Seth Hampton is the town’s sheriff, and when Ava shows up, he’s not sure what hits him. He craves her, yet he can’t stand to allow that type of shop to open in his small town. However, he isn’t alone. Someone else wants Ava to leave town. Things take a turn when her shop is vandalized, and all evidence points to Seth.
Ava isn’t sure what to think. While Seth seems to be the only one with motives, something inside her believes he would never do it. Can Ava and Seth figure it out before one of them gets hurt?
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The sun was starting to go down, and even though it
was late summer in Brookfield, it still got a bit chilly in the evenings. Once
in her car, she made the short drive over to the local diner, Swift Water Café.
It was brightly lit, and the place appeared to be hopping. She couldn’t wait to
start meeting people. She loved to socialize. Talking was just second nature to
her—along with flirting.
Seth greeted her at her door, and as she stepped out, he placed his hand on her lower back. It was possessive, and at first she wanted to step away, but his hand soon dropped and she realized he was just being friendly.
In the diner, they made their way to a corner booth. Many of the customers quieted and watched as she and Seth took their seats. Just like a normal small town. She was new, and now they were curious. She smiled at everyone. First impressions were important.
A perky waitress made her way over and took their drink order. The blonde made flirty eyes at Seth, and Ava couldn’t help but be amused. He was most likely Brookfield’s number one bachelor. Every woman here probably wanted to tie him down and have six of his children. Thank God that was the last thing on her mind.
“So, Ava, tell me a little about yourself,” Seth said.
“Not much to tell, officer.”
Seth’s face lit up again. She enjoyed making him smile.
“Everyone around here loves Julie,” he said. “It’s nice having her home again. Have you been by to see her and Lila yet?”
“It’s the first thing on my agenda in the morning. I can’t believe how big Lila’s getting.”
The waitress returned with their drinks and then took their order. Diner food, what could be better? A nice, greasy sandwich and fries. She was thankful she wasn’t one of those women who watched her weight.
“So tell me, Ava, what brought you to our lovely town?”
“I’m opening my own business.” Ava took a sip of her soda.
“That’s great. We need some more shops. Let me guess, you’re opening up a boutique of some kind.”
“Something like that.”
“Rumor has it we have an adult store opening.” He laughed.
Ava froze. What was so funny?
Seth continued. “Whoever that nut job is, I hope they know this town isn’t having it. We plan on running them out. We have a reputation to keep up.”
The waitress came back, still batting her eyelashes at Seth. Looking at the food in front of her, Ava was no longer hungry. She dug through her purse for a ten-dollar bill, set it on the table, and then stood up. Seth gazed up, confused.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Yes, you called me a nut job, and I’ve lost my appetite. I thought Brookfield would be different, but you’ve just shown me how wrong I was.” Ava turned and started to make her way to the entrance. Once she was outside, Seth came running out after her.
“You’re the one opening up a sex toy shop,” he said.
Rolling her eyes, she said, “It’s a lingerie shop, and in the back, there just so happens to be a small adult area. Why I’m explaining this to you, I don’t know.”
“Well, I hate to tell you, but that shop isn’t opening here.”
Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “Just try and stop me.
Seth greeted her at her door, and as she stepped out, he placed his hand on her lower back. It was possessive, and at first she wanted to step away, but his hand soon dropped and she realized he was just being friendly.
In the diner, they made their way to a corner booth. Many of the customers quieted and watched as she and Seth took their seats. Just like a normal small town. She was new, and now they were curious. She smiled at everyone. First impressions were important.
A perky waitress made her way over and took their drink order. The blonde made flirty eyes at Seth, and Ava couldn’t help but be amused. He was most likely Brookfield’s number one bachelor. Every woman here probably wanted to tie him down and have six of his children. Thank God that was the last thing on her mind.
“So, Ava, tell me a little about yourself,” Seth said.
“Not much to tell, officer.”
Seth’s face lit up again. She enjoyed making him smile.
“Everyone around here loves Julie,” he said. “It’s nice having her home again. Have you been by to see her and Lila yet?”
“It’s the first thing on my agenda in the morning. I can’t believe how big Lila’s getting.”
The waitress returned with their drinks and then took their order. Diner food, what could be better? A nice, greasy sandwich and fries. She was thankful she wasn’t one of those women who watched her weight.
“So tell me, Ava, what brought you to our lovely town?”
“I’m opening my own business.” Ava took a sip of her soda.
“That’s great. We need some more shops. Let me guess, you’re opening up a boutique of some kind.”
“Something like that.”
“Rumor has it we have an adult store opening.” He laughed.
Ava froze. What was so funny?
Seth continued. “Whoever that nut job is, I hope they know this town isn’t having it. We plan on running them out. We have a reputation to keep up.”
The waitress came back, still batting her eyelashes at Seth. Looking at the food in front of her, Ava was no longer hungry. She dug through her purse for a ten-dollar bill, set it on the table, and then stood up. Seth gazed up, confused.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Yes, you called me a nut job, and I’ve lost my appetite. I thought Brookfield would be different, but you’ve just shown me how wrong I was.” Ava turned and started to make her way to the entrance. Once she was outside, Seth came running out after her.
“You’re the one opening up a sex toy shop,” he said.
Rolling her eyes, she said, “It’s a lingerie shop, and in the back, there just so happens to be a small adult area. Why I’m explaining this to you, I don’t know.”
“Well, I hate to tell you, but that shop isn’t opening here.”
Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “Just try and stop me.
***
Finding Home (Brookfield Series Book One)
Mark Thomas has moved to Brookfield to escape his past. He needs a fresh start to try and forget the things that haunt him, and Brookfield seems like the perfect place.
As if it isn’t bad enough that Julie doesn’t find her mother, a blizzard buries the town, and she is snowed in with Mark. Leaving them no choice, they begin a friendship while trying to resist the attraction they feel for one another.
Once the snow melts, Julie is free to leave. Will she choose to start a life in Brookfield or run back to New York? Meanwhile, Mark struggles to let go of his past and, if he does, is Julie his future?
Lacey lives in Georgia with her husband,
son and daughter, their six cats and one black lab who rules the house.
Thanks for hosting Lacey today!
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