Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Cruz
It is said that you only want what you cannot have. I hate to be a cliche, but that statement rings true for me.
In my case it’s not what I want, but rather who. Tara Brooks. Sweet, funny, and my little sister’s best friend. I’ve got a list of reasons why I’m no good for her, starting with the fact that I’m a decade older. She’s just starting out and I’m about to retire.
Still, I’m used to getting what I want. And I’ve never been very good at following the rules.
So it seemed harmless when she asked me to be her fake date to her sister and ex-boyfriend’s wedding. There was no way I was letting her endure that on her own.
When the lines between what is real and what’s fake blur, I’m left wondering if I can be the man she needs, or will I fumble the best play of my life?
What’s
Football Player
Curvy Florist
Age Gap
Sports Romance
Grumpy/Sunshine
Fake Dating Tension
Hidden Softie
Forced Proximity
Small Town Romance
This Valentine's Day, more than love is in the air when six of your favorite authors bring you a series full of temptation.
Each story is filled with true love, twists and turns along with unexpected surprises. From the spark of a first kiss to happily ever afters, you’ll find everything you need and more this holiday season.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
1
TARA
The crowd erupts as the Jasper Eagles score another touchdown. I stand up next to my best friend and cheer loud and proud even though I’m really not feeling it. As a matter of fact, cheering or anything else that involves happy emotions has not been something I’ve felt like doing in a while now.
My best friend, Lexi Payne, is hooting and hollering, and when the excitement dies down, she remains standing, her hands pressed against her chest. I can only imagine what she’s feeling right now. “How is Cruz doing… with everything, I mean?”
There’s people all around us, and even though none of them are paying attention to us, I still don’t want to say something I shouldn’t. Lexi’s brother is the defensive end for the Jasper Eagles, and no one knows it, but this is going to be his last game. According to Lexi, he’s going to make his announcement next week.
With her eyes on her brother, she explains, “He’s okay.” With a shrug, she looks at me. “Well, at least he lets on to me that he’s okay. I’m not sure he’d tell me if he wasn’t.”
I nod and put an arm around her. “Well, I may not know him all that well, but if he’s anything like you, he’s going to be just fine. You’re one of the strongest women I know.”
She puts her hand on mine. “Okay, okay. Whatever. I don’t know. My brother is such a great guy, and I just want him happy. After Mom and Dad passed, it was just me and him. He’s putting me through college, and he’d do anything for anyone. I just want him to be happy. He deserves to be happy.”
I squeeze her tighter, but I don’t comment. There’s no doubt Cruz has been a good big brother to Lexi, heck, probably the best, but he’s also known for being a player, both on and off the field. Of course, I hope he does well with his retirement, but I wonder if he’s really going to be happy out of the spotlight.
I don’t want to say any of that to Lexi.
There’s one minute left of the game, and everyone around us remains standing. We’re in a box that is meant for family of the players, and everyone is watching the game. I look down at the field and find Cruz Payne.
I try to keep my wits about me, but it’s hard when you’re looking at a man like Cruz Payne. He’s handsome, charming, and even if he is a player, he’s still a decent guy. He’s always on the news donating to one organization or another. I heard he’s a silent partner with the new community center in Whiskey Run. He donates to the women’s shelter and to the animal shelter. It seems he does a lot to help people, and so it’s hard to begrudge him in any way.
If only he wasn’t so handsome.
“This is it,” Lexi says, squeezing my hand in hers.
We both watch as the time runs out. The people in the box go wild, the Jasper Eagles team celebrates, and to anyone else, Cruz looks like a man who just won the playoffs. I can’t take my eyes off him. He’s happy about the win, no doubt, but there’s something about the way he looks around the stadium as if he’s just soaking it all in. He has his hand over his heart, and even though it’s frigid out and I can see the rapid puffs of his breath as he exhales, I can tell the emotions are hitting him hard. His teammates are all slapping hands, hugging, and there’s absolute pandemonium on the field.
Lexi’s voice is thick with emotion. “Come on, let’s go.”
It takes a few minutes to get through the crowded room, and we’re halfway down the walkway when I finally ask her, “Where we going?”
She’s pulling me along beside her. “We’re going to dinner with Cruz. I promised him I would.”
I pull Lexi to a stop beside me. “You go. I can get a ride home.”
She’s not having it, though. She’s pulling me with her. “No, you’re coming. You have to be there. I’m going to tell him about the wedding.”
I groan. “Lexi, no. This is horrible timing. You can’t ask him to do this tonight. Plus, I mean, wouldn’t he rather be out celebrating with his teammates than having dinner with his little sister and her best friend? I mean, this is it, right?”
She does stop this time but just to laugh in my face. “You don’t know him at all. No, he would definitely not rather be partying. That’s not Cruz at all. Will you just trust me about this?” She doesn’t stand around to argue her case. Nope, instead, she’s pulling me along the narrow hallway and through tunnels, and the farther we go, the less people there are.