by Liz Kelly
Like hell.
It’s taken him way too long to find the perfect Mrs. Carraway, and now that he’s had the fortuitous luck to stumble into Henderson and his bride, he’s not about to let her go.
Chapter One
The trouble with trouble is it always starts out as fun.
Four Months Earlier
Crain Carraway slipped inside the luxurious bathroom of his Las Vegas suite and shut the door quietly. Even though he couldn’t sleep, it seemed that his beautiful bride was out cold after a very lengthy, highly energetic, totally off-the-charts, roll-me-over-and-do-that-again consummation of their marriage. God, she was something. Something fine looking and brilliant and just as sweet as the cherry on top of his Absolut Old Fashioned. He couldn’t believe she was his. All his. And he couldn't sleep because he wanted the world to know it.
Starting with his parents.
He dialed their number, checking the time on his watch. Dallas was two hours ahead of Vegas and on a weekday morning his parents should be up and at ’em. No doubt this would get their day started with a bang.
“Honey Bear!” his momma said in greeting, as if he wasn’t thirty-five-years old.
“Momma Bear,” he said back, playing her game. “Put me on speaker and round up Poppa Bear. I have big news.”
“Big news?”
“Texas-size news.”
His mother laughed. “Bigger than when you started CC Dallas, Inc.? Lucius!” his mother shouted. “Your son has Texas-size news he wants us to hear together.”
“May as well grab a bottle of champagne while you’re at it, Ma. You’re gonna need it.” Crain said.
“I'll bet that luxury suite at Cowboys Stadium came through,” his father’s voice echoed over the phone.
“Even better than that,” Crain said, grinning at himself in the bathroom mirror. “Dad, do you remember that statuesque blonde I pointed out when you stopped in the office a month ago? The one trying to hide all that beauty under those smart-girl glasses?”
“Do I? That pretty little gal had you drooling like a Bluetick Coonhound.”
Crain chuckled. “Guilty as charged. Well, it took some doing, but I finally got that pretty little gal to agree to a dinner date. I took her to Nick & Sam’s.”
“Best steakhouse in Dallas,” his dad said.
“And she loved it. In fact, the date went so well she agreed to meet me for drinks at the Ice House the next night. One thing led to another very good night and, although I will admit she was a little bit tipsy when I asked her to accompany me to Las Vegas, I assure you she was completely sober when I asked her to marry me.”
“You’re engaged?” his mother exclaimed.
“Better than that. We’re married.”
“Married?” Poppa Bear sounded astonished.
“We eloped. Just last night. It was just…right. Everything about it was perfect. And I’m sorry you weren’t here, but I know you’re gonna forgive me when you meet my bride.”
“Wha…ah…well of course we’ll forgive you,” his mother stuttered. “But darlin’ boy, this is all so quick. So sudden.”
Crain smiled, softening his voice in an effort to soothe his momma. “I know it seems that way, I truly do. But you know I’ve dated a lot of wonderful women over the years. And every time I figured out what I didn’t want, I knew better what I did want. And this one, this one is the complete package. Underneath her bright and engaging business persona, there’s a bewitching temptress just as sweet as praline pie. She’s the one I’ve been looking for all my life, Momma. She’s the one I want.”
“You sound so certain.”
“Because I am. I was certain the first time we met, and after date number two all I could think was how fast can I get this girl to the altar?”
“Any faster and you’d catch up to yesterday,” his father said.
“And now I’m burning daylight, so let me get back to my bride,” Crain countered.
“Wait!” his mother cried. “What’s her name? Who are her people?”
“Well, I don’t exactly know who her people are, Momma, because I’ve been solely focused on sweeping her off her feet. But I’ll tell you what. Anybody who can raise a woman like her can’t be all bad. Now I’ve got to go and talk my bride into a nice long honeymoon in Hawaii, so if you two don’t hear from me for a couple weeks, don’t fret. And in the meantime, Momma, you can start planning whatever extravaganza you’ve got in mind to introduce my bride to our people.”
“I can tell you one thing,” his momma scolded. “It’s gonna look a whole lot like a church wedding and a big fat reception. You tell my new daughter-in-law the first thing I plan to do is to take her shopping for a wedding dress. I love you, but I am not particularly happy about this.”
“Oh come on,” he goaded. “You know you’re a little happy about this.”
“I’m very happy you’re happy, darlin’ boy. But I sure don’t like missing my own son’s wedding. Now bring that girl home, so I can hug her neck.”
“Will do, Momma. Will do. Poppa Bear, I am signing off.”
“I’ll take care of your momma. You go take care of your bride.”
“Over and out.”
Crain hung up. And then he did what turned out to be about the dumbest thing a man with a Texas A&M degree could do. He took the time to text everybody he knew, telling them he had married the cutest Ole Miss Hotty Toddy ever found in Dallas. Yep, he was one happy groom. Right up until he made his bride a cup of coffee just the way she liked it—with a whole lot of sugar—and carried it into the bedroom.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, until he realized the bed was empty. “Sugar?” he yelled, looking around the room, his eyes coming to rest on the note written with her preferred red Sharpie. “Honey?” he said, moving forward to pick up the note.
Four little words. Four little words Crain Carraway had no idea what to do with. Four little words that left him certain of absolutely nothing.
I’m sorry – cold feet.
Pre-order Top Dog Now
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While you're waiting for Top Dog, try
Hot Magic
Magic Destiny Book 1
By Holli Bertram
When Julie Dancer's sexy new neighbor claims he's got to have her in his bed to break a curse, Julie suggests therapy instead. The truth is, Harrison is the leader of a group of energy wielders who stand guard against evil and he has powers beyond imagining.
Julie doesn’t believe in magic. She’s determined to resist hot Harry so she won’t get burned.
Harry doesn’t believe in love. He’s determined to seduce stubborn Julie and walk away.
When demons threaten everything Julie holds dear, the two are drawn into a battle where beliefs don’t matter and where love might prove t
o be the strongest magic of all.
Excerpt:
Harrison’s lips curved in something that was almost a smile. “What’s your name?”
“Julie Dancer.” She pointed to her right without looking away from his face. “I live in the Cape Cod next door.”
“Julie.” His gaze intensified, and she felt sudden empathy for every amoeba ever examined under a microscope. “Julie Dancer.” The way he repeated her name—slowly, like he held it in his mouth and savored it—sent a dart of unexpected heat through her. “At last.”
“At last?”
He took a step closer to her. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.”
She took a step back. Wait a minute. “You moved in fifteen minutes ago and have been waiting to meet me while sitting in a tree?”
“Of course not.” He frowned up into the branches of the tree. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
She pulled herself to her full five feet, seven inches. He didn’t look impressed. Maybe because he still towered a good six inches above her. “You were sitting in the tree when I walked into your yard,” she reminded him.
He lifted an eyebrow.
Americans cock a brow and look amused or perplexed. Only the British could convey such arrogance with a simple facial movement. They probably employ specially trained nannies to teach the skill— “A little higher, Master Harrison, or there will be no bangers and mash for you.”
Fascinated, she watched until the brow dropped. “Why don’t you explain what you meant by the ‘I’ve been waiting to meet you’ remark?”
“Certainly, though I prefer to do so in private.”
She took another step back. “This yard is private. No one can hear us here.”
His jaw firmed, and she had the distinct impression that people didn’t argue with him very often. “I’m Harrison Chevalier.” The words reverberated like a note rung on a gong. He paused, obviously waiting for a response.
“I should recognize your name, right?”
“Yes, you should.”
She gave him a half-smile of apology.
His frown deepened. “I’m one of the Penumbrae,” he said, as if that would make everything clear. “It’s time for you to assume your rightful place in the Triad and help block a curse that is being placed on me.”
Several heartbeats passed in silence. A slight rustling in the branches above broke the unnatural quiet. Harrison grimaced as a twig fell on his head and he brushed it aside.
Julie assumed the accepting, non-judgmental expression that she’d perfected during her last research project on psychosis. “What is the curse?” Her brain hummed as she searched her mental files for a diagnosis fitting a man who believed he was cursed. Schizophrenia? Psychotic disorder? Smart ass?
“It’s a binding curse. The Walker who attempts it wishes to become my consort.”
“Your consort.” Add a delusion of royalty to the mix. Fascinated, she decided to keep him talking. The more she knew about how his mind worked, the easier the decision about buying a privacy fence would be. “Does this curse make you impotent?”
“Excuse me?”
“Consort’s an old-fashioned word for a royal husband or wife, right? It’s just that if I wanted to be your consort and I was able to curse people, I’d curse you to impotence until you agreed to…consort with me.”
He cocked his head and considered her with more interest. “You are truly evil.”
“Well, what’s the point of a curse if it’s not evil?”
“I’m not impotent.” He stated the words flatly.
“I’m glad for your sake.” Her biggest problem during that study had been a tendency to become too immersed in her subject’s fantasy lives. She forced herself to rein in her curiosity about the imaginary curse and stick to the basics. “How can I help you?”
Harrison’s steady gaze appeared remarkably clear and sane. “Have sex with me.”
Buy Hot Magic Now
Acknowledgments
With great appreciation I acknowledge:
Tammy Kearly and Holli Bertram, my hardworking critique partners.
Erin Wolfe and Nan Reinhardt, my invaluable editors.
Lisa Cumberpatch and Colleen Gleason for their moral support and brilliant opinions.
Liz Cumberpatch, point guard of the Daughters-of-my-heart Research Team.
Joan Hurley, Spanish teacher extraordinare who translated Vance's conversation with his grandmother.
John McNicholas, real life business tycoon who guides me in all things E&E, Inc.
Ginnie Pitler and Skip Lewis, who grew up in the real Henderson and have embraced my fictional sentiment.
Jody Ford and Christy Crain, first readers & ego boosters.
And last but not least,
To all the readers who signed up on my website to receive word when this book became published. It was really fun writing Bad Cop knowing I had you waiting to read it.
Thank you!
By
Liz Kelly
Playin’ Cop
Heroes of Henderson ~ Prequel
Previously appeared as
The Keeper of the Debutantes in
Countdown to A Kiss
Buy Now
Good Cop
Heroes of Henderson ~ Book 1
Buy Now
Bad Cop
Heroes of Henderson ~ Book 2
Review Now
Taming Molly
Heroes of Henderson ~ Book 2.5
A DuVal Cousins Quickie
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Top Dog
Heroes of Henderson ~ Book 3
Pre-order Now
Countdown To A Kiss
A New Year's Eve Anthology
Buy Now
About the Author
Growing up every summer in a place where dancing and romancing are literally part of its theme song, Liz Kelly can't help but be a romantic at heart. And since her favorite author, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss wrote some of the world's greatest romances, she's just trying to give the world a little more of that. (Okay, maybe a little sexier that, but we are now in a new millennium after all.)
A graduate of Wake Forest University, where she met her handsome golf-addicted husband, (who is now sporting dark glasses everywhere he goes) Liz is a mother of two grown sons (also sporting dark glasses) and a miniature Labradoodle named Isabelle. They live in the Fountain of Youth, a.k.a. Naples, FL where dancing and romancing continues on ad infinitum.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Publishing Information
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Coming Next!
Bonus Material
Excerpt From Holli Bertram's Hot Magic
Acknowledgments
By Liz Kelly
About the Author
Thank you for reading books on Archive.