Deal Breaker
Holiday Springs Romance Series Book #2
Julie Archer
Contents
Blurb
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
Epilogue
Love on the Rocks – Book #3
Holiday Springs Series List
Also by Julie Archer
Stay Connected
Acknowledgments
About the Author
DEAL BREAKER
Copyright © 2020 by Julie Archer
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved worldwide.
No part of this book may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any medium, whether electronic, internet or otherwise, without the expressed permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, locations, and names occurring in this book are the product of the author’s imagination or are the property of their respective owners and are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, locations, or persons (living or dead), is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author. All trademarks and trade names are used in a fictitious manner and are in no way endorsed by or an endorsement of their respective owners.
May contain sexual situations, violence, sensitive and offensive language, and mature topics.
Recommended for age 18 years and up.
Cover Design ©Bailey Cover Boutique
Formatting: Aubree Valentine with Forever Write PR
Editing: Duli Noted
Proofreading: Yvette Deon
Managed by: Forever Write PR
PRINT ISBN Number: 9798698037095
Blurb
A fall destination wedding with friends to break up the monotony of adulting? Yes, please!
It all sounded like fairy-tale bliss until Sophie remembered her best friend's brother was going to be a groomsman. She'd been in love with Max since high school. Autumn had deemed Sophie’s crush on her brother as "gross" and vetoed any further talk about it - ever. Would it be wrong for a girl to hope for a little fun with the hottest guy in the bridal party?
When a little too much booze and a game of truth or dare the night before the big wedding has Sophie planting a giant kiss on Max’s lips - and him running as fast as he could to barf after – she’s certain the two of them don't stand a chance.
Sophie was off-limits for Max but that didn't stop him from fantasizing about her. While his word was normally his vow, his attraction wouldn’t be denied.
For years, Max had dreamt of how their first kiss might be. Although he had imagined it countless ways, never did he picture it being alcohol-fuelled. His stomach lurched and he rushed to the bathroom to puke his guts out. What should’ve been an incredible greeting became yet another embarrassing experience.
Now not only did Max have a massive hangover to deal with, he had to figure out a way to undo the mess he’d made with the one girl he ever really wanted.
Was their first kiss their last or can Max convince Sophie it shouldn't be a deal-breaker?
Escape to the romantic paradise of Holiday Springs and warm up with your next happily ever after.
“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare
Prologue
Sophie
Age 14
“Don’t be too long, Soph! I wanna start the movie!” Autumn waved the remote at me, the TV screen frozen on Channing Tatum. We were watching Step Up for about the millionth time. The film—or rather a certain Mr. Tatum—was Autumn’s current hottie of choice. Not that I was complaining. He did have a certain appeal.
“I won’t!” I called behind me as I darted up the stairs to the bathroom, not wanting to keep Channing waiting too long. But I needed to get rid of the taste of chili and pepperoni first. Autumn always ordered the pizza too spicy for me, and the tang of it lingered in my mouth.
Our regular sleepovers at her house were nothing if not consistent. Catching up on homework before pizza and a movie, accompanied by gossip about boys we liked and girls we didn’t. As we grew older, the discussion around the boys in our class became more prevalent. Autumn’s crush changed on a fairly constant basis; one week we were discussing the captain of the football team, the next someone she’d spotted on the swim team, or the new guy who’d transferred from out of town. I, on the other hand, kept the true object of my affection to myself. Instead, I agreed with Autumn’s choices to keep the peace.
Before I went into the bathroom, I headed into Autumn’s room and found my comfy clothes to change into. After too much pizza, my stomach was so full, and my skinny jeans too tight. It was always the same—I never learned. But the pizza was always so tasty, with all the cheeses and all the toppings. Mom never allowed us to order pizza; she preferred to make her own authentic Italian version. It was okay but never the same as Joe’s Pizza.
“Phew!” I let out a breath after undoing the buttons on my jeans and shrugged them off, pulling on comfortable stretchy shorts instead. Thankfully, vegging out on the sofa with my best friend didn’t require much dressing up. Quickly I pulled my tank top over my head, just in case Autumn’s older brother, Max, or his friend happened to be passing and saw me getting changed. I replaced it with an oversized New York Giants football jersey, so big it practically swallowed me. Immediately my tummy felt better for being less constricted, and I could relax. I pulled my blonde hair out from the collar and wound it up into a ponytail, using the band I had around my wrist to secure it.
Max was home tonight, and his best friend, Joshua, was also staying over. Being two years older, he wasn’t around much anymore. No doubt football practice and hanging out with the varsity cheerleaders was much more interesting than being at home with his little sister and her best friend on a Friday night.
I’m sure Max never noticed
