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CHAPTER 25
Sad as that might be, it was the truth. From the time she was young, Regina had dreamed of having someone who would want her for herself. Not because she fulfilled a role as their daughter. Not because of the money she could provide. Not because of the services she had to offer. Someone who wanted Regina Duquesne… well, just because.
Damien wanted her for a lot of reasons. But when he held her in his arms, she felt as if he wanted her for herself. She simply wanted to feel that one more time. There were too many reasons why she couldn’t have him forever.
A knock sounded on the door to the outer hallway. Regina stared at it for a moment, a feeling of inevitability settling over her. Just as she rose up on her elbows, the door opened. Damien stepped inside, then closed the door with a firm click.
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TO HAVE AND TO HOLD CHAPTER 26
After they made love, Damien lay spooned around Regina’s back. He had never been the cuddling type. But he’d been drawn here with no other explanation than that... And it felt so damn right to do it and to do it with her. The whole time they’d lain together, his hands had been moving like a slow, lazy river, stroking over whatever skin was within reach… her arms, back, hips, thighs, even demanding access to her breasts and stomach. Regina was addictive like she was his personal brand of drugs. He couldn’t stop. He had to touch her, to breathe her scent. Beneath his touch, a fine tremble ran through Regina. Like a purring kitten, her body showed its appreciation, maybe even without her permission. Damien knew he shou
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD CHAPTER 27
She’d seen it so often, Regina wished she could tell him he wasn’t the only one but didn’t want to risk scaring him off by getting too deep. Instead, she settled for something simpler, to help Damien ease up a little. “You haven’t spent much time in a sickroom.” His eyes widened slightly before his face resumed an emotionless mask.“Does it show that much?” Sighing, Regina sank into her chair on the opposite side of the bed. Why had she thought he would make this easy on either of them? She smiled down at Iris, the woman who’d become a surrogate mother to her before the older woman’s accident. Her heart ached with the guilt of her involvement.“It’s alright, you know… It’s often hard for family a
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD CHAPTER 28
“We’re a little too early for a harvest festival, which is what we put together for the high school last year. How can we fine-tune this summer fair, ladies?” Regina asked. Surrounding her was a group of women who loved working together for the good of the community, and were known as the go-to choice for getting things done. They weren’t from the country club like Candy’s set, who simply threw money at a charity to be seen doing it. Just good women who worked hard and had fun.“I’m so excited,” Billie Walker said, clapping her hands together like a happy little kid. “It’s been a long time since we had a true country fair. Or anything more than that awful carnival set up in the high school parking lot.” Lana Simmons jumped in, too.“And the fairgrounds are still in really good
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD CHAPTER 29
Life often moved in directions Regina never expected. She had spent a lifetime going to movies and restaurants alone, hanging out in coffee shops and bookstores on her days off. But as she looked around the dinner table a month later, she finally understood that she was no longer alone. That’s what family was for. And she had claimed the people around her as hers, for as long as they would let her.“I have an idea,” she said, gaining the attention of the table. Everyone was in their usual places, one end full now that Joshua had rejoined them and Lucas had been able to clear a brief few days for his appearance at the fair. Briar and June peeked through the door from the kitchen.“I think we should go to the fair. Together.”“The fair?” June said
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD CHAPTER 30
“Are you coming inside?” Damien asked. Regina had been strangely silent on the way home. She got that way sometimes, and he’d learned to give her space to think. In fact, he’d taken a few unnecessary turns on the drive. The late summer night enclosed them in patchy fog, and a cool breeze blew through the open windows. It had been so long since he’d been at ease with anyone, especially in that kind of silence, that he hadn’t wanted it to end. Yet here they were, looking at each other through the open window of the truck. Lucas, Joshua, and June had long ago returned to the house, which was silent and barely lit. Damien wanted to scoop Regina into his arms and carry her to their bedroom, but something held
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD CHAPTER 31
Damien ran his fingers through the hair and sighed, then twisted her way. His expression was extremely preoccupied.“Hey, gorgeous,” he said slowly, those whispered words reaching through her confusion. “Sorry to wake you.”“No problem, Damien. I was already awake…” ‘He is about to leave… to leave the mansion… to leave all of them again… leave her…’ she thought. Feeling a cold shiver going up and down her spine, Regina pulled the comforter tight around her, wishing she wasn’t naked. The protection of her clothes would be a big comfort right now.“What’s going on? It’s something wrong in New York?”“There’s been a water leak at the warehouse. The alarms ale
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD CHAPTER 32
Regina’s bare feet ghosted over the back lawn, damp from the evening’s dew. She couldn’t stand being cooped up in the house anymore. Damien had been gone five days. The amount of time Stanton had informed Joshua he was prearranged to be away. After tonight, they would be in violation of the will. Damien hadn’t contacted her personally, so she had no idea if he planned to be home by morning... or not. Or if he’d ever come back… She wished she had the option of escape, even if only for a few hours. Instead, she’d waited until June headed out for Wednesday night church. The sympathetic looks were more than she could handle.“I must have been out of my mind… To let things go so far…” she said while walking slowly.&nb
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD CHAPTER 33
The men looked at each other, then around the back lawn. Damien’s whole body tightened.“I guess she didn’t come out,” Joshua said. “Maybe she must still be in the house… with mom.” Briar was already shaking his head as Damien spoke.“Have you ever known her to not be involved in something with this household?” He turned to sprint toward the cabin, adrenaline surging through his veins.“I thought the cabin was locked,” Joshua yelled from beside him as they ran. It seemed like forever before they reached the clearing now dusky with smoke. A quick glance back showed the other men were headed their way, loaded down with hoses and buckets.
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