Welcome to Rebel, Louisianaโwhere the humidity feels personal, even the otters hold grudges, and chaos is a competitive sport.
I used to play hockey in sold-out arenas. Now my wrecked knee and I are stuck in a little bayou town thatโs been mad at me for a year. I need a big comebackโand ZERO drama.
So first thing, I get tackled at the airport by a sunshiny woman in yellow overalls whoโs thwarting my kidnappingโฆ by her grandpas.
Thatโs Nora DelauneโParks & Rec director, caffeine-powered menace, and the only person in Rebel willing to give me a chance. She needs me to win games and help save the townโs ice arena before it gets turned into a laser-tag nightmare.
And Iโฆ kind of like being needed by her. Even when sheโs producing a singing, dancing, wig-wearing ice extravaganza that is definitely not hockey.
Then my sisterโthe teamโs new ownerโdrops the bomb: if Nora and I โdate,โ the town might stop hating me.
Fine. Weโll fake it. As long as we donโt call it love.
But between late-night practices, the sugar-addicted swamp-werewolf mascot, otter drama, and the way Nora looks at me like Iโm worth rooting forโฆIโm in trouble.
This was such a fun read. Nicholas’s books are always full of humor and quirkiness and small town eccentricities. Throw in a hockey game based off of the zaniness of Banana Ball and it’s a win for me! Readers will need to be OK with what is basically insta-love because the whole book is about a week long ๐ But that doesn’t keep it from being an enjoyable reader.
Nora is very dedicated to her hometown and she has her reasons for wanting to keep everyone happy & to stay in Rebel. It’s complicated but born of love and is handled in a way that totally works. Alex has his own troubles. He’s basically only ever been wanted or needed because of hockey. Finding himself cut from his team leaves him struggling. But time spent with Nora and the rest of the citizens in Rebel has him looking at life a little differently.
From the the very first page, I was hooked. Goofiness mixed with heart is a hallmark of Nicholas’s stories and she brings it in spades. Returning readers will recognize some of their favorite characters but there’s lots of new ones to fall in love with too. From Otter Club to bonkers hockey, Just Don’t Call It Love is all rom-commy fun with a HEA and a glimpse of what’s to come.
*****
Author Info:
Erin Nicholas is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over sixty sexy contemporary romances and rom coms. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy, and fun. She loves to write about reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines and happily ever afters. She lives in the Midwest with her husband who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books, her kids who will never read the sex scenes in her books, and family and friends who say theyโre shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!).
A marriage proposal from a deliciously handsome and wickedly charming prince sounds like a fairytale.
But for a nerdy scientist with severe social anxiety,itโs a horror story.
Prince Torin OโGrady, with his mischievous blue eyes and cocky grin, is always in the spotlight. And he needs to marry me to inherit the crown.
But we have nothing in common. Heโs a future king. And Iโm perfectly happy slogging through mud in my work boots.
So why canโt I stop thinking about him?
Maybe because he wonโt stop texting me. And sending me gifts. And making me feel like everything I find awkward and weird about myself is special and amazing.
And thereโs also that little detail of him offering me my dream job and telling me that together we can change the world.
Well, I could probably ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฌ for him.
And if I have to marry him ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ญ๐บ to get what we both want, then fine. Itโs for the greater good.
It has nothing to do with the way he kisses me. Or that dirty mouth. Or the ๐ณ๐ฐ๐บ๐ข๐ญ๐ต๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ต๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ตhe gives me in the bedroom.
Fine. Maybe it does. Still, itโs only a year. Then I can turn in my tiara and come back to my normal, boring, behind-the-scenes life.
But Torin is determined to turn me from reluctantly royal to royally ๐ฉ๐ช๐ด.ย
NYT & USA Today bestseller Erin Nicholas is writing this fun new modern royal romance under her new pen name Erin Nicolle!ย
She presses her lips together, takes a breath, then asks, โWhat else do you want?โ
I decide to be honest. โI want to whisk you away on my private plane to an actual palace and give you everything and anything you could ever want or need.โ
Her eyes widen. โYou donโt even know me.โ
I tuck my hands into my back pockets. To try to look casual. But also to keep from reaching for her.
โIโve read all about your work,โ I tell her. โI started by just wanting to know about that job you said you hated so much. But then I kept reading. I know all about you.โ
Sheโs staring at me. Sheโs sitting up straighter now and even in the pale light, I can see her shock.
โYouโฆread about me?โ
โNot just about you. I read all of your papers. Your work in college. Your dissertation. The articles youโve published. I even stumbled upon some social media posts.โ
โIโฆOhโฆโ She shakes her head. โI thought you wanted to sleep with me.โ
I chuckle softly. โOh, Abigail, I most definitely want to sleep with you.โ
She swallows hard.
โI wanted that before I knew you are a damned genius who could come to my country and revolutionize agriculture and completely overhaul our economy.โ
I can see that sheโs breathing faster now.
โSo you want to hire me?โ she asks. โWhich means we canโt sleep together because youโll be my boss.โ
I step up on the first step.
โI donโt want to hire you. But I do want to bring you to Cara to do your work.โ
โI donโt understand.โ
I step up onto the next step, but she doesnโt back up. Thereโs only a step between us now. โI want you to marry me.โ
Her eyes widen. But she says nothing.
โBe my princess,โ I go on. โYouโll have influence and resources. You can do anything and everything youโve ever wanted to do.โ
Sheโs staring at me. Then when she realizes Iโm done talking, she laughs.
โMarry you? Is that how things work for you? You just smile that smile, waltz a couple of waltzes, and women just say yes to anything? Even marriage?โ
Wellโฆ
โIโve never asked anyone to marry me before, so I donโt really know,โ I answer.
Sheโs still smiling. โThank you for the offer. But Iโm not going to marry you.โ
โAs princess of Cara you can see your plans in action. Right now, theyโre all just on paper. Youโre not actually doing any of it. Donโt you want to see it come to life?โ
Now sheโs not smiling. Sheโs just watching me. She takes a deep breath. โOf course I do.โ
โThis is the perfect way. Thereโs no red tape. Nothing between your amazing brain and making it all happen for real.โ
โWhatโs the catch?โ
โNo catch. My country needs a prince and princess in place before my grandfather steps aside. The country deserves to know who will be there to step up and take care of them. My grandfather needs a successor in place before his heart gives out.โ
โHe has a bad heart?โ she asks.
โHeโs already had three heart attacks. I really need to get married to give him and the country peace of mind.โ
โSo youโre serious about finding a wife?โ
โI am.โ
She steps down a step.
โAbigail.โ
โYes?โ
โIf you step down one more step, Iโm going to kiss you.โ
She wets her lips.
โSo if you want to just keep talking, you need to keep your sweet ass right there on that step.โ
She looks down at the step that would start the kissing.
โAnd if you donโt want to keep talkingโฆor anything elseโฆ you need to go back inside.โ
Sheโs staring at me. But she seems more fascinated than anything. โOkay. I understand.โ
โGood.โ
Two heartbeats pass.
Then she steps down onto the step right above mine.
I groan and cup her face, bringing her mouth in against mine.ย
*****
Review:
Pretty sure that there isn’t a better book boyfriend (or husband) than Torin. He’s hot, caring, and intelligent. He listens to Abi, really listens, and does his best to make her world perfect. He supports her and helps her navigate difficult situations. He gives her gifts that actually matter to her and makes sure that ALL of her needs are met *wink, wink, nudge, nudge* ๐
Not that Abi doesn’t do what she can to support him in return. She believes in him and helps him embrace his future as a monarch, leading Cara into a delightful future. But no one can do it with the flair that Torin does.
I appreciate that we avoid what could have been a huge conflict towards the end. Instead we are given a satisfying slide into a HEA and a glimpse of a delightful future. Erin has always delivered the heat and the fun, continuing to do so with a new series and a new name, and I’m so looking forward to what she has in store for us next.
(Can be read as a stand alone but there are character appearances and references to previous books.)
They are friends. Without benefits. Unfortunately.
Michael LeClaire is small-town Louisiana. A firefighter. A single dad.
And Amelia Landry is New York City. A social media influencer. A model.
Sure, sheโs his sonโs favorite person on the planet.
And yeah, their families spend so much time together itโs hard to remember who shares DNA and who just shares secrets, inside jokes, and a sincere lack of boundaries.
And okay, heโs seen her nerdy side. Her sweet side. Her funny, self-deprecating side.
Fine, yes, resisting this woman has taken a saintโs share of willpower.
But he has to. He just cannot do long-distance. And he canโt have a casual fling with someone heโs knownโand will knowโforever.
Thankfully, he only has to hide his feelings a few times a year when she visits.
And then, he slips. One time. One spontaneous I-knew-it-would-be-everything kiss and heโs a goner.
Now every time they see each other itโs harder and harder to ignore the heat.
And when she shows up on his doorstep after a car accident changes her entire life, thereโs no way he can resist the chance to see if this can lastโฆor if theyโll finally flame out.
โIf you donโt want our sisters to think theyโre right about everything, you have to quit looking at me like that.โ
Michael LeClaire had three choices here.
He could pretend he had no idea what Amelia Landry was talking about, turn, smile nonchalantly, and try to have a normal, casual conversation with her.
That was going to be nearly impossible, of course. This was Ami. There was no being casual around her. He hadnโt been able to pull nonchalant off since heโd first seen her walk down the dock in a lime green bikini the summer sheโd turned twenty. But then, eleven months ago, everything had changed and nowโฆyeah, casual was completely off the table.
Heโd known sheโd be here. Of course. It was her sisterโs wedding. She was a bridesmaid. Heโd been preparing to see her. Still, it had been three months and the last timeโฆleaving her at that airport had been so much harder than heโd expected. He didnโt think thereโd be anything casual about the things heโd end up saying to her tonight if they talked alone.
His second option was setting something on fire so that he would have to don his fire gear and do something with his evening other than watch Ami in her off-the-shoulder peach-colored bridesmaid dress, laughing and dancing and looking fucking stunning while he struggled to remember why they were only friends. As he did every single time she stood too close to him.
The reasons were good. He knew that. The primary one being that she lived in fucking New York City and he lived in Autre, Louisiana and that would just never work out. He had a kid. He was the fire chief here. His entire family was here. He couldnโt move to New Yorkโnor did he want toโand he couldnโt travel there on a regular basis.
Ami was a model. Sheโd just landed a huge contract. The contract sheโd been hoping and working for. Sheโd moved from Shreveport to New York only three months ago. She wasnโt coming back to Louisiana and also couldnโt be traveling back here on a regular basis.
Fuck New York City.
Yeah, setting something on fire kind of seemed like a great idea.
And then there was his third option: turning, throwing her over his shoulder, taking her straight back to his house, and not letting her out of his bed for a week, whether they could be together long-term or not.
Which would only make all of thisโthe wanting her, the thinking about her, the missing herโso much worse.
He wasnโt going to be able to do any of those three things.
He was screwed.
So, he sucked in a deep lungful of oxygen and turned, deciding to go with his fourth optionโjust praying to not fuck everything up. โAm I that obvious?โ
Ami smiled up at him. โI just really think itโs unfair that theyโre assuming things that I didnโt actually get to experience.โ
He shook his head. โDonโt.โ
โDonโt what? Talk about how Charlie and Naomi are assuming their matchmaking worked and we spent the entire weekend you were in New York in bed together?โ
โAmi,โ he said, his voice low with warning.
โHey, youโre the one looking at me like youโve seen me naked and want to again,โ she said. โDonโt blame me.โ
He tossed back the rest of his drink, wished it was alcohol and not just soda, reminded himself that staying completely sober while Ami was in town for the first time since New York was a really, really good idea, and said, โThatโs not how Iโm looking at you.โ
She put a hand on her hip. โThen how would you describe the way youโve been watching me from across the room but totally ignoring me whenever weโre close enough to talk?โ
โLike Iโve been jerking off practically every night for the past three months because I didnโt get you naked, and like since you got back to town Iโve been constantly about ten seconds away from picking you up, taking you home, and tying you to my bed for the next week or two.โ
Okay, so even without alcohol he was going to be dangerously inappropriate. And honest. Just as heโd feared.
Her eyes went wide.
Then she grinned. โYes. Youโre right. Thatโs a much better, more specific, description.โ
*****
Review:
This was such a quick read for me – I loved Michael & Ami together. While not as quirky and humorous as some of the previous stories, Nicholas does an excellent job, like always, of blending the lighthearted moments with those that have a more emotional impact, while not forgetting to give her readers some heat as well.
Ami only knows how to be pretty but it’s something she’s really good at. Good enough for it to pay well, allowing her to support herself while helping others. And good enough to take her the NYC, far away from Louisiana and far away from those she loves.
Michael is a fixer and needs to be as involved as possible in the lives of those he loves. He has to be there to help solve ALL the things so a long distance relationship will definitely not work for him. Unfortunately Ami’s life continues to take her to places far from Michael.
I appreciate how both Michael and Ami approach themselves and each other with understanding of their needs. They are as honest as they can be and lay it out there for the other to see. Sometimes it means that they don’t get exactly what they want but it does mean that they are true to what is best for them at any given moment. As Ami’s (and Michael’s) world is rocked by an accident, and she heads to Autre to figure out what is next, the two may finally be given an opportunity for a future … if they can find a path that works for them both.
With this new series, Nicholas delivers more serious, impactful stories with the same finesse that she’s given us their more unconventional predecessors and, as always, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what’s in store next.
(Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.)
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as sheโs been reading them. To date, sheโs written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as โtoe-curling,โ โenchanting,โ โsteamy,โ and โfun.โ She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be โshockedโ by the sex scenes in her books).
Gotta Be Bayou, an all-new grumpy-sunshine, small town romance from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is now available!
Gotta Be Bayou
Badges of the Bayou series
by Erin Nicholas
Blurb:
How do you get over a woman you never should have been, ahem, under in the first place?
Just when FBI special agent Spencer Landry had decided to forget about investigative journalist Maxine-Max-Keller and their one hot night together, there’s a threat made against her and Spencer’s protective instincts get all riled up. Again.
So now they’re shacking up on the Louisiana bayou and pretending to be in love so he can keep Max safe until the guy is apprehended.
Considering their chemistry and that he can not stop thinking about the gorgeous-and-doesn’t-know-it, smart-mouthed, bold-and-yet-vulnerable redhead, this could be a fun few days, right?
Nope. She’s all wrong for him.
And she hasn’t forgotten he can be kind of a jerk.
Sure, the naked-times are great, but he told her exactly what he wantsโ a bubbly, sweet school teacher who bakes him brownies and loves to cuddleโand Max ain’t it.
Max not only doesn’t bake, no one has ever called her sweet. And cuddling? Shudder.
Plus his bossiness is super annoying for someone who’s been taking care of herself all her life. But now they’re stuck together and dammit, besides being hot and very good with his mouth, Spencer is pretty irresistible with baby goats, little kids, and attempts at baking. And don’t forget alpha-protective. All of which makes her stomach feel very swoop-y. No wonder her clothes keep falling off.
But this is a temporary situation and they’re only faking it. So falling for the guy is a terrible idea.
Well, her feet were on him anyway. Actually, her legs from the knees down.
Sheโd started just propped against the opposite end of the couch, with her crossword puzzle book open on the arm. Sheโd mostly focused on the puzzle, but heโd noticed her smiling and even laughing a couple of times at the TV.
Eventually, sheโd propped her head on her hand and just watched. Then her eyes started drifting shut. Then her head was on the arm of the couch.
But when she wanted to get comfortable, she got comfortable.
Sheโd scooted down to rest her head on the couch cushion and stretched out. Including putting her feet in Spencerโs lap.
Heโd had to catch her heels in his hands to keep her from kicking him in the balls.
And then heโd just held her feet, rubbing his thumbs along the arches of her feet, and absorbing the sound of her contented sigh and loving the way she cuddled deeper into the couch.
Heโd wanted her to feel safe and be comfortable and relaxed.
Mission accomplished.
The woman was sound asleep.
At 8:30 p.m.
The episode ended and Spencer realized he didnโt remember a thing from what heโd watched. Heโd been paying attention to Max.
Of course heโd started with the way her soft cotton shorts molded to the curve of her hips and ass. The way the matching tank hugged her waist and breasts. There was no way he could have ignored that. He was drawn to this woman and the part that didnโt confuse him was his attraction to her body.
Now, having those sweet curves within touching distance again and barely covered, absolutely drew his attention. But with her asleep, and him unable to really do anything, he also had the chance to simply study her up close.
Her eyelashes were pale and had a reddish hue. Of course they did. She was a redhead. But heโd never thought about the color of a womanโs eyelashes before. Now he was fascinated. Did she wear mascara? He was going to have to pay attention to see the next time she was awake.
She stirred, shifting, moving her feet against his hands and he stroked a hand up one calf. It wasnโt perfectly smooth. There was just a slight prickle, but he didnโt mind at all. In fact, he wanted to feel that against his thighs and hips as she wrapped her legs around him. It was real and he wanted to feel her legs in every stage from freshly shaved to havenโt-had-a-chance-for-days.
Wow, she was truly asleep. He should make her go to bed.
โMax?โ he asked softly.
She didnโt even wiggle.
โMax?โ he asked a little louder, squeezing her foot gently.
She just breathed in deeply, then out.
He should just carry her into bed. He could just scoop her up and take her into the bedroom.
Spencer shifted her legs so he could stand. Then he leaned over. She was on her side, so he pushed gently against her shoulder, rolling her to her back. She went with a sigh, one hand moving to rest on her chest. Perfect. Spencer slid an arm under her knees and one behind her back.
And everything was great until he started to lift.
She came awake suddenly. She kicked her legs, flailed her arms, and her head lifted instinctively to look around. Her forehead hit Spencer in the chin. Hard.
His head snapped back and his teeth clamped down on his tongue.
โFuck!โ he swore in surprised pain.
โAhhh!โ she yelled.
She was still kicking and waving her arms and he unceremoniously dropped her one foot back onto the couch cushions.
โMax! Itโs me!โ
She kicked out, her shin connecting with his thigh.
That fucking hurt too.
โMax!โ He pinned her arms down against the couch. โMax! Itโs Spencer!โ
Her eyes were wide and not fully focused.
She just yelled again. โAhhhhh!โ
Dammit. The cottage next door was going to think they needed to call the cops.
Which was Zander.
Spencer did not want Zander showing up here, grinning and smirking and writing up a report about how Spencer had tried to sweetly carry Max to bed and sheโd thought he was attacking her.
โMaxine!โ he said sharply, putting a leg across hers to keep her from kicking and, against his better judgement, placing a hand over her mouth. โStop it. Itโs me.โ
Her eyes flew to his as he put his face directly in front of hers.
โItโs Spencer.โ
She suddenly went still. Her gaze focused and she stopped moving and he felt her pull in a long breath.
He waited another few seconds, making sure that she realized who was holding her down.
Slowly he removed his hand. โOkay?โ he asked.
She drew in another long breath and blew it out. She nodded. โYeah.โ
โHoly shit, Max.โ
โWhat happened?โ
โYou were sleeping like the dead, so I decided to carry you into the bedroom. And you turned into the Tasmanian devil.โ
โWell, I’m not used to people picking me up in the middle of the night.โ
That made him chuckle. โIt’s not even 9 p.m.โ
โWellโฆ still.โ
He liked that she was at a loss for words. That was unusual.
Slowly, he became aware of the fact that he was pinning her to the couch. With almost his entire body.
In spite of the fact that sheโd been fighting off an intruder in her imagination and heโd been fearing for his manhood, his eyes, nose, and jaw, it didn’t take long for his body to register that this felt really nice.
The couch was big enough for the two of them to lie together. He wasn’t entirely on top of her, but almost half of him was pinning more than half of her to the cushions.
โI, umโฆ didnโt mean to squash you. Self-preservation instinct.โ
She smiled. โYou’re not squashing me.โ Her voice was soft and a little breathless.
Their gazes locked. โI did this, honestly, to keep you from hurting me or yourself. But mostly me.โ
She wet her lips and nodded. โI believe you.โ
โSo, I could probably get up now. You seem a lot more calm.โ
โFunny, I don’t exactly feel calm.โ
His heart kicked against his rib cage. A moment ago sheโd been ready to claw his eyes out. The moment before that sheโd been so deeply asleep that she hadn’t realized he was even there. But now, her gaze was hot and she was breathing fast, and she was definitely not wearing a bra with this pajama set.
Spencerโs entire body responded. โYou fell asleep really fast. And very deep,โ he said, his voice husky.
โI often fall asleep on the couch. Never that deeply, though. I guess I felt really safe with you.โ
Damn, he liked that. He felt the corner of his mouth curl. โUntil I tried to pick you up.โ
โSorry. Instinct.โ
โHonestly the cop part of me is very glad that your instinct is to fight hard when someone does something unexpected.โ
โGood.โ She gave a little nod. โI guess that means you just need to be sure I’m expecting anything you do.โ
He nodded slowly and his gaze dropped to her mouth. โGood idea. For instance, if I was going to kiss you, I should make sure that you knew that.โ
She nodded. โRight.โ
โMax.โ
โYeah?โ
โI’m going to kiss you.โ
โGood.โ
*****
Review:
Nicholas is the best at bringing zaniness, steam, and emotion to her stories. There were laugh-out-loud moments, more than a few of sweetness, and quite a bit heat, but also a few things that made my heart hurt.
Max pretty much has been on her own all her life. Left alone a lot as a kid, she had to learn to fend for herself. It’s turn her into a very capable adult, but it also means that she has trouble letting people in. Then she meets Spencer. Spencer who has a very definite idea of what his ideal partner will be like and she’s nothing like Max. Only he can’t stop thinking about her. Wanting her. And she’s feeling the same.
Both Spencer and Max have a few things to work through and I have to say one of my favorite things is how they resolve their issues. I love when an author avoids the idea that love can fix anything. Instead, Max and Spencer handle things in a mature & healthy fashion which made this reader very happy. I can’t wait to see what is in store for the rest of the badges.
(First book in a spinoff series, can be read as a stand alone but there are a lot of people to meet for the first time and figure out how they are all related. Even after reading most of the books, it was difficult for me a time or two ๐ )
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as sheโs been reading them. To date, sheโs written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as โtoe-curling,โ โenchanting,โ โsteamy,โ and โfun.โ She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be โshockedโ by the sex scenes in her books).
Enemies to friends to almost lovers … then back to kind-of enemies … to lovers. For a guy who wanted to keep things simple this is anything but.
Fiona knew Knox would be mad when she moved in next door.
And not because she brought a collection of wild animals with her.
And she was right.
So she intended to leave him alone. Mostly.
But heโs not ignoring her. Heโs actively working to send her and her โridiculous menagerieโ (rude) right back out of town.
Still, as hard as she tries, itโs impossible to stop thinking about the small town grumpโs long hair and tattoos and that mouth.
Not the one thatโs almost always set in a grim line and says things like, โyou got a permit for that?โ
Nope, the one that kisses her like sheโs everything heโs ever wanted and says very dirty things in her ear. And sweet, protective, supportive things. Sometimes. Accidentally. When she catches him off-guard.
The one that also says he only wants a long-distance fling with her. Nothing serious. And that he never dates women he sees every day. Like his neighbor.
Well, fine. If he doesnโt want herโand her unbelievable past and that-canโt-be-real futureโthen she doesnโt want him either. He can just kiss herโฆgiraffe. (Yeah, she actually has a couple of those.)
Now she just needs to convince her heart to give him up.
โRemember that thing we talked about at Christmas?”
Knox felt his gut clench. They’d talked about sleeping together. And him becoming the temporary foster dad to three baby otters.
And they’d kissed for the first time. A kiss that had been causing annoying, unwelcome, frustrating dirty dreams for three fucking months.
“About having a salacious affair where we sneak around behind our friends’ backs and sleep together whenever I’m in town?” she pressed when he didn’t answer.
“Yes. I remember.”
Too well. He was incredibly pissed about how often he’d replayed that conversation and how restless he’d been waiting for her to call or come back to Autre.
He didn’t pine for women. Ever. He did the opposite of that.
But now she was here. And Knox wasn’t sure what he was feeling. Her showing up unannounced wasn’t unusual. Fiona Grady rolled into Autre without warning more often than not in her grape-soda-purple truck that sent his heart hammering and cock hardening.
But it had been three months since he’d seen her. Since they’d talked. Since he’d had any clue what she was doing, where she was, how she was.
Suddenly, she was on his doorstep asking about their plan to bang whenever she was in town for a couple of days?
“Okay, well, there’s something I need to tell you that will make you not want to do that anymore,” she said. “So I was wondering if maybe you wanted to get naked together once before I told you and ruined everything?”
He opened his mouth to reply. Then shut it without a word. What the hell?
He glanced over his shoulder. Three minutes ago, he’d been sitting at his kitchen table doing paperwork with a cup of coffee and listening to a podcast about new creative urban development ideas.
Now the woman he was low-level obsessed with was on his porch asking if he wanted to have sex before she told him something that would make him not want to have sex with her anymore.
He ran a hand through his hair. This was why Fiona Grady was no good for him. She came into his carefully controlled and organized life and made things chaotic and messy.
“Are you sick?” he asked.
“Sick? No.”
“Dying?”
“No.”
“Is anyone dying?”
“No.”
“Are you married?” He braced himself. He knew very little about this woman, actually, and if she belonged to someone else, he’dโฆ leave her alone. And hate that man. And never forgive her for stirring him up like this.
“Absolutely not.”
“Engaged?”
“No.”
Okay, that was allโฆway too much of a relief. He should not be this happy to hear that.
“Did you kill someone?” he asked.
She tipped her head, her mouth curling. “Is that a definite deal-breaker?”
No, probably not. Knox narrowed his eyes.
“No, I haven’t killed anyone.”
“Are the Feds looking for you? Or will I be implicated in some kind of crime if I let you in?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“That’s not a no.”
“I’m just being honest.”
Fair enough. Fiona was a wild animal advocate. The type of person to show up at roadside petting zoos and ‘circuses’ to monitor how the animals were treated and hand out literature to people attending the events, raising awareness about the poor conditions and treatment of those animals. She showed up to help rescue and care for animals, wild and domestic, after natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires. She regularly lobbied local, state, and even the national government for animal protections.
The chance that she could have done something in the “gray area” for one of her causes was pretty good.
The problem with that was he knew that wouldn’t keep him from wanting her.
She was precisely the kind of woman he should be avoiding.
He studied her face for another long moment, then gave in to the inevitable. He pushed his door open.
“Yeah?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
She wasn’t dying, wasn’t married, and hadn’t killed anyone. And he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted another woman in his life. So how was he possibly going to shut the door on her? After three months of missing her? He wasn’t that strong. Or stupid.
*****
Review:
So I’ve been enjoying Knox and Fiona dancing around each other for quite a few books now, and I was really looking forward to their story, but I’ll admit that I was really convinced early on that Knox was beyond a … jerk. Then he shares his reasons for wanting a long distance relationship (which was a big of a surprise) and my heart just went out to him. I didn’t think that I could like him any more than I did coming in but then he showed us his ooey-gooey center and he’s now my favorite book boyfriend – nerdy, sexy, intense, and sweet.
Fiona is still sassy, strong, and committed to her animals, to her loved ones, and to ruffling Knox’s well put together feathers. Her secrets are just as audacious as she is and nothing less than we should have expected from her. I loved getting to know her (and those close to her) better as the story unfolds. She understands Knox as no one else does and truly appreciates him. If she can only convince him that they can make a relationship work.
Small town charm, boisterous characters, and enough heat to keep things interesting all mix together to give readers a satisfying conclusion to the Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series (although, never fear – there are more books coming from this world).
*Part of a series but can be enjoyed as a stand alone, although the prequal Otterly Into You is a must read and currently free on Amazon.*
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as sheโs been reading them. To date, sheโs written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as โtoe-curling,โ โenchanting,โ โsteamy,โ and โfun.โ She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be โshockedโ by the sex scenes in her books).
What happens when a hellraiser turned hot cop is stuck with a headstrong heiress heโs determined to protect…and resist?
A run-away bride, wearing a freakinโ tiara, and carrying a stolen lion cub, of all things. This was not how rowdy, bad-boy-turned-small-town-cop, Zander Landry expected his day to go.
He really didnโt expect his night to end with her sleeping in his bed after her near-kidnapping.
But his intense attraction to her and the feelings of protectiveness she stirs up? Oh, yeah, he knew those were coming.
Sheโs stunning, whip-smart, and trouble with a capital T.
Which means, he needs her to head right back the way she came. ASAP.
His town is exactly the way he wants it . . . crazy and trouble free.
Well, the crazy trouble heโs not related to anyway.
Stranded in a tiny town in her half-million-dollar wedding gown with no money and no place to go . . . today is going pretty much exactly the way Caroline Holland expected it to.
But the grumpy, tattooed, oh-my-god hot cop being the answer to all her problems isnโt at all what she expected.
Now that sheโs turned all the criminal (and obnoxious) info about her exotic-animal-dealing ex-fiance over to Zander, she can kick back in a hammock with some sweet tea and relax.
Or not.
Turns out Carolineโs not the spoiled heiress Zander thinks she is. The gorgeous hellion wants in on the action and soon discovers just how dirty things can get in the bayou. And the bedroom.
More and more, Zander just wants her safe on the sidelines. But Caroline isnโt going anywhere until justice is done.
Itโs a clash of wills thatโs gonna get hotter than a crawfish boil in July. And the most fun the Landry family has had watching sparks fly since . . . well, the last book.
Zander turned to look at the woman with a brow up. โAnything else you’d like to tell me?โ
She met his eyes directly. She studied him, seemingly thinking over his question. Finally, she nodded. โYeah, I think so.โ
โOkay. Whatโs going on?โ
โIt might take a bit. Want to buy me a drink?โ She glanced back toward Ellieโs.
Did he want to take the gorgeous woman in a wedding dress with another manโs ring on her finger who had almost been kidnapped right in front of him back inside his grandmotherโs bar where most of his family and a lot of the town was gathered?
He most certainly did not.
โNo,โ he said simply.
Caroline looked surprised. โCan weโโShe looked aroundโโat least go somewhere else?โ
That seemed like a good idea. She was very conspicuous here and his family could, at any moment, come out. And start asking questions. Not to mention that the would-be kidnapper now knew where she was.
โIs there a chance your fiancรฉ is going to come back?โ Of course there was. A man didnโt just let this woman go.
She bit her bottom lip and looked up the road. Then she nodded. โYeah, thereโs a chance. Or that heโll tell someone else where I am.โ She looked at Zander again. โBut that was my brother. Not my fiancรฉ.โ
Oh, that was interesting.
No, it fucking isnโt. Knock it off.
โSo, will your fiancรฉ be coming after you?โ
โEx-fiancรฉ.โ
Right. Sheโd mentioned that.
โOkay. Will he come after you?โ
She didnโt answer right away. Which Zander also found interesting. Though he shouldnโt. He did not want to be interested in this woman. At all. He didnโt want anyone getting kidnapped while they were in Autre, though, either. Okay, he didnโt really want anyone getting kidnapped, period. But especially while they were in Autre.
โThereโs a chance,โ Caroline finally admitted. โOr my dad might come. Or my ex-fiancรฉโs dad might come.โ
โAnd you donโt want to go back with any of them? Is that right?โ
โYes.โ
Well, fuck. He had to at least be sure she didnโt get taken anywhere by anyone against her will.
She studied him for a long moment. โSo, youโre willing to help me, Officer Landry?โ
Her questionโand her voice and her eyes and her everything, if he was being honest with himself which he decided to not beโsent a shot of something through Zander’s chest.
It was the familiar streak of adrenaline he often felt with his work. It primed his gut to act on instinct when necessary, it made him ready to take on people intent on doing bad things and face potential danger, and it focused his mind. But he also recognized the sliver of trepidation. It wasnโt fear or reluctance. It wasโฆawareness. Like knowing he was about to open a big old can of worms.
But he nodded. โHelping people with problems is kind of my job.โ
โThen I would love to tell you whatโs going on.โ
He wanted that. And it wasnโt the cop in him thinking that.
Fuck. Dammit. Hell. Sonofabitch.
โOkay. Letโs goโฆsomeplace your brother doesnโt know about.โ
โLike your place?โ
Yes. He wanted her at his place. That was the safest. He could definitely keep her safe there. His property was at the end of a dead-end road so the only traffic was trucks he knew. His neighbors were his brothers and cousins. His backyard butted up to the bayou.
But fuck no. He wasnโt taking this woman anywhere near his house. Where his bedroom was.
She was dangerous. He couldnโt sort through all the reasons why at the moment, not while looking into her eyes and wondering how soft her skin was and how silky her hair was, but he had enough self-preservation instinct to keep her away from his house.
โIโm thinking the B & B.โ
He grabbed her suitcase and started for his truck.
โBut he might think to look there,โ she protested. She gathered up her enormous skirts and followed him though.
โIโll tell Heather not to tell anyone anything about you,โ Zander told her, storing her bag behind the front seat and then turning to face her.
Dammit.
Again with the eyes. And hair. And lips. Okay, he hadnโt included the lips in the earlier inventory, but they were great too.
So he liked female lips. Big deal. These were not that exceptional. What the hell was wrong with him?
Sheโs probably your damned soulmate or some shit and the second you touch her hand youโre going to feel sparks.
Iโm not going to feel sparks. Thatโs a stupid clichรฉ. But I have to get some war biographies. Or maybe something about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Something about women who are amazing but not sexy. It doesnโt have to be about sexy all the time. Get away from those romance novels.
The thing was, smart, bold women like RBG were sexy in their own way and if Zander had been Ruthโs age and run into her at a bar when she was single, he absolutely would have hit on her.
โAre you okay?โ Caroline asked, stepping forward with a slight frown.
He jerked out of his stupid thoughts. โYeah. Iโm fine. Youโre the one with the problem.โ
Well, that had sounded rude as fuck.
Her eyes widened, but then she nodded. โYeah. I am. We should definitely work on my problem. Itโs going to keep getting bigger if we donโt.โ
Zander sighed. He didnโt even know what that meant butโฆof course it was.
*****
Review:
I love the Landry clan – every quirky, charming, grumpy, loving, boisterous part of it. Zander is the protector and his love for his family means he has to keep things going as smooth as possible & try to keep everyone out of trouble (ha!). So a beautiful woman in a wedding dress carrying a lion cub definitely doesn’t work for him. Caroline is just as fierce and strong, with a big heart. She’s spent most of her life trying to make sure that those doing wrong pay and her latest project has her in Autre for help, putting her right in Zander’s sights.
These Bayou books always bring a chuckle, a good bit of heat, and a lot of emotion. Nicholas knows how to bring characters that are entertaining & relatable and her writing is both humorous & heartfelt, combining to give readers a story that’s fun, low angst, easy-to-read, and quite satisfying.
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as sheโs been reading them. To date, sheโs written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as โtoe-curling,โ โenchanting,โ โsteamy,โ and โfun.โ She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be โshockedโ by the sex scenes in her books).
Head Over Hooves, a must read small town romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is available today!
Head Over Hooves
Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series
by Erin Nicholas
Blurb:
You know in movies where the big city girl lands in a small town for the holidays and falls for the hunky guy who saves Christmas?
This isnโt that story.
But this guy does look fantastic in flannel. And out of flannelโฆ
Finding true love with his one-and-only soul mate? Drew Ryanโs given up on that.
But a hot holiday fling in Louisiana, far from his responsibilities and good guy image back home, is now on the top of his list for Santa.
So when heโs knocked on his assโliterallyโby a Christmas elf whoโs stealing a sleigh full of gifts and using his reindeer to commit the crime, he definitely doesnโt expect to fall head over heels.
This holiday couldnโt get any worse for Rory Robins.
First, her hair wasnโt supposed to turn green. Itโs not even Christmas green.
And the elf costume wasnโt supposed to be two sizes too small.
And her con-man father wasnโt supposed to show up and go all real-life-Grinch on her beloved new hometown.
And she definitely wasnโt supposed to run into anyone while trying to fix the problem. Especially not the hunky guy who already seems too good to be true.
But he does have a way of making her “cocoa” even hotter and a whole lot sweeter…
Still, he lives in Iowa. The only good thing her father ever gave her was a healthy distrust of men who are never around. Sheโs not doing a long-distance thing.
This little fling is only going to last as long as the temporary color of her hair.
Only nothing seems to be fading. And she might be asking Santa for just one more thingโฆ
Nicholas’s newest is seriously cute, definitely funny, and quite steamy. I haven’t read any of the Iowa stories so Drew is new to me but I could appreciate his need to go somewhere new and let loose a little. He’s a good guy but he’s also got a naughty side and unfortunately no one at home is able to reconcile the two. A week in Louisiana sounds like the perfect opportunity to get a bit wild … except the first person he runs into isn’t the wild bayou fling he was hoping for. And their attraction is gonna be hard to resist.
Rory had her sense of security ripped away as a child and is desperately trying to find community & belonging in adulthood. In Autre, the Landrys are the epitome of a big, loving family and she is hoping to use Christmas to prove to them that she’s responsible and … worthy? Unfortunately she quickly realizes she’s over her head and, with her dad in the picture, it can only get worse. Meeting Drew is definitely a high point in a quickly spiraling day.
There is definitely insta-love, but it doesn’t make the romance any less enjoyable. Their’s is a connection that helps them understand & appreciate each other. It’s a connection that sizzles but also supports, allowing them to show all of themselves and to be accepted (even embraced) for it. It’s caring, comfort, encouragement, and chemistry all in one.
I think Head Over Hooves is my favorites by this author (not that I’ve read ALL that many) and quite possibly one of the most enjoyable stories I’ve read in a while. Nicholas is known for combining fun & zaniness with all the feels in her books and it’s no different here. She makes sure that readers understand where Rory is coming from and why she’s trying so hard to prove herself. She also makes sure that everyone, including Rory and Drew, see that he can be a stand-up guy while still embracing the bad boy underneath. It’s sexy and sweet and pretty much impossible to resist! And it wouldn’t be a BotBGW book without a good dose of the boisterous Landrys, escape artist goats, a trip to jail, and big bowl of Ellie’s gumbo ๐
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as sheโs been reading them. To date, sheโs written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as โtoe-curling,โ โenchanting,โ โsteamy,โ and โfun.โ She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be โshockedโ by the sex scenes in her books).
Sealed With a Kiss, an all-new romantic comedy filled with heated chemistry from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas is available now!
Sealed With a Kiss
Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild
by Erin Nicholas
Blurb:
Whatโs a girl to do when her celebrity crush needs her to be his fake girlfriend?
Keep her damned feelings to herself, of course.
Child TV star turned adult wallflower Naomi LeClaire has vowed never to return to the spotlight.
But when sheโs stuck in a storm with Donovan Foster, the hot, charming, wild-life rescuing internet sensation, and she finally gives in and kisses him…and a few articles of clothing end up on the floor…suddenly her simple, quiet life is tossed upside down.
Especially after the paparazzi catches a heat-of-the-moment kiss. Now everyone assumes she’s his girlfriend and, when she realizes thatโs the best way to keep Donovan out of trouble, Naomi agrees to play along. Even though it puts her center stage with her private life in very public view. Again.
Theyโre a whirlwind of opposites-attract chemistry the fans love, but they’ll surely blow over faster than a Gulf Coast hurricane. As long as they can keep straight what’s real and what’s just a once-in-a-lifetime fantasy.
Naomi has been embracing her quiet life, loving & supporting her family & friends without drawing a lot of attention to herself. Falling in love with a man who thinks nothing of throwing himself on top of an alligator was so not part of her plans. But then she wasn’t in Donovan’s plans either, since he usually doesn’t stick around long enough to get emotionally attached. Here they are though … now what?
I really like Donovan and Naomi together. He shakes things up for her a little, helping her find a new passion, while she helps him realize that he’s loved and appreciated. There’s plenty of heat between the two, but there is also a lot of time spent exploring their feelings and learning more about themselves as well as each other. And it isn’t a Bayou book without it’s fair share of hilarious moments, flirty banter, and Autre hijinks.
Nicholas definitely knows how to give her readers a great mix of humor, fun, and spice. I haven’t read many of her stories but now that I’ve found her I look forward to every single one of her Bayou books. These Louisiana boys are all swagger, orneriness, & trouble – they need a smart, sassy woman to take them on and I love every minute of it. It is definitely a hoot to watch them lose their hearts.
(Standalone but it helps to have read at least some of the rest of the books to truly enjoy their eclectic, boisterous, loving group. It wouldn’t surprise me if the last couple of chapters have you searching for the rest of the books!)
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as sheโs been reading them. To date, sheโs written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as โtoe-curling,โ โenchanting,โ โsteamy,โ and โfun.โ She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be โshockedโ by the sex scenes in her books).
Flipping Love You, an all-new STEAMY and laugh-out-loud, surprise baby standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is available now!
*****
Flipping Love You
Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series
by Erin Nicholas
Blurb:
He’s the tattooed bad boy her mama warned her about.
She’s his hot mess–but mostly hot–next door neighbor.ย
Until a two-night-stand gives them the surprise of a lifetime…
Jillian Morris is a workaholic who forgets to watch the time. And to eat. And to change her shoes. And to keep even a house-plant alive. And to have any kind of a personal life.
Now an eccentric millionaire has left her eight million dollars. And eight penguins. Yes, real live penguins. She’s a wildlife vet who specializes in penguins, so that makes sense. Kind of. She can, and does, keep penguins alive and well. She now just has to move them cross-country to her friend’s new animal park.
So if anyone deserves a one-night (or two) stand with a hot, younger, tattooed bad boy on a motorcycle, it’s her. Or so Jill tells herself when Zeke Landry flips his bike in front of her motel.
If only she’d known who he really was.
And that he was the fall-hard-and-fast type.
And the protective type.
And that one night would turn into more like nine-months of being …sigh…very personal.
Her eyes followed the motion, seemingly riveted on his arm. He wasnโt sure if it was the tattoo or what exactly. But he did know that Jillian was fascinated with his ink. She had traced all of it with her fingers and tongue last night more than once. And he had a lot of ink.
โIโm the guy whoโs remodeling your house.โ
Her eyes widened. โWeโre going to be neighbors.โ
He let his grin grow slowly. โYup.โ
She tipped her head back and groaned.
But it wasnโt one of the hot oh-my-God-yes groans sheโd been giving him last night. This was more of oh-crap groan.
โYouโre clearly not as excited about that as I am,โ he said dryly.
Her head came up and she met his eyes. Now there was no roaming over his half naked body. She shook her head. โIt just feels complicated to live next door to the guy Iโm hooking up with once a month.โย
He was confused. โWeโre hooking up once a month?โ
โWell, that was what I was going to propose anyway. Friends with benefits, you know? After last night I thought that could be kind of fun.โ
โThat would be fun. Very, very fun,โ he said. โBut why only once a month? Iโm up for that kind of fun way more often.โ
โSure. But then it turns into more like dating or a relationship or something rather than just getting together for hot sex.โ
โAnd I take it the relationship and dating thing is something youโre trying to avoid?โ
โVery much so. And living next door to you means that weโll see each other occasionally and since youโll be saving me from alligators on a regular basis, we could potentially turn into actual friends. And that makes the hooking up even more complicated.โ
Having the sun up hadnโt made him feel any less attracted to, slightly confused by, surprised by, and definitely amused by this woman. โBut friends with benefits has friends right in the title.โ
This all sounded good to him. Having a neighbor he could get naked with whenever the urge struck, who didnโt want anything else from him, sounded pretty great.
โIโm just really not interested in a relationship,โ Jill went on. โIโm not good at them. And I donโt really have time for them. And I donโt put the effort into them, which ends up bothering the other person after a while. Which is understandable. Iโm not blaming anyone. I just really like to have everything laid out and everyone on the same page. And I like sex. It would be really perfect to be able to have amazing sex, but only when itโs convenient.โ
Zeke gave a soft snort. Convenient hot sex. It really did sound pretty amazing.
โIf you just want to walk through my door, only wearing a robe and nothing underneath to save time, Iโm not gonna kick you out, cher,โ he told her. He was half-teasing. But only half.ย ย
She finally gave him a hint of a smile. โI can just show up on your front porch anytime I want?โ
He reached up and cupped the side of her head. He brought her in close and put his mouth against hers. โAny freaking time.โ
*****
Review:
I’ve featured a lot of Erin Nicholas’s books, but have only managed to read a couple. Don’t ask my why, I’ve really enjoyed the ones that I have read. Andย Flipping Love Youย is no different. Her characters are quirky, charming, and fun. The plot is interesting, the sex is steamy, and the ending is satisfying.
Jill is adorable in her efforts to keep her life outside of her penguins as uncomplicated as possible. Her solitary, independent life has worked for her until now but moving to Autre puts her in the path of the Landrys and their loud, boisterous, loving hearts. Especially, one particular Landry – sexy, funny, irresistible Zeke. It doesn’t take her long to learn that things are done a little bit differently on the bayou … and realize that maybe that’s not so bad.
Nicholas’s newest is a humor laden, relatively drama free, sizzling romance that is a perfect summer read. Returning readers are sure to love the chance to catch up with old friends and see Zeke meet his match. (But if this is your first visit to Autre, like me, you can easily keep up. Although you may be tempted to get ALL the books, like me ๐ )
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as sheโs been reading them. To date, sheโs written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as โtoe-curling,โ โenchanting,โ โsteamy,โ and โfun.โ She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be โshockedโ by the sex scenes in her books).
Four Weddings And A Swamp Boat Tour, an all-new swoon-worthy Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series standalone romance from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas, is available now!
*****
Four Weddings And A Swamp Boat Tour
Boys of the Bayou Gone Wild series
by Erin Nicholas
Blurb:
Sheโs been proposed to five times.
Five.
She even said yes to one of them.
And then broke his heart when she called it off. Not to mention her motherโs heart. And her grandmotherโs. And his motherโs. Andโฆyou get the picture.ย
Paige Asher has now officially sworn off all dating. Diamonds give her hives.
All she wants is to be a yoga-doing, cat-collecting, vegetarian in peace. Away from her marriage-crazy family and all their expectations.ย
So when her weekend fling turns into a real friend and offers her a place to escape, she finds herself on his doorstep in Louisiana. And right in the middle of not just one family wedding, but three. Of course.
Charming, sexy bayou boy Mitch Landry gets stuff done. Whatever anyone needs. From alligator-sitting to getting a buddy drunk to showing a woman a good time to fixing a swamp boat, heโs the man. No problem.ย No drama.
But he wants a hell of a lot more from Paige than a temporary friends-with-benefits arrangement. He wants to take care of her. And her five cats. He also really wants other men to stop asking her to marry them.ย
But if a roommate and a few orgasms are all she wants, thatโs what heโll deliver.
He can just be her friend and not commit the greatest sin of allโฆasking her for forever.ย
โYou need to go to your room,โ he said, his voice a little tight.
โI will. You too.โ
โYeah, butโโ He sighed. โYouโre right by my door.โ
She looked at the closed bedroom door again. And smiled. โI guess I am.โ
She didnโt want to torture the guy. He was trying to be noble. Or something. But she wouldnโt deny that she liked that resisting her would be difficult.
โYou need to move away from my bedroom door, Paige.โ His voice was a little gruffer.ย
โYouโre in my way of getting to my bedroom too,โ she pointed out.ย
โBut are you tempted to throw me over your shoulder and say to hell with all of your good intentions? Already? Within twenty minutes of deciding you even have good intentions?โ
She laughed even as warmth filled her. Not just heat. Not lusty heat anyway. But a feel-good warmth that she didnโt quite understand. But she liked it. โKind of.โ
He swallowed hard. Then said, โGo to bed, Paige.โ
She moved to the right, away from his door. As he came forward, she playfully pressed her back against the far wall.ย
He smiled, in spite of himself, and went to his bedroom door. He twisted the knob but paused and looked over at her.ย
She inched her way toward her bedroom, still against the wall. When she got to her door she reached for the knob and shot him a smile. โGoodnight, Mitch.โ
โโNight.โ
โAnd Iโm just right here if you have any night time needs. Bad dreams.โ She paused. โGood dreams.โ
โStop it.โ
โStop what? Just being a good friend.โ She grinned.
โMy dreams might include white dresses and tuxes,โ he warned.
Again, no sense of oh shit. Instead she tipped her head. โYouโre pretty good at bringing all of that up without asking the four-word question.โ
He didnโt comment on that. โSee you in the morning.โ
โOkay.โ She gave him another smile, then slipped into her room, feeling his eyes still on her until the door shut.ย
She slumped against it, pressing her hand to her stomach.ย
Dammit. She really liked him.ย
It was really too bad they werenโt going to kiss anymore.
*****
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erin Nicholas has been writing romances almost as long as sheโs been reading them. To date, sheโs written over thirty sexy, contemporary novels that have been described as โtoe-curling,โ โenchanting,โ โsteamy,โ and โfun.โ She adores reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines, and happily ever afters.
Erin lives in the Midwest, where she enjoys spending time with her husband (who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books), her kids (who will never read the sex scenes in her books), and her family and friends (who claim to be โshockedโ by the sex scenes in her books).
Romantic Reads and Such 