BACK COPY:
Some
women always get it right. Kindergarten teacher, Meg Thompson, on the other
hand, consistently makes the wrong decisions — and she is currently single,
pregnant and alone. Meg is determined to make changes in her life, to be a
better mother than her own had been. No revolving door of men. No man, period.
Just a single-minded focus on her baby. Her resolution would be easier to keep
if not for hot cop, Scott Dare. He insinuates himself in her life, making Meg
want to believe in happily ever after, even if history has taught her to know
better.
When
Scott Dare hears Meg’s friends are determined she have a night of hot sex,
before her life changes forever, he decides that man must be him. Their one
night is mind blowing and life altering. And Scott, a man already burned by his
ex-wife, finds himself all in anyway. While protecting Meg from her violent ex
and becoming part of her increasingly complicated life, he’s falling hard and
he can’t seem to find distance. Not when their bodies respond to each other
with such heated intensity and he’s drawn to her unique combination of strength
and vulnerability.
But Meg’s
future is one Scott has accepted he’ll never have, even if his growing feelings
say otherwise …
TEEXCERPT:
Scott Dare arrived at Mel’s and found his brother Tyler waiting
for him at the bar. He and Tyler often hung out at Mel’s on Scott’s rare nights
off. After disobeying a direct order and going in to a situation without
backup, he was currently enjoying administrative leave. He was chafing under
the rules and no longer finding the same satisfaction in the job as he once
had. Meeting with his brother was the highlight of his week so far.
“Ladies night is like a smorgasbord for single men everywhere,
don’t you think?” his brother Tyler asked.
Scott tipped his beer back and took a long sip before smacking
his older sibling on the side of the head. “You are such an asshole. Are you
sure we’re related?”
“I’m kidding. But seriously, look around and tell me I’m wrong.
Red head, blonde head, big ass, small ass. Something for every taste.” Tyler
grinned.
Scott rolled his eyes. Their mother raised them to respect women
and they both did. Tyler just had a stupid sense of humor sometimes and he
liked to annoy his siblings. Score one for him now.
“So seriously, what’s up your ass other than boredom?” his
brother asked.
“Boredom isn’t enough?” He scanned the room, his gaze landing on
a table of women he hadn’t noticed before that included one very familiar face.
His boredom instantly vanished.
Any time he saw Meg Thompson, every part of him took notice and
tonight was no exception. He didn’t know what it was about her. Her brown hair
was just that. Brown silk that hung just below her shoulders, but there
were highlights that turned some parts a sexy reddish blonde under the right
light. Brown eyes the color of his morning coffee framed by thick lashes that
too often showed a vulnerability she tried hard to hide. It was that forced
strength that got to him. She was alone, dealing with a difficult situation
that would break most women.
But she wasn’t like any other woman he’d met. And completely
unlike Scott’s ex-wife.
“Do you know them?” Tyler tipped his head towards the table of
women.
“I know the brunette.” Scott rose … only to find a blonde guy
beat him to it. The man leaned closer to Meg and Scott stiffened, forcing
himself to sit down and watch.
“Who is she?” his brother asked.
“She’s Dylan’s friend, Meg Thompson.”
“Aah. Liv told me about her. She thought Meg would be a problem
when she got involved with Dylan but they ended up being friends.”
Scott nodded. “That’s her.”
“And I’m guessing you two have history since you can’t take your
eyes off of her?” Tyler nudged him in the side.
“Yes. No. Shit,” he muttered, wondering how to explain his
reaction to Meg.
From the minute Scott had seen her, looking small and
defenseless in a hospital bed after nearly losing her baby thanks to her angry
ex boyfriend, Scott was invested. Not even her pregnancy had put him off.
Which, all things considered, should scare the shit out of him. Since Leah, he
didn’t get seriously involved.
He’d questioned Meg, taken her statement and guided her through
the restraining order process. And he’d been dumb enough to try and help. To be
there for her afterwards but she wasn’t interested. Not in a helping hand.
Not in him. He’d been forced to see her at occasional get
togethers in the last month at Meg and Dylan’s, had run into her in the
supermarket. He’d offered to take her to dinner, to be her friend. Despite the
undeniable chemistry between them, she’d declined.
Two other men joined the first and soon the women at Meg’s table
were paired off. And Scott was pissed. A low growl escaped his throat.
“Easy, bro.” Instead of giving him a hard time, Tyler placed a
hand on his shoulder.
Scott blew out a long breath. Logically he knew he didn’t have a
say in what Meg did. Or with whom.
He ordered a Patron. Neat. And settled in to do what he did
best. Keep an eye on her from a distance. To his relief, as time passed, she
didn’t look at all interested in the guy. Her body language screamed don’t touch and the
asshole didn’t appear to be listening.
“I’m going to bash his head in if this keeps up,” Scott
muttered.
Tyler raised an eyebrow. “First Ian, now you. Are you really
going to leave me as the only single Dare guy in the family?”
“She’s made it clear she’s not interested in me and besides,
marriage? Been there, have the divorce papers to show for it. Not happening
again,” Scott reminded his brother. At twenty-nine, he was finished with that
stupid dream. Leah had screwed with his head on so many levels he was lucky he
wasn’t still dizzy two years later.
He had no intention of letting his brother in on the fact that
Meg was pregnant. His sibling would have a field day with Scott’s interest
based on that alone. He’d be wrong. But it wasn’t worth the hassle or
discussion.
“Sorry,” Tyler muttered, obviously uncomfortable.
Scott wasn’t sure if he was referring to the divorce, the reason
behind it or Meg’s lack of interest. All were enough to shit on his ego.
Meg shoved her chair back and headed for the back of the
restaurant where the restrooms were located and Scott breathed easy for the
first time since realizing she was here.
“You going after her?” Tyler asked.
“No.”
“It’s not like you to give up when you want something.”
Good point, Scott thought but he remained seated. Watching but
wary.
Meg returned and stopped by one of her friends, whispering
something in her ear. The women spoke and suddenly the guy who’d been inching
closer to her all evening walked up to them. They talked. Looked more like an
argument.
And then he grabbed Meg’s arm. Scott bolted out of his seat and
came up behind Meg. Her soft scent invaded his senses but his focus was on the
asshole who hadn’t released her.
“Let. Go,” Meg said through clenched teeth.
Scott’s hands fisted at his sides. “Touch her again and you’ll
answer to me.”
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Love it! :)
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