TIME TO BOUNCE, an all-new suspenseful romance from Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author, Lani Lynn Vale, is available now!

He’ll stay away from her. Even if it kills him…

Loneliness is overwhelming in its intensity.

There are times you think you can cope, that you can make it despite the hollow feeling in your chest. Then there are the times when you realize you can’t breathe through the pain of loss.

When Gable Buchanan Carter walks into Athena’s life, it’s like a light is switched on inside her chest. Suddenly she can breathe.

But just as much as she wants him, Gable just as much wants nothing to do with her.

It’s like a cold stab of ice right to the gut at the knowledge that the person you want, that you love, wants nothing to do with you.

At least, that’s what she thinks.

In reality, Gable wants Athena Grace Murphy with every piece of his soul.

But how can he confidently say he’s doing the right thing by bringing her into his life when it’s so dangerous? She’s already lost every person she loves, how can he put her through the possibility of losing one more?

That’s right, he can’t.

So he’ll stay away from her. Even if it kills him.

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About Lani Lynn Vale:

Lani Lynn Vale is an American author of humorous romantic suspense novels. Born in the Great State of Texas, she has lived the majority of her adult life in East Texas where most of her novels are based. She’s married to her high school sweetheart whom her readers refer to as “LLV’s Bearded Half.” She published her first novel, Boomtown, in the summer of 2013 after the birth of her third child. She’s gone on to publish over 100 novels, with most of them going on to become USA Today Bestsellers.

Connect with Lani:

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SLAP SHOT SURPRISE, a sexy new one-night-stand turned surprise baby hockey romance from USA Today Bestselling Author, Melanie Harlow, is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

Love? It’s out of the question.

Until Joe Lupo lines up his shot and aims straight for my heart…

From USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow comes an opposites attract, steamy small town hockey romance.

In my defense, I thought the plane was going to crash.

Otherwise, I never would have blurted out those embarrassing things to a perfect stranger.

Did I mention he turned out to be a scorching hot superstar of professional hockey?

But wait, there’s more.

When the plane lands safely, I rush off, praying I’ll never have to face him again. My luck holds out for less than twenty-four hours, when I realize he’s a groomsman at the wedding I’m attending.

We end up having a drink and a good laugh about my panicked confessions, and when he invites me up to his room for some no-strings-attached fun, I say yes. After all, a headboard rattling one-night stand with a guy who knows how to put the puck in deep isn’t something a bookworm like me ever thought she’d experience.

Neither are those two little pink lines.

Now what’s crashing are all the plans Joe Lupo and I had for our lives–separately.

After all, we’re totally wrong for each other. He’s commitment-phobic and completely focused on his career. And I want to plant roots in my small town–with someone who chooses me.

Love? It’s out of the question.

Until Joe Lupo lines up his shot and aims straight for my heart.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY OR READ FOR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

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Narrated by Connor Crais & Kristen Leigh

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“An engaging and charming mix of heat, heart and humor set against a hockey backdrop…” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

EXCERPT:

He smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. “I had a lot of fun that night we hung out together.”

“Me too. That’s . . .” I dug my thumbnail beneath the label on the water bottle. “That’s kind of why I’m here.”

He chuckled. “You look nervous.”

“I am.”

“You don’t have to be nervous with me, Mabel.” He gave my shoulder a playful poke. “We don’t have to start all over again. I already put the puck in the net, remember?”

“That’s the thing,” I said. “The puck sort of—stayed in the net.”

He cocked his head but still wore a smile. “Huh?”

I set my water bottle on the coffee table and placed my hands on my stomach. “I’m pregnant, Joe. I got pregnant that night.”

Joe

My face was immobile, like my smile had been set in cement. “Sorry, what?”

“I’m pregnant.”

I looked around, like this might all be an elaborate setup. A practical joke. Were my brothers about to jump out and laugh their asses off at me? I had to admit, this would be a good prank.

But the room remained silent.

“Is this—are you—sorry.” I shook my head and stared at Mabel’s stomach. “Did you say pregnant?”

“Yes.” She took a breath. “I know this is a shock.”

“From that one night?”

“Yes.”

“But it was just a scrimmage,” I insisted. “It wasn’t supposed to count.”

She laughed nervously. “I don’t think all the players got that message.”

About Melanie Harlow:

USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow writes sweet, sexy, feel-good romance. She likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. If she’s not writing or reading, she’s probably at Orangetheory or watching Schitt’s Creek again. She lifts her glass to readers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

Connect with Melanie:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads 

Stay up to date with Melanie, sign up for her mailing list!

THE ROMANCE LINE, an enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, forbidden workplace romance from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Lauren Blakely is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

The first rule of handling PR for a hockey team? Never hook up with a player…

The first rule of handling PR for a hockey team? Never hook up with a player.

That shouldn’t be a problem since the last man on earth I want to give an image makeover to is our goalie. He’s infuriatingly hot, famously grumpy and lives to spar with me after every game.

But shining up his rough edges is my path to landing the promotion I desperately need, so I grit my teeth and do my job. No matter how hard he makes it (especially with that sexy smirk and cool blue eyes.) As we travel from pose-with-a-pet photo opps to cuddle-a-kitten fundraisers, we bicker like it’s foreplay.

Turns out it is.

Because as I get to know the man behind the broody iceman exterior, it’s me that melts – right into his arms as he devastates me with a kiss that turns into the hottest, most forbidden night of my life.

Only once turns into every night as Max shows me how much he wants to take care of me. His possessive touch makes me feel adored for the first time in my life.

But the man is entirely off limits and I can’t risk my job for more of those soul-deep kisses.

Because the only thing worse than hooking up with a player is falling head over heels for him.

ORDER YOUR COPY NOW OR READ FOR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

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Narrated by Vanessa Edwin and Teddy Hamilton

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“If you’re a fan of the hate-to-love trope, you will devour this charming story!” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

EXCERPT:

“Just let me walk you to the door.”

“Fine,” she says, her palms raised in surrender.

I set my hand on her back again. A slight shiver seems to run through her when I touch her. I try not to let that go to my head. Or my dick.

But as we go, I spread my fingers wider across the silk of her shirt. Press a little harder. Rub a little more. Curl my thumb around her waist. Register every hitch of her breath.

By the time we’re at the top of the steps, my hand feels too right on her back to let go. “I’m not sure I have made my point, Everly.”

She turns to me, facing me, so I have to drop my hand from her back. Her gaze is wary but intrigued, her eyes flickering with questions. “What’s your point exactly?”

“Like I said earlier, if this was a date I’d walk you to the door.”

“But it’s not. You keep telling me it’s not.” It’s like she’s trying to catch me on a technicality, or maybe to push me into admitting something. She doesn’t make a move to go inside. Her gaze is locked on mine, and the air is charged between us. It crackles with anticipation.

“You’re right. It’s not,” I say, weighing how far I’ll go. What it’ll cost me.

She rolls her lips together, then breathes out, like she’s centering herself. “And you did it anyway.”

“True,” I say. Like I could do anything else with her. I couldn’t have stopped myself from showing up at The Spotted Zebra tonight if I’d tried. I couldn’t have resisted driving her home. I couldn’t have refrained from walking her up her steps. Now we’re standing in the warm October air, the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance, the ocean hugging us. And I’m not walking away—not with her closer than she’s ever been. I look at her lush mouth one more time, then her gorgeous eyes. “And if this were a date I’d kiss you at the door.”

She’s quiet, but her lips curve up. “That’s not what you said at the restaurant.”

Wait. I’m confused now. “That is what I said,” I point out.

She crosses her arms, shaking her head, but she’s smiling and it’s flirty. Inviting. “No, Max. You said you’d devastate me with a kiss.”

And that’s it. That’s enough. Just f*&k it. F*&k everything. “I guess I’d better start.”

About Lauren Blakely:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s cute but spicy. Lauren likes dogs, cake, and show tunes and is the vegetarian at your dinner party.

Connect with Lauren:

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SLAP SHOT SURPRISE, a sexy new one-night-stand turned surprise baby hockey romance from USA Today Bestselling Author, Melanie Harlow, is available now!

Love? It’s out of the question.

Until Joe Lupo lines up his shot and aims straight for my heart…

From USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow comes an opposites attract, steamy small town hockey romance.

In my defense, I thought the plane was going to crash.

Otherwise, I never would have blurted out those embarrassing things to a perfect stranger.

Did I mention he turned out to be a scorching hot superstar of professional hockey?

But wait, there’s more.

When the plane lands safely, I rush off, praying I’ll never have to face him again. My luck holds out for less than twenty-four hours, when I realize he’s a groomsman at the wedding I’m attending.

We end up having a drink and a good laugh about my panicked confessions, and when he invites me up to his room for some no-strings-attached fun, I say yes. After all, a headboard rattling one-night stand with a guy who knows how to put the puck in deep isn’t something a bookworm like me ever thought she’d experience.

Neither are those two little pink lines.

Now what’s crashing are all the plans Joe Lupo and I had for our lives–separately.

After all, we’re totally wrong for each other. He’s commitment-phobic and completely focused on his career. And I want to plant roots in my small town–with someone who chooses me.

Love? It’s out of the question.

Until Joe Lupo lines up his shot and aims straight for my heart.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY OR READ FOR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

Kindle  |  Special Edition Paperback  |  Audible

Add to Goodreads

About Melanie Harlow:

USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melanie Harlow writes sweet, sexy, feel-good romance. She likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. If she’s not writing or reading, she’s probably at Orangetheory or watching Schitt’s Creek again. She lifts her glass to readers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

Connect with Melanie:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  |  Instagram  |  TikTok  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads 

Stay up to date with Melanie, sign up for her mailing list!

THE ROMANCE LINE, a sexy new workplace, enemies-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine, forbidden hockey romance from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Lauren Blakely, releases October 2nd!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

The first rule of handling PR for a hockey team?

Never hook up with a player…

The first rule of handling PR for a hockey team? Never hook up with a player.

That shouldn’t be a problem since the last man on earth I want to give an image makeover to is our goalie. He’s infuriatingly hot, famously grumpy and lives to spar with me after every game.

But shining up his rough edges is my path to landing the promotion I desperately need, so I grit my teeth and do my job. No matter how hard he makes it (especially with that sexy smirk and cool blue eyes.) As we travel from pose-with-a-pet photo opps to cuddle-a-kitten fundraisers, we bicker like it’s foreplay.

Turns out it is.

Because as I get to know the man behind the broody iceman exterior, it’s me that melts – right into his arms as he devastates me with a kiss that turns into the hottest, most forbidden night of my life.

Only once turns into every night as Max shows me how much he wants to take care of me. His possessive touch makes me feel adored for the first time in my life.

But the man is entirely off limits and I can’t risk my job for more of those soul-deep kisses.

Because the only thing worse than hooking up with a player is falling head over heels for him.

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!

Add to Goodreads

EXCERPT:

“Want to know why I kiss you like this?”

My breath comes surprisingly fast. “Yes,” I say, desperate. I’m dying for his answer.

“Because you need to be savored, Everly. Because I would never rush things with you. Because you are not a quickie.”

His words thrum through my whole body, making me tingle everywhere as I meet his gaze. “What am I?”

He pulls back and locks his gaze with mine, his eyes filled with what looks like raw honesty. “You’re a bad idea, and I still fucking want you so much.”

Reality slams into me. We should stop. We really should. But Max is leaning against the wall, resting on his forearm, looking down at me like I’m impossible to walk away from.

Say yes.

“This can’t happen again,” I say as much for him as for me.

“I know.”

“This is one time only.”

“It sure is.”

I’m done talking so I reach for his waist and jerk him against me. I take the lead, and I’m not patient like he is. I’m hungry. No—starving is more like it. I kiss him like a greedy girl. I grow hotter with each press of our lips, each graze of his hands. A pulse beats everywhere in me, most insistently between my thighs.

I can’t wait much longer for whatever is coming next. Ideally, me.

TWISTED KNIGHT, a gritty and passionate enemies-to-lovers, boss/employee romance from New York Times Bestselling Author, K. Bromberg, is available now!

He wants revenge.

He wasn’t ready for her…

Kings of Sin meets Things We Left Behind in a gritty, heated romance from New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg.

Holden

They thought they’d managed to get rid of me once and for all. They thought I’d just forget what they did to my brother.

But I’m going to make sure that they never forget.

If only I can stop thinking about her.

Rowan

No one sees me. Behind my brother, I’m a ghost, managing the family business that he claims to run. But I’m tired of second fiddle. I’m tired of pretending. I’m going to take what’s mine.

The only problem? Well, he just came back to town.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

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“…a steamy, slow-burn romance… blending passion, emotion, and intrigue…” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 4.5 SMOOCHES review!

About K. Bromberg:

New York Times Bestselling author K. Bromberg writes contemporary romance novels that contain a mixture of sweet, emotional, a whole lot of sexy, and a little bit of real. She likes to write strong heroines and damaged heroes who we love to hate but can’t help to love.

A mom of three, she plots her novels in between school runs and soccer practices, more often than not with her laptop in tow and her mind scattered in too many different directions.

Since publishing her first book on a whim in 2013, Kristy has sold over one and a half million copies of her books across eighteen different countries and has landed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists over thirty times. Her Driven trilogy (Driven, Fueled, and Crashed) is currently being adapted for film by the streaming platform, Passionflix, with the first movie (Driven) out now.

With her imagination always in overdrive, she is currently scheming, plotting, and swooning over her latest hero. You can find out more about him or chat with Kristy on any of her social media accounts. The easiest way to stay up to date on new releases and upcoming novels is to sign up for her newsletter or follow her on Bookbub.

Connect with K. Bromberg:

Website  |  Facebook  |  Reader Group  |  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads  |  Book+Main  |  Driven Movies  |  Verve

Stay up to date with K. Bromberg by joining her mailing list!

Text Kbromberg to 77948 to stay up to date on all things Driven movies and new releases

THE RULES OF DATING A YOUNGER MAN, a new reverse age gap, friends-to-lovers romance from New York Times Bestselling Authors, Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward, is available now!

Scroll down for an excerpt!

Rule number one for dating an older woman who insists you could never be together?

Don’t fall in love.

I was the last of my group of friends to find “the one.”

The guys would always tease me that I needed to hurry up and settle down.

But I was in no rush.

Until I met someone worth rushing for.

Alex was one of the weekend volunteers at Ryan’s House—a charity I founded to build housing near hospitals.

Little did I know she was the same person I’d been arguing with over email before the project started. At the time, I’d thought Alex was a dude.

In reality? She was a smoking hot blonde who captivated me from the moment we met in person.

Our chemistry was off the charts, and I fell hard pretty fast.

Unfortunately, Alex insisted I was too young for her. I hated that she felt that way. Because age was just a number.

Not only that, her words didn’t match the way she looked at me—like she was very interested.

I lived for the weekends we’d spend out of town volunteering.  Alex and I side-by-side hammering during the day, while sharing intimate dinners together at the hotel at night.

Eventually, the walls she’d put up to protect her heart began to crumble.

Until fate threw us a doozy that I wasn’t sure we could come back from.

If I’d thought our age gap was the biggest hurdle, I didn’t know anything yet.

Rule number one for dating an older woman who insists you could never be together?

Don’t fall in love.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY OR READ FOR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

Amazon US  |  Amazon AU  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon UK  |  Paperback  |  Audio

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“…angsty emotion, sizzling sexual tension and the captivating build-up of a charming friends-to-lovers romance.” ~Danielle, Red Cheeks Reads

Check out Danielle’s 5 SMOOCHES review!

EXCERPT:

I looked down at my cell and shook my head.

“Why the long face?” My buddy Colby walked back into the kitchen and tossed me the keys to his car. “I didn’t think single guys with no kids and fat bank accounts had anything to stress over.”

I caught the keys. “Bite me.”

He chuckled. “No, really. Is everything alright? You were grumbling at your phone the other day when I walked into the elevator, too.”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Except one of the volunteers on the renovations team for the new Ryan’s House project is driving me nuts. You know how we pick two team leaders to help coordinate things on each job?”

Colby nodded. “One for the mechanics—electrical, plumbing, heating, and stuff, and one for interior design—paint, flooring, fixtures, and appliances, right?”

“Exactly. This dude Alex is the design team leader. He’s driving me nuts with his suggestions. He questions every fixture, appliance, and molding I’ve picked out. Today he wants to change the living room paint color by a shade—a freaking shade. I couldn’t even see the difference between the two paint samples online. Now he just asked if we could meet for dinner tonight to go over a few last-minute changes he’d like to make.” I shook my head. “No way am I doing that. It’s a good thing you clowns are coming up this weekend to help out, because I have a feeling this guy’s going to test my limits.”

Colby made a pouty face. “Awww… Brayden has trouble working with others.”

I shook my head, but smiled. “I don’t know why I tell you shit.”

“Probably because no one else wants to listen to you.”

“Ouch.”

He laughed. “What time you getting on the road today?”

“Probably about two. I need to stop by the office and pick up a project I’ve been working on for a kid. He’s in the hospital upstate again, so I’m going to drop by to visit over the weekend and surprise him with it.”

“What did you make this time?”

I grinned. “You know I don’t give hints about my masterpieces before the unveiling. I told his family I’d come by Sunday. If you knuckleheads are still around, you should join me.”

“Sounds good.”

I held up Colby’s car keys. “Thanks again for the car swap. Mine is too small to fit baseboard heating covers.”

“Anytime you want to swap my ten-year-old, beat-up SUV for your hot little six-month-old Porsche, I’m in.” He grinned. “I’m going to have a good-ass time driving that thing upstate Saturday morning.”

I opened the door. “Don’t get arrested for going a hundred and twenty.”

***

Later that night, I checked into the hotel up in Seneca Falls and decided to go down to the lobby bar for a drink. It was empty, except for a woman sitting alone. She had a drink in front of her, and a full glass of wine sat at the empty stool beside her, so I assumed she must be here with someone. I took a seat along the short side of the bar to give them some privacy.

But damn… Sitting here gave me an even better view of the woman, and she was a total knockout—sandy blond hair, big blue eyes, and high cheekbones that led down to a full set of lips. She might’ve been a few years older than me, but that didn’t stop a rush of adrenaline from giving my body a good jolt.

The bartender walked over and dropped a napkin in front of me. “What can I get you?”

“I’ll take a whiskey sour. Any chance you have Russell’s Reserve Ten-Year bourbon to make it with?”

The bartender’s brows pulled together, and he thumbed to the woman sitting alone. “You with her?”

“No, why?”

He shrugged. “She just ordered the same drink. That brand of bourbon and all.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

I glanced over again and lowered my voice. “She alone?”

“Is now. Some guy sidled up to her when she came in a few minutes ago, but he left pretty quickly with his tail between his legs.”

Alrighty then. “Any chance you guys serve food here?”

“Sure do. I’ll grab you a menu.”

Even though I now knew she was alone, I wasn’t too enthused about striking up a conversation with the pretty blonde. Not after she’d just chased another guy away. But when the bartender brought my drink and she looked over, I raised my glass.

“Apparently we ordered the same drink.”

“Whiskey sour?” she asked.

“With Russell’s Reserve Ten-Year.”

She smiled and held up her glass. “To good taste.”

I tipped my glass to her. A minute later, my phone buzzed with a call from Colby. I swiped to answer. “I hope you’re not calling to tell me you dented my car already.”

“No, but how the hell do you put the top back up?”

“You know the button you pushed to drop it?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s the same button to put it back up. You just need to hold it for ten seconds.”

“Crap. Okay, thanks.”

“Where the hell are you that you have the top down?”

“I got a sitter and took my wife for a drive. The wind in our hair is making us feel young and free, instead of like the parents of two little kids we are, usually in bed by eight.”

I chuckled. “Well, enjoy it.”

“I plan to. Why do you think I need the top up? I just pulled into a quiet rest stop, and I need a little privacy, if you know what I mean.”

“Ugh. Don’t tell me that, dude. I don’t want your bare ass all over my seat.”

“No promises, my friend.”

I shook my head. “God, I hate you. Goodbye.”

After I hung up, the knockout looked over. “I’m not usually rude, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” she began. “I once bought a new car. When I picked it up, I found an empty condom wrapper on the floor of the front seat. I made them give me another car.”

I smiled. “My buddy and I swapped vehicles for the weekend. I’m considering keeping his crappy ten-year-old hunk of junk and letting him keep my nice, new one after his ass cheeks have rubbed all over the leather.”

“I think that’s a good idea. Unless…”

“What?”

“What if your friend has a penchant for car sex? I’m afraid that would mean he’s already done it in the one you’re driving.”

I pointed. “Good observation. I’ll just get mine detailed.”

The beautiful woman smiled again, and I found myself wondering if she had lipstick on or if her lips were naturally that color. They were just a little more pink than the fleshy red I’d expect for someone with her skin tone. Or maybe she wore some sort of gloss, because they were also perfectly shiny.

After a much-too-long analysis, I realized I probably looked like a creeper staring at her mouth and diverted my eyes to the menu the bartender had dropped off. Though I still couldn’t stop myself from stealing glances in between reading about the appetizers. There was something compelling about her. It might’ve been that her face wasn’t painted to fake-perfection like most women these days.

A few minutes later, I looked over and noticed her glass was empty. So I took a chance. “Can I buy us another round?”

She bit her bottom lip. “Ummm…”

I held my hands up. “It’s just a drink. I won’t invite myself over to the empty seat next to you.”

She smiled. “Sure. Why not? Thank you.”

I held two fingers up to the bartender. “Another round for both of us. On me, please. And when you get a chance, I’ll take an order of the Mexican street corn chicken tacos.”

“Oh, gosh,” the woman said. “I love Mexican street corn. That sounds delicious.”

“Oh, so now you want me to buy you drinks and dinner?”

She waved her hands. “Oh, no, I wasn’t suggesting—”

I smiled. “I’m teasing.” I looked back at the bartender. “Make that two orders of the tacos, please.”

“You got it.”

“Well, now that you’re buying me food and a drink, I feel obligated to offer you the vacant seat next to me.”

“Oh, no. There’s no obligation, really.”

She grinned. “I’m teasing, too.”

I laughed, but I also got up and walked over to her. “Is this seat taken?”

“It’s not. But I can’t promise no bare butts have been on it.”

“I’ll risk it.” I sat and held out my hand. “Brayden.”

“Alexandria. Nice to meet you, Brayden.”

“You, too. Are you a guest at this hotel, or just came in to flirt with a guy and get him to buy you dinner and drinks?”

She smiled. I liked that she could take a joke. “I’m staying here. You?”

“Same. What are you in town for?”

“I’m volunteering for a charity that renovates houses near hospitals for patients who can’t afford a hotel while they’re getting cancer treatment.”

My jaw fell open. “Are you serious? You’re volunteering for Ryan’s House?”

“You know it?”

“I’m the founder. But once a year, I also volunteer to swing a hammer. This is my once.”

“Really?”

“Let me get this straight. We drink the same drink, both love street-corn tacos, both dislike ass imprints on our car seats, and we’re volunteering for the same project? Do I just propose now? Or should I wait and see if you love candy corn as much as I do?”

Her eyes sparkled. “I love candy corn.”

I covered my heart with my hand. “Alexandria Foster. It even has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

The bartender interrupted our love fest to deliver our drinks. When he walked away, we were both still smiling.

“So you really founded Ryan’s House?” Alexandria asked. “How did that come about?”

“Almost a decade ago, I lost one of my best friends to leukemia. Ryan and I were both engineering students in college when he started treatments. He spent a lot of time in the hospital and became interested in designing prosthetics with more flexibility. We started working on ideas together to pass the time during my visits. After he passed away, I continued with some of the concepts we’d come up with. Long story short, a couple of years later, I got a patent on a new type of prosthetic joint simulator. It’s licensed to most major artificial-limb manufacturers now. I tried to split the profit with Ryan’s parents, but they wouldn’t take anything. So his half goes toward buying the houses we renovate each year for Ryan’s House.”

“That’s incredible.”

I sipped my drink. “How about you? Are you just volunteering, or is there a story behind why you picked Ryan’s House to donate your time?”

Alexandria smiled sadly. “I lost my husband a few years ago to leukemia.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. He was older than me, but still way too young.”

“Is this your first time volunteering, or did you work on another of the houses?”

“It’s my first time. To be honest, I’m kind of nervous about it.”

“What’s there to be nervous about?” I asked.

“I don’t have too much construction experience.”

“I’ll tell you what, I’ll make sure you’re on the good team then.”

“I didn’t realize there was a good team and a bad team.”

“Usually there isn’t. But we split the volunteers into two crews, each with a team leader who coordinates who does what and makes sure we have the supplies and stuff. One of the team leaders is a real pain in the ass, a know it all. He wants to change everything that’s been planned before we even start. He’s definitely going to micromanage his crew.”

“Oh, wow. Okay. Thank you.”

“We usually just count off the volunteers who show up to give each team an equal number. But I’ll make sure you’re in Jason’s group and not Alex’s.”

“Oh. So Alex is the pain in the ass?”

“Giant pain in the ass.”

The bartender walked over with our food. It looked as delicious as it had sounded on the menu. Conversation slowed as we dug in, but I enjoyed the quiet with the company sitting next to me. After we finished eating, I turned to ask Alexandria something, but I lost track of what I was saying three words in. Her eyes were that mesmerizing.
“What?” She wiped at her cheek. “Do I have sauce on my face?”

I shook my head. “Sorry, no. I hope you don’t mind me saying so, but you are absolutely beautiful. I’m relieved I got to sit next to you because I couldn’t stop myself from staring when I was sitting over there.”

Her cheeks pinked. “Thank you.”

Both our drinks were almost empty again, so I motioned to the glasses. “You want another one?

“I think I’m going to call it a night.”

Disappointment flooded through me. I hoped I hadn’t upset her with my compliment.

Alexandria motioned to the bartender. “Could I close out my tab, please?”

“Sure thing.”

He walked away and came back a minute later. I was still trying to decide if I should apologize. Maybe I’d been too forward?

She signed the check and hopped down from the stool.

“Listen, Alexandria. I didn’t mean to upset you by saying how beautiful I think you are. I apologize if that came off creepy.”

“No, that wasn’t what insulted me.”

“That wasn’t? So something else I said insulted you?”

She looked at me a moment. “Such a shame. Because I find you attractive, too.”

“I’m confused. Why is that a shame?”

She shook her head. “Goodnight, Brayden. I’ll see you in the morning. Oh, and you don’t have to worry about which team I’m on. I’m happy on Alexandria’s team.”

“Alexandria’s team?”

“Oh. Did I say Alexandria’s team? I meant Alex’s team. I go by both names. Alexandria is my given name, after my grandmother. Alex for short.”

Copyright © 2024 by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward