Share

All About Love
All About Love
Author: Desiree Holt

Chapter 1

Author: Desiree Holt
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?"

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Latest chapter

  • 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

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status