Till I Found You: The Broken Hero Series—Book One

by Fernandez, Michelle

  Phoebe mentally crossed her fingers, hoping he wasn’t with a date or worse, married. Curiosity piqued her interest of who the man may be since she knew all the guests.

  She quickly fixed the drape of her one-shoulder-strapped dress, smoothed the satin lavender material over her torso and squared her shoulders. Phoebe moistened her lips with her tongue, ready to bat her long lashes, to face the man behind her.

  She slowly turned to him.

  “Dylan?” she gasped, surprised and flustered she’d let her body react to him.

  “As far as I can remember, that’s the name my mother gave me.” A cocky grin turned up the corners of his mouth.

  Dylan Marshall, Best Man. Not only was he Julian’s best friend but he worked with him at the KSIG.

  Never once had Phoebe thought of Dylan beyond Julian’s longtime friend. He was a bit obnoxious and arrogant. But when he had his moments Dylan was charming and absolutely sexy. The worst combination.

  He wore his sandy-blond hair in a messy spike, and his broad shoulders fit perfectly in the white dress shirt, like it had been made for him. The top two buttons were undone, bowtie loosened around his neck and shirt cuffs folded up his forearms. His mesmerizing gray eyes lured Phoebe in, then her stare moved to his mouth, wondering what his tongue tasted like and the things he could do with it.

  Phoebe slightly shook her head, recovering from her fantasies. “I thought you were—”

  “Your Romeo?” he whispered as he leaned closer.

  “Don’t be a turd.” Phoebe pushed against his hard pecks. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  Phoebe’s momentary gaze met Dylan’s, her hand pressed to her belly, calming the flutter of bees, not sure if they were stinging or stirring in her insides, feeling like a prepubescent teenager. “I, uh…need to get out of here.”

  “And leave the infamous game of catch? Never known you to be a quitter, Powell.” He smirked, holding his short glass of dark liquid close to his mouth.

  She let out a cough. “If you must know, Romeo, I’m giving all the other ladies a fighting chance.”

  “Says the woman who makes bets and doesn’t believe in losing.” He sipped the amber liquid and licked his bottom lip.

  “I don’t lose. But I figured––”

  “Save it for the choir, baby loves,” Dylan chided, cocking a brow.

  Phoebe’s lips agape, she watched Dylan open his mouth to take another sip. “Want some?” he asked.

  “Huh?” Phoebe cleared her throat. Damn, why is my mouth suddenly dry?

  “Want a sip of my rum and Coke?”

  Without a second thought, she snaked his glass and tossed back the remaining liquid, hoping to take off the edge.

  Why was she seeing Dylan differently?

  Dylan wasn’t the kind of guy who would give Phoebe flutters in her insides. Sure, they’d bantered in the past, but only to get under each other’s skin. He had been the thorn in Phoebe’s side and shouldn’t be the warm throb between her thighs.

  He was Julian’s best friend and a large man-child she had no interest in getting involved with, but my God—he was so damn intoxicatingly sexy.

  “Thanks.” Phoebe wiped her lips with her finger and handed the empty glass back to him.

  “Thirsty?” Dylan looked inside the glass, then met Phoebe’s eyes. “So, are you going to answer my question?”

  “What question?”

  “Was I in your way?” He leaned in again, his breath feathering her cheeks. Something about his gaze made Phoebe feel naked and vulnerable.

  Get it together, Powell. Stand tall. Don’t let him get under your skin. It’s only Dylan for Christ’s sake.

  Phoebe leaned back, stifling a laugh. “In my way? Dylan, you’re always in my way. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get out of here.”

  His hand pressed over his chest in mock surrender. “That hurts, Phoebe. When are you gonna give me a chance and go out with me?”

  “Dylan, the answer is still no.” Phoebe rolled her eyes. “We would never work out.”

  “Why not?”

  “First, you’re Julian’s best friend and I don’t date within my circle. Too awkward if we didn’t work out. Second, you’re…you.”

  “Yes, I’m me. Handsome, sexy”—he huffed over his knuckles, then rubbed them over his chest—“lady-killer, should I go on?”

  “How many times have you used that bullshit pick-up line?”

  “It works every time. Women fall for my charms and this irresistible smile.” Dylan pointed to his cocky grin as it widened his face.

  “Are you serious? That line works on those poor souls?”

  “Jealous, sweetheart?” he provoked, reaching out as he pushed a lock of hair behind her neck.

  Phoebe gently shoved his hand away then stepped back to distance herself. “Jealous? Hardly. I hate to bruise your ego, Romeo. But I’ve got my own game and you are definitely not allowed to play.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Music played as Dylan’s chin pointed up. “Hey Feebs…”

  “What now?”

  “Heads up!”

  “What?” Phoebe’s head titled up, eyes wide. A slow motion of white petals descended from midair, the mob of screaming women, their wiggling fingers reaching and barreling toward her. Phoebe raised her arms to dodge the bouquet, which landed in the last place she wanted it to.

  Her hands.

  “Oh. Holy. Hell!” Phoebe gasped.

  I have so many people to thank, where do I begin?

  First and Foremost, to my Readers and Bloggers:

  Thank you, thank you and many more thanks!

  Without you there is no reason to write! This is my debut novel and I have more to come! There are heroes, heroines and a circus of people in my head that are dying to get out and be part of your world! You are the reason why I want you to meet them! Love you all so much! XOXO

  To my initial and Beta Readers:

  You are absolutely enchanting!

  Nikki, Leta, Rosario, Liz, Anne and Lace: Your support, your attention to detail, questions about my timelines of who, what, where, when and how only makes me a better writer! Thank you for your friendship, loving me and all my quirkiness. Thank you for your ideas even though you had no clue you were giving them to me. Remember… anything you say to me may be used in my book!

  To my “G-Squad”:

  Liz the Lizard: My sissy for life… I freakin-turtley-love you forever! Thanks for having my hard shell back that I crawl into from time to time. Then pulling me out of it so I can be goofy and dancing with me like no one is watching when I needed to let out the stress! A toast to the Three Wisemen! And don’t forget Jimmy Dean!

  Anne: Thank you for letting me use Olie’s name! He will always be in my heart and now in this book! That boy is probably playing secret spy games or maybe basketball… what do you think?!?!

  Leta: My sister… we share the same blood and vision. Thanks for your relentless support and love throughout my journey!

  Rosario: I’ve known you almost half my life, seen me prego with my munchies, been in my wedding and watch me marry the man of my dreams… thanks for being such a loyal friend!

  Lainey: Thanks for being an awesome PA. Your social media posts and promotions are amazing. You are my Rockstar!

  Michelle M: You have a section all to yourself… keep reading, oh ‘chosen-one’!

  To my amazing Editor:

  (I’m all choked up writing this part… so get a box of tissue Michelle Morgan)

  You are not only the most amazing editor; you have been an amazing coach and friend. Thank you for seeing the potential and the grit within me to be an author! After I finished Till I Found You, I reread the first draft I sent you what feels like a lifetime ago and Oh-Holy-Hell (Chloe’s words)! Just reading it made me want to crawl under a rock or bang my head with it… what was I thinking?!? The first draft was horrible! But aren’t first drafts usually bad? Your ‘red pe
n’ constructive feedback, suggested edits, ‘starred’ compliments and accolades are the reason why I’ve become a better writer and you’re not done with me yet Dallas! You truly were my right-hand-woman, giving me the roadmap to this whole new world to get my baby published. What you did for me has no words of expression, I’m speechless with a lump in my throat and tears pooling in my eyes (Can you pass me a tissue please... Ok where was I? Oh, yes…) Thank you for believing in me and loving Julian & Chloe just as much as I do. You have a heart of gold and I am blessed to have found you!

  To my Parental Units:

  Mom and Dad: As a daughter, I am an imitator of great parents and I only hope I am as awesome as you were with me, as I am with my children and grandchildren! Love you to the moon and back and forth and back and forth… (you get the picture).

  Nancy, Jerry, Tony, Saida and Jimmy: I love you so much and I married your son because he is a piece of you… So, does that mean I married you too? LOL! Wow – we are so goofy, aren’t we? Your love is a huge part of my assurance and believing in me!

  To my Husband, Paul:

  Your unconditional love and amazing support pushed me to do this (this is your fault, you know?) … You bared the worst part from this project, and I know your ears have bled from my Julian-Chloe-loquaciousness. Regardless, you never once rolled your eyes and covered your ears… You have been so patient, believed in me even when I didn’t, pushed me when I thought I couldn’t go on and pulled me away from my MacBook to a date night with you when I desperately needed it! You read me like a book, know me so well and saw the end game. How’d you know? You’re the butterflies that flitter in my tummy, my BFF I joke around with, my tickle buddy, my forever sleepovers, my everything and the air I breathe! I love you to infinity and beyond!

  Lastly, and to the most important people

  To the Party of Five:

  My Munchies (Nathan, Nikki, Celina, Danny) and Kiddo (Nicholas)… I did it! There are no words in the dictionary, or any other book ever written to express how much I love you more every day! I’ve pushed Sunday dinners to the side and my bad… I even forgot to go grocery shopping because I’ve been so consumed with this project (At least there were Hot Pockets, Chimigangas or Domino’s to survive on)! Thanks for being wonderful kids and understanding the author life and having a full-time job too! Thanks for your advice on social media input/output, hashtags tips, how to take selfies and spreading the word for me! You truly are my rock!

  Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/64ywRMEaSAHqqcsPRBbPy8?si=FKbA7bXxRCOIiRfh4r2MEQ

  Till I Found You—Phil Wickman

  Collide—Howie Day

  Love Someone—Lukas Graham

  I Was Made For Loving You—Tori Kelly

  Can’t See Straight—Jamie Lawson

  Heaven—Kane Brown

  Your Body Is a Wonderland—John Mayer

  Demons—Imagine Dragons

  Broken—Seether

  On My Own—Ashes Remain

  The Mess I Made—Parachute

  She Is Love—Parachute

  Kiss Me Slowly—Parachute

  I Won’t Give Up—Jason Mraz

  Circle Game—P!nk

  Come On Get Higher—Matt Nathanson

  A Drop In the Ocean—Ron Hope

  Michelle Fernandez lives in Southern California with her husband and children. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, laughing it up with her ‘squad’ or simply relaxing with her two pups.

  She is an avid reader of multi-genres, but Romance Suspense and Military Romance are her most favorite. She’s always been passionate about reading and impressed by the influence it has on people. Which is why she started writing in the first place. It started as a hobby. One chapter turned into ten, then a novel was born. Till I Found You is her first book. She writes Adult Romance with a dash of suspense. The sassy heroine and the gentleman hero are who she loves to write about. Making up worlds and characters for readers to utterly fall in love with, is the most rewarding for her.

  Michelle is currently working on Book 2: Till I Tempt You (Spring 2020). Her other books in The Broken Heroes Series are also on her projects to come: Till I Claim You, Till I Return to You and You Found Me. So, stay tuned!!!

  Visit my website:

  https://www.authormichellefernandez.com

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  michelle@authormichellefernandez.com