by Elle Thorpe
“Lily? What’s wrong?” I knelt in front her tiny five-year-old body and scanned her for any obvious sign of injury. She seemed okay—no bleeding wounds or bones at odd angles. A little of my mommy panic ebbed away.
She shook her blonde head sadly, then whispered, “I don’t feel so good.”
I didn’t even have time to flinch before she hurled her dinner up.
All over me.
I scrunched my eyes and mouth shut, whipping my head away just in time to miss the second wave, which landed all over her, the carpet, and again, me.
As her heaving was replaced with sobbing, I dared to survey the carnage. And oh, as soon as I opened my eyes, I wished I hadn’t. Because it was bad. So very bad.
“Sorry, Momma,” Lily whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
I gathered her shaking form up in my arms and recoiled when I touched her burning-hot skin. Whoa. Where had that fever come from? I held her for a moment, debating my options, then decided that the first order of business was getting both of us in a shower.
The doorbell rang when I was halfway down the stairs with my vomit-covered parcel. “Aiden! Could you grab that, please?”
I shifted Lily’s weight, peering over her and carefully watching the stairs to be sure I didn’t fall. Because wouldn’t that just top this evening off. A vision of Lily and me rolling down the stairs, spreading puke everywhere as we went, flashed through my mind and I almost laughed. It was either that or cry.
I took the last step, landing in the living room, right as Aiden screamed, “Mom! It’s for you!”
I froze.
Bowen, all six foot something of delicious, clean, and rugged man, stood in my foyer.
“Hello, Paisley.”
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Also by Elle Thorpe
The Only You series (complete)
*Only the Positive (Only You, #1) - Reese and Low.
*Only the Perfect (Only You, #2) - Jamison.
*Only the Truth - (Only You, bonus novella) - Bree.
*Only the Negatives (Only You, #3) - Gemma.
*Only the Beginning (Only You, #4) - Bianca and Riley.
*Only You boxset
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*All of Him - A single dad anthology, featuring Only the Lies. Only the Lies is a bonus, Only You novella.
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Dirty Cowboy series (complete)
*Talk Dirty, Cowboy (Dirty Cowboy, #1)
*Ride Dirty, Cowboy (Dirty Cowboy, #2)
*Sexy Dirty Cowboy (Dirty Cowboy, #3)
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*25 Reasons to Hate Christmas and Cowboys (a Dirty Cowboy bonus novella, set before Talk Dirty, Cowboy but can be read as a standalone, holiday romance)
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Saint View High series (Reverse Harem, Bully Romance)
*Devious Little Liars (Saint View High, #1)
*Dangerous Little Secrets (Saint View High, #2)
*Twisted Little Truths (Saint View High, #3)
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Buck Cowboys series (Spin off from the Dirty Cowboy series)
*Buck Cowboys (Buck Cowboys, #1)
*Buck You! (Buck Cowboys, #2)
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Acknowledgments
I hope you loved Nate and Hallie’s story. A big thanks first of all to my readers group and newsletter subscribers for choosing all sorts of aspects of this book, from Nate and Hallie’s names, to Hallie’s car. (Sian, I believe it was you who requested a green Volkswagen Beetle named Rylee! Lol)
Come join my readers group and my newsletter for more fun ways to be involved in future books, giveaways, and so I can get to know you better.
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Thank you to Jolie Vines, Zoe Ashwood, Emmy Ellis and Karen Hrdlicka who make up my stellar editing team. And an extra thanks to Jo and Zoe for being my author besties too! Thank you to Sara Massery for the chats, sprints, and graphic design advice. Thank you to Dana and Louise for your early feedback. A massive thank you to my promo and review team for always being there for me.
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And as always, a huge thank you to my family. To Jira, Thomas, Flick, and Heidi. You four are the loves of my life and I couldn’t do any of this without you. How about that move to the country, huh? I’ve got more cowboy books to write and where better to write them than in the middle of nowhere? Let’s make it happen!
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Love, Elle x
About the Author
Elle Thorpe lives on the sunny east coast of Australia. When she’s not writing stories full of kissing, she’s a wife and mummy to three tiny humans. She’s also official ball thrower to one slobbery dog named Rollo. Yes, she named a female dog after a dirty hot character on Vikings. Don’t judge her. Elle is a complete and utter fangirl at heart, obsessing over The Walking Dead and Outlander to an unhealthy degree. But she wouldn’t change a thing.
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You can find her on Facebook or Instagram(@ellethorpebooks or hit the links below!) or at her website www.ellethorpe.com. If you love Elle’s work, please consider joining her Facebook fan group, Elle Thorpe’s Drama Llamas or joining her newsletter here. www.ellethorpe.com/newsletter
