In 1840's Ireland, with most of her family wiped out from disease and the fields ravaged by the potato famine, Maggie Quinn, along with her younger brother Patrick, realizes she has no choice but to leave her beloved Ireland. Leaving Ireland isn't as easy as she thinks and she's forced to make a daring escape for the better life she's been told awaits her in America.
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When a teenager is brutally murdered in The Pinelands, his friends insist it was the work of The Jersey Devil.
Christine Daniels, an investigative reporter, works with the police to determine what really happened to the teen that night.
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All Farrel Drake wanted was a normal family life for her two daughters and herself. When her second marriage ends up worse than the first with daily physical, emotional and verbal abuse, Farrel seeks the help of a counselor.
She eventually finds the courage to leave her husband and settles into a happy routine with her daughters. Just when Farrel's starting to believe her new beginning will work, threatening phone calls shatter her peace. When Farrel realizes fear is no longer able to rule her life, her real new beginning starts.
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Rachel Sanderson, a pretty young woman struggling to support her young son, meets handsome firefighter Caleb Jason. Long dormant feelings in her come to life. As their relationship intensifies, she makes the decision to tell him the secret she's been hiding and why she'd lied. Before she can tell him, though, her past comes back to haunt her.
Jackson Bridges leaned against his red pickup truck as he watched Christine Westmiller fussing over her husband and daughter’s graves. A burning rage began in the pit of his stomach. Zoey had been trouble from the start and he wasn’t sorry she was dead. He loved coming here to the cemetery. He enjoyed witnessing Christine Westmiller’s pain. He hoped the bitch suffered for the rest of her life.
As the weeks, months, and then years passed, his boiling rage only increased. He was still haunted nightly with nightmares about the hospital with all those crazy people. He doubted that after two years, the dreams would ever go away. Christine Westmiller needed to suffer even more. She had to pay for her part in his being locked up like a caged animal. He scowled as Christine stepped into her car. He jumped into his truck and gunned the engine.
He watched from the window, the same streaked window he stood in front of every morning. He’d been watching her for ten long years. He licked his lips in anticipation, and his heart thudded irregularly in his chest just like it did every time he knew he would be seeing her. He moved the curtain slightly to get a better view. She was coming, and his heart raced. She bounded out of her door, hands tightly gripping those of her ruddy-cheeked, carrot-topped twin boys. He wished he could hear what she was saying, just as he wished it were he whom she was smiling at and talking to. The children continued looking at her, laughter in their bright eyes as their cherub faces smiled while she talked.
How he longed to hear her voice speaking to him again, but it was only etched in his memory forever. He watched as her boys scurried onto their school bus. She smiled and waved even long after the bus was out of view. How he ached for her all these seemingly endless, lonely years. Being apart from her angered him and brought the demons closer to the surface, forcing him to lurk even further in the shadows. The shadows were his only solace, where he could watch her with no one telling him it was wrong or that he was a freak. Time was passing quickly, much too quickly. He had to make a move. It was time to come out of the shadows and finally claim her for his own.
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Maggie’s patience was rapidly disappearing. "Look, if you have something to say, just say it. I don’t have time for drama queen theatrics." She put the sponge under the counter then stood with hands on hips to face her antagonist.
"Is there somewhere we can go to speak privately? I don’t want to talk here, Maggie." She glanced around at the few customers.
She shook her head. "We can talk here. Can I get you some coffee or anything?"
"No, thank you." She twisted the handle of her handbag. "I don’t know how to break the news to you."
"Janna, just come out with it," Maggie snapped. "I told you I don’t have the time or the patience for your silly games today."
The younger woman sighed again. "I suppose since there really is no easy way to say this, I should just come right on out and tell you."
"Please do."
She hesitated for a moment. "Chris moved in with Chelsea last night." Her eyes met Maggie’s. "You know Chelsea Howard?"
Maggie felt like she’d just been kicked in the stomach. Her face flushed as a tremor slowly wound its way through her body. She inhaled sharply as Janna’s words slowly repeated themselves over and over in her mind. "I don’t believe you," she spat out tightly, gripping the counter as blood rushed to her head making her temples pound loudly against her skull. Her legs weakened. She’d pass out at any moment as Janna’s stinging words continued to echo repeatedly in her head, slowly fading in and out. She sucked in her breath.
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She chewed her bottom lip. "I couldn’t do it, Josh. It wasn’t the right time. You should’ve seen her. Some creep roughed her up and almost raped her last night. She’s in bad shape."
"You have twenty-four hours to talk to Blaine and convince her to work for me—no more, no less. Do I make myself clear?"
"Josh, there’s no way Blaine will go for it. She’s different—you know what I mean—too innocent. I can’t force her to do this. All the other girls came on board willingly. I’m sure there are a lot of girls who would love to join, but not Blaine. I think this is a bad business decision."
"How I run the business is no concern of yours."
"But Josh, what you’re asking me to do is illegal."
"Twenty-four hours!" he snarled. "Don’t cross me, Kami."
The line went dead. "Dammit! Now what do I do?" she muttered to herself as she leaned back in her chair and squeezed her eyes shut. Her head pounded near her temples. She prepared herself for another in a series of what were rapidly becoming daily headaches. How had she allowed herself to get into this mess? But more importantly, how could she keep Blaine out of it? She needed time, but time was the one thing that Josh Barnes would never give her.
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Carter emphatically shook his head. "What vendetta could anyone possibly have against my mother? It doesn’t make sense! Who would want her dead?" His eyes narrowed. "My mother didn’t have any enemies. You know that, Jake. Could it be a random act?"
"I don’t know, Carter."
Carter’s nostrils filled with the stench of the smoldering ruins. He coughed, and then spat at the ground. "Fill me in on what you do know, Jake."
"There’s not too much at this point," he answered, pulling on his chin.
"I’ve known you my entire life, Jake. You must have a theory."
Jake was thoughtful for a moment. "I do."
"And?" Carter persisted.
His eyes slanted. "My theory is that the perpetrator knew your mother would be out this evening. He then entered the house and rigged up a device in her bedroom lamp that would detonate the moment she turned the lamp on." He paused. "After the lamp was turned on, everything just blew."
Carter grabbed the sheriff’s arm. "A bomb? Why? What could my mother have ever done to cause someone to want to blow up her house with her in it? It still doesn’t make sense."
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"I didn’t do anything!" Andy cried in fear. "I didn’t steal your money, but I’ll pay you back every cent you think I took!" he choked. One move and the knife would be plunged into his throat. He had to think fast, but his mind was frozen in fear.
The man shook his head. "You know what doesn’t make sense? Why would you be willing to pay back money you insist you didn’t take?" His forehead furrowed. "Sounds like that’s an admission."
"I...I don’t know, but you’ve got to believe me when I tell you that I didn’t touch the money. The envelope was sealed...you saw it! They’re always sealed."
Mr. D laughed. "If you would have counted it like you were instructed, it wouldn’t have been sealed, now would it?"
"I didn’t touch it because you told us to never open an envelope if it’s sealed. Every envelope I’ve delivered and picked up has been sealed. You never said anything before," Andy protested.
"Are you calling me a liar?"
"No."
"Now where would you get the money to pay me back?"
"I don’t know." His eyes pleaded with Mr. D’s for mercy. "Maybe you could deduct it from my pay."
The man frowned. "Maybe I could," he said slowly, "but I’m not going to." He grinned as he playfully poked the knife between Andy’s ribs. "Maybe there’s another way."
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Patrick Quinn, a thin, handsome, dark haired boy of fourteen, squared his shoulders as he looked over the soggy field. He was dressed in a tattered shirt and soiled trousers; his well-worn shoes wouldn't last much longer, but he didn't worry about himself. His family depended on him. His nostrils, filled with the nauseating stench of rotting potatoes, made his stomach lurch. This year he'd hoped for a crop. Anything to sustain them. Now it was gone. He felt the weight of the world come crashing down on him.
He stooped down, surveying the field, and then picked up a rotted potato. He studied it carefully for a few seconds, and then stood and holding it tightly in his hand, thrust his arm toward the sky.
"Why!" he cried as he dropped to his knees in the putrid field. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
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A twig snapped behind him, startling him. He aimed his flashlight toward the noise. The light flickered and went out. "Damn," he muttered. Another twig snapped. Aaron twisted his head in the direction of the sound as snapping twigs drew louder. Evan and the girls were getting even with him. That was it. They wanted to prove he wasn't as brave as he'd boasted. He relaxed a little.
"Not funny, man," Aaron called out as he peered into the pitch-black woods. "I know you're there, Evan. Are Jensyn and Kennedy with you?" The snapping twigs stopped. "Come on, Evan. You've made your point," he called. He glanced around himself. "What the hell?"
His voice caught in his throat as two red glowering, what he assumed were eyes glared back at him. Aaron tried to run, but fear kept his feet frozen to the spot as the glowing red eyes blinded him. His headache intensified, and he slumped to the ground.
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Robert walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down across from her. "So, what do you write about, anyway?"
Farrel set her pen down. "You’ve never seemed interested before," she said, surprised.
"I didn’t say I was interested. Just curious."
She sighed. Why did he have to try to ruin everything that meant something to her? She wanted so much to be able to have the kind of normal relationship where they could share their individual passions with one another. She looked at him. He was dressed in an old paint stained shirt and faded jeans. His feet were bare. His attire was unusual, but she didn’t dare question it. "Mostly, I write about my feelings. Sometimes what I’m feeling pours out on paper and releases all of my frustrations. The difference is that I can control my characters so they can have the most wonderful lives with all of their dreams fulfilled."
Robert’s eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that your life isn’t satisfying to you?"
Farrel noticed the disapproval in his eyes as he swept over her makeup-less face and uncombed hair. Self-consciously she swept a strand of hair from her brow as she pondered his question. "No, I don’t mean to imply that. It’s just that everyone always wishes certain aspects of their lives were different. In my writing, I can fulfill all of my dreams through my characters’ actions and emotions."
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Looking at this handsome stranger brought to the surface long dormant feelings, which caused her heart to flutter as she glanced into his beautiful kind eyes. That was all it took, a glance. The unaccustomed emotion stunned her for a few seconds, and she quickly shook it off, hoping the others hadn’t noticed even though she felt the heat rise to her cheeks.
She smiled faintly and nodded. "If you’d like, Caleb," she answered softly. "I’d love to have you join us."
"Thank you. I would like to join you," he replied. "I haven’t gone looking for a Christmas tree in a long time, not since..." His voice trailed off.
Tom slapped Caleb on the back and said quickly, "Good. I can use the help loading the tree."
Rachel witnessed the sorrow in Caleb’s eyes, which left as quickly as it had come. She felt a pang of sadness for him, remembering what Kate had said about the sudden death of his wife. Holidays must be extremely difficult for him. She couldn’t imagine what pain he was experiencing and prayed she’d never have to. She hoped Caleb could find some joy in sharing the rest of the day with them. He’d certainly given the children joy today in his role as Santa, and she assumed he received even more in return, watching the children’s excited faces. Hopefully that helped to ease some of his pain.
Sparks
Before Stefani could answer, Harper came out of nowhere and sashayed up to the bar. She was dressed in a short denim skirt, a low-cut light blue blouse which showed ample cleavage, and navy heels. Deacon's eyes were immediately drawn to her like a magnet.
Stefani's heart fell. She hadn't been enough to keep Deacon interested once Harper entered the picture. Even though Deacon claimed he loved the outdoors, when he was indoors, Harper would be his preferred partner.
"I'm sorry I'm late," she said throwing her arms around Stefani's neck. "Forgive me?" She turned her head and noticed Deacon sitting next to Stefani. She immediately stepped back from Stefani and with hands on hips beamed at Deacon. "I'm surprised to see you here," she said with a phony accent.
Stefani's eyes narrowed. What a liar! She shot Harper a steely look. Harper lifted an eyebrow slightly. The only reason Harper asked her out tonight was to pretend they were having a girls' night out and then act surprised if she ran into Deacon. She'd obviously planned to come in late then feign surprise at seeing him. Stefani fumed, but she had no one to blame but herself for allowing Harper to use her to serve her own purposes. What did it matter? Deacon hadn't shown anything more than a friendly interest in her. She'd made it out to be more than it clearly was only because that was what she so badly wanted. Deacon had shared some friendly chitchat, nothing more. She couldn't even blame him for leading her on because he hadn't.
Cabin Fever
He was even more gorgeous in the flickering candlelight. It took all of her willpower not to leap over the table and throw herself at him. Her heart beat erratically as she imagined his hands gliding over her naked flesh and teasing her nipples until she thought she would explode.
"Are you okay?"
She felt the wetness between her legs. Her face reddened. "I'm…I'm fine." She hoped he couldn't see her flushed face in the flickering candlelight. From the expression on his face she knew he had. She picked up her spoon with a trembling hand and continued eating.
Christmas Dreams
Morgan's eyes popped open. She patted the spot next to her. It was empty. She knew it would be, but a part of her had hoped it wouldn't be. It was only a dream. Davis? Why had she dreamed such an erotic dream about her best friend? It unsettled her. She climbed off the bed, grabbed a robe, pushed her feet into a pair of slippers, and padded to the kitchen. She fixed a cup of tea then brought it back into the living room and settled into her easy chair. Her hands shook as she set her cup of tea on the table next to her chair. The dream stayed fresh in her mind; it had seemed so real. Why had she dreamed about Davis? Her face reddened at the memory. She sucked in her breath unable to get his hauntingly gorgeous naked image out of her mind.
The Fix-It Man
"I'd love a cup, but aren't you forgetting about your bath?"
She laughed. "I can take it later. Let me throw some clothes on." She ran into her bedroom and hurriedly threw on a pair of jeans and a pullover then returned to the kitchen. Nathan was leaning against the counter. "Have a seat," she said as she prepared the coffee. She tried to focus on what she was doing instead of his rippling biceps. She wanted him and she would seduce him if she had to, even if she wasn't primed in the art of seduction. She wondered what Lucy would do in this situation. Of course, Lucy would let him know in no uncertain terms that she wanted him. What about afterwards? Could she just walk away without any expectations like Lucy did, or would she want something more? No, she'd listened to Lucy talk about not making it personal. That's what she would do. She'd fuck him and then they would go their separate ways with no obligation to one another.
Hidden Desires
When Sage Ralston takes a job at Boylston Electronics, she soon finds out that her job is more than she bargained for. Under the guise of assistant to the company's owner Charles Boylston, she has actually been hired to spy on her fellow employees. As Sage tries to determine who is sabotaging the company, all evidence points to Connor Michaels who works in the research lab. After getting to know Connor, Sage has her doubts that Connor is the person leaking information about the company and joins forces with the woman to find out who the real culprit is.
Weekend Swap
Tyler Thornton convinces her strait-laced best friend Kay Reagan to swap husbands to add some excitement to their sex lives, or in Kay's case, to show her what she's been missing. What Tyler doesn't know is the deep dark fantasy that Kay has been harboring for years.
Sparks
When the ruggedly handsome stranger from Texas walks up to her counter at the post office, Stefani is instantly attracted to him, but doubts she'll have a chance with him once her best friend Harper sets her sights on him. Stefani soon realizes that she may have a chance with him after all, but can she compromise her values for just one night with him?
Cabin Fever
When Kayla North's car is run off the road during a blizzard, she begins walking down an unfamiliar desolate backcountry road hoping to find shelter from the worsening storm. Later she awakens naked in a strange bed wondering how she got there. The door slowly opens and Kayla sees a handsome stranger looking at her. Something about him seems oddly familiar, but she is certain she's never met him before.
Christmas Dreams
Morgan and Davis have been best friends since they were children and even Davis' move to Maine didn't affect their deep friendship. When Morgan's relationship with her fiancé falls apart, at Davis' urging she moves to Maine to make a fresh start. She soon realizes that her feelings for Davis run much deeper than friendship.
The Fix-It Man
When Madison meets the new maintenance man, she uncharacteristically tries to seduce him. When her efforts backfire, she thinks she doesn't stand a chance until he comes knocking on her door.
Tyler Thornton convinces her strait-laced best friend Kay Reagan to swap husbands to add some excitement to their sex lives, or in Kay's case, to show her what she's been missing. What Tyler doesn't know is the deep dark fantasy that Kay has been harboring for years.
When Sage Ralston takes a job at Boylston Electronics, she soon finds out that her job is more than she bargained for. Under the guise of assistant to the company's owner Charles Boylston, she has actually been hired to spy on her fellow employees. As Sage tries to determine who is sabotaging the company, all evidence points to Connor Michaels who works in the research lab. After getting to know Connor, Sage has her doubts that Connor is the person leaking information about the company and joins forces with the woman to find out who the real culprit is.
When Brianna Jackson pays a long overdue visit to her Aunt Emily to heal from her broken engagement, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with her aunt's new sexy gardener Chandler Russell. As the passion heats up between Brianna and Chandler, her aunt fears Brianna's reaction if she finds out about Chandler and her beloved 'adopted' Aunt Jo's past steamy love affair.
Squeaky Squirrel is a shy little squirrel with a squeaky voice. When he meets Sally Squirrel he learns that what is most important is being liked for who you are on the inside.
Blurbs From All Eight Stories
Angel's New Friends
The first story in The Adventures Of Angel Book, introduces the new friends Angel, a curious bunny, meets when she goes exploring into the forbidden forest, ocean and farm in search of new friends.
Angel's Band
In the second story of The Adventures Of Angel Book, Angel and her friends decide to form a band using objects found around the farm for their instruments.
Angel and the Watchdog
In the third story of The Adventures Of Angel Book, Angel meets Farmer Zack's watchdog-in-training in a most unusual way.
Angel's Wish
Angel is saddened by the illness of one of her friends in the fourth story in the book The Adventures Of Angel.
Angel's Parade
Angel and her friends decide to have a parade for their families in the fifth story in The Adventures Of Angel book.
A Secret For Angel
Angel is sad because her friends don't want to play with her. She is surprised when she finds out the real reason in the sixth story of The Adventures Of Angel book.
Angel's Glasses
When Angel starts bumping into things her mother decides it's time to take a trip to the eye doctor. This is the seventh story in The Adventures Of Angel book.
Angel's New Sister
In the eighth story in The Adventures Of Angel book, Angel is upset when her mother tells her that soon a new baby sister will be arriving.
In this stand-alone book, Angel's New Friends, Angel, a curious bunny, goes exploring into the forbidden forest, ocean, and farm in search of new friends.
These five stories take you on a journey to the dark side of human nature and delve into the world of the unexplained.
Blurbs From All Five Stories
I'm Waiting For You
A young woman fears she is losing her mind when a beautiful mysterious presence, unseen by others, begins to follow her.
It's Me
A woman stranded on a busy highway wonders why no one stops to offer her assistance.
The Ducks
A cruel friendless man pays the ultimate price when his wife turns the tables on him.
The Stranger
A little girl mysteriously arrives in town with a chilling message for the residents.
The Ticket
A woman who has lost everything is pushed to the brink when her rich, cold-hearted, greedy boss wins the lottery.
Jackson Bridges is released from a court ordered two-year stay at a psychiatric hospital for a brutal attack on his wife, but he blames his ex-wife Zoey's mother for putting him there in the first place. His domineering mother who controls every aspect of his and his two older brothers' lives compounds his bitterness.
Christine Westmiller has spent the past two years taking care of her daughter Zoey who fell into a coma after a brutal attack by her husband Jackson Bridges. When she learns that her former son-in-law has been released from the psychiatric hospital, she is bitter and has trouble coping with her emotions.
Jeremy Talbot is a lonely, troubled young man whose only friends are the demon voices he hears in his mind. His obsession with a young woman named Rebecca Walker leads him on a murderous rampage as he tries in vain to win her love and prove that the demons are wrong when they taunt him, declaring that she doesn't care for him.
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Maggie Allen's world of corporate money and power comes crashing down after she is taken in by a man who is only out to use her for his own gain. When she is released from a short stint in prison, she refuses to give up even though no one will give her a second chance. She loses everything she's worked for and is forced to move to the other side of town where she is determined to make a new life for herself. Her life would be perfect if it wasn't for Brant Evans, a corrupt police officer, who makes it a point to constantly remind her about her past and all that she has lost. She can't understand his vendetta against her, but she refuses to be intimidated by him and is not afraid to stand up to him no matter the consequences.
Brant Evans has Cedar Pines under his thumb. His wife Janna controls the social and political levers of town with her money. The two of them work hard to ruin the lives of anyone they don't like, or anyone who crosses them. Maggie Allen is caught up in their web of hate. Brant has special plans for Maggie. Plans that include arrest, imprisonment, and ruin.
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Blaine Kirsten unwittingly gets pulled into a prostitution ring when her best friend, Kami Matthews, introduces her to Josh Barnes. When Blaine refuses to become a part of his operation, she faces brutal consequences.
Detectives Jane Adams and Casey Jorgan are assigned to the case. Almost immediately, Casey finds herself unable to separate her personal emotions from this case, which jeopardizes her career.
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After three members of Carter Rogers' close-knit New England family end up dead within weeks of each other, the family begins to suspect that one of their own may be responsible. Carter soon realizes that most of his family, and even the investigators, suspect his wife and he is determined to prove her innocence.
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When a series of murders hits too close to home, Detective Daniel Trevors' life is ripped apart forcing him to question everyone and everything he's ever believed in.
Detectives Daniel Trevors and his partner, Ben Wilson, are hot on the trail of a murderer who appears to kill just for the fun of it, but they soon realize that the case is more complicated than they thought.
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In 1840's Ireland, with most of her family wiped out from disease and the fields ravaged by the potato famine, Maggie Quinn, along with her younger brother Patrick, realizes she has no choice but to leave her beloved Ireland. Leaving Ireland isn't as easy as she thinks and she's forced to make a daring escape for the better life she's been told awaits her in America.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook
When a teenager is brutally murdered in The Pinelands, his friends insist it was the work of The Jersey Devil.
Christine Daniels, an investigative reporter, works with the police to determine what really happened to the teen that night.
Available in paperback and ebook
All Farrel Drake wanted was a normal family life for her two daughters and herself. When her second marriage ends up worse than the first with daily physical, emotional and verbal abuse, Farrel seeks the help of a counselor.
She eventually finds the courage to leave her husband and settles into a happy routine with her daughters. Just when Farrel's starting to believe her new beginning will work, threatening phone calls shatter her peace. When Farrel realizes fear is no longer able to rule her life, her real new beginning starts.
Available in paperback and ebook.
Rachel Sanderson, a pretty young woman struggling to support her young son, meets handsome firefighter Caleb Jason. Long dormant feelings in her come to life. As their relationship intensifies, she makes the decision to tell him the secret she's been hiding and why she'd lied. Before she can tell him, though, her past comes back to haunt her.
Ed kissed her tenderly as his large hands roamed over her arms rubbing them softly. Kay caught his bottom lip between her lips teasing him as she unbuttoned his shirt. She ran her fingertips over his chest as her lips tugged more intently.
"Not so rough, baby," he whispered. He stood, took her hand, and pulled her up. "We need to continue this in the bedroom." He led her to their bed.
"Just once let's try something different, honey." She kissed him softly then kissed his neck before moving her mouth to his chest and flicking her tongue suggestively over his nipples. She found his belt and unbuckled it. He arched his back as she slowly slid his pants down his long muscular legs, pulling them off. She fondled him, but it didn't take long before he was fully aroused. He tore off his underwear.
"You'd better roll over," he whispered huskily as his arms reached for her.
"Not yet," she murmured. "I'm going to try something a little different tonight. You'll like this, baby."
After her hair was dry, she clicked off the hairdryer and set it on the counter. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as she thought about her last one-night stand. Chas had the most intense eyes she'd ever seen and a wide, sensual mouth. She'd made eye contact with him all night and when he'd made his way over to the table where she and Debbie were enjoying their final drinks of the night, Debbie patted her on the shoulder and excused herself.
Brianna watched as he took another deep breath then straightened his shoulders.
"But life goes on and I knew Sabrina would want me to go on living instead of spending my life mourning her. She was a sweet, gentle giving woman who always saw the best in everyone she met. It was so unfair that someone as loving as she was should be so tragically taken. I was angry for so long at the injustice of her death that even my friends were beginning to worry about me so one day, I just made the decision to leave."
"I can’t imagine your pain," Bri said feebly wishing she could think of something—anything to take his haunting hurt away.
"After awhile I began to focus on the good times we shared and that helped. Now that dull empty feeling inside is replaced with hope." He turned to her his mood lifting.
She saw the muscles in his face relax and a bright twinkling come back into his eyes. "Maybe tonight is a sign."
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Donna’s features hardened. "That bitch and her tight ass mother did that to you. If it weren’t for them, two, you would have never had to go away from home. Christine Westmiller always had it in for you trying to cause trouble and break your marriage up. Zoey believed her mother instead of obeying you. Someday they’ll get theirs." She gripped the steering wheel tightly. "You can count on it." She reached over and gave Jackson’s hand a quick squeeze. "Do you think you can forget about that place, Jackson?"
"Probably not. At least not for a while." He grunted as he drew a deep breath. "It does feel good to be free, Ma. No one looking over my shoulder, watching my every move, and telling me what to do and when to do it. The nights were the worse. All the screaming and crying." He gritted his teeth.
He began to relax. Finally, he had friends, and he owed it all to Rebecca. She wanted everyone to get to know him.
Don’t drink that poison, Jeremy. They’re trying to weaken you, the demons warned.
Luke threw an arm around Cassi. Jeremy watched as his fingers softly massaged her bare shoulder. He stole a look at Rebecca wishing he were rubbing her shoulder as her head rested on his chest.
Nicholas sat down next to Rebecca and carefully put an arm across her shoulder, drawing her close to him. She rested her head on his chest, then ran her fingertips up and down his arm.
No! he silently screamed. No, I’m supposed to be the one holding her and touching her. The demons ridiculed him. We warned you, she doesn’t want you, they laughed. He gulped down the rest of his beer, forgetting about the bitter taste. He had to quell the rumbling erupting inside of him.
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Maggie’s patience was rapidly disappearing. "Look, if you have something to say, just say it. I don’t have time for drama queen theatrics." She put the sponge under the counter then stood with hands on hips to face her antagonist.
"Is there somewhere we can go to speak privately? I don’t want to talk here, Maggie." She glanced around at the few customers.
She shook her head. "We can talk here. Can I get you some coffee or anything?"
"No, thank you." She twisted the handle of her handbag. "I don’t know how to break the news to you."
"Janna, just come out with it," Maggie snapped. "I told you I don’t have the time or the patience for your silly games today."
The younger woman sighed again. "I suppose since there really is no easy way to say this, I should just come right on out and tell you."
"Please do."
She hesitated for a moment. "Chris moved in with Chelsea last night." Her eyes met Maggie’s. "You know Chelsea Howard?"
Maggie felt like she’d just been kicked in the stomach. Her face flushed as a tremor slowly wound its way through her body. She inhaled sharply as Janna’s words slowly repeated themselves over and over in her mind. "I don’t believe you," she spat out tightly, gripping the counter as blood rushed to her head making her temples pound loudly against her skull. Her legs weakened. She’d pass out at any moment as Janna’s stinging words continued to echo repeatedly in her head, slowly fading in and out. She sucked in her breath.
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"Josh owns you now, Blaine. You’re his girl—his exclusive property—until he decides if and when to share you," she cried. "Don’t you see? I had no choice and I never wanted you to become involved in this. But once Josh Barnes sets his mind on something, there’s no stopping him."
"What are you talking about, Kami? Nobody owns me." Her eyes narrowed as she looked into Kami’s haunted eyes. "What’s really going on?"
Tears rolled down Kami’s face. "How did you possibly think that I could afford all of this?" she asked, throwing her arms up. "Are you that naive? A private secretary doesn’t make enough to afford this kind of luxury or to live in an apartment in this neighborhood. Josh owns this building and everyone in it." She took a deep breath. "I sell my body for money. You deserve to know the truth. Surely you must have wondered about all the nights I told you I was busy and especially the obvious fact that I never had a steady man in my life. I couldn’t."
Blaine stared in disbelief. "I don’t want to hear any more," she moaned, placing her hands over her ears. "Get away from me! You make me sick."
Kami grabbed her hands and held them tightly. "You have to listen to me!" she pleaded. "I belong to Josh and so do the other girls and there is nothing we can do about it! Don’t you think we’ve tried? If there was a way to get out, I would have done it a long time ago."
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"It’s very simple, Sheriff. Whoever killed Rachel Rogers probably won’t stop with her death."
"It seems like he has. You see how quiet it’s been."
"He’s waiting to make his next move." Barlow was thoughtful for a minute. "He’s sending a message."
Jake almost laughed out loud at the notion, but controlled the urge. "And just what is that message?" he asked with a touch of sarcasm in his tone.
"That this is only the beginning."
"Of what?"
"I think something happened—could be years ago or recent—that involves one of the Rogers’."
"That’s ridiculous," Jake said dismissing him. "I’ve known that family for years. I watched those kids grow up. Not one of them has so much as gotten a speeding ticket."
"Could be an act of revenge," Barlow continued.
"Revenge?" Jake scoffed. "Rachel Rogers didn’t have any enemies to speak of."
"Maybe you don’t know the family as well as you think you do. All families have secrets."
"Not this family," Jake answered confidently. "You seem to forget Weldon is not Boston."
"I’m well aware of that."
"Any other theories?" the sheriff asked, seemingly amused with the investigator. "You’re ruling out a random act of violence?"
"If it was a random act, why would he hit just one house? Why not somewhere he could take out a group of people like a restaurant or the community center? No, I think Rachel Rogers was targeted and it’s up to us to find out why."
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"I didn’t do anything!" Andy cried in fear. "I didn’t steal your money, but I’ll pay you back every cent you think I took!" he choked. One move and the knife would be plunged into his throat. He had to think fast, but his mind was frozen in fear.
The man shook his head. "You know what doesn’t make sense? Why would you be willing to pay back money you insist you didn’t take?" His forehead furrowed. "Sounds like that’s an admission."
"I...I don’t know, but you’ve got to believe me when I tell you that I didn’t touch the money. The envelope was sealed...you saw it! They’re always sealed."
Mr. D laughed. "If you would have counted it like you were instructed, it wouldn’t have been sealed, now would it?"
"I didn’t touch it because you told us to never open an envelope if it’s sealed. Every envelope I’ve delivered and picked up has been sealed. You never said anything before," Andy protested.
"Are you calling me a liar?"
"No."
"Now where would you get the money to pay me back?"
"I don’t know." His eyes pleaded with Mr. D’s for mercy. "Maybe you could deduct it from my pay."
The man frowned. "Maybe I could," he said slowly, "but I’m not going to." He grinned as he playfully poked the knife between Andy’s ribs. "Maybe there’s another way."
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Patrick Quinn, a thin, handsome, dark haired boy of fourteen, squared his shoulders as he looked over the soggy field. He was dressed in a tattered shirt and soiled trousers; his well-worn shoes wouldn't last much longer, but he didn't worry about himself. His family depended on him. His nostrils, filled with the nauseating stench of rotting potatoes, made his stomach lurch. This year he'd hoped for a crop. Anything to sustain them. Now it was gone. He felt the weight of the world come crashing down on him.
He stooped down, surveying the field, and then picked up a rotted potato. He studied it carefully for a few seconds, and then stood and holding it tightly in his hand, thrust his arm toward the sky.
"Why!" he cried as he dropped to his knees in the putrid field. Tears streamed down his cheeks.
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Jensyn nodded. "Yes." The detective scared her. His loud voice boomed in the small room and seemed to bounce off the walls. She squirmed. It felt like the walls were closing in on her. She had to get out of there and escape from this nightmare. Jensyn wished she'd wake up from this horror and find out that it was only a terrible dream, and Aaron was alive and well. She covered her face with her hands as sobs once again racked her body.
Detective Jones wasn't dissuaded by her obvious distress and tried to resume the questioning, but was interrupted by Beth Richards. She walked quickly to her daughter's side.
With flashing eyes she glared at the detective. "Do you have to do this now?" she demanded. "These kids have been through enough. They just lost their friend, and my daughter has lost her boyfriend."
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Robert stared at the ceiling. He took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before exhaling. Farrel lay silently next to him. He was tense, and she knew a battle was raging within him to keep his temper in check. She was so tired—not physically, but mentally. She couldn’t take much more and realized that at any moment she would snap, and that would be the end. Her nerves were a twisted, mangled mass of frustrations, but she still clung to one hope. The hope that the marriage counselor would shed some light on how she could help her husband to help himself and how they could hopefully work together to become a normal family. Still, a major part of her recognized that she shouldn’t get her hopes too high. Every time she did, Robert pulled the rug out from under her. This time she wouldn’t allow it.
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Kate’s eyes brightened. "How nice! Caleb usually hangs around the fire station. Tom and I would certainly have him over if we didn’t go out of town to visit relatives for the holidays every year, but even if we were home, I doubt he’d come. I know most of the firefighters at the station extend invitations to him, but he never accepts. This will be a real treat for him." She grinned.
"Who knows? You two might discover you are more compatible than you think. Something that extends beyond just a good friend." Kate nodded approvingly. "He wouldn’t have accepted your invitation if he wasn’t interested in you."
Rachel held up a hand. "Stop, Kate. He’s not coming for Christmas."
Kate’s face fell. "He refused?"
She sighed. "Not exactly. After Ethan invited him, I told Ethan he might have to work on Christmas."
