by MINK
“Oh no!” She edges the drama up a notch and rubs her pregnant belly. “We’re in danger.”
I grin and lead her deeper into the cave. “Jump.” I point to a few squares of tile on the floor. “If you step on those, you’ll end up falling to your death.”
“What’s down there?” She peers over the edge of the library walkway.
“Spikes,” Emmy calls from somewhere deeper in the ‘cave.’
“What do we do?” I rub my chin. “We’ll never get across.”
“I’m the great treasure hunter, Emmy Clevenger, and I can save you.”
“Thank heavens there’s a real treasure hunter here. I was afraid we wouldn’t make it out alive.”
Emmy jumps out from behind the corner ahead, her Panama hat crooked on her head and her khaki attire marred with dirt and cobwebs. Mrs. Pettyford went all out on the adventurer costume, I see.
“The great Emmy? The one everyone’s heard of?” Pandora squeezes my hand. “Please help us. We’re lost.”
“Lost? You sure you weren’t here for the lost treasure of Pettyford?” She turns and points to Pandora’s box that’s suspended on a little rope and wood platform. It took me a good two hours to get it hanging just the way Emmy wanted.
“I’m no treasure hunter!” Pandora’s dramatic flair edges up a notch as she makes a show of rubbing her baby bump. “I’m pregnant, after all.”
Emmy squints. “If you say so, lady. I’ll help you, but don’t expect me to split the treasure with you.”
“Of course not. Just lead us out of this cave, and we’ll be on our way.” I tip my hat at her.
Her gaze still wary, she points to the squares of material--I think they’re from the kitchen. “Don’t step on those tiles. Move around to the right. Yes. Now step there.” She points. “No!”
Pandora pulls her foot back.
Emmy concentrates, her little brow furrowing. “To the left. Your left.”
“Oh, right.” Pandora tries to stow her giggle and steps in the appropriate spot.
I follow right behind her, tracing her steps just like I’d do if we really were in a treasure cave instead of walking along the catwalk of our library’s second floor.
“Okay.” Emmy nods, her hat falling over her eyes. She pushes it back. “You’re safe. Now, I’m going to get the box. You two stay put.”
“Of course.” Pandora stops and rubs her bump in earnest. She’s not too far from her due date, and Emmy and I can’t wait to meet the new baby. A little one Pandora can dote on and Emmy can boss around.
Emmy hurries toward the box, but Shah darts out from the shelf. “A mythical beast!” She mimes slaying Shah with wild antics, though our sleek cat simply sits and starts licking his paw.
“That was close.” She makes it to the box where it hangs above the walkway. My smile reappears when I remember how badly she wanted me to hang it over the open space below so she’d have to do death-defying feats to reach it. That was a hard no.
She mimes dodging arrows and traps, then stops right in front of the box. “Wait.” She cocks her head. “Wait, wait.”
“Oh.” Pandora puts her hand in her pocket. “Forget this?” She pulls out the jeweled key and does a rather convincing evil laugh. “Mwahahahaha. Now you’ll have to give the treasure to me so I can sell it to the highest bidder!”
Emmy turns and crosses her arms. “Never. This artifact belongs in a museum!”
I clear my throat. “It belongs where it came from.”
Emmy arches a skeptical seven-year-old brow and focuses on her mother. “Give me the key.”
“Only if you promise to give me the treasure.”
Emmy dodges back through the poisonous traps until she stands in front of us again.
“I can’t give the treasur--Mom!”
Pandora grabs her and hugs her. “I’ve got the treasure right here, and I’m never letting it go.”
“Mom, my hat,” Emmy scoffs, but she wraps her arms as far around Pandora as she can.
“Sorry, little adventurer.” Pandora squeezes her for a while longer, then sets her back a few steps and fixes her hat. “Better?”
“Yes. Now the key.” Emmy holds out her hand.
“Fine.” Pandora gives her the key, then turns to me as Emmy gets back to dodging booby traps.
I pull her close and wrap my arms around her. “What did you put in the box?”
She smiles. “It’s a surprise.”
Leaning down, I kiss her. It always feels like the first time, the taste of her far more exciting than any treasure trove.
“Mommy?” Emmy calls.
I break the kiss and turn around.
Emmy’s pulled a blue baby blanket from the box.
I whip my gaze back to Pandora. “I thought we were going to wait to find out.” I swallow hard, my eyes starting to water. “A boy?”
She nods and kisses me again, pulling me down to her as she stands on her tiptoes. We kiss until Emmy taps me on the side.
Holding up the blanket, she grins big, one of her missing front teeth giving her an even cuter smile. “A little brother?”
I pull her into our hug.
“A little brother.” Pandora nods, tears in her eyes as we huddle close.
My greatest treasure wasn’t one I had to fight or search for. She fell into my arms. Even so, I will never find jewels as precious as the ones I’m holding right now.
More MINK is coming your way. Up next, Stalking Her Sweetly, a story of a kind stalker who always saves the day for his dream girl, though sometimes it might involve just a pinch of murder.
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Also by MINK
My Hero’s Secret Baby
Lane
It’s not in my nature to save people, especially when there’s no advantage in it for me. But that changes the moment I see her, my sweetness, being attacked. For once in my life, I step in. Saving her was the best decision I’ve ever made, and I soon realize fate drew me to the right place and the right time to meet Pepper. She’s too innocent for a man like me, but I can’t let her go. And I don’t. I dote on her and love her. Until she’s taken from me. Her life snuffed out by my enemies. Now, I live to make them pay, and I won’t stop until everyone who had a hand in Pepper’s death is bleeding at my feet.
Pepper
Lane saved me. This man with the intense eyes and powerful way about him. He’s my hero, and I can’t believe I’m falling in love. Everything’s perfect until I stray too far one night and find out exactly what sort of man won my heart. Cruelty and violence—he’s capable of both, though I know in my heart he’d never harm me. Even so, when I see the chance to escape, I take it. But I’m not alone when I leave him, and my heart is forever drawn back to him, to the man who loves me fully and without reservation. Though he may be a nightmare for those who cross him, he’ll always be my hero.
His Tiger Queen
I’m a princess in a tower. Well, sort of. I live on an estate with high walls and plentiful guards. My father is an important man, though I’ve never learned why. But I have learned to obey him or suffer the consequences. Even so, I have a life I understand and can bear as long as my tiger is here with me. She’s my best friend, my only friend. At least, she was until I met the strange man through the garden wall. Ronan. He isn’t afraid of my father. Isn’t afraid of my tiger. And the more we talk, the less afraid I am of him. I begin to hope he’s the prince who can save me from this tower … Until I learn I’m betrothed to another. But if there’s anything at all I’ve learned about Ronan, it’s that he doesn’t give up easily. But will I be able to escape my father’s plans or end up married to another man after all?
His Virgin Heiress
Sometimes I have sticky fingers. Funny how pricey things tend to get glued to them. An item here, a handful of diamonds there. I take them, and then I keep them. Like a dragon with her hoard that no man can touch. Except … that isn’t completely true. One man can. My captor, my
jailor, the one person who I can’t stop fantasizing about even though he keeps me locked away. He took everything from me. So, I’m taking it back from him piece by piece. But when he reveals the twisted path to my freedom, will I walk down it alone or accept that my obsession isn’t wealth at all, it’s him?
Cuffed Love
Sheriff Chrissy Darling
There’s a new sheriff in town. Okay, yeah. It’s me. I never intended to become the chief law enforcement officer for the small town of Newberry, but here I am with a badge and a job. I also have a few deputies and some small-town troubles, but nothing I can’t handle. At least that was the case until a tall, handsome, be-suited man shows up and things begin to fall apart. Stolen chickens, broken glass, and retired mercenaries are just a few of the problems Declan Smith’s brought with him. But the biggest problem of all? My attraction to him, the man who’s the number one suspect in all the strange goings on in my town.
Declan Smith
I’ve come to Newberry to do my job, and I’m damn good at it. Disrupting governments and multi-billion dollar corporations has long been my specialty, but I decided to take a job in a tiny town for a little slice of the quiet life. I assumed the local sheriff wouldn’t care for me, but when I get a look at Chrissy Darling, I realize that taking this small job will have huge consequences. Not only is she on my case, she’s on my mind. Constantly. But when she realizes I’m the root of all her town’s troubles, will she send me packing or cuff me to her for life?
Stuffed
Kent
She set me up. This cute little woman with the big eyes and the sweet words framed me. Now I’m serving a jail sentence thanks to her tricks. But I’m no fool. Layla is clearly a highly trained operator who decided to take me out of the equation. My contract to eliminate Graham Tucker—owner of the Fill-A-Friend stuffed animal chain—hangs by a thread, and I have to get this kill before Layla steals it out from under me. The day I’m released is the day I’ll take my vengeance on that cunning assassin with the innocent eyes. And then I’ll take out Graham Tucker and close my contract with the Brotherhood.
Layla
Pandacorns are my bestsellers. Seriously. I can make a pandacorn, post it on Etsy, and it’s gone within an hour. Working at Fill-A-Friend pays the bills so I can work on my real passion—one-of-a-kind stuffies that have my own personal flair. But Fill-A-Friend can be demanding and sometimes intense, especially since I’m accident prone (one time I left the cotton stuffing machine on. Whoops.) Or like that time when I got rid of a bunch of ugly stuffed dogs and some random guy stole them and went to jail over it. Yikes. Anyway, things are going okay until Kent shows up in my life. And then they get so much better. He’s kind, caring, and supportive of my stuffie-making. The only issue is that he says weird stuff about “our line of work” when we don’t even do the same thing, but he’s handsome and amazing, so I don’t mind. In fact, I think I’m falling for him.
My stuffie business and my personal life are headed in the right direction . . . Until Mr. Tucker comes to inspect the store and things go terribly, horribly wrong.
His Sweetest Sin
God has led me to a life of service. I never thought being a priest would be a career path for me, but here I am giving Mass and leading a flock toward salvation. My way is clear until a red-headed distraction begins to visit my services. Eyes wide and giving off innocence like a burst of effervescence, Lily is a temptation that I must overcome. But the more trust she gives me, the more confessions she reveals, I soon realize that the Lord brought her to me. I’m the only one who can ease the deep ache inside her and lead her into the light.
When I see Father Niall standing on the steps of his church, his open smile and welcoming arms are just what I need. Even though I’m not a Catholic, I attend his services and soak in the sound of his voice, the warmth in his eyes. I don’t think he notices me. Until one day, he does. And then I confess to him about the ache I feel every time I see him. Father Niall is merciful and helps me in every way I ask. But when he learns who I really am, his own dangerous past comes to light. Father Niall isn’t what he seems … but then again, neither am I.
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Locking Her Down
Did I break into an animal shelter? Yes. Should it be a crime? Absolutely not. After all, I’m just trying to save these darling kittens from being sent to a lab for experiments. They deserve a loving home, and I intend to give them one. Well, that was the plan, but then I ran into some complications. Several of them. And they all have badges, guns, and handcuffs. So, off to jail I go, but I make my one phone call to the only man who can help me. Benton. I just hope he doesn’t tell my father what I’ve been up to.
Penelope is in trouble, and I’m the only one who can help her. I make it to the jail almost before she does and save her from a night in the drunk tank. But once I get her to my house, I have a hard time letting her leave. After all, she’s been on my mind since the first moment I met her. And this little run-in with the law is just what I need to convince her that I can be her everything. House arrest has never seemed so appealing. My plan is so close to working out, but Penelope always brings something extra—could be stolen kittens, could be dangerous family ties. With my Penny, life is always a surprise.
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Marco’s Girl
Going to high school as the heir to a mafia family isn’t as easy it seems. The prep school lifestyle leaves me cold, and I don’t want to be a part of the lacrosse crowd or make time with the silly girls who think being with me is taking a walk on the wild side. I’m fine in my bubble until I see the new girl through the window. Shy, smart, and with curves that make my mouth water, Evangeline is an unexpected good girl in my bad boy world. Her innocence should make me back off, but I don’t. After all, I’m a Davinci. When I see something I want, I take it.
A chance at going to college is all I need, and this new prep school is the way to do it. Grams took a maid job at a local estate just so I could attend prestigious Brightwood Prep, and I won’t let her down. I’m focused and determined … until I meet Marco. He’s got bad boy written all over him as he sits at the back of the classroom, his eyes eating me up. And that’s only the beginning. Marco isn’t just bad, he’s determined to make me his no matter the cost.
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Pop-up Love
Sam
A quiet life as a clock tinker. That’s what I need. And that’s what I have … until her--the woman in the pop-up shop across the street. The shop that’s invaded my tranquil life and turned my town into a movie set. I want nothing to do with any of it. But then I hear her voice. And I can’t think about cogs and tick tocks. All I can think about is her. And I when I find her? I’m never letting her go.
Fawn
A pop-up shop is the perfect idea to publicize our Kitty Cat Valentine premiere. I may not be the star of the movie, but I can certainly be the MVP of the shop. But when my friend tells the long line of people that I’m giving away a kiss to one lucky shopper, I don’t know if I can do it. Until he walks in. Sam. The stoic man who’s built like a freight train and kisses like he means it. I want to be his Valentine, but when his dangerous past finds him, will we be able to give love a chance?
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Beauty and the Boss
Liam Baxter is my new boss, and he’s not so bad. I mean, he does require that I knock before I walk into his office. And he doesn’t want me to bring my cat to work. Then he tells me if I don’t follow his rules, there will be discipline. On top of that, others say he’s cold and calculating. Hmm, maybe my boss is a little bit bad? But the more I work for him, the more things change. He shows me his true self in delicious glimpses. Perhaps underneath the stern, handsome boss, there’s a man who needs love even more than he needs an assistant.
Georgia Lavine is a means to an end for me. Her father’s business is one I intend to destroy. What better way to strike at a man than to take his daughter? That’s just what I did, hiring Georgia as my assistant to spite him a
nd also to gain more leverage. But this acquisition isn’t without its pitfalls. Georgia is too sunny, too beautiful, too fun, too naïve, too everything-I’m-not. She treats everyone so kindly. So much so that I begin to find that I’m the only one who should get her smiles, her attention, and everything else she has to offer. After all, I’m her boss. And though the assistant position is temporary, I have a much more permanent one in mind.
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His Virgin Queen
I knew I was going to be sold by my father. A bride offered to forge an alliance or seal a deal. Even so, I still held onto the hope of living free of the families. But when I’m given to Antonio Tuscani, I realize my thin dreams of escaping this life were just that—dreams. Giving up, I accept my fate … Until a fierce-eyed boss, Nick DaVinci, shows up on my wedding day to exact lethal vengeance.
I came for Tuscani blood, and I took it. The doe-eyed bride in her white dress and veil of innocence doesn’t bat an eyelash when I do what I was born to do. I’m the head of the most powerful mafia family in the city, and I didn’t get here by sparing enemies. But Sophia’s demeanor intrigues me, and soon I realize she is far more than a mafia princess. She is a queen, and I will stop at nothing to keep her by my side.
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His Deadly Darling
Luke Knight thinks he can own me, can hurry me into a wedding and then into his bed. He seems to know everything about me. But he’s missed the most important point—I’m dastardly. He thinks he’s my one and only? Not a chance. But I like his estate and all his money, so I’ll bide my time. I don’t obsess over his good looks and the way he makes me feel. Not a bit. Once he’s dead, I’ll be more than happy to be the grieving widow … on a yacht … in the Seychelles … drenched in diamonds.
