Publication date: October 24th 2023

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Calliope’s been hurt too many times to let another man in, but Quentin Broussard’s about to turn her world upside down.

Calliope Koch sat on top of the world back in high school. Her dad treated her like a princess, so she believed she was one. Every guy wanted to be with her and every girl wanted to be her. But oh, how the mighty do fall…

Fast forward fourteen years, and Calliope has lost her father to another family. She’s been dumped more times than she can count. The only thing keeping her going is the dream of running her own clothing boutique. But the same guy who caused one of those breakups is taking that dream from her.

It’s Quentin Broussard, the older, artistic, mysterious Broussard brother who left home when he was eighteen. Three years ago, he called her quirky and convinced his brother to break up with her. Now he’s back in New Orleans and trying to take something from her once again.

She won’t fall victim to another Broussard brother’s smooth moves, no matter how hard this one’s knocking on her door. And she’ll try to ignore the fact that he’s making her feel like the princess she once believed she was.

Excerpt

He narrowed his gaze. “I remember something from that night we first met.”

She gave him a look like she was warning him not to go there, but there was also something in her eyes that told him to proceed forward.

“We had a connection.”

She gave him half a smile through pursed lips. “Oh, okay. Sure. Is this the same connection you have with those repeat customers you were talking about before?”

“I think you felt it, too,” he said, taking a risk.

“I was dating your brother at the time.”

“I know. That’s why I excused myself from our conversation.”

She furrowed her brow.

“I’m not making this up. I felt something.”

She rolled her eyes, and then gave him a look, trying to hold back a smile.

“Didn’t you feel it, too?” he asked.

“You’re calling me a cheater?”

“It’s not cheating to feel a spark with someone else.”

“With your boyfriend’s brother? I’d say it is,” she said.

“Then would you say you cheated on Braxton?”

She huffed a laugh. “You’re insane.”

“I might be a little bit.”

She shook her head at him. “I don’t know why you’re trying so hard here. I told you I’m a mess.”

“Maybe that’s what I like about you,” he said.

“Is that your thing? Fixing the wings of broken little birds?”

He considered her. “I’m not aware that I have a thing. I just know I was really disappointed when you didn’t show up over there today.”

She stared at him a bit longer and then stood up. “I think you should go.”

He stayed seated, looking up at her, trying to stop himself from saying the next words that were begging to come out of his mouth, because he never did this, but he actually wanted to this time. “Let me take you on a date.”

She motioned toward the door. “Go back to your party.”

“I’m having way more fun here.”

She rubbed her forehead. “Seriously, Quentin. Nothing ends well where I’m involved. Now’s your chance to run.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Mull this over. Think about it for a month. If after a month, you’re still interested, give me a call.” She held out her hand. “I’ll give you my number.” He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and handed it to her. She typed into it and then handed the phone back to him. “Now will you leave?”

He looked down at the table like there were options for him sitting there. “What if I wanna call you tomorrow?”

“One month. You can call me in one month and not a day before.”

That actually worked out perfectly for him. He was getting ready to head back to Colorado for a few weeks to close up his business with his partner, Steve, and get the rest of his stuff moved back to New Orleans. This would give him something to look forward to when he got back to town.

He stood up. “I guess I’ll take the deal.”

She walked to the front door and opened it, standing with her hands behind her back, messing with the door knob, looking both confident and vulnerable all at the same time. He’d never wanted to kiss a woman more in his life, and he wasn’t about to wait a month to do it.

He walked over to her, slid his hand around the back of her neck, and then planted one on her. She made a noise like she was taken by surprise, but then she settled in, sliding both of her hands into his hair. She pulled him to her as she settled against the door, perking up his midsection. He was about to sport wood right there on the streets of New Orleans. He pulled away while he still had control.

She put her hand over her mouth, touching her fingertips to her lips like she was checking that they were still there. So it wasn’t just him who had felt chemistry like an erupting volcano.

He leaned in. “How about you think about that for the next month.” He backed away, giving her one last glance before heading to his truck. How he was going to make it thirty days was beyond him.

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About the Author

Melissa Chambers writes contemporary novels for young, new, and actual adults. A Nashville native, she spends her days working in the music industry and her nights tapping away at her keyboard. While she’s slightly obsessed with alt rock, she leaves the guitar playing to her husband and kid. She never misses a chance to play a tennis match, listen to an audiobook, or eat a bowl of ice cream. (Rocky road, please!) She has served as president for the Music City Romance Writers and is the author of the Love Along Hwy 30A series, the Before Forever series (YA), and Courting Carlyn (YA).

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