Down the Aisle (7 page)
Authors: Christine Bell
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #General, #chloe cole, #MMA, #christine o'neil, #Erotic, #dare me, #novella, #Contemporary Romance
The feelings inside her couldn’t be contained. Tears streamed down her face unchecked. She set the book carefully to the side and launched herself at her husband.
“Yes, I still want her!” She was elated, excited, and terrified all at the same time, and her mind was moving so fast, she couldn’t keep up. What if something fell through? What if it was all snatched away again?
Galen squeezed her tight, and her fears fell away, leaving nothing but pure hope and happiness behind. She wasn’t alone, and whatever happened from here on out, they’d face it together. He was so strong, and now, so was she. But together?
They were unstoppable.
Wrapping her arms tightly around her husband, she held him close. She would love this man forever, through thick and thin, and couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life showing him how much.
Acknowledgments
As always, thanks my editor Kerri-Leigh Grady for being an all around ninja bad-ass. I shudder to think of what my books would look like without you. XOXO
And to Allison Gatta, for all of your hard work on this book as well as the much-needed estrogen you bring to the sausagefest that is our house. <3 you.
About the Author
Christine Bell is one half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from young adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns, or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants, and playing Texas Hold’em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja, maybe. She loves writing fun and adventure-filled romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons.
Christine loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website,
www.christine-bell.com
or on Twitter under the handle
@_ChristineBell
.
Find out where it all began in...
book one in Christine Bell’s
Dare Me
series
“Every erotic romance reader needs
Down for the Count
.”
- Tiffany Reisz, author of
The Original Sinners
series
When Lacey Garrity finds her groom
in flagrante delicto
in the reception hall closet with her bridesmaid, she’s saved by her best friend’s older brother—childhood tormentor, crush, and boxing bad boy Galen Thomas. Galen’s solution is both exciting and dangerous. What better way to forget the mess of her life than go on her honeymoon with a hot guy who can’t promise anything beyond today?
Galen had been counting on Lacey’s wedding to put her out of reach—and out of his mind—once and for all, but their steamy Puerto Rican escape is testing all his boundaries. Now that Lacey’s embracing her inner bad girl, Galen is tempted to throw in the towel and claim her for himself. But with the biggest fight of his career on the line and an important business merger threatening to derail Lacey’s resolve, their romance might be down for the count before it even begins.
Check out Christine’s newest release...
the first book in the Perfectly Matched series
This matchmaker’s about to meet her match…
Grace Love is lousy with men. She can spot a match for someone else a mile away, and her balls-on instincts are why her matchmaking business is thriving, but finding her own Prince Charming? The only guy who makes her sixth sense tingle is her playboy best friend, Trick, and no way is she risking their friendship, no matter how hot she knows the sex will be.
SWAT officer Trick Matthews is a patient guy, but Grace’s inability to see what’s right in front of her is grinding on his last nerve. Yeah, he blew his shot at breaking out of the friend zone when he tamped down the urge to lick her from head to toe the day they met, but he’s got a plan that’ll change her mind. Incognito at Salem’s hottest Halloween party, he’ll show her exactly how good they could be…and that he’s the man for her.
Also releasing this month...
the next book in the McCade Brothers series by bestselling author Samanthe Beck
Pretending to be in love has never felt so
sexy
.
USMC helicopter pilot Michael McCade has two goals: Get his damn back into alignment and keep his nose clean until his commanding officer clears him to fly again. The doctor-recommended massage therapy seems like a necessary step toward returning to the cockpit, but when his too-hot-to-handle neighbor, Chloe Kincaid, turns out to be his masseuse, he strays from the straight and narrow in a major way.
Chloe Kincaid is looking for a simple, no strings attached, ego-boosting hook up. But when her positively panty-melting neighbor, USMC Major Michael McCade, (aka “Major Hottie”), shows up on her massage table, she lets desire get the better of professionalism. Now they’re pretending to be engaged to avoid a whole lot of unanticipated consequences of a momentary lapse in judgment. But can a girl who avoids attachments at all costs fake an engagement to a straight-arrow soldier without falling hard?
Also releasing this month...
Wilde for Her
the second book in the Wilde Security series by romantic suspense author Tonya Burrows
Friends with benefits just got hotter.
Former homicide detective Camden Wilde has been in love with his ex-partner, Eva Cardoso, for longer than he cares to admit. Not that it matters. She’s shoved him into the friend zone, and after living through the hell of his parents’ violent deaths, Cam’s unable to give her the idyllic life she secretly desires.
Eva’s never met a person who hasn’t let her down. Cam may be sex personified, but he’s the only man she can trust, and there’s no way she’ll risk their friendship on the off-chance they could be more. Especially not after the one scintillating night she’s trying—and failing—to forget.
When a murder-for-hire contract on his head lands Eva on his doorstep, Cam knows it’s time to put up or shut up. He’s done biding his time, and he’ll be damned if he lets the delectable detective ignore what’s between them, no matter the cost.
Also releasing this month...
Game for Trouble
the next book in the Game for It series by USA TODAY bestselling author Karen Erickson
He’ll play dirty to get what he wants...
Willow Cavanaugh would be happy if she never saw cocky football star Nick Hamilton again. Sure, their fling was the hottest she’d had, but he’s way too much of a playboy to settle down with one woman. Plus, she’s got her heart set on a piece of real estate for her catering business—and Nick owns that property.
Nick may be at the top of his game, but all he wants is a second chance with Willow. When he offers to sell her his commercial space if she agrees to a series of dates with him, their chemistry is so scintillating that jumping back into bed seems like an inevitability. But Willow’s decided all’s fair in sex and blackmail. Little does she know, Nick’s playing to win…and she’s the prize.
Also releasing this month…
Seducing Her Rival
the Brazen debut from multipublished author Seleste deLaney
She’s trapped with a man she hates…and can’t resist.
When cruise ship turbulence sends children’s charity guru Mercedes Vega—and her tropical cocktail—flying into a mysterious stranger, she’s convinced her free vacation is a dream-come-true. But Lucas Bellamy isn’t just sexy as sin and richer than God. He’s her business rival, determined to outbid her charity for the land she desperately needs…a fact she doesn’t learn until after a night of mind-blowing, toe-curling sex. Unwilling to give up, she formulates a plan to make the charming playboy fall in love with her and back out of the property deal.
Lucas is drawn to Mercedes, but he won’t stand down—after all, he has promises of his own to keep. But one scintillating night with the enigmatic brunette leads to another, and before long, it’s unclear who’s seducing who, leaving Mercedes wondering whether the man she’s supposed to hate is the only salvation from her past.
Also releasing this month…
Crash into Me
the first book in the new
Shaken Dirty
series by bestselling author Tracy Wolff
She’s totally off-limits, but this rocker wants a taste…
Jamison Matthews has lusted after Ryder Montgomery since she was a preteen. But now that Ryder and her brother’s band, Shaken Dirty, has made it huge, she’s just one of many pining for the brooding lead singer. Too bad Ryder still sees her as a little sister. Not that it matters. Her brother would never allow it, and the last thing Jamison wants is to be another notch on a rock star’s bed post. Even if it’s Ryder’s.
Ryder doesn’t deserve happiness. After his fame destroyed his last girlfriend, he swore he’d never fall in love again. So when Jamison, the girl he’s been in danger of loving for years, joins the band on the road, he’ll do anything to deny the sparks between them—even after one hot night together. But Jamison is determined to show Ryder that he’s worthy of love—
her
love—and that she’s all grown up…and ready to play.