Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoy A Little Harmless Kalikimaka . Be sure to read Cynthia and Chris’ story in A Little Harmless Pleasure , now available in print and digital. A Little Harmless Obsession , Evan’s story, is coming in 2010 from Samhain Publishing.
Mele Kalikimaka,
Melissa
A Little Harmless Kalikimaka
Copyright 2009, Melissa Schroeder
Cover Art: www.ireadromance.com
This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are no construed to be real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely incidental.
All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief excerpts or quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
“Pussy whipped.”
Chris turned off his office computer and threw a nasty look at one of his best friends Evan Chambers .
“What did you just call me?”
“You heard me.”
The smile Evan offered him told Chris he was itching for a fight. Well, dammit he wasn’t going to give it to him. He didn’t want to propose to Cynthia with a black eye or busted lip.
And with Evan, there was always a chance that could happen.
“If you think I am, why did you insist on going with me to pick up the ring?” Evan shrugged. “You were acting like you needed moral support.” Chris did. Picking up the ring he had designed for Cynthia was the next to the final step in his plan for Christmas. They had slipped away after Cynthia left for work. And, he knew how much of a friend Evan was when he agreed to go to Kahala Mall on Christmas Eve.
But now they were back at Dupree’s, Chris’ restaurant, Chris was worried Cynthia would say no.
He knew she loved him. That he had not one doubt about. But, marriage, that was a whole other kettle of fish. She’d been engaged before, to one of his best friends. And he knew that she had been adamant that she would only marry when she felt as if she could trust a man. She trusted him…but was it enough?
“Why do you want to screw it all up with marriage?” Evan asked. He wasn’t being an ass. Evan just opposed any permanent relationships. Of course, with Evan’s childhood, Chris understood.
“I just do. I want the whole thing.”
“And if she says no?”
Chris shrugged and willed his second thoughts away. He wanted Cynthia as his wife, wanted her to be there by his side. And, he wanted children. He would do it without the ring and license if that is what she needed to be her. It had taken her a long time to find the true Cynthia and he would not do anything to damage that. It would drive him insane, but he would do it for her.
“You’re such a traditionalist,” Evan said as he chuckled.
It was a put down for anyone who lived the lifestyle. Who would think a man who lived as a switch would want all the trappings of marriage, but he did.
“What can I say? It probably has something to do with my upbringing.” Evan clapped his hand on Chris shoulder. “Tell you what. If she turns you down, just let me know. I’ll be happy to step in, help out.” Chris shot him a look that would have scared most men, but Evan smiled.
“Kiss ass, Chambers.”
Evan unfolded his length from one of the office chairs and stretched his arms above his head. “I gotta get going.”
“Plans?”
Evan shook his head. “I need some down time to recover from that crazy mall trip.” Chris cocked his head and studied his friend. Something had been bothering him, but he had yet to confide in Chris.
“Are you and Micah coming over tomorrow?”
Evan and Micah were business partners and friends. Neither had family and Cynthia had adopted them in a way.
Evan rubbed his stomach. “There is no way I am missing any of the cookies your magnolia has baked. We’ll be there around noon.” After the door shut behind Evan and
I hope you enjoy A Little Harmless Kalikimaka . Be sure to read Cynthia and Chris’ story in A Little Harmless Pleasure , now available in print and digital. A Little Harmless Obsession , Evan’s story, is coming in 2010 from Samhain Publishing.
Mele Kalikimaka,
Melissa
A Little Harmless Kalikimaka
Copyright 2009, Melissa Schroeder
Cover Art: www.ireadromance.com
This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are no construed to be real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely incidental.
All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief excerpts or quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
“Pussy whipped.”
Chris turned off his office computer and threw a nasty look at one of his best friends Evan Chambers .
“What did you just call me?”
“You heard me.”
The smile Evan offered him told Chris he was itching for a fight. Well, dammit he wasn’t going to give it to him. He didn’t want to propose to Cynthia with a black eye or busted lip.
And with Evan, there was always a chance that could happen.
“If you think I am, why did you insist on going with me to pick up the ring?” Evan shrugged. “You were acting like you needed moral support.” Chris did. Picking up the ring he had designed for Cynthia was the next to the final step in his plan for Christmas. They had slipped away after Cynthia left for work. And, he knew how much of a friend Evan was when he agreed to go to Kahala Mall on Christmas Eve.
But now they were back at Dupree’s, Chris’ restaurant, Chris was worried Cynthia would say no.
He knew she loved him. That he had not one doubt about. But, marriage, that was a whole other kettle of fish. She’d been engaged before, to one of his best friends. And he knew that she had been adamant that she would only marry when she felt as if she could trust a man. She trusted him…but was it enough?
“Why do you want to screw it all up with marriage?” Evan asked. He wasn’t being an ass. Evan just opposed any permanent relationships. Of course, with Evan’s childhood, Chris understood.
“I just do. I want the whole thing.”
“And if she says no?”
Chris shrugged and willed his second thoughts away. He wanted Cynthia as his wife, wanted her to be there by his side. And, he wanted children. He would do it without the ring and license if that is what she needed to be her. It had taken her a long time to find the true Cynthia and he would not do anything to damage that. It would drive him insane, but he would do it for her.
“You’re such a traditionalist,” Evan said as he chuckled.
It was a put down for anyone who lived the lifestyle. Who would think a man who lived as a switch would want all the trappings of marriage, but he did.
“What can I say? It probably has something to do with my upbringing.” Evan clapped his hand on Chris shoulder. “Tell you what. If she turns you down, just let me know. I’ll be happy to step in, help out.” Chris shot him a look that would have scared most men, but Evan smiled.
“Kiss ass, Chambers.”
Evan unfolded his length from one of the office chairs and stretched his arms above his head. “I gotta get going.”
“Plans?”
Evan shook his head. “I need some down time to recover from that crazy mall trip.” Chris cocked his head and studied his friend. Something had been bothering him, but he had yet to confide in Chris.
“Are you and Micah coming over tomorrow?”
Evan and Micah were business partners and friends. Neither had family and Cynthia had adopted them in a way.
Evan rubbed his stomach. “There is no way I am missing any of the cookies your magnolia has baked. We’ll be there around noon.” After the door shut behind Evan and
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