More
Than A Fling
A Cottage Grove Novel
By Amber Nation
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Out
June 9, 2015
Julia Caldwell has long since mastered the art of
seduction in order to catch the only thing on her radar; one night stands.
Having two failed marriages under her belt, she’s learned to keep her feelings
in check and remain aloof, not wanting to get caught up in another pesky
relationship only for it to end eventually in heartache. As the manager of a
prestigious Hair Salon in Nashville, she succeeds in keeping the opposite sex
at arms-length except when it suits her and her needs. That is until she lands
on Cottage Grove soil.
Dean Parker has just as many failed marriages against
him, and with being a divorce lawyer it eventually has him thinking that’s why
his conquests always fall through, due to his occupation. After seeing his two
childhood friends rekindle their flame and earning the happily ever after he so
desperately craves, he decides to give up. That it’s not worth the heartache
he’s been put through. Until he meets the snarky spitfire who gets under his
skin.
Throwing the two of them together in the same town for
the wedding of their best friends, Julia isn’t against having another fling,
even if it is with Dean, but he definitely has other plans of making it more
than that. Amongst their non-defined affair, lurking somewhere in the darkness
is a shadow from one of their pasts who will stop at nothing to make sure that
happily ever after’s stay where they belong, in the fairy tales.
I dashed into the airport, barely escaping the
torrential downpour, and went straight for the airline itinerary board to make
sure Julia’s plane was still on time. I was willing to start completely over
and let the past stay in the past, as long as she was. Which was why I was a
gentleman enough to come into the airport and offer to help her out with her
luggage.
I hung out near the baggage claim, where soon enough
Julia would make her appearance.
I didn’t have to wait long before I caught a glimpse
of her waiting by the baggage carousel and heaving her big-ass luggage to the
floor. Once she stood upright again and glanced my way she literally took my
breath away. Something about her made me want her with every fiber of my being.
Even after being on a plane for several hours she looked as if she had walked
right off a page of a magazine; that was until she came closer towards me and
opened her mouth.
“Why in the hell are you here?” She sneered in my
direction, with venom and annoyance.
So much for turning over a new leaf and being
gentlemanly.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and rolled back on my
heels, “Do you think I actually volunteered for this?”
She took just a brief second to peruse my body, so
quick that she probably didn’t think I noticed. But I noticed, oh yeah I did.
“Yes,” she turned up a side of her freshly painted
lips, “more than likely,” she said flatly.
“Yeah, because chauffeuring your ass around was high
on my bucket list.” I made a motion to check off that next item on my imaginary
list.
“Oh please,” she huffed. “This is probably the most
excitement you’ve seen in a month.”
“No, that award definitely goes to Eden. She’s
teetering on the verge of a breakdown.”
Her eyes softened at the mention of her friend and all
the stress she was enduring. Perhaps there was a heart placed in the cold
cavity in her chest. “Well, then what are we standing around here gabbing for
then? I have a best friend to help!” She pivoted on her heel and began walking
towards the exit doors of the airport, giving me an unabashed view of her fine
ass as she sashayed away from me.
Right before she reached the exit doors, I came up and
stopped in front of her, ready to burst her bubble. Looking down at her
immaculate outfit, including what I would guess to be four-inch heels, I said,
“I see you made sure to bring your winter coat, but I hope you packed rain
boots. It’ll suck trying to walk to my car in the pouring rain in those heels,”
I pointed down to her stunning footwear that I just couldn’t help picturing
wrapped around my waist. Even though she drove me crazy with her smart ass
remarks, I was a man after all and I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I found her
extremely attractive.
Her eyes went wide and I had to try my hardest to hold
back my laughter that was undoubtedly threatening to erupt. “No…I didn’t even
think about it. Are you parked far?”
“At the end of the loading/unloading zone.” Her face
immediately fell following my words, this was just too much fun.
“Well, can you pull my luggage?” That was what I had
initially come in for, but since she wanted to start off by being a bitch,
those weren’t my intentions any longer.
“Ah, sorry,” I replied, acting a bit sympathetic. “An
independent woman such as yourself doesn’t need any help from a man.”
“Ugh,” she stomped one of her heels against the
concrete floor, making the sound echo throughout the lobby. “I
really hate you,” she bit out between her clenched teeth.
“Oh, the feeling is definitely mutual,” I smiled
smugly to myself, pulled up the hood to my coat, readjusted, and patted the
umbrella that was resting in the inside pocket of my jacket. I chuckled under
my breath, if she knew that I had an umbrella in my possession, she would no
doubt change her tune. But where would be the fun in that? I'd just keep that
nugget of information to myself.
Amber is a stay at home mom currently residing in
Southern Indiana with her husband and two beautiful daughters. If she’s not
shopping, going to concerts or roadtrips, or having her nose stuck in a
book you’ll often find her at the ball field watching one of the numerous
sports that her girls are involved in.
She is the author of the contemporary romance Brown
County Series, titles include Not Alone, Runaway Love, How To Save A Life, and
Unconditionally (M/M). And Cottage Grove series, More Than A Memory.
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