Michael (Connelly Cousins #3)

by Abbie Zanders

  Jamie broke their kiss and stared into Amy’s eyes. Comprehension dawned.

  “Please don’t be mad,” she whispered, cupping his face.

  He sighed and patted her leg, and Amy dutifully slid off of his lap.

  “Kyle. Lina.” Jamie stood and faced them. Behind Kyle’s ever-present dark shades, Jamie knew his icy blue eyes were narrowed.

  “Jamie.” A nod. “Amy.”

  “We thought this had gone on long enough,” Lina said bravely. “You two are brothers, so... start acting like it, okay?”

  The two men stared at each other for a long minute until Kyle nodded. Jamie held out his hand. Kyle took it.

  It was a start. The hour-long ride wasn’t the easiest. There were plenty of awkward lapses in conversation, but the important thing was, they were talking again.

  “We did good, didn’t we?” Amy asked uncertainly to Lina as she poured coffee from the carafe provided.

  “Yeah,” Lina exhaled. “But it’s going to take time.”

  “Good thing they have us, then.” It was a wishful statement. After today, Amy hoped that was still true.

  “Yeah,” Lina smiled. “It is.”

  “That was a hell of a stunt you and Lina pulled today,” Jamie said much later that night as they drove back to Birch Falls.

  Amy didn’t know what to say. Jamie had been unusually quiet after the train ride and during the special dinner reservations for two. She couldn’t tell if he was angry or not. Every now and then she’d flick sideways glances his way, but his gaze had remained fixed on the road ahead.

  “I’m glad you did it.”

  She let out the breath she’d been holding, “You are?”

  “Yeah.” He reached over and curled his hand around hers.

  “I thought you might be angry with me for interfering.”

  His lips quirked. “I think I was more surprised than anything. I didn’t know you could be so devious.”

  That welcome relief she’d felt only a few moments earlier shriveled at his choice of the word “devious”. “I’m sorry, Jamie. Lina and I thought... hell, I don’t know what we thought. She’s my friend, you know? And I really care about you.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes! I want you to be happy, Jamie. Maybe I was wrong, but I thought this unresolved thing between you and Kyle was weighing you down.”

  “Unresolved thing? Amy, my brother married the woman I asked to marry me.”

  Amy reclaimed her hand and stared out the window, willing the sudden moisture in her eyes not to fall. After all this time, after everything that had happened, she thought he was ready to put it all behind him and move forward. Apparently not. She’d been a fool to think that -

  “And thank God he did.”

  She sniffled, snapping her gaze back to him. “What did you say?”

  “I said, thank God he did. Because otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do this.”

  Jamie pulled off the road onto a scenic overlook. He got out of the car, walked around to her side, and opened her door.

  “Jamie, what are you doing?”

  He smiled patiently. “Just go with it, okay? It’s my birthday.”

  She did. She stepped out of the car, inhaling sharply when she saw the gorgeous view of Birch Falls lit up below them.

  “Amy?”

  She turned back to find Jamie on his knee and gasped.

  “Amy, will you grant me the honor of marrying me?”

  Her hands flew up to her mouth. “What?”

  Jamie chuckled, holding a glittering solitaire in his fingers. “I’m proposing, Amy. Marry me. Be my wife. I know we’ve only been seeing each other a few months, but if there’s one thing the Cupids taught me, it’s that ... when it’s right, it’s right. And there is no doubt in my mind, Amy Stewart, that you are the right one for me.”

  Tears spilled over her lashes, but this time, they were tears of joy. Unable to speak, she nodded. Jamie rose and slipped the ring on her finger, then pulled her into an embrace.

  “You know what else they told me?” he whispered against her ear.

  She was almost afraid to ask. “What?”

  “That proposal sex is better than make-up sex.”

  Amy laughed. “Is that true?”

  “I don’t know. But I think we should find out.”

  If you liked this book...

  ... then you might be interested in my Callaghan Brothers series. Celina’s cousins are seven hot Irish brothers, former Navy SEALS who have formed their own off-the books team. Each has his own specialty, which is fortunate, because they need each other when they’re faced with their biggest challenges yet – finding and keeping their croies, the women fated for them and them alone.

  Check out this excerpt from Dangerous Secrets... and then keep reading for other great books by some of my author friends...

  Taryn felt instantly at home in the Pub. She’d spent most of the last eight years working in one just like it. Unofficially, of course, but no one ever questioned it and that kind of thing had never really mattered to Charlie.

  It gave her an idea.

  It took some effort to get to the bar, but not all of it was unpleasant. With the level of noise and density of the ebullient crowd, Taryn quickly discovered the most effective method for making forward progress was a well-placed hand in a strategic location. By the time the men turned to see who had taken such liberties, Taryn had disappeared once again.

  It was the younger guy who spotted her first. A brief raise of his eyebrows and a flickering glance toward the window was followed by a dazzling smile. “So she is courageous as well as beautiful,” he said, handing two filled mugs to the man on her right. “What’s your pleasure?”

  Taryn returned his smile with one equally devastating. It was a skill she had mastered years earlier. She also let her eyes linger on his lips just a second longer than necessary as she ran her tongue lightly across her lip. Ian’s eyes flashed. Gotcha.

  God bless the male sex, they were so easily baited. “You’re very busy tonight.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed, leaning against the bar as if there weren’t two dozen people around her vying for his attention. “A little.”

  “Looks like you could use another bartender.”

  Ian’s grin widened. “You offering?”

  “Oi, Ian,” called Jake. “What the - ” Jake stopped when he saw who had captured his brother’s undivided attention.

  “She says she can help out behind the bar,” Ian informed him with a grin.

  “Is that right?” Jake walked over, gathering a few orders along the way. “You tend?”

  She nodded, her smile fading a little. This was the man who had pinned her with his gaze through the window. He was much bigger close-up. Definitely related to the younger guy, but infinitely more intense. Harder. She suppressed a shiver. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

  * * *

  The closer Jake got to her, the stranger he felt. He likened it to an electrical current flowing through his body, which, unfortunately, he had experienced. Comparatively speaking, this instance was much more pleasant.

  Who had eyes like that? Layered, like a custom paint job. If he had to guess, he’d say her eyes were purplish with a couple of clear coats of smoky gray on top, the exact hue of the sky moments before a summer thunderstorm. It had to be a trick of the lights, though, because no one could actually have eyes like that. Thankfully, there was no trace of the haunted look he’d seen earlier, making him think he might have imagined it.

  “What was that last order?” he asked, locking his blue gaze with hers.

  “Excuse me?”

  “The last order I took. What was it?” He fixed her with a level gaze.

  “Oh, come on, Jake,” began Ian, but Jake ignored him.

  The woman took a breath. He knew, because his eyes were drawn to the subtle rise and fall of the nicely-endowed chest peeking through that jacket.

  “Two pints of Killian, one Irish coffe
e, a Baileys and cream no ice, and two fingers of Grey Goose with a splash of lime.”

  The corners of Jake’s mouth twitched. “What’s the secret to pulling a good draft?”

  She appeared to consider his question for a moment, then leaned forward. Jake mimicked the movement, putting his ear within inches of her lips. Even with all the noise, Jake had no trouble hearing her low, quiet-toned answer. “Giving it just the right amount of head.”

  The twitch became a full-fledged grin.

  It was a crazy idea. Jake didn’t tolerate just anybody behind his bar. But he was desperate. Plus, for some strange reason, he liked the idea of having her back with him instead of out in the rowdy crowd. Quite a few of the men were already looking at her as if she was a tasty snack. He rationalized the impulse by telling himself he wasn’t doing it for her or even him, for that matter; having someone like that behind the bar was simply good for business.

  “Right,” he said. “You’re hired. Get your ass back here.”

  The smile she gave him lit up the entire room, but it quickly faded when she tried to move. He understood the problem immediately: to get where he was, she would have to cross the length of the long bar and around the other end, which, given the current mob, would take about half an hour. She looked at him helplessly.

  “Oi, Big John!” Jake barked. “A little help for my new barmaid, please.”

  A huge, bearded man shifted next to her; plate-sized hands circled her waist and she was suddenly suspended over the bar. A host of cheers and catcalls went up in the immediate vicinity as Jake grabbed her out of the air and brought her down on the other side.

  Jake was stricken by yet another strange sensation as his hands closed around her waist. It was like hitting the sweet spot on a baseball bat, or releasing the perfect three-point shot, knowing it was going to be a total swish without even having to look. And his thumbs didn’t skim the underside of her breasts. They didn’t. Because if they did, he’d have to think about how full and firm they were against his fingers, and that would be bad...

  Dangerous Secrets is available on Amazon now:

  US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PX02PU0

  UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00PX02PU0

  Germany: http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00PX02PU0

  Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00PX02PU0

  Australia: http://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B00PX02PU0

  ... and other Amazon locations

  About the Author

  Abbie Zanders loves to read and write romance in all forms; she is quite obsessive, really. Her ultimate fantasy is to spend all of her free time doing both, preferably in a secluded mountain cabin overlooking a pristine lake, though a private beach on a lush tropical island works, too. Sharing her work with others of similar mind is a dream come true. She promises her readers two things: no cliffhangers, and there will always be a happy ending. Beyond that, you never know...

  Also by Abbie Zanders

  Contemporary Romance

  Dangerous Secrets (Callaghan Brothers, Book 1)

  First and Only (Callaghan Brothers, Book 2)

  House Calls (Callaghan Brothers, Book 3)

  Seeking Vengeance (Callaghan Brothers, Book 4)

  Guardian Angel (Callaghan Brothers, Book 5)

  Beyond Affection (Callaghan Brothers, Book 6)

  Having Faith (Callaghan Brothers, Book 7)

  Bottom Line (Callaghan Brothers, Book 8)

  Five Minute Man (Covendale Series, Book 1)

  All Night Woman (Covendale Series, Book 2)

  Celina (Connelly Cousins, Book 1)

  Johnny (Connelly Cousins, Book 2)

  The Realist

  Celestial Desire

  Time Travel Romance

  Maiden in Manhattan

  Raising Hell in the Highlands

  Paranormal Romance

  Vampire, Unaware

  Black Wolfe’s Mate (written as Avelyn McCrae)

  Historical

  A Warrior’s Heart (written as Avelyn McCrae)

  Excerpt from ICE (Regulators MC Book 1)

  From Best Selling Authors Chelsea Camaron and Jessie Lane...

  ~Ice~

  Parking my bike on the edge of the road, I hop off with Hammer and Coal following suit. They don’t bother asking questions, because my reason for coming here is obvious as we make our way into a house full of drunken teens.

  Walking inside like I own the place, I see kids in every corner, making out. The sight makes my blood boil. If I find some little dipshit with his hands all over my baby girl, it is going to take both Hammer and Coal to keep me from beating the shit out of him. I don’t care if they are teenagers; no little prick is good enough to touch Brooke.

  I glance into the formal dining room to my left, and someone has one very expensive table that seats eight, making a perfect set up for beer pong. Jesus, this is the nightmare of every parent. If I see one kid doing any drugs, my head is going to explode.

  “Brooke,” I call out. “Brooklyn Rayne Grady, get your ass out here... Right. The. Fuck. Now!” I roar without a second thought.

  All the teens stop and stare at me and my brothers filling up this ostentatious entryway. When nobody moves, Coal steps up to be right behind me on the left.

  “Brooke, find her now,” Coal clips out, giving his cold glare to every teen in the room.

  At the top of the stairway, I watch my daughter meet Coal’s gaze without one ounce of trepidation. Baby girl is showing balls of steel for her friends. Her short as sin shorts make my blood pressure shoot up even higher. The camisole tank top that I bought to go with pajamas is far from hiding her buds from all these teen pricks.

  “Dad—” she starts as I interrupt.

  “Don’t say another fucking word. Get your ass on my bike.”

  “Death of you,” Hammer chuckles behind me as he turns around to get ready to leave.

  Yes, my daughter will be the death of me. I watch as she grabs her friend by the wrist and half drags her down the stairs, mumbling at her the whole way down. When the two girls reach me, I don’t move.

  “Come on, Dad,” Brooke lets out a huff. “Let’s go. This is embarrassing enough already.”

  “Everybody here, you have twenty minutes to get this house cleaned the fuck up. Since you dumb shits have been drinking, a bus will be here to pick each one of you up and take you home. My man Coal here is gonna stay behind and make sure you do as I say.”

  “Daaaad,” Brooke whines, “leave everyone alone.”

  “Brooke, I suggest you shut your mouth and get your ass over to my bike. If your friend needs a ride, Hammer will take her. Outside. Now. You’re in enough trouble, don’t add more.”

  Defeated, the two girls stomp off while Hammer shakes his head at me while I turn to follow them all out. I haven’t even made it to the door when I hear some pre-pubescent shithead slur out a question.

  “Do you think they are, like, real biker dudes? Maybe we can ask them to pop a wheelie or something. Wait!” His voice cracks as he gets excited. “Maybe they’re from that show on TV! We should ask for their autographs!’

  God save me from teenagers. No doubt, Hammer is cussing me out in his head for sticking one on his bitch seat.

  ~Morgan~

  Bam. Bam. Bam.

  Ding. Dong.

  Ding. Dong.

  Bam. Bam. Bam.

  The rapid percussions of someone at my door startles me awake. Grabbing my pepper spray from my nightstand, I sit up and get out of bed. No one visits me unexpectedly. Ever. Not even Casey. My neighbors must have misplaced guests, or maybe this is some crazy prank.

  Looking out my peephole, I see a man in a black shirt, a black leather vest with a patch that says “ice”, and jeans. His brown hair is short on the sides yet a little longer on the top. Before I can inspect him through the tiny hole longer, he is pounding on my door again, making me jump.

  Twisting the safety piece, I ready my pepper spray as I twist the
lock on my door. I don’t even get my hand on the knob to turn it before I am being pushed back by my door opening.

  Raising my arm, I ready to spray when my wrist is suddenly wrapped in a firm grip and my hand quickly and efficiently emptied of its contents. So much for my self-defense savviness.

  “This one belong to you?” the rugged looking stranger gruffly asks me as he points his thumb over his shoulder, obviously pissed. There is another man with him. His vest has a patch that says “Hammer” and a teen girl shifting nervously beside him.

  Taken aback by his terse attitude, I stand there for a moment, frozen and unsure of what to do. His eyes are so dark and lethal looking I can’t tell if they are black or brown. The harsh lines of his face accentuate his high cheekbones that are flushed in anger, and his strong jaw is clenched tight. I can’t decide if he is drop dead sexy, in a scary sort of way, or just plain scary. My chest rapidly rises and falls as I struggle to catch up with everything happening. Following his pointed finger, my eyes land on my sister.

  Madyson, my drop dead gorgeous, just turned eighteen, high school senior, little sister is standing in my doorway. Her eyes plead with me to take her.

  What the heck did she get herself tangled up in now? Why did she bring this to my doorstep? Our parents expect bad things from her; therefore, this would be nothing unusual. However, I don’t expect her to bring her problems to me.

  “Ummm,” I begin, but I am cut off.

  “Ummm, nothin’. She gave us this address to drop her off at. Since you obviously aren’t old enough to be her mother, I’m goin’ to assume she’s your sister. There is a similarity in your features. Clue in, sweets; girls at this age shouldn’t be out this late and certainly not dressed like a hooker. Know where your girl is. Take responsibility, for fuck’s sake. Bad things can happen,” He releases my wrist harshly and turns to walk away.