TBR Book Blog

New Release ~ Hot For The Handyman ~ by ~ Whitley Cox

Title: Hot for the Handyman

Series: The Single Moms of Seattle

Author: Whitley Cox

Genre: Steamy, Contemporary Romance, Single Mom, Rom-Com

Release Date: December 5, 2020

He’s got just the right tool to fix her broken heart …

Welcome to Seattle, the Emerald City and home to The Single Moms of Seattle. Three sexy single ladies who drink a ton of wine every Saturday night, bitch about life, have each other’s backs, are the ultimate mama bears, and hope to one day, just maybe find love again.

This is Bianca’s story …

Bianca’s life is insane.

A single mom to three kids, she moved back to her hometown of Seattle after her husband cheated and knocked up his secretary.

She’s just trying to get to the next day without pulling out her hair.

With a full-time job as a project manager overseeing the renovations on affordable housing, she’s doing her best to put food on the table for her kids while also proving to the world that she can make it on her own—she doesn’t need a man.

She does however, need a handyman.

Cue, Jack.

He rides in on his Harley with his smoldering blue eyes, a beard and sleeves of tattoos to save her from an abusive contractor.

He’s also a handyman. A Jack of all trades.

Is Bianca’s luck finally changing?

But Jack has one condition before he takes the job to finish the renovations on the new four-plex—she cannot fall in love with him.

An easy task for sure, right?

She just needs him to get the units rentable, love isn’t even on her radar.

But Jack’s not just a flickering flame, he’s an inferno and Bianca is drawn to him like a moth—singed wings be damned.

What happens when summer is over, Jack’s job ends, and he rides off into the sunset? Will he take Bianca’s heart with him, or will he stay and save her one last time—from heartbreak?

**Note: This book can be read as a standalone. It includes lots of steamy scenes, cursing, a sexy alpha male, and of course as with all my books, this has an HEA and no cliffhanger or cheating. If you liked my single dad series, then you’ll love this spin-off trilogy.

“Their story is off the charts steamy and the chemistry oozes from the moment this pair meet. It has passion, drama and is also flirty and heartfelt. The intensity between these two radiates from the words and seeps into your heart and soul.” (Kylee, Goodreads Review)

“OMW! H-O-T…burn the pages right off your Kindle! This is my favorite of all the Single Mom series I loved Hot for the Handyman. Bianca’s story is finally written and man was it worth the wait!” (CheriQBee, Goodreads Review)

There went those cheeks again.

The prettiest shade of fucking pink he ever did see.

On the prettiest—fuck—the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

This Bianca—damn, he even loved her name—was the epitome of sensuality, sexuality and spunk, all rolled into light brown eyes, glossy brown hair and curves he wanted to sink his teeth into.

He’d been waiting for her to remember him as the man at the intersection who’d given her a thumbs-up when he caught her dancing in the car, but so far, she hadn’t made the connection.

Her day was rough. He bet she couldn’t remember what she had for breakfast, let alone a man who’d made her cheeks turn that sexy fucking pink as she let loose to Taylor Swift at the red light.

Sputtering, she blinked a bunch of times over those eyes he wanted to see gaze up at him as she fell to her knees and took him in her mouth. “Fall in love with you? You want me to promise not to fall in love with you?” She snorted before tossing her head back with a laugh. “Good one, Jack. I needed a laugh like that today. Thank you.”

“Just doing my job, darlin’,” he said with a big grin he knew was borderline cheesy. “Keeping the boss-lady happy. But seriously, I’m here to work and just for the summer. Try to keep it in your pants when you’re around me, okay? I got a job to do.” He followed up with an even bigger grin and a wink.

Her smile was natural and carefree, and it took her looks from a ten to a fucking twenty. “You always this cocky?”

“Not cocky, darlin’, just funny. Love to make people—women—laugh. Make ’em smile. Too much in this world has you frowning. The patriarchy, wage gap, pants without pockets.”

That got her laughing. “It is a plague we all face. Whoever thought pants without pockets was a good idea …”

“Was probably a man.”

“You’re probably right.” Sighing, she nodded. “I’ll do my best to keep it in my pants with pockets and not fall in love with you. You have my word. Besides, love, romance or anything in between is so far off my radar, it’s invisible to the naked eye.” That last bit was said with a twinge of regret in her tone and made him wonder what her deal was. Divorced? Widowed? In a loveless marriage with a limp-dicked moron?

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.

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New Release ~ Protecting Tova ~ by ~ Havana Wilder

Title: Protecting Tova

Series: The Iron Mountain Series Book One

Author: Havana Wilder

Genre: Adult Fantasy Romance

Release Date: December 4, 2020

Cover Design: Christian Bentulan

—- Escaping the tormenting demons of her past was all Tova wanted, but someone has other plans. —-

~An Internally tormented girl~ ~An Unexpected protector~ ~One deadly hunt~

Tova, abused as a child in more ways than one, lives in a territory protected by a thick forest and stone wall. She has no desire to leave, and not because of the savages and mutated beasts that roam beyond the walls…

On a quest to deliverance, her plan has always been to learn self-defense and to learn how to protect those who can’t protect themselves while overcoming the demons of her past.

Meanwhile, an unsuspecting heartthrob catches her attention. Not knowing the secrets that lay deep within, he anxiously wants to pursue her, but someone else has other plans for her.

In the midst of all the mayhem, does their relationship end before it can begin?

Protecting Tova is an exciting journey as she fights to forget her past in a dystopian world inundated by threats, mysteries, and treachery.

***This is an adrenaline rush novel with a mixture of fantasy, romance, and paranormal ~ supernatural abilities. Perfect for fans of sarcastic heroines, protective males, and instant attraction.***

Havana Wilder is a brand-new author of “Protecting Tova,” the first book in the Iron Mountain Series. She writes fantasy adult romance novels that proves that true love can endure and triumph

despite all the unknowns in desolate circumstances. Havana is a vivid dreamer turned writer who works in the medical field by day and creates fictional worlds by night. She started writing this year and is fascinated by the fantasy dystopian world along with

shape shifters, paranormal/supernatural abilities of characters, fictional creatures (insert mermaids and dragons) and worlds that are far beyond anything she’s ever experienced. She’s a Georgia native who married her true love in 2004 and is a proud parent

of three beautiful girls. When she’s not working on her next novel or reading, she enjoys wakeboarding, chasing waterfalls, four-wheeling, and roasting s’mores around her fire-pit/pergola that her loving husband hand crafted for her for Mother’s Day.

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New Release ~ Slay Belles & Mayhem

Title: Slay Belles & Mayhem: A Medley of Dark Tales

Authors: Dani René, Anna Edwards, Lylah James, Brianna Hale, Claire Marta, India R. Adams, Murphy Wallace, and Abby Gale

Genre: Dark Romance

Release Date: December 3, 2020

Cover Design: Jay Aheer, Simply Defined Art

Stories drenched in darkness and mayhem,

These fairy tales will never be the same again.

Twists that will keep you awake,

Your sleep will be ours to take.

So if you love wickedness,

And men who do naughty things,

Join us on these adventures we bring.

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Cover Reveal ~ Fugitive ~ by ~ K E Osborn

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Title: Fugitive

Series: The Houston Defiance MC Series

Author: K E Osborn

Genre: MC Romance

Release Day: January 11, 2021

Photographer/Designer: Reggie Deanching

Model: Justin Michaels

Designer: Designs by Dana

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The club took me in. Even though I was a cop. The moment I handed in my badge, I knew becoming an outlaw would change my life forever. As an ex-cop turned biker, my job is to stay loyal. To the club and my brothers. That is my sole purpose. Even though the reason I joined is no longer with us. Losing love is hard, but life must go on. Especially for my kids. Even if they’re just out of reach. Now I’m a fugitive, an outlaw, a ghost. But I’ve run into someone I didn’t see coming. A ray of pure sunshine. Just when I’d given up on family, now I’m ready to stand and fight. But perhaps the battle is not where I think it lies. Maybe my ray of sunshine will warm my life. Or maybe the darkness surrounding her will freeze me to my very soul. From International Bestselling Author K E Osborn comes the highly anticipated third book in the Houston Defiance MC Series.

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Enter the Cover Reveal Giveaway HERE!

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With a flair for all things creative, International Bestselling Author K E Osborn, is drawn to the written word. Exciting worlds and characters flow through her veins, coming to life on the page as she laughs, cries, and becomes enveloped in the storyline right along with you. She’s entirely at home when writing sassy heroines and alpha males that rise from the ashes of their pasts. K E Osborn comforts herself with tea and Netflix, after all, who doesn’t love a good binge?

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New Audio Release ~ Hearts & Flowers ~ by ~ A.M. Brooks

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Nora He broke me. He gave me everything I never knew I wanted then in one moment destroyed all my happiness. Now I’m back in Araminta to finish senior year before I move on and leave this town full of fake and corrupted people behind. I don’t expect him to chase me. To change the game. He wants my heart but it’s destroyed. Even as we fight back against his enemies who want to ruin his name, he puts me above all else. He wants to protect me. Fix me. Claim me. Too bad I’m not the same girl I was. I can’t forgive him… Darrian I’m sober. So f–kin sober.

I’m broken and bruised but the only pain I feel is watching her and knowing I can’t have her. Danger lurks around us. My enemies are growing in numbers. I need to keep her safe and untouched by the chaos I created. I will destroy the walls around her heart and prove to both of us that I am the man she wanted me to be. She wants to breeze in and fade out…not this time. She’s back and she will be mine. I can’t live without her.

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AM Brooks is an author with a variety of stories; Contemporary Romance, New Adult, and mature YA Her writing style is suspenseful and sometimes leads to heart-wrenching conclusions. With a background in forensic psychology she really goes for those investigative, dark and twisty feels. And of course, lots of love! Brooks enjoys reading as much as writing. Television shows such as Criminal Minds, Scandal, and One Tree Hill are her go-to binge worthy series. She loves spending time with her friends and family with a good glass of beer or wine. If she isn’t reading or writing, Brooks is Pinteresting future home projects for her wonderful husband to accomplish.

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Cover Reveal ~ Moments Like This ~ by ~ Anna Gomez & Kristoffer Polaha

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Title: Moments Like This

Series: From Kona with Love Series

Author: Anna Gomez (Christine Brae) and Kristoffer Polaha

Genre: Multicultural Romance – Clean Romance

Publisher: Rosewind Books (a division of Vesuvian Media)

Release Date: March 9, 2021

Cover Designer: Hang Le

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After Andrea “Andie” Matthews chooses her career over a marriage proposal and then loses a promotion she worked so hard for, she jumps at the chance to take a break and help run a friend’s coffee shop. Alone in Hawaii, Andie befriends the staff and quickly grows to care for them, making her determined to revive the company. As luck would have it, she meets the mysterious Warren Yates on Christmas Eve. They share a cup of coffee, some conversation, and even a moment, which leads to many more in the coming weeks.

But when Andie learns who Warren really is—and what he actually wants—she is torn between her feelings and his deception.

Will Warren be able to win her heart back?

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Did you see this amazing article on The Nerd Daily

about Moments Like This?

Check it out HERE!

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Four years ago, after experiencing a great loss in her life, Anna Gomez, who writes as Christine Brae, decided that it was time to channel her feelings on paper and see where it would take her. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of many women with the same stories to tell. With an established fan base and a dedicated following, Anna Gomez has published six novels, three of which have won Literary Awards: The Light in the Wound series, Insipid, In this Life, Eight Goodbyes and the Year I Left . Her books have debuted in the top 1,000 at Amazon and continued to rank in the Top 100 in the months following their release. Anna Gomez is a hopeless romantic who writes about real life, flawed characters and the saving grace of unconditional love. Her experience of living and growing up in a foreign country plays a large part in her stories. Her full-time career and ability to travel extensively also add flair and individuality to the vividly written settings in her books. They transport the reader to faraway places and make them feel like they’ve been there before. Anna’s inspiration stems from the people she meets and the places that she’s seen. Her stories are realistic and honest, thought-provoking and impactful. Her love for poetry is evident in her writing style. Anna holds a senior executive position at one of the world’s largest global advertising agencies and lives in Chicago with her husband and three children.

Kristoffer Polaha is best-known for his long starring role in the critically acclaimed series Life Unexpected (The CW). Other TV series credits include Get Shorty with Ray Romano and Chris O’Dowd, the limited series Condoropposite William Hurt and Max Irons, The CW’s Ringer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Valentine, as well as North Shore(FOX). In addition to co-starring with Rainn Wilson in Backstrom (FOX), he had a multi-season role on the acclaimed series Mad Men (AMC) and Castle (ABC). Polaha is also well-known for starring in Hallmark Channel movies such as Dater’s Handbook with Meghan Markle, and the Mystery 101 franchise on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Polaha first received attention for his portrayal of John F. Kennedy, Jr. in the TV movie, America’s Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story, opposite Portia de Rossi. He has appeared in numerous independent features, including Where Hope Grows, Devil’s Knot (Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon), and the Tim Tebow film, Run the Race. Polaha has a featured role opposite Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman 1984 and in Jurassic World: Dominion. In addition to his work as an actor, producer, and director, Polaha is branching into the book world by co-authoring a new series. He is also involved with several charitable organizations, including being an ambassador for World Vision, a board member for HerArtsInAction, and The Polaha Family Circus Foundation. Polaha was born in Reno, Nevada, and he is married to actress Julianne Morris. They have three sons.

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New Release & Review ~ #Rogue ~ by ~ A.M. Brooks

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What started as a shelter for the weak, the defenseless, the brave, the survivors, soon became a family’s legacy. Their protection became a town’s mission. Jason & Kelly He’s known her since middle school. He fought for her attention from his best friend. Their shared bond in Matt’s family business has brought them closer together until jealousy and one night changes everything. Matt & Erika Torn by responsibility and destiny, they think they have it all with their future planned until they don’t. Her ghosts are back to haunt her. He can’t save her this time. The family business always comes first. Whose story will it be?

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I’m normally someone who likes to read books in order; this series flies in the face of that rule. Reading books 1 & 2 first before this book actually set up this book so well. You know the ending but you don’t know the journey they all take.

I will be honest, I wasn’t sure I would like the Midwest Boys series when I signed up for it. But I was willing to give it a shot. And I’m so glad I did. These stories have converted me to loving the Midwest Boys! And all of their stories!

We’ve met Jason and Kelly in books 1 & 2 but now we get to read their story. And peeks of Erika and Matt’s story. Which after meeting Jason and Kelly, I’m glad we got to read their story and how they got there.

I’m sure hoping that Matt and Erika’s story is next!

5 stars!

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Enter the Release Giveaway HERE!

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I’m startled awake some time later when I hear a bump against the wall across from me. Laying in the dark, I wait and it happens over and over again. Curious, I get up and tiptoe out my door and over to the spare room. “No,” I can hear being said over and over, the voice deep and afraid. I peek my head in and, sure enough, he’s tangled in his bed sheet, his leg hitting the wall while it looks like he’s fighting someone. Carefully, I slowly walk over to the bed and lay my hand on his arm. “You’re safe,” I repeat over and over, until his frown eases and the wrinkle on his forehead is gone. I’m about to back away when his eyes fly open, pinning me with a stare. “Sorry,” I blurt out. “I’m Kelly. I heard you and just wanted to check to see if you’re okay.” His throat bobs a couple times before he nods his head, his eyes flicking to the clock that reads quarter after two. His hands come up and rub down his face. For the first time I notice he’s shirtless and wearing basketball shorts. His face is longer and his jaw is square, sharp, with a classical aristocratic look. His hair is light and short, cropped close on the sides and longer on top. It’s fashionable and not at all my type. “I’m Calvin,” he says, testing out his new name. “Nice to meet you,” I respond and smile. “I’ll talk to you more in the morning, okay?” He nods again in response. Our eyes hold and I faintly see the remaining ghosts that are haunting him. The orbs clear when he blinks again. “Night.”

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Read the First Chapter HERE!

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Cover Reveal ~ Gravity Happens ~ by ~ Lizzie James

Title: Gravity Happens

Author: Lizzie James

Genre: Second Chance/Friends to Lovers/Christmas Romance

Release Date: December 18, 2020

Cover Design: Eleanor Lloyd-Jones at Schmidt Cover Designs

Lauren

He was there. Through all the good times, and the bad. When my world collapsed and my family passed away; he was there. He picked me up and gave me a reason to keep going. He just never saw that the reason was him.

Thomas

When your best friend starts pulling away, what do you do? When the girl who has always been there is suddenly too busy and the revolving door through my bedroom no longer holds my attention what should I do?

Will Thomas finally wake up and see what he’s been missing all this time? Is it time for this crazy pair to finally take a chance and let their love story happen this Christmas?

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Cover Reveal ~ The Ahern Brothers Collection ~ by ~ Claudia Burgoa

Title: The Ahern Brothers Collection

Author: Claudia Burgoa

Genre: Steamy Romance

Release Date: December 16, 2020

Cover Design: A. Burgos

Two hot & sexy billionaire brothers. Two different stories. Two unexpected happily ever afters.

Enjoy this collection of steamy romances now!

Stories included:

Begin with Me

Back to You

Once Upon A Holiday

PLUS bonus content.

The Ahern Brothers Collection contains one duet and one full-length, standalone romance holiday.

“So, check this out,” I say, “at the airport, I had one of those ‘you grabbed the wrong luggage’ moments. It was an accident—not my accident though. The couple in front of me grabbed my bag. It’s okay, I get it. Everyone has a black rolling bag. Everyone.”

“You don’t have it marked?” Jeannette asks, surprised.

I roll my eyes. “Of course, I do, can you not interrupt? So, I’m waiting for it and I’m already searching for my ticket because for sure I thought it’d be on its way back to Toronto. It wasn’t until this lady screamed, ‘These aren’t mine. Whose underwear is this, Leopold?’”

I lift my napkin waving it the same way the lady from the airport did with my stuff as I continue my story. “This woman flaunts my favorite pair of lacy black panties like an enemy flag for everyone to see. Needless to say, everyone on the flight from Toronto to Denver plus the airport employees had their attention toward this lady—and my intimates.”

Jeannette and Teagan are already laughing at this point.

“You’d think that’s the worst part. But it’s not,” I continue. “I cleared my throat, walked with my chin up and shoulders back to her and said, “Those are mine.”

“So, everyone at the airport saw your underwear?” Teagan asks to clarify. “I would die if that happened to me.”

I almost died, but I smile, nod, and continue, “And to be honest, I should’ve phrased that sentence better, saying something like, that’s my bag.”

“Oh-oh, what happened?” Jeannette asks. Her eyes are already lighting up because she can feel there’s something worse and much more funny coming up.

“The next thing I know she’s opening the cosmetic bag where I have my toys and shows my pink rabbit thruster, saying, ‘So, you and my husband played with your toys. Is this what you like, Leo? Play with brainless twinkies?’

“Turning to look at poor old Leopold who might be Dad’s age I said, ‘next time grab the right bag, man.’ Without missing a step, I put my things back into my bag. Looked at the agent and said. ‘There’s nothing perishable inside unless you include my edible lube. Would you mind if I leave?’

The FTA agent nodded and waved toward the exit. Talk about doing the walk of shame.”

“Only you, June.” My twin sister, Jeannette, laughs as I finish my story. Her wife is choking with laughter.

Thankfully, it’s only us tonight. Sadly, she’s going to be telling this to our three brothers. I can see how things will unfold. Jackson, the oldest, will judge me silently after laughing hard, because June, the baby of the family, shouldn’t be having sex—or sex toys. Then, Alex will be asking stupid questions to embarrass me. Jason will squeeze my hand and take the heat away from me.

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author.

She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.

She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she’s the ruler of the house. She’s only partially right.

When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At night, she likes to binge-watch shows with her equally geeky husband.

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New Release ~ Declan ~ by ~ Anna Castor

We are so excited to be bringing you the release of DECLAN by Anna Castor! If you love all things contemporary romance and family sagas then you don’t want to miss out on this latest release in the Lucky Irish Series!

About DECLAN

“I… yes, I love you.
But not in that way, I’m sorry, Squirt.”

With these words, Declan Mills broke Bree’s heart, and his own. By trying to save their friendship, Declan did something he’d never done before: he lied to Bree.

Bree picked herself up and tried hard to move on from her infatuation that had lasted nearly two decades. About time, right? Wrong. One night, the former best friends gravitate together, binding their lives forever.

Declan made a mistake by choosing friendship over love. But can he win over Bree’s heart again?

Declan is book four in the Lucky Irish series about the ups and downs of several Irish families in Austin, Texas. Each book is an interconnected standalone. As we read a new sexy romance, we can also catch up with favorite characters throughout the series.

Add DECLAN to your TBR!

Get your copy of DECLAN on Amazon!

Read an excerpt from DECLAN

Bree stopped in her tracks. The red paint of the small porch pained her eyes. That damn stubborn ass. After all the color-coding and Bree’s efforts in persuading him to go for a more gentle looking pale blue, Declan still went ahead with this God-awful vermillion.

Dec needed his head examined. She righted her little black dress and stomped in her high heels over said ugly red porch as Dec opened the door.

“And? What do you think?” he smiled a mile wide and opened his arms, showcasing a job he figured well done.

“You never listen, Dec.”

She shook her head as she walked up to him. Because if he would really listen to her—or take notice, he’d known how her stomach flip-flopped at the mere sight of his dimples. How her heart skipped a beat at his smiling gray eyes. Damn, she was a mess. She would even put up with this hideous porch if it meant she’d live here with him, waking up every day in those muscular tanned arms.

“Squirt…” he said, and Bree winced at his nickname for her. She wasn’t the six-year-old tomboy following him around anymore. In front of Declan stood a twenty-six-year-old who just had an emergency video chat with her sister Gwenn about her outfit tonight.

She was on a mission. The normal ‘one-of-the-guys-Bree’ wouldn’t cut it. Tonight, she wasn’t the girl next door and Dec’s best friend in her favorite sweater and jeans. No. In front of Declan stood a WO-MAN.

Yes. She emphasized it out loud in her head and his smile faltered. He could always read her mind. So, how he didn’t read the signs of her pining and lusting over his Irish ass was the greatest mystery of all times.

Maybe he didn’t want to hurt her feelings by addressing it. Or he was afraid to have the same conversation she was about to have with him. Telling him how she felt might ruin their friendship. They both avoided this topic. Well, either way, tonight would be the start of a new chapter in their relationship. Hopefully, a chapter filled with lots of clothes ripping…

“I know, I know…” he said as he held up his hands, making his black stained T-shirt creep up from the top of his dusty jeans. She bit her bottom lip at the sight of his dusty trail of hair going down beneath his belt buckle. Bree cleared her throat.

“The color is gross, Dec. It’s—”

“Yeah, I know. You’re right. I should have listened to you. But at least for now, it has a coat of paint.” He shrugged before he opened his arms for her to step into. She couldn’t remember the time he wouldn’t invite her into his arms for a hug.

Even wearing a new dress for this special occasion couldn’t hold her from hugging his dirty torso. Clean, manly sweat and wood dust. She placed her cheek on his chest to get her fill. He squeezed her tighter for a moment and stepped back to travel his eyes over her.

“You seem different. What did I miss? Didn’t we talk this morning? What’s up?” Declan said as he took her biceps in his calloused hands. The observant cop side of Dec scrutinized her expression as he narrowed his eyes.

“Geez. I’m wearing make-up? Maybe that’s it?” Bree said as she tucked a curl behind her ear.

“No. That’s not it. It’s something in your eyes, not on your eyes. Your eyes always speak volumes to me. And they’re telling me there’s something going on you’d rather not say. What’s the matter?”

Bree sighed and shook her head. Why was this so hard? He was her best friend. She usually told him everything. Well, perhaps not that she’d masturbated this morning after hanging up the phone with him. His raspy voice after he’d just woken up had gotten her all hot and bothered. She’d needed some kind of relief before going into work and had made do with the showerhead.

Oh, how she longed to feel the real deal instead of getting off on just the thought of Declan. They stood so close she could almost taste him. Bree took a deep breath, full of his scent, and closed her eyes for a moment.

Okay, let’s do this. It’s now or never.

“Dec…” she said as she opened her eyes. His name came out in a pained whisper.

“What is it?”

His eyes searched hers for answers. As he cocked his head, his charcoal longer hair on top swished over his frowned forehead.

She swallowed the big lump in her throat and said, “I’m in love with you.”

His brows shot up, and he took a step back from her. His hands let go of her upper arms. Losing his warmth and the lack of a verbal response made her involuntarily shiver. She looked up through her eyelashes and winced at his expression.

Dec rubbed his neck, exposing his hard bicep next to his ear. A smear of ugly vermillion paint graced his elbow. He shook his head in disbelief.

“Fuck, Squirt. I…”

She swallowed back the tears threatening to overflow her eyelids. After a few hefty blinks, the first damn tears descended. Declan wasted no time and beat her to it as he wiped them away with his thumb.

“Shit…”

He took her cheeks in between the palm of his hands and for a moment, she was sure he would lean in and kiss her. His stormy eyes locked onto hers, but she couldn’t read him. How could he control his emotions like this? Didn’t she affect him as he did her?

“Say you feel this too, Dec,” Bree said. The pleading in her voice was clear.

“I… yes, I love you.”

Bree’s heart rate went sky high, but his pained stare demolished all hope. And his next words shattered her heart into a thousand pieces.

“But not in that way. I’m sorry, Squirt.”

About ANNA CASTOR

Anna loves to write heartfelt and steamy romance series. She falls in love with her characters as they go through their ups and downs. Anna laughs out loud behind her laptop as she writes the banter between siblings. Sometimes she cries as a result from the real talk that comes with family. There’s no hiding from a nosy Pops 😉 Her books are for mature readers only because of their steamy content.

Author of the Lucky Irish series. A series about several large and close-knit Irish families in Austin, TX with strong heroines, quirky family banter and steamy alpha’s.

Anna is a former wedding photographer turned author. While photographing weddings, Anna loved being a part of the couple’s special day to tell their (love) story through her pictures. Each wedding had a different story to tell: the histories of the bride and groom, their family dynamics, their challenges in life, and of course, how they met and fell in love.

And now Anna takes her readers through the troubles and hardships her characters may come across on their journey to a happily ever after.

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