Jules and Augie
Jules
He was the only man she ever loved and the only one to break her heart. As her older brother’s best friend, he had been her best friend, too, and secret crush until the day he left without saying good-bye. With no sign of him coming back, she gave up hope and moved on. At least, she tried to… for 15 years.
Now she’s built a life and career with her brother’s rock band, and he’s back, but not for her. Or so she thinks. As a stalker creeps in, he becomes her shield, her protector. But it’s all wrong. This isn’t how she wanted him to return to her. Can she protect her heart this time? Or will he leave her broken once more?
Augie
She was the one he built his life for, the one who pushed him to become the man he was. He lived and breathed for her… and she didn’t even know it. She was untouchable, his best friend’s little sister. But she was his. When he’s called in to protect her from a stalker upping his game, he thinks he finally has his window back into her life.
But she’s not the same girl he left behind. She thinks she’s broken, but he sees the strength underneath even if she doesn’t. As her secrets come out, can he keep her safe and prove to her that she’s all he ever wanted? Or are his mistakes too large to overcome?
Each book can be read as a standalone story and are guaranteed HEA. Reading the series in order is best for character interaction, but not necessary for the books individually. No cliffhangers.
Publisher:
Piper Bedwell
Publication Date
January 2024
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Excerpt:
“You know my drink order?” she questioned, the previous conversation lost on her now.
“I got it right, didn’t l?” he smirked, pulling forward to the window.
Jules realized too late which location Augie had taken them to. As the window opened, a familiar face came into view. Being in the SUV, he was able to see past Augie and directly to her.
“Jules?” he called out. “Is that you?”
“Hey, John,” Jules groaned. While she had never really considered dating John, he had asked her out a couple times and now she felt like she was somehow cheating on him. And she certainly didn’t owe Augie anything, yet here she was, feeling extremely awkward.
“Not used to seeing you with anyone,” John commented, eyeing Augie and accepting his card for payment.
“Oh… you know…” But Jules in fact didn’t know. A nervous chuckle escaped her lips.
For some unknown reason, Augie was suddenly feeling jealous of the barista. He was in no way a threat – he knew he wasn’t her type – but the idea of any man thinking he had the right to ask about who she was with flew all over him.
“Hi, I’m Augie,” he introduced himself, pulling the other man’s attention to him. “And you are?”
“Oh, I’m John,” the barista answered.
“Nice to meet you Justin,” Augie replied, intentionally using the wrong game. “Mind if I get my card back? We have an engagement to get to.”
“It’s-it’s John,” the other may corrected, returning the card but holding the drinks back. “Engagement?”
The strangled sound that erupted from Jules’s throat worried the barista but made Augie smile wider. He had always loved embarrassing her, and subtly staking his claim on her was an added bonus.
“Are you okay, Jules?” John asked, his eyes darting between the two in the vehicle.
“Yeah, buttercup, what’s wrong?” Augie chuckled, sliding his arm around her shoulder.
“Drink,” she choked out, reaching across Augie. Unfortunately for her, her arm slid deliciously across the hard planes of his chest, igniting her once more. She coughed again to try to hide her reaction and to emphasize her need for her drink.
John handed it over immediately, and a straw, staring at her hand placement on Augie’s thigh. His face was pinched, and his mouth sat slightly askew at the sight.
“Mine, too, please, Josh,” Augie requested, using yet another name. “Wouldn’t want to hold up your line.”
“It’s John,” he reminded, handing over the drink reluctantly.
“Thanks James,” Augie stated, putting the car into drive. “See you around.”
Jules groaned in frustration as Augie drove away. Augie, on the other hand, couldn’t help but laugh.
“Just another reason I can never go back there,” she commented, pulling her knees to her chest.
“Another? You mean there’s more?” Augie pressed, laughing softly.
“Let’s just say rental car plus short torso equals disaster at pickup windows and leave it at that,” she answered. “What the hell was that, though?”
“What do you mean?” At Jules’s direct stare, he chuckled and continued. “He was acting very familiar. Is he an ex?”
“No!” she scoffed. “Not from lack of trying on his part, though.”
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