For all of her tough exterior, there was a softness in this woman that longed to come out; Sterling wanted to be the man to release it.
What kind of man had her husband been? Sterling wondered for the umpteenth time. It was clear that her ex-husband still had some kind of hold on Ann Marie. Was her reaction to the man simply one of old memories and bad vibes, or did she still care about him?
Sterling walked into the living room and saw Ann Marie standing in front of the windows. She looked so tiny and vulnerable. He decided there and then that he would make it his business to wipe her ex-husband out of her mind and, if need be, out of her heart for good.
âDinner is served, madam,â he said in a very bad British accent.
Ann Marie turned a gentle smile on her face. Sterlingâs insides shook just a little. Yes, he was going to make her forget.
began her novel-writing career in 1990. Since that time sheâs had more than forty titles in print, including full-length novels and novellas. Two of her novels and one novella were adapted for television. She has won numerous awards for her work. She is also the editor of five novels, two of which were nominated for awards. She easily moves from romance to erotica, horror, comedy and womenâs fiction. She was the first recipient of the Trailblazer Award and currently teaches writing at the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center. Donna lives in Brooklyn with her family. Visit her Web site at www.donnahill.com.
Dear Reader,
Thanks for joining the ladies once again as they prove that the âforties are fabulous!â
Having the opportunity to write the PAUSE FOR MEN series allows me to explore all the aspects of my charactersâBarbara, Ann Marie, Stephanie and Elizabethâand to find new and exciting romantic adventures for them to embark upon. The real treat is to be able to showcase mature women and kick to the curb the notion that young women have all the fun.
Although my ladies do have âdramaâ to deal with, they find a way to make it all work out.
Stay tuned for If I Were Your Woman (Kimani Romance, February 2007), which will feature Stephanie and Tony, the decisions they must make and the obstacles that they must overcome. The other ladies will definitely be there to support Stephanie as all four women share an ever-changing future filled with adventure!
Until next time,
Donna
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Ann Marieâs feet were killing her. Sheâd been hoofing it around on those three-inch stilettos for what felt like an eternity. What she wouldnât give to add a couple of natural inches to her barely-beyond-five-foot height. But the agony was worth every wincing moment. The grand opening of Pause for Men was a phenomenal success.
She smiled to herself as she looked around while the last of the support staff finished cleaning up. Sheâd decided to stay behind until the cleanup was completed while her friends and business partners called it a night. Barbara, newly engaged and sporting a blinding diamond ring had gone on home with her young buck Michael. Steph left with her shoes in one hand and her other held by her new beau Tony. Sheâd caught a glimpse of Ellie tiptoeing away with her man Ron to her new apartment on the top floor of the brownstone.
She plopped down at the makeshift bar, nursing the watery remnants of her cosmopolitan. Theyâd done good. And it seemed as though all the unlikely folks had someone to go home to except for her. She couldnât ever remember going home alone. Funny, how life does a three-sixty and catches you unawares. Less than six months ago, she had her own man Phil. Then her grown, married daughter Raquel pops back into her life, moves in and everything that sheâd taken for granted came undone.
To add complications to her life, Terrance Bishop had reappeared, found her and Raquel after more than two decades. Terrance. God she could still see his face as if it were only yesterday. She had yet to tell Raquel that Terrance was coming to New York and wanted to see them both.
She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth, deep in the clutches of her dilemma. Although sheâd reluctantly agreed to see him, she didnât know if thatâs what she really wanted. The kind of physical and emotional power Terrance had over herâ¦She shivered just a little. Well, she didnât know if she could handle it, or if she wanted to.
Terrance Bishop: sexy, handsome, wealthy Island playboy; her husband, her daughterâs father, her past. Her future?
Sheâd been barely sixteen when she was sent by her mother to live in the Bishop household. Terrance was the oldest of four and the only boy; doted on by his parents and worshipped by his sisters. He was ten years older than Ann Marieâa big man in stature and in the parish of St. Ann in Jamaica, West Indies where he followed in the footsteps of his father Cyril in the police department.