Bad News Bad Boy
Cozy and steamy, this is a small-town contemporary romance of forced proximity and one snowed-in night, where a sharp-tongued librarian and the town's newest bad boy get stranded in the dark together.
Hazel Anderson braves a blizzard to check on the library's resident tortoise, but being snowed in with Evergreen Cove's newest bad boy was not on her BINGO card...
Lynx Dane is no one's hero. He's in town for a fresh start—and a fresh cup of coffee, which is when he bumps into the town librarian. Hazel's sharp tongue, red hair, and freckles sweep every thought from his head. Before Lynx knows what hit him, he offers to see her safely to her destination.
Hazel knows Lynx's brother, so trusting him to escort her for a few snowy blocks shouldn't be a big deal. But as the storm worsens, the power goes out, leaving them stranded in the dark library together until morning.
Between flashlight confessions and shared drinks, the night heats up faster than a malfunctioning generator—leaving them to wonder whether what they found in the dark was ever meant to survive the light of day.
Perfect for readers who love:
– Snowed-in forced-proximity small-town romance
– A sharp-tongued librarian and a reformed bad boy
– Cozy, steamy, one-night-to-forever heat
– Fresh starts and second chances
“...one of those rare books that manages to be fast-paced, funny, and full of heart all at once. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a clever, quick read with fantastic characters!”
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Excerpt
“So…?” Elliott prompted as a gust of wind rattled the windows. “Did you need something?”
“Oh, a bag of Christmas Blend. Whole bean. And do you happen to have anything brewed?”
“Colombian.” Elliott held up a half-full pot. “Just brewed it for me, so I was going to pour the rest down the drain. You can have it on the house. Lynx? Coffee for the road? My treat.”
“Can’t pass that up.”
Elliott poured two coffees and snapped on the lids. She charged Hazel for her bag of beans, and then began shutting off lights. “Okay, you two, be safe out there. Hazel, won’t Stanley be okay on his own for another day?”
Lynx’s brows scrunched in confusion at the mention of “Stanley,” which Hazel found amusing, so she played it up.
“You know how he is.” She waved a hand. “He’s okay without me until he’s not. He needs me. After a year together, we know each other really well.”
“Oh-kay.” Elliott’s expression now matched Lynx’s. “Well, be careful out there. Both of you. And thank you for risking life and limb to come in and buy coffee.”
“Coffee is always worth the risk,” Lynx said, and Hazel silently agreed.
They exited Cup of Jo’s side by side, the bell ringing its farewell. On the snowy sidewalk, he paused in front of the truck. “Which direction are you going? I’ll make sure you get there okay.”
“I’m good, thanks.” She didn’t need a babysitter.
His gaze cut to her car. “Your vehicle is about three inches off the ground and there are roughly six-and-a-half inches of snow out here.”
“Four inches, maybe,” she challenged. Then, because she felt sassy, added, “Just like a man to exaggerate.”
A slow grin popped a dimple on his cheek, and despite the cold, Hazel felt her cheeks warm from embarrassment. She had never considered herself shy, but neither was she a flirt. And that comment had been a touch flirty, by her own estimations.
“If I was exaggerating, I would’ve said eight.” He looked away first, which allowed her to catch her breath. “You heard what Elliott said. I’m harmless.”
“Mostly harmless.”
“Exactly. So, which way to Stanley?”
“He’s at the library. Waiting for me. Do you know how to get there?”
“Are you assuming I haven’t been to this library or any library?”
A bit of both, but she denied it. “Neither.”
“I’ve never been there. So don’t try to shake me. I just don’t want you to end up in jail or frozen to death on Endless Avenue.”
“That is highly unlikely.”
“But possible.” His grin was slow like honey and twinged parts of her she would rather not have twinging. Like her nipples.
She would like to blame an attraction to bad boys, but Hazel didn’t suffer from that plight. There was something more to Lynx Dane that she sensed ran deeper. He was sharp and observant.
And harmless.
Mostly.
Since he appeared to be waiting for her answer, she gave him one. “See you at the library.”
Evergreen Cove
