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Authors: Marie Harte

Tags: #Romance, #Contemporary

How to Handle a Heartbreaker (26 page)

BOOK: How to Handle a Heartbreaker
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Enjoy a sneak peek at book 3 in the McCauley Brothers series,

Ruining Mr. Perfect

“Hello?” Cam knocked as he opened the door. “Yo, Mike, you here?” He entered the house and closed the door behind him. A study in brown, his brother’s living room might not be stylish, but it provided comfort and the perfect place to indulge in family Friday night poker.

But on this particular Friday afternoon, the house seemed dead.

A door opened and slammed shut, and a whirlwind of energy burst through the kitchen into the living room and stopped.

Cam noticed two things. Colin McCauley looked as if he’d been playing with Mike’s grease gun again, and he heard the shower running.

“Hey, dude.”

Colin didn’t smile, didn’t blink, and gave him the snake eye.

Cam sighed. For a six-year-old, his nephew could hold a mean grudge. “Still mad I told your dad about your prank on Abby?”

Used to be the place was full of nothing but men. Mike’s wife had died giving birth to Colin, and none of the McCauleys seemed to be able to hold on to a woman like their dad had. Then again, Beth McCauley was special.

Now they had a houseful of hot women living next door. Flynn and Brody had already claimed two of them, leaving the best for Cam. That’s if he could get the stubborn woman to stop arguing long enough to ask her out.

Colin continued to glare at him. The spitting image of Mike with those bright blue eyes and short black hair. They even shared the same dimple.

“Colin,” Cam tried again. “You know dumping water on someone in the shower is a no-no. And especially Ubie’s new girlfriend.” Ubie—short for Uncle Brody. Brody Singer, the blond “adopted” McCauley who had grown up as part of the family.

“But he told me to do it.”

Cam blinked. “He did? Well, you should never—”

“Dad thought it was kind of funny after he yelled at me.” Colin gave him a sharp nod, then added with a smirk, “Dad said he used to do that to you, and that you cried like a
girrrl
.” Considering Colin’s anti-girl phase, that was a high insult.

“Is that right?” Cam frowned, remembering being the butt of too many jokes while growing up. “Mike has no idea what he’s dealing with. You think your dad’s tough? Watch Uncle Cam.” Knowing he shouldn’t encourage the mischief in his nephew’s eyes but unable to stop himself from the unspoken dare, Cam hurried to the kitchen, found a large glass, and filled it with ice-cold water. Considering the freezing January wind outside, Mike would be basking in a hot shower to warm up. Cam grinned, looking forward to his brother’s howl of misery.

Colin trailed him like a puppy. “Oh wow, Uncle Cam. Are you going to get Dad?” He clapped.

“Shh.”

“Oh, sorry.” Colin’s big grin showed a missing front tooth.

Cam walked down more ugly brown carpet that looked as if it had been vacuumed to death—Mike and his obsession with cleanliness—and tiptoed into the big guy’s room. He made sure he had a clear exit. If his goliath big brother caught him, he’d be toast. Fortunately, he could move like a gazelle.

Gliding into the master bathroom, he readied himself. One, two…
three.
He yanked open the curtain and tossed the cold water at…
Vanessa Campbell
?

He stared in shock at the sexiest woman he’d seen in a long, long time. Naked, her creamy skin glistened with water as she gaped at him in horror. Which quickly turned to anger.


Cameron McCauley!

“Oh, wow.” He couldn’t look away. Even as manners dictated he close the shower curtain and give her privacy, he couldn’t stop staring at her slender belly, legs toned from years of running, and those beautiful breasts tipped with rosy pink nipples. God, he’d imagined what she might look like, but reality far surpassed his fantasies.

She yelled a string of obscenities as she whipped the curtain closed.

While Cam tried to catch his breath, he heard muffled laughter behind him and turned to see Colin with his hand over his mouth. His nephew’s eyes widened and he took off.

Cam caught him easily, though the kid had made it to the kitchen before being snagged. As he took Colin by the collar, Mike strolled into the kitchen from the attached garage.

“Colin, I said get me the paper towels five minutes ago.” Mike glowered at Cam holding his son. “What’s up, little brother?”

Gritting his teeth, because he hated always being reminded that he was the baby of the family, Cam shook Colin like a rag doll.

Colin, of course, laughed and asked him to do it again.

“Your son played a nasty prank.”

“Yeah?” Mike’s lips quirked. “What did he do?”

“He convinced me to throw cold water at you. In the shower.”

Mike frowned. “But I’m… Shi—oot.” Mike looked from Colin to Cam and tried to hide a grin. “So, um, how is Vanessa?”

“Why is she in your shower?” He’d called dibs. Secretly, but still.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Mike’s wide grin wasn’t helping. “So you froze her thinking it was me, eh? Poor, poor Cam. You never learn. I am the master of the prank.”

“And me,” Colin added proudly. “Shake me again, Uncle Cam. It’s fun.”

“Gah.” Cam dropped Colin, tickled him soundly, then gave him a light swat on the behind. “You owe Vanessa an apology.”

“Oh?” Mike crossed his mammoth arms over his chest. “Seems to me you’re the one who threw cold water on my unsuspecting neighbor. Or are you trying to tell me that my six-year-old forced you to mess with her?”

Cam glared. “You’re just encouraging him.”

“Now, now. Take responsibility for your actions. Act like the twenty-seven-year old you should be.”

“I’m twenty-nine, moron. Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can boss me around like you
tried
to
when we were kids.”

Mike just raised a brow. Then Colin did it. The similarity made it hard not to laugh.

“For God’s sake. Fine. I’ll apologize.” He turned.

“Might want to wait until she’s dressed. Then again, if what I saw at Christmas is true, maybe not.” Mike chuckled at the look Cam shot him and yanked his son with him back into the garage.

“What, Dad? What did you see?” Colin pestered as Mike shut the door.

There hadn’t been that much
to
see. After Cam and Vanessa had eavesdropped on Cam’s parents, they’d hidden in Colin’s room, so as not to be discovered. Then, well, then Cam had kissed her. To keep their cover when his parents found them. Yet honesty compelled him to admit he’d been dying to kiss her for months. Ever since Vanessa had moved next to Mike nearly a year ago, he’d been fascinated by her.

Drawn to her beauty, her brains, and that waspish tongue. But holy hell, when she’d used that tongue during their kiss, she’d hooked him but good.

He waited in the living room, wondering how to take the next step with her. She was going to be livid after getting spied on in the shower. And on a normal day, Vanessa wasn’t a typical woman to be wooed with charm and wit. She saw through games. A lot like him. Unfortunately, he had a feeling the truth would freak her the hell out.

I think we’d be good together. Let’s date, see where it takes us. Then we’ll get married, have kids, double the size of our mutual portfolio…

Fifteen minutes later, Vanessa stalked down the hallway holding her bag. Her blue eyes were lighter than his, bright and full of a cold anger.

How screwed up was he that her rages turned him on? She was so different from other women he’d dated. She didn’t try to cozen up to him or flatter him with true but tired compliments.

“So, Cameron. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Acknowledgments

To Matt Emery, of Emery Plumbing, your knowledge was invaluable. Thank you
so
much
for your help and patience.

To my beta readers—Charity, Kim, Eniko, Angi, and April—your feedback helped shape this book into what it is. You guys are awesome!

And I have to thank Cat C., my editor, for making this book shine.

About the Author

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado,
USA
Today
bestselling author Marie Harte is a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit
marieharte.com
and fall in love.

Ruining Mr. Perfect

The McCauley Brothers

by Marie Harte

USA Today
Bestselling Author

It’s tough always being right

Vanessa Campbell is a CPA by day and a perfectionist by night. She’s fit, smart, healthy…and decidedly lonely. She can’t stop thinking about the youngest McCauley brother, Cameron. He’s just like her: smart, beautiful, and usually right—except when dealing with her.

…But someone’s got to do it

Cameron McCauley likes the look of Vanessa a little too well. She’s a blond goddess and she knows it. She hates to be wrong, just like him. They tend to rub each other the wrong way, which is unfortunate considering how well they could fit. He’s dying to shake Vanessa up—get her to let loose. But if he succeeds, can his heart handle it?

Praise for Marie Harte:

“Off the charts scorching hot. Ms. Harte wows with sex scenes that will make your heart pump.” —
Long and Short Reviews

For more Marie Harte, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

What to Do with a Bad Boy

The McCauley Brothers

by Marie Harte

USA Today
Bestselling Author

She can fix anything…

It’s great that all his brothers are finding love, but Mike has been there, done that. He had his soul mate for a precious time before she died giving birth to their son. She left him with the best boy a guy could want, so why is everyone playing matchmaker? He’s sick of it…until he meets Delilah Webster. For some reason, the foul-mouthed, tattooed mechanic sets his motor running.

But can she fix his heart?

When Del first met Colin, Mike’s young son, she fell in love with the little scam artist. But his father’s like an overprotective pit bull. Too bad they rub each other the wrong way, because Mike is seriously sexy. But when a simple kiss turns hot and heavy, she can’t get him out of her head.

Mike can’t forget that kiss either. He sees the loving woman buried under the rough exterior. But the closer they get, the more the pain of past wounds throws a monkey wrench into a future he’s not sure he can handle…

Praise for Marie Harte:

“Charismatic characters and sexual tension that is hot enough to scorch your fingers.” —
Romance Junkies

For more Marie Harte, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

The Day He Kissed Her

by Juliana Stone

Coming home is the only way to heal his heart.

Mac Draper thought he had everything he ever wanted when hired by a hotshot Manhattan architectural firm. But he still needed one last visit back home to Crystal Lake to face the demons of his past. For Lily St. Clare, the charming small town she just moved to was a haven. Big cities only wanted to eat you up and spit you out.

Neither was expecting to stay very long…until the day they found each other, and one amazingly red-hot night followed. But old wounds almost always leave a mark, and Mac’s scars run deeper than most. With her flirty charm, Lily could be exactly what he needs—if he’s willing to give love one more chance.

Praise for Juliana Stone:

“Stone wastes no time establishing her ability to tell an enthralling story.” —
RT Book Reviews

For more Juliana Stone, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

Find My Way Home

Harmony Homecomings

by Michele Summers

She’s just the kind of drama

Interior designer Bertie Anderson has big dreams for her career, and they don’t include being stuck in her hometown of Harmony, North Carolina. After one last client, Bertie is packing up her high heels and heading for her dream job in Atlanta. But her plans are derailed by the gorgeous new owner of that big old Victorian she’s always wanted to renovate…

He’s vowed to avoid

For retired tennis pro Keith Morgan, Harmony is a far cry from fast-paced Miami—which is exactly the point. Keith is starting a new life for himself and his daughter Maddie, and he’s left the bright lights and hot women far behind. Bertie’s exactly the kind of curvaceous temptation he doesn’t need, and Keith refuses to let their sizzling attraction distract him from his goals. Keith and Bertie both have to learn that there’s more than one kind of escape, and it takes more than wallpaper to turn a house into a home.

For more Michele Summers, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

BOOK: How to Handle a Heartbreaker
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ads

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