Ill Take Forever

nodded. ‘He’d be glad we’re going to use it. It's a wonderful plan. And did I mention I liked your comment about the days-off?'
    'Enough time to start a honeymoon, always supposing we get married soon.'
    'I thought we were.'
    'Only if we can get up to let people know and make plans and right now I never want to leave the bed.'
    He leaned over Jenny, drawing her into his arms and covering her mouth with his. ‘I love you so much, pretty lady. I can’t wait until we are married and starting our lives together.’
    Jenny returned his kiss, feeling loved, cherished and safe. She would always be with Kyle.

Excerpt: The Bachelor's Baby Promise

    CHAPTER ONE

    There was no doubt about it—he'd left the hospital too early.
    Jared Montgomery wedged the wooden crutches into the corner of the stair riser, took a breath and lunged up another step. The impact when he landed rocked through his entire battered and aching body. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he paused a moment to gather his reserves. Dogged determination kept him going.
    Eyeing the remaining stairs, he counted fourteen. Slowly repositioning his crutches, he took a breath and lurched up one more step. His broken ankle throbbed, his good leg burned with the unaccustomed double duty, every bone in his body ached, especially his ribs. Not broken, just bruised. He couldn’t tell the difference.
    Another step gained.
    The door at the left of the small landing opened and an inquisitive face surrounded by fluffy white hair peeped out. Mrs. Eugenia Giraux. She'd been his neighbor for the eight years he'd rented his apartment. He couldn't remember speaking with her more than a dozen times in those eight years.
    "Oh, dear," she said, taking a good look at Jared. He tried to smile, but it hurt too much. At least the swelling around his eye had diminished. He could clearly see her look of shock.
    "Mrs. Giraux," he said. She set great store with manners. He was too tired tonight to care but old habits died hard.
    "Oh dear," she repeated, darting across the landing and rapping quickly on the other door. His door.
    Jared made another stair. He hadn't come five thousand miles to be stopped by another dozen steps. He'd make it to the top or die trying.
    Bad comparison, he thought grimly as he gathered his strength for another step. He’d barely escaped death ten days ago. No tempting it now. He hoped he could make it. The thought of just sinking down on the stairs and not moving for ten hours was tempting.
    The second door—his door—opened and a tall blonde woman stepped out, peering down at him in startled surprise.
    Glad for any excuse to stop for a moment, his gaze took in the two of them at the top of the stairs. Mrs. Giraux wore an old fashioned silk dress, her expression concerned. The other woman caught his attention and momentarily distracted him from the remaining stairs.
    Tall and shapely with shorts that should be declared indecent, she had long tanned legs that made him forget every ache and pain. Sparks of interest shimmered in the air. Every nerve ending tingled with unexpected tension. Pricks of excitement and vague yearnings danced across his skin. Banged up and in pain, he still could appreciate a beautiful woman. And wonder what she was doing coming from his apartment. He’d never seen her before.
    Ah, probably the nanny his sister had hired to watch the baby. For a moment he hoped that’s who she was. He couldn’t imagine himself doing much more than making it to his bed and the oblivion of sleep. More’s the pity.
    Swallowing hard, Jared knew he couldn't blame the pain medication for his reaction to this beautiful woman—he hadn't taken any since starting out yesterday morning. Despite the lack of meds, his brain still felt like mush. He needed sleep, he craved it.
    "Mr. Montgomery’s here," Mrs. Giraux announced needlessly.
    Great, just what he needed, two women to watch his every move as he struggled up the steep stairs. It was bad enough to take so long with the cab driver behind him. He didn't need an expanded audience.
    "Jared Montgomery?" the blonde asked.
    "Who else in their right mind would try to climb these stairs in this condition?" he snapped, clenching his teeth once again against the pain that wracked his body.
    As soon as he reached the apartment, as soon as he turned over the baby to the woman his sister had hired to care for her, he'd pop a couple of the pain pills the doctor had prescribed and find oblivion in