Caiden (A MacLaughlin Family Novella Book 2) (7 page)

Lorelei sucked in a quick breath. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Lizzy shrugged. “Gotta play the cards I have. You’re not the one with three overbearing brothers who verbally pound any guy into dust that I so much as wink at.”

“I think he could give a good pounding right back, personally.” Lina took a sip of her wine and smiled. Lorelei and Lizzy burst into giggles and Lina tried not to choke on her wine.

“Changing the subject, you are practically glowing, Lina. Anything you would like to share about your recent activities? Say around eleven when mom called Caiden’s house three times…” Lorelei tapped her foot and grinned.

Heat washed through her cheeks and she gulped.
Oh, hell no! So, not talking about my sex life with you two.
“I’m going to go help Susan check on the food.”

“Sure.” The two women echoed as she moved through the dining room to the kitchen where Susan MacLaughlin was busy mixing something in a pot on the stove.

“Hi, sweetie. Are the girls teasing you?”

She nodded and took another sip of her wine. “Can I help you with anything?”

“Sit right there in that barstool and chat with me while I get everything into serving dishes.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She slid into the open seat and glanced around the ranch style kitchen. It was warm. Wood paneling, soft ivory walls, and accents of apple red scattered around the kitchen was inviting. Caiden’s kitchen needed some accents. Some color.

“Are you staying with my son?”

“I don’t understand. I’m staying in his house, but you know that.”

“No, hon. Are you staying with my son or are you going back to Arizona?”

“She’s staying, Mom,” Caiden’s voice rumbled from the doorway.

“Good,” Susan answered and spooned out a huge amount of mashed potatoes from a pot on the stove into a large pottery bowl. She handed the filled bowl to Caiden and pointed to the dining room. He turned and left with it.

“Do you love my son?”

“I do, very much, Mrs. MacLaughlin.”

“Good. That’s all I need to know.” She smiled and handed her a basket of rolls. “Would you go put this on the table?”

Lina nodded and walked out of the kitchen. She placed the basket on the table and jumped when Caiden laid both hands on her shoulders and squeezed. “You okay?”

“I’m good.”

“You sure? My family can be a handful.”

She glanced around the dining room and smiled back at him. “I look forward to the adventure.”

The room cheered. Lizzy and Lorelei raised their glasses. “To adventure!”

Everyone else raised their drinks and echoed them. “Life is never boring when there are MacLaughlin’s in the mix,” Ethan added.

“And always filled with love and laughter,” Susan added from the kitchen doorway, holding a large chocolate iced cake.

“Here, Here!” The group cheered again.

“Happy birthday, son. I’m so pleased to see you so happy.”

“Yeah, brother. It’s good to see that the woman in your life isn’t a hunk of steel with an engine,” Harvey added, laughing.

“Hey, there’s always room for a good American muscle car, or two, in a person’s life!” Lina shot back and grinned.

Harvey rolled his eyes. “Oh no! She’s a car person too!”

Caiden wrapped an arm around her hip and squeezed. He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “I love you Lina Mathews,” he whispered into her ear.

“I love you too, Caiden MacLaughlin.”

 

THE END

HARVEY

 

It’s just a game…right?

 

Olivia Hampton never thought she’d run into the guy of her dreams at a Gaming Convention, but when Harvey MacLaughlin introduces himself, a woman can’t help but notice. He’s six and a half feet of tall-dark-and-yummy. Plus, he's a gamer too. But, how do you tell the man of your dreams you decimate him at Soldier’s Call, the most popular FPS game of the year, almost every night?

 

Harvey MacLaughlin was interested in Olivia the second she stepped on the plane. When he sees her again in the convention hotel, introducing himself becomes priority number one. He may have started out just looking for company, but what he finds in the beautiful Olivia Hampton may be more than he ever dreamed.

 

Will a secret between them ruin their budding relationship? Or will Harvey take another path and turn the game on her?

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Romance author, Krystal Shannan, lives in Texas and is married to the love-of-her-life. They have a spunky young daughter who believes in fairies. Krystal professes to loving shoes, but avoids wearing them at all costs. She teaches in the public schools and writes as much as she can in her free time. If any more spare time can be squeezed from her day, she enjoys reading romance in all genres, but especially paranormal.

If it has a 'Happily Ever After', she's on board!

 

She is an active member in her local RWA chapter DARA.

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If you enjoyed the book you just read, you might like some of her other titles as well.

 

The MacLaughlin Family Series

Trevor

Caiden

Harvey

Lizzy

 

Vegas Mates Series, in order…

Chasing Sam

Saving Margaret

Waking Sarah

 

Pool of Souls Series, in order…

Open House

Finding Hope

 

Stand
-alone titles…

A Very Russian Christmas

Just Right, 1 Night Stand Series

 

 

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