Monica Richardson - The Unexpected Affair

Love doesn’t fit any preconceived guidelines

Determined to avoid relationships that will only end in painful breakups, Whitney Talbot makes a checklist of everything she wants in a life partner. Construction worker Lane Martin possesses a few of these traits—especially the tall, dark and devastatingly attractive part. But Lane has unavoidable baggage... He’s divorced, with a teenage son. So why is Whitney still fantasizing about taking their mutual infatuation to the next level?

It takes an accidental encounter at a new condo development to open Lane’s eyes to the possibility of second chances. On a trip to Whitney’s family’s B and B in the Bahamas, their friendship transforms into something richer and much deeper. If only the beautiful kindergarten teacher and aspiring songwriter didn’t have such firm ideas about what makes the perfect husband. Now Lane could lose her to another man...unless Whitney opens her heart to the one thing she left off her list—love.

“So what are you having?” he asked.

“I don’t know. You seem to know what I like.”

“What do you like?”

“I’d like for my date to be on time. And in the future, if he’s going to be late, I’d like for him to call or text to let me know.”

“So you’re saying there will be another date. Or should I say, future dates?”

“Let’s get through this one first.” She smiled at him.

It was easy to be with him, she noted. Some dates were so strained, uncomfortable.

“Fair enough,” he said.

“I’ll have the fire hot wings,” she said.

“Can you handle the fire hot wings?” he asked with a huge grin.

She peeked over the top of the menu. Took note of how handsome he was—dark face, silky, smooth skin. Perfectly trimmed hair and mustache with just a hint of gray. His arms were strong, and his hands were huge. She wondered what it would feel like to be hugged by those arms, but not more than she wondered what the story was behind his sad eyes.

“I can handle a lot.” She smiled back at him.

Dear Reader,

Lane Martin is a complicated fellow, sort of like that India Arie song “Complicated Melody”—a melody so complex, it can’t be sung on key. That’s Lane. Being hurt in love has made him that way. But he’s charismatic and easy to fall in love with, despite everything else. He’s a truck driver and blue-collar—the total opposite of anything Whitney Talbot is accustomed to. So, she prejudges him, as we often do when we’re not accustomed to something.

Sometimes, we only see black and white, and not the gray areas in between. She doesn’t quite see or understand the whole of him. And because he has very few qualities on her Man Menu, she almost misses out on the love that could change her life. Not to mention she’s dealing with her own fears of love and commitment, which is why these two are made for each other. The chemistry and love between them are undeniable, even though they both spend way too much time denying it.

I hope you fall in love with Lane, and enjoy his and Whitney’s story. Writing this book was somewhat effortless, yet intricate all at the same time.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing the Talbots’ story. Because my family is from the Eleuthera Islands, it’s like sitting with them and having a great Bahamian meal while researching the beautiful island they call home...and I call my homeland. I hope you continue to love the Talbots and make them your favorite family.

Visit my website at monica-richardson.comor email me at Monica@Monica-Richardson.com.

Happy reading!

Monica Richardson

The Unexpected Affair

Monica Richardson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MONICA RICHARDSONwrites adult romances set in Florida and the Caribbean. Under the name Monica McKayhan, she wrote the Indigo Summer young adult series. Indigo Summer hit the Essence and Black Issues Book Review bestseller lists, and the series also received a film option. Monica’s YA books have garnered accolades and industry recognition, including several American Library Association (ALA) placements on the Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers and the Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults annual lists. She penned her first romance novel, Tropical Fantasy, in 2013.

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For my granny, Rosa A. Heggie

(November 1927–2008)

She was special in so many ways and the strongest woman I knew.

My life is rich because of her.

Acknowledgments

To my family and friends—you are my support system.

To my readers—you give me the energy to continue to write. I’m sure you will enjoy the Talbot family and get to know them well. This is for you!

To my family in the Bahamas—visiting with you and talking to you about my history has made the research and writing of this Talbot series a complete joy.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

Whitney Talbot went over the details of her Man Menu in her head. First and foremost, he needed a college degree. Beyond that, he needed an ample salary and he needed to own at least one piece of real estate. He needed to be tall—at least six feet—dark, handsome. He shouldn’t have any children or have been previously married—she didn’t need any baby-mama drama. He needed to appreciate the arts and music and love children—because she intended to have at least one, maybe two. He needed to be a conversationalist, because she enjoyed a good conversation.

Her Man Menu was a page long, and she used it loyally. She used it because she and her friends had developed it at the Starbucks just down the street from their college dorm during their Texas A&M. days. They had spent hours pulling it together. It was their bible—their source. They wouldn’t be stuck with the wrong man under any circumstances.

After college, Kenya had ended up with Will. Though she spent more time alone because Will traveled 90 percent of the time, she swore that she was happy. He was providing for his family, she always defended him. And though Tasha’s husband, Louis, had fathered another woman’s child during their marriage, she still swore that he was the perfect man, according to their Man Menu. Yes, he’d made a mistake, but they were repairing their marriage. Marriage took work, she’d say.