Hello, ,

As a romance writer, I get to write a lot of big, dramatic declarations of love. But if I’m being completely honest? It’s rarely the grand gestures that make me fall for a hero.

For me, it’s the quiet, ordinary moments of genuine kindness. It’s that instant where a man notices someone is struggling, steps in without hesitation, and does everything in his power to ease her distress without making her feel small.

That is the exact moment I completely lost my heart to Eric.

I was writing a scene where my heroine, Kerri, is dealing with a lot of hidden physical pain and embarrassment. She can't even button her own coat. Eric has every reason to be guarded—he’s been burned badly by an ex who loved to play games with his emotions—but his instinct to protect and comfort Kerri just completely overrides his walls.

I wanted to share this little piece of my heart with you today. Here is the exact moment Eric stole the show:

The sadness in her voice tore at him. He’d have to be careful around her. Vanessa had been good at playing his emotions. Kerri didn’t act as sophisticated as his ex-fiancée, but what did he know? 

“We’ll see.” Frank nodded at him. “Let this young man bundle you up and take you home.” 

Eric didn’t think it possible, but Kerri turned even pinker than before. It appeared as if every emotion she felt marched clearly across her pretty face. Each new expression sparked his imagination. Perhaps he could sculpt them as a series. 

“I promise I don’t bite.” He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t resist teasing her. Something deep inside wanted to know how she’d react. Her eyes widened, and she looked everywhere but at him. Maybe she wasn’t like the women he knew in New York. They would have smiled seductively and said something about hoping he did. He helped her into the coat.

Frank laughed again and walked them to the door. “Come visit me, and we can talk shop, son.”

“I’d like that.” Eric led Kerri outside.

She seemed to shrink down into the long coat. Her hands gripped the front, holding it closed. Why didn’t she button it? He thought about what her mother had said about the cold making her joints stiff. Maybe she couldn’t button it? Did that have something to do with the doctor she’d mentioned?

“Need help?” He pointed to her coat.

Kerri squeezed her fists tighter and stared at the ground. After a moment, her shoulders slumped. “Yes, please.”

“Okay. No problem.” Eric stepped in front of her. One by one he buttoned his way down the fabric. He wished he knew what she was thinking. Other women had asked for things, demanded his attention, but she acted embarrassed. That fact alone punched holes through the last of his emotional barriers. She didn’t look at him once, but her lips pressed into a tight line. “Hey, you all right?”

Kerri nodded but didn’t look up. Without thinking, he lifted her chin. Her soft skin contrasted the rough wool coat. In the afternoon light he noticed her burnt umber eyes had caramel colored flecks in them.

“We all need help sometime.” 

Her eyebrows shot up. “Do you need someone to button your coat like a three-year-old?” She waited half a second before retorting, “I didn’t think so.”

Eric glanced down, glad to see his coat was still unbuttoned. “Actually, I could use some help.”

Kerri’s eyes widened. She stared at his chest. Finally, a small laugh tumbled from her lips. It was light, almost musical.

“You’re crazy.” The second laugh was stronger. She took hold of the sides of his coat. Moving in slow motion, she wiggled the middle button through its matching hole, then one more above it. “That’s all I can manage until I get my fingers warmed up.”

“I can help with that.” He tucked one of her hands between his arm and side while holding onto the other. “Let’s get you back.”

Her expression had turned serious again. Eric felt an urge to bring back her laugh. He couldn’t help but wonder what she’d been like before her diagnosis. Diagnosis of what, though? 

It’s none of my business.

There is just something so deeply attractive to me about a hero who shows genuine concern for others. Eric doesn't just button her coat; he senses her embarrassment, turns it into a playful game by letting her button his, and finds a way to bring back her laugh. He protects her dignity while protecting her from the cold.

Every time I reread this scene, it gives me absolute butterflies.

I’d love to know—what is the trait that makes you instantly fall in love with a book boyfriend? Is it kindness, a quick wit, fierce protectiveness, or something else entirely? Reply to this email and let me know!

River 💛

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Redemption Looks A Lot Like Love

One court date away from losing everything, Griffin McGuire is given a final chance at redemption—working at an animal rescue run by a woman who hates him. But when secrets surface and lines blur, both Griffin and Mave risk far more than their hearts.

Rescuing the Bad Boy is book one in the Last Chance at Love series.

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