Now dinner was done, the candles had been blown out, and wishes made. Beau had taken his extremely talented wife, the one who’d made the cake which had me wanting to crawl into a sugar coma, and their adorable daughter Robin home. Gage and Carly were still sitting at the table arguing over her upcoming trip to Vegas. She was off to photograph some wedding, and now they were debating if Gage should go. Carly said yes so, I had no doubt Gage would be digging out his passport in the very near future. Ryan and his boyfriend Alex had slipped away towards the apartment at the back of the shed. They thought they were discreet, but we’d all watched them duck through the back gate, the sound of their laughter trailing them. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what they were up to. And after everything they’d been through, I was happy for them. I really was.
Holly and Jack had retreated inside when Holly complained she was being eaten alive by mozzies. It didn’t surprise me, really. That girl had always been the pesky insect’s favourite meal. Me, I hadn’t been bitten once. But by the time Holly had whined, her long legs were dotted with angry red spots. Now they were cozied up on the couch, planning their Queensland adventure. I had no doubt Jack would make every single one of her hairbrained ideas a reality.
And I was out here alone.
I was fucking over always being the one alone.
Everyone thought it was how I wanted it.
It wasn’t.
It was far from it.
I wanted what they all had.
Someone to talk to. Someone to spill my secrets to and hold tight. Someone to keep me company. Someone to break the silences. Someone to bring colour and even chaos to my monotonous life.
They all thought I was the playboy stripper.
And in many ways, I guess I was.
It’d always been enough for me. When I had an itch, I scratched it. I was never mean or callous, and the women who offered themselves as a scratching post always knew where they stood. A couple of hours tangled in the sheets with a few toe-curling orgasms and that was that. There were no repeats. No offers of dinners or promises to call. When the sun rose, the moment had passed and I was back to work.
At least I had been.
Then there was that one woman who slipped under my skin and made me crazy.
It’d been almost ten months since she’d last climbed out of my bed and disappeared with the sunrise.
Ten months and I was still unable to find the energy, the drive, the desire to find someone else. She’d completely screwed me. And not in a good way.
Sitting here, my ass numb from the cold seeping through the concrete step, the truth bowled me over. A couple of beers weren’t enough to numb the shock that barrelled through me. I wanted what everyone around me had.
For the first time in my life. I wanted a girlfriend. I wanted that commitment. And I knew the exact brunette I wanted it with. Now all I had to do was convince her she wanted the same. Well, that and that I was the man for the job.
Want more McIntyres? Read Finding Forever (Meet the McIntyres #5) Now
ALSO BY REBECCA
Swimming Upstream Series
Perfection is just an Illusion
Nobody’s Obligation
On Dry Land
Finding Your Place Series
Coming Home
Running Away
Believing Again
Meet the McIntyres Series
Taking Charge
Picturing Perfect
Fighting Back
Breaking Free
Finding Forever
Standalones
Nobody Knows
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Every time I sit down to write the acknowledgements, I end up stressing myself out worrying I’m going to forget someone who, without their help this book wouldn’t be here. This time though, I know exactly who is on that list.
For the Dream Team (aka. Crazy Bunch) – Kathryn, Marnie, Margaret and Robin. You four ladies have become so much more than just crazy book friends. You’re the people whose opinions I value the most. The one’s I ask for help and advice whenevere I get lost or tangled. And you’re the ones who are always there when I need you the most – whether it’s book related or not. We may not live close together, or even on the same continent but you’re incredible women in your own right and I’m so lucky and thankfully to have you standing by my side. (PS – Margaret…he’s fictional )
For my family – this one was hard. Harder than some of the others. Thank you for convincing me to keep going and to not give up. Writing is my happy place, my safe place to fall and my escape from the real world when I need one. Thank you for letting me detour but always guiding me back. Without your support, I’d probably be very lost.
Sean – your stories, your honesty, your pain and your truth helped shaped this book and without your friendship and compassion Ryan’s story may never have been told.
Robert – you might not understand this side of my life, you might never read a book that I write and you know what, that’s okay. You support me, deliver chocolates and help me talk through crazy situations I put my characters through. Your unending support means the world to me. Thank you.
For my Bellas – you’re a bunch of beautiful, kind and wonderful women. Your support (whether it be pretty pictures or kind words) keeps me going when I want to give up. Thank you for having faith in me in those moments I don’t have faith in myself.
And for you. Wihtout someone reading the words I write, what would be the point? You make it okay for me to let the voices in my head run riot (and trust me, these McIntyres have done just that.)
Until you meet Connor,
Love
Rebecca
TAKING CHARGE
Meet The McIntyres #1
Beau McIntyre knew the party had to end sometime – he just didn’t realise it would end so soon. After receiving a frantic phone call from his younger brother, Beau is forced to face his responsibilities and return to the small country town and the farm he grew up on.
After finding her fiancé in bed with another woman, Payton packs up her life and her livelihood and escapes her personal torment by fleeing to the country. Settling in a small town, she works her butt off to establish her bakery and turn her dream into everything she ever wanted.
The moment Beau meets the voluptuous Payton, there’s an instant sark and he quickly decides that despite the drama facing his family, Payton could be the one good thing in his life. The only problem is that Payton clearly has no interest in anything more than a night or to of uninhibited passion.
Will Beau be able to convince Payton to give him a chance of something more, by letting go of her painful past?
About the Author
I’m just me. A clumsy, introverted, bubble bath loving, chocoholic who would rather read a book than go shopping. And god forbid if you try and make me shoe shop!
I’m one of four kids to school teacher parents. A wife to a football obsessed husband. Mother to a fur-baby who isn’t aware of how big he is. Aunt to the most crazy/adorable little girls. And sister to two very determined sisters and one easy going brother.
I live in Canberra Australia and work too many hours a day at my day job.
I’m a book whore who can easily (and happily) read a book from start to finish in a day and when I do have spare time, you’ll find me in the writing cave.
STAY CONNECTED WITH REBECCA
Website:
www.rebeccabarberauthor.com
Facebook Page:
Barber’s Bellas
Instagram:
@RebeccaBarber7
Twitter:
@RebeccaBarber7
le(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
Breaking Free (Meet the McIntyres Book 4) Page 22