Mostrando resultados por autor "Nicole Dykes" en Todas las categorías

I like to party; to have a good time. Life’s too short not to. I learned that when I lost my grandpa. He told me to have fun while I can, and I intend to. Though sometimes when you’re having a good time, you forget others may see you as irresponsible. And sometimes you screw up. I’ve definitely screwed up a time or two, but I’m still determined to have fun. I’m hoping I’ll convince my best friend, Camden, to do the same along the way. He’s too serious. Too focused. Too busy taking care of everyone to just relax. And that’s where I come in.

I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter, and I never thought I would become a father, but it turns out—I’m both. And while being a firefighter was the only career I ever wanted—being a father has become my greatest destiny in this world. Now I need to do everything I can to protect my son, even if that means going back to my hometown. I won’t let my son down, no matter what, and I will do my duty as a fireman. Hopefully, I can do it without everything else burning down around me. Spencer I never expected to see Kade again—my high school crush and my biggest heartache in adolescence.

Reed Ellis is absolutely gorgeous but a total newbie to camming, a virtual nobody in my world. I should have just deleted his message request for a steamy on-camera collaboration. Not everyone is cut out to be a camboy. But there's just something about him I couldn't resist. He's timid and inexperienced, quiet and closed off, but his fumbling first times play out scorching hot for the cameras, and our videos together are an instant success. I know I should just ride this out, sit back and watch the money roll in, and then move on.

Spark of Hope: A bi-weekly trauma support group. This is my nightmare. When I think of a support group, I think of sad people sitting around talking about their feelings and nothing changing. And yet, when my brother and his best friend, who happens to be a therapist, presented the idea of holding the meetings at my gym, I caved. Because I, Benjamin Price, have always tried to rescue the people in my life. But I can’t. I’ve usually failed them.

Big Bend is my home. I love it here. I love everything about it. It's my senior year, and I'm determined to have the best one yet. Of course, that's when life gets confusing. I think I may have a little bit of a crush on my nemesis. Something I never saw coming. I just hope I can find a way to make him give me a chance because being together would make not only this year great but this life of ours—absolutely epic.

Here, it's different from my crazy, loud, glitzy life. It's quiet and peaceful. No one seems impressed with my celebrity. No one is less impressed than the sexy, aloof member of the cleaning crew. He couldn't care less who I am or why I'm here. He's convinced I'm one of the fortunate ones—and I suppose I am. I've had it all—big houses, the best care, money, fame, and shallow adoration... but I've never been loved. I've never known if people like me for who I am underneath it all or just for my money and fame. And to me... that seems awfully unfortunate.

Best-selling novelist Karen Witemeyer joins award-winning authors Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes, and Nicole Deese for this Texas-sized romance novella collection. Each of the authors' unique voices is on display in stories where courting couples leave a permanent mark of their love by carving their initials into the same oak's bark.

I’m the fun one. The loud one. The overly opinionated one with no filter. I’ve been unapologetically me since day one, and it hasn’t been easy. Kicked out of my home when I was sixteen, I chose to be alone rather than not be my true self. I found my family now and a job I love. I have everything, and yet I’m still an outcast in so many ways...

I’m a teacher who has only one thing missing from his life: a healthy relationship. I have a plan in place. This should be easy. No more toxic men. No more casual hookups. I want something real. A love that’s equal, not lopsided. I’m a fixer at heart, but I’m done with the hopeless and the selfish.

Selfish. That's the only way Andrew will ever see me. An abused boy who grew up and became a defense attorney for the rich and famous. I'll never forget the look on his face when I told him. The hurt and disgust I saw in his eyes as I stomped all over his dreams. He left me behind, convincing me he'd hate me forever. Now, circumstances have brought me back into his life. I have one more chance to prove I'm not the man he thinks I am. I'll do anything to prove I'm worthy of him.

I’ve always been a helper, someone who sees the world in a brighter light than others do, who tries to show everyone there’s good in this world. So when I meet Henry, I immediately make it my mission to show him how great the world can be if he’ll only accept a little help. Easier said than done. But I’ve always liked a challenge.

I had everything; I was going to college, having a blast, enjoying myself, and not taking much seriously. But then, two years ago, everything changed. A car wreck destroyed my life. It sent me into a total tailspin. I walked away, even when everyone said I wouldn’t be able to. But I haven’t recovered from it. The only thing I have left is my best friend, but I’m sure he’ll give up on me soon. Even so, I can’t fight the truth: I’m irrevocably ruined.

The emo kid, the loner, the cynical wallflower with an attitude. It's no secret that I've never quite fit in. But it's glaringly obvious now that I've moved to this Podunk small town that seems to run entirely on sugar, friendliness, and cheer. (And cows, an ungodly number of cows.) I hate it—this place where everyone knows everyone, and I'm still the outsider. Who wants to fit in anyway? I've never really tried, never even thought I wanted to…until I met him. Jimbob is living his best life out here, farming the fields of Kansas, well and truly happy. And I just don't get it.

He’s an influencer—whatever that means. He’s also stunningly beautiful with a feisty attitude, and I can’t deny that it intrigues me. But more importantly, he’s in trouble. I’m not like my brother. Except for being a cop, I don’t strive to save the entire world. However, I find myself compelled to save him. If he’ll calm down and just let me.

Coach. That's who I am. The strong, levelheaded, always-dependable coach. But then my wife left me. And my daughter—well, according to the town—she ran off and left me too. Now, I'm branded with scandal. My reputation is at stake, and I have to play by the rules if I want to keep my job. Then along comes Chance Leighton—a rule breaker with a scandal of his own. And worse, he's not from here. He's a Big Bend Bear. I need to keep my head down and follow the rules of this town. This town that's kept me in its perfect package since day one. But he makes me want to rebel.

Welcome to Big Bend—my nightmare and my home, all in one. I don't fit in here. I don't fit in anywhere. I've made so many mistakes. Over and over. Two of those mistakes haunt me. One, being responsible for a friend losing his job and reputation in this town. And two, well, that one is even worse. I ruined so many lives with one stupid decision I barely even remember. And now, I'm going to pay for it.

I probably shouldn't be in the office of someone I don't know, filming content for my site, but I quite like the view it affords me, and I really like that leather chair. I like it even more when the owner of the office turns out to be my grumpy, buttoned-up boss, and he catches me in the act. Literally. He's not happy about it, but he doesn't leave, and I don't stop. Suddenly, he's around all the time. Watching me. Taunting me. Teasing me. It soon becomes a game. A game only we play.

I know most would probably describe me as a little uptight, unwilling to change, set in my ways… The truth is, I just like my life the way it is—simple and predictable. I have everything I need—good friends, family close by, and the automotive business I've built from the ground up. I'm proud of the life I've made in this quiet, small town. Nothing needs to change. At least, that's what I believed up until the day Damon Deveraux, a lively and bold little whirlwind of a man in lip gloss and short shorts, saunters into my life and changes everything.

Life has been easy for me. Top of my class. Star quarterback of the football team. Every guy wants to be my friend, and every girl wants to date me. Yeah, life is pretty sweet. Except it’s not. It’s all fake. School comes too easy for me, and I’m bored. Football isn’t fun anymore. The guys I hang out with aren’t really my friends. And the girls? I don’t want to date them. The only one I want to date... He’s a little bit...hostile.

I’m a total nerd, but I look like a jock. I had a perfect GPA in high school, and my GPA in college is perfect too. I smile when I’m supposed to smile. I have two loving parents and a brother and sister who are always by my side. I’m the perfect all-American guy. But the only thing that actually defines me is the before. The things I keep hidden deep inside because I’m too afraid of losing what I have now. The past lives deep inside me as I force the plastic smile on my face. And no one sees through it because I’m just that good.