FORBIDDEN HEARTS, an all-new small-town, single dad, forbidden romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, Corinne Michaels, is available now!
Scroll down for an excerpt!
First rule of being a nanny? Don’t fall for the single dad…
First rule of being a nanny? Don’t fall for the single dad, even if he is smoking hot.
But that’s exactly what happens when grumpy small-town sheriff Asher Whitlock reluctantly hires me to take care of his daughter for the summer. Neither of us is thrilled with the arrangement, but he’s desperate for help, and I need the money for grad school this fall.
All we need to do is keep our distance and remain professional . . . turns out, that’s easier said than done.
Instead of focusing on my future, all I see is the strong jawline, crystal-blue eyes, and rock-hard body right in front of me. We try to resist each other, but we end up crossing every line until I’m in his bed.
I tell myself it’s just this once.
Okay, twice.
All right, every night.
But it’s got to end–he’s fourteen years older than me, with a kid and a stressful job. Have I mentioned my dad is his boss? Then there’s the past I’m trying to forget. Secrets aren’t easy to keep and mine are getting too big to hide.
Walking away is never simple but when I do, I can’t look back.
Even if it means leaving behind the man I was never meant to love.
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
Amazon | Paperback | Audio*
*Releases in audio on June 10th! Narrated by Zachary Webber & Desiree Ketchum.
Add to Goodreads
“Flawlessly paced, full of all the ups and downs of an enemies-to-lovers pairing and rich with heat, humor and heart…” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads
Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!
EXCERPT:
Phoebe is sitting on the bar with her leg propped up on the counter, and McNair is there, holding ice to her ankle.
Once again, I feel this surge of anger toward another man touching her. I don’t know what the hell my issue is. Oh, I remember, I’m lusting after my daughter’s nanny. Tonight has made it a hundred times worse.
Seeing her around my house is difficult, but that is a controlled environment. Having to see her around other men who are staring at her long legs and the fabric clinging to every rise and fall of her chest is infuriating. The low cut of that top reveals the perfect amount of skin to leave me desperate to see more. Jesus it’s enough to bring a man to his knees.
Here she shines.
Here she’s desire and promise of all the things that could be, and I don’t want her anywhere near these people.
I walk over before I have enough sense to stop. “It should be fine. The swelling isn’t bad, just ice it.”
“Thank you, I didn’t know you were an EMT before this.”
McNair smiles and rubs his thumb along her ankle. “I was. I’ve seen my share of sprains, and this shouldn’t be too bad.”
Her warm eyes are on him, and I feel the very thin string keeping me in line grow taut. “That’s enough, McNair.”
The kid looks up at me, confusion in his gaze. “Sir?”
Great, now I’m barking at the rookie. “I’ll take it from here. Why don’t you get back on the road in case a call comes in.”
Phoebe eyes me and then smiles softly at McNair. “Thanks, Joey. You were a real hero coming over here and helping.”
“Of course, Phoebs. I just wanted to check on you.”
Phoebs? Does everyone call her that now? “And you did your job, now go back on patrol,” I snap, not giving a damn that I’m acting like a prick.
As soon as he’s gone, Phoebe leans back on her hands. “Any specific reason you tried to rip Joey’s head off?”
“Any specific reason you thought trying to stop a fight was a good idea?”
She shrugs. “I was trying to diffuse the situation.”
“That’s what the cops are for.”
“I’m basically a cop,” she says, pushing herself upright and placing the ice back on her ankle.
My brows lower, and when she doesn’t elaborate, I ask, “I’m sorry, what?”
“I’m like a cop by proxy. I’ve heard all the stories, been given all the tips, and have listened to my father drone on for days about how he does things. So, I do the same.”
“Cop by . . . proxy? Are you insane?”
Phoebe shakes her head. “Listen, Austin was going to end up in trouble, he was a good friend when we were kids, so I wasn’t about to let some guy screw up his career.”
I rub my temple, trying to calm myself before I say something I’ll regret. “I’m not even going to dignify that with a response. So, you came here alone, did whatever you were doing before the fight, and then put yourself in a dangerous situation. Really smart, Phoebe.”
She huffs a laugh. “I’m not alone. I came with friends.” She looks around, scanning the crowd that has all gone back to normal. I’m still fuming, thinking about the men who were near her, touched her, or tried to flirt with her. Then I can’t release the frustration about her getting hurt. Her grunt brings me back to the conversation. “Unreal. I’m the DD, and they left me.”
“Who?”
“The people I didn’t even want to come out with.”
“So, how are you getting home?”
“I’ll walk.”
Phoebe hops down off the bar and then winces. That’s it.
I scoop her into my arms, and her eyes widen. “Put me down!”
“You can’t walk, I’m taking you home.” I turn to Carmen. “Give us a call if there are any further issues.”
Carmen’s brows raise. “Sure thing, Asher.” Then she turns to Phoebe. “Well, you came here looking for a man to take you home. Guess you got that, just not the way you planned.”
Phoebe groans. “Shut up.” As I carry her out of the bar, a few people clap, and she raises her heels up in the air. “And that’s how you do it!”
I swear that this woman is going to drive me to drink.
We aren’t two steps from the door when she starts to squirm. “You made your point, put me down.”
“No.”
“No?”
I don’t want to. Holding her like this feels too good, and I refuse. “You can’t walk, you hurt your ankle, and you don’t have a ride.”
“I can hobble.”
“You’re going in the car, and you’re going to stop fighting me.”
“I would rather crawl!”
I’d love nothing more than to see her on all fours, but that’s definitely not what she’s talking about. “Not today, sweetheart.”
About Corinne Michaels:
Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.
Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed–reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.
Connect with Corinne:
Website | Facebook | ReaderGroup | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub | Verve
Stay up to date with Corinne and sign up for her mailing list!
Text CMBOOKS to 77948 (*US only due to carrier restrictions*)
USA Today Bestselling Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and three rowdy chickens.
