Love Ya, Baby: The Gate Series, #3.5

By Marie Booth

A short story originally published in the Worst Valentine's Day Ever anthology. 

Gate Series 3.5

 

Marley: I'm finally coming home from my Amazon prison, kept there by force to build a spa for the local guerillas. I've missed Rachel more than life, dreamed of her every night. I'm sure she's pretty angry with me, but if she'll let me tell her what happened, I'm certain she'll be reasonable and forgive me. Rachel always had a level head.

 

Rachel: When I said I'd marry Marley, I didn't know he'd be leaving on a humanitarian mission to the Amazon one week later. I never told him about the baby, and now Marley isn't answering my letters and there's no way to contact him. Thank goodness I have a great job and two amazing bosses who are letting me work even though I only have a few weeks left before my two ton baby arrives. And if Marley ever does show his face, he'll be the one walking funny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marie Booth
• Release date: Aug 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781733278461

Book preview

Love Ya, Baby

Love Ya, Baby

Valentines Day RomCom Short Read

Marie Booth

Love Ya Baby Copyright © 2020 by Marie Booth

Stroke excerpt Copyright © 2017 by Marie Booth

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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Contents

1. Rachel

2. Marley

3. Rachel

4. Marley

5. Rachel

6. Marley

7. Rachel

Stroke: Gate Series Book 1 excerpt

Also by Marie Booth

1

Rachel

Igritted my teeth, holding back the growl. My boss was tall, good looking, generous and patient, but he was late and I had a situation only he could deal with. His San Francisco breakfast meeting should have ended by nine thirty, giving him plenty of time to get back to the club.

Male voices in the hallway gave me a bit of hope. Finally appearing, Damien smiled a greeting as he entered. Good morning, Rachel. He continued in the direction of his office. I’m expecting a call at noon from the architect.

"Good morning, Mr. Granger."

My irritated tone and formal address stopped him in his tracks. "Is it going to be one of those days, Ms. Abercrombie?"

You can count on it. My coffee’s not done because Victor is set on making it again today. He left a note on my desk. I read it aloud. I’ll be up early to make the coffee. I have a special blend I want to try.

We glanced at the wall clock. Eleven a.m.

Damien shrugged. As long as it isn’t that island blend. The office smelled from coconut for weeks.

It’s eleven.

I know, but he works late every night.

I slumped. It’s this movie project he’s working on. An entire film score. He doesn’t like to disturb Sloane, so he comes to the club if he thinks he’ll be working through the night.

My boss treated me to a wry smile. She has him wrapped around her apron ties.

Pot-kettle. Damien could talk about Victor giving in to Sloane but Damien adored his Cassie. Both men treated their wives like goddesses, which was as it should be.

Could you speak to Victor about starting the coffee earlier? Maybe actually setting the timer? Ever since he’d learned to use the office coffee pot, he’d been experimenting. Sometimes to our horror. I could still smell the spicy taco blend.

Can’t you… Damien stretched out his hands in a pleading gesture.

"He’s your partner."

We inherited our positions from our fathers.

C’mon. I laughed. Would that have made a difference?

He smiled and shook his head. If I’d had a choice I would have picked Vic as partner. However, I believe it may be time to reevaluate other members of the staff. With one brow arched, his gaze pinned mine.

Did you practice that look in the mirror, boss, ’cause it needs work.

I’ve discovered storefront windows are most gratifying. The window dressers run in terror.

Most people found Damien Granger intimidating, mostly due to the deliciously deep toned British accent, his large physical presence, and his keen intelligence. Having grown up in a rough area of Boston, I’d gotten over the whole alpha boss thing in about ten minutes. The elderly lady who’d owned the neighborhood deli would have beaten Damien in a stare down without breaking a sweat.

Damien turned to leave, but I was having none of that. There’s more. Victor drools on his desk when he sleeps. If you don’t want this particular pregnant woman to toss her cookies all over the expensive oriental carpet, someone else will have to clean it.

Try to aim for the trash can.

I continued to glare. Still waiting for my coffee.

Pregnant women aren’t supposed to drink coffee.

"I have orders not to make my decaf until your lazy partner brews his special blend."

Purchase another pot for the office. I believe the club budget will sustain the expense.

Ha, ha. Damien Granger had enough money to buy a small country. Not only was he half owner of The Gate Club and City Block Realty, but he also ran a fine art acquisitions business for high end art collectors. None of that included the money and property he’d inherited or the successful investments he’d made along the way.

Why not get one of those pod contraptions?

My hands shot up, palms facing forward. Please. I have my standards.

Knowing Marley as I do, I believe your standards could be called into question. Damien, Victor, their friend Blake, and my absent fiancé, Marley, had attended private school together.

"Marley is no longer a