Would you exchange favors with this guy?
Feb 27, 2023 12:01 pm
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What you'll find in today's email:
- Trading Favors with the Girl Dad chapter 1
- Books from Mia Brody and Debra Elise
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INSTALOVE SPOTLIGHT'S ON...
Trading Favors with the Girl Dad đź’ś single dad next door, close proximity, small town, light intrigue, simmering steam
I'm sharing Trading Favors with the Girl Dad today because it relates to the Lotto Love series I've been sharing with you all month. If you'll remember from Lucky Stars, Rebecca's friends, Charlie and Michelle, help her find a safe place to ride out the craziness of winning the lottery.
You'll get another glance at Sheriff Scout and Stormi from Wild in Love. Read more about Michelle's family and backstory in Holiday Moves.
Trivia Nugget: Michelle's family lives in Rolling Hills Township, the same town as the Home Wreckers Construction crew.
Trading Favors with the Girl Dad contains copyright material.
Chapter 1
Michelle
Tap, tap, tap
The finger taps on my shoulder startle me out of my music-induced gardening coma. I whip my head around and jerk so quickly the earbuds I’m sporting are ripped from my ears. The tinny sound of pop rock plays to a flat of red begonias lying close by.
“Do you have any kids?” I’m eye to eye with a little girl with reddish-blonde hair. She can’t be more than four or five. Six would be stretching it.
“Kids?" I look around, expecting an adult somewhere in the vicinity. Someone must be looking out for her. Did she wander in through the front gate?
“Like me. Kids my age. I’m four.” She wiggles four little fingers on her right hand while holding down the thumb with her left. Her eyebrows arch over her eyes, and her little button nose offsets an adorable, dimpled smile.
“Not that I know of,” I quip. I slide my hands together and pull the soiled garden gloves from my hands.
“You don’t know if you have kids?” Her nose crinkles as she giggles, and she covers her mouth with two tiny hands.
“Silly, right?” I place my hands on my knees and watch her. Why hasn’t a parent or sitter shown up? Surely, she’s not allowed to roam the neighborhood alone. “Does a grownup know where you are?”
“Uh, huh. My daddy’s over there.”
She points to the fence separating my house from the one behind it. There's a gate between our properties. I thought it a little odd when I purchased the home but figured I'd have a proper fence panel installed eventually.
“Do you have lemonade? Jeremy’s mom always has lemonade.” She licks her lips, and her eyes open wider.
"I don't, Sweetie. All I have is tea."
“Blech.” She scrunches her nose again.
“Emma.” A deep male voice calls out.
“Is your name Emma?” She nods her head wildly. “Is that your dad calling for you?”
Again, with the bobbing head and childish grin. I push up off the ground and hold out my hand, hoping she’ll take it.
“Do you think we should let him know you’re here?” I prompt.
“Emma,” he calls out again. This time he’s closer, and his delicious dark voice sends a shiver through my bones.
That’s the sound of sexy if I ever heard it.
“He knows I’m here. I play with Jeremy all the time.” She takes my hand, and we walk toward the gate together. “My daddy is a policeman. He always knows where I am.”
“I see.” A man in uniform at that. Good to know there’s a cop nearby if I need one. “Jeremy doesn’t live here anymore, Sweetie. It’s just me.”
A dark head of hair and set of the deepest blue eyes I’ve ever laid eyes on appears over the top of the fence. He raps briefly on the wooden gate.
“Emma, are you over there?”
I reach for the handle and swing the gate open to find myself face to face with a devilishly handsome man who Emma calls daddy.
Damn. Why are the good ones already taken?
***
Charlie
Emma’s holding the hand of a fiery redheaded goddess wearing ripped-up cut-off shorts, a snug t-shirt, and a swath of dirt across her cheek. And damn, the sight of her sends a blast of heat through my belly.
“Emma Honey, you can’t go wandering off over here. Jeremy doesn’t live here anymore.” I reach out a welcoming hand to the woman. “Charlie Foxx. Looks like you’ve met my daughter, Emma. Sorry if she bothered you.”
“No bother at all. She's quite an adventurous little girl gadding about on her own." She wipes a hand on her cut-off shorts and then extends it to me. "Michelle Tinsley. New neighbor."
The tingle that shoots through my limbs when our hands touch surprises me. She's someone's wife or mother, no doubt. Off-limits.
“Daddy.” Emma curls a finger for me to come closer. I bend on one knee to look my little girl in the eye. I glance at their linked hands and can’t help but notice there’s no ring on Michelle’s finger. No tan line either. Emma cups a hand around her lips and stage whispers next to my ear. “She doesn’t know if she has any kids.”
Michelle lets out a chuckle and shakes her head. Her smile lights up her hazel eyes, and flecks of gold sparkle in the waning daylight. Her curls bounce across her shoulders, light and airy as if she hasn’t a care in the world.
“Is that so? Then let’s find out.” I hoist Emma up into my arms and poke her ticklish ribs. She lets out a squeal of laughter. “Emma’s best friend lived here before you. Greg and I put the gate in so the kids could go back and forth safely. Any kids over here who might want a playmate?”
I’m hopeful Emma will have a new friend close by, but equally eager to know a little more about Michelle. Like is she single, attached, someone’s significant other?
“Sorry, no kiddoes unless my twin nieces are visiting. But Emma’s welcome to come over and help me plant flowers or work in the garden sometime.” She reaches over and dots a finger on Emma’s nose. “Maybe I’ll have lemonade next time.”
Emma’s eyes light up. Michelle’s no replacement for Jeremy, but at least she doesn’t mind my curious little girl bothering her. I can't say the same for me. Her tight cut-off shorts and revealing top are sure bothering me right now. Every inch of my manhood is interested in the new neighbor.
“Can Michelle come to dinner, daddy?” Emma tugs on my shirt collar.
“I’m grilling out. Nice evening for it. There’s plenty if you’d like to join us.” I look at Michelle expectantly. A little female company would be a nice change of pace. Maybe it’s time I considered dating again for Emma's sake, of course. She needs female role models in her life.
Who am I kidding? I’m hoping Michelle says yes for me, not just Emma.
♥♥♥
Continue reading and watch Michelle and Charlie's budding romance unfold.
♥♥♥
Home Wrecker's Construction Continues
AUTHOR CORNER
If you love a strong, silent alpha male who wants nothing more than to protect and pleasure his new wife, it's time to meet Brennon in Married to the Mountain Man.
Courage County mountain men love curves! These flannel-wearing, wood-cutting lumberjack men are gruff and grumpy. But underneath it all, they have hearts of gold just waiting to be uncovered by the curvy women they claim. Cuddle up with these sexy new book boyfriends from Mia Brody today!
Twenty years is a long wait for a hook-up. Laci Monroe
We attended the same college. I was his tutor, he was big man on campus, and I wanted him to be my first.
I thought the hook-up was going to finally happen at a frat party, but after an ex causes a scene—his, and too many shots consumed—me, I ended up giving his roommate that honor. A month later, I peed on a stick. It sealed my fate. Epic sad story.
Till now. Luke Hart is back in town. It’s up to me to make the first move. I just need to make sure he knows I want more from him than his prize-winning hard…seltzer. Tangling with the brewmaster could be my best birthday present ever or another epic fail.
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XOX Piper