Twist of Fate: A Heartbreaker Bay Novella Read online

  Rocco let out a breath, and with suspiciously shiny eyes, turned to Tyler. “Ready to make an honest man out of me?”

  Tyler’s smile lit up the day around them.

  They all headed down to the beach, but Diego pulled Daisy back, waiting until she looked up at him before he cupped her face to look at her very seriously. “I know I’ve made mistakes. Disappointed you. And I’d like to say I won’t ever do it again, but—”

  “But you’re only human.” She smiled. “Neither of us is perfect, Diego. It’s a safe bet to say we’re both going to make lots more mistakes.”

  “Maybe, but one I’ll never make again is hurting you,” Diego said fiercely. “You’re it for me, Daisy. You always were.” He turned to look at the waiting grooms, the glorious day behind them, and then back at Daisy. “There are times, like now, when all I have to do is look at you…” He sank his fingers into her hair. “And it feels like the only reason my heart is beating in my chest is because yours is beating. The only reason I can breathe is because you’re breathing.”

  She pulled his head down to hers and kissed him softly. “So, let’s keep breathing. Together.”

  “Now there’s a pact.”

  Author’s Note

  I hope you enjoyed this peek into my Heartbreaker Bay series. I made a quick mention of Sadie and Caleb. Their book is called Playing For Keeps and is out now wherever books and ebooks are sold, as well as the rest of the Heartbreaker Bay series, including the latest stand-alone, Wrapped Up In You.

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  Wrapped Up in You

  A Heartbreaker Bay Novel

  By Jill Shalvis

  Coming September 24, 2019

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  Don’t miss the newest book in my New York Times

  Bestselling Heartbreaker Bay series

  It’s love. Trust me.

  After a lifetime on the move, Ivy Snow is an expert in all things temporary—schools, friends, and way too many Mr. Wrongs. Now that she owns a successful taco truck in San Francisco and an apartment to call home, Ivy’s reinvented life is on solid ground. And she’s guarded against anything that can rock it. Like the realities of a past she’s worked hard to cover up. And especially Kel O’Donnell. Too hot not to set off alarms, he screams temporary. If only his whispers weren’t so delightfully naughty and irresistible.

  Kel, an Idaho sheriff and ranch owner, is on vacay, but Ivy’s a spicy reason to give his short-terms plans a second thought. Best of all, she’s a tonic for his untrusting heart, burned once and still in repair. But when Ivy’s past intrudes on a perfect romance, Kel fears that everything she’s told him has been a perfect lie. Now, if only Ivy’s willing to share, Kel will fight for a true love story.

  Excerpt:

  Kel O’Donnell stood there in front of The Taco Truck, starving and aching like a son-of-a-bitch. Pushing his body on a five mile full out run hadn’t been the smartest of ideas after what he’d been through. But his more immediate problem was that if he didn’t get food and fast, his stomach was going to eat itself.

  The woman inside the truck looked to him for his order. “And you?” she asked, her voice slightly amused, as if life wasn’t to be taken too seriously, especially while ordering tacos.

  But he was taking this very seriously, as his hunger felt soul deep. “What do you suggest?”

  This caused twin groans from his cousin Caleb and their longtime friend Jake, which Kel ignored.

  Not his server though. She quirked a single brow, the small gesture making him feel more than he had in months. Certainly since his life had detonated several months ago when he’d chased after a suspect on foot, only to be hit by the getaway car, getting himself punted a good fifteen feet into the air. That had hurt. But what had hurt more was his perp turning out to be a dirty cop. And not any dirty cop, but a long time friend, which had nearly cost him life and career.

  But hell, at least neither were on the line this time. It was just a pretty woman giving him some cute, sexy ‘tude while waiting on him to decide between an avocado and bacon tacos, or spicy green eggs and ham tacos.

  “You’re going to have to excuse my dumbass cousin, Ivy,” Caleb said. “Kel hasn’t lived in San Francisco for a long time and doesn’t know that you’ve got the best food truck in all of Cow Hollow. Hell, in the whole bay area.”

  “It’s true,” Jake said and nudged Kel, and with Jake in the wheelchair, he got the nudge right in the back of the knee and just about went down.

  “Everything on the menu,” Jake said, “and I do mean everything is gold. Trust me, it’ll melt in your mouth and make you want to drop to your knees and beg Ivy here to marry you.”

  Ivy sent Jake the sweetest smile Kel had ever seen. Then those compelling eyes were back on him, the sweet completely gone. She leaned out her serving window a little bit, bracing her weight on her elbows. Her hair was the color of fire, a stunning pile of red held back by an elf headband, which left a few strands falling around her face, framing it. Her apron read: I don’t wanna taco ‘bout it. “What do I suggest?” she repeated.

  “Yeah.” Just looking at her, he could feel himself relax for the first time in … way too long. Something about her did that to him. Instant chemistry. He