The plan: Organize an epic birthday party without spilling the massive secret—that has nothing to do with the party.
Time Frame: Two weeks.
Plan a party? Check.
Try not to think about the man she can’t have? Check.
Suddenly accept said man’s proposal. Check.
Wait…what did Mia Carter do? There was no way she could marry Jaxson Brandt. It would never last. Nothing in her life ever does. They weren’t even dating. They couldn’t go from just friends to marriage. She’ll just have to tell him she changed her mind. If only he’d give her a chance to do so. But between planning a birthday party and trying to keep her bestie from finding out they’re getting hitched, she can’t seem to find the right time. He’s making it his mission to show her what love is truly about—something she’d never had before. She’s just not sure it’ll be enough to convince her.
Warning: This is not a full romcom. While it has moments of humor, it also has a twist of angst. Okay, now you can dive in, you’re prepared!
“Sorry, go back to sleep.” He kissed her forehead before grabbing his phone from the floor in his pants pocket.
He knew he wouldn’t be going back to sleep. A phone call this late was never a good thing. After getting information from his captain, he hung up, rolling back toward Mia.
She snuggled in his embrace, making him hate the fact he had to leave.
What would the distance do to them? Would she change her mind? Because he wouldn’t doubt it. He had felt her hesitate several times throughout the evening. Her eyes sparkling with uncertainty as if questioning her decision to take a leap of faith and marry him.
Was he rushing things? Hell, yes. He wouldn’t deny it.
Did he regret it? Not one bit.
He’d been using kid gloves with her since the beginning. It didn’t work. He was jumping all in. He wasn’t backing down about anything. He’d be in her face twenty-four-seven if he had to be.
“I have to go. A case popped up.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” The shiver that wracked her body made him think she was more than sorry. That she felt the loss deep down in her bones.
Because Mia knew loss. She knew heartache and the horror another person could display.
But she also knew love and caring.
If only she could give it to more than one person—Gabby.
Well, she did give it to him. Last night. Sure, she only said she loved him once, but he’d get her to say it again. And again. And again for the rest of his life. He wouldn’t accept anything less.
“How about I pick you up after your shift and we go out to eat? Maybe celebrate the news with Gabby and Dane.”
Although he didn’t voice the last part as a question, it still came out tentatively. He didn’t want to hide anything from Gabby, but if Mia didn’t want to say anything yet, he’d respect her wishes.
“Should we tell them so soon?”
“Considering you have two dresses to design, I’m going with yes.” Then he sealed his words with a searing kiss, hoping to dissuade any other response from her.
His heart wouldn’t be able to take it if she wanted to keep what was happening between them a secret. But he’d understand if she did. She was nervous. Shy. It was a lot to take in. Hell, he hadn’t even processed it. How could one process the love of their life actually loved them back, especially after being pushed away for so long?
Well, okay, a few months wasn’t that long, but in his head, it felt like centuries. Before that, he had lived years with his love for her to himself. Not even Gabby knew how he had felt.
Shit. He didn’t have a ring either. He had to buy her a ring to make it official. Later today, he’d get her a ring and it should calm some of her worries. Hopefully. Maybe. Hell, he was winging everything here, hoping she didn’t call it all off and tell him to go away and never come back.
“I’ll call you later. I need to go, though.”
She nodded, her eyelids droopy, as he crawled out of bed. It was better she didn’t answer. He probably wouldn’t like the answer, and maybe it wasn’t how she truly felt. She was half asleep right now. When she woke up tomorrow morning, she’d have a clearer head and he’d be able to read her better. In the dark, he couldn’t see the true depths of her eyes and what she was thinking. Mia might think she hid her feelings from the world, but when it came to him, he always felt like he could read her like a book—most of the time, anyway.
Which was why he never told her how he felt. He always knew she wouldn’t take it well, and she hadn’t.
She was his now. She said so, and he’d do anything to keep it that way.
I’m a USA Today Bestselling Author that loves to write sweet contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, although I am partial to romantic suspense. Honestly, I love anything that has to do with romance. As long as there’s a happy ending, I’m a happy camper. And insta-love…yes, please! I love baseball (Go Twins!) and creating awesome crafts. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, working in that field for several years before I became a stay-at-home mom. I have a few more amazing stories in the works. If you would like to connect with me or see important news, head to my website at http://www.amandasiegrist.com. Thanks for reading!
He swept into my life, like an unexpected storm. One minute I’m planning forever and the next, I’m left picking up the pieces. Three years have passed and now he’s back wanting to reclaim what once was. Can lightning strike twice or will they be left broken?
Readers who love second chance romances will enjoy this diverse, contemporary romance.
Blurb
JULIA I never saw Noah Weston coming. He swept into my life like an unexpected storm, but soon, he was everything to me. Until tragedy struck. One day I was planning the rest of my life with my soulmate, and the next I was picking up the pieces of a love so strong, it broke me apart. It took three years to put myself back together. Three years until I was ready to move on. I’ll never forget it. The day he came back. Can lightening strike twice? Maybe, but when I look into his eyes, all I remember are the last words he ever spoke to me. The words that left me broken. NOAH I loved her before I knew her name. She was more than just my heartbeat. Julia Blake was a dream too good to be true. When real life invaded the bubble we had created, I was left a broken man. I survived, but I was dead inside. Half the man I used to be. The half I needed had a new life without me. Three years later, I’m back to reclaim what I’ve lost. I’m back for her, only she wants nothing to do with me.
I take another bite of the brownie and then lay flat on the grass, letting the October sun kiss my brown skin while I enjoy the chocolatey goodness. “Ahh,” I say to myself, “after this, I can die happy.” I put both hands behind my head and squint at the sun beaming down on me. “I hope not,” I hear a deep voice say. I sit up and look at the figure, but the bright sun blocks his face. I block the sun by putting a hand on my forehead and look into a pair of familiar eyes, the clearest green I’ve ever seen. The sun dips behind a cloud, giving me a clear view of his face. It’s the ginger hottie with the bun. He’s either a transfer or a graduate student because, in all my years here, I’ve never seen him until recently. But whatever the circumstances, he’s certainly noticeable. And I never turn down an opportunity to ogle good eye candy. First, he’s head and shoulders taller than everyone on campus. He walks around, his shoulders broad, as if he owns the place. Unlike most of the people at this school, I’ve never seen him with an entourage. The few times I’ve seen him, he’s been alone. His bun is messier than usual today. Half of it has fallen out of the elastic and hangs on his very broad shoulders. The wind blows, making his hair messier, and my fingers itch to put it back in place. I’ve never been this close to him, and when I look into his face again, I notice a small scar above his left eyebrow. I envision running a finger over that scar fifty different ways. “Well, if you ever had this brownie, you’d die a happy death too,” I finally say. Normally, I’d be tongue-tied around someone as good looking as him, but knowing that he must be making small talk between classes and that someone like him would never be interested in me, I decide to just be myself. “Are you going to share, then? I want to judge this brownie for myself.” His eyes twinkle when he smiles, and the smile reveals a dimple in each cheek. When he sticks his hand out, I stare at it, dumbfounded. “Noah Weston,” he says, and I finally shake his hand. I’m a tall woman, only an inch shy of six feet. My hands have always been considered large, but now it’s totally engulfed in his. He wraps his hand around mine, holding it firmly, showing the contrast between my brown hand and his much lighter one. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he doesn’t want to let go, but he does after I give it a little tug. “Julia Blake.” I rub my hand on my jeans, trying to erase the electrical charge from his brief touch.
A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come.
Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion and humor.
She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and two daughters.
dumpster fire noun 1. an utterly calamitous situation 2. mismanagement for the ages 3. something very difficult no one wants to deal with 4. Rob Hansen
Rob was single.
That hadn’t been the plan. But it turned out that his plan wasn’t immune to car accidents. It couldn’t stave off death, couldn’t stop bad things from happening.
Now Carmella—his wife, his best friend, the other half of his heart—was gone. And she’d been gone long enough for the tendrils of loneliness to creep in, for him to risk dipping his toe back into the dating world. The only problem was that dating was a hell of a lot different in this world than when he’d been in college.
He wasn’t good at apps and profiles, his banter skills were rusty, and his flirting . . . well, some might say it was atrocious.
Then came high, high heels. Then came a sharp voice with an impressive repertoire of curse words. Then came a woman who was definitely not Carmella . . . but who might be the possibility of something more.
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team—the Sharks!—are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys.
She lives in Northern California. Connect with her in her Facebook group, the Fabinators or email her at elisefaberauthor@gmail.com.
Today we have the blog tour for AUDREY’S INN by Elle Aycart!
Check it out and be sure to order your copy today!
Title: Audrey’s Inn
Series: The OGs #3
Author: Elle Aycart
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About Audrey’s Inn:
Audrey Fleming never had much of a family or place to call home, so when she gets the chance to buy an inn that once belonged to her late namesake, she doesn’t think twice. Never mind her lack of funds, connections, and experience. Besides, she’s out of options and Alden seems like the ideal place to lie low for a good long while.
Connor Stonewell, beloved grandson of Greta, OG extraordinaire, was once one of Alden’s Golden Boys. Now he’s a hot mess. He’d never envisioned a future where he wasn’t in the military, so getting discharged after a mission gone horribly wrong has left him adrift in the civilian world.
He’s too dangerous to be around his fellow soldiers—never mind a certain sweet, sexy innkeeper he can’t seem to stay away from. He should stop playing with fire. Pack his shit and disappear for good. Too bad he can’t do it. Walking away from Audrey is something every fiber of his being refuses to do.
Their secrets will sooner or later catch up with them. Audrey and Connor both know it. But whether they’ll survive or crash and burn under the weight of revelation is anybody’s guess.
After a colorful array of jobs all over Europe ranging from translator to chocolatier to travel agent to sushi chef to flight dispatcher, Elle Aycart is certain of one thing and one thing only: aside from writing romances, she has abso-frigging-lutely no clue what she wants to do when she grows up. Not that it stops her from trying all sorts of crazy stuff. While she is probably now thinking of a new profession, her head never stops churning new plots for her romances. She lives currently in Barcelona, Spain, with her husband and two daughters, although who knows, in no time she could be living at the Arctic Circle in Finland, breeding reindeer.
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