by HK Carlton
“Well, I know you can, but we have guests, my randy little bride.”
“No, you.” She gave him a playful swat. “I have one more gift for you.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”
She took his hand and placed it over her abdomen. Then she simply looked at him. She bit her bottom lip but couldn’t quite seem to stop the smile from blooming.
“No way! You…? We…?”
She nodded. “I have it on good authority.”
Salem pulled her into his chest. “I didn’t think I could be any happier.”
“Neither did I,” she giggled and cried at the same time.
Salem closed his eyes and prayed silently. When he’d corralled his emotions, he eased back.
“But we have a problem.” Salem held up a finger. “If we’re going with the theme you’ve set, we’re running out of seasons to name our children. Spring and winter? Not too keen.”
“Well, I think that was good for the girls, but we can set a new tradition for the boys.”
Salem stilled. “It’s a boy?” He hadn’t realized how badly he wanted a son until this very moment.
“So I’m told.”
“That little minx better be right.”
“Autumn’s never wrong, so I’ve been thinking I’m kinda partial to Florence or Sicily.”
Salem laughed, thinking of the joke he’d told her about his brother’s name when they’d first met.
“But, in my mind, I’ve already been calling him Richmond.” Lovingly, she touched her stomach. “If that’s okay with you?” She raised wet, hope-filled eyes to him.
“That sounds perfect.” He placed his hand over hers.
“How long have you known about this little surprise?”
“A few days. I thought the queasiness was pre-wedding nerves, but when Autumn came to me this morning while I was getting dressed, she confirmed it.”
Unable to contain his delight any longer, he let out a hearty whoop, attracting some strange looks from their guests. Then he kissed his wife heartily.
When they parted, her expression took his breath away. “I love you, Jerusalem. You saved me.”
He stroked her cheek. “We saved each other, my love, with a little help from our meddling family.”
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
Hard and Fast
HK Carlton
Excerpt
Chapter One
Josslynn Rossdale stood in line at the bank. Another scorching day with the humidity so high that one perspired just standing still. Most of the other customers appeared to be melting, each with that fine layer of sheen and flushed complexion. In a lightweight cotton blouse, beige short shorts and sandals, Joss attempted to beat the heat.
“Next,” the first vacant teller drawled.
Joss stepped forward.
“Hey, Joss, how are you?” She’d been in the savings and loan so often lately that the employees knew her by name.
“Good, Tracey, and you?”
“It’s so much better in here now that they’ve got the air conditioning back up and running.”
Joss noted the serviceman in the standard blue work shirt, placing his tools back into his box. “Mmm, should suggest him for my building. AC’s on the fritz at my apartment too. I put in a call to the building manager but I’m still waiting.”
The repairman was tall, with short dark hair and nice broad shoulders. Snug, navy workpants showcased his well-toned glutes. As if he knew that he was being scrutinized he turned and zeroed right in on Joss. He had the most piercing blue eyes. Too cute, and too young. He couldn’t be more than twenty-five, she guessed. Somewhat used to a certain amount of healthy male attention herself, she smiled, totally aware that he was checking her out too. He grinned in return and the action brought out a charming dimple in his left cheek. He sported a fine layer of stubble as if he hadn’t had time to shave that morning. Joss liked it. It gave him a rugged appearance. Yes, he was a very attractive guy.
“What can I help you with, Joss?” Tracey snagged Joss’ attention back. “He’s really freakin’ hawt, right?” Tracey said under her breath, just as the young workman set down his toolbox on the countertop next to her workspace.
“Actually, I was hoping to catch Tom,” Joss answered. “I’m not sure if he’s in, but he said he’d leave some paperwork for me at the customer service wicket. But your man Tech-Co here is using it to store his tools at the moment.” Joss read the company name off the guy’s shirt.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just need a signature and then I can get out of the way.” He said this to Tracey but kept his gaze trained on Joss, grinning, the corner of his mouth curling adorably.
“I’ll get the manager. I’m not taking responsibility for anything,” Tracey scoffed, leaving her post.
“Hi,” Tall, Dark and Handsome said simply. He had a pleasant, deep baritone voice.
“Hi,” she responded.
“It’s another hot one, huh?”
“Sweltering,” Joss agreed.
He peered directly into her eyes. She liked it but it was also a little disarming.
“I hear it’s supposed to be this way all weekend,” he added.
“That’s what I hear.”
His lips were nicely shaped, the bottom one nice and full.
“I guess I shouldn’t complain. It keeps me busy.”
“I imagine.”
On even closer examination, under that dark and grainy stubble was a slight cleft. Joss was a sucker for a man with a dent in his chin.
“Here we go. The manager is on the way,” Tracey said to the repairman. “And, Joss, here’s the portfolio Tom put together for you to go over.”
“Thanks, Tracey. I’ll probably see you again in the next week then.”
“Yep, see ya then. Next!”
Joss glanced back at TD&H. “Have a good day then,” she said lamely.
“Yeah, you too.” He nodded as the manager joined him.
Joss began to walk out when one of the other financial managers stopped her to make sure she’d been waited on. She assured him that she had, thanked him kindly then continued to the exit, arriving as the rugged repairman did. It just so happened his hands were full—toolbox in one and a ladder in the other. Joss held the first door open for him.
“Well, thank you,” he said with a wide smile. He had excellent teeth too.
Joss rushed ahead and opened the second door.
“Thanks again.” He squinted up at the sky. “Whoa, it is hot out here. Being in there, in the cool, makes you forget for a while.”
“I know. It’s nasty, isn’t it?” Joss let the door swing closed and she turned in the direction of her car.
“Take care,” he said then continued on his way.
For shits, Joss peeked over her shoulder, and to her delight, he was doing the same thing. How sad had her life become that she was now thrilled by such a little thing?
Fuck, that woman is gorgeous, Billy thought as he tossed his gear into the service van. He found himself straining to see over the seats to catch a glimpse of what she was driving. He’d keep an eye out for her in future. Everyone else in town reminded him of sweat soaked marathon runners. But not her, she looked like the heat didn’t even affect her—fresh faced and radiant.
The strawberry blonde, shoulder-length hair was what had caught his eye first. Expecting blue eyes, he’d been pleasantly surprised when she’d returned his level stare and he’d discovered they were dark—smoky and warm. The minute she’d held his gaze, his cock had flexed. He was pretty sure she’d been checking him out too. But then again, the bank tellers had been doing it all morning. Billy knew he was a pretty good-looking guy. He did all right with the ladies. But this one was a little older than the chicks he was usually interested in. Maybe thirty, he approximated. That coupled with the fact that she was drop dead stunning, a guy might find striking up a conversation with her intimidating. But he thought he’d held his own.
Billy tried to get his mind focused on work. Calling into dispatch, he then jotted down the address of the next work-order as it was read off to him. He then went back to the grind, but all afternoon his mind kept drifting back to the bank. This time his thoughts fixated on those gorgeous legs that went on forever—they’d wrap nicely around his waist.
Quitting time and an ice cold beer couldn’t come soon enough.
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About the Author
HK lives in Canada with her hard-working hubby. She has two very handsome grown sons and a beautiful teenage daughter.
She has been an avid reader all her life. Her first love is historical romance so it would come as no surprise that her favorite book of all time is Jane Eyre. But she’ll read almost anything that captures her attention and imagination. She loves nothing more than to find a good book that she can’t put down. She is a hopeless romantic and prefers happy endings.
Email: [email protected]
HK Carlton loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
Also by HK Carlton
Swap
Lost Time
Streetlight People
If You Can’t Stand the Heat
The Best of Both Worlds
Rock Me Gently
Gave Good Face
Hard and Fast