“Five minutes,” Norrie said.
“Ten,” West countered.
“Twelve,” she said, not exactly an expert negotiator yet.
“Done.”
They disappeared inside the house. Fighting for calm, Kenna pushed to her feet.
“Kenna,” Dane said. He straightened and focused on her. “I tried to forget you and move on, but I couldn’t. I thought about you the entire flight, picturing you traveling with a former boyfriend, and I wanted to kill him. I sent Tamera back as soon as we landed, and I worked without her the entire time. Without anyone.”
She gulped. “I would have liked to have heard this the day it happened.”
“I know, and I’m sorry,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “A life without you isn’t any kind of life at all, and when I realized how stupid I’d been, I flew home to talk to you face-to-face. But I kept thinking about the way I had treated Norrie, and I decided I needed to get myself ironed out first. Prove myself with my actions rather than words.”
“Dane—”
He took a step toward her. “I’ve spent my life agonizing over what happened to Daniel. I realized I needed to forgive myself for his death, and not let it tarnish what could become of my future.” He looked at her, his eyes warm. “I thought about Norrie a lot, the things she said and the way her face always lit up when she was happy. How she is a miniature version of you. How there was no way I could resist her, when I couldn’t resist her mother. No way I couldn’t love her...the way I love her mother.”
What? What! He loves me?
“You’ve changed me, Kenna. You’ve opened my eyes and my heart, and you have made me better. I talked to my dad—”
“I know.”
“You do?” he asked, taking another step toward her.
She nodded. “My mom called me.”
“I was letting bitterness keep me from seeing he’s just a man who made mistakes. Just like all the rest of us. I always insisted you forgive me, but then I never extended anyone else the same courtesy.” He reached her and stared down at her. “I’m not going to be a bad bet anymore. Not for you.”
“Dane,” she said again.
“I ordered new equipment for Virgil Porter,” he rushed out. “I will buy Two Farms if you want it, and give it to you to do with as you will. I’m having a new playground put in Strawberry Park. I have a puppy picked out for Norrie. I only need your approval. I love you, Kenna. I love you, and I don’t ever want to be without you. I want legal ties between us, so you’ll always know I’ll come home to you, that you are mine, and I am yours. That we belong together, now and for the rest of our lives. The three of us, a family.”
Her jaw dropped, her mind reeling. “Are you asking me to...”
“I’m not asking, I’m begging. But before you answer, I want to show you something.” He held out his hand.
She remained in place, frozen by shock. There was more?
He used two fingers to close her mouth, then did what he’d done the day she was fired from Two Farms and hefted her over his shoulder. This time, she didn’t fight. He didn’t walk through the house, but shouldered his way past the gate, entering the front yard.
A horse-drawn carriage waited on the street.
“You wanted to be a princess for a day,” he said, “but I want you to be my princess. Forever. And I don’t care if that is the cheesiest line in the history of ever. I will say anything, do anything, be anything, to have you, now and always.”
He set her inside the carriage, and climbed in to crouch between her legs. “One more chance, Kenna. That’s all I need. I’ll get it right this time, I promise you.”
“Because you love me,” she managed to croak.
“More than anything. I meant what I said. I want to be a family with you and Norrie. I want to make a home with you and cherish you and most importantly never be without you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. He meant it. He wanted her, was willing to do anything to have her, and keep her...to make this relationship work. “You were miserable without me,” she said, trying to wrap her head around it.
“I was.”
“And you love me,” she said again.
“I do.” He looked at her, hopeful. “Do you love me?”
She’d never given him the words, she realized. “I do. I love you with all that I am. I want to marry you, and be a family with you.”
“Thank God.” He released a heavy sigh and just kind of fell forward, resting his forehead against her shoulder. “That is, quite possibly, the best thing I have ever heard.”
She hugged him tight, saying, “What are the other contenders?”
“More, Dane, harder, is a good one. So is, Dane, you are always right about everything.”
“Hey!” she gasped out with a laugh. “I’ve never said that last one.”
He lifted his head and gifted her with his most devastating smile. “But one day you will. I’ll make sure of it.”
* * * * *
If you enjoyed Kenna and Dane’s story, you’ll love the first full-length installment of THE ORIGINAL HEARTBREAKERS series—THE CLOSER YOU COME—featuring Brook Lynn Dillon and Jase Hollister, the sexy bad boy willing to do anything to win her. Coming soon from Gena Showalter and HQN Books.
Keep reading for a taste of Jase and Brook Lynn’s story!
JASON—JASE—CARTED the petite bundle of fury into the backyard. She fought him every step of the way, but he held on as if she were a prized football and never lost his grip on her. The party guests watched with wide grins, enjoying the show. A few even followed him, curious to see how this little scene would play out.
Behind him, the firecracker he’d just slept with shouted, “Put my sister down this instant, you overgrown Neanderthal!”
If he hadn’t regretted sleeping with Jessie Kay before Brook Lynn had stormed into his bedroom, he would have regretted it in that moment. He’d just moved to Strawberry Valley, and this was the first time he’d ever really put down roots. He’d decided not to shit where he ate, so to speak, and mess everything up. This was his fresh start. A clean canvas, and he’d intended to keep it that way. Not create a perfect storm of drama. But he’d had a few beers too many and Jessie Kay had crawled into his lap, asked if she could welcome him to town properly, and that had been that.
At least he’d had the presence of mind to make it clear there would be no repeat performance, no blooming relationship. Ever.
He liked his freedom.
Besides, it wasn’t like women ever stuck around for long, anyway. His mother sure hadn’t. Countless foster moms hadn’t. Hell, even his girlfriend hadn’t. Daphne had taken off without ever saying goodbye.
Light from the porch lamps cast a golden glow over the swimming pool, illuminating the couple who’d decided to skinny-dip. They, like everyone else within a ten-mile radius, heard the commotion, and scrambled into a shadowed corner.
Without a word, Jase tossed Brook Lynn Dillon into the deep end.
Jessie Kay beat at his arm, screeching, “Idiot! Her implants aren’t supposed to be waterlogged. She’s supposed to cover them with a special adhesive.”
Please. “Implants are always better wet.” He should know. He’d handled his fair share.
“They aren’t in her boobs, you moron. They’re in her ears!”
Well, hell. “Way to bury the lead,” he muttered.
Brook Lynn came up sputtering. She swam to the edge and climbed out with her sister’s help, then made sure her hair covered her ears before glaring up at him. An avenging angel.
He’d hoped the impromptu dunk would lessen her appeal, but...no. She wore a plain white T-shirt, and a pair of black slacks. Now each piece of clothing clung to her, revealing a breathtakingly slender build, breasts that were a perfect handful...nipp
les that were hard...and legs that were somehow a mile long.
Those traits, in themselves, would have been dangerous for any man’s peace of mind. But when you paired that miracle body with the face of an angel—huge baby blue eyes and heart-shaped lips no emissary from heaven should ever be allowed to have...wicked lips...an invitation to sin—it was almost overkill.
His thought at first glance? I want.
His thought the moment he discovered her identity? Damn, I picked the wrong sister.
But there was no help for it now. What was done was done.
“I’m sorry about your hearing aids,” or whatever they were, “but catfights aren’t allowed in my room. You’re supposed to save all disputes for the ring, during the Jell-O Fight Night Beck plans on hosting.”
Brook Lynn lifted her chin, the very picture of stubborn female. Without looking away from him, she said, “Jessie Kay, get in the car.”
For the first time that evening, her sister heeded her command and took off as if her feet were on fire.
West and Beck came up beside him, both taking in the scene: a gorgeous woman who was soaking wet, probably chilled, standing as still as a statue, and Jase, who was fighting a freaking hard-on.
“What the hell happened?” Beck demanded, running a hand through his hair.
The action elicited a feminine whistle of appreciation somewhere in the background.
Standard reaction. Women tended to go batcrap crazy for Beck, despite the fact that he was a self-proclaimed he-slut and was always moving from one lover to the next.
“This is between him and me,” Brook Lynn said, pointing to Jase.
“Your hand is bleeding.” Frowning, West reached for her.
“I’m not your concern.” She stepped away from him, avoiding contact, and would have toppled back into the pool if Jase hadn’t caught her arm.
Such a slender bone structure, he noted, with skin as soft and smooth as silk, and as warm as melted honey. Not chilled, after all. The longer he held on, the more electric the contact proved to be, somehow cracking through the hard shell he’d spent years erecting around his emotions, until he practically vibrated with the desire to touch all of her...to hold on to her...
What the hell?
He released her and widened the distance between them. That hard shell wasn’t just for grins and giggles. It was for survival. Emotions were a weakness that could be used against him. Desire, love, hate, hope. It didn’t matter. He fought everything but lust, something as fleeting as it was forgettable. To feel anything else meant he’d placed value on something, whether for good or ill, and that meant the something—whatever it was—could be taken away from him.
Feel nothing. Want nothing. Need nothing.
Brook Lynn peered down at her wrist, as if she felt something she couldn’t explain, before focusing on him, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t touch me again,” she said.
“Don’t worry. I won’t.” To Beck and West, he said, “Get everyone inside. I’ll handle her.”
Copyright © 2015 by Gena Showalter
About the Author
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Gena Showalter has been praised for her “sizzling page-turners” and “utterly spellbinding stories.” With over fifty novels and anthologies, Showalter has delighted readers with her paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as her young-adult series. She is thrilled to launch a brand-new contemporary series, The Original Heartbreakers, featuring sexy bad boys and the women they can’t resist. Be sure to check out The Closer You Come (Jase’s story!), the first full-length novel. To learn more about Gena and her books, visit her website, www.genashowalter.com.
And check out Gena’s Harlequin author page: http://www.harlequin.com/author.html?authorid=1138
ONE PERFECT
NIGHT
Bella Andre
Dear Reader,
I absolutely loved writing Colbie and Noah’s love story in One Perfect Night, both because it was so much fun to watch the heat of the initial sparks that flew between them turn into true, forever love…and also because this novella guest-stars Mia Sullivan and Rafe Sullivan from my Sullivan family series! Rafe is the first Seattle Sullivan to get a happily-ever-after with the girl next door in The Way You Look Tonight, and his sister Mia’s story of love rekindled with a hot rock star will be available next month in paperback from MIRA Books in It Must Be Your Love.
Happy reading!
Bella
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
EXCERPT FROM IT MUST BE YOUR LOVE
CHAPTER ONE
Lake Tahoe, California
AS THE CHAIRLIFT climbed higher and higher, Colbie Michaels tried to ignore the way her heart beat faster and faster with every foot they cleared. If only she could stop thinking about how long a fall it would be if the lift’s chain snapped and she and her best friend plummeted to the snow below.
“Earth to Colbie...”
Mia Sullivan’s voice finally registered, as did the fact that her friend’s legs swinging back and forth were making the whole chair rock.
“Sorry, I’ll stop,” Mia said, clearly reading her mind. “I know how you are about heights. I should never have let you ride the lift.”
“You know I had to do this.” But at the moment, Colbie could barely remember why she’d been so hell-bent on riding the chairlift, just that it had something to do with challenging herself and facing her fears down one by one. In any case, it didn’t really matter what her reasons were anymore... She couldn’t exactly get off now, could she? “I’m doing okay up here,” she lied.
Mia looked down skeptically at Colbie’s hands where she was gripping the armrest for dear life with both hands. “No, you’re not. Tell me what I can do to help and I’ll do it.”
Before she could answer, the lift came to a crashing halt. “What’s happening? Is it broken? Are they going to have to airlift us off of here?”
Mia couldn’t keep from rolling her eyes. “I’m sure it’s just someone needing a little extra time getting on or off.”
But Colbie barely heard her friend’s answer, because she was having trouble breathing and all she could hear was her heart pounding in her ears. Even though she knew better than to look down, she couldn’t stop herself from taking a quick peek.
Mia poked her leg—hard—to get her attention. “Stop freaking out.”
Mia’s uncharacteristically stern tone of voice momentarily broke through the scene-by-scene playback of her life flashing before her eyes.
“Right.” Colbie gulped in a lungful of air. “Good idea.”
Mia grinned. “Pretty good dominatrix voice, don’t you think?”
Colbie’s eyebrows went up. “Is that what that was?”
She nodded, looking tremendously pleased with herself. “I would make a great domme, wouldn’t I?”
“The best,” Colbie agreed with her first real smile since getting on the lift. No one else could have done as good a job of distracting her. Only her best friend.
As the only girl in a family with four boys, Mia Sullivan had learned to speak up early in life to make sure she didn’t get lost in the shuffle of fists and stinky socks and football helmets. Colbie had been lucky enough to grow up only a block away from the Sullivan house, a rambling Craftsman on the shores of Lake Washington. She’d spent half her childhood with the Sullivans, and might even have had a teeny-tiny crush on each of Mia’s brothers growing up.
Then again, who hadn’t?
Other people
might make fun of Colbie’s fear of heights, but not the woman she’d been friends with for more than twenty years. She still remembered the first time she’d seen Mia. They’d been five years old and brand-new kindergarteners. Everyone else in Mrs. Tillman’s class had been suitably nervous about being away from home for the first time and having to sit still on the braided rug in a circle and follow instructions and practice writing their names. But Colbie had dreaded recess most of all—what if she never made any friends?
The playground had been full of kids from every grade, and she’d been just about to turn and bolt back into the relative safety of the classroom when Mia Sullivan stepped in front of her.
The image of little Mia remained perfectly clear in Colbie’s mind to this day. Where her own mother had brushed her hair until it shone and had carefully laid out a new skirt and sweater for the first day of school, Mia’s long hair was tied into two messy pigtails and her mismatched clothes were every color of the rainbow. She was missing one of her front teeth, and her grin seemed even wider for it.
“Hi, I’m Mia. I like your name. Colbie is cool. Want to be friends?”
A dozen simple words had been all it took to lift the heavy weight from Colbie’s chest. Before she’d had time to do anything but smile back, Mia had grabbed her hand and they went running across the playground, off on the first of what would be hundreds of adventures together over the years.
“Oooh, look at that,” Mia said as she pointed at a tall, broad-shouldered guy skiing down the mountain. “I wouldn’t mind getting cozy by the fire with him later.”
“What part of our girls’ weekend do you think he’d like better?” Colbie teased. “The manicure or the hair-highlighting session? Or maybe he would be up for trying the new no-mess waxing kit Janet brought.”
For the past five years, on the first weekend in February, Colbie and her three closest friends met somewhere in the United States to spend some quality time together. There was only one hard-and-fast rule: no men were allowed, not even hot vacation hookups. Their weekends were meant for catching up and getting away from it all. This year, they’d rented a house in Lake Tahoe, California, for their girls-only weekend of skiing and pampering.
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