Terrified to touch that emergency money she had stowed away, she was stretching her money as far as it would go—rent for Penny took the top position because she was certain the elderly darling needed...
Tell you what I’ll do for you, she said, looking up at him. When Mattie’s a little older, I’ll have this IUD removed. We’ll get you started on your own small herd. That made him smile. That would be n...
Somewhere in the night, sounds came from Jack’s bed. He was fitful, rolling around, muttering in his sleep. Mel went to the bed, sat on the edge and touched his brow. He grumbled something unintelligi...
So, you put in a no-show for the turkey, Sean said. What’s up with that? You’re stateside, you’re not that far away…. I have things to do here, Sean, he said. And I explained to Mother—I can’t leave A...
So, what brings you to town? Sean took a sip of his beer. Burning off some leave. Visiting my brother. I have a little over six weeks of leave left. I used to hit the bars with my brother, but his run...
She was wearing an old sweatshirt and pair of jeans, big fluffy slippers and had some kind of feathery dusting thing on a long handle in her hand. And she looked delicious. He wanted to tackle her on...
She took a deep breath and, lifting the baby from the sink, laid her in the towel being held by Jack. She cocked her head in appreciation as Jack took the infant confidently, wrapping her snugly and c...
She smiled up at him and put her arms around his waist. I’ve had some special pieces of furniture in storage. The movers are coming tomorrow. Will you stay with me when the bed’s made up? I will gladl...
She looked over at him as he drove; he was grinning. Why are you smiling? she asked him. He turned to look at her. I’ve never been shopping with a woman before, he said. I didn’t hate it.
She didn’t need advice from Mel or anyone else. She’d given him every chance, but he never said a word about how he felt about her, not a syllable about wanting a life with her. She had to make hersel...
Salads? he said. I don’t usually make a lot of salads. I know this, she said wearily. But we need to make a couple of changes. Just minor changes. Buy some low-fat, whole-wheat bread for sandwiches. D...
Out here, you’re all muscle, a hide like leather, she said, running her hands over his upper arms, shoulders and chest. You have a soft underbelly. You’re a soft touch. I know. Mush. Nothing but mush....
Oh, Jack, she said, leaning against him again. Please, I don’t want to ever fight with you. He lifted her chin with a finger. Don’t be a candy ass. You fought good. You won, as a matter of fact. But i...
Not much that happened on the beach got by Charlie Simmons. He was fourteen and his mother was the nurse who tended Winnie Banks, a lady with ALS who lived on the hill overlooking the beach. Charlie c...
Nikki— I had a wonderful weekend with you. You left too soon and broke my heart. I want to talk to you again, see you again, and according to Vanni, you don’t want to be contacted by me. I don’t know...
Mel? he called. Sit with me a minute. I should go to Joey. She came all this way… Maybe we should talk. About what’s been going on with you. She had been on this precipice for days, teetering on the f...
Mel walked right into his open arms. You’re late, she said, looking up at him. He lowered his lips to softly kiss her forehead. Sorry. I was held up. Goddamn truck left without me. He smiled down at h...
Mac, my dear friend, here is something you should probably know about women without being told. We don’t want to have to tell a man we need to be wanted. We’d really like that to come naturally. We’d...
Luke was ready to put down roots. He was just scared to death to ask anyone like Shelby to take that on. Because she might change her mind. And that would kill him. So
Luke frowned. This was not great timing. He was getting close to closing the deal with a twenty-five-year-old beauty and who shows up but the younger brother who is all of thirty-two. The hotshot spy-...