A Love Worth Living (22 page)

“Why are you meeting with Mistress Melina?”

Nosy. Demanding. She answered anyway. “She hired me to redecorate the club, top to bottom.”

His back straightened and he cocked his head in curiosity, an inquisitive look he’d given her over and over during their short time together. “Interior designer?”

“Just started my own company.” She really didn’t want to be dropping clues about herself, but her control—as always in Gabe’s presence—was consumed by his desires. And he wanted answers.

“Congratulations. Tough stuff, starting your own company. I’m actually in the same boat. Leather goods, not décor.” He gave a little smile then turned to look at her in the mirror once more with a studious wrinkle in his brow.

He shook his head, then turned and left without another word.

She paced the room in his absence, trying to decide whether to leave or stay when a voice cleared behind her. She straightened and turned, shoulders tight.

Their eyes met and his face went hard. “What the holy hell are you doing here?”

It’s just pretend…but nobody wants to stop.

Maxie

© 2013 Kimberly Dean

Triple X, Book 2

Maxie’s quiet, predictable routine is shattered when she steps outside her flower shop and almost runs into two women. It’s not the near collision that’s startling. It’s the strangers’ faces. It’s like looking in a mirror times two, and it sends her into a dead faint.

Sheriff Zac Ford sees three identical copies of the woman who’s caused him more sleepless nights than he can count, and it stops him in his tracks. Maxie’s buckling knees snap him out of his trance, and he catches her before she hits the cement.

Two sisters she never knew she had? Maxie can’t deal with this turmoil, not on her own. She needs a shield, a rock. For the first time in her life, she takes a wild leap of faith.

When Maxie calls him her boyfriend, Zac has no trouble playing along. It’ll give him time to figure out what these “sisters” want. Soon, though, for-show kisses get hotter and playacting touches grow bold. And Maxie must choose to stay in her safe little world, or grab life by the horns.

Warning: Don’t lie. It only leads to more lies, hotter kisses, bolder touches, less bed space, strange looks about town and a complete loss of shyness.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Maxie:

Maxie rubbed her temple. “If Roxie and Lexie are right about everything, we probably don’t need to pretend. To be seeing each other, I mean.”

“Let’s keep up the charade.”

“Why?”

His handsome face darkened. “Even if they are related to you, that doesn’t mean they’re good people. Give me some time to check everything out first.”

Maxie blinked in surprise. “They seemed like good people, though, didn’t they?”

“They did.”

She slumped in her seat. Right now, she couldn’t trust herself to judge up from down or right from wrong. Or sheriff from boyfriend. She fiddled with her skirt. There wasn’t anyplace to settle her hands. “Thank you for being here for me today.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” He nudged her shoulder with his. “So back to the topic at hand. Right side or left?”

“Of what?”

“Of the bed, of course. Which side
do
you sleep on?”

The question was so outrageous, she laughed. “You are insane.”

“Hardly. Four months of dating? I’m the kind of guy who stays over, sweetheart.”

She was sure he was.

Suddenly, it wasn’t so funny, and she had to remind herself to breathe. Her thoughts were back on her bedroom, right upstairs. “They’ll never see that.”

He lifted one eyebrow. “Maybe not, but they’ll probably see this.”

Without giving her a chance to figure out what
this
might be, he kissed her.

Maxie was stunned when his mouth settled directly onto hers. She inhaled sharply, but he followed, leaning in as she pressed against the chair. For a moment, she was frozen with surprise, but with lengthening nips, he coaxed her into relaxing. When she moved towards him, he opened his mouth wider, eating at hers and tasting deeply with his tongue.

A long shudder went through her. He tasted like coffee and sex. She circled her arms around his neck.

“I don’t like seeing you upset,” he said against her lips.

He kissed her again, and her eyes fluttered closed.

This should be the last thing she needed, but it was exactly what she craved—someone strong, someone steady, someone
delectable
. Oh God, what they were doing felt so good. He wasn’t hesitant, but he didn’t overpower her, either. He tested new angles and tried different pressures, learning what she liked.

With him, she liked it all. It felt good to slip into fantasy, to drift away from the confusion and dismay.

She slid her hands over his shoulders and reveled in the bunch and play of his muscles. “Zac.”

She gasped when the arm behind her tightened. There was a quick tug, and before she knew it, he’d pulled her out of her chair.

“I was on my way to do this earlier, before we were interrupted,” he said, his voice gruff.

She was on his lap again, only this time she was wide awake.

The kiss intensified, growing hotter and steamier. Their tongues slid against one another’s, sending shimmers of excitement through her system. He spread his hand wide on her back, under her hair. She could feel every one of his fingertips stroking, skin on skin.

Heat poured through her, and her mind spun. Better than fantasy. She didn’t know what came over her, but leaning closer, she nipped at his lower lip. He went still, tension building around them, and she eased the sting with a lick of her tongue.

He groaned. “You’re not that shy, are you, Beauty?”

She hadn’t been until he’d mentioned it. Awareness gripped her, and she realized how close he was and how tightly she’d pressed against him. This wasn’t for pretend; it was real. As much as she wanted to keep rubbing against him like a cat starved for affection, that invisible hand was pulling her back, away from what she wanted to do.

Breathing hard, she stared at him with wide eyes. His were heavy-lidded and sensual. She was so close she could see dots of darker blue mixed in with the lighter blue of his irises. His cheekbones were flushed, and his mouth was damp.

She licked her lips, and the blue flecks in his eyes darkened. Her pulse jumped and her muscles flared, half of them pushing her up off him and the others straining towards him. She wanted…but she shouldn’t…but she needed…

He was leaning towards her when the mobile radio on his shoulder squawked. “Unit 64?”

She sprang off his lap as if it were spring-loaded, and a low curse passed his lips.

“Maxie.”

She couldn’t respond. All of a sudden, it was this morning all over again when she couldn’t even come up with the word
hi
.

“64?” the radio called again.

Zac clicked on the mike. “64,” he practically barked.

“We have a report of an accident on the Indigo Byway, close to your location. Are you available to respond?”

“Hell no.”

Maxie took another good three steps back and smoothed her dress. Her skin prickled everywhere, hot where he’d touched and chilled where she should be wearing more clothes.

Rubbing a hand over his face, the sheriff pressed the transmit button. “Affirmative, dispatch. Any injuries?”

“Negative, but traffic is backing up.”

“Understood. I’ll be there in five. 64 over.”

Maxie folded her arms over her stomach. Talk about not knowing where to settle her hands. What had they just done? Had that been for practice? For dinner tonight? God, she hoped not. Even if Lexie and Roxie were her sisters, she didn’t want them watching as she made a meal of the man. The hot prickles on her body started to outnumber the chills, and she struggled not to fan herself. For a timid sort, it hadn’t taken much encouragement for her to throw herself at him.

“I’ll fire them all,” Zac muttered.

Standing, he adjusted his gun belt. Maxie stepped back and bumped up against the refrigerator.

She needed to say something. Anything.

“Do you think they’ll…?” She cleared her throat. “Do you think they’ll buy it? The sisters, I mean.”

His blue eyes narrowed. “I did.”

He watched her for a long, intense moment before raking his hand through his disheveled hair. “I’ll pick you up later, okay?”

She nodded, her brain once again tripping over itself. Pretend or not, she’d made out with Zac Ford. And she might have sisters, with an s.

How had her one-word plan evolved into this?

“And for future reference…” he opened the door, but stopped with one foot over the threshold, “…I sleep on the right.”

A Love Worth Living

Skylar Kade

When the nightmares yawn beneath her feet, the scariest part is letting go.

Dr. Carrie Farrow has dedicated her life to finding justice for the dead, but not without a steep cost. Years spent seeing the worst of humanity have left her determined to keep the living at a distance. It’s the only way she knows to keep her heart safe.
 

A dig in Rwanda changes everything. When she returns, her sexy neighbor’s concern and care slip past her iron defenses—and she finds comfort in a night of passion. But not the whole night. Before the sheets have cooled, she’s out of there.

David Cameron has walked a fine line, being there for her without pushing the bounds of their friendship. When she falls into his arms, he believes the years of loving her from afar are over—until she makes it clear one night is all he gets.
 

Knowing one night will never be enough, David sets out to show her life is worth living, and love is worth claiming…if she’s brave enough to choose him.

And he’s brave enough to open his heart wide enough to catch hers.

Warning: Contains a strong, independent woman who discovers a love worth risking her heart for; a sexy psychologist with secrets of his own; and sex so good it can heal the soul.

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They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

Cincinnati OH 45249

A Love Worth Living

Copyright © 2013 by Skylar Kade

ISBN: 978-1-61921-612-9

Edited by Lisa Dunick

Cover by Valerie Tibbs

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: September 2013

www.samhainpublishing.com