Danger Zone (32 page)
Authors: Doreen Owens Malek
He winced. “I’ll apologize.”
“You’d better, if you expect her to attend the wedding. Can we have it here?”
“Have it anyplace you like. You’re the one with friends and family; I’ll just bring myself.”
Karen kissed his collarbone. “You’re not alone anymore, darling.”
He squeezed her. “Thanks to you.”
“I can’t wait to tell Linda,” Karen said suddenly, struck by the thought.
“How is the scourge of St. John’s Wood?” Colter asked, referring to the section of London where Linda lived.
“You won’t believe it.”
“Where she’s concerned I’ll believe anything.”
“In her last letter she said she was dating that guard who was stationed across the street from her house.”
Colter sat up and looked at her.
“It’s true. The guy came back and rang her bell one day. I told you she was always flirting with him, and I guess he remembered.”
“I guess he would,” Colter said, shaking his head.
Karen’s expression became serious, and she traced the outline of an old scar on his forehead.
“Will you be sorry to give it up?” she asked.
“What?”
“The mercenary business.”
“Not if I can have you,” he replied. He settled back down, encircling her with his arm. “It was time, anyway. You were right. Sooner or later my luck was bound to run out.”
Karen shuddered. “I’m glad you left before it did.”
They heard footsteps in the hall and listened until they had passed.
“Bellboy?” Karen said.
Colter shrugged. “We didn’t have any luggage. They probably know enough to leave us alone.”
Karen giggled. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Like what?”
“Booked a hotel room to make love. It makes me feel like...”
“A hooker?” he suggested. “Please don’t start that again.”
“No, no. Like I’m having an affair.”
He rolled her under him and pinned her with his weight.
“You are. With me. One that’s going to last for the rest of your life.”
– THE END –
I am Doreen Owens Malek, author of over forty books and lifelong fan of romantic fiction. I live in PA with my husband and college student daughter, a mini dachshund and a sun conyer parrot. I would like to tell you a little about myself.
I came to writing by a circuitous route, starting out as an avid reader of
Jane Eyre
and
Wuthering Heights
and
Gone With the Wind
and
Rebecca
, and any other similarly themed books I could find. I first worked as a teacher and then graduated from law school when I desired a more lucrative and independent career. I had always been discouraged from pursuing a writing career by the volatile nature of the business and the relatively poor chance for success. But the realization that I needed a focus for the future encouraged me to do what I had always wanted to do. I sold my fledgling novel to the first editor who read it, and I have been writing ever since. I have written all types of books for all types of people, but my favorite literary pursuit is and always has been romance. Nothing is as rewarding as hearing from my readers, so please use my website to communicate your thoughts and criticisms, as I am always eager to learn from you.
A romance novel rarely disappoints me: in an uncertain world filled with tragedy and sadness, reading about an appealing woman finding a strong man to love her and share her life is the perfect escape. I like to read and write stories in which the main characters overcome obstacles to get together, and then stay together because their mutual devotion cannot be denied no matter what else is happening around them. They always HELP each other and reinforce the quaint but enduring notion that love conquers all—at least in the fictional universe of my imagination. So pull up a chair and take down a book—or pick up a Kindle—and join me in a world where the heroes are tough and headstrong but never boorish and the heroines are feminine and sympathetic but never helpless.
Happy reading!
— Doreen Owens Malek
See all of Doreen Owens Malek’s
Kindle eBooks on
Amazon.com
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