His First Choice
The best decision they’ll ever makeLacey Hamilton is used to living in the background. Overshadowed her entire life, she stepped out of the Hollywood limelight and into the role she’s meant to play: a counselor, part of the High Risk Team started by The Lemonade Stand women's shelter in Santa Raquel.Her caseload leads her to the doorstep of Jeremiah “Jem” Bridges to rescue a little boy. She's not supposed to fall in love with the rugged construction worker and his adorable son. Love and duty, though, don't always agree. Especially when a truth is uncovered that neither she nor Jem is prepared to face.
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The best decision theyâll ever make
Lacey Hamilton is used to living in the background. Overshadowed her entire life, she stepped out of the Hollywood limelight and into the role sheâs meant to play: a counselor, part of the High Risk Team started by The Lemonade Stand womenâs shelter in Santa Raquel.
Her caseload leads her to the doorstep of Jeremiah âJemâ Bridges to rescue a little boy. Sheâs not supposed to fall in love with the rugged construction worker and his adorable son. Love and duty, though, donât always agree. Especially when a truth is uncovered that neither she nor Jem is prepared to face.
âI want to see you in a bad mood.â
That didnât come out the way Jem meant it to...
âWhat? Why?â
The look Lacey was giving him could have made him feel awkward. Except that it seemed warm. Maybe he needed to slow down on the wine.
âThey say you donât truly know someone until youâve seen them at their worst. I want to really know you.â Now, that had come out right.
âSo...you show me your worst and Iâll show you mine.â
He grinned. âI donât think I can find it right now.â
âMe, either.â
Leaning forward, he reached for her. Pulled her toward him. She stood. And so did he. And they were just standing there, looking at each other.
âYou are the most beautiful thing Iâve ever seen,â he said.
She shook her head. âYouâve seen...â
With a finger to her lips he tried to silence her.
âBut itâs true, Jem,â she continued softly, her gaze imploring him to understand. âLifeâs hard enough without hiding from the truth.â
This book is...not ordinary. I think itâs powerful. And emotionally compelling. And I hope so much you give it a chance. I can tell you why I think this, and hope this. I can describe Jem to you. Heâs the hero of my heart. But Iâm afraid if I say too much, youâll move on without giving him a chance.
Jemâs a construction worker. Okay, yeah, he owns the business, and wears a shirt and tie to work every day. But he wears them with jeans. And he learned the business with his hands before he ever considered being the brains behind it all.
Heâs alpha all the way. And heâs a single dad to a four-year-old I wish I could hug. Heâs a good dad. Involved. Aware. And firm, too, when he needs to be.
And...Jem is...well... I hope youâll give him a chance. I canât imagine a romance reader not being glad they did.
Then thereâs Lacey. Sometimes I wanted to just do her hair and makeup, force her into an attention-getting outfit and push her out the door. But she has Kacey for that. My job was to be patient. To listen. And tell her story. Her story touched me deeply. So here it is...
I love to hear from readers! You can find me on Facebook at Facebook.com/tarataylorquinn and on Twitter, @tarataylorquinn. Or join my Friendship board, Pinterest.com/tarataylorquinn/friendship.
All the best,
Tara
An author of more than seventy novels, TARA TAYLOR QUINN is a USA TODAY bestselling author with more than seven million copies sold. She is known for delivering emotional and psychologically astute novels of suspense and romance. Tara is a past president of Romance Writers of America. She has won a Readersâ Choice Award and is a five-time finalist for an RWA RITA® Award, a finalist for a Reviewerâs Choice Award and a Booksellersâ Best Award. She has also appeared on TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning. She supports the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.
This book is dedicated to Tim Barney, who is Jem to me in so many ways...
Contents
âMS. HAMILTON? THIS is Mara Noble calling from Busy Little Minds preschool...â
âYes, Mara.â As a social worker employed by California Social Services in the child welfare department, Lacey Hamilton had familiarized herself with the reputations and locations of all of the child care facilities and schools in her district of Santa Raquel. Busy Little Minds was one of the best rated for both intellectual and emotional development. âWhat can I do for you?â While there was kindness in her words, there was no smile attached. If Busy Little Minds was calling her, chances were a serious issue was at hand.
With her phone on speaker behind the closed door of her private office, she opened a new document on her word-processing program.
