“Sorry, she can be kind of a pain.” Sofie wrinkled her cute nose. Donny’s brunette girlfriend was a catch and a half. Bright, adorable, and would do anything for anyone. Connor loved her to pieces.
“Kind of?” he asked with a smile.
She laughed.
Sofie had moved into the mansion after Donovan came home for good. She also moved her event planning business here, rather than keeping her storefront on Endless Avenue. Donovan had simply moved his work here. He did custom masonry and fireplace design, indoor and out. He stayed busy.
Connor pushed himself to standing and bent over to pet Gertie’s flank. The dog that had showed up in the backyard skin and bones last spring had put on plenty of weight. Her coat was glossy, her pale blue eyes bright.
“Good girl, aren’t you? Yes you are.”
Gertie wagged her tail and leaned against his leg, smiling up at him.
“Tell you what,” he said to Sofie, “I have a few hours to kill this afternoon, why don’t I stop by there and make sure Mrs. Anderson knows I’m on top of things.” It was an inconvenience, but not a big one. Like he’d do anything for his sisters, he’d do anything for his friends, too. And that included Sofia Martin.
“Really?” She looked relieved with her hands pressed flat against her collarbone.
“Really.” He gathered his tool belt and trowel, then kissed her forehead as he ambled by.
Before he made it to his work truck, she called out, “Faith said you had a date tonight.”
Did she, now? He turned and raised an eyebrow, tossing his tools into the front seat. Sofie was fishing and he wasn’t giving her anything.
Before he climbed into his truck, he called out, “See you tomorrow.”
“Tease!” She threw a hand at him as he reversed out of his parking space.
Yeah, let that get back to Faith. He didn’t mind stoking her jealousy. Not at all. Maybe if she thought he was dating someone, she’d openly pursue him. Wouldn’t that be something?
In town, he passed Cup of Jo’s, Fern’s Florist, and the now vacant storefront that used to be Sofie’s event planning company.
His company, C. Alan Landscaping, had no home base. Not technically. Right now billing was done on his phone and in his head, and there was a box of receipts overflowing on his kitchen table. Probably he should do something about that.
When he’d first started doing odd jobs for himself and giving fewer hours helping out his father at McClain’s, he hadn’t needed a fancy accounting system. The busier he became, the more paperwork dogged him. Organization was not his forte.
Sofie was partially responsible for the recent influx of business. She’d referred him for a number of local events. So did Faith. And since she was Sofie’s assistant, he talked and worked with her as closely as he did Sofe.
Being around a creature as gorgeous as Faith Garrett tried every ounce of his libido. And because her jackass of a fiancé had cheated on her, she also tried every ounce of Connor’s sympathy. He knew what it felt like to be cheated on. The gut-wrenching knowledge that you meant so little to the someone you pledged your life to. He may not have caught Maya in the act, but he’d caught her after the fact.
Way after the fact.
At least Faith didn’t marry the dickhead. Bullet dodged. That last thought hit him square in the chest. He had dodged a bullet, too. Several of them.
Literally.
He pulled around the back of the library and shut off the engine, resting his head on the steering wheel. Drawing a deep breath, he blew it out while counting down from five. It never erased the horrific visual behind his eyes, but it did enable him in getting on with his day.
When he raised his head, he found Mrs. Anderson shuffling in her orthopedic shoes, her wrinkled mouth pulled taut, determination in her deep-set eyes.
He lifted a hand in greeting and gave her a patient smile.
There was a lot of day to get on with.
ALSO BY JESSICA LEMMON
The Second Chance Series
Bringing Home the Bad Boy
The Love in the Balance Series
Tempting the Billionaire
Can’t Let Go
Hard to Handle
The Millionaire Affair
ACCLAIM FOR JESSICA LEMMON’S NOVELS
BRINGING HOME THE BAD BOY
“Clever, romantic, and utterly unforgettable.”
—Lauren Layne, USA Today bestselling author
“Top pick! A sexy gem of a read that will tug at the heartstrings. Evan is charming and vulnerable and his sizzling connection with the sweet, genuine Charlotte will keep readers turning the pages. A heartfelt plot infused with both emotionally tender and raw moments makes this a story that readers will savor.”
—RT Book Reviews
“[Aiden is] a perfect balance of sensitive, heart-on-his-sleeve guy who is as sexy and ‘alpha’ as they come… A real romance that’s not about dominance but equality and mutual need—while not sacrificing [the] hotness factor. A rare treat.”
—PolishedBookworm.com
“Lemmon’s latest is a pleasant example of living in the present and celebrating second, and sometimes third, chances.”
—RT Book Reviews
“[Aiden is] a fantastic character. He is a motorcycle-riding, tattooed, rebel kind of guy with a huge heart. What’s not to love?… I really enjoyed this book and I think readers will find it entertaining and heartfelt.”
—RomanceRewind.blogspot.com
“I smiled through a lot of it, but seeing Aiden and Sadie deal with all of their hurdles was also incredibly moving and had me tearing up more than once as well… I can’t wait to see what Lemmon will bring to the table next.”
—HerdingCats-BurningSoup.com
“Aiden has all the characteristics of a bad boy but with the heart of that perfect hero… Their gradual spark leads to some well-written steamier scenes.”
—RosieReadsRomance.blogspot.com
CAN’T LET GO
“I loved Sadie and Aiden in Tempting the Billionaire, and I was waiting for their story to finally be told. I love that this novella [lays] the groundwork for what will come in their book. I look forward to seeing how their story unravels in Hard to Handle.”
—HarlequinJunkie.com
“This novella was long enough to get me hooked on Aiden and Sadie and short enough to leave me wanting more… The chemistry between the characters is fan worthy and the banter is a great addition. The writing style draws readers in. I can’t wait for Hard to Handle.”
—BSReviewers.blogspot.com
TEMPTING THE BILLIONAIRE
“A smashing debut! Charming, sexy, and brimming with wit—you’ll be adding Jessica Lemmon to your bookshelves for years to come!”
—Heidi Betts, USA Today bestselling author
“Lemmon’s characters are believable and flawed. Her writing is engaging and witty. If I had been reading this book out in public, everyone would have seen the huge grin on my face. I had so much fun reading this and adore it immensely.”
—LiteraryEtc.wordpress.com
“If you are interested in a loveable romance about two troubled souls who overcome the odds to find their own happily ever after, I would certainly recommend that you give Tempting the Billionaire a try. It was definitely a great Valentine’s Day read, for sure!”
—ChrissyMcBookNerd.blogspot.com
“The awesome cover opened to even more awesome things inside. It was realistic! Funny! Charming! Sweet!”
—AbigailMumford.com
Fall in Love with Forever Romance
PASSIONATELY YOURS
by Cara Elliott
Secret passions are wont to lead a lady into trouble… The third rebellious Sloane sister gets her chance at true love in the next Hellions of High Street Regency romance from bestselling author Cara Elliott.
THIEF OF SHADOWS
by Elizabeth Hoyt
Only $5.00 for a limited time!
A masked avenger dressed in a harlequin’s motley protects the innocents of St. Giles at night. When a rescue mission leaves him wounded, the kind soul who comes to his rescue is the one woman he’d never have expected…
RESCUING THE BAD BOY
by Jessica Lemmon
Donovan Pate is coming back to Evergreen Cove a changed man… well, except for the fact that he still can’t seem to keep his eyes—or hands—off the mind-blowingly gorgeous Sofie Martin. Sofie swore she was over bad boy Donovan Pate. But when he rolls back into town as gorgeous as ever and still making her traitorous heart skip a beat, she knows history is seriously in danger of repeating itself.
NO BETTER MAN
by Sara Richardson
In the New York Times bestselling tradition of Kristan Higgins and Jill Shalvis comes the first book in Sara Richardson’s contemporary romance Heart of the Rockies series set in breathtaking Aspen, Colorado.
WEDDING BELLS IN CHRISTMAS
by Debbie Mason
Former lovers Vivian and Chance are back in Christmas, Colorado, for a wedding. To survive the week and the town’s meddling matchmakers, they decide to play the part of an adoring couple—an irresistible charade that may give them a second chance at the real thing…
CHERRY LANE
by Rochelle Alers
When attorney Devon Gilmore finds herself with a surprise baby on the way, she knows she needs to begin a new life. Devon needs a place to settle down—a place like Cavanaugh Island, where the pace is slow, the weather is fine, and the men are even finer. But will David Sullivan, the most eligible bachelor in town, be ready for an instant family?
SANCTUARY COVE
by Rochelle Alers
Only $5.00 for a limited time! Still reeling from her husband’s untimely death, Deborah Robinson returns to her grandmother’s ancestral home on Cavanaugh Island. As friendship with gorgeous Dr. Asa Monroe blossoms into romance, Deborah and Asa discover they may have a second chance at love.
ANGELS LANDING
by Rochelle Alers
Only $5.00 for a limited time! When Kara Newell shockingly inherits a large estate on an island off the South Carolina coast, the charming town of Angels Landing awaits her… along with ex-marine Jeffrey Hamilton. As Kara and Jeffrey confront the town gossips together, they’ll learn to forgive their pasts in order to find a future filled with happiness.
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CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
WELCOME
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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
EPILOGUE
DONOVAN’S SHRIMP “SCAMPI” A LA SOFIE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A PREVIEW OF A BAD BOY FOR CHRISTMAS
ALSO BY JESSICA LEMMON
ACCLAIM FOR JESSICA LEMMON’S NOVELS
FALL IN LOVE WITH FOREVER ROMANCE
NEWSLETTERS
COPYRIGHT
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 by Jessica Lemmon
Excerpt from A Bad Boy for Christmas copyright © 2015 by Jessica Lemmon
Cover design by Christine Foltzer
Cover photo by Claudio Marinesco
Cover copyright © 2015 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Forever
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First ebook edition: May 2015
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ISBN 978-1-4555-5807-0
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