Table of Contents
PROLOGUE
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
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
EPILOGUE
Menace
BOOK #5 IN THE MOONSHINE TASK FORCE SERIES
LARAMIE BRISCOE
Copyright © 2017, 2018 Laramie Briscoe
Kindle Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without express permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or any events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.
Edited by: Elfwerks Editing
Cover Art by: Kari Ayasha, Cover to Cover Designs
Proofread by: Dawn Bourgeois & Danielle Wentworth
Beta Read by: Keyla Handley & Danielle Wentworth
Cover Photography: Wandar Aguiar
Model: Robert
ALSO BY LARAMIE BRISCOE
Heaven Hill Series
Meant To Be
Out of Darkness
Losing Control
Worth The Battle
Dirty Little Secret
Second Chance Love
Rough Patch
Beginning of Forever
Home Free
Shield My Heart
A Heaven Hill Christmas
Heaven Hill Generations (Spin-off Series)
Hurricane
Rockin’ Country Series
Only The Beginning
One Day at a Time
The Price of Love
Full Circle
Reaper’s Girl
The Red Bird Trail Trilogy
Flagger
Collision
In-Tune
Stand Alone
Sketch
Sass
Trick
Moonshine Task Force Series
Renegade
Tank
Havoc
Ace
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Page
Also by Laramie Briscoe
About the Book
Author’s Note
Prologue
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
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Epilogue
From the Author
Connect with Laramie
Excerpt from Hurricane
The sexy, single dad of the MTF finally gets his turn…
Mason “Menace” Harrison
“Single and ready to mingle.”
Those are the words above every picture of almost every female that strikes my interest on this dating app my son talked me into getting. After being a single dad for seventeen years, I’m ready to spread my wings, just not with most of the co-eds who keep hitting on me and calling me daddy.
Now that Caleb’s in his senior year of high school, I feel like I can let go of the iron-clad control I’ve had on myself without his mom in our lives. I’ve enjoyed raising him, love the relationship we have, and while he went off the rails for a bit last year, we’re now closer than we’ve ever been. He’s got a full ride to the University of Alabama, and I’ve settled into my spot with the Moonshine Task Force.
But my son isn’t a substitute for a woman in my bed, he isn’t someone I can share my dreams with, and he’s not the person I want to grow old with by my side. I’m not sure who that is yet, but the smokin’ hot lady going by the name BeachBum83 is definitely holding every single bit of my interest.
Karina Holland
“Looking for a good time, maybe more…”
Those were the lamest words I ever typed in my life, but it was the best I had for the dating app my friend Violet talked me into joining. I didn’t have any high hopes for myself. As a high school teacher, I’m sick of pervy dads hitting on me when they come in to discuss their child’s lack of motivation to understand business courses and apply themselves.
Until the day Mason Harrison walks into my classroom. I had no idea Caleb’s dad was the man I met off that dating app who showed me how flexible I really am in the back of his Jeep. Within minutes of him speaking to my class, he proved the sparks weren’t one-time only when we christened my desk.
Mason and Caleb? They touch a part of my heart that no one’s ever touched before, and when a threat shows up, I prove just how tough I really am.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
While the series is called The Moonshine Task Force Series, please be aware the task force is what bought most of these men together. It’s the catalyst (if you will) that has made the friendship of the five men you’ll meet in the series.
Like most of my recent books, these are character-driven. The action, as it is, advances the storyline or sets up the storyline for subsequent books. There won’t be manufactured drama or manufactured storyline. These are very much what you see, is what you get. Each book follows one member, and you’ll get to see how they change and grow through-out the course of the series.
I hope you’ll love the fourth story featuring Karina and Menace, and you’ll come back for the last book in the series! Caleb’s book, “Cruise” releases May 4th!
&n
bsp; Enjoy!
Laramie
Menace
PROLOGUE
Menace
January
“Jesus, please tell me that’s not what you’re wearing tonight.”
At the sound of my eighteen-year-old’s too deep voice, I turn around. Like I find myself doing more often than not now, I stop a second and take in the moment. In a few months, he won’t be here to make fun of what I’m wearing.
God, when did Caleb get to be a man standing in front of me? Older than I was when he came into the world screaming and shaking. I can still remember when they placed him in my arms and told me I was responsible for his entire life. He was so small, and I remember looking up at the nurse, asking if it was okay to hold him. Like I needed permission or something. I’ve taken the responsibility of raising him seriously – because I wanted to – but also because there was no one else to do it. He and I, we’ve come a very long way together.
“What’s wrong with it?” I press my hands against my chest, smoothing the shirt down.
He rolls his eyes, a grin tilting up the side of his mouth. With that move, it’s like looking in a mirror and seeing myself. “Everything, Dad, everything.”
“Then why don’t you help me? I haven’t been out on a date in more years than I care to count.” At least on one where I asked the woman out and I wasn’t set up by someone with good intentions. This date? It’s all mine. “You went out on one last night. Work your magic.”
Looking back, I realize this is probably the moment, where I completely lost control of the situation.
* * *
I’m not a nervous guy. Not usually. Being a member of the Moonshine Task Force requires I keep my cool, but tonight, as I stand in front of a restaurant in Birmingham, my hands shake, my palms sweat. Rubbing the heels of my hands on the jeans Caleb made me change into, I cross my booted ankles. The shoes he also recommended, because I looked too much like a dad in my own choices. I have to admit what he put me in shows the muscles off I work hard on, but at the same time I kinda feel like a douche. I’ve never been a flashy kind of guy with anything. Gripping my phone, I nervously look at it, searching for a text message that she may be running late, or even one that she may be calling this off.
However, when I hear the unmistakable click of high heels against the pavement, I glance up, and thank the heavens above Caleb shamed me into changing. Pushing off the wall, I slowly make my way toward the woman coming in my direction.
Karina – who I’m meeting tonight thanks to the dating profile Caleb set me up with – had been cute in her profile picture. Her other pictures had been playful, one or two of them sexy, but goddamn my jaw is about to hit the ground. Flesh and bone is so much more beautiful than photography in this instance. The woman walking toward me, with a sway to her hips in skin-tight jeans is sex on a stick. I’m the type of man who isn’t into super feminine women. I’m not into dresses and florals, I’m into jeans, shirts, leather, and everything this woman is wearing turns me on.
For the first time in years, I allow my eyes to seriously feast on a woman, on the picture she makes in front of me as she eats up the distance between us. Starting at the top of her head, I approve of the just-been-fucked tousled curls. The lights from the parking lot give her an ethereal glow in the January early-evening darkness. She’s one of those unicorns whose hair doesn’t look truly blonde or naturally brown. Moving down, her face doesn’t look painted on, and I give a silent prayer of thanks for that. The white shirt she wears underneath a black leather vest is tight enough for me to make out her curves underneath. Phone numbers and first names are all we’ve exchanged besides the pictures on the website, and I’m dying to hear her voice.
“Karina?” I approach her, my hand out.
She stops in front of me, extending her own hand out, a confident smile on her face. I love women who have confidence, yet still allow themselves to be vulnerable. Her poised demeanor is already winning her bonus points with me. “Mason?”
Her voice is raspy; sounding like we just had a round of break-the-bed sex, her accent not southern, more northern, but it suits her. She sounds almost like I imagined she would. Our hands clasp together and goddamn fireworks go off in the distance. Hand to God, I feel more chemistry when the palms of our hands touch than I have in the last three women I’ve been set up with. A few of those I’d taken out on more than one date, one I’d even slept with, but this woman; she excites me. Truthfully more than with any woman in my history.
“Glad you could make it.” I release her hand, before tucking mine in the front pockets of my jeans to keep them from reaching out to touch her. She probably wouldn’t enjoy being fondled within two minutes of us meeting one another.
“I’ve never met someone in person from the app.” She pushes a curl that’s sticking to her lip gloss back as we stand in the cool night air, staring at each other. The way she’s slowly looking me up and down before her eyes settle on mine sends a thrill through my body.
“Me neither,” I admit. “But I figure somebody’s gotta pop my cherry. Might as well be a gorgeous woman like you.”
Her eyes flutter up and down my body again, reminding me of the way mine had taken in hers. “Can’t say that I’m disappointed either. Had I known they made single dads like you, I might have given it a shot before now.”
Pleasure radiates in my stomach; I’ll never admit it to anyone else, but I’ve disappointed so many in my life that her words make me feel like I’ve finally done something right.
“Shall we?”
Putting on my best manners, I open the door for her, slightly pressing my palm to her lower back as we walk through the entrance. As we’re seated, I can’t help but hope this night isn’t the biggest waste of time ever.
* * *
“They’re about to close.” I motion at the now empty dining room, watching as some of the waiters are already starting to vacuum their areas, wipe down tables, and stack chairs.
“I guess we should go.” Karina uncrosses her legs and stands up from the table. We’d paid an hour before, but we’d been having such a good time talking about our favorite TV shows and music, neither one of us wanted to go. It was nice, not having the heavy first date stuff with her tonight. This was fun, the best first date I’ve ever had, and something I didn’t realize I needed.
“Yeah, I guess we should.” I stand along with her, digging my wallet out of my back pocket before throwing down a generous tip. We’d kept this table for the whole night, and not once had the waitress acted like we were an annoyance. “Let me walk you to your car.”
The fact she’s parked under a security light scores her points with me. We’ve never talked about professions, though, so I don’t want to get into safety precautions. All she needs to hear is some jaded cop telling her about the do’s and don’ts of safety at night. Nothing sexier, I’m sure.
“Mason.” She stops me with a tug on my hand. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want this night to end.
Dragging her into my arms, I circle an arm around her waist. “Take a ride with me?” I motion to my Jeep, hoping like hell she’ll say yes but knowing that it’s probably a bad idea. Fuck it; I’ve made worse decisions before.
The nod is almost imperceptible, but it’s there. Holding hands, we go back across the lot to where my Jeep sits, also under a light. It’s a beacon on this night, and something tells me my life is never going to be the same again.
Karina
My heart pounds as he pulls me across the parking lot to where the manliest Jeep I’ve ever seen sits. It’s a four door with streaks of mud along the quarter panels; a large tire rests on the back door. There are bits of chrome, and it appears the colors are black and a dark cherry. All the way around, sexy.
“You like to get dirty, huh?” I didn’t mean the phrase the way it came out, but now that it’s there, I don’t take it back either. I motion to the mud caked on strips of paint, tilting my head toward the tires that are covered in clay.
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His dark eyes meet mine, and a smile slowly spreads across his stubble-covered face. I get the feeling he didn’t shave for our date, and I’m one hundred percent okay with that. “I do.” His voice is deep as he walks me around to the passenger side, opening the door for me. “But the dirt you’re talking about is thanks to my son and some friends of his.”
How cute is that? He took his son out mudding. It was probably that little guy’s dream come true. Before I go any further, I want to make sure there’s not some woman hiding in the background with a Fatal Attraction plot for her baby daddy. “Are you close with his mom? I know from your profile you aren’t married or divorced.”
A pained look crosses his face. “She’s not in the picture, hasn’t seen him since he was a baby. I’m a single dad in the truest sense of the word.”
He helps me up into the Jeep, then I turn in my seat. “Well, I for one, am glad you could get away tonight.” It’s got to be hard for him to find a sitter – or a sitter who doesn’t hit on him, because my God, this man is hot.
“Me too.” He leans in so far that our bodies are touching. Finally completely touching. It’s been over a year since a man has touched me. After I was humiliated before my wedding, I swore off men until I joined the dating app. But there’s something about this man, about the way he touches me, about the way he looks at me, the giddiness I’ve had in my stomach since I first saw him waiting for me tonight. I’m craving that physical connection, and before I know it, I’ve bridged the gap between us and fused our lips together.
There’s a surprised mmm from him deep in his throat. It’s a growl, husky with the depth of its sexiness. It spreads goosebumps all over my body, and I know then, as I feel his big hands wrap around my hips, that I’m a goner.
* * *
One day in the future, someone will ask me how I ended up in the backseat of a Jeep, in a restaurant parking lot in Birmingham, Alabama with the hottest first date I’ve ever had. When they ask me that question, I’ll be honest: I have absolutely no idea how it happened. One minute, we were necking, him standing outside the vehicle, propped up against my body, my legs spread to allow him room. The next, our fingers were fighting for the rights to undress as much and as fast as the space we occupied would allow in the backseat.
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