Before the Rain

by JoAnne Kenrick

  “Are you really going to sell the farm like Betty said?”

  “Na. Been sat here thinking on this. Rose Farm is where I belong despite hating my parents for pushing me into it. I couldn’t do anything else now. It’s who I am.”

  “You’ll have to show the ropes to clueless here. Maybe I could be your farmhand?”

  “Ia. By early morning light a farmhand, by day an author, and by night my lover. Think you can handle that?”

  Warmth cradled her. “I can handle anything with you by my side.”

  And she believed that. Plain and simple, Dylan completed her.

  “And your book? Weren’t you meant to meet with a publisher on Monday? You can’t put that on hold for me.”

  “I called Rachel. She arranged a video meeting instead, and after that, we’ll figure it out.”

  “Good. Because I want you to do whatever makes you happy.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Zoe, I love you.”

  How about that. Her chart had been right all along, and she had been destined to fall in love with a Leo.

  She melted into his arms, knowing she’d found a love truly worth holding on to. Her world would be a better, warmer place now Dylan was in it…and Betty and Rhiannon.

  Sammy barked then gripped her shirt with his teeth and pulled.

  And of course Sammy.

  Epilogue

  One year and one week later.

  Zoe signed for the very heavy parcel at the main entrance to Rose Farm.

  “They’ve arrived. I can’t believe it. They’ve finally arrived,” she hollered.

  Dylan raced to her side and scooped up the parcel like it weighed nothing more than a few pounds. But that box had twenty hardback books in it so she knew it wasn’t light.

  Her hero.

  He set the package on the kitchen table and scored a knife through the tape closure.

  “So exciting. I can’t believe my wife is a published author. When can I retire?”

  She snorted. “Silly, Dyl. We’ve already spent the advance on turning Rose Farm into an inn.”

  “Ia, but you’ll be swimming in royalties soon.”

  “Which will pay for Rhiannon’s college fees. If there’s any left, I’ll treat you to cake and tea in the village,” she teased. “Besides, owning an inn should feel like retirement after running a farm.”

  “True.” He pulled out a book. Her book. “Before the Rain. Cool title. Is this Prince Charming character in your story handsome?” he grinned wickedly.

  “He’s all right. I’ve seen better.” Zoe shrugged, straining to keep from smiling.

  “Hey!” He slammed the book down and yanked her into his arms. “Just because we’re married now doesn’t mean you can be mean to me.”

  “Then don’t ask me dumb questions. Of course he’s hot. I based the main character off of you because you’re my hero.” Zoe faked a swoon and kissed her husband.

  “I saw the postman. Does that mean what I think it means? Are they here? Lemme see. Lemme see. I wanna see them, I do.” Betty skidded into the kitchen, a bottle of laundry soap in hand.

  “Yes, they’re here.” Zoe grabbed the book off the table, her book, and handed it to the woman she now saw as her mother-in-law. A kind, sweet mother-in-law who made an awesome inn chef and who knitted the cutest sweaters. She was almost sad Betty wasn’t living at Rose Farm anymore, but grateful she worked there seven ‘til four to cook meals for guests and help launder bedding and the like.

  “You should put some in our common room for guests to read. I bet they’d get a thrill out of knowing they were staying at the inn where the Zoe Chantilly lives.”

  “Hardly. But that’s a good idea.” She pilled herself up with five books and carried them to the cozy guest area. Stacking them on a coffee table, she sighed. They were her books. Her very pretty, very real books.

  Dyl rounded the corner, a bottle of champagne in hand. “Betty’s getting the glasses.”

  “Dyl?”

  “What, Zoe?”

  She shimmed to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Dwi’n caru ti,” she rasped in Welsh.

  “Dwi’n caru ti, carid.” He beamed, and whispered against her mouth, “Always and forever.”

  A Thank You from Fated Desires

  Thank you so much for reading Before the Rain! We’re so happy you’re enjoying the Tempting Signs series! We do hope if you liked this, that you would please leave a review from where you purchased this or on another platform. Not only does a review spread the word to other readers, they let us know if you’d like to see more stories like this from us.

  Before the Rain is a special novella in the Tempting Signs series. The series is written by twelve authors for each sign of the zodiac. Under the Lights had the Leo sign in mind and dove right into the ideals of what happens when someone with that sign falls in love. Make sure you find all twelve stories throughout the year! Some are interconnected so you will see cameos from characters you love.

  If you’d like to know more about Fated Desires, check out our website or email us at admin@FatedDesires.com.

  You can also find out more through our MAILING LIST.

  Also, join our Fated Desires Book Club to interact with our authors.

  Make sure you read the complete Tempting Signs Series from Fated Desires

  Each title will be released in 2015 and 2016 during the time of their Zodiac Sign

  Aries:

  Lust Actually

  By Heather Long

  Taurus:

  Forever Devoted

  By Virginia Nelson

  Gemini:

  Gemini Rising

  By Ranae Rose

  Cancer:

  Finally Found You

  By Carrie Ann Ryan

  Leo:

  Before the Rain

  By JoAnne Kenrick

  Virgo:

  Under the Lights

  By Rebecca Royce

  Libra:

  All’s Fair

  By Kate Richards

  Scorpio:

  Dark Sky

  By Katalina Leon

  Sagittarius:

  Into the Night

  By Virginia Cavanaugh

  Capricorn:

  Her Captain

  By Taryn Kincaid

  Aquarius:

  Buried

  By Cassandra Carr

  Pisces:

  Once Upon a Fantasy

  By Lia Davis

  About the Author

  Stay update with JoAnne’s new and upcoming releases with her quarterly newsletter. Easy sign up here: http://bit.ly/1Ox0Mga

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  Behind the scenes information about her books and author life.

  JoAnne Kenrick is a multi-published author who writes both contemporaries and paranormals. She was born and raised in a wee seaside town in North Wales, and has traveled far and wide. In true Brit form, she is a teaholic.

  She now lives in North Carolina with her very own British hero, where she creates ever afters with a backdrop of those wonderful places she's visited. Come across the pond and faraway...with JoAnne Kenrick.

  For more about JoAnne and her books, please visit her website: http://www.joannekenrick.com

  Also from this Author

  Outback Dirty, Calendar Men book one

  Sweet Irish Kiss, Irish Kisses book one

  Shamrocked, Irish Kisses book two

  Threesome Sweetness, Irish Kisses book three

  Hot Winter Kiss, Irish Kisses book four

  Irish Kisses, the complete collection

 

 

 
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