That Kiss…

Gorgeous New York socialite, Nora Ellington has been waiting a very long time for her happily ever after.

So long, she’s given up on it and has decided, even though she’s the plus-one friend without benefits to a man she’s head over heels in love with, an HEA will forever be out of her reach.

Handsome billionaire Jamie Oakley thought he’d had two happily ever afters in his life. However, neither lasted long, and both ended in tragedy. He’s not about to try it again or put his children through the trauma Jamie has learned from experience undoubtedly will come their way.

And he’s made this decision even if the woman who’s become his constant companion is a woman he loves straight to his soul….and wants with everything that is him.

But then, one night, Jamie loses control and kisses Nora.

He can’t go there.

She can’t go on without it.

They’ll never be the same.

Or will they?

Book Type:

Romance

Series Reading Order:

Excerpt: Embracing the Change

He’d been to Genny and Duncan’s large mountain house before. It was rustic, cozy, but still impressive, imposing and refined in a way all the logs, wood, stone, western and Native American motifs could not hide.

Taking it in now, he decided he was buying a house in Prescott, Arizona. And if he couldn’t find one he liked, he’d build one.

On this thought, Nora came out of the bathroom and headed to one of her open suitcases, stating, “I’m assuming you wish to whisk away to the hospital tout de suite.”

He was relatively certain he’d never “whisked” anywhere.

But her words made him smile.

And knowing his decision had been made caused warmth to rush his chest.

“Come here,” he ordered gruffly.

She stopped, turned, and regarded him.

“Jamie, I think we should—”

He cut her off by indicating the bed they’d slept in together with a flick of his hand. “I’m pretty sure you’ve caught my drift, but let’s make certain of that, shall we?”

She stood there, staring at him, and it was cute how he could tell she was barely breathing.

But since she needed to do that, and he needed to end the hell he’d been putting her through, he didn’t hesitate to carry on.

“You were right. That kiss wasn’t a mistake. I’ve been wanting to do that for fucking decades. I fell in love with you in that ladies room, Nora, and it might not be right I did when we were both married, but it happened. I’ve loved you ever since. I’m terrified of having you, and life making it go to shit. But I can’t fight it anymore, and more importantly, I can no longer put you through me trying to do it. I want you in my bed and in my life. In my children’s lives. I want to be in your children’s lives. And when we figure out where we’re going to land, and just saying, your apartment is fantastic, but I’d prefer my brownstone, and I’m okay with you redecorating it. Even though Lindy’s touch is all over it, it’ll be your home. So you’ll need to make it yours. But once that’s done, we’re getting a dog and a cat, or maybe two. Of both.”

“I should have come to you,” she whispered.

Jamie smiled again. “Yes, you should have. But why did you say that?”

“Because…it’s so very strange, darling, but I find I can’t move.”

If she couldn’t, Jamie sure fucking could.

He got up, went to her, and pulled her into his arms.

She put her hands on his chest just below his shoulders and looked deep into his eyes.

“I want to kiss you so badly, it’s a goddamned ache,” he announced. “But I can’t kiss you, because I did that, so I know how it’ll go. That being, it’ll make me want to fuck you. And we don’t have time for me to do that properly, since I need to see my son, my daughter-in-law and hold my grandchild.”

Her smile was soft and sweet as she rested her weight against him, “Then let’s get to the hospital.”

Jamie chanced allowing himself to touch his mouth to hers.

It was a mistake, seeing as, when he came away, her gaze was languid and loving and happy.

Fuck.

He’d nearly messed this up.

Thank Christ he’d pulled his shit together.

Finally.

He gave her a squeeze. “You’ll take longer, so you go first. I’ll get us some coffee.”

“Your wish is my command.”

It would be.

He told her that with a wolfish grin, and her eyes grew large.

Before that affected his groin any further, he let her go and gave her a gentle shove toward the bathroom.

He then found a T-shirt to pull on before he walked down to the kitchen to get their coffee.