Keep Hold Read online

  “Bloody hell, I’m so rubbish!” Claire’s hysteria wasn’t subsiding.

  Kathryn’s phone beeped. She glanced at it for a moment. “Ah, false alarm.”

  “What?” Claire threw her arms in the air before slumping heavily against the wall and sliding to her backside. “A false alarm. Thank God.” She wiped her brow and took some deep breaths. “I don’t think I’m ready for this aunty caper.”

  Kathryn remained standing and leaned against the wall peering at Claire. “What makes you say that?”

  “Look at me.” Claire was beginning to lose some of the redness she had developed over her face and throat. “I’m a mess.”

  Kathryn laughed. “It’s been a stressful day. Moving can be a nightmare.”

  Claire sighed.

  “You’re a capable nurse and a great friend to Jess and Alex. You’ll make a fabulous aunty to those lucky kids.”

  “You think?”

  “I know.” Kathryn held out her hand. “Come on, let’s go.”

  “Go where?”

  “To the hospital, of course.” Kathryn kissed Claire passionately. “I love you, baby, but sometimes you just need to chill out. That message was from Alex telling us everything is fine and not to hurry because it might take a while.”

  “You said it was a false alarm.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “You lied to me?”

  Kathryn rolled her eyes. “It was for your own good.”

  “You’re not going to apologise?”

  “Nope.” Kathryn ushered Claire from the house.

  “Well, now I’m seeing the real you, aren’t I?”

  Kathryn sighed dramatically. “Yes, darling.”

  “What else have you lied about, Kathryn Frances Mercer?”

  Kathryn held the car door open. “Just get in, will you.”

  “Okay, but I’m not happy about it.”

  “Your protest is noted.”

  “Good.”

  “Incidentally, what would make you happy?” Kathryn stared into the most beautiful blue eyes and thanked her lucky stars for bringing Claire into her life.

  Claire paused and she developed a frown.

  Kathryn wondered what she was thinking.

  “Marry me?” Claire turned to her, grinning.

  “Pardon?”

  “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” said Claire. “When you asked what would make me happy, that was all I could think of. You and me forever would make me complete.”

  Kathryn couldn’t speak. She could barely breathe. “Yes.” Tears welled in her eyes.

  “Yes? You mean it?”

  “Yes.”

  Claire pulled Kathryn close, tears of elation streaming down both their faces.

  “Holy shit, we’re engaged!” Kathryn fumbled with the key in the ignition.

  “And we’re going to be aunts soon, too,” Claire added.

  Kathryn’s phoned beeped again. She read the message. “Better get a wriggle on.”

  “Why?”

  “The false alarm is no longer a false alarm.”

  Claire grabbed the phone from her. “Step on it!”

  Kathryn reversed the car out of the driveway and sped off toward the hospital. Fifteen minutes later, the phone beeped again. “What’s it say?”

  “It says don’t rush.”

  “Jesus, false alarm again?”

  “Nope,” said Claire. “It says Thomas Leo and Charlie Matilda Mercer were born just two minutes ago and both babies are perfect. They’re all doing well.”

  Kathryn pulled over. “They’re okay?”

  Claire took her hand. “That’s what it says.”

  Kathryn couldn’t hold back the tears. “Our little niece and nephew were born on the day we became engaged?”

  Claire smiled. “I wonder when we have kids, will someone we know get engaged.”

  Kathryn wiped the tears from her eyes to focus on Claire. “You want kids?”

  Claire kissed her. “I do if you do.”

  “I’d love to make a baby with you.” Kathryn said. She’d given up hope of some day becoming a mother.

  “Shall we go and see these kids first, perhaps get married, and then maybe find some sperm?”

  Kathryn smiled and pulled back into traffic.

  “Sounds perfect.”

  About the Author

  Michelle is Tasmanian born and resides in the UK with her wife, just north of London. She’s a fair-weather golfer, a happy snapper, and a lover of cafés and bookshops.

  2015 has been an exciting year for Michelle so far. Her debut novel, Getting Lost, was released in March, and Keep Hold, a romantic comedy, is her second novel. However, it doesn’t stop there. January 2016 will see the release of the controversial The Fifth Gospel, her third novel.

  For now, however, let Michelle take you to a sweltering hot summer in Melbourne. Escape to a leafy inner suburb and meet Claire and Kathryn. Laugh with them, cry with them, and jump into bed with them.

  Some rules should never be broken, but where’s the fun in that?

  Books Available From Bold Strokes Books

  The Time Before Now by Missouri Vaun. Vivian flees a disastrous affair, embarking on an epic, transformative journey to escape her past, until destiny introduces her to Ida, who helps her rediscover trust, love, and hope. (978-1-62639-446-9)

  Twisted Whispers by Sheri Lewis Wohl. Betrayal, lies, and secrets—whispers of a friend lost to darkness. Can a reluctant psychic set things right or will an evil soul destroy those she loves? (978-1-62639-439-1)

  The Courage to Try by C.A. Popovich. Finding love is worth getting past the fear of trying. (978-1-62639-528-2)

  Break Point by Yolanda Wallace. In a world readying for war, can love find a way? (978-1-62639-568-8)

  Countdown by Julie Cannon. Can two strong-willed, powerful women overcome their differences to save the lives of seven others and begin a life they never imagined together? (978-1-62639-471-1)

  Keep Hold by Michelle Grubb. Claire knew some things should be left alone and some rules should never be broken, but the most forbidden, well, they are the most tempting. (978-1-62639-502-2)

  Deadly Medicine by Jaime Maddox. Dr. Ward Thrasher’s life is in turmoil. Her partner Jess left her, and her job puts her in the path of a murderous physician who has Jess in his sights. (978-1-62639-424-7)

  New Beginnings by KC Richardson. Can the connection and attraction between Jordan Roberts and Kirsten Murphy be enough for Jordan to trust Kirsten with her heart? (978-1-62639-450-6)

  Officer Down by Erin Dutton. Can two women who’ve made careers out of being there for others in crisis find the strength to need each other? (978-1-62639-423-0)

  Reasonable Doubt by Carsen Taite. Just when Sarah and Ellery think they’ve left dangerous careers behind, a new case sets them—and their hearts—on a collision course. (978-1-62639-442-1)

  Tarnished Gold by Ann Aptaker. Cantor Gold must outsmart the Law, outrun New York’s dockside gangsters, outplay a shady art dealer, his lover, and a beautiful curator, and stay out of a killer’s gun sights. (978-1-62639-426-1)

  The Renegade by Amy Dunne. Post-apocalyptic survivors Alex and Evelyn secretly find love while held captive by a deranged cult, but when their relationship is discovered, they must fight for their freedom—or die trying. (978-1-62639-427-8)

  Thrall by Barbara Ann Wright. Four women in a warrior society must work together to lift an insidious curse while caught between their own desires, the will of their peoples, and an ancient evil. (978-1-62639-437-7)

  White Horse in Winter by Franci McMahon. Love between two women collides with the inner poison of a closeted horse trainer in the green hills of Vermont. (978-1-62639-429-2)

  Autumn Spring by Shelley Thrasher. Can Bree and Linda, two women in the autumn of their lives, put their hearts first and find the love they’ve never dared seize? (978-1-62639-365-3)

  The Chameleon’s Tale by Andrea Bramhall. Two old friends must work through a web of lies and
deceit to find themselves again, but in the search they discover far more than they ever went looking for. (978-1-62639-363-9)

  Side Effects by VK Powell. Detective Jordan Bishop and Dr. Neela Sahjani must decide if it’s easier to trust someone with your heart or your life as they face threatening protestors, corrupt politicians, and their increasing attraction. (978-1-62639-364-6)

  Warm November by Kathleen Knowles. What do you do if the one woman you want is the only one you can’t have? (978-1-62639-366-0)

  In Every Cloud by Tina Michele. When Bree finally leaves her shattered life behind, is she strong enough to salvage the remaining pieces of her heart and find the place where it truly fits? (978-1-62639-413-1)

  Rise of the Gorgon by Tanai Walker. When independent Internet journalist Elle Pharell goes to Kuwait to investigate a veteran’s mysterious suicide, she hires Cassandra Hunt, an interpreter with a covert agenda. (978-1-62639-367-7)

  Crossed by Meredith Doench. Agent Luce Hansen returns home to catch a killer and risks everything to revisit the unsolved murder of her first girlfriend and confront the demons of her youth. (978-1-62639-361-5)

  Making a Comeback by Julie Blair. Music and love take center stage when jazz pianist Liz Randall tries to make a comeback with the help of her reclusive, blind neighbor, Jac Winters. (978-1-62639-357-8)

  Soul Unique by Gun Brooke. Self-proclaimed cynic Greer Landon falls for Hayden Rowe’s paintings and the young woman shortly after, but will Hayden, who lives with Asperger syndrome, trust her and reciprocate her feelings? (978-1-62639-358-5)

  The Price of Honor by Radclyffe. Honor and duty are not always black and white—and when self-styled patriots take up arms against the government, the price of honor may be a life. (978-1-62639-359-2)

  Mounting Evidence by Karis Walsh. Lieutenant Abigail Hargrove and her mounted police unit need to solve a murder and protect wetland biologist Kira Lovell during the Washington State Fair. (978-1-62639-343-1)

  Threads of the Heart by Jeannie Levig. Maggie and Addison Rae-McInnis share a love and a life, but are the threads that bind them together strong enough to withstand Addison’s restlessness and the seductive Victoria Fontaine? (978-1-62639-410-0)

  Sheltered Love by MJ Williamz. Boone Fairway and Grey Dawson—two women touched by abuse—overcome their pasts to find happiness in each other. (978-1-62639-362-2)

  Death’s Doorway by Crin Claxton. Helping the dead can be deadly: Tony may be listening to the dead, but she needs to learn to listen to the living. (978-1-62639-354-7)

  Searching for Celia by Elizabeth Ridley. As American spy novelist Dayle Salvesen investigates the mysterious disappearance of her ex-lover, Celia, in London, she begins questioning how well she knew Celia—and how well she knows herself. (978-1-62639-356-1).

  Hardwired by C.P. Rowlands. Award-winning teacher Clary Stone and Leefe Ellis, manager of the homeless shelter for small children, stand together in a part of Clary’s hometown that she never knew existed. (978-1-62639-351-6)

  The Muse by Meghan O’Brien. Erotica author Kate McMannis struggles with writer’s block until a gorgeous muse entices her into a world of fantasy sex and inadvertent romance. (978-1-62639-223-6)

  No Good Reason by Cari Hunter. A violent kidnapping in a Peak District village pushes Detective Sanne Jensen and lifelong friend Dr. Meg Fielding closer, just as it threatens to tear everything apart. (978-1-62639-352-3)

  The 45th Parallel by Lisa Girolami. Burying her mother isn’t the worst thing that can happen to Val Montague when she returns to the woodsy but peculiar town of Hemlock, Oregon. (978-1-62639-342-4)

  Romance by the Book by Jo Victor. If Cam didn’t keep disrupting her life, maybe Alex could uncover the secret of a century-old love story, and solve the greatest mystery of all—her own heart. (978-1-62639-353-0)

  A Royal Romance by Jenny Frame. In a country where class still divides, can love topple the last social taboo and allow Queen Georgina and Beatrice Elliot, a working-class girl, their happy ever after? (978-1-62639-360-8)

  Bouncing by Jaime Maddox. Basketball coach Alex Dalton has been bouncing from woman to woman because no one ever held her interest, until she meets her new assistant, Britain Dodge. (978-1-62639-344-8)

  All Things Rise by Missouri Vaun. Cole rescues a striking pilot who crash-lands near her family’s farm, setting in motion a chain of events that will forever alter the course of her life. (978-1-62639-346-2)