by Loraine, Kim
“Ellie and Evie,” he said, gazing down at them. “Perfect.”
Staring at her beautiful family, Grace smiled at her husband who had tears shining in his chocolate brown eyes.
“I love you. Thank you for this.” She whispered the words as the girls inspected each other from their positions against her chest.
“All set, love?” Drew asked as he buckled Ellie into her car seat.
They were finally going home after five days in the hospital. Both girls had needed a little extra help regulating their body temperatures due to their sizes. Added to that, the injuries and blood loss Grace had endured made the doctors hesitant to send her home any earlier.
“Yes. I am so ready to be home.” Her body ached as she walked around the room, but she pushed through the pain, knowing she needed to move.
Evie squirmed and protested as Drew placed her in her seat before covering her in a blanket and speaking softly to her. “It’s all right, little one. I’ve got you.” Taking each carrier in a hand, he beamed with pride as he locked eyes with Grace. “Dad’s bringing the car around. Shall we?”
She gingerly walked next to her family, trying not to wince as her stitches pulled.
“Are you sure you don’t want a wheelchair?” Drew asked.
“I’m sure. It’s good for me. I’ve been sitting for days.”
He set his jaw, clearly unhappy seeing her in pain. It was a short walk to the car and David’s bright smile, as he looked at his little granddaughters, made her forget her pain for a moment.
“Well done, you two,” he said as he gently stroked Ellie’s cheek.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“The first of many?”
She laughed as Drew’s eyes widened. “Okay, slow down, Granddad. Let’s get these two settled first.”
After securing the baby seats in the car, Grace slipped in beside them and settled in for the short ride home. Her heart felt like it couldn’t possibly contain all of the love inside her. Staring at the sweet faces of her two girls, she searched their features, wanting to memorize every inch of them. Her chest tightened as she realized their ears were identical to Drew’s and she wondered if they’d have freckles like him as well.
“Drew, they’ve got your ears,” she announced, looking up for the first time since they’d started driving. “Wait, where are we? This isn’t the way home.”
They were in a neighborhood she didn’t recognize. The streets were lined with newer homes, modern construction, but with classic English design throughout. As David pulled the car into the driveway of a beautiful house, she frowned.
“What’s going on?”
Drew got out and opened her door, taking her hand and squeezing. “Welcome home, love.”
Her jaw dropped. “Home?”
“Surprise,” he offered. She could see the hope in his eyes.
“When did you do this?”
“I’d been looking since we reunited. You were right. We need a place for the girls.”
“But, the expansion ... we don’t have the money.”
“We do. Both stores are doing even better than expected. Dan assures me we did the right thing.”
“So, you bought us a house?”
He looked a little sheepish. “Are you cross?”
“No. I . . . it’s beautiful.”
Relief washed over his face and he pulled her into his arms. “We can move in whenever you like. Dad’s been working on making sure it’s all set.”
“I even painted the nursery,” David offered from the open window of the car.
“I can’t believe you did this, Drew.”
“I can’t wait to make this our home.” He kissed her with his whole heart and she felt it down to her toes.
“I love you.”
“Quite right, too.”
Also by Soul Mate Publishing and Kim Loraine:
RESTORATION
After the tragic death of her fiancé, Grace McConnell turns to the only remaining constant in her life, her work. So when she’s offered the lead position for an international restoration project, she jumps at the chance to get away from her small town, full of John’s memories.
Drew Tensley has always been a hard worker. Dedicated to his family and community, he put aside his own London career to take over the family business after his mother’s terminal diagnosis. Five years later, he’s ready to start living for himself when he literally runs into his hometown’s newest architect.
Grace quickly discovers that traveling halfway across the world was the best decision she’s ever made. Until she meets Drew, a man whose personality and lifestyle are the exact opposite of John’s, but whose face is the spitting image. Struggling with her own motivations and feelings, research uncovers secrets she isn’t ready for; secrets that could ruin her second chance for true love.
Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/nfxo38x
RENOVATION
Valerie Peters is done with bad boys and ready to start living for herself. She’s determined to settle for nothing less than a romantic, sweeps-you-off-your-feet, nice-guy. So when a sexy firefighter with the hottest reputation in town saves her from near-drowning, there’s no doubt he’s everything she shouldn't want.
Donovan’s looks and image have kept his nights entertaining and his ring finger empty. One-night stands serve as a short-term distraction to the flashbacks of his past he increasingly struggles to ignore. But a chance encounter with his best friend’s sister makes him realize that one night is no longer enough.
Together they discover that bad can actually be the best and forever is worth everything.
Available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/jqzgeh7