This Crazy Love: Swoon Series Read online

  This Crazy Love

  Swoon Series

  J.H. Croix

  Contents

  This Crazy Love

  1. Shay

  2. Jackson

  3. Shay

  4. Jackson

  5. Jackson

  6. Shay

  7. Shay

  8. Jackson

  9. Shay

  10. Shay

  11. Jackson

  12. Shay

  13. Jackson

  14. Shay

  15. Shay

  16. Jackson

  17. Shay

  18. Jackson

  19. Jackson

  20. Shay

  21. Shay

  22. Jackson

  23. Jackson

  24. Shay

  25. Jackson

  26. Shay

  27. Jackson

  28. Shay

  29. Jackson

  30. Jackson

  31. Shay

  Epilogue

  Excerpt: Wait For Me

  A note on Shay’s story

  Find My Books

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  * * *

  Copyright © 2019 J.H. Croix

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 9781095456286

  * * *

  Cover design by Najla Qamber Designs

  Cover Photography: Wander Aguiar

  Cover models: Kerry Smart & Megan Napolitan

  * * *

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  “Love is being stupid together.” ~Paul Valery

  * * *

  Sign up for my newsletter for information on new releases & get a FREE copy of one of my books!

  * * *

  http://jhcroixauthor.com/subscribe/

  * * *

  Follow me!

  [email protected]

  https://amazon.com/author/jhcroix

  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-h-croix

  https://www.facebook.com/jhcroix

  https://www.instagram.com/jhcroix/

  This Crazy Love

  Rule #1: Do not fall for your brother’s best friend.

  Rule # 2: Absolutely do not fall for your brother’s best friend.

  Rule # 3: Don’t break the rules.

  * * *

  Shay

  Jackson Stone is hot—like burn-down-buildings kind of hot. He’s also my brother’s best friend, and the memory of one kiss with him years ago still might get to me. Maybe. But, I am not looking for a second chance.

  When I return to the small town of Stolen Hearts Valley, my life is a hot mess. I’m a few bucks shy of broke with nowhere else to go. My heart’s battered and bruised, and when it comes to romance, the door is nailed shut.

  But Jackson’s the kind of man women ruin panties over. Oh, and he's my roommate. Talk about too close for comfort.

  When I’m at my most vulnerable, he pulls that whole knight-in-shining-armor thing. What can I say? He’s d*mn near impossible to resist.

  * * *

  Jackson

  Shay Martin is my best friend’s little sister. And she’s so hot she nearly sets me on fire.

  She’s a walking complication, and I don’t do complications. But I can’t seem to stay away from her. It doesn't help that her bedroom is across the hall from mine.

  Every look, every kiss, every touch nearly brings me to my knees. I can’t keep my balance, much less think. Before I know it, I’ll do anything for her. Complications be d*mned.

  Chapter One

  Shay

  I climbed out of my car, wincing slightly as the door squeaked when I tried to shut it. With a little extra push, it closed all the way. My car was a bit like me. It was hanging in there, but it was rough around the edges. I was rather attached to it. In fact, lately, I felt more kindly toward my car than myself.

  Before my thoughts meandered too far down that path—a well-worn rut of recrimination and regret—my attention was snagged by a small horse galloping across the pasture in front of me. The horse was almost black with three white feet, as if it were missing a sock.

  The horse angled to the side, just enough for me to see its tail flick behind it and notice it was a male. He kicked his back feet up in the air and turned to face the fence again. A white star stood out in the center of his forehead.

  I was so absorbed in watching, I didn’t quite notice what he was about to do until he came sailing over the fence in a beautiful jump, the kind that would’ve gotten him a ribbon in a show. Except we weren’t in a show, and he’d just jumped out of the pasture. The horse came running straight for me, skidding to a stop before snorting and pawing at the ground.

  Just as I was about to reach out, he spun around and dashed off again, kicking dirt in my face.

  “Mischief!” a voice called.

  Sputtering, I dragged my sleeve across my face. Looking ahead, I saw a man in the distance. A loud whistle followed his call. I wondered if that was Jackson Stone. I wasn’t close enough to see from here. Whoever it was, he walked with an easy strength and grace along the fence line.

  Taking a deep breath, I glanced around. I’d left before dawn this morning. A few hours of driving got me here just as the sun was rising behind the mountains. The famous blue haze over the Blue Ridge Mountains was shot through with gold from the sun’s early rays.

  My gaze made its way back to the horse I presumed to be Mischief. He slowed to a trot as the man approached him and then came to a stop, docilely lowering his head as the man slipped a halter on him. I watched as they turned toward me again. It was a minute or so before they reached me, but I recognized Jackson once he was close enough.

  I once had a bit of a crush on Jackson, years back. With his shaggy brown curls and his piercing blue eyes, it was fair to say I was not the only girl who had a crush on him. I didn’t think it was quite possible, but when he stopped in front of me, he was somehow more handsome than he had been before.

  He wore scuffed leather boots with jeans, and a black T-shirt that didn’t do much of anything to obscure the fact that he had a body to die for, all muscle and hard planes.

  Stopping in front of me, his mouth curled into a slow smile. “How’s it going, Shay?”

  “Aside from getting dirt kicked in my face, I’m fine,” I said with a laugh.

  Jackson’s smile turned sheepish with a shrug. “Sorry ’bout that. Mischief lives up to his name.” He glanced to the horse in question, giving him an affectionate rub under his chin. “Mischief, this is Shay, and she’s a friend. So, be nice. He doesn’t listen too well,” he added with a glance to me.

  As if he understood, and to prove Jackson wrong, Mischief lifted his nose, gently nudging my shoulder with it. Despite teasing, I didn’t really care about getting dirt kicked in my face. Dirt was the least of my worries. I lifted a hand and scratched between Mischief’s ears, rewarded when he lowered his head and rubbed against my shoulder again.

  When I looked back to Jackson, his blue gaze had darkened. A prickle ran up my spine, and I wondered if coming here was the smartest move. Problem was, it was my only move. I didn’t have any other good options.

  I forced a smile and replied, “Well, he listens to you.”

  A grin stretched
across Jackson’s face, and my belly executed a little flip. Oh my.

  “He listens when he wants and that’s about it. Let me get him back in the pasture, and I’ll take you inside.”

  I watched as Jackson strolled across the parking area toward the fence Mischief had just cleared in an easy jump, as if it was nothing more than a minor nuisance. Opening the gate, Jackson slipped his halter off and patted him on the rump as Mischief flicked his tail before trotting off to join a cluster of horses in the far corner of the pasture.

  “Need help carrying anything inside?” Jackson asked, as he stopped beside me.

  His eyes traveled to my beat-up little hatchback. If he had an opinion about it, he stayed quiet. Once upon a time—which felt like forever ago at this point—I had a pretty good life.

  I certainly had a car in better shape, and enough money to get by. Now, I didn’t want to tell anyone how much I needed this place to stay right now. I had maybe fifty bucks left in my bank account. My little car was one of the few things that had seen me through both good and bad and was still chugging along, albeit a little banged up.

  I watched Jackson’s gaze coast over my car, hoping he didn’t wonder about the dent just underneath the window in the driver’s side door. A fist had left that behind. I didn’t have the money to fix it and had learned insurance didn’t cover people punching your car.

  “Shay?” Jackson asked, his voice nudging me out of this ditch on memory lane, where I tended to get trapped.

  “Oh right. I just have two bags,” I replied quickly, finally springing into motion and striding over to my car.

  Jackson insisted on carrying one of the bags, his fingers brushing mine and sending a hot little zing up my arm. I hadn’t seen Jackson in five long years, but I’d never forgotten how handsome he was. Dear God, the man was swoon-worthy and then some. Yet, I didn’t recall reacting this way to him before, even if I’d crushed on him a little when I was younger and shared a single, wild kiss one night.

  That zing startled me. I had written off desire, figuring my life would be better off without it. I also figured I was pretty much ruined for it. That’s what a few years of bad sex tangled up with fear could do. It made me question everything about desire and my own judgment.

  As I looked ahead to the farmhouse, I reminded myself, rather sternly, I needed this to work out. I needed a place to regroup, and this was it. Even thinking about the sudden, confusing attraction to my brother’s best friend was a bad idea.

  Chapter Two

  Jackson

  Shay had a mere two bags with her. “I can get one,” she said, her tone a little testy when I moved to take both bags. Shay had always liked to do things for herself, so I let it go and turned with the one I already had in hand.

  Moments later, we were inside the house. I led her through the sprawling farmhouse kitchen, down the hall, and up the stairs, going straight to the bedroom Ash had determined would be Shay’s.

  After our father passed away a few years ago, my sister and I inherited the family farm. Years back, it had been a working farm for generations of our family. In the last decade or so before our father passed away, he had wound down the farming part of it, and dedicated his time to his horses and creating an animal rescue sanctuary. Before our mother died, he promised her someday he’d make the farm into a rescue.

  Our father’s death brought me home. In addition to the rescue program, we ran a small veterinary clinic, seeing as I had my license, but I hadn’t put it to much use while I’d been overseas in the military. We’d also renovated two of the massive old barns into a high-end adventure lodge. We hosted a variety of guests throughout the year.

  Ash was only here occasionally of late and was out of town now. She was one hundred percent on board with having Shay come stay here, so she made all the decisions about which room and so on.

  Stopping by the door to the guestroom in question, I glanced back to Shay. “Right in here,” I said, pausing once I stepped inside and set her bag on the floor in front of the dresser.

  When I looked over at Shay again, my breath was nearly knocked out of me. The early morning sunlight hadn’t done her justice. If I thought she was beautiful before, she was arresting now. Her dark blonde hair fell loosely around her shoulders. Her green eyes held mine as she looked at me, a hint of defiance entering her gaze.

  Shay was on the short side and all curves. She wore fitted jeans and cowboy boots paired with a blouse. Even with her loose blouse, her breasts filled it, curves rising above the rounded neckline. Her lips were full and plump. She arched a brow as I looked at her.

  “What?” she demanded.

  I gave my head a little shake. “Not a thing. Ash will be thrilled to know you’re here. You must’ve left early. Come on downstairs when you’re ready. I’ll take a quick shower and then I can show you around.”

  I walked through the door, trying to ignore the sizzle of electricity in the air when I passed by her. It wasn’t until I caught her gaze out of the corner of my eye, and saw the vulnerability under the defiance, that I remembered all the reasons why she was here.

  “I’ll be down in a little bit. I just want to unpack,” she said.

  I’d been up for hours and on my back in the dirt, changing the oil on one of the trucks. I needed a shower to clear my head as much as to get clean. I wondered if Shay was too close to my bedroom as I stepped through the doorway at an angle across the hallway. That was a problem for another day.

  Chapter Three

  Shay

  “Coffee?” Jackson asked, as soon as I stepped into the kitchen a bit later.

  “Now?”

  “In case you didn’t notice, it’s not even eight yet,” he countered with a grin as he turned to look at me.

  I had prepped myself for all kinds of things when my brother, Remy, suggested I come here to stay with Ash and Jackson. Ash had been my closest friend growing up, although we’d grown apart a bit in the last few years, and Remy and Jackson had been best friends all the way through college. They stayed in touch, even while Jackson was in the military and overseas and with Remy now living in Alaska.

  Remy tended to have opinions about what I should do, and I usually ignored him. In this case though, I needed a change of pace like nobody’s business. I was also more broke than I wanted Remy to know. The disaster of my life was something I was hoping to leave in the rearview mirror.

  With Remy’s suggestion and a phone call from Ash, I packed up what little I had and moved back to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina where I grew up. There had been absolutely nothing to keep me in Chapel Hill anymore, and piles of reasons to leave.

  Of all the things I prepared myself to deal with when I arrived here, the sight of Jackson bare-chested with his jeans low on his hips was not on that list. He hadn’t bothered with a shirt after his shower. My mouth went dry and heat bloomed through me.

  Somehow, I’d conveniently forgotten how sinfully handsome Jackson was. With his damp brown curls, bright blue eyes, and a body made for sin, I was not ready to deal with my body’s reaction to him.

  I tried to take a deep breath, but my lungs weren’t having it. With my pulse zipping along at a flat-out gallop and inconvenient desire spinning like fire in my veins, taking a deep breath appeared to be asking too much. I settled for a slow one, shallow and unsatisfying though it was. I nodded. “Coffee sounds great. I hope I didn’t get here at a bad time.”

  Jackson’s piercing blue gaze met mine. “Of course not.”

  “Okay,” was about all I could say.

  He held my gaze for what felt like too long, something flickering there. When he rested a hand on the counter, his fingers curling around the edge, my eyes tracked the subtle flex of his forearm, heat radiating through me at the sight. Blessedly, he turned away to start the coffee.

  You cannot have a thing for Jackson. He’s your brother’s best friend, and he and Ash are doing you a favor. You need this place.

  I thought I had my pulse under contr
ol until he turned back around, and I was abruptly reminded of the sight of his bare chest. Dear God. I felt as if I’d been cast into some twisted version of hell. This particular version involved me lusting after Jackson, quite inappropriately, when he had told my brother I could stay here as long as I needed. I was flat broke and an emotional disaster inside when it came to men.

  “You hungry?” he asked.

  I meant to say no, but my stomach had apparently developed its own voice and was able to understand human language. It promptly let out a loud rumble. In all honesty, I hadn’t eaten since the granola bar I had late last night. I’d been anxious to get here today and had driven straight through once I woke in the early morning darkness, too restless and uneasy to sleep.

  A slow grin stretched across his face. “I’ll take that as a yes. Will scrambled eggs do?”

  I swallowed and nodded, my mouth actually watering at the thought of food. “I can help. And I guess we should talk about, well, things like groceries. I can run to the store today,” I offered, feeling awkward as I stood there in the middle of the kitchen.