Reluctant Crossword Clue Novels & Stories

Edmund three weeks old with his grandfather's name and his mother's eyes and apparently my eyebrows. Daniel two blocks from the water building things under his own name. Griffin answering questions a three week old cannot ask yet. Marcus and Sebastian on Fridays. Margaret with her window boxes and Archie and the twenty year game that landed exactly where she intended. All of it. Every piece of it. Exactly right. As it had always been going to be. From the moment a woman raised a paddle at a charity auction for a Maine vacation rental with a kitchen facing the ocean and looked across the room and found someone looking back.

“Would ye care to join us?” I hesitate, uncertain how to navigate this situation. I need this job, which means playing nice with these guys even though it’s the last thing I want to do. “No funny business.” Rex holds up his hands. “Just dinner. Our treat.” I offer him a weak nod. It’s not like I can refuse a free meal. Not when I’ve been existing on one a day if I’m lucky. “Okay, I guess dinner would be alright, as long as it’s just dinner.”

The second page had questions like; ‘If your partner were a dessert, what sinful treat would they be, and how would you devour them? For that answer, I had a mindful calling to write something very chaotic, May something like; “A stale fruitcake—hard to chew, impossible to swallow, and best thrown away.” But I wrote this instead, “My husband would probably be molten chocolate lava cake—sweet, warm, and impossible to resist.” Oh the lies, the absolute lies! The next question was, If your partner’s love had a scent, what ridiculously specific perfume name would it have? Did I really have to answer that?

inquisitive I hesitate, searching for the right words. “I... I want to understand,” I begin slowly, my voice trembling slightly. “I want to understand how this is supposed to work. This... marriage.” His demeanor doesn't change, yet I notice the manner in which his jaw fixes, just somewhat. "It works how it was intended to," he says. “You’re here. I’m here. We fulfill our roles.” “And what are our roles, exactly?” I ask, my voice firmer now. “Because right now, I feel like I’m just... existing in your world without any purpose.”

“Sometimes.” Sometimes. I press my lips together, trying to ignore the ache creeping up my throat. This child so smart, so full of life deserves more. More than silence. More than ‘sometimes.’ “Well,” I say, pushing the feeling aside, “I’m pretty good at puzzles too, you know. Maybe I’ll beat you next time.” His grin widens, a playful glint in his eyes. “No way.” I laugh softly, shaking my head. “We’ll see about that, champ.”

Gideon took the box and flicked the lid open to reveal a massive flawless diamond ring that sparkled with intimidating brilliance under the ambient lights. Maren stared at the obscene piece of jewelry and felt her throat tighten with a sudden overwhelming sense of dread. The ring looked heavy enough to drag her straight down to the bottom of the ocean and drown her in a sea of billionaire politics. "That stone is ridiculous, and nobody will believe a man like you bought something so extravagant without a hidden motive," Maren protested while taking a reluctant step backward.

What happens when those scary stories start to become real? As an added note, The Reluctant Alpha, including these bonus chapters, is now available in paperback.

Hesitation could be costly. The first participant stepped forward. His name was Julian, a sharp strategist known for his aggressive tactics. “Good morning,” he said, voice smooth but edged with challenge. “I understand you are new. I am curious how you handle pressure.” I met his gaze steadily. “Good morning. I assess the situation carefully, consider outcomes, and respond in a way that aligns with strategic objectives.” Julian smiled faintly. “Impressive for someone new. But strategy is only part of the game. Instinct matters as well.”

"You're being generous. We'll be waddling away from the table in ninety minutes." "Waddling?" Noah asked. "Yes, waddling. With this much food we won't be able to walk right," Hailey said. Noah laughed but stifled it when Rochester entered the room.

"I need to eat." "We’ll get food when we get home." I shook my head frantically. "No. Now." He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Fine. What do you want?" I thought for a second. "Pickles." He blinked. "Pickles?" "And peanut butter." His jaw tightened. "Pickles and peanut butter?" "And maybe… ice cream?" I added sheepishly. Adrian stared at me like I had just asked him to burn down his company. "You’re joking."