“I also renewed the scholarship for Josh.”
The rock at the pit of her stomach lifted and she found it easier to breath. Her gaze met his. At least she had that, regardless that she had left.
Thank God. Josh would be okay.
“Thank you.” She had hoped to see hurt in Daniel’s eyes or at the very least some type of loss at her leaving, but no. His expression remained calm while she felt a tightening in her chest and just wanted to escape. “Josh and I appreciate it.”
She walked away from him. With shaky hands, she turned on the water and filled the vase. “The roses are lovely.” Her voice was wavering, so she took a deep breath and tried to keep the conversation professional. “May I count on you as a reference for my next job?”
“Are you so eager to leave me, Ms. Woodrow?”
She froze at hearing him call her by the name of the heroine in her novel and quoting a line from the story. A flurry of emotions flooded her thoughts—the most dominant one being embarrassment—as she nearly dropped the vase into the sink. She felt her cheeks flush and her knees grow weak.
He knew.
She turned off the water and slowly spun around. Daniel was on one knee. The diamond of his grandmother’s ring caught the kitchen light and sparkled brightly in the box he held open.
She couldn’t breathe.
He knew about her book. He knew about…about her love for him.
His outfit, the roses…this was the last chapter of her novel.
“I read one of your books.”
Her mouth had gone dry as she backed up and her hips bumped into the sink.
“All these years, I didn't see you. You blended in and became my right–hand man for so long that I didn't notice you—not until you weren't there anymore.” He licked his lips and held up the ring. “I see you now, Deborah, and I like what I see. You are intelligent and kind, thoughtful and loyal. You compliment me and make me want to be a better person.”
How long had she wanted this moment to happen? How many ways had she imagined it? A tear rolled down her cheek, and before she could wipe it away, he drew a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.
“I want to be there for you,” he said as she accepted the offering. “I want you to continue being there for me. I need you to be at my side because I can't live without you. You are my everything. Please marry me.”
Wiping away her tears, she realized she had been holding her breath, but she managed to say, “Of course, sir.”
The End
About the Author
Dear Readers,
I hope you enjoyed reading my novel, Bachelor Heart, book 1 in the 3-part book series ‘Rich Indulgence’. Please leave a review on the retailer site where you purchased the book.
You can find a link to all retailers at: reginamorris.com/bachelor-heart.
Please visit my website (http://www.reginamorris.com) for more information about my other novels and short stories. A list of my books and descriptions are below.
Please feel free to contact me through my website, through my many social media sites (see my website for the a list) or by email at mailto:[email protected]?subject=Email from fan.
I like to play games and have fun in my quarterly electronic newsletters. Please sign up at newsletter.reginamorris.com
By day, I work in a small cubicle as a computer programmer, but at night I write about vampires, billionaires, and other romance combinations. I capture my creativity on the pages of my passionate stories. I write about second chance romances, mature romances (where the characters are 40+ years of age), and about vampires.
My contemporary romances are mostly sweet romances (please check descriptions to confirm). The romances build a connection between two people with happily-ever-afters. No cliff-hangers, but complete stories.
The books in my series are all stand-alone novels that can be read in any order.
My COLONY series is about vampires who can alter their aged appearances by the amount of blood they consume. The series is about a covert team of sexy vampires who protect the President of the United States. This series’ success prompted me to launch another series (“COLONY World”) that involves the same world, but about civilian vampires who live among unsuspecting humans.
The heat level differs from mild to hot in my books. My stories involving the Historical Preservation Agency and time travel are mild. My COLONY series, COLONY World series, and some of my contemporary romances are hot. These hot stories have an age warning of 18+ on them. My contemporary short stories are mild. My contemporary novels vary.
I live in Austin, Texas with my husband and two children. I graduated high school in Germany and I attended the University of Texas at Austin, where I received a degree in Computer Science with a minor in math. After enjoying a career in software engineering, I discovered that writing is in my blood, and had to put pen to paper!
The opinions I express in my novels are my own. My stories are my own intellectual property. Copyright (c) 2012-2021, Regina Morris
Sincerely,
Regina Morris
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to my husband and our children for their love and support; to my sister for believing in me and encouraging me to follow my dreams; to my critique partners, Jean and Pennie, for being with me every step of the way; to my editor Chelle (Literally Addicted to Detail); and my proof reader team. I also want to thank my beta readers, and street team. This book would not be possible without the support I have had from all of you.
Also by Regina Morris
Contemporary Romance Novels
Christmas in Newbury: A Billionaire Dad & Nanny Romance
ISBN: 978–1–948997–47–8 (EPub Ebook)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–48–5 (MOBI Ebook)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–49–2 (Paperback)
Audio as well
* * *
Billionaire James Nielson plans to close many of his business's installations, including the original factory started by his grandfather in the small town of Newbury, when a woman—whom he had a sexual fling with over a year ago—abandons her baby at his company’s headquarters claiming he is the father.
He and his baby daughter visit Newbury during the holidays where he hires a local woman, Melanie Frank, to be his nanny. She has been furloughed from her job at his factory, and, like everyone in the town, relies on the company for her livelihood. She wants to be an artist, but is financially trapped in the town by the company.
It is obvious to Melanie that James is uneasy around his daughter, isn't finding the town charming, and doesn't feel any Christmas spirit. She's plenty attracted to James, but will this city mouse really be interested in a country mouse? As James discovers lost family members, the warmth of a small community spirit, and the compassion from his daughter's nanny, he develops a stronger sense of family and his romantic feelings for Melanie grow.
He decides he must keep the factory running, and after buying Melanie's artwork at the local Christmas auction, she has renewed interest in her studies. The two search for the perfect Christmas gift for each other while trying to save the factory, which leads to a Christmas miracle.
* * *
Contemporary Sweet Romance Short Stories
Taking Chances
978–0–9966192–9–5 (ebook)
Available as an audio book
Broken engagement, a disappointed father, an emotional mother, what else could a wounded soldier ask for? Tommy has no idea that his sweet nurse remembers him prior to his injuries. Always professional, Abby treats Tommy no differently because of their awkward past. Once the truth is out, what will become of their friendship and budding romance?
* * *
Christmas Joy
978–1–948997–18–8 (MOBI)
978–1–948997–19–5 (ePub)
978–1–948997–20–1 (Paperback)
Jake needs to clear out his father’s old cabin and sell it. He’s prepared to deal with the freez
ing cold weather and the remote location, but not with the sexy woman, who was once his late father’s nurse, still living in the place.
* * *
More Than Puppy Love
978–1–948997–01–0 (MOBI)
978–1–948997–02–7 (ePub)
978–1–948997–03–4 (Paperback)
Ex-wallflower, now veterinarian, Kacie Preston is eager to go to her ten-year high school reunion where she can meet up with the boy she crushed on for years. But then his dog, her patient, shows up at the event mistreated. How well does Kacie really know her old heart throb?
* * *
FANASY / TIME TRAVEL BOOKS
Just in Time (Short Story - Prequel to Time Historian)
ISBN: 978–0–9966192–5–7 (ebook)
ISBN: 978–0–9966192–6–4 (paperback)
Managing teams to send recorders back in history is stressful enough, but when the government makes a play for proprietary technology from the Historical Preservation Agency, Caleb must rely upon a well-connected, and sexy, developer at a government agency for help. Can the two of them keep time travel in the hands of historians?
* * *
Time Historian
ISBN: 978–0–9966192–8–8 (Print)
ISBN: 978–0–9966192–7–1 (ebook)
Also available as an audio book
Hank McConnell's is having a bad day at the office. First, he just destroyed history. He finds himself living in the Confederate States of America, Lincoln was convicted as a war criminal, and slavery existed for another fifty years. Secondly, his blunder erased his family from existence and his alternate self works as a lonely tenured professor instead of at the Historical Preservation Agency.
He doesn't have much time. He travels back to Lincoln's presidency to right what went wrong. Unfortunately, correcting time is like herding cats and one fix leads to more and more changes.
Is he willing to do the unthinkable to make the world whole again?
PARANORMAL (VAMPIRE) ROMANCES
COLONY Series Books
Vampires exist among us. They can be our neighbor, our best friend, our child’s teacher…
They alter their aged appearance based upon the amount of blood they consume. They move to a new area, drink a lot of blood, and appear young. Slowly they limit their intake of blood and age, right in front of our unsuspecting eyes. After decades, they fake their death, move, and do it over and over again.
Most live quiet lives in an effort to blend in.
Some, however, want power and control.
The COLONY is an elite group of vampires sworn to protect the President of the United States from these rogue vampires. Few humans are privileged to this knowledge.
* * *
Eternal Service (Book #1)
Top 100 Bestseller
978–0–9888222–0–7 (ebook)
978–0–9888222–1–4 (paperback)
Available as an audio book
Vampire Raymond Metcalf has too many balls to juggle and life is getting more complicated by the minute. As if working with a covert team of sexy vampires to protect the President isn’t enough, he has to deal with his rebellious half-breed son, save the President from a crazed vampire, and break in a new director for his team since the last one, his best friend and the only human he trusts, has decided to retire. Why does his friend’s replacement have to be the most beautiful human woman Raymond has ever seen?
Career military woman, Alex Brennan, is being offered the promotion of a lifetime, and with it a romance that she has desperately been seeking. Does she dare accept the position as Director of the COLONY, an elite group of deadly creatures of the night and risk a dangerous romance with a man who isn’t even human? Together, can they save the President?
* * *
United Service (Book #2)
Top 100 Bestseller
978–0–9888222–6–9 (ebook)
978–0–9888222–7–6 (paperback)
Available as an audio book
Sterling Metcalf is a modern–day vampire who clashes with his father’s antiquated ideals. Being the half–breed of the COLONY group, Sterling hates being the team’s weakest link. He jumps at an opportunity to do some fieldwork rescuing kidnapped vampire children and is accompanied by Kate Spencer, the nanny of one of the children.
Kate is a purebred vampire with a secret of her own. Can Sterling put aside his bad–boy ways and woo the lovely Kate? Will Kate accept the advances of a half–breed? Together, can they save the children from a religious cult who wants to kill them?
* * *
Enduring Service (Book #3)
Top 100 Bestseller
978–0–9914034–0–0 (ebook)
978–0–9914034–1–7 (paperback)
Available as an audio book
Colony Agent Sulie Metcalf, the President’s private physician, has been in love with the same human man for nearly thirty years. She refuses to allow herself the joy of true love because her feelings are unrequited by her human boss, Jonathan Dixon. As Dixon’s retirement looms near, and his memories of Sulie and the last thirty years of his life are about to be erased, does she confront her fear of intimacy and take a leap of faith before it’s too late?
Dixon has decided to retire and enjoy what time he has left. When his best friend Sulie, a vampire team member, is kidnapped during a medical emergency, Dixon realizes that retirement means giving up everything, and everyone, he’s known for the last three decades. Will he risk his life, and his heart, to save her?
* * *
Equality of Service (Book #4)
978–1–948997–07–2 (MOBI)
978–1–948997–08–9 (ePub)
978–1–948997–09–6 (paperback)
Available as an audio book
Fifteen years ago, COLONY Agent William Wardell met his future wife Jackie Pearlman. She’s sexy, opinionated, and finds him to be a mockery of the American dream of equality for all.
Can a past Freedom Rider and racial activist from the 1960s, now turned vampire, prove to the love of his life that he’s not a political puppet?
* * *
Reliant Service (Book #5)
978–0–9914034–2–4 (ebook)
978–0–9914034–3–1 (paperback)
Available as an audio book
After faking his death from an assassination attempt on the President, and retiring his first and only alias with the COLONY, Daniel Brighton discovers the mandatory sabbatical to be less than exciting. He chooses to do a favor and act as a security guard for a fading pop–singer, Lori Austin, whose career is winding down. He travels across Europe with her and discovers her past to be one of deception and intrigue with a history leading directly back to the COLONY itself.
Lori Austin is struggling to keep her career alive, and is willing to do what is necessary to save it. From bad press and scandalous stories, she travels across Europe on a relief tour to revitalize her career, but doesn’t realize she is traveling with a vampire. Discovering a hidden family secret, she realizes that the one man who can save her is the handsome security guard she fought so hard not to hire.
* * *
Echo of Service (Book #6)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–31–7 (EPub Ebook)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–32–4 (MOBI Ebook)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–33–1 (Paperback)
Also available as an audio book
After the President of the United States is poisoned, Vampire COLONY agent Mason Warner steps in as the man's double. He manages the President's hectic schedule just fine until the political party sends in a public relations expert to clean up the President's image. She is the one woman from Mason's past whom he has never forgotten—the woman who is the measuring stick he compares all other women too—but he compelled her decades ago to forget their one night together.
Nicole Banner is assigned by the party to do a makeover on the one man from her past she despises the most. Years ago, her short-lived secret fling with the Sen
ator of Massachusetts, now President of the United States, left her with a son to raise on her own.
Mason can’t risk her remembering their tryst from decades ago since she believes him to be the President. Nicole has always hidden her affair from prying eyes, until now.
He still desires her. All she wants is revenge.
COLONY World Series Books
These vampire romances feature vampires from the COLONY world, but these vampires do not work for the government.
* * *
Winter Wishes (Book #1)
ISBN: 978–0–9981866–0–3 (ebook)
ISBN: 978–0–9981866–1–0 (paperback)
Available as an audio book
Sammy needs a holiday miracle. The Vampire Council is after him, he’s falling in love with his best friend’s mother–in–law, and there’s artwork hanging on the wall that was stolen by the Nazis. Life is spiraling out of control for this Jewish vampire as he spends the Christmas holiday baking cookies and wrapping gifts for the needy.
Louise is busy with her charities and hosting her annual Christmas party. Putting a smile on her face proves difficult when her soon to be ex–husband arrives with a bimbo on his arm, her proposed divorce settlement is far from fair, and the sexy stranger she’s starting to fall for believes she’s a Nazi.
* * *
Destined Desire (Book #2)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–16–4 (EPub ebook)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–15–7 (MOBI ebook)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–17–1 (paperback)
Available as an audio book
After a car accident nearly kills his immortal father, Alexander rushes to his father’s side only to discover that his parents want him to marry and stay closer to home. He’s already been down this path once before with a less than desirable outcome, so he refuses. He’s steadfast in his decision until his parents threaten to financially cut him off and he’s forced to approach the Vampire Council for a new marriage contract.
Dionora is enjoying her new job at the Vampire Council Marriage Office. The holidays take an exciting turn for her when she discovers the next match she does is for her ex–fiancé.
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