Rough Around The Edges Read online

  “Nothing but the best for you,” she mused, racing across the room and throwing herself into his arms. “It will be ready in forty minutes. Until then, I have hot cider.”

  “Perfect. Trisha sends her best. She back and work full swing. Nothing could ever keep that woman down, not even a gunshot to the gut.”

  “She is one tough cookie.”

  His hands splayed across her back. His loving lips brushed against her in a tender dance that she’d never tire of. “How are you feeling? Still having a lot of morning sickness?”

  “It’s the same as when you left.”

  He scrunched his nose. “I was hoping that would be gone by now.”

  “Me too.” She took him by the hand and led him to the back porch. Wrapping a blanket around her body, she snuggled in next to him on the large patio sofa.

  “I’m sorry I missed your doctor’s appointment this month. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

  “You can’t always tell how long an assignment will last, so don’t worry about it.”

  He flattened his hand over her belly bump. Immediately, the sensation of butterflies flapping their wings filled her middle. “Soon, you’ll be able to feel him kick.” She bit down on her lower lip. They had talked about finding out the sex, and Jaden mentioned he didn’t care one way or the other.

  She, on the other hand, had been on the fence.

  “Shamus told me it’s like the movie Alien.”

  “Right now, he just feels like I have a nervous stomach, but every once in a while, he jabs me.” She felt a little punch, and this time, her stomach jiggled a little.

  Jaden’s hand froze. “I just felt that.”

  Her belly did it again.

  He tore the blanket off and rested both his hands over her middle. “That’s amazing.”

  “That’s your son,” she said with tears filling the corners of her eyes.

  “What?” His eyes widened. “Did you say son? It’s a boy? How do you know?”

  She reached into her back pocket and pulled out the little image. “It’s kind of hard to miss.” She tapped the sonogram picture.

  “Holy crap.” Jaden glanced between her and the photo. “A boy?”

  She nodded. “I want to name him Caleb Jaden Sawyer.”

  He cupped her face. “Sounds like the perfect name, and if I haven’t told you lately, I love you.”

  Thank you for taking the time to read Rough Around the Edges. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please feel free to leave an honest review!

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

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  Also 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

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  JANE DOE’S RETURN

  THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS

  The Aegis Network

  THE LIGHTHOUSE

  HER LAST HOPE

  THE LAST FLIGHT

  THE RETURN HOME

  THE MATRIARCH

  The Collective Order

  THE LOST SISTER

  THE LOST SOLDIER

  THE LOST SOUL

  THE LOST CONNECTION

  Special Forces Operation Alpha

  BURNING DESIRE

  BURNING KISS

  BURNING SKIES

  BURNING LIES

  BURNING HEART

  BURNING BED

  Brotherhood Protectors

  ROUGH JUSTICE

  About Jen Talty

  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.

  To learn more about me please visit my website: jentalty.com

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

  Join my private Facebook group

  (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where she posts exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!

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  By Elle james

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  About Elle James

  ELLE JAMES also writing as MYLA JACKSON is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of books including cowboys, intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edges of their seats. With over eighty works in a variety of sub-genres and lengths she has published with Harlequin, Samhain, Ellora’s Cave, Kensington, Cleis Press, and Avon. When she’s not at her computer, she’s traveling, snow skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories. Learn more about Elle James at www.ellejames.com

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