Here With Me (Sugarland Creek, #1)

by Brooke Montgomery

Blunt, beautiful, and unapologetically herself. And way too goddamn young.

My wife and I loved going out on the weekends before our daughter passed. We’d dance and drink until closing. Tonight’s the first time in a decade I’ve even thought about dancing with another woman, and it only took two conversations.

“Since I owe you a secret, here’s mine. I can’t walk away from you now.”

“Be a good girl, and I’ll give you exactly what you need.”

“You’ve ruined me for all other men now. I hope you’re happy.”

“You have my full consent to fuck me against every surface of this place.

I just slept with my ex-boyfriend’s dad.

No such thing as global warming, my ass. Tell that to my vagina lips that are currently glued together.

“I hadn’t expected you to get over him by ridin’ his dad, but who am I to judge?”

“Oh, right. You traded in your adrenaline junkie card for an AARP one. I’ll go easy on ya next time.”

“You deserve more than a secret fling.” “We’d only have to keep it a secret until we’re ready to tell people,” I explain. “We can explore our relationship in private before decidin’ what to do next and announcin’ it.”

“Okay, fine. Order me a Buttery Nipple.” When his gaze drops to my chest, I know he’s thinking about my piercings, and I smirk in victory.

“I have a lot of regrets in my life, Noah. Lovin’ you would never be on that list. I wanna know you beyond our physical attraction.”

Fallen leaves on the ground crunching when you walk on them. The scent of caramel pecan and pumpkin spice wafting through the air in early October. She’s my favorite time of year. And now, she’s mine.

How could I ever just be her friend when I want to be her everything?

Wine and dine me, then fuck me against every inch of my house. Deal?”

“Trust me, I want to. But if I touch you, I won’t wanna stop, and right now, we need to. I’m not fuckin’ you in a barn.”

“Your moralities”—she air quotes—“are a cockblock.”

More tears fall down her cheeks, but I don’t wipe them away this time. I lower my mouth and kiss each one.

“Because it’s true. Stayin’ alive has caused more people pain than if I had just died.

“You could lure me to a lot of places with free snacks.”