by Joleen James
Nico was sure to have heard by now that he'd inherited the vineyard. She'd purposely shut her phone off, knowing he'd call her. She didn't want to talk to him.
In her heart, she felt like she'd done the right thing. The vineyard was safe from Peter now. If Nico didn't want the place, he could sell it. God knows he'd paid a high enough price for the money. Most importantly, Kaiden was safe from manipulation. As soon as Peter figured out that she was poor again, that he'd have to pay child support, she was sure he'd run far away from them in the opposite direction.
A part of her still hoped he'd step up and be a good father to Kaiden, but inside she knew he wouldn't. She still didn't know how she would explain his absence to Kaiden. His little heart would ache forever at the loss of his father.
Danielle yawned. It had been a draining couple of days. Thinking she'd go to bed early, she brushed her teeth and changed into her pajamas. She pulled out the hide-a-bed and was about to climb inside when someone rapped on her door.
She peered out the peephole.
Nico. Her knees went weak at the sight of him. Her heart sped up.
Why was he here? The vineyard was in the middle of the harvest.
He knocked on the door again. "Danielle, let me in."
Not wanting him to wake Kaiden, she unlatched the door.
"What're you doing here?" she asked.
He charged past her. "Pack your bags. We're going back to Whitney House."
"Excuse me?" she said. Had he gone crazy? "I'm not going anywhere."
"You're the most stubborn woman I know," he said his brown eyes snapping. "Now pack your damned bags."
"No." She shook her head. "It's too late. I've signed the vineyard over to you. It's my choice."
"I don't want the place. Whatever Peter's done, however he's threatened you, we can beat him together." His hands closed around her arms. "When are you going to get it through your thick head that I love you?"
She wanted so badly to believe him, wanted to go with him, wanted him to champion her, but she held back.
"What are you afraid of?" he asked, softening his tone.
"You," she said tears filling her eyes. "I'm afraid of loving you too much. I hurt, Nico. Being without you is rough."
"Trust me," he said. "I've never lied to you. Yes, I set out to befriend you. I wanted you on my side, but that was business. What happened between you and me is love. It was unexpected, but that doesn't make it any less real. I love you, Danielle. No games. What I feel is real."
She wanted to believe him. Her heart told her he was sincere. She didn't want to be here, in a seedy motel. Even Kaiden didn't want that.
"I don't want the vineyard," he said. "It's not the same for me after learning about our parents. Every time I think of the hell Phillip put you through I get angry all over again. I'm going to make a go of St. Regis. Whitney Vineyards is yours. Keep it for Kaiden."
"I want to believe you," she said, tired of fighting her conflicting feelings for him. "All I ever wanted was for you to say we could run the vineyard together."
Nico went down on one knee, "Marry me. We can run both places together."
Danielle sank down on her knees so their faces were level. She wanted to see into his eyes. "I want to. You don't know how much I want to, but the kids. Kaiden's not ready for me to be married again, and I doubt Maria is ready either."
"I'll wait," Nico said. "As long as it takes. Until everyone's ready."
"I like the sound of that." Danielle's hopes soared.
"Come back with me. Now. Tonight."
"I'll have to ask Kaiden," Danielle said.
"I say okay," Kaiden said.
She hadn't heard him open the door. He stood there looking sleepy, adorable, and happy -- his smile running from ear to ear. Danielle held her hand out to her son. His fingers closed around hers.
"Are you sure?" she asked him, desperately wanting a happy ending for them both.
He nodded.
"Yes," she said to Nico. "Yes, we'll go back with you."
Nico drew them both into his embrace, at the same time his lips found hers, sealing the proposal with a kiss.
"Kaiden," Danielle said, one arm around Nico, the other around her son. "Let's go home."
About the Author
Award-winning author Joleen James became an Indie author with the launch of her short story Hostage Heart. Her contemporary romance novel Falling For Nick debuted shortly after. Under A Harvest Moon is her second novel.
When she's not busy writing, Joleen enjoys spending time with her family at her lakeside home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. You can find Joleen James at www.joleenjames.com and on Facebook and Twitter.
Other Titles by Joleen James
FALLING FOR NICK
It’s taken Clea Rose ten years to get over the one night she spent with bad boy Nick Lombard—a night of teenage passion that produced her son, and sent Nick to prison for murder. Now, with her life finally back on track, Clea’s about to marry a wonderful man and leave town for a promising career in New York. The last thing she expects is Nick’s return and the intense feelings he stirs within her.
Sent to prison for a murder he didn’t commit, Nick Lombard comes home to the tiny town of Port Bliss to attend his mother’s funeral, but he doesn’t count on running into Clea. Seeing her reminds him of everything he’s tried to forget, and everything he longs to remember. When Nick learns Clea is about to marry the man who sent Nick to prison, he knows he must stay and fight for the family he was forced to leave behind.
Against all odds, Nick and Clea must find their way back to the summer they were young lovers on the beach in Port Bliss, realizing that together their love is strong, strong enough to survive anything, even the web of lies that separated them ten years ago.
HOSTAGE HEART
A Short Story
What happens when two desperate people suddenly find themselves alone in an isolated cabin?
Kristi Palmer has reached a crossroads in her life. She heads to her beach cabin, hoping to find answers in the endless ocean waves, but instead she finds herself held hostage by a desperate man, a man on the run from the law.
But things aren't always cut and dried and a night of fear slowly turns into a night of shared dreams, and finally, passion. In the end, just one night will change Kristi forever.
Table of Contents
Main Menu
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
About the Author
Dear Reader
Other Titles by Joleen James