At the #CMCon17 Beach: How Julie Got Out Of Doing the Dishes… by Kathy Lyons

klyons-cmc-liscense-to-shift

Jade LeeAs one of the #CMCon17 featured bloggers, I get to have a little fun with a few of the fabulous authors who will be hitting the beach for Coastal Magic 2017 by showcasing their many stories. We had so much fun with last year’s At the Beach feature, that we’re doing it again.

Today Kathy Lyons / Jade Lee is taking us to the beach with Mark and Julie from her Grizzlies Gone Wild series. The third book, For the Bear’s Eyes Only, recently came out; so if How Julie Got Out Of Doing The Dishes For The Rest Of Her Life gets your interest, make sure you check out the first book, The Bear Who Loved Me.
_____________________________________________

How Julie Got Out Of Doing The Dishes For The Rest Of Her Life

klyons-liscense-to-shiftJulie Simon leaned back on her beach blanket and tried to let the sun warm her skin. Sadly, the gentle breeze from Lake Michigan was more like a sandstorm right then. No matter how much the sun beat down, the wind snatched the heat away and threw in some grainy abuse along the way. She was mid-sigh when she heard a low whistle of appreciation from behind her.

Mark.

How perfect was it that a month after reconnecting, he still had the power to make her toes curl and her insides quiver? She was desperately in love, but there was no reason to make the man more cocky, right? So she kept her eyes closed even as her body tightened in anticipation.

“We here to get sun or get sandblasted?” Mark’s rumbly grumble of a voice had her grinning. Especially when he set down a heavy picnic basket then leaned in for a kiss.

“Can’t we do both?” she said as she wound her fingers into his hair.

“I’d rather do something a lot more fun. And in a large, comfortable bed.”

She chuckled but the sound was cut off as he invaded her mouth. The kiss was deep, hungry, and just how she liked it. Except that it ended too soon. And even worse, when it was done, he pulled away to drop down onto one corner of her blanket.

She frowned as she studied him. Mark was a large man with broad shoulders and a growly personality, especially before his morning coffee. But it was hours after his morning triple shots of espresso, so why was his jaw tight and his gaze focused out across the water?

Suddenly nervous, she pushed herself upright. “Mark? What’s—”

“I brought wine. Some expensive shit from Alan and all we’re going to taste is sand.”

Oh hell. This was about his friend. She tucked her knees under her as she touched his face. “What happened? Is he okay?”

Mark jolted. “What? Oh. Alan. He’s…the same.”

Julie winced. The same wasn’t good. Fortunately, Tonya was tracking him down and would do whatever was needed to make things right with the man. A tall order, but the woman was nothing if not determined.

“So why the nervousness?”

Mark touched her cheek. A slow stroke of his finger down her jaw then over to her lips. He left a trail of fire in that caress, and she instinctively leaned toward him.

“I have something to ask you,” he said softly. “Something important.”

She froze mid-way. Something in his tone told her that he was deadly serious. And given what they’d been through in the last month, that could mean anything from psychotic shifters to damage to his espresso machine. God knew, she didn’t want to face either.

“So ask,” she said, fighting to get the words through the constriction in her throat.

“It’s two questions, really.”

She huffed out a breath, then pushed a finger under his jaw, tilting his head up. Normally he was many inches than she was, but right now he was sitting down and she was on her knees. “Out with it Grumbly.”

He growled. “I hate that name.”

“Too bad. Now talk.”

“Sure thing, Bossy. Question 1 – I know you were looking forward to this wine, but are you okay with not drinking it?”

She frowned. “Why wouldn’t I have any?”

“That has to do with Question 2.”

She pulled back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Answer 1, I suppose so, but only if you have a really good reason.”

“I do.”

He shifted so that he was sitting with his legs spread around hers. They were facing each other and she could see the anxiety in his expression, but also a deep yearning. It was that same need she’d seen in him before they’d bonded. Back when he was a hair’s breadth away from losing himself completely.

“Mark, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

He swallowed. “I love you completely, you know that, right? Whatever you want, I’m with you.”

She nodded, fear ratcheting up in her throat.

He took a deep breath. “Okay, honey, here is question 2. Did you know you’re pregnant? I can smell it even in this wind. It’s wonderful and I love it, but if you don’t…then we’ll talk about it. Okay?”

She blinked at him, her mind juddering to a complete halt. She was pregnant? She couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible. Well, wait…except for that one time when they’d gotten caught up and… Oh!

“Really?” she whispered, shock and awe seeping into her body. “Really, really?”

“Yes.”

She felt a shiver of delight start deep in her belly. A shiver that grew into a giggle that became a laugh. She was pregnant!

“So,” Mark said, his voice tight, but his eyes starting to sparkle with delight. “So that’s a good thing? A happy thing?”

“Yes!” She was so excited she threw her arms around him and together they tumbled back down onto the blanket. A baby. Their baby! She couldn’t be happier and from the way he was kissing her face, he was thrilled too. “I love you so much,” she said between giggles as his kisses became tiny licks. Sometimes his bear broke through even when he was still in his human body.

“Love you.” He started kissing lower on her body. “Love the babies. Love, love, love.”

It took her a moment to process what he’d just said. And even then, she wasn’t sure she’d heard it correctly.  “Mark?” He wasn’t listening so she grabbed his ears. “Mark! Did you just say babies. As in plural?”

He flushed and nodded. “Triplets aren’t uncommon among strong shifters.”

She nearly exploded off the blanket. “What?”

“But my family tends to have twins.”

She gaped at him. She just stared and tried to wrap her mind around multiple babies. All at once. Holy moly. “So, no wine, huh?”

“Nope. Not while you’re pregnant.”

With twins. Or triplets. She blinked then abruptly focused on him anxious expression. “You’re going to do all the housework. For the rest of our lives. If I’m carrying triplets, you’re going to do the dishes and vacuum, and—”

“I’ll rub your feet and your back. I’ll feed you whatever you want whenever you want. Anything, baby, just say you want this. Say you want—”

“Of course I do!” Then she caught his face in her hands and pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to his lips. “I love you. And I’ll love as many babies as you and I make together.” Then she dropped her forehead against his. “But I’m never doing the dishes again.”

“Never.”

“Deal.”
______________________

Meet Kathy Lyons / Jade Lee!

A USA Today Bestseller, JADE LEE has been scripting love stories since she first picked up a set of paper dolls. Ball gowns and rakish lords caught her attention early (thank you Georgette Heyer), and her fascination with the Regency began. And as a Taurus, she lives to pit a headstrong woman against a tortured hero just to watch them butt heads on the way to true love. Flesh wounds are rare, but the healing and laughter are real.

And don’t forget Jade’s other name, KATHY LYONS. That’s Jade’s lighter, contemporary side. She writes for Harlequin Blaze merging hawt sex and funny relationships into really great reads.

klyons-bear-who-loved-meContact Info: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Amazon: Kathy Lyons & Jade Lee | Pinterest

Want to purchase Kathy’s novels?
Grizzlies Gone Wild

  1. The Bear Who Loved Me
  2. License to Shift
  3. For the Bear’s Eyes Only

The Stone Men Series Boxed Set
50 Ways to Ruin a Rake (Rakes and Rogues #1)
Seducing the Skeptic (Accidental Angels #1)
A Lady’s Lessons
Her Wicked Surrender (Regency Hearts Redeemed #1)
The Player Next Door
The Way of The Tigress
What the Groom Wants
The Makeover Mistake
Night Studies
Two Week Seduction

CMCon17

Don’t miss your chance to meet over 50 fabulous urban fantasy, paranormal, and romance authors at Coastal Magic next February! This super casual book-lover weekend happens on Daytona Beach, and gives everyone the chance to hang out with fellow readers and amazing storytellers.

REGISTRATION is now open! If you haven’t been to Coastal Magic yet, you’re missing out on a lot of fun. Be sure to keep up with all things Coastal Magic, by following it via your own personal social media drug of choice: Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | RSVP at the Facebook Event.

About Jackie 3282 Articles
I am a 30-something SAHM with two adorable boys and a supportive husband who is very tolerant of my reading addiction. I love to read and easily go through about a dozen books a month – well I did before I had kids. Now, not so much. After my first son was born, I began to take my hobby of reviewing a little more serious and started Literary Escapism to help with my sanity. I love to discuss the fabulous novels I’ve read and meeting all the wonderful people in the book blogging community has been amazing.