“Uh-oh,” Josh said as he squeezed past the women to sit on the arm of the couch next to his wife. “I told Mitch we should have boxes of tissues on every flat surface. Like party favors.”
Laney felt Ben’s hand at her back and leaned into his touch. There was a lot of talk—about babies and houses and goings on in the family—as the party went on, and they milled around, making sure they talked with everybody. There was food and cake and a lot of laughter, and Laney knew they would gather like this to celebrate for her and Ben, too. Their wedding. Maybe a baby.
There would be visits to Rhode Island, too. She’d been talking to her mom on the phone more often, and they were making progress. And she and Ben had met her parents in Boston for lunch so they could meet him. It had gone better than she’d hoped. She knew, when the time came for them to throw her a bridal shower, Rosie would make sure her mother was invited, and she was actually excited for her mom to see how happy she was in this unexpected place.
The sampler Sarah Kowalski had stitched so many years ago caught her eye. Bless This Kitchen. And it was. Filled with family and love and laughter, the kitchen of the Northern Star was definitely blessed.
“Are you okay?” Ben asked. “You look like you’re going to get weepy on me.”
“I should stitch one of those for our house.”
He followed her gaze and then smiled. “You should. But instead of those dove things at the corners, you should make pink flamingos.”
How lucky was she to find a man who loved her enough to embrace things just because they made her happy? Whether it was her pink chairs or her dancing flamingo or the radio station they listened to in the car, he was all for anything that made her smile.
“You’re getting that look again,” he said.
“What look?”
“Like maybe Josh was right about party favor tissues. I’m hoping those are happy tears you’re trying to hold back.”
“I never could have dreamed this life for myself,” she said, her voice a little hoarse from the unshed tears. “Not without you.”
“We’re going to have an amazing life together, Laney.”
His eyes were full of promise, and she squeezed his hand. “We already do. And I’m going to love every day of it, because I love you.”
* * * * *
Acknowledgments
I can’t adequately express my gratitude to Angela James and the entire Carina Press team, as well as my agent, Kim Whalen, for everything they do for me. So many people have worked hard to make the Kowalski series the best it can be and I appreciate each and every one of them more than I can say.
And, as always, none of these books would be possible without the love and support of my husband, Stuart, and my BFF Jaci. It takes both of you to get me through the day, and I love you both for being here with me.
Also available from Shannon Stacey
and Carina Press
The Kowalski Series
Exclusively Yours
Undeniably Yours
Yours to Keep
All He Ever Needed
All He Ever Desired
All He Ever Dreamed
Love a Little Sideways
Taken with You
Falling for Max
The Boston Fire Series
Heat Exchange
Controlled Burn
Fully Ignited
Holiday Sparks
Mistletoe and Margaritas
Slow Summer Kisses
Snowbound with the CEO
A Fighting Chance
Holiday with a Twist
Also available from Shannon Stacey
and Harlequin
Alone with You
Heart of the Storm
About the Author
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her two favorite activities are writing stories of happily-ever-after and driving her UTV through the mud. You can contact Shannon through her website, shannonstacey.com, where she maintains an almost daily blog, visit her on Twitter, Twitter.com/shannonstacey, and on Facebook, Facebook.com/shannonstacey.authorpage, or email her at [email protected].
To find out about other books by Shannon Stacey or to be alerted to new releases, sign up for her monthly newsletter at bit.ly/shannonstaceynewsletter.
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HEAT EXCHANGE
Lydia Kincaid has always been off-limits to Aiden Hunt. She’s his mentor’s daughter. His best friend’s sister. The ex-wife of a fellow firefighter. And now she’s back in Boston. When Aiden’s plan to play it cool fails, he and Lydia cross a line they can’t uncross.
CONTROLLED BURN
Jessica Broussard has no interest in leaving sunny San Diego or her cushy corner office for Boston to help the grandparents she’s never met. She’s unprepared for the frigid winter, the warm reception from her relatives and the hot, scruffy firefighter who lives upstairs.
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When Jamie Rutherford takes a temporary assignment as lieutenant of Boston Fire’s Engine 59, she doesn’t anticipate any problems. She’s been in the fire service for a long time and, even though she’s fairly new to Boston, she knows how to make any firehouse her home. What she’s not prepared for is her reaction to firefighter Scott Kincaid.
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ISBN-13: 9781488022685
What It Takes: A Kowalski Reunion Novel
Copyright © 2017 by Shannon Stacey
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