by: Reese Ryan
Series: Holly Grove Island
Genre: Contemporary African American Romance
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Forever
In this heartwarming small‑town romance, can three months, two planning projects, and a meddling grandmother finally make two high school hate crushes see just how right they are for each other?
Ambitious real estate agent Sinclair Buchanan is ecstatic to be her best friend’s maid-of-honor—until she discovers the best man is Garrett Davenport. Sin and Rett’s mutual hate crush ignited when they were teens and hasn’t let up since . . . except for that one extremely hot (and extremely regrettable) night they shared five years ago.
Nothing gets Rett fired up like going toe-to-toe with Sinclair. She’s as infuriatingly stubborn, and as absolutely gorgeous, as when he fell for her back in high school. Working together to plan their best friends’ last-minute wedding is one thing, but when his matchmaking grandmother gets involved Rett knows he’s in deep. Attraction has always simmered between them, but this time, they’re both in danger of losing their hearts.
As Sinclair approached their table, Rett’s eyes lit up the moment they met hers. He stood quickly, a broad smile animating his handsome face. Sin’s heart swelled and her pulse raced.
His reaction was genuinely sweet. Something she didn’t think she’d ever say about Rett Davenport. In high school, she considered him rude and thoughtless. But these past few days, he’d been nothing but kind and considerate.
Sin was still finding it difficult to wrap her head around that. She’d agreed to dine at the restaurant partly because she was mortified by the possibility of getting barbecue sauce on the leather seats in her Lexus. But mostly, because she’d taken comfort in Rett’s companionship, and she had wanted an excuse to spend more time with him.
Rett held up her jacket, so she could slip her arms into it.
She thanked him, then tied the belt at her waist. “Did the server bring the bill?”
“She did.” He sounded sheepish. “It’s been taken care of.”
“Did she forget to split it?” Sin frowned.
“No,” he said simply, gesturing toward the door.
“You didn’t have to do that, Rett.”
“I know, but I wanted to. Now c’mon. Let’s get you home.” He gestured toward the exit.
Arguing the point seemed futile. Besides, it was nice of him. “Thank you, Rett. Next time, dinner is on me.”
“Sure, if you want.” Rett placed a hand low on her back, guiding her toward the exit. He chuckled. “I promise not to order the lobster.”
Sin laughed, too, and the mood instantly felt lighter. Still, she couldn’t help noticing the electricity that flowed through his fingertips and into her skin, despite the layers of clothing between them.
Her skin tingled, as did those parts of her anatomy she was trying hard not to think about. But her mind wandered back to the place it had gone several times this evening. Remembering how amazing it had felt to have Rett’s strong hands on her bare skin. The fluttery excitement in her belly as he’d trailed kisses down her chest. How it had felt to have him inside her.
Sin shivered. The visceral memories of Rett’s lips and hands sliding over her skin felt as real now as they had in his hotel room.
She’d tried to scrub that night from her brain. Pretend it had never happened. She’d failed abysmally. And now that she and Rett were spending time together, that night was living rent-free in her head. She couldn’t stop thinking about it or him.
Sin glanced at Rett. Was he thinking about that night, too?
They were two reasonable adults. What would be the harm if they hooked up again? Nothing serious. Just pure fun and a little tension relief. Like before.
Rett stopped and held his hand out.
That shook Sin from her temporary daze. He wasn’t asking for her hand. He was asking for her keys because she’d asked him to drive home.
Sin unlocked the vehicle. “Thank you, Rett.”
“For dinner? Honestly, Sin, it was no big—”
“Not just for dinner. For insisting on helping with the wedding. You might’ve noticed I’m not big on asking for help.” She smiled sheepishly and Rett chuckled. “But now, I realize how much I need your assistance. It was nice having you here today. And at the market, you saved me from the most humiliating moment of my life without me even asking. I didn’t expect that.” She tucked strands of hair behind her ear that a gentle breeze had blown across her face.
“I’m full of surprises.” Rett winked and his dark eyes twinkled. He looked so handsome and somehow larger than life.
Why hadn’t she noticed that before?
Instead she’d teased him. Called him the Jolly Mean Giant and countless other not-so-nice names as they’d gone toe to toe playing the dozens. She’d told herself it’d all been in good fun, but had he been as hurt back then by her cruel comments as she’d been by his?
She studied Rett’s hungry stare, his expression filled with longing and desire as he glided his tongue along his lower lip. Sin shuddered at the memory of Rett’s kiss and of the way his tongue had felt gliding against hers.
A thousand thoughts rushed through Sin’s head as they stood there, neither of them speaking. But the thought she couldn’t shake was that she wanted to kiss Rett again. To experience the comfort of his embrace and the passion that had filled her body and made her feel alive again after Teddy and Gwen’s betrayal had left her battered and bruised. Feeling dead inside. Wondering if it would ever be her turn. Feelings that had resurfaced as she helped plan her best friend’s wedding.
Sin gripped Rett’s jacket, lifted onto her toes, and pulled his mouth down to meet hers. When she parted her lips, Rett swept his tongue between them. Searching her mouth. His hands glided around her waist, molding her lower body to his as he deepened their kiss.
Rett was such a good kisser. Something she’d discovered the night of the dance.
He backed her up, his body pinning hers against the vehicle. Rett angled her head and claimed her mouth, setting her entire body afire. Her nipples beaded against his hard chest. His length grew taut against her belly.
Rett kissed her until she felt feverish and breathless, her knees trembling.
Suddenly, Rett pulled away, his chest heaving. He stared down at her, his hands still resting on her hips. “It’s getting late. We’d better head back.”
“Or not,” Sin said calmly, despite the thudding of her heart. Her eyes searched his as she smoothed a hand down his chest. She wanted Rett. He obviously wanted her, too. They’d made peace with their past, so why not give in to their desire for each other?
Rett’s eyes widened. “You’re suggesting—”
“Yes.” She leaned into him.
Rett groaned, his eyes drifting closed momentarily. He dragged a hand over his head. “I’d love to take you up on that offer, Sin, but I can’t.”
His reaction was genuinely sweet. Something she didn’t think she’d ever say about Rett Davenport. In high school, she considered him rude and thoughtless. But these past few days, he’d been nothing but kind and considerate.
Sin was still finding it difficult to wrap her head around that. She’d agreed to dine at the restaurant partly because she was mortified by the possibility of getting barbecue sauce on the leather seats in her Lexus. But mostly, because she’d taken comfort in Rett’s companionship, and she had wanted an excuse to spend more time with him.
Rett held up her jacket, so she could slip her arms into it.
She thanked him, then tied the belt at her waist. “Did the server bring the bill?”
“She did.” He sounded sheepish. “It’s been taken care of.”
“Did she forget to split it?” Sin frowned.
“No,” he said simply, gesturing toward the door.
“You didn’t have to do that, Rett.”
“I know, but I wanted to. Now c’mon. Let’s get you home.” He gestured toward the exit.
Arguing the point seemed futile. Besides, it was nice of him. “Thank you, Rett. Next time, dinner is on me.”
“Sure, if you want.” Rett placed a hand low on her back, guiding her toward the exit. He chuckled. “I promise not to order the lobster.”
Sin laughed, too, and the mood instantly felt lighter. Still, she couldn’t help noticing the electricity that flowed through his fingertips and into her skin, despite the layers of clothing between them.
Her skin tingled, as did those parts of her anatomy she was trying hard not to think about. But her mind wandered back to the place it had gone several times this evening. Remembering how amazing it had felt to have Rett’s strong hands on her bare skin. The fluttery excitement in her belly as he’d trailed kisses down her chest. How it had felt to have him inside her.
Sin shivered. The visceral memories of Rett’s lips and hands sliding over her skin felt as real now as they had in his hotel room.
She’d tried to scrub that night from her brain. Pretend it had never happened. She’d failed abysmally. And now that she and Rett were spending time together, that night was living rent-free in her head. She couldn’t stop thinking about it or him.
Sin glanced at Rett. Was he thinking about that night, too?
They were two reasonable adults. What would be the harm if they hooked up again? Nothing serious. Just pure fun and a little tension relief. Like before.
Rett stopped and held his hand out.
That shook Sin from her temporary daze. He wasn’t asking for her hand. He was asking for her keys because she’d asked him to drive home.
Sin unlocked the vehicle. “Thank you, Rett.”
“For dinner? Honestly, Sin, it was no big—”
“Not just for dinner. For insisting on helping with the wedding. You might’ve noticed I’m not big on asking for help.” She smiled sheepishly and Rett chuckled. “But now, I realize how much I need your assistance. It was nice having you here today. And at the market, you saved me from the most humiliating moment of my life without me even asking. I didn’t expect that.” She tucked strands of hair behind her ear that a gentle breeze had blown across her face.
“I’m full of surprises.” Rett winked and his dark eyes twinkled. He looked so handsome and somehow larger than life.
Why hadn’t she noticed that before?
Instead she’d teased him. Called him the Jolly Mean Giant and countless other not-so-nice names as they’d gone toe to toe playing the dozens. She’d told herself it’d all been in good fun, but had he been as hurt back then by her cruel comments as she’d been by his?
She studied Rett’s hungry stare, his expression filled with longing and desire as he glided his tongue along his lower lip. Sin shuddered at the memory of Rett’s kiss and of the way his tongue had felt gliding against hers.
A thousand thoughts rushed through Sin’s head as they stood there, neither of them speaking. But the thought she couldn’t shake was that she wanted to kiss Rett again. To experience the comfort of his embrace and the passion that had filled her body and made her feel alive again after Teddy and Gwen’s betrayal had left her battered and bruised. Feeling dead inside. Wondering if it would ever be her turn. Feelings that had resurfaced as she helped plan her best friend’s wedding.
Sin gripped Rett’s jacket, lifted onto her toes, and pulled his mouth down to meet hers. When she parted her lips, Rett swept his tongue between them. Searching her mouth. His hands glided around her waist, molding her lower body to his as he deepened their kiss.
Rett was such a good kisser. Something she’d discovered the night of the dance.
He backed her up, his body pinning hers against the vehicle. Rett angled her head and claimed her mouth, setting her entire body afire. Her nipples beaded against his hard chest. His length grew taut against her belly.
Rett kissed her until she felt feverish and breathless, her knees trembling.
Suddenly, Rett pulled away, his chest heaving. He stared down at her, his hands still resting on her hips. “It’s getting late. We’d better head back.”
“Or not,” Sin said calmly, despite the thudding of her heart. Her eyes searched his as she smoothed a hand down his chest. She wanted Rett. He obviously wanted her, too. They’d made peace with their past, so why not give in to their desire for each other?
Rett’s eyes widened. “You’re suggesting—”
“Yes.” She leaned into him.
Rett groaned, his eyes drifting closed momentarily. He dragged a hand over his head. “I’d love to take you up on that offer, Sin, but I can’t.”
Purchase Return to Hummingbird Way from:
(Affiliate Links Used)
The Holly Grove Island Series:
Reese Ryan writes sexy, deeply emotional romances with family drama, surprising secrets, and unexpected twists.
Past president of her local Romance Writers of America chapter and a panelist at the 2017 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Reese is an advocate for the romance genre and diversity in fiction.
Places to find Reese Ryan:
The cover is so inviting. I enjoyed the excerpt and look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteThis book is definitely on my reading list, as is the first book.
Deletethis sounds like a wonderful story--love the cover, too
ReplyDelete