Playing with Fire Read online

  “So, we’ve established I’m falling for you. Do you feel the same way?”

  “I feel so much for you that the only explanation is that I’m falling in love with you, and I want to explore it and take our time with it. I don’t want to rush, I hope you can understand that.”

  “We’ve got all the time in the world.”

  He kissed her with everything he had, giving her everything he had. Who knew it would take a dentist to steal his fire.

  Epilogue

  One Year Later…

  Cade leaned against the big cedar elm tree in the backyard yard of his new home staring at his lovely bride conversing with her parents and his. Thankfully, both sets had forgiven them for running off and getting married without telling anyone, but they’d both had the big wedding the first time and honestly, all they wanted to do was get on with their lives.

  So, when the big house near the waterfront became available, they had realized they were more than meant for each other.

  They closed on the house less than a month ago, and had now been blissfully married for twenty-nine days. Not that he was counting or anything, but he did have the best one-month anniversary present for Heather, his wife.

  God, how he loved the sound of that.

  Boy, was he going to love seeing the look on her face when he walked her around to the front of the house where a shiny, brand new sport SUV was parked with a big pink bow. Not only was he tired of tinkering with her clunker, but he wanted something where the lights would automatically go off if she left them on. He never minded jumping her, but he got tired of the phone call at four in the afternoon, “honey, the battery is dead again.”

  He glanced around the yard at his family and friends who had gathered at the request of both their parents, but mostly his grandmother, for a reception to celebrate their marriage. It was a perfect partnership, even when she did want to stick her fingers in his mouth with some dental floss.

  Eyeing his wife, as she strolled across the yard, he didn’t think his life could get any better.

  “How are our parents?” he asked.

  She laughed that easy throaty laugh that rolled over his ears like butter melting over warm toast.

  “I got an earful about us not telling them and including them in the wedding.”

  “Right, because they would have loved watching us get married in Vegas.”

  “My mother was just grateful it wasn’t by an Elvis impersonator.”

  He looped his arm around her waist, bending over and kissing her temple. “Come on. I’ve got a late wedding present or an early one month anniversary present, depending on how you want to look at it.”

  “Oh goodie. I’ve got one for you too.”

  “Really?”

  She rested her hand on his hip as he guided her to the front yard where a couple of his cousins had moved her car, replacing it with the new one.

  “Normally, I’d say ladies first, but I’m too excited.”

  “I’m not complaining.”

  The second they rounded the corner, she paused, covering her mouth, gasping. “Cade! You didn’t!”

  He smiled proudly.

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hoisting herself up, locking her legs behind his waist. “I love you,” she whispered before brushing her lips over his.

  He cupped her ass, holding her steady, enjoying her affection and the fact he’d made her happy.

  Again.

  Nothing brought him more joy.

  “I take it you like the car?”

  “I love it,” she said. “I have a present for you. I was going to wait until tonight when we were alone.”

  “We can wait if you want.”

  “No.” She slid her legs down his, putting her feet on the ground, leaning against his body, staring up at him with tears in her eyes.

  He palmed her face. “Why are you crying?”

  “This is all happy tears.”

  “Over a car?”

  She shook her head. “Over what we’re going to put in that car.”

  He blinked a few times. “I don’t follow.”

  She smiled wide. “In a few months, we’re going to need to buy a car seat.”

  “What?” He gripped her hips to hold him steady as his mind processed what his heart already knew.

  “We’re going to have a baby,” she said. Her eyes twinkling through the tears.

  Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Suzie. He swallowed. “Shut the front door. A baby? This isn’t some sort of April Fool’s joke is it?”

  He tilted her head. “It’s August.”

  “A baby?” he questioned as he cupped Heather’s face. “A little person you and I made.”

  She nodded.

  “Wow. I’m glad I didn’t buy you that convertible.”

  “That would have been a cruel joke.”

  He leaned in and kissed his beautiful wife with a tender brush of his lips.

  “Do you to ever stop kissing!” Suzie skidded to a stop next them, looking up with her little curls bouncing about her plump face.

  “It’s what newlyweds do, dear,” his grandmother said. For a woman about to turn ninety, she had a spunk that many fifty-year-olds didn’t have.

  “Mrs. Baker says all that kissing should bring babies,” Suzie said, planting her hands on her hips. “So? Are there going to be any babies?”

  Cade let out a hearty laugh.

  “You can tell Mrs. Baker that we are having a baby,” Heather said, her smile as wide as Suzie’s squeal was loud.

  “Really!? You have a baby in your tummy!”

  “I do.”

  “Well it’s about time.” Suzie darted off toward the backyard.

  “She’s going to tell everyone,” Cade said, not really caring how anyone found out he was about to be a father.

  Before Heather could respond, shouts and gasps echoed from the back yard as Suzie, screamed the news to everyone.

  “My mother is going to smack me upside the head.” Cade lifted Heather from the ground, gripping her thigh muscles. “Probably harder than when we returned from Vegas.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be next in line.” Her legs wrapped tightly around his middle. “Why don’t we go in the house, up to our room, and hide.”

  “What would we do there?” Cade winked as he took long strides toward the front of the house.

  “Reenact how this baby was made.”

  “Well, that could take a while. I mean we don’t know exactly what position worked.”

  “We’re both off for the next forty-eight hours. I’m up for it, but the question is are you?”

  “You’re really asking me that?” he asked kicking open the door.

  She laughed. “I love you.”

  “I love you, even though you stole my fire.”

  “I did no such thing. You gave it to me.”

  Thank you for taking the time to read Playing with Fire. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please feel free to leave an HONEST review on Amazon and/or Goodreads

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  Books by Jen Talty

  NY State Trooper Series:

  IN TWO WEEKS

  DARK WATER

  DEADLY SECRETS

  MURDER IN PARADISE BAY

  TO PROTECT HIS OWN

  DEADLY SEDUCTION

  WHEN A STRANGER CALLS

  Other novels:

  REKINDLED

  JANE DOE’S RETURN

  THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS

  The Aegis Network

  THE LIGHTHOUSE

  HER LAST Hope

  THE LAS
T FLIGHT

  THE RETURN HOME

  Coming soon

  THE MATRIARCH

  The Collective Order

  THE LOST SISTER

  THE LOST SOLDIER

  THE LOST SOUL

  Coming soon!

  THE LOST CONNECTION

  Special Forces Operation Alpha:

  BURNING DESIRE

  BURNING KISS

  BURNING SKIES

  BURNING LIES

  BURNING HEART

  BURNING BED

  The Brotherhood Protectors

  ROUGH JUSTICE

  ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES

  The Twilight Crossing Series:

  THE BLIND DATE

  SPRING FLING

  SUMMER’S GONE

  Coming soon!

  WINTER WEDDING

  Witches and Werewolves

  LADY SASS

  ALL THAT SASS

  Coming Soon

  NEON SASS

  PAINTING SASS

  About the Author

  Welcome to my World! I’m an Award-Winning and Bestselling Author of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance. DARK WATER, book 2 in the NY STATE TROOPER series hit number 10 in Barnes and Nobel overall. THE BLIND DATE hit number 1 in the Contemporary Romance/Kindle Worlds List on Amazon. JANE DOE’S RETURN won both THE MOLLY and the BEACON before being published by the WILD ROSS PRESS.

  I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.

  I’m currently enjoying the next phase of my life…the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.

  Visit my website at http://jentalty.com

  Sign up for Jen’s Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/rg8mx9lchy) where she often gives away free books before publication.

  Join Jen’s private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where she posts exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!