Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Over a decade ago, I laid my bat aside and walked away from the Majors with no regrets.
Being a Marine was in my blood.
My code is simple: Discipline, Control, Protection—words I live by.
Which is why, the night a fiery woman approaches me to help her friend, I’m all in.
The emerald-eyed beauty across the room awakens my protective instincts.
It started with harmless flirting.
Until the moment my lips crossed hers and everything changed.
In an instant, she runs, leaving me without a word.
As it turns out, luck is on my side.
It doesn’t take long to find Willow Richards, and this time she’s not getting away.
Willow denies our connection.
She calls me a daredevil.
An adrenaline—fueled junkie who thrives on danger and has no place in her controlled world.
From the ball field to the battlefield, I thrive on challenge.
Breaking through her walls turns out to be my biggest obstacle yet.
When the façade she’s living implodes, exposing the betrayal she’s buried, my purpose becomes her happiness.
Just as things fall into place, my past collides with my future, threatening every promise I’ve made.
But one thing is certain, Willow Richards is mine.
And I will scorch the earth before anyone hurts her again.
Including myself. All she has to do is trust me…
My name is Talon Simms.
I’ve waited a lifetime for this woman. I’m not losing her now
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
PROLOGUE
TALON
“Shots! Shots!”
A group chants around two men tossing back the amber liquid.
“Fucking amateurs, you think these idiots ever actually won a softball game before tonight?” Ace and Harley walk up.
“Talon hit the winning home run; they should buy him shots. He’s the hero of the day.” Harley winks at me.
“It was a fucking loose pitch. He got lucky,” Ace complains.
“Aww, you jealous? You know that hit was legit. Knocked that shit right out of the park, probably into the next zip code.” I project my arms wide.
One thing is for sure. Out of the four of us, Ace has a fierce competitive streak. He’d take a bullet in a milli-second, but when it comes to being outshined, he’s a piss-poor loser.
“Don’t be hard on yourself. Your hit in the fourth inning was solid.”
Ford and Major chuckle while Ace’s eyes heat.
“Please don’t antagonize him. He was finally getting over his grouchiness.” Harley’s grin is laced with amusement.
“Sure thing, Jay. Let’s get the grump a consolation beer for being the second-best player tonight.”
She pops me in the arm. “The four of you were equally outstanding.”
I flinch, pretending to wince. “Why the violence? What will the baby think?”
Ace looks at his wife adoringly. “Good job, baby.”
“You rookies going to sit down before I have a riot on my hands for holding your section?” Tom, the owner, yells from the far end of the bar.
“Let’s get you some food.” Ace guides Harley to our reserved section.
“Jewls and Rowan are fifteen minutes out,” Major announces, reading his phone. “The boys are asleep.”
“Being the center of attention is exhausting.”
“Now who’s jealous? You scared they stole your spotlight?” He flashes a picture of his twins in Jewls’ arms wearing identical Metro Nashville Police Department outfits.
“Not jealous, no better guys to lose the spotlight to. Can’t deny they have game.”
Major’s lips curl and he dips his chin. “Damn right.”
“And Jewls seems to have an audience, too.”
His lips shift to a sneer. “She and I will talk about that tonight. The woman can’t help herself.”
I enjoy his irritation as much as Ace. They make it too easy. “Try not to knock her up again.”
“Not my plan, but once you get the fever you’ll understand.”
“God, help us,” I say to the ceiling.
“You’ll get it one day, too. The last to fall.”
“Pretty sure you dumb fuckers got the best of the lot.” I glance back to find Ace hovering over Jay with his hand on her stomach.
My best friends, brothers in bond, the finest men I know.
They’re also fucking idiots for wasting time with the finest women I’ve ever met.
A shard of pain stabs my shoulder and I clench my teeth to keep from flinching.
“Order me a beer, be back.” I take off in the other direction without explanation and bypass the line waiting for the bathroom.
“What the fu—” The man shuts his mouth, recognizing me, and steps aside.
I pull my shirt halfway off and inspect my shoulder. “Goddammit.” The bruising has already formed and the muscles tick against my fingertips.
“Better not let Rowan see that.” Ford’s eyes lock on mine in the mirror.
“Did you follow me?”
“Knew something was off when Jay gave you the sucker punch.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Bullshit, how bad is the pain?” He presses the tender spot near the socket.
“Zero,” I lie.
“You had to be a show-off, sliding into the base.”
“Hey, gotta give the fans a show.”
“Wanna head out and take a pain pill?”
“Fuck no.” Last time I was in the hospital, they kept me so doped up I was high for a week after.
“No shame in being human.”
“You want to go home and take a pain pill?”
“Not taking a pain pill, but if it gets Rowan in bed sooner, then I’m game.”
I adjust my shirt and shake my head. “You want to use me as your wingman to get laid? Didn’t we pass that stage, considering you have a ring on her finger?”
“She has a soft spot for you. If I play it up, it moves things along.”
“Jesus Christ, at least buy her a drink first. Don’t you have any respect for your lady?”
His grin falters and he eyes my shoulder again. “Seriously, man, no shame. You’re hurt, we leave.”
“I’m good. Or at least I will be once you buy me a beer and a celebratory shot. None of the cheap shit either.”
He follows me out, and we’re stopped by a petite blonde woman who’s flailing her hands in the air wildly. She grabs my elbow, yanking me around the corner.
“I don’t have much time. Are you gay?”
Ford lets out a loud snort and I shoot him a glare before answering, “No.”
“Are you here with someone?”
“I’m here with a lot of people.”
“Are you a cop?”
“Yes.”
She chews on her bottom lip, assessing me closely. I cast a glance over to see if anything seems off. “Are you in trouble? Is someone bothering you?”