All She Wants

By Rhonda McKnight

Homeless at Christmas! 

 

Widowed with a baby, Lenise Reid was making it work as a single mother until a fraudulent transaction wipes out her balance at the bank leaving her with no money. Living paycheck to paycheck takes on new meaning as her world is turned upside down, and she ends up sleeping in her car. 

 

Cole Bennett's first date with Lenise was all he needed to know she was a woman he wanted to pursue, so when she ghosts him, he goes on a mission to find out why. What he finds is a woman so wounded that even in her most desperate state she struggles with his charity. 

 

Cole has more to give than Lenise knows how to receive. Will past hurt keep her from accepting the most precious gift the Christmas season has to offer? 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rhonda McKnight
• Release date: Dec 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393920021

Rhonda McKnight

Rhonda McKnight is the author of several bestselling novels, including An Inconvenient Friend and What Kind of Fool. She is the winner of the 2015 Emma Award for Inspirational Romance of the Year. She loves reading and writing books that touch the heart of women through complex plots and interesting characters in crisis. Themes of faith, forgiveness, and hope are central to her stories. Originally from a small coastal town in New Jersey, Rhonda writes from the comfort of her South Carolina home. Visit her online at rhondamcknight.com; Instagram: @authorrhondamcknight; Twitter: @rhondamcknight; Facebook: @BooksByRhonda; and Pinterest: @rhondamcknight1.

Book preview

All She Wants

Rhonda McKnight

ABOUT THE BOOK

Dedication

All She Wants

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

The Winter Reunion - Chapter 1

About the Author

Chapter 1

FORGET IT.

Confidence wasn’t something Cole Bennett lacked. In fact, he had an overabundance of it, so why was his finger frozen above the call icon on his phone? Why was it hovering above Lenise Reid’s telephone number? He asked the question, but he knew the answer. Her one word replies to his text messages and an unreturned phone call did not inspire confidence.

His cousin, Zeke, surfed through the television channels. You need to go on and call her. You gettin’ a little long in the tooth. It’s time to get married.

Cole craned his neck in Zeke’s direction. Zeke had been married for a year. Since his wedding, he advocated every single person in his circle do the same. You act as if it’s easy to find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

Zeke switched from the music stations and settled on the Falcons pre-game show. He picked up the bowl of popcorn from among the many snacks on the coffee table. Putting some effort into trying to find that person would help.

The screen on his phone timed out. Again. Cole scrunched his face. I can’t believe I have to listen to a reformed serial dater talk about marriage.

Zeke tossed his hands up. All I’m saying is you’re practically a monk. This one isn’t interested in your money either. You could use the challenge.

She doesn’t know who I am.

Zeke gave him the side-eye. She’s Googled you.

Maybe, but I don’t think so. Although knowing might work for me right about now. Cole scrubbed a hand over his face.

Zeke smirked and shoved a fist full of popcorn in his mouth. It’s a crime and a shame when good looks no longer work for a brother. 

Cole didn’t find Zeke’s teasing amusing. Man, shut up. He threw a pillow at him.

Zeke caught it mid-flight. Laughing, he said, I’m just saying. You’re sitting there with your phone in your hand like a punk. Call the woman.

Maybe she has someone.

Man, she does have someone—that baby. But if she’s as fine as you say she is, some dude is going to throw a flag on the field and get her back in the game. Zeke picked up his beer. He cocked an eyebrow. You don’t have a problem dating a woman with a child, do you?

Cole thought about Lenise’s eleven-month-old son. An ear infection landed her in the emergency room. That’s where they met. He’d been passing through on his way to a meeting. Her son kicked over his diaper bag and the contents flew everywhere. Cole gathered her belongings. He went as far as getting paper towels and Lysol from the nurse’s station to wipe her things off.

Big, brown, exhausted eyes and a sweet, appreciative spirit thanked him. Those eyes and that spirit wouldn’t leave him. He was so regretful over not getting her number that he left his meeting a few minutes early. Luckily for him, she was still in the waiting room. He brought her lunch from a passing food cart and spent time getting to know her while she waited.

Lenise believed he was a patient too. It was easier than explaining he was on the hospital board. He preferred women get to know him before they found out what he had. He’d gotten her telephone number on the promise to do her a solid and hook her up with an appointment to see the top pediatric ENT specialist in Atlanta. The doctor was a friend from college.

I don’t have a problem with kids as long as there’s no baby daddy drama. No chance of that. He’s dead.

Zeke didn’t reply. He just looked at him like he wanted to yell, CALL HER!

I’m going to my office. Cole stood. I don’t need background noise for this.

Make it quick. Kickoff’s in a few minutes. The Falcons need every bit of positive energy they can get.

Cole entered his office, dropped in his chair, and swiped the screen until he located her number. He pressed Call before he lost his nerve.

Hello. Lenise’s sweet voice greeted him after the third ring and warmed him like fresh cornbread out of the oven.

This is Cole. He cleared his throat. Bennett from the hospital.

She laughed, a deep, throaty, sexy sound that told him he’d said something funny, but he couldn’t imagine his name was all that humorous, unless the thought of him reminded her of a joke. I remember you, Cole. You’d be hard to forget. The flowers you sent are beautiful.

His heart was thudding double-time. He felt like a high school boy. I’m glad you’re enjoying them. How was your Thanksgiving?

Quiet. I’m not a big holiday person, she said. I thought you’d be watching the game. I know you’re a diehard Falcons fan.

He smiled again. Now he was feeling like he could get somewhere because she remembered something about him. It starts soon. I just wanted to call. See how you’re doing...check on Jax.

She was silent for a long moment, too long, and he looked at his phone to make sure they hadn’t lost their call. Lenise?

I’m good. Jax is fine. Thank you so much for getting me in with the doctor. I would’ve had to wait for months.

I’m glad to hear that. I have some business relationships with physicians, so if you ever need another favor, let me know. He paused. This all felt way too friendzone like. Zeke was right. He needed to ask her out. Look, Lenise, I think it’s obvious I’m attracted to you. Halfway there. I’d like to spend some time together. Bam. He wasn’t a punk. She’d have to be crazy to say no. He was a Bennett. Every woman wanted him, right?

I’m flattered, but... She hesitated. I don’t think I’m ready to start dating again.

Okay, so every woman didn’t want him.

He was going to have to push harder. She was scared. Scared the dating pool would be cold. There was nothing about him that would shock her nerve endings. He just had to get her to stick her toe in the water. Don’t think of it as a date. Think of it as dinner between friends.

She laughed again. I haven’t known you long enough to call you a friend.

Funny, I feel like I’ve known you all my life. Did he think that or say it? He cringed. He’d said it.  He took a deep breath. "Friday night. I can get tickets to The Urban Nutcracker. I noticed you staring at the show poster in the waiting room."

Are you making promises you can’t keep? The tickets are sold out. She chuckled.

I have a friend who’ll help me out. Zeke’s sister-in-law, Addison, was on the Arts Council. She’d hook him up.

Really? Cole heard a creak that sounded like a mattress. He imagined her in bed. Her voice had a sultry, rested quality to it. In his mind, he could see her stretched out. Her long, curly hair falling around her heart-shaped, mocha face. He remembered she had smooth skin. Wide brown eyes. A bright smile. Dimpled cheeks. A shapely body.

The vivid detail with which he remembered her was even too much for him. If she knew how he was gawking at her in his mind, the answer to the date might be no. Her voice broke through the image. Charlotte Monet is playing Marie this year. I’d die to see her. Lenise’s excitement came through as a squeal of delight. I love the show. I saw it when I was nine. I was taking ballet.

Do you still dance?

Are you kidding? She chuckled. I’m not in any way, shape, or form fit enough for ballet. The excitement left her voice. Shortly after, my dad died. My mother couldn’t afford the lessons anymore. I’ve always wanted to see the show again.

Cole could almost see the disappointed little girl in his mind. It made him a little sad for her. They had deceased fathers in common, but it wasn’t the time to dwell on it. So about my invitation, he said, encouraging her to answer his question. He liked this woman. Liked that she wasn’t dying to go out with him. Liked that he had to work for it. Like Zeke said, he needed a challenge. Is that a yes? 

A long pause and then a promising murmur. It would be nice to get out for an adult evening.

Yes.

Cole claimed victory with a shake of his fist. Okay, great. I’ll text you the details.

That sounds good. Enjoy the game. She ended the call.

Cole sauntered back into the living room like a lion who’d taken down his prey. Zeke scanned him from head to toe and took another sip of his drink. Sucker. You’ll be married by summer.

Cole guffawed as his backside hit the sofa. He couldn’t help thinking that didn’t sound half bad.

Chapter 2

GIRL, YOU LOOK AMAZING!

Lenise Reid’s eyes popped open. She took in her reflection in the full-length mirror. Black halter dress, silver and gray pearl jewelry, upswept hair, nearly an hour of paint on her face, and red, patent leather stilettos. She tilted her head as she made her own assessment. She was glad for her best friend’s enthusiasm, but she wasn’t sure about wearing something so snug. She pulled at the beaded mesh around her hips. It wasn’t giving. Who was she kidding? The issue wasn’t with it being snug. The issue was she

Reviews for All She Wants

[Shavonna Futrell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this opening to the Bennett Family Series. Cole found someone he wanted and did not give up until she was his. This was a very relatable story and had me tearing up a time of two, also had me mad a couple of times, but overall was a great book.