Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"Fine. But I still think I should move to China."
"No can do, princess." I nip her bottom lip and then set her on her feet. "But I'll make you Chinese for dinner."
She smiles up at me, her expression softening even though her face is still bright red. "I knew there was a reason I married you."
"Oh, yeah? You married me for my cooking?"
"Uh, heck no. I married you for your obsession with dessert, cowboy," she says and then dances out of my reach, laughing.
Pretty Little Mess
About the Book
Falling for her grumpy mountain man boss was not part of this sunshiney hot mess's plans for Galentine's Day.
Cordelia
Welcome to Winthrop, WA. Population: Screwed.
When I answered Deacon Cromwell's ad for an assistant, roughing it with a mountain man was not what I had in mind.
But I'll give anything a shot. Just so long as it doesn't shoot back.
When my grumpy new boss finds out he hired...well, me...all bets are off.
He's way too hot to handle.
And I'm dying to be handled.
If we don't kill each other first.
I mean, accidents happen in the wild all the time, right?!
Deacon
When I placed an ad for an assistant, I expected someone who knew about life in the mountains.
Instead, I got saddled with the prettiest little mess I've ever met.
Cordelia's mouth never stops moving, and the only thing hotter than that pink hair is her temper.
I have no business putting my filthy hands all over her, but she’s itching for someone to settle her down.
And it damn sure won't be anyone but me.
This hot mess is mine to tame.
Paul Bunyan, save me! This grumpy mountain man and his hot mess heroine are hot enough to start a forest fire. If you enjoy laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, hot mess heroines, and steamy romance, you'll love Cordy and Deacon!
Chapter One
CORDELIA
"This was your idea," I tell the stricken curvy girl staring back at me in the mirror. "I warned you to stop coming up with master plans when alcohol is involved, but do you listen? No. No, you don't."
Apparently, Drunk Me still isn't listening because the only girl staring back is Stone-Cold Sober Me. And Stone-Cold Sober Me would like to speak to the manager.
I mean, honestly. Who convinces her best friends to celebrate Valentine's Day by forging a drunken pact to conquer our greatest fears? Drunk Me, that's who.
They're called fears for a reason. But text messages don't lie.
I'm definitely the ringleader of this circus.
Cordy: We're all spending Valentine's Day doing something we'd never do.
Devyn: Like what?
Cordy: Whatever you want. I saw an ad in the paper this morning for a mountain man looking for an assistant for two weeks. Maybe I'll call.
Cleary: You aren't serious.
Cordy: I'm completely serious.
Gem: I like the idea. Maybe I’ll take the plunge with that jewelry exhibition in town next week. Show off a few of my creations.
Peyton: It's insane, but I like it.
Mandy: Something we would never do? It's a terrible idea! We don’t do things for a reason.
It seemed like a good idea during our wine-fueled chat last week. It seems less so now that I'm sober and out of time. Valentine's Day is just a few days away, and I'm the only one of the girls who hasn't followed through on our agreement.
"No more Moscato for you," I mutter to my reflection, even though both me and said reflection know I don't actually mean it. I made the same resolution after I convinced the girls that we should take Gemma's inflatable dolphin to the fountain on the Vegas strip for an impromptu, late-night pool party. Thank God we were the least interesting crime happening in Vegas that night!
I'm pretty sure I also said the same thing when I decided to dye my hair pink to match my business cards. It's an adorable color, but the upkeep is exhausting!
Wine nights with my book club besties might be ruining my life. Because Drunk Me really sold this mountain man idea. The girls keep asking if I've talked to him yet. No! No, I haven't. But his ad is still in the paper.
I know exactly three things about mountain men. One, they exist. Two, they live in the mountains. Three, they make sexy romantic heroes. Beyond that, color me clueless.
Why this particular mountain man needs an assistant for two weeks, I don't know. I'm not even sure what an assistant to a mountain man does. My personal assistant skills have only ever been put to use for the self-employed and small businesses who need an extra set of hands periodically but don't want to hire through a temp agency. But I'm committed now.
And freaking terrified. Nature and I are sworn enemies. Ironic considering I've spent my whole life in the Pacific Northwest, where people come specifically for nature. But the one, and only, time I went camping, I got lost.