Did you know that our brains are literally hardwired to see the negative? 

It’s natural for our brains to focus on the threats in our environments, or rather the perceived threats, and it happens from our first waking moment of each day. We immediately go to that place of thinking about what’s not working in our lives, everything that’s gone to shit, instead of all the great things we have and that are working for us.
 
Seeing the negative is something that shapes our days, our lives. I had never thought much about it until my eldest son, who has autism, joined an outdoor wilderness program after I had to pull him from the public school system, in which things had become unworkable. I was angry about having to constantly battle an archaic mindset of bureaucracy that was unwilling to work with my son’s much needed autism consultant and trained professionals. That was the final straw. We were done.
 
Instead of instantly recognizing the valuable skills being taught in the parent-driven outdoor program, I was stuck on the question of why I couldn’t get the school district to recognize my son’s right to an education. But then something magical started to happen during those two years he was in the outdoor school, which focused on integrating children with the environment and teaching skills you’d never, ever see in the public school system. One of the most valuable activities has stuck with me from the moment I saw the kids sitting in a circle around the campfire: To begin their day, each child had to say one thing he or she was grateful for, and at the end of the day, they again came into a closing circle, where the kids once more had to recount their day and say one thing that had happened that they were grateful for.
 
One of the mentors told us parents the importance of gratitude, saying that once you engage that part of the brain, it doesn’t allow room for negativity, intolerance of others, and bullying. What a concept! But it’s more than that. Daily gratitude is in fact the antidote to fear.
 
All of us fall into another pattern when we have something new, when we experience that big WOW of something amazing happening in our lives—from that new relationship where you’ve finally met Mr. or Ms. Right, to that new car you’ve always wanted, to that new home you finally have. For a while, you’re excited and happy and grateful, and you’re over the moon with joy until it becomes your new normal. Then you go right back to focusing on the negative: what’s not working, who you’re angry at because of some perceived threat, and how crappy everything is in your life. Once again, you’re fighting the natural inclination that drives you away from gratitude in a cycle that’s destructive to you!
 
But did you know it’s also possible to retrain your brain to focus on what’s totally fantastic in your life as opposed to what’s not working? It’s as simple as starting your day. As soon as you get up in the morning, with a pen and paper, write out a list of things you’re grateful for, whether it’s that amazing deep dark roast coffee you’re drinking, or having shoes to wear on your feet, or the fact that you can actually get out of bed in the morning and walk without your hip or some part of your body giving you grief.
 
Now, the reason for a pen and paper is that writing is more effective than simply listing things mentally. It keeps your head, your focus, from drifting. When someone suggested I use a pen and paper for this activity, the difference was phenomenal, because as I held that pen and that paper and scribbled the words in my chicken scratch, my focus was on the tactile, on writing the words. My brain couldn’t go anywhere else.
                                                         
Make it a practice every day, because by doing that you’re in fact retraining your brain away from bad news, drama, and destruction and letting it start spotting the magic, the extraordinary. You start seeing everything that’s great in your life versus everything that’s not working and all the problems you have. Something amazing starts to happen when you clean up the clutter of negativity. If you think about it, it’s similar to cleaning your glasses when the lenses are covered in grime and spots that have hampered your vision for so long. You suddenly start to see magic in those otherwise ordinary days—from a brilliant sunrise, to optimism in others. By training your brain to focus on the good things, on the wins, you open up a world of possibilities and start to break that cycle of negativity that every one of us was born with.

IT'S AUDIOBOOK MANIA PLUS A ONE-DAY SALE!

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of THE DECISION!  

Receive your free audio code for Book 5 in The Friessens series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion; please be sure to send me an e-mail at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com once you have posted your review, otherwise we will be unable to honor any future code requests.   As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening!

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed THE DECISION and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  Again, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

Happy Friday! It's been a bit of a hectic past week as I moved homes and am still living out of boxes as we work to settle in.  Many thanks to my dragonboat racing team who so graciously pitched in to assist with the move to a new island (where hopefully we should be spared the unfortunate water woes that have plagued our previous island for quite some time)--so many extra hands were such a tremendous help!  Please know that as soon as the dust settles, I plan to sit down and write some free shorts for both STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER and THE BAD BOY along with a new Friessens title, so stay tuned!  Thanks to all who have inquired--I appreciate your support and the love you have for the Friessen family!  Here's to a terrific weekend-- Lorhainne

IT'S AUDIOBOOK MANIA PLUS A ONE-DAY SALE!

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of international bestseller THE BUSINESS PLAN!  

Receive your free audio code for Book 4 in The Friessens series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion; please be sure to send me an e-mail at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com once you have posted your review, otherwise we will be unable to honor any future code requests.   As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening!

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed THE BUSINESS PLAN and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  Again, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

Are you playing the victim, or are you playing the leader?
 
It may surprise many of you that playing the victim comes naturally, and many of us do so every day without being aware, even when we understand how the victim mentality works. Playing the victim is often the first thing we do when we put our feet on the floor as we get out of bed in the morning, when we arrive at work and meet up with coworkers, or when we stop for coffee with a friend and vent or complain about something or someone, perhaps even a loved one.
 
Victims give away their power. They live in the past, always talking about the past. They talk about what isn’t working. They complain, they gossip, and they’re addicted to being busy. It isn’t until we become aware and catch ourselves slipping into this pattern that we can change it. And you can change it.
 
Think of it this way: Who do you want to be around, people who complain and gossip, are miserable, and never smile, or people who are excited and optimistic, who show up fully, lifting you just from the smiles and happiness that exude from them, from their confidence and self-esteem? I mean, how often in the last week have you met up for lunch or coffee with a family member, a friend, or a coworker only to hear that person complaining about her children or her husband, and even though you’re sitting at a table with her, she’s not really there? She’s stuck in her head, and you’re sitting in silence, and it’s not fun. Or maybe it was you who had a crappy day. Everything went to shit, and you spent the entire afternoon putting out one fire after another, and you’re the one reliving it over and over, whether thinking or talking about it.
 
But then there are those who are optimistic, fully engaged, fully present, and those people are leaders. Being a leader has nothing to do with your title or your job; it’s about showing up fully. Leaders are optimistic. They leave people better than they found them. Leaders come from all walks of life: They’re clerks at the deli counter, or they’re cleaning ladies, or they’re stay-at-home moms. It doesn’t matter what you do, because leaders are the ones who are excited every day from the moment they get out of bed, truly loving what they do.
 
Be proud of your work. Be proud of what you do.
 
You can make a difference even if you don’t have an impressive title, because the most important thing is to be proud of what you do. No matter what you do, do it with all your heart and nothing can stop you.

IT'S AUDIOBOOK MANIA PLUS A ONE-DAY SALE!

Calling all reviewers!  Get your FREE Audible copy of Readers' Favorite award-winner THE BLOODLINE!  

Receive your free audio code for Book 2 in The Friessens series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion; please be sure to send me an e-mail at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com once you have posted your review, otherwise we will be unable to honor any future code requests.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening!

CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed THE BLOODLINE  and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it!  The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do.  Again, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!

Did you miss this week's new release? 

​​The funny thing about broken hearts is that they make people do things they wouldn’t do if they were thinking clearly, as his mother so succinctly advised him during his ensuing dating spree. This is likely why Mark has now signed up to be a deputy in the next county over, with a badge, a gun, and the kind of power he thought he wanted.

When he pulls young mousy librarian Daria McKenzie over for speeding, she is speechless and furious when she realizes he doesn’t remember who she is. This bad boy has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake—including hers.

Mark's story is now available everywhere!  Pick up THE BAD BOY (The Friessens, Book 25) at:

AMAZON I NOOK I iBOOKS I KOBO I GOOGLE PLAY

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

The newest addition to The Friessens series is here!   THE BAD BOY, Book 25, is now available at all online retailers!   

The funny thing about broken hearts is that they make people do things they wouldn’t do if they were thinking clearly, as his mother so succinctly advised him during his ensuing dating spree. This is likely why Mark has now signed up to be a deputy in the next county over, with a badge, a gun, and the kind of power he thought he wanted.

When he pulls young mousy librarian Daria McKenzie over for speeding, she is speechless and furious when she realizes he doesn’t remember who she is. This bad boy has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake—including hers.

Don't miss Mark's story!  You can find THE BAD BOY at these eRetailers:

AMAZON I  NOOK   I   iBOOKS   I   KOBO  I   GOOGLE PLAY

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync? Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

Here's your final peek of my upcoming Friessens release!   THE BAD BOY will be released tomorrow, but here's an exclusive look at Chapter 5!   

The funny thing about broken hearts is that they make people do things they wouldn’t do if they were thinking clearly, as his mother so succinctly advised him during his ensuing dating spree. This is likely why Mark has now signed up to be a deputy in the next county over, with a badge, a gun, and the kind of power he thought he wanted.

When he pulls young mousy librarian Daria McKenzie over for speeding, she is speechless and furious when she realizes he doesn’t remember who she is. This bad boy has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake—including hers.

THE BAD BOY (The Friessens, Book 25) is available for pre-sale at:

AMAZON  I  NOOK   I   iBOOKS   I   KOBO   I   GOOGLE PLAY

Did you miss your sneak peek of Chapter 4?  If so, click here.

_____

Chapter 5

“So how’s life treating you? Haven’t seen you in a while,” said Henry Lewis, the bartender at the Horned Toad, as he settled a pint of lager in front of Mark where he stood at the bar. Henry was tall, light haired, and at least five years his senior. The place was packed with a few familiar faces and a lot of unfamiliar ones.

“Life’s good,” Mark said. “Got a job over in Skagit County with the sheriff’s department as a deputy.” He almost lifted his hand to gesture to his badge, but he was no longer in uniform but a blue and white shirt and faded blue jeans. He lifted the mug instead and took a swallow of beer.

Henry wiped the counter in front of him and gave a practiced smile. “That’s fantastic. Was wondering what happened to you, considering all the time you spent in here.”

Right, drinking, picking up women, and doing his best to drown his hurt. Then there was Daria. Wasn’t it here that he’d picked her up?

“Can I have a glass of white wine, pinot grigio?” said a woman at the end of the other side of the bar, between three other women.

Henry made his way over, and Mark watched as Daria slid onto a stool, wearing a short skirt, boots that went to her knees, and no glasses. He just leaned against the bar and took in her expression—watchful, confident. She was cute, and he realized something had changed her from the librarian with glasses he’d seen earlier to this casual, classy woman who fit in. Henry settled a glass of wine in front of her, and she lifted it and took a drink. It took him another second to realize she wasn’t with anyone, as the three women beside her paid her no mind.

Before he knew what his feet were doing, he was walking her way, one step and then another over to her, carrying his beer. He set it down on the other side of her where the stool was empty and took in the shock in her expression. She dressed up nicely, with makeup and mascara, a smoky look that added an allure he hadn’t expected.

“Well, didn’t expect to see you here,” he said.

She squeezed the stem of her wine glass between her fingers before lifting it to take another swallow, and for a split second, her eyes widened, likely from the shock of seeing him again. “Why? Because I’m a woman, or is there some other reason I shouldn’t be here having a drink?”

The way she said it, he wasn’t sure how or whether to answer. It seemed he could be walking right into one of those loaded questions.

“You just don’t seem the type to frequent bars, is all I’m trying to say. I mean, being a librarian and all, I guess I just can’t picture it. But here you are.” He allowed his gaze to slide down over her, nice rounded breasts under a silky tank, slim waist under a short black and purple skirt, and long and slender legs. No, this definitely wasn’t Cindy. And this also wasn’t Daria, the librarian he’d met earlier.

“So what you’re saying is being a librarian means I can’t stop into a bar for a glass of wine, that I’m supposed to, what, go to a teahouse? Are you saying being a librarian means frumpiness and tea and crumpets?”

He was pretty sure she was setting him up to walk right into something, so he continued to lean against the bar, seeing how straight she sat on that stool, her leg crossed so her skirt rode up on her thigh. The hint of skin hidden under her sheer black stockings was just enough to tease him.

She cleared her throat, and he lifted his gaze back to hers. Yeah, she noticed, and she raised a brow.

“As I was saying, that’s stereotyping and is absolute bullshit. I don’t drink tea, and I go out for a glass of wine sometimes. I like wine. What is it with you guys? Somehow, it’s okay for a man to go to a bar alone, but if a woman does it, I suppose you automatically assume she’s looking for something and she doesn’t quite fit, like she’s not supposed to be there, or if she is, then she’s free game for some loser. Again, stereotyping, Mark. Don’t do it, because people will surprise you. I mean, look at you. I never would’ve figured you for some deputy. I mean, I would’ve said you were a useless jock.” She angled her head, and those blue eyes packed a punch. Her hair was shoulder length and straight, and her earrings were dangly hoops that she wore well. Something about them made her neck appear longer.

How could he have forgotten her? It was then he realized she’d just insulted him. “Point taken. So we’ve both misjudged. How about starting over?” He wasn’t sure what she was going to say, as this time she allowed her gaze to slide down over him. It wasn’t teasing but had him wondering if she was trying to make a point.

“Start over in that you, what, want to get to know me? Or is this another move of yours, saying let’s have a drink? I pay for mine, you pay for yours, and you’re hoping to get more free sex out of it.” She was direct. He’d give her that.

“Maybe I deserve that, Daria, but yeah, I’d like to get to know you. What do you say we grab a table? I’ll order us another drink, and…”

She said nothing but leaned in. She wasn’t going to give him a break.

“We’ll talk,” he said.

Maybe she hadn’t expected that. “I don’t believe you, because guys like you aren’t interested in just talking.” She pulled out her wallet, tossed a ten on the counter, and swallowed half her glass of wine, then pushed it back and stepped off the stool. “Thank you,” she called out to Henry, who lifted his hand and gave Mark an odd look.

“What are you doing?” he said.

Even though Daria was taller than Cindy, the top of her head just passed his shoulders. She tilted her head back, slid her purse over her shoulder, and glanced around as if he’d asked the stupidest question. “I had a drink. I’m good now. I’m going home,” she said. Then she lifted her hand. “Good night, Mark.”

She turned on him and started walking to the door, and he took in her rounded ass, the skirt, the boots, the tank. She was one hot librarian.

“You’re losing your touch, I see,” said Henry, who took the ten Daria had set on the counter.

Mark just lifted his mug and downed the rest of his beer before setting it on the counter, seeing the door close behind Daria. No, not losing his touch. He was getting his head together.

“Do you know who that is?” he said as he pulled out his wallet and tossed some bills on the counter.

Henry took the money and lifted his gaze, his eyes questioning. “No, but I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.”

“A challenge, that’s who—and one I’m definitely up for.”

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync? Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

THE BAD BOY is coming soon, but you can read Chapter 4 today!   

The funny thing about broken hearts is that they make people do things they wouldn’t do if they were thinking clearly, as his mother so succinctly advised him during his ensuing dating spree. This is likely why Mark has now signed up to be a deputy in the next county over, with a badge, a gun, and the kind of power he thought he wanted.

When he pulls young mousy librarian Daria McKenzie over for speeding, she is speechless and furious when she realizes he doesn’t remember who she is. This bad boy has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake—including hers.

THE BAD BOY (The Friessens, Book 25) is available for pre-sale at:

AMAZON  I  NOOK   I   iBOOKS   I   KOBO   I   GOOGLE PLAY

Did you miss your sneak peek of Chapter 3?  If so, click here.

____

Chapter 4

She stacked the last of the returned books onto the cart after running them through the scanner, listening to the familiar creaks of the library, the oldest building in North Lakewood, which was always packed on Saturdays. It was the kind of day where she didn’t stop, and by five o’clock, her feet were aching and she was ready to head home.

“Daria, can you lock up in about five minutes? I think everyone is gone, and I’m going to take off early. You may as well leave those books until the morning, you know, put them away then,” said Carol Hodges, the head librarian, with a wave of her hand as she strode around the counter and then stopped. She was a motherly boss, with short gray hair, married to the mayor, and she’d always given Daria a friendly ear when she needed it.

“Nah, I’ll stay a bit after I lock up to make up the time I was late,” she said just as she heard the ding of the door. “We’re closing in five minutes,” she called out.

In strode Mark Friessen in his deputy’s uniform, lifting his hat off his head and running his fingers through that thick red neatly cut hair. His shades were tucked into his shirtfront, and he was walking her way.

“Ladies,” he said with a nod to Carol first and then to Daria.

Of course, her stomach bottomed out as she took in his swagger, all that frickin’ man candy, tall and broad shouldered and too good looking for his own good. She wondered if she’d ever have the feel of his hands on her ass stricken from her mind. Nope, it was burned there forever, and just seeing him now looking her way, she could feel the heat that had been responsible for her bad judgement.

“As I said, we’re closing in five.” She lifted her wrist, taking in her watch. “Actually, make that three.” She knew her voice was cool. Carol stared at her, obviously taken aback by her tone.

Mark, though, flashed her that super-flirty sexy smile that she supposed he was born with, the one she knew well would have her wanting to do anything for him. Damn him, anyway.

He let out a soft laugh under his breath, and she knew he wasn’t impressed. “Well, I’ll make this quick then. It’s about earlier today. I wanted to have a word with you.”

Carol was looking from him to her, and Daria could feel the interest and forced herself to drag her gaze from Mark.

“The reason I was late,” she said. “I was speeding, and this deputy pulled me over. He then insisted on dragging me out of my car to treat me like a common criminal and took extra time writing up a ticket. So now you’re here to, what, add to the two-hundred-dollar ticket you gave me? What, did you forget something? Maybe you want to humiliate me more? I already admitted to speeding, and you insisted on being a jerk and—”

He held out her license, and she stopped talking, staring at the plastic. “Forgot to give this back to you,” he cut in.

She didn’t have to look over to Carol to know she was enjoying this. Daria had to clear her throat, feeling her face heat, and she fiddled with her glasses as if the frames she wore only to work had slipped down her nose. He’d just yanked the rug out from under her, making her look like an idiot. She reached for the license and ripped it from his hand a little harder than needed.

“Careless on your part, not giving this back,” she said. “I could have been in a world of trouble if I was pulled over again. Is this something you do often, keep someone’s license?” She knew she was deliberately being a pain in the ass, but there was something about Mark and the way things had been left that made her want—no, need to have the last word. To argue and not go quietly into the night.

He rested his hands on his belt, his dark brooding look so damn sexy. “You’re quite the firecracker, aren’t you?”

What the fuck? Even the way he’d said it, it seemed as if he was toying with her.

“Well, as interesting as this is, I think I’ll leave you two,” Carol said. “Daria, I presume I won’t have to bail you out of jail for work tomorrow?”

She took in the teasing in her boss’s face and said, “Well, I don’t know. Mark, will she?” She just couldn’t stop herself.

He didn’t pull his gaze from her. She’d forgotten how blue his eyes were and that spark of mischief that completely rattled her. “As long as she behaves herself, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” he said, pulling his gaze from her to Carol, who she could see had picked up on the spike of tension that sizzled between them. Something in her gaze told Daria she would likely be piled with questions tomorrow.

“I’ll lock up on my way out, and you two can finish this little…” Carol gestured and then lifted her hand in a wave, and there was another second of silence as Daria listened to the door and heard the click of the lock.

She had to press her lips together as she pulled in a breath. Her heart was pounding, and there stood Mark Friessen, his gaze heavy. All the flirtatiousness that had been there a moment ago was gone. He was so damn alpha, and maleness oozed from his heavy gaze. She forced herself to reach under the counter for her purse, pull out her wallet, and slip the license in.

“So I wanted to apologize,” he said.

She hadn’t expected that and stared up at him. What was it about his voice, how deep it was, that it seemed to reach inside her? It was the kind of voice she could listen to all day. It filled her with a reluctant wanting. She’d already been tossed away, and he hadn’t even remembered who she was.

“Okay, so you apologized. For what, again?” she said. Was it for the sex and forgetting her or for being an asshole cop? She didn’t miss the pull of his lips as if he was fighting the urge to smile.

“For overreacting today, I guess, and for not remembering your name. It was not cool on my part.” There it was, that smile. “And I wanted to see if maybe you’d let me take you out for a drink.”

She thought she leaned forward on the counter, as she had to bite back her first response. “Let me get this straight: You came here to apologize for forgetting my name, the name you didn’t even know, might I add, two months ago.” She took in his frown and the pull of his brows, seeing he was thinking. “And for not remembering me at all, so the name thing is kind of irrelevant, and for being a dick today in general and giving me a ticket in the next category because you felt like it. And now you want to take me for a drink as your way of apologizing for all of this?”

It was priceless, his expression She could see the minute he realized this wasn’t going his way. What had he expected, another chance to talk her into the back seat? Some sex, as if she was that easy?

Yeah, being stupid twice wasn’t her thing.

“So is that a no to the drink?” he said, and it took her another second to realize that he actually thought he could walk right in there and toss her that easy smile and expect her to say yes.

“No, not in this lifetime, not ever again. Is that clear enough for you?” she said, walking around the counter to unlock the door and hold it open until he left, when she would lock it behind him. She held her head high and was damn proud of herself.

“Okay then, forget the drink,” he said. “Let’s just skip right to the sex.”

She froze mid-step before turning around slowly, feeling her jaw slacken, and she took in his mischievous grin. Was he serious?

“I’m teasing.” He reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder. “I just wanted to see your reaction.” Then he pulled his hand away, winked, and said, “Take care, Daria.”

GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

Get your next glimpse of THE BAD BOY!  Book 25 in The Friessens series is on the way, but you can preview Chapter 3 now!  

The funny thing about broken hearts is that they make people do things they wouldn’t do if they were thinking clearly, as his mother so succinctly advised him during his ensuing dating spree. This is likely why Mark has now signed up to be a deputy in the next county over, with a badge, a gun, and the kind of power he thought he wanted.

When he pulls young mousy librarian Daria McKenzie over for speeding, she is speechless and furious when she realizes he doesn’t remember who she is. This bad boy has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake—including hers.

THE BAD BOY (The Friessens, Book 25) is available for pre-sale at:

AMAZON  I  NOOK   I   iBOOKS   I   KOBO   I   GOOGLE PLAY

Did you miss your sneak peek of Chapter 2?  If so, click here.

_____

Chapter 3

His windows were rolled down in the sheriff’s cruiser as he listened to the buzz over the scanner, parked on a side road outside of Mount Vernon, where he was assigned to traffic duty. Of all the jobs, he’d never expected this one, which, as far as he was concerned, was a total waste.

Apparently, this was the lifeblood of the sheriff’s office and the revenue needed to keep it flowing, and the new guy wasn’t needed anywhere but there. It gave him too much time to think about things he didn’t want to be thinking about, namely Cindy.

What was it about her? He still couldn’t get her out of his mind. It wasn’t as if she was a supermodel; she was short, with a slight overbite and a plump butt he loved to sink his hands into. He still wanted her, considering thinking about her climbing onto him and slipping around him and riding him was making him damn uncomfortable.

There was just something about her that excited him in a way that wasn’t rational. She was a sexual dynamo, so much like a drug to his body, his mind, that he craved everything about her. Not one woman he’d taken out and slept with had excited him the way Cindy could.

His radar beeped, and he jumped, seeing the flash of a green Sunfire whip past. He started his car and pulled out, flooring it, flicking on his sirens as he chased it down, putting everything he could into pulling over the speeding dirtbag.

This was the only thrill he had in one of the most boring tasks. The car signaled, slowed, and pulled over, and he parked behind it, boxing it in. Then he called in to dispatch, radioing the license plate number.

He stepped out of his car, the lights still flashing but the siren now silent, and took in the idling Sunfire, taking his time to notice anything that seemed off. A glance in the back told him there was just the one driver.

He stopped at the window and tapped on the glass as he took in the woman behind the wheel, seeing no one else. She rolled her window down, revealing shoulder-length brown hair, dark-rimmed glasses, and full pink lips.

“Any idea how fast you were going there, ma’am?” He looked down into the back seat, the passenger side, noting a black purse on the seat but nothing else from where he stood. His hand rested on the top of the car, the other close to the butt of his gun.

“Not a clue. I was speeding, is what you’re going to tell me, right? Well, so be it. Give me the damn ticket. I’m late for work.”

He took in the young woman and the way she stared up at him, her blue eyes lit with a fire that told him she was ready to fight. He wondered if she had any idea that was exactly what she shouldn’t do with a cop.

He pulled his shades down a bit and stared over the rims at her, a motion he knew intimidated many. She just glared back with all the annoyance it appeared she could muster.

“Okay, you want to play it this way? License and registration,” he snapped, and he watched the hesitation and then the shake of her head, the huff of annoyance under her breath. Seriously, this lady was pushing her luck. She reached into the glovebox for her registration and then into her wallet for her license and handed them to him. He took in the name Daria McKenzie.

“Do you mind stepping out of the car?” he snapped and stepped back, taking in her shock.

“Are you serious? Wow, you really are a piece of work,” she said.

What the hell? He stepped back as she got out of the car, taking in the long legs, the skirt that stopped at her knees, and the high collar of her sleeveless shirt, ultra conservative. She was maybe five foot five, cute, slender.

“Come on, miss. I have no time for this attitude of yours, and right now I have you at thirty over the limit, which is bordering on careless driving. You want to tell me why you were in such a hurry?”

“Miss? So that’s what I’m reduced to, seriously? Guess I should have known, but never expected you were a cop. So you have me on speeding, careless driving? I think not.” She was direct, and he sensed the challenge. She didn’t pull that gaze from him, and for a second he had a feeling she knew him. All he could do was stare and wonder how he didn’t recognize her.

“I’m confused. Have we met?” he said.

This time, she couldn’t hide the shock, which had her leaning in and stiffening her hands at her sides. She shook her head with an angry toss, the same one he’d seen both his sisters-in-law pull on his brothers. There was just something about an angry woman. He could always tell when one had something on her mind.

“You seriously don’t remember? Guess I should’ve known, considering you called me honey the whole time. Stupid me, I thought it was a nickname or some term of endearment. I figured it was just something you liked to call a woman. Evidently, remembering my name wasn’t important.” She pulled her arms across her chest and actually rolled her eyes, and for a second, he felt his chest tighten as he tried to place her.

“I can tell by the look on your face that you’re still trying to figure out where you know me from, and it’s not coming to you,” she said. “It’s eluding you, that mystery. You know what? I should be hurt, but frankly, I’m kind of pissed off to know I’m so…forgettable.”

He didn’t know what to say, and he took in this woman, racking his brain, willing some memory to return, some hint, before he jammed his other foot in his mouth. She must have known, as she lifted her brows as if expecting him to say something.

“Uh…” he started.

She lifted the flat of her hand to stop him. “Seriously, save your dignity. You don’t remember me, and for me, it should be a crushing blow, but thankfully, I like myself enough that I refuse to let it bring me down. Yes, Mark Friessen, you’re all that, hot stuff, eye candy…” She actually flitted her hand in the air, gesturing his way as if making some point. “But that’s all you are. Should’ve known, with how the night started out. Not even dinner, just freebie happy-hour appies, because you weren’t trying to impress me. You had a couple wings, downed a beer, talked nonstop about yourself. Let me remind you, you were the one who came over to where I was, minding my own business, having a glass of wine. Of course, I realize the interest was all one-sided. Can’t figure out why you bothered. It was just about a one-night stand, just S-E-X…” She actually spelled it out.

He wondered if his face paled. Not good. Why couldn’t he remember who she was? He needed a clue. The bar had to be the Horned Toad, which was pretty much the only one he frequented for a pint, free appies, and women—but he didn’t think he’d picked up that many.

“Well, this is awkward,” he said. “I see that you’re angry over it. I guess I should apologize, then, for…”

She lifted her hand again and actually shut her eyes. He wasn’t sure whether the sound she made was a laugh or a snort, but he was sure it signified disgust, anger. He knew well when a woman didn’t want to hear his excuses or what he had to say, so he shut up. He’d seen his mom and his two sisters-in-law often enough with Danny, Chris, and his dad.

“Hey, no biggie,” she said. “You picked me up against my better judgement, which was prodding me to tell you to get lost. I thought you were cute and ignored the warning that you might be just man candy, nothing with any substance. We had a few drinks, you said all the right things, and you talked me into driving out to Millers Landing, by the pond, even though we’d just met. Then you kissed me and talked me into the back seat of your Mustang, and then it was over. Wham, bam, so fast. It became clear you didn’t care about satisfying me. It was all about you and your needs.

“Then you drove me back, dropped me off, didn’t even have the courtesy to get out of your car and walk me to mine. You stayed behind the wheel with a ‘See ya, honey,’ not even a kiss, then drove away before I could even get behind the wheel. So the fact that you’re now pulling me over and can’t remember who I am is pathetic, really, for you.”

He squeezed the license and registration and handed them back to her. For a second, all she did was stare up at him and then the papers. Then she reached out and took them back.

“I’m sorry,” he said, knowing it likely didn’t come close to making right what he’d done, as he vaguely remembered now, even though her face at the time had blended into all the other faceless women he’d screwed in a desperate need to get Cindy out of him. Only now did he have the first inkling that maybe what he’d done wasn’t okay. No, it definitely wasn’t okay.

“So, my ticket?” she prodded.

He just shook his head and lifted his hands. “I’ll let you off with a warning, Daria. And again, you aren’t forgettable.” He was about to flash her a smile, but the way she stared up at him told him to go to hell, and he realized she’d likely help him there if he was having trouble finding the way.

“Please spare me that sweet-talk bullshit. I’ve already had the experience with you, and it wasn’t anything memorable. Just so you know, all you have going on wasn’t as great as I expected. So thank you for letting me off with a warning, but at the same time, it definitely wasn’t a pleasure. Now can I go and get back in my car? Because I’m late for work.”

He didn’t miss the unveiled anger in her tone, the spirit, the fight, the fact that she’d just said Fuck you without actually saying the words. So what did he do but reach for her license and registration and rip them from her hands?

“On second thought, let me go write your ticket up. Now, don’t go anywhere,” he said as he leaned in. He knew he should just let her go, and the shock on her face reminded him that this one-upmanship wasn’t a flattering side of him, considering what he’d done.

He walked back to his cruiser and slid inside, taking in this woman, one of many with whom he’d had a one-night stand. She turned to her car, her hands fisted, and she swore before kicking her tire.

Yeah, she was pissed, hot under the collar, and not what he’d expected. How in the world had he ever forgotten Daria McKenzie?

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync? Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

Who wants another sneak peek of THE BAD BOY?  The next installment in The Friessens family saga will be released next week, but you can read Chapter 2 now!

The funny thing about broken hearts is that they make people do things they wouldn’t do if they were thinking clearly, as his mother so succinctly advised him during his ensuing dating spree. This is likely why Mark has now signed up to be a deputy in the next county over, with a badge, a gun, and the kind of power he thought he wanted.

When he pulls young mousy librarian Daria McKenzie over for speeding, she is speechless and furious when she realizes he doesn’t remember who she is. This bad boy has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake—including hers.

THE BAD BOY (The Friessens, Book 25) is available for pre-sale at:

AMAZON  I  NOOK   I   iBOOKS   I   KOBO   I   GOOGLE PLAY

Did you miss your sneak peek of Chapter 1?  If so, click here.

____

Chapter 2

“Hey there, Uncle Mark,” said his niece Ally, who was looking more and more like her mom every day. Her front lower two teeth were missing, and she had the same brilliant red hair that had been passed from Diana to each of her sons, Chris, Danny, and Mark.

Ally slid onto the stool at the island of the open-concept kitchen. His parents had finally bitten the bullet and renovated, knocking out the wall and putting in two ovens and high-end appliances. JD, his sister-in-law, used the space well as the one who did all the cooking, something they were all grateful for, considering they all still lived on his parents’ ranch.

“So how was work today, kid?” Mark asked as he slid a plate to Ally, half expecting Sophie to come running in next.

“I’m in grade one, Uncle Mark. I’m too young to work. And do you know what the best part of school is?” She was so darn cute. He wasn’t the kind of guy who was partial to kids, but in his mind, his two nieces were perfect.

“Let me guess, recess?”

She actually rolled her eyes, and he had to fight the urge to laugh. “No, the bus, silly! I got old Mrs. Kruger, and she’s always cranky. Today she yelled at us, saying we were a bunch of misbehaving, inconsiderate misfits, and if we didn’t smarten up, she was going to make us all stay in and miss recess for a week. We weren’t doing nothing wrong. She just wanted us to sit quietly and not move. Do you know how hard that is?” The spark in her bold blue eyes was so innocent and trusting, and he didn’t want any adult to take that away from her.

“Did you tell your mom and dad?” he asked.

She just shrugged and shook her head. “Nope, just you. Remember how you told me how women complain a lot? Well, I know I wasn’t supposed to be listening, but I heard her talking with another teacher at recess, and she had a fight with her husband. Apparently, he keeps leaving the toilet seat up and leaves everything in the house a mess for her to clean. She’s not very nice sometimes. I thought about telling her that if she came to our house, she’d see that the toilet seat is always up here and that my mom is always cleaning up after my dad and you, but she doesn’t complain.”

Of course, he laughed. She was so cute and direct. “Well, I can do my part. I didn’t realize I was just walking out and leaving things. Habit, I guess. I’ll make sure to pick up after myself so your mom isn’t having to do it.”

Ally reached for a chicken leg from one of the two boxes he’d opened and sat on the island. The fries were half gone, considering Chris had stuck his hand in and dumped half on a plate along with two breasts, then tousled Ally’s hair and walked out the door to the barn.

He was out there with their dad, he thought, looking after this ranch, the horses. That had been the only thing Mark had ever wanted to do. He knew Chris didn’t have the same passion for this place that he did.

“I’m sure my mom would appreciate it,” she said, sounding so mature.

“But your teacher sounds like a problem,” Mark said. “I can remember having trouble with a few in school myself, but then, I wasn’t that easy. Sitting still wasn’t something I was about to do, either. You want me to go and have a talk with her? I’ll flash my badge and show her who’s in charge, and I’ll tell her if she doesn’t behave and treat you nicely, I’ll be coming back—and I’ll remind her she doesn’t want me to come back.” Mark scooped up some of the salad onto Ally’s plate and some onto his as he listened to her giggle.

“Oh, Uncle Mark, no, you can’t do that. It’s fine.”

“Why not? Of course I can. It says right here I can.” He tapped a finger to the deputy’s badge pinned to his chest, but she just rolled her eyes. “Okay, but if you change your mind, just say the word and I’m there. Better still, why don’t I take you into school this week and I can have a friendly talk with her?”

She actually reached over and rested her hand on his, and her gaze dropped to his gun, still holstered. “Maybe you could just tell her what Grandma says to all of us, to leave her problems at home and not take it out on everyone, because we are, after all, just kids.”

Great advice. He could hear Danny in the office with his mom at the back of the house, likely talking over some big case, but he didn’t have a clue where JD and Evie were.

“So where’s your mom?” he said.

Ally took a huge bite of chicken and looked up to him. “She’s in town with Auntie Evie and Sophie. Sophie’s dance recital is today.”

He took in his niece, who was in faded blue jeans and tiny cowboy boots that she never seemed to take off unless she was sleeping or bathing. Add in her long soft reddish hair, which seemed to go every which way, and her clear innocent blue eyes, and of course she had a corner of his heart. He would do anything for her. “So how come you’re not there too?” he said. “You should be dancing. You and Sophie do everything together.” They were practically twins, even though they were cousins, Sophie being Danny and Evie’s, Ally being Chris and JD’s. Ally was all tomboy and horses, whereas Sophie was Barbie dolls and dresses.

She made a face. “That’s not my thing. I like horses and playing in the barn and getting dirty, as my mom puts it. Sophie likes to dance and play dress-up. I don’t have time for such things, and I sure didn’t want to sit and watch a bunch of boring dancing and whining and crying from girls who can barely dance. Do you have any idea how boring that is?”

He had to fight the urge to laugh as he took in Danny walking into the kitchen in blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and a two-day beard. Their mom, Diana, was behind him, her deep red hair lighter from the gray that had crept in. She was in a blue tracksuit, still slim, and she stepped behind Ally, swept her arms around her, and kissed her cheek over and over. Ally giggled. He knew his mom couldn’t get enough of her granddaughters.

“Mark, see you got dinner. Thank you. So how was deputy duty?” Danny remarked as he grabbed a plate and rummaged through the pieces. Mark knew he was looking for something big, with substance. He pulled out two thighs and dug into the coleslaw.

“It was great. What can I say? It’s the perfect job. Get to carry a gun, a badge. Kind of forces people to respect you, to behave, mind their Ps and Qs. I love it.”

Of course, from the expression on his mom’s and Danny’s faces, filled with pure shock, he realized he was letting his personal feelings take free rein again.

“That kind of thinking can land you in a world of trouble, little brother,” Danny said. “It’s definitely been the downfall of a number of cops.”

Diana raised a brow, and he could feel Ally staring up at him, her eyes wide. He didn’t like the scrutiny, so he bit into a piece of chicken and took in his mom, who busied herself with dishing up some slaw and fries and rummaged in the second box before picking out a wing.

“Now, Danny,” Diana started, “you, Chris, and Mark are all the same in that one respect: You push it with everything. Mark, as I said to you before, sometimes when someone has hurt you, you do things you wouldn’t do if you were thinking clearly. Your dad and I didn’t say anything when you took this job even though you’ve never given us the slightest clue that you were interested in law enforcement, in being on the front lines. Just be sure you understand that having a badge doesn’t give you the right to hold it over anyone or go on a power trip, so to speak. You be respectful. At the same time, I wonder if this is a reaction to what happened with Cindy.”

Mark could still feel Ally staring up at him, feeling very much as if his mom was ready to pick up where Betty had left off not even an hour earlier. “I am respectful,” he said. “I’m also the law. This has nothing to do with her. I’m over her. Like, seriously, Mom…”

“Well, just a minute now,” Diana said. “Betty called and said you ran into Cindy and Randy in the diner.”

He didn’t miss the look his brother was giving him. It was a look Danny had mastered, one he gave when he was trying to set someone straight or trying to tell Mark how he should be thinking or feeling.

“You know, Mark, you need to move on,” Diana said. “They’re married, and we’ve had this talk. She chose him. You have to reconcile all of that hurt I can see you’re still carrying. Let it go, move on, because they have a life together now—and I heard they’re expecting, too.”

That was the one thing he hadn’t wanted to hear. Obviously, his mom realized, by the way her expression softened. He felt sucker punched, and it had to be written all over his face.

“Oh, Mark, you didn’t know?”

What was he supposed to say? He’d run into the girl who still had his heart tangled up in knots, and now she was pregnant with his best friend’s kid? It was over, and he’d known that before, but there was something about the fact that she’d moved on and was married, and now that ultimate commitment, a baby, killed the hope he’d never have admitted was still there. He dropped his piece of chicken on his plate and had to fight the urge to roll his shoulders, his appetite gone.

“It’s okay, Uncle Mark,” Ally said. “She’s not good enough for you. You need to forget her. You have me and Sophie.”

He stared down at her to find her staring up at him with wise eyes, so serious. “Thanks, Ally. Don’t worry, she’s forgotten. I got you and Soph.” He nudged her and took in the way his mom lifted her eyes to the ceiling. Danny was just shaking his head as if he too had more to say. “Hey, I have the perfect job that I love,” Mark continued. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a deputy? I get a badge, a gun. What more is there to want? I get to pull over dickheads…” He stopped, taking in the look leveled his way by his mom, Danny, and Ally. “Oops, sorry. I mean bad people.”

He took in the exchange between his mom and Danny just as the front door opened and his dad stepped in. Of course, his dad zeroed right in on the gun he still had holstered to his side.

“Make sure you discharge that,” Jed said, “and be doubly sure it’s not loaded. Lock that up when you’re home. I don’t want to ever find that lying around with the girls. Gun safety, Mark.”

There it was, his dad treating him as if he didn’t know any better.

“Always do,” he said, thinking of the gun safe on the top shelf of his closet, which his dad had insisted on since day one of his new job.

“And that brings me to something else I wanted to mention, so your timing is great, Dad,” Mark said, taking in the way his dad lingered by his mom, who handed him a plate. “I’m moving out. Got a place over in Clancy. Close to work, and…” It would give him the space he needed without one more person asking him if he knew what he was doing.

“You sure about that, son? Mighty expensive. And this is home, you know that.”

Yeah, an overcrowded home, with Chris and Danny both there with their wives and his nieces. He loved them all, but sometimes he just needed to make a fresh start. “Time to leave the nest, Dad. Besides, you have Chris and Danny. You don’t need me hanging around, too.”

Their expressions were full of shock, as if they couldn’t believe what he’d just said. Except he meant every bit of it. Danny had his place, and Chris had his, but Mark was still looking for his own.

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Receive your free audio code for Book 4 in The Friessens: A New Beginning series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion; please be sure to send me an e-mail at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com once you have posted your review, otherwise we will be unable to honor any future code requests.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening!

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GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

Can't wait till release day?  The newest addition to The Friessens big family romance series is coming soon, but you can grab a sneak peek of THE BAD BOY today! 

The funny thing about broken hearts is that they make people do things they wouldn’t do if they were thinking clearly, as his mother so succinctly advised him during his ensuing dating spree. This is likely why Mark has now signed up to be a deputy in the next county over, with a badge, a gun, and the kind of power he thought he wanted.

When he pulls young mousy librarian Daria McKenzie over for speeding, she is speechless and furious when she realizes he doesn’t remember who she is. This bad boy has left a trail of broken hearts in his wake—including hers.

THE BAD BOY (The Friessens, Book 25) is available for pre-sale at:

AMAZON  I  NOOK   I   iBOOKS   I   KOBO   I   GOOGLE PLAY

_____

Chapter 1

Mark Friessen knew heads turned every time he stepped into the Main Street Café in North Lakewood—namely the heads of all the women. Married, single, didn’t matter. But not everyone looked at him fondly.

No, he was well aware he’d left a string of broken hearts behind him, all because of one Cindy Grant. Short, curvy, and flirtatious, Cindy had a generous bust, the most gorgeous long wavy dark hair, eyes the color of taffy, a smile to die for, and a personality that would’ve made him do anything for her. He’d been proud to say she was his girlfriend until he’d figured out what everyone else already knew. His best friend, Randy Meyer, had been screwing her for the entire six months Mark had dated her.

His body, mind, and soul still zeroed in on her where she was cozied up to Randy in a booth, sharing a plate of fries. Just seeing them together could still pack a miserable sucker punch right in his stomach that left him feeling sick. At the same time, the sight was like a multicar pileup in that he just couldn’t look away.

He rested his hand on his deputy’s belt, feeling the weight of the revolver, the cuffs. For a second, he took some measure of pride in the power he was carrying, in the importance he now had. His gaze lingered a little too long, and he had to force himself to look away, taking in the familiar faces staring up at him and the three empty stools at the counter.

He took a seat and reached for a laminated menu, but he could hear Cindy’s soft laugh. His fingers curled involuntarily around the menu as he pictured his hand wrapping around her neck and squeezing all that soft skin he had tasted. He couldn’t pull his head from the want of her. Just thinking of her, hearing her, feeling her in the room, had him feeling like a lovesick puppy.

He realized that Betty Hargrave, a long-time friend of his mother’s, was standing in front of him with a pad, ready to take his order. She was his mom’s age, in a white blouse and black pants, likely more than fifty pounds overweight. “Ignore them,” she said. “Don’t you know that letting them see they’re getting to you means they’ve won? You’re made of stronger stuff, Mark. Get her out of your head and move on. She didn’t deserve you, and you have more important things to focus on, like your new job. By the way, congrats. Heard you were picked up as a deputy in the county over. Your mother is so proud…” Betty glanced over his head and stopped talking.

Mark pulled off his cowboy hat, ran his fingers through his thick red hair, and rested it on the counter beside him. He fixed Betty with what he hoped was his newly mastered cop gaze.

She didn’t seem impressed. “I’m just saying it’s time you move on in more productive, healthier ways. You’re not fooling anyone with the way you walked in here and zeroed in on her. I’m just glad you didn’t hike on over to their table and start some trouble.”

“Not sure what you’re talking about,” Mark said. “I moved on. Got a great job, an important job, in law enforcement. I’m not the one who starts trouble, but I sure as shit will shut it down.” He glanced back to the menu, not seeing the items he knew by heart. “I’ll take a big order of fried chicken to go. Make it a double order of the whole chicken, and add in three of the family packs of fries and coleslaw. Told my mom I’d pick up dinner on my way home.” He tucked the menu back in the slot, taking in the case of pies on display and the open window through which he could see the cook in back. “And toss in a blueberry pie, the whole pie.” He flicked his hand to the pie case.

“You’re not fooling me, Mark. Can still see how torn up you are. That kind of road rash is all thick and crusty, and you can’t hide it. They’re married. Let it go. It’s been how long now? You’ve got to forget about her.” She was scribbling his order on paper and ripped it from the pad. “Order up,” she said, shoving the paper on a metal swivel with all the others before reaching for a mug and setting it in front of him to pour him a coffee even though he hadn’t asked for one. That was just something everyone did, thinking coffee made everything better.

“It wasn’t your best friend who was messing with your girl,” he snapped and could feel his back burning as if Cindy and Randy had figured out he was there and zeroed in on him. He hated that feeling. He hated, too, the fact that everyone knew what a fool he’d been.

Betty rested the carafe of coffee on the counter and cocked her hip, staring at him with that same look his mother did when she wanted to talk some sense into him. He wished she’d stop talking about it, stop bringing it up.

“Nope,” Betty said. “It was a shitty thing that happened, and it wasn’t just your friend; it was her, too. Just the same, Mark, you’re not all squeaky clean, either. How many of the local girls did you date to, as you said, get her out of your system? I have to say, I counted a different girl on your arm every few days. What was it, a palate cleanser, as you so aptly put it? You likely left every one of those girls with a broken heart. You treated them as if they were nothing.”

He squeezed his mug, thinking of the women he’d gone through. This was the first time someone other than his mom had pointed out to him how wrong he was. All the women’s faces and names were starting to blend one into the next, which was not good, but he wasn’t about to admit to anyone what a prick he’d been.

“Don’t want to answer? That’s okay,” Betty said. “Your expression says it all. Let me point out to you, since I’m already on a roll and since you’re going to have to wait for your order, that when you’re as damn attractive as you, and you are, hot, just like your father and your older brothers, women want you. But you playing the field the way you have and tossing them away like garbage makes you no better than the one you’re still pining for. Those girls had feelings, real feelings, and having a broken heart ain’t no excuse for doing what you’ve done. So before you continue on with another girl in the hopes of getting Cindy out of your mind, try to give the girls you take out the same consideration you wanted from her.”

He rested his coffee on the counter and felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, Mark, heard you got a job with the sheriff’s department in the next county over?” It was Carl Sullivan, a friend of his dad’s, in red plaid and baggy jeans. He had a grizzled look, with his graying hair and mustache in need of a trim.

“I did,” Mark said. “Started this week.” He had to fight the urge to point out the obvious badge pinned to his shirt and the holstered gun, and he wondered what Carl’s amused expression meant.

“Well, great to see you,” Carl said. “Say hi to your parents for me.” Then he left just as Mark heard his order being called and turned back to see Betty bagging up the food.

He pulled his wallet from his pocket, downed another swallow of the bitter coffee, and pulled some cash out to toss on the counter.

“Oh, hey there, Mark. Didn’t see you sitting here. How you doing?”

What was it about her voice that still had the ability to bring him to his knees? He didn’t miss the horror on Betty’s face as he turned toward Cindy. Randy towered over her, resting a possessive hand on her shoulder. He’d been a friend once, but now he was someone whose face Mark would just as soon have planted his fist in. Apparently Randy had the same idea, by the way he stared back at him.

“Cindy, Randy,” he bit out, standing up and resting his hand beside the butt of his gun. He pulled in a breath, knowing that his former friend had little to offer in return. He knew Randy saw the badge pinned to the chest of his light brown deputy’s uniform, and he silently wished he’d do something he could use to justify taking him down and cuffing him.

“You joined the sheriff’s department? That’s fantastic,” Cindy said. “I’ve thought so much about you and hoped you were doing okay. Was just telling Randy that I haven’t seen you around much as of late, so now I see why. Wow, had no idea you were going into law enforcement. Thought you had your eye on running your dad’s place.”

He’d forgotten how much he’d shared with Cindy, and now he wished he hadn’t. What was it about hindsight? “Oh, you know, there’s something about being a cop and seeing to it that folks stay law abiding.” He heard a throat clear behind him and turned his head to Betty.

“Here’s your change, Mark. By the way, nice of you to buy dinner for your family. It’s warm, so you’d best get moving so it’s not cold by the time you get home. Again, say hi to your mom and dad for me.”

He waved off the change and pocketed his wallet, not missing the warning in Betty’s blue eyes, a warning he should heed if he were smart. “Will do,” he said and lifted his cowboy hat to his head.

Cindy and Randy were still there. He pasted a tight smile to his face, and Cindy returned it brightly and shrugged. Randy was still giving him a look that told him to eat shit and die, and it was damn awkward.

“Well, hope to see you around more, Mark. Take care of yourself, you hear?” She actually touched his arm, and his eyes zeroed right in on her hand, taking in the flash of diamond, another reminder she belonged to another man. Then she lifted her fingers in a wave, and she and Randy were out the door. He swore under his breath and started after them.

“Mark,” Betty called out, and he turned back. “You forget something?”

“Right.” He took in the two paper bags stuffed with the dinner he planned to take back to his parents, Chris, JD, Danny, Evie, and the girls, and he felt that sense of idiocy wash over him again.

“Again, I can’t stress it enough, leave it be,” Betty said. “You’re not friends, you’ll never be friends, and the way you and Randy are circling one another, I’d just as soon not have a fight started in my diner.”

He lifted the bags, and for a second he wanted to add that it had been Cindy and Randy who approached him, not the other way around. But he said none of that in the face of the warning staring back at him.

“Fine,” he said, then started to the door, juggling the bags.

He pulled it open and made his way to his silver Mustang, resting the bags on top of the car when he spotted Cindy and Randy across the road at his pickup, his tongue down her throat and his hands on her ass. Instead of looking away, he just watched them until Randy was suddenly looking his way.

Yeah, what an asshole. Mark would just need to wait. His day of reckoning was coming.

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

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Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often. 

It’s easy to become hypnotized and stuck in complacency and stagnation in our daily lives—doing the same thing, carrying out the same routines, living the same safe lives and never rocking the boat or stepping out of your comfort zone. For some people, this means remaining invisible. But greatness begins at the other end of your comfort zone. You don’t need to be someone who lives the same day over and over for 75 years and then calls that a life.
 
Instead, step outside that comfort zone, release any form of stuckedness (a great word), and commit to being a learner. Become more curious about everything, because if you look at the most successful people, the happiest people, the richest, the most productive, the healthiest, and the best of the best, those people understand what neurobiologists teach us, which is that the brain craves novelty. When you make progress in your life and start disrupting your winning formula, you’re stretching to reach new areas that may not be easy.
 
We all have people around us—or maybe you’re even one of them—who get caught up in how society tells you to live, how your day is meant to look, not to reach too high, to play it safe. I certainly was one of those people, but all of that comes from fear, that fear we don’t even realize is part of us, though it rules us and makes us only go so high. Have you ever wondered why you can’t seem to dig yourself out of a rut or you keep doing the same things over and over? I was there until I said, “Seriously, this has got to go!” I decided to step out of my comfort zone.
 
As an introvert, terrified to even speak in front of people, let me tell you that trying new things wasn’t easy! Breaking out of my comfort zone was and still is the hardest thing I’ve had to do, but once you start, it’s like magic. Don’t let other people’s criticism or discouragement ever hold you back, or worse, let their words get in your head. The only way I’ve gotten to where I am, successfully supporting my family as an author (and that isn’t as easy as you may think), is because I never get stuck doing the same thing.
 
At one time, I was Amazon exclusive, but I took a chance and broke out of that mold to go retailer wide. I’m always trying new things. Some work, some don’t, and if something doesn’t work, it isn’t a failure but a learning experience that only gets me to work and move and stretch into unfamiliar territory. From foreign rights to audiobooks, the publishing industry is constantly changing. You remember those free novellas I put out every month? Well, things have changed, the industry has changed, and instead of fighting those changes, I’m reaching and trying new things. Doing so is unbelievably energizing. There will be something new, something exciting, as I reach to the ends of my limits. It may feel hard and scary, but you’re growing. Just keep telling yourself that.
 
As an author, I can tell you this has become especially key. The industry is changing so rapidly on a daily, weekly, monthly basis that unless you’re always learning, stepping out of your comfort zone, trying and doing something different, you will not succeed. There are some things I’ve tried that haven’t worked, but I can honestly tell you that those failed attempts weren’t failures. Many authors who were once successful are getting left behind and drowning in a sea of change. There are so many authors out there, so many books, that what once would’ve been a bestseller can easily now slip into the abyss, and that is truly unfortunate. But this isn’t just in the publishing industry, it’s in everything. Doesn’t matter whether you’re an entrepreneur, a contractor, a small business owner, or a taxi driver: The key purpose in life is for you to grow.
 
You may be in a season where you’re confused, and that’s okay. Just remember that if you’re growing, you’re winning. Most people do the same thing, repeat the same day, same routines, think the same thoughts, drive the same routes to work, watch the same TV shows, and wonder why there’s no magic in their lives. They wonder why they’re not productive and making it, why they’re not climbing the corporate ladder, or any ladder, or being the best of the best. Breaking out of your comfort zone will help you deconstruct those thoughts and release the addiction of holding on to the safe harbor, the knowns. You know the ship that sits in the harbor and avoids the turbulent sea, but that’s not what ships are meant for. That’s not what we are meant for.
 
Just remember that if you choose to spend your life in that safe harbor of the known with the same people, the same thinking, the same behaviors, it is safe, but it is also dangerous. So go to the edge of your limits, because that’s how your limits expand. That’s how you expand, how you succeed.
 
Today, do something that makes you uncomfortable. The thing you’re most resisting is what you need to do now, and so is the conversation you keep putting off. Do the things that frighten you. Every single time you walk into the fire of your discomfort and do something that has been terrifying you, you take back the power you gave that fear, and if you do it every single day with consistency, you become the bravest person. Create a habit of getting outside your comfort zone on a daily basis. I’m doing it every day, so join me.

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Receive your free audio code for Book 3 in The Friessens: A New Beginning series in exchange for an honest online review.  E-mail me at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com to request your code and indicate whether you need a US or UK code.  A limited number of codes are available; one code per person, please.  Reviews should be posted within seven days after completion; please be sure to send me an e-mail at LorhainneEckhart.LE@gmail.com once you have posted your review, otherwise we will be unable to honor any future code requests.  As always, thank you so much for your support and happy listening!

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GET YOUR AUDIO ON 

If you aren’t already an Audible listener, did you know that you can try audiobooks with a FREE trial?  No risk for 30 days.  Seriously, this is a super hot deal with Audible and a great way to have a listen to some of my books on audio for FREE in the FREE trial.  And if you cancel, you pay nothing.  What are you waiting for?  Click on your Audible country of choice below and try it out.  Then shoot me an email to let me know which audible narrator is your favorite!

Audible US   Audible Australia   Audible Canada 
Audible UK   Audible Germany   Audible France

And did you know... if you already own one of my eBooks on Kindle, you can pick up the audiobook at a reduced price with Whispersync?  Whispersync allows you to both read and listen, and you can even switch back and forth between reading the book on Kindle and listening to the book on Audible without losing your place.

Don't forget to check out my eBookstore where there are more ways to save and be rewarded--from refer a friend, to share on social media for a 25% discount, to my new affiliate program! More of my books will be added soon, so be sure to check back often.