Heather Tullis's Blog, page 3

Christmas Kisses: One Winter Night

 

Christmas Kisses is a collection from five bestselling and award-winning authors. Set in the snowy town of Echo Ridge in upstate New York, these inspirational romances are sure to delight while you sip cocoa by the fire and listen to Christmas carols.

 

One Winter Night

Jonah Owens thought moving to Echo Ridge to open his art gallery would solve all of his problems. The need to sell his grandma’s house adds an unexpected complication. It would be easier if his neighbor didn’t have all those farm animals.

Kaya Feidler’s family has owned their land for nearly a hundred years–long before the neighbors were there. There’s no way she’s giving up the animal therapy business she’s been struggling to make profitable. She gets a temp job helping Jonah in the gallery. Spending time together is a recipe for romance, but can they overcome their own hangups to be more than friends?

 

 

Chapter One

JONAH OWEN SMILED AT MRS. CHESTER, the prospective buyer for his grandmother’s house. He saw the dispassionate way she studied the layout, the slight disdain in the lines of her mouth when she looked at the wheelchair lift in the bedroom, and the sneer that overcame her features when she gazed out the back window and focused on the next-door neighbor’s house. “How many horses do they have?”

“Three or four I think. I’m not sure. She’s very conscientious about cleaning up after them and the other animals.” His grandmother had talked incessantly about her neighbor, Kaya’s, animal therapy business, but he’d only met her briefly once or twice over the years. When the prospective buyer turned and looked at him with disbelief, he realized he’d said the wrong thing.

Mrs. Chester—the only name she’d offered him—narrowed her dark eyes at him. “What other animals? All I see are horses. How did she get zoned for farm animals anyway? I thought this was a residential zone.”

“I believe she has a couple of goats, some chickens and maybe some rabbits. I’m not sure exactly. She does animal therapy with children, so she rarely has more than one other car over there at a time.” He didn’t really know as he hadn’t spent much time at the house since he’d moved back to town. “Her family used to own all of this land once, for the entire subdivision, plus the Fieldstone Manor subdivision. Since they’ve had horses and other animals for over one-hundred years, her property was grandfathered in under the old rules.” That had been a burr in his side since he’d started trying to sell his grandmother’s home.

Mrs. Chester wasn’t the first potential buyer to object to living next to The Red Star Ranch. He had the feeling she wouldn’t be the last, either. She didn’t seem all that thrilled with his Gram’s house in general, but he tried to salvage things anyway. “She’s very respectful of the neighbors, keeps the noise and smell down, and isn’t the type to have crazy parties or anything.” He needed to get the woman’s focus off the ranch and onto the house itself. “What do you think of the sun room? It’s my grandmother’s favorite room in the house. Warm and toasty in the winter, not too hot in the summer thanks to the tree that shades that part of the house.”

“Yes, very nice.” She barely glanced at the room as she headed for the front of the house. “The house layout is nice enough. I could deal with removing the wheelchair lifts, but I don’t like animals. I’m afraid this won’t work for us. Thank you for taking the time to show me around.” She was on the porch in seconds, not pausing to say goodbye on the way to her car.

Jonah wanted to growl. This was the fourth buyer who had objected to the ranch next door. When he pointed out the lack of smell, two of them had reminded him that it was December in ski country, not July, and the smell would be far worse when it was hot outside. He couldn’t dispute that, though he’d rarely noticed a hint of smell during his visits. Kaya Fiedler may have inherited the place rather than earning it, and she might have her quirks, but she took good care of the animals. He supposed she would have to if she wanted to keep her animal therapy license.

He’d seen up to six horses over there at a time before, but not recently. He wasn’t sure if she had sold one, or if some were just inside when he looked over. He didn’t spend that much time checking out the ranch.

Between his grandmother’s health and all of the time he spent working to get his business off the ground, he had enough on his mind. If he didn’t sell the house soon, he might have to rent the space over the gallery where he was living now, so he could pay the mortgage here. His grandmother couldn’t afford both the mortgage and the assisted living center where he was trying to move her.

He watered the ficus before he double-checked the locks on the doors and windows and headed out. It was breaking his grandmother’s heart to sell her home, but she couldn’t live here alone anymore and he worked too many hours to be here as much as she would need. Ora Owen was a proud woman, and determined to be independent—which is why she broke her hip and was currently in a rehab center. If only she had moved to assisted living two years ago when he first urged her to do so.

He checked his watch—Mrs. Chester had been thirty minutes late. That was thirty minutes he couldn’t afford to have missed from the gallery today. He’d have to put off that trip to fill his grandmother’s Christmas list until later in the week instead.

“I can’t believe you call this organized. Start over.” Cecilia’s strident voice rose loud enough for Kaya to hear her from the next department. Kaya felt a pang of empathy for Anika, who was a hard worker. If the place was a mess, chances were it was because of a customer, not because Anika had done anything wrong. Then again, Cecilia sometimes freaked out over the smallest disarray, even if the rest of the department was flawless. She was one miserable woman.

Kaya thought Cecilia could really use a cat to snuggle up with and take the edge off.

“Isn’t that display finished yet?” Cecilia snapped, now standing behind Kaya.

Kaya turned to look over her shoulder at the older woman, her dark gray hair seemed to crackle with her bad temper. “I had to stop to assist a few customers.” She kept her tone apologetic, though she wanted to growl and snap back. She had worked holidays at Kenworth a few times over the years, but never under Cecilia Grange. The woman was impossible. If Kaya didn’t need the paycheck so badly, she would kick the woman in the shins and walk out. And to think she had once considered herself lucky to get the job.

Then again, a temporary, part-time position had been pretty lucky. The horses would run out of feed if she didn’t get more holiday hours in. She had always liked this job in the past. It was a change of pace from her struggling equine therapy business, and since she had lost a few clients thanks to the rising prices of gasoline and the winter weather, she had to work on the side so the horses would have food. Otherwise she would have to sell one of them. Or both goats. And she desperately didn’t want to do that. She had thought that nearly three years into her animal therapy business she would be making enough money to get her through the year, but it had been a tough fall.

Cecilia’s beady eyes glared over the tops of her glasses. “You’re all just full of excuses. Get back to work, and don’t get so distracted. If you’re going to take breaks while you’re on duty, I’m going to start counting them as your scheduled ones.” She turned and marched off.

Kaya bit her tongue and turned back to the display. She didn’t know why the board of directors didn’t kick the woman to the curb; she was so unprofessional. Not only could the neighboring employees hear, but several customers as well. And Kaya hadn’t been taking breaks on the job, she’d been working hard. Which is more than Kaya could say for Cecilia, who seemed to do nothing but walk around, take two-hour lunches, and complain.

Biting back her anger, Kaya acknowledged that the woman must do something worthwhile or why would they keep her on staff? It was just not clear what she actually accomplished besides making all of the employees miserable.

This job only ran through New Year’s Day, Kaya reminded herself. She could put up with anyone for another month. Especially since the alternative was losing one of her horses.

It was only a few weeks and then the holidays would be over and the job would be gone, so she would suck it up and deal with it, for now. But she was going to tell Keira what she thought of the old bat before she left. Keira may not be over Cecilia, technically, but it was her family’s store, so she had to have some kind of pull with the board.

Someone needed to get rid of Cecilia before she chased off all of the good employees.

Chapter Two

KAYA SMILED AS THREE OF HER favorite people walked up to the barn in her backyard late that afternoon. Her life may not have been ideal, but the Shoemakers came to her place, rain or shine, through all but the worst blizzards. “Hello, how are you all doing today?”

“Great, I can’t wait to see how my girls are doing.” Shyanne said from her wheelchair. She was nearly fourteen now and had fallen in love with Kaya’s dairy goats—Jet Star and Morning Star. Their mother was the show-winning Yellow Star, and she hadn’t been able to keep from buying goats whose names worked with her ranch. Kaya had been teaching Shyanne to milk the goats, since milking time was during their session, and she’d shown an interest.

Sasha, Kaya’s Great Pyrenees, a livestock-guardian dog, gamboled over, greeting the three visitors happily.

Shyanne’s younger brother, Chad had physical and social disabilities, though he wasn’t wheelchair bound. He had fallen hook, line, and sinker for the horses the very first time their mother had brought them to check the place out.

Their monthly fee didn’t hurt either. Their mom, Evelyn, had even recommended Kaya’s services to several of the other clients who now came regularly to the ranch, which had been a huge blessing in the beginning when Kaya had been living on credit cards and income from her graveyard shift stocking shelves at the local Target.

Even without that, they would have been some of her favorite people—they were each a ray of sunshine in their own way. She ushered them into the barn.

Shyanne didn’t even have to call to the goats. When they heard her voice, they came running through the door into the protected area in the barn, bleating a welcome. She rolled her wheelchair over and rubbed their heads through the fencing. “Hey, there, girls. How are you today? I brought you treats.” Her hands went into her pockets and came out with a few twisty pretzels—one of their favorite snacks.

“I’ll get her settled,” Evelyn said.

“Thanks.” Kaya walked over to Chad, who was looking down and brushing the toe of his shoe over the cement floor. “Are you ready to see the horses? Pepper is anxious to see you.”

He nodded, stammering. “I saw her when we were outside. She was running around the paddock. She likes to run.”

“Yes, she does. Someday maybe you’ll be ready to run with her. Today, though, let’s just get you on her back and riding. Can you help me saddle her up?” When he first started coming, she had Pepper, a sweet, gentle, red chestnut, all decked out with saddle and blanket. After a few weeks, she had him help take the saddle off of Pepper and brush her down at the end. The previous month they had graduated to him helping saddle her and remove the saddle afterward. He was nearly twelve and taking the responsibility of caring for the horse was part of Chad’s treatment. Kaya sent monthly reports to his therapist so he would know how things were going on her end.

Chad walked over to the wall, collecting the heavy saddle with his wiry arms. She watched as he took it over to the gate into the paddock and laid it across the top, then returned for the bridle, blanket and other items.

Pepper met them at the fence and Chad climbed over, petting the horse, checking her for any injuries before he started to saddle her up. Kaya watched him go through the process making sure that he did it right, and then checked all of the buckles and connections herself when he finished.

She gave him a high five. “That was terrific. You did a great job. I didn’t have to tighten anything. You’re set. Mount up.”

Chad grinned. It was the first time he had done it all correctly by himself and she could see the joy the accomplishment gave him. He led Pepper closer to the fence and used it to mount her, then rode off around the paddock.

“He’s showing so much progress,” Evelyn said as she joined Kaya at the fence.

Kaya had to agree; it gave her so much satisfaction. “Are you seeing an improvement in other areas as well?”

“We are. His teacher commented on it recently. It’s helping him to deal with a lot of other areas in his life. He just needed the confidence.”

Confidence wasn’t the only area where he needed help. “How are things with the other kids at school? Is it getting any better?”

Evelyn let out a low breath of frustration. “No. I think we need to move so he can have a fresh start. I just don’t think we can get the help we need in that district. They’re doing fine with Shyanne—her disabilities are all physical and she copes well, plus she’s so social and friendly with everyone. But the teachers and programs just aren’t working for Chad. My parents keep trying to convince us to move out near them. Their schools are a little better, but it just feels wrong. I can’t imagine tearing them away from here.”

“Arizona is so far away.” Kaya’s heart sank at the suggestion. She would miss getting to see them so often.

“I know. But we can’t keep living at the apartment where we’re at now. Shyanne is getting so big. I’m afraid I’m going to hurt my back lifting her in and out of the wheelchair. She’s working out so she will be able to do most of it herself, but she’s not there yet, and may not be for quite a while. I knew we wouldn’t stay there forever, I just didn’t count on it being an issue so quickly. I can’t seem to find a flexible job—even part time—so I can qualify to buy a house that would be easier for her. My ex is settling down with a new wife and kids and can’t, or won’t, help out more than he already is.”

“I’d hate to have you go.” Kaya paused to call out a correction to Chad. Though she was talking to his mom, she kept her eyes on him at all times. “As soon as it warms up here, I have several families who’ve committed to group lessons. I think Chad is comfortable enough that he’s ready to work with other kids. I think it could be good for him socially, and the group will be small, no more than four at a time.” She’d miss the pay from his private lesson if he switched to group, but it was the next step, and he was nearly ready for it. Maybe she should try a group social with several of her private clients and see how they meshed. That might help with the transition. She’d have to think about that in January.

“Mom, we need a goat. I like their milk better.” Shyanne called from the pen. She brushed Morning Star, paying special attention to her flank, which, oddly enough, was the goat’s favorite place to be caressed.

“That’s another thing our apartment can’t handle.” Evelyn said it like a joke, but there was pain in her eyes. They needed a house with a yard and animals for the kids to keep advancing.

“You ever thought about moving closer to here instead?” Kaya asked. “I could use a full-time goat groomer, and my neighbor is selling.” Not that she wanted Ora to move to that assisted living center, but it looked inevitable.

Evelyn shot her a tired look. She was maybe in her late thirties, and with her sandy-colored hair, smooth skin, and blue eyes, seemed somehow even younger than that, though she seemed worn out at the moment. “More times than you can imagine. I’ve been online looking at places, but nothing really stands out. The kids would love it. I’ve even heard good things about the school system, but a mortgage is going to take more income than we’re getting from Glen plus Shyanne’s social security and it can be hard to find a decent job when I never finished my degree.” She sighed. “I’ll figure it out.” She lifted her voice again to call encouragement to her son.

Kaya wondered what Evelyn studied in school, but Chad waved that he was ready for the next step. Maybe they could talk more later. “Looks like he’s warmed up and ready to go.”

“I’ll help Shyanne set up to milk,” Evelyn said, heading away.

Kaya vaulted over the railing and into the paddock to join him. “Hey, you ready to try a canter?”

“I don’t know,” Chad said.

“Let’s give it a test and see how you like it. It’s jiggly, though.”

Chad looked a little dubious, but took to the faster speed like a pro.

Kaya ached when she thought of not seeing this kid again, but she had him for now. She’d have to do what she could while the opportunity was still there.

To read more, purchase the story from your favorite retailer.

Buy the Christmas Kisses Anthology here.

Buy just One Winter Night here.

Read an excerpt from SEALed with Love

Sage Parker is happy to move to Juniper Ridge to escape her stalker—and having her gorgeous security guard, Joel Watts, go with her seems like a recipe for perfect happiness. That is until the stalker starts to contact her again in her new home. Joel realizes they’ll have to get rid of the threat once and for all.

Chapter One

Sage threaded in and out of the streaming LA throngs and wished she’d didn’t have to leave for work at peak commute time. She liked people, but fighting through them wasn’t exactly her idea of a party. And it was all too easy to hide in a crowd—which would be more of an advantage if she knew who she should be hiding from. He didn’t have that problem.

She scanned the mass of humanity, looking for a familiar face, anyone she might have seen before, then checked her watch again. If she missed this train, she would be late. She had been distracted by her father’s email, which was chatty and full of news about the resort he was preparing to open that fall. He put on a good front of all-is-well, but she had known something was wrong—known it as only she could, despite his denials. The fact that he hadn’t come for his regular visit reiterated that. She’d have to use her break this afternoon to meditate and see if she could figure it out, since he wasn’t giving anything away.

A small boy weaved through the jungle of legs, followed by a man who called for him to stop. Sage shifted to the side so the boy ran into her, then she grabbed his shoulders, and stopped him from falling backward as he bounced off of her. She glanced up into the round face of a frazzled man. “I believe this one belongs to you.”

He hefted the tow-headed toddler into his arms. “Yes, sorry about that. He’s as slippery as an eel sometimes.”

Sage smiled in relief when the child giggled as if it had been a good game. The boy was comfortable with the man. “No problem.”

The man pivoted to the right, heading toward a store.

Feeling someone watching her, Sage adjusted her hemp macramé bag over one shoulder and glanced around again. Her eyes stopped on a tall man with a shaved head, mirrored sunglasses and a light brown goatee. He oozed dark alertness, an aura of control, and he was looking in her direction. Her heart sped up, her breath caught and she turned back toward the subway.

It wasn’t the first time she’d seen him, or even the third or fourth. In the past few days he seemed to pop up behind her all over town. There was no explanation for his repeated presence except that he was following her. Sage’s hands grew sweaty as she darted farther into the crowd.  If he was the one who had been stalking her, she had to get away. There was a tough wariness about him, a hardened edge that said he went after whatever he wanted, and he never gave up.  She hadn’t felt his presence until that week, though the stalker had been contacting her for a couple of months, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.

If he was the one, there may be no safe place to hide in LA.

Just before the train pulled out, she managed to slide through the doors and find a corner to hide in while the panic attack took over. Standing on the far end of the car, she grasped a handle until her knuckles turned white. She put her back to the wall so she could see everyone and checked for the man several times, making sure no one else was paying attention to her while she dealt with the light-headedness and nausea that often accompanied her racing heart and difficulty breathing.

Maybe she should take her father up on the job offer in his Colorado resort. She couldn’t keep living like this.

***

While she provided reflexology treatments to the day spa’s elite clientele, Sage fought the implacable image of the man in her mind. She had been at work for nearly two hours and was finally starting to feel the inner peace her job usually provided when she opened the door to leave her treatment room. Standing on the other side, his fist raised to knock, was the Goliath of a man she’d seen in the street.

Her breathing stopped as terror filled her all over again. She tried to shut the door, but his hand shot out, blocking it open. “Go away.” She’d meant the words to be calm and forceful, but they’d come out tight and whispery as her panic grew. What would she do? What could she do against someone his size?

“Hey, I’m sorry I scared you.” His voice was a low rumble. He pulled off his mirrored sunglasses and hung them by one stem in the neck of his tight white T-shirt. He lifted his free hand as if to reassure her that he didn’t have a gun or a knife, but she seriously doubted someone that buff needed a weapon to maim or kill. “My name is Joel Watts,” he said, “and your dad sent me.” He handed her a business card which was printed with the name of a private security firm.

Though she wouldn’t take the card at face value, her throat unclogged a little so she could suck in some air. “My dad?” No one knew who her dad was—or almost no one. Her father had been surprisingly adept at keeping their connection a secret despite his high profile and his hundreds of phone calls and visits through the years.

“George DiCarlo,” he confirmed. “He’s concerned about your stalker and sent me to look out for you. Look, I’m sorry I scared you earlier today. I didn’t mean to. Call him if you need to verify my story.”

“Why have you been following me?” Her voice was returning to normal, though her senses were still on alert. This man was lethal; she knew it down to her core. Why would her dad send him to follow her without warning her first?

“He didn’t want me to introduce myself yet. We hoped I might be able to spot the stalker if I wasn’t too close to you. The letters you turned over to the police were pretty freaky.” Despite the otherwise intimidating exterior, when Joel said this, his jaw softened slightly, making him seem not quite as scary.

How did her father always know what was going on in her life, even when she didn’t tell him? She decided to take this hulk of a man up on his offer to check his identity. “Give me a minute, then.” When he removed his hand from the door, she shut and locked it, then fished her cell phone from her shoulder bag.

On the first try, the call rang several times, then went to voice mail. She hung up and called again—their agreed-upon signal that the conversation was urgent. If there was any possible way he could answer the second call, he would.

After three rings he picked up the phone.  “Hey, honey, is everything all right?”

“There’s a man standing outside my door. Joel Watts.” Enormous, imposing, dark. “He said you paid him to follow me.”

“Excuse me for a moment,” he said to someone else. There was the sound of movement in the background, like her father was standing and moving away from a desk or table. “I’m sorry, sweetie. He was supposed to stay in the background for now. I didn’t want him to interfere or worry you.”

Sage felt her pulse begin to calm and the terror gripping her softened, though experience said it would take several more minutes to entirely dissipate—if she was lucky. “Dad, you didn’t have to hire someone.”

“Yes, I did. I was worried about you when I got a report about what was going on, and you never told me about it. You can trust Joel with anything, I promise. Look, I’m sorry, I’m in a meeting right now, but I don’t want to brush you off.”

She smiled, knowing he’d make everyone wait for her if she needed it. “No, that was the only urgent issue. I get off at five; call me this evening when you get a chance.”

“I will, and you’re in good hands. I promise.”

“I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

Sage closed her flip phone and held it in her hand. So Joel really was working for her father. She gave herself a few more minutes for the panic attack to subside before she turned to the door, unlocked and opened it. “Come in.” She gestured for him to take a seat and stepped out to verify the time of her next appointment before shutting herself in the room with him.

“How tall are you, exactly?” Sage asked as she leaned back against the door, studying him.

“Six-four.”

Making her feel even shorter than she had before at only five-three. “And you’re a body builder?”

“Former Navy SEAL, actually.” An unhurried smile spread on his face, transforming it completely. “Staying in shape is part of the job.”

“Of course.” Her dad would never settle for less than the best. Taking a deep breath, she offered him her hand. “Maybe we should start over again. I’m Sage Parker.”

His hand dwarfed hers, surrounding it in hard warmth. “Joel Watts, I’m here to keep you safe.”

For the first time in months, she thought she might be able to relax again.

 

Chapter 2

Joel was relieved that Sage was smart enough to check in with her father, and then relaxed with him—at least a little. He glanced at the comfortable-looking treatment chair and then back at Sage. “Aren’t you supposed to be like a masseuse or something? Can you do massage on one of those?” It seemed like an odd shape—didn’t they usually use padded tables?

Sage chuckled. “I specialize in reflexology.” He must have looked as clueless as he felt because her lips quirked and she brushed back her unruly brown curls. “I focus on whole-body wellness through the feet.”

That had him looking down. She wore sandals, had her toe nails painted bright pink and sported silver toe rings. He never knew feet could be so sexy, but they fit the package from her pixie proportions, to her wild brown curls and haunting gypsy eyes. “If you say so.” Time to focus back on the reason he was there, though he’d been dying to get a closer look at her since her father had sent him her picture nearly a week earlier. “Your dad wanted me to stay incognito for a while longer, but I decided it would be best if I spoke with you after you spotted me. Again.” She always seemed to know when he was nearby. He could usually blend into the background when he tried—especially in a crowd that size—her ability intrigued him.

He continued. “I know you’ve been receiving notes and emails, but without more information, the chances of me catching him are minimal. The police reports only had a few details. What do you know about this guy?”

“Not much, but I’ve kept all of the notes that I didn’t turn over to the police—and I got another one last night. Most of them are signed by your future husband.” Sage folded her arms over her chest and kept her distance from him in the small room. “So how did my dad find out, anyway? I didn’t tell him.”

“The police report, though how he knew there was one, I couldn’t tell you.”

She checked her watch, something he noticed she did often, though he’d been following her for several days and she didn’t seem to run late. “Only ten minutes until my next appointment, and I have the feeling you’ve got more questions than there’s time to answer right now.”

Joel smiled. “I’d say that was a safe bet. How about if I meet you after you get off work? We’ll eat and you can fill me in.”

Sage smiled back, making something turn over in his chest. “I know just the place.”

***

 Sage watched the dismay on Joel’s face as he got a look at the offerings at her favorite restaurant—a vegetarian deli a couple of blocks from the spa where she worked. Though she didn’t adhere strictly to her vegan upraising, she preferred a whole-foods approach to eating and rarely ate meat. Joel apparently had a different idea of what constituted a real meal.

She ordered a garden salad, he chose an egg salad sandwich—the only thing in the deli that qualified as meat in any form—and they found a table in the corner. She noticed he studied the room before sitting down, and took a seat with his back to the wall so he looked out over everything. His eyes tracked around the space and flicked back to the door every time it opened. She relaxed, knowing he was watching out for her. “You’re a former SEAL? How long did you do that?” she asked.

“I was in the Navy for twelve years, a SEAL for ten.” He lifted the edge of his rye bread and looked at the egg filling, and though his expression was doubtful, he lifted the sandwich for a bite.

“That’s quite a while. Why’d you get out?” Sage speared a tomato and popped it into her mouth, studying his face. She felt better about Joel, knowing her father had sent him—her dad was no fool and would have checked his background extensively—but there was still something dark and dangerous about him.

“I got injured on a mission, messed up my ACL. I’ve been through surgery, and am doing great, but I’ll never be at a hundred percent again.” His face was calm, expressionless, but his dark brown eyes revealed his regret.

“You miss it.” She didn’t know much about SEALs except that they were the Navy elite with advanced combat skills. She wondered if his experiences were what made him dangerous, or if the inner predator had already existed and the training merely enhanced it.

“Yeah, I miss it.” There was a flicker of loss in his eyes, though his face didn’t show it.

“I could never fight in a war. Violence makes my stomach turn. I’ve never even held a gun.” She didn’t know how she ended up in a situation where she needed a bodyguard.

“Good thing we’re allowed to have different jobs, then, isn’t it?” He took a sip of his water and turned the conversation back to her. “Tell me about this stalker.”

She washed down her salad with a drink of her tea and plunged ahead. “It started in late January. At first it was just emails, then I started getting letters to my home, and deliveries of gifts to home and work. They’re coming more regularly now. He seems to think we have a relationship already, but I have no idea who it is. I was a little wigged but didn’t really freak out until he started talking about things I’d done, places I’d been—things he couldn’t have known unless he was watching me.” The thought of some stranger obsessing about her made her shiver with revulsion. “That’s why I went to the police.”

“And why your dad hired me.” When Joel’s eyes switched from cool to frigid, she was glad he was on her side.

 

For more of SEALed with Love, purchase it at your favorite retailer!

Divine pumpkin dump cake–for the crock pot

Oh yes, you heard that right. I saw this recipe on Pinterest and couldn’t help myself–I had to try it! I love pumpkin and pretty much everything you can do with it, so I’m always on the lookout for new recipes. The best part about this recipe–it’s so easy, you could have your six-year-old make it. I wish I had taken photos (I need to remember that next time–I’ll add some if I remember next time I make it!) This is the recipe Comfrey makes in Last Chance (I know, it’s not out yet–you’ll have to console yourself with delicious pumpkin cake in the meantime.)

Print Yum

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Dump Cake

Ingredients

1 box yellow or white cake mix (spice would also be delicious!)
1 box of 4-serving instant pudding
1-15 oz can of pumpkin puree
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter
1/2 to 3/4 cup chocolate chips (my addition, because pumpkin and chocolate. Need I say more?)

Instructions

Line your slow cooker with a liner or parchment paper to ease cleanup if you like, then layer each of the ingredients in order, and stir them together–I imagine it helps them mix better if they are layered in evenly before you start. It only took a minute or so with my spatula to mix it all up. Put the lid on, turn the slow cooker to low and walk away for three to four hours. You’ll want the cake to still be moist in the middle when you turn it off, and since there are no eggs in this recipe, no need to worry about it being too wet.

Dawn also drizzles the finished product with caramel sauce and tops it with whipped topping, both of which sound terrific, but I haven’t tried it that way yet.

Original recipe located on Cutefetti.

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I found out one of my heating elements has gone bad on my Crockpot thanks to this recipe–it’s not a problem when I’m making soup, but cake is a whole different story, so next time I’ll turn the crock 180 degrees so it’ll bake more evenly.

A new Echo Ridge Anthology and late-summer sweets

Hi, don’t you love the fall? The air gets cooler, the leaves start to turn bright colors and love is in the air–well, it is in this book. The newest Echo Ridge Anthology is now available in print, ebook, and audio. It all surrounds a library fundraiser with five deliciously sweet romances, and five delicious recipes. While the summer heat may still be upon us, cool down with this fun read.

Click here to buy it now, or read on to learn about about it.

Oh, and we’re giving away an Amazon gift card–in case you need something extra to get excited about. Continue to the end of the post to check it out, plus my super simple and totally delicious recipe for fresh peach pie.

In these five novellas, readers will experience the power a book has to change a life, make dreams come true, and bring two hearts together as the characters work to fill the classic section of the library. Filled with charm, wit, secrets, and hope, each story is a sweet romance with a promise to keep you turning pages into the night. We hope you enjoy this book and the kisses between the lines.

Much Ado About a Kiss by Heather Tullis

Fay’s life is just fine, thank you. Running the café she’d practically been raised in: Check. Her artwork in a gallery: Check. Volunteering on the library board: Check. The one thing she doesn’t need right now is a guy in her life—especially her brother’s irritating best friend from high school, so when the two men announce that they are moving home to start a ski and mountain bike shop in town, she isn’t pleased. If only she could completely forget that one kiss she and Austin shared in high school, and the way it made her heart flutter when she thought about it. Why does he have to upset her just-fine world? Not this time. Not if she can help it. But can she?

The Kiss Thief by Rachelle J. Christensen

As the head librarian of the Echo Ridge Library, Britta Klein thrives on order and categorization. Unfortunately, the old church-turned-library is in desperate need of a renovation. The Harvest Hurrah fundraiser seems to be the answer, but plans keep going awry. With help from Milo Geissler, accomplished musician, piano tuner, and kiss thief, each catastrophe is narrowly avoided. Britta’s heart refuses to be swayed by his help, personal attention, or his irresistible dimpled smile. When Milo goes to great lengths to help Britta find a key classic book, she begins to wonder if there is more to life than books and order. Can she allow this man who speaks the language of music to tune her heart to a new song?

The Lion, The Witch, & The Library by Lucy McConnell

Jennifer Solomon’s birthday wish is for the one thing she’s been too shy to go after: Kirke Staples, Echo Ridge’s resident playwright, an avid mountain biker, and her best friend. Friend, as in don’t kiss, don’t covet, and don’t under any circumstances fall in love with the man. But it’s too late—she’s already fallen in love. Hoping for a birthday kiss that will change everything, she arranges an “accidental” meeting with the handsomest man on the library board. Her carefully laid plans are thrown off track when the beautiful Bay Barington sweeps into town and casts a spell over Kirke. In her efforts to win Kirke’s heart, Jennifer is forced to take a look at her inner self and decide what type of woman she wants to be, a lion or witch.

The Last of the Gentlemen by Cami Checketts

Despite the hardships she’s faced, Emma Turner, is determined to make a good life for her three children. Working nights and struggling through life doesn’t leave much time for romance, which is just fine as far as Emma is concerned. But when her son’s good-looking lacrosse coach takes an interest in her children, Emma has to fight off the smolder in her stomach and banish her daydreams. This school-girl crush needs to end before she embarrasses her son and herself. If only she could tell that to her heart.

Pride & Persuasion by Connie E. Sokol

Lindy Marchant has left heartbreak and downtown L.A. to help her cousin kickstart an antique shop in sleepy Echo Ridge. That is, until she’s roped into the library fundraiser to become an assistant for Armand D. Beaumont, the French bestselling detective writer. The two have met before, and Lindy hasn’t forgotten the disastrous outcome.  Now Armand’s celebrity quirks threaten to upset her life yet again. Or, is there a deeper reason for his unpredictable choices? While Armand inadvertently assists Lindy with the shop, she uncovers his painful truth and an inconvenient growing attraction. As Lindy’s L.A. past catches up with her, decisions must be made. Can Armand let go of his pride and face his fears? And can Lindy be persuaded to take the untried road, even together?

I know, great stories, right? Buy it here!

Fay’s Fresh Peach Pie

Filling:

4 cups fresh peaches

½ cup sugar

3 Tbsp cornstarch

1 pinch salt

1 tsp cinnamon

Pie crust:

2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup shortening

1 large egg, beaten

2 Tbsn white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crust: Mix the flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut the shortening into the flour until it is uniform. Mix the egg and vinegar in a cup and blend into the flour mixture. Pie crust tip: once you add the liquids, you want to handle the crust as little as possible, but before adding the liquids, you can mix it as much as you like.

Split the dough into two balls and roll them out. Line the bottom of the pie pan with the first crust and prick the sides and bottom with a fork. Then spread in the peaches.  Sprinkle the other ingredients evenly across the top. Top with a second crust and crimp the edges and bake for about an hour, or until crust starts to turn golden.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

First Crush–2nd book from the In The Garden series

It is out! I am so excited to announce that the book is now available on all ebook retailers and the paperback should be available to order in a few days.

Third-grade teacher Maddie McCormick was thrilled when her dream of a greenhouse classroom actually came to fruition. She hadn’t expected to anger the local street thugs, or that their threats would make it more difficult to use the new structure.

Police officer Ben Belliston hadn’t planned on fatherhood—ever—but gaining custody of his orphaned niece had him rearranging all of his priorities. His niece, Felicia, and Maddie, her new teacher, bonded right away, so he was happy to provide a little off-duty security in the greenhouse—it was more than a fair exchange for the way Maddie helped his niece emerge from her shell. He hadn’t expected to begin seeing his best friend’s little sister in a new light, or the way Maddie would make him question all of his future plans.

 

Buy it now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and iTunes!

Next up in the series–Not in the Plans, coming summer 2016!

Christmas Kisses

Christmas Kisses is a collection from five bestselling and award-winning authors. Set in the snowy town of Echo Ridge in upstate New York, these inspirational romances are sure to delight while you sip cocoa by the fire and listen to Christmas carols.

One Winter Night by Heather Tullis Amazon bestselling author

Jonah Owens thought moving to Echo Ridge to open his art gallery would solve all of his problems. The need to sell his grandma’s house adds an unexpected complication. It would be easier if his neighbor didn’t have all those farm animals.

Kaya Feidler’s family has owned their land for nearly a hundred years–long before the neighbors were there. There’s no way she’s giving up the animal therapy business she’s been struggling to make profitable. She gets a temp job helping Jonah in the gallery. Spending time together is a recipe for romance, but can they overcome their own hangups to be more than friends?

http://heathertullis.com/ * https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTullisBooks

Christmas Makeover by Cami Checketts Amazon bestselling author

Chelsea Jamison has been infatuated with Drew Stirling longer than she’s loved playing basketball, high-top sneakers, and the Knicks. Unfortunately, all Drew sees is the kid who kicked his trash in the high school free throw contest and not the girl whose heart breaks into a fast dribble when he’s near.

Drew makes an unexpected visit home to Echo Ridge and their friendship picks up where they left off as they scheme to make a teenaged boy’s Christmas dreams come true. When Chelsea realizes she’s fallen for her best friend, she wonders if there is any hope of a relationship with Drew or if she’s stuck in buddy-status for life.

http://www.camichecketts.com/ * https://www.facebook.com/CamiCheckettsAuthor

The Candy Counter Heiress by Lucy McConnell Amazon bestselling & award-winning author

Someday Reese Gates will own The Candy Counter at Kenworth’s; but someday can’t come fast enough when the manager threatens to bring in a national candy provider. Reese secretly takes matters into her own hands hoping to save her parents from additional worry and prove herself capable of running the company. Her deception deepens as she ropes computer guru Andy Edwards into helping her expand the business. Reese wanted to shake things up, but she wasn’t planning on her heart getting caught in the mix by Andy’s stolen kisses. If she can hold it together until after Christmas, then she can reveal her successful online company and her feelings for Andy. Unfortunately for Reese, even the best laid plans can melt like chocolate.

https://lucymcconnell.wordpress.com/ * https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaDymock

Soda Fountain Christmas by Connie E. Sokol Amazon bestselling author

Keira Kenworth has one focus this holiday season: save her father’s old-time department store from bankruptcy. She is not focused on Tayton Wells, the tall, dark, and genius marketing guru from downtown New York, hired to make it happen. He is as doubtful that her nostalgic connect-the-town ideas will succeed as she is about his numbers-first plan. However, it’s not just their different approaches that cause sparks to fly. Working together on a fast deadline to save the store before Christmas, the unspoken connection between them grows. But will the tough decisions they face drive them back to their separate worlds, or will they lead to the beginning of love?

http://www.conniesokol.com/ * https://www.facebook.com/8basics?_rdr=p

Hope for Christmas by Rachelle J. Christensen Amazon bestselling & award-winning author

Anika Fletcher hates Christmas–its promises of good tidings and hope for the future are as tinseled as the ornaments on Kenworth’s Hope Tree. Despite her feelings, Anika wants to maintain her daughter’s faith in the magic of the season and gladly accepts a second job working with the handsome Carlos Rodriguez to restore Kenworth’s old fashioned soda fountain. Carlos is no stranger to hard times and slowly shares his life of light and joy with Anika as they work together. Just as her fragile soul begins to feel hope again, an ill-timed act of charity changes everything. Anika isn’t sure who she can trust or if hope is worth nurturing–especially at Christmas when it’s easy to enjoy a kiss and believe love can last longer than the season.

http://rachellechristensen.com/ * https://www.facebook.com/rachellechristensenauthor

Links: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Kobo * iTunes * Smashwords

Add it to Goodreads

Cover reveal for my next book!

I’m excited to reveal the cover for my first In The Garden romance, coming early next month. Piper, Maddie and Adelyn have been talking to me for over a year, but the thing that brought the stories all together was the garden. In case you don’t know, I love to garden. I love fresh tomatoes warm from the sun when I pick them on my daily trip out to my rain gauge. I love to see flowers brightening up my yard and the birds and insect that they draw in. And the fact that my husband and I were drafted onto the board of directors for our local community garden last winter doesn’t hurt! I hope you all enjoy reading this book as much as I liked writing it!

Piper Daniels has carved a life for herself and her autistic brother, but is barely hanging on financially. After her brother is caught vandalizing, Piper is desperate to find anything affordable that will redirect his energy. Excited by the idea of putting together a community garden, she throws herself into the planning full force until she realizes who owns the property¾Reece Stone, the guy who broke her heart ten years before. She needs his permission to use the land, but how can she face the one man she’s never forgotten and give him the chance to reject her again?

Reece Stone is stunned when Piper’s name comes across his desk. He’s always regretted how things ended between them and is curious to see where life has taken her. He agrees to meet and consider her garden proposal for his property. Once he realizes her brother is the reason behind the community garden, though, he is determined to help. Only, the more time he spends with her, the more his buried feelings for her surface. Will the garden project give him a chance to explain why he broke her heart? Or will she be the heartbreaker this time around?

Wild Hearts Excerpt

Chapter 1

May 23

Delphinium Gifford Lawrence walked into the law office and greeted her father’s estate attorney. Her stomach tightened from nerves as she caught sight of all of the other women seated in a row for the reading of the will. She recognized Cami and Lana—the two daughters her father had raised with his wife. The ones he’d admitted to the world were his. Unlike herself. She didn’t know who the other three women were, though she’d noticed them at her father’s funeral the previous day. She wondered why they had been included in the reading of the will.

Cami and Lana, short for Camellia and Lantana, were both auburn haired and held the same polish Delphi often chafed under, though she wore it well enough when she wanted to present a professional image—which seemed to be all of the time lately. To their left were two blonds and a brunette. Delphi slid into the open seat between Lana and the blond with the straight fall of hair that must reach nearly to her butt. It was easy to envy hair like that, even as Delphi was grateful not to have to care for it.

Alex, the attorney who had contacted her about the funeral, moved to the front of the group, tugged a little at his navy blue suit jacket and began. “I’m glad you could all make it, though I’m sorry for the reason you’re here. I’m Alexander Checketts, the executor of George Marlin DiCarlos’s estate. Because all of you were important to George, he remembered you in his will. As you’ll be able to tell when you hear the terms, this was a very recent revision.”

“Aren’t there a lot of other bequests in the will? Friends, employees?” Cami swept her eyes over the other women, the doubt in her eyes said she didn’t think they belonged there.

“They will all be contacted separately, but this portion of the will concerns each of you equally, and your father and I felt it best to present it to you without the others around.” He picked up the legal forms and began to read the stultifying legalese.

When he reached the bequests, he studied the women. “I’m going to skip over the little things he wanted given to others, though I’d be happy to provide copies of the will to anyone who would like to check it. I’ll go straight to the part concerning all of you.”

All of you? What did that mean? He’d said the will concerned them all equally. The thought sent a niggle of premonition into Delphi’s mind, but she tried to ignore it. No way. She didn’t look at the others, wanting to appear unconcerned. She couldn’t shake her suspicions, though.

“To my daughters, Camellia DiCarlo, Sage Parker, Rosemary Keogh, Lantana DiCarlo, Delphinium Gifford and Jonquil Chestnut, I leave my latest resort.”

Shock shuddered through Delphi. His daughters? They were all his daughters? Her instant of suspicion hadn’t softened the blow at all. She looked left and right, catching the faces of the women beside her. They seemed equally surprised.

Alex went on to talk about how they were all required to take jobs at their father’s newest five-star resort, opening it for business that fall and living together in the same house. Delphi felt stunned as she tried to put the pieces all in order. How could he ask this of her—now when she was finally feeling settled in life with a good job and a boyfriend she, well, liked a lot, anyway.

His next words had her blood boiling.

“As I now own all of your places of employment, or the buildings in which they reside, my directions will ensure you are all out of work if you choose to defy me.”

A worse betrayal than Delphi had ever known before slammed into her and afraid she might not keep control of her emotions, she stood. “Who needs his money or his job? I can find a job on my own.” She headed for the door.

“Delphi, come back and listen to the rest,” Alex protested. “There will be time for dramatic gestures later.”

She turned and glared at him. “I like my life the way it is. If it wasn’t good enough for him, it was his problem.” She stalked out, slamming the door behind her.

She didn’t quite make it to the taxi before hot tears stung her eyes and left wet trails on her cheeks. How could her father do this to her? To all of them? He always said that he loved them, that his girls were his number one priority—and many times he’d managed to make her feel that it was true—but apparently he lied. She’d always felt like she wasn’t quite as good as Cami and Lana because he’d never admitted publicly that he had other daughters. This wasn’t the fifties for heaven’s sake. Why had he felt the need to keep it all secret? His wife had been gone for several years, died from some terminal illness, and he still had to keep it a secret.

She’d thought it was out of respect for her mother and ‘father’—the man her mother had been married to for years before Delphi’s birth. A man who hadn’t been able to have children of his own, and probably wouldn’t have liked them any more than he had liked Delphi, even if he’d believed they were his flesh and blood.

They’d put together a pretty picture for society so her mother could be on every committee known to man and act like the perfect wife and mother, but the reality had been something far less. And now everyone would find out that she’d had an affair with George DiCarlo nearly thirty years earlier. Zelda Gifford had actually forbade her daughter from attending the funeral—not that the declaration had stopped Delphi. Zelda was afraid someone would figure it out, or that rumors would start, though how anyone would have put it all together now when George had managed to keep two phone calls a week and six visits per year a secret for almost three decades, Delphi didn’t know.

George had always supported her hopes and dreams, even if they hadn’t lined up with his expectations, but this was another matter entirely. He wanted her to help run this resort as his acknowledged daughter and live with five other women she didn’t know, though their faces all seemed familiar. She didn’t know why, though, unless it was the random feature their father’s genes had stamped onto their faces. Cami, she would have recognized anywhere, of course. She’d spent an entire year in the same dorm building, watching her and wishing she had the guts to tell Cami the truth—that they were half-sisters. Back then Cami had been an upperclassman, uninterested in the life of a lowly freshman.

“Where to, Miss?” the cab driver asked.

“The DiCarlo Hotel.” George had arranged for her to be put up in one of his hotels for the funeral—Delphi wondered if they were all staying there. Feeling trapped and a little claustrophobic, she wanted to go home tonight, but her ticket wasn’t until morning and she didn’t want to go standby at the airport. Not when she had work that needed to be done, one way or another. The peace and quiet of her hotel room would be almost as good as her condo in New York.

She dashed away the tears and sucked in a deep breath of Chicago smog. She was too messed up to know what she should do, what was right, but she was tempted to tell Alex where he could take her inheritance—no matter that it would be nine-figures—and go back to her old life. Except her father had made that impossible too.

She didn’t want to start over.

She paid the cabbie and strode into the motel with a brisk step. She’d go to her room, start that whirlpool tub going with a big dollop of bubble bath, and take a nice, relaxing soak. Then she’d figure out what to do next.

A few hours later Delphi was sending emails to vendors to verify orders before the next weekend’s weddings when someone knocked on her hotel room door. She glanced up and considered ignoring them—they’d go away eventually, right? Then she decided to practice the good manners her mother had pounded into her for the past twenty-eight years.

She wasn’t surprised to find Alex standing in the hall, carrying a large manila envelope. He looked worn out, but kept his face as smoothly impassive as ever. “What do you want? I believe I made my opinion about my father’s will clear earlier.” So maybe good manners weren’t going to be as evident as they should. She was emotionally wrung out and it was all she could do to keep from taking out her frustration on him.

“Can you give me five minutes?”

Alex seemed like the kind of man who didn’t back down easily, so Delphi gestured him into the luxurious room that overlooked downtown Chicago. “Five minutes is all I have.”

“Your father spoke of how successful you are in the wedding planning business,” Alex acknowledged. “He said you work for one of the most reputable companies in New York.”

“Which obviously means I’m not fulfilling my potential and must move to a tiny mountain town instead where I can do better,” she said dryly.

Alex smiled. “I didn’t always understand his thinking, either. But there’s a letter in the envelope from him that might help explain a thing or two. And even if you decide not to accept the contract and inheritance, there will still be stacks of paperwork to sign. Refusing an inheritance is a nightmare. You should at least look over the terms closer and think about it overnight before making a firm decision. His machinations are going to force you to switch jobs anyway. You might as well consider this offer.”

She took the envelope because if she didn’t, he’d probably leave it on the desk, and possibly mess up her organized chaos. “I’m really mad at him right now.”

“I can’t blame you, but whether he was right or wrong, he believed he was making the right choice and that this would make your life better—at least by the end of your time in Colorado.” He let a few seconds pass in silence before tagging on. “You know he loved you.”

“That’s some love, not admitting he knew me for all of these years. Even if he did call regularly and visit as often as he could. Now I understand why it wasn’t more—keeping up with six daughters and still maintaining an active social life and business dealings must have been so exhausting.” She lifted her gaze to his. “I used to believe it was all because of my mom and father,” she never called her mom’s husband ‘dad.’ “I didn’t know about any of those other girls, either, and I would have heard if they were common knowledge. It was all about him and his wishes.” The thought burned inside her, though she hadn’t felt guilty at laying it all at her mother’s feet until now—if it had been entirely Zelda’s choice, her true father would still have been a secret. But wills had to filed in court, right? So the truth would come out.

“He definitely wasn’t perfect,” Alex admitted. “But he did love you and worry about you. The envelope contains a copy of the will in its entirety, the contract for Juniper Ridge in case you decide to take the deal and your father’s letter. Take a little while tonight to look them over. You might find it’s not as bad a deal as you think.”

“Thanks.” Her voice was flat, and exuded her insincerity.

“Good night, Mrs. Lawrence. I’ll be in touch.”

He backed out of the room and she tasted the bitterness of her title in her mouth. It had been years since anyone had called her Mrs. Lawrence. An ache pierced through her as she thought of her former husband, Fallon, and of losing him to flu and heart problems at such a young age. The pain was stronger this week as the feelings of losing him were twisted together with the pain of losing George—the man who, she had to admit, really did try to be the best father he could, considering the constraints they had all been under.

Delphi dumped the contents of the envelope on the bed. A white envelope landed on top, her name scrawled in George’s familiar handwriting. She hesitated for a moment before picking it up, removing the paper and starting to read.

Dear Delphinium,

I know you’re going to be maddest of all of my girls, but of everyone, you need this change of scene the most. I’ve worried about you since Fallon’s funeral. You moved ahead, creating a new life for yourself, but I think you never managed to truly put that part of your past behind you. Maybe that’s partly my fault for not being there for you like you needed through everything.

I want you to know that I have full trust that you’ll do amazing things with your life. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you have to toe the line and do what society expects of you. You’re more than enough all by yourself. Please, use this year away from the pressures of life in New York to decide what you really want. What’s really important.

And please, let your heart open again. The men you’ve been dating recently aren’t right for you, and you know it. Be willing to take a chance or two if the right guy comes along. I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn when I say that Fallon would have wanted you to move on. Remember him because he will always be an important part of you, but you’re young, and he wouldn’t have wanted you to be alone forever.

I couldn’t be prouder of you, sweet girl. I love you more than I can say. Take care, Delphi. And believe in yourself.

Love always, Dad

Tears spilled down her cheeks again and she pushed them back. The loving way he wrote to her only underscored what she missed out on because he was too chicken to admit she was his daughter while he was alive. When she picked up the will and contract to read them a few minutes later, she promised herself that she’d do so with an open mind. She’d always sought her father’s approval. Apparently even his death wouldn’t change that.

She did a double-take at the amount of money she would inherit if she complied with his wishes. Still it took reading his letter three more times and a nearly sleepless night before she signed the contract.

 

Chapter 2

July 28

Delphi got out of her car on the narrow mountain road and sighed in relief as she saw the lettering on the window of Jeremy’s Litster’s photography studio. She’d found the right place—not a sure thing in this twisty, crazy town, but another sign said it was closed. She checked her watch. “Looks like punctuality is going to be a problem.” She was right on time for her appointment, so if Jeremy showed up in the next couple of minutes, she wouldn’t hold it against him.

She still hadn’t fully come to terms with her decision to bow to the demands in her father’s will and move to Colorado, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t act like a professional. She just had to make it through her thirteen-month sentence in Juniper Ridge, Colorado and she could do anything she wanted with her inheritance—whether it was to return to New York to continue as a wedding planner, or not. After spending the past couple of days in one house with all of her half-sisters, Vienna was sounding better every minute. Not that she could stand to be idle that long. All she wanted was to choose her own destiny and this was definitely not her choice.

The low rumble of a motorcycle reached her ears and she turned toward it, soaking up the late-July sunshine as it hit her face. At least the weather wasn’t nearly as humid and oppressive here in summer as it could be in New York.

A gray and charcoal-colored bullet bike came to a stop at the curb, the BMW sports model made her salivate. The lean, black-leather-clad man straddling it wasn’t hard to look at either, she decided when he removed the helmet to show a shock of sun-bleached hair and brown eyes. It wasn’t the kind of face women swooned over, but the planes and angles of his jaw were definitely appealing. He wore blue jeans and a button-down shirt in deep blue under his weathered black leather jacket. A sharp contrast to her Ralph Lauren skirt suit, which was a blush pink today.

“You must be Delphinium,” he said as he got off the bike. His eyes flicked over her, caution in his face.

“Call me Delphi.” She crossed to him with a hand out. Their gazes met and she was intrigued by the punch of attraction. “So you’re Jeremy Litster?” Better and better. As DiCarlo Resort’s events coordinator she’d be spending lots of time in this man’s company in the future—if his work passed muster.

His hand surrounded hers with warm firmness, though he didn’t return her smile of pleasure at the meeting. “Guilty as charged. Sorry about not being here when you arrived.” He tucked his helmet under his arm and turned toward the studio. “I usually arrive early for appointments.”

“Good to know.” Delphi wondered if he was blowing cold or if it was her imagination. And she’d see for herself in the future how punctual he generally was.

They walked in and she studied the warm red tone of the wall behind the counter which contrasted against the off-mustard color of the others. It shouldn’t have worked, but it did. If Jeremy had done the decorating, he had a good eye. And, she decided, if the portraits on the walls were any indication of his skill, that good eye extended to his creativity behind the camera as well. “Nice pics. No wonder Dad insisted I come to you to work with our clients. You have quite an eye. I might bring you in for some publicity shots before we open.” She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. “I love finding someone who knows their stuff.”

He deposited the helmet under the counter and turned to her, his hands on his hips and a bit of a sneer on his mouth. “Just to clear the air,” he said, “I’m not looking for marriage, no matter how much money your father left you.”

Stymied by his declaration, she shifted her whole body to stare at him. “I don’t recall proposing.” What was with the men in this area? Just because Cami, her older sister—well, half-sister—seemed happy to hook up with Jeremy’s best friend practically at first sight didn’t mean Delphi was looking for love. She still had a boyfriend back home.

“I saw the way you looked at me when I pulled up.” He slid his hands into his pockets and crossed to her. “And I know plenty about your family agenda.” He stopped about a foot away from her, challenging her to deny it.

His arrogance floored her, and made her want to make him squirm, so she decided to give it her best shot. “I was looking at your bike. That’s the BMW S1000RR, isn’t it? Do you race? Because I can’t imagine why else you’d own a bike that’s been known to clock in the 180 mile-per-hour range. And what do you think of the rain setting? Have you had a chance to try it out yet?” What she wouldn’t do to get a chance to drive a bike like that. She’d kept her old Yamaha mostly for sentimental value. It was ready to be replaced, when she decided she could stand to let it go. Right now it would still feel too much like letting Fallon go, so couldn’t do that yet.

Jeremy blinked a few times in surprise and when he answered, his words were a little halting. “Yeah, the rain setting comes in handy on these windy mountain roads. And I’ve been known to join a race or two.”

Feeling triumphant at managing to take him by surprise, she smirked. “It’s a hot ride.”

“Yeah.”

“And for your information,” she said with as much ice as she could gather, still fuming about the way he’d acted. “Your bike is way hotter than you are.” She gave him two heartbeats to absorb that before she gestured to the counter. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, are you going to show me your portfolio or not?”

His shock lasted only a second more before he appeared to shake it off and moved to grab a big binder. “Of course. That’s what you’re here for.”

“Yes. It is.” Delphi didn’t think she imagined his gratitude for the change of subject. She decided to be the bigger person and focus on work. For now. There would be plenty more chances to make him squirm in the future.

Family Matters Excerpt

Chapter 1

“Today’s tragedy is going to change your life. For the better I think.”

Rosemary looked up from the salmon she was deboning and saw Sage standing beside her at the restaurant kitchen counter. “Yeah? Thanks for the heads up, but I’m a little too busy for tragedy today.” Still, she felt a little shiver go down her spine. Sage’s predictions had a way of coming true, even if she sometimes couched them in vague enough terms that the average person might ignore the warnings. The word tragedy rang again in her mind—she was fairly certain Sage wasn’t referring to a burned dish or dropped appetizer. “Not enough going on in your own department right now?”

Sage didn’t react to the clipped words as her wide, brown eyes studied Rosemary calmly. Her olive skin and curling brown hair gave her the look of a gypsy—a not inapt comparison considering the random, always-accurate predictions. Though the half-sisters hadn’t known each other long, Rosemary had seen enough of these predictions to believe in them.

“The spa is busy, but I had a few minutes’ break and thought I should come warn you. It’s been on my mind since I woke up this morning,” Sage said. The chaos of breakfast preparation whirled around them, pans clattering, dishes clanking and staff calling back and forth to each other as they prepared for the convention, while feeding late breakfast patrons in the restaurant.

“Well, thanks for stopping by. I think.” Rosemary didn’t want to dwell on what the tragedy was going to be if there was no way to avert it. And how could a tragedy have a positive outcome?

Sage touched Rosemary’s arm. “Just remember. Good things come out of bad sometimes too. And this will definitely be one of them.” She gave her arm a little squeeze, and breezed out.

It was nice to no longer see evidence of the worry and stress that had plagued Sage through the summer and fall, but Rosemary wondered if it left too much time for her to worry about the rest of the sisters. She stretched her back muscles, forcing away the shiver of discomfort Sage’s prediction had caused.

Maybe Sage had misunderstood her impressions. Rosemary caught on that, then put the whole conversation behind her. She didn’t have time for cryptic messages.

Rosemary was dragging after a fourteen-hour day when she returned home, her feet sore, her muscles complaining, and with another long day ahead of her tomorrow. She took comfort in the fact that at least everything was ready for morning, even if she wasn’t. Sage’s warning had flitted into her thoughts several times through the day, but nothing she would consider tragic had happened, unless you counted the server who tripped over her own feet and dropped a table’s meals just before she reached them.

That had been a mess, and the restaurant had to comp the meals—which had eventually made it to them, intact—but Rosemary would hardly consider it a tragedy. She tossed her keys on the kitchen counter and kicked off her shoes in the middle of the aisle, mostly with the hope of annoying Delphi who, in Rosemary’s opinion, had a nearly OCD compulsion about orderliness. She poured herself some hot water from the espresso machine, grabbed one of Sage’s secret tea blends and stepped into the sunken living room to join Delphi, who was watching the news.

“Anything interesting in your neck of the woods?” Rosemary asked as the newscasters droned on about some new legislation the Colorado House of Representatives was trying to push through.

“I dealt with a hysterical bride because the linens we ordered are a shade too pink for her reception, a CEO who decided to add an extra ten rooms for his convention this weekend, despite the fact that we’re already at capacity, but I’m not having any trouble with my staff. You?” Delphi brushed the short, blond hair back from her face with perfectly manicured hands. She still wore the cream-colored blouse and navy skirt she’d put on for work that day and despite the fact that she had to have worked nearly as many hours as Rosemary, Delphi still looked perfectly pressed and presentable. Sometimes Rosemary could hate her for that.

A lot of people thought they were the two sisters who were the most alike, but Rosemary didn’t agree. Sure, they were both strong willed and knew what they wanted, but Delphi had a way of telling you where to go without seeming the least impolite, while Rosemary wouldn’t bother over the pretty words. They were both tall and blond, but Rosemary had long hair that she had to braid out of the way while she worked in the kitchen and she fought daily to keep the extra weight off. Delphi had a short cap of hair, was thin without exercise or paying attention to what she ate and totally uncoordinated, in opposition to the genteel, polished way she presented herself in every situation—at least when she was in public. Their histories were also total opposites, but that was another story.

Rosemary pushed the comparison away as it always made her feel a little inadequate. “Things ran mostly fine in the restaurant, the convention banquets went well—unless you’ve heard something I haven’t—and I got my food order done. No major catastrophes—despite Sage saying a tragedy was going to change my life today.” She tried to blow the warning off as if she didn’t believe a word of it, but still felt an itch between her shoulder blades when she thought of it.

“Sage gave you a warning? That sounds ominous.” Delphi took another sip from her teacup, the soft scent wafting over to Rosemary said it held chamomile. She was the only one of Rosemary’s five step-sisters who was still unconvinced about Sage’s abilities.

“New information regarding the bombing of a Washington DC café has just come in,” a redheaded news anchor announced on the television. She stared into the camera with a serious expression. “Senator Teremce Lampert of Minnesota is confirmed as having died in the blast, along with at least eight other people after a bomb was launched through a window during lunch hour. Authorities are still trying to track down suspects.” She went on to discuss the controversial legislation the senator had been trying to pass and how it wasn’t expected to get enough votes without his push behind it.

Delphi looked at Rosemary. “You’re from DC; maybe that’s your tragedy.” She pointed to the television. There was a touch of sarcasm in her voice.

The camera panned back, showing the row of storefronts on the street. Rosemary recognized the café sign hanging crooked against the wall and sighed. She loved the little café and had been going there for decades. “It sure is. They make the best cannoli at that shop. It’s even better than mine.”

“Liar.” Delphi picked up the remote and turned off the television. “No one’s cannoli is better than yours, as much as I hate to admit that.”

“Thank you.” Though the loss of the café gave Rosemary wistful beats of nostalgia, Delphi’s unusual compliment did make her feel a little better. “I’m off to bed. Tomorrow’s going to be a bear.” Rosemary carried her tea up to her room to sip on while she prepared for bed, wondering if she’d known anyone who’d been hurt in the bombing.

The morning zoomed by as the restaurant staff got the continental breakfast out for the finance conference, then turned their attention to preparing the lunches.

Rosemary was double-checking the croissants they had made that morning when there was a knock on the storage room door. “Come in,” she called as she marked the number on her list.

“Hey, there’s a guy out there who wants to talk to you.” It was one of the servers. “I told him you were in the middle of something and tried to fob him off on Tate, but he said it was a personal matter and important.”

Rosemary scowled, but set her clipboard on the shelf and responded coolly. “Thank you for letting me know.” She wondered if it really was personal, or if that was just an excuse the salesman was using to see her.

He stood just outside the kitchen door, expectantly. First glance didn’t say salesman, though. His suit was too nice, he held himself stiffly, and well, she couldn’t put her finger on it, but his appearance put her a little on edge. “Hello, I’m Rosemary Keogh,” she greeted him with a businesslike smile. “What can I do for you today?”

“I’m Thomas Sinclair, from Davis and Sinclair. I’m an attorney.” The forty-something-year-old glanced at the people around them. “Is there somewhere quieter where we can talk?”

Rosemary felt the dread rise inside her. Was someone suing her? She decided to be very, very careful. She pointed to a private room a few feet away and he led her inside.

When the door shut behind them, she turned to him. “What’s going on?”

He gestured to a chair. “Please have a seat.”

“Do I need to sit?” When his expression softened a little, she sank into the one he’d pointed out, her bad feeling growing.

“A colleague of mine represents Don and Cecelia Markham in Washington, DC. He asked me to come speak with you, since he’s unable to make the trip.”

“Is something wrong? Did something happen to them?” Hard on her heels was worry about Cleome, their nine-year-old daughter.

He sat across from her and folded his hands on the tabletop. “Did you hear about the senator who was killed in that café bombing in DC yesterday?” When she nodded that she had, he continued. “It seems they were eating there at the time. I’m very sorry. They didn’t make it.”

Shock shuddered through her, stealing her breath and nearly stopping her heart. Grief was hard on its heels, with worry following right behind. Her mouth refused to follow directions as she tried to process the information. It took a couple of tries before she got out the words. “Their daughter, Cleo?”

He made a calming gesture with his hands. “She’s fine. She was at school at the time. But,” he pulled out some papers and passed them to her, “it seems the Markhams have appointed you as their daughter’s guardian.”

Her head spun and her hands clasped hard on her lap as she tried to put all of those pieces together. Cecelia was dead? She couldn’t quite seem to pound that thought into her head. They’d spoken on the phone only a few days earlier, catching up as they did every couple of weeks. They had been planning for Rosemary’s next visit to DC the following month—her bi-monthly trip to check up on the family in person and be part of Cleo’s life. That brought home what he’d said a moment earlier.

“They want me to raise Cleo? Are you sure? I would have thought Cecelia’s brother. Or Don’s.” She felt herself begin to hyperventilate. They were going to let her raise Cleo? Hope and terror filled her, though she could have sworn only a moment later that grief had filled her too much to allow any other emotions in, but they all seemed to squeeze inside her at the same time. Did Cleo know about the arrangement? Would she be okay with it? Could Rosemary bring her back home when there were two other women living in the house with her? What would they think?

Her lungs loosened slightly, though the pain of knowing that Don and Cecelia were gone was overwhelming. “Who’s taking care of her?” She had to get to DC immediately. Her mind slowed to a crawl as she tried to make it compute. How could this happen?

“You’ll have to contact the attorney for more details. He didn’t tell me that much. Are you okay? Can I get you anything?” he asked. She saw the compassion in his eyes now, the worry that showed in the way his hands gripped the briefcase he’d been carrying.

“Just a second.” Her daughter. Rosemary was going to get to raise her daughter, the one she’d given to Cecelia to raise. It was something she had never even dared to dream of and made her insides twist with excitement and pain all at once.

“I’m sure this must be quite a shock to you, considering they had family who could have raised the girl instead, but they wanted you to do it.”

“Wow. I’m honored.” She sucked in a deep breath and let it out. He didn’t need to know the truth, that they had adopted her daughter and kept in touch. Cleo was the reason she’d gone home for visits—staying away for more than a year would have been too hard—the two-month gaps between visits now was harder than she had expected. “So I probably need to plan on being there for a while. What kind of arrangements do you think I should make?” Her head spun and she couldn’t feel her fingertips anymore.

“That depends on if you decide to stay here or move back to DC.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have a choice. I have to stay here through the summer at least.”

“All right, then. The attorney’s number is on the top of the stack of papers.”

“Thanks.” Her hands trembled and she felt light-headed.

“Would you like me to get someone to be with you?” he asked. “If you have a friend or someone I can call, I’d be happy to do that.”

“No. No, thanks.” She shook her head, looked back at him and forced a smile while she tried to fit the pieces together in a comprehensive form. “I have several family members here. I’ll go to one of their offices if I need to talk to someone.” Obviously he wasn’t from the area, or he’d have already known that—the whole town had talked about the twisted mess her father had made of their lives. She doubted her legs would hold her weight at the moment, but she didn’t want to face anyone else right now anyway. How could Don and Cecelia be gone? And what kind of mother would she be with Wanda as her example of motherhood? “Their house and stuff?”

“Everything I know is in those papers. If you’d like to take a minute to read them, I’d be happy to explain anything you don’t understand. Or you can have your own attorney look them over.” He passed over a business card.

Rosemary flipped open the folder and tried to read the top page, but the words swirled in front of her eyes. She was still in shock. “Maybe when my brain clears. I’ll have my attorney look them over, too.”

Mr. Sinclair picked up his briefcase and coat and shook her hand. “I wish you lots of luck in the parenting adventures ahead.”

“Thanks.” Rosemary watched him leave, then returned her gaze to the papers in front of her. Shaking herself out of the fuzz that seemed to be taking over her brain, she pulled out her cell phone to call Alex, the attorney who had handled her father’s estate. He was a pseudo relative—a cousin to two of her half-sisters, and probably already knew about her relationship to Cleo. It seemed her father had told him everything else about them. Family law wasn’t his specialty, but he could help with the estate stuff and he had to know more about these things than she did.

She felt hot tears of grief roll onto her cheeks. Don and Cecelia were dead. It was like losing her father all over again. Maybe worse because the pain wasn’t accompanied by the twist of resentment she hadn’t been able to release about George. Cecelia had been the mother she’d wished she’d had and Don had filled in for the father who was gone most of the time. She thought of Cleo, of how alone she must be feeling. It made Rosemary want to drop everything and head straight for DC, but she had commitments and arrangements to make, so she’d have to stick it out, at least for a few more hours. She could check on flight times as soon as she had a chance to get her feet under herself.

Rosemary left a message with Alex’s secretary and stared for a long moment at the folder, allowing herself to grieve for several minutes before wiping her face and forcing herself to focus on her job. Cleo was going to need her, so she’d be strong. Later, when Rosemary was alone, there would be time to fall apart.

She returned to the kitchen to find her assistant manager, Tate, scowling.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Dill. In the chicken sandwich filling.”

She felt her blood pressure rise as she grabbed a spoon to taste the filling. When her sample confirmed what Tate had said, she turned to Rulon, who had been assigned to mix it. “You added dill?”

He rubbed a sweaty hand over his unshaven face. “It was an honest mistake. I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry. The recipe calls for tarragon. They aren’t even kept on the same shelf. How did you make the mistake?” Rage rose within her—much easier to deal with than her grief. She’d been on the edge of ready to fire him anyway. This was the last straw.

“Look, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” He didn’t appear sorry though. His dark eyes were belligerent and he gestured angrily.

“You’re right, it won’t. You’re done here.” Rosemary’s mind started whirling as she thought of everything they needed to do to fix the problem and still get lunch out on time.

“What do you mean?’

“I mean you’re fired. I put up with a lot of things, but incompetence isn’t one of them, and you’ve already used all of your freebies. Grab your things and get out of here.”

His fists opened and closed and his arm muscles bunched. He was a couple of years younger than herself and he worked out often. For a moment she thought he might deck her, but instead, he used all of the gutter language his limited mind had absorbed and stormed out.

She sucked in a deep breath to center herself, then focused on what had to be done to salvage lunch. It was almost a relief to have something so comparatively minor to focus on instead of the emptiness inside her. “Do we have enough chicken to start over?” she asked Tate.

“No.” He still wore his scowl.

“Fine.” There was no choice; they had to have the filling for that afternoon’s sandwiches. She turned to the others. “Who wants to get paid to drive to Denver for emergency supplies?”

She picked one of the five people who vied for the opportunity and did her best to put it out of her mind, but wasn’t very successful.

 

Chapter 2

Rosemary was still fuming, working like mad to keep up with the restaurant demands and oversee preparations for the banquet that afternoon. She just couldn’t catch a break, and she was tired. And hungry. But she wasn’t going to indulge in anything until those sandwiches were made.

“Rosemary, can I talk to you for a minute?” It was Harrison, who always made her feel like a bumbling fool, though he never seemed to do it on purpose. He was using his calm, controlled voice—which meant they would probably be fighting in a few minutes, because that’s what they usually did when they ‘talked.’

“I’m a little busy here. Can it wait until after we get through the lunch rush?” She didn’t even look at him.

“I think you can spare two minutes. How about if we go to your office?”

Her office? So it really was going to be a showdown. She clenched her teeth and turned the work over to Tate, her assistant, before whirling and heading for her office. Harrison followed along and after he shut the door to the kitchen, she turned to face him, “I’m running a little behind right now. I really can’t spare the time, so try to keep it short, will you?”

“I just spoke with Rulon.”

She knew it. “And he’d be the reason I’m behind. What, did he come whining that I yelled at him?” She put her hands on her hips and glared at Harrison, the gorgeous idiot. The way his brown hair fell over his eyes always got to her, but she could mostly ignore it when she was angry.

“He said you yelled at him in front of everyone.” Harrison stood casually, his hands in his pockets. He always started out like this, employing the take-it-easy approach, like his vegan, Mother Earth-type mother taught him, but it never lasted long. The muscle beside his eye twitched—a dead giveaway that he was already mad.

“Right, because he put dill in the chicken salad. Dill. Really? It was supposed to be tarragon, and he used twice what he should have in the first place, and it was totally unusable. I had to send Gillian to Denver to get more chicken because we’re now short for the lunch we’re catering this afternoon. That’s several hundred dollars in ruined ingredients and over five man hours of wasted time that we have to make up because he’s totally inept.” That included the hour’s drive to Denver, but Rosemary had to pay Gillian for the day and her gas, didn’t she?

Harrison’s lips pressed together. He never seemed to approve of her leadership tactics. “You should have brought him in here to fire him.”

She knew she should have handled it better, had silently reprimanded herself for it several times already, but didn’t appreciate Harrison telling her how to deal with her staff—even if he was the director of HR. “I didn’t have the time or the patience. It’s not like this is the first time he’s done something stupid that’s cost us. I was more than understanding on the previous three occasions.” But today she had been primed to blow. Learning about the Markhams had honed the fine edge of her temper and she hadn’t been in control of herself. She hated not being in control.

“Nevertheless.”

She cut him off before he could continue. “Don’t you nevertheless me. I don’t have time to deal with this. Write me up if you want, whatever, I don’t care. I have food to get out. If you’ll excuse me.” She tried to push past him, as tears started to prickle in her eyes, but he latched onto her upper arm.

“Whoa. You need to calm down if you’re going back out there.” His voice was low and even. “This is a problem waiting to happen.”

“I can’t calm down.” She sucked in a breath and blinked rapidly, but a tear spilled over anyway.

His voice switched to worried. “Hold on. What’s wrong?” His grip was loose, but secure, an odd combination. “It’s not lunch that you’re upset about, is it?”

She wiped at her cheek, flicking the tear away. “Don’t be stupid. You think I can’t deal with an employee? Everything isn’t about this place, you know—even if you don’t have a life outside the hotel.” She yanked on her arm and he let go.

Steeling herself for the chaos of her kitchen, she pushed out of the office and went back to work. It was the best cure for grief, and a distraction from her worry.

Rosemary told herself that she ran her own kitchen and there was no reason to make a big deal out of taking off for a week or so, but after fixing the work schedule so she could take off, she headed upstairs to see Lana and Delphi.

Why had her father insisted in putting her in this position, anyway? She’d been happy in her downtown DC restaurant job, close to the Markhams and her daughter. He knew she just wanted to cook, but it hadn’t been good enough for him, Instead he’d made it a condition of her inheritance that she spend the year in Juniper Ridge heading his latest resort’s restaurant.

He’d strong-armed the rest of the sisters into working there as well, though a couple of them had been more than willing when the terms of the will had been read. And then there was the big house he’d bought for them to live in—six women in one house—even if it did have private bathrooms in every room—was asking a lot. Half of them were married now, including Cami and Lana, the two daughters by his long-deceased wife. None of them had known about the other girls. The fact that they had all been a secret had caused plenty of stress and trouble by itself but they were dealing.

They were a long way from being the happy family he’d apparently wanted for all of them, though, and she didn’t look forward to explaining herself now. She smiled and greeted Gina, the executive office manager, and stuck her head in Lana’s office. “You got a moment?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Let me grab Delphi too so I can handle everything at once.” She passed a few more offices, including Harrison’s—it was empty—and knocked on Delphi’s open door. “Got a minute for a quick meeting with Lana and me?”

Denial was on Delphi’s face when she looked up, then her eyes narrowed and she nodded. No doubt she noticed Rosemary’s red nose and eyes—she really needed to take a break to touch up her makeup. “Sure, no more than a minute, though.” She stood and followed Rosemary out of the room.

Delphi entered Lana’s office first and Rosemary closed the door behind them. “I have to make an emergency trip to DC. I just got a flight. It leaves first thing tomorrow. I could be gone for a week or more.”

“But we have a big wedding this weekend,” Delphi protested.

“It can’t be helped.” Rosemary steeled herself. “Some close friends of mine were killed in the café bombing yesterday. I need to get home for the funeral, and other things.” She nearly mentioned Cleo, but decided to hold off a little while. She was still trying to grasp that.

“Surely the funeral isn’t for a few days,” Delphi protested.

“I don’t know when it is,” Rosemary admitted, “but there are other issues I need to handle that go along with it. I’ll explain more later. Meanwhile, I’ve made some changes to the catering work schedule to make sure everything is covered.” She filled them in on the adjustments so they would know who to contact in case anything came up.

When they finished, Delphi left, citing an appointment with a prospective client, but questions lingered in her eyes.

“This must be someone you’re really close to,” Lana said when they were alone.

Rosemary nodded. She’d grown closer to this half-sister over the past few months when Lana became pregnant. As the only one in the family—as far as she knew—who had ever been pregnant before, she’d done her best to support the slightly younger woman. Not that Lana or anyone else knew Rosemary had been pregnant before. Not yet, anyway. “They were more my parents than Wanda or George in a lot of ways. It throws some other wrenches in the works, but there will be time to discuss that later.” She sighed, desperately wanting a hot bath full of bubbles and a glass of really excellent wine. “I need to get back to work. I’ll see you later.” She heaved herself from the chair.

“Tell me if you need anything. Really, Rosemary.” Lana held her gaze for a long moment.

Rosemary nodded, though she didn’t know if it was a lie or not.

Harrison was taking a stroll around the resort late that afternoon. He’d needed a moment to get out of his office and stretch his legs. He paused when he passed the restaurant entrance. He could see Rosemary standing in front of a table with a couple of octogenarian diners—they were locals, he knew because he’d seen them around enough to recognize them.

Rosemary smiled and covered the woman’s withered old hand with hers, kindness and respect in her demeanor. She wasn’t smiling as brightly as she often did when she interacted with happy guests and he wondered if the deal with Rulon still bothered her. She turned away from the table and nearly bumped into one of the servers, half-laughing as she said something that looked like ‘such a klutz,’ but since the server smiled as he continued to a family a few tables beyond the older couple, Rosemary must have been talking about herself and not him.

Harrison wondered why she seemed able to handle little things with grace and good humor, but wigged out on Rulon earlier. And what had caused her tears?

She pushed through the kitchen doors, the smile slipping from her face and sadness taking over a moment before she disappeared from view.

He turned and continued on down the hall, then ducked in to see Sage, his half-sister by their mom. She was half-sister to the rest of George’s daughters as well, including Rosemary, and always seemed to have insights.

“What’s up?” Sage looked up from her computer monitor when he stopped her office doorway. Her wild dark curls were pulled back as they always were while she worked.

“You got a minute?” he asked.

“For you? Sure.”

He shut the door behind him. “So what’s up with Rosemary? She looks like death warmed over.” The two weren’t particularly close, but Sage had a way of knowing things, often even if people didn’t tell her.

Sage shot him a surprised look. “You haven’t heard? Some people she was close to back home were killed in that bombing that killed that senator.”

He’d heard about the bombing on the news the previous night, and earlier, when Rosemary was upset and at the point of tears, she must have already known about her friends. It made Harrison feel like such a jerk. But she made him feel that way on a regular basis, so that was hardly unusual. “No wonder she’s… off.”

“Yeah. So go easy on her, will you?” Sage’s voice was light, but he could tell from the worry lines around her eyes that she was worked up about it. “She’ll be heading to DC first thing in the morning.”

He nodded. “That explains a few things.”

“Aren’t you going to DC next week to work with their new HR director?” Sage asked him speculatively.

The thought had occurred to him, too. He’d made the appointment a couple of weeks earlier. “I have meetings. She might be back by then if she’s leaving already.” He wasn’t sure if he wanted her to be back or if he wanted a chance to talk with her away from work—away from everything that made crossing the line into friendship so difficult here. It was something to think about.

There was a pile of work on his desk, which he needed to get back to, but he knew he would have trouble focusing on it now. The blond woman he had brought to tears that morning, however, was very much on his mind. She always was, seldom leaving him alone for long, but this was something more. If only he’d known earlier, he would have handled it differently.

Too late for that, though. Too late for a lot of things. Considering the way she never let her guard down around him, even for a second, he doubted that would change.

Still, a few overtures of friendship might not hurt.

Reclaiming His Bride Excerpt

Chapter 1

What am I doing here? Lantana smiled blindly over the table at Jeremy, the cute photographer contracted for events at their resort. His best friend, Vince, sat beside him, with his fiancée—Lana’s sister Cami—snuggled at his side. The air was relaxed, the food good and the conversation friendly, but she couldn’t help kicking herself for agreeing to join them. It was late September, the hotel had only been open three weeks, and she needed some time alone.

“What have we here?” Blake Bahlmann’s voice cut through the noise and it was all Lana could do not to cringe. Now she was in for it.

“Hey, Blake, come join us,” Cami offered, gesturing to a chair.

Lana carefully avoided meeting his gaze, but she could tell from his stance, hands in the pockets of his jeans, that he was unhappy. She told herself he had no right to be—but it wasn’t really true. They were still married. Technically. This hadn’t been intended as a double date—Cami had invited all of the sisters to join them that night, but somehow the other four had begged off or changed their minds as the evening progressed. And one of Vince’s best friends had backed out, leaving a very awkward, totally unintended, pseudo-date situation. The fact that Jeremy seemed no more interested in her than she was in him was irrelevant.

“I’m afraid I can’t right now. I’m the on-call manager at the hotel tonight and only popped in to pick up my order,” Blake explained. “I’d like a quick chat with Lana, though.”

She swallowed and smiled in his direction, though she avoided meeting his gaze. “I’m sure it can wait until morning.”

He grabbed her hand, which had been sitting on the table top. “No, I’m afraid it can’t.”

She looked back at her companions and widened the smile, hoping it didn’t look like a grimace. “We’ll only be a minute. Excuse me.” She rose and allowed him to pull her across the room to a quiet corner near the door.

When he rounded on her, his pale blue eyes were as cold as a Nordic winter. “You’re on a date?”

She wanted to tell him it was none of his business—she even opened her mouth to do so when good sense kicked in. “I know what it looks like, but you’re wrong. It was supposed to be a big group, but somehow it ended up being just the four of us. Nothing’s going on. Unlike some people I know, I consider marriage to be sacred. If you’d sign the divorce papers, I’d be able to move on.” Not that she was interested in getting involved with anyone again after the way he’d broken her heart and trampled on her fragile trust.

The muscle along his jaw ticked. “You know what I want.”

“Not going to happen.” No way was she giving him another chance. She wasn’t stupid enough to put her heart on the line a second time, even if her fingers itched to brush away the lock of hair that fell over his forehead. She could smell his musky cologne mixed with the spicy Italian scent of the pizzeria and again felt the pain of his betrayal.

He crossed his arms over his broad chest, dark brows rising. “Your call. But until it’s official, you’re not dating someone else.”

She wanted to rip out her hair. “It’s not a date. It’s a group of friends—”

“Who happen to form two couples,” he interrupted. “Spare me.”

“Hey, Pot, Kettle’s calling.” He had a lot of nerve to think he had any right to lay into her for a pizza with friends.

His lips thinned and his eyes grew dangerous before his shoulders loosened. “And that wasn’t what you thought it was, either.”

“Right. Sorry, but I got a better visual of your interlude than you think.” When the pain of seeing him with another woman tried to get past her protective walls, she forced all thoughts of that day away.

“I don’t know how you could have, since nothing happened.” He waited a few beats, and his tone softened a little, though the earnestness of his gaze filled his voice. “I would never cheat on you.”

“Funny how I’ve heard that before.” She held up her hands to stop his rebuttal. This was an old argument and she wasn’t having it tonight. “Forget it. Sorry I brought it up. I’ll be more careful next time Cami invites me to go out with them.”

He shook his head. “Not good enough.”

She drilled a finger into his chest. Fury roared through her. “You don’t get to dictate to me.” She was going to make some comment about how he wasn’t her boss, but caught herself in time, since he sort of was—at least at the hotel.

He grabbed her hand and held on tight enough she couldn’t get it out of his grip, but not hard enough to hurt her. “If you go back in there and sit down, I’m telling everyone about us. I don’t know why we didn’t do it ages ago.”

Lana sucked a breath through clenched teeth. “Fine. Let me get my purse and make my excuses.” She yanked on her wrist, but he didn’t release it.

His face softened and his voice dropped several degrees, turning velvety. “I want another chance with you, Lana.”

Several emotions rolled through her: grief and longing topping the list. “I’m not my mom. I’m not going to look the other way.”

He released her wrist and held out both hands. “Look all you want. I have nothing to hide, baby.” His voice was low and had the silky Southern edge that always made her go soft when he used his favorite endearment.

Furious that he was starting to get to her, and that he would call her baby, she whirled around and returned to the table. By the time she got there, she’d managed to get her expression calmed to apologetic even though she was still steaming inside. “I’m sorry. Something’s come up back at the hotel. I’ll have to catch up with you guys another time.” She included all of them in her words, ending with Jeremy. “It was good to meet you again. I hope we get another chance to talk.”

“Same here. I hope you’re able to straighten things out quickly.” His smile was friendly, but not particularly concerned or upset. He was a nice enough guy, but even if there had been no Blake in her past or present, she and Jeremy never would have clicked.

“Thanks.” She flashed him one of her best smiles, then collecting her purse, said goodnight and headed back for the door.

Blake was still standing there—this time with his takeout container—tall, suave and infuriating.

“You didn’t have to wait for me,” she snapped as soon as he’d followed her out the door.

He put a warm hand onto the small of her back. “Verisimilitude, baby.”

“Don’t call me baby.” Deciding he had a point, though, about making it look like a real work emergency, when she got onto the road, she headed for the hotel to check things out.

A quick walk through the public areas of the hotel proved all was well with the wedding clean up, the restaurant, bar and spa. She veered back through the entry and then went up to her office. There was always a pile of work to do, so she’d take an hour or so to clear some of it out before returning home for the night.

Blake sat in front of the television in his suite, letting the news fill the silence as he tried to focus on forecasts for the Portland resort. Instead he kept seeing Lana sitting at the table with her sister, Vince and Jeremy. Why had he reacted like that? Did he really think she would start chasing someone else? Jeremy knew Blake and Lana had something going on—though no one knew the particulars. Except Alex, but as Lana’s father’s executor, he seemed to know more about everyone than any of them would have liked.

Like the fact that Blake was married to Lana. He wished he hadn’t let her convince him to keep their elopement to themselves. It was only supposed to be for a few days—a week at the most—but after their breakup neither had mentioned it to their families. He didn’t think even Cami knew about them.

Which brought him right back to Lana again, and their defunct relationship. Did he really think she would listen to him if he acted like some Neanderthal?

He pushed away the laptop and stood, crossing the room for a drink of water. As the cool liquid slid down his throat, his cell phone rang. The light tempo announced it was his mother. Blake sighed, then swallowed the last of the water as he fished the phone from his pocket.

“Good evening, Mother. How are you tonight?”

“We’re going to a party at Luther’s—it’s going to be terrific. All the best people will be there. What are you doing dear?” She frequently reminded him of the social opportunities he was “giving up” by working in the Colorado Rockies.

He looked around his sterile suite and wished he had something planned. Something that would satisfy her and get her off his back. “Nothing much, just taking care of some work issues and enjoying dinner.” He glanced at the barely touched pizza that sat across the room. He doubted anyone would reference his lack of interest in food since his argument with his wife as enjoying it.

“Eating alone again, darling? Really, you need to get out more. That little town is hardly conducive to your meeting the right kind of woman. Did I mention Charity says hello?”

The sound of his father’s voice rang in the background, telling his wife they were nearly there and to get off the phone.

“Well, I ought to go, Blake. We’ll arrange to visit soon, okay? Maybe you can show me what’s supposed to be so great about the place.”

He could imagine the pinched look her face had taken on with that comment—it was the way she always looked when she disapproved of Blake’s decisions. And since she disapproved often, he’d seen it a lot.

He slipped into placation mode. “If nothing else, I’m sure you’ll love the spa. It’s first rate.” He spoke with forced enthusiasm. He didn’t know if he could handle his parents at the hotel right now, not with everything else that was going on.

“You should get a treatment as well. You know it’ll make you feel more relaxed. Then maybe you can attract the kind of woman a man from our family deserves. Bye, bye, sweetheart.” She hung up without giving him a chance to reciprocate.

Blake tossed the phone onto a nearby overstuffed chair and fished a soda out of the fridge. He desperately wanted a shot of whiskey—or three—but being on call meant he shouldn’t indulge. If he drank one, he might not stop there. And if there was one thing he was raised to be, it was a professional.

His eyes drifted to the wall safe and he thought of what was in it, then forced himself to look away—it would only remind him of what he’d lost. He thought of the hurt and anger in Lana’s eyes after he pulled her away from dinner, and felt that familiar tug of guilt. Damn it, he’d overreacted.

He took another fortifying swig of his soda and set it on the counter before heading for her office. She might not be there anymore, but if she was, he better apologize.

 

Chapter 2

The back corridors of the hotel were quiet, and Lana decided this had been a good idea, coming to work for a while. During the day there were so many people running around, phones ringing, faxes coming through, that she had trouble staying on task. As she tapped away at her computer, she admitted to herself that knowing Blake was in the next room during the day and could pop up at any moment wasn’t helpful either. She did better when he was on the road.

She was getting into the swing of things when someone came to her office door and stood in the opening. Blake, she realized even before she lifted her head to look his way. She’d always been unnaturally aware of his presence in a room.

He watched her, and they sat in silence for a long moment. Her throat ached as she thought about what they’d once shared. Their romance had been a whirlwind: quick, sweet and exciting. Forbidden—or at least they’d chosen to treat it as forbidden, as there were definitely strange angles and twisted relationships to consider—he had been her boss at the Chicago hotel, and she was the owner’s daughter. Not entirely unlike the current situation since her dad had died the previous spring and left the hotel to her and her sisters.

She and Blake had married quietly on a whim within a month of their first date, and eleven days later it had been over. She tore her eyes away, staring back at the monitor. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“I’ve spent the past hour trying to convince myself that I was justified in the way I acted tonight. I haven’t been able to do it.” Blake shut the door behind him and walked over to the desk. “It was knee-jerk—I want to be the one eating dinner with you, hearing bits about your day. I know you’d never date someone else while you were still married to me.”

Hot tears stung her eyes as she stared at the screen. Her sight swam and she had to fight to keep the tears from falling. “And now you’re working the guilt angle.”

“I’m not working an angle, Lana. It’s called an apology.”

She looked up, met his blue eyes and saw sincerity. “Fine. Apology accepted.” A tear fell and he reached across the desk, wiping it away with his thumb. The tenderness nearly undid her. She pulled back. “I’m going to finish this up, then head home. When I come back tomorrow, I’ll pretend none of this happened and that we can get back to our usual professional relationship.”

“I wish you’d reconsider. I thought the other night proved there’s still something between us.” His voice was low and a little sultry, winding through her system.

She couldn’t meet his gaze, but her eyes strayed to his firm, expressive lips over the sexy cleft in his chin. “It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have let it happen.” The memories of their night together after the hotel’s opening gala still hit her at random moments, taking her by surprise. When she closed her eyes, she still tasted his kisses, the rush of rightness she’d always felt in his arms. It made keeping her distance harder than ever. She returned her gaze to the screen and began typing with the hope that he would take the hint.

A moment later he left, the door standing open behind him. Though she stayed another hour, she couldn’t concentrate on work anymore.

When Lana came into the house her father had bought for his daughters, she found Delphi sitting at the kitchen island, her laptop open and a stack of papers beside it. Delphi—short for Delphinium—was the fifth in line of the six daughters, and only six months Lana’s junior—the result of one of his many affairs.

“That was a late dinner,” Delphi commented, peering over the glasses she only wore for reading. Her short-cropped blond hair created a halo against the light behind her.

“I went back to the hotel to do some paperwork. It looks like you brought yours home.” Lana hung up her purse and jacket, then moved into the kitchen.

“Kay Jones wants these numbers by tomorrow, but I have that crazy wedding this week and it’s taking up most of my time.” Delphi rubbed her neck. “Can’t wait until it’s over. Jill is the bride from Hades.”

Lana smiled despite herself. Even though Jill was being a serious pain, she would leave the hotel never knowing that Delphi disliked her, or realizing all of the little tweaks the staff was doing in the background to make her wedding go smoothly. “It’s a good thing you’re so amazing at your job then.”

“Right.” Delphi folded up the glasses and set them on the stack of papers, then shut down the computer. “My brain is fried. Was the pizza any good?”

“Yeah, it was great. It ended up just being the happy couple, me and Jeremy, though. Everyone else bailed. You should have come.” Maybe then Blake would have let her finish dinner.

Delphi shook her head. “Too much going on. If Jeremy was there, all the more reason for me to stay away.”

It was too bad Jeremy had started things off on the wrong foot with Delphi—they actually had quite a lot in common. Lana poked into the cupboards, but wasn’t hungry, so she finally grabbed a bottled water out of the fridge instead and headed for the stairs. “I guess I might as well get some sleep. I have a few more things to take care of before our morning meeting.”

“You’re such a work-a-holic,” Delphi said as she cleared away her things.

“And a work-a-holic like yourself would know.” She shared a grin with her half-sister before heading up the open stairway to her room.

The house had really begun to feel like home since all of George DiCarlo’s daughters—two by his wife, and four others by four other women—had come to live there a few months earlier. Becoming the youngest general manager in history for the DiCarlo hotel chain had been Lana’s goal since she was still in elementary school, and she had worked toward it with single-minded determination since she was a teenager. Getting the shocking news after her father’s death that she had four half-sisters in addition to the one she’d grown up with, had put all of their worlds in a tailspin. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about the new siblings.

Figuring out her feelings about the revelation and her father were far easier. Lana still thought her father could have found a nicer way to break the news to his daughters than leaving it for the reading of his will. And she couldn’t get over her fury with the way he’d played fast and loose with his marriage to her mom.

Lana walked past Cami’s door—she was probably staying over at Vince’s tonight—and smiled when she heard the recording of rain sticks that Sage loved so much as she passed that room as well. Finally, she arrived at her own room, all done up in shades of blue with a huge picture of the ocean hanging on one wall.

Her father had picked it out for her, chosen the color schemes and linens, selected furniture, decorations and the music that each of his daughters loved when he set up their rooms in Colorado. She supposed it was intended as an apology for everything he thrust upon them. Very few of the sisters had been happy when he virtually forced them to open up the newest hotel in the DiCarlo chain, and to cohabit ‘unless they were living with their husbands’ a phrase that had been placed there specifically for her, though the others didn’t know it.

She was the only one with a husband—at least at the moment, though Cami’s wedding date had been set and things between Joel and Sage were getting interesting.

After lining up her shoes in the bottom of the closet beside the others, she changed from her day clothes to a pair of pajamas and settled into bed.

Tonight, after her run in with Blake, she wished she could speak to her dad and ask him what he was thinking. Instead, she pulled out the first letter he left for her.

  Dear Lantana,

I know this must all be a major shock for you, though unlike Cami, you at least knew about my less-admirable tendencies. I know you’ll be an amazing general manager, and that you’re ready for it. You’ve been walking in my footsteps for all of your life in so many ways. You should be proud of your accomplishments—I certainly am.

None of your half-sisters knew about the others. You’re all going to have a lot of adjusting to do as you get to know one another, but I know that if you can pull together, the six of you will accomplish something amazing. Sage will accept things, because fate is a real, living, breathing entity for her, but the rest of them are going to struggle with this news as much as you will, maybe more. They’re going to need a sure hand to guide them and bind them as a group. That’s you—just so you know. You’re the key to making everything work.

But hey, no pressure.

If you’re reading this, you’ve already heard the terms of the will, which means you know that I’m aware of your marriage to Blake. He’s a good man, sweetheart, devoted to you. I’m not telling you how to live, but don’t let your anger toward me stop you from finding happiness and a home of your own.

Never doubt that I loved your mother, whatever else happened in my life. It wasn’t the kind of all-consuming love you read about in novels, but it was sweet and comfortable. It worked for us, but it wouldn’t work for you—if Blake gives you the fire and warmth that you crave, don’t let him get away. And if you find upon reflection that what you have really is only warm and comfortable, have the strength to let him go. If he’ll let you.

I love you with everything I have.

Dad

It wasn’t long enough to say everything she wished to know—didn’t explain how he could love her mother so much, but constantly step out on her with other women. It didn’t explain how he could juggle his job, wife and six daughters sprinkled across the continent, and still find time for more affairs—but she knew from experience that he managed it.

Had her mother always known about the other women and looked the other way? Remembering the grateful way she’d treated George as he doted on her in the months before her death, Lana couldn’t believe her mother hadn’t known.

He was such a hateful jerk, and though she longed to rip up the letter and throw it away, to give his headstone a good, hard kick, and to damn him for not deserving her erstwhile hero worship, she folded the note and put it away instead.

She missed him every day.

She flipped off the light and slid down under the covers. Throwing a tantrum wouldn’t solve anything. And tomorrow was sure to be a long day.