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  I had to admit, though, as my heart climbed back into my chest, she was perfect for Trent. She was sophistication on a stick.

  Sophistication-on-a-stick smiled her perfect red lips at me. “Hi.”

  I wished I could say her voice was like claws being dragged down a chalkboard. I wished I could say she didn’t have an Australian accent that would cause every guy within a ten-mile radius to blow his load at the sound of it.

  “Kels, this is Holly,” Trent said. “Holly, this is my sister’s best friend, Kelsey.”

  Holly offered her manicured hand and I shook it. “It’s nice to meet you.” The voice was so sincere and friendly, it was hard not to instantly like her, even if she was dating the man whose lips I craved.

  “It’s nice to meet you, too.” Was I supposed to say that Trent had told me so much about her? And maybe he would have if I hadn’t spent the last ten years avoiding him. Which, I should point out, wasn’t easy when his family was pretty much the only family I had left, other than my older brother Liam.

  “So what’s the deal with your car?” Trent asked.

  I shrugged. “No idea. She started making funny noises and died.”

  “What kind of funny noises?” Holly said.

  I described them as best as I could, not that it mattered if I was correct or not. It wasn’t as if she could tell me what was wrong with the car.

  “Sounds like a broken fan belt.”

  I stared at her. “How do you know that?”

  She laughed like a hyena in heat and I mentally did a happy dance. At least there was one not-so-perfect aspect about her. “When you have two brothers who are obsessed with cars, you learn a thing or two.”

  If Holly’s interesting laugh bothered Trent, he didn’t show it. He was too busy nodding at what she had said, even though he wouldn’t know what it meant any more than I did. Cars had never been his passion. Not like with some guys. I suspected he only had a BMW because of the status associated with owning one. Which was kind of funny. The Trent I remembered couldn’t have cared less about status.

  “Have you called for help yet?” he asked.

  “Yep. They should be here in about four hours.” I glanced down the street, as if that would magically speed up the tow truck’s arrival.

  “In that case, you can come with us. I’ll drive you back before they get here.” Without waiting for a response, he headed for his car. That was Trent for you. Once he made up his mind, end of discussion.

  Holly flashed me another friendly smile, then followed him.

  I looked back and forth between the two cars. I didn’t like the idea of abandoning my poor baby—but I didn’t have much choice.

  “C’mon, Kels,” Trent said, his smooth, deep voice causing the ache between my legs to let out another dreamy sigh. “Erin will skin me alive and feed my carcass to a pack of wild dogs if we’re late.”

  Even though my fate wouldn’t be quite as dramatic, I grabbed my purse from my car, locked the doors, and joined Trent and his…girlfriend? Erin hadn’t mentioned that he had a girlfriend, or maybe she didn’t know about her yet. Or she didn’t think I’d care either way, since I wasn’t supposed to be lusting after her brother.

  As we drove toward Trent’s old home, Holly twisted around in her seat to talk to me. “How long have you two known each other?”

  “Since we were kids,” I said. “Our families used to live near each other. I spent as much time at his house as he did at mine.”

  “Kelsey’s brother, Liam, has been my best friend since fifth grade,” Trent explained. “You’ll meet him at the party.”

  “Will your parents be there too?” she asked me.

  The car accident that stole my parents from me and tore my life apart happened when I was eighteen, but even though I had long since moved on, a flash of pain in my heart stirred at her question. “No. They’re dead.”

  Her face twisted into the pitying look I was more than familiar with. I missed it as much as I missed writing exams. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “It’s okay. They died ten years ago.”

  “What does your brother do?”

  “He’s a Navy SEAL.”

  Deep furrows formed across Holly’s forehead. She understood what most women chose to ignore when they fantasized about the heroes in romance novels—that my brother’s career was damn dangerous.

  “He’s a hero,” Trent added and a small smile graced my lips at that truth. “He once saved my brother’s life when they were on a mission together.”

  Holly’s gaze shot to Trent. “Your brother’s a SEAL, too?”

  “Not anymore. He was injured and honorably discharged from the military. Now he works in Silicon Valley.”

  “Will I get to meet him today?”

  Trent shook his head and parallel parked on the street near his parents’ home, a two-story, light-blue Victorian house with white trim. “No, his wife’s pregnant and due any day now. They couldn’t get away because of that.”

  Even though I already knew this, disappointment rolled through me. Unlike with Trent, I had never crushed on Curtis. His claim to fame was that he could make me laugh. Usually during dinner.

  Usually to his mom’s chagrin.

  As Holly and Trent walked toward the front door, I slowed down for a minute, working hard to get air into my lungs.

  And it had nothing to do with them being together.

  Okay, it might’ve had a smidgen to do with that.

  Trent was introducing Holly to his parents when I stepped into the house. The place hadn’t changed much over the years, with its nautical-themed decorations and antiques. As always, his father’s arm was around his mother’s waist. I almost sighed out loud at seeing them this way. There was never any doubt how much he worshiped his wife—and vice versa. My parents used to be the same way.

  “Mom, Dad,” Trent said, “This is Holly Whittaker. She’s an investment analyst at my firm.”

  So not only was she gorgeous, she was smart. And let’s not forget super nice. Darn it. Why couldn’t she have at least been bitchy? Then it would’ve been easier to hate her.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Joanne said, smiling at Holly.

  Trent’s father shook Holly’s hand as my best friend walked into the foyer, hand resting on her protruding stomach. Whereas I was tall, Erin was short, which made her look more pregnant than her current four months.

  She grinned when she saw me and hugged me. “You’re late.”

  “Sorry. My car broke down on the way.”

  “And if I hadn’t done my civic duty and rescued her, she’d still be stranded.” The corner of Trent’s mouth jerked into a one-sided grin, his usual look when he was teasing me.

  “Holly,” Joanne said, “have you met Trent’s sister yet?”

  Holly shook her head while Erin eyed the woman like she was a curious science experiment that could go wrong at any second. She quickly glanced at me and I shrugged. Not that she knew how I felt about her brother. As much as she loved him, she had never considered him good boyfriend material—as his track record with girls clearly illustrated.

  And there was also that incident back in college, when She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named (AKA Michaela, Erin’s former classmate and close friend) dated him. Let’s just say it didn’t end well for all parties concerned. After that, Erin made it clear that none of her friends were allowed to date Trent. Ever.

  After the introductions were over, Erin grabbed my hand. “C’mon,” she said, and dragged me into the living room where my brother would be waiting.

  As soon as I spotted him near the couch, talking to Erin’s husband, my body put the brakes on and refused to keep moving.

  * * *

  Now Available

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  OTHER BOOKS IN BY THE BAY SERIES

  Decidedly Off Limits

  Best Friend Rule #1: never want the guy’s sister.

  Oo
ps.

  Six months ago, I broke off my engagement because I was tired of not even being a distant second to my fiancé’s career.

  * * *

  Which is why Trent Salway, my brother’s best friend, is strictly forbidden.

  * * *

  One workaholic in my life is more than enough, thank you.

  * * *

  We’ll just ignore how I’ve been secretly crushing on him for as long as I can remember.

  * * *

  The problem? My best friend—Trent’s sister—is determined to find me Mr. Right.

  * * *

  ***

  * * *

  Before being deployed on a Navy SEAL mission, my best friend makes one simple request:

  * * *

  I’m supposed to make sure that his sister Kelsey isn’t dating any assholes while he’s away.

  * * *

  Doesn’t sound too hard, right?

  * * *

  Living up to my promise includes crashing at least one blind date—not my finest moment, I might add—and spending more and more time with Kelsey.

  * * *

  Sparks fly between us, as do a few items of clothing.

  * * *

  Now, I have to decide what to do about the woman I’m falling for—the one whose brother will take me down faster than he takes down the enemy.

  * * *

  And I have to decide if I can be something other than a workaholic or if Kelsey is decidedly off limits.

  Decidedly Off Limits is now available

  Decidedly With Baby

  One-Night Stand Rule #1: always check the condom’s expiry date.

  * * *

  Oops.

  * * *

  As a career-orientated woman, I have a plan, and being a mom is not part of it. My not-quite-a-fairy-tale childhood involved being brought up by thirty nannies (yes, thirty!), so what the heck do I know about being a mother anyway?

  Yes, the news about Granny dying is a surprise. But not as much as what happens after, when I have hot sex with Mr. No Commitment himself, Josh Hoffer, as a way to deal with the grief.

  Is it worth it? Definitely.

  Or at least it seemed so at the time.

  ****

  I have no room in my life for a family or steady girlfriend. My hockey career comes first. Life is tough when you’re on the road more times than you’re not.

  Besides, what do I know about diapers and baby yoga and fairy-tale princesses?

  When Holly Whittaker, with her sexy Aussie accent and mile long legs, wants to blow off a little steam after receiving bad news, hell if I’m saying no. She’s my friend, and friends help friends in need.

  * * *

  But sex is never without consequences. And now we need to figure out how to find room in our hearts for each another—plus one.

  Decidedly With baby is now available

  Decidedly With Love

  Fake boyfriend Rule #1: never fall for your fake girlfriend.

  * * *

  Oops.

  I run Aphrodite’s Boutique, a store that specializes in all things love-related. A store that I adore with all my heart, and which is at risk of being shut down and replaced with a condo development.

  * * *

  To save it, all I have to do is pretend to be Travis Hamilton’s girlfriend.

  * * *

  Sounds simple enough. Right?

  * * *

  Except he and I have a history together...but he doesn’t seem to remember me.

  * * *

  ****

  My feisty, well-meaning grandmother raised me after my parents died, but now she’s determined to help me find The One. But when most women I meet tend to be puck bunnies or women only interested in my hockey-player salary—and let’s not forget the nutcase of an ex-girlfriend—why bother?

  Only a fake girlfriend will deter my grandmother’s matchmaking scheme.

  * * *

  Too bad the one woman who can help me is the sexy redhead who wants to assist me as much as she wants her eyeballs dunked in hot sauce and barbecued.

  * * *

  To convince her, I promise to help her with her own dilemma. But sometimes fire and ice really do mix. Now I have to decide if love is in the air—and if together Emma and I make something hotter. Something stronger. Something real.

  Decidedly With Love is now available

  Decidedly By Chance

  * * *

  The novel will be releasing Sept 2019. For more information or to sign up for a one-time-only release day alert, please check out my website.

  Sign up for my newsletter to receive an alert when the next sexy romantic comedy comes out.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First, I want to say a big thanks to everyone who fell in love with Trent and Kelsey from Decidedly Off Limits, and asked me if Liam was going to get his own story. Your enthusiasm for the book and the series is heartwarming. You guys are the best!

  I also want to thank my editor Bev Rosenbaum, as well as Hope and Jessica from Flat Earth Editing for the copyediting and proofreading. All three individuals helped make this book sparkle. Naturally, I can’t forget Brenda St. John Brown who shared her own brilliant suggestions and wisdom when it came to this book and beyond. Whenever I get stuck with some aspect of my stories, she’s always there to talk me through it. She’s also a great roomie for writer conferences. And hugs and kisses to my wonderful publicist Nina Bocci. I don’t know what I would do without her. The same goes for all the bloggers and reviewers who have fallen in love with the By the Bay series.

  And finally, I would like to thank my cheerleaders who have been there for me while writing this book. My husband Ralph, my kids, and even our cat, Callie. Although I’ll admit that her support seems to involve sleeping in the box with my ARCs.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Born in Brighton England, Stina Lindenblatt has lived in a number of countries, including England, the U.S, Finland, and Canada. This would explain her mixed up accent. She has a MSc in exercise physiology, specializing in energy metabolism in sports. In addition to writing fiction, she loves photography, especially the close-up variety, and currently lives in Calgary, Canada, with her husband, three kids, and their cat.

  * * *

  Want more from Stina Lindenblatt?

  Website

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  Facebook reader group (Stina’s Sweethearts)

  ALSO BY STINA LINDENBLATT

  Romantic Comedy Series

  Decidedly Off Limits

  Decidedly With Baby

  Decidedly With Love

  Decidedly With Mistletoe

  * * *

  Copper Creek

  Cowboy Most Wanted

  Once Upon a Cowboy

  Fix Me Up, Cowboy

  * * *

  Non Romantic Comedy series

  Pushing Limits

  This One Moment

  My Song For You

  I Need You Tonight

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Contents

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  Read on for an excerpt from Cowboy Most Wanted

  Books in the Copper Creek Series

  Read on for an excerpt from Decidedly Off Limits

  Other Books in By The Bay Series

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Stina Lindenblatt

  p; Stina Lindenblatt, Decidedly With Mistletoe