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464 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2022
“and i realise in that moment maybe i am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it."
“you are pretty fun. he worships the ground you walk on.”
“as all men should.”
“Willa.” Cade says my name like it’s a demand. “You need to wear proper undergarments while you’re at work. You can’t be dropping them out of your purse around a child.”
I plaster on the sweetest smile I can muster and turn to look back over my shoulder. “I’ll be ready for your inspection tomorrow, boss.”
“Beg.”
“Pardon me?”
“You heard me.” Her lips don’t even twitch. She’s not joking at all. “Beg.”
Cade: Willa, I’m working. If everything is okay, we don’t need to chat.
Willa: I put my panties on.
Willa: Are you ignoring me?
Willa: I figured you’d be proud. Day one and I’m knocking all the rules right out of the park.
Cade: If I pay you more, will you stop texting me about this?
Willa: Probably not. I don’t need the money. I’m just easily bored, and poking the bear is fun.
Willa might be a bit of a psycho—after all, she did just push a child into the pool—but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho.
“Keep talking like that and I’m going to fuck the filth right out of your pretty mouth.”
I arch a brow at him as goose bumps break out over my body. The air between us sizzles. “Excuse me?”
He swipes the back of his hand over his mouth, like he’s pulling away the filter that’s been there all along. “You heard me, Red. You keep barking at me like that and I’m going to put you on your knees, open those strawberry lips, and fuck your face just to shut you up.”
“Red, don’t marry a man who rolls his eyes at you.” “You roll your eyes at me all the time.” Fuck, I need to stop doing that. She deserves better. “Don’t marry me either.”
“Willa!” Luke’s quickly forgotten guitar rests on the step as he tears across the front lawn toward me. “I’m so glad you’re back!”
“I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it.”
“You’ve had my attention since—”
I roll my eyes and wave a hand at him. “Yeah, yeah. Since I dropped my panties at your feet.”
“No. Since I first heard you laugh.”
That shuts me up.
“In the coffee shop. I was standing behind you and couldn’t stop thinking about how incredible your laugh was. All fucking light and warm. It made me want to laugh too.”
“Did you know I fell in love with you before I fell in love with your dad?”
His eyes light at that. “You did?”
I nod, pulling him close with an arm around his shoulders. “I did.”
“Willa might be a bit of psycho—after all, she did just push a child into the pool—but the more time I spend with her, the more I feel like she’s my psycho.”
“Daddy Cade, you’re a whole lot prettier when you smile.”
“What are you doing?” I grumble as I wipe at my watery eyes, no doubt smudged with mascara.
“Taking care of you,” he replies without even looking my way. His tone says that I just asked him a stupid question.
“That’s fine. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but you don’t have to because I’m here to help.”
I quirk a brow in her direction. “You know the rule, Red?”
“You wear the hat, you ride the cowboy.” She winks at me, looking fucking adorable wearing my hat.
“You want it all, Willa? The house? The babies? The ranch?”
I nod again because it’s all I can do. I want all that. With him.
“You want me, Willa?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Because I’m sick of holding back with you. You’re not going anywhere. You belong here, with me.”
“I’d do it for everything she’s given me in such a short time . . .
A love Luke has never known.
A reason for me to smile again.
A person to talk to after so many years of silence.
A love I’ve never known.”
“And I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it”
And I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it.
I feel truly privileged. You guys are NOT READY for this. It's a full on five stars. This book does not have a single flaw so I will keep it plain and simple.
It was 1 am in the morning and I was sweating. Sweat drops running down my spine and my forehead from how legitimately stressed and turned on I was.
This book is and WILL be the PINNACLE of Elsie Silver's career as a slow-burn romance author.
I haven't read tension built like this since Elizabeth O'Roark.
I had SWORN to myself I would never read a nanny-single dad romance because I was a nanny for years. Spent the entire week washing my mouth with soap.
I am embarrassed for myself for not giving this trope a chance before, but I also think it's a lot more than just the trope. It's what Elsie was able to achieve with it.
I described this reading experience as
me passing away, going to heaven, seeing god: Elsie was God. Dropping back down inside of a roller coaster in a 90 degree angle, only to fall into a WEED infused chocolate pool. Pretty sure I partied with a hot easter bunny afterwards.
I can't remember, I am too drunk on how fucking good this book was still.
These characters were relatable, so down-to-earth, so unbelievably human. Reading about Cade Eaton is like looking in the mirror.
I teared up, I was turned-on, I screamed, screeched like a teenager... I completely lost my shit over Heartless and you will too. Mark my words.
Out OCTOBER 14th
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I realize in that moment maybe I am heartless after all, because the beautiful girl with the copper hair grinning back at me right now is the one who stole it.
I need to pick my next words carefully so I don’t come off like a condescending asshole.
I know I often come across that way, and I don’t want to with Willa. It’s an unfamiliar feeling, wanting someone to like me.
How hard would it be to smile more, to laugh more, if it made her look this happy?
“Do you think . . .” He peers back up at me now. “Do you think it would be okay if I called you mom too?”
“See, Dad? I told you not to be sad. I told you she’d come back. Our wishes came true! She loves us too much to leave.”