Category Archives: Want to read
BLOG TOUR – What the Fang? (Undead Ever After #1) by Stacey Kennedy
What the Fang? an all-new fast paced paranormal romantic comedy and the first book in the Undead Ever After series from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy is now live!
Sink your teeth into this irresistible forbidden romance from USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy about the vampire Warden of Charleston and the new-in-town witch who’s causing him all kinds of trouble…
Willa Farrington’s magic is broken. Shunned by her coven for failing to pass the Summer Solstice Rite, Willa escapes to the one place no witch belongs – Charleston, a city that belongs to vampires. Determined to embrace her new life, Willa opens Cauldron Boil Books, and unexpectedly finds some friends among the vampires…
Until one terrible night Willa ends up on the wrong side of a pair of fangs. Thankfully, her captor’s plan is ruined when Killian Constantine, the drop-dead gorgeous Warden of Charleston, shows up to save her. But just when Willa thinks she’s safe, Killian, rumored to be the most feared vampire in the city, furiously demands to know why she – a witch – telepathically called him for help.
Intent on finding answers, the two embark on a journey to unravel the mystery behind Willa’s attack and their unusual connection. As they get closer to the truth, the fiery passion between them ignites. But their forbidden romance isn’t making them many friends, and just as Willa starts to think that her entire existence is a lie, deadlier forces come out of the shadows. She will need to believe in her malfunctioning magic, trust bloodthirsty vampires, and cross her fingers that she and Killian make it out together… and that neither end up dead.
Sink your teeth in today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cjlOCg
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Excerpt
As I set the last dish in the cupboard, Killian said, “Thank you for tonight. It’s been a long time since I’ve done this.”
“Had lunch with someone?” I asked with a snort, shutting the cupboard door, turning to face him.
Energy pulsed like a heartbeat, causing my nipples to pucker as he took a step closer. “Had a meal with a woman.”
I swallowed against the way his voice lowered at woman and how those two syllables stormed through my blood. I inhaled sharply, his wintery pine aroma overwhelming my senses. “You’re welcome. I enjoyed myself too.”
The silvering of his eyes told me I was failing miserably at hiding the excitement building inside me. He closed the remaining distance between us slowly, letting me watch every powerful step he took. His hand came to my arm, and that intentional touch kicked up my heart rate even more. Suddenly everything between us became charged, damn near electrified. His presence was all around me, his power washing over me, his mouth close to mine.
Aware of my desire, his nostrils flared, as he brushed a soft kiss against my cheek. The world stopped spinning as the air left my lungs in a rush, and my head turned without so much as a thought, only a pure desperation to feel him against my flesh.
Except, before my lips met his, he pulled away.
His glowing eyes were dancing. “Thank you again.”
As he strode away, and feeling like he suddenly had one up on me, I shoved all my desire, all my drenched, aching need into the air, letting him scent that.
He stiffened at the doorway, glancing back. His bright, glowing eyes, paired with the ravenous hunger on his face, nearly melted the panties off my body. “Are you prepared to finish what you’re starting?”
“Oh, are we starting something?” I asked, striding up to him. He went ramrod stiff as I molded myself to his body, leaning against the hefty erection at my stomach. “Aren’t we just saying goodbye?”
His chest rumbled.
Having the upper hand again, I grinned and meant to walk out of the door, except that a blast of wind slammed the door shut. Killian pressed me against the wall, his hard muscles a shield I never wanted gone. His hands braced my face, his lips inches from mine. Eyes glowing, he murmured, “You know we’re starting something.”
“Maybe I do.”
The air was on fire between us, electricity pinging as he brought his mouth closer, enough to smell Italian spices on the tongue I craved to taste. “If I kiss you, Willa, there is no walking away for me.” His gaze swept over my lips before meeting my eyes.
My head was spinning at the feel of his hands on me—at the power in the air around us. I could feel him entering every molecule of my body. His icy, woodsy aroma enveloping me. His touch burning me. His passion searing along my skin. It was like I knew all of Killian without knowing him. I didn’t question if I should let this happen, I knew it had to. I threaded my hands into his hair and brought his mouth to mine.
He groaned against my lips, and I echoed the sound, parting my mouth, allowing his tongue entrance. I moaned as I tasted him, and he grunted for all the same reasons, his hands exploring my body like he needed to learn it, to feel my curves. I dragged my hands from his hair to his strong shoulders down to his rippling arm muscles.
Until Killian broke the kiss, leaving me breathless after hearing a soft knock on the door. “Go away,” he growled.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Raphael said from the doorway. “But Ari requests your presence in the library.”
“Thank you,” I breathed, desperately trying to get control of my tingling nerve endings.
Killian waited for Raphael to leave before he set that smoldering stare on me, cupping my face, and cursed. “We need to go.” I saw the question there. All it would take was for me to say: I need you now, and we’d be late to meet Ari …
About Stacey Kennedy
Stacey Kennedy is a USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romances full of heat, heart, and happily ever afters. With over 50 titles published, her books have hit Amazon, B&N, and Apple Books bestseller lists.
Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario—in a city that’s just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.
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RELEASE BLITZ – The Hunted by S.B. Alexander
A brand new spin-off series featuring Vampire Navy SEAL, Sam Mason and Vampire Hunter, Layla Aberdeen.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LCZJSST
Apple: http://books.apple.com/us/book/id1590009256
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940160849782
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-hunted-103
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=z0xNEAAAQBAJ
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/vnsthehunted
Trailer: https://youtu.be/aHJWQMTnnPE
Goodreads – https://bit.ly/3Aoo6v7
Synopsis
Human against vampire. The hunter against the hunted.
I kill vampires for a living.
So the job should be simple—capture the target and collect the money. But when I draw Sam Mason out in the open, I’m blindsided by the vampire’s mesmerizing green eyes and snarky wit. He’s the type of vampire my mom warned me about—the kind who will seduce you with his easy smile and arrogant charm.
Yet, I know better.
The Vampire Navy SEAL oozes danger and mayhem. His deadly swagger screams that if I mess with him, he’ll annihilate me in a second. That thrills me and terrifies me at the same time.
A million red flags are telling me to run—flee for my human life. But a force beyond my control is drawing me to the possessive vampire. Even more so when one of my sisters is compelled into a coma-like state, and Sam’s number one enemy kidnaps the other.
Now, the only way to save my sisters is to beg and grovel for Sam’s help.
Otherwise, I might never see my sisters again.
How much am I willing to risk? Because it could be my life for theirs.
The Hunted is an enemies to lovers, paranormal, military romance and the first book in the new Vampire Navy SEAL spin-off series. Layla and Sam’s story is a slow burn romance with snarky banter, intrigue, action, suspense, steamy times, and contains a cliffhanger.
EXCERPT
The area was shrouded in darkness as vampires entered the seedy club. The music from inside was loud and obnoxious, the bass heavy, and the electric guitar was ear-piercing, making me want to cringe with my sharp vampire hearing. I hated grunge. My taste in music was more on the indie rock side. But I wasn’t there to dissect music genres.
My team and I were on a mission to gather intel on a well-known vampire criminal, Roman Brown, who ran one of the largest syndicates of the Vampire Blood Cartel. We’d gotten word he was meeting that night with Jose Douglas, the owner of the club. Our orders were to watch and listen, not to engage, not to kill, and not to reveal who we were.
Ben was positioned inside, Kraft was guarding the back exit, and Olivia was about a block and a half away. I watched the front entrance from a secluded alcove in an abandoned building that had once been home to a textile company.
An old rusty Nissan, a shiny new red truck, and a Porsche sat in the gravel lot across the street. The foot traffic going inside the club was nil to light for a weeknight.
The wind kicked up as the clouds skated over the crescent moon. Thank fuck it wasn’t a full moon, or shifters would be tearing up the streets, and I didn’t care to tango with them. They were known to be quite restless leading up to a full moon.
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I leaned against a cement wall. I was veiled in the shadows of the dimly lit street, in a perfect spot to monitor who went in and who came out.
“Ben, do you copy?” I asked into my comm.
“Ten-four. Nothing happening,” he returned. “I count about ten vamps. Jose is on his phone by the bar. But no sign of our target.”
We suspected, if our intel was correct, that Roman might slip in through the backdoor.
“Maybe we got bogus info,” Kraft chimed in.
“Let’s give it another thirty minutes, then we’ll call it a night. Roman is probably waiting for the club to clear out. This shithole closes in an hour, anyway,” I said.
“We’ve got a black four-door sedan heading your way.” Olivia’s voice came through loud and clear.
Within seconds, headlights bounced along the street before a sleek black car slowed to a stop in front of the entrance.
I straightened. Maybe we were about to get lucky. The bio we had on Roman indicated he had a penchant for expensive black cars. The Infiniti sedan was high-end, but not in the realm of the Mercedes Roman had been seen in by our scouts. He liked to live high on the hog and spared no expense when it came to building his empire. To me, he was foolish. If I were trying to stay under the radar of the Vampire Council of Elders, showing off would be the last thing I would do.
The sedan’s back door opened, and a brunette emerged, followed by a shorter chick with lighter brown hair than her friend. Both had their hair up, exposing their smooth long necks, and both were dressed in tight black jeans, cut-off tops, and boots that traveled up over their knees.
Automatically, I sniffed the air. A hint of sweetness carried on the wind and knocked me back a step. Definitely human. Definitely stupid to be walking into a vamp club, and even more idiotic to expose those smooth necks. Every vampire inside would be lining up to get a taste.
Hell, my gums pounded with the need to release my fangs. I had a ton of restraint, but I wasn’t perfect. Still, my pulse shot up ten notches, and not because of my thirst for delectable human blood. If I had to save a human, that would only compromise our mission.
The problem, though, was that as vampire soldiers—Navy SEALs to be exact—we protected our own, but also humans, both foreign and domestic. Not only was it our job to make sure vampires didn’t kill humans, but we took down the lowest, dirtiest, and most lethal of vampires who broke our laws, and we had strict ones in our world.
A third woman climbed out. She was slender yet curvy and dressed in an outfit similar to her friends’. Her auburn hair was thick, long, and wavy, spilling down around her shoulders.
I sucked in air. Her emotions hit me like a Mack truck—fear, nervousness, and a dusting of excitement.
Fucking empath ability.
My twin sister could read minds, but I’d gotten stuck with feeling every damn emotion on humans and any supernatural. If I let them, those emotions could stop me in my tracks.
Red whipped around. Her blue gaze, a beacon in the night, darted in all directions as if she knew I were hiding in the shadows. Then she tapped the roof of the car, and the front passenger window lowered.
“Thank you. We don’t need your services anymore tonight,” she said to the driver. The sound of her voice slid up my arm like butter on warm toast.
I sniffed the air once again, and this time my fangs slid out of their own accord. Where her friends smelled like apple pie, Red’s scent was chocolate and cherries. I dragged my tongue over one fang, staving off the need to taste her that instant.
Focus, man or your ass will be chum for the fish in the bay if you fuck up this basic mission.
With my fang embedded in my tongue, I sharpened my hearing.
Her two friends shimmied up to the bald bouncer.
The taller of the brunettes rubbed her hands up the beefy vampire’s chest.
“Rianne,” the shorter brunette said in a teasing tone. “I think we should show him a good time.”
The two women giggled like schoolgirls flirting with the hot quarterback at a pep rally.
The humans were definitely either smoking crack or up to something. The bouncer wasn’t just a regular guy. He stood two heads taller than the women and had arms like a sumo wrestler. He could sink his fangs into them before they could blink.
“Should we show him how we do a threesome?” Rianne asked her shorter companion.
The redhead joined her friends. “Ladies, we should take this inside.”
The bouncer eagerly opened the door for them, his fangs front and center with an odd grin on his face as though he was drunk.
Red tossed a look over her shoulder, scanned the area once, and then went inside.
The hackles on my neck rose high as her fear tickled my senses.
As if the humans were leading the bouncer to slaughter, he followed on their heels.
Copyright 2022 S.B. Alexander
What Others are saying
Captivating and action-packed, this military vampire book is sexy, addictive, and a truly imaginative paranormal experience that hooked me from the beginning. Sam and Layla’s chemistry is off the charts, and you’ll be cheering and laughing as they realize how truly perfect they are for each other. J.A. Owenby, International Bestselling Author of the Love & Ruin series.
About the author
Bestselling author S.B. Alexander writes paranormal, new adult, and young adult romance. Her writing is emotional, angsty, and character driven, and features hot heroes stealing hearts.
S.B. or Susan as she likes to be called is a navy veteran, former high school teacher, and corporate sales executive. She’s a lover of sports, especially baseball, although nowadays you can find her on the golf course.
When she’s not writing, she’s a full-time caregiver to her soul mate of twenty-three years who got a bad deal in life when he was diagnosed with ALS. Her motto: “Life is too short to waste. So live every moment like it’s your last.”
Join SB’s mailing list for exclusive news: https://sbalexander.com/newsletter
You can connect with S.B. Alexander in the following ways:
Paranormal Reader Group: https://sbalexander.com/beastsandbitches
Author Website: http://sbalexander.com
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Email: susan@sbalexander.com
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/sbalexander.authorpage
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COVER REVEAL – Inflamed by an Incubus (Eternal Mates #19) by Felicity Heaton
New York Times best-selling paranormal romance author Felicity Heaton is set to release book 19 in her epic Eternal Mates series on February 15th, and today we’re getting the first look at the cover of Inflamed by an Incubus.
Delve back into this compulsive and addictive paranormal romance series and be ready for your passions to be ignited by incubus Fenix as he fights a powerful curse to claim his forever after with his bonded fated mate, phoenix shifter Evelyn.
Plus, you can get book one, Kissed by a Dark Prince, for FREE right now at your favourite retailers!
Check out the cover and discover more about the book, including where you can pre-order Inflamed by an Incubus.
Inflamed by an Incubus (Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 19)
Felicity Heaton
Fated to be together. Cursed to be apart.
Condemned by a blood mage as an act of revenge, Fenix will do anything to shatter the eternal cycle of losing his beautiful phoenix shifter mate whenever she falls for him again. As he hunts for a way to break the curse, he battles the fierce compulsion to find her latest incarnation, but a moment of weakness brings him to the last place she lived—and what he finds there changes everything.
When a wickedly handsome incubus attacks her partner, Evelyn does what any Archangel hunter would—she takes him down and takes him in. But there’s something about the alluring fae, something that teases at her lost memories, and the powerful pull she feels towards him has her falling dangerously under his spell and brings her to a life-shattering realisation.
Swept up in a tempest of danger and with a dark threat on the rise, can Fenix find the one who cursed them before fate steals his mate from him this time? Or will the soul-searing passion that blazes between them burn everything to ashes again to restart the cycle?
Due for release on 15th February 2022
Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com.au
Apple Books USA | Apple Books UK | Apple Books Canada | Apple Books Australia | Apple Books NZ
Barnes and Noble | Kobo Books | Google Play
Book 1: Kissed by a Dark Prince (FREE right now!)
Book 2: Claimed by a Demon King
Book 3: Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Book 4: Hunted by a Jaguar
Book 5: Craved by an Alpha
Book 6: Bitten by a Hellcat
Book 7: Taken by a Dragon
Book 8: Marked by an Assassin
Book 9: Possessed by a Dark Warrior
Book 10: Awakened by a Demoness
Book 11: Haunted by the King of Death
Book 12: Turned by a Tiger
Book 13: Tamed by a Tiger
Book 14: Treasured by a Tiger
Book 15: Unchained by a Forbidden Love
Book 16: Avenged by an Angel
Book 17: Seduced by a Demon King
Book 18: Scorched by Darkness
Book 19: Inflamed by an Incubus
Book 20: Craved by a Wolf (Coming 19th April 2022)
Book 21: Bewitched by a Vampire (Coming 14th June 2022)
Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! All of them alpha as you would expect in paranormal romance, and every book with a guaranteed HAPPILY FOREVER AFTER!
If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter, Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole, Donna Grant and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.
If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling London Vampires series. Seven sexy and sinful Greek god brothers can be your new addiction in the Guardians of Hades series. Or how about four hot alpha shifter brothers in her Cougar Creek Mates series? Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the Eternal Mates series.
If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:
WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM
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COVER REVEAL – Taste (Cloverleigh Farms series) by Melanie Harlow
I’m terrified of falling for him.
But one taste might be all it takes.
TASTE, an all-new enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, surprise pregnancy small town romantic comedy from USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow is coming March 7th, and we have the delicious cover!
The last person on earth I want to be stranded with is Gianni Lupo.
But thanks to the blizzard of the century, I’m trapped in a roadside motel room with that cocky bastard for two straight days.
With one small bed.
Some women might thank Mother Nature for delivering a polar vortex that maroons them with six feet of solid muscle, those deep blue eyes, that sexy grin–but not me. I’ve known Gianni Lupo all my life, and he’s never brought me anything but bad luck and trouble.
So when the tension between us explodes with enough fiery heat to melt my icy defenses, I should have known what the disastrous end result would be–
A big fat plus sign.
After the snow melts, I’m left with more than just memories of the night we spent keeping each other warm. And he might be a rising star on the culinary scene, but he’s got no idea how to handle this bun in the oven.
He says he wants to do the right thing, but I’m not about to spend the rest of my life feeling like someone settled for me.
But just when I think I’ve got Gianni Lupo all figured out, he gives me a taste of the man he could be, of the family we could become, of the way he could love me if I let him.
I’m terrified of falling for him.
But one taste might be all it takes.
Reserve your copy exclusively on Amazon today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JIXsRM
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/TasteMH
Add Taste to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3sWbzNO
Cover Designer: Hang Le
Photographer: Michelle Lancaster @lanefotograf
Model: Chase Mattson
About Melanie Harlow
USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like Ted, Lasso, Schitt’s Creek, and Fleabag. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the BELLAMY CREEK series, the CLOVERLEIGH FARMS series, the ONE & ONLY series, AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, and the FRENCHED series. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
Connect with Melanie
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2RPwr51
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Facebook Reader Group: https://bit.ly/3mYzBBo
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Website: http://www.melanieharlow.com
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BLOG TOUR – The Surprise Seduction (Landry Love #5) by Amy Alves
The Surprise Seduction, an all-new angst-filled age gap, accidental pregnancy romance from Amy Alves is available now!
After years of secretly pining for Garrett Caldwell—the grumpy and elusive hot town doctor—he finally looks my way.
As my best friend’s older brother, he said I was too young and completely off-limits. But I felt the heat of his lingering gaze, the spark beneath his hesitant touch.
Maybe it was only once, and maybe that was exactly what we agreed to, but that one scorching night had consequences that will tie us together for the rest of our lives.
Suddenly he claims to want more, and I can’t keep the doubt from creeping in. Because building a relationship based on his obligation would break me.
The whole town is talking, but I’m stronger than the girl they remember.
So I guard my heart against the one man who has the power to destroy it.
Download your copy today!
FREE in Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lVOQNK
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/surpriseseduction
Add to Goodreads→ https://bit.ly/3yonwfR
Excerpt
PROLOGUE
Nine Years Ago
ARIA
“You’re only eighteen, Aria.”
I bite my lip and give him a coy smile. “Aw, you remembered. Cute.”
“Aria.”
“Dr. Coldwell,” I mimic, matching his chastising tone.
“It’s Caldwell. Does Chloe know her supposed best friend doesn’t even know her last name?”
“She knows I like to give her brother shit for always giving me the cold shoulder.”
“I don’t give you the cold shoulder. I simply ignore your little games.”
“It’s not a game, Doc. You know you’re hot. I know I’m hot. What’s wrong with a little flirting?” If he ever flirted back, I might actually pass out.
“You are practically still a minor, and I’m a grown man. I’ve reminded you of this before. Many times.”
“I’m technically an adult now. Regardless, I have a boyfriend—kind of. So our beloved interactions are really just harmless fun.”
One day, I’d also appreciate other kinds of fun. What if when I came home from college in the winter, Garrett suddenly noticed me in the same way I’ve been noticing him, and we snuck out to his car to get just naked enough to have a lot of fun? A girl can dream . . .
“Are you listening to me?” Garrett asks, snapping me out of my little daydream.
He pinches the bridge of his nose and mutters under his breath.
“Were you by chance asking what you could do for me today? Because I was going to suggest you join your sister and me for a beach day. Food, drinks, and a nice float down the creek. Chloe was saying you’re barely around anymore, and she misses you. I promise not to hit on you more than five times.”
“Zero times, Aria. You will hit on me zero times.”
God, he’s so easy.
I scrunch my face in what I hope is adorable confusion. “That doesn’t seem possible. Do you even know me?”
“Unfortunately, I’m starting to learn some things.”
He shakes his head and storms away.
I reach out to stop him, but he swerves away like I’m contagious. I’m a confident girl, but Garrett definitely tests that some days.
“Wait! You know I’m kidding. Well, mostly. I do want you to come to the beach with us today. I’ll keep all flirty thoughts and Garrett hassling antics to myself. I’ll also make sure only to look and not touch.” I hold my hands up innocently while my eyes inadvertently check him out again.
“Goddammit,” he mutters. Opening the door to the side entrance of the house, he shouts, “Chloe! Get your friend away from me.” He escapes through the door, and I let it roll off my back.
I do have fun teasing and flirting with Garrett whenever I see him, but today wasn’t about seeing if I could ruffle his feathers. It was about Chloe. She misses her brothers, and soon, we’ll be moving to San Jose for school so she’ll probably end up seeing even less of them. She’s had it rough lately with all the town drama revolving around her and her ex-boyfriend. So if my messing with Garrett and arranging activities or acting foolish makes my beautiful friend laugh or smile, I’m all over it.
I pop my head back into the house.
“So you’re coming, right?” I shout in the direction I think he went.
“Who’s coming where?” Chloe asks, stepping into the kitchen with her beach attire already on.
“Garrett is coming to the beach with us! He needs some relaxation. He’s really looking forward to it.”
Garrett comes striding back into the room and leans one muscular shoulder against the wall. Oof, those shoulders.
“Aria says you’re coming with us! Eek! I’m so excited. I didn’t think you’d want to spend the afternoon with a bunch of loud, obnoxious teenagers.” She jumps in excitement and gives him a quick side hug.
I move in for my turn but find my advances thwarted when a large palm presses against my face. His arm is locked straight, keeping me several feet from embracing his lean, tall, rock-solid form.
Oh well. Can’t blame a girl for trying.
Chloe giggles. “Aria, leave him be. He’s not as into displays of affection as you are.”
Here’s the other thing I’ve decided to do as Chloe’s best friend: not tell her that my playful interactions with her brother—the ones she finds amusing because of how different we are and the guaranteed reaction I get out of her stoic, much older brother—are not as innocent as she thinks.
I’ve developed a deep, gnawing, unwavering infatuation with my best friend’s brother, but I can’t tell her. I can barely admit it to myself.
It’s not worth telling Chloe for several reasons. First, because I don’t intend to do anything about it. Second, I’m pretty sure I have zero chance with the guy. And not just because he’s nearly ten years older than me or that we are complete opposites. The disinterested vibe he puts out—and frequently vocalizes— abundantly clear. Sometimes, I wonder if he knows I’m not just messing with him.
“Grab your Speedo, handsome. I’ve already told some of the girls that you’re coming, and I need to deliver on the eye candy.”
“Don’t be gross.” Chloe’s nose wrinkles in disgust before turning to her brother. “No one is going to ogle you, Gar. You’re practically thirty.”
Oh, sweet, naive Chloe. All of our friends think your brothers are hot.
Even my boyfriend.
“I’m not practically thirty, squirt. I’m in my mid twenties.”
And looking fine as all hell.
“Twenty-seven is closer to thirty than it is to twenty,” Chloe argues. He scowls playfully before a sweet, amused smile sweeps across his face, making my insides turn to mush.
Garrett doesn’t have your typical hot-guy allure. He has this quiet, brainy, reserved quality to him that draws me in like a moth to a flame. And I am ready to burn.
If only he’d look at me as anything other than his little sister’s ridiculous, wildly inappropriate, flirty best friend.
One day . . . one day, he’s going to beg for my affection. Until then, I’m going to experience a little love and live a whole lot.
Meet Amy
Amy Alves lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband and two crazy cute kids. She is a romance-obsessed reader, a lover of wine and fuzzy socks, and a loather of laundry. She loves contemporary, paranormal, and rom com romance—her kindle always has a long list of books waiting to be read.
Amy writes contemporary romance with a hint of rom com fun. Tropes you can expect to see are: second chance, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and fake relationships.
Connect With Amy
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