NextMoves
Page 11
Shower done, hair dried, makeup applied, she headed to her closet to choose just the right suit for the evening. She opened the doors to find nothing but two very slinky black dresses and two high-heeled pairs of sandals. Not her stuff.
Anger blistered down her throat. She knew Jared wanted her to diversify her wardrobe beyond suits and jeans, be a little sexier for him, but she didn’t think he would actually try to force her into it. That man needed a piece of her mind. She stopped her rampage short at the top of the stairs when she heard Jared and Kylie laughing together.
“You think she’s discovered her closet yet?” Kylie giggled.
“No, it’s too quiet upstairs. We’ll hear her once she’s seen it.”
They were in on it together, Jocelyn mused, not sure what to think about that. She was glad they were bonding, but not at her expense. Needing more information, she decided to listen for a while before stomping downstairs to take them both to task.
“Even if she refuses to wear them, I had fun shopping with you, Jared, more than I have with Mom. She hates to shop and does it too fast. Maybe you could take me when I have to buy clothes?”
“I had fun too, Kylie. It would be my pleasure to take you shopping, whenever you want.”
“Jared, uh, can I tell you something…” She hesitated.
“What is it, sweetheart? I hope you know you can tell me anything,” he urged gently.
“I think, maybe, I’m ready to start calling you Dad. I never really had one and I can’t imagine one better than you.”
Jocelyn’s heart constricted in joy. They were melding into a true family.
“Kylie, I told you whenever you were ready I would welcome it. There’s nothing I would love more than for you to call me dad. Sweetheart, I can’t imagine a better daughter than you.”
Unable to hold back the tears, she tiptoed to the bathroom to let them loose. When her eye faucets drained dry, she washed herself up and started all over again. This time when she got to her closet, she selected a dress and a pair of shoes. Her new life deserved a new look, one that included the input of her loved ones—the people she trusted to take care of her.
A glance in the mirror launched a smile. Not bad. The black silk hugged her curves deliciously, the top cut perfectly to emphasize her enticing cleavage while hiding her silver tattoo. The Jared-Kylie team had good taste and the sizing was perfect.
“It seems you two were busy when I was out today,” she said from the stairs before entering the living room.
Jared’s jaw dropped. Kylie’s eyebrows rose. “You look amazing,” they said, almost in unison.
“Thank you,” she replied, inclining her head.
“You’re not mad?” Jared asked.
“At first. But I heard you talking. When I learned that you two conspired together, I decided I should give it a try and trust the judgment of my family. I think I like it.”
Smiling, heart aglow, she wrapped her arms around her husband and daughter. “I love this family. So what’s our next move?”
About Sabrina Garie
Sabrina Garie is on a journey to create the most kick-ass heroine romance fiction has ever known and the hero who can take her. A believer that big, audacious goals spice up life, she relies on coffee, red wine and laughter to make those goals (and her characters) come alive. When not at the computer, she wrangles vegetables and extra helpings of homework into her fashion-loving progeny, kowtows to a fat cat and reads, a lot. Since it is more fun to travel in packs, come along for the ride. Catch the train at sabrinagarie.com.
The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Sabrina Garie
Fires of Justice
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Next Move
ISBN 9781419946301
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Next Move Copyright © 2013 Sabrina Garie
Edited by Grace Bradley
Cover design by Michelle & Syneca
Cover photography by CURAphotography, Netfalls-Remy Musser
Electronic book publication July 2013
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