Gabby unwrapped her blanket and touched her miniature, almost transparent toes in wonder. “Oh my God,” she said, tears in her voice. “She’s so perfect. So incredibly perfect.”
Ian placed a gentle kiss on the side of his wife’s damp forehead. Besides his daughter, she was still the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Then he stroked the baby’s forehead, marveling at the softness of her skin.
“Are we still good with the name?” Gabby asked.
“Lia? I think it fits her. I love it.”
“Me too.” She spoke to the baby in a cooing voice. “Hi, Lia, sweetheart. Mommy loves you.” She turned her head and kissed Ian on the lips. “And Mommy loves Daddy.”
Daddy. Wow. He’d contemplated the moment when he could truly consider himself a father, but nothing, nothing had prepared him for it. The absolute awe and wonder and love and mind-numbing terror.
He couldn’t promise he would never let this little girl down, but he could damn sure promise that nothing would ever, ever hurt her while he had breath in his lungs. Her, or the wonderful woman who’d given him the only thing he’d ever truly wanted in his life.
A family.
It was a rare thing, really, for all of the Rosses to be in the same place at the same time. Holidays and births…that was pretty much it. But Gabby was thankful for each and every time. Especially this one.
She was exhausted, sore, still a little woozy, and her epidural hadn’t worn off yet…and she’d never been happier in her life than she was right now. Snuggling her daughter close in her recovery room while Ian snapped picture after picture—yeah, he’d really taken to the photography thing, and he was a natural at it. He’d taken too many pregnancy portraits of her to ever count.
“Ian! That’s enough.” She laughed when it seemed the sound of the shutter would never stop.
He grinned at her and snapped one more of baby Lia’s sleeping little face. “I can’t help it.”
“But you aren’t in any of them,” Gianna said.
“She’s right,” Gabby told him.
“Here, dude, I got it.” Brian stepped forward and took the camera from Ian. “Get over there.”
They posed as a family, and Brian turned out to be quite the photographer himself. Naturally, he thought himself better than Ian, which resulted in a brief, good-natured cut-down contest that had everyone laughing.
“I’ll return the favor when the time comes,” Ian said, gesturing to Candace. She’d long since sat and put her feet up. Poor thing. Her ankles were so swollen. Gabby could sympathize.
“Let’s hope that’s sooner rather than later,” she said wearily.
“Really?” Kelsey asked. “Today didn’t scare you to death?”
“It doesn’t matter much,” Candace replied, shifting uncomfortably. “It’s happening whether I want it to or not. I’m just ready to get it over with.” Brian moved to her side and stroked her hair. She beamed up at him. “I’m sure it’ll be worth it.”
Lia cooed in her arms, and Gabby kissed her forehead. She couldn’t stop kissing her—she just wanted to gobble her up. So precious swaddled in her pink blanket, which matched her tiny pink lips. “Totally worth it,” she said softly.
A knock sounded at the door. Evan, who was standing closest, opened it and peeked around, exchanging brief words with a female voice outside. Gabby expected one of her friends, but as Evan pulled the door the rest of the way open, a petite, unfamiliar gray-haired woman walk timidly into the room, flowers and a pink gift box in her hands.
“Mom?” Ian said.
A gasp left Gabriella’s lips before she could stop it. He’d told her earlier that he’d let his mother know they were at the hospital. Against his expectations, she’d come.
“I hope it’s okay,” she said, looking uneasily around at the Rosses standing around the small room.
“Yeah, it’s great. I’m happy to see you.” Ian moved to her and wrapped his arms around her. He couldn’t see his mother’s face, naturally, but Gabby did. Right there was everything that Ian probably needed to see but most likely never would. Sorrow, regret, immense love. By the time they parted, she’d gotten control. Gabby would be sure and tell him about it later.
“Everyone, this is my mom.” Introductions were made. Gianna even embraced her and welcomed her to their family. By the time Mrs. Rhodes came over to meet Gabby and Lia, there were tears in her eyes.
“Oh…” she said, putting her free hand to her chest. “She’s beautiful.”
“Would you like to hold her?”
The older woman looked back to her son as if seeking his permission. He nodded and took the gift and flowers from her. Mrs. Rhodes sat on the edge of Gabby’s bed, and she carefully handed Lia over, cooing at her to meet her grandmother. Lia opened her eyes, gazing up at Ian’s mom and pouting her little lips, and the floodgates really opened.
And she immediately knew Ian wouldn’t have to worry about his mother not being a part of his life anymore. Never underestimate the power of a baby to bring family together. The woman was in love. They had a lot of years to repair, Gabby knew, but she was ready to take the journey with him if it was what he wanted. From the look on his face as he watched his mom with Lia, she knew it was.
Conversations struck up around the room. Gabby looked around at her family with absolute love and happiness. They got on her nerves. They pissed her off. But damn if they didn’t rally when one of them was threatened or in trouble, even if the one they were defending was perfectly capable of taking care of him or herself. She loved them fiercely.
“So, not to steal Gabby’s thunder or anything tonight, but we have something to tell you guys,” Evan spoke up suddenly. Kelsey, who stood in front of him in the circle of his arms, grinned widely.
Candace, Gabby and Gianna shrieked all at once. “You’re pregnant!”
The happy couple both burst out laughing. “Can’t get anything by you guys,” Evan said.
“How far along?” Candace asked.
“I’m due in late October,” Kelsey said. She turned her excited smile on Gabby. “What can I say? I guess I drank the water.”
Congratulations, hugs and handshakes made the rounds. Candace, with Brian’s help, pushed herself up out of her chair to walk over to them, but she froze and her hands flew to her stomach before she took the first step. “Oh God,” she said, looking up at Brian with wide eyes.
“What?” he asked, tightening his hold on her. “Baby, are you okay?”
“Um…I don’t know.” She winced, slightly bent over, and put her hand out on the nearby dresser for more support.
“The baby?”
“You’re in labor!”
“Oh my God!”
“You always have to one-up me, don’t you?” Evan said to Brian, punching him in the shoulder.
“Talk about stealing your thunder, dude.”
Gabriella wanted more than anything to be able to jump out of her bed and help as her family excitedly hustled Candace out of the room, but she would’ve landed on her face. She could only call out, “Good luck!” to her sister-in-law as she was taken away. Brian ran back to give Gabby a quick hug; then he was off like a shot, leaving only her, Ian, his mom and Lia in the room.
“Well,” she said cheerfully to Mrs. Rhodes. “That’s my loud, boisterous, very in-your-business family.”
“They seem wonderful,” she said, still snuggling Lia close to her chest.
Ian’s and Gabby’s gazes met over her head. He smiled at her, a light in his eyes she knew she’d put there. She and Lia. Could this night get any better? Could life get any better? To think where she’d been a year ago this month… Heartbroken. In ashes. If someone had told her back on the night Mark left her what was in store for her in a year’s time, she would’ve laughed herself silly.
Yet here she was. A wife. A mother.
All because she’d asked a guy to give her wings.
About the Author
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Ch
errie Lynn has been a CPS caseworker and a juvenile probation officer, but now that she has come to her senses, she writes contemporary and paranormal romance on the steamy side. It's much more fun. She's also an unabashed rock music enthusiast, and loves letting her passion for romance and metal collide on the page.
When she's not writing, you can find her reading, listening to music or playing with her favorite gadget of the moment. She's also fond of hitting the road with her husband to catch their favorite bands live.
Cherrie lives in East Texas with said husband and their two kids, all of whom are the source of much merriment, mischief and mayhem. You can visit her at www.cherrielynn.com or at the various social networking sites. She loves hearing from readers!
Look for these titles by Cherrie Lynn
Now Available:
Far From Heaven
Sweet Disgrace
Leather and Lace
Unleashed
Rock Me
Leave Me Breathless
Leather and lace don’t strike sparks. Or do they?
Leave Me Breathless
© 2012 Cherrie Lynn
It’s Valentine’s Day, but Macy Rodgers isn’t feeling the love. Aside from a torrid, one-night fling in a backseat a few months back, her love life has been sorely lacking, but fortunately she has devious friends who feel like playing Cupid. Wouldn’t they be shocked to learn that the match they’ve made for her is the same one that steamed up the back of that ’69 GTO…
Seth “Ghost” Warren has just returned to town after an extended absence. Between his grandmother’s failing health, his job as a tattoo artist, his band’s gigs, and a crazy ex that won’t leave him alone, he’s stretched thin. Cautious cowgirl Macy is the last thing he needs thrown into the mix.
She’s all country, he’s all heavy metal—and Macy knows that if anyone can propel her out of her rut, it’s Seth. But when their worlds collide, it’s anyone guess if they’ll survive with their hearts intact.
Warning: Contains explicit sex, graphic language, road trips, troublemaking exes, emotional baggage, and an unconventional but exceptionally hot hero tatted and pierced for your pleasure…
Enjoy the following excerpt for Leave Me Breathless:
Ghost. Where the hell had he gotten a name like that? He wasn’t particularly pale. Well, maybe a little. But not what she’d call ghastly or anything. There was nothing…wraithlike about him at all; he was a very solidly built six-two or so, judging by how tall he stood next to her five-six.
Tattooed. Pierced. Shaved head, though right now he wore a black baseball cap pulled low over his eyes with the hood of his black sweatshirt over it.
The very antithesis to everything she wanted, or thought she wanted.
He was looking right at her, shit-eating grin in place, one dark eyebrow arched. That stare was like a vacuum. Or a black hole. Nothing could escape it.
“Hi!” she managed to squeak—she even managed a smile. When his own grin widened, she pushed herself up from her seat to give him a hug. Unfortunately, her legs were Jell-O, and his tight squeeze kept her from getting up close and personal with the floor even more than those shaking appendages did.
He felt good. Warm, despite the chill of the night air still clinging to his hoodie. Familiar, even if she’d only been in those arms once.
And then he had to speak, the rumble of his voice raising the hair at her nape. “Hey, killjoy.”
Everyone laughed, delighted at the return of the nickname he’d pinned on her not long after they’d met. She only then realized Brian had joined them too, and was snuggling into the booth next to his girlfriend.
“I have a question,” Ghost announced as Macy reclaimed her seat and he slid in beside her, practically cramming her against the wall. His denim-clad thigh was rock hard against her bare one. Sam claimed what was left of the seat on his other side, so she was well and truly trapped. A shiver worked through her. “What in the actual fuck are we doing in a honky-tonk?” He motioned around at the plethora of cowboys and cowgirls dancing to the twang of country music.
“It’s Macy’s night,” Candace said as Brian nuzzled her neck. “She got to pick.”
“Ah, that figures. Just don’t get Brian and me into a brawl with any rednecks. I’m not too stoked to spend the night in jail when I just hit town.” Ghost winked at her. God, those eyes. If she hadn’t been so close to him she’d have sworn he lined them. But no, his bottom lashes were just that thick. If he had hair on his head, she figured it would be the same chocolate brown as his goatee—and maybe he did have hair on his head now for all she knew. She couldn’t tell. But he was one of those guys who definitely rocked the look—his features were strong enough. He stretched out both arms, one behind Macy and one behind Sam, and tilted his chin up at Brian. “I’ve got double your fun, dude.”
Brian, who was mid-smooch with Candace, broke away and laughed. “Good for you. I’ve got all the fun I can handle right here.” Candace blushed and beamed.
Macy nearly jumped out of her skin when Ghost leaned over and put his lips mere inches from her ear. “Am I crashing your party, babe?”
Her face flamed. Did he know about her Valentine’s pity party? “Crashing my party?” she echoed lamely. “No, not at all—I mean, it’s not a party. Nor is it mine.”
He chuckled. “All right.” Her friends were sending her knowing little smirks.
Yes, maim them.
But she couldn’t deny that it was good to see him, that a part of her had missed him and she hadn’t completely realized it until now. “Are you back for good?” she asked.
He shrugged, pulling his arms back and resting them on the table. “Nana’s doing…okay, considering. She’s settled in the nursing home and my sister lives near there, so I figured I might as well come home and try to get back to normal, at least for a while. I’ll be going up there to visit a lot, though.”
His grandmother, who’d raised him from the time his parents were killed in a car accident when he was six, was in failing health. Macy didn’t know much beyond what Candace had told her about the reason for his absence, but she couldn’t help noticing the set of his mouth seemed a little grimmer than it ever had before. He must’ve been through a lot in the past few months.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly.
He shrugged again, but she wasn’t fooled by his feigned nonchalance. “She’s hanging in there. So how’ve you been?”
“Oh, fine. Great. Working a lot, you know.”
A waitress came by and placed beers in front of him and Brian. Macy’s pulse hadn’t slowed a bit. What was up with that? He was pressed in so tight against her she wondered if he could feel her racing heart, prayed that he couldn’t.
Ghost leaned across the table toward Candace and Brian. “Candace,” he said, and for a moment Macy thought he might actually say something sincere. No such luck. “I really advise against leaving him alone with me again. Two hours away from you and he was coming on to me.” Everyone else at the table broke up in laughter. It only egged him on. “I mean, I know he wants me. He’s made it clear. And I’m growing weak, I tell you. I missed him. If he does it again, I’m gonna give it to him.”
Brian was shaking his head. “God, we missed you,” Candace said.
“Did we?” Brian asked.
Ghost reached over and placed his hand on Candace’s. “Don’t worry, though. We’re not going to shut you out. You’re welcome in our house anytime, sweetheart. I might even share him with you. As long as, you know, I can watch.”
“This is actually pretty hot,” Samantha observed, and Macy could just imagine the sparkle of interest in her eyes.
“You can come too,” Ghost said, earning Sam’s flattered laughter.
“Fuck you, man.” Brian punctuated the words with the corresponding hand gesture, but Macy could tell from his grin he was probably the happiest person at the table to have his friend back.
“I’m trying so hard to resist that, Brian. You damn moody Capricorns.
You would only hurt me in the end.” Ghost drew a shaky breath. “But I think…I’m ready to take the chance.”
“You’re gonna have a hell of a fight on your hands,” Candace told him, running her hand over Brian’s shoulders. “This one belongs to me.”
“Yeah. Stake your claim, baby. Save me from him.”
As the banter continued to fly and Macy slowly began to realize it seemed to be just business as usual here, she found herself relaxing. She took a deep breath, distancing herself from the memories of what she’d allowed to happen between her and the guy sitting next to her not long before he left town.
That’s it, get a grip. So what, you were confronted with him when you least expected it. That would throw anyone.
But it shouldn’t. Not her, no way. He was part of a world so separate from her own it would be impossible to bridge the chasm between them. He was heavy metal. She was all country, all the time. He wouldn’t belong at a rodeo, and she wouldn’t belong at one of his wild concerts where they probably sacrificed live chickens or bit the heads off bats onstage.
That was that. Since the accident that had damn near killed her, sensibleness had ruled her world, not impulsiveness. And certainly not her heart or hormones. She was the one in control here, and she liked it that way. If she messed up, she could at least mess up knowing she’d weighed all her options and made the best decision possible.
Even being miserably single on Valentine’s Day wasn’t enough for her to give up that position.
Ghost’s thigh pressing more firmly against hers was cause enough for her to do a quick reassessment.
Loving him couldn’t be worse than losing him… Could it?
Rock Me
© 2010 Cherrie Lynn
Candace Andrews has had enough of pleasing others. In an act of birthday rebellion, she sets out to please herself—by walking into the tattoo parlor owned by her cousin’s ex-boyfriend. All she wants is a little ink, and Brian’s just the guy to give it to her.