Sweetest Mistake - Excerpt & Giveaway

Sweetest Mistake

Sweet Texas Series #2

By: Candis Terry

Releasing December 31^st, 2013

Blurb

When friends become lovers . . .

Firefighter and former Marine Jackson Wilder has tough guy down to an art, but he’s learned the hard way that promises were made to be broken. Abigail Morgan was once his best friend, his first kiss, his first love, his first everything. He’d just forgotten to mention all that to her and she blew out of his life. Five years later, she’s back and he’s battling a load of mistrust for her disappearing act. But for some reason he just can’t keep his lips—or his hands—to himself.

It can lead to disaster or . . .

When her stint as a trophy wife abruptly ends, Abby returns home to Sweet, Texas, and comes face-to-face with Jackson—her biggest and sexiest mistake. Time and distance did nothing to squash her love for the act-first-think-later stubborn hunk of a man, and when he suggests they renew their old just-friends vow, Abby realizes she wants more. She’d cut and run once. Could she do it again? Or could she tempt him enough to break his promise?

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EXCERPT

Before she could get her feet in motion Jackson came into the room with adorable little Izzy in his arms and a stunning, statuesque blonde at his side.

Abby’s heart caved under a breath-stealing wallop.

Her eyes darted from Jackson to the child to . . . yes . . . the mother.

Dressed in boot-cut jeans and a simple cotton tee, the woman took casual cool to another level. She wore little makeup and her long hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders. Her curves were made by God--not a plastic surgeon--and she looked completely at ease in her environment.

Beside her, Jackson, in his black t-shirt, jeans, and finger-combed hair, accented her beauty with his masculine good looks. Between them, Izzy, in her frilly summer frock with her golden curls tied up in a high ponytail, looked like the perfect combination of her parents.

Together, the three of them resembled the perfect little family.

Young. Vibrant. Gorgeous. Breathtaking.

At that moment Jackson glanced across the room and caught her eye. His brows pulled together. His lips flattened into an unyielding slash.

His silent message hit home.

She did not belong there.

No shit, Sherlock.

Before disaster roared into Armageddon and she did something really crazy like cry, she estimated how far it was to the door. She didn’t care how ridiculous she’d look if she made a run for it. She’d already been Sweet’s hot topic of the week. There was only so much she could stand. Seeing Jackson with the mother of his child took her over her limit.

She took a step backward and plowed into a wall by the name of Reno.

At that moment Jana clapped her hands together. “Can I have all y’all’s attention?”

While everyone quieted, Reno leaned down and spoke into Abby’s ear. “Looks like you’re just going to have to stay a while longer. Can’t hardly bolt in the middle of Mom’s little speech.”

As she turned to tell Reno she intended to do just that, she caught Jackson’s eye again. Brows pulled tight over those blue eyes, his shoulders remained stiff--even when Izzy leaned her little golden head against his.

When Jana cleared her throat, Abby pulled her attention back to the woman who’d seemingly conned her for the second time. As Jana spoke, Abby controlled her disappointment and counted the seconds until she could escape.

“I have so much to be grateful for today I feel like it should be Thanksgiving,” Jana said. “I’m so happy to welcome Reno and Charli back home. And if y’all haven’t noticed, my future daughter-in-law is wearing an enormous diamond on her left hand.”

Everyone applauded. Charli obliged by flashing the ring for all to see while smiling up at the man she obviously adored.

“I made Reno and Charli promise they wouldn’t step foot in one of those 24-hour wedding chapels in Vegas,” Jana continued. “If they want tacky, we’ll give it to them right here in Sweet.” She grinned her happiness and everyone laughed.

Chester Banks winked at Abby again and she averted her gaze across the room.

Big mistake.

Jackson was looking right back. If there had ever been a moment in time where she felt more out of place, she couldn’t name it. Even the moment she’d made the most heartfelt request of her husband and he’d laughed in her face. Even the following day when she’d come home from her committee meeting with the Junior League to discover the locks on her home had been changed and the bombshell waiting for her on the front step.

The note taped to the top of the white box had been brief.

And demoralizing.

Abby,

I realize now that the objectives in what we wished to achieve in this marriage are vastly diverse. Therefore I seek to revoke the arrangement.

Inside this box are settlement papers and the keys to a condominium I have purchased in your name. If you choose to contest this petition for divorce, be aware that you will lose.

Please evacuate the premises at once. If you refuse I have instructed the hired help to contact the authorities.

M.R.

Abby shuddered at the memory. At the absolute devastation and humiliation she’d felt when she’d reached down, picked up the box, and walked back to her car.

What had she done that had been so awful?

All she’d wanted was a baby.

A child to hold in her arms.

To love.

To have that love returned—a love she’d never receive from the man who’d put a ring on her finger and pretended to the world to be a loving and devoted husband. To him she’d never been more than an employee—someone to host his parties, wear on his arm, and attend the charity events that made him look like a man with a heart.

He hadn’t been.

She’d been nothing more than a paid companion.

Mark Rich had discovered her working in the offices of his newly acquired team. He’d found her pleasant and pliable—someone who could be molded into what he needed to impress—or at least fit in—with the other married members of his peers. She’d been educated, trained, and polished to be Mrs. Mark Rich. But she had never been loved or valued.

About the Author:

Candis Terry was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California and now makes her home on an Idaho farm. She’s experienced life in such diverse ways as working in a Hollywood recording studio to chasing down wayward steers. Only one thing has remained the same: her passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily ever after.

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