An emotional new best friend’s little sister romance duet is kicking off this week from Claudia Burgoa, and I have a little excerpt for you from the first book in the series. The conclusion to the duet is only a few weeks away.
Excerpt
There are three things I can’t stop doing when Teddy is around.
Tease her.
Desire her.
And touch her.
As we head toward my car, I’m already holding her hand. I’m thankful she’s not snatching it away because, for some weird reason, I need the connection between us. I need her touch.
“You should put a security detail on them,” she mumbles.
“Who? Burke and Chloe?”
“Yeah. If someone looks after them every day for the rest of their lives, nothing will happen to them.”
And just now it hits me; she’s anxious and about to have a panic attack. Teddy can’t handle losing another one of her brothers. No one in the family can. I release her hand and put my arm around her shoulders, side hugging her.
“They’ll be fine. It’s just a precaution,” I assure her, kissing the top of her head.
“But maybe if you do something to prevent it…”
“Let’s make a deal. We’ll fix the issue I found today and then we’ll try to figure out a way to keep Burke and Chloe alive forever, okay?”
“You’re mocking me.”
“Partially. I can’t put them in a glass box forever.” I open the door of my SUV and help her get inside.
“Where are we going?” she asks when I’m putting on my seat belt.
“Piper’s house.”
“She’s in town? That’s not possible. I just talked to her, and she was in New York.”
I guess my favorite cousin came through for me. Maybe that’s why she’s coming with me willingly? “No, we’re picking up something and then heading to my place.”
Teddy crosses her arms. “Why?”
“It’s a long story I’d rather discuss when we’re in private.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“You and I in a private place is always a bad idea. You know what happens… plus you have a girlfriend, remember?”
“Why do you keep saying that? We broke up at Grace’s wedding.”
She huffs.
“Theodora?”
“Tabloids, internet… pick your poison.”
I groan. “What’s out there?”
“A picture of you two strolling around New York, looking pretty happy.”
“They’re probably, old but still, Dad’s going to kill me. I guess my lawyer hasn’t gotten her to shut up yet.”
“Don’t you have people who can fix that?”
Before I can respond, my phone rings, the screen lights up with Byron Langdon’s name.
“Aw, my cousin is calling.” She presses the answer button. “Hey, Lang.”
“Oh, you two are together. Did you decide to give the marriage a try, Bradley? I recommend you hide before I kill you.”
“Not the time,” I warn him.
“What is he talking about?”
“She doesn’t know you’re filing for divorce? I think that’s pretty crappy, but with a public affair, I think she might be able to take everything you own—all those billions are hers now.”
“Seth?” Teddy insists.
“We’ll talk later.” I end the call.
“What was he talking about?”
I tap the wheel while trying to figure out how to break the news. Since there’s no way to do it nicely, I say, “Honestly, I’m not one hundred percent sure yet. Nate found our marriage certificate.”
“Our what?” She sounds dumbfounded.
“Marriage certificate,” I repeat.
“This is a joke, right?”
I nod, getting off the highway and heading toward Medina, where Piper lives when she’s in Seattle. “Probably a ten-year-old joke.”
“What does that mean?”
I tell her what I know so far, finishing the story right as I arrive at Piper’s house.
“She has a video of it?” Teddy sounds indignant, as if it’s a sex tape. “This can’t be legal.”
Find it on Goodreads:
Connect with the Author:
Decker Family - Recommended Reading Order
(standalone duets with interconnected characters)
You Might Also Like...
by