Romantic Suspense
Date Published: 7/11/2013
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
A second divorce and a new baby wasn’t the vision Alison Hayes had for her future. Now a single mother with two young boys, she wants to focus on her kids and what’s left of her stagnant career.
When Detective Johnny Rhay Bennett breezes into her life with his country-boy accent, she wants to run. She doesn’t need another man in her life, or another reason to make people talk. But when her worst nightmare becomes a reality, Johnny is the only person who can pull Ali out of her despair, forcing her to stay strong and not give up hope of finding her missing child.
Ali’s not easy, and she’s living on just this side of bitter after her divorce, but Johnny doesn’t care. He’s up for the challenge. At least, he believes he’s up for it until baby Micah is stolen right out from under his nose. Now Johnny has to keep it together and get that sweet little boy home safe before his dreams of having a family vanish too.
Dana Mason
When Detective Johnny Rhay Bennett breezes into her life with his country-boy accent, she wants to run. She doesn’t need another man in her life, or another reason to make people talk. But when her worst nightmare becomes a reality, Johnny is the only person who can pull Ali out of her despair, forcing her to stay strong and not give up hope of finding her missing child.
***
Who falls in love after a one-night stand? Johnny Rhay doesn’t believe it’s possible until it happens to him. With Nashville in his rear-view mirror, he’s determined to convince Alison she loves him too, even if it means moving to the West Coast.Ali’s not easy, and she’s living on just this side of bitter after her divorce, but Johnny doesn’t care. He’s up for the challenge. At least, he believes he’s up for it until baby Micah is stolen right out from under his nose. Now Johnny has to keep it together and get that sweet little boy home safe before his dreams of having a family vanish too.
Dana Mason
Dana Mason started writing to prove to her computer geek husband and her math & science geek kids that she actually has a brain; it’s just a right functioning brain instead of a left. She’s lived all over the country and uses that experience in her writing and character studies. Her debut novel, Dangerous Embrace, is the first in a contemporary romance series about a group of friends from Northern California who learn just how short life can be when you don’t hold on to what’s important. Second chances don’t come easy…but sometimes love is worth the risk.
When not writing, Dana specializes in professional development and training. She’s also a board member on the local Art's Council and does what she can to support the art community.
As an avid reader and movie watcher, she always requires a happily ever after ending.
When not writing, Dana specializes in professional development and training. She’s also a board member on the local Art's Council and does what she can to support the art community.
As an avid reader and movie watcher, she always requires a happily ever after ending.
Twitter - @danamason06
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Ali lowered her eyes. She didn’t want him to
see the truth when he looked at her. Gosh and what would people say if she
started seeing Johnny before finalizing her divorce? Regardless of her
feelings, she needed to control herself, and not jump into another situation
like she did with Carl. She shook her head at that. “It’s not punishment, just
cautiousness. I’m doing what I think is best for my family.” She cleared her
throat. “Can I ask you a question?”
He nodded dropping his head down to look at Micah.
“Did you know you were moving out here when we were together in
Maui?”
“I had lunch with Brian and Julie in Hawaii after you left. I
mentioned to him that I was thinking of leaving Nashville. He suggested Santa
Rosa.” He lifted his eyes to meet hers. “My turn.”
Her heart did a little skip and she nodded in agreement.
“How did you feel when you got on that plane in Hawaii to go
home?”
Ali propped her elbow on the table and rested her head in her
hand. She remembered distinctly how she felt when she boarded her plane. The
reminder made her stomach flip-flop. She’d never felt like that in her life.
She’d only stayed in Hawaii for a couple of days. Johnny had begged her to stay
for a few more, but at two months old, she couldn’t bear leaving Micah for that
long. Johnny had another week before going home, but he insisted on taking her
to the airport. Said he didn’t want her to go alone.
They’d stayed up all night, even watched the Maui sunrise
together. The night reminded her of being a teenager, fighting sleep to stay on
the phone with a boy…talking about everything, yet talking about nothing
important. Simply being together was enough for them in the moment. It was such
a great night. She’d never forget how she felt being there with him. “Why would
you ask me that?”
“I answered your question, you answer mine.”
“Honestly.” Her voice lowered and her eyes focused on her plate.
“Crazy…exhilarated, and scared, and free, and sad, and special, and miserable,
and…loved…all at the same time.” Ali frowned and wanted to cry. She shook it
off and stood to clear their plates, almost knocking her chair to the ground in
her rush to get up. Their night together had been a wonderful break from her
regular everyday troubles and her regular everyday life…but it wasn’t real
life, and she couldn’t pretend differently. She was a wreck of a woman, with a
new baby and a pending divorce.
“Ali,” he said as she stepped to the sink. “How about when you got
home—when you got back to Santa Rosa?”
“Why do you want to know this? It doesn’t change anything.” she
said, slamming the plates into the sink.
“Did you feel lost…lonely? Like you had just walked away from
something you would never feel again?”
Ali looked up to find him standing right next to her. “How—”
“How did I know?” he asked before she could get her sentence out.
Ali stared at him not sure what to say. “How do you?”
“Because I felt exactly the same way. Watching you fly away killed
me.” He leaned his hip on the kitchen counter, cradling the sleeping baby in
his left arm. “When I got home to Nashville, I felt sick with it.”
