by Marie Harte
“Me more than you,” he admitted. “I’ve been wanting to focus more on my books. With you writing with me for the paper, I think it’ll be easier to get work done. And I do value you, Gwen.”
Her eyes misted. “I know. I’m sorry for freaking out on you.”
“And that was a freak-out.” He smiled. “You’re entitled.”
“I missed you.”
Before he could say the same, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him tight. The feel of her put him to rights all over. Everything was better with Gwen by his side. He buried his nose in her hair and blinked rapidly to conceal his embarrassing tears.
He kissed her head, then pulled back to see her watery eyes behind her glasses. “You know I love those frames, right?”
She laughed. “That’s why I wore them. Will you give me a second chance? Forgive me for the Insider? And promise we’ll do the TV spot together? Just you and me?”
“Gwen, relax. There’s nothing to forgive. I missed the hell out of you too.”
“Good. I thought maybe I’d really messed things up between us.”
“Not at all. I’m glad we had our first rough patch. The first of many, I’m sure.”
She smiled.
“And about the paper, I think it’s going to work out great. Look, I’m still writing my books. Truth be told, I view that as my primary gig; the column runs second. The Insider has plenty of reach for us both. We each do our own thing, but it’s tied together. It’s still soon, so consider this a trial run, but, baby, we have chemistry. People can see it.”
“Even though we haven’t taped our spot together yet?”
“Well, I kind of told the program manager that we’re an item, and he loves how feisty—read, hot—you are. So you keep wearing those cleavage-baring dresses and acting all hoity-toity. I’ll come in as the calm, dashing dude.”
“Please.”
“And we’ll make magic.”
She stared at him, and he was aware of life pushing them closer together. The sex kept getting better. And he couldn’t wait to make up with her. She knew just how to touch him, and she lavished him with attention and affection without smothering. He couldn’t have asked for a better partner. And she’d told him she loved his family, who loved her in return. His father approved wholeheartedly, and Lisa she already knew and liked.
“Gwen?” His smile faded as he saw her sobering expression. “You okay?”
“I told you I found out my ex got engaged.”
Conlan took her hands in his and squeezed. “You okay?”
Her grin widened. “I’m great. I don’t care.”
“Good.” He let out a breath. “And so you know, I had a phone call from Ally yesterday. I meant to tell you and honestly forgot. She calls me every now and then, and I just ignore her.”
“Oh.”
He watched her carefully, hoping she wouldn’t be threatened by a woman he considered an annoyance. Best to know if Gwen would be one of those insanely jealous women from the get-go. “It’s no biggie. She wants me to put her in touch with my editor in New York. Can you believe that? Seems she wrote a book of her own.”
“What did you tell her?” A slight pause. “Do you still have feelings for her?”
“Hell, no. I don’t talk to her. I can’t stand her and want nothing to do with her.” Thank God. “Like you,” he continued, “I honestly don’t much care about her beyond being mildly annoyed. I have no interest in getting back together with her. Ever. My heart belongs to someone else.”
When he smiled, she teared up. “Oh man. You’re going to make me say it.”
“Excuse me? Say what?”
She huffed. “I love you. Okay? I have for a while. But that doesn’t mean we’re moving in together or getting married tomorrow.”
“Fine. How about next year? If I can stand you, and you can stand that my heart belongs to the weather girl who couldn’t keep her eyes off me at the studio, I’ll—”
She pounded his chest. “You ass.”
He broke into laughter and swept her into his arms. “You know you’re the only girl for me. Like I said, I’ve got nothing but time. I’ll prove it to you.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “It’s a good thing you’re amazing in bed. Someday, those looks of yours will fade.”
“Yeah? Well, your breasts will sag.”
“Still be a handful.”
“And a mouthful,” he said with a wicked look in his eyes. “Want to spend the night here?”
“Yes. Here we don’t have to be so quiet.”
“Well, if quiet is your thing, there’s a way to keep my mouth and yours busy.”
As one, they said, “Sixty-nine.”
She grinned. “That I can do. But don’t even think of trying to weasel out of explaining that lame attempt to goad me on TV. What was that all about?”
He argued his points, and they took their passion into his bedroom, where they did their best work.
Afterward, he cuddled with her in bed. “God, Gwen. It keeps getting better.”
“I know.” She sighed. “Conlan?”
“Yeah?”
“I trust you. I mean, I really trust you. I wasn’t upset about Ally at all. A little nervous that you might still care for her, but I know you’d never cheat.”
“Never.” He hugged her until she squeaked. “Sorry. I’m just so damn happy with life. With you.”
“Me too. Happy with me, I mean.”
He tickled her, and then their touching grew more intense, and the laughter faded into moans and groans for more.
Epilogue
A year later
Dear Lovelorn,
I hear you on women being a plague on mankind. You say your wife doesn’t appreciate you. Working two jobs to make ends meet is enough of a hassle, am I right? But maybe instead of spending so much time playing Xbox on your downtime, you could try to help out around the house. Consider it foreplay. Besides, if she’s no longer busy cleaning, she could be doing other things for you. Just sayin’…
Con
Dear Lovelorn,
I’m so sorry your husband is such a moron. You’d think after telling him a dozen times—at least—that you’re more in the mood if you’re not tired from cleaning up after his ass all day, that he’d get the hint. Try leaving the house a mess, throwing on some lingerie, and tempting him from his joystick. If he can’t take the hint, let him play with himself while you go out for margaritas with the girls. Just sayin’…
Gwen
Conlan read his response, then read Gwen’s and decided to rewrite his. “Yours is better.”
“As always.” She sat in his lap and put her hands around his waist. “Truth will tell, Mr. Dawson.”
“Yes, it will, Mrs. Dawson.” He kissed his wife of ten days and sighed into her mouth. Her clever hands had found their way under his pants again, and as usual, he was stiff as a board.
“So about that bet we placed.”
He groaned. “Yeah?”
“You know, the one where you think Mia’s baby will be a boy, and I think it’s a girl?”
“Oh yeah.” He spread his legs wider and let her work him. God, he loved this woman more every day. But thank the stars she’d finally moved into his place. Handjobs were so much more fun when they didn’t have to worry about getting interrupted.
“So I say we split the difference, because she just found out she’s having twins.”
“Great.” He was primed to come. “A little more, and I’m there.”
“You’re so easy.”
“Only for you.” Before he could come, she pulled away. “Gwen, nooo. Don’t turn into a cock-tease just because we’re married.”
“Please. I was teasing you before we were engaged.”
“That’s true.” He sucked in a breath, then let it out on a groan. “Anything you want if you finish me.” A game they played, one where she always won. She was right; he was easy.
“Good. You have to promi
se to stop bugging Lisa about dating. Gavin’s still so little that he takes a lot of attention. Lisa will date when she wants to.” Aaron had moved to Portland before Gavin’s birth, and the family—Gwen included—spent as much time as they could helping Lisa and the baby. To Conlan’s relief, Lisa flourished as a single mother. And Aaron’s agreement to financially support the child while remaining distant seemed the right answer for everyone. Especially Lisa, who seemed done with him. Finally.
“Fine. Fine. Now finish me.” He wrapped her hand around him and arched into her. “No more talk about family.”
“One more thing.”
“Hell. Then I’m getting a blowjob out of the deal.”
Gwen loved sucking him off, and the woman had mad skills.
“Okay. My next sticking point, get Trent to move his ass. Mia doesn’t want to take over the bookkeeping for his second shop with the babies on the way. I know he loves her, but get him to hire someone else. He listens to you.”
“I’ll talk to the guy. He trusts her, and he wants her involved in the business. But he’s got some weird agenda about the shop that makes little sense to me.”
“Sounds good.”
His blood hummed. When she would have gotten on her knees, he stopped her. “Gwen…”
“Oh man,” she whined, though the sparkle in her eyes gave her away. “Do I have to?”
“Yes.”
She gave a fake pout, then flounced away. She returned moments later. Her breasts strained at the neckline of his favorite dress. And she wore her glasses. God, he loved those frames.
“No bra?” he taunted.
“Does it look like I have a bra on?”
He could see her nipples. “Nope. Perfect. Now come over here. Gwen, is it? I remember seeing you at Sam’s party. And I thought, she’s got the most amazing mouth.”
She tittered. “I wouldn’t do this for just anyone, you know. Are you sure you’re single?”
He nodded, then moaned when she dropped to her knees and crawled to him. Her breath washed over his cock, and he grabbed her by the hair, so turned on it hurt. “Of course. Can you imagine me having a wife that would be okay with a sexy woman like you giving me head?”
“No, I certainly can’t.” She licked his slit, and he thrust up. “But then, if you were mine, I’d never share you.”
“Yeah. Me too. I’m all about being selfish when it comes to my pretty woman in a rose-print dress.” He groaned as he came. “I love you, Mrs. Dawson.”
After he finished, he laid her out on the desk and dragged her dress up, finding her naked underneath. Then he put his head between her legs.
“Not as much as I love you, Mr. Dawson,” his wife moaned.
Loose Id Titles by Marie Harte
Stepping Out
(a Missed Connections story)
* * * *
The CIRCE'S RECRUITS Series
Roane
Zack & Ace
Derrick
Hale
* * * *
The DAWN ENDEAVOR Series
Fallon's Flame
Hayashi's Hero
Julian’s Jeopardy
Gunnar’s Game
Grayson’s Gamble
* * * *
The POWER UP! Series
The Lost Locket
RetroCog
Whispered Words
Fortune’s Favor
Flight of Fancy
Silver Tongue
Entranced
Killer Thoughts
Marie Harte
Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic, but especially all things romance. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with the warmth of first passion and knew writing was her calling. Twenty-three years later, the Marine Corps, a foray through Information Technology, and her dream has finally come true. Marie lives in Oregon with her family and loves hearing from readers. To read more about Marie, visit www.marieharte.com and check out her blog at http://www.marieharte.blogspot.com.