Series:
Love Undercover (Book 4.5)
They've been crushing on each other for months… So what's
holding them back?
For Marcus Bareden, Lucy Cortland is more than the girl
next door. She's beautiful, funny and easy to talk to. He'd really like to get
closer, but something about her occasional wariness sets off his spidey sense.
When he was nine, Marcus was plucked from an abusive situation and adopted by
the most amazing parents a boy could wish for.
Lucy Cortland spent years overcoming an awful youth. Now,
she's got a great job, her own place and a super sexy neighbor. Marcus is warm,
kind and they've become good friends. She's only known him a few months, but
their chemistry is undeniable. Yet for Lucy, getting close isn't possible.
Lucy believes no one could love her after what she's been
through. No one could understand…except maybe the guy next door, who knows how it
feels to be mistreated and how hard it can be to learn to hope -- even love --
again.
Short and sweet novella about Marcus, who we first met in
Getting Rowdy. Rowdy rescued him from his druggie father, and Reese and Alice
Bareden later adopted him. Now he's all grown up and following in Reese's footsteps
- not just as a cop, but also in falling hard for his neighbor, Lucy.
I loved seeing Marcus and Lucy together. Over the past
six months, they've become good friends, bonding over their love of MMA
fighting. She often joined Marcus and his friends to watch the matches on
television, and I loved seeing the closeness and teasing among the group. Lucy mothers
them a little by providing homemade snacks for their viewing parties.
Marcus wants to move out of the friend zone with Lucy,
but he senses an occasional wariness in her that holds him back. It's the same
kind of wariness he remembers from childhood, and he doesn't want to make her uncomfortable.
Lucy had a terrible childhood, which affected the way she
saw herself. She wears baggy clothes and does everything possible to downplay
her looks. She's attracted to Marcus but doesn't believe he would be interested
in her. She also doesn't want to do anything that could wreck their friendship.
I loved Marcus's patience and understanding while waiting
for his chance with Lucy. Lucy is shocked and disbelieving when he finally lets
her know how he feels. She can't believe he hasn't pulled away even after he
encourages her to tell him everything. It was sweet to see how Marcus worked so
hard to show her he believed in her. I loved Lucy's joy when she realized that
her feelings truly were reciprocated and how it unlocked the passionate woman
she's kept hidden.
The other guys' reactions to the changes in Marcus and
Lucy's relationship were hilarious. The shock, surprise, and overt happiness made
me laugh out loud. The three of them immediately took on "big
brother" status, and their rapport returned to normal.
There was a brief hint of suspense when someone from
Lucy's past left an unusual gift for her. She was a little freaked out by it,
and I loved seeing Marcus's protective streak kick in. I liked how Lucy dared
to face that past with Marcus by her side for support. The resolution was not
what I expected, but I loved what happened.
I hope the other guys get stories, too.
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