Showing The Heart of the Matter (Welcome to Redemption, #6) by Stacey Joy Netzel

WELCOME TO REDEMPTION, USA Today best selling series
A hometown series full of sexy romance, humor, and heart...where everyone gets a second chance at love.

The Heart of the Matter, Book 6

“With their easy, breezy style and skilled characterizations, Rogers and Netzel have created a town that readers won't want to leave.” ~ Romantic Times Book Reviews

All Allie Daniels ever wanted was a family of her own—until her doctor informs her she’ll never be able to have children. She hides her desolation, refusing to let any man close enough to see her broken heart. Most certainly not the town veterinarian, who’s cute three-year-old son reminds her of what she’ll never have.

Rick Wilde had a serious crush on Allie back in high school, but life took them in different directions. Now a single parent, he returns to Redemption several years later to raise his son, Lukas. His interest in Allie is renewed, but her shoulder is colder than the bitter winter wind.

Brought together by an orphaned kitten, Allie finds herself helpless to resist Lukas’s impish innocence—not to mention Rick’s warm charm and sexy good looks. Does she dare take a chance on an impossible dream, or will Rick’s desire for more kids devastate their future?

EXCERPT:
“So, you like the Packers.” He groaned silently the moment the words were out. How lame.

She looked over then, but no more than their gazes met, she turned away again. “Yep.”

“I had no idea you were such a fan.” Just as bad, but he couldn’t seem to shut up. He swallowed his gum so he didn’t accidentally choke on it.

Allie folded her arms across her chest and lifted her chin while staring straight out the windshield. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

Direct hit. He grimaced and put the truck back in drive so he could turn down her street. Despite it feeling like ninety-degrees in the truck with the heat blasting, her tone threatened to give him frostbite. And now they were at her house. He couldn’t let the night end like this, but she was already out of the truck and slammed the door before he shifted into park.

Man up!

Opening his door, he called, “Allie, wait.”

House keys in hand, she whirled on her front porch as he approached, looking smaller than ever against the large columns supporting the overhead roof. “Don’t expect me to thank you for ruining my evening, Rick, because it’s not going to happen. Now go away.”

He ruined her evening? A defensive reply formed on his tongue until he remembered he still needed to apologize for his unintended insult. Before he could come up with those more difficult words, he saw her shiver again. So he said the first thing he could think of to get both of them inside her house.

“I was going to ask if I could use your bathroom.”

She turned to insert the key into the lock and spoke over her shoulder. “Use a tree.”

He let out a disbelieving laugh. “Oh, come on. I’m not Bennie.”

She opened the door and stepped inside. She wasn’t really going to leave him outside like the Bassett hound she dog-sat every week, was she? He cocked a brow and offered a hopeful smile to counter her glare.

Her shoulders dropped, and she huffed out an annoyed breath. “Fine. Come in.”

Boy, did he have his work cut out for him.

WELCOME TO REDEMPTION SERIES
A Fair of the Heart, book 1
A Fair to Remember, book 2
The Perfect Blend, book 3
Grounds For Change, book 4
Home Is Where the Heart Is, book 5
The Heart of the Matter, book 6
Never Let Me Go, book 7
Hold On To Me, book 8
Say You Love Me, book 9
Say You'll Marry Me, book 10