Undeniable (A Country Roads Novel) (34 page)

Mel had never been a fan of anyone in the Reynolds family, especially Keith. She hadn’t liked him when he was the school principal or when he’d become the superintendent. He was a cheating, pompous ass who had never wanted anything to do with his daughter.

Grace had been better off without him in the long run, but really the girl hadn’t had the easiest life before she found out who her father was. Claire died of breast cancer almost fifteen years ago. Grace had known her mom for only ten years.

“I haven’t really had that much contact with Superintendent Stafford. We’ve had a couple of faculty meetings and he seems to know what he’s doing. We have another on Friday to see how the first week of school goes. So far I think he’s better than his predecessor.”

“Well, anyone is better than that piece of scum,” Brendan said with disgust.

It would come as no shock to anyone that Brendan was incredibly protective of his little sister. And he hadn’t been the only one. Grace grew up with Brendan, Jax, and Shep constantly playing overbearing protectors. They’d even played that role with Mel and then Harper when she’d showed up.

“Were you able to get permission to do that project?” Brendan asked.

Another reason Mel despised the former Superintendent Reynolds was that he never had time to talk to his teachers, or it would be more accurate to say that he never made time. Mel had wanted to do a hands-on project with her students. He told her there wasn’t enough money in the budget, and he wouldn’t even look at her plans to pay for it.

“I haven’t asked yet,” she said, shaking her head.

“What project?” Bennett asked.

“I wanted to show my students how math can build things. And the bookshelves in the library are in desperate need to be fixed. Some of them should be trashed all together.”

“You want to rebuild them? Have you ever done anything like that before?” he asked as they all moved up in the line.

“No, I was going to ask the woodshop teacher Mr. Coryell for help, but he retired over the summer.”

“You know that power tools can be tricky, right?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to let any of the students lose a limb.” She smiled.

“Well, I was concerned about
your
limbs, too,” he said as his mouth quirked up.

Oh, if he only knew what she wanted to do with all of her limbs. Like wrap them around his body and not let go for hours. And now she was blushing again. Where was a cool breeze when a girl needed one? They were right on the beach, but the air was too humid to do anything for her reddening face.

“Well, if you need any help let me know,” he said.

“Really?” Mel asked surprised, and maybe a little bit too excited.

“Yeah, for the sake of the safety of your limbs,” he said, grinning.

Holy cow was that man’s smile lethal. She was pretty sure if she were using heavy machinery when he was around she’d probably smash her finger or something. If he smiled at her like that, she’d probably be losing those limbs he was so worried about.

But no pain no gain, right?

“I’ll keep you posted,” Mel said as she turned away from Bennett to look forward.

Paige was grinning at Mel, whereas Brendan was looking at Bennett with what could only be described as a bemused
I told you so
look.

Mel
really
wanted to know what that was all about.

Shannon Richard grew up in the Panhandle of Florida as the baby sister of two overly protective, but loving, brothers. She was raised by a more than somewhat eccentric mother, a self-proclaimed vocabularist who showed her how to get lost in a book, and a father who passed on his love for coffee and really loud music. She graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s in English literature, and still lives in Tallahassee where she battles everyday life with writing, reading, and a rant every once in a while. Okay, so the rants might happen on a regular basis. She’s still waiting for her Southern, scruffy, Mr. Darcy and in the meantime writes love stories to indulge her overactive imagination. Oh, and she’s a pretty big fan of the whimsy.

Learn more at:

ShannonRichard.net

Twitter, @shan_richard

Facebook.com/ShannonNRichard

Undone

Ella’s best friend Lila has always been a good girl who likes pretty clothes and preppy boys. But ever since the first day she met Micha’s best friend Ethan, she hasn’t been able to stop thinking about him. Girls have always flocked to Ethan—but never princesses like Lila. And until Lila came into his life he never wanted them to. From the outside the two couldn’t seem more different, but somehow they have a connection deeper and more intense than anyone could have imagined. Can two people from such dramatically different worlds really have a love that lasts?

Twenty-six-year-old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero.

Or he used to be, anyway.

As an ex–Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can’t get past, he needs someone who can help him heal…even if he doesn’t realize it.

Twenty-five-year-old Madison Hill doesn’t need anybody…or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents’ messed-up abusive relationship, and she knows there’s no way in hell that she’s ever letting that happen to her.

They don’t know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: each other.

But Gabriel’s got a secret, a hidden monster that he’s afraid Maddy could never overcome…And Maddy’s got issues that she’s afraid Gabe will never understand.

They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they’ve got demons to fight.

And the problem with demons is they never die quietly.

After her father commits a crime that shatters her family, eighteen-year-old Delaney Cross is tired of pretending everything is all right. Packing up her car, she sets out to find the people her father hurt. Her search leads her to places she’s never been—and into the arms of Adrian Westfall.

To the outside world, Adrian is a sexy, charming ladies’ man. But his playboy persona is just an act. Secretly his soul is tortured by a memory too painful to share. Only Delaney seems to see through his façade to the real man underneath. And for the first time in his life, Adrian feels he can begin to open up about his past.

Together, Adrian and Delaney share a passionate, carefree love they never expected to find. Yet both still harbor their own secrets. When the dark truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together, or tear them apart forever?

Five months ago, Camryn and Andrew, both dealing with personal hardships, met on a Greyhound bus. They fell in love and proved that when two people are meant to be together, fate will find a way to make it happen.

Now, in the highly anticipated sequel to
The Edge of Never
, Camryn and Andrew are pursuing their love for music and living life to the fullest as they always swore to do. But when tragedy befalls them, their relationship is put to the ultimate test. As Camryn tries to numb her pain, Andrew makes a bold decision: to get their life back on track, they'll set out on another cross-country road trip. Together they find excitement, passion, adventure—and challenges they never could have anticipated.

Ella is back at school, trying to focus on her future and forget the darkness of her past. Still, her ongoing family drama is making it harder and harder to get through the days. All she really wants is Micha, but no way will she let her problems get in the way of his dreams.

Micha is busy touring the country with his band, seemingly getting everything he’s ever wanted. But deep down he knows something is missing. Being away from Ella is harder than he expected. And while he longs to have her with him, he won’t ask her to leave college just to be at his side.

When Ella and Micha are together, anything seems possible. But when a new tragedy shakes their already fragile world, one of them will make a dramatic choice that could break them apart forever…

After dropping out of pastry school and messing up her big break on a reality cooking show, Leah Sullivan needs to accomplish something in her life. But when she returns home to Lucky Harbor, she finds herself distracted by her best friend, Jack Harper. In an effort to cheer up Jack’s ailing mother, Dee, Leah tells a little fib—that she and Jack are more than just friends. Soon pretending to be hot-and-heavy with this hunky firefighter feels too real to handle…

No-strings attachments suit Jack just fine—perfect for keeping the risk of heartbreak away. But as Jack and Leah break every one of their “just friends” rules, he longs to turn their pretend relationship into something permanent. Do best friends know too much about each other to risk falling in love? Or will Jack and Leah discover something new about each other in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance—a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career—if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what
Maddie
needs...

Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered, and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and decide what she really wants.

NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another Christmas alone?

There’s no place like home for the holidays. And the Lucky Harbor Bed & Breakfast is bursting with festive lights and good cheer. But for Mia, Christmas is turning out to be anything other than merry and bright. Her recent breakup with her boyfriend Nick has made her return bittersweet. But then a surprise arrives, when Nick follows her to town bearing gifts—and asking for forgiveness.

Tessa Galloway is a gifted nurturer—her verdant garden at Barefoot Bay’s new resort is living proof. If only the woman who can grow anything could grow what she wants most: a baby. Her friends think the right guy will come along, but Tessa doesn’t want to wait. All she needs is the perfect donor to make her dream come true. Then John Brown is hired at the resort. If anyone could make beautiful babies, it’s this gorgeous, mysterious man. So why does Tessa suddenly find herself wanting so much more?

It’s been three long years since John Brown had to leave his old life. Forced into the witness protection program, he’s desperate to be reunited with his toddler twins. When he gets that chance, there’s a catch—he must prove he’s got a steady job and a new wife. Landing a gig as a chef in Barefoot Bay is easy enough. And falling for lovely Tessa is even easier. The hard part? Can he win the heart of a woman who prizes honesty—when the truth may shatter it?