The Running Series Box Set: Books 1-3

by DeLaine Roberts

  I wanted to kill somebody. At that moment, I wasn’t certain I would ever have wall sex again. In fact, I think I had just decided that Grayson could be snipped before he was allowed to touch me again! Soon, I started pushing again and our beautiful Ella Katherine was born.

  She didn’t make a sound. Everyone rushed to her, even Grayson, and I was alone.

  “What’s wrong with my baby?” I demanded, but no one talked to me.

  The nurse beside me held my arm and told me to wait; it would all be just fine. Sure enough, I heard a tiny scream and everyone cheered. Her little mouth was clogged; that was all.

  They took a few extra minutes to check her out before Grayson came back to me, holding both babies, one in each arm, both wrapped tightly in blankets with little caps on their heads. Ella Katherine weighed in at four pounds, eight ounces.

  “Congratulations, you have two beautiful, dark-headed little girls. Although just a bit small, they are both just fine. You can go home in a couple of days, provided there are no further issues.” Dr. Stewart grinned, but her smile didn’t outshine that of my husband’s. Being a daddy looked fantastic on him!

  He went with the NIC team to do all of the tests they do on newborns and promised he would return momentarily with our daughters. Dr. Stewart finished with me and helped me get ready for company. Apparently, we had a crowd waiting to see the babies.

  ***

  I had a room full of people and a husband who had turned into a photographing maniac in between hugs and kisses. We all passed around the girls, and I saw a beautiful moment between Grayson and my dad. As long as I lived, I would never forget the tears and the hug between them, each one holding a baby.

  “Thank you all for being here to support us this last year, and to my beautiful wife for giving me the blessing of a lifetime, I love you.” Grayson could barely talk as the tears streamed down his face. “You’re my love.”

  I looked around the room and saw there were quite a few tears being shed. I could see both Zoe, who had recently given birth to Levi, and Monica. I couldn’t imagine my life without any one of those people not being a part of it. They were more than just relatives, they were part of who I’d become.

  Monica and Harrison had been talking, but were not together. He had moved back to Chicago, but came to see us often. Each time he was in town, they magically happened to bump into each other. I hoped one day they would finally put their issues to rest and find they were meant to be together.

  Grayson and Dad walked over and handed me our beautiful, precious little girls. “Now, try and tell them apart!” I teased. Everyone guessed, but I could hear Grayson and Harrison over everyone else.

  “Ella’s hair grows in a circle behind her ear. She has a freckle on her thigh,” Grayson uttered, and just like bugs to a light, the room of people swooped in on top of me.

  Sure enough, she had a freckle, and for the time being, that was the only way I could tell them apart.

  The group left us while they went for dinner. Grayson and I were alone and down to our new life as parents.

  A few days later, we were home with the babies with all of the anticipation of their births behind us.

  I loved how Grayson embraced fatherhood. He changed diapers, burped, and cuddled the babies, and I even secretly videoed him singing songs and dancing with them in the nursery.

  After bathing the babies, we were each holding one and sitting on the couch together as a family.

  “I’ll put them to bed. You just rest here, sweetheart,” he said as he took Ella from my arms and headed for the nursery. He loved to spend every second of the night with them, since he was gone from them during the day.

  I went to the kitchen to wash up the dinner dishes, when I heard him singing a lullaby over the baby monitor. I paused for a moment and just listened to him love them with his heart and soul. After a few minutes, I finished the dishes and headed for the laundry room. The house suddenly seemed very quiet and peaceful.

  I walked into the nursery to check on them and found Grayson sound asleep in the rocker, still holding both babies. His song worked for his own sleepy time, but Paige was just watching his face with her big blue eyes.

  My eyes misted over at the amazing sight of them. My life couldn’t be any better; I’d been truly blessed.

  I finally understood what two sides of a heartbeat really meant.

  The End

  Harrison Brooks has a great deal to learn about women. Will he finally give up being a playboy and find the love of his life? Find out about his secrets and what’s holding him back from a lifetime of happiness in My Confession, Book 3 of The Running Series.

  Now available at all major outlets.

  Also by DeLaine Roberts:

  Chasing Air, Book 1 of the Chasing Series.

  www.DeLaineRoberts.com

  Acknowledgments

  As I ponder my thoughts for this note, the song I picked for the book trailer is playing in the background of my office. That song, “My Confession” by Rie Sinclair and Friends, is beautiful and so moving to me.

  I love to write while listening to music and want to say thank you to the talented musicians whose songs inspire me to write: Keaton Simons, Shinedown, Rie Sinclair, David O’Dowda, Skullage, Jamey Johnson, Phil Collins, Angie Miller, Sarah Simmons and Madilyn Bailey. I wore your music out during this writing.

  Mercy Pilkington and the folks at Author Options, I adore you! Your support, business acumen, and structure are completely immeasurable. I am in awe of your talents, your guidance, and beyond grateful for your patience.

  To my circle of friends: BH, MP, NF, STC, JT, CG, JT, Dr. T and his women, you know who you are and hopefully, what you mean to me!

  My cover model, girl, you got it! That’s all I can say! I appreciate your willingness to go the distance for that final pose! On cue, David Quisenberry of www.davidquisenberry.com was able to catch the perfect shot!

  Rob and Benton, you are my world. You both make me smile every day, even if you are picking at me for pulling a dumb-blonde moment! Thank you for ordering pizza, eating take-out and batching-it while I completely ignored you, so that I could write! I love how you humor me, allowing me to run ideas past you until I get them right. I love you both more than you will ever know.

  To the one reading these words, yup you, hello there. Thank you for picking up a copy of Two Sides of a Heartbeat. I hope you enjoy the continuing story of Alexandra and Grayson’s romantic journey. I appreciate your feedback and welcome your comments. Please reach out to me!

  XOXO,

  DLR

  My Confession

  My Confession

  ***

  Book Three - The Running Series

  By

  DeLaine Roberts

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2014

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.

  For information, contact DeLaineRoberts.com.

  ISBN-13: 978-0991350711

  ISBN-10: 0991350715

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Can I get you another drink, Mr. Brooks?” the cutie asked from behind the bar.

  “Yes, make it a double.”

  She poured the drink without further wait. I sat on the stool and spun the glass of amber liquid around slowly.

  I was bagging a wreck of a life. How’d that happen? Yes, I’d achieved wealth and power in the business world with years of hard work, but suddenly the material world no longer mattered without someone to share it with.

  “How long are you in town for this time, Mr. Brooks?” she asked softly, breaking my thoughts of self-pity.

  “For good. I moved back last week,” I muttered, then
swallowed the burning liquid. It did nothing to quench my thirst.

  “Couldn’t hang with those crazy Dallas people?” She didn’t laugh, but her face showed a half-bitten grin.

  “Something like that. You’re always here when I’ve come in lately. How many shifts do you work? And please, call me Harrison.”

  “I’m Kaci. Don’t you recognize me? I worked part-time through summer during college, but Grandpa needs me to run the place while he gets better.”

  “Sorry, Kaci. I wasn’t paying attention. Of course I recognize you now that you’ve said your name.”

  I’ll be damned. Charlie Logan owned Logan’s Bar, and Kaci happened to be his granddaughter, all grown up.

  Where had the time gone? I couldn’t remember seeing her more than a handful of times as a little girl. When did she have time to grow up? I suppose I would’ve known these things if I had thought about someone besides myself over the last few years.

  Logan’s Bar had been around for decades. Same location occupying a corner of prime real estate in downtown Chicago. An old hang-out of mine since I was old enough to drink. The aged, old-world ambience flowed with richness, intoxicating all on its own. Dark walnut handcrafted bars in the front and back room stood tall and majestic, with matching stools of overstuffed red leather seats. Over in the corner and along the far wall, there were several booths, which held more of a private atmosphere, where I’d privately entertained a few women over the years. I loved to bring my friends by after a Bears game and hang out until last call.

  I recalled the last few times I’d been in. I hadn’t seen Charlie sitting in the corner, studying the Wall Street Journal.

  Good ole WSJ, we had it in common, he and I. We both loved to read and talk about business and sports, the Bears mainly. Our conversations were deep; he never touched the booze and always loved to talk with and appreciate beautiful women. He’d battled lung cancer for the last couple of years, but his health had seriously declined recently.

  “How’s he doing with the treatments?”

  “He’s not, Harrison. He thinks he’ll live forever, but the docs are telling me his time is short. Too late to give up the sticks now.” She wiped at the corner of her eye, then continued to rub the bar clean yet another time since I’d been camping out during my journey down memory lane.

  I recounted a conversation I had late one night with Charlie right before moving to Dallas. Charlie had asked me if it would be okay if Kaci could call me if she ever needed anything. Like I would’ve said no.

  “Make sure she has my number, always,” I remembered saying. The conversation avoided those unknown things, you know, but I knew what he asked of me and drew up the papers. I knew Charlie wasn’t going to live forever, but morbid conversations weren’t my style. I’d lost both parents already and knew how lonely it could be without family, especially during the couple of years my twin Grayson and I were estranged. Mom had passed away years ago from her fight with breast cancer. I think Dad died of a broken heart, which the doctors called a massive heart attack.

  “Where are your parents?” I didn’t recall Charlie ever mentioning any children, and the will I drew up for him several years ago left everything to Kaci. The only evidence of family happened to be the photos of a blonde headed little girl he displayed in the bar at various stages of her youth. He’d always been so proud of her. To anyone who came in, he’d only refer to her as “Trouble”, the nickname he’d labeled her. He often said she happened to be the one thing he did right in the world, but he never would offer any explanation about her, and it wasn’t my place to push.

  “I never knew my dad. He died serving the Marines overseas before my birth. My mom said they were supposed to marry when he came home on his first leave, but he didn’t make it back. A few months after my ninth birthday, she passed away. My grandpa raised me right here in the loft upstairs, always making sure I had everything I needed. I moved out when I started college, but now I’m back living upstairs while he’s in the hospital.”

  “Have you graduated?”

  “Yes, with a degree in architectural design, which has held my fascination since I was a little girl.”

  “What about a firm internship?”

  “The opportunity hasn’t presented yet. I graduated a semester early in December and started helping Grandpa immediately after.”

  I studied her face, the sadness and disparity showed in her hollow eyes. How had I missed the signs from before? I looked around the bar and couldn’t remember a time seeing it so clean and orderly or so empty. The normally crowded bar echoed from the emptiness.

  “How’s business?”

  “Okay, but this weekend has been the slowest I’ve had,” she said, continuing to clean.

  Curious at how long it had been since she’d enjoyed any fun, I suddenly wanted to show her a good time and started making plans. After a few minutes, I had crafted an evening I hoped she would enjoy and remember for a longtime.

  “Why don’t you go upstairs and put on your favorite outfit. Meet me within the hour. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  “I can’t. The bar?” She stopped her cleaning and extended her arms out across the counter. Her big blue eyes focused on me in a stunned daze.

  “I’m buying out the bar tonight, and you’re putting up the closed sign. Now go.”

  She shook her head to argue, then seemed to change her mind and wasted no time in running upstairs.

  I made a sign, which read “Closed for maintenance tonight only”, and hung it on the door.

  Moments later, Tate, my driver, pulled up in front of the bar, prepared to take us out for a night on the town. I sent him a text, letting him know where we were going and to return in twenty minutes.

  Kaci appeared, having undergone a complete metamorphosis, and took my breath away. Stunning, her blonde hair flowed in long curls. The black silk halter and matching skirt fit her petite curves and barely skimmed her ankles. She wore a beautiful pair of red shoes and barely resembled the girl who’d stood before me less than an hour before.

  “Ready to go?’ she asked.

  More than ready, I couldn’t wait to show this beautiful creature a wonderful evening where her confidence could shine. Certain she could hold her own with the folks I’d lined up for her to meet, should my plan work, her life would never be the same.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Where are we going?” she asked with a softness to her I could adore.

  “I’ve made a full evening of plans, but I can change them, if you have a preference.”

  “No, I’m sure you have the best of intentions. It’s that I always let my girlfriend Shae know where I’m going. We have the girlfriend code.”

  “The girlfriend code?” Okay, so I realized quickly what she meant, but the deeper meaning flashed me into the 21st century and somehow made me realize my age relative to hers. Eleven years was like a complete generation gap.

  “Yes. She’s my roommate, and we do the license plate, agenda thing if we do something out of the norm. Her mom started it when we were in the dorm, and it’s habit now.”

  “Would you feel more comfortable if she joined us?”

  “Depends. Where are we going?” she asked, her face bright with anticipation.

  Suddenly, it became obvious to me that no one had shown this lovely creature a good time; it was long overdue.

  “I have a table waiting for us at Howl At The Moon. Have you ever been?”

  “No, sounds fun. Is it okay if I invite Shae and her fiancé Graham to join us?”

  I wanted her to be comfortable and enjoy herself. Such a polished, beautiful young woman shouldn’t be tending bar downtown Chicago on a Saturday night. I’d made up my mind how I could help her get her life back. I knew what needed to be done, and I hoped a great opportunity would help her come to the right decision.

  “It would be my pleasure. Tell her to use my name, and they’ll be taken care of.”

  We found Howl At The Moon well into the party mood wh
en we arrived, and the staff had placed us in the middle of the madness. They even went so far as to decorate our table with a sign, which read “Harrison’s Baaaack! Let’s Celebrate!” and a cluster of balloons and party favors. I thought it a bit of an overkill, but it helped set the mood for a fun night, something Kaci needed the most.

  “Come here often?” Kaci teased, while I helped her into a seat at the table.

  “I did, but it’s been a while.”

  She gave me a slow, sexy smile. Her bright blue eyes danced in the candlelight.

  We compiled a list of our favorite songs to send over to the pianist, who would be returning from break soon. Then we enjoyed our wine and conversation. She surprised me by being open with me as I slyly interrogated her. I wanted to know how attached she had become to the bar or if loyalty kept her there for Charlie. The business proposal I had put together for her would test her loyalty against her desire to have a career. But first, I needed to set my plan in motion to see how deep she would go to protect her legacy.

  It wasn’t long before old friends of mine began to stop by the table to say hello. I introduced Kaci to everyone as a business colleague. She smiled brightly each time I said it, but I was certain she picked up on the vocal definition I placed on our relationship.

  I excused myself to the men’s room to splash water on my face. The reflection in the mirror staring back at me, I didn’t recognize. I couldn’t put my sexy game face on. Couldn’t bring out my best seductive lines that lured a woman into my bed. Normally, I would be all over a beautiful blonde like Kaci. In fact, I had a huge soft spot for blondes.

  Kaci possessed a classical approach to beauty where less meant more. I appreciated she didn’t cover her natural beauty with a quart of paint. Her soft voice complimented her educated, articulate manner emitting from natural, ruby-red lips. The clear blueness of her eyes danced when she spoke. And she loved the Bears. A total babe package.