She stared into the ruby red liquid. Yesterday, this punch could have killed her and others aboard Kronos. Today, with her body clear of the threat from the dangers posed by the p53 marker, the punch represented a brighter future for her.
She clinked her glass to Griffin’s and they both took a sip.
“Blessings of the season, Dr. Drake. Blessings of the season on you also, Mr. Cooper,” 58 said before it moved away.
Griffin took the punch from Rhayne and set it aside. “You’ve impressed some important people. I sense the IO wouldn’t have let Truser spike the punch, but they were willing to let you experiment with the cure. By the way, Slater just told me Truser and Raster Claymont have been arrested and are under lock and key in the station’s brig. And Mom has been offered the directorship of the lab to finalize the formula and begin serum production.”
“Oh, I’m so happy for Althea. She deserves to be running the lab,” Rhayne said, doing a little happy dance for her new friend’s good fortune.
Griffin frowned. “Slater told me he is going to ask Mom to recouple with him. Says he should never have let her uncouple in the first place.”
Rhayne laid a gentle hand on Griffin’s arm. “How do you feel about the idea of them being joined again?”
“A week ago, I’d have said no way in Hades, but seeing them together the past couple of days, I don’t know… They belong together. They love each other. And without me to cause problems or try to influence Mom, I believe they’ll make it.”
The look on Griffin’s face had Rhayne throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. Althea was one of the luckiest women in the universe to have the love of a son like Griffin and a man like Deke.
Griffin wrapped his arms around Rhayne and swung her in a circle, dancing with her until he stopped under a well-decorated archway. “I didn’t know what I was missing before you tripped into my life, Rhayne. It’s been my own personal Solstice. I’ve been in the dark, but since I’ve met you, I’ve moved into the light. I feel reborn. I feel… Titan, I’m not saying this very well.”
Rhayne gazed up into his gorgeous eyes and smiled. She knew what Griffin meant. “Actually, I think you’ve said it perfectly. From the moment you rescued me from sure disaster with the Airfloat, it feels right when I’m with you. I’m messy and you laugh at me. But I’d rather have that laughter in my life than live in the barren landscape I’ve existed in for the past three years.”
“You’ve become the center of my universe, Rhayne,” he murmured.
Shivers ran up her spine with his words, taking up residence in her heart. “And you’re mine. Griffin, Solstice is about rebirth, another chance for a life well-lived. Althea found it with Deke, and I’ve found the light with you…in you.”
Glancing at the arch over their heads, Rhayne laughed. Griffin’s eyes widened as she pointed at the sprig of greenery hanging there. It was a small plant—a parasite really—capable of transforming death into life.
Her head tipped back as he pulled her closer. He smiled into her eyes as he lowered his mouth and sealed his lips to hers.
She’d come to Kronos with a sense of dedication borne of tragedy. She’d lost her father, and grief had saddened her to a point of darkness. Loss had given birth to a commitment to cure others with the same disease. In her quest for knowledge and truth, she’d found a banquet of friends and family. They’d brought…he’d brought light back into her life.
Also by Gemma Brocato
The Five Sense Series
Cooking Up Love
Hearts In Harmony
Exposed To Passion
A Winter Wedding
About The Author
Gemma's favorite desk accessories for many years were a circular wooden token, better known as a 'round tuit,' and a slip of paper from a fortune cookie proclaiming her a lover of words; some day she'd write a book. All it took was a transfer to the United Kingdom, the lovely English springtime, and a huge dose of homesickness to write her first novel. Once it was completed and sent off with a kiss, even the rejections addressed to 'Dear Author' were gratifying.
After returning to America, she spent a number of years as a copywriter, dedicating her skills to making insurance and the agents who sell them sound sexy. Eventually, her full-time job as a writer interfered with her desire to be a writer full-time and she left the world of financial products behind to pursue an avocation as a romance author.
Her gamble paid off when she was a 2012 Finalist in the prestigious Golden Pen contest for Romantic Suspense and she received contracts for her first and second book.
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Cooking Up Love
Five Senses Book #1
A spicy attraction, a sweet small town, and a tasty mystery cook up a delectable romance…
Jemima George leads a charmed life in New York City as a personal chef to reality T.V.’s latest darling. But all that changes when her Aunt Caro suddenly dies under odd circumstances—bequeathing her a small café in picturesque New England. Jem intends to sell it and continue her fast-paced career—until her cheating boyfriend, and a deliciously sexy local contractor, lead her to re-think her recipe for happiness.
Jack Kerrigan considered Caro a surrogate mother and hates the idea of selling the cafe. But he loves the idea of beautiful, intriguing Jem staying in town as long as possible. If it means remodeling the cafe, Jack’s all in. And when his jealous ex-wife, a shady attorney, and a slew of secrets threaten to extinguish Jack and Jem’s simmering attraction, they might just add heat to a romance that’s heading toward a full boil.
Hearts In Harmony
Five Senses Book #2
Sometimes life’s most simple melodies become songs of love.
Pippa Sanders’ life is filled with songs of leaving, longing and loneliness. Since the death of her husband, her children have been her world. She’ll do anything to protect them, including encasing her heart in ice until they’re college age. She’s made a practice of shying away from any relationship that could break her heart when it ends. And it’s worked so far.
Clay Mathers has made a temporary move to Granite Pointe, Massachusetts to help with his mother’s Christmas tree farm while she recovers from a stroke. Although his long-range plans don’t include staying in the small town, a little female companionship during his short residency would be welcome. While on duty as sentry against protestors at a military funeral, he finds Pippa visiting her husband’s grave, and begins a campaign to make her into a friend–with benefits.
What starts as a simple affair evolves to something more, something that changes the soundtracks of both their lives…the beating of two hearts in harmony.
Exposed To Passion
Five Senses Book #3
They walked through the shadows individually. Will they emerge into the light together?
Leading a vagabond life as a curator for a traveling photography exhibit translates to a lot of bad days for Rikki Salerno. But her trouble doubles when a careless high school student shoves her into a marsh. Being rescued by teacher Sam Kerrigan should have made things better, but Rikki’s inability to confess her true identity casts a shadow over their budding affair.
When Sam refuses an overly aggressive parent’s marriage proposal, she’s determined to ruin him. Not only does
she doctor photos to make it look like Sam’s behaved inappropriately in front of students, she hacks the foundation website to reveal Rikki’s true identity. Faster than the blink of a shutter, Rikki’s focus changes from pursuing her full-color future to the black and white necessity of clearing Sam’s name.
A Winter Wedding
A Five Senses Short
With their hearts in harmony, tying the knot should be a piece of wedding cake for Pippa Sanders and Clay Mathers.
But Fate’s a nasty mistress. One week before their special day, Pippa narrowly escapes when fire erupts in the ballroom they’d reserved for the ceremony. They’ll have to use every resource at their fingertips to implement Plan B. In this case, B stands for the barn at the
Sleepy T Christmas Tree Farm.
Hobbled by a sprained ankle, Pippa is unable to help with the preparations. In spite of the grime accumulated over twenty years, Clay is determined. He promises Pip he’ll transform the barn into an idyllic location for a winter wedding. Plus, he’ll make time to throw in a special surprise.
What Clay doesn’t factor into his plan is the snowstorm bearing down on them. With predictions of up to two feet of snow, will Mother Nature prove too much of an obstacle to overcome?
Mission: Mistletoe Page 12