Drake
Sullivan has served as the strong and steady savior his entire life. But when
his alcoholic mother's funeral dredges up some old, dark, emotions, he finds
himself struggling to put the bottle down himself. His inner demons are
threatening to tear him apart, despite the fact that the sexiest woman he's
ever met keeps showing up in every area of his life again and again.
For
Mea Jones, one night with Drake wasn't enough. As much as she hates to admit it
to herself, he got under her skin three years ago during their one-night stand,
and she's been trying to forget him ever since. But now their best friends are
getting married, and the fact that they keep getting thrown together is making
it harder to ignore his striking face and hulking, perfectly sculpted
ex-Ranger's body.
When
the electricity between them can no longer be restrained, the fireworks that
ensue are hotter than the sun. But will their relationship be able to survive
the darkest secret from Mea's past rearing its ugly head? Or the demons within
Drake working to bring him down the same path that destroyed his mother?
His expression carries a hint of danger
and a sexy confidence that’s all Drake. His biceps bulge through his gray
long-sleeved Henley, and it pulls taut over the broad planes of his chest. I
can’t help it; my eyes scan every inch of him slowly. Hungrily. A gradual flame
has been burning since I saw him this morning, and seeing him now, straddling
his ATV, looking all windswept and sexy, it’s going to spread into an
uncontrollable fire really quick. His faded jeans fit him just right; I can see
the strong ridges of his thigh muscles as he clenches the seat.
“Mea.” My eyes look to his, startled at
the sandpaper tone in his deep voice. “Get on my ride.”
My eyebrows fly up. “What?”
“Get on. I won the bet. That’s what I
want. You behind me on this four-wheeler.”
Oh, hell. The usual
Mea would never allow a man to order her around. The usual Mea would usually
tell him exactly what he could do with his bet and turn my back. But with
Drake, I don’t want to be the usual Mea.
The usual Mea is lonely, deep down. She
doesn’t let anyone get close enough to see the profound slices that mar her
heart and the war wounds that afflict her soul. The usual Mea gets by with
shallow, surface emotions that are usually enough to fool those around her, and
deflecting questions that get too personal, cut too deep.
But that Mea is bone-weary and Drake is
slowly wearing away at the wall she’s built around her so artfully.
I don’t hesitate. Climbing off my ATV,
I walk the few short steps it takes to get to him and climb on the back. My
arms go around his slim waist and my face lies against his back. He smells like
outdoor air, pine, and scented soap.
It’s becoming my new favorite scent.
His right hand reaches back, curling
around my thigh with deliberate possession. When he looks back at me, there’s
no humor in his eyes.
“Ready?”
It’s a loaded question. Am I ready to
ride on the back of this ATV with him?
Yes.
Am I ready to trust him with my safety?
Yes.
Am I ready to give my body over to him,
passionately and with abandon?
Yes.
Am I ready to trust him with my heart?
Not yet.
It’s
locked up too tight, and I’m not sure I can even remember where I hid the key.
Diana
Gardin is a wife of one and a mom of two. Writing is her second full time job
to that, and she loves it! Diana writes contemporary romance in the Young Adult
and New Adult categories. She's also a former Elementary school teacher. She
loves steak, sugar cookies, and Coke and hates working out.
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