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Chapter 19
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All About Love Chapter 20
"Honey, I only had your best interests at heart," Maggie Thornton repeated yet one more time. She sat at the island counter in the kitchen of Hibiscus House, drinking coffee and trying to explain why she'd set everything up the way she had."Mama" Pepper set down her glass of iced tea and stared at her mother. "I am thirty years old. I can handle my own life.""But you weren't settling down," Maggie wailed. "I wanted you to have a home and children before it got too late.""And you didn't trust me to find someone on my own?""Not as long as you were burying yourself in Bayview with Hibiscus House."Pepper chose her next words carefully. "You can't arrange love, Mama. It either happens or it doesn't.""I'm sorry, honey. I just wanted for you what your dad and I have.""Let me also point out," Pepper added, "that Judd Wallace is not the answer, either. I wouldn't give the man house room.""He's president of the local bank," Maggie pointed out."He could be president of the Unite
All About Love Chapter 21
Pepper sat behind the carved desk in the lobby, studying the registration list on her computer."Hey, Cilla?" she called."What's up?" Cilla hurried in from the kitchen, carrying two iced teas.Breakfast was over, the kitchen cleaned, and Mary Tierney was working her way through the bedrooms and bathrooms. The weekend guests had all left, and the next group wasn't due to arrive until the next day."When did all these reservations come in?" She continued to scroll through the program."Oh." Cilla read the screen over Pepper's shoulder. "We had a slew of calls yesterday afternoon while you were out. Did I do it wrong?""No. You did great. I'm...I don't know where they are all coming from all of a sudden. Can you believe it? We're booked up for the next four months.""Isn't it exciting?" Cilla laughed and squeezed Pepper's shoulder. "Word of mouth, I guess. Or maybe those listings you've been placing on travel sites are finally paying off.""Maybe. It just seems so weird, you know
All About Love Chapter 22
Pepper was up early the next morning. She wanted to go through the guest rooms and make lists of what she needed to jazz them up before the television people showed up. Flowers in vases on all the dressers. Special sachet packets in the drawers. Crystal dishes with those special peppermint candies people loved so much. She'd make sure the bathrooms were all stocked with the full complement of special toiletries. She'd have Cilla work on the downstairs. The woman had a great eye and knew exactly what to do to make a room "pop," as she was fond of saying. She was suspicious that she hadn't heard a word from her parents for a while but she decided not to worry about it for the moment.She had just fixed a mug with coffee when she heard the front door open. Tony Rosen, the local UPS delivery man, waited for her in the lobby. He was wearing a big smile when he greeted her."I got an envelope here for you, Pepper. Says I have to get your signature." He looked at it as if it was a foreign o
All About Love Chapter 23
Part Two: A Touch of MagicThe Story ContinuesMaddie Woodward concentrated fiercely on navigating the narrow highway that led out of town out to the ranch. In her small compact she would have felt at ease but the big SUV was still new enough to be challenging.Had she made a mistake buying it? Just as she might have made a mistake in her other recent decisions?No. I won't play that game. I made up my mind and I'm doing this. No matter what.The moment the arched rock entrance of the road leading to the house came into view, with the Flying W in wrought iron swinging slightly in the breeze, her heart stuttered.Home!That was all she could think. She was home. And she didn't plan on ever leaving, no matter what her sisters said or tried to talk her into. She'd burned her bridges to make sure there was no going back.She stopped for a moment to look at the familiar brand, the wings of the W looking like angel's wings, and she thought how appropriate it was for Christmas. But
All About Love Chapter 24
"God, Maddie, you feel so good. So damn good."They were lying on a thick quilt under the big oak tree next to the creek in the north pasture. The day's chores were finished. No one would come by now to disturb them. Maggie lay on her back, her head nestled in the crook of Zach's shoulder. The last year away at college without him had stretched endlessly but she knew he was busy too, riding the rodeo circuit. But now she was home for good and ready to settle down with him. To make a home like they'd talked about."I missed you," she told him, staring up into his eyes. "So much.""I missed this," he said, sliding her t-shirt up and cupping her breast through the thin lace of her bra. With his thumb and forefinger he tweaked her nipple and she felt it harden into a sharp point. "I missed touching you, feeling the softness of your skin. I'd close my eyes at night and see these rosy nipples dancing before my eyes."Expertly he opened the front clasp of her bra and placed his hot mouth
All About Love Chapter 25
Maddie had carried in one suitcase, the one with the things she'd need right away and left everything else until she was in a better mood. Heaving it onto the bed in her old room, she yanked open the zipper with an angry tug and flopped back the cover. She stomped around the room as she unpacked the clothing and toiletries, her anger building with each step, each task.How dare Ty Blackwell even talk to anyone about the sale of the ranch when the will still wasn't probated. So he had a power of attorney that allowed him to see the place was taken care of. So what? So Liza and Jenna wanted to sell the ranch. Again so what? What gave anyone the right to do anything until she'd had her say? And putting Zach Brennan in charge just absolutely frosted her.She dropped to the edge of the bed, hugging a pile of clothes to her chest. The ranch was all she'd thought about since her parents were killed. It was in her blood. She was the only one of the three girls to compete in barrel racing. Th
All About Love Chapter 26
Downstairs Maggie checked the refrigerator and cupboard. Bare, just as she expected. She should have stopped when she drove through town but she'd been so anxious to get to the ranch - to get home - that she bypassed all the stores. No problem. She'd just go into town, get some barbecue takeout for tonight and whatever necessities she needed and wait until Lisa arrived and they could shop together. Maybe look for a Christmas tree.A Christmas tree. Oh, God.They always had a big tree. No, make that a huge tree. Her father would get it himself from the tree farm and set it up in the big window in the living room. Then her mother would make hot punch and popcorn and they'd listen to carols while they all decorated the tree. She just didn't know if she could stand it this year, without them there. Even the thought of getting the tree was daunting.She dropped into a kitchen chair, tears misting her eyes. Their first Christmas without their parents. How would she get through it? How wou
All About Love Chapter 27
Maggie had avoided going out of the house all morning. Instead she hauled all the Christmas decorations into the living room and began hanging the ornaments on the tree. Trying to get herself into the holiday spirit and out of her depression, she put on a CD of Christmas carols and made herself sing along with them in her off-key voice. It took her most of the morning but by noon when she stepped back to look at it, the tree looked as close to what she was used to as she could make it. When she plugged in the lights she felt tears threaten again but deliberately forced them back. She didn't intend to spend the entire holiday season like a watering pot. She'd already done that enough yesterday and what a disaster that had been.But when she found the three stockings in a box and hung them up on the fireplace mantle, she couldn't hold back the tears. She just stood staring at the remnants of her youth and letting the tears roll unheeded down her cheeks. Finally she dug a tissue out of h
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All About Love Chapter 65
Peyton curled up in a corner of the couch, cell phone to her ear, smiling."So you like it?" she asked Grace."Like it?" The woman's voice practically shrieked in her ear. "I love it. My god, Peyton, I think this is going to be the best thing you've ever done. Maybe I should send all my authors for a month at a cabin in the Maine woods."Peyton laughed. "First of all, it was a cottage. Secondly, it was at a lake, not in the woods.""Close enough. Someday, you'll have to tell me what it was that flipped your switch up there."Maybe, maybe not. Dixon Amendola was a memory she would hug close to herself, her thoughts and feelings confined in her own private world. She knew she'd never see him again. He'd made it very plain before their very first kiss that anything permanent was not happening. The SEALs were his life, and although other men had combined the dedication with family, apparently Dix didn't feel he could take the chance.That was okay. She'd taken all her thoughts and feelings
All About Love Chapter 64
The Blackhawk had disgorged them at a flat surface on a rock outcropping at a specific point in the Hindu Kush. Dix hated these goddamn mountains. The name Kush meant death, and had probably been given to the mountains because of the dangerous passes between peaks. There was little vegetation, and the icy wind blew constantly. But the mountains provided a perfect hiding place and gathering places for al Qaeda because of the very desolation and the notches in the mountains where the terrorists built their camps and villages.Dix and his team had memorized and then memorized again the terrain where they'd be climbing and the places they'd have to conceal themselves to make the kills. Two snipers, two spotters, four backup, including the team medic and the radio guy. This time he was fucking damn sure nothing would go wrong.They climbed slowly, clinging to the rock face, paying careful attention to everything around them. Carrying all their heavy gear didn't slow them down. They had, aft
All About Love Chapter 63
"You're good to go, Dix." His CO looked up from the medical report he was reading. "I have to say I wasn't completely convinced you could do it, but the doctor said your thigh is fine. Won't give you any problems.""I wouldn't go out on an op if I thought differently," Dix pointed out."I know that." He met Dix's gaze. "I know how badly you want to lead this op, but I want you to remember two things." He held up one finger. "The screw-up last time wasn't yours. The politician who compromised the information has been dealt with, and the number of people on the need-to-know list for this one has been reduced to the smallest number possible. And no congressmen."Dix blew out a breath. "Good. That's good."The man held up a second finger. "You have nothing to prove, so just focus on the mission itself. I know you can do it.""Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.""One change, though. No target extraction this time. The order is to kill the fuckers dead.""Yes, sir." Dix had to force himself
All About Love Chapter 62
The afternoon turned into hours of erotic bliss. If she'd thought the nights they spent together were hot, they were nothing compared to this. Dix pulled out all the stops, introducing her to sensuous delights she'd only read about in books. She finally lay snuggled against Dix, every muscle like wet tissue paper, every area of her body sore but satisfied, wondering if she would ever again have sex as good as this.Enjoy what you've got while you've got it.She needed to keep telling herself that."How about a quick swim to cool off," Dix suggested. "Then I'll fix dinner. How does grilled chicken and corn on the cob sound?""Mouthwatering," she told him. "But I'm more than happy to cook. Really."He rolled her on top of him and peppered a row of kisses along her jawline, ending with one on her nose."Nope. It's my turn. But you can make a salad to go with.""Do you think we can go skinny dipping?" She gave him a mischievous grin. "I think I'm too beat to pull my bathing suit on.""Only
All About Love Chapter 61
Peyton sat at the picnic table down by the lake, her laptop open, staring at the words on the page. The pitiful few words on the page. She was glad she wrote electronically instead of on paper or she would have wasted reams of it by now. She couldn't count the number of times she'd written the damn first chapter, only to delete it and start again. She finally, finally had a concept in her head, but she couldn't seem to make it come out on paper in a way anyone would want to read. Too much of it was still swirling around in her brain.She had truly believed this week would be a turning point. Lord knew it was one of the best weeks of her life. During the day, Dix jogged his gazillion miles then did his long swim in the lake while she sat outside and read. After lunch, they fished or went into town, and she showed him all the places that were still there from when she was a kid. And, at night, they had the most incredible sex she had ever imagined. She couldn't call it making love. That
All About Love Chapter 60
"Get the fuck away from me." Dix reached out to smack the person, only to encounter soft flesh and hear a smothered scream. His eyes flew open. Crouched beside him in the bed, holding her jaw and trying to talk him off the ledge, was a very naked Peyton."Dix, wake up. Please." She turned on the bedside lamp, reached out, and stroked his face, trying to calm him. "It's okay. Everything is all right. I'm right here."His eyes focused on her, and his stomach flopped. The way she was holding her jaw, had he - Fucking shit.His heart was racing in overdrive, and he was covered with sweat. The dream was still so vivid. And Peyton. Jesus! He hoped he hadn't broken her jaw."Let me look at that." He reached for her, and she backed away, making him feel even sicker.But then she blew out a breath and moved close enough that she was crouching next to him. Unbelievably, she stroked his forehead and his cheek, soothing him. Him! The guy who probably broke her jaw."You're all sweaty," she
All About Love Chapter 59
Dix snugged Peyton next to him tightly, her soft body curled into his. They had made love twice more - No. Not made love. Had sex. He needed to stop thinking of it as anything else. There was no future for him the other way. His brain was messed up, as was his future. Getting involved with anyone was not only at the bottom of his to-do list right now, it wasn't even on it. But, for the first time in forever, he wasn't a ball of nerves lying in bed. He thought he might actually get a decent night's sleep as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to take comfort from the woman he was holding.He sank softly into fleecy clouds, his muscles relaxing, his nerves not synapsing as he let the dream surround him. There was Peyton Gerard, naked, red hair tumbled in curls around her shoulders, rosy-tipped breasts begging for his mouth, her - Whap! Whap! Whap!The helicopter blades sang a symphony as the craft hovered to release the team at the drop zone. The stealth helicopter, a Blackhawk f
All About Love Chapter 58
Dix placed an open-mouthed kiss right at the entrance to her channel, took one last lick at her sensitized skin, and looked up at her. His smile was so wicked, she began to get turned on all over again."You have the best cunt I've ever tasted," he rasped. "Sweet and tart and spicy all at the same time. It's like mixing chocolate candy with a margarita."Peyton couldn't help it. Even as she lay trembling and weak, she burst out laughing. "Is that some kind of recipe?""I think it's a unique one." He studied her face, eyes glittering. "Maybe I should call it the Peyton Cocktail. Only I couldn't put it on any bar menu because I'd have to kill anyone who tried to order it."Her laugh was breathy and unsteady. "O-okay." She ran her tongue across her bottom lip. "That was...incredible."He gave a rough chuckle. "Only incredible? I think I'll have to do better."If he did any better, Peyton was sure she would die from it.He rose to his feet and undressed so swiftly it took him scant
All About Love Chapter 57
"Well?" He almost whispered the word, his lips back to within a hair's breadth of hers. "If you don't say anything, I'm going to assume the answer is no, and we'll do our best to forget this ever happened."As if she could.She ran the tip of her tongue over her lower lip. Dix's mouth was so close, she stroked his along with hers, and his hands tightened on her."Y-yes." She almost whispered the word. Lord, why couldn't she just say it with confidence? There was no doubt she wanted this, no matter what else happened between them, But, at least this time, she was going into something with her eyes wide open and no unrealistic expectations.His mouth came down on her again, firm this time, with just the right amount of pressure. He used his tongue to trace the seam between her lips, a gentle caress, rimming the outline then back to that seam. The contact was harder, more intrusive until she parted her lips for him and that hot tongue swept inside. Tilting her head back, she welcomed
