A Touch of Passion (boxed set romance bundle)

by Uvi Poznansky

  Cathy awkwardly patted Anne’s arm, and then pulled away. Without any shame, she butted her cigarette out in a small ring dish that Anne had by her bed. Her face had undergone a huge transformation from the old I-could-give-a-shit look, to one of simple kindness. “Proving you right?”

  “I told Clint that a mother, with any heart whatsoever, wouldn’t hurt her own child; and I was right. You couldn’t do it.”

  “I almost did. So… don’t go giving me a halo. I followed you one day with the full intentions of payback, but you’re right. I couldn’t do it. She’s really very pretty, isn’t she?”

  Anne, still sitting close, lifted Cathy’s hand to hold in both of hers. She cradled it gently, trying to let the other know how much she cared. “She’s coming into her own now that she knows how much Clint loves her.”

  “Not just Clint. It’s you who’s made the difference. She loves you.” Cathy moved their hands as a gesture to emphasize her meaning.

  “Trust me, Cathy, it’s reciprocated. She’s a lovely girl; a daughter you can be proud of.”

  “Not me. I mean nothing to her. I don’t want her to even know about me. I’ll be leaving town in the next day or so, and you won’t have to worry that she’ll find out about her whore of a mother.”

  Anne’s anger flushed her face. “Don’t say that. Ever! You are not a whore. I’d rather believe that in your past you’ve made some bad choices. Cathy, if you care enough, it’s nothing that can’t be fixed.” She watched her words sink in and added. “Look, if you e-mail me your address, I’ll see to it that you get updates on Debbie. I’ll send you pictures and keep you informed, that way you’ll always know what she’s up to or if she needs anything, okay?”

  Cathy’s amazement showed clearly. “You’d do that for me? After what I did to you?”

  “Of course! What you did to me, mon ami, is nothing compared to what you’ve done for me. Because of you, my wedding day will be full of happiness–our future too.”

  “Then, I’m glad. And listen, if Clint gets those adoption papers drawn up, send them to me, and I’ll sign them.”

  “Oh, Cathy. You don’t know how much this means to us. Thank you.”

  Cathy nodded. “Give my baby a hug for me. I gotta go before someone sees me.” Cathy stood up and walked over to where the French doors had been left slightly open. She reached for the handle and stopped. “Have a nice life, Annie.” Then she looked both ways and disappeared outside.

  Chapter Thirty-six

  It didn't matter that the groom wasn’t supposed to see the bride on her wedding day, Anne had to find Clint. Quickly, she wrapped herself in her silky Chinese-red housecoat, tied the waist and made her way toward his room, praying he’d be there.

  When she tapped lightly, her heart revved up from the sound of his deep voice giving her permission to enter.

  Furtively, she stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. With the papers clutched in her hand, she waved them to get his attention. “Clint, I have the best news in the whole wide world to tell you.”

  Clint dropped the vest he had in his hands and rushed to her, gathering her close. “Baby, what are you doing in here? Isn’t it bad luck for me to see you before the ceremony?”

  “Oh, pooh! That’s an old wives’ tale. Besides, I’m pretty sure that’s only if I’m wearing my gown. Never mind. I have to share this with you or I’ll explode.”

  Perusing her face, the worry cleared from his expression immediately. After all, she was so happy; he knew it had to be something he’d want to hear. Her face hurt from smiling so much. “Cathy just came to see me and she brought me this. Look! It’s the custody papers for Debbie. She’s signed them.”

  “What?” Clint whisked the papers away from her so he could see them up close. Then he gasped. “What in the world? She brought them here and gave them to you? Just now?”

  “Yes. Without any expectations. She also wanted you to get the adoption papers ready and send them to her to sign. Said it was her wedding gift to us.” Since that wasn’t strictly true, Anne hid her face against his arm. At this point, she just wanted him to be as thankful for the wonderful present as she was.

  “Did she say what made her change her mind?” Bafflement painted his features from pale to pleased.

  “She mentioned something about a scheme to tell Debbie the truth that didn’t work like she’d planned. I think once she met her little girl, Cathy couldn’t go through with it. I believe her motherly instincts kicked in. She’s promised to leave town in the next day or so and said she wouldn’t be bothering us again.”

  “She said that.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll have Dan go to see her tomorrow then. With a check. Give her a new start. What do you think?”

  “Oh, Clint, I think that’s a wonderful idea. She can begin again, make better choices. Thank you.”

  “I’m only doing it for you, Annie-girl. Trust me, if you weren’t a part of my life, I’d have been tempted to shoot her instead.”

  Taking his words as him joking, she added. “I told her if she sent me her e-mail address, I’d send updates and pictures of Debbie from time to time, and she seemed thrilled, Clint, sincerely thrilled.”

  Clint threw the papers on the bed and picked her up like a baby in his arms. Then he swung her around, whooping for joy. “Lady, you are a miracle. I don’t know how you managed this, but I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

  She kissed his cheek and then his lips, hugging him around the neck tightly. “Thank me by always being this happy.”

  “Oh, baby, you have no idea. I could walk on water right now. I’ve never been happier. Annie-girl, there isn’t anything in this world I want. Now that I have you, and the kids, my life is full.”

  He followed his declaration with a kiss so powerful; it made her want him here and now. Since he sank down on the bed, breathing heavily, it seemed like the kiss had affected him too. Holding her on his lap, forehead to forehead, she decided to give him his wedding present a bit early.

  “I have one more piece of exciting news to share with you. I bought a pregnancy test the other day…Daddy. We’re going to have a baby!”

  He stared at her, completely shocked, until wonder began to take over. “Oh, darlin’, a few minutes ago I never thought it could get better.” His hands caressed her face while his eyes devoured her. Then he kissed her tenderly until she whimpered with joy. “Wait until Mama-Rose hears this. She’ll be able to leave this world knowing there’ll be more than one Walsh to carry on the line.”

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Later, riding Bella to the festivities, her dress flowing all around her, and holding a huge bouquet of flowers Clint had organized, Anne wondered if there was anyone else alive who felt as lucky and happy as she did at that moment. She couldn’t wait to marry the man of her dreams. Being a mother to their children would give her plenty to keep her busy and happy, but being Clint’s wife was the icing on her wedding cake.

  Dressed in his wedding finery, he met her at the altar and lifted her from Bella’s back, swinging her in his arms as if she weighed nothing.

  Then they faced the preacher, holding hands, standing as close as possible. Once they each proclaimed their love for one another, and were made man and wife, Clint kissed her silly. She could hardly breathe by the time he’d staked his claim. And she loved every minute.

  As soon as the guests moved toward the barbecue area where the dance floor had been set up, the band began playing music. The first tune they performed was for the bride and groom, and Anne knew exactly who had requested the song. He had remembered. To the strains of “Love Me Tender,” the song they’d dance to so many years before, she swayed in the arms of the man who fulfilled all her dreams.

  ~ The End ~

  This has been

  Love Me Tender

  Volume II of the Elvis Series

  by

  Mimi Barbour

  First Chapter of She's Not You

  V
olume I of the Elvis series

  Jesse Parker stepped out of the apartment’s elevator into the dimly lit corridor where the wall light flickered, warning all of its impending demise. He stopped dead. She was there again, the little girl who tore at his heartstrings.

  Same as she’d done the last couple of days, as soon as the pixie-like child saw him, she wiped her wet face, jumped up from where she huddled on the hallway’s green carpet and beelined for her apartment door. Only, this time she hesitated before she opened it. Her little back faced him, a wall of antagonism shielding her body slapped at Jesse until he felt his insides sinking.

  Why he frightened her, he didn’t know. So he waited, not wanting to make things worse. Speaking as softly as a deep male voice can, he said, “Is there something I can help you with, sweetie?”

  He’d seen her tears. In fact he’d seen them every time she’d run away. And they drove him crazy.

  “My mommy’s sick.” The tear-streaked side of her still baby-faced cheeks was all she showed him. Somewhere between the ages of four to six, he thought—until she spoke and then he wondered if she were even younger.

  What the heck did he know about kids? Standing there, trying not to frighten the little cherub, plans scuttled through his head like mice at the smell of a cat.

  Instincts kicked in and he crouched down to her level. “Has she seen the doctor?”

  “Uh huh! He’s dumb.” The child used her arm to wipe the mess off her face and a small sob escaped. “All he tells her is to take pills but she mostly bawfs them up. She bawfs a lot.”

  Before Jesse could say anything else, the tiny sprite opened her door and disappeared.

  Now what the hell am I supposed to do? Jesse knew he couldn’t leave it alone. He stood with his hand raised to knock and then slowly lowered it when a sudden thought changed his mind.

  He’d try and contact his sister, Kim. After all, it was her apartment he was staying in and knowing how gregarious she was, Jesse had no doubt that she most likely knew these neighbors and could tell him something about their situation.

  The moment he’d picked up the scent of the child’s fear and heard her husky, frightened voice, the thought of doing nothing had disappeared.

  A short way down the hall, Jesse stormed into his sister’s apartment and flicked on the lights and caught his breath. He’d forgotten how she’d rigged the switch to turn on all the holiday decorations she’d set up around the place.

  Her oversized Christmas tree sat in front of the main set of windows in the large room and blazed its magic at him, magically flashing twice. The windows behind did a great job of reflecting the splendor. The hundreds, or most likely thousands, of lights twinkled from both inside the branches and around the outer edges.

  The theme of the tree had to be angels or maybe fairies since Kim had hundreds of tiny feathered creatures in all colors poking out from every space. Then there were ribbons inter-woven between these sprites gleaming with the sparkling surfaces of silver and pearl.

  Bah! The girl might be his sister but she was a nutcase when it came to this season. Mind you, he had to admit that Christmas made Kim a living. A very good one if her home was anything to go by. A few years back when he’d first seen her place, he’d been appalled. With Jesse’s help, now the condo she owned was not only modern but very comfortable.

  The sound of claws scraping the floor for leverage warned him that Sam had heard him enter. A chubby canine, with bright black eyes and flopping ears, hurled itself straight for him, expecting he’d break the momentum of this unrestrained dash.

  This time it didn’t work. Unprepared, Jesse couldn’t catch Sam and he tumbled ass over teakettle up against the wall. Obviously unhurt, the silly dog stood up with a wobble or two and then made a second attempt.

  Quickly, Jesse removed his jacket, scooped up the frenzied pup and sat in the only chair in the place that would accommodate his size comfortably.

  Once he’d settled the four-legged pest to chewing on the small rawhide bone he carried around in his packet, Jesse dialed Kim’s cell number and she answered at once.

  “Kim, it’s me. I’ve just had an encounter with this kid in the hallway for the third day in a row and each time she sees me she runs away. Today she was bawling and said her mommy's sick. Do you know these people two doors down from you?”

  “Oh no! Belle must be getting worse. I guess Yaya is fretting. She gets scared, poor little tyke. Usually, she comes to get me. But she knows I’m away. Jesse, you have to do something.”

  “Hey, brat. You’ve got me here looking after your herd, keeping your plants and now you want me to babysit your sick neighbor. Sorry, I draw the line at barfing mommies. She must have someone I can call to help her.”

  Kim laughed at his grumpiness as he knew she would. She never took him seriously, probably because he frequently wasn’t. “Come on, there are only two cats and one little puppy and admit it—they’re all beautiful. To answer your other question, no. Belle hasn’t anyone to help. Yaya’s father is dead, killed in Iraq and as far as I know, the girls are on their own. I help out when I can.”

  To cover up the ping his soft heart just delivered, he asked. “Yaya? What kind of crazy name is that?” He scoffed, couldn’t help it.

  Kim laughed again. “Her real name is Layla but she couldn’t pronounce it when she was younger, and called herself Yaya. It stuck. Belle adores her baby so it must be difficult for her to see Yaya so scared.”

  “Does she have a doctor or a boss, someone to help her?”

  “Belle had to take a medical leave from her job at the playschool where she worked. The pain in her stomach gets so severe that she’s bent over a lot of the time. Plus, she says she lives in a fog and can’t seem to concentrate. Being a war widow, her medical coverage helps some but there are still certain procedures they’ve refused to pay for and she can’t personally afford the costs for these tests. I know she’s terrified it might be cancer and that scares me too. It’s a real tangle, Jesse. I feel so helpless most of the time. I know you’ll help though and it makes me less worried.” Her theatrical sigh, heavy and heartfelt, wrenched at his strength of will.

  Okay, now that’s what got to him. His sister figured Jesse was one step down from God; that he could do anything. Most of the time he tried to disabuse her of this idea but she wouldn’t accept the truth. So Jesse invariably found himself trying to live up to her expectations.

  You’d think after all these years of jumping to do her bidding, he’d be able to let the hero status go, make her wake up and see the real world. He just couldn’t. She’d look at him with those big green eyes so very like the mother he’d adored, and poof, there went his resolutions.

  Weakness sifted into his attitude and he felt the moment his back-bone dissolved, and he flipped to his role of being her big, weak-kneed, fix-it brother. As her voice coerced, softness filtered through his determination.

  “Damn, Kim! What do you expect me to do? I don’t even know the woman and Layla runs from me every time we meet.” Not quite the truth, but his nosy sibling didn’t have to know about their latest encounter.

  Jesse had learned his lesson a long time ago to keep certain personal information from Kim who dedicated herself to trying to bring him happiness in the form of a wife.

  After the last debacle, she’d backed off, swearing she had no idea that the girl she’d forced him to date had been a recovering drug addict who hadn’t quite recovered… as he’d soon found out when he’d had to rescue her from a ladies room of the restaurant where she’d gotten into some bad stuff and needed an ambulance. Talk about a mess! The night in the emergency ward hadn’t helped his temper. When Kim had called the next morning anxious to see if her matchmaking had worked, for the first time she’d suffered his wrath.

  He’d hung up on her and she’d done everything she could to wiggle her way back into his good graces. Since then, she’d stayed out of his personal life and left well-enough alone. Until now.

  Out of t
he blue, she’d come begging, wanting him to stay at her condo for the holidays. Because one of her three stores had a huge problem, Jesse was needed. She’d pleaded in the exact way she’d done as a girl growing up under the protection of a doting brother.

  The manager she’d installed in her Christmas store in Olympia had been in a car accident and would be hospitalized for at least a month. Since the shop had just opened that summer, there was no one trained yet to take over responsibility.

  Seeing that December brought in huge profits in her business, Kim couldn’t afford to let just anyone step into the spot. She’d have to go herself. And that meant leaving her place in a huge hurry, along with her two furry white Persians, one very spoiled golden Lab named Sam—a puppy who thought himself a warrior—and a bowl full of exotic fish.

  She needed an all-purpose petsitter. At Christmas, all her many friends had plans. Lucky for her she had a soft-hearted, soft-headed brother.

  Jesse couldn’t claim work as an excuse because Kim knew he’d just put the For Sale sign up on the latest house he’d built. Therefore, he had a break until he found the next property to buy in the coming year. Guess the week of skiing he’d planned in Aspen took second place to a little sister with a shattered voice full of tears.

  Before he could stop her flow of words, a loud pounding on the door got his attention. “Someone’s at the door, Sis. I’ll call back later.”

  Jesse hung up. Then made his way over and opened the door. A tiny tornado flew past him screaming. “Kimmy, you gotta come. Mommy’s dead!”

  This has been the first chapter of