They looked at me like I was crazy and sat up simultaneously on their knees. "What the hell, Jenna! You weren't gone that long! Where were you?" Abbie asked.
I fell back on the towel and threw my arm over my eyes to shield them from the sun. "The bathroom. His name is Royal, and he is so fine…" I said dreamily.
Skylar came into the garage, startling me out of my little daydream. Royal turned around when he saw her and flashed me a knowing smile. As he walked toward me, I knew I’d been caught staring. I met him stride for stride, the need to be close to him so strong I could feel it in every pore of my body. Suddenly, we were in front of each other at last, and his lips were on mine.
Cradling my head, he let his lips move against mine softly. I never got sick of kissing him; I could hardly get enough. I let myself melt into the kiss and let go of all the worry and irritation I’d been carrying all morning. It had been a long time since he’d kissed me that way and I was taking every ounce of what he gave me.
"Ugh!" Skylar gasped from behind us. "Why do you guys do that? Get a room!"
He chuckled against my lips and gave me a few small pecks before pulling away. "We're embarrassing the children again," he said without apology.
I shrugged, pressing myself closer to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. "That's the fun part." I soaked up the manly scent of his skin as I pressed my nose to his chest. "I'm going to miss you," I said softly.
He stroked my back and hummed into my hair. "I'll miss you too, cookie," he said before kissing me again.
I smiled against his lips. "You haven't called me cookie for a long time," I mused. The nickname always brought me to my knees.
"You'll always be my cookie," he promised. "I'm sorry I was a dick earlier. I'm just tired."
"Wake me up next time, okay? I don't like you sleeping on the couch."
He tugged at my chin and looked into my eyes. "I don't either. I’ll be sure to wake you up next time."
Not that I was crazy about being woken up—or having him out drinking with his brother that late, but at least he’d acknowledged my feelings. Even though there was still some strain between us, I took every small victory in stride.
"I was thinking—maybe we can do something for our anniversary. I’ll take you to dinner, whatever you want.”
My heart sputtered. Finally, he was putting forward a little effort.
“We can get away. Just us,” I suggested
“Figure it out and we’ll go. Anywhere you want.”
He leaned in to kiss me again, but the tiny monstrous footsteps of my son behind us signaled it was time for them to go.
"Pop! I found my fishin' hat Papa Joe got me! It was all the way at the bottom of my toy box!" He materialized in front of us and adjusted the floppy hat on his head.
"Way to go, Ben. Let's head out of here. We don't want to miss any fish, or you'll lose the contest."
It was a bittersweet moment watching them drive away from the house. The week before had been harrowing. Arguments and dirty words flew, and the house had been tense and ugly. We always seemed to settle things in a day or two, but it was never long before we were at each other’s necks again.
Our final moments in the garage were encouraging, but it only scratched the surface. As good as it felt to work things out before he left, I had a hard time putting everything together in my head. He’d touched me more within that ten minutes in the garage than he had in over a month.
I couldn’t remember the last time we even attempted to get along.
***
As soon as I heard the rumble of Royal’s truck pulling into the driveway the next day, I was off the couch, my book long forgotten, and ran to the door, eager to see my boys.
A flash of blue came running at me in the form of my high-spirited seven-year-old. His short brown hair stuck up in every direction, much like his father’s, and his whiskey-colored eyes lit up with mischief and innocence. There was nothing like the hugs he gave after being away from me, so I whipped him up in my arms and left tiny kisses all over his face. He was crispy with sunburn and stunk to high heaven, but it felt amazing to hold him.
"Did you have fun with Pops and Papa Joe?" I asked between kisses.
I looked over his shoulder and watched Royal climb out of the truck with a smile on his face. That is a very good sign, I thought to myself. He winked at me before heading to the back of the truck to unload and unhitch the boat.
"I caught a million fish!" he said excitedly.
"That's awesome, Bubba! I'm so proud of you."
He wiggled out of my arms and ran into the house, and I walked down the walkway toward the truck. Slowly—the way you’d approach a growling dog. Even though he was smiling, lately I was never sure what reaction I’d get from Royal. As much as I wanted to run into his arms, I couldn’t handle it if he rejected me, so I chickened out.
"Hey," I said lamely.
"Hey, babe."
“Did you boys have fun?” I moved a little closer to the side of the truck, leaning against the bumper while I watched him pull things out of the bed. He’d seemed pleasant enough, but it seemed the moment had passed.
Good thing I hadn’t tried to run across the lawn. I’d probably still be on my ass.
I left him to do his thing and went back inside, disappointed for sure, but resigned. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected? A miracle?
I’d had a roast in the slow cooker all day, so dinner was easy enough to get ready while Royal showered and the girls helped get Benji scrubbed up. Dinner was quiet, and for once I welcomed the lack of chit-chat. I couldn’t help but let my mind wander, hoping for a chance to talk to Royal later—he’d promised he would.
Once dinner was over, the girls cleared the table and I took an already sleepy Benji upstairs to get him ready for bed. It didn’t take long and within minutes, he was out like a light. He was always that way after an active weekend, and for once, I was glad. I snuck out and practically ran to our room. When I walked in and found him sprawled out on the bed on his stomach, fast asleep, I couldn’t help the pang of disappointment that washed over me.
Once again, we were back to the ordinary where our bed was for sleep and our bodies clung to pillows instead of each other. I stripped off my clothing, pulled on a nightshirt, and climbed into bed before pulling the quilt over the both of us.
My head hit the pillow, and the contrast between the thoughts that clogged my head and the soft cotton that held it for sleep was vast. My bed held no comfort when all I wanted was to wrap myself up in my husband's embrace and show him the love I still held in my heart.
I drifted off to sleep, lulled by the cadence of my husband's quiet snoring.
Find Tiny Threads on Amazon: https://goo.gl/vhtglJ
Jami Denise
Author Bio
Jami Denise is an up and coming writer from Southern California. She writes Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Erotic Romance.
Her books are always on the spicy side with a little bit of sweet to make you swoon. Her feisty kittens always give the bad boys a run for their money. She likes taking risks, pushing her characters into directions that challenge the reader and take them out of their element. You'll usually find the unexpected to happen in her stories. Life isn't always pretty, and she likes to layer her words with true grit.
She is a self-professed cat lady, addicted to coffee and Monster, cupcake lip balm, and loves all things old, grungy, and fast. She's well versed in sarcasm, and the F-word is her favorite adjective.
When she doesn't have her nose in a book, or fingers on a keyboard, she's spending time with family and friends, watching old movies, and waiting for the next felon to come sweep her off her feet.
She loves interacting with her readers and meeting new friends.
Author Links:
Twitter: @jamideniseo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jamideniseauthor
Website: www.jamidenise.com
My Mr. Manny
by Jennifer Garcia
After getting swept up in nostalgia and losing herself in a quickly progressing romance, her fantasy falls apart. She is left to raise her precious little girl, Lucia, on her own. The demands of Mia’s work schedule and Lucia’s needs increase, and their lives become increasingly hectic. It is soon clear to Mia that she needs help. Luckily, her life-saving cousin saves the day and brings the mother and daughter a male nanny – their new “manny.”
After losing his high-pressure job on Wall Street, Dominic Roberts wants to follow his dreams to have a family. He’s already one fiancée down, and there are no likely prospects for another. In order to find the family he so desperately wants, he finds himself getting into the manny business. Since he is fully qualified to provide childcare and is eager to leave New York City behind, his sister-in-law is able to land him a job in California working for his first client – the beautiful and intriguing Mia Balducci.
Will Lucia like the new man in her mother's life? Will Mia? And will this new trio discover the happily ever after they all so desperately seek?
Amazon: Get My Mr. Manny now: AMAZON
Jennifer Garcia
Author Bio:
Jennifer Garcia's love of travel began when she went to the West Coast to visit her father at the age of three. Her home until she was sixteen was a small coastal town near Boston. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.
Her lifelong love for reading and writing was put aside for many years while she made her way in the world and nurtured her young family. Even though she is older, and life never seems to settle, she's finding her way. Believing she can do it all, with the help of her family, she worked on her first novel during the late hours of the night while balancing the rest of her life during the day.
Jennifer believes in writing love stories that connect families and touch hearts.
Author Links:
Website: https://jenniferfgarcia.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferGarciaAuthor/
The Unbreakable Contract
By Debbie Dickerson
Synopsis
Just when Savannah thinks she has it all figured out...life happens!
Savannah Burgesson used to be a hopeless romantic, until deceit ripped that fairy tale from her. Now, fifteen years later, she wants nothing more than to focus on her highly successful consulting firm, and to have a fling with the boy-toy of her choice, whenever she desires.
Savannah's a born and raised southern girl who spends most evenings that she's not working, enjoying her Texas sized ranch with her plethora of farm animals. Her plan to live her life the exact way she's been living it was working well until that fateful day she turned forty.
Charleston Voss, her strikingly handsome personal assistant was just supposed to be the next notch on her belt, but their connection was electrifying. Savannah believed that Charleston being twenty-eight years old, the chance of him breaking her heart were slim to zero. She was dead wrong!
Both Savannah and Charleston have skeletons in their closet, ghosts from the past, and personal hang-ups to overcome. Never in a million years did either think the past would collide with the present and threaten everything they've grown to desire!
The question isn't if Savannah and Charleston are made for one another, the question is, can true love conquer all obstacles and persevere? Will they realize that they need each other more than they've ever needed anybody before? After all is said and done, will they be able to make it through this insane journey alive?
Read the Unbreakable Contract here:
Amazon: http://a.co/fxCnXWG
Debbie Dickerson
Author Bio:
I write books that keep you on the edge of your seat, make you fall in love, piss you off, and make you laugh. I enjoy challenging myself to write in different genres so you never know what my next book might bring!
A quick bit about me: I am 45 years old, a mother of two awesome young men, and a wife to one incredible man. Most things out of my mouth are sarcastic and I tend to cuss like a Sailor (a hot, sexy Sailor)! All in all, I'm a positive person that truly loves the adventure of life and all the beautiful perfect imperfections!
Author Links:
Facebook: Author Debbie Dickerson
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1TxQfBp
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2kraJCD
DAMAGED
By C.K. Green
SYNOPSIS:
Kiera has a great life built for herself until someone from her past threatens to destroy the walls she has struggled to build. She doesn't want the pain that comes with remembering. How can she let him be part of her life if all he does is bring those memories back to haunt her?
That one case changed the path of Ethan’s life forever. Meeting Kiera again brings all the questions back to the surface. He just wants to know what happened to her on the night he found her bloody and beaten.
Neither of them counts on the past changing the course of their future. Will there be anything left of Kiera if she is forced to face a past she has tried so desperately to bury? Will Ethan still want her around after he learns the truth?
Copyright
Damaged is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DAMAGED: A NOVEL
Copyright © 2015 by C. K. Green
All rights reserved.
Content Editing by It’s Your Story Content Editing
Grammar Editing by Quirky Words Publishing, Ltd.
Cover design by Shardels Book Cover Designs
Published by Kingston Publishing Company
The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Print ISBN: 978-0-9969540-0-6
Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9969540-1-3
Prologue
Detective Parker
8 years ago
I raised my hand, hesitating to knock on the door of Kiera's home. This is the one part of the job that I hate. Being the person that has to tell the parents about something like this is never easy. I braced myself for the reactions from the news that I would have to deliver to her family. I just hoped that hearing it from me would make it easier for them to take in. I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be able to keep my professional mask from slipping only to reveal the anguish below, but I needed to for a little longer for her parents’ sake.
"Can I help you?" said Mr. Blake confused as he opened the door. Glancing at the uniform, then at my face, I saw the moment he recognized me.
"Mr. Blake, my name is Ethan Parker. I’m a detective with the Washington County Police." I said, trying not to stumble over my words citing the greeting that was drilled into my head at the academy.
"I remember you, Ethan. What can I do for you at this hour?" he replied crossing his arms across his chest. A look of confusion settled over his features making me wonder did he even know Kiera was missing?
Trying to stay professional I replied, "I need you and Mrs. Blake to come to the hospital with me." There was a catch in my voice that caused me to hesitate a little too long. I had to get my act together there was a job to do right now.
"Why? What's wrong Ethan?" he asked in a panicked voice as Mrs. Blake joined him at the door. They both had a worried look on their faces that threatened to crumble the fragile wall I built around myself. Taking a deep breath, I continued with what needed to be said before I lost the nerve.
"We found your daughter, Kiera. She was unconscious at the edge o
f the road near Hastings High School. Did you know she was missing?" I tried to ask with as little emotion as possible.
I watched as Karen collapsed in tears against her husband upon hearing this news. There wasn't anything I could do to make this any easier for them. I wanted to reach out, comforting them, but there is never a good way to tell a family that their only daughter had been attacked and left for dead on the side of the road.
"What happened, Ethan? She was supposed to be at a friend's house. Is she okay? How bad is she hurt?" Mr. Blake asked with a trembling voice while holding his sobbing wife.
"She is alive but critically injured. We don't know how long she was held or what was done to her. I have a team investigating the scene where she was found, but I went straight to the hospital with her." Pausing long enough to take a deep breath, I continued, "She was still unconscious when I left the hospital, but preliminary reports from the doctors tell me that she will recover. I came straight here to escort you and your wife to Regional Medical Hospital where they have admitted her, if you want to get your belongings."
As they turned to quickly getting a bag together, I braced myself on the porch railing. This was harder to do when you have grown up caring for the victim from a distance. Steeling my resolve, I knew the best way to help was by getting them by her side faster with a police escort. They were out the door within minutes, and we headed towards the hospital.
As we entered the wing where she was located, the nurse informed us that she was finally conscious and able to talk. Pausing in the hallway, I turned to her parents asking, "If you don't mind, I would like to ask Kiera a few questions, since she is awake."
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