Title: S'more Than a Feeling
Series: Blueball Band of Brothers #2
Author: Marika Ray
Genre: Small Town Romantic Comedy
Release Date: August 24, 2023
I think I just slept with Mr. Perfect. Too bad he turned out to be my brother’s best friend.The tattooed stranger rode a motorcycle while helping me collect stray cats. My boots gave me blisters and he carried me on his back. I needed help and he didn’t ask questions before assisting me. Could there be a more perfect man? It just made sense to lick him and claim him as mine right then and there.
I probably should have asked him more questions before we slept together.
Like, what’s your last name? Where’ve you been living before moving here to my hometown? Is my older brother your best friend?
You know. Those kinds of questions.
But sadly, I didn’t. And now I’m staring at two pink lines and Mr. Perfect is nowhere to be found, leaving me brokenhearted and on my own. Even though I love my son with every fiber of my being, he’s also a daily reminder that I’ve made the worst mistake of my life.
It’s only years later when Mr. Perfect shows up in town again that I begin to see that I was never in love with him back then.
But I might be now.
So after binge-reading Grumpy the Bear (the first book in this series), I was all kinds of stoked to read the second book, which finds Keva in the hot seat (she being one of Paisley's besties), and Lincoln (who was briefly mentioned in book 1). I liked that there's already some history between these two. Now, I'm not big on the whole secret baby trope, but in this book, it actually made sense. I loved the chemistry that was still palpable between Keva and Linc, even 5 years later. The time apart wasn't exactly easy for either of them, but once they're back in the same orbit? It's on and popping. And Linc stepping up and being there was fantastic!
I’d successfully avoided him all day. Probably because he’d been building a pergola with Gannon on the far side of Glamper’s Paradise. Not that I’d been watching him hard enough to notice the sweat pattern on the back of his shirt or how his muscles flexed while holding up planks of wood. Nope. I was too busy moving in for that.
“I want in, Keva.”
Damn him and that smooth-as-whiskey deep voice. It gave me shivers and made me think of hot, dirty kisses out in the woods.
“What?”
“I read the letter you sent me, and I swear I never saw it.” Linc stood and walked toward me, looking older, but also just as handsome as I’d remembered him all those years ago. “If I’d seen the letter, I would have opened it. I can promise you that. I would never have left you and Lucas on your own. I can’t roll back the clock, but I can be here now. Let me in. Please.”
I had to squeeze my eyes shut to keep him out. I’d wanted to hear those words so badly when I was pregnant with Lucas. It was years too late, but the girls were right. I needed to let him back into our lives. For Lucas’s sake. To be a father for Lucas, not a partner for me. With my walls firmly in place, I opened my eyes again.
“I think Lucas would like that.”
Linc crowded closer. I could see the scruff on his chin that hadn’t been there before. “And what about his mama?”
I swallowed hard. He did not mean what my stupid heart wanted him to mean. I knew this and yet my heart kept pounding out a rhythm of hope.
“I want what’s best for Lucas.”
Linc nodded. “You’re a good mom, Keva. Lucas is lucky to have you.”
I didn’t want it to, but that simple statement soothed some emotional wounds I didn’t know I had. I didn’t want his praise to mean anything, but it did. “Thank you.”
Linc reached up, his big hand tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear. His barely there touch sent my limbs trembling. “I’m asking you to give me a chance to be a good dad. It’s only fair.”
I had to lock my knees and clench my hands into fists to keep from leaning into that hand of his.
“I want in, Keva.”
Damn him and that smooth-as-whiskey deep voice. It gave me shivers and made me think of hot, dirty kisses out in the woods.
“What?”
“I read the letter you sent me, and I swear I never saw it.” Linc stood and walked toward me, looking older, but also just as handsome as I’d remembered him all those years ago. “If I’d seen the letter, I would have opened it. I can promise you that. I would never have left you and Lucas on your own. I can’t roll back the clock, but I can be here now. Let me in. Please.”
I had to squeeze my eyes shut to keep him out. I’d wanted to hear those words so badly when I was pregnant with Lucas. It was years too late, but the girls were right. I needed to let him back into our lives. For Lucas’s sake. To be a father for Lucas, not a partner for me. With my walls firmly in place, I opened my eyes again.
“I think Lucas would like that.”
Linc crowded closer. I could see the scruff on his chin that hadn’t been there before. “And what about his mama?”
I swallowed hard. He did not mean what my stupid heart wanted him to mean. I knew this and yet my heart kept pounding out a rhythm of hope.
“I want what’s best for Lucas.”
Linc nodded. “You’re a good mom, Keva. Lucas is lucky to have you.”
I didn’t want it to, but that simple statement soothed some emotional wounds I didn’t know I had. I didn’t want his praise to mean anything, but it did. “Thank you.”
Linc reached up, his big hand tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear. His barely there touch sent my limbs trembling. “I’m asking you to give me a chance to be a good dad. It’s only fair.”
I had to lock my knees and clench my hands into fists to keep from leaning into that hand of his.
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Marika Ray is a USA Today bestselling author of steamy and sweet RomComs, spending her time behind a computer crafting stories, walking any beach she can find, and making healthy food for her kids and husband whether they like it or not. Prior to writing novels, Marika held various jobs in the finance industry, with private start-up companies, and then in health & fitness. Cats may have nine lives, but Marika believes everyone should have nine careers to keep things spicy. All her books come with a money-back guarantee that you’ll smile at least once with every book.
More information can be found at www.marikaray.com
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