Title: Shattered Love (Forever Us, #1) 

Author: Nivia Borell 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Release Date: November 28, 2018 

 

Synopsis 

 

Bria du Mont and Damien du Sky have been in love for as long as they can remember. Neighbors and best friends since childhood, they planned to be together forever. 

 

That is until Damien seeks to propose to Bria on her eighteenth birthday and finds her in bed with another man. 

 

Bria has no memory of how she ended up in that situation, but Damien still leaves her. Traumatized by his departure, she develops broken heart syndrome and becomes emotionally numb in her search for closure.  

 

Meanwhile, Damien drowns his pain in alcohol before becoming a ruthless CEO and a playboy who refuses to let himself love again. 

 

Prisoners of their past, Bria and Damien prove incapable of staying away from each other. They dig deeper into the fateful night which tore them apart and uncover secrets which will threaten all they know and challenge the meaning and strength of true love. 

 

Purchase your copy today for 99 cents!

Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

 Excerpt 

 

“I am done, Bria,” he says, his bloodshot eyes sealed on mine, his voice cracking. He raises a hand exposing the inside of his palm as I gawk at the fine and long lines carving it. “I have to give you something. Here is my bleeding heart. It has ceased beating in my chest, Bria. It’s yours and always has been. Mend it or smash it!” 

His words and torn expression snap something inside me, but before I sink to the floor, he grabs me and scoops me into his lap. Tears run down his pain-distorted face, and I can’t take it any longer. I join him, and we weep in earnest for what feels like an eternity. Then, with my head resting on his chest and his arms wrapped around me, we sit here on the floor, an entangled mess of broken hearts and bodies and sad sounds.

I feel a strong urge to caress him, but I halt my attempt to comfort him. Maybe I am completely mad because I’ve always felt this aching need to be there for him, to ease his pain. I can’t rein in myself even after everything that’s happened. He’s the one I can never turn away from, my other half. I feel truly possessed and under the spell and power of something that, although it feels foreign and distant, is still strong enough to make me surrender my all to him. I am far from caring or cringe he will hurt me anymore. I’ve been on the receiving end for a long time now, and it has never deterred me from trying to mollify his pain. Yes, I suppose he might show some sort of disturbed rejection and hurl cruel words my way, but, as always, I will take it for what it is—his particular coping mechanism.

“How can you even touch me?”

I freeze with my hand midway in the air because the last time we were together, he said he despised and loathed me, so, of course, he will not like my caress. Likely sensing my turmoil, he clasps my hand in his and trails kisses down my wrist. His gesture has something reverent in it, and the moisture he leaves on my hand mesmerizes me. I can’t seem to peel my eyes away.

“Bria, how can you wish to touch and comfort me? How can you caress the same person who caused you the most pain? Comfort the one person who’s not at all worthy of it? How can you touch the same person who said those horrible things to you back then, terrible lies out of the mouth of a complete sinner?”

I just stare at him in disbelief, and a fine line spreads on his forehead. Maybe I’m already dead and haven’t noticed it. Perhaps I took too many aspirin with too much wine. I look at the aspirin foil. It is intact. My body trembles with Damien’s closeness, but my mind is far away. He snatches the packet from my hand, and his brows snaps together.

“What the fuck are these, Bria? What are these pills?” He shakes me, but I still can’t utter any words. “Answer me, Bria, or I’ll force you to retch! Do you really enjoy making me lose my damn mind? I am on the brink of my sanity here, and you are not helping.”

The force of his voice rattles the walls. Is he for real? I manage to find a few words. “It’s aspirin. I have a headache,” I lie.

“Stop deceiving me, Bria. It kills me how easily you can lie while looking me straight in my face.”

He clenches my upper arms, and I tilt my head up.

“When did it become so effortless for you, my sweet baby? Can you remember the day I told you I wanted to corrupt your innocence but hoped it would still be there shining in your hazel eyes? What have I done?”

 

 

 

About The Author 

Website | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Goodreads | Twitter 

Drenching blank sheets in feelings. 

 

Nivia Borell is a contemporary romance author, voracious reader, nature lover, star gazer, day dreamer. She spends her nights deciding between getting up to write, and staying in bed and forgetting the assault of her characters on her sleep (the battle is never ending). She has a weakness for tormented characters, second chances, and happy endings. 

While writing is her biggest passion, her husband, family, and books are her greatest loves. 

For updates, news, and releases be sure to visit Nivia’s official website at www. niviaborell.com. 

She loves hearing and connecting with her readers. 

 

Title: Wild Collision (Wild, #1)

Author: Micalea Smeltzer

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Day: November 23, 2018

 

Synopsis

He was a beautiful nightmare.

Mia Hayes is comfortable with her life as it is.
Boring is good.
Boring is normal.
Boring is safe.
But the thing with boring is it makes temptation all the sweeter.

She was a sweet dream.

Hollis Wilder goes a hundred miles an hour after everything he wants.
Fast is fun.
Fast is crazy.
Fast is dangerous.
But the thing with fast is it keeps you from thinking before you act.

Together they were the notes in their favorite song.

When Mia and Hollis collide—literally—music’s new bad boy can’t help but notice the beautiful red-haired woman with soft curves. She calls to him like a siren, and since the word no isn’t in his vocabulary he’s determined to get what he wants.

The problem is, one night won’t be enough, and the fact that Mia is his mentor’s daughter complicates things royally.

Mia’s the one girl that’s off limits, but she might be the only one he wants for real.

 

Purchase your copy today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

Excerpt

He closes the distance between us swiftly, grabbing my face roughly between his hands. He kisses me quickly, desperately. It’s a bruising kind of kiss. One that leaves a path of flames in its wake.

He lets me go and steps away. “I had to kiss you before I couldn’t for the rest of the evening,” he admits.

I touch my lips where they still tingle from his.

He flashes a cocky smile, pleased with himself for rendering me speechless.

“I know I’m a good kisser, but I didn’t know it was possible to stun you into silence. I’m impressed with myself.”

I snap out of my revelry. “I hope you go home and write about it in your diary.”

“Oh, I will.” He smirks.

“Is it pink and sparkly?”

“Of course—I even hot glued my name in sequins on it and the first page is marked with Future Mr. Mia Hayes.”

 

About The Author

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Micalea’s Minions

 

Hi. I’m Micalea. Ma-call-e-uh. Weird name, I know.  My mom must’ve known I was going to be odd even in the womb. I’ve written a lot of books. Like a lot. Don’t ask me how many, I don’t remember at this point. I have an unhealthy addiction to Diet Coke but I can’t seem to break the habit. I listen to way too much music and hedgehogs have taken over my life.

 

 

Title: Wild Collision (Wild, #1)

Author: Micalea Smetzler

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Day: November 23, 2018

 

Synopsis

He was a beautiful nightmare.

Mia Hayes is comfortable with her life as it is.
Boring is good.
Boring is normal.
Boring is safe.
But the thing with boring is it makes temptation all the sweeter.

She was a sweet dream.

Hollis Wilder goes a hundred miles an hour after everything he wants.
Fast is fun.
Fast is crazy.
Fast is dangerous.
But the thing with fast is it keeps you from thinking before you act.

Together they were the notes in their favorite song.

When Mia and Hollis collide—literally—music’s new bad boy can’t help but notice the beautiful red-haired woman with soft curves. She calls to him like a siren, and since the word no isn’t in his vocabulary he’s determined to get what he wants.

The problem is, one night won’t be enough, and the fact that Mia is his mentor’s daughter complicates things royally.

Mia’s the one girl that’s off limits, but she might be the only one he wants for real.

Pre order your copy today for early release on November 19!

Barnes & Noble  | KOBO | IBooks

 

Excerpt

I don’t know how long we’re in the alley kissing, but finally he releases me. We’re both breathless. My lips feel swollen and bruised. I don’t mind one bit.

“Do you have to go home yet?” he asks, his voice low and husky. His eyes fall to my lips and he rubs his thumb against them. They’re tender, but I don’t mind his touch.

I shake my head.

He cracks a small smile. “Come to the hotel with me.”

“But the guys…” I hesitate.

“They already know about you. The nosy bastards figured it out without me saying a word.” I can tell he’s irritated by this fact, but they’re also his best friends so he can laugh about it.

“I don’t know…”

“We can watch a movie or something. Nothing more,” he explains, seeing where my mind is going. “We can order a pizza too—or whatever you want from room service.”

I think a moment longer before nodding. I’m not ready to go home yet. Spending more time with Hollis sounds nice. As much as I love kissing him, I enjoy hanging out with him even more, which shocks me. I never expected to like him. From the moment he walked out of my bathroom in nothing but a towel I’d made up my mind to hate him.

But hating Hollis is impossible.

We walk back to the hotel, too worried to hold hands, but close enough our fingers graze often. Some people, mostly college girls, eye him up and down. He’s hot, so it’s expected, but word has also gotten around about the new band in town recording their album. While most people in this town are over it and don’t care, The Wild is like a new shiny toy to be played with and admired.

I don’t know how famous people do it—enjoy being gawked at like a specimen under a microscope. Heck, even I’ve been gawked at and had paparazzi follow me even though I’m literally the most boring person on the planet. I don’t understand the obsession people have with celebrities, wanting to know every single detail about their lives, where they go, who their friends are, what they eat—give them a break and room to breathe. I saw a pap follow my dad into a public restroom once—he stormed out a second later and gave management a mouthful.

Hollis and I reach the hotel and ride up in the elevator together careful to stand apart and not say a word.

When he opens the door to their suite my mouth falls open.

“Whoa, this place is cool.”

Fox’s head whips over in our direction from the couch when he hears my voice.

“Yo, Mia, what are you doing here?”

“Hollis invited me for pizza and a movie.”

“Sweet—as long as it’s not a chick flick.”

I fake a yawn. “Pass.”

“Can I keep you?” Fox jokes making a kissy face at me.

Rush strides out of a room then in only a towel. As he passes Fox he whips it off and smacks him with it.

Hollis slaps his hands over my eyes, but it’s too late, I already got an eyeful.

“Pretty sure she’s already taken dude.”

“Rush,” Hollis hisses, “cover up, man.”

“What? Afraid she’ll see what I’m packing and come running?”

“It was impressive,” I admit with a laugh.

Hollis growls and mutters, “Don’t make me remind you what’s really impressive.”

I give him a sly smile as he lowers his hands. “I don’t know, sounds enjoyable.”

His eyes darken with desire.

“Not here,” Cannon warns coming into the room.

“Yeah, down boy,” I tell Hollis. “I’m here for pizza and a movie. If you don’t feed me I might bite.”

He lowers his head and whispers in my ear, “I wouldn’t mind.”

I can’t help but smile. Patting him on the chest, I say, “Now go order my pizza, peasant.”

All three of the other guys bust out laughing. “Peasant? More like he’s your bitch,” Fox chortles.

Hollis shakes his head, but his lips quirk in amusement. “What kind of pizza do you want?”

“Pepperoni.”

“A pepperoni pizza for milady coming right up,” he says bowing theatrically before slipping away.

I sit down on the couch beside Fox and swipe the remote from him.

“No chick flicks,” Rush warns coming out of his room to join us. At least he’s wearing pants now.

“What is it with you guys and chick flicks?” I mutter. “Afraid a little kissing and romance will make your dick shrivel up and die?”

“They’re boring,” Rush defends.

“Mhmm,” I hum. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Cannon speaks up. “He’s bitching because he cried at Titanic.”

“It was one tear,” Rush defends in mock anger. “And Jack shouldn’t have died. He was the best character in the whole damn movie.”

Cannon smirks at him as Rush sits on my other side.

I log into my Netflix account. “We’re going to watch my favorite movie of all time,” I warn them.

“If Reese Witherspoon is in it giving legal advice I’m out,” Rush warns, raising his hands.

I snort. “Nope.”

I click the movie and the guys all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Pussies.

“Jurassic Park is your favorite movie?” Fox asks, sounding surprised.

“Dinosaurs and Jeff Goldblum … um yeah, it’s my favorite movie.”

“You have a crush on Jeff Goldblum?” Rush asks with amusement.

“Duh, have you seen him? Or listened to him speak? He could read me the dictionary and I’d happily sit there and listen.”

Rush chuckles. “How does Hollis feel about that?”

“How do I feel about what?” Hollis asks, stepping back into the room. He gets a disgruntled look when he sees Fox and Rush beside me, but then shakes his head as a determined smile takes over his face.

He strides over to me and I squeal as he picks me up and sits down with me in his lap.

“Mia, here, has a crush on Jeff Goldblum,” Fox explains.

“Really?” he asks, eyeing me with surprise.

“Why is this shocking?”

“I don’t know,” Hollis admits. “I guess it’s unexpected is all.”

“Can we watch the movie now?” I ask.

“Wait, we need popcorn,” Cannon says in his gruff voice, hopping up.

I don’t know why but I’m still always surprised when he opens his mouth. He’s broody and quiet all the time. When he shows any bit of enthusiasm for something it takes me by surprise.

As the movie begins Cannon pops popcorn in the suite’s kitchen making the room smell like buttery goodness and causing my mouth to water.

“I can’t believe you guys have popcorn here,” I mutter to Hollis.

He chuckles, the sound rumbling against my back as he holds me tight. “Only because Cannon is a mother hen and went to the grocery store the day after we got here to make sure we had everything we needed.”

“Better to be a mother hen than to starve,” Cannon defends from the kitchen.

“Shh, I want to watch the movie.”

Hollis pinches my side and whispers in my ear, “You started it.”

 

About The Author

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Micalea’s Minions

 

Hi. I’m Micalea. Ma-call-e-uh. Weird name, I know.  My mom must’ve known I was going to be odd even in the womb. I’ve written a lot of books. Like a lot. Don’t ask me how many, I don’t remember at this point. I have an unhealthy addiction to Diet Coke but I can’t seem to break the habit. I listen to way too much music and hedgehogs have taken over my life.

 

Title: Shattered Love (Forever Us, #1) 

Author: Nivia Borell 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Release Date: November 28, 2018 

 

Synopsis 

 

Bria du Mont and Damien du Sky have been in love for as long as they can remember. Neighbors and best friends since childhood, they planned to be together forever. 

 

That is until Damien seeks to propose to Bria on her eighteenth birthday and finds her in bed with another man. 

 

Bria has no memory of how she ended up in that situation, but Damien still leaves her. Traumatized by his departure, she develops broken heart syndrome and becomes emotionally numb in her search for closure.  

 

Meanwhile, Damien drowns his pain in alcohol before becoming a ruthless CEO and a playboy who refuses to let himself love again. 

 

Prisoners of their past, Bria and Damien prove incapable of staying away from each other. They dig deeper into the fateful night which tore them apart and uncover secrets which will threaten all they know and challenge the meaning and strength of true love. 

 

Pre order your copy today for 99 cents!

Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

 

 Excerpt 

 

“I am done, Bria,” he says, his bloodshot eyes sealed on mine, his voice cracking. He raises a hand exposing the inside of his palm as I gawk at the fine and long lines carving it. “I have to give you something. Here is my bleeding heart. It has ceased beating in my chest, Bria. It’s yours and always has been. Mend it or smash it!” 

His words and torn expression snap something inside me, but before I sink to the floor, he grabs me and scoops me into his lap. Tears run down his pain-distorted face, and I can’t take it any longer. I join him, and we weep in earnest for what feels like an eternity. Then, with my head resting on his chest and his arms wrapped around me, we sit here on the floor, an entangled mess of broken hearts and bodies and sad sounds.

I feel a strong urge to caress him, but I halt my attempt to comfort him. Maybe I am completely mad because I’ve always felt this aching need to be there for him, to ease his pain. I can’t rein in myself even after everything that’s happened. He’s the one I can never turn away from, my other half. I feel truly possessed and under the spell and power of something that, although it feels foreign and distant, is still strong enough to make me surrender my all to him. I am far from caring or cringe he will hurt me anymore. I’ve been on the receiving end for a long time now, and it has never deterred me from trying to mollify his pain. Yes, I suppose he might show some sort of disturbed rejection and hurl cruel words my way, but, as always, I will take it for what it is—his particular coping mechanism.

“How can you even touch me?”

I freeze with my hand midway in the air because the last time we were together, he said he despised and loathed me, so, of course, he will not like my caress. Likely sensing my turmoil, he clasps my hand in his and trails kisses down my wrist. His gesture has something reverent in it, and the moisture he leaves on my hand mesmerizes me. I can’t seem to peel my eyes away.

“Bria, how can you wish to touch and comfort me? How can you caress the same person who caused you the most pain? Comfort the one person who’s not at all worthy of it? How can you touch the same person who said those horrible things to you back then, terrible lies out of the mouth of a complete sinner?”

I just stare at him in disbelief, and a fine line spreads on his forehead. Maybe I’m already dead and haven’t noticed it. Perhaps I took too many aspirin with too much wine. I look at the aspirin foil. It is intact. My body trembles with Damien’s closeness, but my mind is far away. He snatches the packet from my hand, and his brows snaps together.

“What the fuck are these, Bria? What are these pills?” He shakes me, but I still can’t utter any words. “Answer me, Bria, or I’ll force you to retch! Do you really enjoy making me lose my damn mind? I am on the brink of my sanity here, and you are not helping.”

The force of his voice rattles the walls. Is he for real? I manage to find a few words. “It’s aspirin. I have a headache,” I lie.

“Stop deceiving me, Bria. It kills me how easily you can lie while looking me straight in my face.”

He clenches my upper arms, and I tilt my head up.

“When did it become so effortless for you, my sweet baby? Can you remember the day I told you I wanted to corrupt your innocence but hoped it would still be there shining in your hazel eyes? What have I done?”

 

 

 

About The Author 

Website | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Goodreads | Twitter 

Drenching blank sheets in feelings. 

 

Nivia Borell is a contemporary romance author, voracious reader, nature lover, star gazer, day dreamer. She spends her nights deciding between getting up to write, and staying in bed and forgetting the assault of her characters on her sleep (the battle is never ending). She has a weakness for tormented characters, second chances, and happy endings. 

While writing is her biggest passion, her husband, family, and books are her greatest loves. 

For updates, news, and releases be sure to visit Nivia’s official website at www. niviaborell.com. 

She loves hearing and connecting with her readers. 

Title: Way To My Heart

Author: Barbara C. Doyle

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Release Date: October 23, 2018

Synopsis

There was nothing wrong with being the crazy cat lady.

At least that’s what I told myself after twenty-three years of being blatantly single.

A girl’s self esteem could only take so many hits before carbs, Netflix, and cats became her sole loves in life. After all, cats didn’t judge how much pizza you could eat in one sitting.

But then Caleb Winters had to wedge his way into my life by bribing me with chocolate and my cat with toys. And before I knew it, my cat was too attached to let him go.

And, okay, maybe I wasn’t keen on the idea either.

Purchase your copy today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

 

Excerpt

     There were only a few things that I considered necessities in my life. Reese’s cups, classic rock, and destroyed skinny jeans. Not really in that order, but all important nonetheless.

     Unfortunately, the more Reese’s I ate, the less likely I’d be able to keep fitting into my skinny jeans. I refused to buy a bigger size, so I made sure to shake what Mama gave me to classic rock anytime I wasn’t shoving my thighs into spandex workout pants to exercise outside of my two jobs.

     Did I love my body? Not all the time. In fact, I would love to shed a few pounds, trim my thighs, and get rid of the small rolls that folded over my stomach. But I loved chocolate more, specifically chocolate that covered creamy, delicious peanut butter. Therefore, the thighs stayed.

     At least they were good for catching fallen food. And that, well, that happened way too often. Light colored jeans? Forget it. My parents jokingly bought me a month supply of Tide To-Go pens for any occasion. I’d gone through two of them since they’d given them to me two months ago. Was I going to admit that to them? Nope.

     Just as Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” came on, the washing machine ended its cycle, alerting me to switch the load.

     It wasn’t until I was bent down grabbing the last full laundry basket from the floor when I felt somebody else in the room. Assuming it was one of my coworkers, I didn’t think much about it. Between the song I was dancing along to and the laundry I was prepping to put into the dryer, I just ignored whoever was standing behind me. Everyone who worked at Lakeview knew that I usually had music blaring while I worked. It made the time pass faster.
Of course, ignoring whoever it was wasn’t easy, with my backside on fire from somebody staring at it. Looking over my shoulder, I caught a man I’d never seen before looking at my ass with a smirk on his irritatingly attractive face. One of his dark eyebrows, ones that matched the color of his dirty blond hair, was raised and his icy blue eyes shone brightly.
“Would you like another few minutes to look at my ass or are you done?” I snapped, lips twitching. I stood up, turning to him, and brushed my frizzy brown hair out of my face to get better look at him.
My reaction caused his other eyebrow to go up, and now his smirk was more like an amused grin. And I hated to admit it but seeing him smile like that made him more attractive. Even if he was a perv for watching me while my ass was in the air.
“Actually,” he said casually, “I wouldn’t mind another few minutes.”
I gaped at him for a split second before gathering my bearings. “Guests aren’t allowed to be in here. If you’re looking for help, you need to go to the front desk.”
He didn’t say anything. In fact, he pressed his lips together like he was trying to suppress an even wider smile. It gave me time to note how tall he was. I guessed six-three or six-four, his head almost grazing the top of the door jamb where he stood at the step of the maid’s closet. Being five-two, I didn’t have that problem.
I put a hand on my hip. “Do you need help finding the office? It’s not that difficult to find, you know.”
He chuckled. “Is this usually how you treat paying customers?”
“Only the ones who blatantly stare at my ass like they have nothing better to do.”
“Don’t be offended, sweetheart. It’s a nice ass, hence why I was staring at it. I mean, it was hard to miss being all up in the air like that. And I’m a man. I notice things like that. Take an interest in it quite frankly.”
“Staring at girls’ asses? Or mine?”
He leaned his shoulder against the door frame, the white t-shirt he wore stretching around his impressive biceps. He worked out. He had to. Even his clean-shaven jawline was defined in a way that was…
I snapped myself out of the stare down, because he was still there watching me check him out. Was I drooling? I wouldn’t put it past myself. All those muscles—

     Ugh. Sometimes life wasn’t fair. It shouldn’t be legal for guys to look like him. And this guy clearly didn’t need his ego stroked.
“Women’s asses,” he answered, face blanching. “Girl’s asses make me sound creepy. Your ass specifically interests me in this case though.”
Was this guy for real? “You are a creep. Staring at anybody’s ass is weird. Regardless of the age.”
“You’re feisty, huh?”
“More like annoyed.”
“Well it works for you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve got a job to do, and it’s not talking to pervy men. So, if that’s all, I’d like to get back to work. If you need help, the front desk is in the office down the driveway. Just go through the red door between the rocking chairs on the front porch.”
He had the nerve to scope me out, his eyes travelling from the top of my head—messy bun and all—to my painted orange toes. I’d never been checked out knowingly before. The way my body warmed up and tingles shot through my arms and legs was a foreign feeling. When our eyes locked again, my toes curled in my flip-flips.
“You’re…” I cleared my throat. “I don’t care if you’re a paying customer or not. If my boss finds out anybody is harassing staff, she’ll kick you out.”
The amused grin was back on his face. “I never said I was a paying customer.”
My eyes widened. “You do realize that just makes you sound creepier, right?”
He went to say something, but before he could, Iris walked up beside him, playfully boxing his arm like she was Sylvester Stallone in Rocky. She looked between us, a chipper expression lighting her face.
“You met!” she cheered, bouncing next to the guy and bumping their shoulders together. Her five-one frame was amusing to see next to him, because she only came half-way up his chest. Despite being vertically challenged, she was one of the most terrifying people I knew.
I snuck a peak at him, noticing the familiarity of his eyes when I glanced back at Iris. They shared the same round shape, thick lashes, and crystal blue color.
“Uh…not really.” I frowned, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
Sensing my discomfort, Iris slapped his arm. “Caleb, what did you do to her?”
Caleb? Why did that sound familiar?
Then it struck me. Their resemblance and sarcasm were too much alike to be a coincidence.
“What makes you think I did something, sis?” Caleb asked innocently.
Iris looked at me apologetically. “I’m sorry, Paisley. My brother can be an ass sometimes, but he means well.”
Caleb’s interest piqued at the announcement of my name, which could only mean that Iris mentioned me to him. After all, she was trying to set us up.

      I had the uncanny ability to attract men like him—the overconfident and arrogant. People accused me of being too picky when it came to dating, but they hadn’t met the past boys who drove me to being the cat lady. Caleb Winters would only be number six. Just a number.
“So, this is Paisley?” Caleb inquired, looking at me again like he was seeing me for the first time. I wondered what he saw. My freckled cheeks? Pointed nose? Porcelain skin?
I deadpanned. “No, I’m Jessica. Your sister just likes calling me random names sometimes. Livens things up a bit.”
He tilted his head back and laughed. It was deep and throaty, and the way his chest rumbled made his muscles more prominent through the tight material of his shirt.

     Abs. He had freaking abs.

     “Yep, she was right. I like you.”
I crossed my arms on my chest. “Yeah? And what if I don’t like you?”

     Iris sighed heavily. “Seriously, Caleb. I left you alone for, like, five minutes. How much damage have you already caused?”

     He shrugged. “She caught me staring at her ass. If it makes you feel better, I said it was a nice one.”

     Iris shook her head. “You’re an idiot, but I guess I knew that already.” She turned her focus to me. “Excuse my brother, he’s such a guy. He’s right though, you have a nice ass.”

     I felt my cheeks redden. Traitorous bitch.

     “Well…” I fidgeted with a few fallen strands of hair. “Thanks, I guess.”

     Caleb answered. “You’re welcome.”

     I eyed him. “I wasn’t talking to you,” I informed him coolly.

     Iris frowned. “Paisley, Caleb is—”

     Caleb cut her off. “Awesome. Sometimes socially awkward. Usually the latter is just around pretty women. That’s a compliment, by the way.”

     Iris snorted. “You didn’t need to point that out, dumbass.”

     His head bobbed from side to side, contemplating his reply. “I’ve been called worse. The point is, I like you. You listen to decent music, you’re a smart ass, and you have a nice ass. Total package.”

     “What if I’m really a raging bitch?” I quipped, narrowing my eyes.

     “Iris wouldn’t try setting me up with a raging bitch. Or any type of bitch. She likes you. She said I’d like you.”

     I grimaced, eying Iris. “What else have you said about me?”

     There weren’t many good attributes that men deemed sexy about me. I tripped over my own words, my feet, everything. My middle name shouldn’t have been Marie, it should have been awkward. Half the time I preferred the company of my cat over most human beings, I was addicted to chocolate like it ran through my veins, and when it came to any refined carbs, I gained ten pounds just breathing near them.

     She gave me a reassuring smile. “Nothing bad. Just that you can cook, you have a great sense of humor, and you’re mature for your age. He’s right, I did say I liked you and think you two could work. I wouldn’t put so much effort into trying to set you up otherwise. Hopefully, my hard work hasn’t been ruined by this moron.”

     I couldn’t understand what was wrong with him that made her think we’d work.
Caleb laughed. “Thanks, sis.”
“I’m being honest,” she replied.

     “Never said you weren’t.”
I just stared between them, not knowing what to say. My playlist was still playing in the background, now blasting Journey’s “Who’s Crying Now”.

     “Well…” I turned toward my phone, shutting off the music app. “I need to finish this laundry before I head out. But it was—”

     I stopped myself, not willing to lie. I wasn’t going to say it was nice to meet him. Nice to stare at his muscles sure, but that was about it.

     Iris snorted, shoving her brother again. “I can’t believe you messed this up in less than five minutes. That’s a record for you.”

     Caleb just grinned, like it didn’t bother him. I knew guys like him—arrogant. He loved the chase. It didn’t matter if I wanted to be chased or not, I was a challenge.

     And the thing about challenges and me? We didn’t get along, just like I was sure Caleb and I wouldn’t. He was going to hurt me like the others. While I was just as much to blame for the past failures that plagued my conscious, it still hit me hard.

     I turned toward Iris. “Thanks for thinking of me, but I’m not interested in being set up.”

     Her face screwed. “With Caleb or in general? How long has it been since you’ve been la—”

     “Whoa!” I cut her off, eyes cutting to her brother. His lips wavered, like he was trying to hold back laughter. But there’s obvious interest in his eyes.

     “Don’t stop on my account,” he pressed, crossing his arms across his chest. “How long has it been, Paisley?”

     My brows pinched when he said my name. It rolled off his tongue in a way that had my palms clammy, and I hated it. I hated the prickling tingles in my fingertips when our eyes locked and how hollow my stomach got. Feeling like I was going to cave to the old version of myself made me worry about everything I built to become who I am now. Strong. Cautious. Independent.

     Glaring at him, I said, “That’s none of your business.” I look back at Iris. “I have to finish this, so we’ll talk later?”

     She blew out a breath. “Yeah, okay. Come on, Caleb. I’ll go introduce you to everybody else. Don’t make an ass of yourself any more than you already have.”

     He chuckled as she pulled him back. She was tiny compared to him in every way possible. But he let her drag him away with little fight despite the foot height difference between them.

     “I’ll see you later, Paisley,” he purred, winking at me.

     I straightened my spine. “Don’t count on it.”

About The Author

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My love for the written word led me to obtain a bachelor’s degree in English and soon a master’s in education to teach college classes.