Title: Calculated Risk
Author: Rachael Duncan
Genre: Contemporary Romance
I thought the ring on my finger would do the trick and keep men away. All I wanted was to save my heart from shattering--again. The truth is, I'm not married. The ring was just a ploy--a ploy to keep me safe, protected from pain.
But then Marcus Riley came along with his goofy pick-up lines, and he saw right through the facade. He knew the truth, and he wanted me. God help me, I wanted him too--in so many ways. But love is a risk, a painful, scary risk. One I'm too afraid to take.
Unless...
He's the one risk worth taking.
But it just might come at a price.
“Let me erase your pain.”
I shake my head. “No need. You’ve been doing that since the moment I met you.” My chin quivers as I’m overcome with emotions I can’t explain. When his lips touch mine, they’re like a calming balm to my battered heart. They keep it beating and revive my soul.
“I got to see you in your element, so I thought I’d show you mine. We’re going to run to the station real quick, fill out some forms, and you’re going to go on a ride along with me.” He closes the door on me before I get to respond. I’m noticing he does this a lot when he’s afraid I’ll argue, but I’m actually excited about this.
“What if you get into a shootout with someone or something bad happens?” I ask once he gets in the car.
He looks over at me as if to say, Really? “This is Apex, Lydia, not Compton.”
I roll my eyes at him. “I’m aware, but you never know. The crazies live everywhere.”
“Well, that’s what the waiver is for.”
Rachael Duncan is an Army wife and mother to two beautiful girls. She grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and went off to graduate from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in political science. With initial plans to work in politics, she moved to Washington, D.C. and worked on Capitol Hill for a House Representative. After a short time, she realized it wasn't for her and began pursuing other careers until she started writing. She's the author of Tackled by Love, The Lies and Truth Series, and Hopeless Vows.