Read Online Forbidden Valentine: A Forbidden Novel by J.C. Valentine - Free Book Online
Authors: J.C. Valentine
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to burying that hatchet anytime soon? My back is killing me.”
Suggesting Ransom had stabbed him in the back? Dani grimaced, lowering her gaze to avoid the shit storm that was bound to rain down any moment.
“Boys, this is neither the time nor the place,” their mother scolded. “I’d tell you to kiss and make up, but I’m afraid you’d maul each other’s faces off instead. So, until I can find an empty room to lock you in so you can duke it out, behave. We have guests.”
Both men wore the look of contrition as they turned away from one another. Catching Joe’s eye, Dani smiled as she shrugged her shoulders and went to her husband. “You go ahead, grab something to eat. I’ll look after this little one.”
Nodding, he passed the baby off then leaned down and whispered something private in her ear that made her cheeks flame scarlet and a smile pull across her face. Dani had no clue what he’d said, but her reaction alone was enough to give her tingles.
Would she ever share that kind of intimacy with anyone?
Glancing up, she found Ransom staring at her intently, almost as if he could read the question in her mind. Her stomach flipped and she looked away.
Chatter flooded into the kitchen as Rebel let himself outside, then promptly cut off as he shut the door behind him, leaving Dani, Joe, Ransom, and Seraphim to absorb the awkward silence.
“I just love the matching outfits,” his mother said to Joe, admiring the sunshine yellow dress wrapped around the baby she held cradled in her arms. “Although, it does make it impossible to tell them apart.”
“What’s life without a little mystery?” Joe grinned, and Dani got the impression that it was an inside joke.
“Do you hear that, Rosemary? Your mother is testing the limits of a poor old lady’s feeble mind.”
“Feeble my eye,” Ransom chuckled. “If that’s true, then you’re the sharpest old woman I’ve ever met.”
“And lucky for me that I am or I’d never be able to keep you and your brother in check. Do you need any help getting settled?” she asked Joe. “I can do diapers if you’d like.”
“Sure! Who am I to argue diaper duty.”
A commotion out on the deck called everyone’s attention. Thick, billowing clouds of smoke poured from the grill, fairly blocking their view outside as it licked at the windows and doors.
Ransom cursed and moved for the door. “Dad’s burning down the house again.”
“Oh, hell. Leave the man alone for ten minutes… I’m sorry, Joe, it looks like I’ve got to recuse the man-child and dinner before they both burn to a crisp.”
“No problem. You go ahead and take care of Vincent. I’ve got everything handled in here.”
“Where do you want this little princess?”
Joe’s gaze darted. “Um, the car seat should be fine.”
Looking around and realizing that she was completely alone now, with Ransom off saving the day, Dani suddenly felt very adrift. “I can take her,” she blurted, surprising herself. She’d held a baby once, but that inherent motherly instinct women often spoke of that was supposedly responsible for sparking a need to procreate had, thankfully, never struck her. So, it wouldn’t hurt to lend a hand where one was needed.
“Are you sure?” Joe asked, the hope in her eyes and tone thinly veiled.
Slipping off her stool, Dani accepted the wiggling mass of tiny human and nodded. “I’m sure.”
While Ransom’s mother ran off to perform damage control duties, Joe scooped up a giant diaper bag that looked like a hand-stitched quilt, and said, “Follow me.”
SEVEN
“ARE YOU SURE WE’RE allowed to sit in here?” The plush white décor and pristine white carpet screamed stain-me-and-die. Every fiber of Dani’s being resisted the need to follow the leader and turn back to the safety of the kitchen where at least a spill or scuff could be easily cleaned away.
Stepping down into the sunken living room, Joe walked across the carpet and claimed a chair that
Suggesting Ransom had stabbed him in the back? Dani grimaced, lowering her gaze to avoid the shit storm that was bound to rain down any moment.
“Boys, this is neither the time nor the place,” their mother scolded. “I’d tell you to kiss and make up, but I’m afraid you’d maul each other’s faces off instead. So, until I can find an empty room to lock you in so you can duke it out, behave. We have guests.”
Both men wore the look of contrition as they turned away from one another. Catching Joe’s eye, Dani smiled as she shrugged her shoulders and went to her husband. “You go ahead, grab something to eat. I’ll look after this little one.”
Nodding, he passed the baby off then leaned down and whispered something private in her ear that made her cheeks flame scarlet and a smile pull across her face. Dani had no clue what he’d said, but her reaction alone was enough to give her tingles.
Would she ever share that kind of intimacy with anyone?
Glancing up, she found Ransom staring at her intently, almost as if he could read the question in her mind. Her stomach flipped and she looked away.
Chatter flooded into the kitchen as Rebel let himself outside, then promptly cut off as he shut the door behind him, leaving Dani, Joe, Ransom, and Seraphim to absorb the awkward silence.
“I just love the matching outfits,” his mother said to Joe, admiring the sunshine yellow dress wrapped around the baby she held cradled in her arms. “Although, it does make it impossible to tell them apart.”
“What’s life without a little mystery?” Joe grinned, and Dani got the impression that it was an inside joke.
“Do you hear that, Rosemary? Your mother is testing the limits of a poor old lady’s feeble mind.”
“Feeble my eye,” Ransom chuckled. “If that’s true, then you’re the sharpest old woman I’ve ever met.”
“And lucky for me that I am or I’d never be able to keep you and your brother in check. Do you need any help getting settled?” she asked Joe. “I can do diapers if you’d like.”
“Sure! Who am I to argue diaper duty.”
A commotion out on the deck called everyone’s attention. Thick, billowing clouds of smoke poured from the grill, fairly blocking their view outside as it licked at the windows and doors.
Ransom cursed and moved for the door. “Dad’s burning down the house again.”
“Oh, hell. Leave the man alone for ten minutes… I’m sorry, Joe, it looks like I’ve got to recuse the man-child and dinner before they both burn to a crisp.”
“No problem. You go ahead and take care of Vincent. I’ve got everything handled in here.”
“Where do you want this little princess?”
Joe’s gaze darted. “Um, the car seat should be fine.”
Looking around and realizing that she was completely alone now, with Ransom off saving the day, Dani suddenly felt very adrift. “I can take her,” she blurted, surprising herself. She’d held a baby once, but that inherent motherly instinct women often spoke of that was supposedly responsible for sparking a need to procreate had, thankfully, never struck her. So, it wouldn’t hurt to lend a hand where one was needed.
“Are you sure?” Joe asked, the hope in her eyes and tone thinly veiled.
Slipping off her stool, Dani accepted the wiggling mass of tiny human and nodded. “I’m sure.”
While Ransom’s mother ran off to perform damage control duties, Joe scooped up a giant diaper bag that looked like a hand-stitched quilt, and said, “Follow me.”
SEVEN
“ARE YOU SURE WE’RE allowed to sit in here?” The plush white décor and pristine white carpet screamed stain-me-and-die. Every fiber of Dani’s being resisted the need to follow the leader and turn back to the safety of the kitchen where at least a spill or scuff could be easily cleaned away.
Stepping down into the sunken living room, Joe walked across the carpet and claimed a chair that
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