Jared walked over to her and took her face between his hands, trailing his thumbs across her lips. He fused his mouth with hers, filling her with sweet, fiery sensations. They coursed through her, touching each nerve ending in her body until she could stand the sweet torture of his mouth no more. She opened her eyes to see they were standing under the sign that read, ‘KISS.'
"Welcome to Kat's Incredibly Special Store,” she whispered.
"Here,” he said, handing her a black velvet jeweler's box.
Kat's hands trembled; her throat felt tight. “I don't want anything..."
He placed a finger over her lips. “Just open it."
She did. It was the tiger. It sparkled against the black satin of the box; both of its sea-green eyes winked at her.
"I miss my she-cat,” his voice was ragged, strained. “I had the jeweler design another one."
"You shouldn't have, Jared.” But deep down, Kat felt elated. She missed the tiger necklace.
"I need my she-cat back."
She moved to the shelter of his arms. Holding her, he withdrew another black satin box from his jacket pocket. “And now, this one."
Kat blew out a breath and opened it. She gasped when she saw its contents—a wide diamond bracelet. Imbedded in the rows of diamonds was a design made of pink sapphires—the twisted ribbon of women's breast cancer awareness, the symbol of hope worldwide for women everywhere.
Her eyes filled with tears.
Jared brushed them away. “I don't know what to say, Kat. I have no more words. I'm here to stay."
She blinked back her tears.
"I gave the reins of MegaMart over to Charles Lyncroft yesterday. He's been on the Board of Directors for years. He'll do a fine job, I know it."
Her eyes grew wide. “Why?” She shook her head. “Why?"
He smiled, and brushed some fiery strands of red hair from her cheek. “Because I can't very well run MegaMart and teach now, can I?"
She threw her arms around his neck. Jared lifted her off her feet and swung her around in a wide arc.
"Oh,” she gasped. “I'm dizzy."
He frowned. “Are you okay?"
"Well, let's just put it this way. I'm going to have to take some time off from KISS."
Jared beetled his brows. “Now it's my turn to ask—why?"
She shrugged, appearing nonchalant. “I can't very well work here twenty-four seven if I'm going to have a baby, now, can I?"
It got very quiet in KISS. Jared didn't move. Kat waited for him to speak, her heart pounding.
Finally, he cocked his head, a grin lifting the corner of his lips. “Did you say ... baby?"
She nodded, smiling back. “Yes, I did."
He let out a proud, happy roar and picked her up again, this time, with infinite care. Jared held her close, murmuring her name repeatedly.
When she looked outside, the sun shined bright, its rays peeked inside KISS, highlighting a gold bra, skirt and matching thong, detailed with a sultry, cutout design.
"Oh my, Jared, the sun's out again,” she breathed as he trailed his lips down her neck. He cupped her bottom in his hands.
"Mmmm...” he said, nuzzling her neck. “You know what they say ... it never rains in Summerville."
Everything changes.
The sound of their laughter echoed through KISS, it floated like a feather on the wind down Main Street and beyond ... an affirmation of their love, and all that is good in life.
The End
[Back to Table of Contents]
About the Author
Catherine Chernow writes sensual, fast-paced, contemporary romance—the kind of books that make your body sizzle and your heart soar.
She was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, an “army brat", and at the age of three her family and she moved to Long Island, New York, where she still resides.
Check out her website at www.CatherineChernow.com for reviews and excerpts.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Look for the following Catherine Chernow titles at www.resplendencepublishing.com
The Bride's Inn Series:
Book One: Lady in White
Book Two: Tiger's Eye
Book Three: Magic Man
Book Four: Ghost Seeker
Mastroddi's Magic
Coming in 2008:
The Kiss Series:
The Fine Art of Kissing (now available)
Kiss
Krazy for your Kiss
Going Commando
Red Ribbons in the Snow: A Christmas Anthology
[Back to Table of Contents]
Also Available from Resplendence Publishing:
The Fine Art of Kissing by Catherine Chernow
What happens when the King of Truth, America's top, no-spin journalist and popular talk-show host meets the Love Doctor—everyone's favorite relationship guru and kissing expert?
Julie Wilson is America's favorite relationship guru. She writes a book about kissing, creating a media sensation. Brad O'Malley, popular talk-show host, wants to interview Julie. She refuses, knowing Brad O'Malley places his guests in the ‘hot seat.’ In retaliation, he steals a kiss from Julie at her book signing. The kiss ignites Julie's senses—and her popularity. She agrees to appear on ‘O'Malley's Corner’ and boldly announces that she's kissed a hundred men to research her book.
Brad's ratings soar, but Julie will soon regret her ‘hundred men’ lie when he offers her a regular spot on his show ... and a hefty salary. Julie accepts, knowing the generous offer will help the local women's shelter she volunteers at, but will she be able endure the arrogant Brad O'Malley ... and her growing attraction to him? Sealing the bargain with another mind-blowing kiss, sparks fly as Julie and Brad go head-to-head, and delve into ... the fine art of kissing.
e-book: $6.50, Print: $15.99
[Back to Table of Contents]
More than Words by Kelly Kirch
Kylie Dobson is a romance author with a problem. As a seat-of-the-pants writer, she depends on the strength of the characters to drive her plot. But when her hero, Milo, Lord Gafton refuses to chase after the prescribed heroine, everything goes wonky. Kylie is inexplicably sucked into her work of fiction, transported from a contemporary venue to a fictional Regency setting. What's worse is, nothing she does is affecting the plot and she can't get out.
Set into motion by her own creative process is a winter storm which seals the Regency party goers in on a country estate. If that wasn't bad enough, a murderer is on the loose and he's picking off one guest at a time. The more time she spends with Milo the more she comes to depend on him. She's convinced that his character sketch will kick in at any moment and he'll fall for her heroine. But will it happen before she loses her heart to him? And what happens when the plot draws to the end? Will the killer have his way and will Kylie solve the case only to be returned to her reality without the man she's fallen for?
e-book: 6.50, Coming Soon to Print
[Back to Table of Contents]
Project Seduction by Tatiana March:
Project Manager: Georgina Coleman, VP at Pacific Bank, 28 years old. Brilliant and determined, but lacking in social skills.
Project background: Transfer from London to San Diego allows Georgina to shed her dowdy image and get a life.
Project objective: Seduce a man and lose her virginity.
Timeline: Seven weeks, starting from the completion of Project Flowchart.
Target: Georgina's downstairs neighbor, a surly cop named Rick Matisse.
Complication: Rick's 12-year-old daughter Angelina, who thinks Georgina would be the perfect girlfriend to keep Dad on his toes.
Distraction: Money laundering investigation which requires Georgina to mingle with a bunch of Colombian thugs who believe that every woman should be owned by a man.
Project evaluation: A project can go wrong despite successful completion, if Project Manager fails to plan for how to deal with the Target after project closure.
e-book: 6.50, Coming Soon
to Print
[Back to Table of Contents]
Secrets of the Heart by Jannifer Hoffman
Nicole Anderson owns a successful costume design business, has a wealth of small town friends and sleeps in a lonely bed haunted by demons from the past. She's convinced herself her life is exactly the way she wants it and has shot down every marriageable man within a fifty-mile radius.
When Hunter Douglas is assigned the task of delivering a deceased friend's children to their aunt, he must first convince the belligerent Nicole Anderson that she actually had a sister. Though forced to take his two charges to Minnesota, Hunter fully intents to persuade Ms. Anderson to allow the children to return to New York with him—without sharing his own little secret. The last thing he wants to do is fall in love with a woman who lives in a small Midwest town with neighbors who seem to know every move he makes.
As the heat index between Nicole and Hunter rises, a bizarre puzzle begins to unfold involving false birth certificates, a stolen suitcase, odd pictures, an elusive stalker, and a grandfather's legacy that could turn deadly.
e-book: $6.50, Coming Soon to Print
[Back to Table of Contents]
Find Resplendence Titles at the following retailers:
Resplendence Publishing: www.resplendencepublishing.com
Amazon.com www.amazon.com
Target.com www.target.com
Fictionwise: www.fictionwise.com
Mobipocket: www.mobipocket.com
* * *
Visit www.resplendencepublishing.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.
KISS Page 30