Jubilee sighed and leaned against the counter. "I need a break. Or a cup of coffee. Maybe both."Megan looked at the clock. "You can go on break, but I'll need you back when the afternoon rush hits.""Aye aye, captain." Jubilee waved hello to the officer stationed outside before beginning her typical walk around the block.Now it was Megan's turn to sigh. Caleb hadn't been stationed at The Rise and Shine in the last five days, and she’d barely heard from him. When she texted, he was vague, saying he was busy with work. She had seen a cop car outside her house more than once, though, and she knew that Caleb was keeping an eye on her. He just wasn'twithher.Her heart sank into her toes. She'd said too much that night, hadn't she? Now Caleb thought the worst of her, and it was her own fault. Except that realization only made her angry. She wiped down the counter with furious strokes. If he really thought the worst of her now, that was his problem, not hers. She didn'
Megan wanted to believe him, but when he wouldn't look her in the eye as he said it, somewhere deep inside she didn't believe him. It hurt. It hurt, and yet, when he kissed her, she didn't push him away.He was her ultimate weakness.I love a man with terrible secrets, she thought, feeling like she could cry at any moment.Caleb was relentless, and as he took her in his arms, she almost forgot everything. She almost forgot the feeling that the ground was shifting beneath them and if she didn't watch herself, she'd get caught and wouldn't be able to emerge as a whole person again."I missed you." His lips roved across her cheeks, her nose, until he kissed down her throat. His breaths came in desperate pants, and it mirrored her own desire.She tangled her hands in his hair, and she gripped the strands so tightly that he winced a little. It was an unspoken thing—if you hurt me, I can hurt you—and he seemed to acknowledge it with a tiny nod."Don't lie to me, Caleb."
Megan couldn't sleep, and she couldn't eat. She couldn't do anything except agonize over Caleb. Jubilee's admission about Caleb losing his best friend Daniel kept coming back to her.Something in her gut told her that Caleb was hiding something, and it had to do with Daniel. Had Caleb been there that night somehow? But wouldn't that be common knowledge?Early on a Sunday morning, hours before she'd have to go the bakery, Megan sat at her computer and stared at the screen. Her heart pounded in her chest. It would be so simple to Google what she wanted to know. Assuming Google could even tell her. If no one in Fair Haven had so much as whispered about Caleb's involvement in Daniel's death, she doubted it would come up on Google like when you searched for purses or a highly rated plumber.What if you find out something you don't want to know?That was the real conundrum. Because Caleb could only be keeping something from her that he truly didn't want her to know.But
Caleb stared at his glass of whiskey, watching the light create shimmers of color in the liquid. He hadn't yet drunk a drop of it, and as he sat at the bar of the Fainting Goat, he knew he wouldn’t take a sip.He pushed the alcohol away, disgusted with himself.It had been a week since he and Megan had ended things. He hadn't spoken to her, and the few glimpses he’d gotten of her had ended with her avoiding his gaze. He'd stood outside her bakery more than once, about to go inside and get her to take him back, but he couldn't do it.He was a coward, as always."You look like shit," a voice said behind him. Harrison sat next to him and motioned to the bartender. "I'll have your darkest beer," he said.Caleb glowered at his older brother. He really was not in the mood for whatever it was Harrison thought he needed to say. So he decided to act like Harrison wasn't there.Too bad his brother could never catch a hint."Sara told me some of what happened," Harrison said finally. "I'm
Caleb drove straight to Megan’s house. He felt free, his heart unburdened, and it was like a revelation. He might not be worthy of Stephanie’s kindness, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t clutch it to his heart as hard as he could. And now he knew that he had to get Megan back. Without her, he was only a shell of a man.As Caleb drove up to Megan's house, though, he felt a chill crawl up his spine. The initial excitement of seeing her faded to cold terror. After so many years on the force, he'd come to rely on his instincts, and his instincts were telling him that something wasn't right.Caleb wasn't on duty, but he still carried his gun. Parking his car a block away, he quietly walked to Megan's house, taking in the surrounding houses and yards. He didn't see anything. It was early evening, and the streetlights had only just turned on. But that feeling—the indescribable feeling of doom—had latched its fangs into him. He hurried his steps. If anything happens to her…Fear wanted to ec
Caleb realized two things when he opened his eyes: one, that he felt like shit, and two, he really needed to pee. After a few more moments, he finally figured out that he was in a hospital. Why was he in a hospital? And hooked up to a machine?He glanced down at the IV in his arm, and his brain was sluggish in processing this information. What the hell was wrong with him? He touched the IV, which resulted in a flurry of activity at his side."Don't you dare pull that out," a nurse warned, although he saw a smile on her face. She looked familiar. He'd seen her before at the bakery.The bakery. Megan.Megan.The man in her bedroom. Bullets. Blood. He gasped.He tried to sit up, but he was too loopy to manage it. He grunted something and was about to demand this woman tell him where Megan was when Megan herself appeared at his side.Megan smiled down at him, her red hair like an auburn halo around her. Her face was drawn and she looked pale, but she seemed all right."Than
Megan couldn’t help but smile when she heard the booted footsteps behind her. Continuing to knead her dough, she acted nonchalant when solid arms wrapped around her waist.“Whatcha making?” Caleb asked. “Cinnamon rolls?”“Bingo.” When he kissed her neck, she giggled. “I can’t work when you do that!”“Then stop working and help me out.”“What’s your problem now?”He pressed his burgeoning erection against her ass, and in revenge, she wiggled. He groaned.“You aren’t making my problem any better, you know.”She laughed. Turning in his arms, she reached to cup his face, but then she saw the flour on her hands. She narrowed her eyes, and when he figured out her intention, he ducked from her embrace.“Don’t you dare—!” He pivoted, but he wasn’t fast enough.With a laugh, she planted her floured hands on his freshly washed uniform, leaving bright white handprints right over his pectorals.He growled like a baited bear. “You’ll pay for that.”“Oh, no, how awful. What’re you gonna d
Abby couldn't help but consider this as an adventure. Mark was paying her, and although her nursing job paid the bills, any extra cash was welcome."I kind of feel like Belle in Beauty and the Beast," she remarked. "I almost expected the wardrobe to talk to me, or for a candlestick to start dancing.""I've never seen that movie."She looked at him in shock. "Seriously? Not even as a kid? That is the saddest thing I've ever heard. It's one of my favorites."He grunted, looking uncomfortable. "I don't get cartoons. Anyway, do you need anything else? I need to get back to work.""Well, I guess, what do you want me to do? You are paying me. I guess you're my boss now."He rubbed the back of his neck. "Whatever you think is best. I'm not going to give you a list of tasks or anything." Before he left, he added, "And I'll pay you two thousand a week. That all right?""That's fine," she replied, a little stunned.He nodded and left her alone again.If he were the beast in this scenari
A coffee addict and cat lover, Iris Morland writes sexy and funny contemporary romances. If she's not reading or writing, she enjoys binging on Netflix shows and cooking something delicious.Stay in touch!irismorland.comIris Morland’s MermaidsNewsletter Facebook Twitter BookBub Goodreads Instagram
Say You’re MineAll I Ask of YouMake Me YoursHold Me CloseOopsie DaisyHe Loves Me, He Loves Me NotPetal PluckerWar of the RosesincludingThen Came YouTaking a Chance on LoveAll I Want Is YouMy One and OnlyThe Nearness of YouThe Very Thought of YouIf I Can’t Have YouDream a Little Dream of MeSomeone to Watch Over MeTill There Was YouI’ll Be Home for Christmas
Abby couldn't help but consider this as an adventure. Mark was paying her, and although her nursing job paid the bills, any extra cash was welcome."I kind of feel like Belle in Beauty and the Beast," she remarked. "I almost expected the wardrobe to talk to me, or for a candlestick to start dancing.""I've never seen that movie."She looked at him in shock. "Seriously? Not even as a kid? That is the saddest thing I've ever heard. It's one of my favorites."He grunted, looking uncomfortable. "I don't get cartoons. Anyway, do you need anything else? I need to get back to work.""Well, I guess, what do you want me to do? You are paying me. I guess you're my boss now."He rubbed the back of his neck. "Whatever you think is best. I'm not going to give you a list of tasks or anything." Before he left, he added, "And I'll pay you two thousand a week. That all right?""That's fine," she replied, a little stunned.He nodded and left her alone again.If he were the beast in this scenari
Megan couldn’t help but smile when she heard the booted footsteps behind her. Continuing to knead her dough, she acted nonchalant when solid arms wrapped around her waist.“Whatcha making?” Caleb asked. “Cinnamon rolls?”“Bingo.” When he kissed her neck, she giggled. “I can’t work when you do that!”“Then stop working and help me out.”“What’s your problem now?”He pressed his burgeoning erection against her ass, and in revenge, she wiggled. He groaned.“You aren’t making my problem any better, you know.”She laughed. Turning in his arms, she reached to cup his face, but then she saw the flour on her hands. She narrowed her eyes, and when he figured out her intention, he ducked from her embrace.“Don’t you dare—!” He pivoted, but he wasn’t fast enough.With a laugh, she planted her floured hands on his freshly washed uniform, leaving bright white handprints right over his pectorals.He growled like a baited bear. “You’ll pay for that.”“Oh, no, how awful. What’re you gonna d
Caleb realized two things when he opened his eyes: one, that he felt like shit, and two, he really needed to pee. After a few more moments, he finally figured out that he was in a hospital. Why was he in a hospital? And hooked up to a machine?He glanced down at the IV in his arm, and his brain was sluggish in processing this information. What the hell was wrong with him? He touched the IV, which resulted in a flurry of activity at his side."Don't you dare pull that out," a nurse warned, although he saw a smile on her face. She looked familiar. He'd seen her before at the bakery.The bakery. Megan.Megan.The man in her bedroom. Bullets. Blood. He gasped.He tried to sit up, but he was too loopy to manage it. He grunted something and was about to demand this woman tell him where Megan was when Megan herself appeared at his side.Megan smiled down at him, her red hair like an auburn halo around her. Her face was drawn and she looked pale, but she seemed all right."Than
Caleb drove straight to Megan’s house. He felt free, his heart unburdened, and it was like a revelation. He might not be worthy of Stephanie’s kindness, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t clutch it to his heart as hard as he could. And now he knew that he had to get Megan back. Without her, he was only a shell of a man.As Caleb drove up to Megan's house, though, he felt a chill crawl up his spine. The initial excitement of seeing her faded to cold terror. After so many years on the force, he'd come to rely on his instincts, and his instincts were telling him that something wasn't right.Caleb wasn't on duty, but he still carried his gun. Parking his car a block away, he quietly walked to Megan's house, taking in the surrounding houses and yards. He didn't see anything. It was early evening, and the streetlights had only just turned on. But that feeling—the indescribable feeling of doom—had latched its fangs into him. He hurried his steps. If anything happens to her…Fear wanted to ec
Caleb stared at his glass of whiskey, watching the light create shimmers of color in the liquid. He hadn't yet drunk a drop of it, and as he sat at the bar of the Fainting Goat, he knew he wouldn’t take a sip.He pushed the alcohol away, disgusted with himself.It had been a week since he and Megan had ended things. He hadn't spoken to her, and the few glimpses he’d gotten of her had ended with her avoiding his gaze. He'd stood outside her bakery more than once, about to go inside and get her to take him back, but he couldn't do it.He was a coward, as always."You look like shit," a voice said behind him. Harrison sat next to him and motioned to the bartender. "I'll have your darkest beer," he said.Caleb glowered at his older brother. He really was not in the mood for whatever it was Harrison thought he needed to say. So he decided to act like Harrison wasn't there.Too bad his brother could never catch a hint."Sara told me some of what happened," Harrison said finally. "I'm
Megan couldn't sleep, and she couldn't eat. She couldn't do anything except agonize over Caleb. Jubilee's admission about Caleb losing his best friend Daniel kept coming back to her.Something in her gut told her that Caleb was hiding something, and it had to do with Daniel. Had Caleb been there that night somehow? But wouldn't that be common knowledge?Early on a Sunday morning, hours before she'd have to go the bakery, Megan sat at her computer and stared at the screen. Her heart pounded in her chest. It would be so simple to Google what she wanted to know. Assuming Google could even tell her. If no one in Fair Haven had so much as whispered about Caleb's involvement in Daniel's death, she doubted it would come up on Google like when you searched for purses or a highly rated plumber.What if you find out something you don't want to know?That was the real conundrum. Because Caleb could only be keeping something from her that he truly didn't want her to know.But
Megan wanted to believe him, but when he wouldn't look her in the eye as he said it, somewhere deep inside she didn't believe him. It hurt. It hurt, and yet, when he kissed her, she didn't push him away.He was her ultimate weakness.I love a man with terrible secrets, she thought, feeling like she could cry at any moment.Caleb was relentless, and as he took her in his arms, she almost forgot everything. She almost forgot the feeling that the ground was shifting beneath them and if she didn't watch herself, she'd get caught and wouldn't be able to emerge as a whole person again."I missed you." His lips roved across her cheeks, her nose, until he kissed down her throat. His breaths came in desperate pants, and it mirrored her own desire.She tangled her hands in his hair, and she gripped the strands so tightly that he winced a little. It was an unspoken thing—if you hurt me, I can hurt you—and he seemed to acknowledge it with a tiny nod."Don't lie to me, Caleb."