Title: Ready For It
Author: ML Nystrom
Series: MacAteer Brothers #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 7, 2020
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Cover Designer: BookSmith Design
Now live!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3bf9gsT
All links: https://books2read.com/readyforit
A woman who seems to have it all, a shy construction worker who prefers to keep in the shadows, and news that will blow their worlds wide open. Join bestselling author ML Nystrom in the Dragon Runners MC spin-off following the much-loved MacAteer brothers.
Party girl Melanie Miser has it all: looks, brains, and money. She goes through men with a distinct lack of commitment, never getting too close and never letting them get close to her.
Not even her best friend knows why.
After a lifetime of being mocked for his speech impediment, burly giant Owen rarely talks to anyone outside his family circle. He has wanted Melanie for a long time, but fears he would be just another notch in her bedpost. As their friendship strengthens, Owen still yearns for Melanie to see him as more.
Then life throws a major curveball and Melanie faces irrevocable changes. More than ever, she needs Owen to help her process the hardship of her past and the challenges of the future.
If you like heat and tension, you'll love ML Nystrom's friends-to-lovers romance.
Available now!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3bf9gsT
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2LaifRp
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2yFwk6B
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2L9pbhB
Kobo: https://bit.ly/35FfIIt
Nook: https://bit.ly/3ch0CLz
Apple: https://apple.co/2SGw91R
“I love you.”
Those three words hit me like pointed shards of ice. In my favorite romance stories when the man makes his love confession, the woman melts into a big pile of emotional goo. Then they have the best sex of their lives that’s full of descriptive adjectives for several pages. Owen’s declaration didn’t fill me with fluffy feelings and thoughts. I was totally and completely scared out of my ever-lovin’ mind.
“You can’t love me.”
“Yes, I can.”
“It’s impossible.”
“It’s not.”
“You shouldn’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Love me.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t deserve it. I’m so fucked up, I don’t deserve anyone’s love. I’m fuckin’ toxic.”
Owen’s voice growled in my ear as he proceeded to gut me completely. “No one deserves to be loved. It’s not something you have to work for either. You don’t buy it like you do milk in a grocery store. It’s not about clothes or looks or money. I know your family thinks that way and I’ve seen first-hand that being rich doesn’t mean shit when it comes to loving someone. I don’t think you do either.”
I was one big, raw open wound. How many fucking times in my life had I sought one-night stands just to feel something? Anything. How many times had I let someone touch me and not known his last name? How many times did I mistake lust for love? Was I worthy of it? Would I ever be good enough for someone’s love? How could I even recognize it?
Owen’s lips pressed into the spot just under my earlobe. “Listen well, Melanie. You know I don’t bullshit. Ever. There’s nothing you can do to make me love you. Nothing you can say, nothing you can buy. Not sex or the promise of it. Not a house or car. You do not and cannot make me love you. I just do. Something else you should figure out. You can’t make me love you, and you can’t stop me from loving you either.”
I couldn’t contain it. I let the torrent free and totally flooded the shoulder underneath my cheek. My fingers dug into his skin as I clung to his strong arm. I don’t know how long it took for me to empty. It might have been a few minutes. It might have been an hour. He stayed there throughout the entire deluge, holding me, breathing into my hair, kissing my skin, and murmuring I love you’s over and over. The shakes subsided at last. I should have been exhausted from the roller coaster emotions of the day. I wasn’t. I felt alive. I felt lighter. Freer. More open. I felt… I felt… I felt pure need.
“Owend?” Shit, my nose was plugged up.
He knew exactly what I asked and offered. “If I touch you now, I’m not going back to friends only. I’m committed and I’m not leaving. Are you ready for that? If you’re not, I can wait.”
* * *
MacAteer Brothers Series
Run With It
(book 1)
Hold It Close
(book 3)
Now available for preorder!
I've had stories in my head since I was a child. All sorts of stories of fantasy, romance, mystery and anything else that captured my interest. I'm a voracious reader, and have spent many hours in my life devouring books, therefore it's only fitting I should write a few myself!
I've spent most of my life as a performing musician and band instrument repair technician, but that doesn't mean I'm pigeon-holed into one mold. I've been a university professor, belly dancer, craftsperson, soap maker, singer, rock band artist, jewelry maker, lifeguard, swim coach, and whatever else I feel like exploring. As one of my students said to me once, "Life's too short to ignore the opportunities." I have no intention of ever stopping so welcome to my story world. I hope you enjoy it!
