Itâs all for Brandon
Single mom Ashley LaValley will do anything to help her twelve-year-old son, a cancer survivor, achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. Even uproot their lives and relocate to Boston when Brandon gets a scholarship to an exclusive prep school. Even accept help when Brandon risks flunking out...
Even when that help comes from Dr. Aidan Lowe, an arrogant, abrasive man recently returned from a stint in Afghanistan. But the guyâs also charismatic and wickedly sexy. Ashleyâs spent years putting her sonâs needs first. Now Aidanâs reminding her that she has needs of her own...
A haircut was the last thing on Aidanâs mind.
He stood abruptly. âNo,â he said in a clipped tone. âThanks.â He took a step to make his getaway, but Ashley jumped in front of him.
He blinked, shocked. He was even more shocked when she placed her palm on his chest. His top two buttons were undone, and her palm landed partially on his bare skin.
Her eyes widened as if she was shocked at herself, too. At her own audacity.
He stared directly into her eyes. She was shorter than him by a few inches. Her skin was almost translucent and looked as smooth as porcelain, like a dollâs. She had long auburn hair pulled back from her forehead. Every emotion played clearly across her dainty features, and at the moment she appeared terrified of him. Her hazel eyes were round, the pupils slightly dilated.
Something about that made him pause. She seemed so vulnerable. Heâd thought he was a mess these past months, but she didnât seem as if all was well with her, either.
Dear Reader,
Some of you asked if Ashley LaValley, the heroineâs sister from Out of His League, would be receiving her own story. Here it is.
When we last left Ashley, she was a single mom returning from alcohol rehab. Her precocious son, Brandon, a cancer survivor and baseball fanatic, was Ashleyâs whole world.
Now itâs four years later. Brandon is twelve and starting a new school year at an elite Boston boarding school in hopes of someday becoming a childrenâs oncologist. Ashley has uprooted her whole lifeânew hairstylist job in the city, new apartmentâso that she can support his dream.
But sheâs surprised to realize her son is growing up and becoming more independent. She doesnât need to revolve her life around him as much anymore. For the first time in a long time, she canâand indeed mustâask herself what she wants out of her own life.
Especially when intriguing, attractive Dr. Aidan Lowe turns up in her salon chair, bringing a new set of love and challenges into her world.
I hope you enjoy their romance.
All the best,
Cathryn Parry
CATHRYN PARRY is the author of eight Harlequin Superromances. Her books have received such honors as a Booksellersâ Best Award, a CataRomance Reviewersâ Choice Award and several Reviewersâ Choice Award nominations. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Lou, and her neighborâs cat, Otis. Please see her website at www.cathrynparry.com for information about upcoming releases or to sign up for her reader newsletter.
To Dee. Thanks for the friendship, fun and trips to Salem.
CHAPTER ONE
NEW JOB, NEW LIFE, new home.
Today was only her second day on the job. Ashley LaValley still wasnât used to this hair salonâs setup. So different from her old life.
She glanced toward the photo of her son, never far from her workstation. There it wasâby the sleek bottle of high-end shampoo. A recent photo, Brandon smiled proudly in his newly bought, preppy St. Bartholomewâs School blazer. The light of Ashleyâs life, her son had straight, sandy-blond hair and ruddy skin. Nothing at all like her features.
âAshley, thereâs a man here for you,â her young coworker Kylie said, approaching Ashleyâs little corner workstation with a pen in her hand. âHeâs a walk-in, so heâs not on your schedule.â
And just like that, a little thrum of worry passed through Ashley. Ridiculous, she told herself. Youâre doing fine.
Putting her hand to her stomach, she breathed out slowly. Worrying was the big issue of her life, it seemed. No matter how much she worked and tried and strove, her old fears always resurfacedâusually when she was facing a change. Sheâd been through enough counseling to recognize what was happening, but this one-day-at-a-time stuff sure did challenge her. And of course she was being challengedâshe was dealing with major life upheavals. All the biggies. New apartment. New job. New school for Brandon. New routine.
âYou look kind of pale,â Kylie remarked, tilting her head. âAre you sure youâre okay?â
âI am.â Honestly, she needed to pull herself together. She had worked hard to find this job within walking distance of Brandonâs new school in Copley Square, Boston, and she couldnât do anything to jeopardize that.