The Switched Baby Scandal (A Scandals of San Sebastian Novel) (Entangled Bliss)

by Meyers, Theresa

  For a moment she couldn’t breathe. She shivered, the hairs on her arms lifting as she sensed Reece’s presence behind her. He slid his hands around her waist and turned her gently to face him, and then he took her hands and bent down on one knee in the soft green grass.

  She looked down into his face. His velvety-brown eyes touched her like a caress.

  “Taylor, I love you. And as good as it is to be parents with you, I want something more with you. I want a future and I want memories. I want to be with you always. Will you marry me?”

  Taylor gasped and put a shaking hand up to her mouth. This was all wrong, but it was also so right. Inside she felt splintered in two. She should have told him about the baby. Now she had no choice. She couldn’t marry him without him knowing.

  “I can’t.”

  Reece’s grasp on her hands slipped a little as he stood.

  “Don’t you love me?”

  She wanted to cry, but she nodded.

  “Then what’s the problem? We love each other; we have a wonderful daughter…”

  “You don’t understand.”

  He tilted his head to one side, his eyes searching hers.

  “Is there someone else?”

  She nibbled her lip.

  “You could say that,” Edith called loudly from the patio.

  His face fell. Reece quirked a brow, asking her what Edith meant without saying a word.

  “I’m, I’m pregnant with your baby,” she stammered, then swallowed, preparing herself for the pain that would hit when he pushed her away.

  Reece frowned, his gaze traveling instantly to her stomach. “How?”

  Taylor glanced down at Emily, who was wedged in between them, then locked her eyes with his once more. She bit at her lip, choosing her words carefully. “The usual way.”

  His eyes widened his hand slowly reached out. “Really? You’re sure?”

  She nodded.

  His face transformed, a small, tentative smile spreading out and growing until his whole face lit up. Reece let out a loud peal of laughter and grabbed her tight. “That’s amazing. You’re amazing!”

  “I was so afraid to tell you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I didn’t want you to feel trapped or obligated to marry me.”

  He caressed her cheek with the pad of his thumb, then reached down and picked up Emily, who was wedged in between them.

  Reece wrapped an arm around her waist as Emily locked her arms around their necks. “I’ve never wanted anything more. Thank you for giving me a family again—for making me whole again. Thank you…for everything. I love you, Taylor, and I always will.” He kissed her soundly. And for the first time Taylor felt her family—and her life—was complete.

  About the Author

  The progeny of a slightly mad NASA scientist and a tea-drinking bibliophile who turned the family dining room into a library, Theresa Meyers learned early the value of a questioning mind, lots of books, and a good china teapot. But it wasn’t until third grade that Theresa overcame her dyslexia enough to learn to read, going on to make words her life’s work. With a degree in Mass Communications, she became first a journalist, then a public relations officer in both the corporate and agency realm. But by far the most challenging has been using her writing skills to pen contemporary, paranormal, and steampunk romance novels in the turret office of her Seattle-area Victorian home. She’s spent nearly a quarter of a century with the boy who took her to the prom, drinks tea with milk and sugar, is an adamant fan of the television show Supernatural, and has an indecent love of hats. When she’s not writing, reading, sewing, canning, or running herd on the small menagerie of farm animals on her minifarm, she’s often online at www.twitter.com/Theresa_Meyers or at www.theresameyers.com. If you’re more the pen and paper type, you can always write to her at P.O. Box 25, Port Orchard, WA 98366.

  Find your Bliss with Jennifer Shirk’s

  Kissing Kendall

  Then she glanced up and froze. Running toward her about a block away and quickly closing the distance between them was Brad.

  And he was shirtless.

  Oh God.

  To make matters worse, Brad spotted her. He slowed down his jog to a walk and made his way over to her. “Hey, Kendall, enjoying the view?” he panted. She stared at him. Almost like a Playgirl scene come to life, he took the shirt he held in his hand and began wiping the sweat from his perfectly chiseled chest and abs.

  I am now. She felt her throat close a bit but cleared it quickly. “Um, yes. You look beautiful—I mean, the view looks beautiful. The beach looks beautiful.”

  She wanted to die. Right there and then. Calm down. Brad happens to have a good body. A fantastic body. You’re only human.

  He smiled, casually tossing his shirt across his shoulder. “Mind if I walk with you?”

  “Oh, uh, don’t let me ruin your workout. Deuce and I were about to head back anyway.”

  “Perfect. I only wanted to get in a few miles today anyway. A walk will help me stretch my calves a bit and cool down,” Brad said, scratching underneath Deuce’s chin.

  “Cool down,” she repeated, watching a trickle of sweat roll down his middle. “Right.” She put a hand over her heart, which was picking up speed.

  Looking is okay, she reminded herself. Acting on it is another thing. Whatever you do, do not act on it.

  Find your Bliss with Karen Erickson’s

  Jane’s Gift

  Their eyes met, locked, and she was held captive, her hand frozen for the briefest second. He grabbed her by the wrist, pulled her hand to his mouth, and pressed a fleeting kiss to her knuckles.

  Oh, God. Shock froze her in place and she knew she should pull away, brush it off as nothing. But she couldn’t ignore the heat that coursed through her at the mere touch of his lips, and she swallowed hard, blinked slowly. Anything to try and bring back the normal, everyday emotions she lived with.

  But they were gone, wiped clean by the touch of Chris’s fingers, the brush of his mouth.

  “Jane.” He whispered her name, his voice achingly gentle, and her lips parted to answer him but nothing came out. The intensity of his gaze, the way he watched her left her paralyzed, speechless. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.”

  Her eyes went wide as she stared up at him. His face hovered above hers, his hand tightening on her cheek as he drew her closer. Oh, he was going to kiss her, just as she’d imagined only moments before. Panic set in. Her breathing accelerated, her chest heaved with the effort, and she licked her lips in preparation.

  Earning a quiet groan from Chris. Feminine power sparked within her. Who knew she had such an effect on him?

  “I shouldn’t do this. But…you’re so beautiful.” His words made her heart flutter.

  “Chris, I—” she started, but he didn’t let her finish. His head swooped and his mouth captured hers, silencing her, swallowing her words.

  She forgot what she wanted to say. Her mind had been wiped clean by the touch of Chris’s mouth upon hers.

  And she never wanted this kiss to end.

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