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Hunted by the Mountain Man Bonus Scene
Brynn One Year Later I wake up alone in our California King, rolling over and lamenting the cold mattress. Beau said he’d be up early this morning scouting in preparation for his next guided hunt. Autumn is a busy time of year for him as an outfitter. Fortunately, since the death of the copycat stalker, he hasn’t been called in by law enforcement to locate any bodies or investigate homicides. I stretch, yawning when a playful question sparks an idea. I wonder just how good my mountain man stalker still is at tracking and finding me? After what happened a year ago with Ralph at the cliff, I haven’t ventured…
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Love at First Wild Bonus Scene
Ridge Three Months Later “And now,” I whisper in a stealthy voice. “We approach the deadliest, most dangerous animal in the Sierra Nevada backwoods. If this creature is carelessly disturbed, it’ll lash out and has been known to tear grown men limb from limb. But I have a secret weapon. I know the creature’s kryptonite.” I lower my voice dramatically at the end. I enter the zipped up navy blue tent quietly, my phone in one hand filming and my other hand holding a mug of steaming black coffee, freshly brewed in my French press. “Oh, Ducky, are you ready for coffee yet?” I ask, looking towards the form buried…
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Rescue for the Mountain Man Bonus Scene
Ginger FIVE YEARS LATER “Daddy, you’ll burn your tongue! The tea is hot!” Louise scolds, gasping at Roscoe. The burly mountain man with burnished gold hair sits cross-legged, patiently playing with our five-year-old daughter in the front yard of our expansive cabin. The cabin has undergone a transformation over the past few years, making room for our growing family. Our oldest child, Louise, loves nothing more than staging afternoon teas that would put royalty to shame with her long list of rules and expectations. Roscoe pretends to blow ineptly on the imaginary liquid in his cup, exaggerating his attempts until Louise giggles and covers her mouth with both hands. Daddy…
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Blades and Barbed Wire Bonus Scene
Briony FIVE MONTHS LATER I’ve never been a snob about flying first-class, but on our twelve-hour flight to Norway, I can’t imagine how I ever traveled any other way. Alaric sleeps like a baby next to me, but as we get closer to landing, I nudge him awake, palming his chest and kissing his lips. Nerves grip me, and my heart races. “Mmm…” he says drowsily, his eyes still closed as he wraps his big arms around me. Against the shell of my ear, he whispers, “How did you know what I was dreaming about and bring it to life, Goddess? Are you adding mind reading to your list of…
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Hat Tricks and Hay Bales Bonus Scene
Aiyana FIVE YEARS LATER “Wave to Daddy as he goes by,” I urge Luciana and Jean-Paul as the Zamboni passes us. Luciana is four years old with a crown of glossy dark brown curls and large mahogany doe eyes, and she stands on a green carpeted bench next to me within arm’s reach if she gets too feisty and tries to jump down. Jean-Paul sits on my hip, gumming her giraffe teething toy, his head a messy, nearly-black mane like his daddy’s. I’m constantly carrying a little comb around in my purse, trying to keep his thick, unruly locks in order. “Bonjour, mes enfants!” Jean-Claude greets coming to a stop…
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Forever With the Mountain Man Bonus Scene
Felicity THREE YEARS LATER Grandma and Grandpa Amestoy’s faces light up with smiles when they see Fierce and I pull up in our silver dually with our babies. Three-year-old Lander has thick black curls and a robust frame with a mischievous face like his daddy’s, and Amaya is one and half years old with pretty pink cheeks and thick sculpted lips like mine. Her head is crowned in a gorgeous mane of glossy brown curls, and both babies have big, blue eyes that remind me of their father and me. Every day is filled with new discoveries and achievements for Lander and Amaya, and today their grandparents get to share…
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Love at First Doubt Bonus Scene
Effie One Year Later During the first look, Rock’s turquoise eyes scrutinize me, filled with a characteristic tenderness that I’ve grown to love and expect from him. As the photo shoot continues, the muscle in his jaw jumps, and he grows increasingly agitated until he kicks everyone out of the oceanfront suite at the Neoterra Resort on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California. “Blackbird and I need a few minutes alone, okay?” I turn away, shaking from head to toe and looking out the window of the suite, breathing slowly in an attempt to calm myself. Despite it being Valentine’s Day, the weather is stunning. I couldn’t ask for…
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Faking It with the Cowboy Bonus Scene
Red After returning the horses to the stable, Ronald signs autographs for the owners and employees, and we leave Island in the City stables to find our cars parked on the street. The cowboy looks out of place in his white Stetson and Wrangler’s, and I catch more than one woman staring longingly at him, which draws vitriolic glares from me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would develop such an unquenchable thirst for my little brother’s best friend, but my heart is in my throat as he follows me in his rental car back to my apartment. We pull up to the front, parking valet, and…
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Love at First Beat Bonus Scene
Fletcher Eight Months Later I shake my head, staring at Anton Horowitz’s latest ECG results. “Your ejection fraction rate has improved mightily. I almost can’t believe it. Fifty-three percent. You’re approaching the stats of a normally functioning heart. It’s impressive.” “Thank you,” the old man says with an extravagant smile. His daughter, Georgia, sits next to him. She reaches over, patting his hand. “Good job, Dad. I couldn’t be prouder of all that you’ve accomplished this past year.” He shrugs. “Eating right, exercising, taking the medicines doc’s got me on. Yeah, I feel like I could climb a mountain or something.” “Living at sixty-five hundred feet is the equivalent of…
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Hunger for the Mountain Man Bonus Scene
Jerry One Week Later Delilah’s face flushes when she sees Stacey and me come out of the baggage area with our luggage. Stacey’s got a brand-new plum-colored carry-on and a rolling suitcase filled with a wardrobe purchased in Sin City. I lost count of how much of it is made up of sexy, lacy bra and panty sets, and I’ll never forget the dressing room escapade that required Sharpie commemoration. I feel hot under the collar just thinking about it. “Congratulations, you two!” she exclaims, running over to hug Stacey and then me, her face radiating joy. “Sounds like I owe you a massive thank you for making this happen,…
