Even broken souls deserve a second chance at love….
Elementary Teacher, Michelle Alt has faced untold trials in her life, yet she continues to do what’s right to make things better for the next generation.
Cowboy Veterinarian, Preston Hall has lost everything in order to follow his dreams and return to his grandfather’s small-town practice.
Recognizing each other’s pain, these two broken souls come together to heal, but fear and misunderstandings send their blossoming relationship into a tailspin.
Will they be able to put aside their pain to find the love of a lifetime?
Excerpt:
Unable to draw her gaze away, she mumbled, “Mmmm…fult.” Great. I sound like an idiot. She scowled.
“What did you say?” The man reached toward her face.
She startled. Hands always signaled danger. However, this man’s fingers were long and slim, graceful even. His nails were short and a smattering of blond hair dotted the back of his hands. Artist’s hands.
“There.” He removed the clothespin from her nose and held it out to her. “This might help.”
Her face heated. “Oh God. I’m an idiot. You must think I am. Who goes around with a clothespin on their nose?” If I didn’t sound like a whack-job before, the verbal diarrhea is sure to do it.
“The clothespin is a fashion statement I haven’t seen before. I’m sure it’s all the rage in New York and Paris, right?” He winked.
A smile lit up his face, taking him from cute to gorgeous and showing off the dimple in his cheek. She couldn’t help but return his smile. “I’m Michelle Alt, fashion-forward school teacher.” She reached her hand out. Putting his hand in hers, a warm tingle traveled up her arm.
“I’m Preston Hall, veterinarian and obviously a fashion flop. Just look.” He lifted the bottom of his jean legs up. “My socks don’t match.” One was white and the other black.
She liked the easy comradery between them. Even though they’d just met, a connection had bloomed between them. Maybe it was his sense of humor.
“You know, my students have been mixing socks of late, too. Maybe you’re more fashion forward than you think.” Michelle raised her eyebrow, giving him her teacher look—the one that made the kids squirm.
He laughed—the deep belly type, causing her to laugh, too. “I’m sure you are wondering about the clothespin. I was—”
“No.” He held up his hand. “I’m not sure I want to know. Better safe than sorry. That way the police can’t tie me to anything, since I just returned to town.”
A light bulb went off. “You’re Doc Hall’s grandson. I’m sorry about your grandpa. He was a great man. He used to come into my class as The Critter Guy and shared some of his menagerie with the students.”
“Thank you. You figured me out. Gramps loved to be around kids almost as much as he loved animals.” A shadow of pain crossed his face as he folded his arms across his chest.
She wanted to hug him like she did her students when they were hurting, but she sensed he wasn’t ready to talk about it with her—a stranger.
“Aww, the heck with it.” She put her arms around him. His body was stiff. Softly, she patted him on the shoulder.
His frame sagged against her. His breath was hot on her neck. At last, his arms encircled her waist. Peace, kindness, things lost in this world.
A deep breath, a sigh shivered through his body then he released her and took a step back. Even with this small space between them, she was closer to him than to any man since Connie’s father left. She understood all too well the pain of loss.
“Why did you hug me?” he whispered.
“Pain recognizes pain. You needed it. Don’t think of anything beyond that,” she sneered. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Hall. Welcome home.”
Elementary Teacher, Michelle Alt has faced untold trials in her life, yet she continues to do what’s right to make things better for the next generation.
Cowboy Veterinarian, Preston Hall has lost everything in order to follow his dreams and return to his grandfather’s small-town practice.
Recognizing each other’s pain, these two broken souls come together to heal, but fear and misunderstandings send their blossoming relationship into a tailspin.
Will they be able to put aside their pain to find the love of a lifetime?
Excerpt:
Unable to draw her gaze away, she mumbled, “Mmmm…fult.” Great. I sound like an idiot. She scowled.
“What did you say?” The man reached toward her face.
She startled. Hands always signaled danger. However, this man’s fingers were long and slim, graceful even. His nails were short and a smattering of blond hair dotted the back of his hands. Artist’s hands.
“There.” He removed the clothespin from her nose and held it out to her. “This might help.”
Her face heated. “Oh God. I’m an idiot. You must think I am. Who goes around with a clothespin on their nose?” If I didn’t sound like a whack-job before, the verbal diarrhea is sure to do it.
“The clothespin is a fashion statement I haven’t seen before. I’m sure it’s all the rage in New York and Paris, right?” He winked.
A smile lit up his face, taking him from cute to gorgeous and showing off the dimple in his cheek. She couldn’t help but return his smile. “I’m Michelle Alt, fashion-forward school teacher.” She reached her hand out. Putting his hand in hers, a warm tingle traveled up her arm.
“I’m Preston Hall, veterinarian and obviously a fashion flop. Just look.” He lifted the bottom of his jean legs up. “My socks don’t match.” One was white and the other black.
She liked the easy comradery between them. Even though they’d just met, a connection had bloomed between them. Maybe it was his sense of humor.
“You know, my students have been mixing socks of late, too. Maybe you’re more fashion forward than you think.” Michelle raised her eyebrow, giving him her teacher look—the one that made the kids squirm.
He laughed—the deep belly type, causing her to laugh, too. “I’m sure you are wondering about the clothespin. I was—”
“No.” He held up his hand. “I’m not sure I want to know. Better safe than sorry. That way the police can’t tie me to anything, since I just returned to town.”
A light bulb went off. “You’re Doc Hall’s grandson. I’m sorry about your grandpa. He was a great man. He used to come into my class as The Critter Guy and shared some of his menagerie with the students.”
“Thank you. You figured me out. Gramps loved to be around kids almost as much as he loved animals.” A shadow of pain crossed his face as he folded his arms across his chest.
She wanted to hug him like she did her students when they were hurting, but she sensed he wasn’t ready to talk about it with her—a stranger.
“Aww, the heck with it.” She put her arms around him. His body was stiff. Softly, she patted him on the shoulder.
His frame sagged against her. His breath was hot on her neck. At last, his arms encircled her waist. Peace, kindness, things lost in this world.
A deep breath, a sigh shivered through his body then he released her and took a step back. Even with this small space between them, she was closer to him than to any man since Connie’s father left. She understood all too well the pain of loss.
“Why did you hug me?” he whispered.
“Pain recognizes pain. You needed it. Don’t think of anything beyond that,” she sneered. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Hall. Welcome home.”