Dangerous Games: A Standalone Second Chance Romance

by T. K. Leigh

  “When I first saw you, I remember being so jealous of Drew, of how he could so casually drape his arm across your shoulders or kiss your cheek.”

  “Wes…,” I say, a hint of pleading in my tone. If my instincts are correct, if he’s about to propose, the last thing I want to be included in that proposal is a mention of Drew. It would taint the whole thing.

  “You were so different from the type of woman I usually dated, but in a good way. They all wore the same type of clothes, styled their hair the same way, every single one of them almost like a cookie-cutter mold. But not you. You were unique.”

  There’s that word, the one I’ve been called most of my life. Not beautiful. Not stunning. Not breathtaking. Unique. With my pin-straight dark hair, green eyes, fair skin, and freckles dotting my cheeks and nose, I’ve been called unique more times than I care to count. Other than my father, only one man has ever called me beautiful. Only one man has ever made me feel beautiful. And I believed it…until I learned his words were as fleeting as a passing storm, spoken out of desperation and fear of being alone.

  “When I first walked into that café, I remember smelling a hint of lavender, not the coffee I expected. As I passed you, the scent only grew stronger. For weeks, I dreamed of that aroma. When work led me back to that part of the city, back to the same café, and you were there again, I had to believe it was a sign we were meant to be together.”

  I remain mute, willing my heart to skip a beat, my skin to flush, my eyes to sparkle with unabashed adoration for this man and his heartfelt words. Instead, I feel as empty as I have since the first time he kissed me. There’s no spark. No jolt. No flutter. I’m just going through the motions, hoping to feel something. I thought it back then, and I still do now. Maybe Drew’s already ruined love for me.

  Before I know what’s happening and can stop this out-of-control train from continuing its journey off the tracks, Wes shifts from his chair, kneeling in front of me. He reaches into his jacket and produces a small box. The room is suddenly silent, dozens of eyes staring at me, at him, at us. When he cracks open the box, a chill washes over me.

  My lips part, but no words come. My brain tries to tell my mouth to talk, my voice box to vibrate and make a sound, to tell him to get up. Just like Wes thinks there’s a reason our paths crossed, perhaps there’s a reason I find myself incapable of forming words at this crucial moment. This feels surreal, like I’m having an out-of-body experience, a casual observer of my life instead of having a starring role.

  “Brooklyn Rose Tanner,” he begins, his breathing increasing as his pale blue eyes lock with mine, “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I first heard your voice and you consumed my soul. I’d be honored if you’d be my wife.”

  My lungs struggle to capture a breath, my face burning, my limbs trembling. Over Wes’ shoulder, I spy all the other diners stealing a glimpse at us, everyone seemingly on pins and needles awaiting my response. So many little girls dream of this moment, of the day their own Prince Charming would get down on one knee in front of them and declare their undying love, begging them to consider spending the rest of their lives together.

  I’ve also imagined this moment an unhealthy number of times, mostly when Molly and I would flip through one teen magazine or another, planning our own wedding to whomever was the heartthrob of the month. I didn’t think it would be like this, surrounded by complete strangers in a pretentious restaurant. I envisioned it as a private moment, just us, on a beach or somewhere with meaning. This place holds no meaning for us. Then again, I can’t think of any place that does. Maybe that’s been my problem since the beginning. I never gave him all of me. I’ve kept my heart guarded, worried he’d destroy it like the last man I let in. But Wes is willing to devote his life to me. Shouldn’t that mean something?

  Wes is intelligent, has a career he loves, and despite all his money, uses his fortune for good. Best of all, he supports my ambitions. The more I think about it, the more the truth hits me. I’ve never given Wes a chance. I’ve never considered us to be serious, even when we went away together, even when he peers at me as if I’m the only woman for him, even when he spoils me and whispers the sweetest things in my ears. I’ve always viewed him as a stepping stone, someone to bridge the gap between my past and my future. Maybe Wes is my future.

  “Brook?” His uncertain voice cuts through my thoughts.

  I meet his nervous eyes, wishing I could see the answer in them. These are eyes that, over the past eight months, have looked at me with nothing but the sweetest devotion, nothing but the most tender compassion, nothing but the most beautiful love. We may not be an overtly amorous couple who always discuss our feelings, but I know Wes loves me. That’s the only thing that should matter.

  My lips crack into a smile. “Yes.”

  “Yes?” Joy fills his expression.

  “Yes, Wes.” I inwardly cringe at the sound of that. “I’ll marry you.”

  Tension trickles off his body in waves as he jumps to his feet, pulling me up with him. He wraps his arms around me, pressing his lips against mine, the kiss simple, yet full.

  With a grin, he removes the stunning marquis-shaped diamond from the box and brings it to my left hand.

  “It’s beautiful,” I breathe as he slides it down my finger, wincing when it doesn’t fit.

  “Shit, Brook. I’m sorry,” he apologizes frantically. “I told the girl at the jewelers it looked small. I…”

  “It’s okay,” I assure him, kissing his cheek, then place the diamond back into the box, closing it and handing it to him. “It’s not about the ring.”

  “But the ring’s nice, isn’t it? You like it, right?”

  Cupping his face in my hands, I hover my lips over his. “It’s exactly what I’ve always dreamed of. We’ll get it resized, then I’ll wear it for the rest of my life.”

  He leans closer, resting his forehead on mine. “I like the sound of that.”

  “So do I.”

  I hope you’ve enjoyed this taste of COMMITMENT. Download your copy here.

  Playlist

  You Were Good to Me - Jeremy Zucker

  Can I Be Him - James Arthur

  I Can’t Fall in Love Without You - Zara Larsson

  Lately - RuthAnne

  Place We Were Made - Maisie Peters

  If The World Was Ending - JP Saxe with Julia Michaels

  Acoustic - Billy Raffoul

  Satisfy Me - Anderson East

  Put Me Back Together - Caitlyn Smith

  What Would It Take - Anderson East

  Can I Stay - Ray Lamontagne

  Love of my Life - Queen

  Favorite Part of Me - Astrid S

  All On My Mind - Anderson East

  Wasn’t Expecting That - Jamie Lawson

  Never Really Over - Katy Perry

  Break My Heart Right - James Bay

  I Fell in Love with the Devil - Avril Lavigne

  Grow as we Go - Ben Platt

  Slide - James Bay

  Dancing with Your Ghost - Sasha Sloan

  Lying in Her Arms - Anderson East

  Lie to Me - 5 Seconds of Summer with Julia Michaels

  Rush - Lewis Capaldi with Jessie Reyez

  Rewrite the Stars - James Arthur & Anne-Marie

  You Say - Lauren Daigle

  Light As the Breeze - Leonard Cohen & Billy Joel

  Girlfriend - Anderson East

  Incredible - James TW

  Love Like This - Ben Rector

  Careless - Amos Lee

  BRKN - Madison Ryann Ward

  Just Your Memory - Johnnyswim with Penny and Sparrow

  Let It All Go - Birdy with RHODES

  A Safe Place to Land - Sara Bareilles with John Legend

  I Get To Love You - Ruelle

  Connect with Me

  Follow me on Instagram:

  instagram.com/tkleigh

  Like me on Facebook:

  facebook.com/tkleighauthor

  Join my Reader Group:

  fa
cebook.com/groups/fansoftkleigh/

  Join my Promo Team:

  (for bloggers, bookstagrammers, and readers)

  http://bit.ly/TKPromoTeam

  Check out my Website:

  tkleighauthor.com

  Shoot me an email:

  tk@tkleighauthor.com

  Subscribe to my newsletter:

  tkleighauthor.com/mailing-list

  Follow me on Pinterest:

  pinterest.com/leigh3745/

  Books by T.K. Leigh

  ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

  The Beautiful Mess Series

  A Beautiful Mess

  A Tragic Wreck

  Gorgeous Chaos

  Chasing the Dragon (Deception Duet #1)

  Slaying The Dragon (Deception Duet #2)

  Vanished (A Beautiful Mess series standalone)

  The Vault

  Inferno: Part 1

  Inferno: Part 2

  Inferno: Part 3

  Inferno: Part 4

  Standalones

  Heart of Light

  CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

  The Redemption Series

  Promise

  Commitment

  Redemption

  Possession

  The Dating Games Series

  Dating Games

  Wicked Games

  Mind Games

  Dangerous Games

  Royal Games

  ROMANTIC COMEDY

  The Book Boyfriend Chronicles

  The Other Side of Someday

  Writing Mr. Right

  MATURE YOUNG ADULT

  Heart Of Marley

  For more information on any of these titles and upcoming releases, please visit T.K.’s website:

  www.tkleighauthor.com

  Acknowledgments

  I always said I’d never write a rockstar romance. Well, I should know after 6 years in this industry to never say never. My husband actually works in the rock n’ roll industry. Well, technically, he’s a producer / director, but he’s spent the past twenty years of his life touring with a very well known musician. So yes. I married a roadie. I’ve been backstage at more concerts than I can count and I swore I’d never write in this particular genre because it hits a little too close to home.

  And then Asher York made his appearance in Wicked Games, and I knew I had to write my first rockstar romance.

  But I wanted to do something different with mine. I didn’t want Asher’s status as this incredible musician who rose to the top of the charts to define who he was. He’s more than that. Too many people define who they are based on what their profession is instead of their relationships with other people. I didn’t want that to be the case with Asher and Izzy.

  A big thanks to my hubby, Stan, for marrying me. LOL. In all seriousness, my time spent backstage in video world, on tour busses, and at pre-show parties really helped me paint the picture I needed. (And I almost put in the necessary union blackout you all complain about when you play MSG. It was tempting.) On that same note, a huge thanks to my amazing nannies, Karissa and Bree, who come to play with little Harper Leigh so I can have time to write.

  There’s only one woman I trust with my babies and that’s Kim Young. She’s an incredible editor who somehow knows exactly what I’m trying to say when my brain refused to fire on all cylinders, which is common. Thank you for all your hard work and for accommodating my crazy schedule.

  Another huge thanks to the Thelma to my Louise, my PA, Melissa Crump. I couldn’t do any of this without you taking the initiative and doing whatever needs to be done without me asking you. You’ve made my life infinitely easier this past year.

  To Emily and the girls at Social Butterfly - thanks for all your hard work and expertise in this release!

  To my beta readers - Vicky, Lin, Stacy, Sylvia, and Joelle. Thank you so much for your patience! You finally got your Asher York! Thanks so much for all your feedback on this book. And for agreeing not to read Mind Games until I finished Dangerous Games. I value your honesty and encouragement.

  To my fabulous admins… Vicky, Lea, and Joelle. Thanks for keeping everything under control while I hide away and write.

  To my insane voice of reason, A.D. Justice… Even though we’re like yin and yang, I love ya. Thanks for always listening and being the first person I go to when I need sound advice.

  To my review group — thank you so much for taking the time and reading all my books before release. I am truly humbled by all the support you’ve shown me over the years.

  Last but not least, thanks to you for picking up this book and taking a chance on me. Whether you’ve been with me since I published A Beautiful Mess back in 2013 or if this is your first book of mine, I’m so thrilled your love of reading led you to me.

  Buckle up! We’re about to hit the road with Nora’s story in Royal Games!

  Peace & love,

  ~ T.K.

  About the Author

  T.K. Leigh is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Beautiful Mess series, in addition to several other works, ranging from fun and flirty to sexy and suspenseful. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, beautiful daughter, and three cats. When she’s not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found training for her next marathon (of which she has run over twenty fulls and far too many halfs to recall) or chasing her daughter around the house.

  T.K. Leigh is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management. All publishing inquiries, including audio, foreign, and film rights, should be directed to her.

  Connect with her online!

  Facebook

  Instagram

  Reader Group

  Newsletter

  Twitter

  Pinterest