Sneak Preview of *Midsummer Night* by Erin...

Allie struggled to balance her canvas bag, full of last-minute groceries for Tony's party, in one hand while digging in her purse for her house keys with the other hand. Awkwardly, she opened the back door and let the canvas bag flop over onto the kitchen counter. A box of birthday candles tumbled out, and several of the candles cracked. Upstairs, she heard Tony crying.

"Orlando?" she called up the stairs. He didn't answer. Forgetting about the quart of raspberry gelatto in the bottom of her shopping bag, Allie went up to the nursery.

She found Orlando sitting in the rocking chair, gently rocking his pink-faced son. Tears flowed down Tony's cheeks. With his face contorted like that, Tony looked more like an irascible troll than her sweet little boy. As Allie came nearer, Tony seemed to calm down. His howling cries became a gentle, persistent sob. Orlando stretched out his arms to transfer Tony to Allie. He gave her his seat in the rocking chair, kissing her cheek as they changed positions.

"What's the matter with him?" Allie asked.

"Just tired, I think," Orlando said. "Poor kid. He needs a nap, but I can't seem to get him to go down for one."

Allie wiped the tears from Tony's cheeks with the corner of the soft blanket on the back of the rocking chair. "Oh, I see how you are," she said to the boy. "Won't go to sleep for Daddy. You need your nap today, little guy. I don't know if you realize this, but after nap time, you're going to have a big party. Cake, presents, everything."

"Cake," Tony said.

"Nap first," Allie said. She rocked gently in the chair, and Tony closed his eyes.

"Thank you," Orlando said. "You saved my life. I've been trying to get him to go to sleep ever since you left the house."

She smiled sympathetically. "I'm sorry. Listen, can you do me a quick favor? I left groceries on the counter, and my gelato's going to melt if you don't put it away. Then, if you want to lie down for a while before the party, I'll take care of Tony."

"Yeah, no problem." He kissed her lips. "Love you, baby. And you, too, little baby." He kissed the top of Tony's head and went down the stairs. Moments later, Allie heard him come back up the stairs and close their bedroom door.

She rocked Tony, humming one of the Slovenian lullabies she'd picked up from Bojana. Eventually, when she was sure he was asleep, Allie placed him on his back in his crib and covered his legs with a blanket. She kissed each of his cheeks and whispered, "Sleep tight."

Allie took off her shoes and left them by the nursery door. She crept into her own bedroom. Orlando was laid out on the bed. He seemed to have fallen asleep without even bothering to take off his running shoes. Allie sat on the edge of the bed, untied his shoes, and took them off, one by one.

Orlando opened his eyes. "Hi."

Midsummer Night, the 2nd book in the Pagan Spirits erotic romance series, is coming soon from eXcessica Publishing. Find Book 1, Beltane, online on Amazon.com or at e-book retailers including AllRomanceEBooks.com and FictionWise.