Mary E. Thompson's Blog, page 35

All For Mom (May 11)

Nicole didn’t know what to say. Her daughter rarely opened up to anyone, especially strangers, and especially men. But somehow this guy was drawing her out of her shell. It was amazing to watch.

And a little disconcerting.

She liked that he was telling Makayla all the same things she would say, but how did he know? Did he have kids? She realized just how little she knew about him.

Nicole rushed through the rest of her lunch, anxious to get her daughter away from the creepy guy who knew too much about how to talk to kids. She wanted to like him, but she had to be careful. She had her daughter to think about.

“Thanks for lunch,” Nicole said as she gathered their trash. “We really need to go though.”

“Really, mom?” Makayla asked with hope in her eyes. “Can’t we stay just a little longer?”

Nicole shook her head. “We need to finish up shopping and get home, honey. Let’s go. We appreciate lunch, Roger. It was nice seeing you again.”

Roger nodded once then watched her drag Makayla away with curiosity plain in his eyes. Nicole didn’t have time to alleviate the concerns of a stranger. She had to protect her kid. And herself.

She rushed around the store grabbing everything on their list and was cutting through Makayla’s favorite aisle, with all the office supplies, when she saw him again. She wanted to turn around and go the other way, but Makayla saw him at the same time. “Hi, Roger,” she said.

He turned and flashed Nicole a cautious smile then focused on Makayla. “Hey. I thought you guys would be gone by now.”

Makayla shook her head. “Mom said we’re done, but she promised I could get a new notebook. I ran out of space in my old one for all my notes.”

“What do you write notes about?”

Makayla shrugged. “Whatever I want. I’m going to write a book one day.”

Roger nodded appreciatively. “That sounds like a great thing to do. What sort of notebook are you going to get?”

Nicole watched as the two of them chatted like they were old friends. She loved that her daughter wasn’t afraid of everything, but she worried she wasn’t afraid of enough. After a minute, Roger stood up and walked over to her, leaving Makayla sitting on the floor flipping through all the notebooks.

“What happened back there?” he asked quietly when he reached her side.

“What do you mean?”

He sighed. “You know what I mean. At lunch. One minute we were talking and the next you were trying to get away from me as fast as possible.”

Nicole shrugged. “Nothing. I just realized we needed to get our shopping done.”

Roger turned to face her. She felt his eyes scan over her body, but instead of feeling like she needed to cover up, she wanted to strip everything off and let him have a good long look at her. She was really losing it.

“I know you’re lying. I know you don’t know me, but I’m not a creepy guy. Your daughter ran into me, and she’s a sweet kid. I have nieces and nephews so I’m comfortable around kids. Plus, I write children’s books.”

“You do?” Nicole asked, suddenly curious.

He nodded then dug into his pocket. He produced a wallet and out of it pulled a business card. He handed it to her and she gasped. It had his picture on it, but the name of Makayla’s favorite author. One of her favorites too, if she was being honest. “You’re…”

“Yep,” Roger said. “I use a pen name so people don’t stalk me, but yes. I could tell by the look on your face that you were worried because I could talk to her. I just want you to understand why.”

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Change On The Fly – feeling sassy

Meet Lucy.

Lucy is a pizza baking woman with a penchant for being unreliable. It’s not her fault, really. Her parents coddled her forever, then her boyfriend did the same. When he dumped her she didn’t know how to set her own alarm, let alone how to get herself to work on time, even if work was just downstairs.

Meet Chris.

Chris is a hardworking teacher who loves to work with his hands. His ex left him because he cared more about his furniture than he did about her. When he’s within reach of having everything he dreamed of with his business, a tidal wave of woman steps into his life, and arms, and demands his help.

Lucy meets Chris.

In an attempt to make her ex jealous, Lucy kisses a random guy in a bar. Little does she know he’s her ex’s high school rival and still competitor on the ice. When Lucy realizes Chris could be just the thing she needs to get her ex back, and the confidence her brothers once had in her, she stops at nothing to get him to agree. Even the locker room door.

Chris thinks he must be crazy for agreeing to help a woman he doesn’t know. But one look at Oakridge’s face is all the motivation he needs to put on the performance of his life. The fact that she kisses like a goddess, looks like every wet dream he’s ever had, and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty makes his job that much easier.

Lucy wants to convince her brothers they can count on her. Chris wants to convince Lucy she doesn’t need a man to prove who she is. But both of them want something else. Something that’s not possible – each other.

Excerpt from Change On The Fly

“Looking good, Luce,” said a voice as soon as she stepped out of the locker room.

She screeched and threw a hand to her chest. Derrick leaned against the cinderblock wall, his blonde hair still wet from the shower. Lucy’s eyes raked over him, so familiar and so attractive. His legs were as thick as tree trunks but his upper body was smaller, making him look like a pear. He’d never been able to hold Lucy up against the wall when they’d had sex, not like she was certain Chris could.

“What are you doing here, Derrick?”

He smirked. “I know you saw me out on the ice. You were watching me more than your little boyfriend. Then again, the way you kissed him the other night I don’t think you even know him, so boyfriend is probably pushing it a little.”

“You broke up with me, Derrick. Who I kiss and who I date is no longer your concern.”

Derrick nodded slowly. “Except you are my business. You were mine first, and I’m not letting him have you.”

Lucy cocked an eyebrow at him. She wanted Derrick to want her back, but if it was just about winning, he’d be done with her as soon as she was his again. He needed to suffer a little bit. “I’m pretty sure dumping me is the exact opposite of me being yours. I’m not yours anymore, Derrick.”

He smiled wide, like he had a secret. “You wouldn’t be watching me so intently if you didn’t want to climb back into my bed. You know how good I can make you feel, baby. No other man is going to make you scream the way I do, especially not that dickhead you were kissing the other night.”

“You don’t know anything about him,” Lucy argued.

“Actually I do,” Derrick leered, pushing off the wall and stalking over to her. “I’ve known him for a long time, baby, and I’ve had plenty of women come running to me after they were disappointed with him. Said he’s got a tiny cock.”

Lucy’s mind flashed back to him in the shower, his massive erection staring her down. He was an inch or so longer than Derrick and had more girth, so she knew whatever women had told Derrick that Chris was tiny were straight up lying.

“That couldn’t be further from the truth,” Lucy taunted. “He’s almost too big for me to handle. But, you know, we make it work.”

Derrick’s grin slipped from his face until he was scowling at her. Lucy struggled not to grin at him. He was good and jealous, and the longer she toyed with him, the more desperate he’d be to have her back. Her plan was going to work like a charm.

She heard the whoosh of the locker room door close as lips came down over hers. A bag fall to the ground at her feet and strong arms wrapped around her waist. Chris’s tongue teased her lips and she parted for him, eagerly letting him in to explore. Her hands drifted over his chest then slid around his neck, tunneling through his damp hair. He tugged her closer, his erection pressing firmly into her belly and making everything south of there stir.

When he finally pulled back, he kissed her softly on the lips again and rested his forehead against hers. “There you are. I wish you’d have joined me in that shower. It was nice, but not nearly as nice as the one we had the other day. Maybe I can talk you into one later?”

Lucy nodded, aching between her thighs to get the man in her arms into a shower, to act out the fantasies that were darting through her head. Good God, he was sexy. And that low, husky voice… it stirred all her good parts to stand up and take notice.

“Oh, sorry, Oakridge,” Chris snarled, finally glancing up toward Derrick. “I didn’t notice you there. Just had to get my woman.” Derrick growled but Chris just narrowed his eyes at him. “Problem?” Derrick didn’t say anything so Chris grinned. “How about we get out of here, gorgeous? I think pizza and another shower sounds good for the rest of the night. Although it might be more fun to bathe you with my tongue instead. I’ll let you decide.”

Chris bent down to get his bag then tugged her toward the door, his arm securely around her shoulders, his fingers interlaced with hers. Lucy heard Derrick growl behind them, but all she could think about was the man next to her bathing her with his tongue.

Available May 24! Preorder coming soon.

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All For Mom (May 9)

Roger was a little shocked that she was still there when he got back with the pizza. He wondered at the mom who protected her child with such fierceness and guarded her heart the same way. He could tell she was closed off and wanted to know why.

But he had to tread carefully.

They were in line to pay for Nicole’s sub but Roger swooped in and paid for everything. Nicole argued, but he insisted. He smiled when she gave in, internally high-fiving himself for the win. He couldn’t deny that he watched the sway of her hips and needed to adjust himself when he stared at Nicole’s round ass. He focused on her daughter to eliminate his problem.

“Pizza is served,” Roger said as he set the box in front of Makayla. Her eyes lit up when he lifted the lid to reveal the exact pizza she asked for. Sausage, pepperoni, ham, and red peppers. If only it was so easy to make her mother grin like that.

His gaze slid to Nicole and saw a sexy, sweet smile on her face. She was beautiful. And the way she looked at her daughter made him that much happier.

“So, how was your week?” Roger asked, wondering how he could get her to open up to him. “What did you do at school?” Roger knew focusing his conversation on Makayla would draw Nicole out too.

Makayla chewed on her lip and glanced up at her mom. “Well, I got in trouble at school.”

Roger looked to Nicole for guidance but she was watching her daughter. “What happened?”

“I wasn’t nice to my teacher. I was playing in class when I should have been doing my work. My friends thought it was funny.” Nicole cleared her throat. Makayla looked down and Roger stifled the urge to grin. “Mommy and my teacher didn’t think it was funny.”

“What did you have to do?” He could tell Nicole wasn’t the kind of mom who would let her child do something like that and not have her make up for it.

Makayla sighed heavily. “I had to write a note to my teacher and apologize. And I sat out of recess all week. It was so boring.”

Roger coughed to cover up the laugh that bubbled up. “Did you learn anything?”

Makayla sighed again and nodded. “Yeah, I’m not going to do it again. Are you going to be like my mom? She always makes me tell her when I learn something.”

“It sounds like your mom cares a lot about you. You’re a lucky kid.”

Makayla shrugged but Roger noted the smile she was trying to hide. He looked at Nicole and saw the surprise on her face and wondered what was going on.

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Tempted By A Kiss by Anna Durand

I’m so excited to have Anna Durand here today to tell you about her book, Tempted By A Kiss!
Tempted By A Kiss

Anna Durand

Mel Thompson just dumped her cheating ex after two years together. Now she’s determined to understand the allure of casual sex by having a steamy fling of her own at a notoriously raunchy underground club. When her best friend, Adam Caras, catches on to her plan, he makes a surprising offer to derail her. If she wants a hot fling, he’ll give it to her.

Who better than Adam, renowned lady-killer, to demonstrate the erotic pleasures of a one night stand? Sex could ruin their friendship, but after a soul-searing kiss, Mel fears one night may never be enough.

Buy Tempted By A Kiss now from Amazon, Wild Rose Press, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, or All Romance eBooks!
Men Are Weird, But We Love Them

Most romance readers are women. Most romance writers are women too. This leads to a big question: How do women writers craft scenes from the male point of view? How do we stay true to the way men think, but also satisfy the fantasies of our readers? It’s a constant challenge, but also a constant source of fun and excitement. After all, each man has his own unique quirks, weaknesses, and strengths.

Though I’ve yet to be married, I’ve known plenty of men in my life—men I dated, men I worked with, men who became friends, male relatives. Each of them taught me something new and different about the male mind. The most common complain women make about men is that they don’t like talking about their feelings. Women are supposed to “know” how they feel. If he gives you a power tool for your birthday, that means he cares. If he buys you a vacuum cleaner, he wants to marry you! I joke, but this highlights a major difference in the way men and women view relationships.

I love to make use of these sex differences in my writing. In my short story Tempted by a Kiss, the hero Adam, a renowned lady-killer, has fallen in love with his best friend Mel. Being a man, he can’t just tell her. He follows Mel to an underground club where she’s gone to look for a hot fling, to understand the allure of casual sex. Instead of admitting he loves her and doesn’t want her to make a huge mistake, he offers to be her fling. For a man, this makes perfect sense. Solve the immediate problem, worry about the rest later. He figures she ought to know his actions mean “I love you.”

I play around with this dynamic even more in the upcoming novel version of this story, Fired Up. In the novel, I amp up Adam’s embarrassment factor by having him muck things up from the get-go, luring Mel into a steamy dance at the club while he’s wearing a mask and she has no idea it’s him. In Tempted by a Kiss, their first sexual encounter is quick and heated, followed up with a slower, sweeter love scene. In Fired Up, the same thing happens at first—but then Adam gets flustered, overcome with guilt over how he tricked Mel in the club. He stumbles. He forgets all his smooth moves. The strong, self-assured ladies man becomes a mess. What he doesn’t realize is his weakness makes him all the more irresistible to Mel.

This is what men don’t get. When they show weakness, especially when we are their weakness, that’s how they prove to us they care. Honestly, guys, vacuum cleaners aren’t the way to a woman’s heart! Never fear, though. You guys are weird, but we love you anyway.

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT FROM FIRED UP

Mel pushed away from Adam, staggering toward the sofa. He reached for her, but she batted away his hands.

“I’m fine,” she slurred. “You can go.”

Leave her like this? Uh-uh. What if Devon stopped by to pester her about taking him back? What if she was so wasted she decided a walk would clear her head and stumbled out into traffic? Every worst-case scenario plagued him as she stumbled into the sofa.

She planted her butt on the sofa’s back and flattened a palm on her forehead. “Ohhh God. Why’s the room spinning?”

He took her shoulders in his hands. “You’re drunk, Mel. You need to go to bed and sleep this off.”

In the morning, she’d probably have a massive hangover. What the hell had gotten into her? If his stupid trick had driven her to this…

All he could do was make up for it. Stay here to watch over her. Sleep on the sofa and, in the morning, feed her his patented hangover cure. It’s all your fault, you raging moron.

Mel angled toward him, her sapphire eyes hooded with a bleary desire. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. “Kiss me.”

His heart thudded. “What?”

“Kiss. Me.” She skated her hands up his chest and around his neck, kneading his nape. “You want to. I want to. So do it.”

“You’re stoned.”

She slid her butt off the sofa. Her high heels brought her up to his level, her mouth dangerously close to his.

His hands were still on her shoulders. He fought to keep from slipping them lower, down her naked back. “I don’t want to kiss you.”

Not while she was drunk anyway.

Meet Anna

Anna Durand is an award-winning writer, a freelance librarian, and an audiobook addict. She specializes in steamy romances featuring spunky heroines and hunky heroes, in settings as diverse as modern Chicago and the fairy realm. In her previous life as a librarian, she haunted the stacks of public libraries but never met any hot vampires hunting for magical books.

Hang out with Anna on her website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, Google+, and at Amazon.

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All For Mom (May 5)

Nicole knew she should say no. She didn’t know anything about the guy. Why would she have lunch with him?

But his relationship with her daughter concerned her. Why was Makayla drawn to him? Was he some kind of pervert?

To put her mind at ease about him, Nicole agreed to lunch. The grin on his face was not only bright enough to sting, but genuine. His eyes lit up and her skin prickled with matched excitement. There was something about him that attracted her, and it wasn’t just his looks.

Since neither of them had anything in their carts yet, they returned the empty carts to the front of the store then walked together to the deli on the far side of the store. “What are you ladies interested in?” Roger asked as they approached the mouth watering displays set out. Pizza, sandwiches, chicken fingers, salad, and three lanes of serve-yourself goodies stretched out before them. Nicole rarely let Makayla talk her into eating there because it was too easy to overdo it, but she had to admit, it was hard to pass it up.

“I want pizza and cookies,” Makayla said definitively.

“Hmm, pizza. I could go for pizza. How about you, Nicole?”

The sound of her name on his lips did things to her that she couldn’t allow in front of her daughter. She shook her head and glanced around. Pizza didn’t sound that appealing, but neither did buying too many lunches. She would deal with it. “Pizza is fine.”

Roger looked at her as though he could read her mind. It disturbed her in ways she didn’t want to think about. “You don’t really want pizza though, do you? What do you want? It’s my treat. Go crazy.”

Nicole shook her head. “No. You can’t buy us lunch. I won’t let you do that.”

“Why not? I invited you. If it weren’t for me you’d be half done with your shopping and getting ready to leave soon. I insist. But only if you get what you really want.”

Nicole chewed on her lip. She knew exactly what she wanted. It made her uneasy that he figured her out so quickly. But if she was there to find out how he knew her daughter, she had to eat. “Okay, fine. I’ll get my sandwich, you go grab a pizza, and we’ll meet you back here in a few minutes.”

Roger nodded as though agreeing then focused on Makayla. Nicole worried he was going to try to take her daughter with him, and that was not going to happen. Instead he leaning down and asked, “What’s your favorite kind of pizza? The one your mom never lets you get because she doesn’t like it?”

Makayla looked up at Nicole and bit her lip. When she looked back at Roger, Nicole saw the sparkle in her eyes. “I like sausage and pepperoni and ham and red peppers. Mom says it’s too much meat though.”

Roger grinned at her and nodded. “That sounds delicious to me. Can I share it with you?”

Makayla nodded enthusiastically. “Really? We can get that?”

“Definitely. I’ll be right back. No running away on me,” he added, holding Nicole’s eyes.

She was afraid she couldn’t run from him even if she wanted to. She was also afraid she didn’t want to.

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All For Mom (May 4)

Roger spent the next week trying to forget the woman he’d met… and stalking the grocery store in hopes she’d return. A week after he’d first seen her he knew he had to stop. His freezer was more than stocked, his fridge was overflowing, and he was going to need a pantry to fit any more food in his house.

Roger rounded the corner to the frozen food aisle and collided with another cart. He looked up to apologize and came face-to-face with the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

“Hello, Makayla,” he said with a smile to the girl who’d plowed into him. “How are you doing today?”

“How do you know my name?” she asked as she scooted away.

He smiled again. “I met you here last weekend with your mom. You ran into me then too. I heard your mom say your name when you guys were walking away.”

Makayla eyed him carefully before realization dawned. Her eyes brightened and she grinned. “Oh, yeah, I remember you. You asked us to lunch.”

Roger nodded. “I did. How has your week been?”

Makayla scowled and Roger had to swallow the laugh that bubbled up. “I got grounded. Mommy said I’m not allowed to run into strangers at the store anymore.” Her eyes widened. “You won’t tell her I did it again, will you?”

Roger knew he would regret it, but he knew the girl was just trying to help her mom. “I won’t tell her, but you have to promise me that you will one day.”

Makayla chewed over that idea before she nodded. “Deal.”

Nicole’s eyes widened when she approached them and recognized him. He flashed her his best smile and held out his hand. “Nice to see you again, Nicole. Makayla and I were just catching up.”

Nicole looked back and forth between them. “Okay,” she said, letting him shake her hand. That damn zing zipped up his arm and straight to his crotch. He brushed his thumb over the delicate skin on the back of her hand, delighting in the way she shivered under his touch. “How about lunch today?”

“Are you two in some kind of group?”

Roger threw his head back and laughed. He knew exactly what she was talking about and found it funny that she assumed he was working with her daughter to get Nicole to go out with him. “How about we talk about it over lunch?”

“Jeez, you’re relentless.”

“I know what I want,” he said, his voice dropping to a sexy timber that Nicole had to notice.

“You do?” she asked breathlessly, making Roger pull her in just a little closer.

“I do. And right now, I want to take you to lunch.”

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Fluffy & Fabulous, so sweet

Charlie and Max’s story has been out there for a week now and I’ve heard from many of you who want more! Abby’s story will be out September 6 with four (eek!) more coming in 2017! How exciting is that?

But we’re still having fun with Charlie and Max over here. I won’t give anything away, but you know Charlie… She’s sweet and kind and wonderful. She’s always there for her friends, but carries her own load. Max takes care of her when she needs someone to step in and take over.

Excerpt from Fluffy & Fabulous

When I brought his coffee out from the back I glanced over to Mandy. She had turned white and was gripping the edge of the counter. Mrs. O’Neill was leaning over her, talking quietly to her. I handed Max his coffee and got his muffins and cupcake while watching Mandy. “Is she okay?” he asked as I handed him the bag and box.

“I’m not sure. Do you have a minute?”

Max nodded and I went to the other end of the counter.

“Oh, Charlie, Mandy here needs to get to the hospital now. She’s in labor and probably about ready to push. I wouldn’t delay at all, you need to drive her there now, honey.”

My heart dropped to the floor and panic settled over me. I had no idea what to do. I was completely paralyzed watching my friend as another contraction ripped through her body. She gripped the counter again and leaned into Mrs. O’Neill, who held strong despite her advanced age.

“Are you sure?” I finally managed. “She wasn’t in labor a minute ago,” I pleaded, hoping Mrs. O’Neill was wrong, knowing as I said the words she couldn’t be. Mrs. O’Neill had six kids of her own and a gaggle of grandkids and great-grandkids. If anyone knew labor, it was Mrs. O’Neill.

“She’s been in labor all night, Charlie. The back pain she felt was labor pains and the heartburn was her body warning her. Now her contractions are stronger and she needs to get to the hospital. She’s going to have this baby within a few hours, if not sooner.”

Max seemed to spring into action, thanking the O’Neill’s and ushering them out the door with promises I would call them later. He asked me where my car was and if I had towels on site. “I live upstairs so yeah there are towels. Through the kitchen and up the back stairs.”

“Stay with Mandy. Are your keys upstairs too?”

“Huh?”

“Keys, Charlotte. Where are your car keys?”

My brain skidded as I realized what he was asking. “Shit, my car isn’t big enough. I have a coupe. She won’t even be able to get into my backseat. Well, if she can, she won’t get out. We need Xander.”

“Who’s Xander?”

Mandy clenched my fist and moaned as the pain ripped through her again. I was vaguely aware that it had only been a couple minutes since her last contraction. She was going to have her baby, soon. There wasn’t time to get Xander.

“Xander is Mandy’s husband.”

“We can’t wait for him to get here first. We have to go now. Lock up.”

Max directed us out the front door and I locked it behind us. We loaded up into Max’s Explorer, me in back with Mandy and Max driving straight to the hospital. He drove with one hand and dialed Mandy’s phone with the other.

“Xander?” Max said into Mandy’s phone, then paused. “Yes, my name is Max. I’m a friend of Charlotte’s and I’m driving your wife to the hospital right now. I was at Bite Me! this morning when we realized she’s in labor.” He waited, listening to Xander. I could hear his loud voice from the backseat, although I couldn’t understand what Xander said. “Apparently pretty far along.” He paused again. “We couldn’t wait for you to get there. Meet us at the hospital.”

Max hung up and asked for Mandy’s doctor’s name. At the next stoplight he looked up the number on her phone and called the office, telling them we were headed to the hospital. “Is there anyone else we need to call? Her parents?” Max asked when he hung up.

Mandy shook her head. “You can call Claire and everyone, but they don’t need to be there now. Let’s just get to the- AHHH!” Mandy howled and grabbed my arm, squeezing.

I held onto her and let her barrel through it. She looked so miserable, but I knew she needed someone to be there for her. Max saved my life driving us. I never would have made it driving while Mandy labored alone.

He pulled up into the emergency entrance and threw the car in park. He came around and helped Mandy out of the car, half carrying her into the ER. At the desk he explained what was going on and helped get her settled into a wheelchair. Xander burst through the doors while we were talking to the desk. He rushed over to Mandy and kissed her forehead before they disappeared with a nurse.

“Call your friends, I’ll go park the car.”

Max vanished and I whirled around to the desk. “Where will she go?” I asked the woman who’d helped us get Mandy checked in.

“Fourth floor. There’s a waiting room up there. Would you like me to tell your boyfriend where you’re going?”

I shook my head, not correcting her error, and stepped toward the door to start making phone calls.

By the time Max came back in I’d gotten in touch with almost everyone. Drew told Carrie what was going on once Xander left and she was already on her way with him following soon. Carrie called Riley and Sam by the time I got to them also. Addi couldn’t get away from school, but promised to stop by after work. Lexi promised to come after work too, but Claire was on her way.

“Do you know where she is?” Max asked when I hung up with Claire.

“Yeah, she’s on the fourth floor. I can’t thank you enough for your help. I don’t think I would have made it if you hadn’t been there.”

“It was my pleasure. Is there anything I can do for you?”

I shook my head, not really ready for him to leave, but knowing there was no reason for him to stay. Someone would give me a ride home later so I didn’t even need him for that.

But I wanted him to stay. I couldn’t explain it, but I didn’t want to be alone. I knew it wouldn’t be long before my friends would descend on the hospital, each with her husband. For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t have a man to lean on.

“Do you, um… Do you want me to stay?” Max asked.

“No,” I said too quickly. “I mean, I’m sure you have other things to do today besides sit around the maternity ward and wait for a stranger to deliver her baby.”

Max smiled and stepped a little closer to me. He looked like he wanted to say something, like there was more lingering. “Is there anything I can do for you at your shop? We left in a hurry. A coffee pot to unplug? Lights to turn off? Anything?”

“Shit,” I said aloud. “I didn’t even think. I left everything on. Hell, I didn’t even lock the back door. I need to go-“

“Do you trust me?”

Buy now, in print or digital, from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, or Smashwords!

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All For Mom (May 2)

Nicole cringed. She wanted to crawl under a rock every time Makayla ran into someone in the grocery store. She swore her daughter was doing it on purpose, but she hadn’t been able to prove it yet. At least she always plowed into attractive men and not nasty old ladies who would yell at her.

“I’d really be honored if you would join me,” the man before her said. She tried not to notice his sparkling blue eyes, the dark hair that hung just a little too long and threatened to cover those eyes, and the broadness of his shoulders. She was a sucker for shoulders. The idea of someone being able to carry the load she had appealed to her in ways that never made sense.

But she wasn’t stupid about it.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Thank you though.”

Nicole steered Makayla away from the stranger and continued their shopping. “Makayla, you need to be more careful,” Nicole chastised halfheartedly. “You’re going to really hurt someone one day.”

“Sorry, Mommy,” Makayla said dejectedly. “I just saw some cookies I wanted.”

Nicole eyed her daughter wondering why she was lying. She could always tell when Makayla lied. Her nose turned just a little pink when she was fibbing and she never looked right at her mom.

“What cookies were you looking at? We could get them,” Nicole offered, knowing she would catch her daughter.

“Oh, um, we don’t have to, Mommy,” Makayla said, looking away.

“I don’t mind. I ate the last ones last night so I was going to look for some anyway.”

“Um…” Makayla glanced around the canned food aisle they were in. Her gaze finally travelled to the end cap where fig cookies were on display. Her least favorite. “How about these?”

Nicole lifted an eyebrow at her. “Really? I didn’t know you liked these.”

“Oh, yeah, I had them at Molly’s house the other day.”

Pink nose. Averted eyes. Uh, huh.

“Hmm, okay. Well, I’m going to buy a different kind because I don’t like those. If you want them though, that’s fine.”

Makayla looked at the package in her hand then set them back on the shelf. “I’ll see what else there is first.”

Nicole nodded, knowing she would decide on that. She steered them to the cookie aisle and let Makayla choose whatever kind she wanted. The guy from earlier headed toward her, his eyes catching hers as he moved closer.

Shit, he was hot. A man like him wouldn’t have any trouble finding a woman which made her wonder why he’d been so persistent to have lunch with the overweight single mom and her rambunctious kid. He would fuel some fantasies for her, but it would end there.

“Hello again,” he said as he stopped his cart next to hers.

“Hello.”

“I realized I forgot to introduce myself earlier. I’m Roger.”

She looked down at his extended hand and slipped hers into his palm. His hand was warm and rough. The feel of his skin against hers sent a shiver down her spine. “I’m Nicole.”

“Very nice to meet you, Nicole. Maybe I’ll see you around here again sometime.”

Nicole didn’t want to admit how badly she hoped she’d see him again.

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All For Mom (May 1)

Roger pushed his cart through the store looking for something that would inspire him. He’d felt flat for months. Nothing pushed him to go for more, to want more. He wanted more than nothing.

Rounding a corner his cart collided with someone else’s. He stopped, ready to apologize when he saw a little girl, maybe eight, standing in front of him.

“Are you single?” she asked, glancing behind her.

Roger, amused and willing to play along, answered, “Yes. I’m single. But I think you might be too young for me.”

The girl swung shocked eyes back to him and shook her head. “No, not for me. For my mom. She’s beautiful and nice and smart and all those other things men say they like, but she’s single. You look like one of the guys she looks at on the computer. I just thought if you were single maybe you should go out with her.”

Roger stifled a laugh and wondered what the girl had found on her mom’s computer, figuring it might be best if he didn’t know. “I’m sure your mom is wonderful, but I might need to meet her first.”

“Oh, I know. That’s why I ran into you. She’s coming right now. You can get her phone number.”

“I’m not sure it’s that easy,” Roger began before he heard her.

Her voice stirred something in him that hadn’t noticed anything in a long time. It stirred something in his pants too, but he focused on the kid to settle that part. No way was he going to wander the grocery store sporting an erection. When she finally reached them, Roger couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her brown hair was cut short with the back even shorter than the wisps around the front. Her eyes were kind, but concerned, when she realized her daughter was talking to a stranger. But it was the curves of her body that drew him in. He knew it made him a bit of a pig to only care about a woman’s appearance, but most women he knew tried to hide their curves. This one proudly displayed them like they were something to be celebrated.

Roger agreed.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice wrapping around him and teasing his entire body. With a voice and figure like hers, Roger had no idea why the woman would need her daughter picking up men for her.

“Oh, no, it was completely my fault. I wasn’t looking where I was going. Please, let me make it up to you. How about dinner? Here. Then I’ll replace the items I damaged in your cart.”

He knew he was reaching, but the light in her eyes told him she was curious. She glanced toward her daughter, who gave her an encouraging smile, then wrapped her arm around her daughter’s shoulder. “That’s not necessary, really. I appreciate the offer though.”

Her daughter sighed heavily, her shoulders drooping with the effort. Roger knew exactly how she felt. He wanted to spend just a few minutes with the woman. In just seconds she’d made him care again. Made him want something more than emptiness.

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Just Another Day (Apr 30)

Rick’s heart was securely in his throat. He couldn’t bear knowing that she knew how he felt and that she didn’t feel the same way. Her cold eyes told him what he already knew.

She didn’t want him.

“I’ll go,” Rick said softly. “Let you enjoy your birthday without me here to mess it up. I’m sorry, Tare. I never wanted to hurt you. Ever. Be happy. It’s all I ever wanted for you.”

He walked through the kitchen, taking care to leave a wide gap between them. If he smelled her he might drop to his knees and beg for another chance. But that wouldn’t be fair to her.

“Why the fuck are you leaving if you want me happy?”

Rick froze. His blood roared in his ears, but he had no idea how it got there with his heart locked up. He couldn’t move though. He wanted to run, but her words wouldn’t let him. Especially if they meant what he hoped they meant.

So she moved for him. Right into his path. He had no choice but to look at her. Her dark brown eyes flared with golden light and her mouth was set in a firm line. He couldn’t tell if she was pissed off or not, but he’d put money on her being mad.

“I asked why you’re leaving if you want me happy. It sounds like you and I have some unfinished business. You’re just going to leave without talking to me?”

“You aren’t happy I’m still here. I stayed so we could talk, but I don’t think you want to hear anything I have to say.”

She shrugged. “You’re wrong. I’m very interested in what you have to say.”

Rick took a deep breath and looked around the room. Michelle and Aaron were watching them like a daytime drama. He wanted to talk to her alone. “In the bedroom?”

Tara shook her head. “Nope. Right here.”

“Fine. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I said it was just sex last time. I’m sorry I bolted when you told me to. I’m sorry I never came back and begged for you to give me another chance. I’m sorry I ambushed you, even though it wasn’t all my fault. I’m sorry I kissed you yesterday. I’m sorry I stuck around today to make it better. And I’m sorry I ruined another birthday for you.”

Tara studied him. She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and nibbled on it like he was dying to do. She considered his words and took her time replying. “Thank you. That’s all I ever wanted to hear. Now I have something else to say, but for that we need to go in the other room.”

Rick followed her to his doom, grateful she was going to save the worst for when they were alone. He trudged down the hallway to his death, because having her tell him to leave and never come back would definitely kill him. They walked into the guest room and she went right to the bed. She picked up his duffle bag and started stuffing clothes into it. She wasn’t just going to kick him out, she was going to remove him herself. He leaned against the closed door and waited patiently. When she finished she handed him the bag. He nodded. “I’ll go. I could have packed myself though.”

She shook her head. “You’re going to put that bag in your car then get your ass back in here to celebrate my birthday. And after we’re done with dinner, you’re coming back to my place to give me a good birthday memory. And when you leave this time, it’s going to be so you can pack the rest of your shit and move back. Because if you really care about my happiness you won’t ever walk away again.”

“What?”

Tara stalked over to him, her hips swaying gently with each step. “I said you’re staying with me.”

“I heard all that. Why?”

“Because I love you, you dumb ass. And you love me.”

His breath left in a whoosh. He pulled her in close and whispered against her hair, “Fuck, yeah I do. I’m not leaving you again.”

“Good. Because I’ll chase you down if you do.” Rick chuckled then groaned when she sunk her teeth into his ear. “And tonight you’re making up all this time away.”

He jerked when she rubbed her hips against his erection and pulled her close. He whispered in her ear, “Yes, ma’am,” then sealed the deal with a kiss that made him forget everything but her.

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