The Procedure

by Tabatha Vargo

  “Hey, you!” Her voice echoed off the brick building. “Yes, you. Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. My friend just finalized her divorce, and she needs to be kissed. Like right now.”

  I turned, my face flaming. “Carol, you’re being ridi…”

  My world stood still as I stared into the face I would never forget.

  Roman.

  He stepped closer to me, his eyes moving across my face with desperation and happiness.

  He looked good. No. He looked wonderful. His hair had grown out, but it still had the tousled look I loved so much. He was wearing a three-piece suit as if he was just returning from a conference, and he had opted to let a bit of facial hair grow. He looked scruffy and dangerous. He looked delicious and sexy. He looked like the man who held my heart.

  Grinning down at me, his whiskey eyes held mine. “Your friend said congratulations are in order.” His deep voice moved over my skin, making chills run down my spine.

  So many nights I longed for his smile—his voice. And there he was. Everything I wanted within arm’s reach.

  “They are.” My voice cracked. “I’m starting my life over.”

  He nodded. His smiled turned into something deeper and more meaningful. “Starting over sounds like a bloody brilliant plan.”

  My cheeks lifted with my smile when I realized what he was saying. “I think so, too.” Looking down, I lifted my hand between us. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Samantha Clare.”

  I COULDN’T KEEP myself completely distant from Samantha. The minute I touched American soil again, I searched her out. Being in London for so many long made things easier, but still, the need to know she was okay was what pushed me to check up on her.

  It was bittersweet to find out she was a teacher at a school close by, that she seem to be pretty happy, and that she was single. I knew about her pending divorce with Michael, and I couldn’t help but feel downright thrilled that she hadn’t stayed with him.

  I waited for her to return to me on her own will, but when I couldn’t wait any longer, I stalked the Starbucks close to the school she worked at. Every day for a week, I sat at a table in the corner, sipping a drink with way too much sugar and waiting to see her beautiful face, but she never came in.

  And then it happened. I caught a glimpse of her through the window. My heart skipped several beats, and my breath was knocked from me. She looked exquisite—more so than I remembered. Her hair was longer and hung down her back, and her beautiful shoulders were covered by a light jacket to keep her warm.

  She looked fuller everywhere—her face flawless and glowing. Standing, I tossed my drink in the trash and made my way to the exit. The desire to go outside and scoop her up was strong as I pushed on the door and let the cold air from outside in.

  Catching the end of her conversation with a friend, my heart warmed with her voice.

  “No, but it felt really good,” she said, her laughter catching in the breeze and floating over me.

  I closed my eyes and imagined her beautiful smile

  And then they were moving toward me and my shoulders stiffened as I waited for her to notice me. Her friend saw me first, her eyes growing large as if she knew, and then she pointed.

  “Hey, you!” she yelled my way.

  Looking behind me, I turned back toward her and pointed at my chest to make sure it was me she was talking to. Still, Samantha had yet to look at me.

  “Yes, you. Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome. My friend just finalized her divorce, and she needs to be kissed. Like right now,” her friend said with a laugh.

  I smiled. Kissing Samantha was all I could think about since the moment she left my condo.

  Samantha’s face lit up with embarrassment. “Carol, you’re being ridi…”

  And then her eyes met mine and her words died on her lips.

  Closing the distance between us, nothing else mattered but her. My eyes roamed over her body, noticing remarkable differences in her shape, but not caring. She was beautiful. She’d always be beautiful to me no matter what.

  And when my hand closed over hers and she spoke her first name with her maiden name, I couldn’t help the happiness that filled my heart. Meeting her gaze, I melted into her touch.

  “I’m Roman Blake.” My voice cracked, and I had to stop and clear my throat. “It’s nice to meet you, Samantha.”

  Again, her cheeks flushed.

  “Listen, I know this is kind of sudden, but would you like to maybe have dinner with me?” I smiled, holding my breath and hoping with everything that she would accept.

  “Like a date?” She lifted a brow sweetly.

  “Yes, like a date.”

  I loved the playfulness between us.

  And then her face cleared and she gazed up at me with worry sketched in her brows.

  “Actually, I’m not too sure you’d want to date me,” she said.

  Then it was my turn to be confused. “I’m pretty sure it’s all I’ve thought about doing for the last few months.” I stepped out of our game and had a moment of truth.

  “But…” she started.

  “But nothing, Samantha. I want to be with you forever. I would have been here sooner, sweeping you off your feet, but I went to London to see my father. I gave him forgiveness, and he died two days later.” The words flew from my mouth. Nothing but truth. “I owe you everything for talking me into going back there, but now I’m here and I’m confessing my love to you. I can’t go another minute in this life without you by my side. Please,” I begged. “Just be mine again.”

  Her eyes welled up with tears, and a tiny smile tugged at her lips. I couldn’t read her expression, but I knew I couldn’t take the blow of her telling me no.

  “Roman… I need to tell you something.” Her words were whispered and full of fear.

  I moved closer her. Not being able to take it anymore, I pulled her into my arms. “Whatever it is, I don’t care. I…”

  And then I stopped. Her thin coat was pressed tightly against me and beneath it, I felt the lump that was her stomach.

  Without asking, I spread her coat opened and examined her growing stomach beneath her thin, cotton shirt.

  Looking back up into her eyes, I swallowed hard. “Samantha?” I choked on her name.

  She was pregnant.

  Pregnant.

  The world around me tilted, and I stepped away to lean against the brick wall of Starbucks.

  In the distance, I heard her saying my name, but I couldn’t focus.

  “Roman?” Her voice moved all around me.

  “Is it mine?” I asked.

  He face screwed up as if I had insulted her. I hadn’t meant to do that, but I needed to know. I had to know that she was mine and that I wasn’t too late.

  She nodded, sending my heart thumping so hard I felt like I might faint.

  “It’s yours,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to you and tell you, but I couldn’t stand the idea of you only being with me for the baby. I waited. I waited so long for you to come after me so I could be sure that it was me you loved, and now, you’re here.”

  Her words moved over me and although I probably should have been upset that she hadn’t come to me and told me, the reasonable parts of me understood. I’d done the same thing when I’d sent her away to save her marriage.

  Still, I couldn’t speak. Everything was rushing up on me and I felt so many things.

  Happiness.

  Joy.

  Relief.

  Love.

  “I love you so much, Roman, and if you’ll have us, I want to be yours again. I want to be yours always,” she said, pressing into my chest and wrapping her arms around me.

  Us.

  My child was tucked away sweetly in her womb. My child. Mine.

  Cupping her cheeks with my hands, I turned her face up to mine. “Always,” I whispered against her lips before I sealed my promise with a kiss.

  THE NURSES WERE abuzz with the new arrival on the labor and delivery floor. She was tiny and beautif
ul with her momma’s dark eyes and her daddy’s sweet nose and mouth. She was born with a head full of dark, curly hair and already adored by every person who stopped to see her.

  Dr. Blake was the father of a beautiful baby girl, and Mrs. Blake looked great considering she’d been in labor for over twenty-four hours.

  Still, Dr. Blake never left her side, not even once. He bathed her warm face with a cool rag, whispering how wonderful she was and how proud he was of her. The nurses gushed over how attentive and in love he was. Rumor had it he cried once the baby was delivered—laying his forehead against his wife’s and speaking the sweetest words of love while kissing her softly.

  They were a beautiful couple and the newborn, little Rachel Elizabeth Blake, was sure to grow up in a beautiful home full of love.

  Blaine Wesley

  I’m the Jack Hammer. Exotic dancer extraordinaire. The teaser and the pleaser—the paid for penis for play. I have to be all these things to survive. It’s who I became when I lost her. But now she’s back, and I can’t decide who I want to be more. The Jack Hammer or Blaine Wesley. All I know is she’s foreplay at its finest, and it’s my job to get them wet and ready.

  Chelsey Ford

  Liar. That’s what I called him when he walked out of my life. Losing your first love will turn you into someone bitter. Hateful. Angry. But now he’s back, and he’s determined to torture me. The only problem is, I’m enjoying his form of torture too much. And the hatred for him that holds me together is slowly starting to dissolve.

  On the Plus Side

  Hot and Heavy—Coming in 2015!

  Playing Patience (Zeke)

  Perfecting Patience 1.5 (Zeke)

  Finding Faith (Finn)

  Convincing Constance (Tiny)

  Having Hope (Chet)—Coming in 2015!

  Wicked Fate

  Wicked Hope –Coming in 2015!

  Little Black Book- co-written with Melissa Andrea

  Becoming Black- Coming in 2015!

  The Wrath of Sin- co-written with Melissa Andrea

  www.tabathavargo.blogspot.com

  www.facebook.com/tabathadvargo

  www.twitter.com/tabathavargo

  Subscribe: http://eepurl.com/R29_5

  One bottle

  That’s all it took for a years’ worth of hate for Landon Tate to become forgotten in a sloppy line of shot glasses.

  One Dare

  Just have fun. It seemed simple and when looking into those persuading green eyes and not feeling that insta spark of annoyance for once, it was easy to give in.

  One night

  It was thoughtless. It was reckless. But giving into Landon was all it took to drown in complete and raw lust.

  Sign up below to be notified when LUST is available

  http://melissaandrea.com/subscribe-to-me/

  The Edge of Darkness

  The Grace in Darkness

  A Darkness Wedding, Novella – Coming Soon

  The Beauty in Darkness – Coming Soon

  Flutter

  Shatter – Coming Soon

  Lust– Coming Soon

  The Wrath of Sin

  Little Black Book

  (Co-Written w/ Tabatha Vargo)

  www.facebook.com/m.andrea.author

  www.melissaandrea.com

  -From Tabatha & Melissa

  First and foremost, we would like to thank the readers and bloggers. You guys are utterly amazing. That is all. Enough said.

  A huge thank you to our editor, Cynthia Shepp, who worked through sickness and had undying patience through three blown deadlines. This woman is a rock star.

  To Nadège Richards, our gorgeous formatter. Thank you for making our mess look pretty. You’re awesome at what you do and we love your face… literally. You’re entirely too pretty.