Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
My friends and family don’t think so, but I’m getting Giants season tickets out of the deal. I can do anything for a short couple of months, right? However, when my ex’s sexier older brother, Delcan, moves back home, I realize I’m not that confident after all.
For five years, I’ve avoided Moose Village, New York, as much as possible for one reason: the girl I’ve crushed on since high school was already spoken for—by my brother. Now discharged from the military, I’m coming home, tentatively heartened by the fact that they’re no longer a couple. Except…it seems they are. But something’s different this time. Harper doesn’t seem as smitten as she was the first time around. Meanwhile, the chemistry sizzling between us is what I’ve dreamed of for years.
Even if I’m able to get to the bottom of the weird behavior between my brother and Harper, I’ve gone from one dangerous career to another. I’ve already got my anxious mother badgering me to quit. Will my career choice be too much for Harper, too?
I can only hope this feeling between the two of us is enough.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Declan
Five Years Ago
“Harper Browning?” I asked, as I looked from Harper to my brother, Sean.
“Yeah, what’s wrong with Harper?”
Looking at her again, I fought the urge to say absolutely nothing was wrong with that woman. She was beautiful, with her dark brown hair and gray-blue eyes. She also had a killer smile.
I’d always thought Harper was a cute girl, and had even thought about asking her out once, but at the time, I figured she was too young, since I was four years older than her. Plus, I joined the Marines right out of high school, and each time I came home on leave, I never had the nerve to approach her. And it wouldn’t have been fair to have her here, back in Moose Village, waiting on me while I was gone for months at a time. I’d never ask her to leave her family, either.
“Nothing is wrong with her. She’s a nice girl.”
Sean smiled. “She came into spin class a few months ago, and we struck up a conversation.”
“She looks great,” I stated. “But then again, she’s always looked great.”
“Yeah, she’s always been a pretty girl, but now she has a smoking-hot body. Remember how chubby she was in high school? She was easy to overlook.”
I glared at my brother. “Just because she was overweight doesn’t mean she didn’t have a nice body.”
He laughed. “Dude, she was like fifty pounds heavier. Now? Her body’s hot. Look at her.”
I rolled my eyes and avoided looking at Harper again. She’d obviously worked her ass off, and her body was more athletic. There was no doubt about that.
“I’m going to do it. I’m gonna ask her out.”
A part of me wanted to talk him out of it, but I knew that was selfish of me. So I’d had a crush on Harper for as long as I could remember? It didn’t mean anything. If she saw me, she’d make friendly small talk, like always. Ask me about the Marines, how I liked being in the service…when I might be moving back home. She never once made me think she saw me as anything other than a friend.
Besides, she’d probably tell Sean no anyway. He used to tease her when she was younger about her weight.
Sean hit me on the arm. “Wish me luck.”
“Good luck,” I said, before watching my brother approach Harper. She was with her sister, Candice, who was the same age as me. We’d gone to school together, and like Harper, Candice was a sweet girl. Their father, Larry Browning, was the mayor of Moose Village, and had been for years. Their mother, Patty, owned the floral shop on Main Street. Harper also had two younger sisters, Amanda and Tina. Both of them were still in high school, if I remembered right.
I tried not to watch my brother and Harper, but my eyes kept drifting that way.
“If my sister even thinks about going out with your brother, I’m going to slap her upside her head.”
I hadn’t even noticed Candice approaching me.
Laughing, I replied, “Looks like he’s turning on the charm.”
Candice made a gagging sound. “How can she not remember how he teased her in elementary school about her weight?”
Wanting to change the subject, I turned away from my brother and Harper. “How’ve you been, Candice?”
She smiled. “I’ve been great. How’s the Marines treating you?”
“Good.”
“What do you do in the Marines, anyway?”
“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.”
Laughing, Candice knocked me lightly on the shoulder. “Seriously, Declan. My mother said you’re kinda like a Navy SEAL, but in the Marines?”
“Your mother would be correct.”
Her eyes widened. “So it’s dangerous?”
I gave a one-shoulder shrug. “It can be, yes.” Wanting to change the subject off of myself, I asked, “My mom told me you’re engaged?”
A wide smile broke out over her face. “I am! We’re getting married next summer.”
“Do I know him?”
She shook her head. “No, we met in college. He lives in Albany, so we’ve been doing the long-distance thing for a bit.”
“Will you be moving then?”
With a nod, she replied, “I’m moving there in two weeks.”
“Wow! Well, congratulations, Candice.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Thank you, Declan. What about you? Anyone special?”
I forced myself not to look at Harper. With a shake of my head, I said, “Nah. I’m gone too much with work, and honestly, I don’t have time for a relationship. Plus, I don’t think I’d want to put anyone through so much worry.”
She frowned. “That sounds like a pretty lonely life.”
I shrugged.
“Well, I hope that changes soon for you.”
Harper came bouncing over to her sister. “Sean asked me out!”
Candice groaned. “No! Don’t you remember how mean he was to you?”
With a laugh, she replied, “In elementary school, sure. I said yes, and we’re going to dinner tomorrow night, and right now he wants to go get coffee.” Then Harper noticed me. Her smile grew bigger. “Declan!”