by Cathryn Fox
He looked deep into her eyes. “Thank you for always believing in me, and giving me everything I’ve ever wanted.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you for helping me with my folks, my ex, and showing me how to battle for what I wanted. If it wasn’t for you, I could very well be engaged.”
He removed the diamond from her finger, then slipped the silver band off his pinky to place it back on her ring finger, where it always belonged. “I told you this once before and I’m telling you it again, you are engaged.”
“Garrett,” she choked out, her heart overflowing with the love she felt for him. Then she let her hands drop to her sides and with a chilling tone, she said, “You once told me I should never marry a man I didn’t love.”
His mouth dropped open and his body stiffened. “Oh, I…” He scrubbed his hand through his hair and spoke in whispered words. “I thought…”
“So the answer is yes.” She laughed and slid her arms around his waist and when he realized she was teasing him, he let loose an agonized breath. She gave him a playful wink. “Maybe I owed you that.”
“And I believe you’re going to pay for that,” he teased in return, then his eyes turned serious. “I love you, Tallulah.”
“I love you too.”
“I think I loved you from the first second I saw you in my seat. I never thought I believed in love at first sight or whirlwind relationship, but you changed all that for me. You changed everything for me.” His warm glance moved over her face and his heat reached out to her, warming her soul. “I want to have a family with you, I want you to help me make my house a home, and fill it with a ton kids.”
She pulled a face. “Ah, a ton? This one was a miracle…” Her words died away, thinking about how happy she was to have a baby, Garrett’s baby.
He laughed, a glint of humor in his eyes as he enclosed her in his arms. “No Tallulah, I want you to fill it with other peoples’ kids.” When she gave him a perplexed frown his glance dropped to her mouth and he explained, “I want you to open your own daycare. I want you to turn the empty lower level of my—our—bungalow, and the outdoor space into the dream center you always wanted.”
Everything inside her trembled with the love she felt for him, and her breath caught in her throat. “You do?” she managed around a tongue gone thick.
His lips closed over hers and when he kissed her with emotion and tenderness, she could feel the weight of the world drain from his shoulders, and knew his scars were healing. As deep contentment settled into her bones, all the little girls in the class started giggling, reminding them that they had an audience. He pulled back and the grin he gave her was so adorable, it weakened her knees. “I hope we’re having a boy,” he whispered and ripped the pink tutu from his hips. “Because I never, ever want to wear one of these again.”
“But you would if you had to right? If your little girl asked you to?”
His lips twitched in amusement and proving once again that he was the man she always knew he was, that he was most definitely a real life hero, he said, “Yeah, of course I would.”
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie), pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never-ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed-martial-arts fan. Cathryn can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter, and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love.
To sign up for Cathryn’s newsletter, please go here: http://cathrynfox.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b2112bf12385df0448aaecc81&id=6454964c3b
To learn more about Cathryn please visit: www.cathrynfox.com.
You can find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/cathrynfox
Twitter: www.twitter.com/writercatfox
Look for these titles by Cathryn Fox
Now Available:
Blood Ties
One on One
Dance of the Dragon
Pleasure Inn
All Tied Up
All Worked Up
All Lit Up
Whispering Cove
Wet in Whispering Cove
Brazen in Whispering Cove
Silk in Whispering Cove
Flirty in Whispering Cove
Boys of Beachville
Good at Being Bad
A Lick of Flame
Bad Girl Therapy
In the Line of Duty
His Obsession Next Door
Coming Soon:
In the Line of Duty
His Taste of Temptation
A summer fling so hot, it can raise spirits…
Flirty
© 2014 Cathryn Fox
Whispering Cove, Book 12
Home renovation specialist Alexis Miller thought snapping up an old Victorian fixer-upper in podunk Whispering Cove would put her on the fast track to proving herself to her brothers.
She can handle cooling her heels to wait for the right permits. It’s the ghosthunter claiming he needs to spend the night to check out the “cold spots” that’s got her body temperature fluctuating.
When Sam Doherty responds to an emergency phone call to cleanse a haunted house in Whispering Cove, the first thing he notices is how Alexis hides her femininity behind baggy coveralls—and how she wants to cover up the old home’s beauty with modern frills. As a guy who “sees” things others can’t, he sets out to teach her to appreciate the hidden beauty, inside and out.
Scary noises soon send Alexis into Sam’s arms, and when a kiss leads to passionate lovemaking, Alexis wonders if it’s possible to find common ground in this small town. Or, once the house is “clean”, if Sam will disappear faster than a ghostly apparition.
Warning: Contains enough sexual tension to raise spirits and turn any cold spot into a sweltering vortex of heat and passion.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Flirty:
Since the last thing Lex believed in were ghosts, and despite the fact that her traitorous body was urging her to invite this gorgeous man inside to explore her…house…she opened her mouth, completely prepared to tell him that she didn’t need his help, only to find herself blurting out, “I think the noise came from the upstairs bedroom.”
Sam’s lips twitched. “Would that be your bedroom?”
“Yes, just temporarily, until I can get the place restored and on the market.”
He slanted his head, his eyes moving over her face. “So it’s odd to hear noises, or even screaming, coming from your room.”
When she caught the teasing glint in his dark eyes, her pulse leapt, totally knowing where he was going with this. Feeling a bit flustered as he stepped closer, his mere presence overwhelming her senses, she answered with, “Well yes… I mean no… I mean…”
“Well, what is it, Alexis? Is it or is it not normal to hear screaming coming from your bedroom?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Now that’s a damn shame,” he murmured under his breath as he turned his attention to her house.
Before she could respond, Errol poked Sam with his cane again and said, “Why don’t you grab your gizmo thingies and check it out. You did bring them with you, didn’t you?”
Sam ran his hands through his shoulder-length hair, humor in his voice when he asked, “My gizmos?”
Errol nodded. “Yeah, those gizmo things you use to trap ghosts.”
“Ah, you mean my state of the art, electrometric gauge, pulse meter, strobe light and cage?”
“Yeah, boy. That’s what I said, your gizmo thingies.”
“Yeah, I brought them.” He turned to Lex. “But first I need the lady’s permission to enter her house.”
A fine shiver moved through Lex, and she gave a breathless laugh. “You make it sound like you’re a vampire, not a ghost hunter.”
A sexy look came over his face and since she’d given him such a great opening, she was certain he was going to come back with another smart-assed comment. But then he looked at Errol and cleared his throat before explaining, “My team and I just don’t believe in doing anything or going anywhere where we’re not wanted.” He met her glance straight on before he added, “I need to know you want me, Alexis.”
Oh, God…
The guy was a big flirt, and every word that came out of his mouth was so suggestive, so sexy. Then again, maybe it was just her imagination, and she was simply reading him wrong, because everything about him made her think of sex. Either way, hell yeah she wanted him. But his teasing manner and easygoing nature told her he was a playboy and she wasn’t about to get involved with a guy who read comic books and hunted ghosts in New Mexico.
“Yes, you have my permission,” she said.
“Good, then I’ll go grab my gizmos and be right back.” He was about to leave, but turned back, real concern dancing in his dark eyes. “Will you be okay here, or did you want to come with me?”
Looking like the cat that swallowed the canary, Errol said, “Of course she’s not going to be okay. You need to keep her close, boy.”
Lex shook her head. She’d had enough coddling from brothers and didn’t need the men here doing it, too. “No, Errol, I’ll be fine.”
“You ain’t fine. You got yourself a ghost. And you shouldn’t be alone in that big old house. Especially at night. I hear ghosts are more active after dark.” He poked Sam with the cane. “I’ll have a cot sent over and my boy Sam here will stay with you until the house is clean. Won’t you, Sam?”
Dark eyes locked on hers, and his mouth turned up at the corner, a half smile that warmed her blood and curled her toes. “If it’s what the lady wants.”
“Of course that’s what the lady wants. And don’t worry, lassie. You’re in good hands with this one.”
She shook her head, knowing that if this handsome, hormone-stirring man was sleeping in the room next door a mean old ghost was the last of her problems.
“No. I’m fine. Sam, you go get your equipment and, Errol, you go and play with that sweet great-granddaughter of yours.”
Errol was about to protest, but she pointed toward the shore. He followed the direction and smiled when he spotted Katherine. “Well, if you say so.”
He seemed to have a new spring in his step, and a wide smile on his face as he walked toward the path. Lex watched for a second, and was pretty sure she heard him mumble something about a month’s worth of rum as he went.
When she looked back at Sam he was grinning. “I think that man’s losing it.”
Lex gave a slow shake of her head, suddenly not so sure anymore. “I’ve got a sneaking suspicion he has all his wits about him, and then some. I also think he carries that cane so he can poke people with it.”
Sam pulled a face and rubbed his gut. “I think I’ve got internal damage,” he teased, and while she tried to focus on what he was saying, her gaze kept dropping to his bare chest. As heat moved through her body and she swallowed against the dryness in her throat, she hoped like hell that when he came back he had a shirt on.
Were all ghost hunters this buff?
“Are you okay?” Sam asked. “You’re getting really flushed.”
“I…uh…I was in the attic and it was hot and dusty. I just need to get a glass of water.”
He pointed to the house and gave a wink before saying, “Okay, you go get a drink and try to avoid a run-in with Ol’ Lady Landry before I get back.”
She thought about Errol’s ghost for a moment, then her thoughts shifted to the townsfolk and how they really didn’t want her messing with the Victorian house. Was it possible that someone was trying to scare her on purpose?
“Sam,” she said quietly when he turned to leave.
He twisted back around, and the smile fell from his face when his glance met hers. “Yeah, what is it?”
She shrugged. “You’re from this town and know these people better than I do…”
“And?”
“And I was wondering if someone could be trying to scare me on purpose. To drive me out of town. No one seems to like what I’m doing here.”
His face softened. “I don’t think anyone here would do that. But let me just get my gear, and see if Errol is on to something first, okay?”
After she nodded, he turned back around. As she watched him go, her gaze following his ass until he disappeared down the street, Lex walked back to the house. She opened the door and peeked inside. “Hello,” she whispered. “Is there anyone here?”
When her question was met with silence, she gave a hard shake of her head to get it back on right. Ghosts weren’t real! Shaking off her unease, she walked inside and glanced up the wide staircase as she made her way back to the kitchen. Even though she didn’t believe in ghosts, she thought it best to wait for Sam to return before she went up to check out her bedroom.
She paced the main hall, and within fifteen minutes, Sam was back. He’d changed out of his swimsuit and now wore a pair of khaki shorts and a T-shirt that had a picture of a spoon and said “Cereal Killer”. She held open the door for him and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Some guys just never grew up.
Sam entered, carrying an armful of equipment. He stood in the foyer for a long moment, taking his time to look around. With his legs wide, and his eyes narrowed in deep concentration, it occurred to her that while he had a carefree nature, he took his job very seriously. He moved to the foot of the staircase and turned on some long wand-like piece of equipment. It made a high-pitched sound before settling into a steady beep.
He looked back at her. “Do you want to wait here?”
She shook her head and tried not to appear nervous. After all she didn’t believe in ghosts, right? “I should probably come. To show you which bedroom is mine.” Although she suspected a guy like Sam had no problem finding his way to a woman’s bedroom, and probably did it on a regular basis. Not that she cared. She didn’t.
The first step creaked beneath his weight as he began his ascent, and Lex stayed close behind. When they reached the top landing, she pointed to her bedroom. He gave the door a little push and stepped inside. Embarrassment flooded her when his glance strayed to her unmade cot and the stack of delicates that she’d rinsed by hand and taken off the line earlier.
His gizmo continued to beep steadily as he swept her room, then walked to the empty closet. He waved the wand thingy around inside and glanced up at the small, closed hatch overhead, one of the many access points to the attic.
“Your place is clean, Alexis.” He turned to face her but she was standing so close, he bumped her. She faltered a little but he slipped his arm around her waist to hold her.
“It’s…it’s Lex,” she corrected.
He smiled at her and his voice dropped an octave when he said, “Yeah, but I think Alexis suits you better.” His hand splayed over the small of her back, the soft stroke of his fingers on her sensitive flesh sending skitters through her body when he added, “It’s pretty, like you.”
Did he just say I was pretty?
When it comes to hand-to-heart combat, no hold is barred.
Two in the Afternoon
© 2014 Cora Cade
A Day of Pleasure, Book 2
Molly Ryan survived one attack, and she’s not about to be a sitting duck for another. With her attacker harassing her from his jail cell, she packs up her life in Chicago, follows her Delta Force brother to North Carolina and gets work in a pub.
Men in uniform are definitely off her menu, but her boss’s friend, Army Ranger Callum Eversman, is one hot hunk she’d like to sample.
Home on a two-week furlough, Cal has agreed to watch over Molly as a favor to fellow Ranger Noah Harper. Accomplishing his mission without her noticing? That’s going to be tough, as any idiot can see their sparks of attraction from a mile away.
Despite her hands-off-military-men policy, Moll
y is tempted to indulge, just this once, in a no-strings-attached fling. No dating, no kissy face, no hearts involved. But when her past threatens her future, there’s only one man to turn to. The one who’ll risk everything—body, heart, and soul—to protect her.
Warning: Contains an Army Ranger with a gruff exterior and heart of gold, a heroine with a sassy attitude, and some hot borderline-public sex.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Two in the Afternoon:
Callum Eversman kissed like a man on fire. His lips seared a path to every erogenous zone on her body, particularly straight to her panties. He cradled her face gently, reverently, as he nipped at her bottom lip, drawing her taste within his mouth.
She was gripping his forearms when he suddenly pulled away. Taking in her dazed expression, he let his gaze fall to her lips before dropping his hands from her face.
For a brief moment, Molly thought that was the end of their scorching interlude. It certainly wasn’t enough to satisfy her needs, but she wasn’t going to throw herself at Callum. No matter how ridiculously hot the man was.
Instead of backing away from her, as she expected, he dropped his massive hands to cradle her ass and lifted her from her feet. Pressed against his bare chest, with his hands cupping her, she felt the impressive ridge of his erection slide along her belly when he raised her up. The distance to the couch was only a few feet, and he made short work of it, perching her ass on the back of it and fiercely taking her mouth again.
This kiss was hot, an exploration into how wet and ready this man could get her in thirty seconds or less. This kiss was demanding, ordering Molly to surrender and cling to Callum.
A hand gently tugged her head back, bringing her into a position that deepened their kiss. Bringing her closer to complete and total submission.