Redemption's Kiss. Ann Christopher
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She gasped, a whisper of hot air against his neck
And then she did it again, a curling of fingers in that one spot that wound him up tight.
His breath caught and held because he would do nothing—nothing, God, not even breathe, even if it led to his ultimate suffocation and death—to force her along at this moment.
But…where was this going?
Slowly she pulled back, her face wet with tears and her breasts heaving with uneven panting that sounded, to his confused ears at least, like passion rather than pain. Then she raised her lids to stare at him with wet eyes that glittered with every conceivable shade of brown, from amber to deepest mahogany. And then…
Was he imagining this? Was this a dream after all? A hallucination?
And then she leaned closer…tipped up her chin, just a little…and waited.
Disbelief pinned Beau right where he sat, dazed and frozen, and he could swear he felt his skin vibrate with leashed tension that strained away from his control.
She had to know that he would swallow her whole right now.
Was that what she wanted?
Could he get this lucky? Was this a test? Did anyone really expect him to let this opportunity pass him by when he’d prayed for it for years?
He wanted to do the right thing, but he’d be damned if he knew what that was. “Jillian?”
There. He’d been honorable and raised the question, dumbass that he was. This was her chance. If she wanted this train to stop so she could hop off and run away, now was the time. Run while you can, Jill.
Books by Ann Christopher
Kimani Romance
Just About Sex
Tender Secrets
Road to Seduction
Campaign for Seduction
Redemption’s Kiss
ANN CHRISTOPHER
is a full-time chauffeur for her two overscheduled children. She is also a wife, former lawyer, and decent cook. In between trips to various sporting practices and games, Target, and the grocery store, she likes to write the occasional romance novel featuring a devastatingly handsome alpha male. She lives in Cincinnati and spends her time with her family, which includes two spoiled rescue cats, Sadie and Savannah.
If you’d like to recommend a great book, share a recipe for homemade cake of any kind or suggest a tip for getting your children to do what you say the first time you say it, Ann would love to hear from you through her Web site, www.AnnChristopher.com.
Redemption’s Kiss
Ann Christopher
MILLS & BOON
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To Richard
A million thanks to writer pals Kristina Cook,
Lori Devoti, Laura Drewry, Caroline Linden,
Sally MacKenzie and Eve Silver for their invaluable
friendship and support, and especially to Naked Sally,
for helping me with a crucial plot point.
Dear Readers,
Disgraced former governor Beau Taylor has nothing to live for and no one to care if he dies. Once, long ago, he had everything in the palm of his hand: career, prestige and, best of all, the love of Jillian, the woman he’s always worshipped. But then things went horribly wrong, he made poor choices and he lost it all, including his zest for life.
These days, he drinks, parties and fills the excruciating hours with meaningless women. Every day he hates himself just a little bit more than yesterday. Every day he searches for a reason to exist and comes up empty.
And then, in a nightmarish flash, everything changes.
Suddenly, Beau has a second chance at life, one he’s determined not to waste. Now, nothing will stop him from healing his damaged soul and becoming a worthwhile human being. Nothing will stop him from becoming the world’s best father to his precious little girl. Nothing will stop him from becoming a deserving partner to Jillian, and reclaiming her love. Nothing.
I hope you enjoy reading Beau and Jillian’s story as much as I enjoyed putting them back together!
Happy reading,
Ann Christopher
P.S. Please look for my next Kimani Romance, which will be part of the Love in the Limelight series, in October!
Chapter 1
Beau Taylor wasn’t sober, but he wasn’t drunk, either.
Luckily, the Miami night was young enough for him to change that.
Drinking took the edge off. Drinking was good. Drinking was necessary.
How else could he survive in the toxic waste dump of his life without some sort of buffer between him and reality?
As the disgraced former governor of Virginia, Beau was only slightly higher on the social scale than, say, venereal warts, but after a couple of drinks—preferably scotch on the rocks—he could look on the bright side. People thought he was scum. That being the case, it was easy to fulfill their low expectations.
Perfect, eh?
If he wanted a drink, he’d drink. If there were a party somewhere, he’d go. If he met a woman who was beautiful and willing, he’d screw her. Why shouldn’t he? Because he’d disappoint someone who loved him? Easy solution there: no one loved him.
So he found his consolations where he could. Living in Miami, with its astonishing array of after-dark activities, helped. There were always clubs to discover and drinks and women to be savored.
Lucky him.
He was momentarily between clubs, but no worries. A quick glance outside the limousine’s darkened windows showed the Intracoastal Waterway streaking by and the city stretched out before him like a glittering jewel.
Man, he enjoyed Miami.
He also enjoyed being rich, one of the benefits of the beer distributorship his late father started back in the day.
Thanks, Dad.
Having money had its pluses, and riding in style was one of them. Every car should have plush leather seats, a fully stocked bar, a discreet driver and a privacy divider. Beau enjoyed riding in limousines.
Sabrina