Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile's Reviews > Out of My League

We’d been too busy talking and laughing to notice that Mrs. Bea, the sweet elderly lady on the block, was trying to navigate her front walk with three grocery bags and her cane.
Lincoln divested her of the bags, then held out his arm so she could hook hers around his crooked elbow.
Dear Lord! He helps elderly ladies carry in their groceries too? Could this guy get any more perfect?

“Linc there owns his own private investigations and security firm. Opened it up when he left the Marines and moved here about ten years ago. He was a badass in times of war, and now he’s a badass who bosses around a whole bunch of other badasses. Word is each and every one of them have these supersecret badass skills, but no one really knows exactly what it is they do other than lumber around exuding their alpha-ness all over the damn place.”

In spite of trying my best to get over it, I held on to that lust for a good long while. Jean Shorts Chick was far from the last woman to randomly show at his house for countless hours at a time over the next couple of months, and after girl number three, I was starting to notice a trend. Each woman had legs that went for miles, and they were built like they were born to walk a runway. They were like Hope Valley’s own personal Victoria’s Secret models.
In other words, the polar opposite of me.

He played with the kids on the block like they were family. He helped little old ladies get their groceries inside. He rescued poor abused dogs. And now he was picking up his neighbor’s garbage and taking her trash cans to the curb.
Is it possible for this guy to be any more perfect?

“Sue Ellen,” I replied in a flat, emotionless voice, careful not to give her an inch. One of the biggest mistakes I’d made since moving to Hope Valley was getting so goddamn drunk that I’d stupidly gone home with the woman one night a couple years back. Worst sex of my life, hands down. But what I didn’t know then was that Sue Ellen couldn’t keep her trap shut to save her life, so word of our one and only encounter spread through town like wildfire and built up to be something much more than it actually was: a poorly chosen one-night stand that I had no plans of repeating.
I’d made the mistake of thinking a woman who could strut as magnificently as Sue Ellen could in those sky-high heels knew what she was doing in bed. After all, it took some serious fucking skill for a woman to sway her hips like that. Turned out it was all an illusion. That sexy strut of hers was where Sue Ellen’s talents started and stopped.

I tried to recall Eden, but honestly, other than the fact that Rocky liked her, nothing stood out. I’d only had two conversations with her, but out of both of those, I couldn’t remember a single thing we’d talked about.
“Not really. Honestly the girl’s not all that memorable. Plain, quiet, kinda shy. That’s about it.”

“Need you to try and get close to her. More than just keepin’ an eye out. I need you inside in case this fucker shows his face in my town, if he hasn’t already. Know this is asking a lot, but the department doesn’t have the resources for surveillance like that, and the captain would lose his mind if he knew me and Trick were investigating a long shot like this. Saw her picture when I was runnin’ her. She might not be your type, but she’s not exactly hard on the eyes, man. What you consider plain, most men around here would give their left nut for a taste of. And something tells me you won’t have any problems getting in there.”

It wasn’t getting in there that bothered me. I’d seen the way Eden’s cheeks burned red and heard the uncontrollable stutter whenever I was around. I was far from a choir boy, had been with more than enough women to be able to read them like a book. I was well aware of the fact that Eden had a thing for me.
Problem was I enjoyed variety, and having to pretend to date Eden would put a huge fucking damper on that. But a marker was a marker, and I’d have helped Hayes even if it was just a favor between friends.
“I’ll get close. Don’t worry about it.”

Oh. My. God. Lincoln freaking Sheppard just called me pretty! I was still fairly certain I was going to die, only now it wouldn’t be from embarrassment. No, it would be b look because my heart filled with joy to the point that it exploded right in my chest.
Nerves made it impossible for me to look up at his criminally handsome face any longer, so I cast my gaze around at anything but him as I stammered, “Uh… well, um… thank you.”

“Crystal? The, uh, woman you were… the one there when Rocky and I first met? At my trash cans?” God, I wished I hadn’t just brought that disaster up again.
Recollection dawned on his face. “Oh. No, he didn’t. But doesn’t really matter since she’s not in the picture anymore.” I tried not to be too excited about that, but it was impossible. "

She wasn’t the only one surprised by my behavior when it came to Eden Brenner. It started the other night at The Tap Room. I’d spotted her the second she and Nona walked in, and it was like seeing a totally different person. All I’d seen her in before that were baggy pants and loose shirts that did nothing for her figure. But that night she’d done something different.
Her clothes were more fitted, hugging her curves. And damn, did that woman have some delectable curves.

Bryce’s jaw ticked at my order. Ignoring our salty receptionist, he gritted, “That you laying claim to her?”
“As far as you’re concerned, yeah.”
He let out a bark of caustic laughter. “That’s rich, coming from the man who’s already fucked his way through most of the women in town. Everyone knows you don’t settle down, Linc. If you’re just lookin’ to hook up, find it somewhere else, and free her up for another man.”

“Really, Linc? Her? She’s not even pretty, for Christ’s sake.”
“I warned you already, and you were too fuckin’ dense to listen,” Lincoln rumbled in a deep, scary voice. “So now I’ll spell it out. Class gets class. Trash is lucky if they get a meal at all. Eden’s class. That means I’m willin’ to shell out the cash and put on a suit for our first date to show her she’s worth it. Took you three weeks of naggin’ and bitchin’ to get a trip to the diner outta me, so what’s that tell you, Crystal?”

“’Cause I have something to say to you,” I gritted out. “I let you ride my dick when the mood struck, ’cause you were good at it and didn’t bring any drama. The moment that changed, I scraped you off. From how you acted tonight, you obviously didn’t take the hint when I stopped returning your calls and texts, so I’ll spell it out. What we had was over before tonight, but now it’s over. And I mean in the sense that, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll lose my number. You’re nothin’ more than a memory, and not that pleasant of one seein’ as the last time we spoke, you gave me shit about wanting a key to my house. When I said no, you threw a fit, proving you’re not only full of drama but spoiled as shit. I’m not down with any of that, Crystal. This is the last time you and I will speak. And if I find out you so much as look in Eden’s direction again, I’ll make sure you regret it. You got me?”

“Yes,” I breathed, my lungs so tight they felt like they were about to burst. “God, Linc. I’ve wanted you for so long.”

The moment my back hit the cool dark brown leather, he pulled my legs from around him and leaned back long enough to divest me of my jeans and panties.
He came back down, one hand pressing into the cushion beside my head as the other slid between our bodies, working to free himself from his gym shorts. I sucked in a sharp gasp at the feel of the wide head of his erection prodding at my entrance.
He paused just long enough to ask, “You sure about this?”
At my nod, Lincoln’s hips shifted and he sank inside me in one thrust. ,🤔Condom??????? With his history??that you witnessed??? Whew chile



h wanted H
When they got together he was all in
Short separation when she found out about his deceit
2* for the last maybe 35%


I ain't got no one but myself to blame 🤦