Break Down: Coogan's Break Series, #1

By Hope Malone

She's a pastry chef with a sweet tooth. He's a veteran who's good with his hands, like really good. Can opposites attract when their worlds collide?

SKYE
My life is pies. Sweet pies, savory pies, pies of every shape and size. But much as I love a good pastry, there's something else I'd rather sink my teeth into. And there's nothing wholesome about this delight.

My life revolves around Skye High Pies. From starting early in the morning, to going home covered in flour, and whatever filling I've been working on that day.

Sure I can afford a better car, but there are pluses to owning a clunker that breaks down on a regular basis. The biggest plus being Seth Adams, owner of Adams Towing.

He told me last time I broke down, that if it happened again, I'd be paying big time. I've got my fingers crossed that my credit card won't be all he's after.

SETH
There are pluses to owning your own business, even if it is only you and a tow truck. The biggest plus of late is how often I've had to rescue Skye Fraser from wherever it is that dodgy car of hers has broken down. The woman is a menace, of the best kind.

But in saving her, am I also saving myself? There's something about that curvy redhead that tells me she can see past my scars, no matter how well I've buried them.

Add in that she's one sweet treat I wouldn't mind sampling, and I may just be out of my league.

If you're short on time but long for romance, you'll love this series of steamy, curvy girl, opposites attract romances. They can be read in any order you choose, there's a guaranteed HEA with no cheating, and no cliffhangers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bad Birds
• Release date: Aug 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223588733

Book preview

Break Down

BREAK DOWN

COOGAN’S BREAK SERIES

HOPE MALONE

Bad Birds

Copyright © 2022-23 by Andrene Low writing as Hope Malone. Bad Birds is a branch (some might say twig) of Squabbling Sparrows Press. All rights reserved.

This book forms part of: Coogan’s Break Six Pack 1-6: ISBN #978-1-99-116781-1 or Coogan’s Break Six Pack 7-12: ISBN #978-1-99-116783-5. Catalogue records of these two anthologies are available from the National Library of New Zealand.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author or publisher, except for brief quotations in a book review.

CONTENTS

Break Down

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

Breaking News

Break Rank

Chapter 1

Thank you

All About Hope

Coogan’s Break Series

Lucky Break Series

The Seventies Collective

Blood Bond Agency Series

Marina Witches Mysteries - Andie Low

The Paper Sparrow

BREAK DOWN

Skye Fraser’s a pastry chef with a sweet tooth. Seth Adams is a veteran who’s good with his hands, like really good. Can opposites attract when their worlds collide?

ONE

SETH

On driving around the headland, I spot a familiar sight. What the hell is Skye Fraser doing out here this time of night? I’ve just finished asking myself this when I provide the answer.

That heap of crap car of hers has died on her, again. There’d be no other reason she’d be parked up in the middle of nowhere like this. Hell, the only reason I’m out here is that I’m on the way back from a call out.

As I pull my tow truck in behind her pale pink hatchback, I flash my lights twice before turning them off. At the very least, this way she’ll know it’s me and not some random stranger. After flicking on the hazards, I kill the engine, open the door and jump out.

Rather than be caught with a dead battery, I slam the door shut, with the noise barely audible over the crash of the waves far below. It takes all my concentration to steady my breathing, to tell myself that it’s just the waves: not heavy bombardment.

Even after all these years, the P.T.S.D. that saw me leave the military can come back to haunt me, and always at the worst imaginable times. Rather than give into the anxiety waiting for me in the wings, I focus on the car in front of me, illuminated by my hazards.

This along with some belly breathing, and I anchor myself as much as I can. I’m sure, it’ll be enough that I can behave reasonably normally. And if ever there was a woman who could take my mind off the horrors of war, it’s Skye Fraser.

And who am I to keep a lady waiting?

Next to the car, I wait for her to roll the window down; instead, she opens her door, telling me the problem is with the car’s electrics, but not the battery. I’d made sure she got a new one after saving her the last time.

I swing her door wide and hunker down so we’re eye-to-eye. And damn if she isn’t easy on the eye. Curves where curves should be and the occasional hollow just begging to be explored.

Thoughts of those fiery locks tumbling over my bare chest have my cock straining for release, leaving me glad it’s dark out. There’s no chance of my accidentally showing her what she does to me.

This has me thinking on mundane tasks so I can speak to her rather than give into my desires, and perhaps even hers. I’m sure I haven’t imagined the way she looks at me when she thinks I won’t notice.

Or am I simply deluding myself?

Who was I fooling? Of course she’s not into me. A smart woman like her would hardly be interested in a damaged, dead-beat like me. Sure, she’s got issues with maintaining her car, but other than that, she’s as buttoned down as they come.

Oh man, I wouldn’t mind making her co...

I shake my head to clear it enough that I’ll be able to hear what the latest issue is with this junker of hers. Honestly, the custom paint job is all that’s holding it together. Hell’s teeth, the paint job is probably worth more than the car.

So, Pie in the Skye, what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?

SKYE

The lights behind me flashing twice, tell me who it is, with my ovaries immediately singing their approval. There are pluses to driving a rubbish car, with Seth Adams being the biggest plus of all. I’ve no need of jumper cables when that hottie is around.