From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes another scorching Original Heartbreakers tale featuring an aloof bad boy and the rowdy Southern belle who rocks his worldâ¦
Millionaire video-game creator Lincoln West has a dark and tragic past. The sought-after bachelor lives by a rigid schedule and a single ruleâone relationship per year, lasting no more than two monthsâuntil a brash beauty dredges up long-buried emotions.
A reformed party girl, Jessie Kay Dillon is determined to walk the straight and narrow. But her love-hate sizzle with West is just too irresistible. They canât be near each other without tearing off their clothes, but the last thing she needs is to be his next two-month dump. Will she become the one exception? Because as any former girl-gone-wild knows: rules are made to be broken.
Praise for New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter
âShowalterâ¦rocks me every time!â
âSylvia Day, #1 New York Times bestselling author
âShowalter writes fun, sexy characters you fall in love with!â
âLori Foster, New York Times bestselling author
âSassy, smart characters and an expertly woven, unconventional plot, The Closer You Come showcases Gena Showalter in all her shining talent.â
âKristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
âShowalter makes romance sizzle on every page!â
âJill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author
âEmotional, heart-tugging, kept me turning the pages!â
âCarly Phillips, New York Times bestselling author
âWith compelling stories and memorable characters, Gena Showalter never fails to dazzle.â
âJeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author
âThe Showalter name on a book means guaranteed entertainment.â
âRT Book Reviews
âThe versatile Showalterâ¦once again shows that she can blend humor and poignancy while keeping readers entertained from start to finish.â
âBooklist on Catch a Mate
âGena Showalter is a romantic genius.â
âSan Francisco Book Review
To Allison Carroll for your invaluable feedback. And for taking me on despite my warnings about âthe process.â
To Craig Swinwood, Margaret Marbury, Loriana Sacilotto, Dianne Moggy, Susan Swinwood, Michelle Renaud, Stacy Widdrington and Fritz Servatiusâand so many others at Harlequinâfor all you do on my behalf.
And to Lisa Wray for going above and beyond as we prepare for the launch of each new book.
And to one of the most awesome ladies I know, Liz Berry. I owe you a bear hug!
You guys rock so hard!
To Kresley Cole and Beth Kendrick, the Chef Boyardee gang!
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
Praise for New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter
Title Page
Dedication
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Recipe
Extract
Copyright
CHAPTER ONE
Sister dearest,
My darling Brook Lynn,
Yo!
So, check it. Iâve totally invaded your old bedroom to watch snow fall in the backyard. (Insert a couple minutesâor an hour!âof whining because your window alcove is better than mine.) BUT. Despite such a heinous injustice, Iâm smiling so wide my jaw hurts. I remember the first time we built a snowman. I still think he looked like a puffer fish. Anyway. You cried âHeâs dyingâ when the sun came out, and I collected snowman-blood (water) in a jar to host a proper bathroom funeral. We were pretty cool kids, huh? Now, though, weâre (technically) adults. Boo! Youâre my best friendâyay! congrats!âbut youâre also Jaseâs fiancée. Youâre part of his family, beloved by his friends, and that means I have to share you. Iâm afraid, so very afraid, of losing you.
But then, I deserve to lose you. For years you took care of me like a mother takes care of her child. You sacrificed for me. You loved me when I was unlovable and helped me when I scorned you. Saying thank you a thousand times wouldnât be enough. Saying Iâm sorry a million times might be a start. You, sister, are a treasure. A gift. And Iâm going to prove it. But not by giving you this letter.
No, this letter will self-destruct as soon as Iâm done writing it because I donât want to tell you everything you mean to meâI want to show you. And I will.
Yours forever,
Jessie Kay
ON A FRIGID December morning, the greatest snowpocalypse Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, had ever experienced claimed its first victim. Jessica Kay Dillonâs pride. With a moan, the former beauty queen picked up her now-aching butt off the icy sidewalk, balanced her basket in her hands and, as bitter gusts of wind nipped at her, scanned nearby shop windows. No prying eyes watched her. Thank God!