Free Taming Theresa by Melinda Peters

liked
not at all his lecherous leer. One hand stretched out
tentatively.
    "I'll own for a price miss, you'd be willin'
to show me what's under that lovely apron and those pretty skirts
now," he said in a voice much too loud for the subdued tavern
room.
    From the big man came a cautioning, "Isaac,
sit yourself down."
    Something inside of her snapped like a
fraying cord. Anger and frustration had been building in her all
day. Without thinking, she swung her open palm in a wide ark,
landing with a whip crack on the upstart's face. He reeled and
fought to keep his balance. Tamsin wasn't finished. With both
hands, she shoved hard, sending him toppling over his chair, where
he fell into a frothing pool of spilled ale. Everyone in the
tavern, including his friends, erupted with hearty laughter.
    From: Love in Rebellion, by Tori Baxter
     
     
    Vicky leaned back, reading over her last few
paragraphs. “Love in Rebellion" would be her eighth in a series of
torrid historical romances. Fascinated by the legends surrounding
Paulding's Rest, she'd tapped into a wealth of information when she
began researching the tavern’s history. Even though there were
wedding details that required her attention, she felt the need to
get the story onto the page, while still fresh in her mind.
    Jack entered her small corner office behind
the farmhouse kitchen. Setting down two mugs of steaming coffee at
her elbow, he gathered her in his arms for a kiss.
    "Good morning,” he spoke softly into sweet
smelling hair and was rewarded with a beaming smile as he sat in
the chair beside her desk, cradling his own cup.
    "Thanks, this is just what I needed.” She
took a tentative sip of the coffee testing the temperature on her
lips.
    “How's it coming?"
    Vicky turned back to her laptop. "Pretty
good, I think. You know it's amazing how simple little things in
life continually give you new ideas to write about."
    "Are you going to tell me about the new
book?”
    She looked at him mischievously. “I’ll need
you to do some research for the love scenes.”
    Jack smiled. “That goes without saying, but
what’s it about?
    “You’ve probably guessed with all my
questions about the past. It’s based on John's history of the
tavern and all his tales of the Revolution in and around Dutchess
County."
    “That’s all you needed to get started?” Jack
looked surprised.
    “Well, that and many hours of research. I can
take liberties with my characters, but the history must be
accurate.”
    “When can I read it?” he asked sipping.
    “I haven’t gotten much past the outline and
first chapter.” She hesitated, frowning at her computer screen.
“I’ve never had anyone see my writing before I was finished. I
could bring it on our honeymoon then you could read it over and
we'll talk."
    “Not on our honeymoon.” He leaned in and
kissed her passionately, murmuring into her ear, “We'll be too
busy, Sweetheart. Why don’t we start now?”
    Vicky giggled and pulled away. “How am I
supposed to get any writing done?”
    “Well, you were asleep when I got home last
night and I didn't want to wake you. By the way, how was the girl
party?"
    "Let me see,” Vicky held up her hand and
began to count on her fingers. “Marsha was still nauseous and
didn't want to eat, and of course, couldn't drink. Theresa seemed
upset and left early. I guess her mind was on the break up with
Tony. Penny didn't stay long. The baby has the sniffles, and Jimmy
has a nasty cold. Diane's all bummed out because everyone else
seems to be getting married and she doesn't even have a date for
our wedding. Then she got all weepy and hit the cheesecake and the
Mojitos pretty hard. She slept here last night, but she won’t be up
any time soon. Other than that, we had a blast.” She smiled at
Jack. “How about you?"
    “We had a good time. Doc and Ralph put out a
big spread and the food was great, not that I could eat much after
Aunt Rose’s feast. Everyone told jokes and gave me their advice