The Embrace Series: Romantic Suspense Box Set

by Dana Mason

“Don’t. We both thought he was gone. I’m fine and the baby is fine. That’s what’s important.”

  “When I saw you unconscious, I thought you were dead.” Mark was overcome again, burying his face in her hair against her neck.

  Sarah turned her body to face him.

  “Stop, it’s over. Kevin is gone and he can’t hurt us again. I love you, Mark.” Sarah’s eyes swam with tears as she cupped his wet cheeks and smiled at him. “You gave me my life back.”

  “It’s going to take me forever to make this up to you,” he whispered.

  “I guess it’s a good thing we have forever.” Sarah kissed him before curling into his chest, hugging the warmth.

  They lay in the quiet for a long time and held each other. Mark could hear the flutter of their baby’s heartbeat coming from the monitor, and the sound combined with Sarah’s steady breathing comforted him.

  He thought she had fallen asleep, but she said, “What are you thinking about?”

  “How important you are to me, and how much I love you and our baby. How about you?”

  “Johnny Rhay. He seemed sad. I hope he’s this happy one day.”

  “What did Johnny mean by ‘The Park’?”

  She laughed and then groaned in pain. “The trailer park.”

  “Oh.” The conversation made much more sense to him now.

  “Why did he say you were both orphans?”

  “Well, my mama was never around for me and Devon. We were alone most of the time. Johnny lost his family in a house fire when he was a kid. After they were killed, he lived with his aunt, uncle, and cousin.”

  “Wow, that’s awful.”

  “It’s amazing he’s managed to do something with his life. He’s always been a good guy though, even when he was a delinquent.”

  “He really seems to get you.”

  “It’s a different world where he comes from. He helped me get through a lot of stuff.”

  “Sorry to keep you talking, go to sleep.” He kissed her hair.

  “I’ll go to sleep if you promise to be here when I wake up.”

  “Is that why you’re not sleeping?” he asked, trying to look at her face.

  She nodded into his chest.

  He pushed the hair off her cheek and looked into her eyes. “I promise to always be here when you wake up.”

  When Mark brought Sarah home from the hospital several days later, the house was full of people. She groaned when she entered and saw everyone. She tried to be gracious, and she was thrilled to see Ali’s new baby, but she wanted to be alone with Mark.

  Catching her subtle hints, people slowly trickled out. Johnny Rhay and Ali lagged behind. Sarah suspected Ali wasn’t in a hurry to go home alone, but she wasn’t sure why Johnny Rhay was still in town.

  “I’m surprised you’re still here. Haven’t you had enough of California to last you a lifetime?”

  “I kinda like it here...and I need to talk to you and Mark before I leave.” He handed the baby back to Ali. “Kevin Lewis killed Charlie. We compared the DNA and it’s a match. The case has been closed.”

  Sarah held her breath for several seconds, and then let it gush out in a long exhale. “I...I knew when I looked into his eyes at the party.” She bowed her head. “Poor Charlie.”

  “Now, Sarah, Charlie wouldn’t want you to feel like that. Y’all were his only kin. He would have done anything to protect you. Don’t ruin his legacy by feeling sorry for him.”

  She nodded and looked back up. “You’re right. I loved him too. He was a good man.”

  “Johnny, thanks for staying to see this through,” Mark said.

  “It’s been my pleasure. Y’all have a great group of friends and family out here. It’s a nice little town...not at all like the Metro, maybe I’ll visit again. Devon promised to teach me how to surf, although I don’t think I want to be eaten by sharks.” He reached in to hug Sarah. “Can you keep in touch this time?”

  “I will e-mail, how about that?”

  “Sounds real nice,” he drawled.

  “Mark, it’s been good to meet you. Take care of this girl.”

  “I will. Come back to visit anytime.”

  “I just might do that.” He turned to Ali. “Miss Ali, may I buy you a cup of coffee before you go home?”

  Ali looked surprised but nodded in agreement.

  Mark walked them out and then snuck up behind Sarah to nuzzle her neck. “I have something for you.” He held her engagement ring out to her. “They gave it to me to take care of when you were in the hospital. I’ve been so distracted I forgot to give it back to you.”

  Sarah let him slide the ring on her left hand and whispered, “I love it.”

  He swayed with her for a moment, enjoying the quiet of the house and said, “It’s just you and me.”

  “Just me and you,” she said, hugging the arms he held around her. “Just me and you, Jamie...and pretty soon...baby.”

  Praise for Precious Embrace

  “Once again, Dana Mason brings the heat. Precious Embrace positively sizzles. If it is even possible, Mason has brought us an even more delicious male protagonist than the one we fell for in her last novel. A smoking hot guy with washboard abs, a southern drawl and a gun who changes diapers? It doesn’t get better than that. This book was a wild emotional roller coaster ride. The perfect blend of hot romance and pulse-quickening suspense.”

  ~Lisa Regan, author of Finding Claire Fletcher and Aberration

  “Ms. Mason so artfully puts you in the lives of Ali and Johnny you can almost feel sweet Micah in your arms and then the emptiness when he is gone. By the time the last page is turned you will have the answers you seek, a deeper understanding of the pain of losing a child and the euphoric feeling of new love.”

  ~Katie Mettner, author of Sugar’s Dance and Sugar’s Song

  “Precious Embrace is a romantic, edgy rollercoaster from beginning to end. I didn’t want to put the story down. Ali is naive but likable. Johnny . . . oh Johnny . . . who doesn’t love a country boy? (I married one!) Precious Embrace is a wonderful Romantic Suspense with plenty of swizzle that’s a must read!”

  ~Tobi Helton, Forget the Housework, I’m Reading . . .

  Dedication

  No love on earth equals the love of a mother.

  Thank you, Elizabeth, Kaitlin, and Trevor for allowing me to know that love.

  Acknowledgements

  Jim, I’m so glad I have you. Who else would listen to me rattle on for hours about story ideas and nonsense? I love you! Thank you for the endless supply of chocolate and for always supporting me even though it means you have to do the laundry.

  Michelle, thank you for your constant encouragement. Your enthusiasm keeps me moving forward.

  Valerie Neumark, thank you again for always being there when I need you. I can’t wait until you’re my sister.

  Linda McMann, Katie Mettner, Susan Frey, and Vallory Vance, thank you for reading, and rereading and then reading some more. I truly appreciate the time you’ve spent helping me shape this into an enjoyable story. Your feedback and honesty are priceless.

  To a writer, a strong support group and strong online friendships can make or break you in this industry. For that I’m truly thankful to be blessed with such wonderful and strong friendships with other writers. Thank you to all of my writing friends, including my Sapphire Star Publishing family and my #Luv family who have sent countless tweets and shared countless posts on Facebook. I’ll never forget the support you’ve given me.

  Chapter One

  Ali Hayes knew the phrase tall drink of water was cliché, and she never really understood it. But when she opened her front door and came face-to-face with Johnny Rhay Bennett, clad in tight jeans and an even tighter black t-shirt, there was no other way to describe him.

  It had been two months since they’d spent the night together and she honestly never thought she’d see him again. It took her several seconds to find her voice and when she did, she had little control over what came out. “W
ow. You were the last person I expected to find at my door. What are you doing here?”

  “Well, it’s good to see you too.” He leaned in close. “I probably should have called first, but I didn’t get your phone number the last time . . .” His lips quirked into a little grin and Ali had to wet her lips because her mouth had gone dry.

  She took a step back, hoping to regain her senses. Flashes of their previous brief encounter flashed in her head and she fought to keep from covering her face in embarrassment. The baby in her arms squirmed and started whining, unceremoniously bringing her back to the present. She shifted and rocked the baby. “Um . . . sorry, I’m just surprised to see you here. Are you in town to visit Sarah and Mark? They’re in Arizona on vacation. I hope you didn’t make the trip for nothing.”

  “I guess they didn’t tell you the latest.” He looked from her to the open door.

  “Sorry, come in.” She held the door open further and took a step back. Once she let him inside, she realized she shouldn’t have. Her house looked like a stampede of kindergartners had barged through. “Sorry about the mess. I haven’t had a moment of peace in three days.”

  Johnny looked around and said, “You alone? Did Jamie go with Mark and Sarah?”

  “Yeah, he went with his dad.” Micah kicked out and started crying. Ali wanted to cry too. She bounced him, which only made him more irritable. “So what’s the latest?” she asked Johnny.

  “Oh, ah . . . well, I’ve moved out here permanently.”

  She drew back. “I’m sorry, what?”

  His smile faltered a little and he said, “You’re looking at Santa Rosa’s newest detective.”

  “Why would you move . . . why California? I thought you loved Nashville.”

  “No . . . well, it’s alright I guess, but I was never in love with the place.” He looked down at Micah when Micah kicked out again. “What’s the matter, little guy?” Johnny reached out and rubbed Micah’s little bald head. His eyebrows drew together. “Ali, he’s hot.”

  “I know. I gave him some baby Tylenol . . . he’s so cranky.”

  Johnny held out his hands. “Let me have him . . . don’t you have any help?” He looked down into her eyes, irritation clear on his face.

  Ali hesitated, but Johnny motioned again.

  She gave in and handed the baby over. Johnny cradled Micah to his chest and murmured to him in a quiet, steady voice.

  “I don’t need any help. I’m perfectly capable of handling Micah on my own.”

  Johnny cooed, “Hey, little man, what’s going on here, huh?” He smiled at Ali. “You’re lucky, babies love me.”

  Micah stared at Johnny and the whining stopped. She crossed her arms over her chest. “I didn’t realize you were such an expert with babies.”

  “My cousin Jerry has a house full. I’ve spent a lot of time with them.” Johnny glanced back at her, his eyes traveling from her feet to her face. “Why don’t you go take a nap? I’ll look after him for a little while.”

  “Ah, no, I’m sure you didn’t come here to babysit.” She tilted her head. “So you really left Nashville?”

  “Yeah, I needed a change and figured California was as good a place as any.” He looked down at Micah and a soft smile lit his face. “I can’t believe how different he looks. The last time I saw him he looked like a little blob of flesh.” Ali chuckled and said, “He was only a couple weeks old then. He’s four months now.”

  “He’s a cute little thing, isn’t he?” Their eyes met and the soft expression on his face nearly stopped her heart. She wished like hell he didn’t have that effect on her, but damn he was hard to resist. “I missed seeing him at Mark and Sarah’s wedding, but I guess I can honestly say, I’m glad you didn’t bring him . . . we might not have had as much fun.”

  She thought of Hawaii and his smile. Mark and Sarah’s cliff top wedding had been on Valentine’s Day, two months before, but she hadn’t forgotten one second of the night she’d spent with Johnny. What had she been thinking? It was the beaches, the sun—the incredibly romantic wedding. She rubbed a hand over her face. Watching her ex-husband marry the girl of his dreams that night had been difficult for her. Not because she was jealous, but because her own love life had become such a disaster. She had a brand new baby and was in the middle of her second divorce. God . . . where had things gone wrong?

  When Johnny approached her at their reception, he’d caught her in a moment of self-pity and pathetic-ness. Seeing him at the wedding, coming face to face with such a beautiful person in such a beautiful place felt like a hit of adrenaline to her heart. And the way he was with her . . . so attentive, considerate and . . . sweet. After spending the night with him, she’d convinced herself she’d fallen for him because of her crappy self-esteem and neediness. But seeing him now, two months later, she realized it wasn’t about her, but about him. He was exactly the same each time she’d seen him. This is what made him so irresistible. There were no pretenses. He was exactly what he portrayed, and he always seemed to speak with sincerity, so unlike many men who were full of awful pick-up lines and charm. Johnny was just a straight talking good guy . . . and he wanted her. She could see that in his eyes now.

  “I wasn’t expecting . . . ,” Her eyes drifted to the floor. Her night with Johnny had been her first one-night-stand and she didn’t know what the rules were for encounters like theirs. She still thought about him—about their night together every day. “I wasn’t expecting to ever see you again.”

  “I imagine you weren’t.” He sounded amused.

  “What are you trying to say?” She dropped her hands on her hips. “It’s not like I’d planned that. I’ve never—“

  “Relax, Ali, I know you’re not some little harlot.” He held a hand out before lifting one finger to his lips in a hushing motion and whispered, “But I was under the impression you enjoyed yourself. I know I did.”

  Oh, yes, she had certainly enjoyed herself. She looked down at her now sleeping baby.

  “I can hardly help myself. You’re not that easy to forget.” His soft sweet drawl dripped like honey from his lips, and she fought the eye roll, but at the same time, she was glad Micah slept between them so she couldn’t rip his clothes off. “That doesn’t make me a bad guy you know. Besides, me and Micah are old buddies. I can’t exactly hang out with him without charming his lovely mother.”

  Ali turned from him and walked into the living room, needing a little space. She pulled the cord on her drapes to let in some light—and to keep her hands busy. “That’s funny, especially since you’ve only seen Micah a couple of times, and that was in December when he was a newborn.”

  Johnny glanced at her with a playful grin. “Now, that doesn’t mean we didn’t bond over that bottle I fed him. Please”—he held a hand to his chest, feigning heartache—“please don’t belittle our friendship.”

  She grinned at the memory of how gentle and cool he had been with Micah then. Babies usually made people nervous, but even now, Johnny looked like a pro holding her baby. It was heartwarming to see someone else show affection for her son. She brushed a hand at him and said, “Oh very cute . . . I apologize.” She gestured to the baby in his arms. “Clearly you’re already thick as thieves. I’m sure Micah is thrilled you came all this way to see him again.”

  He rolled his head to the side, biting the inside of his mouth, looking her up and down with a sideways grin. “In all seriousness . . . I went to the wedding hoping to see you again.”

  The expression was so cowboyish and so freaking cute. It was definitely time for a subject change. Holy hell, and he’d moved to California. What was she going to do now? “And now you live here . . . how did that happen?”

  “I needed a change.” He shrugged and looked down at Micah again. “Brian Hammel suggested it, said the department had an opening.”

  Ali lowered her eyes, fighting the curse words she wanted to fling at Brian. “I didn’t realize you were friends with Brian.”

  “I worked with him on the Lewis c
ase. That’s why I flew out here in December.”

  She nodded. “Right, sorry, I knew that.”

  “Brian recommended me to his sergeant. After a couple of phone interviews, he made me an offer. When I told Sarah, she offered her little house up for rent.”

  “That’s a big step . . . you sure that’s what you want?”

  “Well . . .” His voice grew pensive. “It’s already done.”

  Of course he moved out here. Because that’s just the complication she needed in her life right now. “Johnny, I’m not exactly in the position to start . . . something.” She moved her hands around, fighting the nerves now plaguing her.

  He watched her with a stare that, brick by brick, knocked down her wall, even as she fought to keep it in place. “Why? You’re not dead, just divorcing.”

  “You mean divorcing again?” She laughed but it lacked humor. Her shoulders slumped. “Starting another relationship before my last one has ended isn’t a mistake I’m willing to make twice.”

  “Oh come on, you can have dinner with me, sunshine, and you look like you need a break.” He frowned down at her. As if she wasn’t pathetic enough, he had to remind her. “Is there a law that says we can’t be friends?”

  Ali had made a point to become an ice-sculpture after she threw her husband out. She wanted to concentrate on her sons, and her career, and stay away from men. In a couple of months she’d start her new job in the District Attorney’s office and she didn’t need another distraction. Mark and Sarah’s wedding had been beautiful, the open bar . . . meeting Johnny again . . . his warmth had melted her icy façade.

  Being friends with him while memories of their night together swam in her head was impossible. If she weren’t totally and completely attracted to him, things could be different, but she needed to stick with her cold-hearted divorcé plan to get through the next few months and get on with her life.