by Tina Martin
“Here he comes,” Gianna said. “He got his eyes locked on you, girl.”
“Stop, Gianna. You’re making me nervous.”
“You? Nervous? I didn’t think that could ever happen.”
“It happens all the time with him,” she whispered softly.
“And you’re the one who told me that a man shouldn’t make me all rattled and anxious. Now, look at you,” Gianna said.
“What did she say about me, Gianna?” Regal asked.
“I didn’t say anything about you,” Felicity told him. “Why do you always think somebody’s talking about you?”
“I heard y’all talking about me,” Regal said. “Now you’re trying to play innocent. It’s cool though. You got a tail whoopin’ coming your way later on tonight, anyway.”
Gianna laughed. “You hear that, Felicity. A tail whoppin’…”
Felicity couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. “Ain’t nobody thinking about your lil’ threats, Regal.”
“Little? Ain’t nothing on me little, girl.”
“Alrighty, then…that’s my cue,” Gianna said, leaving them standing there as she walked over to where Ramsey was standing.
“You look happy,” Regal said to Felicity.
“I am happy. Finally.”
“Why?”
“Because I got my little girl back.”
“Right.”
“And, I got you.”
He stared at her so hard, she grew nervous and uncomfortable. “Yeah, you got me. Who would’ve ever guessed the hot tamale in stilts would end up with the man she fronted like she didn’t like?”
“I wasn’t fronting. I didn’t like you when we first met.”
“And what about now?”
“Now, I can’t imagine my life without you.”
Regal smiled. “Put those baby hands on my face and give me what I want.”
“What’s that?” she asked as if she hadn’t known.
“This,” Regal said, then closed the space between them and filled her mouth with his thick tongue, not paying attention to anything else in that moment because they were so wrapped up in each other’s love, lost in intimate affection and recognizing that this – the love they shared – was nothing short of wedded bliss.
__________
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Back in 2017 when The Boardwalk Bakery Romance Series was born and you were introduced to Ramsey St. Claire, I knew his brothers had the potential for a story, especially Royal (with his precious Gemma). What I didn’t know was how I was going to present each of these stories. The storylines. The order of them. The timing.
One day, I was having a conversation with my sister about Royal (yes, I discuss my characters like they’re real people) and I remember telling her that I didn’t know if I wanted to continue writing these St. Claire novels back-to-back. That’s usually not my style of writing. I like to breathe in between projects and by breathe, I don’t mean take a break. This over here is definitely, #teamnosleep and, honey, trust me when I tell you I get by on coffee and prayer. By breathe, I mean I like to bounce around from one series to another to clear my mind of one family and refresh it with a new story from a different series. (Does that make any sense or is it just an artist thing?) That’s why, after I wrote Royal, I went on and wrote The Marriage Chronicles, As Long As We Got Love (An Alexander Series Novel) and then came His By Spring (A Champion Novel).
So I ended up taking a loong breath after Royal, but I eventually made my way over to Ramsey, the second book in the St. Claire Series. Then came book three, Romulus. After Romulus and Siderra’s story, I took another breath, wrote a summer novella, Bae Watch, and then I focused all of my attention on Regal.
While I didn’t initially know the order of The St. Claire books, I knew Royal would be first and Regal would last. Regal is not only a complex alpha, he’s a straight up fool. An intelligent one. A well-dressed one. Ain’t nothing like a man that can make you laugh and blush at the same time because he’s so fine. Through preceding books, you knew he had a thing for Felicity. Naturally they would find each other. Writing Regal’s book last gave their relationship time to progress over the course of the series. It gave you time to get a feel for their personalities. With this book, you just got to know them better.
I started writing this book with no idea what the page count or word count would be. I was focused on telling the story – one that got more and more complicated as I began writing. I took my time with it. Agonized over it. So many times I had to walk away from this manuscript and rest my eyes or go for a run because this story consumed me more so than the previous brothers. Regal was getting to me more than he was getting to Felicity! LOL! Anyway, I did a hallelujah dance when I finally finished it, and I hope you enjoyed it.
So many of you have asked me if Regal is the last book in the St. Claire Series. I don’t quite know how to answer that just yet. He’s the last brother, but there could be other stories from the St. Claires. These men are special. Their wives are lovely. Their stories are heartwarming. Their lives are complicated but filled with love. I’m not ruling anything out. We’ll see what happens.
I can’t end this note without expressing deep gratitude to my family for supporting me, my fans, loyal readers, Facebook homies, Instagrammers, Twitter followers – the readers who joined my Facebook group [Readers of Tina Martin Romance], the book clubs, all the readers I met at various events this year, to everyone who’s ever purchased a Tina Martin novel, left reviews and comments – thank you all for your support. It means the world.
I love writing—y’all know this—and I will continue sharing these stories with you. There’s one burning in my mind right now, waiting to get out.
Until next time,
Tina
Charlotte, North Carolina
September 15, 2018
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Discover other books by Tina Martin:
St. Claire Series
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Royal
Ramsey
Romulus
Regal
The Boardwalk Bakery Romance
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Baked With Love
Baked With Love 2
Baked With Love 3
The Marriage Chronicles
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Life’s A Beach
Falling Out
War, Then Love
The Blackstone Family Series
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Evenings With Bryson
Leaving Barringer
Forever Us: Barringer and Calista Blackstone (A short story follow-up to Leaving Barringer. You must read Leaving Barringer before reading this short story)
The Things Everson Lost
A Lennox in Love Series
*All books in this series are standalone novellas and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Claiming You
Making You My Business
Wishing That I Was Yours
Caught in the Storm with a Lennox (A Short Story Prequel to Claiming You)
Before You Say I Do
Mine By Default Mini-Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
/> Been In Love With You, Book 1
When Hearts Cry, Book 2
You Belong To Me, Book 3
When I Call You Mine, Book 4
Who Do You Love?, Book 5
Forever Mine, Book 6
The Champion Brothers Series:
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
His Paradise Wife
When A Champion Wants You
The Best Thing He Never Knew He Needed
Wives And Champions
The Way Champions Love
His By Spring
The Accidental Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Accidental Deception, Book 1
Accidental Heartbreak, Book 2
Accidental Lovers, Book 3
What Donovan Wants, Book 4
Dying To Love Her Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Dying To Love Her
Dying To Love Her 2
Dying To Love Her 3
The Alexander Series:
*Books 1-4 must be read in order. Books 5, 6,7 and can be read in any order as a standalone books.
The Millionaire’s Arranged Marriage, Book 1
Watch Me Take Your Girl, Book 2
Her Premarital Ex, Book 3
The Object of His Obsession, Book 4
Dilvan’s Redemption, Book 5
His Charity Challenge, Book 6 (Heshan Alexander and Charity Eason)
Different Tastes, Book 7 (An Alexander Spin-off novel. Tamera Alexander’s Story)
As Long As We Got Love, Book 8 (Family Novel)
Non-Series Titles:
*Individual standalone books that are not part of a series.
Secrets On Lake Drive
Can’t Just Be His Friend
The Baby Daddy Interviews
Just Like New to the Next Man
Falling Again
Vacation Interrupted
The Crush
Wasn’t Supposed To Love Her
What Wifey Wants
Man of Her Dreams
Bae Watch
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TINA MARTIN is the author of over 55 romance, romantic suspense and women’s fiction titles and has been writing full-time since 2013. Readers praise Tina for her strong heroes, sweet heroines and beautifully crafted stories. When she’s not writing, Tina enjoys watching movies, traveling, cooking and spending time with her family. She currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two children.
You can reach Tina by email at [email protected] or visit her website for more information at www.tinamartin.net.
