Only Him, an all-new sexy and emotional second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow is available NOW!
Sometimes your first love deserves a second chance…
He was my first crush, my first kiss, my first everything.
But I’m not a lovesick teenager anymore, and I’d never let that cocky troublemaker break my heart again.
So when he shows up out of the blue asking me to have dinner with him “for old time’s sake,” I say I will. After all, it’s been twelve years, and I’m stronger and smarter than I was back then.
Except…he still does something to me. He’s got those eyes that make me weak, those hands that drive me wild, and a body I can’t resist—especially once I see the tattoos. It doesn’t take long for our trip down memory lane to go from sweet to sizzling.
We’re just as good together as we were back then—better, even—and I’m willing to give the only man I’ve ever loved another chance.
But he’s got to tell me the truth.
* * *
All I wanted was to see her again. Tell her I’m sorry. Make her smile.
Okay, that’s a lie. I wanted to do more than that—a lot more. But I know she’s better off without me, and I promised myself I’d behave.
Except I’ve never been much good at keeping promises…or my hands to myself when I’m around her.
I can make her laugh, I can make her cry, I can make her body surrender to mine in ways that neither of us could have imagined back then. I can—and I do—love her more than she’ll ever know.
But I can’t tell her the real reason why I’m here.
And I can’t stay.
This entire book
makes me want to happy sigh. I didn’t realize Maren was getting a book when I
read Only You. I just read, lol, but when I saw that this was the upbeat yoga
instructor’s story I was thrilled. I love the way Maren sees life and goes
after everything. She lives her life happy and carefree, I really admire her
outlook. Now, the fact that she doesn’t eat pizza... I’m just not sure I trust
her anymore! Really though... I just adored this character. She was so in-tuned
to herself and her life. It’s something I really envy in a person, just that
level of self-awareness.
Now Dallas... Dallas frustrated me and made my heart ache. I want to say so much about him but I don’t want to give anything away. I really appreciated the way he wanted to settle his past failings and try to make things right with people he’s wronged... again, a trait I envy. It was rather ironic that in trying to fix past mistakes he just kept compiling more mistakes on top of old ones. But I just loved his character, he had such a kind and caring heart but he was so wrapped up in self-pity and self-doubt that he couldn’t be free of the pain that he put himself through.
I could really relate to this story. I don’t want to go in how but with Dallas’s self pity feelings and the way he lashed out st the people who cared for him. I understood his family’s and Maren’s feelings a lot. My husband also had these same feelings in a similar situation. I also completely related to the helpless feeling’s that Maren went through with Dallas’s... problems. I obviously loved the storyline and Melanie Harlow’s writing is just as creative and thought-provoking as always. I was so happy to see updates with Nate and Emme and so HAPPY with how the update went! I’m incredibly excited to see we’ll get Stella’s story in November. I totally wanted a sneak peek into Stella’s book but there wasn’t one but you can bet your last dollar that I’ll be watching for the Buzz on Stella... see what I did there?
Now Dallas... Dallas frustrated me and made my heart ache. I want to say so much about him but I don’t want to give anything away. I really appreciated the way he wanted to settle his past failings and try to make things right with people he’s wronged... again, a trait I envy. It was rather ironic that in trying to fix past mistakes he just kept compiling more mistakes on top of old ones. But I just loved his character, he had such a kind and caring heart but he was so wrapped up in self-pity and self-doubt that he couldn’t be free of the pain that he put himself through.
I could really relate to this story. I don’t want to go in how but with Dallas’s self pity feelings and the way he lashed out st the people who cared for him. I understood his family’s and Maren’s feelings a lot. My husband also had these same feelings in a similar situation. I also completely related to the helpless feeling’s that Maren went through with Dallas’s... problems. I obviously loved the storyline and Melanie Harlow’s writing is just as creative and thought-provoking as always. I was so happy to see updates with Nate and Emme and so HAPPY with how the update went! I’m incredibly excited to see we’ll get Stella’s story in November. I totally wanted a sneak peek into Stella’s book but there wasn’t one but you can bet your last dollar that I’ll be watching for the Buzz on Stella... see what I did there?
I
received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased
Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my
opinions are just that... my opinions.
Excerpt
Maren glanced back at me, more puzzled than ever, but she started up the cement stairs. I couldn’t take my eyes off her legs in front of me. Her calf muscles were insane from all the ballet training. I remembered how flexible she’d been and felt my dick start perking up.“In addition to all the history I just gave you,” Aiden said, his voice echoing off the walls, “this hotel was also the site of a certain prom a few years back.”
All of a sudden, Maren stopped moving and looked down over her shoulder at me. “No way.” The stunned, joyful expression on her face was worth every penny I had to pay to make this happen.
Goose bumps rippled down my arms inside my jacket. I smiled at her.
Her jaw dropped, and she continued up the stairs. At the top, Aiden moved ahead and opened the door to the rooftop. “Ballrooms were not available tonight, but when Dallas asked if you could have the roof to yourselves, I had to admit no one had booked it. In fact, no one has ever even asked to book it.” He laughed.
Maren stepped over the threshold onto the rooftop. “Dallas is definitely one of a kind.”
The three of us moved away from the door, and I saw the table that had been set for us, complete with white linens, flower centerpiece, and candlelight. Luckily, the air was warm, and the wind was soft. The sun was still setting beyond the skyline to the west, and to the east the Detroit River was visible; a little to the south was the Ambassador Bridge, and beyond the river, Canada. The view was breathtaking on all sides.
After turning around in a full circle, Maren looked at me with shining eyes. “Dallas. This is incredible.”
“You’ll have your own server for the night, and he should be up shortly,” Aiden said, checking his watch. “I should get back downstairs. Dallas, you have my cell if you need anything. Maren, good seeing you again, and I hope you enjoy your evening.” He gave us a smile before heading back to the stairwell door.
As soon as he was gone, Maren turned to me. “I cannot believe you did this.”
I shrugged. “I felt pretty bad when you said you’d missed the prom because of me. I figured I owed it to you.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes, which were filled with tears. “You didn’t, but whatever. I’ll take it.” Opening her purse, she hunted around in it for something. “God, I don’t even have tissues. I didn’t know you were going to make me cry.”
“No crying allowed at the prom. And I hope it’s okay I’m wearing jeans.”
“It’s fine.” She sniffed and closed her purse. “I’m not that dressed up either.”
“You’re perfect.” Our eyes met, and the air between us suddenly felt full of hope and possibility. In any other circumstance, I’d have kissed her.
But I couldn’t do that tonight.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Reaching into the inside pocket of my jacket, I pulled out a wrist corsage. “Sorry if it’s a little smashed. I had to get rid of the plastic container to hide it from you.”
She giggled and held out her arm. “That’s okay. It’s beautiful.”
“Good.” I slid the elastic band with three deep red roses attached to it along with some other green stuff onto her wrist. “I told the lady at the florist to make it a prom corsage. Pretty sure she thought I was crazy. Or creepy.”
“You might be crazy. But I love it. Thank you for this.” Then she rose up on tiptoe and pecked my cheek. When she lowered her heels, she stood there for a moment, her hand on my arm, her mouth so close I could have simply tipped my head down and my lips would be resting on hers.
My heart stumbled over its next few beats. I wanted to do it so badly, but I’d promised her I’d behave. I’d promised myself I’d behave. There were so many reasons why I shouldn’t be here tonight, standing so close to the only girl I’d ever loved, tempted beyond reason by her legs and her lips and her laugh and her eyes and her ability to make me feel like I fucking mattered in the universe.
What was the right thing to do?
If only—
The door from the stairwell opened, and we moved apart.
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Amazon US I Amazon Universal I Amazon Paperback I iBooks I Nook I Kobo I Google PlayAbout Melanie
Melanie is the author of the AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
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