---

 

Declan went home after spending five days at MedStar. The Speaker of the House was stable for the time being. He’d rested his ankle periodically, and slept some, but was feeling the effects of being on his feet so much when he walked through the door at six at night.

In the kitchen, Lila rushed to him and hugged him fiercely. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

He hugged her back. She smelled like some perfume she used to wear when they were married. Nuzzling her neck, he said, “Me, too.”

They drew apart and Lila brushed back his hair. He’d taken a shower and it was still damp. “How’s Ashley Green?”

“It was touch and go for a while, but she’s stable now. I’m on call, of course, but otherwise I’ve got some time off.”

“At least she’s making progress. How’s the foot?”

“Hurts like hell. But I had no choice, honey.”

“I know. I’m sure if you rest it and go back to light duty when this is over, it’ll be okay. Want some ice?”

“In a glass of Scotch.”

The corners of her mouth turned up. He noticed her lips were glossy. “I’ll get both. Go sit on the couch.”

“Where are the girls?”

“On an overnight with two of their new friends. They were invited over before we knew you were coming home. I thought they could use a break from everything. Maggie went back to school.”

“That’s okay. I could do with some peace and quiet, too.”

Limping, Dec made his way to the great room and sank onto the couch. He slid a cushion to the coffee table, lifted his foot and propped it up on a pillow. Lila came in with an ice pack, which she gently wrapped around his ankle, then poured them both some liquor and sat down next to him.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

“Well, I did primp a bit.”

He ran a hand down her hair, which curled down her back and over her shoulders, the auburn locks contrasting with the light pink top and matching pants.

Lifting his glass, he smiled. “To a calm night.”

“I hope so.”

“How’s Maggie?”

“I think she’s good. She and I didn’t talk about anything serious but before she left, she said she wanted a counseling session with Trish and us.”

“She told me that, too, when I talked to her briefly one day. She set it up for early next week.”

“I hope, after that, we can tell her about us.”

“How will she take it, do you think?”

“I almost told her several times. She came right out and said she wanted me here all the time, then gave a lot of veiled hints.”

He chuckled. “Everybody’s on the same page.”

“I have some other news.”

“Good?”

“I think so. I went into work to meet with Todd again, and saw Robert. He was cleaning out his desk.”

“And?”

“I have a new boss. A woman from the VA, specializing in administration. She’s tech-savvy, a hard worker and easy to get along with.”

“When does she start?”

“Monday. Robert didn’t even recommend me for the position.”

Robert always seemed so perfect, Declan took guilty pleasure in the fact that he could be petty. “That should ease your guilt over leaving him.”

“It does, in a small-minded way. I wouldn’t have taken the position anyway.”

“So you said.”

“He moved out of my house, too. I’ve called a realtor and listed it for sale. We are going to buy this one, right?”

Leaning over, he grasped her neck. “Yes.” He took her mouth, kissed her soundly and sat back. “At the hospital, I’d wake up and wonder for a minute if I dreamed all this.”

“Me, too. I slept in your bed to remind myself.”

“Everybody in the family will be elated.”

“My mother, too.”

“Seriously?”

“I saw her at the Pentagon.” A mischievous grin. “Now there’s a story.” She filled him in on her encounter with the two Major Generals.

“I never thought I’d see the day.”

“She’s been different with me. It’s probably his influence.”

“Let’s be grateful for that.” He glanced around. “So, we’re alone.”

“Uh-huh. I made lasagna for you for dinner.”

“Do we have to eat first?”

His first needed no explanation. “I think that would be best.”

They ate in easy camaraderie. Declan thanked God that his whole family was safe and sound for now. Not everyone was as lucky. Ashley Green’s children and husband had been at the hospital for days, sitting by the Speaker of the House’s bed. She’d gone through three more surgeries and seemed to be done for now, but she wouldn’t be returning home any time soon.

Lila cleaned up, Dec went into the great room and switched on some music. When he came back out, she gave him a questioning look.

He gave her a sexy wink. “I think it’s time for some romance.”

“Your foot?”

“I’ll lean on you.”

Gently, he took her into his arms. “You’re My Soul and My Inspiration” wended its way into the room and they moved slowly on the floor. Dec held on tight, rejoiced in the feel of her body aligned with his, kissed her soft, soft hair. “It’s true, you know. You’re my soul. Or soulmate.”

She nuzzled his chest. “I feel this same. A piece of me has been missing for three years.”

He grasped her tighter. When the song ended, he cradled her face. “I wish I was stronger. I’d like to scoop you into my arms and bound up the stairs, throw you on my bed and have my way with you.”

“No to scooping and bounding.” She teased his lips. “But yes to having your way with me.” She held out her hand. “Let’s go, big guy.”

Maggie sat between her mom and dad. She didn’t want to do this, but Trish thought she should, so she took a deep breath. “I don’t think this way now, but for a long time, I believed you didn’t want me. Mom, I overheard you talking to Dad, and Trish thinks I’ve been influenced by that all my life.” She bit her lip. “Then you left me. That confirmed what I’d felt.”

Thank God her mother was a strong person and didn’t cry. Instead, she squeezed Maggie’s hand. “I remember exactly what I said. That I didn’t want to be pregnant again, didn’t want to be the first time. I take full responsibility for my words. I’m pretty sure I reacted that way because I was upset. I was only a few years older than you are and wanted to go into active duty, was disappointed I couldn’t. But know, sweetheart, that after getting used to the idea, I fell in love with you even before you were born.”

“That’s what your letters said.”

“Trish told us you found them.”

“I know about them, too.” Her father’s face was sad and Maggie was sorry her confession hurt him.

“I’m glad Mom wrote them. She poured her heart out. Seeing her feelings—uncensored Trish called them—written in black and white helped change my mind. One talked about why she left three years ago.”

“Which I should never have done.”

“You said that, too.”

Again, her father spoke. “Mags, I was partly at fault for her leaving. I led her to believe I’d go, then I didn’t.”

Huh. Her father was strong too. Some parents would rationalize their actions instead of taking blame.

“You didn’t go because of me.”

“And for myself. Plus, I should have been home more during your childhood. I might have seen this coming.”

Trish intervened. “I think you’ve said what you need to say about blame. What we have to do now is figure out if there’s been damage to your relationship.”

“No, there hasn’t,” Maggie was quick to say. She didn’t want it to be true.

Her dad grabbed her other hand. His felt big and safe. “Of course there has, honey. The unconscious mind is very powerful. You’ve suffered over this feeling for years even if you weren’t totally aware of why.” He looked to Trish. “How do we get past this?”

“Time will help the rift to heal. Time and attention, and changing some things in your life. It’s my understanding that you’ve quit the National Guard.”

“Yes, I’ve already told Maggie I would, though I haven’t gotten the paperwork.”

“So, Maggie, you don’t have to worry about your dad anymore.”

 “I feel bad he had to do that.”

“Don’t,” her father said decisively. “You’re more important than anything else.”

“Than serving your country?” She couldn’t believe it. Both her parents were dedicated to the military.

“Mom and I served our country our whole lives.”

“And you still are,” Trish clarified. “Your mom works with vets and your dad just saved the life of the Speaker of the House.”

“I guess.”

“Spending quality time with each other will help.”

Her mom sat forward. “I think you should continue to see Trish. Cutting isn’t that easy to overcome.”

“I haven’t done it since that night I went to the hospital.”

“But there will be stressors with us. With school. You need to have a safe base to go to.”

“I can talk to you now.”

“I want that. So does Dad. But we all need an objective observer in our lives from time to time.”

“You, too?”

Her mom and dad exchanged looks. “I think we can tell her now.”

“Daddy?”

“Your mom and I are getting some counseling.”

Maggie shifted in her seat, expecting bad news. “What kind of counseling?”

“Um, marriage counseling.”

“But you’re not...” Maggie halted. Cocked her head. “I thought something was going on between you two. You’re getting back together, aren’t you?”

“In a sense, honey, we already have.”

Now, Maggie cried. But they were tears of a different kind than she’d been shedding before. They were tears of relief.

And hope.

Later that night, Lila and Declan made love. His hands whisked over her, exploring every curve and indentation. He kissed her lips, her waist, behind her knee. She sighed with the gentle way he explored her. Then she did the same to him. A brush of her fingers in his hair, kissing the underside of his jaw, caressing his hands, bringing them to her body where she wanted him to touch her. Soft sighs led to heavy ones, until he turned her to face him and slid inside her. This wasn’t the first time they came together since they were divorced, but the act now sealed a new bond, a new beginning that meant more than before. They tumbled over the edge gently, like a waterfall spilling into a lake. Afterward, they cuddled close.

In a haze of fulfillment, with the sleepy knowledge that this was exactly where they should be, Declan felt her come up on his chest and brace her arms. “I have to tell you a few things, love.”

“Anything.”

“First, you need to get a vasectomy.”

Fully awake now, he tilted her chin. “Wow. That came out of the blue.”

She gave him a Mona Lisa smile.

He watched her. Her eyes sparkled like amethysts, caught in the dim light. He noticed her breasts were a little fuller and she had a kind of a glow to her. “You gotta be kidding me. It happened again?”

“It did. We should have known.”

“But it’s only been two weeks since we first made love.”

“I was supposed to get my period when the tragedy happened. When it didn’t come, I did a test. So yep, I’m pregnant, but barely.”  

“Hell, we were careful. Used condoms.”

“We were careful the others times I got pregnant. And like those times, I had no symptoms at all, though it would be too early for those anyway.”

Overcome by emotion, he held her close. “How are you feeling about this?”

“Well, I’m thirty-eight. It’s going to be a big change. One that maybe didn’t come at the best time. We’re just beginning our lives together again.”

“You want to have him or her, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then this might be the perfect time.” Declan laughed. There were always surprises with this woman.

“Our life will be different this go-around.”

“I’ll do my share this time.”

“And I have a job now where I can work from home when necessary.”

He ran his hands down the silky slide of her skin. “Remember how you told me our relationship couldn’t handle the pressures of modern life?”

“Uh huh.”

“The stars seemed to have aligned on that. We can handle it now.”

“Yeah, I guess they have. I’ve loved you all my life, Dec.”

“I loved you that long, too.”

Before he closed his eyes and slept, he looked out the window at some of those stars. And thanked the lucky ones that had brought her back to him.

 

Epilogue

The king of Casarina stood over the heirloom bassinet which held the two-week-old infant, Razim Alessio Anthony Gentileschi Marino. “They have done well, our children, have they not, Tony?”

“Very well.” He rolled his eyes. “Though it was a tough road.”

“Good things are the most difficult to achieve.” Renata linked her arm through her husband’s. “But you two seem to have done this whole love thing smoothly, right Deidre?”

“No, Renata. We had some issues back in the day.” She smiled intimately at Tony. “But we overcame them.”

“We’re so glad you’re here.”

The Marino parents had come to Casarina right after Christmas to remain with the Connor and Calla before their grandchild was born. The Gentileschis had treated them like royalty, though their favorite part was when the young prince left the hospital. It was customary for the king and queen to walk out and introduce him to the streets-filled population. Breaking with tradition, though, Alessio asked Tony and Deidre to join them. Since then, the entire family had flown over to the kingdom to celebrate little Razi’s birth.

 Connor approached them and kissed Mama on the cheek. “You four can’t get enough of this kid, can you?”

“Never,” Alessio said. Since his marriage to the king’s daughter, Con had come to admire the man and gotten close to him. “As you can’t.”

“We couldn’t be happier.” Con swallowed back the emotion. “Sometimes I can hardly talk when I look at him.”

Alessio laughed. “I was the same with Callandra.”

Tony added, “And I couldn’t take my eyes off any of you.”

Raising his brows at the king, Connor grinned. “I never got to ask with all the commotion going on here. How was your second honeymoon?”

“Son, don’t ask such intimate questions.”

“No, I will answer.” A flicker of sadness crossed Alessio’s face. “Even better than the first one, since we almost lost each other.” He clapped Connor on the back. “Be good to my bambina.”

“I promise, Alessio, I will.”

Calla joined them. “What did I miss?”

“I’m afraid my son has no manners.” Deirdre’s tone was dry.

“In some things.” She studied Deirdre, who seemed tired. “I have a suggestion. Why don’t you, Mamá and Deidre take the young one to the guest house for a bit? I just fed him so he’ll be fine.”

“Wonderful,” Renata said. “We’ll have him all to ourselves.”

Deidre nodded. “Wonderful, indeed.”

Gently, Renata picked up the baby, and the two grandmothers walked out of the house with Razi. Calla left them to sit with her sisters.

“Tony, join me for a cigar in my office?”

Connor was shocked to see Pa’s eyes light up. “Well, maybe one time. I indulged in that tradition with each baby.”

“You go out there and be with your family,” the king told Connor. “They’ll be leaving soon.”

The Marinos were ensconced in a glassed-in porch next to the outdoor area. Before Con left the room to join them, he waved to the seven girls on the couches at the end of the room. The families had spent a lot of quality time together as everyone had arrived a week after the baby’s birth. Some of the siblings were headed out tomorrow. Connor guessed the princesses probably needed private time to talk.

Calla glanced over and waved to Connor when he gestured he was going out to the porch.

Tracking her gaze, Mariella leaned into her. “Can you believe it yet, Calla? You have a baby! Razi’s so beautiful.”

“I’m still in shock. I love him so much, and Connor.” Her eyes teared. “Hell, I bawl at everything.”

Mariella sighed. “I hope I’m that happy again someday.” She’d lost the love of her life at twenty.

“You will be, Mari.” This from Alexandra. “I just know it.”

Smiling at Alexandra, Calla asked, “Looking forward to going to New York?”

After writing a children’s book nobody but Ravenna knew about, Alexandra had been contacted by a top New York publishing house. But on the advice of her mother and father, she decided to get an agent first (without using the Gentileschi name or status) before she went to America to discuss terms with them.

“Yeah, I decided to sign with Writers&Books Agency. The Reynolds, who own the publishing house, are at the London Book Fair. And of course the holidays delayed things. Mamá and I are flying in soon to meet with the agent, then them.”

“Are you excited about all this, Raven?” Calla asked.

Ravenna was sprawled on the couch, out of her finery, wearing her signature black pants and a simple top. “For Lexy I am. It’s her book.”

“You illustrated it,” Lexy put in.

“Based on your ideas. Enjoy your success, honey.”

“I am. You should too.”

Calla turned to her left where the next oldest sister sat on the arm of the couch, staring out at the Marinos. “Francesca, you’re a million miles away. Something wrong?”

“No, I’m good. I was just thinking how interesting it is that Connor’s brothers Gabe and Nick are teaching the police course I’m taking soon.”

“I believe in karma.” This from Evangelina, the sedate one, who always seemed to be happy with herself. She sat on the other couch, next to Gabriella. “But only good karma.”

“How like you, Evvie.”  Brie squeezed her hand. Happiness had been elusive for this sister since last fall. She was still suffering over the effects of being kidnapped, and Calla felt guilty for that, though Connor helped her a lot in dealing with Brie.

Calla’s gaze strayed to Connor again.

“Go on,” Brie urged. “You belong to them, now, too.”

When Calla stepped onto the porch, Connor hugged her fiercely. “Hello, love. You okay? Do you need to rest?”

“Not yet.” She’d had an easy birth. Labor only lasted a couple of hours, and then little Razi pretty much just popped out.

Whitney sighed. “I hope my labor and delivery are like that.”

“We’ll deal with whatever we have to, love.” Already, Max was a sap about the child he would have in a few months.

“Yeah, I believe that now.” She placed her hand on her gently rounded stomach. “With little Liam doing well, and you happy, I can’t ask for more.”

At seven months in the womb, Liam Rosario John Blackwell Marino had made his existence known. Whitney felt him in every fiber of her body, every minute of every day. And she’d never been more free of gloom. “I’m so glad John didn’t feel bad that we’re naming him after my father and mother.”

“He knows how much they meant to you. And he’s thrilled we bought a house in Maryland with an in-law apartment and invited him and Lorelei to move in.”

In an ironic twist, Mama and Pa, the homebodies, had bought their own place—a condo near their kids but only a thirty minute drive into D.C. They’d become enchanted with the nation’s capital.

Declan poked his cousin in the arm. “You’re getting big, kiddo.”

“Yeah, you’ll have this in a few months.”

Dec eyed Lila across the room. “I can wait. It’s the girls who are impatient. They want their sibling now.”

“Are you as happy about your new work plans as we are about ours?” Max asked.

Max and Whitney’s plan was for Whitney to take the first six months’ maternity leave, and Max to take the second six months as paternity leave. But the changes in Declan’s life were even more radical.

“Yeah. This’ll work out best for all of us.”

In a shocking move, Declan had suggested he go in on Connor and Calla’s new clinic in Maryland near their homes. He’d work the six months Connor was in Casarina, then the next six he’d be home more, and do some consulting with MedStar.

“I saw Lila on the phone quite a bit,” Whitney commented. “She’s really getting into this online thing, isn’t she?”

Lila had insisted she work from their home on the interactive website and hotline. In return, she agreed to teach online workshops with other veterans’ groups all over the country about setting up similar programs. For big bucks, so Declan could manage a cut in his salary.

She must have seen him looking at her because she came out to the gathering. “Hi, guys.”

“God you look good,” Whitney told her. “Getting a lot of rest?”

“Are you kidding? I have four drill sergeants in my life now. Maggie even made up the best menu for a pregnant woman from research online.”

“Names yet?” Max asked.

“Nope. Morgan and Meli get to decide the names, just like Maggie did for them. Anything’s okay, as long as it’s not Dylan and Durango.” Their thirty pound chocolate labs were two months old and rambunctious as hell.

Declan cuddled her close. “I love this little guy already.”

“Little guy?” Connor practically shouted. “You’re having a boy, too?”

“Man,” Max added. “Talk about burying the lead.”

“We didn’t want to steal Razi’s spotlight today, but I think it’s okay to announce.”

Maggie had just been entering the porch and stopped in her tracks. Dec smiled at his eldest daughter. All his kids meant the world to him, but Maggie held a special place in his heart. This one had had a rough autumn, but things were looking up. She didn’t seem as sad anymore, but was still in therapy, though less frequently.

“Dad, did you just tell everybody?” she asked from there.

“Yep. So you can spread the word.”

“Great, I’ll go tell the boys. They’ll freak.” She started away but turned back. “Oh, guess what? Calla’s sister Brie said I can come and observe her in her classroom. She works with low income kids.”

When Mags took off, Whitney asked, “She good still?”

“Yeah. She’s taken such an interest in this one.” Lila rubbed her belly. “It seems to have lightened her as much as the counseling.”

Nick and Isabelle, who’d been over on the couch, approached them. “Did I hear we’re having another boy in the family?” Nick asked.

“Yep.” Declan grinned. “Does that even the odds?”

“Let’s see. Ryan, Jamie, Simon, Razi, and this guy. The girls are Mags, Meli, Morgy, Evvie and Dee. Yep, it evens the odds.”

“But are we done yet?” Whitney asked.

Nick and Declan gave a resounding yes! They’d both had vasectomies. Connor shook his head. “I doubt we’re finished yet.”

Isabelle smile serenely. “So, we’re adding to the world’s population and contributing to society as well.”

“Tell them about you.” Nick again.

“I’m in the planning stages of opening a bookstore. I’m hoping to have a program for low income kids as part of it. Maybe the ones that go to your clinic.”

“Great, Isabelle.” This from Declan.

“Calla’s sister Lexy can be my first guest author.”

“Cool.”

“And Jim is writing a book, too.”

“While still president? Doesn’t that usually happen afterward?” Max asked.

“He’s never paid any attention to norms.” She gestured to encompass Con, Calla and Dec. “Like you all haven’t.”

Nick cocked his head at the others. “I’m going to be the only one without change in my life.”

“What do you mean?” Max again. “The Police Training in Tactical Missions is spreading like wildfire and getting national attention.”

“Yeah, I guess. Next is training trainers. Gabe and I can’t keep up with the demands to open several locations at bay much longer.”

“That’s what you get for being so good at your job.”

“Who knew I’d like teaching so much?” He glanced at Gabe across the room with Macy. “He always did.”

Gabe took Macy’s hand and instead of joining the family, he led her through the house to the front of the palace. They stopped and donned sweaters, then went out the front door, and like the Americans they were, sat on the steps. “I had to get away.” Gabe shook his head. “So much is happening in there, it makes my head spin.”

Macy laid her head his shoulder. “I know. Talk about change.”

“Two years ago, I had no idea you’d be my wife.”

She gave him a sham frown. “I thought you said you were always attracted to me.”

“I was. But my track record for success was at an all-time low and never dared hope for this.”

“And now you’re getting everything you always wanted.

“Yeah, life has a funny way of working out. Who knew we’d all be in the same city, or Lila would be back in our lives, or Whitney and Max would be a couple.”

“Not to mention having a princess and a king in the family.”

“Seven princesses by the looks of it. The Gentileschi sisters’ lives are connecting to ours.”

“Yeah, Ravenna talked to me about her art therapy program. I’m interested in that, too.”

“But your art is selling like hotcakes.”

“So is hers. But I want to give back, like the rest of the Marinos.”

“God knows the world needs more humanitarians.”

“That’s what I think, too.” She put her hand on her chest. “Just as long as we still have private time for ourselves.”

“Hey, we already made love in the palace several times since we’ve been here.”

“Uh-huh. We did.” She stood and plopped herself on Gabe’s lap.

As the two nestled into each other, they stared out at the rolling hills of Casarina, still sparkling like a gem even in the cooler temps of February. Connor said the place was like a fairy tale, and Gabe had begun to believe that all the Marinos—and hopefully the Gentileschi sisters—would live Happily Ever After. 

 

 

---

 

I love all the Marino men and women. They are heroes and heroines to respect and honor. But for some reason, I got the most attached to Declan and Lila. Maybe it’s because they really did love each other, but were hit with the pressures of modern life so hard they couldn’t make it. Eventually, their relationship gave way to these pressures. Who among us hasn’t felt the strain of: two working spouses, childcare falling mostly on the mother, an unexpected pregnancy and the demands of the job? Throw in their involvement/commitment to the army and you have the recipe for a relationship disaster.

 

I kept thinking about how they were in the beginning, and how they found each other when they were teens. Maybe my attachment became so deep because I met my future husband at nineteen and married him one week after graduating from college. And I remember the days of balancing responsibility to our children and the demands of full time jobs. I remember times when life got too big for us. We never separated, but felt the deep challenge in our marriage.

 

Before I tell you what I liked about Lila and Dec, let me state outright that I could understand a woman leaving her husband under these circumstances, but I could not accept Lila’s decision to leave her children. You weren’t supposed to like it either. But I got why she did it. After dealing all her adult life with the frustration of a spouse who wants (and gets) his own way, she’d finally been offered her chance for professional fulfillment. But Declan wouldn’t give it to the opportunity, even though she went along with all his career moves. I hope I conveyed that her deep unhappiness with her life precipitated her actions. But more importantly, what I loved about Lila was she recognized she’d made a mistake in leaving them. Agonized over it. Tried to make up for it (yes, by coming home more frequently and having joint custody). At the same time, Lila realized, as a psychologist, that she could never really undo the damage she did. Instead, she worked hard during the separation and when the book opens to atone for this grave error. Her unwavering support of Maggie, even as the girl actively pushes her away, was redeeming. Yep, I liked Lila despite the decision she made.

 

And, Declan, though he was very appealing, was selfish in many ways. He refused to move back to D.C. when Lila had moved to Lakeville for him. He didn’t make the sacrifices for his family that she did.  As a husband, he allows his wife to make all the concessions in their relationship. But again, similar to Lila, by the beginning of COME BACK TO ME, he recognizes what he’s done wrong. He knows he made mistakes that alienated her. And when he sees her so much again, he’s willing to work at making up for all that. No, he might not have been the best father all his life, but now, he’s just so adorable with his girls, and yeah, macho in an appealing way when he tries to get Lila back, that I was taken in by him.

 

Let me say something about Maggie. I dealt with troubled teens all my adult life as a teacher. They came to me when they’d been raped, when they were suicidal (one even showed up at midnight at my home), and yes, for things like cutting when depression overwhelmed them. I knew Mags intimately. Hurt for her. Wanted her to get better.

 

So, this is the end of the line for the Marinos. They were pretty damned sexy, hard-headed, but also giving, loving, and dedicated to making the world a better place. It’s been a crazy ride for the last two years writing the five books, and I’ll miss them terribly, but I hope I gave you a sense of how they’d all fare in the future.

 

Best,

Kathy

 

 

 

 

 

Nick Marino, top agent in the White House, loves his job and is in line to take over the directorship of the Secret Service someday. Then the president sends him to a small town in upstate New York to determine why his widowed sister is getting threatening notes. Not happy about leaving D.C., he’s even more frustrated when he becomes embroiled in the lives of the beautiful Isabelle Barton and her two spunky boys. ABOVE AND BEYOND provides a deep dive into the life of a Secret Service agent, the glamor of Washington politics and a close look at being related to the most powerful man in the world. The story will keep you fascinated and capture your heart with its tender and sometimes hot romance.  

 

When Secret Service head trainer at the recruit center Gabe Marino gets his dream job--being part of the Presidential Protective Duty--he doesn’t expect to fall in love with restaurant owner Macy Stevens. He’s going into the kill zone and she can’t risk a repeat of her dead husband’s shooting in the line of duty. But life, and love, get in the way.  SAY YOU’LL STAY gives readers an in-depth look at training Secret Service recruits, a peek into the life of a boy with emotional disorders and the man who befriends him, and a tender love story that you won’t want to end. The book will have you pulling out the Kleenex. 

 

Agent Whitney Dwyer and Agent Max Blackwell have been together for five years. As a young member of the Secret Service, Whitney has a top-notch job in Threat Assessment and has gotten plum assignments in protection. She’s also gotten Max in a friends-with-benefits relationship. When they split up, neither is prepared for life without the other. Then fate steps in. ONLY WITH YOU is back-dropped by the bombing of a federal building, a case assigned to Whitney and Max during their personal turmoil. The book also delves into the inner workings of the Secret Service and the danger federal agents encounter every day. Toss in a sizzling relationship and readers will find this story a page-turner. 

 

Dr. Connor Marino has led a charmed life, with a superb education, several degrees under his belt and a patent which gives him money to live on. But he enlists in Doctors Without Borders because he wants to give back to the world. He never expects to find love in the war-torn Middle East with a real live princess, Callandra Gentileschi, from Casarina. But theirs is anything but a fairytale romance when family and political demands take Calla away. In NO OTHER LOVE, get a glimpse at the difficult work of doctors overseas, travel with Calla to her exotic foreign home country and experience their undying love for each other. 

 

Army Medical Reservist Dr. Declan Marino married Army Officer Delilah Carrier, his high school sweetheart, had children early on and were happy—for a while. They divorce, however, when Lila is stifled by her life.  Now, happy in their careers, they’re still in love but can’t seem to find a way back to each other.  COME BACK TO ME examines the difficulty of balancing two military parents and maintaining a happy family life. The book also explores the question: can long-standing love triumph over the roadblocks of modern life? 

 

The Gentileschi Sisters are coming back to star in their own series. Follow Francesca, Gabriella, Evangelina, Ravenna, Mariella and Alexandra as the find their way in life. And expect some cameos from each of the Marinos.