Release Boost - Hot Chicken by LM Fox

Title: Hot Chicken

A Man of the Month

Christmas in July Series Novella

Author: LM Fox
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Unrequited Love/Small Town Beach Romance

Release Date: July 31, 2023

BLURB

Matt

Returning to my hometown to help care for my ailing mother

wasn’t on my radar at age twenty-eight.

But neither was Ellie Albright.

This small seaside town and its obsession with Christmas

had me packed and ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Who knew a trip to the corner convenience store

could make this holiday grump want to grovel?

Because this girl is all I can think about,

and I’m not wasting my chance this time.

Ellie

It’s Christmas in July in Candy Cane Key.

However, winning Best on the Beach is the only thing

on my wishlist.

Definitely not my blazing hot high school crush

turned firefighter who’s come back home.

July is tourist season for our little beach town.

The entire community enjoys a lift in sales

as travelers visit for sun, surf, and holiday silliness.

Yet it’s not as easy when your place of business

is a run-down gas station.

But I’m keeping my eye on the prize.

Not on Matthew Hightower.

That’s one gift even Santa can’t deliver.

This steamy novella is a return to hometown,

unrequited love, small-town beach romance

with a guaranteed HEA!

This is a standalone, but stars characters from Naughty & Nice,

A 2022 Man of the Month Club Sycamore Mountain series novella.

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

UNIVERSAL

Free in Kindle Unlimited

EXCERPT

Matt
I put my truck in park and hop out, walking toward the door with trepidation. I hope the food tastes better than this place looks.
A metal bell chimes overhead as I open the door. I’m surprised to find the inside is quite different than what greets you in the service area of this place. The area is bright with white linoleum floors and shiny gunmetal countertops. There’s a soda fountain and coffee stations to the left and the cashier’s check out to the right. A portly appearing older gentleman appears to be reading the newspaper, sitting on a stool behind the counter.
“Hi. Are you Elliot? I’m working with my brother this summer and he sent me to pick up lunch for his crew.”
“Ah, Harry your brother?” he asks around a toothpick dangling from the corner of his mouth.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, any brother of Harry’s is a friend of mine. I’m Jo.”
“Matt. Nice to meet you. Oh. Salty Jo is you?”
He grins, and I instantly have the feeling this man is a fixture in Candy Cane Key.
“I don’t recall this place from when I grew up here.”
“What’re you? Thirty?”
“Close. Twenty-eight.”
The bell chimes again, and I notice customers meandering around the place. No one seems the slightest bit concerned about the condition of the place. I’m sure they have to pass inspections with the health department, but I still can’t help being a tad concerned about eating lunch from a place like this.
“Well, we’ve been here as long as you’ve been on the planet, son. Although it probably looked a bit better back then. Time and multiple tropical storms have taken their toll on the place. After a while, it gets to feel silly sinking any more money into it. But your brother has come to our aid more than once for the important stuff.”
This makes me smile. My brother really is a good dude.
“Speaking of your brother, I guess we need to keep his boys fed.” Jo removes the toothpick that remains in place throughout our conversation and points toward his right. “Elliot’s over there. In the deli area.” A mischievous smirk curls the corner of his mouth.
What’s that about? “Thanks.”
“Nice to meet you, Matt. Hope to see you ‘round.”
I turn in the direction of the deli and feel my stomach grumble as I’m hit with the aroma of fried chicken. Now I live in a mountain town in North Carolina where home cooking is a staple. So for the scent of these gas station offerings before me to cause me to salivate says something.
Bending forward, I take in the options within the glass case. There are perfectly prepared pieces of chicken, both on and off the bone, macaroni and cheese, green beans, collard greens, baked apples, and an assortment of pies. Hell, they even have banana pudding here. As my eyes travel to the back of the display area, I find I’m drooling for an entirely different reason. A set of shapely calves, thick thighs, and the hottest backside I’ve ever seen is bent over before me. This girl is leaning into the oven while her tiny cut-off shorts ride up her legs, causing my dick to twitch.
Hell, is she on the menu?
As if on cue, she stands to her full height. She’s probably about five foot five, with generous curves in all the right places. Those perky tits have to be at least a C cup, if not more. They are perfectly proportioned to her rounded hips and trim waste. Her thick auburn hair is pulled up in a messy bun, covered with a hair net. Yet, I can’t help picturing it tumbling down her back toward that fantastic ass. Shit. I don’t remember anyone in Candy Cane Key looking like this when I lived here. Well, maybe one girl, but she was just that. A girl. While this one is all woman.
I barely finish my thought before said stunner turns to face me. While I stand here with my mouth hanging open at the beauty wielding silver tongs before me, I’m met with the biggest green eyes I’ve ever seen. She simply gives me the once over as if this happens all the time. This curvy girl has my mouth watering when it suddenly hits me.
Wait. Do these guys come here for the hot chicken or the hot chick?

AUTHOR BIO

Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.

Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.

She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.

AUTHOR LINKS

AMAZON

WEBSITE

LINKTR.EE

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP

INSTAGRAM

TIKTOK

NEWSLETTER

Release Blitz - Hot Chicken by LM Fox

Title: Hot Chicken

A Man of the Month

Christmas in July Series Novella

Author: LM Fox
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Unrequited Love/Small Town Beach Romance

Release Date: July 31, 2023

BLURB

Matt

Returning to my hometown to help care for my ailing mother

wasn’t on my radar at age twenty-eight.

But neither was Ellie Albright.

This small seaside town and its obsession with Christmas

had me packed and ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

Who knew a trip to the corner convenience store

could make this holiday grump want to grovel?

Because this girl is all I can think about,

and I’m not wasting my chance this time.

Ellie

It’s Christmas in July in Candy Cane Key.

However, winning Best on the Beach is the only thing

on my wishlist.

Definitely not my blazing hot high school crush

turned firefighter who’s come back home.

July is tourist season for our little beach town.

The entire community enjoys a lift in sales

as travelers visit for sun, surf, and holiday silliness.

Yet it’s not as easy when your place of business

is a run-down gas station.

But I’m keeping my eye on the prize.

Not on Matthew Hightower.

That’s one gift even Santa can’t deliver.

This steamy novella is a return to hometown,

unrequited love, small-town beach romance

with a guaranteed HEA!

This is a standalone, but stars characters from Naughty & Nice,

A 2022 Man of the Month Club Sycamore Mountain series novella.

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

UNIVERSAL

Free in Kindle Unlimited

EXCERPT

Matt
I put my truck in park and hop out, walking toward the door with trepidation. I hope the food tastes better than this place looks.
A metal bell chimes overhead as I open the door. I’m surprised to find the inside is quite different than what greets you in the service area of this place. The area is bright with white linoleum floors and shiny gunmetal countertops. There’s a soda fountain and coffee stations to the left and the cashier’s check out to the right. A portly appearing older gentleman appears to be reading the newspaper, sitting on a stool behind the counter.
“Hi. Are you Elliot? I’m working with my brother this summer and he sent me to pick up lunch for his crew.”
“Ah, Harry your brother?” he asks around a toothpick dangling from the corner of his mouth.
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, any brother of Harry’s is a friend of mine. I’m Jo.”
“Matt. Nice to meet you. Oh. Salty Jo is you?”
He grins, and I instantly have the feeling this man is a fixture in Candy Cane Key.
“I don’t recall this place from when I grew up here.”
“What’re you? Thirty?”
“Close. Twenty-eight.”
The bell chimes again, and I notice customers meandering around the place. No one seems the slightest bit concerned about the condition of the place. I’m sure they have to pass inspections with the health department, but I still can’t help being a tad concerned about eating lunch from a place like this.
“Well, we’ve been here as long as you’ve been on the planet, son. Although it probably looked a bit better back then. Time and multiple tropical storms have taken their toll on the place. After a while, it gets to feel silly sinking any more money into it. But your brother has come to our aid more than once for the important stuff.”
This makes me smile. My brother really is a good dude.
“Speaking of your brother, I guess we need to keep his boys fed.” Jo removes the toothpick that remains in place throughout our conversation and points toward his right. “Elliot’s over there. In the deli area.” A mischievous smirk curls the corner of his mouth.
What’s that about? “Thanks.”
“Nice to meet you, Matt. Hope to see you ‘round.”
I turn in the direction of the deli and feel my stomach grumble as I’m hit with the aroma of fried chicken. Now I live in a mountain town in North Carolina where home cooking is a staple. So for the scent of these gas station offerings before me to cause me to salivate says something.
Bending forward, I take in the options within the glass case. There are perfectly prepared pieces of chicken, both on and off the bone, macaroni and cheese, green beans, collard greens, baked apples, and an assortment of pies. Hell, they even have banana pudding here. As my eyes travel to the back of the display area, I find I’m drooling for an entirely different reason. A set of shapely calves, thick thighs, and the hottest backside I’ve ever seen is bent over before me. This girl is leaning into the oven while her tiny cut-off shorts ride up her legs, causing my dick to twitch.
Hell, is she on the menu?
As if on cue, she stands to her full height. She’s probably about five foot five, with generous curves in all the right places. Those perky tits have to be at least a C cup, if not more. They are perfectly proportioned to her rounded hips and trim waste. Her thick auburn hair is pulled up in a messy bun, covered with a hair net. Yet, I can’t help picturing it tumbling down her back toward that fantastic ass. Shit. I don’t remember anyone in Candy Cane Key looking like this when I lived here. Well, maybe one girl, but she was just that. A girl. While this one is all woman.
I barely finish my thought before said stunner turns to face me. While I stand here with my mouth hanging open at the beauty wielding silver tongs before me, I’m met with the biggest green eyes I’ve ever seen. She simply gives me the once over as if this happens all the time. This curvy girl has my mouth watering when it suddenly hits me.
Wait. Do these guys come here for the hot chicken or the hot chick?

AUTHOR BIO

Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.

Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.

She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.

AUTHOR LINKS

AMAZON

WEBSITE

LINKTR.EE

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP

INSTAGRAM

TIKTOK

NEWSLETTER

Release Boost - Naughty & Nice by LM Fox

Title: Naughty & Nice

A Man of the Month,

Sycamore Mountain Series Novella

Author: LM Fox
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: September 15, 2022

BLURB

Trevor

I came to Sycamore Mountain to start over.

Focus on my career, not little miss sunshine.

The brotherhood of firefighters is the only relationship I want.

Trust me. This tart is the last thing I need.

I’ve been down that road.

Beautiful girl who can have any man she wants.

Well Addie Briggs can focus on someone else.

No sultry siren is worth going through that heartache again,

no matter how naughty I think she could be.

Addison

Of all the men to fall for,

I have to pick a grumpy hero.

He’s the hottest thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on,

throw on his fireman turnout gear and I’d do almost anything he asked.

But this guy is jaded and scarred. He fights me at every turn.

Yet, I can tell there’s a softness under his tough exterior.

I’m going all in. Because I’m not ready to give up on Mr. Nice guy.

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

EXCERPT

“What the fuck, Ashley?”
“Trevor. What are you doing here?”
“Last I checked, I live here,” I shouted as the burley naked jock before me hastily reached for his pants. He looked like a linebacker. The thought had barely left me before I noticed his shirt. The big W insignia confirmed he was most likely on the Washington football team. While visiting the training camp in Richmond had long been on my bucket list, I now wanted to kick that fucking pail down the road.
“I thought you’d be at work.”
“Obviously. How long has this been going on?” All thoughts of grabbing my assignment for my IT class were gone.
“I was going to tell─”
“Trev, we’ve got a call,” Jamie yelled through the door. I turned to notice he’d paused briefly to verify what he was seeing.
“When I get here in the morning, I want your stuff gone,” I’d spat.
That painful memory is charred into my brain. The betrayal made worse when Jamie later confirmed her lover was NFL player Martin North. He was 250 pounds of raw muscle. Nosey neighbors confided later he’d been visiting my home for months. I wondered why she wouldn’t have broken it off with me instead of sneaking around with a baller worth millions. Until Jamie’s continued investigation revealed, the player was just that. A married celebrity who was having an affair with my girl.
Since then, he’s left his wife and children, and he and Ashley have been on the local tabloid circuit. I couldn’t turn on the television or open a local magazine without seeing the two of them. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Ashley’s face was plastered on every billboard in town. If she wasn’t modeling jewelry for anyone traveling the interstate to see, she was painted on restaurant murals and large airport advertisements. She was fucking everywhere.
I’m aware I was partially to blame. I dove in headfirst. But there was never a moment I didn’t think both of us were all in. She’d wax poetic about our future, travel, and eventually having kids. But I guess it’s hard to compete with a larger-than-life superstar with a bank account to match.
I hadn’t had many serious relationships prior to Ashley. My plate had been full, beginning my career with the fire department and looking out for my mother.
My dad had fought a hard battle with melanoma. They discovered it too late to offer much hope of recovery. Cancer instantly decimated our flawless life. We’d gone from a tight family focused on Sunday dinners and the arrival of Noah’s kids to heartbroken in the blink of an eye.
My mother was tough as nails, but I knew it was a façade. Noah’s wife, Becca, would try to bring the boys over to distract her grief-ridden thoughts, but I imagined the lonely, depressing time between visits was suffocating. Unable to bear the thought of her hurting alone, I decided to move back home, convincing my mother I wanted to save money with plans to pursue my graduate degree. Hell, there’s no faster way to kill your sex life than living with your parents. But I slept better at night, knowing it was the right thing to do. I’ll always treasure that time with my mom.
Caring for her as we mourned my father, we grew even closer. We’d always had a tight relationship, but you don’t truly appreciate your parents until life throws you a curveball. I’d been blessed with a happy, loving cohesive family and knew I’d never settle for anything less if I chose to marry. Moving to Sycamore Mountain would be hard on both of us.
In hindsight, it’s clear I was merely mesmerized by Ashley’s physical splendor. Visits with my nephews hadn’t brought out her maternal side. However, like me, I figured she was at a different stage of life. She was focused on her modeling career. I’m not making this mistake twice. Getting caught up with some superficial bitch who’d leave the moment someone with a better reputation or bank account came along.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize what good time I’d been making. My eyes land on the bright green highway sign. ‘Welcome to Sycamore Mountain.’ Exiting the interstate, I quickly determine this is a one-horse town. As I approach the light at the end of the off-ramp, there's a lone gas station, and I spot a fast-food restaurant across from a bait and tackle shop. Luckily, according to the GPS, the realtor’s office is only about ten minutes away.
Miles of desolate farmland interspersed with clusters of evergreen trees engulf the windows of my vehicle. Occasional picturesque hay bails are dotted amongst the tall grass, but otherwise, the scenic area is enchanting. Unspoiled by the strip malls and housing developments of Hanover. There’s not a billboard in sight. This thought briefly brings a relieved smile to my face until it dawns on me that I probably stand a better chance of meeting a bear in this town than a beautiful woman.
I might’ve had a better chance of getting laid living with Mom than here.
As I continue down the road, I stand corrected. There’s at least one female under sixty here. I spot a woman out for a walk with her baby along the grassy edge of the highway. Looking about, it seems an odd place to meander. While wearing yoga pants and a hoodie, I’m surprised at my fixation on her. I’m not usually into MILF’s. I’m in no way ready to settle down with a girl with a kid. But she’s got a fucking phenomenal ass. It’d be a crime not to look.
As I grow closer, my eyes are drawn to the face of the child looking back at me. That’s either the ugliest kid on the planet or…
Is that a chicken?

AUTHOR BIO

Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.

Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.

She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.

AUTHOR LINKS

AMAZON

WEBSITE

LINKTR.EE

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP

INSTAGRAM

TIKTOK

NEWSLETTER

Release Blitz - Naughty & Nice by LM Fox

Title: Naughty & Nice

A Man of the Month,

Sycamore Mountain Series Novella

Author: LM Fox
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: September 15, 2022

BLURB

Trevor

I came to Sycamore Mountain to start over.

Focus on my career, not little miss sunshine.

The brotherhood of firefighters is the only relationship I want.

Trust me. This tart is the last thing I need.

I’ve been down that road.

Beautiful girl who can have any man she wants.

Well Addie Briggs can focus on someone else.

No sultry siren is worth going through that heartache again,

no matter how naughty I think she could be.

Addison

Of all the men to fall for,

I have to pick a grumpy hero.

He’s the hottest thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on,

throw on his fireman turnout gear and I’d do almost anything he asked.

But this guy is jaded and scarred. He fights me at every turn.

Yet, I can tell there’s a softness under his tough exterior.

I’m going all in. Because I’m not ready to give up on Mr. Nice guy.

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

EXCERPT

“What the fuck, Ashley?”
“Trevor. What are you doing here?”
“Last I checked, I live here,” I shouted as the burley naked jock before me hastily reached for his pants. He looked like a linebacker. The thought had barely left me before I noticed his shirt. The big W insignia confirmed he was most likely on the Washington football team. While visiting the training camp in Richmond had long been on my bucket list, I now wanted to kick that fucking pail down the road.
“I thought you’d be at work.”
“Obviously. How long has this been going on?” All thoughts of grabbing my assignment for my IT class were gone.
“I was going to tell─”
“Trev, we’ve got a call,” Jamie yelled through the door. I turned to notice he’d paused briefly to verify what he was seeing.
“When I get here in the morning, I want your stuff gone,” I’d spat.
That painful memory is charred into my brain. The betrayal made worse when Jamie later confirmed her lover was NFL player Martin North. He was 250 pounds of raw muscle. Nosey neighbors confided later he’d been visiting my home for months. I wondered why she wouldn’t have broken it off with me instead of sneaking around with a baller worth millions. Until Jamie’s continued investigation revealed, the player was just that. A married celebrity who was having an affair with my girl.
Since then, he’s left his wife and children, and he and Ashley have been on the local tabloid circuit. I couldn’t turn on the television or open a local magazine without seeing the two of them. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Ashley’s face was plastered on every billboard in town. If she wasn’t modeling jewelry for anyone traveling the interstate to see, she was painted on restaurant murals and large airport advertisements. She was fucking everywhere.
I’m aware I was partially to blame. I dove in headfirst. But there was never a moment I didn’t think both of us were all in. She’d wax poetic about our future, travel, and eventually having kids. But I guess it’s hard to compete with a larger-than-life superstar with a bank account to match.
I hadn’t had many serious relationships prior to Ashley. My plate had been full, beginning my career with the fire department and looking out for my mother.
My dad had fought a hard battle with melanoma. They discovered it too late to offer much hope of recovery. Cancer instantly decimated our flawless life. We’d gone from a tight family focused on Sunday dinners and the arrival of Noah’s kids to heartbroken in the blink of an eye.
My mother was tough as nails, but I knew it was a façade. Noah’s wife, Becca, would try to bring the boys over to distract her grief-ridden thoughts, but I imagined the lonely, depressing time between visits was suffocating. Unable to bear the thought of her hurting alone, I decided to move back home, convincing my mother I wanted to save money with plans to pursue my graduate degree. Hell, there’s no faster way to kill your sex life than living with your parents. But I slept better at night, knowing it was the right thing to do. I’ll always treasure that time with my mom.
Caring for her as we mourned my father, we grew even closer. We’d always had a tight relationship, but you don’t truly appreciate your parents until life throws you a curveball. I’d been blessed with a happy, loving cohesive family and knew I’d never settle for anything less if I chose to marry. Moving to Sycamore Mountain would be hard on both of us.
In hindsight, it’s clear I was merely mesmerized by Ashley’s physical splendor. Visits with my nephews hadn’t brought out her maternal side. However, like me, I figured she was at a different stage of life. She was focused on her modeling career. I’m not making this mistake twice. Getting caught up with some superficial bitch who’d leave the moment someone with a better reputation or bank account came along.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize what good time I’d been making. My eyes land on the bright green highway sign. ‘Welcome to Sycamore Mountain.’ Exiting the interstate, I quickly determine this is a one-horse town. As I approach the light at the end of the off-ramp, there's a lone gas station, and I spot a fast-food restaurant across from a bait and tackle shop. Luckily, according to the GPS, the realtor’s office is only about ten minutes away.
Miles of desolate farmland interspersed with clusters of evergreen trees engulf the windows of my vehicle. Occasional picturesque hay bails are dotted amongst the tall grass, but otherwise, the scenic area is enchanting. Unspoiled by the strip malls and housing developments of Hanover. There’s not a billboard in sight. This thought briefly brings a relieved smile to my face until it dawns on me that I probably stand a better chance of meeting a bear in this town than a beautiful woman.
I might’ve had a better chance of getting laid living with Mom than here.
As I continue down the road, I stand corrected. There’s at least one female under sixty here. I spot a woman out for a walk with her baby along the grassy edge of the highway. Looking about, it seems an odd place to meander. While wearing yoga pants and a hoodie, I’m surprised at my fixation on her. I’m not usually into MILF’s. I’m in no way ready to settle down with a girl with a kid. But she’s got a fucking phenomenal ass. It’d be a crime not to look.
As I grow closer, my eyes are drawn to the face of the child looking back at me. That’s either the ugliest kid on the planet or…
Is that a chicken?

AUTHOR BIO

Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.

Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.

She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.

AUTHOR LINKS

AMAZON

WEBSITE

LINKTR.EE

FACEBOOK

FACEBOOK GROUP

INSTAGRAM

TIKTOK

NEWSLETTER

Release Blitz - Stars & Sparks Forever by Kara Kendrick

Title: Stars & Sparks Forever

A Man of the Month Series Standalone

Author: Kara Kendrick

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 1, 2021

BLURB

I’m a jaded divorce attorney, a single dad, and the new guy in town, moving to sleepy Starlight Bay to open a law office for bickering couples dividing their assets.

So yeah, dating isn’t on my radar.

Until I meet my son’s incredibly beautiful, but way too young for me swim instructor, Lana. She’s the ray of sunshine I didn’t know I needed and suddenly, I find myself thinking about her all the time.

When my nanny bails on the Fourth of July, Lana steps in to help me out. Sparks fly between us and for the first time, I can see the possibility of a brighter future. For me and my son.

But I shouldn’t get involved.

She’s too young, too beautiful, too bright—and I’ve already been burned once before. My number one priority is protecting my son.

Besides, everyone knows you can’t hold onto sunshine.

Right?

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

EXCERPT

Grant

“Hi, Daddy.” Hudson beamed up at me before plunging his rubber duck back under the water.

“Oh, you’re Hudson’s dad. I’m Lana, his swim teacher.” An attractive—fine, smoking hot—woman waved at me from the pool. I was glad I had on dark Ray Bans because I was having a damn hard time keeping my eyes on her face. Sure, her face was pretty—lightly tanned with high cheekbones—but she somehow managed to fill out that city-issued navy-blue one-piece in all the right places, rivaling even my hottest Baywatch daydreams.

Get it together, Grant. She’s way too young for you. And besides, you’re single for life.

“Hey, great to meet you. Sorry I’m late. My client meeting ran long.”

“It’s no problem. Hudson and I had a little extra time to play.” She climbed up the pool steps to stand next to me, and I had to work extra hard not to notice the water beading on her tanned chest, gleaming in the sun.

“I’m glad you picked him up today. I told your wife at his last lesson that he’s about to graduate to the next group, Sailfish.”

“Oh, she’s not my wife,” I said, scrubbing a hand over the back of my neck.

“Daddy doesn’t have a wife. He doesn’t believe in them anymore. Not since my Mommy left for Europe,” Hudson chimed in, his rubber ducky swimming along in the clear blue water.

“Oh. Sorry. I just assumed…” Her cheeks flushed bright pink beneath her tan. Fucking adorable.

“It’s fine, no worries. She’s Hudson’s nanny. For the summer. She hadn’t mentioned him moving up. That’s great news, buddy!” I high-fived Hudson, trying to change the subject, and he rewarded me with a gap-toothed grin.

“Thanks, Daddy.” He dipped his duck back underwater, making motor noises with his lips.

“Since he’s moving up, his lessons will be thirty minutes later.”

“Got it. So remind me again of the times? I’ll need to fill Taylor in.” I pulled out my cell, hitting Taylor’s number to text her before I forgot.

“His lesson will be 4:30-5:30 now. Sailfish 1 group.”

“Got it,” I said, typing the info and hitting send. “Thanks for letting me know. He’ll be here at the new time starting tomorrow then?” I glanced up from my phone.

Lana nodded. “Yes. He can start tomorrow.”

“Sounds good. Alright, bud, you ready to go? I’m sure Lana has another class to teach. We should get going.”

“Okay, Daddy.” Hudson stood up, handing the yellow duck to Lana. “Thanks for playing with me.”

“No problem, dude. See you tomorrow.” She high-fived Hudson as I gathered up his towel and goggles. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Thomas.”

“Grant. Please call me Grant.”

“Alright then, Grant. See you again soon, I hope.” She shot me a thousand-watt smile and I swallowed hard.

Lana, the too-young-for-me swim instructor, was the last thing I needed to get involved with right now. Yet she was the first woman who’d sparked my interest in a long, long time and I didn’t want to immediately shut it down.

Lana

Hudson’s dad was hot. No dad bod there. Too bad I embarrassed myself—and him—calling out the fact that he doesn’t have a wife.

Face palm. Seriously, Lana, when will you ever learn? You’d think after teaching first grade for the last six years, I’d have picked up certain social graces. But nope. I still stuck my foot in my mouth all the damn time.

“Hey, Bethany, I’m home!” I called out, slamming the screen door behind me. My sister and I shared a cute duplex a few blocks off the town square. It was tiny, but conveniently located—close to the school, the Rec Center, and the square, with all the restaurants and shops. Plus, it only took about ten minutes to clean; a major bonus for me.

“Hey. How was work?” Bethany glanced up from her seat in the kitchen, then stabbed a forkful of lettuce.

“Fine. Good, actually.”

“Good, huh? Sounds promising.” She waggled her eyebrows over her glasses.

My cheeks flamed, remembering Hudson’s dad.

Grant. His deep, smooth voice, those broad shoulders…

“Spill. Did you hire a hottie lifeguard? Should I come to the pool tomorrow? Wear my yellow bikini?”

“Stop!” I said, laughing. “No hottie lifeguard, sorry to disappoint.”

“Who then? You don’t blush like that for nothing.”

“If you must know,” I said, walking to the fridge and ducking in so she couldn’t see my face, “I might have come across a hot dad.”

“Oh. Nice. But a dad? Doesn’t one of those typically come with a wife? At the very least, a girlfriend?”

I groaned into the cold air. “Funny story there. So I totally blew it with him already. I assumed the nanny was the wife. To his face. Then Hudson—that’s his son—said his dad doesn’t believe in wives anymore.”

AUTHOR BIO

Kara Kendrick writes fun and flirty Contemporary Romance destined to give you all the feels. A reformed English major, she also has a master’s in counseling and was an elementary school counselor in her pre-mom life.

She loves the beach, wine, and rock-hard abs, not necessarily in that order. When she’s not dreaming up Happily Ever After’s, you can find her chasing after her boy-girl twins, working out semi-hardish, or walking her adorable Shiba pups with her husband, who’s not too bad himself.

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