Diggin' Up Bones

By Michelle Houston

The first time around they weren't ready. Now star-crossed lovers get A Second Chance At Love ...

Secrets forced Alisa to push Zach away - can she handle letting him back into her life, knowing he is going to keep digging until he finds out what they are?

All Alisa wanted was to be left alone with her writings. But the discovery of Native America bones on her property made that wish impossible.

The last man she wanted to see was back in her life, and with him Zach Bradford brought a whole lot of memories and some questions she really didn't want to answer.
Now besides digging for bones, he's digging into their past as well, searching for answers to why she broke up with him suddenly, two years ago. And Alisa has to decide if she is going to keep living in the past, or if she's going to let it go and reach for a possible future with Zach. The future she should have had.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Houston
• Release date: Aug 27, 2013

Michelle Houston

Born to ride on the back of dragons, to journey among the stars in a ship traveling faster than light, or to dance the night away in the arms of a mysterious vampire, Michelle Houston willingly shares the worlds in her mind in an effort to bring them to life. Writing everything from short and sweet stories, to hot and spicy tales of kink, from contemporary tales of romance to erotic romances featuring Greek Gods, vampires and were-creatures, she has crossed sexualities and has gone wherever her mental muse has guided her. A journey she has never regretted. Beyond that, she has a love of the natural world around us (except for insects, spiders, snakes, jellyfish, scorpions, and she reserves the right to add more at any time). She's married to a wonderful man who supports all her writing endeavors (even when her characters scare him just a wee bit), and is the reason she is even published at all. Her daughter is too young to know just what mommy writes, but she knows she wants to write too when she grows up, and already has a good start on it. In other words, she is an ordinary woman, with an imagination that is only held in bounds by how fast she can type.

Book preview

Diggin' Up Bones

An erotic romance short story by

Michelle Houston

www.unleashedink.com

Diggin' Up Bones © copyright 2007, 2013 by Michelle Houston

Writing of Love © copyright 2008, 2013 by Michelle Houston

Cover art © 2013 Michelle Lee

Edited by Jenna Byrnes and D Musgrave

Published by Unleashed Ink via Smashwords

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please visit www.unleashedink.com and purchase your own copy or contact [e-mail]. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

DIGGIN UP BONES

Chapter One

Alisa took a sip of coffee and leaned forward, putting her elbows on the edge of the sink, and looked out the window. Wisps of red hair escaped her ponytail and she tucked the free strands behind her ear as she watched people scurrying around outside in her backyard, rudely disturbing what would have been a quiet spring morning.

Great, just great, she muttered, turning away and heading down the hall to her study. Just as she was about to enter, a knock sounded at her front door. Cradling her cup in both hands, she went to the door and opened it.

The bane of her existence, all six feet two inches of him, stood there. Zach Bradford, part time archeologist, full time pain in the ass. Not in the mood to be polite, she stood and stared at him, impatiently waiting for him to tell her why he was further ruining her day. It would help if she hated him, but hate was the farthest thing from her mind when she was around him. Despite her best efforts, just looking at him made her melt inside.

It's just like we thought.

Despite her thoughts, Alisa couldn't help but respond to his voice. Like whiskey, it was deep with an edge to it that gave it a kick.

The finger bones and hatchet head you found are Native American. The testing confirmed it. They've also found some pottery shards and a leg bone so far today. It's looking as if we'll be here a while.

Without saying a word, Alisa nodded and tried to close the door, but Zach stopped it with his foot. Glaring at him, she gave the door a push. I've said you can do your dig. Now go!

Alisa, I--

Her eyes closed at the pain his words caused. Despite the years, she remembered the phrase that had started out the same way so long ago. 'Alisa, I love you, talk to me, please. What's going on?' But she hadn't been able to tell him her secret shame. She hadn't been able to tell anyone.

He continued, I didn't mean for this to happen. But you know, as well as I do, any Native American artifacts found have to be preserved. The Cherokee Nation's representative will be here soon to begin overseeing the dig and the preservation of any items retrieved.

Opening her eyes, she fought to keep calm. I'm aware of that, Zach, that's why I called you! I told you I'd support your dig on my property. What more do you want from me? Despite her best efforts, she could hear the pain that laced each word. She knew Zach would hear it, too.

I just want us to be friends again.

Good ol' Zach, everybody's buddy. Even after she pushed him away, he had tried to remain her friend. The annual birthday and Christmas cards he