The novel follows the story of Sophie, a 19-year-old who is just moving to a new town with her parents. On their way there, their car breaks down, and they are rescued by Jackson, a federal marshal. Sophie is attracted to Jackson, but little do they know that they will soon become neighbors and colleagues. After a night of drinking, they have a one-night stand and agree to keep it casual since they work together. However, they soon become close friends where the sexual tension between them becomes undeniable. Jackson realizes he has feelings for Sophie but Sophie is hesitant about their age difference. Their relationship becomes more complicated as they try to balance their personal and professional lives. They struggle with mixed signals and insecurities about their age difference.
Sophie's POV
I stepped out of the car and walked over to the front, bracing myself for what I might find under the hood. With a deep breath, I pushed open the bonnet and stared intently into the engine, as if I could will it to reveal the problem-as if I knew a thing about cars.
"Sophie! Get out of that sun. You're no mechanic," my mum called out to me from the car.
Of course, it was just our luck to have the car break down in the middle of nowhere-no other cars in sight, no cell service, and no clue as to what was wrong. I sighed heavily and leaned against the car, feeling the frustration and helplessness start to bubble up inside me. After dad's first heart attack in his office, my parents had decided it was time to retire, and what better place to do it than in the mountain town? It was idyllic and quiet. And the crime rate was negligible.
I still couldn't believe I had just landed a job as a secretary at the Federal Court House in the mountain town of Crestview, especially as I was only 19. I had been searching for months, sending out countless resumes and cover letters, and finally, my persistence had paid off. I was thrilled to be starting my new life in this beautiful town, far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
So we'd packed up the car with our essentials and set off for Crestview. The rest of our stuff would be arriving later. Except now we're sort of stuck out here in the blazing sun, stranded with the weeds. I watch the majestic mountains range along both sides of the road, their tips capped with snow that wouldn't melt.
I strolled along one side of the road, straining my eyes to see into the distance, I had never been to this part of the country before, and I didn't know what to expect, more reason being stuck on the road wasn't such a hot idea. I made my way back to the car and settled into the driver's seat beside mum, who was eating some grapes. She never seemed to be able to survive without the damned things.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by the sound of an approaching engine. Relief flooded through me as I turned to see a truck coming down the road toward us. It really hadn't been fun, stuck in the sun like that. The truck slowed as it came closer and I could see a man behind the wheel, his face obscured by the glare of the sun.
As the truck pulled up beside me, the man rolled down his window and called out, "You ladies need some help?"
I hesitated for a moment, feeling a twinge of unease. But then again, what choice did we have. "Yes," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Our car broke down, and I have no idea what's wrong with it. My dad has gone into town to get the tow truck."
The man nodded, his eyes scanning over me for a moment before he stepped out of the truck. As he approached, I could see he was tall and muscular, with short-cropped hair and a stern expression. "Let's take a look," he said, striding over to the front of the car and popping open the hood with ease. I watched as he peered inside, his fingers deftly moving over the engine as he diagnosed the problem. After a few minutes, he straightened up and turned to me. "Looks like the alternator's shot," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "I can give you ladies a ride into town, and we can get it fixed up for you," The man gave me a small nod and added, "we could wait until your dad makes it back of course."
I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me at his kind offer. "Thank you," I said, relieved that we wouldn't be stranded on the side of the road anymore. It really had been too hot. Now if only dad would arrive. We waited a full twenty minutes before dad arrived, apologizing for keeping us so long. He hadn't been able to get anyone to come out here in the middle of the afternoon.
"I can find you someone, but you'll have to leave the car behind sir and don't worry it'll be safe out here," he said, looking at my dad. Dad thought for a moment before giving a nod and moving towards the trunk of the car, which he popped open. As he helped us gather our things from the car, I couldn't help but notice his rugged appearance. His beard was thick and well-groomed, and his eyes were a piercing shade of blue that seemed to stare right through me. I found myself staring at his broad shoulders and muscular arms, which flexed as he lifted my suitcase into the truck. There was something undeniably attractive about him. Also something very forbidden, he was way older than I was. We got into the truck and sped off down the road toward the town. His strong, rough hands gripped the steering wheel with ease, and his deep voice rumbled through the truck as he hummed along to a country song on the radio. I was intrigued- whipped maybe by him but I did everything to avoid being caught staring cause I wouldn't know how to explain myself.
As I take a peek at him again, our eyes locked contact and a hint of a smile appeared on his lips but only for a moment before I looked away, my heart was pounding, I wondered if he had been checking me out or it was all coincidental but one thing I knew for sure is that nothing in this world is coincidence.
Jackson's POV.
I wanted a cigarette.
Badly.
I could bum a smoke but what I couldn't do was light a cigarette when I had company. I was driving to work and noticed a car pulled up by the side of the road, I slowed down my truck to help, there were two women in the car. My eyes lingered on the younger one, she was young, her hair, spilled like a cut of raw silk over her shoulders was a deep red, nearly brunette. She wore cuff earrings that wrapped around the outer curve of her ear, her eyebrows were shiny and dark, perfectly shaped over her green eyes. Her beauty was beyond compare and my mind went blank for a moment as I searched for references in my mind to describe her but found none.
I popped open the hood of their car and easily diagnosed the issue and offered them a ride to town, I wouldn't want to leave a little beauty stranded under the blazing sun. After her father arrived, they all got into my truck after he was convinced that someone would be able to fix the car. The drive to town was pretty quiet aside the country songs playing on the radio which I hummed along. I felt the little beauty eyes on me more than a few times but she would immediately distract herself. I turned to glance at her but at the same time she turned to look at me, our eyes locked and for a moment my breath hitched and released when she looked away.
I turned to focus on the road and tried to get her image out of my head.
She inspired comfort.
She had a certain willful and free femininity that defied a characterization.
She sparked comfort and if I was to be truthful about it, I would label it as sexual and admit to myself that my attraction to her was one sided and none of her doing. She was so young and innocent and the last thing this woman meant to convey was a come on. When we finally arrived in town, I pulled the car to a stop.
"Do you have an address? I don't mind dropping you off at your doorstep." I glanced at her parents who were sitting in the back seat.
"No, no. We can find our way from here." The man responded as he and his wife stepped out of the truck, from the side of my eyes, I caught the expression of displeasure that flashed on the little beauty's face.
"Are you sure? I really don't mind." For some strange reason, I wanted to spend more time around the little beauty, she intrigued me and I'm fascinated, I wish to know more about her but it might be impossible with her parents around.
"Yes. Thank you so much, we don't want to impose on you." The woman flashes a smile at me and I reciprocated.
I didn't dare to insist anymore to prevent them from misunderstanding my intentions. "It seems that you aren't a local so let me be the first person to welcome you to town."
"Thank you do much for your help, I'm Sophie." She stretched out her hand and I slowly wrapped my larger one around it. "These are my parents Adam and Lexi Reeds"
"I'm Jackson." Her hand was so soft but I could only reluctantly let go in the end. I nodded my head in her parents direction in acknowledgement.
"Soph, your mother and I will be right back. Stay here and don't wander around." Her father said and the two of them walked to the direction of a nearby store.
I watched as Sophie gently shoved the weight of her hair over her shoulder, the movement, natural and wholly unconscious gave me the barest glimpse of the lace and silk of a red coloured camisole beneath the lapels of her black jacket. My eyes lingered an instant too long and when I met her gaze, I found her regarding me, gently chewing her lower lip.
"Do you like it?" She let her fingers hover near the delicate lace of the camisole, her small wrist cradled between her ample breasts.
The breath in me froze, my lungs ceased. I understood perfectly that she was coming on to me with her question and subtle gesture. Her hands had fallen away away from her breasts but I let my gaze drift there again. "I like it. Yeah." I let my gaze linger on her chest before it found its way back to her face.
I only meant to fight her fire with mine, to play her game and bear her at it. To let the lengthy pause suggest that I would in fact prefer the camisole off her altogether.
Her cheeks reddened and she turned away. "Uh- okay. Can you help me with the suitcases?"
There was rising sexual tension in the air and she needed a way to diffuse it before it goes out of proportion so I decided to indulge her. "Sure, no problem." I walked back to the trunk of the truck and started lifting out the suitcases, her eyes were fixed on me the whole time and I flashed her a smile every time we locked eyes. She tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ears that were already as red as her cheeks.
After dropping the last suitcase, I could see her parents returning with a woman between them. "Hello Marshal." The woman waved with a cheeky smile on her face. I nodded at her in acknowledgement and tried to keep a neutral expression on my face.
"I would be taking my leave now, I'll ensure that your car is fixed soon." I turned around and left without another word, but as I passed Sophie, I could see the trace of reluctance on her face. I didn't want to leave her but at the moment I had no other choice. As I drove back to my office, I looked forward to meeting her again, she had ignited a flame of desire in me.
Seeing him so close to her, she struggled to cover her dismay about his boldness. Gabriella swallowed hard. “Stay away from me.” He could see the pulse beating in her throat, he could see the tiny fleck of fear and nervousness. Without thinking, he covered her mouth with his and for an instant, she yielded to his hunger, she responded as if all the past disagreement they had meant nothing. He had expected resistance, anticipated ice. Instead he got fire, and it scorched through his blood, his only thought was tangling in the sheets with her.. Gabriella jerked her mouth away and slapped him hard. “Don’t ever touch me again.” Silvers of ice rose in her gaze as she shot him a glare that should have sliced him to the bone before walking away- then broke into a run as adrenaline filled her vein. She had just slapped Alessandro Romano, the most powerful man in the country. Alessandro watched her go, feeling ragged and edgy with desire. “You won’t get away from me, Wildcat.” * He was the boss of the underworld. At the sight of his mask and gun, everyone trembled. No one wanted to be his enemy. The man had developed two hundred and sixty torturing methods and he could do all of this without batting an eye, he doesn’t give empty threats. He was a monster. A monster that should never be angered or he would become your worst nightmare. When she was born, the devil exclaimed 'Oh shit! Competition.’ She could be sweet as sugar, cold as ice but if you hurt her, she would show you things worse than death. Some days she could be as meek as a dove, other days, she’s a bitch that you should not cross or the even the devil will weep on your behalf. He was Alessandro Romano, a powerful man to the public and Maschera, a masked mafia king in the underworld. He was used to taking what he wanted. Born to lead a powerful mafia family, he was not in the habit of asking for permission—or forgiveness. Willing to cross any boundary when it came to possessing what he considered to be his, Alessandro knew Gabriella was meant for him from the moment he laid eyes on her. She is Gabriella D’ Angelo, a not so simple girl. Alessandro finds himself instantly attracted to Gabriella as she matched his fire and is the only one fit to be his queen. She is out to get revenge for something relating to her past, irrespective of the cost and isn’t ready for any committed relationship. Their paths crossed and Alessandro is not willing to give up while Gabriella is defiant. Sparks fly and causes a collision followed by an explosion and what started off as a contract relationship would create a love that could stand the test of time. Would Gabriella’s revenge plan jeopardize the blooming love that they share? Would she be able to adapt to the dark side of her lover and rule alongside him?
Renee is an ordinary, abused, maltreated, broken human girl who is abused constantly by her father. To prevent suspicions the relocate to different cities every three months. She is naive and lacks confidence to stand up for herself and that makes her a target for bullies in the highschools she attends but all they is about to change when she mistakenly meets Josh Woods, the alpha king who claims her for his.
I know that you might not believe me but I want you to know that this is my real life story....well not actually my story but it ended up being mine so I might as well accept it as mine cause there's no way I can go back no matter how much I try. So if you don't believe me, you can as well stop reading......... seeing as you aren't gonna stop, don't say that I didn't warn you. Now let's have a quick flashback.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." Darcy stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You're not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She stared at me in the mirror. "You can't even glance at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of gazing at that scar?" Heather Bailey got a surprise from her husband: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. She was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman. After signing the divorce papers, shockwaves caught her up. Her flower shop was burned to the ground. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers from influential families, she started her revenge on Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted, but that was just the beginning.
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!