SECOND CHANCE SUMMER by Jill Shalvis (June 30, 2015; Grand Central Publishing Mass Market; Cedar Ridge #1)
Cedar Ridge, Colorado, is famous for crisp mountain air, clear blue skies, and pine-scented breezes. And it’s the last place Lily Danville wants to be. But she needs a job, and there’s an opening at the hottest resort in her hometown. What has her concerned is the other hot property in Cedar Ridge: Aidan Kincaid-firefighter, rescue worker, and heartbreaker. She never could resist that devastating smile . . .
The Kincaid brothers are as rough and rugged as the Rocky Mountains they call home. Aidan has always done things his own way, by his own rules. And never has he regretted anything more than letting Lily walk out of his life ten years ago. If anyone has ever been in need of rescuing, she has. What she needs more than anything are long hikes, slow dances, and sizzling kisses. But that can only happen if he can get her to give Cedar Ridge-and this bad boy-a second chance . . .
βSo you going to tell me whatβs wrong?β
βOther than I hate snakes and you saw me in my PJs? Nothing.β She lifted her chin and defied him to contradict her.
She should have known better. Like Ashley, heβd never met a challenge he didnβt face head-on.
He moved toward her, right into her personal space.
She took a step back and came up against the wall.
This didnβt stop him. He kept his forward momentum until they were toe to toe. And then while she was still standing there a little dumbfounded and also something else, something that felt uncomfortably close to sheer, unadulterated lust, he put his hands on the wall on either side of her head.
This both escalated her heart rate and stopped her lungs from operating. βUmββ
βYou had your chance to tell me whatβs wrong with you,β he said. βYou passed. Now Iβm going to tell you whatβs wrong with me.β
Oh, God. Talking would be a bad idea. As for a good idea, she had only one, and before she could consider the consequences, she gripped his shirt, hauled him down, and kissed him.
He stilled for a single beat and then got on board quick, pulling her in, sinking a hand into her hair to tilt her head to the angle he wanted, and taking over the kiss.
The next thing she was aware of was the sound of her own aroused moan, and she jerked free.
The corner of his mouth quirked. βDid you just kiss me to shut me up?β he asked.
She blew out a sigh. βIt made a lot more sense in my head.β
He grinned, one of those really great grins that made something low in her belly quiver. Needing some space, she pushed him, even though her instincts were telling her
to pull him in tighter instead of pushing him away.
βBack to whatβs wrong with me,β he said, still looking amused. βItβs you.β
She opened her mouth to say something, but he set a finger against her lips. βMy turn,β he said, and lowered his head and kissed her.
And oh. Oh, damnβ¦ There were some men who just knew how to kiss, the kind of kiss that could send a woman reeling. The kind of kiss that could take away problems and awareness andβ¦and everything. The kind of kiss that could shatter her into a trillion little pieces. The kind of kiss that somehow both calmed her body and soul even as it wound her up for more.
Aidan was that kind of kisser. Shocking, really, to also realize that in between their first kiss all those years ago and now, that thereβd been nothing like it for her.
Aidan pulled back a fraction of an inch, opened his eyes, and stared into hers.
She stared back because wow. Good. So damn good, and for one glorious moment there sheβd let her lips cling to his, let the memories of him and all that heβd meant to
her wash over her.
And those memories had all beenβ¦epic.
Until the end.
Finding her sanity, she pushed him again. For a beat he didnβt move, just looked into her eyes.
And then, on his own terms, he stepped back.
She pointed at him. βThat wasβ¦β
He arched a brow.
βNever mind what it was,β she said. βWe arenβt going there.β
His smile was grim and utterly without mockery.
βAgreed.β But then he hauled her up to her toes and kissed her again.
And again.
New York TimesΒ bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Social Media Links:
Shannon
Latest posts by Shannon (see all)
- ARC Review: My Royal Showmance by Lexi Blake - June 10, 2024
- ARC Review: Forgotten Desires by Corinne Michaels - June 10, 2024
- Release Blitz: My Royal Showmance – Lexi Blake - June 4, 2024
- Release Blitz: The Surrogate – Penelope Ward - February 26, 2024
- ARC Review: Tempting Promises by Corinne Michaels - February 13, 2024