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Taken by Surprise

Taken by Surprise

Romance
last updateLast Updated : 2023-09-09
By:  Desiree HoltCompleted
Language: English
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31Chapters
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Synopsis

Mystery

Sweet Love

Girl Power

"Part One: TakenJessie Coford had a plan: work hard, save money, open her own restaurant. She sacrificed her relationship with the man of her dreams to get it. Then, in the blink of an eye, she lost her job and her apartment and her life crashed around her. Until a letter taking her to Fort Mavis, Texas, and an unexpected windfall.Part Two: TamedShea Prescott was astonished when million Cruz Castillo chose her to design his new home on his ranch. They hardly traveled in the same circles. But Cruz had been hot for Shea since he first saw her and at their first meeting the chemistry between them ignited. Cruz coaxed her deeper and deeper into a whirlpool of erotic sex, awakening latent sexual desires and bringing her orgasms beyond her wildest imaginings. Her body screamed yes at his every touch, but will she say yes to the most important question?USA Today best-selling and award-winning author Desiree Holt writes everything from romantic suspense and paranormal to erotic. and has been referred to by USA Today as the Nora Roberts of erotic romance, and is a winner of the EPIC E-Book Award, the Holt Medallion and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice nominee. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times and numerous other national and international publications.Taken by Surprise is created by Desiree Holt, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."

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Miley
Well written and edited. The first story is 13 chapters, so it's a quick read. It's a cute and steamy story without a lot of unnecessary drama.
2023-12-02 01:02:26
1
31 Chapters
Chapter 1
Part One: Taken by SurpriseHow was it possible my life can suck this much?Jessie Coford stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and asked herself that question for perhaps the hundredth time. Had she pissed off the gods of fate? Was Mercury in retrograde? Had she fallen into an alternate universe? All in all, as far as she was concerned, life was a bitch. Today was just the culmination of a runaway train of bad luck.Six months ago, everything had seemed to be going her way. Her fifteen-year plan was on target to build her reputation and finally open her own place. She'd been saving and scrimping and putting money aside from the day she graduated from culinary school and got her first job. She even knew exactly what kind of place it would be-a trendy café with interesting but excellent food that people stood in line for.She was a talented chef employed in one of Houston's upscale restaurants, with a growing reputation and expecting a significant raise. And in a fantast
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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Chapter 2
Jack Ward pulled his official county SUV into a parking space at the Fort Mavis Sheriff's Office and turned off the ignition. He sat for a moment in the vehicle, staring out at nothing and just enjoying it. He was glad he'd made the choice to leave Houston. As big as the city was, he didn't think it was large enough for both him and Jessie. He found himself looking for her every time he went to some place they'd been together. Like a lovesick idiot, he'd even driven to the restaurant where she worked, sap that he was, and sat outside waiting to get a glimpse of her.It was so not like him and he was driving himself nuts. He had not been able to understand how she could just walk away from him the way she had. Away from what they had. He'd never felt like this about a woman before and he was pretty damn sure her feelings were the same. The more he thought abut it, the angrier he got. He forced himself to think of her as selfish and self-centered, because that made the break easier to b
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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Chapter 3
God, I hope this isn't a disaster.Jessie had been repeating that mantra ever since she'd left Houston-and civilization-behind that morning. This was hardly what she'd seen as her future, but she had no choice. None. Nada. Zip. Whatever she found in Fort Mavis, she had to make it work. She was out of options.Maybe when she saw the restaurant and the house, she thought, she could contact a local realtor and sell them. But who knew how long that would take and who on earth would even buy it? Besides, a relative had left it to her and relatives were scarce in her life. She wanted to know who this woman really was and why she'd left all this to her. And it gave her a place to reorganize her life.She checked her watch. She'd been on the road since seven that morning, stopping only for lunch and bathroom breaks. She'd been driving now for eight hours already and wondered if she'd ever get where she was going. The GPS told her she only had another six miles, but with nothing but ranchlan
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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Chapter 4
As they walked through the house, Jessie could not stop herself from running her fingers over the gleaming polished wood of the furniture, or the silky feeling curtains at some of the windows. The high tech kitchen amazed her the most."I believe she tested new recipes here," the attorney told her. "She purely loved cooking."When they'd finished the tour, Jessie turned to him, excitement wriggling through her. "Are you sure it's really mine?"He nodded, smiling at her. "Not a doubt. In fact, you could even stay here. We got a housekeeper in when we knew you were on the way. You can see the house is clean, linens are clean. Utilities are still in place, although you'll need to get them switched over to you.""Stay here? Really?""It's all yours and ready for you." He handed her a key ring. "House and restaurant. There're two sets on there.""I'll be sure to keep one in a safe place," she assured him.Fort Mavis was a far cry from Houston. In fact, they were worlds apart. But her
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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Chapter 5
Jack stood at the front window of the general store, staring at the people outside. He had to be mistaken. There was no way in hell Jessie Coford would be here in Fort Mavis. He was pretty sure she'd never even heard of it. His stupid mind had to be playing tricks on him. Maybe it was because last night, just when he thought he'd gotten past it all, he had the most erotic dream about the two of them he'd ever had. When he woke up that morning, his cock was so hard and swollen he was afraid to bump into something and break it off. Even taking himself in hand in the shower hadn't done a lot to relieve the raging desire. His balls continued to ache all day, another painful situation.Get over her, asshole. She walked away from you. It's done. Over. Move ahead."Hey, Jack, I thought that was you." Lynne's voice sounded right at his ear.Speaking of moving ahead.He turned to find her close enough that her breath was a soft whisper against his skin. She was grinning at him with her full
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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Chapter 6
Jessie filled a mug with fresh coffee and stood in the back of the kitchen, catching her breath. She had barely slept last night. Sleep eluded her until she searched as thoroughly as possible for a letter from Delfina but nothing turned up. BY the time she got in bed everything was whirling in her brain so fast she had trouble falling asleep.She was, however, determined to start out n the right foot here. She had decided to look at this as a real opportunity, one that came to her when her life was taking a nosedive. And maybe, just maybe, she might like it enough to stay here. She had arrived at the diner promptly at five o'clock, meeting Alton and Rona in the rear parking area. They both looked slightly shocked that she'd actually showed up at this ungodly hour, but she had to show them she was serious. As things stood in her life, she might not have another choice.Oh, she could always find a new apartment in Houston and look for another restaurant to hire her. But she'd be low m
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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Chapter 7
She could tell from the look on his face he was still shell-shocked. The woman with him, a slender strawberry blonde, looked as if she was trying to decide whether to be gracious, friendly, just curious, or pissed off."Uh, Jessie?" He stared up at her. "Is it really you?""Sure is." She was determined to be Miss Bright and cheerful if it killed her. "I'm very surprised to see you here. I didn't think you'd ever leave Houston."He scowled. "I could say the same for you."She shrugged. "Oh, well. You never know when an opportunity will come your way. You folks about ready to order?"Folks? If I said "folks" in my last place of employment, they would have sent me back to culinary school."Jack?" Miss Strawberry Blonde curved her bright red lips into a smile that had little humor in it. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your little friend?"Little friend? Jessie wanted to pour coffee on her head.Jack looked as if he'd rather swallow nails. "Lynne, this is Jessie Coford. She an
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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Chapter 8
Jack had debated with himself about doing this, confronting her, but he wanted to know what the hell she was doing in Fort Mavis. He'd moved halfway across Texas to leave her and the memories behind and here she was, bringing it back like a bad penny. How could she just show up in his life like this when she'd put her fancy career ahead of him and walked away? He didn't know whether to strangle her or kiss her, and that in itself made him mad."Just what the hell are you doing in Fort Mavis?"If he expected her to be intimidated, he was way off the mark. He should have known better. Jessie was a spitfire who wasn't unsettled by anything. At least not that she showed.She glared at him. "I could ask you the same thing.""I have a job here," he growled."And I inherited a business," she snapped.They stared at each other."So you didn't follow me here? Trying to patch things up?" Now that was a stupid thing to say. She was the one who walked away, not him. She didn't even know he
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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Chapter 9
"That apron looks real good on you, honey," Rona teased, "but don't let Bob know you stole one of his."Jessie laughed and looked down at herself. She needed to get some aprons that fit her better, but she'd been so busy she just hadn't had time. This one nearly swallowed her up, but at least it covered her clothes. She always tried to remember to take it off before she went out front to wait on customers. The one time she forgot, her crew and some of her customers had a good laugh at her expense, a laugh that broke the ice all around."I'm thinking of embroidering my name and some pink flowers on it." She grinned. "Think Bob would appreciate that?"Alton laughed, a booming sound. "I'd pay to see it, I'll tell you."Jessie grinned. If anyone had told her three weeks ago she'd be settled into a small town in West Texas owning a place like Delfina's Diner and actually enjoying it, she would have told them to see a shrink. Yet here she was, feeling unexpectedly comfortable and happy i
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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Chapter 10
Jessie stared at the envelope then turned it over. Her name was written on the front in flowing script but nothing on the back. And it was sealed. She noticed her hands shaking and stuffed the envelope in her jeans pocket."Thank you. I appreciate you bringing it by.""Again, my sincerest apologies.""No problem. Listen, I'll send Rona out to take your order, okay?" She wasn't sure she could write two words at the moment."Of course. And if there is anything in there that needs my assistance, please don't hesitate to call.The letter burned a hole in her pocket all day. She was so distracted when Bob came in he told her to please stick to cleanup and stop screwing up the orders. At last the day was over. She locked up and headed home, her head whirling as she wondered what Delfina had thought so important she wrote her a letter. Maybe she'd tell Jessie how they were related.She had no appetite for anything to eat so she took a shower, pulled on her sleep shirt, and fixed herself
last updateLast Updated : 2022-04-29
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