Surprise Me Read online

  Table of Contents

  Surprise Me

  Publication Page

  Dedication

  PRAISE FOR AUTHOR

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  About the Author

  Also Available

  Also Read

  Thank You

  Surprise Me

  by

  Anita Kidesu

  A Candy Hearts Romance

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Surprise Me

  COPYRIGHT © 2016 by Anita Kidesu

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by RJ Morris

  The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  PO Box 708

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

  Visit us at www.thewilderroses.com

  Publishing History

  First Scarlet Rose Edition, 2016

  Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-0675-9

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedication

  Dedicated to those who love Romance on the Edge

  PRAISE FOR AUTHOR

  Anita Kidesu

  And Her Books…

  SOUTH SEAS SEDUCTION

  “From the first page onward, I was captivated by the setting and the emotion. Emma has had a rough start on the plane but the three men work together and communicate how to take care of her. I thought that was a fantasy I liked: three men tending to your every need. And they are sexy! I am not usually a fan of erotica because I want to focus on the love between the characters and yet this one, I loved it a lot. This is one book I would read again or keep on my shelf. Or this might even lead me to love erotica, I am not sure.”

  ~Romancing the Book

  Chapter One

  “Thanks, Mary. Tom.” Josie Sandberg hugged her in-laws as they stood next to their red SUV. Wrapping her arms around them was like hugging a sapling and a tree stump, one tall and thin, the other short and plump.

  Tears pooled in her eyes as she looked at her gangly twin, teenaged sons, both acting as if they were going to be put on the rack rather than spend a week with their grandparents. Except for a few blow ups, they’d handled the move to San Antonio well, even though they’d left friends and family behind in Wisconsin.

  “Going to a new school for their senior year is difficult,” Tom said, jingling his keys at his wife. His tall, trim body and dark hair graying at the temples gave Josie an idea of what her husband would look like as he aged. Perpetual wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were a testament to his off-beat humor.

  Josie wiped the corners of her eyes. “I know, but there wasn’t any choice. Move or Carson loses his job.”

  “They’ll be fine with us. They both love history, and this trip to visit historic sites will be right up their alley. We’ll make sure they keep up on their schoolwork. Besides, you and Carson need this time alone,” Mary said, patting Josie’s back. “This has been stressful for all of you. Getting the house settled. Carson’s new job. You trying to find one. It can tear a couple apart.”

  “Carson and I are okay, Mary.” Anyway, she hoped they were.

  Tom slid into the driver’s seat, shut the door, and leaned out the window. “Don’t worry about the boys. You and Carson just find some time for yourselves. C’mon Mary. Let’s hit the road.”

  “I put something on the counter for you. Use your imagination.” Mary jogged around the rear of the SUV, and after a wink at Josie, she got in the passenger’s seat and buckled up. “C’mon boys. Say goodbye to your mother.”

  After weak-armed hugs from her sons, Tom put the vehicle in reverse, backed out of the driveway, and drove down the street. Through moist eyes, Josie watched until they were out of sight. Her tears weren’t just about missing the boys, but fear over what the next week would bring.

  A shiver ran through her that had nothing to do with the weather. Since moving to southern Texas from Wisconsin to be near her husband’s retired parents, their first winter in the south had been a breeze. No sub-zero temperatures with piles of snow. Just mild, warm weather. But still, a chill climbed down her back, as if her body knew something was going to happen—and not something good, either.

  Carson had been so quiet since his parents had asked to take the boys on this trip. Was he worried there would be nothing to say to each other besides wondering how the kids and his parents were doing? She sure did. Whenever they went out to dinner and observed older couples eating silently, barely looking at each other let alone carrying on a conversation, she worried that would be them in a few years.

  As she walked into the house, she wiped the tears from her face. Tears for already missing her kids. Tears for what used to be between her and her husband. It wasn’t just since coming to Texas, either. In the year before the move, Carson had been distant. She knew he worried over the status of his position in his company. Downsizing and outsourcing had become his world. Each day, week, month, they had grown further and further apart until all he did was work.

  Once he accepted the company’s decision to transfer him to Texas, things became worse. She never saw him. She and the boys even chose this house on their own. Heck, she couldn’t remember when they’d last made love.

  With fondness, she recalled the days when they made love anytime, anywhere. The days they barely made it in the house from work before their clothes were torn off and they were screwing like monkeys. Or hitting the mattress after church and praising the Lord in a very non-churchlike way.

  Once in the kitchen, Josie searched for what Mary left. No boxes. No envelopes. No toys—anyway not the type Josie thought would be conducive to a week of passion. Her counters and kitchen were as neat and tidy as always, except for…

  What the hell? A candy heart? One lone, little pink heart with Surprise Me printed in red sat on a sheet of pink paper with a note in Mary’s handwriting.

  There comes a time when every couple needs to remake a life without children. It’s time for you and Carson to figure out what yours will be. This little heart says it all. Surprise each other all week. Enjoy Valentine’s Day.

  Love, Mary.

  P.S. Carson received the same letter and heart.

  Josie’s cheeks burned as ideas ran through her head. With the entire house to themselves, maybe she could get her husband to stay home long enough for at least a quickie, something more than a peck on the cheek before he tore out the door.

  As she grabbed a pen and paper to make a list, her phone played a children’s song. She seriously needed to get rid of that ring tone. Get the boys to pick one for her, even if it was some awful country song they’d grown to like.

  Carson’s deep voice reverberated through her system. “Hey, babe. Kids gone?”

  “Yep. Are you ready for a week alone?” Her senses spiked at his delayed response.

  “About that. We need to talk. Meet me at that Italian place at six.” Without another word, he hung up.

  Her heart sank. She dropped into a chair at the counter. Tears pooled.

  Oh my God. He never says we need to talk. That can only mean one thing. He’s going to
ask for a divorce.

  Carson’s hours had been even longer in the past few months. That could only mean he’d found someone else. Some floozy with no stretch marks or extra pounds on her thighs. Probably an hour-glass figure and plenty of time to devote to her man.

  “Over my dead body,” she said, trying to hold back the sobs building in her chest. “He’s my man, and no home wrecker is going to take him from me and mine.”

  Josie glanced at the clock. Plenty of time to gussy herself up…if she even remembered how to do such a thing anymore.

  The restaurant she assumed he meant was one his parents had introduced them to, but in their time here, they had never gone to it alone, only with her in-laws and the boys. Specializing in all things Italian, it was quite a fancy place. A place where people still dressed up for a night out. No jeans. No sweatshirts. No tennis shoes or flip flops. She’d better see if there was anything in her closet worth wearing to entice her husband.

  Two hours later, Josie left the house. She sniffed the air and knew she smelled good, wearing lotion and perfume that had been a gift from Carson. She rarely wore it, saving it for special occasions. Well, saving her marriage was as special as it got. Her bare upper thighs skimmed together above the black thigh highs she’d pulled from the back of her nylon drawer. Her feet already ached from the three-inch heels that hadn’t seen the light of day in years.

  The butterflies in her stomach beat frantically as she drove to the restaurant. How did one handle the end of a marriage? Should she toss her drink in his face when he said he wanted to leave? Or should she play it cool and act as if his leaving wouldn’t kill her? He might just as well stab her with a steak knife. Maybe that’s what she’d do—stab him with a knife. A jury of women would call it justified.

  Before coming to any conclusions on how to behave, she was waltzing into the establishment. As she waited for the maître d’ to show her to the table, she perused the restaurant, taking in its elegant ambiance.

  Okay, she was really looking for the hussy trying to break up her family, probably waiting to see Carson break Josie’s heart and take her place. Was it the woman at the bar with long blonde hair hanging to her waist and a skirt short enough to almost meet her hair? Or was Carson now into the quiet, mousy type, like the woman coming from the restroom? Either way, she was in for a fight.

  There he was, sitting alone, staring at her. Unsmiling. Frowning. This didn’t bode well.

  Carson nearly choked on his beer. There she was, his beautiful wife, standing in the doorway, waiting for the maître d’ to seat her. What the hell was she wearing? He hadn’t seen her dressed like that since…hell, he couldn’t remember when. He glanced around the room. Men, older and younger than he, stared at her.

  The low-cut, peach dress wasn’t familiar. The short-sleeved top tapered at her waist, and the flared skirt ended mid-thigh, showing off legs that went on for a mile.

  Her cleavage made a man want to explore further into its depths, find out what was hidden beneath the fabric. How long had it been since he’d played with or even noticed her breasts? His cock jumped. Too damn long.

  Shoulder-length auburn hair curled in waves. She hated how thick it was, but he loved running his hands through it while he kissed her senseless. Anyway, he used to.

  Josie walked through the maze of tables, her hips, fuller from the birth of his children, swaying as the dress teased her thighs, making him and probably every man in the restaurant wonder what she wore beneath. Thong? Maybe those nylon thingies she used to wear that nearly reached her crotch? Better yet, nothing?

  When she reached the table, she stopped. He should pull out her chair, but the erection growing in his pants would be an embarrassment. Reaching out under the table with his leg and pushing the chair out with his toe probably wouldn’t be a good idea. Why had he left his suit jacket in his car?

  He swept his hand toward her chair. “Please. Sit. I already ordered your favorite wine.”

  Josie’s heart constricted, and her stomach rolled. Her breath caught in her throat. This was bad. Very bad. He always used to pull out her chair. Carson was old-fashioned that way. Opened her car door. Placed his hand at the small of her back to guide her through crowds. Made sure he walked on the street side when they went for walks.

  The maître d’ did the honors since her husband wasn’t going to play the gentleman. Before her butt planted on the seat, Josie had the glass of wine at her lips. Fortification for the evening.

  “You’re so lovely, Josie.”

  Taken aback at his comment, she only nodded. He was obviously going to sugar-coat his “talk.”

  Over the top of her menu, she eyed the man she’d loved since sophomore year of high school. Slim built, his wide shoulders filled out a light blue dress shirt. Dark hair going a little thin on top, but he was man enough not to do an awful comb-over. His full beard never failed to send her aching for more when he brushed it against her nipples. They pebbled at the thought.

  Carson’s hazel eyes twinkled like he held a deep, dark secret. Wait a minute. Why would his eyes be twinkling at her?

  After the waiter took their orders, to her surprise, Carson switched chairs and sat next to rather than across from her. He took her hand. “This past year has been a tough one,” he said, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles.

  “I know. And I’ve tried to do the best I could.”

  Carson frowned. “Who said you didn’t? You’ve been amazing. Organizing the move. Getting the kids settled in school and turning the house into a home. Making my life easier so I could concentrate on my new job.” He sat back, closed his eyes, and sighed. “I need to apologize.”

  Josie clenched her sweaty hands together. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears. Here comes the confession about his affair. “Apologize? For what?”

  “For not being there for you more. For not helping with the kids more.” He ran his palm over his beard. “I’ve found some funky financial activities from my predecessor. It’s taken more time than I thought, trying to unravel and straighten everything out.”

  “I haven’t complained.”

  “I know. And that’s what has made this so damn hard.” He pulled an envelope from his inside jacket pocket and placed it on the table.

  Holding back the sobs building in her chest, she stared at the offending white object through tear-filled eyes. She didn’t want to see nor touch the divorce papers hidden in there.

  “Hey. What’s with the tears?” he asked, his gentle voice failing to soothe her ragged nerves.

  Josie pointed at the envelope. “What’s in it?”

  “Please. Just open it.”

  Chapter Two

  Hands shaking, Josie picked up the packet, slipped her finger under the flap, and tore it open. With blurred eyes, she stared at the words then brought her fingers to her mouth. Not divorce papers.

  Josie set the paper on the table and looked from it to Carson. “Reservations?”

  “Yep. To a hotel on South Padre Island. I explained to my boss how the kids are on a trip with my folks, and we haven’t had any time together since we moved here. He agreed to give me the rest of week off.”

  “So you weren’t—weren’t—” Not caring that they were in a roomful of people, she threw her arms around Caron’s neck and held back a cry of relief.

  “Hey. What’s wrong? Don’t you like my surprise?”

  The dark shadows around her heart floated away. She nodded into his neck, letting her tears dampen his shirt collar.

  “Then why the tears? Mom gave me the candy heart and note the other day and said we were supposed to spend the week surprising each other.”

  “I thought—”

  “Thought what?” Carson pulled her arms from around his neck and looked into her eyes.

  “That you were going to—” she hiccoughed “—divorce me.”

  “What?” he yelled. Heads swung in their direction. “Why the hell would you think that?” he said in a lower voice. “I love you, for Pete’s
sake. Always have. Always will.”

  Josie pushed aside the salad the waiter had dropped beside her before scurrying away. “You’ve been gone so much. And you’re always tired when you are home, so we don’t talk unless it’s about the kids or the house, so I just thought…”

  Muscle by muscle, her body relaxed as Carson wiped the tears from her face with the pads of his thumbs.

  “I told you I needed to apologize. Mom realized what was happening and decided we needed some time alone.”

  “She told me the same thing.” With a much lighter heart, she smiled. “So this is about surprising each other?”

  “That’s what I was told.” Carson pointed to the papers on the table. “Starting with a little trip. We leave day after tomorrow.”

  Josie ignored the food placed before her, squeezed Carson’s thigh, and kissed him. “Oh, I think we can start before then.”

  Carson stared into his wife’s shining eyes. Her flushed cheeks and flirtatious grin certainly meant goods things for him—and his libido. He raised an eyebrow. “Doggy bag?”

  At her nod, he flagged their waiter. “Check and take home boxes, please.”

  “Sir, is everything all right?”

  Josie was already rising. “Everything is just fine. We received an emergency call from home, so we’re in a bit of a hurry.”

  A few long minutes later, Carson walked behind Josie, enjoying the sway of her hips. He carried the takeout boxes in front of him to hide his erection.

  “Follow you home?” he asked, calculating in his mind how long it would take before he could get her in bed.

  “I have a better idea.”

  “What?”

  “I can’t wait to go home to make love. Let’s go parking.”

  Carson swallowed around the lump in his throat. “Parking? That’s for kids. We haven’t gone parking since…”

  She chucked him under his chin. “I know. Since high school. But, surprise, I want to go parking.” She tugged on his earlobe. “Fumble in the dark. Sex in the back seat. Steam up the windows.”

  Grabbing her hand, he headed for the parking lot. His cock pulsed to the beat of his pounding heart. If this was her idea of how to begin their Surprise Me week, then they were off to a good start. “Whose vehicle?”