Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
I definitely didn’t plan on mistaking her for the dog walker who was supposed to be here an hour ago. Kara isn’t late, she also isn’t who I hired. She’s my new neighbor—and the second I see her, I know she’s the kind of trouble I wouldn’t mind getting into.
What starts as irritation turns into heat so fast it knocks me off balance. Every run-in crackles. Every lingering glance only makes me want Kara more.
I’m just a guy with a blue-collar job, a loud dog, and zero intention of falling for anyone. And from the moment Kara storms into my life, it feels too right to deny.
She’s newly on her own, trying to prove something—to herself and to the world. What she doesn’t know is that she walked right into my world. And once I decide she’s mine, there’s no going back.
The
Secret Admirer
Disabled Heroine
Neighbors to Lovers
Mistaken Identity
Holiday Romance
Instalove
This Valentine’s Day eight of your favorite instalove authors have something special just for you!
Our secret admirers are done pining and yearning. They’re more than ready to spring into action to be able to call their valentine mine. Pushed to the edge, these book boyfriends have been craving their women for too long and will do anything to claim them. From sweet nothings, whispered spicy dirty talk or sexy love notes, there is nothing they won't do to get their women.
Get ready for all the happily ever afters and swoon worthy moments that will guarantee to make your heart pitter patter with joy
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Prologue
KARA
ONE WEEK EARLIER
“I’m fine. The doors are locked, the alarm is set, and I promise the softball bat is right next to me.” I only got off the phone with our parents moments ago, after reiterating the same sequence of events to my dad. Now, I’m doing the same to my brother. He has enough to worry about; he doesn’t need to add me moving out on my own. It’s been years since the accident, and while I understand his concern, sometimes you have to let the past live in the past, where it belongs.
The last surgery on my leg was the final in my healing process. It also meant more physical therapy, and I’ve had so much of that in the past seven years I could be considered a professional at this point. At least this time, my limp isn’t nearly as noticeable, and I don’t have to use a cane anymore. The car accident caused a lot of devastation and trauma. We prevailed, and I say we because if it weren’t for my family rallying together, it could have been a lot worse.
That night, my niece lost her mother on the same day she was born, and my brother became a single father, which he would have been regardless. Colt and Brooke were not destined to live in harmony; they were much better friends than lovers. It still hit us all hard to know Nellie would have to live a life without her mother. I went into surgery immediately, the hits kept hitting, and it wasn’t until this final one that I said enough is enough. There was a chance this last one wouldn’t help my pronounced limp and a cane would still be necessary, conquering stairs would be excruciatingly hard, and by the end of the day, the only thing I could do was sit on my ass.
“Good. I’m not apologizing for worrying. It’s what older brothers do. Plus, you sprung this on us at the last minute. I barely had time to rally the guys to help move you, let alone have Jude set up the security system.” I roll my eyes. Colt’s friends group includes like fifteen guys, so moving my meager belongings took roughly three hours. I’d grumbled to my mom over how my older brother seems to have friends coming out of the woodwork, whereas my best friends are my mom and Nellie, who’s my niece, and now that Colt has Sable in his life, well, she’s definitely one of us, too.
“And I’m thankful, please don’t doubt that,” I say on a tired yawn. I’m so exhausted after unpacking and putting things in their respective places that my talking is putting me to sleep. Plus, I have a weighted eye mask that I can’t wait to put on and sleep for a solid twelve hours before my work week starts.
“I know you are. Even if you weren’t, I’d have done it anyway. Alright, get some rest. I’ll text you tomorrow to see how your first night went. Love you, kiddo.” I roll my eyes. We’re only six years apart, but that still makes me younger than him.
“Good night, old man. I love you, too. Try not to worry too much. I hear it causes gray hair and fine lines.” Colt grumbles when I bring up the bone of contention.
“You’ll pay for that, mark my words. The next time you’re near a pool, you'd better be on your A-game.”
“Be nice to Auntie Kara!” I hear my niece say in the background. I glance at the clock and realize I’m in bed before eight at night. Nellie is still awake, yet here I am, showered, in bed, and about to put on the weighted eye mask she gave me as a moving present well before my seven-year-old niece's bedtime.
“Yeah, you tell him, Nellie girl. Okay, guys, I love you, but I really need some sleep if I don’t want to be a zombie tomorrow for work.” My job isn’t anything inspiring or glamorous, to say the least. It pays the bills, and they allow me to use my time off whenever necessary. And, boy, has it been used as much as possible the past few years. Honestly, now that I’m locked into my apartment after the whole ordeal of verifying my income and coming up with deposits for the small two-bedroom place where I currently rest my head, plus power and water, I’m not sure if I could find another job.
The problem: I wouldn’t even know what to look for. It’s not like I have a career in mind, and I’m pretty sure my crafting hobbies aren’t going to pay the bills without hustling while working a job, too. Damn, if only I’d listened to my parents and brother.
“Kara, you good? You went quiet on me.” I’m mulling over whether I should bring this up or not. I guess it doesn’t hurt to try.