Love Me Knot

By Shelli Stevens

*Ryan’s story was written after readers who loved the Holding Out for a Hero series requested it! It’s a short, erotic romance available for free!*

Ciara came to Wyattville to reconnect with her half-brother, and use up extra vacation time in the small beach community. What she didn’t planned on was throwing her inhibitions to the wind and falling for a complete stranger.

Ryan Wyatt spends his days serving in the Coast Guard, and his nights flirting with the ladies. He’s the last Wyatt bachelor standing now that his cousins are married. When he meets Ciara he wonders if that’s about to change. Until he discovers she’s the sister of his enemy. Then his plan for seduction becomes tinted with vengeance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shelli Stevens
• Release date: Jun 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311469038

Shelli Stevens

Shelli is a New York Times Bestselling Author who read her first romance novel when she snatched it off her mother’s bookshelf at the age of eleven. One taste and she was forever hooked. It wasn’t until many years later that she decided to pursue writing stories of her own. By then she acknowledged the voices in her head didn’t make her crazy, they made her a writer.Shelli currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her daughter where she writes various genres of romance. She’s a compulsive volunteer, and has been known to spontaneously burst into song.

Book preview

Chapter One

Ryan tilted the bottle of beer to his lips and finished it off, his gaze scanning the scene before him.

People were smiling, laughing hugging, and kissing. It was all a little nauseating. And at the center of the wedding were his cousin Todd and his brand new wife Kate.

From his corner of the room, Ryan watched the newlyweds slow dancing around the dance floor of the Wyattville Ocean front pavilion. He shook his head. Three weddings in less than a year.

What the hell was even going on?

You look a little flabbergasted there, cuz.

Tyson Wyatt sidled up beside him, a trademark grin on his face as he handed Ryan another beer.

Ryan grunted and didn’t disagree. The hairs on the back of his neck lifted and he slid his attention across the room.

Just like a few minutes ago, the same brunette stared at him. She was cute. Maybe interested.

An out-of-town relative of Kate’s maybe? He didn’t recognize her. When she realized she’d been caught staring, she jerked her gaze away and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Tyson followed his gaze. Better be careful, Ry guy. There’s something in the water. I’ve got a feeling you’re next.

Not likely. He still wondered how in the hell every one of his bachelor cousins had found themselves shackled and chained in holy matrimony so quickly.

Wasn’t it just a few months ago he’d been bitching with Todd about Tyson and Trevor settling down?

Maybe Tyson was right—there was something in the water. Which was why he was staying the hell away from it.

He set the empty bottle of beer down on a nearby table and twisted off the cap on the new one. Guess I should congratulate the newlyweds.

Aw, you’ve got time. Tyson settled beside him and they both stared out at the dance floor together. So any new gals in your life?

I’m actually in between at the moment, Sheriff, he drawled.

Until Todd had fallen head over heels for Kate, he and Ryan had been like twins rather than cousins. They’d both lived and loved life to the fullest—including the girls that came with it.

How many times had they been each other’s wingman? Too many to count. Damn. And now he was flying solo.

He checked again to see if the brunette was still staring. Yes, she was. This time her cheeks filled with color before she looked away and seemed to mutter something to herself.

Then again, maybe he didn’t need a wingman. He’d do just fine on his own.

Excuse me, cuz. He smiled and slapped his oldest cousin on the back. I think I may go see someone about filling that vacancy for a girl in my life.

Oh crap. He’s coming over.

Ciara bit back a groan and resisted the urge to flee. She almost wished the floor would open and swallow her.

What’d you expect by staring at him like he was some sex god from another planet?

But, jeez, how could she not? He was ridiculously hot. Was he one of the Wyatt brothers?

She’d heard there were only three, but when one of the known Wyatts had walked over to him, there was no denying the resemblance. The blond hair and blue eyes.

How’s your beer?

She blinked as he arrived beside her. I’m not actually drinking a beer. This is punch.

And see that’s a problem, which is why I brought you one. His mouth curved into a sinfully sexy smile as he handed her a bottle. You are old enough to drink the stuff, right? My cousin isn’t going to have to come and arrest me for supplying a minor with alcohol?

Tyson Wyatt was the Sheriff, so that meant this guy wasn’t one of the brothers, but a cousin.

I’m twenty-three, so no laws are being broken. She accepted the beer with a quirked brow. And does your beer trick actually work on women?

You know, I’ve never actually tried it before tonight. How’s it working?

Oh, honey you could’ve handed me a bottle of vinegar and I would’ve melted a little.

I’ll let you know. I’m Ciara. So you’re one of the famous Wyatts?

Ryan Wyatt, but I wouldn’t say I’m one of the better-known ones.

Somehow she had a hard time believing Ryan was a wallflower.

Nice to meet you, Ryan. I haven’t been here long, but it sounds like anyone with the last name Wyatt in a place called Wyattville stands out a little.

Hmm. Maybe. What brings you here?

Family. Which she didn’t really want to talk about. Or did you mean the wedding?

Actually both. But on the wedding topic, are you friends with the bride or groom?

Bride, though only just recently. I met her at the salon last week when she was getting her hair highlighted. We hit it off fabulously, have been hanging out, and she invited me to her wedding. Ciara smiled and took a sip of beer. Seemed a little crazy, but she assured me it’s totally not weird in a small town.

"Not weird at all. I’m surprised she didn’t make you a