He’s loved you a long time, you know. Her heart gave a hard squeeze, and suddenly breathing became a chore. Don’t, Mom. Jade didn’t want to know anything. Didn’t want to know how long or when he’d fir...
He wondered if she’d told Lover Boy about the kids yet. It was nearly May. School would be out in a month. Might as well ask, since she was so chatty. He couldn’t seem to pull his eyes from the sparkl...
He wished he could step inside Jade’s mind. It had been all he could do to pull away when he’d only wanted to deepen the kiss. When his fingers had ached to thread into her hair, skim the smooth plane...
He tasted like chocolate, smelled like heaven, and felt like home. How
Why did Meridith have to be so stubborn? Why couldn’t she just give him a chance? He knew they’d be amazing together. She’d opened her heart to the kids, admirably so. It couldn’t have been easy accep...
Meridith stepped down from the chair and scooted it a few feet. Let me. Jake took the string and looped it over the hooks one at a time. It took him two minutes to finish the porch. Show-off, she said...
Jade’s heart had already been shattered into a thousand pieces, and there was no putting it back together. Even if there were, Jade wasn’t interested. Loving Aaron had been like magic, but losing him...
Me again, please don’t hang up, Meri. Meridith. He sighed into the phone. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I was. I was afraid of losing the kids . . . now I’m afraid I’ve lost you. There was a pause,...
Later that night Meridith was in her room working on Ben’s scrapbook when she heard a burst of laughter. Ben’s belly laughs drew her from her room, toward the steps. What she saw brought a bittersweet...
Jake’s helping her. Good luck with that. Max scooped another helping of corn. Just needs a little coaxing is all, Jake said. Max shrugged. I think you’re wasting your time. Dad tried that already, and...
As afraid as she was of loving and losing, she was even more afraid of losing the chance to love him. Maybe
Oh, wow. Really? All that blathering made sense? It did to me. Thank you. My pleasure, honey. Now if I can just get a handle on this Jake thing. Well, I don’t how to tell you this, but sometimes the t...
What’s wrong? Jake’s voice, deep as thunder, unsettled her. Why did he have to be so handsome? She wanted to fall right inside those brown eyes. I saw you in the living room with Ben . . . earlier. Hi...
What happened, honey? She melted at the endearment, at the look in his eyes. I fell in love with you. Her words left her mouth on a rush of air. Something flared in his eyes. He pulled off his gloves,...
Two more days? Eager to see me go? That knowing grin. He did things to her insides, and he knew it.
She met his eyes, and he thought for the millionth time that God had invented that shade of green just for her.
She eased the ring from her finger and extended it to him. The frown returned, settling between his brows like claw marks in the sand. Meridith. Put it back. She opened his hand and placed the ring on...
Since Stephen had arrived, Jake had gone over and over the way Meridith had greeted him. The way he’d greeted her, with an apathetic kiss and a tame hello. If it had been him, missing his woman for we...
From the edge of consciousness, whispers intruded. Are they fiancéd now? Engaged. Well, are they? What d’you think, runt? Meridith pulled away, her lips curving into a smile that mirrored Jake’s. Yeah...
Sometimes you just have to extend a little grace to people. Not because they deserve it - but because we don’t deserve it either.