Reggie's No Limit: The Willows Series, #2

By Caroline Walken

The obsession that changes a man-

REGGIE MARTIN is many things; muscle for the mob, ran gin for speakeasies and was the ultimate bachelor.  His passions were few; he loved a good game of cards and a hot woman.  Not necessarily in any order, he took his luck on both.  One chance meeting changed it all leaving him only one option – to go all in.

Now he is in bed with the syndicate and an independent woman that had turned his life inside out.  On both fronts, his day runs from an exhilarating height to a heart stopping disaster.  He is running two illegal businesses, Reggie's Place with a gaming room above a posh bistro and The Willows, a resort playground for the mob.

 Then there is ELL DONELAN; hazel eyed gambler that invaded his dreams, was the object of his desires and the center of his world. Betting it all he won her and will lay it all down to protect her.  He was a man with no limits.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Caroline Walken
• Release date: Apr 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9780998727622

Caroline Walken

Caroline Waken has three titles in publication currently; Ell’s Double Down, Reggie’s No Limit, Nowhere on the Map and the newest, Behind the Fan.  The latest novel, Nowhere on the Map was accepted for the 2018 Reader’s Choice Award in the Romance category.  Additionally, her entry In Hiding was the winner of the Writer’s Assembled Short Story Competition in 2017.  There are plans to expand In Hiding into a full-length novel in the future.  This past June, Rejected Manuscripts published her short story, The Rule of Ten, on their site and it has remained in the top ten since publication.    The consensuses by readers are that her writing is gripping and the characters compelling.  The women love the female characters; appreciating their spunk as well as their flaws.  With a craving for action and adventure, her romance novels are not your typical girl meets boy romances.  Often intertwined with mystery and lawbreaking the stories keep the reader engaged. Look for other novels by Caroline Walken as her imagination continues to run wild!

Book preview

Chapter 1

Across the hill, The Willows Resort stands proudly rising above the trees.  The restoration, although never fully complete, has gotten to the point where again the home entertains guests.  Those who stay are an elite few; the resort is now a playground for gangsters and their families or friends.  With Newport boasting of a bustling bootlegging business, the first partial year open has been highly successful.  The city has also grown and changed, now a sleek animal providing the inhabitants an opportunity and place for celebrations.  Gaming rooms gave gentlemen a stage to try their luck and create quick fortunes.  Dark back rooms hosted trysts between consenting adults for the right price.  Vice financed elections and created millionaires out of muscle men.  It was a new day for all.

Her hand runs its racy path down his body to his hip.  Her touch ignites an electric current that settles in the core of him; she lights a fire within him like no other woman.  Damn, she is a hell of a dame!  He reaches for her but fails to connect.  The urge to be with her drives him wild; he can never have enough of her.  Her arm snakes around him possessively; a smile touches his face as he revels in her touch.  The fire in the pit of his soul burns brighter, the warmth of her body cools.  She dissipates as he pulls her nearer.  The blackness from the dream moves on, and regretfully he is waking.  The melody from an early songbird greets him, winter has clung to the countryside, but spring was slowly giving her notice.  The dream fades, but the effect it had on his body remains, Reggie has not suffered this ill since his teen years.  At least that is until he met Ell. 

He attempts to refocus his mind elsewhere.  He stares at the ornately carved Victorian bed.  Each time he inspects this masterpiece he notices small intricate features, it never ceases to amaze him.  It is useless; Reggie’s body remains intent on concluding the dream.  He glances over at the peaceful form beside him; she has successfully wound the quilt around herself sleeping blissfully in her cocoon.  This was the other reason he woke up; he was freezing.  Attempting to steal the covers back is useless; his fiancé Ell has secured her bounty well.  He considers his options, choosing to unwrap her, he tugs; he receives no response.  Again, with more insistence he pulls, she tightens her hold of the corner of the quilt.  Under the soft light of dawn, she buries herself deeper within the covers.  Reggie sighs resigning himself to the inevitable; he has no choice but to rise. 

He hears the arrival of the Chef; the man will have the coffee ready and will begin the day’s preparation for meals.  They have only a few guests, friends actually but today Jimmy and Sophie are due to arrive and on their heels Maria Nocerro, Sophie’s mother.  Their friends are expecting their first baby; the stay has a specific purpose.  Once attended by the highly respected Doctor Rolf Sophie initial planned to deliver at Saint Elizabeth Hospital.  The innovative facility boasted of the state of the art Maternity Ward.  However, her doctor’s demeanor put off Sophie and the last time she had a question she felt he had dismissed her.  Jimmy and her parents, of course, attempted to settle her down by explaining that being a first-time mother it was natural to be nervous.  Being that Sophie was as the mother meant she was unsettled.

Everything changed a few weeks back while the couple was visiting; Sophia experienced sharp pains similar to what she had described to the doctor, but now they were coming more regularly.  Ell called down the road to the neighboring mid-wife and asked her to come to The Willows.  Despite the progressive mid-1920’s; Mid-wives widely practiced in the more rural areas and remained a proud tradition outside the city limits.  Most rural women felt they may not be able to make it into a city hospital in time to deliver nor could they afford it.  Others preferred having a woman assist in the delivery of their children since most doctors were men. 

Agnes Rose arrived in short time to assist Sophie who by now had the entire household in an uproar!  Jimmy was pacing the hall, Ell ordering the waiting help to fetch towels and boil water—although she had no idea why and lastly there was the panicking mother-to-be.  Agnes arrived, shooed everyone from the room, and calmly began caring for the expectant mother.  She was thankful for the fresh towels and water using them to sanitize herself before approaching her patient.  Ell stood nearby on the ready to assist in any way, but the woman did not need her at all.  She smiled at her patient and calmly explained to Sophia her pains were not labor but her body preparing and stretching for the delivery.  She patted Sophie’s hand while she explained how perfectly normal this was.  Sophie relaxed as Agnes calmly inquired how she had been sleeping, about her eating habits and a myriad of other questions the doctor in the city never cared to ask.  The entire time she held her hand and looked directly into her eyes, Sophie calmed significantly, returning to her sunny disposition.  Surprisingly, Jimmy insisted they nix the plan for the city hospital.  He now felt more comfortable having Agnes assist in the delivery of their first-born.

The rising sun chased the frost from the lawn; soon the brown grass would be reborn with new growth.  It was a beautiful March morning in the country everything was fresh and new.  The house was bustling in preparation; a special guest would be arriving soon.  Everyone was excited about Sophie coming to The Willows to deliver their first-born, with the pacing Jimmy and her anxious mother in tow.  Reggie decided he should go to town early and check on his restaurant: Reggie’s Place.  Certainly, there was plenty to do there.  He wrapped his arms around Ell rocking her gently; slowly the hazel eyes opened next came the smile she greeted each day with.  Reggie’s heart swelled, and he had a fleeting thought about joining her in her cocoon the notion dashed when he heard the heavy car doors slam.  The arrival would likely be the expectant parents, his ideas about lingering vanished.  In fact, he was confident that given the opportunity his friend Jimmy would like to tag along leaving the women to fuss and do what they termed ‘nest.’  He was not curious about this one bit. 

She stretched reaching for him; he reconsidered his options the woman of his dream was now present and willing before him, his body cast its vote.  However, he knew they were not a couple who made love quickly and lingering today would mean he would be there when Maria arrived.  This was a deciding factor.

You need to rise sleepy head, Sophie is here already, and I need to run into town and look after things at the restaurant. 

That is a good idea, Reggie, you know I should meet with Sunny, it has been a week since she and I discussed staffing and we have a big party coming up.... Ell trailed off glancing innocently in his direction.

No, you don’t sister!  You are on Baby Duty!  It is your job to keep Sophia calm and do whatever it is to keep her mother unruffled.  Reggie was already dressed and had his hand on the door.

But....

No buts, she is all yours!  With that, he doubled back for a quick kiss then quickly retreated, closing the door in time to shield himself from a pelting by her pillow.

Downstairs Sophie sits while Benny fusses around her.  The sun streamed through the dining room windows gave her an angelic appearance.  He watched the Chef happily doting on their guest of honor.  A father of five boys he was experienced at being an expectant mother’s handmaid.  He had set a pot of herbal tea nearby and presented her with toast and orange marmalade on a dainty plate; without crusts, just the way Sophie liked it.  Jimmy is seated nearby and enjoying a cup of coffee when Reggie entered.  He glanced at his friend above his wife’s head and raised his eyebrows. 

I have to run into town for the day, things at the restaurant I need to address.  I should be back early in the evening though; do you need anything while I am in town? 

He then inclined his head towards the door.  Jimmy jumped at the chance; he was excited about the prospect of fatherhood like no other man.  Nevertheless, the thought of spending the entire day with his mother-in-law was not something he looked forward to doing.  The woman was fine in small doses, but Sophia inherited her high emotions naturally, and it wasn’t from her father. 

You know, I do need to run into town myself.  He pats Sophie on her hand, I want to look for something special.

Jimmy winks, she shakes her head at him, but Sophie is beaming just the same.  Reggie considers his friend's maneuver, what a cagey fellow!  He concedes that when it comes to this relationship thing, his friend is heads above the rest!  The two men are already preparing to leave when Ell comes down.  She is dressed simply in a cardigan and skirt, but she still has the ability to stop him in his tracks.  He smiles and gives her a quick peck; the clean scent of her hair flirts with him he regrets he had not indulged himself earlier.  The one part of having a relationship he definitely appreciates.  As if catching his thoughts, her eyes twinkle, but she pushes him off whispering Deserter!

Chapter 2

The city streets start to crowd with shoppers; the bakery fills the air with the sweet smell of warm bread; a grocer lines the sidewalk with fresh fruit and vegetables.  Slowly an ice truck ambles down the street to make its daily delivery; this is a typical Saturday in the Newport.  Reggie parked behind the bistro, and his friend took off down the street, Reggie knew he would likely hit the chocolate shop or hat makers for a special order.  Jimmy also planned to stop at Joseph’s to order a suit, which would probably take him the entire day.  It was just as well that his friend would be busy; Reggie had to prepare himself for an audit on the gaming room with Oswald Sweeney.  The last thing he wanted was to keep the young man waiting; he would rather be present for this; not that he would have issues.  Reggie knew that Oswald was sharp, the man’s mind understood nothing but math and numbers.

Oswald Sweeney was Robert’s illegitimate son; it wasn’t that the man had many of these, in fact, he was unaware he had this one.  Oswald turned 17 and had snuck in under the radar to play stud in Robert’s main joint.  Young Oswald was sinning in the old man’s house by counting cards, an unforgivable offense in gambling.  When the pit bosses felt they had their proof, they sent the boys in to correct the offender.  Without hesitation, two large men manhandled him to the back alley for a frank discussion.  Ossie was not a large fellow whatsoever; either man could have one handed him and tossed him down the street like a bowling ball.  Fortunately for Oss, the boys only intended to scare him badly enough to be rid of him.  If he learned his lesson as a kid, he would return later as a man.  After all, there was nothing wrong with return business.  The two had underestimated him however and once cornered, Oss pulled out his ace.  He not only had run his game at the table, but he also calculated the joints take up to that point.  Before things got too harsh, he informed the two goons what he estimated the take had been.  The one had just delivered a draw off the games, and he knew the kid was almost dead on to the penny.  The two large men looked to each other for an explanation; now they had a problem they were uncertain how to handle.  When Oswald saw the hesitation, he seized the opportunity and immediately asked to speak to Robert Deluca personally.

In a lavishly furnished room, he sat smoking a cigar while pouring over a ledger; tonight has been a flush night.  The challenge with running a gaming hall these days is you had to watch your back.  There were the card sharks who breezed in believing they could outwit a seasoned pit boss, a fed may pose as a client trying to make a name for himself or worse you could have a visit from Cleveland.  He took a puff off the cigar then took a moment to appreciate the smooth Havana.  He was smart