Second Chance at Love

by Rhonda Laurel

  He supported Grayson, who surprised everyone by running for Mayor and winning. At first, he thought his friend had some whacky angle, but it turned out he was a darn good politician. It kept him busy and his mind off his crazy love life. Grayson may not have been lucky in love, but he made a great mayor. Well, he liked the perks that came along with being mayor, like being able to park wherever he wanted. Grayson also rallied with him at the department head meetings to finally get the mobile clinic up and running. It would service Harper’s Grove and its surrounding areas.

  Happy that he’d achieved that goal, he knew a clinic building on the main street in town wasn’t too far behind. He’d mentioned the fundraising effort to Charisma on the phone one night and she suggested the Blake Foundation. They were always looking for a worthy cause, and a clinic for people in need was a damn good cause. A few conference calls later and a hefty check was delivered to him. The Harper’s Grove clinic would be breaking ground in six months.

  Noah and Chloe came out of the house with big bulky bags.

  “What’s all this?” Alex peeked into the bags. “We’re going to be gone for one day.”

  Chloe beamed. “It’s all the stuff we need to be comfortable.”

  “Looks like it’s everything in your room.” He gave her a stern look. “Do you need your ballet slippers?”

  She nodded.

  “Noah. Do you really need that many comic books?”

  “It’s a series, Dad. I can’t bring just one to read.” Noah gave him that look that meant it should have made sense to him.

  He was just about to tell them to march inside and get rid of some stuff when Peyton came outside with a bunch of bags of her own and her camera hanging around her neck.

  “Peyton? You too?” He shook his head.

  “What? It’s an overnighter. We need our stuff.”

  “Uh huh. I packed one bag.”

  “I know and I love how efficient you are. At least one of us should be. Isn’t it nice how we complement each other?” She bit back a smile.

  “Absolutely.” He kissed her.

  He stepped to the side and let them load their stuff. It was clear he wasn’t going to win this one. The kids had spent so much time around her; they were adopting some of her behaviors. He didn’t mind being outnumbered.

  “Thank you.” She handed him another bag of snacks to be put in the backseat with the kids. “One more thing before we leave.”

  “Yes, dear?”

  Peyton smiled and held up her camera. “How about a group picture?”

  “OK. Kids, one pic for the road before we’re off.”

  Noah and Chloe came bounding around the car and stood beside him. They were getting so big. Each had grown at least a couple of inches. He’d muddled through his days during their trip to Washington; he’d never been away from them that long. He realized immediately that they’d matured a little when he picked them up. They’d gotten to know their mother all over again, but this time they were able to understand what it all meant. She was a strong, beautiful woman who had lived life to the fullest. She’d loved adventure and had been passionate about many things. He could see glimpses of her in both of them.

  They’d all visited her at the cemetery and put flowers on her grave. The kids rattled on about their new lives in their new town and told her about Peyton and the quilt she was making for them. He tried not to tear up when they said that Grandma Judy was happy that their dad found someone who could love them just as much as she had. He’d given his in-laws a big hug for finding it in their heart to give him their blessing. He assured them that he was being very discriminating in who spent time with their grandchildren, and Peyton was a wonderful woman.

  After Peyton positioned the tripod just where she wanted, she set the timer on her camera and rushed over to join them. The wind blew, and he felt that familiar phantom touch of his skin. Rachel was there. He promised her a long time ago that he’d take care of the kids. It had taken some time, but he’d fought through the anguish and worked through it for them. And that led him to Harper’s Grove, which led him to Peyton. As they waited for the camera to snap the photo, he put his arm around her and kissed her.

  “YA lyublyu tebya,” he whispered into her ear.

  “YA tozhe tebya lyublyu.”

  The words of love always felt good to say in every language. The camera click made it official. They were off on a family adventure. They loaded into the car and were finally on the road. She was the reason he’d stopped swimming the lonely abyss and decided to start living again. He could feel his heart beating again, and it felt damn good.

  ~ About the Author ~

  Rhonda Laurel is a contemporary interracial/multicultural romance writer whose two great loves are writing and landscape photography. She uses both as a vehicle to convey the complexity of the human spirit and the beauty of the world around her. The multi-published author has written many works since her debut in 2012, most notably The Blake Boys series. The extensive series chronicles the Blake family as they live and find love on the Twelve Horseshoes Ranch.

  The Blake Boys world expands in 2017 with the companion series, All or Nothing. Follow the Blakes’ family and friends as they find love of their own! First up, Hard Target, Riley and Parker’s story, followed by Second Chance at Love.

  Other works include: Ebb Tide, Shutter, California Bored and Tourism and Memories of You. She also writes the Hollywood-themed series: Hollywood Heat, which features Star Crossed, Hollywood Rush, and Double Exposure.

  The author is happily building her backlist.

  Discover more about Rhonda Laurel here

  http://www.rhondalaurel.com

  https://www.facebook.com/authorrhondalaurel

  https://www.twitter.com/rhondalaurel

  ~ Also by Rhonda Laurel ~

  Try more of the All or Nothing series!

  Hard Target

  All of Nothing Book One

  Rhonda Laurel

  Winning can be dangerous when the stakes are high.

  When star quarterback Riley Sloane begins receiving anonymous threats, it couldn't have happened at a worse time. His team has their sights set on the Super Bowl. He doesn't have time for a stalker, besides it's probably a prank. But when team owner Seth Blake gets wind of the situation, Riley ends up with a security detail for protection. Too bad Parker Carson is part of the plan. Since the day they first met, there's been nothing but trouble between him and the beautiful PI. She's bossy, as maddening as she is sexy, and she seems to hate his guts. But the more time they spend together, the more he wants to keep her safe. Too bad it's her job to protect him and doesn't appreciate anyone getting in her way. As Riley tries to keep his head in the game, he finds himself distracted by the beautiful Parker...and that could be hazardous for both of them.

  Parker Carson isn't thrilled about her latest assignment. She has to babysit the obnoxious quarterback Riley Sloane! So what if he's handsome, charming, and a great football player? He's also a conceited bad boy pain-in-the-neck who loves to push her buttons. But while protecting him, she begins to see the side of him he keeps hidden from the world. Only now the unknown threat to the quarterback is not nearly as dangerous as her growing feelings for Riley...

  Buy Hard Target here

  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rhonda_Laurel_Hard_Target?id=F0DODQAAQBAJ

  Playing for Keeps

  The Blake Boys Book 19

  Rhonda Laurel

  In the game of love, you have to play for keeps.

  Life was going perfectly for hockey player Derek Popovich, and then he went and jinxed it all. His team just won the championship. He's living with Charisma, the woman of his dreams. And to make things even sweeter, they're having a baby! Only Charisma refuses to marry him. No matter how many times he asks, she's certain being his wife will curse their happiness and ruin everything for them both. As the clock winds down to the baby's birth, he has to figure out a way to change her mind and give her the happily ever a
fter she deserves.

  Charisma Reed has never felt so loved, happy, and secure—and now she's found out she's pregnant! Only her mom can't stand the man she loves. And even though she's excited about being a mom, she's terrified of what it will mean for her and Derek. She loves him, but she's afraid he only wants to marry her because of the baby. Her family thinks she's nuts for turning him down, but she doesn't want the next step in their relationship to be based off obligation. Charisma has to figure out what's keeping her from the life she's always wanted, even as Derek ramps up his plans to get her to say yes. But while he's on the road, a photo of Derek and a scheming hockey bunny makes the salacious news cycle and fuels Charisma's doubts that they were really meant to be…

  Buy Playing for Keeps here

  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rhonda_Laurel_Playing_for_Keeps?id=NyIjDgAAQBAJ

  Slap Shot

  The Blake Boys Book Fourteen

  Rhonda Laurel

  Sometimes the only thing harder than redemption is love...

  Derek Popovich has it all. He's a hot hockey player and owns a booming restaurant, the Slap Shot, which caters to professional athletes. Unfortunately, his off-field romances are infamous in the media, and he's growing tired of his playboy image. But when Charisma Reed begins to work with him on his restaurant renovation, he can't help but be attracted to the beautiful, sassy woman who is strangely resistant to his charms. Everyone is warning him that she's trouble, but Derek is curious about what's beneath the hardened shell of the sexy Ms. Reed...

  Charisma is having the worst luck ever. Just as she's finally escaping the notoriety of her last tumultuous relationship, she stumbles into the heated breakup between the gorgeous Derek and his ex--and the photograph that shows up in the gossip rags throws her right back into the limelight. Exactly what she wanted to avoid as she struggles to put her past behind her and grow as a person. She swore she was done with professional athletes, but the hunky hockey player with the smoldering blue eyes pushes all her right buttons. Charisma just wants to finish the renovation and get on with her life, but working so closely with Derek makes him so much harder to resist...

  Buy Slap Shot here

  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rhonda_Laurel_Slap_Shot?id=K6HBCwAAQBAJ

  Begin Again

  The Blake Boys Book 18

  Rhonda Laurel

  Finding true love is the ultimate gift.

  Christmas is coming, and Anna Beth is looking forward to a tropical vacation with her friends—anything to help her forget about Corbett. Their relationship had been racing in the right direction...until it went completely off the tracks. All evidence points to the fact that the hunky Corbett is still hung up on his ex. But when she accidently shreds her passport the night before her trip, it suddenly looks as though she'll be staying put. Now it would take a holiday miracle get her in a good mood again. Too bad she misses Corbett something terrible...

  For Corbett, the holidays this year are anything but happy. His family will all be away, forgoing family tradition. Even worse, the beautiful, vivacious Anna Beth tells him she doesn't want to see him anymore. All thanks to an unfortunate mix-up with his ex-fiancée. Corbett is all out of holiday spirit. But he's hopeful that if he can just get Anna Beth to talk to him, he might just change his mind about the holiday tidings.

  Buy Begin Again here

  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rhonda_Laurel_Begin_Again?id=Yx14DQAAQBAJ

  More Romance from Etopia Press

  Soul of a Marine

  Patty Campbell

  The one man she could not command is back.

  Master Sergeant Misty Beachy commanded Marines in a war zone. She might not look the part, but her men took her orders and respected her. The only thorn in her side was Major Jack Hawk, close air support pilot. He didn't like women in combat, but he saved her unit from a deadly ambush. Misty has found a niche in civilian life training sniffer dogs for Customs. Then prickly Jack Hawk, the one man who never fails to get under her skin, returns. Now she can't stop thinking about him, even though she's certain she can't stand him. Well, almost certain...

  Jack Hawk doesn't have time for a woman in his life right now. Especially not one he can't figure out. He already has his hands full with his rebellious teenage daughter and a move to civilian life. Even though Misty seems to despise him, he can't deny the connection between them. If only he hadn't kissed her, because no matter how hard he tries, he can't get her out of his mind. But his daughter's antics may just derail everything before their relationship can even begin.

  Buy Soul of a Marine here

  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Patty_Campbell_Soul_of_a_Marine?id=0po-DgAAQBAJ

  Bare Bones

  Liah Penn

  Love and suspense—Southern style...

  When a skull is found buried in the courtyard of the Art House during renovations, executive director Meredith O'Neill is forced to halt the over-budget and oft-delayed project. Working with architect Kieran Ford has been a nightmare, despite his icy good looks and brilliant design. Now that the Art House is declared a crime scene, the entire project is threatened. Forced to work together in close proximity, Meredith and Kieran soon find the tensions between them changing into something else entirely. Still, she can't help but wonder how long the heat between them will last, especially when Kieran was once so cold.

  Kieran is donating his time and talents to the Art House renovation, but working with Meredith is driving him crazy, and his pro bono project is quickly going south. When the skull of a child is discovered, Kieran must confront his own loss as well as keep the project, and Meredith, on task. Keeping his emotions in check proves to be impossible, and Kieran soon realizes that he is falling for Meredith. When he is framed for a crime, Kieran must learn to trust again. He and Meredith form an uneasy alliance as they seek answers to the mystery at the Art House. But someone is intent on destroying the historic building...and won't hesitate to harm anyone who gets in the way.

  Buy Bare Bones here

  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Liah_Penn_Bare_Bones?id=vL24DQAAQBAJ

  North of Forty

  Chamein Canton

  North of Forty is the new twenty...

  Cecelia Carter, Sasha Simms, and Nadine Peterson have worked hard and gained the upper hand in work, life, and love. As curvy women in the bridal world, an industry that's more about size and image than about the actual marriage, they do their best to keep their clients focused on love, and a life well-lived beyond the "I do."

  When Sasha's approached about doing a wedding reality series, she's intrigued, but she doesn't know if she can sell Cecelia on the idea. The format is supposed to focus on their bridal businesses, women’s challenges in the business world, with a little bit of their personal lives thrown in, culminating in Cecelia's own upcoming wedding. It seems innocuous enough—until the cameras start rolling. And when they catch moments they shouldn't, things begin to spin out of control—Cecelia's vindictive ex looking for a payday. Nadine's engagement hanging in the balance over a secret that could ruin her life with her new fiancé. Sasha’s boyfriend caught on camera, turning what she thought was a dream man into a heartbreaking nightmare. And Cecelia's own upcoming nuptials...

  Buy North of Forty here

  https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Chamein_Canton_North_of_Forty?id=FH4DCwAAQBAJ