âFrom this moment on, this night is about what you want. So whatâs it going to be, Gina?â
Justin leaned in, knowing he shouldnât touch her, but still he ran the tip of his finger along her jaw.
âI want to dance.â
He straightened. âYou want to what?â
âI want to dance,â she repeated softly, âwith you.â
He grabbed her hand, and pulled her to her feet as a rock and roll classic pounded through the speakers.
âJustin, are you sure you want do this? Dance with me?â
âMore than anything.â
That was a lie. What he wanted to do more than anything was kiss her, but her smile, wide and full of life, captured him. It was the first time heâd seen that smile in almost two weeks. In fact, the last time was when sheâd held his sonâs simple crayon drawing in her hands.
His son.
Dear Reader,
As a writer there is something magical about creating characters, about breathing life into their souls, hearts and minds. Sometimes the people in our books come to us fully formed and overflowing with personality and charm and troubles that only the writer of their stories can fix.
Then there are those in the background, characters who help tell a story, but not their own. Theyâre the sibling, cousin, co-worker, or friend who must have their own dreams, desires and plans for the future, right?
Well, Justin Dillon and Gina Steele were those kinds of people.
His sister fell in love with her brother, but if there were ever two people who never needed to come in contact with each other it was Justin and Gina. But then a chance meeting the day they became co-workers in The Sheriffâs Secret Wife started a spark that led to a night neither one of them will forgetâ¦or talk about. Now thatâs the beginning of a terrific love story!
Then I met Jacoby and I just knew these three very special people needed my help to find their own happily ever after. I hope you enjoy their story!
Happy reading!
Christyne
CHRISTYNE BUTLER fell in love with romance novels while serving in the United States Navy and started writing her own stories six years ago. She considers selling to Mills & Boon>® a dream come true and enjoys writing contemporary romances full of life, love, a hint of laughter and perhaps a dash of danger, too. And there has to be a happily-ever-after or sheâs just not satisfied.
She lives with her family in central Massachusetts and loves to hear from her readers at [email protected]. Or visit her web site at www.christynebutler.com.
Books by Christyne Butler
The Cowboyâs Second Chance
The Sheriffâs Secret Wife
*A Daddy for Jacoby
*Welcome to Destiny
For Bretton, Christopher, Meaghan, Benjamin,
Kaitlyn and Alyssa
You came into my life unexpectedly and changed
my world forever
I couldnât love you more if you were my very own
To my agent Jennifer Schober for believing in me
and all her hard work
And to Jacoby Ellsbury, leftfielder for my beloved
Boston Red Sox for inspiring the name for my Jacoby
He was scared.
He hated being scared.
Jacoby pulled his ragged teddy bear tighter to his chest and wiped his wet eyes on the soft overalls Clem wore.
That was his bearâs name, Clem.
The car swerved and tires squealed. Jacoby shut his eyes tight and buried his face in Clemâs fur. He was glad the seat belt worked.
His mama swore and banged her fist against the steering wheel. She cursed the rain, the dark night, their piece of junk car and her miserable life.
Mama did that a lot.
Cursed.
Jacoby didnât like it, especially after a teacher pulled him aside at the start of the school year and told him that nice people didnât talk that way. And he wanted to be nice.
He wished his mama was nicer more.
He wished they were back at Miss Mazieâs house, even if he did have to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag that scratched his legs. But his mama had packed up their stuff, shoved his clothes into the worn pillowcase he used to carry his books and made him crawl out the window.
Heâd turned back and watched her take all the money from a jar Miss Mazie thought they didnât know about. Sheâd then grabbed two unopened bottles of wine, leaving the almost-empty one where it lay on Miss Mazieâs lap.
It was wrong to steal, but Jacoby didnât say anything. The last time heâd told his mama sheâd done something wrong, his arm had hurt for three days where sheâd grabbed him.
So heâd crept into the backseat next to his pillowcase book bag and kept quiet.
They did this a lot. Moved around.
Theyâd been with Miss Mazie since New Yearâs Eve and it would be Easter soon. Heâd miss the egg hunt at his school tomorrow and wondered if his teacher would miss him.
He didnât know where they were going, but he hoped they got there soon. Or maybe the rain would stop when the sun came up and he wouldnât be so scared.
Lightning lit up the sky and Jacoby waited for the thunder, but it didnât come. His mama turned back and looked at him, tears on her cheeks.
Now, he was really scared.