“You need your sleep,” he said, laying his hand over her slightly rounded belly. He couldn’t see the new roundness in her, not when she wore one of her flowing dresses, but he could feel it. “Everything’s fine. Your father is in the kitchen, pouring drinks for everyone.”
“What?” Vic turned to face him. He tried to kiss away the horrified expression on her face.
“Everybody deserves a second chance,” he said as the kiss ended. “Even him.”
She sighed, unconvinced but agreeable.
Downstairs, family and friends waited. Vic rested her head against his chest, closed her eyes and remained still for a long moment. He loved the way she sometimes just walked into him and stayed in this place, protected and loved and happy, at last.
“I love you,” he said, smiling as he took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up so he could kiss her again.
“I love you, too.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him gently.
He kissed her neck beneath her ear, where she wore two earrings. A small gold loop, and just above that, the diamond stud he’d given her when he’d asked her to marry him.
It was a scary thing, to realize that without a certain person in your life you were less than you were with that person. It had been almost scary enough to send him running. Away from Vic, away from this feeling of belonging. What was worse were the moments when he stopped and wondered what his life would be like right now if he had run, if he’d never given them a chance. Setting out to save the world was easy. Trying to save one woman who insisted that she didn’t need to be saved was the challenge of a lifetime.
He kissed Vic’s luscious neck long and slow, barely raising his lips from her flesh to speak. “Since Pops is taking care of the guests, maybe we have time for—”
“Del!” she interrupted, laughing.
“I can’t get enough of you.”
She quit laughing and held on a little tighter. “I know exactly how you feel.”
“Right now, I want you all to myself.” Just for a few minutes, before they went downstairs to face the mob.
It was a good day, one of the best he’d ever had. And he knew with a certainty that he’d never experienced before that their best days were ahead of them.
About the Author
Linda's first book, the historical romance Guardian Angel, was released in 1994, and in the years since she's written in several romance sub-genres under several names. In order of appearance, Linda Winstead; Linda Jones; Linda Winstead Jones; Linda Devlin; and Linda Fallon. She's a six time finalist for the RITA Award and a winner (for Shades of Midnight, writing as Linda Fallon) in the paranormal category. She’s a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than seventy books. Most recently she's been writing as Linda Jones in a couple of joint projects with Linda Howard, and re-releasing some of her backlist in e-book format.
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Also by Linda Winstead Jones
Christmas Music and Magic
Blue Christmas
Always On My Mind
Columbyana
The Sun Witch
The Moon Witch
The Star Witch
Prince of Magic
Prince of Fire
Prince of Swords
Untouchable
22 Nights
Bride by Command
Bride by Midnight
Firebird
Dragonstone Dance
Fairy Tale Romance
Into the Woods
DeButy and the Beast
Someone's Been Sleeping in My Bed
Big Bad Wolf
Let Me Come In
Cinderfella
One Day, My Prince
Jackie and the Giant
Let Down Your Hair
Mystic Springs
Bigfoot and the Librarian
Santa and the Snow Witch
Beauty and the Beastmaster
The Rock Creek Six
Sullivan
Jed
Cash
The Shades Trilogy
Shades of Midnight
Shades of Winter
Shades of Scarlet
Standalone
The Rock Creek Six: The Complete Set
Bridger's Last Stand
Moonlight Becomes You: A Short Story
Haunted Honeymoon
Children of the Sun
Midnight Moonlight: A Short Story
Warrior Rising
Clint's Wild Ride
Running Scared
Desperado's Gold
On a Wicked Wind
No Angel's Grace
The Seduction of Roxanne
Last of the Ravens
Sundown
Wilder Days
Come to Me
Every Little Thing
Watch for more at Linda Winstead Jones’s site.
About the Author
After publishing more than seventy books, I’ve finally admitted to myself that I just can’t make up my mind about what, exactly, I want to write. Since 1994 I’ve written romance in several different sub-genres. Historical; fairy tale; romantic suspense; paranormal; fantasy; contemporary. As so many authors do, I write what speaks to me in that moment. Who knows what will come next?
Whatever the genre, I believe the perfect romance should provide a tear and a couple of laughs, a chill or two, and by the time the story is over, the reader should be left with a smile and the feeling that all is right with the world in that moment.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the story you just read. For more information please check out my website at www.lindawinsteadjones.com. You can sign up for my newsletter there, if you'd like. Free to drop me a note at [email protected], or visit me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LindaWinsteadJones or www.facebook.com/LindaHowardLindaJones. I'm also on Twitter, @LWJbooks.
Best Regards,
Linda
Read more at Linda Winstead Jones’s site.
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