Van Harlowe wants the truth. But to get the answers he craves, he must forget everything he’s believed his entire life.

While recovering from a life-threatening injury, Van is given the chance of a lifetime to start over and do anything he wants. All he has to do is accept an inheritance from a man he’s never met and grew up hating.

Kelsey Raymond has made some poor dating decisions in her life, but her humor keeps it real and allows her to push on with a shrug of her shoulders.

While chasing her pup down the street, she runs into the man who has helped her twice now with her little fugitive. In her eyes, life is one adventure after another, so why not ask him out?

Finding out he’s not a stranger to her family isn’t the only secret he has. Can she move past the hurt and help Van find the answers he seeks?

If you haven’t read the Prologue you can check it out here.

Chapter One

The Intrusive Side

Three Years Later

Dane had watched his baby sister marry Royce Kennedy a few hours ago. Now he was enjoying the reception while his two kids were running around and playing in their formal wear and having a ball. 

If it brought back memories of his own wedding to Mel nine years ago, he pushed it off.

His ex and he were divorced and were co-parenting their two kids as well as anyone could have hoped for.

Sure, Mel had a boyfriend. Her second one since they’d divorced three years ago. He hadn’t been on more than four dates in that time. All setups that he hated, but he’d been pressured by others to give it a try.

The fact his sister was set up by her employers only made him roll his eyes.

But at least Chloe was happy and Royce was perfect for his sister.

He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to say that about anyone in terms of his own life. That he had the perfect person or could even find one.

He didn’t have any ill feelings toward marriage and relationships, just that he’d failed at his and still looked back to see what he could have done differently and realized there was nothing.

He and Mel weren’t suited. End of story.

They had two beautiful kids out of it that were his world.

“Dane, how are you doing?”

He turned his head from where he’d been watching Tiffani on the dance floor with his sister.

“Hi, Carolyn. Diane. I’m doing well. How are you?”

“We are great,” Diane said. “Weddings are a wonderful thing, aren’t they?”

“They are,” he said. “Especially when the couple is in as much love as Royce and Chloe.”

“We are good that way,” Carolyn said, brushing her knuckles over her shoulder. “No one wants to give us credit, but we deserve it.”

Dane smiled at the two women and was thrilled they didn’t know him well enough that he’d worry they’d interfere in his life.

His sister swore that Grant and Garrett were the best employers ever, and from what he’d heard, there was nothing to say otherwise.

But the matching up of people to him was on the intrusive side.

Hey, whatever worked for people and it worked for his sister so he wasn’t complaining.

“I’m sure you let everyone know you get the credit,” he said, grinning.

“We do,” Diane said. “How come someone as young and good-looking as you is here all by himself?”

He snorted. “I don’t do so well when it comes to relationships in case you haven’t heard.”

Carolyn waved her hand. “Nonsense. One hiccup doesn’t mean you give up trying.”

He’d humor the two women. “I haven’t given up,” he said. “Just have a change of focus. The kids come first.”

“Of course they do,” Diane said. “Always. But we are glad to know you haven’t given up.”

The two women dashed away giggling like schoolgirls.

“What did they want?” his mother asked when she returned to their table. His mother had been mingling and half keeping an eye on Tyler. They had to divide and conquer when he was at these things and knew the kids couldn’t be contained together.

He was just happy Tyler was willing to not be glued to his side so much lately.

For a solid year or more, his son only wanted to live with him and not Mel. The exchanges every four days had gotten better, but that was only because he had to do a lot of convincing that Tiffani needed her little brother to watch out for her so he should go where she is to keep an eye on things. 

As much as he would have loved to have full custody, he wouldn’t do that to his kids or his ex-wife.

Mel loved the kids and was in a good spot in her life. The kids were as well adjusted as could be and that was all he could ask for.

If he had to lean on his parents a lot when he had his kids overnight for his on call weeks, there wasn’t much he could do about it. 

No thirty-five-year-old wanted to spend the night at their parents’ house, but it was better than letting his kids stay the night without him when it was his turn to have them and he was called in. He just stayed there too, and that way if he was called, the kids weren’t disturbed and were unaware of it but still looked after.

“Just talking,” he said. “Nothing major.”

“Are you sure they weren’t fishing?” his mother asked. Doreen Grey had thought the whole thing was crazy that Chloe had been secretly set up, but you couldn’t tell his sister anything. Chloe had always been headstrong, but it worked well for her.

Maybe if he was as strong as his sister at times and put his foot down, things would have turned out differently. 

Then he looked at Tiffani twirling in her light green dress and knew that was wrong. Change one thing and you change the course of so much. He’d not change a thing if that meant not having his children.

“I doubt it,” he said. “They’ve got bigger things to think about. They are over there talking to Elise now. Probably trying to figure out who to set her up with.”

“How much longer, Dad?” Tyler asked, running over to him. “I want to get out of this suit.”

“I don’t blame you,” he said, pulling his son close to him and under his arm. “I want to get out of mine too.”

“But you wear a tie all the time. These are horrible.” Tyler was grabbing his tie that was loose on his neck and pretending to hang himself with it in a silly fashion like his kids always were.

He grinned and winked at his mother. “They are pretty bad. The wedding is winding down. Let’s go gather your sister.”

“Can we get pizza, please? I didn’t like dinner.”

He knew his kids wouldn’t eat much of the wedding food. Though he felt they ate well, it was a little rich and fancy for their liking. 

“I suppose we could stop and get pizza on the way home. I can order it now.”

“Yes!” Tyler said, doing a fist pump and running out to get his sister.

“You’re a good dad,” his mother said.

“I try to be.”

“You don’t need to try,” his mother said. “It’s in your blood and don’t ever let anyone take that away from you.”

He sighed. “Mom, no one has.”

“That’s right,” his mother said. “No one could say you weren’t a great father.”

“Just a lousy husband,” he added.

“You weren’t that either. Melanie wanted something no one could give her. Why do you think after two years she and her last boyfriend broke up? This one won’t last either. Tiffani doesn’t like Ethan.”

This was news to him. “Why doesn’t she like Ethan? What did she say?”

“Just that Melanie would rather spend time with Ethan than them. Or more like Ethan always tells them to go find something else to do in their rooms.”

He let out another sigh. “She’s seven,” he said. “She still thinks we need to spend every minute entertaining her. Tiffani does that with me too.”

“And you do that with her,” his mother argued.

“No,” he said. “I don’t. She has to learn, unlike her mother, that life is about division and priorities. They are with me half the time and Mel and I talked about this. Neither one of us is going to spoil them. They are given the same rules at both houses and somewhat the same attention.”

His mother rolled her eyes. “You’re too nice of a guy, but I understand. And you know as well as I do you spend plenty of time with the kids.”

“I do,” he said. “Because the times I’ve got them when I’m on call I can’t. But I don’t want them to expect every time they are with me it’s a free for all.”

“Rules,” his mother said. “We know. We’ve got it.”

“Tyler said we are having pizza,” Tiffani said. “I want spaghetti. Can I order that instead?”

He looked at his mother’s grin. “I can cook us spaghetti at home if that is what you want, but I already told Tyler he could have pizza.”

“But I want to buy spaghetti,” Tiffani said. “Mom doesn’t cook it often. I get it out.”

He shrugged. “You can have it the way I make it. It makes no sense to buy that when I’ve got it at home for you.” Because she wanted to eat it all the time and he made sure he always had it on hand.

Tiffani batted her eyelashes at him and he kept his expression the same. She knew he didn’t give in often and wouldn’t now. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll eat pizza. Mom normally lets me have my way though.”

“I’m not Mom,” he said. “But you can pick toppings on one side for you and Tyler can on the other side.”

“Sweet,” Tiffani said. “I want mushrooms and black olives.”

“Ewww,” Tyler said. “I don’t like black olives.”

“There won’t be any on your side,” Dane said. He didn’t want to get into a battle here about this.

“But the juices move to my side,” Tyler whined.

“Nope,” he said. “Olives don’t have juice. When the pit comes out all the juice does too.”

“It does?” Tyler asked.

“Yes,” his mother said. “Juice free olives go on pizza.”

“Okay,” Tyler said. “I want sausage on my half. And you’re going to eat my side, right?”

His mother was laughing at him and he did what he always did. Played the peacemaker because Tiffani was frowning, as she’d want him to eat her side too.

“I’m going to have a slice from both of your sides because I’m starving.” He grabbed them both by the waist and pulled them close, had them giggling and added, “I might just eat the whole thing and leave nothing for either of you.”

 “Nooooo,” Tyler said. 

“I want pizza,” Tiffani said. “You can’t eat it all.”

He kissed them both on the cheek and congratulated himself on handling that the way he had. Now his daughter wanted it rather than giving him a hard time about wanting to order spaghetti.

“You’ve got a way about you,” his mother said.

“Glad someone thinks that,” he said and stood up, reaching for his kids’ hands. “Let’s get out of here and I’ll order the pizza in the car.”

***

“Elise,” Carolyn said the minute they left Dane’s side. They weren’t getting anywhere with Chloe’s brother so could pivot back to the target at hand. “How are you doing?”

“I’m great,” Elise said. 

“You do look lovely today. So different than we are used to seeing you,” Carolyn said. 

“It took a lot of work for this to happen,” Elise said. “Who has the time?”

She and her sister-in-law laughed. “We know that feeling well,” Diane said. “But we’ve had our fair share of weddings lately.”

“I’m sure you have,” Elise said. 

“You looked nice dancing with Zander,” Carolyn said. “Almost like a couple…”

“He’s like another brother to me,” Elise said. “Eww.”

“I heard that,” Zander shouted from the end of the table where he was talking with Royce. Everyone knew what the two of them were up to…everyone but Elise it seemed.

“That is why I said it so loudly,” Elise said to Zander while she pointed at him.

“See,” Carolyn said. “You even get along well.”

“Sorry, ladies,” Elise said. She lowered her voice to a normal level now. “He’s not my type. A great guy but not for me. You’ll have to find someone else for him.”

“That’s too bad,” Diane said. “But we are up for the challenge. Between him and Gabe and Dane. All those eligible bachelors here.”

“We’ve got someone in mind for Gabe,” Carolyn said, thinking it was time to plant their seed. “Remember we talked about that.”

“Oh yeah,” Diane said. “Sorry. I just forgot.”

Elise watched the two of them look at each other. This might be working.

“I guess that keeps you ladies busy in your retirement, doesn’t it?” Elise asked.

“It does. It’s not easy coming up with ladies worthy of those men,” Diane said.

“I’m sure it’s not,” Elise said. Her eyes shifted to Gabe. He’d moved next to Royce and Zander. This was getting good in her mind.

“You really should let us try to set you up,” Diane said. “If not with Zander then maybe someone else.”

“No chance with Zander,” she said loudly again. 

“You can’t blame us for trying,” Carolyn said, putting her hand on Elise’s arm and leaning in close. “It’s fine. We’ve got people lined up for Gabe and maybe Zander.”

Elise seemed to hesitate and the two of them took their leave fast while they were ahead.

“That was horrible of us,” Diane said.

“Nope. It was perfect. Now we just have to figure out what to do about Dane. Any thoughts?”

“Nothing,” Diane said. “It almost breaks my heart to see him sitting there by himself while everyone was out having fun.”

“He’s not alone,” Carolyn said. “He has his kids. Anyone we think of has to understand that.”

“We might have our work cut out for us, but that’s never stopped us before,” Diane said.

“Nope,” Carolyn said. “But tonight, we can celebrate in our success. One marriage and another on the hook and ready for the bite to let the world know what we’ve known all along.”

They laughed some more and moved closer to their husbands to compare notes on a good night.

Prologue

“We can’t do this any longer,” Mel said.

“Do what?” Dane Grey asked his wife.

“Our marriage,” Mel said. 

He frowned. He’d been busting his ass for years in med school, then his residency and fellowship. He’d finally gotten hired as a pediatrician at Duke and life was going to settle in for his family.

The family he’d always dreamed of having, just not as fast as it had happened.

Being married during his residency wasn’t a big deal in his mind. But having kids was.

Mel had assured him she had this. She could do it on her own. Or at least shoulder more so he could focus on his training.

Tiffani was born first, and though he struggled to do it all and be there for his wife and daughter, he was proud of the way he maneuvered it.

His parents stepped in. His sister and Mel’s family too.

They had it covered no matter how little sleep he got or the stress that was mounting on his shoulders.

When Mel said she wanted a second child, he’d been stunned.

He wasn’t ready. He didn’t think she was.

Tiffani was walking and sleeping through the night. Life had calmed down and his wife admitted that, as hard as it’d been, it had gotten easier, just like he’d said. She didn’t want to wait a few more years to try, she wanted their kids closer together.

But that didn’t mean he was ready for baby number two. Or the stress that came with it.

Mel had other ideas and before he knew it, she was pregnant. In his eyes, they were still talking about it. She took matters into her own hands.

Having been adopted, his dream of a family was coming true and he was going to muscle through it as best as he could, knowing the light was at the end of the tunnel.

His family stepped up more. So did hers.

Mel had more help than most married couples did, allowing Dane to finish up and start working.

Six months in and, in his mind, things were on the right track the way they always talked about how their future would be.

“What are you talking about?” he asked. Tiffani was four; Tyler was two. Both kids had birthdays coming up soon and he was ready to celebrate with them.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she clarified.

“You can’t do our marriage anymore?” he asked. His heart was racing, his hands were sweaty and shaking and he saw everything he’d worked so hard for going down the drain.

He loved his wife, though she could be a little demanding and difficult. He tried to give her everything she wanted and needed, even at the expense of his own time, comfort, and stress levels.

Didn’t married couples do that? Try to be there for each other?

“No,” Mel said. Her eyes were filling with tears. She cried a lot over the past five years and every tear broke his heart more. He hated to see her upset.

“What did I do wrong?” he asked. “I know life has been crazy for years with my hours and the kids, but we got you help while you worked.”

He held back the comment on “more than most got.” His parents and sister all worked and yet they had the kids a lot on the weekends so that he and Mel could have some time alone. Or get some sleep. Anything he asked of his family, they were right there doing it no matter how much he hated making the call to ask them.

He felt he owed them a ton, but they’d never take it.

“It’s not you,” Mel said. “I mean, it’s more me. You’ve done everything I’ve asked for. Given it all to me.”

“Yet it’s still not enough?” he asked. Dane ran his hands through his hair. His sister, Chloe, told him this, but he’d never admit it.

Chloe had told him when Tiffani was born that he shouldn’t be wearing himself out because in the end it wasn’t going to matter, that it would never be enough for Mel

He hadn’t wanted to believe her. She was right.

He did everything he could and it hadn’t made one ounce of a difference.

“I had this vision in my head of our life. It’s not there.”

He snorted. He’d heard this more than once. It was what she saw and wanted and she didn’t always care to ask for his feedback or what he could possibly want.

Where did he go wrong? Did he just want a family so badly that he allowed himself to be stormed over?

Did he wonder if his biological parents gave him up because he was too hard to handle and the fact made him weigh all his decisions in life?

That’d be stupid for a smart guy.

Yet he was starting to believe that might have been the case.

“We were young,” Mel said. “Or I was. I had rainbows in my eyes and now there are clouds. I’m sorry. I love you, but I can’t live like this.”

“Like what?” he asked desperately. This wasn’t about his marriage as much as holding his family together now. “If you love someone enough you make it work.”

Failure had never been an option in his eyes. He never wanted that.

“I know you’re working less, but it’s still more than I hoped for. You’re on call all the time and work weekends and nights. You go in early and come home late. We can’t plan for anything as a family it seems. Not even family dinners work out right. I’ve got the kids by myself all the time when I get out of work. Sometimes I’m tired and need a break or a soak in the tub and I can’t get that if I’m alone.”

His eyes went wide. “This is because you wanted to take a bath last night but Tyler was cranky and wouldn’t go to bed on time?” 

He’d gotten home at eight. He’d been on call, finished his appointments at the office, then did his rounds in the hospital. He got held up like it happens when talking to some parents. Easing their worries. Doing the job he was paid well for and that provided the life his wife always envisioned.

He cared about his work. The kids he saw. 

It was why he loved his job so much.

When he walked in the door last night, Tyler was crying. He was overtired and didn’t want to go to bed. Mel was sitting on the couch looking like she’d been run through the washer and hung out to dry in the middle of a storm. Tiffani was sleeping already. 

Tyler came running over to him in his pajamas, his nose running. He’d picked his son up, said some soft soothing words to him, rubbed his back and the kid was out on his shoulder in five minutes snoring softly.

He’d told Mel that was all it took and she knew that, but she’d admitted that she didn’t want to rock their son. She just wanted him to go to bed so she could read her book in the tub and if he’d been home on time, he could have done that for her.

Like always, he didn’t lose his patience, but put Tyler to bed and told her to take her bath then.

Nope, she said it was too late and turned the TV on and sat there and stewed.

He expected a fight, but he got nothing.

What he didn’t expect was his wife to send his kids to her parents when he had the night off and then hit him with this when he walked in the door.

“It’s not just last night,” Mel argued. “It’s all the time. I thought once you started to work it’d get better.”

“It is,” he said. “I’m not working nearly as much as when I was in my residency and you know it.”

“I know!” Mel yelled. “But I just thought maybe it’d be more like eight to five. That we’d have dinner together and the kids in bed at seven and you and I would have the rest of the night to ourselves.”

“Two weeks a month that is close to the case,” he said. “It won’t be much longer.”

He was home close to six, by the time he got out of the office. When he wasn’t on call, the nights were theirs. But two weeks a month, he didn’t get that luxury because they were down a doctor right now. Once Dr. Johnson was back from her medical leave, he’d do it once a month.

He’d told Mel that. 

“I’m sorry,” Mel said. “I just can’t do this up and down anymore. It’s not going to change. I thought I could accept it and realized I can’t do it.”

“So that’s it?” he asked. “You want to divorce?” This didn’t seem to be happening right now.

He wanted things to be very clear. He wasn’t going to assume a damn thing.

“I think it’s for the best,” she said. “At least to split and see how it works. I talked to my parents. I’m going to move in with them. You can stay in the house.”

He didn’t give a shit about those things. “The kids,” he said. “I’m not giving up my kids.”

“I know,” Mel said, sighing. “I think you care about them more than me.” 

His jaw dropped. It was another fight they’d had. When he was home he paid more attention to them than her.

He thought she’d appreciate having the break and it just went to show how much of a contradiction his wife’s words were.

“They are children,” he said. “My children. I love them and I miss them as much as I miss you when I’m gone. Spending time with them is what a parent does. Not to mention giving you a break.”

“I’m not arguing any of that,” Mel said. “I’m just stating how I feel.”

“And you don’t care how I feel?” he asked. He blinked his eyes a few times. They weren’t wet like he’d thought they’d be. His hands weren’t shaking anymore and his palms weren’t sweaty.

If anything, he was just numb.

“I’m sorry to say this. It’s not going to make a difference what you’re feeling. I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to my parents tonight and staying there with the kids to give you time to process this. We can figure out the rest this weekend.”

“Seems to me like you’ve got it all planned out already,” he said. “What does it matter what I say?”

He turned and walked away from her, grabbed his keys that he’d tossed on the table not more than twenty minutes ago when she’d hit him with this as he’d walked in the door.

He needed to get drunk, but he knew he’d never do that.

Instead he went to talk to his family. They’d be upset and pissed, but they’d understand and be there for him.

He’d need them now more than ever as he tried to pick up the pieces of his life that he’d finally thought were glued together strong.

Nice guys don’t always finish last!

Dr. Dane Grey is a single father who decides after years of putting the kids first, it’s time to venture into the dating world.

Sloane Redding escaped a childhood no one could have imagined.

When the Fierce women decide it’s time to set Dane up, he knows that isn’t going to happen. But to thwart their plans, he has to get out of his comfort zone and ask a woman out first.

Sloane recreated herself and is proud of what she overcame. The last thing she wants is for anyone to set her up on a blind date and makes that clear. When her client asks her out, she agrees because the attraction is too strong to pass by.

After Sloane’s past resurfaces, she must make a hard decision and hopes it doesn’t jeopardize everything she and Dane have been fighting for.

Prologue 

“Are you sure about this, Lily?” She gave her older sister a one-eyed squint. “Lilian,” Quinn said. “I’m sorry. I’ve known you as Lily for over twenty-four years. It’s hard to start calling you Lilian now.”

“It’s more professional sounding,” Lilian said. She supposed for years it was fine to be Lily, but now she was moving to the Big Apple. 

She wanted to make something of herself. 

She wanted a job where she would be respected and looked at as someone knowledgeable. Someone not raised in the foster care system with a mother in and out of jail and a father whose name she didn’t even know.

“I’m nervous for you,” Quinn said. Quinn was ten years older than her and married to a plastic surgeon. The same single father who’d hired her older sister to be his nanny years ago in Lake Placid. 

“Don’t be,” she said. “You never really cared for the bigger city living. I liked it. I gave this a try, but there just isn’t room for growth here.”

Quinn sighed. “I know. I’ve loved having you so close for the past six years. I really have.”

“I’ve loved being here,” Lilian said. 

She’d never be able to thank her sister enough for taking her in when she graduated high school in Chicago.

Her foster parents let her stay past eighteen so that she could finish up high school. They were great and would try to help her as best they could, but after graduation she knew she’d be on her own. Though she got a lot of financial aid for college, it was living somewhere during breaks that would be hard. As wonderful as the Websters were, they needed her spot for another child to help.

Her brother-in-law opened the doors to his beautiful home on the lake for her and let her stay in the housekeeper quarters that Quinn had first lived in.

Lily had to admit, it was the nicest house she’d ever seen, let alone lived in. She went to college in Plattsburg an hour away, lived in the dorms and had a place to come home to when she wanted.

Her first job out of college wasn’t exactly her dream career in communication and she knew the chances of finding something she wanted were slim to none in this area.

But she’d been making it work for two years while living with her sister, helping her out with Max’s older kids, Davy and Lara, and Quinn and Max’s two kids, Jocelyn and Carson. 

It was time for her to move on though. Or at least to start trying.

Finding a job and then a place to live wasn’t going to be easy, but nothing in her life had ever been easy.

“We loved having you. I hope you don’t think you’re in the way. No one thinks that. You have your own little apartment in the back. You’ve got friends and a life here. You’re hardly in the way.”

She saw Quinn’s eyes fill a little with tears.

“I don’t feel that way. You’ve got everything under control like you always did. Davy is going off to college soon.”

“It’s so hard to believe he’s a senior and graduating in six months. I think Max is going to struggle there.”

“He probably will,” she said. “But he’s got Lara to keep him on his toes for two more years, and then the start of everything all over again with Jocelyn and Carson.”

Her niece was in kindergarten, her nephew was only three. 

“I’m going to miss you,” Quinn said.

“You’re making it sound like I’m leaving tomorrow,” she said, laughing. “I’m just telling you that I’ve decided to look for a job and then a place to stay. I’m not sure what is going to be harder. Probably a place to stay.”

“It’s going to be so expensive there,” Quinn said.

“I’ve got a lot of money put away because you and Max don’t let me pay for anything. Which I appreciate. You taught me how to budget. I’ll be fine.”

She’d never had much growing up. Like Quinn, what she had and earned she held onto as tightly as getting the squeeze from an octopus. It’d help her when the time was right.

“I know you will,” Quinn said. “I’m worrying over nothing. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders and you always have. Tess and Ronnie did such a good job with you.”

“You did a good job with me,” she said, hugging her sister. “I know how much you wanted to take me in and you beat yourself up over it for years.”

Quinn had desperately wanted to raise her siblings, but it would have never happened. Working two to three jobs and moving around as much as she was, she’d never get custody. She could barely care for herself, and having three younger kids with her without the means for childcare wouldn’t have worked.

“I did,” Quinn said. “But Max told me to let it go. I did the best I could and things happen for a reason. You’re going to be fine. Brett is hanging in there with Annie and his kids. Karl, well, he’s trying.”

“No one blames you for anything,” she said. “Just remember that. We thank you all the time for the help you’ve given us.”

Lilian knew that Quinn helped her two brothers out for years too. In some aspects, she was luckier than a lot of people with her past.

“I don’t want thanks. I just want everyone happy.”

“And I am,” Lily said. “I’ll be even happier when I can find a career that I’ve been dreaming of. It will happen, but it’s not meant to happen here.”

“No,” Quinn said. “I selfishly wanted you to stay, but I knew at some point I’d have to let you go. You won’t be far and Max’s parents will be close by if you need anything. They expect you to stay in touch.”

She sighed. It was the last thing she wanted to do, but she would if she had no choice in the matter.

“I will,” she said. “Now let me help you with dinner. The kids will be home soon with Max.”

Max had taken them skiing for the day. All but Carson who was taking his afternoon nap. 

“That I will let you do,” Quinn said. “I’m going to soak it all up while I can because I know you’re going to find exactly what you’re looking for and it will be soon.”

“I hope you’re right,” she said, laughing.

What should have been a simple white lie about having a fake fiancé looked more like a Cinderella Story. But will the stagecoach stay in its form when the truth comes out?

Braylon Carlisle has lived in the shadow of his brother, the man he idolizes. So it shouldn’t be any surprise when he saves a woman from being hit on…just like his brother did. Simple enough, right?

Lilian Baker only wants to get her coffee for the weekly staff meeting in peace. When one guy doesn’t get the hint, a sexy attorney walks over to play it up as he is her fiancé. She goes along with it, thinking she’ll never see him again, only to find out he works in her building and is well known.

Rather than her life getting easier, it is only more complicated with a charade that she wishes was real.

If you haven’t read the Prologue yet, check it out.

Chapter One

A New Life

Twenty Years Later

“Sage,” Poppy Bloom-McGill said, coming into her office. “Sorry to bother you, but the condo association just reached out to me. There are some condos having work done in the building and the men will be in your place tomorrow morning. They need someone there. I guess they have to check to make sure it won’t affect you or something. Not sure of the details, but hopefully someone will explain it then.”

“Oh,” she said. 

Sage had been living in Mystic for six months since she’d been hired as the Marketing Director for Blossoms.

She knew she most likely got the job because her new sister-in-law, Violet, was the manager of the flower shop below her office.

Just another thing that felt like she couldn’t do for herself, but she tried not to complain since she loved her job so much.

Not only that, she had a beautiful condo she rented that all but fell into her lap when two other employees, Heather and Daisy, both moved out to live with their fiancés. It was Poppy’s condo that she’d kept and rented out when she moved in with her now husband.

A new job, a new place to live, and a new life that she so desperately needed.

Did she run away from her past life? Yes, she sure the hell did and wasn’t even going to argue it.

“You can work from home tomorrow,” Poppy said. “Not a big deal.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Positive,” Poppy said. “You know that. Whether you sit in the office here or sit in the one at your place doesn’t make a difference.”

“True,” she said. “I just don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of anything.”

Poppy laughed at her. “Really? You’re here before the rest of us most times. You’ve got freaking awesome ideas and have helped increase our reach and sales. You were helping out long before we hired you when I’d talked to you before.”

It made her feel good to hear that. 

Over the past two years, Poppy or Lily had reached out and run ideas by her or asked for tips and pointers. They didn’t have a marketing person and were doing most of it themselves.

Violet would ask her questions too and she’d always been willing to help out.

The Bloom sisters even paid her for her time though she’d never wanted it.

They’d argued it was her job and career and they weren’t going to take advantage of her.

“That’s just me helping out Violet. Or Violet’s family.”

Poppy grinned. “We do that here. Help each other out. So sleep in tomorrow and work from home. They aren’t sure when the electricians will show up. Got to love the whole ‘between the hours of ten and two.’”

“In that case, guess I’ll be home tomorrow,” she said, laughing. “I can exercise in the morning and get it out of the way.”

“When I lived in the condo I tried to get to the gym early when I wanted to avoid the guys.”

Sage laughed. “There are a lot of guys in the gym at night. I thought for sure you’d want to be down there at that time.”

She knew Poppy was the fun playful flirt of the sisters. Poppy might have had a slight reputation when it came to dating.

Not that she listened much.

It didn’t seem to matter though. She could close her ears to other people’s gossip and drama and yet she still ended up smack dab in the middle of it without trying.

She often wondered if she ran in the other direction when people were talking about others if it’d be better. She wouldn’t care if she looked like a fool. It was better than being included in something that she wanted no part of.

“No way,” Poppy said. “I hate working out, but when I do it, I make sure I put everything I’ve got into that time. It’s hard to pick a guy up when you’re covered in your own sweat and walking funny. I mean, sure, I like to be sweaty and walking funny after some activities, but that is different.”

Poppy started to do a little booty shake that had her giggling. It always did. 

Sage wasn’t used to working at such a laid back place and knew she was lucky.

“Ahhh,” she said. “I remember those days. Been a while.”

Nothing at all in the six months she’d lived here. Not even the four months prior to the move. Almost a year with no sex and it was the last thing on her mind.

She was keeping her distance from men since the last one cost her everything she’d always wanted. 

She’d left with her tail between her legs and full of doubts, insecurities and embarrassment.

A trifecta of emotions. The perfect storm for her to put on her running sneakers and make a sprint out of town.

“We need to get you a man,” Poppy said.

“I’m good,” she said.

“Been there and done that too,” Poppy said. “I get it. Lily would be up here right now telling me to mind my own business.”

“Looks like you’re learning,” she heard in the hallway.

Sage looked around Poppy, who was standing in the doorway, to see Lily there with baby Remi in her arms.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “You’re on maternity leave.”

She was jumping up and running to get her hands on the baby though. Lily had given birth to her daughter three weeks ago.

“That doesn’t mean I have to stay locked up in the house the whole time,” Lily said. “No, Poppy, I’m not working.”

“You’re always working,” Poppy said. “But I get it. We all are. I want to snatch my niece out of your hands, but I’ve been getting my fill of her lately. I’ll let someone else hold her.”

Sage gently transferred the sleeping baby into her arms. “She’s so tiny.”

“You don’t feel that way pushing her out,” Lily said, grinning. “But she was just a few ounces smaller than Ryder.”

“How is Ryder with his baby sister?”

“He’s good. Glad we got him potty trained before the birth. But it’s still making sure to remind him to go,” Lily said. “Zane has been great about it. Having Willow helps too. She’s like a little mother.”

Willow was Zane’s daughter who was in third grade.

“I bet she’s already picking out Remi’s clothing,” Poppy said.

“She is,” Lily said. “But now that she’s back in school this week and I’m on my own, she’s more excited about her own clothing. You know, like Aunt Poppy taking her school shopping and all but giving her a new wardrobe.”

Poppy shrugged. “Sorry. Mommy was a little busy to do it this year and we had a blast.”

Sage lifted her eyes from the sleeping baby and watched the sisters grinning at each other. 

She’d never had a bond like that with another woman other than Kate. Though she felt she was getting it with Violet since she’d moved here.

She was thrilled her brother had found the perfect mate in his life.

Just one more thing he’d done great and accomplished. 

The war hero.

The successful author.

The one who was close to signing off on his book series becoming a TV mini-series.

Only family knew that and she was keeping it close to her chest.

Maybe one day she’d be able to boast about her successes.

Yeah, never.

It was fine. She could be happy for her brother.

“I can always count on my sisters,” Lily said. “Even more so to give man advice. Am I missing something here? I’m not normally out of the loop.”

“Nothing to miss,” Sage said. “Other than I’ve got an electrician coming to the condo tomorrow. You know, some old dude with his pants hanging down. Maybe I’ll get a butt crack sighting that can disgust me for a year to keep me thinking I’m better off without a man.”

The sisters both laughed. “That could do it,” Lily said.

When Remi started to stir in her arms, she handed the baby back. “I’m sure you want to show this little gem off so I won’t hog her too much.”

Lily took her daughter back. “Everything going well?”

“No work talk,” Poppy said. “Or I’m stealing this one from you too and going shopping. Rose and I have it covered along with everyone else in this building.”

Sage looked at the woman who ended up hiring her. The one she worked with more than anyone else when it came down to it. 

“We do,” she told Lily. “Nothing to worry about here.”

“Nope,” Poppy said. “I’m the fun boss. Your biggest worry is that Sage is going to come to me and not you in the future.”

The two sisters laughed as they left the office and she got back to work trying to figure out what she’d need so that she could get everything done tomorrow at home.

She did have to admit working from home in leggings and a T-shirt was the way to go and was told to do it during bad weather this winter.

She felt bad for those who didn’t have that option. Like Violet whose job didn’t allow it, but it was nice to have a little perk that others upstairs did get and not feel as if she was getting special treatment for something.

Prologue

“Hi, Sage.”

Sage Mancini turned her head away from the group of friends she was talking to when they were standing outside at lunchtime.

“Hi, Knox,” she said back, forcing a smile. She liked the kid that was in her homeroom and talked to her every morning of their eighth-grade year, but she didn’t want to really hang out with him.

“What did you think of that English test?” Knox asked her, his black thick-rimmed glasses coming off his face as he wiped them on his shirt.

He was shorter than her, probably thinner too and she had always been told she was on the thin side. Her attraction to boys at twelve years old wasn’t about much more than the fact she didn’t want to be looking down on them or be able to pick them up and toss them a few feet.

“I probably would have done better if I finished reading the book, but it’s boring.”

“It is,” Knox said. “I only read half of it and then fluffed the rest of my answers.”

“Isn’t your father some English professor?” Brit asked. Brit never cared if she interrupted other people’s conversations.

“Yeah,” Knox said. “Doesn’t mean I like English or am good at it.”

“You couldn’t ask him for a summary?” Brit asked.

Knox snorted. “It’s not like he’s teaching eighth-grade English to college kids.”

Sage giggled over that response. She was thinking the same thing but wouldn’t voice it to Brit who could turn her nastiness on at the drop of a dime.

“Whatever,” Brit said, turning her back on them to face their friends. The rest of the group started to giggle and Sage felt bad for Knox.

He was only being nice even if she wished he’d go away to talk to his own friends.

Only she didn’t think he had too many friends. Or if he did, she didn’t see it. Could be they were still in the building eating lunch, playing chess or something else dorky.

“I don’t care for reading this stuff much,” he said.

“No,” she said. “I’d rather draw or design fashion.”

She thought of her brother’s best friend who was an international model at fourteen. All those clothes that she was jealous of. 

At night she’d create outfits and ad campaigns. When the clothing ideas didn’t come out all that great, she’d perfect how she’d brand or market it.

In her eyes, that was just as much fun.

Her friends all thought she was silly and stupid to spend time on that. They were always asking her questions about Kate, her brother’s supermodel best friend, too. Saying Kate was a star and asking what it was like to live next to her or have her at their house all the time. If her brother and Kate were dating.

It annoyed her, but she pushed it off and didn’t answer that many questions if she could avoid it. Maybe deep down she didn’t do it hoping her friends kept her around to find out more.

Sad in her eyes, but the cool girls were talking to her and didn’t every middle schooler want to be part of the in crowd and be liked by everyone?

 “I’d like to see them,” he said, smiling at her when he pushed his glasses back on his face.

“They aren’t that good,” she said.

“I’m sure they are,” he said. 

Knox might be the only one who ever said that to her. It was kind of sweet in a way and it reminded her why he was nice to talk to. That she shouldn’t be quick to push him away because her friends might make fun of her for talking to him.

“Well,” she said. “It’s just for fun and something I do so that I don’t have to listen to Mrs. Gardner. Maybe if I paid more attention the test would have been easier.”

“Let’s go, Sage,” Brit said, grabbing her arm and tugging her. “We don’t need to waste our time talking to other people during lunch.”

“Bye, Sage,” Knox said, his smile dropping.

“Bye,” she said, allowing her superficial friend to yank her away. “You can let go now,” she told Brit.

“You can thank me for pulling you away,” Brit said. “He’s kind of a pain, isn’t he?”

“He’s harmless,” she said.

“He’s a dork,” Steph said. “He’s always trying to come up and talk to you. He looks like he should still be in elementary school.”

She giggled. That thought had crossed her mind at times too. “That’s not his fault,” she said. “That would be genetics.”

“I heard his mother is fooling around with some guy and the baby she’s carrying isn’t her husband’s,” Maddie said.

Sage hadn’t even known Knox’s mother was pregnant. Why would she know those things? And how did Maddie know? Maddie was always the one in the group full of gossip.

“Who cares about those things,” she said. 

Her father was an NYPD detective and more than once had told her to keep her nose clean by staying out of other people’s problems. 

Her mother was a hairdresser and listened to her client’s problems all day long and agreed with her father. It was better to ignore things that didn’t affect her.

It was just so hard at this age it seemed. Someone was always trying to bring another person down.

Maddie shrugged. “I’m only saying.”

“I don’t care,” she said. “It’s not like I’m going to date the kid. We were talking about our English test.”

“My mother says it always starts with English and then the next thing you know, he’s stalking you until you give in and say you’ll go to the prom with him,” Brit said. “Put your foot down. Say he’s a nerd and you’d never lower yourself to dating him. He’ll leave you alone after that.”

Sage was going to say she’d never be that mean, but when she turned, her eyes landed on Knox’s and she’d seen he’d heard that statement and walked away.

Her group of “friends” burst out laughing and she wondered if she’d just been set up for that.

It seemed to be the story of her life. Wrong place at the wrong time and she was the one coming out smelling like turds rather than the rose.

Forgiving one’s self is harder than we think!

Knox Bradford made the mistake of believing in the wrong person as a child. At eighteen, he realized everything he’d been told was a lie.

Sage Mancini is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. The last thing she expects when she runs from her past is to find the childhood boy who had a crush on her in eighth grade, making her wonder if things do turn out right when they mean something.

But does she have the confidence to make a move and convince him to believe that the past means nothing, even if she’s struggling with it herself?

Prologue

“I want you home by eleven!”

Lincoln Harrington was sitting in the passenger seat of his girlfriend’s Mustang. Lara’s grandparents had given it to her for her sixteenth birthday two years ago. Lara was eighteen. A few months older than him. He didn’t care all that much. 

He felt he was the luckiest dude in the school dating this hot chick that most wanted and she wouldn’t give the time of day to anyone but him.

“Sure!” Lara yelled back and she slid into the car. “Not likely. They are so controlling. I can’t wait until we graduate in two months and then I’m out of here.”

“Have you told them yet you aren’t going to college?” he asked.

Lara’s parents had her on a short leash most of her life. At least from what she’d said. It wasn’t until recently that her mother convinced her father to let her have some freedom since she’d be going off to college soon.

Or so they thought. Again, words from Lara’s mouth. 

“No,” Lara said. “I’ve got time before they have to put the money down. I’m getting away from here and them. Then it’s just the two of us and no one to answer to.”

He leaned over and kissed her while she started the engine and it roared to life.

The muscle car had been a huge argument in Lara’s family. She’d told him all about it. Repeatedly in the eight months they’d been dating.

Lara’s father thought it was too dangerous. Lara’s mother told her father to lighten up, you only lived once.

Lincoln was going with the second, but he had to admit that Lara was a little reckless at times. More than he was, and for a guy entering the Air Force with the goal of being a fighter pilot, that was saying something. 

“I want you with me,” he said. His heart had been long gone the minute he found out she was a virgin. “But it won’t be right away. I’ve got to go through basic training, then figure out where I’ll end up. You know you can’t live with me unless we are married.”

“I want to get married,” Lara said excitedly. “You can take me away from here and care for me right?”

“Always,” he said. Though he had doubts he could give her the life she was used to. She insisted it wasn’t a big deal, but her words and her actions never lined up.

He was middle class. His parents had stable jobs and they had a decent well-maintained house.

He’d never wanted for much in his life, but it’s not like his parents bought him a car for his sixteenth birthday.

He had a job and he put half in and his parents put the other four thousand in. He thought it was awesome, but it wasn’t the car he was riding in now and never would be.

Lara’s parents made it a point to rub that in their daughter’s face all the time too.

That Lincoln wouldn’t or couldn’t give her what she deserved and that she could do so much better.

He’d overheard her parents talking one day that she’d find someone better suited for her when she was in college.

She argued that she loved him and didn’t care about those things.

Yet they never went places in his car and she always was asking him to take her out, him using most of his paycheck on that rather than putting money away. 

“Then that is all I care about,” Lara said. She hit the gas hard when the light turned green and he was sucked into the seat.

“What are you going to do when I’m in training?” he asked

Every time he brought this up she’d avoid answering. He’d always been a man with a plan. He couldn’t live by the seat of his pants. It just wasn’t his way.

Could be he didn’t have anything to fall back on like Lara did.

“I’ll figure it out,” she said. “If I have to start college for a semester, I’ll do it. Doesn’t mean I have to finish.”

He cringed. He didn’t care how much money her parents had, that was just wasteful to him.

Unless she changed her mind and was going to end things with him.

He tried not to think that way. It was going to be what it was.

It’s not like he was changing his plans. This had been his dream ever since his parents took him on vacation and he got to look at old fighter planes and helicopters. The helicopters drew him in more, but he was willing to give them both a try.

His parents always knew what he wanted and they supported him even through their fears.

Lara found it exciting and sexy. The night he’d told her what he was going to do after graduation was when she told him she was ready to go all the way. That was a month after they’d been dating. 

It fed his ego that she was supporting his career choice, and from that point on, she’d bragged to many at the same time she’d tried to show him how much she needed speed.

He wouldn’t say he ever had a need for speed like she did.

Not when she took a turn fast enough to have him grabbing the door.

“What is your rush?” he asked. “We’re only going to the movies.”

“I’ve got this car, might as well drive it like it’s meant to be.”

He’d told her all the time to let up on the gas. She’d let him drive it a time or two, but that was it. He didn’t ask, she’d offered. He didn’t want her to get in trouble if her parents found out.

“If you abuse it too much it won’t last that long,” he said. He took care of what was his.

“It will be fine,” she said, laughing, her hair blowing in the breeze with the sunroof open and the windows down.

That was her answer to everything.

Lincoln knew he’d have to learn to accept that if they were going to be married. No two people were the same or perfect. 

They got to the mall, went in and grabbed a quick burger at the food court, then were in the theater with five minutes to spare. They spent more time in the back making out, his hand sliding under her shirt and even down her pants, than they did watching the movie.

When it ended a little after nine, they walked around the mall before closing and were back in her car at ten. 

 “What do you want to do for an hour?” he asked.

“I’m not going to be home at eleven,” she said. “It’s lame. It’s Saturday night and I’m eighteen. You don’t have a curfew.”

Only because he knew she did and his parents were fine with that. When he got home late, it worried them and he’d apologize left and right, but they knew he was at the mercy of Lara if she was picking him up and dropping him off.

He’d offered to get her, but she always wanted to be out in her car. Since it was a sweet ride he couldn’t complain much about it.

He didn’t have a chance to dispute her comment when she pulled out in traffic with another car coming not that far away.

“Lara!” he shouted, but it was too late.

The truck hit them in the driver’s door, throwing Lara’s body like a rag doll in a washing machine toward him only to have it snap back by the seatbelt.

His last thought was this was going to end up being his fault. He knew it.

He didn’t remember anything else before his airbag went off, knocking him unconscious.

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Prologue

 

“I want
you home by eleven!”

Lincoln
Harrington was sitting in the passenger seat of his girlfriend’s Mustang.
Lara’s grandparents had given it to her for her sixteenth birthday two years
ago. Lara was eighteen. A few months older than him. He didn’t care all that
much. 

He felt
he was the luckiest dude in the school dating this hot chick that most wanted
and she wouldn’t give the time of day to anyone but him.

“Sure!”
Lara yelled back and she slid into the car. “Not likely. They are so
controlling. I can’t wait until we graduate in two months and then I’m out of
here.”

“Have
you told them yet you aren’t going to college?” he asked.

Lara’s
parents had her on a short leash most of her life. At least from what she’d
said. It wasn’t until recently that her mother convinced her father to let her
have some freedom since she’d be going off to college soon.

Or so
they thought. Again, words from Lara’s mouth. 

“No,”
Lara said. “I’ve got time before they have to put the money down. I’m getting
away from here and them. Then it’s just the two of us and no one to answer to.”

He leaned
over and kissed her while she started the engine and it roared to life.

The
muscle car had been a huge argument in Lara’s family. She’d told him all about
it. Repeatedly in the eight months they’d been dating.

Lara’s
father thought it was too dangerous. Lara’s mother told her father to lighten
up, you only lived once.

Lincoln
was going with the second, but he had to admit that Lara was a little reckless
at times. More than he was, and for a guy entering the Air Force with the goal
of being a fighter pilot, that was saying something. 

“I want
you with me,” he said. His heart had been long gone the minute he found out she
was a virgin. “But it won’t be right away. I’ve got to go through basic
training, then figure out where I’ll end up. You know you can’t live with me
unless we are married.”

“I want
to get married,” Lara said excitedly. “You can take me away from here and care
for me right?”

“Always,”
he said. Though he had doubts he could give her the life she was used to. She
insisted it wasn’t a big deal, but her words and her actions never lined up.

He was
middle class. His parents had stable jobs and they had a decent well-maintained
house.

He’d
never wanted for much in his life, but it’s not like his parents bought him a
car for his sixteenth birthday.

He had
a job and he put half in and his parents put the other four thousand in. He
thought it was awesome, but it wasn’t the car he was riding in now and never
would be.

Lara’s
parents made it a point to rub that in their daughter’s face all the time too.

That
Lincoln wouldn’t or couldn’t give her what she deserved and that she could do
so much better.

He’d
overheard her parents talking one day that she’d find someone better suited for
her when she was in college.

She
argued that she loved him and didn’t care about those things.

Yet
they never went places in his car and she always was asking him to take her
out, him using most of his paycheck on that rather than putting money
away. 

“Then
that is all I care about,” Lara said. She hit the gas hard when the light
turned green and he was sucked into the seat.

“What
are you going to do when I’m in training?” he asked

Every
time he brought this up she’d avoid answering. He’d always been a man with a
plan. He couldn’t live by the seat of his pants. It just wasn’t his way.

Could
be he didn’t have anything to fall back on like Lara did.

“I’ll
figure it out,” she said. “If I have to start college for a semester, I’ll do
it. Doesn’t mean I have to finish.”

He
cringed. He didn’t care how much money her parents had, that was just wasteful
to him.

Unless
she changed her mind and was going to end things with him.

He
tried not to think that way. It was going to be what it was.

It’s
not like he was changing his plans. This had been his dream ever since his
parents took him on vacation and he got to look at old fighter planes and
helicopters. The helicopters drew him in more, but he was willing to give them
both a try.

His
parents always knew what he wanted and they supported him even through their
fears.

Lara
found it exciting and sexy. The night he’d told her what he was going to do
after graduation was when she told him she was ready to go all the way. That
was a month after they’d been dating. 

It fed
his ego that she was supporting his career choice, and from that point on,
she’d bragged to many at the same time she’d tried to show him how much she
needed speed.

He
wouldn’t say he ever had a need for speed like she did.

Not
when she took a turn fast enough to have him grabbing the door.

“What
is your rush?” he asked. “We’re only going to the movies.”

“I’ve
got this car, might as well drive it like it’s meant to be.”

He’d
told her all the time to let up on the gas. She’d let him drive it a time or
two, but that was it. He didn’t ask, she’d offered. He didn’t want her to get
in trouble if her parents found out.

“If you
abuse it too much it won’t last that long,” he said. He took care of what was
his.

“It
will be fine,” she said, laughing, her hair blowing in the breeze with the
sunroof open and the windows down.

That
was her answer to everything.

Lincoln
knew he’d have to learn to accept that if they were going to be married. No two
people were the same or perfect. 

They
got to the mall, went in and grabbed a quick burger at the food court, then
were in the theater with five minutes to spare. They spent more time in the
back making out, his hand sliding under her shirt and even down her pants, than
they did watching the movie.

When it
ended a little after nine, they walked around the mall before closing and were
back in her car at ten. 

 “What
do you want to do for an hour?” he asked.

“I’m
not going to be home at eleven,” she said. “It’s lame. It’s Saturday night and
I’m eighteen. You don’t have a curfew.”

Only
because he knew she did and his parents were fine with that. When he got home
late, it worried them and he’d apologize left and right, but they knew he was
at the mercy of Lara if she was picking him up and dropping him off.

He’d
offered to get her, but she always wanted to be out in her car. Since it was a
sweet ride he couldn’t complain much about it.

He
didn’t have a chance to dispute her comment when she pulled out in traffic with
another car coming not that far away.

“Lara!”
he shouted, but it was too late.

The
truck hit them in the driver’s door, throwing Lara’s body like a rag doll in a
washing machine toward him only to have it snap back by the seatbelt.

His
last thought was this was going to end up being his fault. He knew it.

He
didn’t remember anything else before his airbag went off, knocking him
unconscious.