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Seducing His Heart Page 21


  He pushed his thumbs into his eyes to stay the tears. A deep, shuddering breath opened his chest a little so he could breathe.

  Bess burst into the room, chattering away, but stopped when she saw him. She sank down on the bed and cupped his cheek. “What’s wrong?”

  He shook his head.

  “Can’t talk?”

  He chuckled, removing his hand from his eyes to look at her. “I’m okay. Talked to Robbie.”

  “Everything all right?”

  “Better than I ever expected.”

  “You’ve been through hell. You deserve the best, honey,” she said.

  Whit stroked her hand and brushed his lips over hers. “I have the best. I have you.”

  The next morning, Whit bounced into the station. He grabbed the papers on his desk and paced, reading the stories aloud for practice. Happiness flowing through his veins like adrenaline kept him moving. He strode from one end of the studio, to the other. He stopped to gaze out the big windows overlooking Columbus Avenue. When he turned, he trained an eye on Sam.

  She sat in her office, typing, until the receptionist entered.

  Whit stopped to listen in.

  “Delivery for you. From West Side Liquors. What do you want me to do with it?”

  “Have them roll it in here.”

  “Do you know what it is?”

  “Yeah. A case of Chivas Regal.” Sam’s gaze locked with Whit’s. She smiled, and he laughed.

  Best bet I ever lost.

  Epilogue

  Ten blocks up on the Upper West Side, Miranda put down her book and picked up her cell.

  “You’ve got to help me. They’re carrying my furniture out and dumping it on the sidewalk!”

  “Brooke? Is that you?” Miranda stood up.

  “It’s me. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “Slow down.”

  “I’m being evicted! The effing landlord is taking my stuff and putting it outside. I need help!”

  “Oh my God! I’m calling the Club. We’ll be right there.”

  Miranda dialed Bess.

  “We’ve got to help Brooke. Damn landlord is throwing her stuff out on the sidewalk.”

  “Holy Hell!”

  “I told her not to ignore that sign on her door,” Miranda said.

  “I didn’t think you could evict someone so fast,” Bess said.

  “Brooke had thirty days.”

  “We’ve got to help her.”

  “Can you bring Rory, Hack, and Whit? I’ll rent a van and meet you at her place.”

  “But where’s she going to go?” Bess asked.

  “There’s only one place,” Miranda said.

  “Oh, no.”

  “She doesn’t have anywhere else to go.”

  “I doubt it. Still, she’s a little old for this.”

  “I’m hanging up. Get the troops. I’m walking toward the rental place now.”

  As she turned the corner onto Broadway, Miranda phoned Brooke. “We’re on our way. I’m getting a van, and Bess is bringing Rory, Hack, and Whit.”

  “I don’t have any place to go.”

  “You do. You don’t want to, but you do.”

  “I can’t. She’s…”

  “Suck it up, Brooke. You can’t live on the sidewalk.”

  There was a pause on the line.

  “Thanks, Miranda.”

  “You’re welcome. See you soon.”

  She closed her phone and opened the door of the car rental office.

  *The End*

  About the Author

  Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. She writes mostly contemporary romance, which includes sports romance and romantic suspense.

  Dangerous Love, Lost & Found won First Place in the suspense category in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America International Digital Awards 2015 contest.

  The Renovated Heart won Best Novel of the Year from Love Romances Café. Lovers & Liars was a RomCon finalist in 2013. And The Marriage List tied for third place as Best Contemporary Romance from the Gulf Coast RWA. To Love or Not to Love tied for second place in the 2014 New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America Reader’s Choice contest. She was chosen Author of the Year in 2012 by the New York City chapter of RWA.

  Married and the mother of two sons, Jean lives in New York City. Early in the morning, you’ll find her at her computer, writing, with a cup of tea, her rescued pug, Homer, by her side and a secret stash of black licorice.

  Jean has 30+ books, novellas and short stories published. Find them here: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com

  There are pug rescues run by volunteers all across the United States. Anything you can do to help, from making calls, to fostering, from transporting to helping with fund-raising would be appreciated. Donations, even small ones, are most welcome. The money pays for veterinary care for abused or neglected pugs.

  The mission of these rescues is to find loving forever homes for pugs who have lost theirs. If you want to help, here is a listing of pug rescue websites by state. There’s sure to be one near you. Note: website addresses may change or rescues may fold and new ones be born, this list is up-to-date as of the date of publication of this book.

  LIST OF PUG RESCUES

  ALABAMA:

  http://www.alabamapugrescue.org/

  Semper Fi Rescue

  http://semperfirescue.com/index.html

  ALASKA:

  Polar Pug Rescue & Friends

  http://polarpug.org/

  ARIZONA:

  Arizona Pug Adoption Rescue Network

  http://www.arizonapugrescue.com/

  ARKANSAS:

  MidSouth Pug Rescue

  http://www.midsouthpugs.org/

  Pug Rescue of North West Arkansas

  http://pugrescuenwa.typepad.com/

  Pugs and Kisses Rescue

  http://www.pugsandkissesrescue.com/

  CALIFORNIA:

  Pug Rescue of Sacramento - Bay to Borders

  http://www.pugpros.org/

  Pugs N Pals of Southern California

  http://www.pugdogrescue.com/

  Pug Savers

  http://www.pugsavers.com/

  Northern CA, Northern NV

  Central Coast Pug Rescue

  http://www.centralcoastpugrescue.com/

  Pug Rescue of San Diego County

  http://www.pugbutts.com

  Pugs N Roses

  http://pugsnroses.com/home/

  Pug Rescue Nation of Los Angeles

  www.pugnationla.org

  COLORADO:

  Colorado Pug Rescue

  http://copugrescue.org/

  CONNECTICUT:

  Pug Rescue of New England

  http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/

  Curly Tail Pug Rescue

  http://www.curlytailpugrescue.org/

  CT, NY, NJ, PA, MA

  Green Mountain Pug Rescue

  http://www.greenmtnpugrescue.com/

  VT, CT, NH, ME, NY

  FLORIDA:

  http://pugrescueofflorida.org/

  Compassionate Pug Rescue

  http://www.compassionatepugrescue.com

  Central Florida Pug Rescue

  http://www.centralfloridapugrescue.org/

  Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption, Inc.

  www.rescuepug.com

  GEORGIA:

  Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption, Inc.

  www.rescuepug.com

  Semper Fi Rescue

  http://semperfirescue.com/index.html

  IDAHO:

  Inland Northwest Pug Rescue

  http://www.inwpr.net/

  Southwest Idaho Pug Rescue

  http://swiprescue.com/

  Pug Pals, Inc.,

  www.PugPals.org.

  ID, UT, MT

  ILLINOIS:

  http://northernillinoispugrescue.org/

  Pug Rescue Network

  www.pugrescuenetwork.com

&nbs
p; IL, IN, MI, OH

  INDIANA:

  Kentuckiana Pug Rescue

  http://www.kentuckianapugs.com/

  IN, KY, WI

  IOWA:

  Midwest Pug Rescue

  http://www.midwestpugrescue.com/

  MO, NE, IA

  KANSAS:

  Wichita Pug Rescue, Inc.

  website www.wichitapugrescue.com

  Homeward Bound Pug Rescue

  http://www.homewardboundpugs.com/

  KENTUCKY:

  See: IN

  MAINE:

  Pug Rescue of New England

  CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT

  http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/

  See CT - Green Mountain Pug Rescue

  MARYLAND:

  Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue

  http://www.midatlanticpugrescue.org/index.html

  Serving - (NC), (SC), (VA),(MD),(WV), and Eastern Tennessee(TN)

  Mutts Matter Rescue

  muttsmatterrescue.org

  MD, DC, VA, SC

  MICHIGAN:

  Pug Rescue Network

  www.pugrescuenetwork.com

  IL, IN, MI, OH

  Michigan Pug Rescue

  http://www.michiganpugrescue.com/

  MASSACHUSETTS:

  Pug Rescue of New England

  CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT

  http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/

  See CT - Curly Tail Pug Rescue

  MINNESOTA:

  MNMidWest Pug Rescue

  http://www.mnmidwestpugrescue.com/

  MISSISSIPPI:

  MidSouth Pug Rescue

  http://www.midsouthpugs.org/

  Northern MS, Eastern AR, West TN

  MISSOURI:

  http://www.midwestpugrescue.com/

  MO, NE, IA

  Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption, Inc, MO Chapter

  http://pugrescueofmo.com/

  Southeast Pug Rescue & Adoption, Inc.

  www.rescuepug.com

  GA, FL, SC, TN, MO

  IL-MO Pug & Boston Terrier Rescue

  http://www.pugresq.net/

  Wichita Pug Rescue, Inc.

  website www.wichitapugrescue.com

  MONTANA:

  Pug Pals, Inc.,

  www.PugPals.org.

  ID, UT, MT

  Inland Northwest Pug Rescue

  http://www.inwpr.net/

  Idaho Panhandle/Greater Spokane, Washington

  NEBRASKA:

  Pug Partners of Nebraska

  http://www.pugpartners.com/

  Midwest Pug Rescue

  http://www.midwestpugrescue.com/

  MO, NE, IA

  NEVADA:

  Southern Nevada Pug Rescue

  http://www.rescuepugs.com/index.htm

  Pug Savers

  Northern CA, Northern NV

  http://www.pugsavers.com/

  NEW HAMPSHIRE:

  See CT: Green Mountain Pug Rescue

  Pug Rescue of New England

  CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT

  http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/

  NEW JERSEY:

  Love For Pugs Rescue

  http://www.loveforpugsrescue.org

  See CT: Curly Tail Pug Rescue

  NEW MEXICO:

  Colorado Pug Rescue

  http://copugrescue.org/

  CO, WY, UT, NM

  NEW YORK:

  Curly Tail Pug Rescue

  http://www.curlytailpugrescue.org/

  CT, NY, NJ, PA, MA

  Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue

  http://www.buffalopugs.org/

  Western NY, Western PA, Eastern OH, Ontario, Canada

  NORTH CAROLINA:

  Pug Rescue of North Carolina

  Serving NC & VA

  www.apugrescue.com OR www.pugrescuenc.org

  Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue

  http://www.midatlanticpugrescue.org/index.html

  Serving - (NC), (SC), (VA),(MD),(WV), and Eastern Tennessee(TN)

  OHIO:

  Ohio Pug Rescue

  http://www.ohiopugrescue.com/index.php

  OKLAHOMA:

  See KS: Homeward Bound Pug Rescue

  Wichita Pug Rescue, Inc.

  website www.wichitapugrescue.com

  KS, Northern OK, Western MO

  OREGON:

  Pacific Pug Rescue

  http://www.pacificpugrescue.org/

  Seattle Pug Rescue

  http://www.seattlepugs.com/

  PENNSYLVANIA:

  Home At Last Dog Rescue

  http://www.homeatlastdogrescue.com/

  Guardian Angels Pug Rescue

  http://www.guardianangelspugrescue.org/Home.html

  Southwestern PA, Special needs

  Southwest PA Pugs with Special Needs

  http://www.swpapug.org/

  Pet Helpers, Inc

  http://www.pethelpersinc.org

  WV, Southwestern PA

  RHODE ISLAND:

  Pug Rescue of New England

  CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT

  http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/

  TENNESSEE:

  MidSouth Pug Rescue

  http://www.midsouthpugs.org/

  Northern MS, Eastern AR, West TN

  TEXAS:

  Pug Rescue of Austin

  http://www.austinpugrescue.com/

  DFW Pug Rescue Club

  http://www.dfwpugs.com/

  PugHearts of Houston

  http://www.pughearts.com/

  UTAH:

  Colorado Pug Rescue

  http://copugrescue.org/

  CO, WY, UT, NM

  SEE: ID: Pug Pals, Inc.,

  VERMONT:

  Green Mountain Pug Rescue

  http://www.greenmtnpugrescue.com/

  VT, CT, NH, ME, NY

  Pug Rescue of New England

  http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/

  VIRGINIA:

  Pugs U Gotta Save P.U.G.S

  http://pugsugottasave.org/

  VA

  Pug Rescue of North Carolina

  Serving NC & VA

  Pug Rescue of North Carolina, Inc.

  www.apugrescue.com OR www.pugrescuenc.org

  WASHINGTON STATE:

  Seattle Pug Rescue

  http://www.seattlepugs.com/

  Inland Northwest Pug Rescue

  http://www.inwpr.net/

  WASHINGTON, D.C.

  Mutts Matter Rescue

  muttsmatterrescue.org

  MD, DC, VA, SC

  WEST VIRGINIA:

  Pet Helpers, Inc

  http://www.pethelpersinc.org

  WV, Southwestern PA

  WISCONSIN:

  Kentuckiana Pug Rescue

  http://www.kentuckianapugs.com/

  IN, KY, WI

  Pug Hugs Pug Rescue Inc.

  WEBSITE: http://www.pughugs.org/

  WYOMING:

  Colorado Pug Rescue

  http://copugrescue.org/

  CO, WY, UT, NM

  CANADA:

  Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue

  http://www.buffalopugs.org/

  Western NY, Western PA, Eastern OH, Ontario, Canada