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Jordon's Battle by E.A. West
Contemporary Romance
48 Pages
$1.99
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Computer programmer Alaina Howard has a new office mate, and she couldn’t be happier that he’s handsome and unattached. Although initially uncertain of his position in the company, she quickly realizes that he’s good at his job and a valuable asset. If only she knew why the seemingly non-disabled man needed a service dog, things would be perfect.

Army veteran Jordan Blake is thrilled to get a job that allows him to pursue his dream of learning web development. The position is even sweeter thanks to the beautiful woman he shares an office with. The only drawback is that she seems suspicious of his need for a service dog to assist with an invisible disability.

Will Alaina’s suspicion and Jordan’s reluctance to talk about his disability keep them from developing the relationship they both desire?

Chapter One

Alaina Howard walked into her office and froze. The previously unoccupied desk opposite hers now housed a new computer, a phone, and a rather handsome blond man in his late twenties.

He glanced up from his monitor, a smile lighting his face. “Good morning. Are you my office mate?”

She blinked away her surprise and continued on to her desk by the windows. “Yes, I’m Alaina Howard. And you are?”

“Jordan Blake,” he said as she turned to face him. “The new IT specialist.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Alaina returned Jordan’s smile. Since when did her uncle need an IT specialist? At least this guy had a pleasant voice. The woman who had used that desk before had a nasal voice and a laugh like fingernails on a chalkboard. “Do you know if Russ Porter has come in yet?”

“As far as I know, he’s around here somewhere. He came in early to show me around.” Jordan leaned back in his chair, appearing completely at ease. “Russ seems like a good guy.”

“Yes, he’s a good man and a fair employer.” Which was why his decision to hire Jordan didn’t make much sense. She placed her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with him for a moment.”

“Of course. See you later.” Jordan shifted his attention back to his computer.

Alaina left the room and hurried down the hall to her uncle’s office. Through the open door, she could see him sitting at his desk, reading a newspaper. He looked up as she stepped inside and closed the door.

“Morning, Alaina. Have you been to your office yet?”

“I just came from there.” She dropped into the chair in front of the desk and studied him. “Uncle Russ, why did you hire an IT specialist? We’re all programmers around here. We can fix our own computer issues.”

Russ laid the paper aside, leaned back, and grinned. “I see you met Jordan.”

“Yes, but I don’t understand why he’s here. It’s not like you to hire someone for a pointless position. You have more business sense than that.”

“You’re right. I didn’t hire him because I need an IT guy. I hired him because a representative from a veteran’s organization asked me to, and Jordan is eager to learn.”

“What?”

“Jordan got hooked up with an organization that came to me hoping I’d be willing to give him a chance.” Russ leaned forward, causing the leather chair to creak. “I hired him because he has the bare minimum of qualifications to be an IT specialist, but he has an interest in working with computers, especially web development.”

“You mean to tell me you hired him because he’s interested in working with computers, but he doesn’t know how to do much of anything?” She would wonder if her uncle’d had a nervous breakdown, but he appeared as well-balanced and sane as ever. “Is that a good idea for the company?”

“Yes, because he has the potential to become what we need. So, although his official title is IT Specialist, his current work involves learning our CMS software and everything he can about the company and our products. I’ve also made him a moderator on our game forums because he’s a gamer. Sometime in the next six months or so, I’m hoping to make him our webmaster, which will allow the rest of us to concentrate on our official jobs rather than worry about website issues.”

Alaina leaned against the back of her chair as she absorbed everything her uncle had said. His reasoning had merit, but he’d left out one essential detail. “Who’s going to teach him web programming and everything else he needs to know, to keep the website dynamic and fresh?”

Russ rapped his knuckles against the top of his desk and sat back. “You’re my most talented web developer. I figure with the books I gave him to read and you supervising him, he should pick up on everything pretty quickly.”

“You want me to supervise him? What about the app I’m working on?”

“I’m making your deadline more flexible on that, so there’s no worry there.” Russ stood and walked around his desk, bracing his hip on the front edge. “Look, Alaina, I know teaching the new guy web development isn’t in your job description, but this kid’s smart and he needs a break. He’s had a rough time of it. By hiring him on, even though he doesn’t yet have the skills to be our webmaster — which is what we really need around here — I’m showing confidence in his ability to learn the job and excel at it. Knowing I believe in him will encourage him to do his best to live up to my expectations for his future in the company.”

She’d always known her uncle had a soft spot for the underdog, but it had never seemed to apply to his software company. He always hired the best-qualified candidate for the position, but he encouraged each employee to be the best he or she could be. Since he had hired Jordan, Russ must have seen something in him to make up for the lack of qualifications. Otherwise Russ would have turned him down, no matter how much compassion he had for the man.

“Okay,” Alaina said as she rose from her seat. “I’ll work on that app when I can and give Jordan whatever help and supervision he needs. He does know I’m supervising him, right?”

“I told him to talk to you about any questions concerning web development, and to get your approval for any changes he wants to implement in the site. Other than that, I want the two of you to see yourselves as coworkers. I’m counting on you to help him integrate into the laid-back atmosphere around here.”

“I’ll do what I can, but it’s up to him how well he integrates.”

Alaina left her uncle’s office and walked slowly down the hall. Paradigm Computing had always been laid-back about employee hierarchy, with Russ being the only real higher-up in the company. She felt a little disconcerted knowing she had just become a supervisor, but she found comfort in the fact that the job was more mentorship than management.

As she drew closer to her office, her thoughts drifted to the man inside. Why had he needed a veteran’s organization to help him get a job? Why was he learning web development here, instead of at a college like most people? And what did her uncle mean when he said the man had had a rough time?

****

Jordan leaned back in his desk chair and rolled his shoulders to relieve some of the tension. The longer he studied the Paradigm Computing website from both the public side and the back end, it sank in just how big a job he’d taken on. Although his dream of becoming a web developer was one step closer to coming true thanks to Russ Porter, Jordan couldn’t deny the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. Russ trusted him to learn huge amounts of information in a short period of time, and Jordan wanted to give a hundred and ten percent, the same way he always did. He just didn’t know if he could survive the pressure it would undoubtedly create.

Before his stress level could climb any higher, Jordan felt a nudge against his left leg. He released a breath and reached down to scratch his dog’s head. Abe always knew when to interrupt his thoughts. Given how long they’d been at this desk, they could both use a walk.

Jordan grabbed his dog’s leash as he stood, and the large, dark brown mutt followed his example. He caught Alaina watching him and smiled. He couldn’t ask for a prettier office mate than the blonde sitting at the desk across the room.

“I’m going outside for a few,” he said as Abe stretched.

Alaina lifted a shapely eyebrow, and distaste clouded her hazel eyes. “You’re a smoker?”

He laughed and stepped out from behind his desk. “No, I’m just going for a short walk.”

Her eyes widened as Abe stepped into her line of sight. “You brought your dog to work? Does Uncle Russ know?”

His office mate was his boss’s niece? Added stress he didn’t need. He shook off the anxiety before it could threaten him too much.

“Of course. Abe goes everywhere with me.” Jordan glanced down at his canine companion and turned him so Alaina could clearly see Abe’s labeled vest. Maybe it would keep her from asking questions he didn’t want to answer.

She leaned forward, her eyes on Abe. An adorable pink blush crept into her cheeks as she met Jordan’s gaze. “Oh! I should have realized he’s a service dog.”

Well, this was new. He’d never seen anyone surprised to learn Abe was a service dog — a service dog nudging his leg in an attempt to get him moving. Jordan hid his amusement by reaching down to scratch the mutt’s head. “It’s all right. Now, I’d better take him out before he gets any more impatient.”

Jordan didn’t wait for Alaina to respond before leaving the office. As he walked toward the elevator, he exchanged smiles with a few other employees he passed, but inside he wanted to scream. No way could he miss the curiosity on each face, sometimes mixed with sympathy or pity. He wasn’t sure which, but none of it diminished his gratitude for Abe’s presence in his life. The dog’s support enabled him to lead a fairly normal life with little need for medication, but the attention and misunderstanding that tended to go with having a service dog were still hard to deal with sometimes. Especially when he was tired and stressed, such as a day when he had gotten up earlier than usual to start a new job — the first he’d had since his discharge from the Army.

Inside the elevator, Jordan pressed the button for the ground floor, then reached down and petted Abe’s head. “Think I’ll make it, buddy?”

The dog gazed up at him with those adoring brown eyes and licked his hand. Jordan scratched behind Abe’s ears, feeling his tension ease. No matter how irritating people’s reactions could be at times, he wouldn’t trade his service dog for anything.

****

“Why didn’t you tell me he has a service dog?”

Russ looked up from his computer and sighed. “Shut the door, Alaina.”

She did as he instructed and then crossed her arms. “Well?”

“I knew you’d find out about Abe sooner or later. Besides, does it make a difference? The need of a dog doesn’t affect Jordan’s ability to learn his job.”

“He’s obviously not blind or deaf, and he walks as well as I do. Why does he even need a service dog?”

“That’s Jordan’s business.” Russ leaned back in his chair and tapped a pen on his desk. “If he cares to share it with you, fine. But he is not legally required to disclose that information to his coworkers.”

Alaina studied her uncle. “Do you know why he needs the dog?”

“Yes, but I’m not going to tell you.” He laid the pen aside. “Now, since you’re in here, how is it going so far?”

“Just fine. Jordan has been busy studying something on his computer, and I’ve been working on that app. The only reason I learned about the dog is because Jordan had to take him out for a walk.”

“And you decided to use the opportunity to try to get more info about your office mate?” Russ’s eyebrows arched over twinkling eyes, and her cheeks burned. “Alaina, instead of talking to me about Jordan, go talk to him. Neither he nor Abe bite, and I’m sure he’d appreciate the chance to interact with someone around here other than me and his computer.”

“Point taken, Uncle Russ,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll go be friendly to the new guy.”

“Good! Just don’t get so friendly you both forget to work.”

“That’s not going to happen. I plan to keep my reputation of never missing a deadline.” Alaina left the office with her uncle’s chuckle trailing after her.

She had been at her desk less than two minutes when Jordan returned with Abe at his heels. The dog’s tail waved gently as he panted. All in all, he looked superbly happy. Jordan appeared calmer as well. He’d seemed rather tense when he’d announced his walk, but now he looked as laid-back as when she’d first arrived this morning.

Deciding now was as good a time as any to keep her promise to her uncle, she lifted her eyebrows. “Enjoy your walk?”

“Very much,” Jordan said as he sat down in his chair. The dog disappeared behind the desk and, from the sound of it, sprawled on the floor. Jordan grinned. “Abe enjoyed it, too.”

“That’s good. Do you have to take him out often?”

“No more often than most people take a coffee break. He usually gets a longer walk or a bit of playtime at lunch.” Jordan cocked his head to the side and studied her. “Speaking of which, where do people around here go for lunch? I figure you know all the good places nearby.”

“I usually go to the Sushi Roll. It’s around the corner and has some of the best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Fried food at a place called the Sushi Roll?”

Alaina laughed. “Yes, they try to cater to a variety of customers. They also serve salads, burgers — and sushi, of course.”

“Of course.” Jordan glanced toward his computer, and then met her gaze again. “Maybe you and I can grab lunch together today.”

“A few of us always go together. You’re more than welcome to join us.”

“Cool, thanks.”

Alaina waited a moment to see if he would say anything else, but he appeared focused on his computer. She shifted her attention back to her own work and wondered what the others would think when they found out the new guy and his dog were tagging along today. What would the restaurant employees say? True, they hadn’t seemed to mind the few times a young woman brought her guide dog in, but what about a dog his human didn’t seem to actually need?

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Whispered Music by Rachel Van Dyken
Book 2 in the London Fairy Tales series
$2.99

Blurb: He wasn’t looking for a savior…

Scarred at a young age, Dominique Maksylov, Royal Prince of Russia, has lived a reclusive life. As a musical prodigy, his music has wide reach into the world, but few ever see his face. He never ventures into polite society, but when he discovers he is the only heir to the Earldom of Harriss, he goes to one ball. And that one ball, was enough to change the direction of his life forever.

But how could he possibly have known that other person— the other half of his whole—would not only need his help but threaten his very existence?

She didn’t know how hard it would be to love the broken.

Isabelle Hartwell’s mother just sold her to the Beast of Russia. He’s mean, temperamental, and the most virile, handsome man she has ever encountered. But he has a secret, one he’s willing to die for and he refuses to let anyone in. Will she be able to reach his heart before it’s too late?

Find out if love prevails in this regency retelling of how Beauty tamed the savage Beast…

Prologue

“Hands at this angle young master.” Mr. Field was always careful in his scoldings, and for that young Dominique was grateful. He had heard whisperings that not all music teachers were as kind as Mr. Field.

A prodigy—the name hovered over him like a blazing sign. At eleven, even his boyish mind knew that life would never be simple. When other little boys were outside running and playing in the streams, Dominique was in the great practice room tapping away at the ivory.

Music was to Dominique what breathing was to everyone else. He wasn’t able to quit the melodies pounding through his head—through his dreams. Often, he would sneak down to the practice room in the middle of the night because his fingers itched so heavily to touch the keys of his favorite instrument. If the music was not played, sleep would not come.

The crescendos, the notes—everything had always existed in his mind. The major scale of beautiful notes descended upon him in times of great happiness, the minor scales—the scales of sharps and flats—often during times of danger. His teacher, Mr. Field, said it was a gift, that all prodigies had a sixth sense. Dominique, however, felt different, too different to play with others his own age. So he poured himself into music as much as he could to his mother’s utter delight, for she was always doting on him, telling him that one day he would be a great master and that people from all over the world would pay to hear his gift.

His father, the Royal Prince Maksylov, thought music was only for the weak-minded, and often told young Dominique that unless he grew strong in physical build and learned how to play with others, nobody would ever follow him. That he, as a musician, could never lead.

And so Dominique led the life of being pulled by two parents: one in the direction of the piano room, and the other to the outside light. Both directions held certain feelings of excitement and fear, for Dominique hated to fail at anything and often found it frustrating to have to concentrate on more than one task at a time.

A certain evening, after his parents had gotten in another fight over his musical education, Dominique had snuck into bed careful not to let any of the servants see the pooling of tears around his eyes. He cried, not for himself, but the love lost, for it seemed both parents never saw him as the boy he was, only what they wanted him to be.

After the servants had gone to bed, a slow haunting melody began burning in the back of Dominique’s mind. Closing his eyes against the onslaught of music, he put the pillow over his head. But the music would not quit. Minor chords filled with dread and pain drifted in and out of his mind until he thought he would go mad. Finally, unable to keep his body from moving, his fingers carefully started playing the melody in the air, imagining the pianos keys underneath his finger tips as he played the song that would not leave him.

The song progressed; it became more and more angry. The hair on Dominique’s arms stood on end. Surely he would die this way! The music was finally coming for him! There was no other option in his mind. He had always thought about how he would die. There was nothing simple about dying for any prodigy. For a musician, there was always music. Always a benediction telling the sad tale of a person’s life which had gone unlived.

With a squeal, Dominique ran downstairs to the practice room. If he was to die, he needed to be next to the music; the only hope, it seemed, was to play that song and pray it never return to his head.

He threw open the doors to the practice room just in time to see his father pull back the trigger of a pistol and his mother fall to the ground in a bloody heap. Then, his father turned hate-filled eyes toward Dominique. With sickening fear, he noticed his teacher, Mr. Field, also lying on the floor, dead, just behind the couch. His soulless stare went right past him and his coloring was a grayish white.

“What are you about, boy?”

“Papa!” Dominique froze in place. “Papa, you hurt Mama! What have you done? You—you beast!”

“Beast?” His father laughed, madness etched across his face. He took a stumble to the side-board and poured himself more brandy, not sure at all on his feet as he took a seat on the sofa, his booted foot only inches from Mr. Field’s outstretched hand. “I give your mother everything! I give you everything and she repays me with betrayal!”

His voice shook the walls in the room and suddenly Dominique knew where the music had come from. Just as his teacher had said, it had come from within. He had sensed the danger, and the music once silent as he entered the room came back full force as his father trained his eyes on him.

Blood still dripped from the prince’s hands as he smiled and threw the glass of brandy on the floor, shattering it into pieces.

“So you think me a beast, boy?”

Dominique slowly backed away toward the door. It seemed his only hope was to somehow escape the nightmare he had walked into.

“Answer me!” His father wailed, throwing another glass to the floor. “Answer me now, boy!”

“No. No, Papa, you are no b-beast.” Tears fell from Dominique’s eyes of their own accord, streaking his face with the salty wetness of death.

In a flash, his father was behind him, locking the doors. The music crescendoed again. The finale—he could hear it; he could see it in his mind’s eye.

“Well, boy. Why don’t you go ahead and play. Play for me, play for your dead mother, and your wicked teacher. Play for us all!” His shout vibrated off Dominique’s ears like he’d been shot himself. His father thrust his hands into the air as if directing some invisible choir.

He was mad! The teacher’s body lay ever so lightly across his mother’s; he needed to step over them in order to get to the piano. In that moment, Dominique knew he would die, knew that he would never get to play with other little boys. The cold stream by his house wouldn’t get any use, for he would be dead, and dead little boys did not swim in cold streams.

With a deep breath, Dominique sat at the piano and began to play the melody.

His funeral march.

His benediction.

“Ah, such music is so pleasing. It is so sweet, Dominique, it nearly makes me ache with want, which is apparently what your witch of a mother was aching with. Don’t you agree?”

Dominique continued to play, tears blurring his vision. Perhaps a servant would hear the music and think it odd? His mind rejected the notion. It was impossible, for he was often playing music through the night. But this night was unlike any other.

As he finished the song, his father yelled, “Keep playing!”

So Dominique continued to play and shook as he did so. He repeated the same song, for there was no other melody in his head he could find. His father came up behind him, casting a shadow in the candlelight.

“For your sins, for the sins of your mother, I will punish you, once and for all! May you never play again.”

With a curse, his father snatched the candelabra from its perch on the piano and poured hot wax and fire onto Dominique’s hands. When Dominique screamed in anguish and tried to pull away, his father merely held his hands next to Dominique’s, taking the punishment with him, Dominique’s struggles nothing for the giant man. His hatred was so deep that he would rather hurt himself and his son than not give any punishment whatsoever.

With a curse, his father threw him to the ground and marched over to the fireplace, taking Dominique’s sheets of music with him.

“No! Papa, no!” Dominique wailed, for he had worked his entire existence on those songs. They were his everything. With a sneer his father threw them into the fire.

“Follow them into the fires of Perdition for all I care.”

With a scream, Dominique charged his father, his blistered hands reached into the flames, grasping at the remnants of the music. It wasn’t until his hands hit the scorching heat that he noticed his father was holding them there as well.

A scream would not come, though Dominique tried. The blackness enveloped him, and he felt once and for all, he had truly died.

****

15 years later

The carriage dipped, jolting Dominique from his nightmare. Always the same. Always that cursed song. Why was he never given respite? He looked down at his hands, covered by his gloves and never to be seen by the outside world. For their hideous scars were the stuff of legends and dark fairy tales. Surely the girl sitting across from him would expire on the spot if she saw what gruesome brutalities lay beneath his tortured gloves.

With a sigh, he leaned his head back against the leather of the seat. Had he done the right thing in taking her? Now he wasn’t so sure.

He looked across the carriage. His gaze rested on the young girl. Isabelle was her name. Or, in his mind, Belle, for the music surrounding her was true beauty, nothing he had ever seen in his lifetime.

The carriage dipped again and the young beauty opened her eyes. “Are we there yet, my lord?”

“No.” Dominique despised conversation of any type, especially with a woman. He hadn’t any experience with the lot of them unless he needed to satisfy his beastly needs and even then, he never looked at their faces, never kissed them, and never took off his gloves. Women were good for only one thing. Besides that, they could not be trusted. They were full of betrayal and lies.

The young maiden licked her rose-colored lips and pushed her lustrous brown hair away from her face. “Are we close then?”

“Why?” he asked, irritated with her questions. Was she to plague him the entire trip?

“I’m thirsty.” She looked embarrassed; her hands were shaking just slightly. Blast, the girl was probably cold too. What did she think he was about? Being her nursemaid?

“We’ll arrive soon enough.” He cut off the conversation by looking out the window, so desperate was he to get the girl to stop talking, or at least stop staring at him the way she was, with such curiosity and contempt.

“Why did you take me?”

Dominique took a deep breath then turned his gaze back to the girl. Her piercing blue eyes made him desperate for her to stop looking at him. If there was one trait he was always constant on, it was his honesty. So he told her the truth, not because he was being kind, but because it was the only positive characteristic he had. After all, his mother had lied, his father had betrayed him and his music hadn’t saved him at all. Honesty, it seemed, was his only mistress.

With a deep breath, he answered, “Because the minute I gazed upon you, the music changed.”

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Be My Hero by Nell Dixon
$2.99
109 Pages

Nathalie Mayer is thirty-four. On the surface she is an attractive, happy, single, successful woman running her own bridal business. Despite her line of work and her obvious delight in other people’s weddings, including that of her twin brother, Nate. Nathalie has always declared that a settled relationship is not for her. There has only ever been one man whom Nathalie felt she could love.

Evan Davies is back in town after a six year absence. Last time he was here, he and Nathalie had tentatively begun to take their friendship to a different level. Now he’s home again and has the reason for his sudden departure from six years ago with him – his daughter, Polly.

Chapter One

Nathalie hurried over to the window as fast as discretion allowed, certain her eyes had played a trick on her. Around her, her twin brother’s wedding guests chattered and circulated on the dance floor. She focused on the large picture window and the man she thought she had glimpsed on the terrace outside.

“Nathalie, are you all right, dear?”

Her mother’s concerned tone snapped her out of her reverie.

“I’m fine. I thought — Never mind. I’ll just go and get a drink.” She picked up the skirt of her long, dark red velvet gown and headed toward the bar area. One of her brothers would be sure to know if the man she thought she’d seen in the garden was really at the reception.

“Hey, little sister,” Jerome, her older brother, called from the bar. Nate, Nathalie’s twin, stood next to him. Dressed in their dark formal wedding suits, their family resemblance appeared even more marked than usual, with their matching height, black hair, and piercing blue eyes. Jerome had more of a devil-may-care appearance, she thought. He had a reckless edge, even in wedding attire.

“You look flustered,” Nate observed, looking at her warm cheeks.

“Dancing always makes me thirsty.” She accepted one of the glasses of juice that stood amongst the flutes of champagne, on large silver trays that sat all along the bar.

“Thank you so much for arranging all this for us today, Tali. Jenni and I couldn’t have organised the wedding without you.”

Nathalie smiled at her twin’s use of her nickname. “Planning weddings is my job, and I’ve enjoyed every minute,” she assured him. “Although a little more notice would have been nice.”

“Has Jerome told you he ran into Evan in town yesterday?” Nate asked.

Nathalie took a big gulp of her drink, pressing her fingers hard against the glass so her hand wouldn’t betray her sudden trembling. “No, he didn’t mention it.” She was pleased her voice sounded cool and controlled, even if she didn’t feel that way.

“I met him outside the bank. I invited him to drop in to the party today if he had a chance.” Jerome had a teasing look in his eyes as he watched to see how she would take the information. All her brothers knew how she’d once felt about Evan.

“When was he last in town? It’s been a few years.” Nate placed his empty glass back down on the bar and, rather than waiting for an answer to his question, allowed himself to be steered off by his bride to greet some more guests.

Six years, Nathalie thought. In all the time Evan had been gone, she’d only heard the barest snippets of information. She didn’t even know if he had married or started a family.

“Look who I just found outside!” Barnaby, her youngest brother, called from the doorway.

The prickling of the hairs on the nape of her neck and an inner sixth sense warned her who she would see when she turned around.

“Hello, Nathalie.”

The sound of her name spoken by Evan’s cool, gravelly voice sent little butterflies of excitement skittering around in her stomach. She struggled to take a breath. “Evan,” she acknowledged.

He hadn’t changed much in the last six years, except he‘d gained a man’s frame, broad-chested and broad-shouldered. Small lines crinkled at the corners of his bright blue eyes, and his hair had been cropped in a new shorter style.

Jerome handed him a glass of champagne. “Glad you could make it. Have a drink.”

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Where is the groom?” Evan looked around the crowded room.

“His bride spirited him off.” Barnaby helped himself to a drink.

“We’ll go hunt him down,” Jerome offered. He and Barnaby walked away, toward the dance floor, leaving her alone with Evan.

“So, how have you been?” he asked.

Nathalie swallowed. “Fine. Busy. You?”

“The same.”

Heat crept into her cheeks. This was ridiculous. She was thirty-four, not thirteen. He’d been gone all this time, and he could still make her blush like a teenager.

“I guess, now that Nate’s married, you’ll be next.” He took a sip of his drink.

“What gives you that idea?” She dated, yes, but not seriously. There had only been one man she had ever given her heart to, and he stood in front of her — six years after he’d walked out of her life without any warning.

“You and Nate are twins. You always did everything together, and you’re a beautiful woman. It seemed a natural assumption.” He shrugged.

“How about you?” Her gaze darted automatically to his ring finger. She wondered where he’d been and what he’d been doing whilst he’d been gone. There were a million questions she longed to ask.

“I’m single. I was married for a while.” His expression hardened, and the sudden ice in his gaze sent a chill along her spine.

“Oh. So what brings you back into town?” She decided to turn the conversation to a safer subject. That way she could ignore the inconvenient feeling of sweet relief that had swept through her when he’d said he was single.

“I’m visiting family. I’m looking for a house to buy, as I intend to settle back here.”

“I see.” Nathalie dropped her gaze and took a sip of her drink. Her mind worked overtime at his news.

“Evan!” Her brothers returned with Nate and Jenni.

Nathalie took advantage of her clan’s arrival to slip away and recover her composure. Just an hour ago, she would have sworn she was so over him. Now, after seeing him again, she wasn’t so sure. Nathalie never liked to feel unsure about anything.

If he moved back into town, it was inevitable she’d bump into him again. They had the same friends, had always moved in the same circles. He had been friends with her brothers for years, from when they were growing up. How would she cope with seeing him all the time?

Her mother, slim and chic in her pastel blue dress, beckoned to her from the other side of the dance floor. “Have you seen Jenni?”

“She’s in the bar with Nate. Evan Davies has just arrived.”

Her mother’s blue eyes, so like Nathalie’s own, surveyed her shrewdly. “How wonderful. I’d heard he’d come back. Jenni will need to go upstairs and change soon. I wondered if you could go and help her.”

Nathalie wondered why all of her family except her seemed to know Evan was back in town. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she pinned a smile on her face for her mother’s benefit. “Of course, I hadn’t realised the time. I’ll go and see if she’s ready.”

Her mother patted her hand, much the way she had done when Nathalie had been a small child in need of reassurance. “Thank you, darling.”

****

Evan made small talk with his old friends at the bar, but all his attention was on their sister—the once-so-familiar figure of a tall, slender woman in a dark crimson gown on the edge of the dance floor.

Six years before, he had been at another wedding, where Nathalie had been a bridesmaid and he’d been best man. He’d received the bombshell letter that same day, the day he’d left town without saying goodbye. That had been the last time he’d seen her, until today.

The first time they’d met, he’d been sixteen. He and Jerome had played hooky from school to go fishing. They’d snuck back to Jerome’s house to get some snacks and drinks when a tall, skinny schoolgirl with jet-black pigtails and flashing blue eyes had caught them in the kitchen. It had been pure bad luck that Nathalie had come home early for a dental appointment. Both he and Jerome had been grounded for a month for that escapade.

Nathalie rejoined the circle and spoke to her twin’s new bride. “Mum said to see if you wanted to get changed yet.”

Jenni nodded. “Give me a minute.” She headed back toward the dance floor.

Nate and his brothers turned to speak to another guest, and Evan found himself face-to-face with Nathalie for the second time that day.

“Here we are again.” He wished he’d said something less prosaic.

“Yes.”

“Nate told me that you organised all of this.”

She seemed glad of the conversational opening. “I own a bridal shop, and one of the services we offer is wedding planning. Nate and Jenni only just got engaged at Christmas, so a Valentine’s Day wedding was a little short notice, but if I couldn’t help my own brother, well…” She shrugged.

Evan surveyed the faint flush along her high cheekbones. “You were a bridesmaid last time I saw you.”

Her expression changed, and for a moment, Evan saw the fourteen-year-old-girl from the kitchen all those years ago. “Yes, well, thanks for reminding me of that!” she snapped. “Excuse me. I have to help Jenni.”

He watched her go in search of Nate’s bride and cursed his own idiocy. Nathalie hadn’t needed to be reminded of the last time they’d met. Some things didn’t alter — he’d made a mess of things then, and he’d made a mess of them again now. That had been tactless, reminding her of how he’d treated her.

Absentmindedly, he took another sip of champagne and sighed as Nathalie continued to walk away through the crowd with Jenni and another bridesmaid.

****

Nathalie’s hands shook as she attempted to unfasten the tiny seed pearl buttons on the back of Jenni’s bridal gown.

The other bridesmaid offered to help. “Here, let me.”

Jenni craned her neck to see what her two helpers were doing. “It’s not like you to be all fingers and thumbs.”

“I’m sorry.” Nathalie picked up the clothes hanger, ready to help her friend remove her dress for hanging.

“He did look very nice.” Jenni stepped out of the pool of white silk.

Nathalie’s cheeks flamed. “Who? Evan’s just an old friend of Jerome’s.”

Two pairs of eyes looked at her with interest.

“I used to have a crush on him. Then we dated for a while before he left town a few years ago.” Nathalie bent to pick up the wedding dress and hide her hot cheeks.

“Methinks the lady doth protest too much.” Jenni laughed.

Nathalie placed the dress on the padded hanger and zipped up the protective cover with care. “We’d better hurry. The car will be here for you and Nate soon.”

“I’d better not keep my husband waiting. I have to toss my bouquet.” She smiled at Nathalie.

Nathalie ignored her comment about the bouquet. Her new sister-in-law meant well, but Nathalie had no wish to become a bride. Romance and fairy-tale weddings were for other people. She had resigned herself a long time ago to remaining the bridesmaid and never the bride. Hadn’t Evan just reminded her of that?

They found Nate waiting on the staircase for his bride, so the newlyweds could say their farewells before setting off on honeymoon. Nathalie joined her parents at the foot of the stairs with the other guests, as the final photographs were taken.

“I’m glad he’s finally happy,” her mother murmured.

“Me too.” Nathalie felt pleased her twin had managed to put his past behind him, but she couldn’t help feeling sad, knowing the same kind of happiness wasn’t destined to be hers.

“Okay, get ready!” Jenni called as she turned her back to the crowd and prepared to toss her bouquet.

Pure instinct brought Nathalie’s hand up in time to catch the posy of scarlet roses and green ferns as it came winging toward her. Her brothers whooped as she made a perfect catch, and the guests standing around her congratulated her.

“Your turn next, dear.” Her father patted her arm and moved off with the rest of the family to see the bridal couple leave.

Nathalie stood still for a moment and bent her head to inhale the deep, rich scent of the roses in her hand. Ridiculous superstition!

“Are you coming to see them off?” Evan’s voice, deep and masculine in her ear, made her jump. Lost in her own thoughts, she hadn’t realised he was still there.

“Of course!” She drew a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap.”

“No, it’s okay. I think it’s me who owes you the apology for earlier.”

She forced a smile, her nerves feeling ragged and raw. “Then we had better put it behind us.” She took a step forward, ready to leave, only to freeze again as Evan slipped his arm through hers to escort her.

Her pulse thudded as he walked with her to where the wedding guests sprinkled more confetti and tied the last tin can onto the back of Nate and Jenni’s wedding car.

“Look after yourself, Tali, and thanks again for everything,” Nate whispered in her ear. He hugged her before climbing into the car next to his new bride.

As Nathalie struggled to keep her composure, Evan circled his arm around her waist in support. A tear slipped down her cheek. She dashed it away with her free hand. “I’m okay.”

“Let’s go inside. It’s cold out here,” Evan replied.

“The party will be ending soon. I should find my parents.” Nathalie peered into the golden pool of light that spilled from the open door of the reception area, out on to the driveway where she and Evan still stood.

“Have you got time for one dance?”

A shiver ran down her spine, and not from the cold. The gentle warmth of Evan’s hand on the small of her back and the musky scent of his cologne sent a tattoo of desire through her body.

“I don’t know.” She licked lips that felt dry.

“For old times’ sake?” he murmured. His gaze fixed on her face, and she couldn’t refuse when he continued to look at her the way she always dreamed he would. The same way he had used to look at her.

Dumbstruck, she nodded, and he led her back inside.

The band had switched to waltzes, since the evening had almost drawn to a close. Around them, couples slowly circled the dance floor. Nathalie’s feet moved to the rhythm of the music, all her senses on maximum alert. She tried to scramble her brain into gear as they danced. They had always been well matched as dance partners, and dancing with a man who was taller than her was a rare pleasure.

“Are you moving back to be near your family?” Evan’s mother and his sister still lived locally.

“Mum’s not getting any younger, and I’ve been offered a job here.” He twirled her around the corner of the dance floor.

Her heartbeat quickened with the beat of the music. “It sounds pretty definite, then?”

“I’ve some appointments to view properties tomorrow.”

The music stopped, and the bandleader started to make his announcements. Evan released her from his arms. “Thank you for the dance.”

“My pleasure.” Nathalie shifted her feet. What is the matter with me? She hadn’t felt so socially inept in years.

“I have to go. It was good to see you again. Could I give you a call sometime?”

“That sounds nice.” She struggled to sound cool and collected. Perhaps if she agreed to see him again, she would get some answers and maybe break this stupid spell he seemed to have cast over her.

“I’ll be in touch.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips against her cheek, sending heat into her skin.

Only when her mother called to her from the edge of the dance floor did Nathalie realise that Evan hadn’t asked for her phone number. She made her way across the room, cursing herself for her stupidity at falling for his charm all over again.

“Could you come and help me see everyone off home?” her mother asked.

“Of course.” She scanned the thinning crowd. A little part of her half-hoped Evan might still be there and realise his mistake.

Her mother moved to the door to say goodnight to some of Nate’s employees. “Jerome’s giving Evan a lift to his mother’s,” she added. “It was nice of him to call by.”

Nathalie’s heart sank. If he asked Jerome for her number, she would be the subject of merciless and annoying teasing from her brothers. Being the only girl in a family of brothers meant that any man who showed any interest in her was subjected to an interrogation the Spanish Inquisition would have taken pride in.

The last little group of guests departed with hugs, kisses, and pieces of wedding cake.

“You will still come to dinner tomorrow, won’t you?” her mother asked as she sank onto a nearby armchair and slipped off her high-heeled patent leather shoes.

“If the offer’s still good,” Nathalie teased.

“Good? You and Nate have always been so close, being twins. I don’t want you to feel lonely, now that he’s got Jenni.”

Nathalie sighed. She would miss being able to call Nate at any time, now that there was someone else to consider. “I’ll be fine.”

“Mmm.” Her mother didn’t sound convinced.

“Really, Mum. I’m quite happy living on my own.” She knew her mother would love for her to move back home, but Nathalie loved her little townhouse, with its tiny garden and modern styling. She also valued her independence.

“Are you still seeing that young doctor you were dating?”

“I only saw him a couple of times.” She leaned on the top of her mother’s chair and affectionately kissed her grey hair. “It wasn’t serious.”

“It never is, darling.” She heard the note of reproof in her mother’s voice.

“Mum, I told you I’m fine. I’m not like Nate. I like being single. I’m having fun.” She wondered if she would begin to believe it, if she told herself that often enough.

Her mother squeezed her hand. “Oh, sweetie, I just want you to be happy. You know that.”

****

Evan watched from his mother’s front door as the red taillights of Jerome’s car pulled away. It had been good to meet up with his old friends. It had been even better to see Nathalie again. He turned the key and let himself into the darkened house, trying not to make a noise.

“Is that you, Evan?” His mother appeared from the kitchen, a china mug in her hand. She had changed into her nightwear.

“Yes. I thought you’d be in bed.”

“I just got up to make a drink and to check on Polly.” His mother smiled at him.

“Is she all right?” His heart jumped. If anything had happened while he’d been gone, he would never forgive himself.

His mother hastened to reassure him. “She’s fine. I heard her cough, but she’s okay now.”

“I’ll go up.”

Evan crept upstairs and pushed open the door to his daughter’s room. His pulse settled when he saw her eyes shut tight in sleep, her small face flushed and healthy in the soft glow of her nightlight. Relieved, he closed the door and headed for his room. Polly had been the both the joy and worry of his heart since the day she’d been born. Now that he had sole charge of her care, he worried about her ill health all the time.

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Three Truths and a Lie

Jeff Salter is a husband, father and grandfather who served for 8 years in the military, both active duty and reserves. He can't remember a time in his life when he didn't write. Before being an author he worked as a  photo-journalist for several years & librarian for nearly 30.

So here is how the game works :) Jeff is going to share 4 things about himself with you :) Three are true and one is an outright lie :) Your job? Try to guess which one is the lie :)

1. The first major purchase (about $200) I ever made with my own hard-earned money -- while a junior in H.S. -- was an electric typewriter. 

2. My most serious physical injuries resulted when a horse (I was riding) reared up and fell backwards on TOP of me.

3. In the cockpit of a Canadian cargo plane, I was standing behind the pilot and holding on to his seat-back ... as he landed at the northernmost military installation in North America.

4. I’m extremely self-disciplined and health-conscious ... so I gave up snacking several years ago. 

To learn more about Jeff visit his blog at Four Foxes One Hound 

When Beth left suddenly, it broke two hearts ... but she’d had no choice.  Shane, a rugged, ex-Airborne biker, handled it badly ... but so had she.  Three years later and 2000 miles away, she desperately needs her ex-lover’s protection from a violent menace with ‘bad history’ who’ll do anything to reclaim a mysterious suitcase Beth possesses.

            Long before Shane acquired that overnighter, a ‘silent movie’ actress kept secrets there ... and now several lives are in jeopardy.  An ambitious female state senate candidate hires a ruthless investigator to eliminate potential campaign ‘problems’ like her dark family secret — a bizarre 1889 murder.

            Is Beth’s terrifying ordeal simply because she unwittingly possesses the overnighter’s secrets?  Or is it due to the meth-fueled dumpster-diver’s ‘unfinished business’?

            Shane will likely return to California after he resolves this Tennessee ‘situation’ ... so Beth struggles to resist her reawakened feelings.  But before she can sort out their renewed relationship ... Beth is kidnapped!  To rescue her Shane enters an obvious trap in a dilapidated hotel.  Only with Beth’s help can both survive the violent struggle against her kidnappers.

Available NOW at Astraea Press