Tight Knit Forever
Two years after Denise joins our family, Saskia gets the go-ahead from the doctor to try for another baby. She won't do anything without his approval, taking childbearing very seriously. Three months later, she's pregnant with our last child, Randy. Like his sister, he's born with red hair but is blond by his toddler years. They both share Saskia's dark eyes.
Her pregnancy with Randy is very different from her first. Saskia doesn't suffer from depression and never fears the new baby will hate her. Most days, she walks around the property with Denise, speaking in Ukrainian. Our kids grow up bilingual while I learn enough of Saskia's native language to follow along with their conversations.
Saskia has her tubes tied during the c-section with Randy. She knows what she wants, and two children are it. As only children, we both love the idea of a girl and a boy.
Randy loves music, often joining me in the studio while I write songs. I begin teaching him to play the piano when he turns four. By ten, he jams on the guitar with me on the weekends. Although Randy loves playing loud music, he's reserved like his mother the rest of the time. The way he prowls silently through the house makes me think he'd be quite the killer if born into another life.
In our life, his quiet steps only mean he's great at scaring his sister. Not much else frightens Denise, who thinks my ghost shows and movies are lame. She also has no interest in music. The only hobby she shares with me is my love for shooting hoops out back. By the time Denise reaches junior high, she's six inches taller than her mother and the star point guard on the school basketball team.
When the kids are preteens, we visit Kiev to learn more about Saskia's home country. She worries about old enemies seeing us and decides to dress incognito the entire trip. The kids know enough about their mother's past to understand her disguises. They choose to wear them too. I'm the only one not wearing a goofy wig or hat the entire time.
Saskia lays flowers on Sela's grave. She doesn't cry while sitting on the cold ground and speaking quietly in Ukrainian. After a while, the kids join her. They're close to their mom as I am with mine. We're a tight family, and grandmas Ruth and Nell wait for us back at the hotel. My kids will never know the cold hard life Saskia suffered. Watching them together, I can only smile at how much they're alike. They share their mother's quiet demeanor and often-serious expressions. Their laughter mimics their mother's, and her lovely laugh helped me fall in love with Saskia.
The cold woman I met on the first day hasn't shown herself in a very long time. She wasn't the real Saskia anyway. From day one, I sensed a beautiful and warm woman hiding underneath.
High Voltage
Bijou Hunter
Copyright ? 2016 Bijou Hunter
Book Summary
The moment I meet the chauvinistic Dino, I plan to either hump him or beat him into submission. Likely both.
My name is Minka, and I like to be in control. I’m looking for a sensitive man capable of allowing me to call the shots. Instead I’m lusting over a big-mouth, sexy as hell retired mob hit man. For months, I’ve avoided the jerk and my craving for his hot bod. Now we’re alone on a job in a town with nothing to do except roll around naked.
Shifting loyalties, dodging bullets, spilling blood – nothing on this assignment is as scary as my growing desire for Dino.
1
Minka
From Hero to Zero in Thirty Seconds
The moment I meet Dino Bellomi, I know I’ll either fuck him or beat him into submission. The newest member of the Ramsey Security team was a big-shit hitman from New Jersey before moving to Houston. Expecting a dumb goomba, I’m not disappointed. I admit he’s yummier than I'd imagined when the company’s owner, Rafael, announced the hiring.
The sexy Italian killer enters the offices with the swagger of a man with skills both in and out of the bedroom. I’m wondering about the former when he gives me a magnetic smile and makes an announcement about me.
“I’m going to enjoy fucking this one,” he states for everyone in the office to hear.
I punch Dino, but he only laughs when I nail him in the jaw.
“Feisty chicks are great lays,” he tells Troy.
My ex-boyfriend glances between Dino and me. I know what Troy is thinking. He knows what I’m thinking, too. We’re best friends most days, but when he laughs at Dino’s comment, I punch him, too.
Two months pass before I make a decision while on my first assignment with the self-described “Sausage King.” No longer do I plan to choose between fucking Dino and beating him into submission. Both will happen soon. I just haven’t figured out in which order. Maybe even at the same time.