Taming the Scotsman by Sienna Mynx.pdf

Taming the Scotsman

Cover art by Reese Dante

Electronic book publication May 2012

With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in

whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, The

Diva’s Pen LLC.

Please do not redistribute or upload to share sites. Any attempt at pirating this brand or

work is in direct of the author’s copyright.

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is

illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other

means electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement,

including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up

to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. ( http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/ ). Please purchase

only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic

piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

I dedicate this book to my favorite Scots Peggy, Andy and little Ruben

You inspire me!

“Jaye!”

A hand waved high above a sea of moving heads. Jayla smiled so hard her cheeks

ached. It was him! She unraveled her scarf while shouldering her way through the tide

of people leaving baggage claim. Each traveler hauled, some even dragged their

personal items. She quickly breached the approaching crowd, catching glimpses of his

handsome face between the mix of strangers. He looked different. Was it possible he’d

gotten taller ? Living in London he had matured and changed. He stalked toward her,

tall, erect and proud, just like her daddy. His skin was a medium brown and flawless.

His smile was bright, with even white teeth. Edward was all she had in the world, and

she loved him dearly. It had been one year, three months, twelve days and seventeen

hours since she saw him last.

“Edward!” She nearly choked on his name. Her throat closed with emotion. She

leapt at him. He swept her up in his arms and spun her in a full circle. Jayla hugged his

neck so tightly that he wheezed and chuckled a plea for release. She could feel his

laughter rumble in his chest.

“Hi, Sis,” he said, lowering and kissing her on the dimple between her brows.

“Damn, it’s good to see you, girl.”

Jayla couldn’t be happier. Baby-Boy, as Mama would call him, had come home for

Thanksgiving. She wasn’t sure if he’d make it, but he did. “Where’s your luggage? How

was your flight? You hungry?”

He pointed to the small duffle at his foot.

Her smile faded. “That’s all?”

“I can only stay four days, Sis. I’m sorry.”

“Edward!”

“C’mon, let’s get out of here. I’m missing my Bama shine.” He picked up his bag

and flung his free arm around her shoulders. She managed to mask her hurt as he

steered her through those arriving for the holidays, keeping her close.

“So how is England? The hotel must be doing well. I got the pictures. Everything

looks so fancy. I showed ‘em to Nadine. She said you coming home with a white girl.

Claims that’s what happened to Tiger Woods,” Jalya laughed.

Edward smiled. “I think Tiger met his wife here in the states. Tell Nadine I only got

eyes for her.”

Jayla hugged his waist, and walked at his side. She could never be more proud of

him. He went off to do all the things her mother and father wanted for them. She made

sure of it by busting her tail as a manager at Belk’s Department Store during the day

and waitressing at the Shoney’s Restaurant three nights a week. Plus, she took out a

second mortgage on their parent’s home. There wasn't anything too good for Baby-Boy.

“So, don’t keep me guessing. What’s got you leaving so soon? Is it work?”

“Work’s great. Better than great. And I got a big surprise for you.”

“Oooolala…a girl, huh! Nadine was right.” She elbowed him. They walked out the

automatic doors. The traffic arriving and pulling from the curb, noisy car horns and a

cop’s whistle, muted his voice and she strained to hear him.

“Nah, just making moves, Sis. No time for the ladies, even though a brother can’t

keep them off him half the time.”

“I bet, Romeo. Let’s go; I parked in Lot D.”

“Damn, Sis, you burning up some stuff in here.” Edward dropped his hands on the

chair at the breakfast table and leaned over with a sly smirk to his face. Jayla ignored

him. She had worked hard on their Thanksgiving Day meal and cooked everything he

liked, even her mama’s green bean casserole. He approached the stove. She heard him

lifting up her pot lids to her right. “Get out my pots!” she yelped, catching him lick the

thick brown gravy from her spoon.

“Ouch! That hurt!” he said after the smack to the back of his head. She snatched the

spoon and started to rinse it off.

“You haven’t even washed your hands. Out, now! Dinner will be ready soon.”

Typical of her spoiled brother, he ignored the order, going for the fridge instead.

Jayla peeked over to see him with a bottle of water, slurping and watching her. She

knew that look. Edward wanted something. Jayla sighed inwardly, wondering how

much it would cost her this time. She checked the oven for her pies. The food would be

enough to feed the entire block. She’d overdone it.

“When was the last time you went and did something outside of Prichard?”

Edward asked.

“What are you talking about?” Jayla shrugged, returning to the sink to shell her

eggs.

“I’m talking about living. You’re twenty-four and you act like you’re forty-four.

Look at you. Do you have a boyfriend? Where’s Sammy now?”

Jayla glanced at him from over her shoulder. “I’m only two years older than you,

and I distinctly remember you chasing away every boy, man, or stranger who sniffed in

my direction before you ventured off to the United Kingdom.”

“I was a kid and protective of my big sis. Besides, these fools around here are losers.

I’m talking about someone who deserves you. You married Sammy young, but I had

hoped that you two would last.”

“Sammy and I ended when we signed the divorce papers, and that was over a year

ago. You were here to hold my hand remember?” She shrugged. It didn’t hurt anymore.

She was quite happy with the fresh start. She and Sammy were young and she was

lonely for love with her parents gone and Edward in school. It was best that it ended

before kids and life got the best of them. “Besides he hooked up with Ilene from what I

hear,” Jayla said. Edward started choking. She smiled.

Edward marched over and placed his hand on her shoulder. “You’re destined for

great things too, Sis. You nearly run that department store but those damn folks will

never let you be anything but a sales girl. Where’s your promotion?”

“I’ve only been in the shoe department for two years.”

“Yeah, right, but you’ve been working at the damn store since you were sixteen.”

“Baby-Boy, let it go. I’m just fine. Okay?” She dismissed his touch from her

shoulder. She loved him but he wasn’t going to come in and make her feel small for

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: