you about it first, but I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Oh,” Britt said.
Colton suspected Joel had really offered the house to help Colton’s strained financial situation. They’d spoken about it some, but per his request, Britt wasn’t aware of the extent of his father’s medical bills. His suspicion was confirmed when Joel cast him a glance before saying, “Kendra and Noah can just stay here with us. We’ve got more than enough room.”
“No.” Colton’s denial drew everyone’s attention, including Kendra’s. The thief still hadn’t said a word. “I alrea
dy found a new place, but after talking to Joel, I didn’t follow up on it. I’ll just call the manager and see if it’s still available.”
“Colton—”
“It’s okay, really,” Colton insisted, ignoring Joel’s look of apology. “I’ve been debating whether I want to live where I work, anyway. I might get sick of you guys.”
He smiled to indicate he was joking, and thankfully Joel let it go. No way did he want Kendra staying in the main house with his friends and the kids. He could keep a better eye on her in the guesthouse, especially when he moved in anyway. No one would have to know if he talked to the building manager, and when the time came, he’d let Ms. Kendra Zelner know exactly what choice she had in the matter. Let her explain to her ‘brother.’
The doorbell rang, and Britt looked at her watch. She stood up with a frown. “It’s ten o’clock already—that’ll be the Coopers for their training session.”
Joel grimaced. “They’ll be here for a while.”
As Joel and Britt conversed, Colton watched Kendra struggle with her composure and saw a glimmer of panic and fear give way for uncertainty in her suddenly expressive face. It was like reading a book. He read wariness in the one glance she cast in his direction, and knew she wondered why he gave up the house for her; why he didn’t reveal her for the liar he knew her to be.
Stacey Joy Netzel Boxed Set Page 21