Southern Hearts: Standalone Best Friends Brother Romance

by Emily Bowie

  My flat bike tire wobbles and the pedal hits me in the shin as I push it beside me. Stopping I check out the damage, I only see a small nick, but man it hurts. I’ve been on this road for fifteen minutes and no one has passed me yet, and I’m still about three miles from Oakport Beach. I should have drunk in town, but everyone knows me, making my fake ID useless. That’s another thing. I’m old enough to get married but not old enough to drink? What the hell?

  Hearing tires roll on asphalt I shove my thumb out, popping a hip to showcase my long tanned legs. I don’t even bother turning to see if I know the person. Chances are I do. Clayton probably put everyone in town on alert and is looking for me. Another reason why I chose the town over. It’s hard to escape from the sheriff’s son, who is also the deputy officer in town. His view on how I should behave is changing me in ways that don’t make me happy.

  I like changing my hair up so it doesn’t look natural. I don’t do dresses, but I love a cute tank and shorts. I will always take the last piece of bacon, and I swear too much. But I am loyal and will fight for those who are close to me. I love with everything in me. I will never turn my back on someone close to me. I’m the first person most people call when they need help because I’m dependable and want to help. I don’t fake anything I do.

  Turning I see a bright blue Ferrari slowing down to a stop beside me. A blacked-out passenger window slides down. Bending at my waist I rest my elbows on the door to get a good look inside, mostly out of curiosity. We don’t get cars like these out here. He must be lost and wanting directions.

  Inside a cute stranger looks at me, he has warm brown eyes, and a slight dimple on one cheek. He’s older than me, but I’m guessing only by a few years. Maybe even a year or so older than Clayton. Glancing over the interior, it has black leather and looks small. Much too small to fit my bike but I knew that before he stopped.

  “Need a lift?” He’s leaning toward me, his seat belt straining.

  “How do you plan to take my bike with us?” I’m fucking with him, I know I’ll have to leave it in the ditch. But most summer people around here have a hard time taking a joke, and I’m in a bad mood. My face stays emotionless not allowing him to get a read on me.

  He laughs at my question. “Why? Crash Towing can’t come get you?” His smile lacks any humor, and for a second my heart begins pumping at being called out.

  “Who are you and how do you know Crash?” I study him, wondering if I should know him and if he knows my cousin. He has a light five o’clock shadow lining his square jaw, making me struggle with an estimate of how old he is. He gives off a glimmer of danger that he doesn’t look like the type to care about anyone but himself. I should keep walking my bike down the road, but my feet are rooted here wanting to know more, and enjoying our banter.

  He laughs again. “What about the mister, he can’t come to save you either?” He nods toward my shiny diamond ring on the left hand. I have an impulse to cover my ring with my hand but refuse to, all while keeping my eyes narrowed at him.

  “This car is useless to me,” I scoff, irritated that he even stopped now.

  “You’re a little mean,” he says catching me by surprise, but his tone isn’t offended. He even smiles bigger showing off his glistening teeth, like he likes me being rude.

  I think his words over and realize I’m taking all my wedding frustrations out on this poor guy. After all, he did stop to help me. Looking to his hands, they’re polished and uncalloused. His arms have a nice tan on the forearm, which I would is a farmer’s tan. He still holds that smile on his face like he can’t quite understand me, but his brown eyes are warm.

  For a brief second, I look back to his hands and can’t help but wonder how soft those fingertips would be on my skin. I immediately block out those thoughts, knowing they’ll just get me in trouble in the end.

  “I’m sorry,” I sigh. “You going to Oakport Beach?” I don’t wait for a response as I step away to place my bike onto the side of the ditch, before going to open the door. That’s when I realize I’m wearing a tank top that says Crash Towing. A small unheard chuckle leaves me realizing he was fucking with me.

  “Thank you, I’m usually not this grumpy,” I say opening the door.

  He shrugs, “Everyone has their off days. Need me to drive somewhere other than Oakport Beach?” The thought is tempting. For a moment I think about running away, living on some boat with this guy, and living off the grid. I could use some time to myself.

  Pausing just before hopping in I decide to test my luck. “Can I drive?” I give him my best smile that always works on my parents and brother.

  “Not a chance,” he has a deep chuckle that makes me smile more.

  “At least I tried.” I take a seat and feel myself sink right into it. The car still has that new car smell. My hand runs down his impeccable dust-free dash in awe. This is a nice car. It’s impracticable but nice.

  “We don’t have to go to Oakport Beach,” he says, looking a little concerned for me. The hair on my arms rise at the thought of having to deal with the conversation I left at home.

  His chocolate gaze heats the inside of the car, I feel drawn to this stranger for no reason. I want to tell him all of my problems and let him take them all away. It feels like he’s running away from something too. Two wild hearts trying to forget their imperfections.

  A siren catches both of our attention and I see the red and blue lights behind us. “Friends of yours?” he asks me, his thick brow rising. He doesn’t reach for the glove box where most people keep their insurance. He doesn’t seem at all worried that a cop car is behind us, or wondering what he may have done. Instead, he looks like he’s the one in power not bothering to check out the flashing lights but keeping his attention on me. Like I’m the most important thing. I don’t ever remember Clayton looking at me like this. It makes me blush, and I’m not sure why.

  “Sorry, that’s my fiancée, Clayton.” Looking through the rear-view mirror I watch as Clayton steps out of the cruiser in his uniform looking madder than hell.

  “Last chance, I can press down my gas pedal and we can run.” The fact this stranger would do that for me warms my heart, but in the end, it will make everything so much worse.

  Shaking my head, I slowly step out, not able to bring my eyes back to the strangers. Closing the door I walk toward the man I will be marrying, the man who I love.

  “Frankie, you can’t run away every time you and I disagree about our wedding,” he scolds me, and I hate it. It’s the way he talks to me like he’s superior.

  “I wasn’t running away. I was taking space there’s a difference.”

  He looks behind me to the car, like he just realized I stepped out of it. “Please tell me you weren’t just trying to hitch-hike. I thought you promised me you would stop doing that. Do you even know the statistics on how many people go missing in America each year and how many of those are women?”

  The sound of the car moving has me turning around. My mystery driver places his whole hand out the window giving us both a wave before he’s gone.

  (Reader note: There is no cheating in Wild Hearts)

  Other books by Emily Bowie

  You can find all of these titles with Kindle Unlimited

  Bennett Brothers Series

  Recklessly mine (book #1) second chance love https://amzn.to/2Xq2LOZ

  Recklessly Forbidden (book #2) small town romance https://amzn.to/3abWlJa

  Recklessly Devoted (book #3) enemies to lovers, next-door neighbors https://amzn.to/2ZzyUWV

  Box set of the Bennett Brothers: https://amzn.to/2VCBRDs

  Steele Family Series

  Stolen Moments (book #1) (Shay & Luke) Brother’s best friend romance https://amzn.to/2X1A0cr

  Moonlight Moments (Book #2) (Kellen & Sloan) Insta love (fling to forever) https://amzn.to/2LW8pDd

  Bittersweet Moments (book #3) (Brax & Raya) Secret baby https://amzn.to/2A9jePm

  Whisky Moments (book #4) (Rhett & Camilla) Enemies to lovers,
Rock star romance https://amzn.to/2XqUWZj

  All books are designed to be read as a standalone. Although, characters do have a reoccurring role in each book.

  Box set of the Steele Family series: https://amzn.to/32lPkSn

  Standalones:

  Pretty, Twisted Lies (Kiptyn’s book) Dark Romance https://amzn.to/2XHdqoj

  Kiptyn McGrath:

  Kellie Dare was never meant to be mine. We existed in two different worlds. Mine was dark, dangerous, and unpredictable. Her’s held prestige, wealth, and promise. I was never her white knight but allowed her to believe it until the day she forgot she was mine. I quickly became the villain who would stop at nothing to keep her.

  Oakport Beach Series

  Crashing Heart (Crash & Piper’s story) Summer fling/ falling for your boss romance https://amzn.to/3fqHlbv

  Southern Hearts (Danger & Haven’s story) Best friend’s older brother romance https://bit.ly/SHearts

  Wild Hearts (Frankie & Deacon’s story) coming 2021, enemies to lovers

  *each of these books is a standalone and can be read in any order.

  Anthology

  Killing Me Softly: A romantic suspense anthology, coming to all platforms November 2021. Preorder for 99 cents https://amzn.to/3pGKLNI

  Dear Reader,

  I wrote Southern Hearts in a month, which is pretty fast for me. I love everything about Danger and Haven. I’ve wanted to incorporate the idea of a bull-riding cowboy and a preacher’s daughter for a while now, knowing in my heart the combo would have sparks flying. But the idea never flowed before until I started this story. This whole series is lighter with a romantic comedy feel to it. With Covid happening since early 2020, I needed to write something happier. This is how Oakport Beach was born. THANK YOU so much for reading this book.

  Can I ask you a HUGE favor?

  Would you be willing to leave me a review?

  I would be so grateful as one positive review on Amazon is like buying a book a hundred times. HONEST, heartfelt reviews are priceless to authors and mean the whole world. I read each and every one. If you have a moment please consider leaving a review for Southern Hearts.

  Acknowledgments

  Kayla, my incredible editor: Your insight is always appreciated. Thank you for all of the hard work you do, and for squeezing me in faster than normal!

  Sara & Jerilyn my beta readers: You rock! Thank you for always being there for me. You read my unpolished words and give me honest feedback. Without your honesty my books would never be as good.

  Karina my proof-reader: Thank you for always making time for my books. I greatly appreciate it!

  Thank you to Jersey Girl Design for this amazing cover and teasers. You took my vision and made it spectacular. This is one of my favorite covers of all time.

  Thank you to Give Me Books for running my release!

  Bloggers thank you for participating and helping spread the word about my books! You are a huge help in all of my releases.

  Thank you to my reviewers. You are gold to an author. We could not do what we do without those reviews. Thank you for taking your time in leaving one.

  To my readers, thank you for being here. Picking up this book and taking a chance on me.

  About the Author

  Emily Bowie is from a small town in Western Canada. She has been making characters come to life through her writing since she was old enough to put her thoughts on paper. She loves her white wine cold, her heels red, and her books spicy.

  She married her high school sweetheart and they have two amazing children.

  When she is not writing she can be found reading a good book, making digital scrapbooks, and being physically active—whether it is at the gym, going for a walk, or playing /keep up with her children.

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