Excerpt!
Nervous for reasons she couldn’t begin to explain, she rushed to answer the door. She pulled it open to find Ransom on the other side of the screen door holding a bag from the hardware store in one hand and a large bag of peanut M&Ms in the other.
Kelly could have kissed him, and it had nothing to do with him bringing her favorite candy. He looked delectable in a pair of faded jeans, scuffed boots, and a blue plaid western shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, exposing tanned, corded forearms. His hair was tousled, like he’d forked his hands through it a few times.
“I’m so sorry to bother you, Ransom. Were you doing something important?” she asked as she pushed open the door and filled her lungs with his incredible scent as he stepped past her into the house.
“Vitally important. I was cheering on the Seahawks when I got Celia’s text.”
Aware of how much he loved football, Kelly felt as though he’d made a big sacrifice by coming to help her. “I’m so sorry, Ransom. I told Celia I’d figure it out.”
“I’m glad she reached out, and you called. I can catch up on the game later.”
“You can at least listen to it.” She took a step toward the coffee table, where she’d left the remote to the television, but Ransom shook his head. “It’s fine, Kelly. I’d rather hang out with you.”
She wasn’t sure what to make of that since Ransom lived and breathed football.
He walked into the kitchen, and she followed. As he set the bag on the counter by the sink and began extracting parts, he glanced over at her. “Tell me what happened.”
“I’m not sure, exactly. The dishwasher was mid-cycle. I came in to get a drink, and water was gushing out of the cabinet. I opened it up, and the pipe that connects to the drain had fallen completely off. What would make it do that?”
“A few things could make it do that, but it shouldn’t. I’m sorry you had to deal with this today.”
He knelt down on the floor and removed the plastic wrap she’d used to cover the ends of the pipes. “Whew. That is ripe,” he said, turning his nose into his shoulder and drawing in a deep breath. “I’ll try to work fast.”
And he did.
Less than fifteen minutes later, the pipe was once again fastened to the drain, and Kelly turned the dishwasher back on.
Ransom washed his hands while Kelly poured two glasses of apple cider. She would have offered Ransom a root beer if she’d had one, aware it was his favorite beverage. However, the apple cider was from the local farmer’s market. Dave’s wife, Randi, had brought a jug to Kelly yesterday at the winery. Kelly filled a plate with cinnamon cookies that she had baked the night before, then tipped her head toward the living room.
“If you aren’t in a rush to head back to your apartment, would you like to stay and watch the rest of the game?” she asked, hoping Ransom would say yes.
He’s never opened his heart to anyone. She wears her emotions on her sleeve. When romance blooms, will they realize love is what they both need?
Ransom Kressley possesses the gift of gab, striking good looks, and a blistering disdain for his family’s Idaho ranch where he resides with his father and identical twin brother. His genuine passion is football, but a knee injury shattered his dreams of an NFL career. After years of channeling his frustration and anger toward those who care about him most, Ransom resolves to change. He accepts a job in Portland as a promotions manager for an arena football team and eagerly steps into his new life. As he makes a fresh start, his past continues to plague him, interfering with his chance to get to know the woman who lingers in his thoughts.
Despite her sunny smile and tender spirit, Kelly Truman isn’t in the market for love or even a relationship when she agrees to have lunch with her best friend’s soon-to-be brother-in-law. Familiar only with Ransom Kressley’s notorious reputation, Kelly is determined to keep her guard up around him. However, Ransom proves to be nothing like she expected. Soon, she realizes she cherishes time spent with the man, but fears trusting him with her heart.
When their friendship evolves into something more, will Ransom’s charm and silver tongue split them apart or bind them together?
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Author bio:
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes sweet romances rich with relatable characters, small town settings that feel like home, humor, and hope.
Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
When this farm girl isn’t writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. She also experiments with recipes, snaps photos of her adorable nephew, and caters to the whims of a cranky cat named Drooley.
To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website http://shannahatfield.com or find out more about her here: linktr.ee/ShannaHatfield
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