Read Online Harlequin Medical Romance December 2015, Box Set 1 of 2 by Tina Beckett - Free Book Online Page A

how much they might want to roam over that delectable figure. Once he arrived, though, and handed her one set of flowers, he glanced behind her and noted her mum was watching from a few yards behind Jess.
    What better excuse to...?
    He placed one hand on her shoulders and squeezed slightly, watching her eyes widen and her nostrils flare as he drew close and pressed his lips to hers, allowing his mouth to graze across them and then continue along her cheek.
    She shivered as he reached her ear, and he couldn’t hold back a smile. “Relax,” he whispered. “Mum is watching.”
    With that, he released her, waiting for her to step back. Which she did, but it was in a stumbling rush that had him reaching out to grip her wrist to steady her. He threaded his fingers through hers to keep her next to him. He had a feeling all she wanted to do was disappear into the inner depths of the house. Not something a woman in a serious relationship would do.
    He tugged her closer as he turned his smile onto the woman who looked so much like her. “Mrs. Black. Thank you again for inviting me.” He held out the second bouquet, watching her smile as she accepted it with a look that might have been relief.
    â€œPlease call me Gloria. I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that you and Jess are together.” Her smile reached her eyes this time. “I’ll just go put these in water. Would you like something to drink?”
    â€œJust a glass of wine, please. Red, if you have it.”
    Gloria looked confused for a second, then Jess cleared her throat. “I don’t keep alcohol in the house, Dean, remember?”
    Bloody hell. That was something he should know. “Of course. I should have brought a bottle with me. How thoughtless.”
    â€œIt’s fine.” If anything, Jess’s voice was even tighter. “It’s better for Daddy not to have it sitting at the table, anyway.”
    A chill went through him. Jess’s dad was an alcoholic?
    Memories of his own father’s battle went through his head. Only his fight hadn’t just been against the bottle. It had been against his wife and son once he’d slugged down his nightly quota and lost sight of his soul, or whatever it was that had kept the hounds of hell at bay.
    Once released, they’d slashed and torn at everything within reach.
    Had Jess experienced any of that horror?
    From the look on her face, that would be a no. So her dad wasn’t a mean drunk.
    â€œMy grandfather,” she said in a low voice as her mum turned to go back into the kitchen. “He abused my dad and his other kids until he died of cirrhosis. Daddy doesn’t want anything to do with alcohol, so none of us drink in front of him.”
    That was funny because Dean allowed himself the occasional drink for the exact opposite reason: to prove he could control his usage when his father hadn’t been able to.
    Speaking of control...
    â€œYour grandfather never hurt you , did he?” There was a tension in Dean’s jaw that he didn’t like. Images running through his head that he liked even less.
    â€œHe died before I was born.” She touched his arm. “Daddy’s nothing like him. Please don’t mention any of this.”
    Not a chance. He never talked about his own parents. To anyone. He’d buried that part of him so deep it rarely ever came to the surface anymore. Except at times like this. Unlike Jess’s grandfather, his dad was still very much alive. At least he thought he was. He hadn’t spoken to the man since the day he went to prison. In fact, he hadn’t heard from his mum in a long time either. This was the first time he’d thought of either of them in years.
    Damn.
    A mixture of churning emotions boiled up from somewhere inside, threatening to reach the surface.
    The sooner he got out of there, the better. He didn’t want to accidentally say something at the table that might bring