Heart Song Anthology by Carolyn Faulkner (summer reads txt) 📗

Heart SongA Valentine’s Day Anthology

Joannie Kay Bethany Bliss Char Cauley Michele Peters Carolyn Faulkner Emily Sharpe April Hill

Published by Blushing Books

An Imprint of

ABCD Graphics and Design, Inc.

A Virginia Corporation

977 Seminole Trail #233

Charlottesville, VA 22901

©2021

All rights reserved.

No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The trademark Blushing Books is pending in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

Joannie Kay, Bethany Bliss, April Hill, Char Cauley, Michelle Peters, Carolyn Faulkner, Emily Sharpe

Heart Song

eBook ISBN: 978-1-64563-780-6

v1

Cover Art by ABCD Graphics & Design

This book contains fantasy themes appropriate for mature readers only. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual sexual activity.

Contents

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Joannie Kay

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Author’s Note

Joannie Kay

Saving Valentines

Bethany Bliss

1. Valentine’s Day Is Coming

2. Reigniting an Old Flame

3. Love Unrequited

4. Dangerous Lovers

5. One Day to Heart Day

6. Love Not Lost

7. Valentine’s Utopia

Bethany Bliss

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and Pajama Party

April Hill

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

April Hill

Valentine’s Day at the Rocking Horse Ranch

Char Cauley

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Char Cauley

The Lover’s Ball

Michelle Peters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Michelle Peters

Adored

Carolyn Faulkner

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Carolyn Faulkner

The Valentine’s Visitor

Emily Sharpe

1. Carla

2. The Royal

3. Just Another Afternoon at Work

4. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer

5. Too Many Mrs. Farmers

6. Surprise Visits

7. Decisions Made

8. Happy Valentine’s Day

9. Epilogue

Emily Sharpe

Blushing Books

Blushing Books Newsletter

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Joannie Kay

Chapter 1

Finally! Finally! Fi-na-ly! I knew I wasn’t being nice, but I couldn’t pretend to be unhappy that Cody was single once again. Princess wannabe Alyssa had fallen from grace, and the field was open for me. This time I wasn’t going to stand back and hope that Cody noticed me. Nope, I was going to get his attention – one way or another! Valentine’s Day was only a couple of weeks away, and he was going to be mine by then.

It just had to be that way. I was in love with Executive Chef Cody Andrews, and had been ever since I came to work for him two years ago. He’d dated several women during that time, and this last time, with Alyssa, was much too serious for my liking. I was aware of Cody’s views on employees of the restaurant dating each other, but since he was the owner, he could change the policy if he wanted to, and I was going to see to it that he wanted to.

I erased the smile from my face when Cody entered the kitchen. I was supposed to be prepping for today’s service, and I already knew that Cody hated to find one of his chefs goofing off on his time and payroll.

“Reed isn’t coming in to help with tonight’s service. Can anyone stay until closing?” Cody raised his voice to be heard over the entire kitchen. Three of us were prepping to open at eleven o’clock to serve lunch.

“I can, Chef,” I immediately called out. A chance to close with Cody wasn’t to be missed.

“Thanks, Jenn.” Cody flashed me a big smile that made my toes tingle. I could hardly wait for the hours to pass until we were alone. “Is that all of the shrimp you have peeled and deveined?” he asked, and I could hear the disapproval in his voice. “Get to it, Jenn. We open in an hour and we have three groups with reservations of ten or more. I want everyone’s mind on business, and that includes you, young lady.”

“Yes, Chef.” I uttered the correct response, while part of me thrilled at his scolding tone and the fact that he’d called me ‘young lady.’ My mind immediately created a fantasy in which I was facedown over Cody’s lap and he was using his large hand to spank me on my bare bottom while he scolded. I felt my sex tighten in anticipation, and I made up my mind that I was going to see if Cody was as firm in his personal life as he was in his kitchen. But, in the meantime, I had to do as I was told. It certainly wouldn’t do to lose my job before Cody noticed that I was the right woman for him.

Cody wasn’t wrong about his prediction that we would be swamped at lunchtime. One group of ladies was having a baby shower / luncheon for their boss, and they had the entire afternoon off to enjoy themselves. They ordered appetizers and then entrees and finally, desserts. Two other groups were there: some businessmen in town for a meeting, and a large group of seniors celebrating the month’s birthdays. Cody had to pitch in and help us keep up and he was constantly giving orders, not in a mean way, but in the way a good chef runs his kitchen and provides the best service possible. We relied on repeat business, and Cody was all about good food. He’d fired three chefs in the two years I’d been here. Honest mistakes happened, but consistent poor quality resulted in no job. Everyone worked hard and eventually the lunch crowd departed and it was time to prep for dinner. There would be even more diners then. A Touch of Class had become the top restaurant in town since Cody bought it two years ago and changed the menu and the décor. It really was a classy place to dine, but Cody was smart enough to put some simple fare on the menu too. He’d told us once that his father didn’t like what he referred to as ‘pretentious food’, so he kept some plain items for those patrons.

I was a bit tired when I finally decided to take a break. I helped myself to a bowl of French Onion soup – it was one of my favorites –