Playing for Keeps (Hope Valley Book 10)

by Jessica Prince

  Jesus, he was so perfect, all hard muscles and chiseled lines, my fingers itched to draw him. Problem was, I couldn’t draw for shit. Looked like there wouldn’t be any Leo DiCaprio via Titanic reenactments going on any time soon. Bummer, ‘cause that was totally one of my fantasies.

  “Oh my God!” Harlow laughed loudly. “Look at you! You’re totally smitten!”

  I reached over and slapped her arm. “Shut up!”

  “Okay, okay,” she grumbled, poking out her bottom lip in a pout as she rubbed her arm. “I’m just teasing. But seriously, Chlo, you’re gorgeous. Derrick would be insane not to want you.”

  I let my eyes travel over my friend’s perfect frame. Even with a massive pregnant belly, there was no denying how stunning she was. All long, lean legs, flawless olive skin, and perfect, shiny dark hair. Harlow could have been a model, no doubt.

  But me? Well I was short with round hips, a bubble butt, a big chest that was the bane of my existence, pale skin that fried with the smallest amount of sun, and unruly, reddish blonde hair. On top of all of that, I had a teeny tiny little potbelly I couldn’t get rid of no matter how hard I tried. And owning a bakery did nothing to help that.

  I loved my pastries, so sue me.

  “Harlow…” I started, but she cut me off, hearing the doubt in my voice.

  “Don’t you Harlow me!” she chastised. “You’re gorgeous — you are!” she snapped when I rolled my eyes. “Any man, and I mean any man, would be lucky to have you. You hear me?”

  I felt a smile curve my lips despite my misgivings. Harlow was just so damned passionate. “I love you,” I told her, leaning in to wrap my arms around her. She returned the embrace, squeezing tightly.

  I heard an excited “Yes!” shouted from across the yard and turned my head to see Noah, his eyes on me and Harlow, with his arms raising up in the air in triumph.

  “Not happening!” Harlow shouted back.

  “Damn it!”

  I laughed and took another pull from my beer as Harlow stood and made her way to her husband, her big, pregnant belly making her waddle adorably.

  I finished off my drink and turned back to the football game going on a few yards away. God, Derrick really was the best looking man I’d ever laid eyes on. Then he threw his head back in laughter at something Ethan said and those looks just got even better. As I stood and walked to the cooler for another beer, my movements must have caught his eye. When he turned and offered me a sweet smile, my insides melted and my heart picked up a frantic pace.

  But more than that, I began thinking what if.

  What if Harlow was right?

  What if he was interested in me?

  What if I did have a shot?

  What if, what if, what if.

  In that moment, I started to hope. It was enough to get my feet moving in Derrick’s direction just as the football game came to a pause.

  “Hey there, sunshine,” he grinned as I made my way to him. Just like every time I heard that name from his lips, I shivered with pleasure. I wasn’t lying when I told Harlow that Derrick and I had talked. We had. Our conversations just never held anything of substance. But that could be easily changed, right? All I had to do was push past my insecurities and awkwardness, and make that happen.

  “Hey Derrick,” I offered nervously. “Having fun?”

  He lifted one sculpted arm and brushed a bead of sweat from his forehead. The strong muscles in his bicep bulged beautifully and I was hit with a wave of yearning to reach out and run my fingers over his tan, glistening skin. “Yeah, it’s been great.”

  Looking down at the cold bottle in my hands, I picked at the label with my thumbnail as I garnered up the courage to say what I truly wanted to say.

  I sucked in a deep breath and dug deep for courage. “So, I was thinking… I don’t know if you’re busy… it’s cool if you don’t have time, but…” Jeez, Chloe, get your shit together and just ask him out already! I berated internally.

  Before I even had a chance to finish that thought, Derrick spoke. “Yeah, sure. Sounds good.”

  My gaze shot up at his distracted tone to find that his eyes weren’t even on me. Looking over my shoulder to see what held Derrick’s attention, I saw Tammy Bradford, the town doorknob, smiling at Derrick seductively. When I looked back at him, the corner of his mouth was quirked up in a knowing grin as he kept his focus pinned on Tammy.

  A sharp pain stabbed through my chest as my stomach dropped. And standing there in front of my insane crush, I felt my hope die a slow, agonizing death.

  Derrick patted my arm and moved to step past me. “’Scuze me, Cathy, I’ll be back in a few.”

  Cathy? What the hell?

  He didn’t call me sunshine out of endearment. He did it because he couldn’t remember my actual name!

  “Uh... y-yeah. See ya,” I stuttered as I fought to keep from bursting into tears. I couldn’t remember a time in my life where I’d ever felt more humiliated than just then. And I’d had a boyfriend clean out my checking account in college, for Christ’s sake!

  This was so much worse.

  My bottom lip began to tremble as I made my way through the large backyard and along the side of the house. My vision swam with unshed tears that I refused to let fall. Embarrassment and heartbreak fueled each of my steps as I made it to my car, thankfully, undetected.

  I was such a fool to think someone like Derrick would ever be interested in someone like me.

  As I put my car into gear and pulled away from the happy sounds of the party, my tears finally brimmed over and fell. All I could think was that I’d never make that mistake again.

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  Discover Other Books by Jessica

  HOPE VALLEY SERIES:

  Out of My League

  Come Back Home Again

  The Best of Me

  Wrong Side of the Tracks

  Stay With Me

  Out of the Darkness

  The Second Time Around

  Waiting for Forever

  Love to Hate You

  Playing for Keeps

  REDEMPTION SERIES

  Bad Alibi

  Crazy Beautiful

  Bittersweet

  Guilty Pleasure

  THE PICKING UP THE PIECES SERIES:

  Picking up the Pieces

  Rising from the Ashes

  Pushing the Boundaries

  Worth the Wait

  THE COLORS NOVELS:

  Scattered Colors

  Shrinking Violet

  Love Hate Relationship

  Wildflower

  THE LOCKLAINE BOYS (a LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP spinoff):

  Fire & Ice

  Opposites Attract

  Almost Perfect

  The Locklaine Boys: The Complete Series Boxset

  THE PEMBROOKE SERIES (a WILDFLOWER spinoff):

  Sweet Sunshine

  Coming Full Circle

  A Broken Soul

  Welcome to Pembrooke: The Complete Pembrooke Series

  CIVIL CORRUPTION SERIES

  Corrupt

  Defile

  Consume

  Ravage

  GIRL TALK SERIES:

  Seducing Lola

  Tempting Sophia

  Enticing Daphne

  Charming Fiona

  STANDALONE TITLES:

  One Knight Stand

  Chance Encounters

  Nightmares from Within

  DEADLY LOVE SERIES:

  Destructive

  Addictive

  About Jessica

  Born and raised around Houston, Jessica is a self proclaimed caffeine addict, connoisseur of inexpensive wine, and the worst driver in the state of Texas. In addition to being all of these things, she’s first and foremost a wife and mom.

  Growing up, she shared her mom and grandmother’s love of reading. But where they leaned toward murder mysteries, Jessica was obsessed with all things romance.

  When she’s not nose deep in her next manuscript, you can us
ually find her with her kindle in hand.

  Connect with Jessica now

  Website: www.authorjessicaprince.com

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  authorjessicaprince@gmail.com