Hopeless Romantic

 

REVIEW:  WHERE I NEED TO BE (MCKENNA) BY JAMIE HOLLINS

 

Where I Need To Be by Jamie Hollins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


She's more than just a pretty face. He's the strong silent type. In an instant Megan and James' world is rocked by betrayal? Are they strong enough to gather up the pieces and rebuild? To the outside world, Megan had the perfect life. In reality, it was anything but. Infidelity, heartache and hopelessness have sent her life into a tailspin. The last thing she needs is to open her heart to more pain. Will she ever be able to trust her emotions again? 

James has endured his share of rain. Drugs broke his heart and stole his wife. Will the woman that seems all wrong for him, end up proving to be just right? Where I Need to Be proves that the bleakest moments can teach the most powerful lessons. Jamie Hollins gives courage to keep on fighting when all hope seems lost.



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Megan nibbled on her lower lip as she looked everywhere but at him. He desperately wanted to ask her what was bothering her, but he stopped himself. She wasn’t his. It was none of his business.
He needed to be straight with her.
“About Friday night…” He paused before deciding to begin a different way. “I need to be upfront with you and tell you that I’m not interested in a relationship. I’ve got a lot going on in my life with the shop and with my son. And a steady woman just doesn’t fit into my plans at the moment.”
She nodded but didn’t say anything. Shit, if she broke into tears in his parking lot, he didn’t know what he would do.
“I like you, Megan. I sure as hell liked what happened on Friday, and I’d like to see you again. But beyond that, I can’t give you anything more.”
“So are you saying you’d like to date but not exclusively?”
Was that what he was saying? That he wanted to date her?
“If by dating you mean periodically getting together and having sex, then sure, let’s go with that.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back. He was being honest, but it had made him sound like a dick.
She looked skyward and smiled. “Thank God. That’s exactly what I was going to say.”
He frowned. “You were?”
“Yes!” She laughed. “What a relief. I had a lot fun with you. But jumping back into a relationship…I just can’t right now.”
“So we agree on this?” he asked incredulously.
“Absolutely.”
Huh. Wasn’t that something?
“Oh, but there is one thing I did want to add,” she said, grimacing slightly.
He knew there had to be a catch.
“If we’re...” She looked back toward the garage at the guys congregating around the open doors, pretending not to eavesdrop. “If we’re sleeping together, I’m not going to hold you to being exclusive, but I would hope you could extend the courtesy of letting me know if you meet someone else who you’d like to sleep with.”
He couldn’t help it, he let his chuckle slip. He wasn’t laughing at what she said. It was perfectly reasonable. He was laughing at the idea of wanting any other woman when he had Megan in his bed.
“That’s fair,” he replied. “And I’d expect the same courtesy from you.”
Smiling, she extended her hand. “Deal.”
He frowned, taking her outstretched hand. Instead of shaking it, he lightly tugged her toward him. “Sweetheart, I’m not shaking your hand like we’re conducting some business deal.”
She blinked, her mouth falling open before she closed it quickly. Pulling her hand from his grasp, Megan clutched the strap of her purse. “Of course, I’m sorry. That was stupid.”
He smiled, taking a step closer and leaning in slightly. “Not stupid, and you have nothing to apologize for.” He watched as her eyes fell to his lips and he liked the way this woman thought. “Now tell me…when can I see you again?”
She swallowed before nibbling on her lower lip. It took everything he had not to reach up and pull her rose-colored lip down with his thumb. James knew all of his employees were watching. They’d stopped the pretense of being busy the moment he’d pulled her toward him.
“How about we do dinner this weekend?” he asked. “It’ll have to be late, after Cade goes to bed.”
She nodded slowly. “I’d like that.”
“Saturday around nine o’clock?”
Her clear blue eyes smiled as she nodded again. “It’s a date.”
“It’s a date,” he repeated.