Only Him, an all-new sexy and emotional second chance romance from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow is now available!
Sometimes your first love deserves a second chance…
He was my first crush, my first kiss, my first everything.
But I’m not a lovesick teenager anymore, and I’d never let that cocky troublemaker break my heart again.
So when he shows up out of the blue asking me to have dinner with him “for old time’s sake,” I say I will. After all, it’s been twelve years, and I’m stronger and smarter than I was back then.
Except…he still does something to me. He’s got those eyes that make me weak, those hands that drive me wild, and a body I can’t resist—especially once I see the tattoos. It doesn’t take long for our trip down memory lane to go from sweet to sizzling.
We’re just as good together as we were back then—better, even—and I’m willing to give the only man I’ve ever loved another chance.
But he’s got to tell me the truth.
* * *
All I wanted was to see her again. Tell her I’m sorry. Make her smile.
Okay, that’s a lie. I wanted to do more than that—a lot more. But I know she’s better off without me, and I promised myself I’d behave.
Except I’ve never been much good at keeping promises…or my hands to myself when I’m around her.
I can make her laugh, I can make her cry, I can make her body surrender to mine in ways that neither of us could have imagined back then. I can—and I do—love her more than she’ll ever know.
But I can’t tell her the real reason why I’m here.
And I can’t stay.
Maren glanced back at me, more puzzled than ever, but she
started up the cement stairs. I couldn’t take my eyes off her legs in front of
me. Her calf muscles were insane from all the ballet training. I remembered how
flexible she’d been and felt my dick start perking up.
“In addition to all the history I just gave you,” Aiden
said, his voice echoing off the walls, “this hotel was also the site of a
certain prom a few years back.”
All of a sudden, Maren stopped moving and looked down over
her shoulder at me. “No way.” The stunned, joyful expression on her face was
worth every penny I had to pay to make this happen.
Goose bumps rippled down my arms inside my jacket. I smiled
at her.
Her jaw dropped, and she continued up the stairs. At the
top, Aiden moved ahead and opened the door to the rooftop. “Ballrooms were not
available tonight, but when Dallas asked if you could have the roof to
yourselves, I had to admit no one had booked it. In fact, no one has ever even
asked to book it.” He laughed.
Maren stepped over the threshold onto the rooftop. “Dallas
is definitely one of a kind.”
The three of us moved away from the door, and I saw the
table that had been set for us, complete with white linens, flower centerpiece,
and candlelight. Luckily, the air was warm, and the wind was soft. The sun was
still setting beyond the skyline to the west, and to the east the Detroit River
was visible; a little to the south was the Ambassador Bridge, and beyond the
river, Canada. The view was breathtaking on all sides.
After turning around in a full circle, Maren looked at me
with shining eyes. “Dallas. This is incredible.”
“You’ll have your own server for the night, and he should be
up shortly,” Aiden said, checking his watch. “I should get back downstairs.
Dallas, you have my cell if you need anything. Maren, good seeing you again,
and I hope you enjoy your evening.” He gave us a smile before heading back to
the stairwell door.
As soon as he was gone, Maren turned to me. “I cannot
believe you did this.”
I shrugged. “I felt pretty bad when you said you’d missed
the prom because of me. I figured I owed it to you.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes, which were filled with
tears. “You didn’t, but whatever. I’ll take it.” Opening her purse, she hunted
around in it for something. “God, I don’t even have tissues. I didn’t know you
were going to make me cry.”
“No crying allowed at the prom. And I hope it’s okay I’m
wearing jeans.”
“It’s fine.” She sniffed and closed her purse. “I’m not that
dressed up either.”
“You’re perfect.” Our eyes met, and the air between us
suddenly felt full of hope and possibility. In any other circumstance, I’d have
kissed her.
But I couldn’t do that tonight.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” Reaching into the inside pocket of my
jacket, I pulled out a wrist corsage. “Sorry if it’s a little smashed. I had to
get rid of the plastic container to hide it from you.”
She giggled and held out her arm. “That’s okay. It’s
beautiful.”
“Good.” I slid the elastic band with three deep red roses
attached to it along with some other green stuff onto her wrist. “I told the
lady at the florist to make it a prom corsage. Pretty sure she thought I was
crazy. Or creepy.”
“You might be crazy. But I love it. Thank you for this.”
Then she rose up on tiptoe and pecked my cheek. When she lowered her heels, she
stood there for a moment, her hand on my arm, her mouth so close I could have
simply tipped my head down and my lips would be resting on hers.
My heart stumbled over its next few beats. I wanted to do it
so badly, but I’d promised her I’d behave. I’d promised myself I’d behave.
There were so many reasons why I shouldn’t be here tonight, standing so close
to the only girl I’d ever loved, tempted beyond reason by her legs and her lips
and her laugh and her eyes and her ability to make me feel like I fucking mattered in the universe.
What was the right thing to do?
If only—
The door from the stairwell opened, and we moved apart.
4 Stars
I always say this, but I'm a huge fan of a sweet second chance story. And Only Him filled me with warm, second chance fuzzies!
Aiden and Maren were opposites. Aiden was the bad boy in high school and constantly getting in trouble and not comparing up to his big brother. Maren was in love with Aiden, and when he gets up and leaves her without a word, her heart is broken. There's something about your first love you never get over.
Aiden had his reasons on leaving Maren, but years later, he still forgot about her and hopes that she will forgive him. As Aiden embarks on the next journey of his life, he wants to make amends with Maren. But when he shows up on her doorstep years later, he never expected to want more with her.
Maren is shocked when Aiden shows up after all these years. Yes, she is angry, but it's seems like no time has passed between them.
Only Him is a great first love story that truly deserved a second chance with a surprise twist.
Melanie
Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty
bits left in. When she's not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV
series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She
occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of
the AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and
the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to
romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives
with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
Connect with Melanie:
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