Copyright © 2020 by Harloe Rae, LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher listed above, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or purely coincidental.
Editing: Librum Arts Editorial Services
Cover Artist: BookCoverKingdom (www.bookcoverkingdom.com)
Photographer: Rafa G. Catalá
Cover Model: Christian Perez
Interior Design: Champagne Book Design
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT
NOVELS BY HARLOE RAE
DEDICATION
PLAYLIST
ABOUT THIS BOOK
EPIGRAPH
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
EPILOGUE
WHAT TO READ NEXT
MORE TITLES FROM HARLOE RAE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Reclusive Standalones
Redefining Us
Forget You Not
#BitterSweetHeat Standalones
Gent
Miss
Lass
Watch Me Follow
Ask Me Why
Breaker
Keeper
Loner
This book is dedicated to all those fighting for a better tomorrow.
To remaining optimistic during the hardest of times.
To sticking together when crumbling is easier.
To being positive and uplifting.
To patience and compassion.
To lending a helping hand.
To brighter days.
To community.
To you.
“Stay Awake” by Dean Lewis
“Free Spirit” by Khalid
“Conversations in the Dark” by John Lennon
“Don’t Let It Break Your Heart” by Louis Tomlinson
“Falling” by Harry Styles
“Put A Little Love On Me” by Niall Horan
“Best Part of Me” by Ed Sheeran and Yebba
“Lover (Remix)” by Taylor Swift
“Somebody to Love” by One Republic
“You Can’t Stop the Girl” by Bebe Rexha
“Rescue Me” by One Republic
“Just Friends” by JORDY
“Hate Me” by Ellie Goulding
“I’m a Mess” by Bebe Rexha
“I Found You” by Andy Grammar
“Good Stuff” by Griff
Listen on Spotify here!
“Everyone deserves a chance to be rescued.”
That’s the mantra I’m repeating when a well-equipped biker pulls over to save me. One glance at the scowl Crawford Doxe is wearing proves he isn’t impressed with the task. My efforts to change his mind deflate faster than the shredded tire at our feet. But disgruntled or not, my so-called hero still agrees to fix my flat.
I don’t expect to see Crawford again, but he’s suddenly very visible in our small town. Avoiding him would be my preference. That’s not how this story goes. For whatever reason, my daughter finds an ally in the broody mechanic. Denying her is something I do my best to avoid. I can only hope Crawford’s shine wears off before he tarnishes what little trust still exists.
As if the odds are ever on my side.
Commitments are a foreign concept to him. He doesn’t make any promises to try. That should’ve been enough for me to steer clear. It most certainly isn’t.
What follows can only be described as a disastrous clash of epic proportions.
But one indisputable fact remains. That lone soul has no plans of opening his heart.
“I’m a firm believer that hugging is underrated. Such a simple gesture, that might begin as nothing more than a quick greeting, can change an entire outlook. Offer the healing of an embrace and see.”
—Keegan Daniels
Healing Hug #1: The instant rush of comfort that’s bonded between mother and daughter.
A shadow dances across the floor as I push the door open. Within seconds, passionate moans assault my ears. The stench of lust-fueled sweat reeks of infidelity and hangs in the air. Skin slaps to an erotic rhythm that singes my cheeks. What remains of my trust shatters at the sight of two bodies joining, neither of them mine.
The memory sizzles from my mind with a searing burn.
I rip another shirt off a hanger and toss it over my shoulder. It’s a surprise I can control my hands with the amount of trembling anger rattling through me. This bubbling fury is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Sure, I’ve been mad in the past. Pissed to the extreme at certain points. But this? A whole new level of rage is shooting to the surface, hot enough to scald my skin.
How dare he? After everything I’ve put up with, he’s the one to throw down the gauntlet. Why did he bother keeping me around this long? How could I let so many transgressions slip by me? Where are we supposed to go now? The questions only succeed in boiling my blood hotter. I’m digging for my favorite pair of jeans when a thick cloud of Kirk’s cedar cologne chokes me. The shock of his scent squeezes my lungs and another burst of fire flares. Nausea swirls in my gut, but I force the bile down.
Because of my chronic habit of choosing the worst men, we’re being forced to uproot our lives once again. The haste to do so twitches my fingers as I reach for more clothes. The one silver lining to Kirk’s rigid rules is we don’t have a lot of personal belongings to pack. This pitiful pile in front of me is the extent of my wardrobe. Millie’s toys are already in storage crates for easy organization. We can be gone without a trace in less than thirty minutes.
I scan the room, a fresh wave of unwanted tears blurring my vision. The luxurious condo has always been a bit ostentatious for my taste. Kirk required every pristine inch to remain spotless no matter what. Endless white walls and carpet aren’t kid-friendly. Fingerprints and smudges weren’t tolerated. It was a daily challenge to ensure this place stayed in immaculate condition. But with an entire wall of windows facing the lake, I didn’t complain too hard. I overlooked a lot of things because of that rose-tinted view he offered, and the false promises made.
A tidal wave of guilt crashes over me. We should’ve left at the first signs of this being a restrictive situation. How did I allow this to continue?
