Do you have the Christmas Spirit? Kate Hill does...

Kate Hill Bio:

Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who started writing over twenty years ago for pleasure. Since 1996, she has sold over one hundred short stories, novellas, and novels.

She prefers to blend genres, and she loves horror and a happily ever after, so her books can be a bit unusual. If you're looking for romance with witches, aliens, vampires, angels, demons, shapeshifters and more, there's a good chance you'll find something to your taste in her backlist.

When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, and watching horror movies. She also writes under the name Saloni Quinby.

Contact Info:

katehill2@yahoo.com

Author Links:

Website:https://kate-hill.com/

Blogs:https://kate-hill.com/blog/

Compelling Beasts Blog:https://kate-hill.com/compellingbeastsblog/

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Hill/e/B002BLS7OW

Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-hill

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16157.Kate_Hill

Twitter:https://www.twitter.com/katehill.romance

Twitter for Compelling Beasts: https://www.twitter.com/compbeastsblog

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/KateH02

Q&A

Why do you write romance?

I write romance because it’s what I love to read. Initially, I started writing romance because I wasn’t finding enough action and horror elements in the romances that were popular when I was younger. Now it’s easier to find action and blood and guts in romance.

What makes a great romance hero?

My favorite type of hero is actually the antihero or a villain turned hero. I love heroes with flaws--ones who aren’t perfect, golden heroes.

What is your favorite book?

That’s hard to answer because there are so many great books. If I had to narrow it down, it would be a tie between the Three Musketeers and the Phantom of the Opera.

What was the hardest part about writing Spirits of Christmas?

The hardest part was writing a hero who constantly lived with fear. Lots of romance heroes have moments of fear or find themselves in frightening situations, but Joel has been dealing with deep fear since childhood. Though he has gone to extremes to prove himself fearless, he still must cope with a lot of terror resulting from childhood trauma.

What made Christa fun to write?

Christa is a self-confidant woman with a good sense of humor. She has a lot of compassion for others, even when she’s dealing with issues of her own. Also she’s not afraid to enjoy herself.

What did you use for inspiration when writing Spirits of Christmas?

I listened to a lot of Christmas music when I wrote the first draft. I also thought about what family and friends enjoy about the holidays and included some of their favorites into the story.

Spirits of Christmas (Wild Witches of Beaver Bay)

by Kate Hill

(Erotic Paranormal, Holiday)

Blurb:

On Christmas Eve twenty-five years ago, a brutal murder was committed at the house where Christa Wild works as a live-in maid. When the other servants leave for the holiday this year she stays behind, hoping that any spirits dwelling there will help her regain the psychic power she lost. She’s surprised when the intriguing but disturbed owner of the house appears several days before Christmas.

Action star Joel Connor has kept a terrible secret for most of his life. Despite his success as an athlete and actor, he is plagued by flashbacks of a gruesome attack that destroyed his family. This Christmas, Joel returns to the house where it happened to face the ghosts of the past, but finds he is not alone.

Joel and Christa are instantly attracted, but will his psychological state prevent them from finding peace and love?

Excerpt 1 (693 words):

In the kitchen down the hall, Christa took her phone out of her pocket, placed it on the counter, and turned on her favorite music app. She selected her Christmas play list and soon she was singing along with carols while mixing cookie dough.

Before long, she had a batch in the oven. The scent of warm chocolate filled the kitchen. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply.

“Mmm. Can’t wait for those to be finished, but in the meantime --” She sat at the table, pulled out her red glitter pen, and wrote notes in her Christmas cards. She’d mail them tomorrow and her family should get them in time for the holiday.

What was that?

She looked up from her cards, paused her music, and strained to listen. Had that been a car door closing?

“You’re getting paranoid, Christa. Get a grip, girl.”

Even if there was a car thief, in this neighborhood they wouldn’t go for her little economy car, but one of the pricey ones parked in front of the other huge houses down the street.

She nearly resumed the music app, but something didn’t feel right. Instead, she pocketed her phone, reached for the nearby frying pan, and stood. On her way to the foyer, her heart pounded. Was this how it happened to those poor people all those years ago? Had they heard their killer approach, or had he taken them totally by surprise?

The key turned in the door. Christa furrowed her brow. Only other members of staff had a key. Someone must have forgotten something and returned for it.

“Hello?” Christa tried to sound firm. “Who’s there? I’m warning you, I’m armed.”

“Then I’m calling the cops, because you’re trespassing on my property.”

That calm, precise male voice wasn’t familiar to Christa, yet for some strange reason, she recognized it. She had never met the owner of the house, but she knew that he neither lived in nor rented it. Was it possible that he had decided to visit today? If so, he probably hadn’t expected any servants to be here. They were supposed to be on Christmas vacation.

“How do I know you’re the owner?”

The door burst open, slamming into Christa and knocking her onto the wooden floor. She landed, her scream turning to a grunt. Her frying pan flew from her hand and landed out of reach. Cold wind and snow swirled around the slim man in a black coat and gloves who stood over her. Ice crystals covered his sleek, dark hair. A fierce expression on his angular face, he glanced around the foyer. Blue-gray eyes, like slivers of crystal, glanced from Christa to the frying pan. Not only did he sound familiar, but he looked familiar, too.

“Is that your weapon?” He didn’t smile, but she sensed his amusement. “I think if I were in the kitchen, I’d have picked up a knife instead, but whatever.” He held up his keys. “Like I said, I own the house. What’s your excuse for being here?”

“I work here.”

He raised a groomed eyebrow. “Oh, really? Then why aren’t you on vacation with the rest of the staff?”

“I --”

“Are you responsible for these atrocious decorations?” He strode past her to glance in the living room.

“I’m sorry. I thought I’d be alone here.”

“So did I,” he murmured before pulling out his cell phone and taking her picture.

“What the hell are you doing?”

He held up a finger for silence while he made a call. “Frank, yes. It’s Joel. The picture I just sent. Does that girl work here?”

“That’s a good idea.” Christa pulled out her cell, took his photo, and texted it to Frank -- the butler in charge of the house -- along with a note asking for confirmation of the man’s identity.

“You don’t know me?” A smile flirted with his slim lips.

She lifted her chin. “Why should I know you? I’ve worked here a month and have never met the owner of the house.”

“Do you ever go to the movies?”

Christa curled her lip. “Are you asking for a date? Now?”

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Enjoying Bones MC? Be on the look out for Bones MC 3: Sword...

Magenta: The day my mom took up with Black Reign was the worst day of my life. She became ol’lady for their president. I became another whore for the club to push around. To hurt. And they all loved to hurt me. Especially Handlebar. I didn’t conform, didn’t obey like they thought I should. I fought them at every turn because death was preferable to living this life. Beaten, downtrodden, I was about to be given to yet another man. This one, however, was the scariest man I’d ever seen. He was intent on having me on his own turf and I wasn’t sure I would survive.

Sword: The second I saw the slight young thing being beaten by that ogre of a man, something inside me I’d thought leashed broke free. A demon better left in check reared his head and I knew she would be mine no matter what. I got her, but she came with bigger problems than I was prepared to deal with. Not that it mattered. I’m Bones MC. We don’t give up and we protect our own. Even against The Devil himself…

***WARING!*** Bones MC has no pussies. These men are rough around the edges and fight as hard as they love. You can expect violence -- some that may have triggers -- and smoking hot sex. If either is something you object to, you should pass. Otherwise, expect a HEA and a man who always satisfies his woman.

EXCERPT!

She was in Sword’s arms. In a ridiculously small bed. Fully clothed in his shirt and sweatpants. At some point, she’d sprawled out on top of him, her hair tangling them together like silk bindings. One of his big hands rubbed soothingly up and down her back in comfort. That hand seemed to span the entire width of her back as he moved it over her skin lazily.

Magenta remembered him sliding into the bed with her, wrapping her up in his arms as they’d talked. Their conversation spun through her mind like a carousel. Did she believe everything he’d told her? She wanted to. Though she knew better, Magenta decided she’d believe him until he misplaced her trust. Didn’t mean she’d do it blindly though. Maybe she should lay it all out for him.

“You’re fine, girl,” he murmured sleepily. “We got an hour before we need to get up.”

“You know, if you’re trying to make me give up information on Black Reign, I’m more than happy to do it without you making me empty promises. Just promise you won’t make me go back, and I’ll tell you everything I know. That’s the only promise I want or need.”

He sighed, as if disappointed. “I just want another hour,” he grumbled. “Fine. Magenta, I promise I won’t make you go back. Think I said that earlier. Now, go back to sleep. You can spill it all later.”

“You’re kind of a grumpy bear when you wake up, aren’t you?”

Again, he grunted, but tightened his arms around her.

“What are you going to do? You left a man in the clubhouse so you can’t just blaze.”

With an exasperated grunt, Sword rolled them both, maneuvering so that he lay sprawled on top of her, his arms still wrapped around her. He nuzzled her neck, his lips grazing her skin in a soft caress. “Hush now. I need this last hour.” He didn’t stop moving his mouth over her neck.

“Stop,” she whispered, even as she lifted her chin and tilted her head to give him better access. What was wrong with her? Was she going to let him take advantage of her? God, her body had suddenly come alive! Shivers coursed through her, and she realized that, for the first time in her life, she was welcoming a man’s touch.

“I will if you want,” Sword said, even as he licked her flesh with one swipe of his flattened tongue. “Seems like you don’t know what you want. You didn’t push me away. Instead, if I’m not mistaken, your little nails are diggin’ into my back like you’re trying to hold me to you.” He sounded drowsy. Sexy. Like he was her lover waking her for morning sex.

“I -- I don’t know…”

“It’s OK,” he said between nips and scrapes of his teeth. “I’m not gonna take too big a bite out of you. At least not here or now.” He let his lips wander from her neck to her collarbone and back, never venturing into forbidden territory but arousing her like she’d never been before. “When we go to confront Black Reign, you’re staying here with Trucker.”

“You’ll need every man you have,” she breathed out, scarcely able to form a coherent thought beyond the fact that she wanted to cradle his head and push him to her aching breasts. “Crow will annihilate you if you don’t. In fact, call in help. He’s trying to lull you into a false sense of security before he springs whatever trap he has ready.”

“I promise you, the four men we’re takin’ into that clubhouse will be better equipped to deal with that entire club than Crow will be to deal with the four of us. But, you’re right. We called in reinforcements last night. There will be some friends of ours coming to help. Should be here in a little over an hour.” He shifted his weight off her just a little, just enough for her not to feel trapped. Then he laid his head on her chest and kissed the swell of her breast. “So I’d like to get my…” he raised his head to look back over his shoulder at the clock on the wall next to them, “fifty-four minutes.”

“Yeah. So would me and Viper.”

“If you guys need to get a room, you should have said something instead of staying out all fuckin’ night ridin’.”

“You two shut the fuck up. I’m determined to get my ‘fifty-four minutes’.”

“Fifty-three now, bro. Shut up your own damned self.”

Magenta didn’t know what to think or say. Lying with Sword like this was too intimate for strangers, but, strangely, not uncomfortable. All kinds of things went through her mind. Like if the others expected him to have sex with her right there. Did he expect that? If she gave in and embraced the sensations he kindled, would he humiliate her like Black Reign did? And what about Trucker? If everyone thought she’d given in to Sword, would they expect her to service them as well?

“Just relax,” Sword whispered. “No one is gonna hurt you.”

“You keep saying that.”

“You need to hear it.”

“Does me hearing it make it any truer than if you never said it?”

There was a long silence, and Magenta thought he’d dozed off. Then he lifted his face and kissed her throat, blazing a hot trail to her lips where he lingered a moment before pushing off her and getting to his feet. “I’ll wake you before we leave,” he whispered. “Get some more sleep. It will be a long ride home.”

With that, he hopped up onto the bunk above her. Immediately, Magenta felt his rejection like a brutal punch. Realistically, she knew she couldn’t have it both ways. She either wanted his touch or she didn’t. She was scared. Had voiced her reservations about how safe she was with him. He’d responded with the only option open to him.

PRE-ORDER LINK COMING SOON!

Want more of Bones MC? Enjoy the first two books while waiting for Sword!

Only one more week until the release of Bohannon...

Bones MC 2: Bohannon is almost here! With the release, I'll also be giving away two $5 Amazon gift cards to two lucky members of my newsletter. Not a member of my newsletter yet? That's OK! You can sign up on this very blog! Sign up form is on the right sidebar.

Now, for a sneak peek at BOHANNON!

“Look,” she said, resigning herself to whatever fate awaited her. “I can’t stay here. I have to work. If I miss, I’ll get fired, and I can’t afford that. Besides the fact I need a place to live, I’ve got several loans to pay back before I’m truly free of Markus’s legacy, no matter what’s happened to him.” Bohannon just looked at her. “I mean, I can’t just not pay back what I owe.” Still he said nothing. “I have to work, Bohannon! I have to!” She was getting a little desperate. Though Luna knew he wasn’t letting her go, would likely use her part on the earlier misadventure to force her to stay, she had to try.

“You done?”

Fucker.

When she didn’t respond, he nodded once in a crisp movement. “Good. You’ll stay here until we fix this. After that?” He shrugged. “We’ll see.”

“What do you mean ‘we’ll see?’ You can’t keep me here if I don’t want to stay!”

Bohannon took the two steps separating him from her and pushed her against the nearby wall. When her hands automatically went to his chest, pushing at him, he snagged both wrists and pinned them above her head in one of his big hands. Luna gasped, her mind telling her she was afraid. Her body told an altogether different story.

It was stupid. He was asserting his dominance over her, not in a sexual context, but in a way to tell her not to go against him. To do as he commanded. Yet, she recognized the dominant lover he would be. His large body so completely dwarfing hers he could manhandle her, use her body for his pleasure and, as perverse as it was, the thought turned her on more than she’d ever experienced before.

Her breasts ached for his touch. When he pinned her body between his big frame and the wall, she nearly moaned in delight as his chest mashed against hers. Could he feel her nipples stabbing him? Did she want him to? It was all Luna could manage to not lift her leg to hook around his hip and thrust her pussy at him in invitation.

“No one said you’d stay here against your will,” he grated. His voice was husky. Menacing.

Sexy.

Luna couldn’t speak. She could be as cutting as the next bitch, but this man was so far out of her league she couldn’t form words. He oozed sex and violence. A combination she’d thought she never wanted to experience. Yet, she had the feeling there was nothing this man could do to her she wouldn’t enjoy. He was nothing like her. He lived in a world where the rules were vastly different, even though they resided in the middle of civilized society. What startled -- and scared -- her the most was to realize exactly how much she wanted Bohannon in that moment. Despite the situation, despite the circumstances, this was still her Gage. Her mind might scream “no,” but her heart screamed a resounding “yes.”

When she didn’t say anything, simply stood passively beneath him trying to process her own lust, he gave her a humorless grin. The look said he knew exactly what she was struggling with and welcomed it.

“I never keep women who don’t want to be kept. But I’ve been known to make more than one good girl turn rogue.”

The second her little whimper of need escaped, Bohannon took possession of Luna’s mouth. He knew he was being a bastard, but he’d been wanting to kiss her from the moment she’d stepped out of that goddamned truck. She was too beautiful. Too innocent. If he’d had any decency in him at all, he’d have locked her in his room and left. That wasn’t happening. He’d take whatever she wanted to give him and coax a few things she didn’t. When it was over, they’d go their separate ways and remember the pleasure they’d shared as a fond memory.

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Bones MC 2: Bohannon.. COVER REVEAL

And now! The moment you've all been waiting for! Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card. Join Marteeka's newsletter by clicking the Amazon gift card to the left and be automatically entered. YOU MUST BE SUBSCRIBED TO MARTEEKA'S NEWSLETTER TO ENTER TO WIN THE GIFT CARD! If you see this post on social media, click the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON AT THE VERY BOTTOM. By entering, you are giving Marteeka Karland permission to add you to a subscribe list. This is the way you will be notified if you win. Everyone who subscribes to this specific list will be notified when the gift cards are awarded. The only e-mail you will receive from this list is regarding the gift card give away, or to notify you that you've been subscribed to this list. Cover Reveal - Bones 2: Bohannon Luna: Never in a million years did I think I’d meet up with my childhood hero like this. Beaten down and scared out of my mind, my heart dropped when I realized who had me. I’ve never been so humiliated in my life, but Gage Bohannon the man was even harder to resist than the ridiculous fantasy I’d held in my mind. Bohannon: I’ve never kept a woman who don’t want to be kept. But I’ve made more than one good girl turn rogue. If I had any decency in me at all, I’d have locked her in my room and left her alone. Instead, I’ll take whatever she wants to give me and coax a few things she doesn’t. CHANGELING AMAZON iTUNES Other titles by Marteeka Caption goes here Caption goes here Start Shopping ©2019 Marteeka Karland, LLC | Monticello, KY 42633

Can you feel it in your Bones?

Are you ready to meet Bohannon?

If he’d had any decency in him at all, he’d have locked her in his room and left. That wasn’t happening. He’d take whatever she wanted to give him and coax a few things she didn’t.

“I never keep women who don’t want to be kept. But I’ve been known to make more than one good girl turn rogue.” -- Gage Bohannon, aka Slayer, aka Bohannon

Come see what all the fuss in about in Somerset, Kentucky. Just don't mess with Bones...

***This book contains violence and questionable morals. Not to mention sex that is off the charts. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely hot enough to scorch the Autumn nights.***

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Are you ready for a new kind of hero?

A Shadow Demon, hell-bent on protecting his city…

Alexei Petrov has more money than he can ever spend in many lifetimes, but his life is more than glitz and glamour. Behind the scenes, Alex is part of an elite group working in the shadows, hunting down those who would prey on the most vulnerable in the city. Which is how he found the most desirable women he’s ever seen.

A young mother in fear for the life of her child…

Merrily fled with her daughter with death on her heels. She has no idea what her father has done, but he’s managed to throw her and little Bellarose into the middle of a war. Scared, hunted, Merrily gets caught in the crossfire of what looks like a gang war, but it’s something far more sinister. A desperate flight lands her in the arms of Alexie Petrov. Literally. And the man is everything she knows she can never have but wants with every fiber of her being.

Nowhere to hide…

Even tucked safely away in the home of the richest, most powerful man in the city of Rockwell, Merrily’s past finally catches up with her. Bellarose’s father has come calling, and hell is hot on his heels. Fleeing seems like her only option, but Alex is just as dangerous as anything headed her way. And far too seductive and possessive for her peace of mind. Though she knows he will only break her heart, Merrily can’t resist the lust that burns between them and soon finds herself more than infatuated with the man. Needing to prove her worth, Merrily knows she’s up for the challenge. Welcomes it. But just who are the demons in the night? And why does she welcome this one’s embrace?

EXCERPT!

"Son of a bitch, she's good," Giovanni muttered in awe, sweat pouring from his face. Alex tried not to react, but wasn't quite sure he suppressed his smirk. For the last week, Giovanni had put Merrily through a battery of tests to determine her proficiency with software, hardware, and programming. Giovanni had been more than a little condescending when they'd first started. The man truly had no idea how to behave in the company of people he didn't know. Merrily hadn't once pushed back, doing anything he asked of her without complaint or comment.

Currently, she was supposed to be trying to hack him. Gio had set up a controlled environment in a computer she was supposed to break into. He'd set her up across the room so neither could see what the other was doing and sent her to work. Two hours into it, Gio had stopped smirking and throwing little digs her way and started actively trying to keep her out. Five hours later, he’d started swearing under his breath. Both of them had fingers flying over the keys, but in contrast to Giovanni, Merrily had a serene visage, actually humming to herself as if thoroughly enjoying the experience.

"Ha," Gio exclaimed softly. "Thought you had me, didn't you…" He trailed off a second before the alarm on his real system started blaring an angry, urgent claxon.

"What the fuck?" Azriel pulled his gun, tracking around the room, looking for an intruder.

"Oh, come on!" Giovanni jumped up, knocking his chair over. He hastily hopped behind what he lovingly referred to as his "command center," which consisted of a wall of monitors and his work station. All the monitors were flashing an angry red with the words "SECURITY BREACH" blazoned in big white, flashing letters. Giovanni looked around, confused. "Why is it doing that? It's not supposed to flash on the monitors or make such a racket. What the fuck?"

The monitor in the very center switched to a black screen with code in white lettering flying up it in a blur. "No, no, no! That's impossible!" Giovanni pressed a few buttons, his gaze focused squarely on the monitor until he finally dove under the desk and unplugged the whole thing. The silence was deafening. The monitors dark.

"Uh, what just happened?" Alex asked. He'd also pulled his gun, unsure of what to do but making damned sure he was ready if there was a need. It wasn't until that very moment he realized he'd sprinted across the room to cover Merrily. He'd done it without thought or telling Azriel what he was doing.

Giovanni crawled out from under the desk to collapse in his chair. Sweat streamed down his face, his red/orange hair a disheveled mess. A stunned expression met Alex when they locked gazes. "I got… hacked." The voice that had been filled with sarcasm and cutting comments was now shaken and more than a little awed. "I got hacked," he repeated. "I… got hacked."

"All right there, buddy," Azriel said, helping Giovanni to stand. "I think this calls for a double malt. Right this way." He urged Gio to the bar in the corner of the room and poured him a shot before swigging from the bottle himself. Gio downed his with a gasp and held his glass out for more. Once filled, he downed the second one with less drama before wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

Once more, he looked at Azriel as if he were in a daze. "I got hacked."

"Yeah, I got that," Alex said. "But who…" He glanced at Merrily, who was leaning back in her chair, fingers laced together over her belly, that serene, innocent expression firmly in place. Too innocent.

BUY!

Shadow Demon: Along Came A Demon... SNEAKY PEEK

What struck Merrily the most was the difference in his appearance. He was, of course, in an impeccable tuxedo that molded his large, muscular frame lovingly, obviously tailored to perfection. His broad shoulders tapered to his narrow hips. He'd been good looking before but now   he was devastating. That was only part of it. His expression was completely closed off, giving away nothing of what he was thinking. It had been much the same way before, but his eyes had been at least somewhat expressive as he stared into hers. Now, they were cold. Calculating. As if he saw and heard as much as she had and was making a mental note on every single indiscretion and how to use it against the transgressor. He might look like he was there drinking and having a grand time without a care in the world, but Alex was working that room even harder than she was. The only difference was, he intended to do something with the information he gleaned. Either that, or he was looking for something in particular.

Their eyes met and he held her gaze steadily. A tall, thin blonde draped herself over him, as if he was all hers. Merrily had no idea if they were together or not and that made her blush, turning away. What if she'd kissed another woman's man? She was many things, but she'd never overstep like that.

She tried to keep moving, finding the pattern she was supposed to follow again away from Alex, but people kept snagging food from her tray. With any luck, she'd run out soon.

"I don't understand why you don't use this fundraiser for the local animal shelter, Alex," the blonde pouted. She'd burrowed so close to his side, she was practically fused there. "The city has enough homeless shelters. Besides, who wants that element in our city anyway?" She purred her stinging, insensitive comment, as if she were so much better than people like Rose and Merrily.

"There are always those in need, Victoria," Alex said with a shrug. "People are more willing to take in a stray cat than a person."

"Maybe so, but shouldn't they be getting jobs or something? I mean, handouts only mean more handouts." There were a few murmurs, but no one outright agreed or disagreed with her.

"Spoken like a person who paid more for her shoes than she did for her admission donation." Merrily didn't realize she'd said it out loud until all eyes settled on her.

Victoria looked down her nose at Merrily, giving her a disdainful, scornful look. "I'll have you know, I'm on the board of directors for the Housing the Homeless committee. I guarantee you I know more about the city homeless shelters than you do, girl."

Merrily knew she should just duck her head and leave. Keep her mouth shut. To her horror, her mouth had other plans. "I know every shelter in this city but one is currently filled to capacity on one of the coldest nights of the year. The only one with any room is one of the scariest places I've ever been in." Before she could get her wayward mouth under control, she added, "But I'm sure with your superior knowledge of homeless shelters, you know all about the drug dealers and pimps taking over during the night. Why, I bet your sleeping bag is down there right in the middle of the room where you can be available to anyone who wants to talk to you about it after you leave here." She tilted her head. "Do you even know where all the homeless shelters are? Because I can name every one and tell you which street they sit on and the landmarks surrounding them."

Again, no one seemed to know whether to outright disagree so they kept quiet, looking to Alex for guidance. Merrily wanted to sink into the floor and disappear. She was more foolish than her mother had ever thought she was.

Alex gave a slight smile. "Our little Mary over there has yet to learn her place in my home, but I'd say she was well on her way." He didn't say it with menace or even as a reprimand, but Victoria took it as such. The blonde woman sneered and looked down her nose at Merrily once again. "Once she does, her words will have greater meaning."

"My name is not Mary," Merrily said between clenched teeth.

Alex shrugged, but met her gaze directly. "No. It's not."

"I suggest you leave now, little girl," Victoria snapped, cuddling even closer to Alex as if seeing Merrily as a threat instead of a servant. Merrily thought she might as well be trying to climb inside his jacket. "I assure you, you won't be here long." The carnivorous smile said she'd be the reason Merrily left. Apparently, they really were together. Alex gave Victoria the side eye, still not showing any discernible emotion. Maybe a little irritation, but Merrily had no idea if it was for her or Victoria.

"You could use a break," he said, waving his hand toward the kitchen. "Take fifteen minutes to yourself."

"Without pay," Victoria called. Merrily wanted to throw the tray at her and had to concentrate on turning around. If her body ran away as horribly as her mouth had, she'd be in a world of hurt.

"Alex!" A deep voice boomed from behind her and a burly man pushed past her, nearly knocking her down to make his way to Alex. To her horror she recognized the man. Daniel J. Maddison… the second. Rose's paternal grandfather.

Merrily felt the room closing in on her. She couldn't breathe. Alex had gotten her to tell him about Rose's father; now the very man who'd paid her mother for Merrily to get an abortion was in the same room with her. Talking to Alex!

BUY!