Wonder With Me
A With Me In Seattle Novella
By Kristen Proby
1001 Dark Nights
Wonder With Me
A With Me In Seattle Novella
By Kristen Proby
1001 Dark Nights
Copyright 2019 Kristen Proby
ISBN: 978-1-970077-17-9
Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose
Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.
Book Description
Wonder With Me
A With Me In Seattle Novella
By Kristen Proby
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby comes a new story in her With Me In Seattle series…
Reed Taylor doesn’t pay much attention to the holidays—until he receives a surprise present. Four-year-old Piper is the daughter he never knew about, and with the death of her mother, is also now the roommate he never expected. He’s determined to make their first Christmas together one she’ll never forget.
Noel Thompson has gotten her share of strange requests in her career as an interior designer. The call to design a beautiful home for Christmas is more like a dream come true. And that was before she met her new employer—sexy and mysterious, he’s everything she ever hoped Santa would bring her.
As Noel showers his home with holiday spirit, Reed showers Piper with love. And the busy life he’s created for himself no longer seems nearly as important as the one Noel is helping him build with his daughter. But if he can’t convince his decorator to stay, this could be the only year he feels the true wonder of the season.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
About Kristen Proby
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby has published more than thirty romance novels. She is best known for her self-published With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and also works with William Morrow on the Fusion Series. Kristen lives in Montana with her husband and two cats.
Also From Kristen Proby
Click to purchase
Bayou Magic:
Shadows
Spells
The Big Sky Series:
Charming Hannah
Kissing Jenna
Waiting for Willa
Enchanting Sebastian
Kristen Proby’s Crossover Collection
Soaring With Fallon: A Big Sky Novel by Kristen Proby
Wicked Force: A Wicked Horse Vegas/Big Sky Novella by Sawyer Bennett
All Stars Fall: A Seaside Pictures/Big Sky Novella by Rachel Van Dyken
Hold On: A Play On/Big Sky Novella by Samantha Young
Worth Fighting For: A Warrior Fight Club/Big Sky Novella by Laura Kaye
Crazy Imperfect Love: A Dirty Dicks/Big Sky Novella by K.L. Grayson
Nothing Without You: A Forever Yours/Big Sky Novella by Monica Murphy
The Fusion Series:
Listen To Me
Close To You
Blush For Me
The Beauty of Us
Savor You
The Boudreaux Series:
Easy Love
Easy Charm
Easy Melody
Easy Kisses
Easy Magic
Easy Fortune
Easy Nights
The With Me In Seattle Series:
Come Away With Me
Under the Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me
Safe With Me
Tied With Me
Burn With Me
Breathe With Me
Forever With Me
Stay With Me
Indulge With Me
Love With Me
Dance With Me
Dream With Me
The Love Under the Big Sky Series:
Loving Cara
Seducing Lauren
Falling For Jillian
Saving Grace
From 1001 Dark Nights:
Easy With You
Easy For Keeps
No Reservations
Tempting Brooke
Wonder With Me
The Romancing Manhattan Series:
All the Way
All It Takes
After All
Acknowledgments from the Author
Christmas is my favorite time of year. So when I was invited to write a holiday story set in my With Me In Seattle world, I jumped at the chance! I hope you love Reed, Noel, and little Piper as much as I do, and that the wonder of the season warms your heart this year, and every year. xo, Kristen
Discover 1001 Dark Nights
Click here to explore
COLLECTION ONE
FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black
CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham
CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom
DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake
AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione
NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones
SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair
ROPED IN by Lorelei James
TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
THE FLAME by Christopher Rice
CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner
COLLECTION TWO
WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham
EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby
MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair
CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner
ADORED by Lexi Blake
HADES by Larissa Ione
RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton
DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout
STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James
RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
DRAGON KING by Donna Grant
PURE WICKED by Shayla Black
HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye
STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham
KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice
DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster
TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti
THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
COLLECTION THREE
HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham
SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst
DANCE OF DESIRE by Christopher Rice
ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey
DEVOTED by Lexi Blake
Z by Larissa Ione
FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige
EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby
UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton
HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye
DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant
KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
STRUNG UP by Lorelei James
MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian
TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti
DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black
THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blak
ely
SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
COLLECTION FOUR
ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley
ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg
SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde
RAZR by Larissa Ione
ARRANGED by Lexi Blake
TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti
HOLD ME by J. Kenner
SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst
TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey
HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton
EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye
BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant
TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James
STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely
MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian
HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham
DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige
THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan
NIGHT GAMES by CD Reiss
NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby
DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
COLLECTION FIVE
BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti
ROUGH RIDE by Kristen Ashley
HAWKYN by Larissa Ione
RIDE DIRTY by Laura Kaye
ROME’S CHANCE by Joanna Wylde
THE MARRIAGE ARRANGEMENT by Jennifer Probst
SURRENDER by Elisabeth Naughton
INKED NIGHTS by Carrie Ann Ryan
ENVY by Rachel Van Dyken
PROTECTED by Lexi Blake
THE PRINCE by Jennifer L. Armentrout
PLEASE ME by J. Kenner
WOUND TIGHT by Lorelei James
STRONG by Kylie Scott
DRAGON NIGHT by Donna Grant
TEMPTING BROOKE by Kristen Proby
HAUNTED BE THE HOLIDAYS by Heather Graham
CONTROL by K. Bromberg
HUNKY HEARTBREAKER by Kendall Ryan
THE DARKEST CAPTIVE by Gena Showalter
Also from 1001 Dark Nights:
TAME ME by J. Kenner
THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice
SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair
TEMPT ME by J. Kenner
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Table of Contents
Book Description
About Kristen Proby
Also from Kristen Proby
Acknowledgments from the Author
Discover 1001 Dark Nights
Foreword
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Six
Discover More Kristen Proby
An excerpt from Dream With Me by Kristen Proby
Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights
Special Thanks
One Thousand and One Dark Nights
Once upon a time, in the future…
I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.
I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and
the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast
library at my father’s home and collected thousands
of volumes of fantastic tales.
I learned all about ancient races and bygone
times. About myths and legends and dreams of all
people through the millennium. And the more I read
the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered
that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually
become part of them.
I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher
and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I
would not be telling you this tale now.
But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off
with bravery.
One afternoon, curious about the myth of the
Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to
see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar
(Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then
sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written
and I had read that by the time he met Scheherazade,
the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand
women.
Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived
in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged
places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had
never occurred before and that still to this day, I
cannot explain.
Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have
taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can
protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to
protect herself and stay alive.
Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.
And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a
point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.
And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that
he might hear the rest of my dark tale.
As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new
one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before
you now.
Prologue
~Reed~
“Mr. Taylor?”
“Yes, Becca.” I sit back in my desk chair, pull my glasses from my face, and rub my tired eyes. A glance at the time tells me I’ve been staring at the computer for a few hours. The interruption is welcome.
“You have a visitor, sir.”
I frown at my assistant, who’s hovering in the doorway of my office. Becca’s been with me for a couple of years. She’s young and driven. And unlike most of the other assistants I’ve had, she’s focused. She’s never come on to me, and I swear she knows what I need before I do.
Becca’s a gem.
And she’s currently watching me with hesitation written all over her face.
“I never have visitors, unless they’re scheduled appointments.”
“I know. If you’re busy, I can ask them to come back. But I don’t think you’ll want me to do that.”
Now, I’m intrigued.
“No, it’s fine. Send them in.”
She nods and turns away, and I stand to stretch my legs as I wait for this unexpected guest to walk through the door.
I tug my suit jacket on just as a woman walks into my office, holding hands with…
A little girl.
They must have the wrong office.
“Reed Taylor?” the woman asks as she directs the child to sit in one of the two seats in front of my desk and hands her a stuffed bunny to cuddle.
“Yes, ma’am. And you are?”
“Melinda Hale. Mr. Taylor, I’m with the Department of Child Protective Services.” She glances at the girl, whose head is bowed. “And this is Piper.”
I shift my gaze between Ms. Hale and Piper, my eyes narrowed.
“Hello, Piper.”
“Hello,” the little girl whispers as she tugs the bunny to her chest. She’s dressed in jeans and a hoodie from Old Navy, and her dark hair is pulled back into a long braid.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why we’re here.”
“I’m hopeful you’re about to tell me.”
Ms. Hale smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She pulls a file out of her briefcase and sets it on my desk, opens it, then passes me a letter.
“You sh
ould read this first.”
The mystery of all of this is starting to grate on my nerves. I consider myself a patient man, but I’m also an efficient one.
Just get down to business, for Christ’s sake.
I open the letter and frown as I read the words before me.
Reed,
I know this is a shock. Everything has happened so fast, and I know I should have reached out to you, but well, it seems I’m not strong enough to.
Piper is a sweet little girl. You’ll love her, I promise.
Please take good care of her.
Warmly,
Vanessa
I fold the letter and look up to Ms. Hale. “Vanessa Downey?”
“That’s right. Do you confirm that you had a relationship with Ms. Downey that ended roughly five years ago?”
I blow out a breath. Did I have a relationship with her? Vanessa would have liked that. I never committed to anything so permanent with her.
I did, however, date and have sex with her.
“I did.”
“Mr. Taylor, Ms. Downey passed away a few days ago. She’d been sick.” She glances down at Piper as the little girl scowls and squeezes her bunny tighter. “Well, all of the information is in this folder.”
She closes the file and passes it to me.
My stomach is filled with lead. I know the next words about to come out of her mouth before she says them.
“Piper is your daughter, Mr. Taylor. Of course, we’ll schedule a DNA test—”
“That’s not necessary,” I say, interrupting her. My eyes are on Piper as she hugs her bunny. “She looks just like me.”
Piper looks up at me, her big, round, brown eyes a bit scared and sad.
“Actually, it’s the law,” the woman replies. “We have to make sure we’ve placed the child with a direct relative, of course. We’ll be in touch, and will check in periodically until the results of the test come in.”
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