by
Sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight.
Triss Singleton came to Summit Springs to find a safe place to raise her baby. No one believed her claims about her abusive ex-husband, so she saved herself by taking on a new identity. She just wants to start over and is leery of any cops, current and former… until she meets Briona Maverick, Summit Springs’ sheriff, jumpstarting her bisexual heart.
After her missing girlfriend turns up dead, Briona is shattered. She’s certain she’s done with love and relationships, but the mysterious Triss Singleton makes her want to try again. Triss is more guarded than Fort Knox and avoids talking about her past, but something simmering under those well-fortified defenses makes Briona cautiously hope Triss is the kind of woman she’s been searching for her whole life. Plus, baby on the way. Bonus!
But trouble arrives when Triss’s ex shows up in Summit Springs, and Briona faces a dilemma. She’s sworn to uphold her oath to protect abused women like Triss, but she’s an officer of the law, which often fails those women. Briona wants the happily-ever-after, but the sheriff must uphold justice. The wrong decision could cost her everything.
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: F-F
Heat Level: 3
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Bisexual, Lesbian
Protagonist 1 Age: 26-35
Protagonist 2 Age: 36-45
Tropes: Age Difference, Bad Breakup, Meet Cute, Rescue, Second Chances
Word Count: 67750
Setting: Small town in Colorado Rocky Mountains
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Triss turned a corner to go down the coffee/tea aisle and stopped short.
A beautiful woman with straight black hair streaked with silver pulled up in a messy bun stood considering the Chai selections. She wore a baggy, deep red chenille sweater over a black turtleneck and patterned red leggings. The pattern looked like little squirrels holding acorns, curled in balls, or running. They were adorable.
Attraction immediately flared in Triss’s chest and she took a few steps down the aisle before her mind caught up with the interest.
Whoa back there, girl. You’re trying not to be noticed, remember?
She stumbled and the woman looked up, unusual pale blue eyes like a husky dog focusing on her. Triss swallowed hard and forgot to smile as she took in the breasts that fit the woman’s tall body. Triss estimated the woman’s height to be about 5’8” on a trim body with rounded hips and a taut ass.
READ MOREShe jerked her gaze away from said ass when the woman snorted in amusement and Triss ducked past to get to the herbal teas, her face burning.
What happened to me? I used to be a bold, beautiful bisexual and I could talk to any girl from here to the Sierras.
But now she was hesitant. Another wound she could lay at her husband’s feet.
EX-husband! I did everything to get out before I died.
Physical wounds, too, but she wasn’t going to think about those first two months of her marriage. The next two had been full-on planning to get away.
And now I have. New start, remember?
So she turned back around and drew up short as she found the pale-eyed woman right next to her, looking over her shoulder.
“Hi.”
“Hi. Did I see you checking out my ass?”
Triss blinked then gave her a goofy smile. “Yeah. Sorry. It was very nice to look at.”
The pale-eyed woman grinned. “Thank you very much.” She held out her hand. “Briona.”
Triss swallowed her fear-reaction and grasped Briona’s hand. “Triss.”
Briana tilted her head. “Unusual name. Pretty, though.”
“It’s short for Beatrice, but it feels too old-fashioned for the woman I am.” She tilted her head and tried to offer a confident smile. “Nice to meet you, Briona. At risk of asking the obvious question, grocery shopping?”
Briona laughed, a rich, sultry sound that made Triss’s toes curl in her boots. “That would be an obvious question, but really I was shopping for treats I probably don’t need to eat. The storm cleared me out of comfort foods and I wanted to stock up.”
“Oh, I understand that. I just moved into a new place and I need to fill it with both nutritious and delicious foods so I can make it to the next paycheck.” Triss pointed at the different Chai products. “Like I have tea at home but none of the Indian Chai that makes tea so special.”
Briona raised an eyebrow. “No chocolate?”
Triss shook her head, wrinkling her nose. “Nope. Can’t stand the stuff. I know that means I have to turn in my woman card, but it tastes either too bitter or too sweet to me.”
Briona’s jaw dropped in mock horror and she pressed a dramatic hand to her chest. “Blasphemy! Chocolate is a gift from the gods.”
Triss laughed and it felt both wonderful yet so odd. When was the last time I laughed? It had been too long.”
“I shall graciously allow you to have my share, then.” Triss nodded magnanimously and Briona grinned.
COLLAPSE
