Read Begin Again: Short stories from the heart for Free Online Page A

and I didn’t think you’d ever trust me.” Her lower lip trembled. “I thought leaving was the only way to save myself but I’ve been dying a little bit every day.”
    Jack swiped the tear away. “I’m glad you came.”
    “I had to,” she said simply. “I had to see you again and try to explain things.” She smiled. “I’ve been standing out here rehearsing my lines for over an hour and now I can’t even remember what they were.”
    “You don’t need any lines with me. Now or ever.” He traced her lips with his index finger. “You know, I’m getting ready to work on this huge project, the most important of my life, and I think you’d be the perfect partner.” He reached for her hands, clasped them in his own. “All I need is a ‘yes.’”
    “This project is more important than the museum?” Sam asked.
    “Much more important.”
    “Now you’ve really got me wondering. What is it?”
    “My wife,” he said softly. “It’s a lifetime project, and you’re the only one who qualifies. Will you marry me, Sam?”
    “Are you part of the compensation package?” She brushed a feather light kiss against his mouth.
    “Absolutely.” He sought her mouth and deepened the kiss.
    “In that case,” she murmured against his lips, “how can a girl possibly refuse?”
    The End
     
    The Sweetest Deal emerged from Sam & Jack . A simple pure contemporary romance with a secret identity and a matchmaking family member. Great fun.
    The Sweetest Deal
    Max Jernigan is ready to close the most important business deal of his life—all he has to do is agree to one request from Grayson Crowell: impregnate the mogul’s daughter. No way can Max do this. He’s a decent guy. But he would love a child. He just doesn’t want a wife.
    C.C. Crowell gave up on dreams of a family after Mr. Worse-Than-Wrong broke her heart. Hiding behind spreadsheets, boring suits and an icy attitude, she’s more than a little suspicious when arrogant, handsome Max is suddenly chasing her. But she can’t deny their chemistry. Until she learns about the deal and plans to pay Max back in kind….

Chapter 4
     
    The Landlord was one of my first attempts to write romance. The points of view are all over the place and were I to write this today, I would flesh out the characters, straighten up the points of view, and probably add a few hundred pages—I tend to be long-winded! Still, I like the possibilities in this story and wanted to share it.

The Landlord
     
    “Damn. Damn. Damn!” Chunks of leaves, twigs, and other decomposing debris hurled to the ground with each curse. “If I ever get my hands on that landlord”—Natalie Allington spat out a piece of dirt—“he’ll rue the day he ever went into real estate!” She wiped her gloved hand across her sweaty forehead. “Irresponsible, duty-shirking man.” Natalie continued muttering various derogatory remarks concerning her landlord as she flung debris from the gutters onto the ground below.
    Chase Danning advanced slowly up the driveway, intrigued with sight in front of him. He’d been watching the woman for several minutes now and was thoroughly enjoying the show. It wasn’t just the tanned long legs in cut-offs or the snug black tank top that held his interest—though he could certainly appreciate those qualities—as much as the one-sided verbal warfare she’d been waging with her landlord. He stepped onto the sidewalk leading to the front door, just a few feet behind the woman.
    “May I be of some assistance?”
    Startled, Natalie swung around, lost her footing, and tumbled from the ladder. A pair of tanned, well muscled arms caught her in mid-flight. Natalie looked up into the most incredible blue eyes she’d ever seen – ocean eyes. When her rescuer smiled, she glimpsed white teeth, and full welcoming lips. From her close vantage point, she could tell there wasn’t much about the man not to like. He was extremely attractive, no doubt too attractive for his own good or