#Book Review #Romantic Suspense #An Unexpected Distraction (Richter #3) by Catherine Bybee @Montlake30/11/2021
Synopsis: Family secrets and fresh romance collide in this heart-pounding Richter series installment by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee. Jacqueline “Jax” Simon knows how to expose secrets: she’s a skilled operative with MacBain Security and Solutions. When Jax hears her parents are divorcing, she races to London to find out why. She’s determined to learn the truth, especially when her investigation uncovers why her parents sent her to Richter, the German military school that made her a fighter. Andrew Craig collects Jax at Heathrow Airport as a favor. He’s heard she’s a handful, but he didn’t know she’s dangerously gorgeous too. His instant attraction could change his life…or end it. Jax doesn’t want to fall for Andrew, but soon he’s worming his way into her life. Together, they infiltrate Richter to discover if it has returned to its covert purpose: training children to be spies and assassins and blackmailing parents to look the other way. As the attraction between the two intensifies, so do the secrets exploding all around them. How deadly are those secrets—and who will survive? Publisher: Montlake Publication Date: November 30th, 2021 365 pages Series: Richter (#3) 9781542029568, 1542029562 Previous books in the series: Changing Rules, A Thin Disguise  My thoughts: An Unexpected Distraction is the third book in Catherine Bybee's addictive series that deals with former alumni of a super secretive military boarding school called Richter. The first book Changing Rules focused on Claire Kelly who was sent on an undercover mission to bust a child trafficking ring. I absolutely adored her best friend Jax Simon and couldn't wait to read her story in An Unexpected Distraction. All books in this fast-paced, gripping series can be read as standalones- a new reader gets enough background to understand how the protagonists are related to Richter, which for many years trained future spies, secret agents for various governments and private companies, and ...assassins. We met one of them- Olivia Nought in the second book A Thin Disguise. Claire and Jax were among the more fortunate ones- they were given a chance to be on the right side and good by working for Neil McBain's Security and Solutions team. Neil was also the man behind exposing what was going on in Richter and sending the former headmistress Lodovica to prison. But the legacy of Richter still lives on and not all secrets have been revealed. The book starts with Neil's employees doing a teambuilding exercise- practising a scenario when one of them gets kidnapped. You get a good feeling of how how-close knit the team is and how much they trust each other. Then Jax gets a call from her brother Harry who is asking her to come to London and help him out with a family emergency which turns out to be their parents going through a separation. Things do not seem to add up and Jax's professional skills are being called upon. All through this Jax is dealing with an unexpected distraction- her brother's friend and former schoolmate Andrew is gradually becoming more and more important to her and suddenly going back to her life in Californis doesn't seem as appealing as it used to. As Neil reminds her, in Jax's line of work distractions can be fatal, especially when it becomes clear that the case isn't just about her own family, it has an unexpected connection to Richter. I have to admit the first part of the book was unusually slow for what I've come to expect from Catherine Bybee, the ruling queen of romantic suspense. But then the pace picked up considerably in the second half and suddenly I was on the edge of my seat, gripped by the nailbiting finale. The genre of romantic suspense calls for a fine balance of romance and mystery. Jax is a strong, independent woman, comfortable with her life choices, but even she has to deal with her own doubts and insecurities- do her family care for her and are just too reserved to show it? what is going to happen to her friendship with Claire now that Claire is getting married? Moving to California for work was a no-brainer for her given how much she loves her job and sunny weather, but does it mean there's nothing tying her back to England? The book is written from Jax's POV, so we do get to know Andrew only the way Jax sees him. Sometimes it felt as if there was only one protagonist and Andrew was just one of the secondary characters. Having said that, there are some very sweet and romantic moments. While every book in the series is complete on its own, it's clear there is more to the story as the ending proves and I just can't wait to read the next instalment! Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Beyond the Cogs: A Steampunk Anthology
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo --
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The Journey
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play -- EXCERPT: [Meriden] Tucker barked at something that had recently washed up onto the shore. Curious, I walked toward the obvious tangled mess. “What do you have there?” I pushed him aside and grabbed the green and grey mass. I peeled off the debris and seaweed and rinsed the mud and sand off in the Mouth of the Severn. From the mess appeared an object, which I could only describe as an elaborate golden coin, about four inches in diameter. Yet, the slightest touch caused three outer rings of glyphs—similar to the ones painted on the map—to rotate around a sitting man with a long headdress, bowl, and club. His face profiled, and his legs crossed. The most outer ring consisted of nineteen complicated glyphs, including an eagle’s head, a goat-like face, and a demon face; the middle ring held twenty square glyphs with three curls underneath, some depicting things like hands, skulls, and faces; and the innermost ring had a series of dots and lines—much like Roman numerals—that counted up to thirteen. On the other side of the coin, the same skeletal figure from the map sat in the center while nine teetered glyphs were spaced out along the outer rings—five on the outer ring and four in the middle. Among the glyphs of the middle ring were four arrows pointing in what I would call the cardinal directions. Overlapping the middle and inner rings were three large arrows. Much like a compass pointing north, east, and west. And to the south, two skulls faced each other, leaving a microscopic gap. My mind spun with disbelief. This had to be related to Death Island. I was sure of it. But how? And where did it come from? How did it get here? The breeze carried my hair off my shoulder, a shiver ran down my spine, and goose bumps unraveled across my arms when I sensed a presence nearby. I turned to spy a man as pale as ash with a beard as white as snow watching me. Black veins stretched throughout his exposed flesh. His eyes nothing but two black pieces of coal. The mere sight of him made me jump in my own skin, nearly causing me to drop the Mayan coin as I gasped in fright. In an attempt to regain my composure, I took my eyes off the man for a second to steady myself, only for them to fall back on the gardener, or ghost, I met at the Railings’ home. 
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Christmas in Smithville
-- EXCERPT: “Then I just had to wr—wrap the baby up and hand her to her mother,” Ned said as he dropped his paint roller in the bucket of hot water. Gloria stared at him, her eyes wide in fascination. “I can’t believe you delivered a baby by the side of the road. I don’t think I could have—” “Sure you could,” he said with a shrug. “When the time comes and work needs doing, folks like us st—step up.” Unsure, she scoffed. “Well, baking a casserole is one thing, but—” Ned reached out to take her paint roller. “Yeah, okay, the baby was kind of a big deal,” he conceded, “Usually, I just end up learning w—way more about people than I want to know.” “I understand that.” Gloria nodded. “Given my past, I know—” She stopped, realizing what she was saying. “Of course, I’ve forgotten all about those guys…” She faltered, her words fading away and her cheeks burning red under her freckles. Ned’s laughter rang out into the workshop. “Oh, I’m sure you don’t know which guys in town burp at the table, who is connected at the hip to their momma, or who snores—” The words chopped off and it was his turn to blush. “I… I d—didn’t mean… I—I w—wasn’t…” His stutter always got much worse when he was upset. Frustrated, he stopped talking and turned back to the water bucket. “Don’t be embarrassed,” Gloria said, feeling bad for him. “It’s true though, especially with your job. What do you do when you meet someone on the street, and you know intimate details about their personal life?” She waited, but he just pumped the paint rollers up and down in the water, so she tried again. “I’m asking for advice, honest. Do they train you on this stuff at the police academy?” He shrugged, then straightened and shoved one hand in the front pocket of his jeans. “Well we have to t—take ethics classes, but—” he looked up, making eye contact, “no, they don’t tell you that stuff. You just h—have to act like you weren’t at their house two n—nights ago with the fire chief, helping them get their hand unstuck from the k—kitchen drain they were trying to fix.” Her eyes widened, and she chuckled in surprise. “Who? No, no don’t tell me.” He shook his head; his hand raised to stop her. “I wouldn’t,” he said, but his eyes were bright with humor. “It’s a th—thing you have to learn to do I guess. I know you’re g—good at it, I’ve seen you in action.” She shrugged modestly. “Oh, well, I just try to put myself in their place.” They were both quiet for a minute, contemplating all the dirt they’d collectively compiled on the people of Smithville. “Yeah, ” she continued with a sparkle in her eye. “Because if I were a great big guy, I wouldn’t want everyone to know that I scream like a little girl when I see a spider.” Ned’s eyebrows rose, and a big grin spread across his face. “Now I have to wonder…” “It will go with me to the grave,” she assured him, looking solemn. But she couldn’t help it and broke into laughter. “Oh my gosh, it was the funniest thing. I thought he was going to run away, but he kept screaming for me to ‘get it’. Of course, I was far too busy laughing and taking video.” He chuckled, enjoying the way her eyes shone when she was happy. Her laughter was like music, and her cheeks turned rosy with happiness. His own heart swelled, catching him off guard. “You’re a mean one, aren’t you,” he teased. “Me?” she asked, with her hand on her chest. “No, no, I finally took pity on him and smashed the bug.” “Well that’s good,” he said, wishing he could make her laugh like that all the time. “Anyway,” she trailed off, “I better get moving. I have a ton of sewing to do.” “I wish I could help you with th—that,” he said, collecting the butcher paper he’d spread for them to paint. “But I have no idea how to even thread a needle.” Her head tilted to one side. “I doubt that.” “Okay, okay,” he relented, crumpling the paper to stuff it in the trashcan. “I can thread a n—needle, but choir robes and sh—shepherd costumes are way beyond my scope.” She waved him off. “Oh, these are pretty simple. I figure they’re for one night and no one will really see them up close.” “True.” “Except…” He waited for her to continue, watching her think, wishing he could hear what was on her mind. “Well, it’s just,” She chuckled. “Practically every family in town has someone in this thing, so I guess in reality, everyone will see them up close.” “Right?” he laughed. “I wonder sometimes, who is going to watch the show.” “Me too!” she agreed. “We may need to set up a bus service to bring folks from Uniontown.” He rubbed his chin. “Not a bad idea.” She reveled in the shared moment, then turned away, looking for her purse. “Well, I’d better get going.” “Thanks for the help,” he said, wishing he knew how to make her stay. “ Do you have to go?” The question froze Gloria in her tracks. Normally at this point, if a gorgeous man was being funny and sweet and she liked him, she’d stay and talk. And not only that, she amended, she’d sign up for more. But things were different now. She was different. She wasn’t doing any of this to get a man, and, truth be told, she wouldn’t know what to do with one at this point anyway. She wanted to prove to the women in town she didn’t need to flirt, and that she could do a job and do it well, without attracting male attention. She frowned. That wasn’t going so well evidently. Was she attracted to Ned? Turning back toward the shop, she regarded him carefully. He had a swipe of red paint across one cheek, but that only made him more approachable. The man was a knock out no matter how you looked at him. The paint spear made him cute. Shocked by her appraisal, her eyebrows lifted. When was the last time she’d thought a grown man was cute? Especially one with a physique like the deputy. He grew uncomfortable under her stare, and she realized she was being rude. “I really do have to go,” her words said, but the rest of her said, “I want to stay.” He was easy to talk to and friendly. He didn’t judge her. He was nice. It came to her then; she had a friend in Ned. They had some things in common, and they could have a laugh together. Given her situation, a friend was something she needed. Gaging her words carefully, she hoped she could make him understand how much she appreciated him. “I really do have to go, but this has been… this has been great.” He looked so disappointed that she nearly relented, but she knew it was for the best. This pageant was not the time or place to be looking for a new boyfriend. And she was sure she didn’t want to ruin the budding friendship they’d forged. This was new territory, and she had to move carefully and use her head. “I have to go.” She turned toward the door, then, with her hand on the door handle, she stopped and looked over her shoulder. “But I’ll see you tomorrow night at practice, right?” For a minute she thought he wasn’t going to respond, but finally he nodded, and an easy grin lit his face. “Sure.” All she could manage was a quick nod, and then she ducked out the door before she could change her mind. 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by: #Book Blitz #Gauntlet (The Prodigy Chronicles 3) by C.L.Denault #Young Adult @Xpresso Book Tours29/11/2021
Gauntlet
-- EXCERPT: Joshua’s eyes went to the flames. I waited in silence, wishing I could read his thoughts. He did this often. Was he sifting through versions of the future, or simply deciding whether to trust me? I hoped it wasn’t a trust issue. I’d come to trust him with all my heart, and I needed him to reciprocate. My choices weren’t always wise, but they were made with good intentions. If I’d known Kane would pay for this one, I would have chosen differently. And I wouldn’t have fallen for Reece. He’d have been dismissed—removed from my path, away from the position of influence that had connected us so deeply. He wouldn’t have sat by my bed and held my hand, or risked his life in a no-holds-barred spar. He wouldn’t be my dark knight. The tiger wouldn’t have linked our hearts. Coming out of his reverie, Joshua turned his gaze back to me. “I cannot reveal anything to you, other than what you’re doing will have beneficial results.” I sucked in my breath. “You mean, I’ll save—” “I mean that there will be beneficial results. That is all I’m willing to give you. The rest will unfold as it needs to.” “Great. Thanks a lot.” A harsh, stubborn sigh blew past my lips. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a wee bit stingy with information?” “Many, many times.” His smile—a wide curve of full, generous lips rimmed in blond stubble—was both gracious and heart-stopping. It took my breath away. If I believed him, he’d been smiling like that for nearly two thousand years. “There’s so much you won’t tell me,” I said wistfully. “It’s for your own good, little one.” “Well, what can you tell me? Anything good at all? About my life, or what I’m doing? It feels like I’m flying blind most of the time, and I don’t know—” Joshua pressed his finger to my lips, stopping me. “You’re not flying blind. I am here to guide you, and this skillset, this . . . tiogair of yours is beyond anything I have ever witnessed.” His voice was so thoughtful, so full of sincerity, that I held my breath. The tiger pricked up her ears, and we listened in avid silence. “You are a culmination of events, Willow. There aren’t words in your language to properly explain, but I will try. The world you live in goes through cycles. All is connected by space and time. Who you are is a result of many things coming together.” Intrigued, I waited for him to go on. “Some of those things, I am responsible for.” His hand went up as I opened my mouth. “No, don’t ask about it, because I cannot tell you. The mystery will unravel itself in time. Just understand that this is why I’m here. Now.” He smiled. “By your side.” “Because I’m a Level Four prodigy?” “More than that.” “Because . . . I have a genesis skill?” “More than that, as well.” “Joshua, please.” His green eyes glittered with something I couldn’t quite put into words. It wasn’t Reece’s fathomless glance, or the compassionate way Fenn often looked me. Even Toby’s trance didn’t compare. It was as if he saw me in a way no one else ever could. “What am I?” I whispered. Joshua leaned forward, and when he spoke, the words fell from his lips like soft, sweet music. “The perfect storm.” 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by: 
Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Rosie Dean's new gorgeous romance- Toni's Blind Date.
Toni’s Blind Date
Toni Spielman and Will Thomas have no plans to date -- anyone -- but when fate throws them together on a TV dating show, they have to smile, pretend, and rethink their plans. Purchase Link - mybook.to/Tonis_Blind_Date 
My thoughts:
Toni's Blind Date is my first book by Rosie Dean and it was as much fun as its way too brief blurb suggests. If you're a fan of British chick-lit, you'll love this one. Toni Spielman goes through some serious personal drama at the beginning of the book and she could really do with a few weeks back home. Home isn't easy to define with Toni who has an American mother and a Briitsh father, both of whom are celebrities. Toni's Dad Ricky is only happy to have her work as an assistant in his TV show productions company. His dating show has plenty of colourful participants and a presenter great at coming up with quick innuendo one-liners, but could this blatant lack of romance be the reason the show's been losing audience figures?. Could Will Thomas's idea for a new series work better? when Ricky suggests Will go on the show, Will reluctantly agrees. The fate finally smiles at him when the lovely assistant who fixed his mike before the airtime turns out to be the contestant the audience voted to be his love match. Off they go on a romantic skiing holiday, keeping their secrets, safe in the knowledge that nothing truly romantic can happen on a blind date like this. Both protagonists were really sweet. Toni gives an impression of being a quiet and steady girl who values honesty and family above anything else. Will also seems to be a person who might have been too accomodating, but he is a good man who does wear his heart on the sleeve. They are indeed a well-matched couple. There are some great secondary characters- Toni's cousin, her father, Will's sister to mention just a few. They are quirky and witty and do serve the purpose of underling the message of the importance of family relations. In case you were wondering, the romance is of a slow-burn nature (so slow I began wondering if they were ever going to get together, no spoilers, but they do), and looking at the overall plot development, it worked for me. You need time to work through some things in your life before you can be sure a new relationship can be anything more than a rebound or something to spur on a new life stage. Overall, it was a lovely holiday romcom, with more romance than comedy- sweet and upbeat. I'm really glad to have discovered this new to me author and I can't wait to read her next book! Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources, the author and the publisher for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. 
Author Bio
Rosie writes romantic fiction with a sense of humour and, sometimes, a sense of the ridiculous; because we all know life and love aren't exactly how we'd like them to be. She has won a Readers' Choice Award from Ancient City Romance Authors (part of Romance Writers of America) and been a finalist in the 2017 Maggie Awards for Excellence. Before writing novels, Rosie wrote training courses and marketing copy for the corporate world - a far cry from teaching Art and Pottery, where her career began. She lives on the Isle of Wight, within sight and sound of the sea, with her partner and her dog. Social Media Links Website/blog www.rosie-dean.com Facebook www.facebook.com/RosieDeanWriter Twitter http://twitter.com/RosieDeanAuthor Goodreads www.goodreads.com/RosieDean Amazon (Author Page) http://www.amazon.com/Rosie-Dean/e/B00GML9CU0 BookBub http://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosie-dean Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/RosieDeanAuthor/isle-of-wight/ 
Giveaway to Win a PB copy of Toni’s Blind Date and a 200ML Coco Mademoiselle Body Lotion by Chanel (UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize. 
Christmas Wish List
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GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:
Golden Crown
-- EXCERPT: I took my lip beneath my teeth before opening my soul up as much as I was capable of. The words I were about to ask, meant more to me than she would ever know. “I need you to trust me.” I held my breath. Ready to wait for her reply but was surprised at how fast it actually flew from her mouth. “I do.” I stilled. “What? You trust me?” I didn’t believe it. I was almost angry at Hendrix’s answer. How could she trust me after everything I’ve put her through? Everything I’ve hidden. It didn’t make any sense. What also made no sense was her reaction either because she shook her head before taking a seat on the edge of her bed (which was too far away from me) where she played with the hem of her tee that was resting on her lap. “Crazy huh? That I trust you. But… I can’t explain why I do. I’ve just always….” “You’ve always what?” She glances up, piercing my heart with her hazel eyes honing in on me with so much raw emotion. “I’ve always…” she starts, before seemingly coming to some realisation within herself. “When I was younger… I always sensed when things were wrong you know? Like that sixth sense that something bad was about to happen, or when danger was nearby. Even when I was too young to really understand my situation, I always knew deep down the kind of dangerous situation I was in. That it wasn’t normal. Well, it wasn’t everyones normal at least. I don’t expect you to understand, but I’m sure from those photos you saw that you have some idea of what I grew up in.” She pauses and my fists ball at the reminder instantly. I don’t have time to let that anger consume me though before she continues. “But I’ve just always trusted my instincts. They’ve never let me down and I guess in a lot of ways I’ve relied on it since I had no actual family to have my back. And…” she pauses again, nervously this time, when she notices me taking slow, measured steps toward her. “And….?” I whisper, until I’m standing over her causing her head to tilt back to look up at me. “And my gut? For some reason it trusts you Paxton. Despite you making me nervous, despite the things you say and the things you do. I feel safe around you. Protected. Like the only person capable of hurting me when you’re near – is no one else. Only…. you.” My hand finds her cheek, letting her warmth seep into my palm. A palm, that was capable of so much destruction. So much hurt. But everything she just said was true. Because I’d always had this sense to protect her, like somehow our souls recognised the pain and destruction we both endured in our lives and wanted to somehow heal together. In most of our time together though, I wanted to protect her from me too. But this girl…. I held her as delicately as a guy like I could, when she gave me something of hers that was beyond precious. Her trust. I almost couldn’t believe she was giving it to me but it was something I was determined to keep. No matter the cost. “You never asked me you know.” “I never asked you what?” “If I had something to do with… You never asked me.” Her small fingers wrap around my wrist that’s still cupping her cheek and her eyes never sway from mine. “I may not know everything about you Pax, but I know you aren’t capable of something like that. I’ve been around monsters my entire life and you aren’t one. You’re not.” I suck in a breath, wanting so much more in this moment when I breathe, “You called me Pax.” She tilts her head, a knowing smirk crossing her delicate face. “It’s your name isn’t it?” “I guess I like how it sounds coming from you.” Then for the first time in a long time, I let myself feel… 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by: #Book Blitz #Tor (The Hawks 4) by Jennie Lynn Roberts #Fantasy #Romance @Xpresso Book Tours23/11/2021
Tor
-- EXCERPT: First, Keely had to get rid of her breeches so she could sit down without destroying the chair with muddy water. Then they could focus on her jerkin and the arrow. “I need you to pull my breeches down,” she prompted. “I can’t do it with one hand. The leather is soaked, and they were already too tight. They’re Alanna’s.” Tor glanced down at her breeches and then immediately looked away and took a small step back. Damn. He really was honorable. Keely lifted a heavy woolen blanket off the bed and wrapped it over her shoulders to hang down to her knees. She never asked for help. Not unless there was absolutely no other choice, and right now there was no other choice. “I need your help, Tor. I don’t ask often, so make the most of it.” “Are you sure I’m the best person?” he asked slowly. No. She was not at all sure. The last man she’d been even partially naked in front of was Niall. And that was ten years ago. But she was too exhausted and too cold to stay as she was, and her shoulder was on fire, her fingers tingling with waves of burning pins and needles. She couldn’t do it alone. “Yes. I’m sure.” He nodded, once, and then knelt in front of her and helped her out of her boots. She balanced herself on his shoulder with her good hand, and he tucked his thumbs into the waistband of her breeches and tugged. It was hard work, the tight, wet leather clinging to her cold skin, and she had to shimmy her body to help him pull the breeches down. They stuck, and he grunted as he shifted his thumbs and tried again. Bard. She wasn’t at all sleepy now. Even with the relentless ache in her shoulder, she was acutely aware of his big hands, the heat of his fingers where they ran down her legs, how close he was to her body. The breeches suddenly came away, and she stepped out of them, one foot at a time. He stood and lifted the sodden leather away to dry beside the fire, returning as she sank into the comfortable armchair. “What about your jerkin?” he asked slowly. There was only one solution. “Cut it off.” Tor watched her for a moment but then nodded. “Okay.” He pulled out a lethal-looking dagger and began slicing through the laces while she held the blanket swathed around her body and over her chest. It was a strange kind of dance. Trying to hold the blanket out of the way but at the same time cover herself. All while keeping her injured shoulder still. She was deeply, intensely aware of the closeness between them. Of how big he was, and yet how carefully—tenderly almost—he was helping her. If he hadn’t been so close, she might have thought he was unaffected. His face was stoic, completely shuttered, and he hadn’t said a word since he’d taken out his knife. But she could see his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. Could feel the way his breath picked up. And she knew that he was as aware of her as she was of him.
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Midlife Witch Unexpected
-- EXCERPT: “That’s her?” A deep voice came from the front door. “See anyone else around here, Branson?” Bianca swiveled away from me and spoke to the golden man who stood by the front door. His laughter reverberated from his throat and all the way to my thighs. My eyes opened wide as I looked him over. Thankfully he was staring down at his phone, his golden eyes almost hidden by his blond locks falling forward over his tan skin. He wore a plaid red, white, and blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He was broad, lean, and muscular, and way too young for me. “Who the heck is that?” I asked. “Your caretaker,” Bianca raised an eyebrow at me. “My caretaker?” I asked. “The caretaker of The Estate,” Bianca explained it slowly as if she was talking to an ignoramus, which at the moment I actually felt like. “The Estate,” I repeated like a parrot. Then suddenly snapped out of it. “Aunt Emma’s estate! Okay! Got it.” “Round here we all just call it The Estate,” Bianca said with a shrug. “And that’s the caretaker?” I whispered to Bianca, my voice catching in my throat. “Every last inch of him,” she nodded, stealing a covert glance at the tall, broad man who dwarfed the front office space of the Cougar Creek cop shop. “Lord have mercy,” I said under my breath. Branson went straight to the sign-in sheet as if this wasn’t his first time here. But his handsome features scowled as he looked over at me. I stared back as he stepped across the sheriff’s office to tower above me, his arms folded over his chest. “Well, that’s not intimidating at all.” I craned my neck to look up at him. He started as if he hadn’t been aware of himself, took a step back, and unfolded his arms. “You’re Mae.” He stated the obvious. “I’m here to drive you home.” “That’s a long way to drive.” My mind suddenly thought of a long leisurely drive back to L.A. with my caretaker, Branson. “Pardon?” Branson looked at me a bit confused. “Never mind.” I stood up turning to Bianca. “Do you need anything else from me tonight? It’s late and I’m exhausted. You are remanding me into Branson’s custody?” “My custody? I’m just giving you a ride home.” Branson held up his hands in protest. “Sheriff said you’re to verify who she is, take her home, and bring her back tomorrow to get her jeep,” Bianca confirmed for Branson. I covertly looked him over thinking I wouldn’t mind being in his very good hands. But instantly my heart squeezed. Men weren’t safe; not at all. As I poured back through the years of lies, I realized there was probably not one single moment of truth in my relationship with my ex-gay husband. How was I ever going to trust any man ever again? Clearly, I was an idiot; a vulnerable, gullible idiot who believed anything anybody said to me. “Are you sure he’s safe to take me to my house?” I asked Bianca. “I have a police tracker on,” Branson wiggled his leg. “Seriously?” I took a step back. Bianca and Branson burst out laughing. “No not seriously,” Bianca said. “There’s only one person around here on the radar.” “And it’s not me.” Branson pointed out. “Now come on. I’ve got a poker game waiting for me. Let me get you home and all tucked in.” I looked over my shoulder at Bianca and we both did a slight giggle at his words, clearly thinking the same thing about being tucked in. It was a relief to feel an instant bond to this other middle-aged divorced woman, even though she’d never left this town. I guess that was nothing to hold against someone. I shook my head as I trailed behind Branson to the door. I wasn’t here to make friends. I wasn’t here to have romance. I was here to get some space, clear my head, and more than likely sell a house. My divorce was almost through and then I could start my new life. Branson held the door open for me. “I’ll take you home, boss, and have you delivered to your jeep in the morning.” My stomach sank. That’s right. He was my employee. Well, of the estate, but as I was the sole owner of the estate, he was still my employee. And a “no fraternizing with the staff” rule went without saying. There was no way to even have a little fling with Mr. Rock Solid Biceps. He was way off-limits. 
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