Her hand slides into mine, threading our fingers and pulling me out of my thoughts. I glance over at her bright ocean eyes, her auburn hair falling in waves around her fair cheeks. I’ll do it for her.

  Everyone stands around us, and the organ launches into “The First Noel,” but I hold Joselyn beside me a moment, leaning closer.

  Kissing her cheek, I slide my lips to speak in her ear. “If you’d like to try for a baby, I think that would be okay.”

  What the hell? I sound like an idiot. I should’ve planned something better to say. What is it about this silly little town that makes me soft in the middle?

  But Joselyn’s face melts into a smile, and she blinks several times. She leans forward, throwing her arms around my neck and hugging her mouthwatering body closer to mine.

  “I can’t believe it.” She pulls back, and her eyes are misty with tears. “It’s like a Christmas miracle. I was so afraid to tell you. I didn’t know how you’d respond…”

  “What?” The word slips from my lips as my stomach tightens, but a commotion breaks out on the other end of the pew.

  “Mommy went potty!” There’s Melody.

  “Daisy!” Alice cries out as a splashing noise fills the sanctuary. “Oh, quick—somebody get the car!”

  Regina grabs Melody from Scout, and Alice carefully helps Daisy out of the pew and into the aisle. Ushers rush to hold her arms and another man dashes in with a towel.

  Pandemonium surrounds us, but I’m sitting in a momentary daze. Was Joselyn about to say we’re going to have a baby?

  CHAPTER 4

  ALL IS BRIGHT

  JOSELYN

  “Well, that’s one way to break up church,” Daisy jokes from where she’s resting in the hospital bed.

  “You made this Christmas unforgettable.” Scout has his shirt unbuttoned, and he’s holding their tiny infant against his bare chest.

  If we weren’t practically siblings, I’d be swooning. Their little boy is pink and perfect, and he’s snuggled up like a little peanut against his daddy. I slide my hand up and down the soft skin on his little back.

  “He’s so adorable,” I coo. “And no red eyes.”

  I wink at my cousin who drops her head back. “Thank you, Baby Jesus.”

  “What the—?” Scout gives us a look, and I wave it away.

  “He’s going to hate having a Christmas birthday,” I redirect. “We’ll have to be sure never to combine Christmas presents and birthday presents.”

  “The ultimate insult.” Scout grins, and my nose wrinkles as I return his smile.

  He’s so proud. Our voices are quiet, and the lights in the room are dim. “You’re going to have so much fun with him. What does Melody think?”

  “She’s already assigned him a position on the team. She said since he’s so little, he’ll have to be the kicker.”

  “Where does she learn this stuff?” Daisy shakes her head. “Would you like to hold him, Spence?”

  Spencer has been hanging back in the corner since we arrived, and he glances over at my cousin. “I would never disturb a sleeping infant. He’s happy where he is.”

  “Hey, man, I’m sorry. I’ll be holding him for a long time. Have a turn.” Scout heads straight for my husband, and to my surprise, Spencer doesn’t recoil or pull away.

  He takes the baby with ease, sliding one hand under his back and bottom while supporting Atticus’s tiny head with the other.

  Warmth floods my stomach, and I go over to stand beside him, putting my hand in the crook of his arm. “Isn’t he divine?”

  He holds the newborn for a moment, studying his face like a piece of expensive china. Then his eyebrow arches, and he nods briefly. “I think this one looks like you, Daisy.”

  “As always, your expert opinion is exactly right,” my cousin quips. “By the way, who taught you to hold a baby so well?”

  “Is it supposed to be difficult?” He looks from my cousin to me. “Supporting his head is the main thing.”

  “It’s a good look on you, man.” Scout sits beside Daisy, putting his arm around her as she sinks into his side.

  I rise onto my tiptoes to kiss Spencer’s cheek. “You never stop surprising me.”

  His eyes trace the small infant a moment longer before returning to me. “You make me surprise myself.”

  We’re finally alone at the end of a busy, unexpected day, and I feel like I’ve run a marathon after dropping a bomb—or at least lighting a fuse.

  My stomach is tight, and I’m a little jittery when Spencer emerges from the bathroom freshly showered with black silk pajama pants riding low on his hips. He scrubs his hair with a towel, and I cross my arms, turning my back to the dresser to admire my gorgeous husband.

  His bicep flexes attractively, and the lamplight deepens the shadows created by the lines of muscle running across his torso. That V along his hips disappears into his pants, and a bulge rises in the center, making me wonder if my news can’t wait a little longer.

  “You are wearing those pants, sir.” My tone is naughty, and he hesitates.

  His brow lowers, and chills skate up my arms as he slowly closes the space between us, tossing the towel aside. When he reaches me, he places both hands on the dresser, caging me.

  It’s deliciously thrilling. I slide my palms along his narrow waist, thinking of the things this man can do to me. His skin is still warm from the shower, and my caress moves higher, around to his chest where I trace my fingernails through the light dusting of hair there.

  My nipples tighten at the memory of how good his hard, naked body feels when it moves against mine, but his eyes make me pause.

  “Joselyn.” His voice is low, and he reaches up to slide his palm along my cheek, threading his fingers in my hair. His eyes are so intense. “What exactly were you trying to say this morning in church?”

  I exhale a little laugh. “You sure you want to talk about it now?”

  His brows clench, and his eyes move from my face down my body. Straightening, he places his palm flat against my stomach, over the silk of my pajama top.

  Lifting his chin, our eyes meet again, and his are stormy. “Tell me, Sin.”

  Hesitating, I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. I inhale a shaky breath and focus on what he said in church.

  “I hadn’t been feeling well, and I wasn’t sure why.” My voice is small. “Then I found a pregnancy test in the bathroom at Mom’s, so I took it this morning before church, and well…”

  Silence fills the room. My throat is dry as he blinks down to my torso again, where his hand rests against my body. Tension pulls at my shoulders as the seconds tick past, as I try to read his expression, as he doesn’t speak.

  Heat rises in my eyes, and I fight it. I will not cry in front of him. I will not make him feel pressured, even if I don’t know what that means. We’re married. We’ve been having sex. It takes two to tango, and pregnancy could always happen...

  Still, I know how he feels about having children with his past, and I’m ready to say it was an accident, I never missed a pill, I respect his feelings, I would never have tried to trap him.

  My heart is aching he might think that, when his fingers curl against my skin, and he breaks.

  “Joselyn.” It’s a husky whisper as strong arms surround me so fast.

  He sweeps me up in a firm embrace, lowering his face into my hair and inhaling deeply. I can’t free my arms to return his hug, and I feel his body vibrating with tension. After a moment, he lifts his chin, and our eyes meet.

  “Do you want this... with me?” He adds the last part in a hushed tone that twists my heart. “Knowing what you know?”

  “Spencer!” I squirm in his arms, and his embrace relaxes so I can pull my arms free and wrap them around his broad shoulders. “You loon. I want all your babies. I love you. You’re going to be the most amazing father. Did you even see how you didn’t flinch at the hospital just now with baby Atticus? Have you seen how adorable you are with Oliver? Not to mention your extreme patience with Melody.”

  The muscle in his jaw moves, and his dark brow lowers over his gorgeous eyes. He’s so damn hot when he wrestles with himself.

  Finally, he blinks up at me again, and this time, the smallest flicker of light is in his eyes. “You’re going to have my baby?”

  “I am!” I start to laugh. Gah, I love this man. “Would you just fuck me now before I throw you on the bed and ravage you myself?”

  His expression relaxes, and my cocky beast is back. “Ravage me? Is that what you said?”

  With a squeal, I’m off my feet in his arms, and he carries me to the king-sized bed. I’m sure he’s about to toss me onto it, but at the last minute he slows, gently placing me on the mattress and sliding in beside me.

  “I suppose I need to be gentle while you’re gestating.”

  “What!” I jump up, pushing him onto his back and ripping my gown over my head. “I swear, I don’t know how I fell so hard for a man who talks like a damned encyclopedia all the time. And you’d better not dare be gentle with me until I’m about to pop. And then maybe not even then. Maybe it’s time to experiment with anal.”

  A loud laugh erupts from his chest, and he shits up, capturing my lips with his. His arms are tight around my waist, and I feel his rock-hard cock pressing against my thigh.

  It’s all going to be amazing. My beast is going to be a daddy, and in nine months, we’ll have a little prince or princess. He’s made all my dreams come true, and all our troubles will continue to be the best kind, the only kind for me.

  Thanks so much for reading!

  I hope you fell even more in love with Spencer and Joselyn and the whole Oceanside-Fireside gang.

  Have you read TROUBLE (link)?

  Spencer’s a tall, dark, and handsome beast. Joselyn is a fiery redheaded beauty ready to melt through his walls. It’s a spicy, hate-to-love workplace romance with a touch of suspense…

  Read it FREE in Kindle Unlimited or listen on Audio (link), narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Kirsten Leigh.

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  Hutch Winston is a stubborn, broody former Marine hired to protect feisty, smart socialite Blake van Hamilton.

  Problem? She hates him.

  It’s thrilling romantic suspense mixed with sizzling HOT sexy times you will not be able to put down.

  Read it NOW for FREE in Kindle Unlimited (link)!

  *Also available on Audio (link).

  Keep clicking for a short sneak peek…

  TROUBLE

  BY TIA LOUISE

  Legend has it, the man you kiss at a wedding is the man you’ll marry. In my case, it’s nothing but trouble.

  Spencer Carrollton is a dark-haired, hazel-eyed beast.

  When I collided with him at my cousin’s wedding, I wasn’t looking for love.

  But his naughty eyes flashed, his full lips curled into a knowing smile, and I should have run.

  I didn’t.

  I kissed him instead.

  Then he gave me a job when I needed it the most.

  I never get involved with clients, but Spencer Carrollton is wickedly handsome in a bespoke suit.

  He’s devastatingly sexy out of it.

  He’s possessive, demanding, and the best sex I’ve ever had.

  He’s an arrogant billionaire, who thinks I’ll fall at his feet, but I’m not going down that road again.

  Until he pulls me out of danger and insists I move in with him to be safe.

  As the nights pass and we grow closer, I know I’m losing this fight.

  Spencer Carrollton always gets what he wants.

  The trouble is, he wants me.

  (TROUBLE is a spicy hate-to-love, billionaire boss romance with beauty and the beast vibes and a touch of suspense. No cheating. No cliffhanger.)

  PROLOGUE

  SPENCER

  “I have ice. Ice makes the pain go away.” My mom crouches beside me, her entire body shaking as she presses a cloth to my shoulder.

  Her face is so white. I want to say her name, but my throat constricts as searing pain burns through my upper body. My eyes squeeze shut, causing tears to stream down my face.

  All around us is chaos.

  The kitchen table is against the wall, and a chair is broken in two. Beside me on the floor, a splintered piece of wood lies in what looks like a growing puddle of red paint. Only, it’s not paint, and I’m afraid.

  “Look what you made me do!” My father yells at us, pacing back and forth. He jerks my mother off of me by her hair. “You made me do this.”

  Fear squeezes my lungs so hard, I can’t breathe, and lights flash in the room through the windows like a rainbow. People in white rush into our house, and a woman with orange-blonde hair and sky-blue eyes leans over me.

  She puts her hand on my forehead and smiles gently while another person in white lifts me off the floor. She speaks softly, but I can’t understand her.

  Is she an angel? Did I die?

  It’s my last thought before the darkness closes my eyes…

  “This is your room now.” The old man opens a door and gestures me into a space the size of a small house.

  My eyes are wide as I step carefully on the highly polished wood floor. It’s made of small pieces of wood arranged in a diamond pattern, and a thin rug with a large, oval-shaped design covers the floor.

  Driving up to this place, I gazed up at the soaring white columns topped with curling leaves and scrolls. Above them, so high I could barely see from the car, the roof had a railing, like you could walk around up there.

  I’ve never seen a house like this outside of a movie or a storybook.

  It’s a castle.

  It’s also dark and empty.

  “I hope you find it comfortable here.”

  I look up at him, unsure what to say.

  He’s tall with lots of gray hair that swooshes around his head like that scientist in the picture at my school. He’s wearing a scratchy brown jacket and dark pants, and he has a beard. His dark eyes are intense like a bird or a reptile, watching me.

  “Are you a king?” My voice is small.

  “I’m your new father. You may call me Drake.” His voice is low and measured, like he carefully chooses the exact word to say before he speaks.

  “Where’s my mom?” Sadness pinches my chest when I remember the last time I saw her.

  His eyes blink away, into the hall. “She can’t take care of you anymore. You’re going to live with me now.”

  I’m not sure what he means. “Did she die?”

  “Not as far as I know.” His tone is grave like he doesn’t want to dwell on this subject. “If you’re all settled, I’ll leave you to your thoughts.”

  I follow him quickly into the massive hallway covered in paintings bigger than me. It’s as wide as a dining room, and long rugs cover the floors that go on for miles.

  My footsteps echo off the polished wood as I scuffle after him. “Are we the only ones here?”

  He pauses and turns, looking down at me slowly as if I’m an insect he’s considering gobbling up. I shrink back, wishing I hadn’t asked.

  “Are you afraid of being alone, Spencer?”

  My eyes are wide, and I want my mom. The expression on his face tells me that would be the wrong answer.

  “No, sir.”

  “Good. Only a weak man is bothered by being alone. Are you weak?”

  I’m not sure if I’m weak or if I’m even a man yet, but I know how to survive.

  “No, sir.”

  His eyes flinch almost like he would smile if that were possible. “Never fall for the lie that you need other people. Only when you are completely independent are you truly strong.”

  He starts to go, but I hold out my hand. “But… Why do you need me?”

  The spark of approval evaporates like smoke. “I don’t.”

  His gaze travels up and around the hall, pausing at a window twice as tall as he is. “When I am gone, I will leave my estate to you, then you will be like me.” Cold eyes return to mine. “Now get some rest. I’ll begin your education tomorrow.”

  Dread filters through my stomach, but I don’t dare argue. My shoulder hurts, and I’m sleepy. I don’t know why I’m here, but I remember my mom saying it would be okay.

  Returning quietly to my room, I notice a sweaty glass of ice water on my bedside table. Going to it, I lift a cube from the top and put it in my mouth, sliding to sit on the scratchy wool rug covering my floor.

  My eyes close, and I focus on the cold as it slowly melts away.

  Then I do it again.

  Get TROUBLE today (link), and fall in love with this wounded billionaire and the fiery redhead who saves him (reminiscent of Beauty & the Beast)!

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  FEARLESS

  BY TIA LOUISE

  He’s intense, he’s fearless, and he’ll stop at nothing to save her.

  My job is to protect the innocent, but Blake van Hamilton has never been innocent.

  With killer curves, silky brown hair, and silvery-blue eyes, she’s been an inconvenient object of my lust since we were teens.