Unsuitable (20 page)
Authors: Doreen Owens Malek
He held her quietly until she stirred. “I think I’ll slip into something more comfortable,” she said, and then cringed. She sounded like a hooker in a roadhouse movie.
But Jason was grinning. “I’ve been waiting thirty-five years for someone to say that to me,” he observed, pushing her toward the bathroom. Carrie picked up her night case on the way, wondering what might be suitable for this unexpected visit. She had packed only functional nightclothes and wished futilely for a fairy godmother to appear and outfit her in diaphanous chiffon.
“Does this mean yes?” Jason called after her, wrestling with the cork on the wine bottle.
“Yes to what?” Carrie called. She was undressing behind the open door, piling her clothes on the vanity and deciding what to put on in their place. She settled on a flowered batiste nightgown that was less than seductive, but preferable to the woolen nightshirts and thermal underwear she’d packed.
“My proposal,” Jason answered. She heard the cork pop, and then muttered epithets as he tried to control the foaming liquid. He was pouring the wine into glasses as she reappeared.
“Yes,” she announced, and he put down the bottle and came toward her.
“Johnny will be so happy,” Jason said, nuzzling her ear.
“I was kind of hoping you’d be happy about it yourself,” Carrie teased.
“I am,” he said, lifting the gown over her head and dropping it on the floor. “I don’t think we’ll be needing this.”
“Guess not,” Carrie replied, closing her eyes as he pressed his lips to her naked shoulder.
Jason picked her up and set her on the bed, then stepped back to unbutton his shirt. Carrie watched through heavy lidded eyes, impatient for him.
“Hurry up,” she finally said as he stripped off the shirt and reached for the buckle of his belt.
He chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” she demanded, crossing her arms over her bare breasts.
He reached for her hands and dropped her arms to her sides. “Don’t obstruct the view,” he warned.
“I asked you what you were laughing at,” Carrie insisted.
He shrugged and removed the rest of his clothes. “I was just thinking that you’d changed quite a bit in a short time. It was only a few weeks ago that we engaged in a wrestling match over every itty-bitty item of your teensy-weensy clothing.”
Carrie tapped her bare foot on the floor. “Very funny, Jason. Take your time.”
He dropped onto the bed and pulled her into his arms. “You feel wonderful,” he murmured, trailing his lips over her face, her throat. “You can’t imagine how I missed you.”
“Good,” she replied. “Then you’ll never do anything like that again.”
“Never,” he repeated solemnly, his mouth moving to her breasts. She gasped as he found a sensitive nipple with his tongue.
“What about dinner?” she asked him, not caring at all.
“I say it’s cold, and I say the hell with it,” he answered huskily, rolling her under him.
There was another knock at the door.
“Go away,” Jason yelled. He scrabbled blindly on the floor for a moment and then threw his shoe at it.
“Your dessert, sir,” a distinguished voice intoned.
“You eat it,” Jason replied, as Carrie buried her face on his chest, nipping him lightly. He groaned aloud.
“Everything all right in there, sir?” the voice asked.
“Everything’s fine,” Jason answered, turning off the light.
And everything was.
– 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
JANUARY 2013 RELEASE
CLASH BY NIGHT
A WORLD WAR II ROMANTIC DRAMA
United by love,
divided by war
As the German war machine claims Europe, tanks roll into the peaceful French village of Fains Les Sources, and the brave French Resistance fighters wage their desperate struggle for freedom. But for three proud, passionate women, the same fierce conflict that rages throughout France burns in their own hearts…and will forever change their lives.
From the sun-drenched beauty of the French countryside to the bloody beaches of Normandy, from the dark and terrible days of the Occupation to the glory of liberation, this is the magnificent story of the men and women, lovers and enemies, whose passionate dreams and undying patriotism shape the destiny of their land and their lives.
RECENT CONTEMPORARY
ROMANCE RELEASES
by Doreen Owens Malek
Brand new, never before published
Contemporary Romance
AMANDA’S BLUE MARINE
Available for digital download
at Amazon.com, and in print at
www.doreenowensmalek.com
Amanda’s Blue Marine
marks the return of Doreen Owens Malek to publishing after a 12 year absence. It is with great pleasure that Doreen presents her new, never before published contemporary romance
Amanda’s Blue Marine
.
When Amanda Redfield, an assistant district attorney from a wealthy and prominent Philadelphia family, is being harassed by a mysterious stalker, she meets Brendan Kelly, the police detective assigned to her case. Smart and capable but deeply troubled, Kelly protects Amanda while he works to find her tormentor, but his disturbing presence and rogue behavior disrupt Amanda’s settled life. She is helplessly drawn to the sexy and charming but barely controlled cop, and as their passion grows she must choose between her prosperous and settled past and an uncertain future with a man whose own life is spiraling out of control. How she draws on her wits and resources to eventually rescue Kelly emotionally in the same way that he rescues her physically makes for a powerful and satisfying love story.
Look for the reissue of the
enormously popular
A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE (1989)
,
available for digital download at Amazon.com
Taylor Braddock. His name brought back memories of a man so handsome that a young girl had fallen in love—and made a fool of herself. A man so unique he’d spoiled Sharon Philips for any other love.
But now her father’s will had joined their lives once again. In a final attempt at matchmaking, Dad left half his California horse ranch to Sharon, the other half to Braddock—provided they were husband and wife.
A quick wedding. A quick divorce. A quick sale of the ranch. It seemed simple. But time had only fueled their passion. Could Taylor erase ten years of pain and show Sharon that loving him was her destiny?
Watch For:
ANOTHER MARRIAGE
OF CONVENIENCE
(Coming Spring 2013)
