He wants her. There are so many reasons why that's wrong. She's underage and his brother wants her too, just to name a couple. But he decides to put his heart on the line, and when she eventually breaks it, like he knew she would, he vows to never, ever trust women again.
Excerpt from Cole, the free steamy romance book from Ria F:
The Martinson Brothers
Harper slammed her hand on her alarm clock for the hundredth time. If it rang one more time, she was going to chuck it out the window. She’d stayed up late last night talking to her brother who’d just returned from a tour in Afghanistan. She smiled at the memory of when he’d walked up the driveway and she’d flung herself into his arms. The alarm clock went off again. She sat up and yanked it off her desk, intending to chuck it out the window, when she saw the time. “8:30!” she screeched. She threw it onto the floor and picked up her phone; it was Monday. She jumped out of bed and ran around like a madwoman getting ready for school. School started an hour ago! She was so screwed.
She got to school at 8:50- record timing. She didn’t have time to do her hair so she’d thrown it up into a bun. She’d thrown on some sweatpants and a crop top. When she walked into her first class, all eyes turned to her. “Miss. Turner, you’re late” the teacher, Ms.Patson, said, pointing out the obvious. Harper hung her head, “I’m sorry. My brother got back last night.” Ms.Patson smiled, “The one in the army?” Harper only had one brother. “Yes.” Ms.Patson nodded, “While I support our troops, I don’t support them making their sisters late for school. Please have a seat. I’m just about to give out the group project.” Harper slid into her seat. Ms.Patson began pulling names out of a box and assigning four people per group since there were twenty-eight people in the class. “For group five: Caden Martinson, Conner Martinson, Harper Turner, and, well what do you know, Chase Martinson.” Harper wanted to hit her head against her desk; she did not just get stuck with the Martinson boys. Karma was a bitch.
The Martinson boys were the “Greek gods” of the high school. From what she’d seen of them, they were drop-dead gorgeous, conceited, and hella rich. All the girls (and the entire female staff) pined after them. As far as Harper knew, they were all still single but they flirted as much as they breathed air. She glanced up to replace all the girls staring enviously at her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Chase watching her. She gave him a bored look before returning her attention to Ms.Patson.
When the bell rang, Harper gathered up her books and turned to leave, only to come face to face with all three brothers. “Ugh,” she muttered under her breath. “I heard that,” Conner said. She rolled her eyes, “What do you three want?” “Welcome to the group,” Caden said with a smile. She blinked: he has pretty blue eyes. Were they always that pretty? She glanced at Conner and Chase; well shit, they all had pretty blue eyes. “Yeah...thanks, I need to get to my next class.” Chase nodded, “We’ll meet after school and discuss what each of us are going to do.” For egoistic flirts, they seemed responsible. “Sounds good,” she said. Caden moved out of the way so she could go by. When passing him, her arm brushed his chest and she shivered in response. He was pure muscle beneath that lucky tee.
It didn’t take long for the entire school to know that Harper was working on a group project with the Martinson brothers. “You’re so lucky!” her best friend, Paige, said. “Am I? All day girls have been friendly with me.” Paige grinned, “They want you to hook them up with a brother.” “I know, don’t remind me.” Paige grinned, “So...how do you feel?” “Awkward,” Harper confessed as she looked over at their table. Caden looked up and caught her eye. She glanced away.
After school, she went out front to wait for Caden, Chase, and Conner. “Hey beautiful,” Caden said, walking over. She found a smile begin to form on her lips before she wiped it away, “Caden. Where are the other two?” “Coming.” “Harper!” a voice called. Harper grinned and turned around as her brother Harvey walked up. He wrapped his arms around her and glared at Caden, “Hey.” “Harvey, what are you doing here?” “Well, I simply couldn’t stay away from you.” She laughed, “Who would?” Chase and Conner walked up. Chase raised an eyebrow. “Clearly you are popular with the men,” Harvey said, giving each of them a glare. Harper laughed, “Harvey, this is Caden, Chase, and Conner Martinson; we’re working on a group project. Chase, Conner, Caden, this is Harvey: one of the two men in my life.” Harper watched something like jealousy flash through Caden’s eyes before it was gone. Harvey chuckled, “Nice to meet you all.” Conner extended a hand, “Likewise.” Harvey let Harper go and shook his hand, “Conner, right?” “Yeah.” “I expect you’ll be doing project work and not hitting on my sister.” Chase and Caden’s eyebrows went up then Caden shook his head. Harper grinned, “Did I forget to mention that Harvey is my brother?” “The one in the army?” Chase asked. “I didn’t know I was famous here,” Harvey said. Harper rolled her eyes, “Far from it.” “Well, I’ll leave you four be to work. I’ll see you at home Harp.” Harper nodded, “See you.” He left. “Well...uh...let’s get to work,” Caden said.
