Crazy Imperfect Love

by KL Grayson

  Crazy Imperfect Love

  By KL Grayson

  A Dirty Dicks/Big Sky Novella

  Introduction by Kristen Proby

  CRAZY IMPERFECT LOVE: A Dirty Dicks/Big Sky Novella

  By KL Grayson

  Copyright 2019

  ISBN: 978-1-948050-48-7

  Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Book Description

  Crazy Imperfect Love: A Dirty Dicks/Big Sky Novella

  By KL Grayson

  From USA Today bestselling author KL Grayson…

  Abigail Darwin needs one thing in life: consistency. Okay, make that two things: consistency and order. Tired of being shackled to her obsessive-compulsive mind, Abigail is determined to break free. Which is why she’s shaking things up.

  Fresh out of nursing school, she takes a traveling nurse position. A new job in a new city every few months? That’s a sure-fire way to keep her from settling down and falling into old habits. First stop, Cunningham Falls, Montana.

  The only problem? She didn’t plan on falling in love with the quaint little town, and she sure as heck didn’t plan on falling for its resident surgeon, Dr. Drake Merritt

  Laid back, messy, and spontaneous, Drake is everything she’s not. But he is completely smitten by the new, quirky nurse working on the med-surg floor of the hospital.

  Abby puts up a good fight, but Drake is determined to break through her carefully erected walls to find out what makes her tick. And sigh and moan and smile and laugh. Because he really loves her laugh.

  But falling in love isn’t part of Abby’s plan. Will Drake have what it takes to convince her that the best things in life come from doing what scares us the most?

  About KL Grayson

  K.L. Grayson resides in a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. She is entertained daily by her extraordinary husband, who will forever inspire every good quality she writes in a man. Her entire life rests in the palms of six dirty little hands, and when the day is over and those pint-sized cherubs have been washed and tucked into bed, you can find her typing away furiously on her computer. She has a love for alpha-males, brownies, reading, tattoos, sunglasses, and happy endings…and not particularly in that order.

  For more information visit http://klgrayson.com/about/

  Also from KL Grayson

  Touch of Fate series

  Where We Belong

  Pretty Pink Ribbons

  On Solid Ground

  Live Without Regret

  Dirty Dicks series

  Crazy, Sexy Love

  Crazy, Hot Love

  Crazy, Stupid Love

  Crazy, Beautiful Love

  Standalone titles

  The Truth About Lennon

  Black

  A Lover’s Lament

  Short Story Holiday Novella

  Naughty or Nice

  Short Story Erotica

  Double Score

  An Introduction to the Kristen Proby Crossover Collection

  Everyone knows there’s nothing I love more than a happy ending. It’s what I do for a living–I’m in LOVE with love. And what’s better than love? More love, of course!

  Just imagine, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany, collaborating on the world’s most perfect handbag. Jimmy Choo and Louboutin, making shoes just for me. Not loving it enough? What if Hugh Grant in Notting Hill was the man to barge into Sandra Bullock’s office in The Proposal? I think we can all agree that Julia Roberts’ character would have had her hands full with Ryan Reynolds.

  Now imagine what would happen if one of the characters from my Big Sky Series met up with other characters from some of your favorite authors’ series. Well, wonder no more because The Kristen Proby Crossover Collection is here, and I could not be more excited!

  Rachel Van Dyken, Laura Kaye, Sawyer Bennett, Monica Murphy, Samantha Young, and K.L. Grayson are all bringing their own beloved characters to play – and find their happy endings – in my world. Can you imagine all the love, laughter and shenanigans in store?

  I hope you enjoy the journey between worlds!

  Love,

  Kristen Proby

  The Kristen Proby Crossover Collection features a new novel by Kristen Proby and six by some of her favorite writers:

  Kristen Proby – Soaring with Fallon

  Sawyer Bennett – Wicked Force

  KL Grayson – Crazy Imperfect Love

  Laura Kaye – Worth Fighting For

  Monica Murphy – Nothing Without You

  Rachel Van Dyken – All Stars Fall

  Samantha Young – Hold On

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  First and foremost, I have to thank my husband, Tom. The endless amount of support and encouragement you give me while writing is truly amazing. Thank you for making sure the house stayed clean, the laundry got done, and the kids were fed. Thank you for taking over nighttime duty so that I could stay up late and write. Your love and support is what gets me through the day and I’m so incredibly thankful for you.

  A big, big thank you to my dear friend, Kristen Proby and the amazing team at 1001 Dark Nights for inviting me to participate in such a fun project. It has been an honor and so much fun.

  To Kristen’s loyal readers and fans who took a chance on this crossover novella, THANK YOU! I hope you enjoyed reading Drake and Abby’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

  Sign up for the 1001 Dark Nights Newsletter

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  Table of Contents

  Book Description

  About KL Grayson

  Also from KL Grayson

  An Introduction to the Kristen Proby Crossover Collection

  Acknowledgments from the Author

  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

  Epilogue

  Kristen Proby Crossover Collection

  Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Six

  Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights

  An excerpt from Crazy, Sexy Love by KL Grayson

  Special Thanks

  Prologue

  Abby

  “What are you doing over here by yourself?” My cousin Hannah plops down beside me and blows a stray curl out of her eyes. Her frilly white gown puffs up around her, pushing into my personal space.

  “Resting my feet,” I tell her. “These heels are gorgeous, but deadly.” Running my hand along her skirt, I grin. “I didn’t know a dress could sparkle this much.”

  “Neither did I. I always thought I’d have a small wedding with a simple gown, surrounded by my closest family and friends.”

  “You failed miserably.”

  “I know,” she says, smiling from ear to ear.

&nbs
p; I do a quick survey of the space. “There’s more than a hundred and fifty people here.”

  “One hundred and eighty-four, to be exact.”

  “I don’t even know that many people. But I guess that’s what happens when the local OBGYN marries the beloved police chief.”

  “I guess.” Hannah grabs my Bud Light from the table. “Is this yours?”

  I nod, and she hands it to me. Condensation sits thick on the brown bottle. I take a drink and cringe when the warm beer hits my tongue. I take one more swig and hand the bottle back. Hannah laughs and sets it on the table.

  “I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you drink beer,” she notes.

  “Figured I’d try something new.”

  “Speaking of trying something new, have you given any more thought to the job I told you about?”

  “I can’t move here, Hannah.”

  She frowns. “Why not? You love it here.”

  “I do. Montana is great. But I can’t just pack up and move.”

  “Yes, you can. You just said you were looking to try something new.”

  “Switching up drinks is a lot different than moving halfway across the country.”

  “Maybe.” She shrugs. “But what if it’s the sort of change you need? Didn’t you tell me last week that your doctor said you need to open yourself up to new experiences, push yourself to try new things?”

  I blow out a breath and look at the crowd, hating that she’s completely right. Moving is exactly what I need; something to throw me out of my routine, force me to face my fears, and mess up my imperfectly perfect life. Dr. Wallace would probably applaud Hannah for the suggestion. But uprooting my life and moving to a new city isn’t a decision that should be made lightly, and it certainly shouldn’t be made when I’ve been drinking.

  I turn my gaze back to Hannah. “Are we really going to talk about this at your wedding reception?”

  “What are we talking about?” Hannah’s friend Grace asks, coming to sit on the other side of me.

  I give Hannah a look, and she heeds the warning.

  “Taking chances and trying new things,” she says, skipping the details of our previous conversation.

  Grace nods and motions between me and Hannah. “And which one of you needs to try new things?”

  Hannah points to me, Grace nods knowingly, and I roll my eyes.

  A waiter walks by with a tray of champagne glasses and Grace snags one. “I tried new things once.”

  “How did that work out for you?” I ask.

  “Pretty damn good,” she says, grinning over the rim of her glass.

  I narrow my eyes. “What did you do?”

  “A stranger,” she announces with a proud smile.

  Hannah giggles, and I shake my head. “I don’t get it.”

  “What’s not to get? She did a stranger.”

  Grace holds up a hand. “Technically, Jacob wasn’t the only new thing I did. I also learned how to ski. And he’s also not a stranger anymore. He’s my husband.”

  “So, you’re telling me I should learn how to ski and bang a complete stranger?”

  Grace shakes her head. “I’d go for the stranger and call it a day; skiing is overrated.”

  “And dangerous, if you’re not careful,” Hannah adds.

  “And she would know, because careful is her middle name.” Brad’s thick hands land on Hannah’s shoulders as he bends down to kiss her cheek. “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”

  We all look up at Brad’s smiling face. His eyes are big, round, and full of love as they shine down at Hannah. If life were a cartoon, he would have hearts floating around his head and Cupid’s arrow sticking out of his ass.

  Brad is absolutely smitten with my cousin, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

  I hope someday I find someone to look at me the way he looks at her.

  Hannah tilts her head back. “You love that I’m careful.”

  Brad rewards her with a sweet kiss and reaches for her hand. “It’s one of the many things I love about you. Let’s dance.”

  She slips her hand in his. “I’d love to.”

  “Say goodnight to Abby and Grace, because you probably won’t be seeing them again.”

  “I won’t? It’s only nine o’clock. The reception doesn’t end until midnight.”

  Brad lowers his lips to Hannah’s ear. I can’t hear what he says, but it causes Hannah to blush.

  “Get a room,” I say, playfully nudging the lovebirds.

  Hannah is all smiles as she wraps me in a hug. “Thank you for being such a big part of my day. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

  I pull her in close. “I love you.”

  “I love you too. And I’d love for you to live closer to me,” she adds softly.

  Rolling my eyes, I pull back. “You don’t quit, do you?”

  She shakes her head, and I sigh.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  That’s all the answer she needs. Hannah gives Grace a quick hug before allowing Brad to sweep her onto the dance floor.

  Grace finishes her champagne and looks at me. “So, about the str—”

  I hold my hand up, stopping her. “I am not going to have a one-night stand.”

  It’s an absolutely terrible idea.

  Or maybe the very best.

  I cast aside that thought.

  Grace shrugs and points across the room. “If you change your mind, start at the bar. I know for a fact that some of Brad’s buddies are hanging out there.”

  “I won’t change my mind.”

  Shaking my head, I watch her walk away. She’s crazy for suggesting a one-night stand. It doesn’t matter how tempting wild sex with a handsome stranger sounds; it just can’t happen.

  I’m not the type of girl to throw caution to the wind.

  I’m predictable.

  Careful.

  Boring.

  Furrowing my brow, I look at the various women on the dance floor—women of all shapes and sizes being twirled around, laughing and having fun. And what am I doing? I’m sitting here, wishing I was out there. Instead of having fun, I’m mentally planning the next twenty-four hours. A quick look at the clock shows that I have exactly one hour before I need to head back to my room, where I’ll pack my bag and go to bed early enough to ensure a solid eight hours of sleep before my flight home in the morning.

  Ugh. No wonder I don’t have a boyfriend. I’m the oldest twenty-six-year-old in the history of twenty-somethings. Toss in a few cats and some of my grandmother’s floral perfume, and I’ll be set.

  “Come on, Abby!” Hannah hollers, catching my attention. She waves at me from the dance floor where she, Grace, and a few of her other friends are stomping around to some song I only hear at weddings.

  Hannah is paying too much attention to me, and she slides to the left instead of the right, knocking into her sister-in-law, Jenna. Brad swoops in like a knight in shining armor, catching her before she topples over, and the girls laugh. I can’t help but chuckle along with them, wishing I were an active participant rather than observer.

  All too soon, the upbeat music fades to a softer melody, and there goes another opportunity to let loose and have fun. Once again, I’ve let life pass me by—another missed moment to add to the growing pile. Grace’s words slowly seep into my head.

  If you change your mind, start at the bar.

  My eyes drift across the room to a group of attractive men huddled together on a series of stools.

  Damn Grace for putting such a crazy notion into my head. If I can’t get out on the dance floor, there’s no way I can have a one-night stand. Though the thought does cause a spark of excitement to zip through my veins.

  It’s a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time, and one I’m not ready to let go of.

  I grab my clutch, stand up, and move away from the table. Back straight, shoulders square, and chin up, I take a step toward the bar. And then another and another as the electric feeling inside of me grows. And
then I stop.

  This is insane.

  I am insane.

  That’s the only explanation for what I’m about to do. But I refuse to back down. I refuse to let my anxiety win. Wiping my free hand along the side of my dress, I take two deep breaths—because one is never enough—walk to the bar, and squeeze in where there’s an open spot.

  The bartender slides a beer to a gentleman two seats down and points to me. “What can I get you, sweetheart?”

  “Amaretto and Coke.”

  “Comin’ right up.”

  The young man steps away as I slide onto an empty stool. Propping a foot on the bottom rung, I relax as best I can and glance to my right. Several men and a few women are grouped together, chatting and laughing.

  Before I have a chance to scope what’s to my left, a glass lands in front of me. I grab a ten-dollar bill from my clutch, but the bartender waves me off. “Open bar until midnight.”

  Thank you, Hannah and Brad. I give them a little toast before I take a swig of liquid courage.

  “Come here often?” a husky voice says.

  I choke, sputtering my drink across the bar, and a large hand lands on my back.

  Big mistake. Big, big mistake, because there’s no back to this dress, and the feel of this stranger’s hand against my skin sparks something inside of me. It isn’t just any hand. It’s big, strong, warm, and sends a low-level current down to my toes, causing them to curl inside my Jimmy Choos.

  Breathe, Abigail, breathe.

  That’s not the easiest thing because the rich, masculine scent of his cologne is causing me to lose all coherent thought.

  “I was trying to make you laugh, not kill you,” he says, his voice thick with amusement as he pats my back the way a parent would a small child’s.