A sexy hometown hero returns to rescue the one who got away
Ten years ago, bad boy Nick Anderson left home—and a brokenhearted Shelby Stillwater in his wake. Now the retired navy SEAL has inherited the family ranch Shelby calls home. Almost in foreclosure, the property is being sabotaged to force a sale...and Shelby is in mortal danger.
As Nick and Shelby work together to stop the vandals, old passions and new threats arise. The ranch carries painful memories, and Nick’s not sure if he’s willing to work to save the land. But as he finds new purpose and a new home, he remains determined to keep Shelby from harm...even if it means risking everything he holds dear in the process.
“Six o’clock sharp. Wear something more civilized than jeans.”
“I have some black silk boxers that are formal. That do?”
Flushing, she scowled at him. “Stop it, Nick.”
Then his cocky grin dropped and his gaze turned serious. “You’ll be safer with me here, Shelby. I’m not going to leave until I find out who’s been doing these things and threatening you and the ranch. I promise you, I will catch them.”
With a nod, he headed out the door. “I’ll bring my things over later. Need to have a look around the place first.”
As she watched him walk down the steps, a warm tingle raced down her spine. Not from his quiet words or the relief they brought, but the awareness of him as a man and the unspoken intent lingering in his eyes, a sensual promise that could lead them straight down the road where they’d left off ten years ago.
And straight back into hell.
* * *
Everyone remembers their first crush. Sometimes we may wonder what happened to that cute guy who broke our hearts and got away.
Shelby Stillwater isn’t left wondering anymore when handsome Nick Anderson comes waltzing back into town after ten long years. Nick is the cute guy who was her first crush. Protective of her in high school, he was her best friend, until the day when he caught her crying and kissed her.
Nick abandoned her afterward, and Shelby never forgave him for walking away. But when Nick comes back to Tennessee for his father’s funeral, Shelby knows there is more at stake than opening wounds from the past. Someone has been sabotaging the Belle Creek ranch, where she lives, putting its operation deeper into debt. Shelby needs Nick’s help to save the only home she’s ever known.
For Nick, a former SEAL who has felt lost ever since leaving the navy, seeing Shelby fires his blood once more. He could never forget the soft feel of her mouth beneath his, or how her kiss drove him mad with desire. Now the old feelings have returned. Nick is a classic nomad, running away from his feelings. It will take all his self-control and discipline to work with Shelby to find the criminals trying to force him into selling Belle Creek to a powerful developer.
I hope you enjoy Navy SEAL Protector and Nick and Shelby’s reunion romance. It’s a story of two lost souls who never forgot each other, and of a homecoming they will always remember.
Happy reading!
Bonnie Vanak
Navy SEAL Protector
Bonnie Vanak
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author BONNIE VANAK is passionate about romance novels and telling stories. A former newspaper reporter, she worked as a journalist for a large international charity for several years, traveling to countries such as Haiti to report on the sufferings of the poor. Bonnie lives in Florida with her husband, Frank, and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She loves to hear from readers. She can be reached through her website, bonnievanak.com.
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For Frank, my hero. I love you, always.
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