Duke: Ryan Brothers Renovations, #1

By Kali Hart

Duke

My brothers and I flip houses together.
Sometimes I take on side projects.
When our highest paying client asks me a personal favor, I agree to do it.
It comes with just one rule:
Keep my hands off his daughter.
Well … that's going to be a problem.

Sadie

I tried to repaint the guest house I currently call home.
And I made a mess of it.
My dad hires a professional to fix it.
I didn't expect the painter to be smokin' hot.
I want him.
I think he wants me too.
My dad would kill me if he knew what I was up to.
Maybe he doesn't have to know.

Sweet & steamy short story insta-love romance with an older alpha blue collar man and younger curvy woman with an HEA. NO cliffhangers. NO cheating.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Jun 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9798223041504

Book preview

1

SADIE

Some women get a new haircut after a breakup.

Me? Apparently, I redecorate. Loose translation: I angry paint with wine.

I can fix this, I say to my best friend Kate, ignoring the doubtful raised eyebrow she sends me via the phone screen. I can fix this. Those famous last words will no doubt be the epitaph on my tombstone one day.

"Is it really that bad?" Kate’s been on the opposite side of the country for almost four months now, and I’m really tired of talking to her from a distance. But I remind myself, for the third time today, that she’ll be home in eight months and three days. And twelve hours. But who’s counting? At least I can see her smiling face—or as is the case in this moment her concerned face—on my screen.

Let’s just say whoever let me buy a paint brush should be charged for selling me a deadly weapon. I can stun a person blind in here.

Have you put the wine away?

Both bottles. Two nights ago. There’s not a drop left in this small house, and the hangover I suffered yesterday isn’t worth buying more. In fact, I may never drink again.

He’s not worth all this, you know.

Wish someone had been able to drive that point home before I decided to paint my walls dark red. Yeah, I get that now. I have a way of picking the worst men. The ones who are charming and sweet until they get in your pants. Then their true colors come out. My latest mistake thought he could control my diet. Bastard. But his most serious offense was when he tried to eliminate ice cream from my life.

Show me the damage, Kate insists.

I flip the camera on my phone and take her on the tour of my dad’s guest home, hoping the light will hide the worst of it. Living here is a temporary arrangement while I save up a down payment for my own house. Though I was given permission to decorate as I saw fit, I doubt this is what he meant. So? I ask at the conclusion of the tour.

It looks like you set a kindergartener with a paint sprayer loose in there. Sadie, what were you thinking?

I’m thinking it’s a good thing I didn’t have access to a paint sprayer under the influence of merlot.

Has your dad seen it?

Not to my knowledge. Considering the guest house is in Dad’s backyard, he sometimes pops by unannounced. It’s anyone’s guess if he’s witnessed the horror himself. I plan to fix this disaster before he gets the chance. If it’s not too late.

Maybe you should hire someone.

If I ever hope to move out of this place, hiring a professional is off the table. The cost is too steep. I’m sober. I’m capable. I just need a neutral paint color.

And about four heavy coats to cover up that gawdy color. Seriously, what were you thinking? Kate presses. Did you want to become a vampire or something?

Or something.

Four coats? I whimper, already kissing my free evenings goodbye this week.

"If you’re lucky. That’s a dark