Break My Fall (Swoon Series Book 3), page 18
Minutes later, we were sitting at the table. Looking over at her with her lopsided ponytail, I smiled, a subtle tension unspooling inside my chest. I didn’t like being away from Evie. Not at all.
It wasn’t quite rational, to be honest. I knew logically speaking that she was fine on her own, but ever since she’d gotten pregnant, I found I could manufacture many, many things to worry about.
That sense of tension was an odd thing Evie had illuminated. Whenever I was with her, I enjoyed a level of comfort I’d never experienced before. I couldn’t say I had missed it before because you couldn’t miss something you didn’t even know existed. But she gave it to me. When I thought back to before we were together, she had always been so easy for me to be around.
I managed to temporarily forget my focus on her because I was fucking starving and had settled in to devour most of the pizza. After we finished eating, it was a race to beat Evie at her habit of cleaning up the kitchen. When I closed the dishwasher, I turned around to find her behind me leaning her hips against the counter opposite me.
Stepping to her, I slid my arms around her waist and buried my head in the curve of her neck. I’d never known the scent of a woman could get to me, but with Evie, it was like coming home.
“I missed you,” I murmured, sliding my hand up to brush her hair away and dust kisses along the side of her neck.
She leaned back, cupping my cheek as I lifted my head. “I always miss you when you’re gone.”
Somehow, we went from there to a hot, messy kiss. I needed her so fiercely that before I knew it, I was shoving her skirt up around her hips and teasing the slick heat between her thighs. I savored the feel of her everywhere—the press of her belly against me, her plump breasts, and the way my heart thudded when I came inside her slick core.
A while later, we were resting on the couch with Evie on my lap. She lifted her head from my shoulder, announcing, “We have to go outside.”
Considering that I was relaxed and sated with her warm on my lap, going outside was the furthest thing from my mind. “Huh? It’s cold out.”
She grinned. “We have a good view of Orion tonight, and it’s your favorite constellation.”
I could never say no to Evie, and the stars were sentimental for us. Because way back when on that rock in the darkness when I was having a bad day, Evie told me the Little Dipper was her favorite constellation, and she never forgot that Orion was mine.
Moments later, we were on the back deck, the moon illuminating the mountains encircling Stolen Hearts Valley. “See,” she said as I looked through the telescope over her shoulder. I marveled at the clarity. Evie let out a little happy sigh.
“We can do this, right?” I asked.
Every so often, the depth of what Evie represented to me, and of the family that we already had even though our little boy had yet to be born, came flying at me. Sometimes I didn’t know if I could forever be the man she needed.
Leaning her head back against my shoulder and sliding her hand to curl around the nape of my neck, she murmured. “Of course, we can. It’s you and me.”
Thank you for reading Break My Fall - I hope you loved Dawson & Evie’s story!
Up next in the Swoon Series is Truly Madly Mine. Dani and Wade have what some might call history. It all ended with a slushy thrown in high school.
As fate would have it, they end up working together years later. Despite Dani’s best intentions, she just might still have a thing for Wade.
Wade just might do anything to get her back. When he finally gets his chance, he grabs it with both hands. Buckle up for a smoking hot second chance, friends to lovers romance!
Keep reading for a sneak peek!
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Excerpt: Truly Madly Mine
Dani
My hand slipped just as I brought down a bag of flour from the shelf above me. The heavy bag bounced off another shelf and exploded, sending a cloud of flour all over me.
I opened my mouth—to provide a choice curse—only to inhale a breath of flour. A coughing and sneezing fit ensued. When I finally caught me breath, I leaned against the wall with a sigh, not even bothering to deal with the torn bag of flour on the floor.
“Bless you,” a voice said from the doorway.
Fuck my life.
Opening my eyes, I glanced down to see my apron and my hands and arms dusted white. Lifting a hand, I patted my hair, sending a burst of flour into the air again. I only hoped the flour I felt on my face obscured my blush when I lifted my eyes to meet the teasing gaze of Wade Ellis.
“Thanks,” I said, instantly wishing my tone didn’t come out so sharp. “Remind me who’s idea it was to store the flour above my head.”
Wade’s grin stretched wider, and my pulse—rather disobedient by the way—took off at a fast gallop. Meanwhile, a funny spinning feeling happened in my belly. There were many things I could control. The state of my body when Wade teased me was not one of them, despite my best efforts.
“Now that, I don’t know. The kitchen is definitely your zone. I’m sure it was your idea.”
A little laugh broke loose. Because I couldn’t help it. Even if I hated that Wade happened to find me in this state, I knew he was right. I was bossy and didn’t mind owning it. I was certain I’d had a good reason for storing the flour there, but it seemed foolish now.
“What are you doing here so early this morning anyway?” I asked, glancing around for a towel.
My eyes landed on a stack of clean dish towels just by the door, and I pushed away from the wall to reach for one.
“I’m leading a long hike today,” Wade replied. “Came by to stock up on some first aid supplies.”
When I lifted my hand to brush the towel over my flour-covered hair, my bracelet caught on the elastic holding my ponytail in place. “Dammit,” I murmured as I moved too quickly, almost yanking the elastic out.
Wade’s low chuckle send heat chasing over my skin like little licks of fire. “Hang on, let me help,” he said, stepping closer.
My pulse went absolutely wild, my breath hitched in my throat and a flush of heat blasted me from head to toe. I spent a lot of time not getting too close to Wade.
All that effort was wasted. He stood right at my side, his presence intense. He exhibited an easy strength and grace no matter what he did. When I moved to try to untangle my bracelet, my elbow bumped into his muscled chest, and I almost exclaimed. Dear God, his chest was truly nothing but muscle.
My mouth did what it always did when I was around Wade and started babbling. “Geez, dude. Working out enough?” I asked, my tone sarcastic.
I felt his hands carefully untangling a few curls in the elastic around my bracelet. “You know my job keeps me in shape,” he murmured in reply. The contrast of his hard body and having this massive bear of a man carefully untangling my hair made my heart squeeze a little. “There, it’s going to be easiest if I just pull it out.”
I lowered my arms and waited, my curls falling in a wild tangle around my shoulders as he extricated the hair band. Wade stepped back, holding up the elastic. When I took it from him, my fingers brushed against his, sending a hot jolt of electricity up my arm.
We stood there staring at each other. The normally busy staff kitchen at the lodge restaurant was quiet as dawn hadn’t even arrived. It wasn’t even 5:30 a.m. yet. It felt as if Wade and I were all alone in the world, caught in this little bubble. The air felt as if it were firing sparks around us.
The usual teasing look in Wade’s eyes faded as he searched my face. His espresso gaze darkened. A stillness fell over me as I looked at him, letting my eyes travel over the strong, clean lines of his face. Wade was all man and tall with broad shoulders. His dark brows angled up slightly. His cheekbones were a thing of beauty—bold, sculpted curves. His perfectly straight nose was centered over his full lips. His square jaw had a shadow of stubble on it.
My fingers tingled with the urge to lift my hand and cup his cheek. I didn’t know what the hell was going on with me. I couldn’t seem to move. I was frozen, my breath coming in shallow little pants as I stared up at Wade. The space in the pantry was quiet for several long beats, all the while I could hear the rush of blood in my ears with every beat of my heart.
“Dani.”
I heard my name on Wade’s lips but it had been years since I’d heard that tone in his voice. It was rough, laced with need.
I felt caught in a current that spun into itself. The need to finally give into what I’d been denying myself for years was so overpowering, I couldn’t seem to call upon my snarky self and push back against it.
In a hot second, my head tipped back just as Wade leaned down. His lips brushed across mine when he murmured my name again, the whisper of his voice sending an electric tingle over my lips that raced through every cell in my body. I felt it course through me, sparking from the inside out.
A frayed sigh escaped. Then, Wade fit his mouth over mine. One fiery second burned into another, everything going up in flames.
This wasn’t the first time I had kissed Wade. Not even close. Our young, messy kisses in high school didn’t hold a candle to this one. It was quite clear Wade had some practice in the intervening years. He kissed me like he was born to it—sensual strokes of his tongue against mine, his hand lacing into my hair as he angled my head to the side and devoured my mouth.
I wasn’t passive, oh no. I wanted this too much. Denial might’ve work for a while—hell, even for years—but once the gates fell, all hell broke loose.
I was lost in the kiss, the feeling of his strong, hard body holding mine against his, and the taste of him was intoxicating. Sweet Jesus, his kisses had set me on fire inside and out.
“Hey Dani, do you—” The question stopped abruptly. “Oh! Oh my!”
The sound of footsteps hurrying away from the pantry echoed as Wade and I broke apart, our breath coming in sharp heaves.
We stared at each other. Oh my God.
Coming December 2019!
Truly Madly Mine
If you love steamy, small town romance, take a visit to Willow Brook, Alaska in my Into The Fire Series. Check out Burn For Me - a second chance romance for the ages. It’s FREE on all retailers! Don’t miss Cade & Amelia’s story!
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Swoon Series
This Crazy Love
Wait For Me
Break My Fall
Truly Madly Mine - coming December 17th, 2019!
Into The Fire Series
Burn For Me
Slow Burn
Burn So Bad
Hot Mess
Burn So Good
Sweet Fire
Play With Fire
Melt With You
Burn For You
Crash & Burn
Brit Boys Sports Romance
The Play
Big Win
Out Of Bounds
Play Me
Naughty Wish
Diamond Creek Alaska Novels
When Love Comes
Follow Love
Love Unbroken
Love Untamed
Tumble Into Love
Christmas Nights
Last Frontier Lodge Novels
Take Me Home
Love at Last
Just This Once
Falling Fast
Stay With Me
When We Fall
Hold Me Close
Crazy For You
Just Us
Catamount Lion Shifters
Protected Mate
Chosen Mate
Fated Mate
Destined Mate
A Catamount Christmas
Ghost Cat Shifters
The Lion Within
Lion Lost & Found
Acknowledgments
I’ll start where it matters - my readers! Maybe I say it with every book, but your support means so freaking much. A giant hug to all of you!
My editor keeps me on point, and I am so grateful. Much appreciation to Terri D. for scouring every sentence to catch my mistakes.
Janine, Beth P., Terri E., Heather H., & Carolyne B. - thank you every time for finding the last minute details.
My husband cheers on every book and supports me even when my imaginary worlds take up a lot of time.
My dogs are my furry support team and spend most of their time somewhere nearby when I’m writing.
xoxo
J.H. Croix
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes contemporary romance with sassy women and alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!
Places you can find me:
jhcroixauthor.com
jhcroix@jhcroix.com
J.H. Croix, Break My Fall (Swoon Series Book 3)
