Valentine Trail – Protective Mate by Toni Griffin

News from Toni

Thanks RJ for having me on her Valentine Trail.

I will be starting on the expansion of Forbidden Mate, book 4 in the Holland Brothers series, sometime in the next month or so. I hope to have it released late April early May. For now I'm working on my very first Sci Fi story and also a Contemp set around the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb (Which I did last year, and was awesome).

Please Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances all books previously published through Silver Publishing have been removed from sale. I hope to have these books available again for you shortly.

Competition

Simply comment below and you can win an ebook of your choice from my back list.

The Book – Protective Mate

Book 3 in the Holland Brothers series.

Excerpt:

It wasn't until they were outside and Zack was buckling Hayley into her car seat that he remembered he'd picked Simon up earlier.

“Simon, I need to take you home first.” Zack's voice held the disappointment he felt at having to say goodbye sooner than he'd anticipated.

“Don't worry about me. Let's get Hayley back to the hotel, cleaned, and into bed. I can call one of my brothers later and get them to pick me up.” Simon smiled reassuringly at him.

“Are you sure that's no trouble?”

“It's fine, mate. They'll understand and won't mind in the slightest.”

“Okay,” Zack said as he opened the driver's door and got into the car. Simon slipped in the passenger seat beside him, and once they were buckled in, Zack pointed the car in the direction of the hotel where he was staying.

Zack removed an obviously tired Hayley from the car five minutes later, and he watched as Hayley knuckled her eyes before she cuddled up close against his chest.

“Come on, pumpkin, let's get you ready for bed.” Hayley didn't reply.

Simon followed Zack as they made their way to the room. Once inside, Zack grabbed Hayley's pyjamas and a pair of pull-ups and took his daughter to the bathroom for a quick clean-up.

He turned to look at Simon before he left the room. “Make yourself comfortable. We shouldn't be long.”

“Will do,” Simon replied with a gentle smile.

Zack got Hayley undressed and in the shower in short order and cleaned his daughter as best he could without completely saturating himself in the process. Satisfied Hayley was as clean as she was getting, he turned off the taps and wrapped her up in one of the hotel towels, rubbing her vigorously to get her dry. Hayley squirmed and giggled under his ministrations, and Zack thought for what must have been the millionth time that there really was no better sound in the world than that of a child's laugh.

Hayley stepped into the pull-ups and then her nightie. All dressed and ready for bed, they cleaned her teeth and then Zack picked her back up and held her close.

“Story and bed.”

“‘Kay,” Hayley said tiredly.

Zack walked back into the hotel room and stopped dead. Simon was lying on the bed, and his shoes had been removed and placed neatly out of the way. He had pillowed stuffed behind him, so he was more lounging that laying down. His long jean-encased legs were crossed at the ankles, and his hands were behind his head. The man looked absolutely delectable, and Zack wanted to eat him up. Instead he picked up the Ladybird book his daughter loved so much and made sure she had Woofie before he sat beside Simon and got comfortable, Hayley held against him.

“Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away home. Your house is on fire, your children are flown,” Zack started reading. He knew the book off by heart after the number of times he'd read it to his girl. Simon sat up a little and moved in closer to them, threading his fingers through Zack's where they rested against Hayley's smaller frame.

It didn't take long at all for Hayley to close her eyes, and by the time Zack ready the last line, the soft even breathing told him Hayley was fast asleep.

“She's so beautiful,” Simon whispered to him as he stared at Hayley.

“I know. She’s everything to me. I don't know what I would have done if the Stewarts had been successful in their bid to take her from me,” Zack replied just as quietly, his gaze locked on the peaceful face of his sleeping child. “I'm scared to death they're going to find a way to take her from me.”

“That's never going to happen,” Simon said adamantly as he squeezed Zack's fingers lightly.

Zack smiled hesitantly at him and then released his grip on Simon and stood, holding Hayley close and trying his hardest not to wake her up. Zack kissed her forehead before he lowered her into the cot, covered her up, and made sure Woofie was tucked in beside her.

He wandered back over to the side of the bed he had been sitting on and flicked on the table lamp, then turned off the overhead lights.

The room darkened immediately with only the small amount of light emitting from beside him.

Zack lay down on the bed and turned on his side to face Simon. There were so many things he would love to do with his mate right now and not a single one of them included them being fully dressed. With Hayley so close though, none of them were an option. Zack watch as Simon scooted down the bed and got comfortable lying in a similar position opposite him. He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Zack's ear.

“You're so gorgeous,” Simon said, making sure to keep his voice quiet so they didn't wake Hayley.

Zack blushed. He didn't feel gorgeous. Most days he was exhausted after work and spending time with Hayley; then he'd find himself covered in some substance or another, all thanks to his beautiful little girl. Zack wouldn't change it for the world though, no matter what he got covered in.

“You are,” Simon emphasised. “So sexy and loving and you're such a great father. I hope you will give me the opportunity to help you raise Hayley. I want to be a part of both of your lives, a big part.” Simon's hand had trailed down Zack’s arm until their hands were once again clasped together.

Zack swallowed past the lump in his throat. “I want that as well,” he whispered. “I hope you understand why we need a little time, though.” Zack breathed a relieved sigh when he saw Simon nod.

“I do,” Simon said, then rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, Zack watched as Simon's jaw clenched. He couldn't help the momentary pang of hurt that flashed through him at Simon's actions. Was he mad that Zack was making him wait? “Sorry,” Simon said after a moment. “It's just you're so close, and I can see you, hear you, smell you, and we're holding hands, so there's touch as well. My body is going into overdrive, wanting to jump your bones and ravage you senseless.” Simon groaned at his own words and flung his other arm over his eyes, cutting off his sight.

Zack chuckled lightly, then moaned himself when he saw the prominent bulge in Simon's jeans. “Umm, maybe this isn't such a good idea having you here.”

“Nonsense,” Simon argued. “I can control my body. I want to spend time with you and get to know my mate if that's all right with you?”

Zack's grin couldn't have been bigger. “I would like that very much,” he said as he squeezed the fingers wrapped tight around his own. “So what would you like to know?”

Buy Links

Buy link Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Protective-Mate-Holland-Brothers-3-ebook/dp/B00I14L8AS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392127847&sr=8-1&keywords=protective+Mate

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-protectivematehollandbrothers3-1399454-145.html