Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

* * *

A series of chance encounters leads to a sizzling new romance from the New York Times bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series. 

The universe is conspiring against Ava Breevort. As if flying back to Phoenix to bury a childhood friend wasn't hell enough, a cloud of volcanic ash traveling from overseas delayed her flight back home to Boston. Her last ditch attempt to salvage the trip was thwarted by an arrogant Scotsman, Caleb Scott, who steals a first class seat out from under her. Then over the course of their journey home, their antagonism somehow lands them in bed for the steamiest layover Ava's ever had. And that's all it was--until Caleb shows up on her doorstep.

When pure chance pulls Ava back into Caleb's orbit, he proposes they enjoy their physical connection while he's stranded in Boston. Ava agrees, knowing her heart's in no danger since a) she barely likes Caleb and b) his existence in her life is temporary. Not long thereafter Ava realizes she's made a terrible error because as it turns out Caleb Scott isn't quite so unlikeable after all. When his stay in Boston becomes permanent, Ava must decide whether to fight her feelings for him or give into them. But even if she does decide to risk her heart on Caleb, there is no guarantee her stubborn Scot will want to risk his heart on her....

Source: advance e-galled provided in exchange for an honest review

This is not Ava's day as the forces that be are playing a cruel, twisted sick joke on her by  insisting on throwing her in with the one person who's currently the bane of her existence? Worse is that they're in an enclosed space with no escape. Short of opening the airlocks, Ava has no choice but to deal with the annoying Scot on her flight who does nothing but push her buttons and treat her rudely. Caleb's impertinence and lack of manners may make her boil but his looks have the opposite effect on her. Ladies, why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we allow the hot, rude guy to still make us lose our reasoning? 

Anyway, they hook up for just the one time and then hook up again and so on. It's an arrangement that suits their needs, and hey they're grown ups so why not? But of course feelings tend to complicate things and then there's always one person wanting more and soon they're afraid to address those growing feelings and allow things to get more complicated. 

I had mixed feelings about Caleb. That sexy, arrogant thing didn't do it's magic for me for some reason. Ava, however, was far more interesting with a backstory that shows she's been through some deeply troubling stuff and is only now just getting back on her feet. The most compelling aspect of Fight or Flight are the moments of female empowerment and the fierce loyalty between Ava and her best friend, Harper. Their history is touching and they go through a scary moment together which tests their friendship. I'm so glad that their friendship is as heavily featured as the romance, and to be honest I was more emotionally invested in that.

Samantha Young has written some of my favourite books and Fight or Flight has me split. It's been a while since I've been conflicted by a HEA. I'm all about Ava and Harper's steadfast friendship which is on the plus side. I love that their female camaraderie was shown in such a positive light because it's so important for us to see women lift each other up. For me it came down to Caleb, and Ava's choice to be with him. He did show glimpses of compassion and caring which made him redeemable at some point but when push came to shove, he used Ava's past to hurt her and I was livid because of it. I guess you could say I took it personally because it shook me hard how he treated her. Considering how much she was devastated by her past and how long it took her to overcome it, I'm not sure it's something that I myself would've been able to forgive as easily. Obviously, it's a matter of  personal opinion so while the ending didn't resonate with me, I'm sure there are readers who loved it.

~ Bel

Blind Kiss by Renée Carlino

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A powerful story of two people who spend years denying their scientifically-proven chemistry.

Penny spends her afternoons sitting outside a sandwich shop, surrounded by ghosts. Fourteen years ago, this shop was her childhood dance studio... Now she’s a suburban housewife, dreading the moment her son departs for MIT, leaving her with an impeccably decorated McMansion and a failing marriage. She had her chance at wild, stars-in-her-eyes happiness, but that was a lifetime ago. After The Kiss. Before The Decision.

The Kiss was soulful. Magical. Earth-shattering, and it was all for a free gift card. Asked to participate in a psych study that posed the question, “Can you have sexual chemistry without knowing what the other person looks like?” Penny agreed to be blindfolded, make polite conversation with a total stranger, and kiss him. She never expected The Kiss to change her life forever and introduce her to Gavin: tattooed, gorgeous, and spontaneous enough to ask her out seconds after the blindfolds came off.

For a year, they danced between friendship and romance—until Penny made The Decision that forced them to settle for friendship. Now, fourteen years later, both of their lives are about to radically change—and it’s his turn to decide what will become of their once-in-a-lifetime connection." 

Source: advance copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

How do I rate a book that had me equal parts distressed and riveted? My first attempt at reading this had me setting it aside after the first chapter because it was intense. Penny came off as unhinged and there wasn't enough context yet to put her behaviour in perspective. I picked it up a couple of weeks later and with a clearer head on my part, I found a page-turning, heartbreaking story about so many "should have beens" between two people who for some reason or another just couldn't get it together.  

The story is split between the present and 14 years ago when Penny and Gavin first meet in the psych study where they kiss as strangers. It's an instant attraction that has Gavin fawning over her and Penny, who's focused on dance and her future, flattered and overwhelmed by his attention. She offers a compromise that they should just be friends. Gavin reluctantly agrees though is hopeful that he can change her mind. Thus begins this complicated relationship that while they're not "together" together, the reality is that there's no room for anyone else to get close to them either. The hold they have over each other is so strong that it becomes problematic because of the lack of typical boundaries between friends. And it's confusing to anyone else they might try to date.

I can't say that Penny or Gavin's decisions made sense half the time because their actions would often contradict their words. She absolutely refused to get serious with Gavin either due to fear or that he wasn't what she needed at that moment. She hated labels and didn't want anyone to put her in a category or control her. Yet I found her to be the controlling one most of the time. To be fair they were there for each other through some of the toughest moments of their lives. That commitment just emphasizes the fact that they should have been together from the get go and in doing so, they would have avoided drawing other people into their drama. 

Intense is the best way to describe Blind Kiss as it does require some emotional stamina. I'm glad I stuck with it because Renée Carlino is one hell of a writer. I know that the themes in this book may not appeal to everyone so my recommendation is that when you read it, make sure you're feeling up to it. 

~ Bel

Speakeasy (True North #5) by Sarina Bowen

* * * *

Sometimes you fall for Mr. Right. And sometimes for Mr. Right Now… 

May 
Did you hear the one about the girl who walks into a bar and catches her live-in lover kissing someone else? No? You’re the only one in town who missed it. 
Luckily Alec is there to wrap me up in strong arms and carry me out the door before things get too ugly. And that’s not all Alec is good at. Our unexpected chemistry makes him the perfect rebound guy. 

Alec 
I should know better than to hook up with my rival’s little sister, but the fiery look in May’s eyes really turns my crank. She needs cheering up, and I’m just the guy for the job. 
It’s not like I’ll fall in love. Not even after a string of scorching hot trysts, and the realization that we’re good at the same things: wild nights and familial disappointment. I don’t do love, never have, never will. So this is the perfect arrangement, for both of us. 
Nobody would approve, but nobody has to know…

Source: advanced e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review

A girl walks into a bar, finds her live-in girlfriend kissing another woman and all hell breaks loose. This is not a joke. May is stunned when she walks in on this unexpected scene and in a bar of all places! Somewhere her girlfriend knows she wouldn't frequent. In shock and raging, Alec wisely whisks her away before further damage can be done. It's sort of an awkward situation since she's August's little sister, his sworn nemesis. Well, not exactly but there's some bad history between the guys. That doesn't prevent Alec from jumping in to help a hurt May whom he can't help but notice has grown into a gorgeous young woman. May though is too busy trying to figure out what the heck went wrong with her love life and when she starts to notice him as well, it makes her even more confused about her sexuality.

Although Alec is a bit of a player, I think he has a remarkably sweet side and he has a moral center. Right now he's all about looking after May. Even as his attraction towards her grows he's mindful about her emotions. I found May's storyline especially interesting. I don't think I've read a POV where the character is questioning her sexuality the way May does here. She had herself convinced that she was done with men and that she should be with women here on out but Alec complicates that theory. I did like how their familial relationships mirrored each other. May being a recovering alcoholic has this extra burden of feeling like a disappointment to her family or a constant source of worry. She always feels the pressure to prove that she's okay and that she won't relapse even if she fights that temptation every single day. Alec also has to prove that he's a serious businessman with creative ideas and plans for his bar and needs for his family to believe in him. The two of them can definitely commiserate about family. With that in common they find it easy to confide in each other about what they're going through, making it more inviting to spend more time together, leading to their chemistry kicking up several notches.

I can gush about Sarina Bowen's books all day. I love them all. They're easy to read in that the stories are always engaging and the writing just flows so smoothly. I've never had an issue with her books even when she presents a less pretty side of things. In Speakeasy, it's May's everyday struggle with staying sober and reconsidering her sexuality when she thought she had already defined it for herself. For Alec it's how to persevere in spite of his lack of financial resources or his family's lack of faith in him. Sometimes you just need to have the right people in your corner and Bowen's stories always find them!

~ Bel

We're so excited to bring you a special excerpt from Speakeasy!

Someone appears in my peripheral vision. I get half a glance at a lithe body and long hair as a woman appears and then just as quickly retreats.

Wait. Was that…?

I ease my way down the aisle, past the snowboard bags and ski duffels, and then I peer around the corner just in time to spot May Shipley exiting the store.

Several lengthy strides carry me right out the door after her. May has exquisite long legs, so she’s making good time escaping from me across the parking lot. I put two fingers in my mouth and make a cat-call whistle.

May halts midstride. Busted. She turns around and regards me with a sheepish smile.

God, just one smile from her and I feel better already. I raise a finger and beckon. Then I lean against the brick exterior of the shop and wait.

She lifts her chin and walks toward me.

“May Shipley,” I complain as she approaches. “Am I crazy or did you just leave the building to avoid me back there?”

She puts one hand over her pretty eyes and laughs. “Okay, you caught me. Don’t make me feel worse.”

“Do we have a problem, here?” I reach out and tag her hand, then pull her closer to me. We’re toe to toe, though several layers of winter clothing separate us. Still, my whole body hums at the memory of her riding me in my truck. Gawd. So hot. “I get that our lawyer party date got a little crazy.”

“You think?” she squeaks. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Why? So we had a little spur-of-the-moment sex. You really enjoyed my spur for a moment.”

“Omigod, stop.” May throws her head back and laughs. Her eyes dance, and I’m wearing a giant smile and feeling much more like myself.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I had a lot of fun.” That’s an understatement. I can’t stop thinking about it. Spontaneous truck sex with a long-legged beauty moaning on my dick? That night has made my personal hall of fame.

“Okay. I’ll try.” But the color in her cheeks is unmistakable. It’s cute as fuck.

“Come here.” I pull her into a hug, and she feels terrific against my body. “Let’s not be weird.”

May lifts her face in surprise. “I said that same thing to a good friend once.”

“Did it work?” I whisper because we’re so close together.

“Nope. Still weird.” She grins.

I laugh. And then I kiss her. I don’t even know how it happens. One second I’m just appreciating her smile, and the next second I’m owning it with my mouth.

May lets out a surprised whimper before her mouth softens under mine. I take my time kissing her until her hands spread the two halves of my jacket, finding my chest, gripping my flannel shirt. I need to taste her, so I part her lips with my tongue.

Suddenly my shoulder blades hit the bricks as May presses me up against the wall.

No, ma’am. I’ve just spent five nights imagining a scenario where our next encounter plays out in reverse—with me in charge. So I spin her around and back her up against the wall instead. And for good measure I pin her questing hands in mine, just because I can.

She makes a hungry noise, and I feel it in my balls. And then I dive back into her kisses, one of my thighs between her long legs.

May fights me, if by fighting me you mean she presses her hips against mine and gives me a nice, dirty grind.

I never liked the Shipleys, but now I realize I was hanging out with the wrong ones.

We lose our minds for several amazing minutes until the door of the ski shop opens suddenly. I take a quick step backward to preserve what’s left of our dignity.

Not that it works. We’re both flushed and panting, and I look like I’m trying to conceal a ski pole in the crotch of my jeans.

The young woman exiting the shop gives us a quizzical look as she bleeps the locks on her car.

“Jesus,” May breathes as we blink at each other.

“I know.” Every part of me is horny now. It’s cold outside, but I’m hot everywhere. My clothes feel constricting. I want to drag May back into my truck and have my way with her again.

“What are we doing?”

“Well, babydoll, we’re dry-humping each other in a parking lot.”

“Alec!” She reaches up, clapping a hand over my mouth. “That was a rhetorical question.”

I nod to show her I understand. But then I stick out my tongue and lick her palm where it’s pressed to my lips.

“Omigod, stop.” She removes her hand and wipes it on my flannel.

“You don’t really want me to. Admit it.”

“No, really I do.” Her embarrassed smile comes back. It’s so fucking cute. “I don’t need to be arrested for indecent exposure.”

“Fair enough. But that’s why you’re going to come over tonight. Late. Like eleven.” I’m supposed to be tending bar until ten and then closing up early, because it’s Sunday night.

“Why?”

“Why do you think? So I can strip you down and lick you all over until you’re screaming my—”

May puts that hand over my mouth again. “Anyone could hear you.”

“Nah,” I say from under her hand. She removes it. “I have brick walls at home. It helps with sound control. So even when my headboard starts to bang while I’m fucking you—”

She tries to cover my mouth again, but this time I catch her hand in midair, because I’m a sex ninja. And I hold it in mine. “Just come over. I’ve been thinking about you all week. Once wasn’t enough.” I lift her palm to my mouth and kiss it tenderly.

“Apparently not.” Her cheeks pink up. “But I really can’t get involved with anyone right now.”

“Duh.” I actually roll my eyes. “I’m your rebound lay. Relationships aren’t my style, and I’m allergic to commitment. So we’ll have exactly the same expectations—some very athletic sex.”

Her lips part on an dreamy expression, but then she snaps them closed again.

“Don’t overthink it, counselor. The judge orders you to his chambers at ten.”

Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman

* * * 1/2

Kissing Max Holden was a terrible idea...

After his father has a life-altering stroke, Max Holden isn't himself. As his long-time friend, Jillian Eldridge only wants to help him, but she doesn't know how. When Max climbs through her window one night, Jill knows that she shouldn't let him kiss her. But she can't resist, and when they're caught in the act by her dad, Jill swears it'll never happen again. Because kissing Max Holden is a terrible idea.

With a new baby sibling on the way, her parents fighting all the time, and her dream of culinary school up in the air, Jill starts spending more and more time with Max. And even though her father disapproves and Max still has a girlfriend, not kissing Max is easier said than done. Will Jill follow her heart and allow their friendship to blossom into something more, or will she listen to her head and stop kissing Max Holden once and for all?

Source: advance e-galley provided in exchange for an honest review


It's been some time since I've read anything bordering on angsty and Kissing Max Holden is being hit with it on almost every page. I know it sounds like I'm disparaging the book but I'm not; it's just that this story features people who are deeply discontented and how they deal (rather badly) with their circumstances. 

Jillian and Max have been friends forever, essentially having been each other's shadow since childhood with their parents being just as good friends. But as it happens as years go by, they grow up and apart and then it seems like they're hardly recognizable to each other. At least that's how Jill feels about Max. Ever since his dad had a debilitating stroke months before, Max has done nothing but lash out in various ways like getting drunk, and it's fueled in part by his tempestuous relationship with his girlfriend, Becky. Jill doesn't get why two people who are so miserable together would still wanted to stay together. Max makes things awkward when he shows up inebriated in her room one night and they wind up kissing. Not cool since he still has a girlfriend but it's all that's needed to send Jill into a spiral. Worse is that she doesn't feel she can confide in anyone about what's going on since her dad and her stepmom who are expecting their baby soon are constantly fighting, too. Jill and her dad haven't been on the best terms lately so it only makes matters worse when he notices Max hanging around her more. He doesn't want his bad behaviour influencing her. It just seems like everyone is trying to escape something by finding a distraction and when Jill finally gets her head cleared she tells Max she doesn't want to be the reason he and Becky break up. That he has to get things in order before they can be together. 

With almost everyone simmering in their own bitterness this isn't a light-hearted read. If anything, this is a story about how hard relationships are and about the value of honesty. I find it interesting that Jill's initial indiscretion with Max serves as a parallel to what's happening between her parents. It brings some perspective to the seventeen year-old who's witnessing her own family's implosion. By contrast, Max's turnaround is a timely change that gives Jill a steadying shoulder to lean on should she need it. Now that he's attempting to clean up his messes, he's able to offer insight and persuade Jill that she has to be honest about their relationship to her parents. 

There's more that unfolds in the plot which spurs Jill on towards maturity much faster than she anticipated. I'm amazed by how Upperman managed to add the twists without it getting too out of hand. In the end, Kissing Max Holden is not the sugary sweet, cute boy next door love story I thought I was going to be reading but I do believe I got something even better!

~ Bel

Maybe Someday (Maybe #1) by Colleen Hoover

* * * *

At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney’s tumultuous world from the very first page.

I’ve decided what it is I like about Colleen Hoover that has me devouring her books – she’s unafraid to explore very uncomfortable situations. Maybe Someday is a very good case of “right place, wrong time” when Sydney and Ridge crash into each other’s orbit. There’s an undeniable attraction but the problem is that she just broke up with her lying, cheating boyfriend (who happened to be hooking up with her best friend and roommate) and Ridge is madly in love with his girlfriend, Maggie. So now the trick is how they have to get along as roommates and songwriting partners.

What I loved: The fact that both Sydney and Ridge acknowledge what is occurring between them. They actually communicate! Whether it’s through conversation or through their songwriting, they’re honest about their feelings and the predicament that puts them in.  Sydney is keenly aware that to pursue anything with Ridge would cast Maggie in the role of the betrayed girlfriend, just as she was. Having had her heart broken recently, there's no way she's doing that to someone else. And Ridge, oh this guy is loyal to a fault. He sees the hurt and confusion he’s causing her because he feels it, too. At least these two have their conscience keeping them in check.

What I struggled with: That extremely fine line between physical and emotional cheating. While they try desperately to avoid anything physical between them, they get more emotionally invested in each other. Therein lies the dilemma: is emotional intimacy just as destructive as any physical intimacy between them? I couldn't root for anyone when it meant that someone else would get hurt. 

So with these two things working against each other, I could have given up. But I didn't. I just had to know where Hoover was taking this story and how Sydney and Ridge would work things out. There’s so much intensity and passion within these pages, especially when writing songs together is such an intimate thing between them. That’s when the barriers come down and what feelings that can’t be said aloud are conveyed through music. 

Despite how uneasy this was at times, I did like Maybe Someday a lot. BEWARE: This will push your "wiggy button" regarding long-term relationships and friendships that skirt the line between remaining friends and moving beyond that. And I’m not condoning cheating either. I happen to think that Hoover did a terrific job giving two people the emotional depth to tell a very difficult story. They’re good people caught in an unenviable position where they choose to put others before their own wants.

~ Bel

Lead (Stage Dive #3) by Kylie Scott (Excerpt & A Freaking Awesome Giveaway Too!)

Stay up all night with the sexy rockers in Stage Dive, the epic New Adult series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott, author of Lick and Play.

As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, whether it's booze, drugs, or women. However, when a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call about his life and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant to keep him out of trouble. 　

Lena's not willing to take any crap from the sexy rocker and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far and Lena leaves, he realizes that he may just have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

Amazon // B&N // iTunes

 

The Stage Dive series by Kylie Scott:

Lick (Stage Dive #1): Amazon / B&N / Goodreads

Play (Stage Dive #2): Amazon / B&N / Goodreads

Deep (Stage Dive #4) available on January 6th, 2015: Amazon / B&N /Goodreads

Review

* * * *

After ascending to hilarious highs in Play, it's time to get sober in Lead. Lena, who we met in the previous book, is hired to be Jimmy’s sobriety companion. Yes, the lead singer of the biggest band in the world needs a "babysitter" to make sure he doesn’t fall back into old addiction habits so that means being in close quarters with him at all hours, all day, every day.

Jimmy begrudgingly agrees to it. It’s not exactly what Lena had in mind either but since she’s still floundering after leaving home a year ago, she takes the job offer. As with the heroines in the previous two Stage Dive books, Lena is another strong female entering into the macho world of the Ferris brothers. She is so not intimidated by Jimmy at all. He can grunt his answers and be as anti-social as he wants to be but he doesn’t scare her off.

After a day that includes an emotional farewell and a particularly nasty and public encounter with another family member, Lena sees a whole new side to Jimmy that is otherwise kept very private. This is the Jimmy that is beyond reach.  And this is the Jimmy that she starts to have feelings for.  I have to say, Lena’s developing and inconvenient crush on him is adorable and funny.  Jimmy is so clueless that he doesn’t even pick up on it, at least not initially. However, anyone of us who has ever gone through that can recognize all the things that Lena is going through from the unintentional stares to the runaway thoughts turned fantasies. The boundaries start to get blurred and Lena knows that she’s falling for someone who is emotionally unavailable and incapable of the kind of intimacy that she wants. Let's not fail to remember that he is her boss too. Talk about complicated!

I appreciated that Lena is honest with herself.  She’s a big girl, she knows where this could lead and she’s prepared to deal with the consequences of her decisions, stupid as they could turn out to be. But she’s willing to take the risk to a certain extent. Jimmy on the other hand vacillates between wanting Lena to get her own life and wanting her to himself. Yes, there’s some jealousy and yes this big guy is in total denial about it. And when he suggests some utterly nonsensical ways for her to get over her crush on him (based on some silly magazine article) things naturally get heated up. People it’s hysterical and it’s made even more so because Jimmy is not only stubborn but also not very good with words. It still doesn’t stop Lena from mouthing off at him and falling deeper for him. As their relationship goes from professional to bizarre to hysterical to uneasy, he continues to be mostly grumpy and distant.  

One thing I like about the Stage Dive series is that all the heroines that have been introduced so far are impressive, independent women. They’re unapologetic about who they are and they don’t dwell on what they may be lacking. It’s refreshing. When it comes to relationships, these women aren’t necessarily interested in changing the guys who come into their lives. If anything, these women bring out the better versions of these hard rocking, hard living guys. Lena is no exception. She’s a phenomenal foil to Jimmy’s moodiness. She cares for him deeply and her relentless encouragement of him to push past his barriers slowly chip away at his gruff demeanor. Lots of stuff broken, hearts included in the process but since when has love ever been easy?

Lead has solidified my author crush on Kylie Scott. I don't know how but she once again manages to create a mini-universe within the Stage Dive family. Lena and Jimmy have their own unique story to tell independent of the others but it's still about a tight-knit family. They all gather around when needed and of course, Mal, that dear sweet clown is there to deliver extra laughs. 

And before I forget, I'd also like to thank whoever it is who's responsible for these freaking hot covers. Hot musicians and tattoos - an irresistible and dangerous combo! Look at these covers and discuss ...

They're just lovely, aren't they? So if you're into broody lead singers who will rock your world and wicked sharp heroines who are their match, Lead is a sure bet! And now that we've met David, Mal and Jimmy, I CANNOT wait to find out Ben's story in Deep :-)

In the meantime, check out the a delicious excerpt from the book and learn more about the awesome Stage Dive series and the incredible Kylie Scott!

~ Bel

Excerpt

“Lena, you seen my old black Led Zep shirt?”

“Nope.”

“You sure?” His brows became one dark cranky line. The scratches on his face were healing well, thank goodness. Though it didn’t reduce my desire to throttle his mother on a daily basis.

“Yes. I haven’t seen it.”

Can’t find it anywhere…”

“And this is a surprise, how?” I slipped my hands into my back jean’s pockets. “Jimmy, you own more clothing than Cher, Brittney, and Elvis, put together. Things are bound to go missing.”

“Sure you haven’t seen it?”

“For goodness sake, what do you think, Jimmy? That I stole it to sleep in or something?” I laughed bitterly. Sure as hell, the truth deserved a good mocking. I’d sunk so despicably low.

I hadn’t even meant to steal the stupid thing, but the shirt had been mixed up with my laundry a few days ago. It’d been the first top I laid my hand on after stepping out of the shower, ready to go to bed. Without thought, I’d put it on and it’d been so soft, the scent of him lingering beneath the laundry detergent. Every night since, I’d found myself in it come bedtime. My shame knew no limits. And no, I still hadn’t quit. The words still hadn’t come even close to leaving my mouth.

He frowned. “No.”

“That I have some deep secret longing to feel close to you resulting in my stealing your shirt like some creepy perv?”

“Course I don’t fucking think that,” he replied crankily, reaching up to grip the top of the doorframe. All of his bulging muscles stretched the arms of his white T-shirt in the nicest way. It was all I could do not to start drooling, my heart beat taking up residence somewhere down between my thighs. And who could blame it? Not me. Maybe if I got laid, this would go away and things would return to normal. It’d seemed safer to avoid rubbing up against any men just in case I got carried away and started dating again. This new situation, however, changed everything.

“Well, of course not! That would be crazy.” And wasn’t that the god’s honest truth? Cray-zeee. Lock me up and throw away the key because it wasn’t like I didn’t know better.

“Just can’t figure out where the hell it could be.”

Angels couldn’t have smiled as innocently. They might have tried, but they would have failed, the dirty-mouthed, winged, little liars. “Jimmy, I don’t know where it is. But I’ll look around for it later, okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, and then added as an afterthought, “and stop looking at me weird.”

“I’m not!”

About Kylie Scott:

Kylie is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Goodreads | Website

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