When all you thought you ever wanted isn’t at all what you need.
When Mieka Young breaks her arm in a freak accident, her dance company takes it as an opportunity to not renew her contract, calling her “too old” to dance for them. Now, literally broken and jobless, she retreats to her sister’s ranch in Colorado for a little rest and relaxation, along with some much-needed clarity.
However, the ranch is not all horses, goats, and newborn foals. There, Mieka must face a part of her past that still holds a tender space in her heart. She must figure out where Nate fits in her world, if at all. Ranch life isn’t for her, no matter how hard he tries to convince her otherwise.
Nate Harris falls in love every Friday night and falls out of it every Saturday morning. However, one hot night last summer everything changed when he and Mieka finally succumbed to their chemistry. Then she vanished, returning to work dancing on cruise ships, and living her best life. Only, now, Mieka is back at the ranch and Nate’s determined to show her the love, purpose and beautiful future she’s searching for.
“I absolutely loved Nate and Mieka’s story! They were great together! The banter between them was very entertaining! Nate loved ranch life, but Mieka thinks that she needs the hustle and bustle of big city life. Will he be able to convince her to stay with him? Second Chance with the Rancher is a great story with amazing characters, wonderful chemistry, lots of emotions and many amazing animals! Fumble the escape artist goat was hilarious! This story is a fantastic addition to the Young Sisters series! ~ cynthia618147 (Bookbub Review)
“Nate and Mieka’s story was everything! It made me laugh (freaking Fumble! ), cry more than once, and just had me turning the pages yet not wanting it to end. Another great read in this series and I am looking forward to more.~ bluedakota06 (Bookbub Review)
“The chemistry between Mieka and Nate is intense. I fell hard for Nate, there is so much more to him than what he shows the world, and I loved the witty banter and connection that he shared with Mieka.
“It was good to see some familiar faces throughout the story; it added an added to my enjoyment of the story. Second Chance With The Rancher was an entertaining well written romantic love story that ticked the boxes for me.” – Erin Lewis (Goodreads Review)
“Without spoiling the story it has humour love and drama. Loved the stubborn cat references lol .A great love story that gives a lovely HEA ending. 911Jayne (Amazon Review)
Excerpt:
Nate had given her a lot to think about on their drive, and no matter how much Mieka tried not to, her eyes kept drifting to his finger. Yeah, that finger as it gripped the steering wheel. Then, when she’d realize she was staring at his hands—particularly that finger—she’d move her gaze elsewhere, and of course, her eyes drifted down to the front of his jeans where a big peg apparently lived.
Damnit, she was in a dry spell. Like a major dry spell. Her stubborn cat was starting to pace and meow and demand attention. Not to mention those horny hornets in her belly that buzzed every time Nate smiled at her, or she imagined those big hands of his holding onto her hips as he plowed into her from behind over a hay bale.
Even though she’d been sleeping with that bartender back on the ship, it’d been over a month since they’d done anything, mostly because their shifts didn’t align. And when they did do things, he’d been mediocre at best. The man had no tongue skills, and zero stamina. Most of the time, Mieka had to get herself off after he came.
Yeah, Nate was right. A gentleman should always let the woman come first so she’s not riding a soft dick, limping her way to her own finish line.
Staring out the window, determined not to look at his finger or crotch anymore, she wasn’t even aware of the fact that she was chewing her nails until Nate’s voice broke her out of her trance. “I didn’t know you had ADHD,” he said. “When did you get diagnosed with that?”
She spun around to face him, but then dropped her eyes to her hands and the horrible chewed, red and tender fingertips. “When I was five.”
“And dance helps?”
“It keeps my mind focused and my body busy. I’m also medicated, which helps, too.” She shrugged. “It’s just a part of my life and who I am.” Her gaze slid to his. “But it’s also responsible for my fidgetiness, mood swings, impulsiveness and how my self-esteem can quickly take a massive nose-dive in a literal second.” Heaving a big sigh, she balled her sore hands into tight fists. Well, she did it with one hand and attempted to with the other. “I just do the best I can. Every day is a struggle. Just some days are more of a struggle than others.”
“If I’m doing anything to exacerbate that struggle, please let me know.” The sincerity in his blue eyes and his voice was touching.
“You’re not,” she said. “You’re keeping me distracted from wallowing… for the most part. So, thank you.”
They were already back at the ranch, so he turned off the road and rumbled the big truck and horse trailer down the laneway. A quick glance at the clock on the dash said it was just after five-thirty, so of course the petting farm would be closed to the public by now, which explained the empty yard and parking lot.
Nate exhaled. “I know it brings in money, and it was my idea, but fuck, it gets claustrophobic when we have the petting farm open. People, big and small, are everywhere.” He pulled the truck up in front of the barn, put it in park, and turned off the engine before hopping out.
Mieka did the same and met him behind the trailer.
“Feel free to go do what you need to do, Minx. I’ve gotta get this stuff out of the trailer and into the corresponding crates.” He grinned wide at her. “Good thing you were organized enough to color code everything ahead of time so I know which chair goes to which cabin.” He opened the trailer door to reveal boxes piled up to the ceiling. The bed of the truck was full of bedding, kitchen stuff, décor and everything else. The furniture was in the trailer and even then, not everything fit, so they paid for express shipping and the rest would arrive by tomorrow.
And just like he said, she had given each cabin a corresponding color code and put a big sticker of that color on the appropriate furniture. She wasn’t always this organized, but she was really passionate about this project, and appreciative of the trust Nate and Asher had put in her, so she was determined not to mess it up.
“I can help,” she said, watching Asher and Triss come down the front steps of the house.
“You’ve already done so much,” Nate replied. “It’s all good. Besides, we don’t want to hurt your arm.”
Asher sidled up beside his brother and whistled when he looked inside the trailer. “Don’t want to know what this cost us.”
“Then don’t ask,” Nate chuckled, hauling out a huge box that was part of a bed frame.
The two men went to work removing everything from the trailer and truck, while Mieka grabbed her leftover lunch and followed Triss inside.
“How was your day?” Triss asked, gauging Mieka carefully.
“It was good. We got everything we needed.”
Triss’s eyes fell to the fast-food bag. “Ah, you stopped at Gus’s. I take it you’re not hungry, then?”
Mieka puffed out her cheeks and shook her head. “I still haven’t even finished this. But it’s so freaking good.”
“I know. I’ve gone to Denver with Nate a few times and he always stops there. It’s good, but it’s definitely a treat. I’m like a snake after I eat there. That’s my meal for the week.”
“You’re okay that I’m going to skip dinner?”
Triss lifted a shoulder. “You’re an adult and free to do as you like. It’s why I haven’t put the meat on the barbecue yet.”
“The day here was good?” Mieka asked, pulling out the rest of her burger, taking a seat at the table and diving in. “We feel bad. We left when it was so busy.”
“Great day,” Triss said, taking up an abandoned spot at the counter to continue preparing a salad. “It was busy, but everyone had a good time. Fumble escaped again, so that was fun. Asher is so close to barbecuing that goat, I swear it.”
Mieka chuckled. “Apparently Ray’s auntie has a great recipe for jerked goat.”
A Canadian West Coast baby born and raised, Whitley is married to her high school sweetheart, and together they have two beautiful daughters and a fluffy dog. She spends her days making food that gets thrown on the floor, vacuuming Cheerios out from under the couch and making sure that the dog food doesn’t end up in the air conditioner. But when nap time comes, and it’s not quite wine o’clock, Whitley sits down, avoids the pile of laundry on the couch, and writes.
A lover of all things decadent; wine, cheese, chocolate and spicy erotic romance, Whitley brings the humorous side of sex, the ridiculous side of relationships and the suspense of everyday life into her stories. With single dads, firefighters, Navy SEALs, mommy wars, body issues, threesomes, bondage and role-playing, Whitley’s books have all the funny and fabulously filthy words you could hope for.
From USA Today Bestselling author Nikki Ash comes a hate to lovers, second chance, rock star romance.
Braxton
Our senior year, I promised my girl forever.
Forever, as it turned out, wasn’t enough. She told me so in her actions. When she took a match to my life, burning it to ash.
I headed to LA with my band—Raging Chaos—like we always planned, while Kaylee went to college, taking my damaged heart with her.
This was where our story was supposed to end.
Only six years later, our lives collide again.
Kaylee is the only thing I ever loved more than music, and I wish I could hate her for it, but the line between love and hate is thin, and often straddled.
And the thing about collisions? They result in deadly debris.
Kaylee
When you love someone, you let them go. But what I did was so much worse.
Because instead of pushing him away, I shoved Braxton straight over the edge.
I’ve spent the past several years avoiding him, trying to make things right.
When my reputation has been dragged through the mud, and I’m given the opportunity to clean it up, I have no choice but to cross paths with him again.
Being around Braxton is a harsh reminder of the way I lit his life up in flames, but I’m not sure he knows I’ve been burned, too.
If suffering in silence is the cost, I’ll pay the price to make things right.
I just hope our history won’t play on repeat and he’ll see me as more than the stupid girl with the lit match.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Like real life, the characters are far from perfect, make morally gray decisions, and deal with subjects that may be sensitive for some readers. If you are looking for a safe romance, this series is not for you. Trigger warnings (which contain spoilers) can be found on my website.
Nikki Ash resides in South Florida where she is an English teacher and mom by day and a writer by night. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand. From the Boxcar Children to Wuthering Heights to the latest Single Parent Romance, she has lived and breathed every type of book.
Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out. – Pam Allyn
While reading and writing are her passions, her two children are her entire world. You can probably find them at a Disney park before you would find them at home on the weekends!
London Kelly is in love with her best friend and has been for years.
Too bad he’s an adorably clueless idiot who a) just doesn’t see what everyone else sees and b) abides by the rule of ‘don’t screw the crew’s sisters, daughters, or exes.’ And since London’s dad is his fire captain, that puts her firmly in the do not touch category.
Then one night, London decides to throw caution to the wind and kisses him, finding her unequivocally placed in the friend zone.
That’s when London decides that maybe it’s time to move on.
Except fate decides to have the last laugh, calling Luca to the scene of a fire at the very same restaurant where London is on a secret blind date, bringing him face-to-face with the reality that he could lose his girl.
Suddenly all bets are off.
Besides, bending the rules isn’t the same as breaking them… right?
“Lonnie’s the one who met Luca Rossi and fell head over heels at first sight,” my sister Violet declares.
“That’s old news, Vi,” I mumble, my cheeks burning hot.
“Hey. It’s cute. Kinda adorable. And even after you went away and came back, you’re still friends with him, despite everything.”
“Despite nothing. He’s gone from ‘no, I don’t see you like that’ to ‘I’m going to drop two thousand big ones and give you the date of your dreams with the man of your dreams then give you the best sex of your life and—’” I slap my hand over my mouth, my wide eyes slowly scanning the amused and approving faces of my friends and family.
“I knew it!” Val says. “It’s still eww because he’s my brother, but good on Luc. At least he’s got that working for him. The rest can be a work-in-progress.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, if you’ve got chemistry, respect, honesty, and yes—hot sex—anything is possible, ” Skye adds.
I sigh. “Do I have honesty though? Because he took three years to make a move after more than a few chances.”
Renee shrugs. “Maybe he’s just slow on the uptake.”
“More like a damn snail,” Val says.
Skye giggles. “Or a sloth.”
Val’s brows furrow “Is a sloth slower than a snail?”
“Wait. Let’s look it up.”
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
This was a great end to the series.
I loved London and how she felt about Luca… lordy, everybody but the man himself could see how good they were together and that they were all but an ‘official’ couple because they did just about everything together…
I liked the fact that London tried it move on, how sweet a guy her date turned out to be when she outed herself and how the fact that seeing London with another guy made Luca realise just what he had and was potentially gonna lose.
I got Luca’s concerns and understood where he was coming from to an extent but he needed to start thinking more with his heart and a bit less with his head IMHO.
Catching up with the rest of their group and seeing how they’re doing is always fun. I’m sad the series has come to a close but I’m excited to find out what’s gonna be coming next from B.J.
More in the Series:
Book 1: Show Stopper: A Knight in Charming Armor Firefighter Rom Com
BJ Harvey is the USA Today Bestselling Author of angsty contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and sometimes a little bit of romance suspense. She regards herself as a smut peddler, suspense conjurer, and a funny romance thinker upper. An avid music fan, you will always find her singing some hit song badly and loving every minute of it. She’s a miner’s wife, a mom to two beautiful teenagers, and was born in New Zealand and currently lives in Perth, Australia.
London Kelly is in love with her best friend and has been for years.
Too bad he’s an adorably clueless idiot who a) just doesn’t see what everyone else sees and b) abides by the rule of ‘don’t screw the crew’s sisters, daughters, or exes.’ And since London’s dad is his fire captain, that puts her firmly in the do not touch category.
Then one night, London decides to throw caution to the wind and kisses him, finding her unequivocally placed in the friend zone.
That’s when London decides that maybe it’s time to move on.
Except fate decides to have the last laugh, calling Luca to the scene of a fire at the very same restaurant where London is on a secret blind date, bringing him face-to-face with the reality that he could lose his girl.
Suddenly all bets are off.
Besides, bending the rules isn’t the same as breaking them… right?
“Lonnie’s the one who met Luca Rossi and fell head over heels at first sight,” my sister Violet declares.
“That’s old news, Vi,” I mumble, my cheeks burning hot.
“Hey. It’s cute. Kinda adorable. And even after you went away and came back, you’re still friends with him, despite everything.”
“Despite nothing. He’s gone from ‘no, I don’t see you like that’ to ‘I’m going to drop two thousand big ones and give you the date of your dreams with the man of your dreams then give you the best sex of your life and—’” I slap my hand over my mouth, my wide eyes slowly scanning the amused and approving faces of my friends and family.
“I knew it!” Val says. “It’s still eww because he’s my brother, but good on Luc. At least he’s got that working for him. The rest can be a work-in-progress.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, if you’ve got chemistry, respect, honesty, and yes—hot sex—anything is possible, ” Skye adds.
I sigh. “Do I have honesty though? Because he took three years to make a move after more than a few chances.”
Renee shrugs. “Maybe he’s just slow on the uptake.”
“More like a damn snail,” Val says.
Skye giggles. “Or a sloth.”
Val’s brows furrow “Is a sloth slower than a snail?”
“Wait. Let’s look it up.”
In The Series:
Book 1: Show Stopper: A Knight in Charming Armor Firefighter Rom Com
BJ Harvey is the USA Today Bestselling Author of angsty contemporary romance, romantic comedy, and sometimes a little bit of romance suspense. She regards herself as a smut peddler, suspense conjurer, and a funny romance thinker upper. An avid music fan, you will always find her singing some hit song badly and loving every minute of it. She’s a miner’s wife, a mom to two beautiful teenagers, and was born in New Zealand and currently lives in Perth, Australia.
Nikki Ash resides in South Florida where she is an English teacher and mom by day and a writer by night. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand. From the Boxcar Children to Wuthering Heights to the latest Single Parent Romance, she has lived and breathed every type of book.
While reading and writing are her passions, her two children are her entire world. You can probably find them at a Disney park before you would find them at home on the weekends!
Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out. – Pam Allyn
Sometimes the thing you least expect, is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Darius Moreno knows his place. He’s the Head Enforcer of the Moirae Pack. He protects and councils his Alpha. If it came down to it, he’d give his life to save each and every one of his packmates. They’re the only family he’s ever known, or needed. He never planned to mate, knowing it would take time away from his duties, but fate has other plans for him.
Leo DeLuca knows who he was meant to be. The Alpha of the Crescent Pack, he was born to power and raised to lead. But when a crazed wolf murdered his parents and kidnapped his sisters, his entire world turned upside down. He knew that asking the Moirae pack for help was the only way to save his family, but he never imagined it would lead him to his fated mate.
Two males from different packs. Two fierce, dominant personalities. Two alpha wolves vying for power. It should be a recipe for disaster but when fate steps in, the truth is unavoidable. Darius and Leo were made for each other, two halves of a whole. Now, if only they can stop fighting fate and each other, they may finally realize they’re stronger together than they could ever be apart.
Unavoidable Truth was a good read. Personally, the first book in the series is still my favourite, but I thoroughly enjoyed Leo & Darius’s book.
I have to admit, when we initially met him, I wasn’t a fan of D… his attitude rubbed me the wrong way.. but Jess changed my mind in him and by around the two third mark I was definitely taken with him. Under that surly, sometimes mean exterior was a great heart.
I really liked Leo. As an Alpha he needed someone strong but he also someone he could just be himself with, and that’s what he got from Darius.
Seeing these two develop their relationship was good after having caught glimpses of what was going on in the previous instalment in the series when they guys were kinda on the sidelines. Watching previous events from both Leo and Darius’s POVs gave another layer to things that happened with Rafe & Zoey as well as Michael & Luna.
I’m looking forward to the sisters books, though I think Maya is likely gonna give her potential mate a run for his money!!!!
This series was my first read by Jess Bryant but I’m definitely gonna be catching up on her other works.
4 stars
Author Bio:
Jess Bryant is an avid indoorswoman. A city girl trapped in a country girl’s life, her heart resides in Dallas but her soul and roots are in small town Oklahoma. She enjoys manicures, the color pink, and her completely impractical for country life stilettos. She believes that hair color is a legitimate form of therapy, as is reading and writing romance. She started writing as a little girl but her life changed forever when she stole a book from her aunt’s Harlequin collection and she’s been creating love stories with happily ever afters ever since.
Jess holds a degree in Public Relations from the University of Oklahoma and is a lifetime supporter of her school and athletic teams. And why not? They have a ton of National Championships! She may be a girlie girl but she knows her sports stats and isn’t afraid to tell you that your school isn’t as cool as hers… or that your sports romance got it all wrong.
For more information on Jess and upcoming releases, contact her at JessBryantBooks@gmail.com or follow her on her many social media accounts for news and shenanigans.
A snowstorm, an unexpected delay, and a caring stranger are all it takes for Sebastian Ruggers to change the course of his life.
Instead of pushing paper and living a life he dreads, he follows his heart and the girl he meets to a new city.
A different life.
Maggie Andrews is heading back to the only town that ever felt like home.
When she meets Sebastian, somehow she knows, together, they’ll find a life together sweeter than the ones they are leaving behind. She can help him find his future. He can be the person she needs.
They only have to say yes.
Sometimes you discover home isn’t only a location on a map—but the person you share it with.
I kept her hand in mine and watched her, my mind going as fast as the plane we were in. The more the miles flew by, the more the ache in my chest grew. Maggie would walk away from me soon, and I’d never see her again. I’d head to BC and the life my father insisted I had to live, and she would make her own way in the small town, hundreds of miles away from me.
I would go to an apartment I’d never seen and live there. My father would make sure it was decent and I had what I needed to live. Maggie would go to her little house and try to fix it up and make a life for herself. She would struggle to make ends meet and fight to hold on to the place she thought of as home. My father’s plan would enable me to live well, but it wouldn’t feel like home. Like my life.
Both of us would struggle for different reasons.
Both of us surrounded by people, yet alone.
I’d always felt alone—except for the past few hours. With Maggie beside me, I hadn’t felt that way. For the first time in my life since my mother died, I felt as though I was complete again—as if I mattered.
I mattered to Maggie.
She mattered to me.
If we were together, things would be different. If I chose differently, both our lives could change.
Thoughts, ideas, and images began taking shape in my head.
If I changed my mind.
If I asked Maggie to let me go with her. Not to visit, but to stay.
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
The gods, but I adore Melanie Moreland’s books.
Following Maggie was an absolutely charming read. I loved both Maggie and Sebastian… two lost and lonely people, not quite sure where life is leading them who meet in an airport in the middle of a snowstorm.
What could have been a fleeting, once in a lifetime meeting turns into quite something else when they both take a leap of faith.
I was captivated by the relationship that grew between the main characters. The family of choice that they built were wonderful and characters that I would like to know IRL.
In Following Maggie, Melanie gave us the kind of read that is good for the heart and soul. An engaging story, a little drama – though not between the MCs – lots of love and romance, a great sense of family and of belonging and a whole lot of heat.
I read Maggie & Sebastian’s story in one sitting, I didn’t want to put my kin down and I couldn’t wait to see how things played out for them.
A definite recommended read, whether you are already acquainted with MM’s books or are new to her work.
Author Bio:
When you want a bit of naughty along with the nice. From NYT Best Selling Author M Moreland are complete standalone reads with one thing in common – lots of sweetness and a guaranteed HEA. Instant attraction, little angst – love and happiness abounds.
While addicted to coffee, and challenged with computer-related and technical thing, she relishes cooking. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, but finds coming home is always the best part of a trip.
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with wine. She’s learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
Books and Tequila Blog – “Only Ever Yours is sweet and swoony.”
Closet Romance Reader – “Get ready for a bewitching tale of loss and love. Only Ever Yours was the latest epicness by Nikki Ash. It was emotional, enthralling, and hot!”
The Romantic Rush Blog – “Only Ever Yours delivers everything I’ve come to love about Nikki Ash’s story telling- tender feelings, swoony romance, sensational steam, and heartfelt sincerity, but yet it also surprises in unexpected ways.”
Blurb:
Camilla
Desperate times call for desperate measures—like pretending to be my best friend and posing as a millionaire’s escort for the night.
I thought I had nothing left to lose, only I didn’t take my heart into consideration. What started as a one-time date turned into so much more in the blink of an eye. Because Isaac is used to getting what he wants, and even after learning the truth, he wants me. Unconditionally.
Even though my heart is on the line, I find myself falling in love with him. But all too soon, I learn that loving a powerful man like Isaac can be dangerous. And despite how careful he is with my heart, it’s still capable of breaking.
Isaac
From the moment we met, she’s taken up residence in my head and in my heart. I’ll do everything in my power to make her mine. But first, I need to secure a second date.
It’s more than chemistry. My parents had this too. She’s the one. Marriage, babies, forever… I want it all with her, and in return, I’ll give her the world.
When the unimaginable happens, love and loyalty are put to the test. But I’ll move heaven and earth to protect Camilla… even if it means breaking her heart.
What you can expect in Only Ever Yours:
Age gap (OM/YW)
Insta-attraction
Secret pregnancy
All the feels
BLP REVIEW – Tracy
I’m not always a huge fan of ‘wealthy leading man’ stories but Only Ever Yours was a really great read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Camilla and Issac were a great pairing. He was a good guy, very protective and exactly what Camilla needed. I really liked his character and how he cared for her from the get go. Yeah, it was insta-love but I’m good with that. Camilla was beaten down but wasn’t for giving up. Her strength of character made her a great lead. I get her desire to do things in her own but also liked that when the chips were down she was prepared to accept help.
A few twists, some angst and a few very unlikeable characters added to this story. I loved the chemistry, connection and heat between our leads. Nikki Ash has a talent in this field and she hit the mark again with Only Ever Yours.
A solid 4* recommended read.
About the Author
FIGHTING FOR YOUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER…
Nikki Ash resides in South Florida where she is an English teacher and mom by day and a writer by night. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand. From the Boxcar Children to Wuthering Heights to the latest Single Parent Romance, she has lived and breathed every type of book.
Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out. – Pam Allyn
While reading and writing are her passions, her two children are her entire world. You can probably find them at a Disney park before you would find them at home on the weekends!
Knox is a badass, bar-owning barber who prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Well, except for his basset hound, Waylon. He doesn’t tolerate drama (Knox, not Waylon. Waylon loves drama.). Especially not when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.
Naomi answered her estranged–some would say evil–twin’s call for help, arriving in rural and rough-around-the-edges Knockemout, Virginia, ready to be the good sister as usual.
Too bad her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The 11-year-old niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Dun dun dunnnn!
There are reasons why Knox doesn’t do family drama or high-maintenance women who actually believe in all the bullshit trappings of romance. But since her life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help Naomi out of her jam. Even if the uptight good girl is a gigantic pain in his ass. As soon as she stops getting herself into new trouble, he can stop dragging her into his bed and go back to his peaceful, solitary life.
At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.
Chapter One
Worst. Day. Ever
Naomi
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked into Cafe Rev, but it sure as hell wasn’t a picture of myself behind the register under the cheery headline “Do Not Serve.” A yellow frowny face magnet held the photo in place.
First of all, I’d never set foot in Knockemout, Virginia, let alone done anything to warrant a punishment as egregious as withholding caffeine. Secondly, just what did a person have to do in this dusty little town to have a mugshot hanging in the local cafe?
Ha. Mug shot. Because I was in a cafe. Gosh, I was funny when I was too tired to blink.
Anyway, thirdly, it was an incredibly unflattering picture. I looked like I’d had a long-term threesome with a tanning bed and cheap eyeliner.
Right about then, reality penetrated my exhausted, dazed, bobby-pinned-to-within-an-inch-of-its-life head.
Once again, Tina had managed to make my life just a little bit worse. And considering what had gone down in the last twenty-four hours, that was saying something.
“Can I help…” The man on the other side of the counter, the one who could give me my precious latte, took a step back and held up hands the size of dinner plates. “I don’t want any trouble.”
He was a burly guy with smooth, dark skin and a shaved, nicely shaped head. His neatly trimmed beard was snow white, and I spotted a couple of tattoos peeking out of the neck and sleeves of his coveralls. The name Justice was stitched on his curious uniform.
I tried my most winning smile, but thanks to an overnight road trip spent crying through fake eyelashes, it felt more like a grimace.
“That’s not me,” I said, pointing a finger with a wasted French-tip manicure at the photo. “I’m Naomi. Naomi Witt.”
The man peered at me with suspicion before producing a pair of spectacles from the front pocket of his coveralls and slipping them on.
He blinked then gave me a head-to-toe scan. I saw the realization begin to hit.
“Twins,” I explained.
“Well, shit,” he murmured, stroking one of those big hands through his beard.
Justice still looked a little skeptical. I couldn’t exactly blame him. After all, how many people actually had an evil twin?
“That’s Tina. My sister. I’m supposed to meet her here.” Though why my estranged twin asked me to meet her in an establishment where she clearly wasn’t welcome was another question I was too tired to ask.
Justice was still staring at me, and I realized his gaze was lingering on my hair. Reflexively, I patted my head, and a wilted daisy fluttered to the floor. Whoops. I probably should have looked in the mirror at the motel before I set foot in public looking like a disheveled, unhinged stranger on her way home from a role-playing festival.
“Here,” I said, reaching into the pocket of my yoga shorts and thrusting my driver’s license at the man. “See? I’m Naomi and I would really, really like a gigantic latte.”
Justice took my ID and studied it, then my face again. Finally, his stoic expression cracked, and he broke into a wide grin. “I’ll be damned. It’s nice to meet you, Naomi.”
“It’s really nice to meet you too, Justice. Especially if you’re going to make me that aforementioned caffeine.”
“I’ll make you a latte that’ll make your hair stand on end,” he promised.
A man who knew how to meet my immediate needs and did it with a smile? I couldn’t help but fall just a little bit in love with him right then and there.
While Justice got to work, I admired the cafe. It was decked out in what looked like manly garage style. Corrugated metal on the walls, shiny red shelves, stained concrete floor. All the drinks had names like Red Line Latte and Checkered Flag Cappuccino. It was downright charming.
There were a handful of early morning coffee drinkers seated at the small round tables scattered throughout the place. Every single person was looking at me like they were really not happy to see me.
“How do you feel about maple and bacon flavors, darlin’?” Justice called from the gleaming espresso machine.
“I feel great about them. Especially if they come in a cup the size of a bucket,” I assured him.
His laugh echoed through the place and seemed to relax the rest of the patrons who went back to ignoring me.
The front door opened, and I turned, expecting to see Tina.
But the man who stormed inside was definitely not my sister. He looked to be in more dire need of caffeine than I was.
Hot would be a decent way to describe him. Hot as hell would be even more accurate. He was tall enough that I could wear my highest pair of heels and still have to tilt my head up to make out with him—my official categorization of male height. His hair was in the dirty blond range and was cut short on the sides and swept back on top, which suggested he had good taste and reasonable grooming skills.
Both of those criteria landed high on my List of Reasons to be Attracted to a Man. The beard was a brand-new addition to the list. I’d never kissed a man with a beard and I had a sudden, irrational interest in experiencing that at some point.
Then I got to his eyes. They were a cool blue-gray that made me think of gun metal and glaciers.
He strode right on up to me and stepped into my personal space like he had a standing invitation. When he crossed tattooed forearms across a broad chest, I made a squeaky sound in the back of my throat.
Wow.
“Thought I made myself real clear,” he growled.
“Uh. Huh?”
I was confused. The man was glaring at me like I was the most hated character on a reality TV show, yet I still wanted to see what he looked like naked. I hadn’t exhibited such poor sexual judgment since I was in college.
I blamed my exhaustion and emotional scarring.
Behind the counter, Justice stopped mid-latte creation and waved both hands in the air. “Hold on now,” he began.
“It’s okay, Justice,” I assured him. “You just keep making that coffee, and I’ll take care of this…gentleman.”
Chairs pushed back from tables all around us, and I watched as every last customer beelined for the door, some with their mugs still in hand. None of them made any eye contact with me on their way out.
“Knox, it’s not what you think,” Justice tried again.
“I’m not playing any games today. Get the fuck out,” the Viking ordered. The blond god of sexy fury was rapidly plummeting lower on my sexy checklist.
I pointed at my chest. “Me?”
“I’ve had enough of your games. You got five seconds to walk out this door and never come back,” he said, stepping in even closer until the tips of his boots brushed my exposed toes in their flip-flops.
Damn. Up close, he looked like he’d just stormed off a marauding Viking vessel…or the set of a cologne commercial. One of those weird artsy ones that didn’t make any sense and had names like Ignorant Beast.
“Look, sir. I’m in the midst of a personal crisis and all I’m trying to do is get a cup of coffee.”
“I fucking told you, Tina. You are not to come in here and harass Justice or his customers again, or I’d personally escort your ass out of town.”
“Knox—”
The bad-tempered, sexy man-beast held up his finger in Justice’s direction. “One second, bud. Looks like I gotta take out the trash.”
“The trash?” I gasped. I thought Virginians were supposed to be friendly. Instead, I’d been in town barely half an hour and was now being rudely accosted by a Viking with the manners of a caveman.
“Darlin’, your coffee’s up,” Justice said, sliding a very large to-go cup onto the wooden counter.
My eyes darted toward the steamy, caffeinated goodness.
“You even think about picking up that cup, and we’re gonna have a problem,” the Viking said, his voice low and dangerous.
But Leif Erikson didn’t know who he was messing with today.
Every woman had her line. Mine, which was admittedly drawn too far back, had just been crossed.
“You take one step toward that beautiful latte that my friend Justice made especially for me, and I will make you regret the moment you met me.”
I was a nice person. According to my parents, I was a good girl. And according to that online quiz I took two weeks ago, I was a people pleaser. I wasn’t great at doling out threats.
The man’s eyes narrowed, and I refused to notice the sexy crinkles at the corner.
“I already regret it, and so does this whole damn town. Just because you change your hair doesn’t mean I’m gonna forget about the trouble you’ve caused here. Now get your ass out the door and don’t come back.”
“He thinks you’re Tina,” Justice cut in.
I didn’t care if this ass thought I was a serial killing cannibal. He was standing between me and my caffeine.
The blond beast turned his head toward Justice. “What the hell are you saying?”
Before my nice friend with the coffee could explain, I drilled my finger into the Viking’s chest. It didn’t go very far, thanks to the obscene layer of muscle under the skin. But I made sure to lead with the nail.
“Now you listen to me,” I began. “I don’t care if you think I’m my sister or that weasel who jacked up the price of anti-malarial drugs. I am a human being having a really bad day after the worst one of her life. I do not have it in me to stuff down these emotions today. So you’d better get out of my way and leave me alone, Viking.”
He looked downright bemused for a hot second.
I took that to mean it was coffee time. Side-stepping him, I picked up the cup, took a delicate sniff, and then shoved my face into the steaming hot life force.
I drank deeply, willing the caffeine to perform its miracles as flavors exploded on my tongue. I was pretty sure the inappropriate moan I heard came from my own mouth but was too tired to care. When I finally lowered the cup and swiped the back of my hand over my mouth, the Viking was still standing there, staring at me.
Turning my back on him, I flashed my hero a smile and slid my credit card across the counter. “You, sir, are an artist. What do I owe you for the best latte I’ve ever had in my life, Justice?”
“Considering the morning you’re having, darlin’, it’s on the house,” he said, handing my license and credit card back to me.
“You, my friend, are a true gentleman. Unlike some others.” I cast a glare over my shoulder to where the Viking was standing, legs braced, arms crossed. Taking another dive into my drink, I pulled my emergency twenty-dollar bill out of my pocket and tucked it into the tip jar. “Thank you for being nice to me on the worst day of my life.”
“Thought that day was yesterday,” the scowling behemoth butted in.
My sigh was weary as I slowly turned to face him. “That was before I met you. So I can officially say that as bad as yesterday was, today beat it out by a slim margin.” Once again, I turned back to Justice. “I’m sorry this jerk scared away all your customers. But I’ll be back for another one of these real soon.”
“Looking forward to it, Naomi,” he said with a wink.
I turned to leave and smacked right into a mile of grumpy man chest.
“Naomi?” he said.
“Go away.” It felt almost good to be rude for once in my life. To take a stand.
“Your name’s Naomi,” the Viking stated.
I was too busy trying to incinerate him with a glare of righteous anger to respond.
“Not Tina?” he pressed.
“They’re twins, man,” Justice said, the smile evident in his voice.
“Fuck me.” The Viking shoved a hand through his hair.
“I worry about your friend’s vision,” I said to Justice, pointing at the mug shot of Tina.
Tina had gone bleach blonde at some point in the past decade-plus, making our otherwise subtle differences even more obvious.
“I left my contacts at home,” he said.
“Next to your manners?” I quipped. The caffeine was hitting my bloodstream, making me unusually feisty.
He didn’t respond with anything other than a heated glare.
I sighed. “Get out of my way, Leif Erikson.”
“The name is Knox. And why are you here?”
What the hell kind of name was that? Was it a hard Knox life? Did he tell a lot of Knox Knox jokes? Was it short for something? Knoxwell? Knoxathan?
“That’s none of your business, Knox. Nothing I do or don’t do is your business. In fact, my existence is none of your business. Now, kindly get out of my way.”
I felt like screaming as loud as I could for as long as I could. But I’d tried that a couple of times in the car on the long drive here, and it hadn’t helped.
Thankfully, the beautiful oaf heaved an annoyed sigh and did the decent, life-preserving thing by getting out of my way. I swept out of the café and into the summer swelter with as much dignity as I could muster.
If Tina wanted to meet up with me, she could find me at the motel. I didn’t need to wait around and be accosted by strangers with the personalities of cacti.
I’d head back to my dingy room, take every last pin out of my hair, and shower until the hot water ran out. Then I’d figure out what to do next.
It was a solid plan. It was only missing one thing.
My car.
The bike rack in front of the coffee shop was still there. The laundromat with its bright posters in the window was still across the street next to the mechanic’s garage.
But my car was not where I’d left it.
The parking spot I’d squeezed into in front of the pet shop was empty.
I looked up and down the block. But there was no sign of my trusty, dusty Volvo.
“You lost?”
I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw. “Go. Away.”
“Now what’s your problem?”
I turned around and found Knox watching me intently, holding a to-go coffee cup.
“What’s my problem?” I repeated.
I wanted to kick him in the shins and steal his coffee.
“Nothin’ wrong with my hearing, sweetheart. No need to yell.”
“My problem is while I wasted five minutes of my life getting to know you, my car was towed.”
“You sure?”
“No. I never have any idea where I park my car. I just leave them everywhere and buy new ones when I can’t find them.”
He shot me a look.
I rolled my eyes. “Obviously, I’m being sarcastic.” I reached for my phone only to remember I no longer had a phone.
“Who pissed in your Cheerios?”
“Whoever taught you to express concern for a person did it wrong.” Without another word, I stalked off in what I hoped was the direction of the local police station.
I didn’t make it to the next storefront before a big, hard hand locked around my upper arm.
It was the sleep deprivation, the emotional rawness, I told myself. Those were the only reasons I felt the jittery zing of awareness at his grip.
“Stop,” he ordered, sounding surly.
“Hands. Off.” I flailed my arm awkwardly, but his grip only tightened.
“Then stop walking away from me.”
I paused my evasive flailing. “I’ll stop walking away if you stop being an asshole.”
His nostrils flared as he stared up at the sky, and I thought I heard him counting.
“Are you seriously counting to ten?” I was the one who was wronged. I was the one with a reason to pray to the heavens for patience.
He got all the way to ten and still looked annoyed. “If I stop being an asshole, will you stay and talk for a minute?”
I took another sip of coffee and thought about it. “Maybe.”
“I’m letting go,” he warned.
“Great,” I prompted.
We both looked down at his hand on my arm. Slowly he loosened his grip and released me, but not before his fingertips trailed over the sensitive skin inside my arm.
Goose bumps broke out, and I hoped he wouldn’t notice. Especially because, in my body, goose bumps and pointy nipple reactions were closely related.
“You cold?” His gaze was most definitely not on my arm or shoulders but my chest.
Damn it. “Yes,” I lied.
“It’s eighty-four degrees, and you’re drinking hot coffee.”
“If you’re finished mansplaining internal temperature, I’d like to go find my car,” I said, crossing my free arm over my traitorous boobs. “Perhaps you could point me in the direction of the nearest impound lot or police station?”
He stared at me for a long beat, then shook his head. “Come on then.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ll give you a ride.”
“Ha!” I choked out a laugh. He was delusional if he thought I’d willingly get in a car with him.
I was still shaking my head when he spoke again. “Let’s go, Daisy. I don’t have all day.”
Author Bio:
Lucy Score is a Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author. Small town contemporary rom-coms are her lady jam and she enjoys delivering the feels with a huge side of happily ever after.
Her books have been translated into several languages, making readers around the world snort laugh, swoon, and sob. Lucy lives in Pennsylvania with the devastatingly handsome Mr. Lucy and their horrible cat.
In her spare time she enjoys sleeping, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and reading all the romance novels in the universe.
Cover Design: Jersey Girl Designs @jerseygirl_design
Cover Image: JW Photography @_jw_photo_
Cover Models: Kristen Lazarus-Wood and Aidan Stewart @Kristen_laz and @aidan.stewart541
Blurb:
Savannah
A sexy, single dad and his teenage son weren’t a part of my white picket fence fairy tale, but if life has taught me anything, it’s that things don’t always work out according to plan.
Ben offers me no-strings-attached sex, but we could never be stringless.
He has a son to think about, one who’s very much a part of my life.
No matter how much I want to accept his offer, taking our relationship to the next level would leave us tangled in knots.
Benjamin
After experiencing firsthand the devastation love can cause, I knew having a family wasn’t for me. Neither was being a single dad—but here we are, trying to make it work.
The last thing I need is a distraction, but then Savannah waltzes into my world, stealing my treadmill at the gym—as well as my son’s heart.
We agreed to no strings. No complications or commitments. But I’m going back on my word because now that I know what it’s like to be with Savannah, there’s no way I’m ever letting her go.
Author Kaylee Ryan – “A sweet and sexy single dad romance. No Strings is Nikki Ash at her finest. A must-read.”
Read.Review.Repeat Blog – “”I absolutely devoured this book. It obviously didn’t take me long to get lost in the storyline and apart from having to adult every now and then I basically read this book in one sitting.”
The Romantic Rush Blog – “Yet another sweet and heartfelt love story from the effortlessly charming writing of Nikki Ash.”
Excerpt:
I’m about ten minutes into my run when the door opens, and a woman I’ve never seen before walks in. Instinctually, my eyes roam over her, taking her in. Caramel hair with various shades of blond highlights are pulled up into a loose ponytail. Tanned, toned legs are barely covered with yellow cotton shorts—if you can even call them that. I’d bet all my money, if she turned around, I’d see a hint of her ass cheeks peeking out. I chuckle at the shoes on her feet. Instead of wearing tennis shoes, she’s sporting light pink fluffy boots. Her face is free of makeup, and her tits look real—perky but not in the so-perky-they-hit-her-chin sort of way. It’s not often I see a naturally beautiful woman free of plastic surgery and makeup. Especially living in the places where I’ve lived. You want a fake woman? They’re a dime a dozen. I’ve learned the hard way women are good for one thing, to sink into and find release with. It doesn’t matter if their tits are real or fake. As long as they can handle their own in the bedroom and understand what the term no strings means, we’re good to go. Realizing I’m still staring at her, I drag my eyes back to the television, but when she comes over and steps onto the treadmill next to me, I can’t help but check out her backside. I was right. Her ass is firm, just like the rest of her body, and her shorts are so tiny, the bottom swells of her cheeks are popping out. She has this thickness to her that I can imagine grabbing ahold of in bed. This woman is either new to this building or has changed her workout time because I damn sure would’ve remembered seeing her here before. Then again, I haven’t been around much for the past several years, so it’s possible we just haven’t crossed paths.
About the Author:
FIGHTING FOR YOUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER…
Nikki Ash resides in South Florida where she is an English teacher and mom by day and a writer by night. When she’s not writing, you can find her with a book in her hand. From the Boxcar Children to Wuthering Heights to the latest Single Parent Romance, she has lived and breathed every type of book.
Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out. – Pam Allyn
While reading and writing are her passions, her two children are her entire world. You can probably find them at a Disney park before you would find them at home on the weekends!
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