by Kilby Blades
When Alex turned around, she finally caught sight of her mother. Biscotti forgotten, the chiller door swung shut as she ran to launch herself into Cella’s arms.
“Mommy! You’re home!”
Catching Alex in her arms and lifting her for a hug, Cella did her best to set her on her hip, wanting to get all of her lifts and cuddles while she still could. For a resplendent moment, Cella laughed as her daughter showered her face with tiny kisses, not-at-all minding that smudges of chocolate had gotten on her shirt. After listening to an account of Alex’s morning with Max and hearing their tea party menu, she set her daughter down and told her to go wash her hands.
When she turned back to Max, he was leaning on the counter, looking sexy like he always did in a fitted t-shirt. One hand held Alex’s stool and the other sat nestled in the pocket of his jeans. No doubt, he planned to tinker with it later. It would be the third or fourth time it needed a fix. Overall, it held up well for an item that was thirty-five years old.
“Hi, Mommy,” he said in the baritone that was nothing like the one he used with Alex. Cella held Max’s eyes as she walked right into the arm that was free. He hugged her tightly and planted a kiss in her hair.
“Let me put this in the garage. Then I’ll give you a real kiss.”
He smiled down at his tired wife. No matter how bedraggled she felt, the light in his eyes for her never seemed to dim.
“Honey…” This was it. “I think it’s time we put that one into retirement.”
Max looked down, turning and examining the weathered stool in his hand.
“It’s just a little wobble—nothing I can’t fix.”
She kept her composure, even with the sting of tears in the back of her eyes.
“But they might want matching ones.”
Max blinked. Her lips melted into a smile. By the time she confirmed it with her eyes, his face had erupted into a hopeful grin.
“They?”
She laughed through her tears. The man was a doctor and he hadn’t guessed it either time. A moment before she kissed him, she murmured, “I think we’re gonna need two.”
Did you like The Secret Ingredient? More epic love stories await you. My ten-time award-winning novel, Snapdragon, is the steamy origin story of my fan-favorite couple, Darby and Michael. For laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, try Friended, a nostalgia songfic that takes a wickedly-funny look at first love. Is family drama your thing? In Crazy Old Money, no one will come out unscathed when understated billionaire Marsh brings his woke black girlfriend to Thanksgiving dinner with his stuffy, old money family.
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More importantly, join my newsletter if you want in on freebies, bonus content, and too much information about my crazy life. And whether you loved it or hated The Secret Ingredient, please, please, please leave a review!
About Kilby Blades
Kilby Blades is a 25-time-award-winning author of Romance and Women's Fiction. Critics laud her "feminist romance", noting heroes who wouldn’t dream of inhibiting their women and heroines who wouldn’t dream of letting them.
Her debut novel, Snapdragon, was a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit recipient, a Semi-Finalist in the Publisher’s Weekly BookLife Prize, and an IPPY Award medalist. Her combined body of work has been honored with more than twenty-five awards, including an RSJ Emma for Best Debut Author in 2018.
When she's not writing, Kilby goes to movie matinees alone, where she eats Chocolate Pocky and buttered popcorn and usually smuggles in not-a-little-bit of red wine. She procrastinates from the difficult process of writing by oversharing on Facebook and Instagram and giving away cool stuff to her newsletter subscribers. Kilby is a mother, a social-justice fighter, and above all else, a glutton for a good story.
Also by Kilby Blades
Other Stories in the Hexagon Universe
Snapdragon (Love Conquers None #1)
Chrysalis (Love Conquers None #2)
Crazy Old Money (A Novella)
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Young Adult and New Adult Rom-Com
The Art of Worship
Friended
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The “Worst Day Ever” Anthology Series
Worst Holiday Ever: A Family Drama Romance Anthology*
Worst Valentine’s Day Ever: A Lonely Hearts Romance Anthology
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Non-Fiction
The Book Marketing Audit (April 2019)
Marketing Steamy Romance
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*Note: a short story version of Crazy Old Money appears in the Worst Holiday Ever anthology, along with short stories by eight other authors