by Molly McLain
Can't Get Enough (River Bend, #2)
Molly McLain
Published by Molly McLain, 2014.
CAN’T GET ENOUGH (River Bend, #2)
Copyright © 2014 by Molly McLain
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a media retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) with the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher of this book, excepting brief quotations used in reviews. Purchase only authorized editions.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, etc. are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarities to real people, locations, events, etc. is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
OTHER WORKS BY | MOLLY McLAIN
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
Note from the Author
Acknowledgments
About the Author
To Grandma, for never giving up on love...
OTHER WORKS BY
MOLLY McLAIN
***
CAN’T SHAKE YOU (River Bend, #1)
CAN’T HOLD BACK (River Bend, #1.5)
When life gives you lemons, find a former Marine with sexy abs to lick the lemonade from...
Tony Dunn's panty-snatching bachelor life has been turned upside down—he now has custody of a daughter he didn't even know he fathered. With his focus solely on doing right by his little girl, the last thing he needs is a sexy, totally distracting blonde showing up on his doorstep.
Nicole Hodges is in River Bend temporarily, to handle her grandmother's estate and get the heck out of Dodge before her past catches up with her. Only problem is...she likes the quiet little town more than she expects, and she can't resist overextending herself to help her built-like-a-bad-boy neighbor get his life back on track.
Tony and Nicole have different goals in mind, none of which include a relationship. But what harm could come from a little fun—the naked kind—if they both know the rules up front?
Warning: This book contains a sex-deprived single dad with a wicked tongue. Enough said.
Chapter One
“Tony, this is Jenny. My mom had a heart attack last night. I’m sorry, but you’ll need to find someone else to watch Brianna for a while.”
Well, shit.
Tony Dunn blinked at his phone for five disbelieving—and disappointed—seconds before he got his head out of his ass enough to text Jenny with positive thoughts for her mother’s recovery. In her high chair a few feet away, his six-month-old daughter played whack-a-mole with her fruit puffs, getting more on the floor than she did into her mouth.
“Sorry, kiddo, but Mrs. R.’s not up for a visit today.” The prettiest thing he ever laid eyes on smiled up at him, shiny spit bubbles between her tiny pink lips. He smiled too. “No, this doesn’t mean you get to spend the day with me, ladybug—you’d be a distraction on the job site.”
But what was the alternative?
He eyed his cell again and chewed on the inside of his cheek. Inconveniencing anyone at the last minute on a Saturday wasn’t his preferred MO, but if he didn’t show up to work today there’d be hell to pay.
This past summer, Hudson Contracting had secured the bid to restore the Cameron County Courthouse. Today, he and other key members of the crew were tasked with going through the old relic with a fine-toothed comb, detailing the repairs that needed to be made as well as addressing the renovation points the county board had its heart set on.
As the foreman—and the guy on the crew with an architectural restoration degree—this project was his bread and butter. The job of a lifetime, for both him and Bri. He couldn’t screw it up.
“What do you think Carissa’s up to today, Brianna Bell? Think she’d want to spend a few hours with your stinky butt?”
His daughter’s goofy screech was all the affirmation he needed.
“Okay, you talked me into it, ladybug.” Two rings and a pick-up later, he crossed his fingers and said a prayer to the patron saint of single dads. “Carissa, I need a favor.”
***
Nicole Hodges had a plan. A blueprint that would get her life back on track and take her where she wanted to go.
That plan was possessed.
Or at the very least was a money hungry monster that insisted on sucking her savings dry and spinning her round and round, just to see if she could stay on her feet.
“You’re kidding, right?” She blinked at the young man standing before her in River Bend Auto-Repair. His greasy, button-up shirt said his name was Chip, but he’d introduced himself as Tyler a half hour ago when he’d picked her up from the side of the road where her car had dry-heaved itself to a slow death.
She hadn’t questioned the discrepancy at the time because he’d seemed like a nice enough kid, but he’d just told her that her trusty, twelve-year-old Toyota needed a new transmission. Ppfftt. Yeah, right. More than likely, he needed extra cash for a hot date this weekend.
“Sorry, ma’am. Wish I had better news.” Tyler-Chip shrugged.
Ma’am? Seriously? “I’m not that much older than you, so don’t call me ma’am. Also? I’ve had this car since high school. The battery’s never even died before.”
One corner of the little shyster’s mouth twitched and she narrowed her eyes.
“How do I know you’re not some crook who scours rural Nebraska highways looking for damsels in distress? I mean, you found me within two minutes of my car dying. And you were driving a tow truck...”
Tyler-Chip thumbed over his shoulder. “I was coming into work. I live over on River Road. I don’t usually drive the hauler, but my personal truck is sitting out there in the lot, waiting on a lift kit.”
And that meant what exactly?
“Listen, I know it sucks, but whether you want to admit it or not, that car is a total piece of crap.”
Nicole gasped and, this time, the mechanic really did grin.
“I can have my boss take a look at it though, if that would make you feel better.”
“Yes, it would, thank you.” Nicole lifted her chin, ignoring the lump in her throat.
She’d been in River Bend for less than twenty-four hours, and already things were falling apart here, too. Didn’t bode well for the next eight weeks.
“All right. I’ll grab him.” With a sniff, Tyler-Chip swaggered into the office area of the garage.
Kicking him in the knees appealed, but that was childish and a good way to not get her car fixed. Instead, she stared daggers at his back, her cheeks burning. As soon as he was out of sight, she spun toward her car.
“You cannot die. You just can’t. If I have to fix you now, I’ll be broke.” She slapped her hand against the front fender and tipped her fa
ce toward the ceiling of the garage. “Please, God, do not do this to me.”
A polite cough sounded behind her and the prickling on her arms threatened hives. Could this day get any more humiliating? It wasn’t even eight o’clock in the morning, for God’s sake!
“Just a suggestion, but if you’re looking for spiritual intervention, there’s a church right down the block.”
Pushing her hair from her face, she blew out a breath and turned carefully, her gaze falling on a man much cleaner and a little older than Tyler-Chip. He had nicely kept, light brown hair and, instead of a uniform top, he wore a plain gray t-shirt.
“Thanks,” she muttered. “I’d take you up on that advice, but it appears I don’t have a car.”
“Oh, you have a car.” He flashed a grin. “It just needs a new transmission.”
Was it even possible to diagnose something so major in less than ten minutes? And this guy hadn’t moved within twenty feet of her vehicle, let alone popped the hood.
“How can you be sure of that? Maybe it just needs new spark plugs,” she said, acutely aware of the desperation in her voice.
The man walked over to the workbench and lifted something that looked like a label maker. Tyler-Chip had messed around with the same contraption a few minutes earlier. “The computer threw a bunch of tranny codes. Between those and how the car was acting, it’s kinda hard to deny. You’re right to want another look, though. Especially since you’re not from around here and we could totally be taking you for a ride.” Again with that placating smile. “Nicky Keller, right?”
Her gaze flew to his. She hadn’t been called Nicky in years. Ten, to be exact.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” He chuckled softly, still regarding her.
Now that he mentioned it, he did look familiar. And from the nickname usage, she’d bet money he knew her from the summer between her junior and senior year of high school. The last full summer she’d spent with Gran here in itty-bitty River Bend.
“I should, but...” Sadly, she did not.
“Well, I remember you, Picky Nicky. Hell, I’d remember that pretty blonde hair and those turquoise eyes anywhere.”
Ding, ding, ding!
“Luke Barrett.” The boy who’d wanted so badly for her to see him as something more than a surrogate brother.
Luke nodded, set the computer back on the bench and spread his arms for a hug, whilst waggling his eyebrows. Just like he’d greeted her every single day of that long summer a decade earlier, no matter how many times she turned him down.
Her car sat dead beside her, but she laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with being picky, by the way. It kept me from getting messed up with guys like you, Luke Bare-it-all.”
He threw his head back and howled. “Oh, God, you remember that?”
“Yep. Every last, hairy square inch of your butt will forever be burned into my mind, thank you very much.”
“Damn. Maybe I should’ve showed you my ass first. You might’ve recognized me.” He shook his head, still smiling. “I never thought I’d see you back in River Bend.”
“I’ve been around a few times over the years. I just kept it on the down low. You know, outta fear you’d moon me again.” She wrinkled up her nose and he grimaced. “But seriously, it’s good to see you again.” Shifting forward, she gave into the hug. He smelled surprisingly good for a mechanic, but...he was still just Luke. Nice arms, hard chest, and no spark.
He squeezed her for an extra second. “I’m sorry about your grandma.”
Me too. But Gran’s passing hadn’t come as a surprise. She’d been sick for so long, it was actually a relief that she no longer suffered. “Thank you. I’m here for a few weeks to go through her things and put the house up for sale. I got in from Denver last night.”
“And your car conked out on you this morning. Talk about shitty luck.”
Even shittier was the hefty early-termination penalty she’d received for breaking her apartment lease, not only to take care of business here in River Bend, but to get on with the next phase of her life—a fresh start and a new job in Chicago. With the car repair, her already meager savings would be wiped out. She’d have less in the bank than she’d had while waiting tables in high school, or while she pursued a nursing degree after her divorce.
“What kind of damage are we talking?” She nibbled on her lower lip, the realization that it was the weekend sinking in as well. “And how long can I expect to be without a ride?”
“Not gonna lie, Nic—a new tranny isn’t cheap. But I can give you the friends and family discount on labor.” He lifted a hand. “As far as time, we’re probably looking at most of next week. I’ll get the assembly ordered today, but it won’t ship until at least Monday.”
Not good, but what could she do? She needed her car in good working order just as much as she needed to finalize Gran’s estate and get her butt to the Windy City.
“Okay.” She folded her hands together to hide their tremor. “Can you point me in the direction of the nearest coffee shop, or I’m liable to have a very unladylike panic attack.”
Luke chuckled. “Lucky for you there’s a great place right down the block. You might even remember the barista. Smartass little thing. Sorta looks like me, but with lighter hair?”
“Ally?” Oh, what she wouldn’t do for female companionship right now. Someone who’d commiserate with her string of bad luck, or at least feed her chocolate by the boatload.
“Yep, and if you don’t stop in to see her, she’s liable to hunt you down.” He flashed a lopsided smile. “Come back after you’re sufficiently caffeinated and I’ll let you use my truck to run your errands or get home or whatever it is you were on your way to do. I’ll have Ty drop me off later to pick it up.”
She hadn’t seen this guy in ten years and he was going to lend her his vehicle? “Luke...” she started, then trailed off, because...well, tears.
“Don’t give me any shit, Nicky Keller, or—”
“It’s Hodges now.”
One of his thick eyebrows lifted. “You’re married?”
“Was.” But don’t think too hard on that detail or you might realize who I married...
Thankfully, he didn’t. “Okay then. You get that coffee and I’ll see you back here in a few?”
“Yes. Thank you.” She bit her lips together, spun on the heels of her boots, and hurried out the garage’s open bay before her barely contained emotion could make an untimely and humiliating appearance.
She reached the coffee shop with minimal tears, mostly because the morning was beautiful. But the town itself helped also, as it was absolutely gorgeous and too mesmerizing not to appreciate. Decorative elements lined Main Street—pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, bustling, rustic hay bales, and gobs of crisp, colorful leaves. The sun was warm on her face and, for a fleeting moment, not having a car or any padding in her wallet didn’t matter.
She was here in pretty little River Bend because this was what her grandmother had wanted and whether her entire life went down the crapper as a result didn’t matter. After missing out on Gran’s last few years so she could finish school and get her feet beneath her again, she owed her this time. Plain and simple.
Coming upon Cedar Street Brew, she opened the front door with renewed determination, and her nose was immediately rewarded with the mouthwatering aroma of fresh bakery and rich, invigorating coffee. No matter what kind of crap life threw at her, she would survive, because with good coffee, anything was possible.
“Good morning,” an older woman wearing a smiley face apron greeted her from the other side of the counter. “How are you today?”
Dangerous question. “Could be better, but I’m above ground, so that’s all I can really ask for, right?”
The woman gave a full-bellied laugh that shook her bouffant updo. “You’re clearly not a local, but you’ve got River Bend snark, so my guess is you have relatives here.”
“Ah, well, I used to.” She approached the counter and stuck out he
r hand, smiling. “I’m Nicole, Ethel Keller’s granddaughter.”
“I’m Gladys.” The woman continued to grin. “I wondered when someone from the family would turn up. I assume you’re here for the weekend to take care of things at the house?”
A weekend wouldn’t touch the sixty-plus years of memories and life in her grandmother’s home. “I’m actually here for a couple months—”
“Oh, my God, Luke wasn’t lying!” A pretty, strawberry blonde with big, hazel eyes backed through a set of swinging doors, a tray of fat muffins in hand. “You really are here!”
At the sight of her old friend, some of the tension in Nicole’s shoulders melted away. “He already called you?” she asked, laughing.
“Wanted to make sure you made it safely.” Ally set the tray on top of the bakery case and came around to give Nicole a head-to-toe inspection. “Damn, girl, look at you, all citified.”
“Just Denver,” she said modestly.
“Yeah, well, Denver looks freakin’ amazing on you, you lucky witch. And you’re here for a couple months? Really? You better not be joking...”
“You knew my grandma just as well as I did. Tackling that house will be a full-time job.” And an unpaid one, too, so with any luck, she wouldn’t need two months. Given the dilemma with her old apartment and now her car, the sooner she got to Chicago—and back to a regular paycheck—the better. She’d agreed to a January 1st start date at the Children’s Hospital, but if she started before Thanksgiving, she’d reap the benefits of holiday pay, not to mention all the shifts her new coworkers wanted to ditch to spend time with their families.
“Probably, but that old house is a goldmine of awesomeness.” Ally perked up, eyes bright.
Behind them, Gladys cleared her throat. “You know, you’ve ruined her for the rest of the day, right?”
“Don’t listen to her,” Ally told Nicole.
“She’s an antique freak,” Gladys continued on. “And pretty soon she’s going to invite herself over to go through Ethel’s things.”
And the problem with that was....?