by Dawson, Zoe
“Hmm, that’s a tough one. What else you got?”
“Not much else, just a small thing, really, barely worth bargaining for.”
“That so? Looks like it might be brimstone and fire for you, then, shug.”
“I think you’ll like this. It’s the most important driving force we’ll ever know as human beings.”
“What’s that, beautiful?”
“Love. I love you, Deke. I tried not to, but in the end, you took my heart and wouldn’t give it back.”
“This cheeky devil doesn’t like to return hearts, especially when he’s already given his away.”
“And that forgiveness? You have any of that somewhere in here?” I asked, placing my hand over his heart.
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“It’s full to overflowing with too much love to give two shits about forgiveness. I love you, too, darlin’.”
“Then I guess when I’m sitting at your Thanksgiving table with your parents, sister, and brother, that I, too, will have something to be very thankful for.”
“Do you know how to stuff a turkey?”
“Nope,” I said, then whispered something very naughty in his ear. He threw his head back and laughed, the sound carrying his joy on the wind, probably all the way to France.
“You can bet that I will work on that stuffing thing, but it may take me two or three times to get it right.”
“You were right, you know,” I said. “It is quite something special to fuck a young man.”
I slipped my arm around his waist, “Come home with me, please, Deke. Meet my da and grandmum, and see where I was born and raised. Oh, my mum is there, too.”
“Ah…”
“She’s changed.”
“I was going to say yes anyway, but I thought I might need a chair and a whip.
“No. Not anymore. She was only being so outrageous because she knows how uptight I am.”
“I can’t think of anything else I would rather do, except taking you home to meet my family afterward.”
He kissed me softly, deeply, lovingly, and I returned his kiss with everything in me, knowing it was one of the best decisions I had ever made.
********
The stories in Hope Parish continue as Rory Finnegan, a battle-hardened Marine tries to resist the pull of home-town girl Savannah Hawkins and discovers that the quiet and peace of a small town beats out the big city. But Savannah is struggling into womanhood and trying to decide what’s best for her..could that be Rory? Will she discover the answers she needs or will her coming of age tear her heart apart?
Zoe Dawson’s Book List
Romantic Comedy
Going to the Dogs Series
Leashed #1
Groomed for Murder #2
Hounded #3
Collared #4
Fetched #5 (companion novella to Hounded)
Handled #6 (companion novella to Groomed for Murder)
Tangled #7 (companion novella to Leashed)
Captured #8 (companion novella to Collared)
New Adult
Brave (Christmas novella)
Hope Parish Novels
A Perfect Secret Series
A Perfect Mess #1
A Perfect Mistake #2
A Perfect Dilemma #3
Hope Parish Novellas
Finally Again
Beauty Shot
Mark Me
Urban Fantasy
The Starbuck Chronicles
AfterLife #1
Erotica
Forbidden Plays Shorts
Monster Man #1
Hot Read #2
Illegal Motions #3
About the Author
Zoe Dawson is the alter ego of multi-published, bestselling author Karen Anders. Karen started her career because her grandmother gave her a book to read. That book made her fall in love with romance and started her on the trek to get published. She achieved that goal in 1996 with the publication of Jennifer's Outlaw for Silhouette. Even with many books under her belt, she can't wait for that next idea, that next exquisite sentence and, of course, the next hero and heroine who fall in love.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for embarking on this journey with me. It's been fabulous to write this book for your enjoyment.
Please feel free to message me online through Twitter, Facebook, or my website. I would love to hear from you. To find out about my releases, check my website, follow my blog, Like me on Facebook or sign up for my newsletter.
Best, Zoe