Read an excerpt from Racing Hearts by Ryleigh Renee

Racing Hearts

Drew Jaymes was Peach Valley, Georgia's bad boy. Orphaned at a young age and raised by his aunt, he dreamed of racing, his passion. Until he met a young woman with bright aqua eyes. One summer with her, and he thought his whole life changed.

Nicole Bennett was part of a founding family of Peach Valley. An emotionally cold grandmother was the only family she had after her parents died in a car accident when she was just five. Her young life was spent in an all-girls school in Great Britain. Returning to Peach Valley before heading off to university, she met and fell in love with the town bad boy. She lost her innocence and her heart in a barn during a rainstorm. A young man who’s heart belonged to racing cars. Believing Drew’s love wasn’t real, she ran off to university and left Peach Valley, never wanting to return.

Eleven years later, the death of her grandmother brings her back to the one place she never wanted to return to. Seeing the man who broke her heart all those years ago wasn’t something she’d ever planned on either.

Drew returned to Peach Valley after a long absence to compete in a race. When he’s charged with attempted murder, he turns to the only person who can help him: Nicole. She’s a successful assistant district attorney up north, and he wants her skills on his defense. Nicole didn’t buy into all the town’s hatred of him that summer long ago. Her belief in him during the trial of his life was what he needed. Little did they know this trial would take them on bold adventures and reveal secrets long buried.

Is it possible for first loves to become a love of a lifetime? Can they make it past everything their families have kept secret? Can Nicole show a town stuck in the 50’s they’d been wrong about the bad boy all along?

Read an excerpt:

Somewhere between the soundness of sleep and consciousness, she breathed in his musky scent and sighed. The chilliness of the night had caused her to snuggle close to him, his free arm wrapped around her, holding her near. 

Her mind was filled with ever-familiar dreams of that night long ago. How she longed to feel safe and secure in the envelope of his embrace throughout the night over the many lonely nights she slept alone. 

She again sighed softly at the cozy feeling flowing throughout her being. 

Her soft sighs flowed through him like music. During the night, she had snuggled close, bringing her face near his as it rest beside his chin. Her body half atop his, her left leg between his, her cuffed hand resting at his chest. 

His mind asked him if he were dreaming, having her so near, listening to her soft coos. He licked his lips as they imagined tasting hers. 

Her soft breaths at his neck sent an electric current through him. His hand linked to hers was close enough for him to reach up and softly caress her cheek. Her soft moan from his touch had him wanting more and more to taste her soft lips. 

He softly brought his lips to hers in a tender kiss as she continued to slumber. 

She was experiencing the most wonderful dream. She lie warmly in his embrace. Surely she was in heaven when she thought she felt his touch at her cheek. She couldn’t prevent the soft moan from escaping. She wanted the dream to last forever when his lips softly touched hers. How long she had wanted to taste his kiss again. 

Desires ran throughout his being when she responded to his kiss. When her hand rest at his cheek and she deepened the kiss, he felt an explosion from within his very being. 

How could the kiss of one woman ignite his very soul to life? His free arm that had encircled her, reached up to sift through her hair. 

Their kiss grew and filled with passion, her entire insides felt like a bowl of Jell-O. His hand tangled in her hair as it held their lips together. 

She was brought from her dream to the reality of the moment when she tried to pull her handcuffed hand free to encircle him. She pulled free sharply. 

“Drew!” 

The abrupt halt left him feeling dazed as he looked up to see her looking down to him. 

“Nutters! What do you think you were doing?” she demanded. 

“I’m sorry. When I woke up, you were cuddled up so close, I couldn’t help myself.” He gave her that devilish smile of his. 

“I was not cuddled up,” she stammered. “And … and, even if I was, that doesn’t give you the bloody right to take advantage of the situation!” 

He combed his free hand through his sleep tousled locks. “I said I was sorry.” His smile angering her more.

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