An irresistible attraction!
Veterinarian Madison Monroe faces her days by ignoring her past. Thatâs impossible when her former brother-in-law Adam Drake appears. Sheâd love to refuse his demands for helpâwho needs his attitude? But she owes the family. So fine, sheâll work at their vet clinic, then walk away.
Easier said than done. Being with Adam shows the differences between the twin brothers. Intense and intriguing Adam makes her feel things she never felt before. Worse, Adam gets past her defenses, putting her carefully hidden secrets in jeopardy. And once the truth comes to light, everything will change!
Had Adam always been this handsome?
Of course he had. He looked just like Andrew, only with shorter hair, more muscles and a scowl that was somehow more attractive than his brotherâs charming grins had been.
Why was he here?
âThis way,â he said before Madison could ask, and jerked his chin toward the end of the building from which heâd come. He reached for her bag, and in her confusion over his appearance, she didnât release it fast enough.
The heat of his hand covered hers on the handle and the contact zapped her. She snatched the tingling extremity away, and her pulse skittered out of control.
Static electricity. Thatâs all it is.
Who was she trying to fool? Warmth pooled low in her belly. She squashed that reaction.
His gaze snapped to hers, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
She carefully blanked her expression until he pivoted and headed for a pair of glass doors on the opposite side of the building from where sheâd parked. A slow breath leaked from her lungs. For pityâs sake. Youâd think sheâd never been touched by a man before. She hadnât in a long time. Years, actually. But still, celibacy was no excuse for her neglected hormones to start tap-dancing now, and for Andrewâs brother no less.
Dear Reader,
There are those who say you only get one chance at true love, and if you choose unwisely romance is over for you forever.
Iâm not one of those people.
I believe in second chances. I believe that growing older makes us wiser and teaches us whatâs really important in life and in a partner. Sometimes we find the one we were meant to be with only after weâve earned a few bumps and bruises on our heart. I finally found my soul mate, and in this story Madison finds hers, but to do so she must face her painful past, overcome her fears and risk her wounded heart to see past the superficial and into the heart of the man who was meant for her.
Come back to Quincey, North Carolina, with me. Itâs a fictional town in the countryside through which I love to drive.
Happy reading!
Emilie Rose
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bestselling Harlequin author and RITA® Award finalist Emilie Rose lives in her native North Carolina with her own romance book hero and two adopted mutts. Her four sons have flown the coop. Writing is her third (and hopefully her last) career. Sheâs managed a medical office and run a home day care, neither of which offers half as much satisfaction as plotting happy endings. Her hobbies include gardening, fishing and cooking (especially cheesecake). Sheâs a country music fan because she can find an entire book in almost any song. She is currently working her way through her own âbucket list.â Visit her website, www.emilierose.com, or email her at [email protected]. Letters can be mailed to P.O. Box 20145, Raleigh, NC 27619.
To my own romance book hero.
We have traveled some very bumpy roads to find exactly where we were meant to beâwith each other.
CHAPTER ONE
âBRING MADISON HOME.â
Tension and loathing snatched a knot in Adamâs gut at the sound of his former sister-in-lawâs name. He stared at his father across the motor homeâs small galley table. âI know your diagnosis was a shock, but bringing her back into our lives would be a mistake.â
âI disagree. At times like this we need family support.â
âSheâs not family, Dad. Not anymore. By her choice.â
âMadison wasnât responsible for your brotherâs death. The ice storm was.â
âEven if that was trueââ and it wasnât ââshe betrayed you. After all you and Mom did for her, Madison took the life insurance money and disappeared immediately after Andrewâs funeral, and she hasnât bothered to call and check on you since. Family wouldnât do that.â
âMadison was grieving, too, son, in her own way. She lost her husband and her son that night.â
âA baby she didnât want.â His fatherâs stubborn refusal to accept reality made Adam want to punch something.
âYou canât know that, son.â
âI know what Andrew told me. He said she resented the pregnancy.â
âYou only heard one side of the story. The pregnancy might have been unplanned and the timing less than ideal, but Madison would have been a good momma once the little one arrived.â