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All About Love
All About Love
Author: Desiree Holt

Chapter 1

Author: Desiree Holt
last update Last Updated: 2022-04-29 14:05:37
Part One: Runaway Billionaire

The Story Begins

Pepper Thornton pulled her SUV into the private parking area at the side of Hibiscus House and, regretfully, turned off the air conditioning. She had hoped to get her errands done before the heavy heat of the day rolled in, but this was Central Florida. Heavy heat was a twenty-four hour occurrence. Still, she was glad to have those few things taken care of. Cilla Denbury, who worked part time at Hibiscus House, had offered to finish the cleanup by herself so Pepper could get out, get done, and get back before the sun broiled her on the sidewalk. Pepper was eternally grateful for the woman who had also become her friend. Cilla was recovering from a divorce that left her bank account flush but her life empty. The B&B filled a real hole for her, and she hung out answering the phone and enjoying the scenery even when she didn't have to.

She had moved from New York to recover from the aftereffects of the split and decided to stay because she loved the place. Loved Bayview. Loved Hibiscus House. Loved Pepper.

"You give the place class," Pepper told her often.

She had the kind of figure that looked good in whatever she wore, not slim, not chunky. Her face was heart-shaped and framed by straight black hair that swung easily in a smart cut. Pepper couldn't for the life of her figure out why the woman, at the prime age of thirty, hung around playing employee at Hibiscus House, but she was delighted with and grateful for the friendship. With Cilla she could be herself, and it gave her an ally in foiling her mother's projects.

"I'm back," Pepper called, lugging her parcels in through the kitchen door.

"And I'm finished." Cilla came in from the lobby, carrying a small stack of dessert plates, cups, and saucers. "Man, I thought that couple would never finish their muffins."

Pepper lifted an eyebrow. "The Massingills?"

"Uh-huh. They eat slower than cold molasses and about liked to talked my ear off." She rinsed the dishes in the sink and stacked them in the dishwasher.

"The new reservation check in yet?" Pepper asked.

Cilla shook her head. "He called yesterday to confirm but didn't tell me what time he'd be here. All he said was sometime in the morning."

"Did you tell me he's from Dallas?" Cilla had taken the original phone call.

"Uh-huh. But that's all he said."

"Wonder what he's doing in Bayview?" Pepper mused. "We don't get a lot of single men at Hibiscus House. And he's pretty far from Dallas."

"Maybe he's an artist come to paint the scenery. Or a writer looking to warm up his muse."

"Maybe, but I doubt it. They usually go farther south to Ft. Myers Beach or farther north to Sarasota."

"Maybe he's hiding from someone. It doesn't matter as long as his money is good." Cilla added soap and rinse agent to the dishwasher, pushed the door lock and the start buttons, then dusted her hands. "And that's the last of it."

"Fix yourself a glass of tea and take a load off," Pepper told her. "I'll join you as soon as I put this stuff away."

"You making more of those frosted biscuits?" Cilla asked. Taking her glass of tea, she seated herself on a stool at the island counter. "Guests sure do go for those."

"Uh-huh." Pepper began stacking things in the pantry. "I thought I'd try little apple bits on some and maybe chocolate in the other."

"Lordy. I think I put on five pounds just listening to you." She paused. "Uh, Pepper, your mama's been around this morning while you were out. She'll probably show up again any minute."

A year ago, the senior Thorntons had bought themselves a luxury motor home, declaring they wanted to see the country. When they weren't on the road, they set up at the mobile home park at the edge of Bayview. Pepper had taken over their suite in the bed-and-breakfast and given up hers for paying guests. Ever since then, her parents had been all over her case, insisting they were determined to sell the place and get her out in the world.

"Get a life," Maggie Thornton repeated.

"I have a life," Pepper always repeated.

So what if she hadn't had a decent date in, well, forever? Emphasis on the word decent. She'd even lost her appetite for looking. Men she met were mostly so full of themselves. Whatever happened to real men, sexy men, who knew how to show a girl a good time? Forget about trolling the waters for a husband. She wanted a guy who turned her on and treated her right.

But her mama seemed on a mission from which she would not be deterred. It might not be so bad if she hadn't gotten it into her head that the solution for Pepper's "life" was marriage to a local banker she'd handpicked for her daughter.

"She better not be bringing Judd Wallace with her," Pepper snapped, closing the pantry door. "God, what a smarmy greaseball."

Cilla laughed. "You speak so poorly of our esteemed local banker."

"Doesn't mean he's not a greaseball." Pepper took down a glass, added ice, and filled it with iced tea. "He's damn lucky the big bank that bought him out didn't have anyone in their arsenal who wanted to get stuck away in Bayview. For a man whose sole qualification is being the only choice, he sure is full of himself."

Cilla glanced out the big window to the side yard. "You might need something stronger than that tea, sugar. Your mama just pulled up and, if my eyes don't deceive me, that's the greaseball right behind her. They're walking in together and, man, do they look cozy."

"Well, shit."

"Pepper Thornton." Cilla grinned. "Such language from a refined young lady."

"You'll hear a lot more if she tries pushing him on me again."

"Get ready." Cilla nodded toward the front of the house. "Here they are."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Pepper heard the tinkle of the wind chimes that played whenever the front door to the B&B opened.

"Damn, damn, and frosted damn." She grimaced. "Maybe I can put poison in Judd's iced tea or coffee."

"There you are, sweetheart." Maggie Thornton rushed into the kitchen, reaching out to hug Pepper.

The woman was a nearly identical older version of her daughter. Both stood about five four without heels, had the same deep-emerald-green eyes, lush curves, and wavy auburn hair. But where Pepper's hair was shoulder length, Maggie kept hers cut stylishly short. She also sported a Florida tan, acquired since she and her husband had given up running Hibiscus House.

"Hi, Mama." Pepper returned the hug.

"And see who I found in town." She reached behind her and dragged the man forward. "I told him to come right on over with me and you'd fix us some ice-cold tea with those tasty chocolate muffins you made. Right, Judd?"

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    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

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    "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

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    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

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    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

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