Lauren Dane - Back to You

What won’t he do for a second chance?

Former model Kelly Hurley has finally put the ashes of the past behind her. After a passionate but turbulent marriage to rock star Vaughan Hurley that ended in heartbreak and divorce, Kelly rebuilt her life in Portland, where she settled so their two young daughters could be close to their father. Just not so close Kelly couldn’t truly make her own way without interference from the man who shattered her heart. Now Kelly’s finally ready to move on, and she’s planning to marry another man.

But not if Vaughan has anything to say about it.

Vaughan knows he was a fool all those years ago. A young, selfish—and prideful—fool. Even as he buried himself in the fast, decadent rock-star lifestyle, he could never drown out the memory of Kelly’s beauty and love. Or the sweet, searing heat whenever they touched. For years, he’s had to deal with the pain of seeing her only because of their daughters, but it was never enough. Now Vaughan must prove that he’s the only man Kelly needs, before he loses her for good. And there’s only one way to do it…

Praise for Lauren Dane

“Most remarkable is the fierce power of Dane’s uniquely confident heroine, whose strength gives this story power… Dane’s mastery of her characters and their emotional complexity shines, making it a book fans will savor.”

—RT Book Reviews on Broken Open, 4 stars

“A fabulous start to a sexy new series, the Hurley Brothers series introduces us to rock-star brothers who would tempt the most resistant of readers. Ms. Dane’s new book features a charming hero in hot pursuit, a strong, smart heroine and smokin’ hot love scenes. The Best Kind of Trouble is the best kind of reading.”

—Dear Author

“The perfect combination of sexy rock-star fantasy and emotionally tender romance.”

—Kirkus Reviews on The Best Kind of Trouble

“Dane strikes a beautiful balance in this dynamo of a series debut. Her characters are real and have sympathetic flaws. A colorful cast of supporting characters with absorbing tales of their own ensures that this is a series that readers would do well to seek out and savor.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Best Kind of Trouble, 4 stars

“The Best Kind of Trouble is the lead novel in what promises to be a very steamy and extremely well-written new series by Lauren Dane. She shows us what happens when you mix an ubersexy rock-star-slash-rancher with a kick-ass librarian. It’s nothing short of wonderful.”

—Mills & Boon Junkie, recommended read

“The Best Kind of Trouble is a great example of what Lauren Dane is known for—strong family ties and confident characters with an extra touch of sexiness for good measure!”

—Fresh Fiction

Back to You

Lauren Dane

www.millsandboon.co.uk

As ever, I am humbled and grateful for the people in my life who have gone above and beyond to help me in some way. I would not be where I am in my life without all that kindness.

That I was able to actually get through 2014 is in a huge part due to all that generosity and love.

Thank you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise

Title Page

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

KELLY’S FIRST INSTINCT was to pretend she wasn’t sure she heard Ross right. But it would have been a lie and she hated lying. Regardless, she didn’t know how to answer.

She was thirty-three years old. She had two great kids, a successful professional life, and this man, whom she could see building a life with, had just asked her to marry him. Only less romantically, it was more of a we’ve been sleeping over at one another’s houses for a year now. We should just get married because it’s good for everyone and it would be more cost-efficient, don’t you think?

What else could she do but say yes? It didn’t matter that Ross wasn’t Vaughan. Or, actually, it did matter that he wasn’t the man who’d broken her heart into so many pieces she’d been uncertain she could ever get over it.

Kelly was pretty sure by that point that she wouldn’t. So it was more like trying to figure out how to have a happy life even though she still ached for someone who didn’t love her.

Eight years. She’d walked out on her ex-husband and the father of her children eight years before. And she’d waited. Waited for him to figure out she was amazing and that together they could have such a wonderful, loving family. If he just got his shit together.

Plenty of tears and lots of lonely nights later, all she’d gotten was the lesson that no matter how much she wished it wasn’t true, Vaughan Hurley wasn’t a stable, reliable bet.

Worse, Kelly wasn’t sure he ever would be. Whether he’d ever grow the hell up and be a man worth her love wasn’t something she could bet on anymore. What was she supposed to do? Be single forever? Wait for something that might never come to pass? Kelly didn’t want to be alone anymore. She wanted to be married. Wanted to come home to someone every day.

Ross was a good man. He’d be a good husband. She had no right to expect superhot chemistry every single moment. She loved him. They could have a good life. He was exactly what she needed.

She had to stop waiting around and start living her future. She focused on Ross’s warm, brown eyes. He was safe . “All right. Yes,” a stranger seemed to say, though Kelly didn’t take the words back or argue with them.

Ross smiled and hugged her tight.

* * *

VAUGHAN HURLEY WAS finally home after being away for the past three months touring with his band, Sweet Hollow Ranch. Even before that, he’d been hard at work on their new album. It’d been a good move on his part, as his career and the band’s sales and tour had done exceptionally well. But there’d been no denying he’d put pretty much his entire focus on work.

He was done with that for now. He had things to do. Things he’d avoided doing for years. Maybe too long.

And it had taken his ex-wife’s being proposed to, to finally get him to admit it.

“I thought I should let you know Ross asked me to marry him and I accepted.”

His heart lurched as he struggled to keep his composure. “When are you getting married?”

“We haven’t set a date yet, but not for another year or so.” She waited. He needed to beg her not to do it.

“Oh. Congratulations.”

She’d nodded. “Thanks. Have a good tour.” She’d turned and left him there on her porch, and he’d driven back home on autopilot.

Vaughan’d been thinking of little else over the past three months. Not just her engagement, but his ridiculous silence and the way she’d waited for him to say something, and when he didn’t she’d walked away.

And here he was, after a show, amped up and missing something he hadn’t realized he’d been blessed to have until he’d lost it.

They shared two beautiful daughters he adored like crazy, though. After three months on the road and not being able to kiss or hug them, he missed them. As they got older it was harder and harder to leave them each time. Because the next time he saw them, even if it was just a few weeks later, they’d have grown and lived and he’d missed all those moments.