Dalton: Heroes of Daisy Hills, #5

By Kali Hart

Dalton & Paige's story.

Bentley & Reese's storyWelcome to Daisy Hills. Where love is waiting around every corner for those who are ready to accept it. This small town has a little bit of something for everyone. Meet the different local heroes in this Heroes of Daisy Hills series, set in this charming world filled with guaranteed HEAs. All sweet & steamy short insta-love romances. Come, stay awhile and make yourself at home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Aug 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9798224814268

Book preview

1

PAIGE

Are you spying on our new neighbor? my sister accuses from the opposite end of the kitchen. I wish she’d do less analyzing of my actions and more coffee grinding for the pot of coffee we both desperately need. This morning came particularly early on account of us getting next to no sleep last night.

I spread the blinds with two fingers and scan the mostly deserted area. I’d like to know who kept us up all night with the nonstop banging and stomping.

So you can what? Give him a piece of your mind? Hazel laughs so hard she actually snorts.

I narrow my eyes in the squinty-est glare I can manage. Just because I’m one of the least confrontational people in Daisy Hills doesn’t mean she has to call me out on it. Besides, I can be mean, so why ruin my fantasy? I even dreamt about exacting my revenge on the noisy neighbor with a bucket of ice water. Now, that was satisfying.

Face it, Paige. There’s not a mean bone in your entire body. That’s why you make a great nurse.

Damn it Hazel. Topping off a harsh truth with a compliment is kind of her specialty. I abandon my window perch because there’s no hint of the new duplex neighbor now. The damn night owl must be asleep. Another night or two of no sleep, and my inner grizzly bear might come to life.

I’d pay good money to see that.

I’m going to shower. I’m due at the doctor’s office in an hour. I might need a gallon of coffee to survive the day, but I love what I do. Not even sleep deprivation can keep me away.

Breakfast’ll be waiting when you’re dressed.

By breakfast you mean Pop-Tarts?

It’s Hazel’s turn to narrow her eyes at me, but because she always throws something when she does, I know to duck. I barely dodge the creamer packet and race down the hall as it smacks into the wall. I’m not cleaning that up, I holler back.

The shower helps revive me, but not without half a dozen tear-inducing yawns. For months, the unit next door has been empty. It’s the only reason Hazel and I renewed our lease in a duplex we swore was temporary. Well, that and the insanely cheap rent. I hope the ruckus was from a late-night move-in and nothing more.

I wonder who our new neighbor is.

In one of my fantasies, I marched over next door prepared to chew his ass out and ended up missing clothes. I laugh at myself, certain the chances that our new neighbor is both sinfully hot and totally into me are nonexistent.

Cherry or Blueberry? Hazel holds two small plates in offering.

You really have to ask?

She hands me the plate with the blueberry Pop-Tarts, but I barely get to take a bite before there’s a sharp knock at our door. We stare at each other a beat, both silently curious if it’s our new neighbor come to apologize for last night.

You get it, Hazel says. I’m not wearing pants.

"You manage a dress store. You never wear pants on work days." I push up from the seat I knew better than to get too comfortable in and head for the front door. I pull it open, but the greeting on my lips is silenced.

No one.

I stretch my neck