Jessica met the love of her life when she was 17. Then she made the biggest mistake of her life. She broke up with him. Now, 10 years later, Charles is suddenly back in her life. Her grandma, the sneaky matchmaker she is, left Charles and her a cabin.
Together.
Joint ownership.
With her ex.
It was a nightmare.
She was sure he wanted nothing to do with her ever again. So when he suggested they put the place on the market and be done with it, she packed her bags for a weekend at the cabin to get it ready for sale.
Charles was sure his heart would never be whole after Jessica so cruelly ended their relationship just days before he was to graduate high school. Now, he’s just determined. Determined to get back the only woman he has ever loved. When he learns about the inheritance, he sees it as an opportunity to win back the woman he loves.
Fate intervenes, and a blizzard closes all roads, trapping the two in the cabin together. Can Jessica finally admit her fear? Can Charles prove he is the man for her? Will they even survive long enough to find out? Is there such a thing as second chances?
Excerpt:
We had to share a bed. There was no getting around it. She would realize that soon enough.
I’d spent the night last night tossing and turning, imagining this moment, imagining waking up with her warm, soft body pressed against mine. I was done with imagining. Now, I wanted the real thing.
We stood there in our stand-off a few moments longer until she unfolded her arms and stomped her foot. ‘Fine,’ she said, pointing at me, ‘you win.’ She smiled slyly before turning and walking into the room. ‘We’ll share.’
‘We’ll what now?’ I pretended outrage and followed her into the room. This room remained cold despite the warm fire burning in the main room. We’d have to share body warmth. Fuck. I couldn’t wait to share her warmth.
‘We. Will. Share. The Bed.’
‘You and I will share the bed?’ I played along. ‘Like, share the bed. This bed? Right here?’ That was probably too much. My acting abilities needed work.
‘Yes.’ She gave me a look that said she thought I was an idiot. ‘This bed. Where’s the extra blankets and pillows? I’ll build a wall.’ I expected this and decided I would let her have her little wall. It wouldn’t stay up for long. I gestured to the small closet before walking over to the chair and taking off my boots. I was just taking off my shirt when she turned around, her arms laden with every available blanket in the place.
‘What are you doing?’ She exclaimed when she saw me.
‘What does it look like I’m doing?’ I asked as I dropped the shirt to the floor and ran my hands through my snow-dampened hair. I played it up a bit to spur on her reaction. Her cheeks turned pink, and the small tip of her tongue darted out to lick her lips. ‘I’m changing out of my wet clothing. You can stay or go.’ I moved my hands to my belt but didn’t undo it yet. Jess stood staring at me, her eyes dark.
‘You couldn’t have waited until I was done?’ she demanded when she recovered. She quickly dropped her burden on the bed and turned away from me. The sway of her ponytail made me want to reach out and grab it. Later.
‘I’m wet and cold. I thought you would understand that.’ Clanging filled the room as I finally undid my belt. She held still, her back to me. It wasn’t until I dropped the belt on the floor that she finally moved.
She huffed, grabbed one of her bags, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her as she went.
Genre: Romance
Together.
Joint ownership.
With her ex.
It was a nightmare.
She was sure he wanted nothing to do with her ever again. So when he suggested they put the place on the market and be done with it, she packed her bags for a weekend at the cabin to get it ready for sale.
Charles was sure his heart would never be whole after Jessica so cruelly ended their relationship just days before he was to graduate high school. Now, he’s just determined. Determined to get back the only woman he has ever loved. When he learns about the inheritance, he sees it as an opportunity to win back the woman he loves.
Fate intervenes, and a blizzard closes all roads, trapping the two in the cabin together. Can Jessica finally admit her fear? Can Charles prove he is the man for her? Will they even survive long enough to find out? Is there such a thing as second chances?
Excerpt:
We had to share a bed. There was no getting around it. She would realize that soon enough.
I’d spent the night last night tossing and turning, imagining this moment, imagining waking up with her warm, soft body pressed against mine. I was done with imagining. Now, I wanted the real thing.
We stood there in our stand-off a few moments longer until she unfolded her arms and stomped her foot. ‘Fine,’ she said, pointing at me, ‘you win.’ She smiled slyly before turning and walking into the room. ‘We’ll share.’
‘We’ll what now?’ I pretended outrage and followed her into the room. This room remained cold despite the warm fire burning in the main room. We’d have to share body warmth. Fuck. I couldn’t wait to share her warmth.
‘We. Will. Share. The Bed.’
‘You and I will share the bed?’ I played along. ‘Like, share the bed. This bed? Right here?’ That was probably too much. My acting abilities needed work.
‘Yes.’ She gave me a look that said she thought I was an idiot. ‘This bed. Where’s the extra blankets and pillows? I’ll build a wall.’ I expected this and decided I would let her have her little wall. It wouldn’t stay up for long. I gestured to the small closet before walking over to the chair and taking off my boots. I was just taking off my shirt when she turned around, her arms laden with every available blanket in the place.
‘What are you doing?’ She exclaimed when she saw me.
‘What does it look like I’m doing?’ I asked as I dropped the shirt to the floor and ran my hands through my snow-dampened hair. I played it up a bit to spur on her reaction. Her cheeks turned pink, and the small tip of her tongue darted out to lick her lips. ‘I’m changing out of my wet clothing. You can stay or go.’ I moved my hands to my belt but didn’t undo it yet. Jess stood staring at me, her eyes dark.
‘You couldn’t have waited until I was done?’ she demanded when she recovered. She quickly dropped her burden on the bed and turned away from me. The sway of her ponytail made me want to reach out and grab it. Later.
‘I’m wet and cold. I thought you would understand that.’ Clanging filled the room as I finally undid my belt. She held still, her back to me. It wasn’t until I dropped the belt on the floor that she finally moved.
She huffed, grabbed one of her bags, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her as she went.
Genre: Romance
Used availability for Tilly Lebeck's Jessica and the Jarhead