We are thrilled to be bringing you the Blog Tour of BROKEN BEATS by D. Kelly. Lovers of single dad romance won't want to miss this one - be sure to grab your copy today!
BROKEN BEATS
Author: D. Kelly
Series: Illusion Series World
About the Book
Darren –
Single father
Widower
Retired
Three things I never thought I’d be by thirty, yet all my daily reality.
This is not the life I would have chosen, but it’s the hand I’ve been dealt.
I love my daughter.
I loved Belle.
I’m not interested in more heartache.
Relationships are a thing of the past.
Until I meet her -
She’s the awakening I desperately need, but one I’m not sure I deserve.
Haddie –
Everything happens for a reason.
Time heals all wounds.
You’re too young to give up on love.
They say that, but they’re wrong.
My world crumbled forever when my fiancé died.
Then I met him –
He’s flawed in the same ways.
Broken in the same places.
Scared of the same things.
He looks at me like I’m his salvation.
And I want to be, but an open heart means risking a broken one.
Excerpt
Wyatt left a few minutes ago because his kids are sick and he felt bad
for leaving Anna alone. I get it; I wouldn’t have wanted to leave Cadence if
she were sick either.
Now, I’m hitting balls and debating about moving on to something harder
to drink. My Spidey sense goes off as I chalk the cue. After so many years of
surveillance by fans and press, my self-awareness sensors are on point.
After sinking the eight ball, I raise my eyes to meet the gaze of a
woman nearby. Since Belle, my type has been anyone who doesn’t remind me of
her, and this girl fits the bill. Her eyes hold a deep intensity, and I can’t
help but be intrigued. I don’t think I’ve fucked her in the past. She’s nothing
if not memorable.
“Wanna play?”
She startles as if just noticing me, and her bright-green eyes sweep
over my body. I’ll forgive her for staring because she’s hot as fuck.
“Nah, it’s cool. Thanks though,” she answers with a bit of uncertainty
in her voice.
Setting the pool cue on the table, I step closer to her and lean against
the table. “You sure? You’ve been keeping an eye on me for a while now. If you
don’t want to play, there’s only one other thing I can think of. You wanna
bang?”
Her pouty lips separate as she gasps. All right, maybe banging isn’t what
was on her mind, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever said to a woman.
“Is that how you come on to women? I mean, I’m not judging, but that
kind of shit doesn’t work with me.”
“So why are you watching me? I’m guessing you know who I am. Do I
intimidate you or something?”
Her eyes grow wide. “I’m sorry.” She picks up her drink and downs it
quickly. I don’t know what it is about this girl, but she intrigues the fuck
out of me.
“May I?” I motion to her table. She bites her bottom lip but nods. “Can
I get you another?” I flag down the waitress before she can reply.
“The usual, D?” she asks with a smile.
“You know it, and my friend will have …”
“Double shot of vodka on the rocks, thanks,” she adds softly. Once we’re
alone again, I reach my hand across the table. “Let’s start over. I’m Darren,
and you are?”
Her cheeks flush a light pink, and she reaches her perfectly manicured
hand across the table and shakes mine. “Haddie. Nice to meet you.” The server
promptly delivers our drinks, and once again we’re alone. “Wow, that was fast.”
“The owner is my friend, more like a brother, so I don’t ever have to
wait long.”
She squeezes the lime into her drink before taking a sip. “Jordan is a
good guy. I’m pretty sure he must know the whole city.”
I flash her a grin. “I’m sure he probably does. Do you come here a lot?”
She shakes her head. “Not anymore. I used to come here a lot to play
pool.”
“Did you? Now I feel slighted you didn’t want to play with me.” I wink.
“It’s not you, I swear. My fiancé … ex, I suppose … he taught me here.
At that very table, actually. I wasn’t looking at you … not that you’re not
nice to look at or anything,” she mumbles. “Anyway, I was lost in memories and
didn’t really notice you, just what you reminded me of.”
The best thing about meeting people in bars is being able to be myself
and never seeing them again. People tend to open up, and for a few hours, I can
push past the lingering ache in my chest.
“How long have you been separated?”
Sadness crosses her face. “We aren’t. It’s been three years now.”
“Well, Haddie, you’re a gorgeous woman. You must have men beating down
your door. What gives?”
“Ha!” She blushes and begins to shred her napkin. “I’m far from
gorgeous, but thanks for trying to make me feel better.”
“I’m not.” Haddie is
beautiful. Her blond hair cascades past her shoulders in bouncing curls. The
green of her eyes pops against her eyeliner. Her full red lips would be better
served wrapped around my cock. She’s rocking the curves, and I can’t help but
picture myself buried between her thighs.
“He died,” she spits out rapidly.
“Oh.” And the ache is back. Nothing has ever hurt as much as losing
Belle and Noah. Even though six years have passed, it’s still fresh.
“We were here that night. Playing pool and having a good time. He was
the designated driver, and I was wasted. It was raining, our car hydroplaned,
and that’s pretty much it. I survived, and he didn’t.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. She’s a kindred spirit.
“Me too. Tonight is the first time I’ve been back to this bar. I wasn’t
going to come, but I felt like I had to. I missed his funeral, and I need
closure. I felt like this is the place I would get it.”
“I hope you do.” I toss back the rest of my drink and meet her sorrowful
gaze. “I lost my fiancée six years ago, and that ache never seems to go away. I
got to keep a piece of her though. My daughter was only four months old when
the accident happened.”
She gasps and covers her mouth with her hands. “I’m so sorry.” Her
sympathy is genuine, but I find it hard to believe she doesn’t know this
already, especially since she knows J.
“Haddie, do you know who I am? It’s okay if you do. I’m just curious.”
She finishes her drink and looks back at me. “Should I? Are you an actor
or something?”
I laugh. “Or something. I’m the drummer for Bastards and Dangerous, or I
used to be.”
“Oh my God.” She gasps again. “I … um … I know your story. Who doesn’t?
It was national news, but I’ve never been the kind of person to pay attention
to … How do I say this without sounding like an asshole?”
I chuckle. “I like assholes. Just say whatever you want to.”
“I don’t follow pop culture or celebrities and stuff. It’s never been my
thing. Don’t get me wrong, I love movies and music and stuff, but …”
“But what?”
She shrugs, “Well, it’s just your job, right? I’d hate to have people
following me around at work, down the street, or wherever, so I’ve never seen
the appeal of knowing someone’s business like that. I don’t need a window into
the life of a stranger, you know? I’ve got enough stuff of my own to deal
with.”
This girl just went up about ten notches.
“That’s a good answer, Haddie. You sure you don’t want to bang?” I give
her an exaggerated wink, and she finally laughs. It’s a beautiful sound, and it
momentarily stuns the pain in my heart.
About D. KELLY
Kelly, author of The Acceptance Series, The Illusion Series, and standalone companion novels Chasing Cassidy and Sharing Rylee, was born and raised in Southern California. She’s a wife, mom, dog lover, taxi, problem fixer, and extreme multi-tasker. She married her high school sweetheart and is her kids’ biggest fan.
Kelly has been writing since she was young and took joy in spinning stories to her childhood friends. Margaritas and sarcasm make her smile, she loves the beach but hates the sand, and she believes Starbucks makes any day better.
A contemporary romance writer, D. Kelly’s stories revolve around friendship and the bond it creates, strengthening the love of the people who share it.
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