Here and Now. Michelle Monkou

      

      “For once, would you not be so stubborn?” Chase asked.

      “Stubborn? Perhaps that’s because you always want things your way,” Laura answered.

      Chase pulled on his earlobe, a sure sign that he was getting irritated. Good, she thought, because his cologne was driving her crazy. The familiar scent made Laura remember how it had been between the two of them. And now she couldn’t stop thinking about how it had been to kiss him.

      Maybe that’s why she turned her head. She later told herself she had turned to let him know just whom he was dealing with eye to eye.

      “We’re not buddies, Chase. Don’t think that this is a beginning for us. There’s no happy-ever-after, no riding off into the sunset and no romantic reunion here,” Laura said.

      She’d wanted to say more. She’d had more to say about her hurt and disappointment, but then she made the mistake of looking at his lips….

      Books by Michelle Monkou

      Kimani Romance

      Sweet Surrender

      Kimani Press Arabesque

      Open Your Heart

      Finders Keepers

      Give Love

      Making Promises

      Island Rendezvous

      MICHELLE MONKOU

      became a world traveler at three when she left her birthplace of London, England, and moved to Guyana, South America. She then moved to the United States as a young teen. An avid reader, her diverse cultural experiences set the tone for her vivid imagination. It wasn’t long before the stories in her head became stories on paper.

      In the middle of writing romances, she added a master’s in international business to her bachelor in English. Michelle was nominated for the 2003 Emma Award for Favorite New Author. She continues to write romances with complex characters and intricate plots. Visit her Web site for further information and to sign up for her newsletter and contest at www.michellemonkou.com. Write to her at P.O. Box 2904, Laurel, Maryland 20709, or e-mail her at [email protected].

      Here and Now

      Michelle Monkou

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      Dear Reader,

      Welcome to the Masterson family, four close-knit siblings that made it through life’s ups and downs without their parents. Each family member has a story to tell. We met the eldest brother, Pierce Masterson, in my first Kimani Romance title, Sweet Surrender. But it wouldn’t be fair to have love visit only one sibling.

      In this title, Here and Now, the Masterson family saga continues with a perfectly matched couple—Laura Masterson and Chase Dillard. Who better to appreciate the sexy physique of a sprinter than the beautiful physical therapist that was his first love.

      And when you’ve turned the last page of Laura and Chase’s story, you’ll be happy to know that you haven’t seen the last of Laura; she’ll perform a lifesaving technique in the next episode of the Masterson family series. So stay tuned for the youngest sibling Omar’s story. Omar is a stone-cold player who meets his match in a rising hip-hop star and budding actress, Stacy Watts. Theirs will be a young love full of romance, with a touch of spice.

      Please check out my Web site—www.michellemonkou.com—for contests, registering on my mail list and posting on my blog, Dream Like a Star. If you prefer snail mail, write to P.O. Box 2904, Laurel, MD 20709, or e-mail me at [email protected].

      Contents

       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 1

      Chase Westfield pulled out his personal data assistant and reviewed the list of reminders. Technically he didn’t need the mental nudge. Every year, since high school, he remembered one particular birthday. First love, like a meteor, had the power to crash into the system with enough impact to throw every feeling, thought or memory off kilter. One woman had such a forceful effect on his system.

      He sighed heavily, fingering the thin red ribbon tied around the small gift box. The box fit neatly on his palm. But its meaning was larger than anything in his office. His birthday gift served dual purposes, one more important than the other, that included being considered a peace offering.

      “Mr. Westfield, the staff meeting is about to begin,” his secretary prompted.

      “Thanks, Sandy.”

      She didn’t move until he looked up from the gift box and set it aside. Chase still had to get used to the various meetings that consumed his entire day. Every appointment appeared to come with a special announcement tag or a bold heading marked as important or urgent. All these command performances grated on his nerves. He was a man used to listening to his own internal directives.

      Now, a typical day was spent in meetings with the department, the track team and assistant coaches. If he could manage, he escaped to the track field armed with a stop watch. While his peers headed for home around five o’clock, he ended his day with more coaching and the occasional one-on-one mentoring sessions.

      With no