All she could see now was his face, his piercing eyes and tempting mouth.
He was close enough that the scent of his cologne mixed pleasantly with the water-and-sand aroma. His body was just broad enough, just muscled enough to make her feel sheltered, protected.
âIâve been thinking of something else that might elicit a pretty good feeling.â
Better than what she was feeling now that he had her enfolded in his arms? She could only imagine.
But even her imagination wasnât that good.
His head descended slowly, just enough to have her catching her breath. His lips touched hers in a whisper, like the barest summer breeze. Impatient and hungry for more, she came up on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around his neck, opening her mouth to his. Their lips touched again, soft, slow. It was hard to follow his lead, but his firm grip on her said thatâs the way he wanted it. She let him kiss her slowly again, just his lips. That small act stole her breath.
Dear Reader,
Once again I find myself in another place as I tell the story of Maxwell Donovan and Deena Lakefield. Visiting Hilton Head Island was like taking a long vacation, sitting on the shore watching the waves in a picturesque town. The scenery could not have been more romantic and what better place to start a love story as emotionally satisfying as this one.
As you may remember, Max has been around since the beginning of The DonovansâLove Me Like No Other (Linc & Jadeâs story). Heâs the supportive and loyal cousin who gives advice sparingly but is always there through thick and thin. Now itâs time Max faced the biggest secret of his life, and who better to do that with than the vivacious and spirited Deena Lakefield.
It is my hope that this story touches your heart the same way it did mine. When a different kind of hero finds his true love, I canât help but be elated. And at the end of the day as I sit on the beach watching the sun set I can lift a glass and toast to the newest love match in the Donovan family and wonder who will be next.
Happy reading!
AC
JuneâHilton Head, South Carolina
Sterile.
Never have children.
Weeping. So much weeping, it echoed in his mind like a broken record. He tried to focus on sleep, resting his mind and his body that had been through so much, but it was useless. Hospitals were meant for the sick, to give them time to rest and recover. But how was one supposed to do that when there were constant interruptions, like nurses coming to poke a needle in your arm or stick a thermometer in your mouth? And doctors who came bearing one bad diagnosis after another; and family members who rallied around like the support system they were meant to be, talking and soothing, praying and smiling through tears.
He hadnât rested, not since the first punch had been thrown and heâd ended up on the floor in a corner, bleeding, choking, dying. But he hadnât died, heâd lived and was now dealing with the repercussions that some would consider his fate.
A fate that had destroyed the part of his future that had meant the most to him.
With sweat pouring from his face, his heart thumping wildly in his chest, Maxwell Donovan shot straight up in his bed. Sheets twisted around his slim waist, tangling between his legs, enough to cover his nudity and restrain the wild kicking that often accompanied his nightmares.
He was wide awake now. The dream allowed for nothing else. His first inclination was to work so heâd retrieved his laptop from its case on the small desk in the corner of the room. Dragging his hands down his face he took deep breaths while waiting for the computer to boot up.
They were back. The dreams. No, the nightmares.
For months, almost a year, theyâd disappeared. Heâd been sleeping just fine, living even better.
Donovan Investments, Inc., the real estate investment business heâd gone into with his partner and cousin, Adam Donovan, seven years ago was thriving. In the past year theyâd made over ten purchases and resales, almost tripling their profit from the year before. Sure, the country was in a recession and new home mortgages were on the downslideâeven with President Obamaâs new home buyers tax creditâthe fact still remained that people generally paid for what they wanted and begged for what they needed. Meaning, people who wanted larger homes or better-looking business offices were still in the buying market. Now, five to ten years from now would they be able to afford the decisions theyâd made in the past year? Max didnât have the answer to that, nor did he spend too many nights trying to figure it out. He wasnât in the lending business.
Through their company he and Adam searched for viable properties, most often through estates and word of mouth. They refurbished the properties then sold them for a larger profit. What set them apart from the proverbial house flippers seen on television reality shows was that they didnât work in residential real estate. Office buildings, retail spaces and, now, resorts were where they concentrated their efforts.