Blurb
As a single mom and local surgeon in a small town,I thought my life was predictable.
George, my best friend’s brother and the Texas Ranger I once crushed on,
returns after a decade of being gone.
When an ambulance races in, my heart pounds—could it be George?
But it's his partner, Joey, and the relief transforms into dread.
He starts questioning his new partner and my boyfriend, Steven.
I brush it off—until Steven's true colors show, leaving me in danger.
Ignoring his warnings about Steven was a mistake. Now, realizing too late the peril I’m in,
I'm kidnapped and sold into trafficking. I'm counting on George to find and rescue me.
If he can't find me, I'll lose more than just my freedom —
I could lose the chance at a new beginning with the man I've always loved.
Story Summary
George moves back to his hometown after spending the last ten years in Dallas as a Texas Ranger. He is back in Brightstown for a slow life. He doesn’t know what exactly he wants with the new move, but George needs his life to slow down for a while. Since his parents were sailing the Caribbean and likely wouldn’t be back any time soon, George stayed in their house with his sister Roxeanne.
After being home a couple of weeks, George’s partner is shot in the line of duty. and he goes with him to the ER. There, he sees Brittany, his sister’s best friend who is now the local surgeon. He remembers a time when he was her first patient, and while at the beach, he’d been cut with glass during a dive, and Brittany had stitched him up with a sewing kit. She’d had a crush on him when they were younger, and he had ignored her because of the age difference. Now, the age gap was the last thing on his mind. Brittany was all grown up, a divorced single mom and even though they barely speak, George read so much going on in her eyes.
Brittany changes the way she dresses when going to visit Roxeanne, and she gets George’s attention, but unfortunately for him, she had his new partner’s attention as well. As the two got closer, George couldn’t help but get a bad feeling about Steven. He was too nice, and George hated that he drew Brittany in and then they started dating. Even though George is saved by Steven at work, he can’t kick the idea that something is off with him. George warns Brittany about Steven, but Brittany doesn’t listen, thinking he is just being jealous. There was nothing that George could do but watch it all end badly.
When Brittany turns up missing and he suspects that Steven isn’t really who he says he is, George must put his job and his life on the line to save Brittany. He gets a few friends to help him break into Steven’s house looking for Brittany, but she is not there. While he doesn’t give up the idea that Steven is involved, George must focus on finding her. He is put on leave when it’s discovered what he has done. George will likely lose his job over the break-in.
Brittany escapes after being drugged and sold to a workhouse near the border because she saw too much. She tells the police all about Steven and another man named Victor that was Steven’s boss. Not only had they done horrible things to her like selling her, but Brittany witnessed many other crimes while she was taken. There was enough there to put many people in jail for a very long time.
While the police search for Victor and Steven, George takes care of Brittany and her son. A stray kiss and time bring the two together. When the danger has passed, George asks Brittany to marry him, and she gladly agrees.
Characters
Brittany: 5’2 with curly brown hair and brown eyes. Curvy but petite. Quiet when it comes to social situations, but confident at work.
George: 5’10 with blonde shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. Square jaw with a scar near his right eye. Back in town after ten years in Dallas. Ready for a slower change of pace.
Tropes
- Small Town Romance
- Friends to Lovers
- Sister's Best Friend
- Single Mom
- Body Guard
- Damsel in distress
