Accidentally in Love: A Granite Bay Series, #1

By Trisha Harley McCarthy

When Noah Benedict, a sexy man with a hint of an Aussie accent and veterinarian, arrives in the Pacific Northwest town of Granite Bay, Oregon, he sees a dream come true to head up the equine unit at Cascadia Equine Clinic. It's a fresh start in a new place where he can lay the past to rest once and for all. And, reaffirm his status as a confirmed bachelor because he is married to his work. But little does he know, how meeting one woman can change all of that in an instant, and how that encounter will bring a past back to haunt him.

Kenda Jones runs the Cascadia Horse Ranch, a sanctuary for rescue horses. Her dedication to rescuing these majestic animals leaves little room for anything else, including men. One day all that changes. Sitting in her favorite booth sipping a latte with her best friend, Ty Montgomery, she locks eyes with a new comer to town. When he comes into the café, he is like a force of nature. She fights his magnetic stare and beguiling smile but is lost in both despite her steely resolve to eschew all men. Kenda's heart races when he crooks his finger at her, since she is helpless to ignore the stirrings in her heart that brings her closer to the one thing she is vowed to avoid, love.

This is a sweet, funny, sexy, heartfelt read. Another wonderful contemporary romance story brought to you by 5 Star Amazon review author, Trisha Harley McCarthy.

Verified Reviews:

"Trisha has outdone herself this time! Accidentally in Love is a great start to the Granite Bay Series. Can't wait for the next one!" Abby G.

"Accidentally in Love' is risque, lively, multi-faceted and enthralling. I loved the characters, their life like descriptions and all the 'twisting' of their lives. Trisha Harley McCarthy has an ingenious way of telling a story. Going back and forth in time, and crossing the lives of the books characters, are just two way she weaves her magic, Every character, scene, and situation leaves a vivid print on the readers mind!

I give 'Accidentally in Love' five stars and highly recommend it. I am eager for the sequel novella's to be published." Jeanne 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trisha Harley McCarthy
• Release date: Feb 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393523680

Trisha Harley McCarthy

Trisha Harley McCarthy is a Certified Life Coach, Blog Talk Radio Host, spiritual teacher and romance author. An avid romance reader, Trisha was inspired to write her first romance novel, Just As He Is, A Romance which debuted in August 2012. The second book Written Among the Stars, An Astral Realm series, an epic romance and fantasy series was published in August 2014. The second in the series, Beneath the Stars (Book 2) is due to be released October 2014.Trisha lives with her husband Mike and their chocolate Labrador, Elle in Northern California.

Book preview

Prologue

Noah – Five Years Ago

TODAY IS ONE OF THE most pivotal moments in my life and as a UC Davis Aggie. It's my last day leading my team down the field with the opportunity to win the Big Sky Championship game. We lead the conference with a 10-1 record. I look over to the sideline to look for the signal from my offensive coordinator pacing back and forth, gesturing wildly as he talks into his headset to the coaches in the booth. It is third and ten in the fourth quarter with less than thirty seconds on the clock. My heart is racing as I call an audible after reading the defense at the line of scrimmage. They’re showing signs of an all-out blitz. I change the play from a run to a screen pass, which should work beautifully against the defenses’ pressure. I take the snap from the center dropping back and look to my right and pump fake to pull the defense away from the screen. The defense and offense square off, and I can hear grunts and groans of sheer manpower reverberating as helmets and bodies collide. I feel the defensive line and linebackers bearing down on me as I slowly drift away and drop the ball over their extended hands. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my running back, Dahl, number 23 wide open. The crowd in Aggie Stadium is going wild as I drop pass to him near the twenty-five-yard line. Rickie jumps up and makes a perfect catch as we’ve done a thousand times during practice. He accelerates along the sideline outrunning a three-hundred-pound defensive lineman hot on his tail. Dahl cuts sharp to his left to avoid a tackle and runs smoothly into the end zone. I raise my arms in victory after the touchdown.

My coach calls a timeout, and the ref blows the whistle stopping the clock at sixteen seconds. Our kicker, Diaz, and placeholder, Frankel, come onto the field, and as we pass each other, I give them each a high-five and head over to the sideline. I pull off my helmet and reach for a towel and a Gatorade. I mop the sweat off my face and chug down my Gatorade. I watch our special teams break the huddle and go to the line.

They pause, set up, and execute a perfect snap to Frankel. The defensive line for Sacramento State rushes the kicker, but Diaz gets the ball in flight and right through the uprights scoring the extra point to win the game. The excitement in Aggie Stadium erupts into a deafening roar of people cheering, yelling and surging onto the field. I watch my teammates celebrating their triumph.

In the middle of the chaos, I look up in the stands and search for her. Charlie. Her face is flushed with the excitement smiling and waving at me. I run over to the bleachers near the railing as she comes down to greet me. I reach up and pull her over the side and into my arms. I swing her around in my sheer elation, her long black hair swirls around us like a veil. I set her down gently as her body slides down mine. I hold Charlie flush against me as a camera flash goes off and my lips slide over hers. We’re lost in the moment from the win and the surprise I’ve planned for the last two months. As we come up for breath, I look into her dark chocolate eyes and smile.

Hi. I kiss her again. I try to alleviate my nervousness, but I can’t shake it.

Hi back. Charlie grins back at me.

When Charlie smiles at me, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. And right now, I want to make her the happiest girl and make her mine forever with our families, teammates, and fans as our witness. I glance over to Patrick giving him the signal who is rigged with an earpiece and informs the broadcast booth to begin the announcement.

The sportscaster, Sherm Wilson’s voice comes over the stadium PA system. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention. Please turn toward the bleachers for a significant occasion.

People curious by the announcement face the bleachers filled with my teammates, including Charlie and me. I interlace my hand in hers as we wait anxiously for the surprise. A few select team members are each standing holding a stunt card. I give a nod to Patrick who gestures to them to flip the cards.

I am watching as my Aggies spell out in bold red letters ‘Charlie will you marry me?’ 

I kneel before Charlie and present her with a black velvet box.

I open it up to reveal a two-karat princess cut diamond. Charlie, shocked, places a hand over her mouth in surprise with tears glistening in her eyes.

Sweetheart, I love you with my entire heart and soul. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?

CHAPTER ONE

Kenda

I LOOKED OVER AT LORE and Bella gossiping about the new veterinarian who blew into town just a few days ago. The way the two were going on about him, you’d think it was David Beckham or George Clooney who settled in Granite Bay instead of a hot veterinarian with an Aussie accent. Big deal. I tried to focus on the paper, but the chatter threw off my concentration. For two mature women, they were acting like a couple of teenagers with a huge crush on a rock star. I just wanted to sip my skinny vanilla latte in peace.

Bella’s Brew is the hub of the town which included coffee, gossip, and the most decadent muffins. Bella made the best Marion Berry muffin in the state. Not too light not too dense. And of course, Bella reigned as the queen of knowing everyone’s business. Today’s hot topic is Mr. Hot DVM. Luckily for me, I prefer the quiet country life away from prying eyes and the gossip mill. I came into town once a week to shop and sit at the café to enjoy my one luxury, a tall latte.

I was completely ignored in favor of the mysterious stranger.

Wanda down at the AMPM told me he had a most gorgeous smile. Bella put her hand over her heart in a grand gesture as if she were accepting an award. The red-haired, full busted owner of the café with dark blue eyeshadow and thick eyeliner, missed her calling as an actress. Her bright pink uniform clashed with her bright red lipstick.

I rolled my eyes. Mr. Hot DVM already had groupies. Lucky him. Half the women in town were over sixty. I wondered if he knew how his presence affected our little town. Whoever he is was in for a big surprise.

I can’t wait to see him and take an up close and personal look to see for myself, Lore exclaimed.

He claimed another victim. They were falling like dominos. Lore, the local librarian, probably on her lunch hour, snorted like one of my horses. Oh my god, if that didn’t scare off Mr. Hot DVM nothing would. The myopic woman was your garden variety cat lady who lived in an old Victorian on Pine Street. I suspected she hadn’t changed her wardrobe since the 1970’s. All flowery and below the knee and sensible shoes, she bought yearly from the Sears in Dallas. She wore the same hairdo up and twisted, giving her face a pinched thin look and wore no makeup. Did I mention Lore was the Sunday school teacher at the local Baptist church? One of the more upstanding citizens of Granite Bay.

Their conversation escalated into an all-out frenzy. Loud and noisy so I couldn’t help but overhear every single word they said. I was merely a fixture of the fifty’s retro diner. Black and white floors, red Naugahyde booths, paraphernalia on the wall and an old jukebox that played music from the era.

His name is Noah Benedict, Bella said in a loud whisper.

Noah Benedict? Why did that name ring a bell? I could have sworn I’d heard that name before. My brain was too fuzzy from lack of sleep after I stayed up late with a colicky horse. My prized Australian Warmblood, Buttercup, had come down with a mild case of colic.

I knew the minute she pawed at the ground and curled her lip she was in distress. I took her temperature which showed normal then walked her around a bit. By the time I’d left the ranch, she had eaten some oats and drank water. It was such a relief I didn’t have to call the vet. I’d left her in the care of Trace, my trusted barn manager.

Another customer came in. Mrs.