Series: Broken Hearts of Harbor's Head
Author: Brooke Burton
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 20, 2023
Cover Design: EmCat Designs
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When Grayson Mitchell is assigned to watch over Gina until she testifies against the man who killed her father, he figures it'll be an easy job. What he didn't expect were the challenges he'd face guarding this hot, quick-tempered hellcat who sets his blood on fire. But as they spend more time together, they form an unbreakable friendship which has her leaning on him in ways he's never experienced before. When the threat passes and they give in to their attraction, they indulge in one incredible night of passion. But the following morning, Gina throws up walls that nearly destroy their friendship, as well as any potential to be together.Thanks to losing everyone she's ever loved, Gina was forged in the fires of Hell to become who she is today. But she'd turn back time in a heartbeat to spare herself the trauma of losing the people she loved. On the outside, she appeared a confident woman in charge of her own destiny. The truth was each day was a step forward into a bleak life of complete isolation. One of her own choosing.
When her father's murderer escapes from prison, duty throws them back together again. It doesn't take long before the sparks between them burn hotter than fireworks. Can Grayson protect Gina from the threat at hand, as well as his desire for her? Even more, can Gina let go of the past and let Grayson in, knowing that her love may well be his death sentence?
This is a standalone, 3-chili pepper spice read (on a scale of 1-5) with mild swearing and a guaranteed HEA!
“Gina?”
Looking up Gina saw Iain Henderson, their lifelong neighbor, make his way across the backyard and over to the wooden fence that divided their properties. She’d babysat his daughters from time to time when she was in high school. After she moved away, they stayed in touch on occasion. A couple of times, when she’d come back to the area, he’d asked her to babysit. She always agreed, happy to be out of her mother’s house, if only for a night. Iain had been a single dad for the entire time she’d known him, and sometimes when he was lonely, it coincided with her lonely periods as well. They’d hooked up a couple of times over the years. He’d actually been the first man she’d been with after—
Stop.
“Hey, Iain.” She waved, but it already felt forced as more unwelcome memories threatened to flood her brain. He’d put his seductive face on as he cockily walked over and casually draped his forearm across the fence. While Iain was great to look at and kept himself up for his age, he was no lion trying to woo a mate. He was more of a raccoon looking for food because it was a life’s necessity, having a peek inside the nearest trash barrel because it was available.
“Hey you,” he responded back. “Visiting your folks?”
“Unfortunately.” The word slid out of her mouth way too easily.
Iain laughed, not unfamiliar with the tensions in her family. “Listen, if you feel like getting away, I’m right next door. You’re always welcome to come over and visit.”
Yeah, she already knew what he meant by visiting.
“Sorry, I can’t.” She wasn’t sure what was more appealing at the moment. Meaningless sex with a friend or trite conversation with her family.
Really, it was a toss-up.
Gina heard the patio door open and turned to see Grayson approaching. Only Grayson didn’t look at ease. The last time she saw him like this was when he’d interrupted Owen asking her out. His eyes were fixed on Iain, and he looked like...well, a lion stalking his prey. Turning back to Iain, Gina almost burst out laughing at the wide-eyed look on his face as he took a step back from the fence.
“Hey, babe,” Grayson said in a dark, husky voice as he slid his hands over her hips from behind. She wore a cami-style tank top, the thin material allowing her to feel every last sensation of him behind her. Dropping a mind-boggling kiss on her bare shoulder, Gina felt her eyes go wide, and her knees practically knock together. “Who’s your friend?”
Gina took a moment to swallow and try to remember who this guy across the fence was. “T-that’s Iain. An old friend.”
Gina felt Grayson’s head nod next to her own in acknowledgment as he pulled her tighter to his chest and wrapped his arms around her like he was claiming her for his own.
“Hey,” Iain acknowledged. “Look, Gina, I’ve gotta run. I’ll catch up with you later.”
She didn’t have a chance to respond before Iain was retreating back into the safety of his house.
Leaving her out on the patio, alone, enveloped in Grayson.
“What are you doing?” she whispered tersely, all while trying to discreetly swallow the lump in her throat. “Could you be more obvious?”
She felt his deep chuckle vibrate through his chest to her back. “Had to be. Otherwise, that guy’d be over here right now humping your leg.”
“Maybe I wanted him over here humping my leg. Did you ever think of that?” She spun around to face him, realizing the error of her ways as her breasts brushed against his chest.
And by the way his eyes darkened, she guessed he’d realized it too.
Grayson had the audacity to smile at her, settling his hands against her lower back. “Well, if a quick and unsatisfying roll in the hay is what you’re after...” He paused, smirking. “Never mind, I’ll never be able to help you with that.”
Gina’s eyes grew at his boldness, as well as his… promise? Images flashed through Gina’s mind of every dish on that patio table crashing to the cement beneath it, her on top of it with Grayson on top of her, ravishing her. Her mouth suddenly dry, she licked her lips and tried to get them to form words again. “What makes you think I’d want that?”
Grayson pulled her in so close his lips were practically feathering against the outside of her ear. “If you didn’t want it, I’d respect that. But if our situation was different, I have no doubt everything about us would be explosive.” His words puffed warmly against her ear, causing her to shiver and hold on tighter to the biceps she hadn’t realized she was clutching.
“Grayson, what do you like better, mashed potatoes or corn? Oh!” Gina’s mother said, realizing she’d walked in on a tender moment.
Course it didn’t stop her.
“I have both. You know what? Maybe I’ll just make both.”
Copyright © 2023, Brooke Burton. All rights reserved
Looking up Gina saw Iain Henderson, their lifelong neighbor, make his way across the backyard and over to the wooden fence that divided their properties. She’d babysat his daughters from time to time when she was in high school. After she moved away, they stayed in touch on occasion. A couple of times, when she’d come back to the area, he’d asked her to babysit. She always agreed, happy to be out of her mother’s house, if only for a night. Iain had been a single dad for the entire time she’d known him, and sometimes when he was lonely, it coincided with her lonely periods as well. They’d hooked up a couple of times over the years. He’d actually been the first man she’d been with after—
Stop.
“Hey, Iain.” She waved, but it already felt forced as more unwelcome memories threatened to flood her brain. He’d put his seductive face on as he cockily walked over and casually draped his forearm across the fence. While Iain was great to look at and kept himself up for his age, he was no lion trying to woo a mate. He was more of a raccoon looking for food because it was a life’s necessity, having a peek inside the nearest trash barrel because it was available.
“Hey you,” he responded back. “Visiting your folks?”
“Unfortunately.” The word slid out of her mouth way too easily.
Iain laughed, not unfamiliar with the tensions in her family. “Listen, if you feel like getting away, I’m right next door. You’re always welcome to come over and visit.”
Yeah, she already knew what he meant by visiting.
“Sorry, I can’t.” She wasn’t sure what was more appealing at the moment. Meaningless sex with a friend or trite conversation with her family.
Really, it was a toss-up.
Gina heard the patio door open and turned to see Grayson approaching. Only Grayson didn’t look at ease. The last time she saw him like this was when he’d interrupted Owen asking her out. His eyes were fixed on Iain, and he looked like...well, a lion stalking his prey. Turning back to Iain, Gina almost burst out laughing at the wide-eyed look on his face as he took a step back from the fence.
“Hey, babe,” Grayson said in a dark, husky voice as he slid his hands over her hips from behind. She wore a cami-style tank top, the thin material allowing her to feel every last sensation of him behind her. Dropping a mind-boggling kiss on her bare shoulder, Gina felt her eyes go wide, and her knees practically knock together. “Who’s your friend?”
Gina took a moment to swallow and try to remember who this guy across the fence was. “T-that’s Iain. An old friend.”
Gina felt Grayson’s head nod next to her own in acknowledgment as he pulled her tighter to his chest and wrapped his arms around her like he was claiming her for his own.
“Hey,” Iain acknowledged. “Look, Gina, I’ve gotta run. I’ll catch up with you later.”
She didn’t have a chance to respond before Iain was retreating back into the safety of his house.
Leaving her out on the patio, alone, enveloped in Grayson.
“What are you doing?” she whispered tersely, all while trying to discreetly swallow the lump in her throat. “Could you be more obvious?”
She felt his deep chuckle vibrate through his chest to her back. “Had to be. Otherwise, that guy’d be over here right now humping your leg.”
“Maybe I wanted him over here humping my leg. Did you ever think of that?” She spun around to face him, realizing the error of her ways as her breasts brushed against his chest.
And by the way his eyes darkened, she guessed he’d realized it too.
Grayson had the audacity to smile at her, settling his hands against her lower back. “Well, if a quick and unsatisfying roll in the hay is what you’re after...” He paused, smirking. “Never mind, I’ll never be able to help you with that.”
Gina’s eyes grew at his boldness, as well as his… promise? Images flashed through Gina’s mind of every dish on that patio table crashing to the cement beneath it, her on top of it with Grayson on top of her, ravishing her. Her mouth suddenly dry, she licked her lips and tried to get them to form words again. “What makes you think I’d want that?”
Grayson pulled her in so close his lips were practically feathering against the outside of her ear. “If you didn’t want it, I’d respect that. But if our situation was different, I have no doubt everything about us would be explosive.” His words puffed warmly against her ear, causing her to shiver and hold on tighter to the biceps she hadn’t realized she was clutching.
“Grayson, what do you like better, mashed potatoes or corn? Oh!” Gina’s mother said, realizing she’d walked in on a tender moment.
Course it didn’t stop her.
“I have both. You know what? Maybe I’ll just make both.”
Copyright © 2023, Brooke Burton. All rights reserved
Brooke writes 3/5 medium spice, mildly sweary, contemporary romance. A tortured artist who began writing plays in the 3rd grade, she lost her muse as a teen and struggled for years to write again. Finally, after being inspired by some old friends during the pandemic, her writing came to fruition again in what became her first published novel.
Inspired by strong women who have very little tolerance for bull, she enjoys exploring equality in relationships with broken characters who clearly have made past mistakes. Don't we all?
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