Last Chances

By M.A. Grant

When Catherine Jacobs's parents died while she was in high school, her brother's best friend Dallas Miller was there to help pick up the pieces. Several years and her looming college graduation later, Cat's motorcycle-riding knight in tattoos is about to ride off into the sunset to start his own life. Now she only has six days to convince him to fulfill her secret fantasy of having him for her first before he's gone forever.

Dallas Miller shouldn't have listened to Cat's proposition. He can't forget her request, no matter how much he needs to. Losing his best friend's trust would be bad enough, but Cat's the only woman he's ever dreamed of sharing a future with. It's already breaking his heart to leave her behind; he can't bear giving her what she wants and becoming her biggest regret after.

Once Cat knows Dallas is interested, she's determined to see her plan through. Sure, there's a lot to lose if she messes this up, but the promise of a happy ending—and a happily ever after with the perfect man—are worth the risk.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: May 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094458762

M.A. Grant

M.A. Grant fell in love with the romance genre while working at an independent bookstore. She spent a decade in the rugged beauty of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula before moving to the mountains of Eastern Washington. When she’s not calling out to passing ravens or making a cup of tea, she’s writing dark and moving stories.

Book preview

1

DAY 1 — MORNING

H ell, no.

I place my hands on the island counter and dig in for battle. Come on, Dally, I plead as I watch him cut another slice off the apple he snagged from the fridge.

Okay, so technically I’m watching the way his abs are flexing above his gym shorts as he leans back against the counter, but the muscles of his forearms are pretty damn distracting too. And his fingers. And the dark ink cascading over most of his upper body.

Fine. All of Dallas Miller is distracting.

But judging by his scowl, he isn’t of the same opinion about me. Don’t give me that look, brown eyes, it’s not going to happen.

I narrow those brown eyes and lean over the counter. Pussy.

That does it.

He sets the apple and paring knife down and closes the distance across from me. The muscles of his arms cord when he mimics me and leans in. He’s smirking and his voice is soft, but I hear the smug confidence under his words. I dare you to call me that again.

I lean further, breathlessly aware how close I’m getting to him. His trimmed beard only makes his teeth whiter and his smirk more attractive, even though it has the same predatory promise of a shark. His dark eyes are focused on mine.

Pu-ssy, I repeat, drawing out the word.

If it were anyone but Dally, the tension between us would explode and we’d end up kissing all Notebook-style while clawing each other’s clothes off as we found the nearest soft surface.

Too bad he’s my brother’s roommate and best friend. The one who views me as having the same sexual allure of a floor lamp or potholder.

Instead of ravishing me, Dally cracks up, pulling back and retrieving the apple and knife. He’s still chuckling at me when he cuts off another slice and holds it out. A peace offering. I accept it begrudgingly and move onto one of the stools as I nibble. Maybe the added height will make me more intimidating.

You can’t expect me to believe you didn’t consider it, I argue. "Just for one second?"

His incredulity really sucks.

Half a second?

I’m not fucking you, Cat.

I throw up my hands in exasperation. "I didn’t say that, Dally. I asked you to–"

De-virginize you, I believe was the technical term.

I don’t know what else to call it, I mutter, reaching for the box of dried cereal my brother left out a few days ago when he headed off for his training.

God, Dally’s grin is sinful. Want me to give you a list?

No. I don’t need you to lord your sexual prowess over me after you’ve just refused to help.

He snorts. And again I state, I am not helping Jake’s little sister lose her virginity. Why would you ask in the first place? he asks as he turns back to the sink.

I eye him surreptitiously. Why did I ask him? Because he is, without any doubt, the hottest man I have ever seen in my life. Leave it to me to figure it out this late in the game. I blame it on my late sexual awakening.

This year I actually managed to engage in some fairly hot second base action at one of the parties my friend Maya dragged me to. After said action, I went home and had the strangest, strongest erotic dreams I didn’t even know were possible ... with Dally as the star. Ever since then, I haven’t been able to stop obsessing about him in that way.

Umm ...

He glances back over his shoulder. "What’s umm mean? I’m serious, Cat, do you know how crazy Jake would be if he knew we were having this conversation?"

My brother would not be crazy. He’d be homicidal. He would probably try to castrate Dally and then lock me in a tower far, far away in a magical forest. Only he wouldn’t be stupid and he’d make sure to give me regular haircuts.

Jake’s not a bad guy. But since our parents died back when I was still in high school, his role of protective brother has kind of taken over his life. He’s freaking out even more now. It’s the tail end of my finals week and he’s gone for exploratory captain’s training. He knows he’ll be back in time for commencement, but I think he’s less worried about missing the ceremony and more worried about my becoming a free adult.

For the record, I would never mention this plan to Jake, I tell Dally, munching some of the cereal.

So you’re not suicidal, Dally snarks.

I stick out my tongue at him. He flips me off. We grin at each other across the island and both go back to eating. I’m always amazed at how simple it is to talk to Dally. He’s twenty-seven, five years older than me and the same age as Jake. He and my brother have been best friends since high school. Growing up, Dally was a fixture in our house. I never really thought about him not being part of our lives, even when he and Jake graduated.

After receiving their diplomas, Dally moved to Arizona to work as a mechanic with his uncle while Jake went to Houston for his firefighting training. Then a major car accident claimed my parents a few weeks before Jake’s graduation and life kind of froze.

I was at basketball practice when the police came to deliver the news. I still remember being too afraid to call Jake. Instead I punched in the first number I could think of. Dally answered on the second ring, listened to my sobs, and promised he’d take care of it. He was back from Arizona that same night and told me he and Jake had it figured out. He moved into the suddenly empty house with me and got a job at a local shop while Jake finished his training. When Jake came back and got hired on at the local fire department, Dally could have moved out, but he didn’t.

That’s about to change.

You’re leaving soon, I remind him, pressing my advantage.

I know.

He is so freaking stubborn. You’re moving back to Arizona, I say. There’ll be time and space before we see each other again. No awkwardness and Jake would be none the wiser.

"I would still know. So I’m calling bullshit on that excuse. Good try."

Okay, I’m asking you because you seemed like the obvious choice.

Obvious, huh?

You are the king of one night stands, Dally. And judging by how many times I’ve covered for you when they call you back for a second chance, you’re pretty good.

He grimaces. Again, if you ever tell Jake about any of that–

I wave off his concerns. Your dirty little secrets are safe with me. His shoulders relax and I move in for the kill. "If–"

Are you trying to blackmail me, brown eyes?

He doesn’t use it on me very much, but Dally has a very, very good poker face. I purse my lips and watch him for any tell. Damn, he’s pro ... no clues.

Maybe? I say cautiously.

He shakes his head. No, you’re not. Because right now you’re going to take a second and remember all the things I’ve done for you. He ticks them off on his fingers as he speaks. Midnight runs for tampons and chocolate. Picking your drunk ass up from that shitty graduation party. Teaching you to drive Old Blue. Taking you to that sucktastic sparkly vampire movie your friends teased you about not seeing. Oh, and let’s not forget the years and years’ worth of five minute showers because you always run behind in the morning.

I flush. When I was younger, I dreaded the embarrassment caused by our close calls in the bathroom. Now I’d pay money to catch a glimpse of him and see how much further that partially covered tattoo on his pelvis continues down below the band of his shorts ...

You understand, Cat? No blackmail. He grabs his earbuds from the counter and bends down to tie his shoes. And no sex.

You’re not off the hook, I tell him.

Oh, I’m so scared, he mocks. Don’t you have a final today?

"Unfortunately. Way

Reviews for Last Chances

[Dalila M · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The only thing is I wish it was longer and more drawn out! It was a good story and plot and I would have loved more details

[Kate · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Unfortunately, this one was too cringeworthy for me - we join the story just after Cat asks the gorgeous, brother's best friend, Dallas, to "de-virginise" her.

A good point about the book is that it reminds us how stupid it is that society makes such a big deal about virginity. This book shows how Cat feels that she needs to get rid of it and so she's rushing into sex.

I appreciate that Cat is extremely task focused - that girl is a planner! - but I didn't like it that she just wanted to use Dallas for his deflowering equipment.

She didn't seem at all embarrassed to be pestering him to sleep with her.

I had to put the book down half way through because I was basically hoping Dallas wouldn't go through with it because her behaviour makes her seem so young. It's not often a romance novel has you wishing "don't do it!"

I did finish off the book eventually and there is a HEA.

[alissadarrington · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cute! I liked it! There were a couple issues with the flow of the book leaving me to say, “wait, what?” But overall totally worth the read. It’s cute.

[Maih · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I hate how it's only in 10 chapters but I love the storyyyy, although Dally calling Cat "babe" felt weird to me lol. Anyway, I'm so glad I decided to try this when I was bored of reading something else. Hopefully, there will be a book 2!