Status Updates From My Funny Valentine

“Well done,” she praised. “I’d pay you to do that every day.” “Oh, yeah? Could I choose the form of remittance I would prefer?” Gray asked, sidling towards her. He’d only been in the room with her for a few minutes and the need to touch her, to back her against the wall and bury himself inside her was almost more than he could bear. Damn, but this little widow scared the hell out of him.

Somehow, some way, a door had opened to his closed heart. Although Gray had no experience with love, his heart recognized the emotion all the same. Fear momentarily immobilized him. Panic rocketed through his veins and seized his heart. Then Bella said, “Please.” One word, yet it was packed with more emotion that any thousand he could have written…and he was lost.

How do l’il boys who don’t have daddies learn to use this stuff? My dad lives with the angels. He’s in heaven watchin’ over me and my momma. That’s what Momma says. Did you know that?” Gray’s throat tightened unexpectedly. “I did.” “He’s my garden angel. He chucked the hammer back into the box and took out another tool to play with. “I like havin’ a garden angel…but I think I’d like havin’ a daddy more.”

Gray couldn’t remember ever enjoying the pleasure of someone’s company the way he had hers tonight. It was the most unlikely, unromantic non-date. She’d set the kitchen on fire, doused him with iced tea. He’d done his laundry and her kid had kept the conversation going, even it if had been mostly disjointed chattering. It definitely shouldn’t have made his list of memorable evenings…and yet, oddly, it had.

Book needs a proofreader. LOTS of little errors.

Bella opened the door and ran headlong into a tall, very hard and slightly damp male body. She drew in a sharp gasp, inhaling his scent. A current of warmth zinged through her as his large hands grasped her upper arms and steadied her. “Whoa,” he chuckled. “Where’s the fire?” In my blood, Bella thought as his heat engulfed her.

Where are you from?” “San Francisco.” “Humph. Well, that explains it.” Gray frowned. “Explains what?” “Why your hair looks like a girl’s. I guess we won’t have to worry about Bella’s reputation. She should be safe enough with you.” Gray scowled in confusion. “Don’t worry. The citizens of Magnolia Grove are hip to your needs. Mayor Smith’s son is gay too. He might be willin’ to fix you up with someone.”

He looked like some sort of fallen archangel. Thick, jet-black wavy hair barely brushed his broad shoulders and a single diamond stud winked in his ear. A thin jagged scar streaked like a bolt of lightning from his temple to his jaw, adding mystery and intrigue to a face. Eyes the color of pale jade stared back at her from beneath a wide, intelligent brow. Mercy, Bella thought, the man was danger personified.

I quite enjoyed this story. The characters were well drawn and the plot realistic.