Best of Three (Counting on Love) (39 page)

Read Best of Three (Counting on Love) Online

Authors: Erin Nicholas

Running away to the north was safer for so many reasons.

Katy lifted her hands in the air, swaying from side to side to the slow music. Her best friend Janey spun her, and wholesome, happy laughter rang, something Gage loved to hear.

Although he wished he’d been the one putting that kind of smile on her face. Bringing that shine to her dark brown eyes.

One thing was missing…one good subtraction to the evening. “Where’s Simon?”

An enormous grin twisted Clay’s lips. “Katy dumped him.”

Gage’s jaw hit the table.

“I know, I’m so fucking glad.” Clay spoke as softly as he could and still be heard over the loud dance music. “You have no idea how hard it was not to tell him to get the hell away from her, but she gave me such grief the last time I scared off a boyfriend…”

Gage nodded. “I remember. It wasn’t pretty. In fact,” he taunted, “you were damn scared, for someone who outweighs her by a good hundred pounds. I thought she was going to kick your ass into the next county.”

“It’s not the size of the package, it’s the pressure. She might be a tiny thing, and she’s so quiet most of the time, but when that girl loses it? Me and the boys wear a cup when she’s pissed.”

“So…you mentioned Simon,” Gage prompted. Because that was the most important bit of information here. When he’d finally woken up and figured out Katy was far more than a little-sister figure, she’d already been seeing that dickwad Simon, and if the woman had been pissed about her brothers micromanaging her life, she certainly wasn’t going to be any happier to have a friend of the family butting in. “They’ve been an item for the past six months.”

“She broke up with him last Saturday after the community picnic.” Clay gave him a look. “You know, the day you punched in his face?”

The line between lust and hate if often blurred…

Kilty Pleasure

The McLaughlins, Book 2

After being ditched at the altar over a year ago, Deputy Colin McLaughlin is fine with being single. Despite the fact that nearly every eligible female on the island wants him, he isn’t looking for love.

But something stirs his blood when Hailey starts showing up more on the island. And it’s not just the conviction that the apple doesn’t fall far from her troublemaking, drugged-out family tree. His frustration mounts that even after she ruined his twin brother’s life, the desire he’s felt for her since high school still simmers.

Hailey Alexander knows her past is littered with mistakes. She’s done her best to make amends and move on, but a certain Scottish-born deputy doesn’t seem in any hurry to forgive or forget.

More than just fighting the attraction that’s compromising their hearts, they face a new threat from Hailey’s past that may threaten her life.

Warning: Contains sexy Scottish men living in America. The occasional kilt. A hero deputy who can’t forgive or forget, and a nurse immune to bullshit. Angry kisses. Scalding sex. And a drugged-out stalker ex to keep these two on their toes.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Kilty Pleasure:

Hailey was so stunned by the harsh command that she automatically moved to obey.

She pulled the car onto a side road and turned off the engine.

“Okay, maybe I went a little far there,” she admitted. And she had. What the hell had she been thinking, spitting out every thought in her head? That always led her to trouble.

Colin didn’t reply, just unfastened his seat belt. He was going to get out and walk? They were still a good fifteen-minute drive away from Deception Pass. Guilt hit her as she glanced around the isolated road.

“I can take you to your car. You don’t need—”

“Oh, I definitely
need
.”

In an instant he’d moved half out of his seat and thrust his fingers in her hair, holding her still as his mouth crashed down on hers.

Shock rushed through her, momentarily shutting down her brain and her ability to move.

Not that he was giving her much of a chance to get away or think. His tongue swept past her lips, delving deep to find hers. The kiss was angry, almost punishing, and entirely too hot.

Shoving him away seemed pointless, especially when the actual kiss physically felt so right. So sensual, and probably a little sinful, given their history. But the taste and scent of him was overwhelming her senses and overriding any logic that might’ve kicked in.

So, just for a moment, just this one instant in time, she was going to pretend that things could’ve been different. She was going to let Colin McLaughlin kiss the hell out of her—no matter his reasons—and she was going to like it.

She slid her hands up to catch his shoulders, kneading the muscles she found there as she used her tongue to spar with his. The fingers in her hair tightened, and he tugged hard enough to make her head fall back.

He lifted his mouth slightly and then bit her lip, hard enough to make her cry out, then moved to trail hot, openmouthed kisses down her chin to the curve of her neck.

Hailey groaned, her eyes fluttering open to stare blindly at the ceiling as his tongue did magical things at the curve between her shoulder and neck.

Heat slid through her body as moisture gathered between her legs. She’d gone from zero to sixty in seconds. Though not really. He’d been slowly accelerating her on all levels since last night at the pub.

The sound of a car driving by pulled her back to reality and apparently did the same for Colin. He pressed one last kiss to her neck, almost tenderly, before he lifted his lips.

“Aye, you’re right,” he admitted on a rasp. “I want you, Hailey. And maybe I have always wanted you.” He lifted his head and met her gaze. His green eyes glittered with desire and yet a steady control that made her heart sink. “You should come back to my house.”

“Tempting, but I have other plans.”

The scrutiny in his eyes, and the effect it had on her hormones, had her squirming.

“Of course you do. Perhaps that’s a good thing. You see, it would never be more than sex for you and me.”

Swallowing against the sudden lump in her throat, she gave a mocking laugh. “Well, you can tell your balls to stop shriveling. I’m not looking for a ring from anyone right now.”

“You wouldn’t get one. Because I
am
hoping to settle down sometime soon. Start a family of my own.” His smile was cold. Scornful. And she knew what was coming before he said it. “But you, Hailey, you’re not exactly marriage material. I’m sure you understand.”

Ouch. A hundred fucking times, ouch, even if she’d braced for it.

“No. I’m probably not.” She forced a yawn. “And that little impromptu make-out moment was super fun and all, but pretty golden boys aren’t really my type.”

His eyes darkened with irritation. “Aye, well you already tried for my brother and failed. Fortunately, he’s taken for good now.”

“Screw you.” Tired of low blows, she tried to shove him completely away. His fingers in her hair kept her trapped. “You
know
I never had any interest in Ian.”

“Actually, I don’t know that.”

“I’m sure Ian told you all about my reasons. Why I did what I did.”

“Aye.”

“And it doesn’t change anything? Doesn’t make you understand at all?” She shouldn’t have even asked, because the bored expression on his face gave away his response.

“Why would it?”

“No, I guess you’re right. It wouldn’t.” She moistened her lips, still swollen from his hard kiss, and noticed that his gaze tracked the move. “You’re by the book. You don’t break rules. It’s all very black and white in your world,
Deputy McLaughlin
.”

“It comes with the territory. I expect the worst in people and hope to be surprised.” He paused. “Some would call that optimism.”

“Or assholism. Whatever. Want to let me go, now that we’ve established we’d be great sexually, but it’s never going to happen?”

“It could happen.”

“Not with me.”

“Aye, with you, if I wanted. With anyone. There aren’t really a lot of women whom I couldn’t fuckin’ have, you understand?” He said it so offhandedly that shock ripped through her. “I don’t tell you this to sound like a complete wanker; it’s just the simple truth. The badge, the accent, the McLaughlin name, it all means I’ve never lacked for female interest.”

“Wow, your level of arrogance right now
might just be
toxic
.”

“Perhaps, yet I’m a decent person, Hailey, and there lies the difference between us.” He finally released her. “And, sure, maybe you had a shining-star moment where you helped my niece—and I do appreciate that—but a zebra can’t change their stripes.”

“Okay, you know what? I’m done with you and your fucking euphemisms.”

Best of Three

Erin Nicholas

Sometimes it takes a couple of tries before you get love right.

Counting on Love, Book 3

Emma Dixon is known for getting in over her head—and having a great time doing it. She’s aware her shenanigans rub Nate Sullivan the wrong way, but getting a rise out of the cocky surgeon is one of her favorite pastimes. Truth be told, exasperated looks aren’t the only things she wants from the guy.

Nate has no intention of taking another trip down the falling-in-love road. Women are carefully compartmentalized—to his bedroom. Women who don’t mind his take-charge tendencies. Women very different from sassy, sexy, independent Emma.

But his usual strategy of arguing with Emma to keep from kissing her goes out the window when his son falls in love with her friend’s daughter. Emma sees a normal teenage romance. Nate sees his plans for the boy’s future ruined.

As Nate tries to derail the relationship, Emma runs interference, putting herself directly in the path of the chemistry that grows stronger every time they butt heads. And that could very well lead to the best surprise of all.

Warning: Contains a guy who knows exactly who he is and what he wants and a girl who’s going to change his mind about, well, everything. Plus inappropriate use of chocolate cake (of course, that depends on your definition of inappropriate).

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

Cincinnati OH 45249

Best of Three

ISBN: 978-1-61921-771-3

Edited by Lindsey Faber

Cover by Angela Waters

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First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: November 2013

www.samhainpublishing.com