In the Red Zone Read online

  “Like I said, she helped me pick it out.” Frank took the ring and slipped it on her left ring finger. “Beautiful, just like my two girls.”

  Kiana looked into his eyes and knew she’d found the man she’d been waiting for. He loved her and her daughter. He made her feel safe. And he made her heart sing with every glance, every touch, every soft-spoken word. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” He grinned and reached for Savannah. “And you too, Sugar Pie.”

  Savannah giggled and ran out of his grasp, looking back over her shoulder the whole time. She never saw the stately woman with silver hair in front of her.

  Kiana’s cheeks burned when her daughter collided with the woman, and she rushed forward to help Savannah up. “I’m so sorry about that,” she said to the woman.

  “It’s quite all right,” she replied, picking Savannah up into her arms. The toddler grew quiet, studying the older woman with a serious expression. “And who is this lovely lady, Frank?”

  “That is Savannah, Mom.”

  A new wave of embarrassment washed over her. Savannah had practically knocked her future grandmother off her feet. “I can take her from you.”

  “Nonsense.” Frank’s mom rubbed noses with Savannah. “I’ve heard so much about the both of you, and now that I have a little girl to spoil, I’m not going to let her go.”

  Savannah grinned back at her like she understood exactly what lay in store for her.

  Frank’s mom tore her attention away from Savannah. “I’m Maureen, Frank’s mother. It’s so nice to finally meet you, Kiana.”

  “The same goes for me.”

  “If you have Savannah, Mom, I’m going to escort Kiana to her seat.” Frank tucked her left hand into the crook of his arm, and the sunlight caught on the diamond.

  Maureen’s eyes widened, as did her smile. “Is that what I think it is?”

  Frank held his finger to his lips. “Shh! This is Dan and Jenny’s day.”

  His mom squealed and bounced Savannah in her arms. “Let me be the first to offer my congratulations.” Then she turned her attention back to the toddler in her arms. “And you can start calling me ‘Grandma.’ ”

  Savannah blew her raspberry, earning another delightful laugh from Maureen.

  “She is just a doll, Kiana.” Frank’s mom hugged Savannah and started walking toward the rows of chairs set up behind the winery. “I’m going to have so much fun spoiling you.”

  Frank winked at her. “See? I come by it naturally.”

  “I always knew you were something else, Frank Kelly.”

  “And I always knew you were the girl for me.” He covered his hand with his own and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Ready to meet the rest of the family?”

  She paused and ran her free hand over her dress one more time, only to have Frank stop her and tilt her chin up to face him.

  “I’m right here beside you until the very end,” he said with a soft sincerity that filled her with a warm glow.

  The last of her fears vanished, and she smiled up at the one man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. “Same here, Romeo.”

  ******

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  A Note to Readers

  Thank you for reading In the Red Zone. I hope you enjoyed it!

  · Would you like to know when my next book is available? You can sign up for my new release newsletter at www.cristamchugh.com, follow me on twitter at @crista_mchugh, or like my Facebook page at http://facebook.com/cristamchugh.

  · Reviews help other readers find books. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.

  · This book is lendable through Amazon’s lending program. Share it with a friend!

  · You’ve just read the sixth full-length book in The Kelly Brothers series. The other books in the series are The Sweetest Seduction, Breakaway Hearts, Falling for the Wingman, The Heart’s Game, A Seductive Melody, and Here All Along (June 2015). I hope you enjoy them all!

  And, just for this series, I have a special website featuring more information on the Kelly Brothers, playlists, recipes, and other extras just for readers. Please check it out at www.thekellybrothers.cristamchugh.com.

  --Crista

  Books by Crista McHugh

  The Kelly Brothers

  The Sweetest Seduction, Book 1

  Breakaway Hearts, Book 2

  Falling for the Wingman, Book 3

  The Heart’s Game, Book 4

  A Seductive Melody, Book 5

  In the Red Zone, Book 6

  Here All Along, Book 7 (June 2015)

  The Soulbearer Series

  A Soul For Trouble

  A Soul For Chaos

  A Soul For Vengeance

  Trouble, Chaos, and Vengeance: The Complete Soulbearer Trilogy

  A Soul For Atonement

  The Deizian Empire:

  Tangled Web

  Poisoned Web

  Deception’s Web

  Shattered Web

  The Elgean Chronicles:

  A Thread of Magic

  The Tears of Elios

  The Kavanaugh Foundation:

  Heart of a Huntress, Book 1

  Angelic Surrender, Book 2

  “A High Stakes Game”, Book 2.5 (a free read)

  Kiss of Temptation, Book 3

  Other Books

  The Alchemy of Desire

  A Waltz at Midnight

  Cat’s Eyes

  Provoking the Spirit

  More than a Fling

  Eight Tiny Flames (Part of A Very Scandalous Holiday)

  Copyright and Bio

  In the Red Zone

  Copyright 2015 by Crista McHugh

  Edited by Gwen Hayes

  Copyedits by EMS Flynn

  Cover Art by Sweet N’ Spicy Designs

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 9781940559797

  Author Bio

  Growing up in small town Alabama, Crista relied on story-telling as a natural way for her to pass the time and keep her two younger sisters entertained.

  She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends.

  Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs she’s had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.

  And she’s also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her crazy college days)

  For the latest updates, deleted scenes, and answers to any burning questions you have, please check out her webpage, www.CristaMcHugh.com.

  Find Crista online at:

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/crista_mchugh

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/CristaMcHugh