He drew back to ask softly, “Another nightmare, sweet pea?”
Claire stuck her bottom lip out in a pout as she nodded sadly.
“Spiders,” Katherine clarified.
Relief washed through him. Claire’s memories of the time she’d been abducted were slowly fading away. Nightmares about spiders were a welcome exchange. “You know I won’t let anything hurt you. Not even spiders.”
Claire shook her head. “No hurt spiders!”
Mason glanced to Katherine with a raised brow.
“Claire was trying to save the spider from a giant boot.”
“I see,” he murmured thickly as he slowly wrapped the little girl in a strong embrace. “You’re a kind, brave girl, you are.”
After a moment, Claire wriggled to be free. He released her and she immediately stuffed a huge bite of pastry in her mouth.
Katherine had come around to his side of the table and he turned to take her in his arms next. She melted against him, her arms encircling his neck as she raised her face for a kiss. It was quick and chaste, but it still stirred his blood.
“How is it going?” she whispered.
Pulling back, he looked into her eyes and felt a connection unlike anything he’d known before. It startled him sometimes.
He considered evading her question but knew it’d be futile. His jaw clenched. “It’s damned dangerous. Not for me. But Warfield...”
She frowned. “What can I do?”
He stopped her with a quick squeeze and a sharp shake of his head. “Nothing, luv.”
She nodded, but before she could reply, a newcomer in nightshirt and robe stumbled into the kitchen. Combing a hand back through sleep-tousled hair, Freddie glancing about in confusion. “What’s this?”
Mason gave a grunt. “Midnight nibbles. And you’re late.”
The boy angled his head to see past Mason and Katherine to the table. “What’ve we got, then?”
“Sweets!” Claire offered cheerily.
“Perfect.”
As Freddie stepped up to the table and began an intent discussion with Claire over which pastry he should choose, Katherine turned in Mason’s arms. But he wouldn’t let her step away. With her back pressed snug to his front, he doubled his arms around her and lowered his head to press a kiss to her temple.
Wife. Family. Home.
More words that were quickly becoming essential to his existence.
She sighed and dropped her head against his shoulder to smile up at him.
But the best one by far...was love.
Coming Soon from Amy SandasTENDER BLACKGUARD
Peril & Persuasion - Book Two
A childhood in the rookery taught Lark Evans two things; how to survive in a perilous world and that people deserving of loyalty are rare and precious. When her closest friend goes missing after sending a cryptic warning, Lark has only one option. She takes a position as housekeeper to the mysterious Lord Warfield, hoping to gain access to the dark and elegant world from which her friend disappeared.
Alastair Blackwell never wanted his father’s wealth and title, but upon the Marquess of Warfield’s death, he discovers a secret too malevolent to ignore. A secret that links back to Alastair’s mother and his own ignoble birth. To purge the demons of his past and prevent others from suffering a similar fate, he vows to destroy the arcane world his father once ruled.
As Lark creeps ever deeper into the shadows surrounding the gentlemen of Curzon Street, everything suggests her handsome, enigmatic employer is one of them. She fears her fascination with the man is clouding her better sense and diverting her from her purpose. Still...despite his cold, wicked gaze, her instinct urges her to trust him.
When Alastair looks into the rebellious gaze of his staid and proper housekeeper, he knows she’s hiding something. He soon discovers her quiet manner masks wounds as deep as his own and a heart far braver than any he’d ever known. He should keep her as far as possible from the evil she seeks, but she could be the key to ending it all.
TENDER BLACKGUARDNow available for pre-order!
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Also by Amy Sandas
Peril & Persuasion
Noble Scoundrel
Reformed Rakes Novella
Wicked
Dangerous
Brazen
Regency Rogues
Rogue Countess
Reckless Viscount
Rebel Marquess
Relentless Lord
Standalone
Kiss Me, Macrae
Reformed Rakes Box Set
Watch for more at Amy Sandas’s site.
About the Author
Amy grew up in a small dairy town in northern Wisconsin and after earning a Liberal Arts degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, she eventually made her way back to Wisconsin (though to a slightly larger town) and lives there with her husband and three children. She spends her early mornings writing before heading off to her day job. The rest of her time is spent trying to keep up with the kids and squeeze in some stolen moments with her husband.
Read more at Amy Sandas’s site.
