A dare.
A dying wish.
Fate...
After years of loneliness, widowed Gabriella is ready to fill the void—as long as she doesn't have to give her heart to another man.
Caleb's screwed himself right into a dead-end existence. Faced with an ultimatum, he's hell-bound on changing his reckless ways.
A chance meeting has these two instantly attracted to one another, but when their paths cross again—this time as professor and student—the roles reverse on Professor Edwards as Caleb teaches her how to feel again.
As I stretch my vision past Aubrey, to another group of barely-dressed girls, I notice her. Long, coffee-brown hair falling down her back and almost touching her perfectly rounded ass. The ass that’s encased in a skin-tight black number and silky legs accentuated by heels that look dangerous. It’s a sin that someone who looks like her should have her eyes focused on the ground. Focus them on me, I will her. A package as beautifully put together as she is deserves attention—my attention. If only she knew she blows every woman in this room away. And not just because of how striking she is. There’s something about her, something different. This woman is a rare find in a room full of cookie-cutter imitations.
Her shiny waves cascade over her shoulders, bouncing as she walks in my direction. The deep chocolate hue compliments her radiant olive skin tone and her glistening green eyes. This woman is fucking gorgeous. Not the kind you take home to screw, the kind you take home to Mom . . . or, er, Grandma.
“Caleb. I was talking to you.”
I snap back to find Aubrey’s hands around my waist. “Conversation’s over. There’s someone I need to talk to.” I walk away, not even glancing back at Aubrey. I need to know who this woman is. I’m not a spiritual man, but she just might be sent from heaven. She’s the type of woman who could change the whole game. At least that’s the vibe I’m getting.
As I escape Aubrey, it’s as if I’m being magnetically pulled toward the woman now sitting at the bar. I watch her from afar at first, gauging her body language. Her fingers tap on the marble bar top as she waits for the bartender’s attention. She’s new to this. No regular waits for her order to be taken when she looks the way she does. Dude, I want to scream at the bartender, how can you not see her? She’s . . . God, not only is she gorgeous but there’s something about the way she’s fidgeting that tells me she’s completely out of her element. How could this sophisticated beauty be out of her element in a club full of women who wish they had half her class? And why is she here alone? If she were my girl, everyone would know it. My arms would be wrapped around her, my fingers settling on the small of her back, claiming her as mine.
I watch this classy creature as she plays with the curled edges of her hair, twisting the strands around her index finger. I play with my hair when I’m nervous. Is she nervous or just timid? Either way, I want to know. I want to know everything about this damn woman, starting with her name.
When she orders herself a Ketel and Seven I decide to be brave. “Make that two,” I add, getting comfortable in my stool.
At first she eyes me like I’m some creep, but then . . . shit! When our eyes meet it’s as if the universe has made up for every shitty thing that ever came my way.
Rating:
Even tragedy can lead to joy…
Gabriella Edwards had made a good life for herself and her girls in California. September 11th had taken away her beloved Tommy and sometimes she thought it had taken away her sanity as well. With the sudden loss of her Mom and Dad years before, losing her husband was more than she could bear. Uprooting the twins to start over far away from New York may have seemed cowardly but it was an act of survival. With her daughters now graduating from university, Gabby acknowledged the years had been lonely as she struggled to be a good mom. She still suffered guilt over the missteps she made when grief became overwhelming. Thank goodness for her sister Gina for picking up the pieces when she faltered. The girls were now beautiful and independent women so when nudged into a night at the club, Gabby believed it might be time for her to seek more. Little did she know a chance encounter would bring the biggest surprise of her life. Caleb was young, handsome and provided the first spark of interest she’d ever had in another man. Caleb, on the other hand, was partying for a different reason. He had known devastating loss as well and without an anchor he had been drifting. He had a purpose now and meeting Gabby gave him a focus even his grandmother hadn’t been able to provide. Despite the many reasons she knew their relationship couldn’t be, Gabby could not stop seeing him – and he felt the same. An unexpected adversary will trigger events that will push Gabby’s relationship with Caleb, and her daughters, to the breaking point. Would love survive?
This stand-alone work was the first book I’ve read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. While the plot revolves around Gabby and Caleb, their families and friends are integral elements to the story. Gabby’s daughters are everything to her and have been the focus of her life up to this point. The unexpected encounter with Caleb throws her for a loop and she uses any and all reasons to fight the attraction. The obstacles in their path are obvious with teacher-student rules and an age difference made more obvious by her daughters. Told through both Caleb and Gabby’s points of view, their inner voices bring a wealth of emotion and depth to a fresh re-telling of a second chance story. Caleb, especially, was strong yet vulnerable and showed his feelings through words and even tears. While not part of a formal series the author does acknowledge a few minor characters may be getting their own stories. I look forward to it!
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Faith Andrews lives in New York where she is happily married to her high school sweetheart. They have two beautiful daughters and a furry Yorkie son, Rocco. If she isn’t listening to Mumford and Sons or busy being a Dance Mom, her nose is in a book or her laptop. She’s a sucker for a happily ever after and believes her characters are out there living one somewhere . . .
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