Excerpt for Resolutions

Thursday afternoon before vacation. If she could just get through the rest of the day and Friday, she'd have it made. Saturday evening she and her friend Nancy would be flying out of Dulles for London, and joining a tour group in Edinburgh for two weeks in Scotland. Spring couldn't wait. Scotland had been on her wish list of places to see since reading tales as a child of Highlanders fighting for Bonny Prince Charlie and later Macbeth walking the misty halls of Cawdor Castle. True, this tour was hitting just a few high spots, but it was a start. She forced herself to concentrate on the budget plans before her.

Minutes later, Nancy dashed into her office and closed the door. With a wail, she sank into the chair. "Spring! What am I going to do?"

"Nancy, what's wrong? You look like something dreadful's happened." Despite the urgency in Nancy's voice, Spring made sure her pen was put back in the proper holder on her desk, with other pens of the same size and color ink. She straightened the papers, aligning them squarely in the middle of the spotless desk blotter before she faced her friend, brows wrinkled in concern.

"It's my dad. He's sick. He has to have surgery." Nancy's eyes brimmed with tears. "Next Monday."

"Oh no!" Spring walked around the desk and took her friend's hands. "How awful! Is it life threatening? How bad is he?"

Nancy sniffled. "No, it's not life threatening, but it's something the doctor says shouldn't wait, and my dad just went ahead and made the appointments. He's had all the preliminary work and everything, and just now called and told me." Nancy looked up at Spring, sitting on the edge of her desk, her eyes dark with concern. "He called to ask me when I could get there." This last she said in a low voice.

"Get there?" The impact of Nancy's statement hit Spring, and she dropped Nancy's hands, her eyes widening and her mouth forming a perfect "O" in shock. "Oh dear, I'd forgotten for a minute that your mom wasn't… that she wouldn't be… Oh, Nance, I'm so sorry. What are you going to do?"

Nancy sighed resignedly. "There's nothing I can do. Since mom's death, it's up to me to take care of dad. Fifty miles didn't seem that far when he said he wanted to stay at home and not move down here, but even if he lived here in town I couldn't go off and leave him when he's having surgery. I'm going to have to cancel out on the trip, Spring. I'm so very sorry." At the look on Spring's face, she rushed on, "But there's no need for you to cancel. I'll just find out if they have a waiting list. You can share your room with someone else. That would be fun, right? Meeting someone new? Or maybe they can upgrade you to a single room. I'll check." She flopped against the back of the chair. "Damn! I wanted to go on this trip."

"Oh, Nance, I don't know. I'd planned to go with you. I'm not sure I'm up for meeting someone new. Not to share a room with for two weeks. And I don't want a single room. Being alone in my room every night doesn't sound like fun. I just think it would be better to see if I can cancel, too. We'll get on another tour some other time. I can use these two weeks for other things. Stuff around the house."

Nancy snorted. "Like putting down new shelf paper? Reordering your shoes by style instead of color? Spring, I love you dearly, but there isn't a thing out of place in your house, and you know it. It's a good thing you don't mind that I'm a slob, or I'd never feel comfortable visiting you."

"I never mind when it's a friend," Spring murmured. "Maybe I can help you with your dad. I do love that man. I can-"

"No! Let me call and see what I can find out about the tour. I'm already missing the trip, I don't want to be responsible for your missing it, too. I know what Scotland means to you." Nancy pushed herself out of the chair and opened the door. "I'll let you know as soon as I find anything out. I'm sorry, Spring."

"Don't worry about it. I just hope your dad is okay."

The rest of the afternoon was lost. Spring couldn't get her mind around funding for new employee benefits or cutting costs on the corporate fleet of vehicles. All she could think about was what she would do about the trip.

Just before she left for the day, Nancy emailed.

The tour company will refund almost all my money if I send them a doctor's certificate on dad, so that's a relief. Also, they were able to fill my slot. You'll have to share a room for the four days in Edinburgh, but then they think they can arrange a room of your own, if you want it. Your roommate is someone named Morgan Mackay. Isn't Morgan an interesting name? The only Morgan I know is that beautiful actress. You know, the blonde, Morgan Fairchild. I hope your Morgan is interesting and NEAT! Please don't make me feel worse than I already do, by canceling the trip. Besides, you don't have a good excuse to get your money back. Nance

Well, not getting her money back was a good reason not to cancel. Besides, this was Scotland. Spring sighed. She'd go, but she had a bad feeling about the trip now.

****

The young man could hardly keep his eyes off the woman checking in at the gate, barely in time for the flight. Damn, is she ever beautiful. From a seat facing the concourse and behind the desk, he had a clear view of her. He judged her to be about five six or seven, nice shape-not skinny, and she looked solid, like she worked out-with short brown hair. And it was short, no question about that. He'd always liked long hair on a woman. Something he could run his fingers through or catch in his fist when he brought her to his mouth or… other parts of his anatomy. But on this woman, short hair suited her face, suited the confident style that was so obvious in her body language, suited him.

She was dressed casually, in a Navy blue pants suit, and a white blouse. Slip on shoes peeked out around the edge of the counter. Good for traveling, especially the number of hours they had before arriving in London. But if he had the luck to sit anywhere near her, the way her breasts filled out that blouse wouldn't make his trip very comfortable.

Morgan Mackay sighed thinking of the size of the plane and the odds of meeting her. As she moved away from the counter and found a place to sit, dragging her carryon bag behind her, Morgan turned his thoughts to ways of finding her, ways of introducing himself. Maybe the attendant would let him move around the plane a little. He'd even resort to flashing his smile, often described to him as "killer," if it would help. He had to meet this woman.

Within thirty minutes, the first call was made for boarding. Across the seating area, the woman had seemed totally absorbed in using a PalmPilot or some handheld device, clicking and punching and typing. Maybe she wasn't going on vacation like he was. Maybe she was on business. Lips pursed in concentration, her mouth looked sweet. He could almost taste those soft pliable lips as they opened to his tongue.

All kinds of scenarios and fantasies passed through his mind. Her beneath him begging him to go faster, harder, calling out his name as she climaxed. Her tossing that handheld device aside as his tongue found exactly the right spot to make her moan and then scream. Her as she took him into her mouth, stroking him with her tongue, clamping him between those full, rosy lips until he wanted to scream. Squirming, he forced the images from his mind, wondering if those sitting on either side of him had noticed his quickening breath.

When the announcement was made for business class passengers to begin boarding, she stood. Morgan's heart skipped a beat. He managed to get behind her in line where his nostrils were bombarded by a light fragrance, either on her or her clothing. Not floral, more woodsy, musky. He had a raging hard-on just standing so close to her, both from the scent and from the fantasies he'd been weaving for the past half hour.

As the line inched forward he accidentally rubbed against her, then caught his breath, hoping she couldn't tell what it was that had just touched her butt. She turned. Her expression was enough to alert him that she not only knew, she wasn't appreciative. Morgan took half a step back and kept a safe distance as they boarded.

****

Holy shit! How did I get this lucky? She was about to store her carryon in the compartment directly over his seat. "Here, let me help you." He lifted it easily from her hands and tucked it in the corner, then stored his bag next to it. She stood out of the aisle looking from her ticket to the seat numbers.

"Looks like I've got the window seat." Her low, gravelly voice sent tingles of excitement through him. He had never reacted to any woman like this. What was wrong with him? She glanced at him, and surprisingly he saw her eyes drop to his crotch for milliseconds before lifting to his face again. He flushed, knowing she was aware that he had been the one in line behind her.

"Is that all right?"

Nonplussed, he looked at her with a crooked smile. "What?"

"Is that all right? That you're on the aisle? I'll be happy to switch if you want."

"No. The aisle is fine."

She turned and settled in her seat; he did the same. She picked up the emergency card and seemed to study it thoroughly. He picked his out of the pouch and gave it a cursory glance, wondering about her again. Her eyes were piercing blue, deep, dark as sapphires. A faint rose blush seemed a permanent coloring on her cheeks, and he had no doubt that it was natural. She looked to be late twenties, maybe early thirties. An "older" woman. His mother would have a kitten if she knew that her son was attracted to someone years older, but his mother was in Arlington, while he was on a plane ready to take off into the wild blue yonder with the woman of his dreams.

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Reviews for Resolutions

"Ms. Knight's stories never fail to bring a smile to my face, tears to my eyes and warmth to my heart. Every line is filled with such emotion I couldn't help but be touched. Spring is one of those heroines who stick with you and you want more than anything for her to be happy and give love a shot no matter what complications may lay ahead. A truly remarkable tale and one I will be rereading in the future.

Resolutions is one anthology I highly recommend. It is full of eroticism, romance and friendship. It's also introduced me to some wonderful authors I would have otherwise missed. Don't miss." - Sharyn McGinty, In the Library Reviews

"Morgan is a wonderfully sexy man and a great hero. "That Scottish Spring" is a striking story of love that survives despite differences. Ms. Knight has another winner in this short yarn." - Denise Powers, Sensual Romance Review

"All four stories are heartwarming tales of women striving to make their lives better and meeting the perfect men to help them. The attractions are instantaneous and extremely hot. If asked to choose my favorite . . . I'd have to say they all are. The gentle love in A Losing Proposition, the adventurous love in Free Fall, the passionate love in For Sale By Owner , and the spontaneous love in That Scottish Spring were all marvelous in their own ways. All four of these authors are a treat to read separately and together they are pure pleasure." - 4.5 roses Vikky, A Romance Review

Resolutions ~ 4 ½ Flames
That Scottish Spring by Dee S. Knight ~ 4 ½ Flames

Wonderfully decadent is That Scottish Spring. Dee S. Knight pens a realistic view into age differences and the need to just accept things as they are. Being a wife to a man six years younger than myself, and his being twenty-three years of age, I found many similarities between life and fiction with feelings and the understanding that this author penned for the readers. Ms. Knight shows that love is the only thing that matter when it’s right. The chemistry between Morgan and Spring is explosive and undeniable. Sweet romance, true love and compatibility make That Scottish Spring utterly romantic and impossible not to love.

This is an amazing anthology that brings home life, love, understanding, outstanding sex and realism to the reader. These four authors, Leigh Wyndfield, Vanessa Hart, Dee S. Knight and Jasmine Haynes are a class act of authors to have on one’s keeper shelf. Four amazing and delightful friends together with four equally amazing and delightful authors bring a little something extra to their readers and keep us coming back for more." - Tracey, Sizzling Romances

"All four of their stories are great tales of women who work hard to be all they can be. It's only the right man that is missing from their life. They each meet the perfect man who can heat up their life and give them their heart's desire. All four authors were the perfect blend for this anthology. This is one book that you won't want to miss, there is something for everyone." - Patricia, The Road to Romance

"I wish all men were as self-assured as Morgan, and I was cheering for him in the end." - Michelle Naumann, Just Erotic Romance Review

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