“I love you.” She grabbed the knapsack and dug out the paper wrapped food. “So much,” she muttered around a mouthful of chewy, crispy conch. “Where’s the sauce?”
A few hours later, she woke with a yelp.
“What’s wrong?” Will struggled to sit up. “You okay?
“Ohhh,” she moaned. “Why did you let me eat all that fried food?” Heartburn vied with gas for possession of her innards.
Will pushed to his feet. “I’ll get you an antacid.” He wore what he always did to sleep in. Nothing. But, as she clutched her stomach, she couldn’t truly appreciate the fine rear view.
“No. Please don’t go!” She groaned and curled around her swollen abdomen. “I don’t want to be alone.”
“Well”—he turned back to her, giving her the spectacular front view in the shafts of moonlight pouring through the windows—“I have to leave to get your meds.”
“I can’t, oh ouch!” Sweat broke out on her forehead. “I need…I want…oh no!” A gush of fluid dampened the bed. “Oh, Will.”
“Oh, Bella.” If she weren’t in the middle of a labor pain, she might have giggled at his horrified expression.
“I guess we won’t be going to stay on the mainland,” she said when it eased. “You’re going to have to help me, you know.”
“Bella, come on. Let’s go right now and we can get to the clinic on—”
She shook her head slowly. “No. I think things are moving fast. We need to stay very calm.” Arabella looked at him, holding his gaze. “Can you be calm?”
He nodded. “I’m going to try.”
“That’s all I can ask. First call the midwife.” She was on an island nearby, thank heavens. When Will insisted she have the baby on the mainland, she’d agreed only if she could use the local midwife for her regular checkups. As much as she loved the boat, since getting pregnant, she’d learned the hell of seasickness.
After that, the night became a blur of pain and resting between. Karen arrived and took over the delivery from a very grateful Will who sat next to her encouraging and coaching, much more comfortable in that role than the one he’d feared having to take on. The pains got closer together, more intense, and, as dawn broke over their little piece of paradise, their daughter arrived, wailing and kicking as soon as she landed in the midwife’s arms.
Sinking back to the pillows, Arabella watched Karen clean the baby and wrap her in a long length of soft cloth before bringing her over. “Here’s your little girl,” she said.
“How is she?”
“Perfect.” The midwife’s soft smile lit her face. “What’s her name?”
Will came to stand beside her. “Bonnie. Her name is Bonnie.” He held out a box, flipped open to show a diamond ring. “Now, will you marry me, Bella?” He lifted the baby from her arms and cradled her. “Mommy didn’t want to have a wedding while she was getting ready to have you.” He kissed the tiny button nose. “I think she was afraid she’d look bumpy in her dress.”
“That’s not true,” she protested, laughing. Arabella’s heart nearly exploded with love at the sight of her big handsome man holding their beautiful new daughter. Tears spilled from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “I was waiting for my flower girl to arrive.” And she’d be lovely, their little girl, in a stroller bedecked with flowers from their island gardens. “I love you both so much,” she sobbed, emotions turning on a dime. “When I think I might have kept going on that treadmill that was my life before I met you….
Will sat down beside her as the midwife slipped out the door, giving them privacy. “Sshh. Don’t worry about what ifs. We were meant to be. If you hadn’t taken that trip, we’d have met some other way. I refuse to believe in a universe where we didn’t meet.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he smiled. “You should get some rest. You did a great job, Bella.”
“She is wonderful, isn’t she?” Her eyelids fluttered, but she forced them open. “Will you watch her while I take a little nap?”
“I’ll watch over you both. Always.”
About the Author
Kate Richards divides her time between Los Angeles and the High Sierras. She would gladly spend all her days in the mountains, but she’d miss the beach…and her very supportive husband’s commute would be three hundred miles. Wherever she is, she loves to explore all different kinds of relationships in her stories. She doesn’t believe one-size-fits-all, and whether her characters live BDSM, ménage, GLBT, spanking, or any other kind of lifestyle, it’s the love, the joy in one another, that counts.
Facebook Fan Page http://on.fb.me/14Vqx48
Goodreads Page http://bit.ly/19yVcWh
Twitter http://bit.ly/17AeWeM
Also by Kate Richards
Finally, My Love
Demons Love Cinnamon
Christmas Afternoon Delight
The Vampire’s Bard
Pirate Lady Holiday
Spanking Ms. Whitman
Dungeon Time
Switch, The Trainer
Confessions From the Carnivore Club, Dave and Nancy’s Story
Sierra Seduction
Sensual Delights A Cookie Club Romance
One Night on the Beach
Avalon for Christmas
The Virgin and the Playboy
The Virgin and the Best Man
Two Men and a Virgin
Two Men
Virgin Under Ground
Gale Force Passion
Trail of Hearts
The Milkman Cometh
Madame Eve’s Gift
Frontier Inferno
An Apple Away (The Wiccan Haus)
It’s Just Love
Kimmy
Her Cowboy (Corbin’s Bend)
Roy and Teri’s Accidental Staycation (Corbin’s Bend)
Honey’s Sexy Surprise
Haunting Suspicions
All’s Fair
Lily in Chains
Terci in Chains
Felicia’s Chains
Sweet Christmas Kisses Anthology
Taming Marguerite
The Soviet Connection (Omega Team)
Spurs (Omega Team)
Wolves and Bears and Foxes, Oh My! A Night at Animals
A Night at Crossroads
Stoking the Flames (Box Set)
Shifters Untamed (Box Set)
Just You and Me (Box Set)
A Daring Contract
MacKays Fire
Floating Hearts
Second Chances at Life and Love You won’t Want to Miss
Remember Me by Ever Coming
Remember Me.
Ten letters.
Four syllables.
Two words.
Two of the most powerful words of Cate's life. She read them the first time she had her heart broken, heard them when she lost her husband, and now they stared back at her as her daughter moved away for the first time. Yes, each time these two little words crossed her path, her life changed course. That was why when Cate spoke them to herself, she knew great things were about to happen. She was going to remember who she was and go back to being that strong, intelligent, determined, and fun—yes, fun—woman she once was.
Ever Coming is a USA Today Best Selling author who enjoys a little heat with her sweet romances. When she is not reading and writing, Ever is usually found enjoying time with her kids and husband.
http://www.evercoming.com/newsletter/
Racing Toward Love by Everleigh Clark
A forty-three-year-old divorcee finds love in the arms of a younger man while training for the hardest race of her life. Which will prove to be more difficult? Running a grueling one hundred thirty-five mile race through Death Valley or the not-so-socially acceptable relationship her family can’t handle?
This novella was originally part of the Wanna Be Bad boxset, under Everleigh’s other pseudonym. Three thousand words have been added in a fun, romantic epilogue.
Everleigh Clark is a pen name of a USA
Today bestselling author who wanted to write some fun paranormal romance. She’s also a homeschooling mommy, crafter and choc-aholic.
When she’s not wrangling kittens, googling math help or cleaning up slime, she’s plotting and writing her next book. Her characters are fun, lovable and messy. Just like the characters in her real life.
Everleigh loves to connect with readers! Please visit her on:
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Racing Toward Love by Everleigh Clark