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  Beautiful

  Iam ♥ Lenise Lee

  A thousand loves to live…one breath…one word…one story at a time…

  iamleniselee.wordpress.com

  Also Available from Lenise Lee

  Love for a Lifetime

  An Angel For Ms. Right

  Love Before A Wedding

  Into The Wind

  Romance After Dark

  After the Sunset

  New Sensations

  Giovanni, My Love

  Brave World Chronicles

  Instinct

  Impulse

  Sweet Bites

  The Christmas Gift (also available in My Colorful Romance, Collection)

  Simone: First Encounter

  Simone: Second Chances

  Falling Snow (also available in My Colorful Romance, Collection)

  Beautiful by Lenise Lee.

  Copyright © 2012 by Lenise Lee Publications. All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts to be used solely in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by print, electronically, mechanically or by any means is strictly forbidden without the expressed written permission of the author.

  The unauthorized reproduction of this copyrighted work is illegal.

  Federal copyright law prohibits unauthorized reproduction by any means and imposes fines up to $250,000 or up to 5 years in prison for violation.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents have no existence outside of the author’s imagination and are purely fictitious. Any similarity to actual events, locales, or people, living or deceased, is coincidental.

  WARNING: The material included in this work is intended for adult readers 18 years of age and older. Please store this material in a safe place where underage readers will not have access to view it.

  Author’s Note:

  This is a work of fiction. Although the characters in this fictitious writing may engage in unprotected and experimental sexual acts, the author does not endorse unsafe sexual practices in real life situations

  Excerpt

  …“Why aren’t you smiling, Miyah?”

  While Shawn restlessly awaited her answer, his soft touch drifted under her chin then upward again and alongside her face. Sweet…Pure…Innocent…Miyah embodied everything Shawn cherished in a woman. Even though she had already promised herself to another man long before the two of them had ever met, Shawn wanted her for himself. He adored the beautiful woman, whose long lashes were fluttering under the brush of his fingers, exactly as she already was. With a heart overflowing with love and laughter, and a full-figured and curvy body he had imagined folding into his arms almost every night for the last two years, Shawn only saw perfection when he looked at Miyah.

  If he had met her first, would the scene they were sharing now be playing out in a different way?…

  Beautifully Made

  I like to believe that I was born with an elegant and quiet strength. These are personal qualities that I value and I have a habit of granting my female characters these same traits. But…what about those moments when I’m weak and unable to hold up a dwindling resistance? Everyone has a limit, an absolute breaking point when only the tender touch of another human being will help us rise from the shadows. When and if we fall…who will be there to help lift us up again?

  These were the questions I pondered while pulling this tale together. It presents a teasing and seemingly simple scenario…Follow your heart or allow your mind to lead the way? Both forces hold equally powerful sway on the decisions we make from moment to moment every day of our lives….Which will emerge victorious this time? Desire or obligation?

  Beautiful

  By

  Lenise Lee

  1

  “And then we add the cherries.”

  Miyah Lynne reached over and plucked one of the black cherries from the large bowl sitting on the cooking counter. Holding the sweet berry by its long, thin stem, she sat the burgundy-red topping in the center of the cupcake’s thick layer of whipped strawberry frosting. Then she repeated the finishing touch for another two dozen of the freshly baked goodies cooling on the hot tin trays. Once she was done dressing the desserts, a pleased smile lifted her cinnamon cheeks.

  “And, of course,” a tiny dimple appeared in her chin as she spoke, “the first taste goes to the boss.”

  Miyah carefully picked up one of the fancy treats and turned to Shawn. A playful smirk ran across her mouth as she held the dessert near his face. Her impish stare locked onto irises the color of white crystal surrounded by a halo of ocean blue. Hot pink lips stretched opened and prepared to sink into the heavy whipped cream but, at the very last second, Miyah withdrew the cupcake from within his tongue’s reach. A heavy laugh rumbled from the square chest underneath Shawn Dougherty’s white linen shirt. The top buttons of his dress shirt were undone, and Miyah watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down with each deep chuckle he released.

  Shawn leaned forward again. This time, the teasing woman didn’t disappoint him. Miyah held her hand steady and allowed the handsome Irishman to cover his mouth in the fluffy pink cream. After Shawn pulled out a generous portion, she studied his twinkling eyes and followed every twist of his sumptuous mouth as he savored each bite of the baker’s specialty. When the woman realized that her gaze had become hypnotized by the motion of his lips, she blinked away. After hastily handing Shawn the remainder of the cupcake, Miyah turned around to inspect her culinary creations one more time. Her dessert would be the centerpiece of the reception Shawn’s restaurant was hosting later in the evening, and she wanted to make sure that her signature cupcakes looked absolutely mouth-watering.

  Suddenly, the feel of two broad hands coming to rest on her wide curvy hips startled Miyah. The bulging tan muscles showing beneath his rolled up sleeves flexed as Shawn pulled her into the hard imprint of his chest. The power of his hold was irresistible, so Miyah did not immediately try to escape the surprise embrace.

  “Perfect.” A thunderous male voice, with a charming Irish lilt, boomed over her shoulder. “They’re almost as pretty as the woman who made them.”

  Miyah remained silent under the pressure of Shawn’s fingertips digging into her hips. Her fingers were frozen to the sides of the warm baking tray. The towering man’s flirtatious words rattled the fragile barrier Miyah tried to erect between their two bodies. If she had uttered one syllable, the woman’s shaky voice would have betrayed her and exposed the thrill fluttering in her belly.

  After another short moment passed, Shawn clenched her full-figure tighter to his stomach. The touch ignited a shiver of electricity, which pulsed down the center of her back and dripped toward the tips of her fingers. Warm breath spilled along her neckline as he leaned in and laid a heavy chin against the curve of Miya’s neck.

  “What would I do without you, Miyah?”

  The trickle of moisture rolling off his lips sent another wave of prickly shivers flooding into Miyah’s belly. With her last frail string of resistance, she quickly smothered the blistering spark that was threatening to burst into an uncontrollable flame and then stepped out of Shawn’s arms.

  “You would find another pastry chef.”

  Shawn wasted no time pursuing her ample frame and filling the small gap separating them.

  “No one could ever take your place.”

  He whispered the words into her ear, forcing a second tremble to explode within the heated flesh of her moist thighs. The devilish quiver urged Miyah to raise an open palm and begin to gently stroke Shawn’s face. As she glided her roaming fingers along his tan skin, a thin layer of neatly trimmed russet-tinted hairs brushed the pads of her fingertips, sending stimulating tingles along the lengths of her wrists. Shawn’
s grip on her waist tightened, and he molded his pecs and torso into Miyah’s body. The sizzling embrace heated her skin and puckered the nipples hiding beneath her blouse. Her unruly and erotic reaction was the strongest warning that the woman had gone too far. She immediately shut down the wild fantasy swimming in her thoughts then shrugged completely away from her tempter’s intense hold.

  When Shawn made no moves to reclaim her, Miyah breathed out a silent sigh of relief. A new thought stung her mind. If he suddenly decided to reach for again, would she be able to resist his illicit touch for a second time? Not wanting to risk giving in to her forbidden attraction again, Miyah fled to the other side of the stainless steel counter. She distracted her runaway emotions by picking up a wet dishcloth and cleaning up the small mess her baking had left behind. Although she kept her focus aimed on her task and away from the bluish-gray stare, Miyah could feel Shawn’s eyes trailing her every move. Those white-hot irises were trying to lure her attention, but Miyah held up her resistance to their magnetic appeal.

  Miyah and the man who was both her manager and one of her closest friends had hugged many times over these past two years. This embrace, however, was nothing like any of the others they had previously shared. The fiery touch she had experienced only moments ago was far beyond a casual gesture. A flash of intimacy had briefly flowed between them, and Miyah needed to be rid of the beguiling sensations before they consumed her mind. Hoping to cut the mute tension hanging between them, she moved their conversation forward.

  “Flattery won’t get you a new deal, Shawn,” she said without lifting her head from cleaning. “You still owe me overtime.”

  Despite her persistent attempts at trying to dodge his gaze, a handsome face and sparkling gray eyes appeared in Miyah’s vision again. Shawn’s long legs had slipped around the table separating them and stepped up next to her.

  “I’m not joking, Miyah,” he said while leaning on the surface of the table with one elbow. The brogue floating off his tongue was hovering at a sensual whisper. His timbre tangled around Miyah’s senses and trapped her under a charming gaze. “I love watching you bake. Your face is so serene...like an angel.” Shawn looped his thick fingers through a few strands of Miyah’s dangling curls. With great care, he tucked the hairs around her ear. “I can’t keep my eyes off you.”

  Miyah dropped her gaze and a nervous laugh slipped from her throat.

  “Well, maybe you should.” While she tried to sort through her rushing emotions, words hurried off her tongue. “I’ve been here over twelve hours, so I must look like a sweaty mess by now.”

  One of Shawn’s fingers continued to linger at the tip of her earlobe. The rough digit began to trace an outline around the angle of her cheek then slid to the underside of her chin. A gentle tug in that spot urged Miyah to glance up and reconnect with his gaze. When their eyes beheld one another, a shy blush filled in her face. There was a curious grin tugging the corners of his candy-pink lips.

  “You’re still perfect.”

  The pool of warmth that slipped down Miyah’s neck and splashed into the valley of her plump breasts was instantly countered with the sting of a guilty conscience. The face of another man emerged at the front of the woman’s wayward thoughts. As soon as William’s name floated into her mind, Miyah’s golden eyes dashed to the watch on her wrist.

  “It’s almost six-thirty,” she said with a hint of alarm in her voice. “I need to get home and start dinner.”

  Miyah made another fast wipe over the countertop then tossed the cloth into the bucket on the floor. After she untied the white apron that was wrapped around her body and pulled it over her head, she rushed toward the back of the restaurant’s kitchen to grab her handbag and coat from the rack sitting beside the door. Before pushing the exit open, Miyah finally paused and turned to Shawn. His beautiful shimmering eyes had dimmed to a dull glow.

  “Sorry to leave in a hurry, but you know how Will is.” An uneasy smile formed on her cranberry-tinted lips. “He likes me to be home when he gets there.”

  Shawn dragged his mouth upward, but never formed an actual smile.

  “Thanks for staying late.”

  After he spoke, Miyah should have been walking away, but her legs wouldn’t move. There seemed to be so much more to say. A forbidden confession was trying to force its way forward, yet Miyah held the words clamped deep in her heart.

  “I hope the party goes well.”

  As Miyah motioned to leave, a tormented tenor stopped her steps.

  “And I hope your fiancé learns to appreciate you as much as I do.”

  “What?” Miyah’s turned to Shawn with wide eyes. Confusion wrinkled her brow. “What do you mean?”

  “I’m sorry.” His right jaw muscle twitched. “It’s none of my business.” Shawn’s eyes burrowed into hers; the glare was so powerful, he shook Miyah from the inside out. “I just…” His voice trailed off, and he broke the connection holding them together by turning his gaze away. Agitated fingers combed back the short copper-colored waves that were loosely hanging over his peach-shaded brow. A silent minute crept by before his light eyes floated toward her again. Shawn forced a strained grin on his sculpted face. “Never mind. Have a safe drive home.”

  “Thanks. Have fun tonight.”

  Miyah nodded goodbye then disappeared through the back door and into the chilly Seattle air. If she had stayed behind one second longer, Pandora’s Box may have sprang open with full force. Tempting flames surging from Shawn’s eyes had managed to evoke a wicked reaction from Miyah’s body. For a stolen moment in time, the thin line of friendship bonding them together had become blurred and then been completely erased. It was a mistake that could never be repeated. Miyah’s heart belonged to another man, and she wouldn’t allow one moment of weakness to prevent her from becoming his faithful wife.

  2

  The words on the page blurred into one long, never-ending sentence.

  Miyah wasn’t actually reading from the book propped up on her lap, but staring at the pages helped to distract the anxiety she was wrestling with. After weaving through clogged rush hour traffic in record time, as soon she walked through the front door of her home, at exactly seven o’clock her phone twinkled with a text alert. Stopping for quick drink, was the first half of the message; headed home in an hour, was how the note had ended. Another glance at the digital clock sitting on her bedside table showed that the red numbers were about to rollover to ten minutes to midnight. William had disappeared into the night, and all Miyah’s attempts at reaching him were answered by a prerecorded greeting and a voicemail box that wouldn’t accept any new messages. Had there been an incident at the bar? An accident after he left? Was he injured?

  As much as Miyah tried to push away the worry clawing at her mind, the woman’s eyes betrayed her again and again. Against her will, irises the color of burnt gold flickered to the cell phone sitting beside her on the bed one more time. As if by magic, almost as though her thoughts had manifested a reaction from the universe, the slim piece of baby pink plastic began to ring. After Miyah snatched up the vibrating phone, her pulse quickened. The name scrolling across the illuminated screen wasn’t the one she had been expecting; nevertheless, it had remained teasing the backdrop of her thoughts. If Miyah ignored the call, would the friendship she had come to cherish return to normal by tomorrow? Would the reluctant desire to feel the caller’s long fingers floating across her skin again finally be banished for good?

  Pushing this forbidden flirtation any further would only stir up dark consequences; nonetheless, against her better judgment, Miyah tapped the answer key. Anticipation at hearing Shawn’s lilt caressing her ear was an enticement that would not be denied.

  “Hey…you’re up late.”

  In spite of her attempt to clear her voice of all traces of coy emotions, a sultry whisper escaped her lips. In response, a low laugh floated over the line. A vision of the naughty smile flashing on the other side of the phone filled Miyah’s mind.

  �
�I know, and so are you.”

  There was tension hiding at the edges of Shawn’s words.

  “Are you all right?”

  A brief silence hung in the air.

  “I am,” Shawn said, “but I wanted to talk to you.”

  “What’s wrong? Did something happen at the reception?”

  “No, everything went fine. The guest of honor and his friends gorged on food and drinks then left fat tips for all of us. And, as usual, your dessert was a hit…a few of the wives at the party practically demanded that I hand over the recipe.” Another peculiar pause hovered between them. “I just wanted to hear a certain sweet voice one more time before I crashed for the night.”

  A timid smile danced over Miyah’s lips. His confession soothed the noisy worry she had been grappling with a few minutes ago down to a distant, almost forgotten, whisper.

  “I’m glad you called to say goodnight.”

  A barely audible sigh touched her naked ear.

  “You said exactly what I was waiting to hear.” Shawn’s tone dropped. “You left so fast…I thought you were mad at me.”

  “I could never be angry with you, Shawn.”

  “So you still love me.”

  Miyah hesitated. The answer to his question seemed obvious, but the meaning of the word he used had changed. She loved Shawn because he was the first person to offer her a kind smile and a polite hello when Miyah had been a stranger among glaring and hostile faces in a new city. His friendship had become her most dependable lifeline while living so far away from family. However, in a hot flash, the thrilling memory of their intimate embrace replayed in Miyah’s mind and coaxed her thoughts beyond the bounds of innocent companionship. Every new and blistering sensation that had overwhelmed her hours ago remained equally as intense and soul-stirring now. A neglected attraction had finally boiled over its fragile limits earlier tonight; even so, did Miyah really want to succumb to the deceptive allure from a flame of hasty desire? The fallout of one mistaken embrace might cost Miyah a precious friendship; more importantly, it may destroy the future she was building with Will.