Too Enchanting: The Lewis Cousins, book 4

By Bethany Lopez

When she was young, Serena Lewis was uprooted from the life she knew. Her parents took her from everything and everyone she loved, including her best friends… her cousins. Rebelling against the change, Serena became a young woman she knew her family wouldn’t like. Now that she's moving back home, she hopes to keep that part of herself in the past and become the woman she's meant to be.

Jed Monroe is a self-made man. Forced to grow up at a young age, he's always taken care of himself and worked to get what he needed. Working construction has given him stability, but working with wood is where his passion truly lies.

On the outside, petite and perfect Serena and rough and hardworking Jed have nothing in common. When Serena moves into the house next door, Jed is determined to ignore the sexy art gallery manager, who he just knows will be a pain in his ass.

But their shared loved of creating beauty from pain, along with the intangible chemistry that fires whenever they’re in the same space, forces them to dig beneath the surface to find their vulnerability. Jed will soon see that whether he likes Serena or not, she’s Too Enchanting to ignore.

Too Enchanting is the fourth in an all-new small town romance series by Bethany Lopez. Follow the Lewis cousins of Cherry Springs, the kind of place where there are festivals for every occasion and everyone knows your business, as they learn about love and loss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bethany Lopez
• Release date: Mar 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781986212236

Bethany Lopez

Bethany Lopez is a USA Today Bestselling author of more than thirty books and has been published since 2011. She's a lover of all things romance, which she incorporates into the books she writes, no matter the genre.When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with family and traveling whenever possible.Bethany can usually be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine at hand, and will never turn down a cupcake!Sign up for her newsletter and get a free eBook! https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r7w3w5

Book preview

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Chapter One

Serena

That’s the last of it, Mrs. Lewis.

It’s Miss, I haughtily told the man in charge of the moving company.

"Sorry, Miss," he replied with a grimace that conveyed where he wanted me to stick that apology.

Shoot. I came across as bitchy again.

I tried to give the man a genuine smile, but it was too late, he was already walking down my sidewalk to his truck.

I sighed and waved until the truck drove away.

I’d promised myself I’d work on reforming my personality now that I was back home in Cherry Springs. My family expected me to be sweet, quiet, together Rena, the only cousin who’d left our hometown during our formative years and was now back to stay.

What they didn’t expect was snooty, loud, city Rena, who’d worn disdain as a shield throughout high school and college.

Letting go of that side of me was proving more difficult than I thought.

A little rough on the guy, weren’t you?

My eyes widened and I turned my head in shock.

Had someone been spying on me?

Standing on the grass, just on the other side of my property line, in what I could only assume was his yard … unless he’s the gardener, I thought snottily, was a tan, sweaty man who looked vaguely familiar.

Excuse me? I asked, my tone relaying what I thought of his observation.

I think one side of his mouth cocked up, although it was hard to tell underneath all that stubble.

I couldn’t help but overhear while I was out here doing my lawn … You didn’t cut that guy any slack. You know he’s just trying to do his job, right?

My mouth dropped open. I couldn’t help it. No one ever talked to me that way.

Because I told the moving guy where to put my stuff, how I wanted it, and when he could take a break, I’m not cutting him any slack? I asked, crossing my arms over my chest and practically huffing. "As you said, it’s his job … and, I’m paying him to do it, so…"

That doesn’t mean you can’t speak to him with some respect, that’s all I’m saying.

"Who even are you?" I asked, totally annoyed that this asshole was my new neighbor.

Seriously, I had no luck.

The dark-haired stranger shook his head with a wry grin that practically screamed his derision.

We’ve met, he replied, and although I knew he looked familiar, I couldn’t place him. Then he added, I’m Jed Monroe. I’ve been doing construction at your cousin Gabe’s for over six months. I’ve met you at the bar, at countless parties, and at Gabe and Zoey’s wedding.

Oh, right, I said, smiling a bit now that I could place him. Then I frowned, because although he’d always seemed like a nice guy, he wasn’t my favorite right then.

"Yeah, I’m sure since I’m just the hired help, I wasn’t important enough for you to remember."

That’s not fair, I argued. Great, I would have to move in next to a man who was not only friends with my cousins, but who now thought I was an uppity jerk.

He was sure to tell Gabe, Reardon, and/or Dillon. They wouldn’t believe him, of course, and would feel the need to defend my honor, and then Jed would tell them how awful I was to the moving guy, and to him.

This was not how I wanted my new start in Cherry Springs to go. I needed to fix it.

I walked down the steps and across my grass, pausing when I was a few feet away. When I stopped, I noticed his perusal. I was used to it. Men always looked me over. When I entered the room, when I walked past them, or when I stopped to speak to them. I wasn’t conceited, I was a woman who’d been told her whole life she was beautiful. And, those words had been proven correct by the reaction of others when they saw me.

They’d look me over from head to toe, noticing my petite stature, my well-proportioned body, long, silky dark hair, and my face. They usually got stuck on my face.

It wasn’t a ritual I enjoyed; it was one that I put up with.

I waited until his eyes paused on my face, then turned on my best smile and said, "Look, Jed. We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. Not only are you friends with my cousins, but, we’re neighbors. What do you say we start over?"

I stuck out my hand and kept a pleasing look on my face as I waited.

And, waited.

Finally, Jed reached out and shook my hand.

He had a firm, but sweaty, grasp, and it took all of my willpower not to wipe my hand on my jeans once he let it go.

With narrowed eyes, Jed said, All right. I’ll agree to a reboot … but, only because your cousins are great guys, and I know how excited they are to have you back in town.

I bit back a nasty remark and gave a smooth nod.

Thank you, I replied, then turned to go.

That being said, Jed added before I could walk away. If you have an issue with your plumbing or electricity, or just need something heavy moved… I smiled, patiently waiting for him to offer his assistance. It’s probably better if you call one of them, rather than knocking on my door.

Then, without so much as a farewell, he picked up his weed whacker and turned around, leaving me standing there catching flies.

What an asshole, I fumed as I stomped back to my new house.

I thought momentarily about walking over to Reardon and Chloe’s house. They lived in the Copper Woods subdivision too, and was part of the reason why I’d chosen to buy a house there. I knew Chloe would listen with a sympathetic ear about my super jerky neighbor.

I sighed. No, I couldn’t do that. Not only did I know they liked Jed, but I didn’t want them to find out about my snarky behavior. I needed to be Serena, the sensible cousin and put-together art gallery manager.

Plus, Chloe was about to give birth and was currently on bed rest.

Instead, I walked into my house, opened a bottle of wine, and decided to start unpacking.

Welcome back to Cherry Springs, I said to the empty house, my glass raised. Here’s to starting over and becoming the woman my family has always expected me to be.

Chapter Two

Jed

I was muttering to myself as I put my yard tools back in my shed. I knew I was doing it, yet I couldn’t seem to stop.

Serena Lewis had gotten on my last nerve.

Freaking rude-ass, don’t know how to talk to people, pint-sized beauty, I said under my breath as I hung up my weed-eater, then shut the door to the shed and locked it.

I’d been surprised when I realized that my new neighbor was Gabe’s cousin. I’d recognized her immediately, but then again, she was pretty easy to notice. She’d cut her hair, but it still hung well past her shoulders. It didn’t really matter what she did to her hair, she could shave it all off if she wanted, it was her face that was unforgettable. Not that her silky chestnut hair wasn’t beautiful, her body wasn’t amazing, and her voice wasn’t sexy and smoky, all that was true, too.

It was ridiculous really, and I guess I should have expected a woman who looked like her to treat others like garbage, but I hadn’t.

The times I’d met her she’d been kind, funny, and obviously adored by her cousins.

The woman I’d seen today was like a movie villain version of that woman. The Serena I’d seen today had been a stuck-up harpy who was downright ugly.

I glanced over at the back of her house and shook my head.

I couldn’t imagine Gabe, Rear, or Dillon had ever seen Serena like I had today. Shoot, they put her on a pedestal, thought she was the best of them. It probably had something to do with the fact that she’d moved away, so they hadn’t gotten to grow up with her the way they had with each other.

They saw her through rose-colored glasses, tinged with love and excitement over the fact that she was moving back and they’d finally all live in Cherry Springs together again.

I hated that they were bound to be sorely disappointed when they found out the truth.

With a huff, I turned my back to Serena’s house and pushed her from my mind. I’d spent too much time thinking about her as it was … People like that were toxic, and I didn’t need that in my life.

Needing to cool down, I walked back through my yard to the building settled at the end of my property. My happy place. My workshop.

I opened the doors, breathed in the smell of wood and sawdust, and grinned for the first time that day.

I worked construction to pay the bills and put a roof over my head, but this, this was where my passion lie. Woodworking, crafting, building … whatever you wanted to call it, I loved doing it.

Creating something out of nothing. Turning something plain into something extraordinary. That’s what turned me on and got my juices flowing.

I looked around my studio at the unfinished pieces, trying to see which piece called for me and begged to be completed. The wagon wheel table, the antique dresser that I was turning into a bookshelf, or the river wood table. I also glanced at the new shipment of boat wood that I’d gotten in to reclaim, but my heart was telling me it was time to finish the river wood.

Mind made up, I crossed to my workbench to turn on my Bluetooth speaker, set my phone to stream, and got to work.

About two hours later, I was in the zone. My mind was clear, I was singing along to the music, and the table was almost finished. I stood up and stretched, one hand on my lower back as I wiped the sweat from my brow.

Whew, I thought as my scent wafted up and punched me in the nose. Between the yardwork and the woodworking, I was ripe.

Thinking a shower was in order, I was about to throw down my sander and go into the house, but as I was about to start cleaning up, I heard a knock and then a voice behind me.

Hey, Reardon said, shouting louder than was necessary. Jed, it’s Reardon … Don’t want to startle you and have you accidentally saw something off.

I chuckled and turned my music off on my phone as I turned.

How’s it going? I asked.

I’d met Reardon and Dillon through Gabe almost two years ago, and now they were my crew, along with Shane, our buddy who worked tending bar in town at Gabe’s parents’ place. Reardon also lived in the neighborhood with his soon-to-be wife Chloe, and her son Chris.

A little crazy, what with Chloe on bedrest and starting to order me around like she’s Supreme Leader Snoke, Reardon said, then grimaced and muttered, Sorry, that was mean. She’s not as bad as all that, really, I just needed to take a walk. Catch some air … I told her I was going to check on Serena.

I chuckled at his Star Wars reference and tried not to compare his cousin to Darth Vader when I asked, Have you been to see her yet?

No, I thought I’d stop in here first, see if maybe you’d want to come grab a drink with me, he said hopefully. Did you see her? Did anyone remember to tell you she was moving in right next door?

Nope, it came as a surprise this morning, I stated, leaving it at that. I could think of no reason to mention what I’d seen and heard today. It would only make him defensive, and cause concern.

He had enough on his plate with his bedridden wife and impending fatherhood.

Sorry, man, it actually all happened rather quickly, and although I knew she was moving into the subdivision, I didn’t realize she’d be your neighbor until a few days ago.

No worries on my end, man, I assured him. As long as she’s not throwing ragers and keeping me up all night, we’ll get along fine.

I was hoping we wouldn’t have much interaction at all, if I was honest.

Nah, you don’t have to worry about that. Our Rena is quiet as a church mouse and sweet as a button. She’s managing the art gallery in town, so she’ll be busy getting it ready for the grand opening.

I nodded, but bit my tongue before commenting on his description of Serena’s character.

As for the drink, yeah, man, I’m all in. Just let me go grab a quick shower and I’ll be ready to go.

Great, Reardon said with a really happy smile. I’ll go pop in at Rena’s to see how she’s doing. Want to just grab me over there when you’re ready?

Although I really didn’t want to, I said, Sure thing, then we parted ways and I went inside to wash the stink off.

Chapter Three

Serena

I’d finished putting all of my dishes away in the kitchen, and my glass of wine, when I heard a knock on the front door. In my excitement to see who was there, I

Reviews for Too Enchanting

[Deb Pden · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book of the series was a little bit different, as the female is the main character. It was a genuine and honest look at some family dynamics and how decisions can make, break and bruise the making of a youths outcome good and bad.