Perfect Storm by Geri Foster
Storm Warning Series, Book 3
Release Date: November 13, 2018
Candi Anderson will do anything to protect her young son and wants nothing from the biological father except to be left alone. But, he’s not smart enough to take the hint. When she finally has him arrested, all hell breaks loose and he promises to make her pay. Candi is afraid that price might just be her son. If so, he will be in for a fight.
FBI agent, Austin Crawley has been assigned to open a satellite office in a town near Rainwater, Texas, his hometown, which he never intended to revisit. When he arrives, Austin see that some things truly never change. Candi Anderson, his high school crush, is still there, her ex is still mean as ever, and Austin’s protective instincts toward her are still in full force.
Can an innocent teenage kiss hold power over a grown man’s destiny?
EXCERPT
Candi Matthews looked around the diner she’d worked at for the last four years and fought the urge to duck behind the counter and hide. Once again, her ex-boyfriend, Aaron Travis, had come in with his ranch hands with the sole purpose of belittling and humiliating her…in front of all her customers. He acted more childish than her seven-year-old son.
No doubt hearing the heckling, Vern, the cook at Gert’s Diner, came out of the kitchen acting as though his only purpose was to refill his cup with Coke. In reality, she knew he was watching out for her, like he always did. He paused a moment to stab the source of the jeering with a mean glare, not that it did much good.
Most days the guests ignored the trouble Aaron stirred up, and today proved to be no exception. Like her, many figured, why bother when his arrogance waylaid common sense and good manners. But, today wasn’t like most days for her, and it was different for one very specific reason. Feeling her face heat, she stole a quick glance at the man sitting in the back booth with his laptop, apparently unconcerned with what took place at the front of the diner. Though she wouldn’t call them friends exactly, not anymore, she knew him well. Had for years.
Austin Crawley.
It wasn’t until he’d sauntered in that morning that she knew he’d returned to Rainwater. Over the last eight years, every time he came home to visit his dad rumors circled about what he was up to and how his life was going, but it never failed—she hardly knew he was in town until after he’d already left. Kind of gave a girl a complex. Rainwater was not that big, and yet she always seemed to miss him. Almost like he was avoiding her. Even when he worked Mr. Snyder’s case, fighting against wrongful imprisonment and false charges of embezzlement, she’d barely noticed him around town. And Mr. Snyder was her best friend, Rachel’s, dad no less!
She thought back to that fateful night at the lake so many years ago and felt her cheeks warm. They’d been friendly before that night, even if not the best of friends, but after what happened a noticeable distance was put between them. A wall she could never climb, no matter how many smiles she sent his way or kind words she offered. He was always polite right back, but it was clear that that was all there was ever going to be there, which made her sad and uncomfortable and she wasn’t entirely willing to accept why.
“Hey, that you Crawley? Austin Crawley? You haven’t been around here in ages. What brings you back to Rainwater? Your drunkard daddy?”
Candi winced at Aaron’s taunting voice. Apparently, he’d noticed Austin’s presence as well, stretching his neck to gaze at the back of the diner.
He and his four companions burst out laughing.
Putting her hand on her hip, she picked up the coffee pot and turned his way. “My, my.” She gave him her best smile. “Look who’s calling the kettle black. Russ hasn’t touched a drop of liquor in years.” She stepped closer and narrowed her eyes. “Can you say that about yourself?”
Aaron frowned and glared hard, his lips tight as a sealed piece of Tupperware. Every once in a while, she got the best of him and delighted in knowing she’d touched a nerve. He, on the other hand, hated her insolence and made sure she knew it.
She moved to pour more coffee, but he jumped from the counter stool, his hands in the air. “I ain’t falling for that again. You pour hot coffee in my lap one more time and I’m going to make you sorry.”
“Well, then,” she said, satisfied she’d managed to get him on his feet and maybe heading out the door. “You better leave, because you and your gang of four have worn out your welcome.”
Scowling, he tossed several bills on the counter and left, cussing insults trailing behind him and his crew.
Closing her eyes, she let out a troubling breath, willing the tension in between her shoulder blades to go away. She placed the coffee pot back on the burner and picked up the iced tea pitcher. Turning her stiff neck from left to right, she took a deep breath and moved toward the booth Austin occupied.
The smile she offered didn’t begin to cover the embarrassment tightening her chest and drying her mouth. She hated that Austin was in the diner at the exact time Aaron decided to go off on her, and that he also incurred some of his wrath.
About the Author:
For as long as she can remember, Geri Foster has been a lover of reading and the written word. By the seventh grade she had worn out two library cards and had read every book in her age area of the library. After raising a family and saying good-bye to the corporate world, she tried her hand at writing.
To her surprise, she won a couple of contests, hooked up with a really great critique group and her writing career was well on its way. She spent several years studying her craft and developing her voice.
Action, intrigue, danger and sultry romance drew her like a magnet. That’s why she had no choice but to launch her published career with action-romance suspense. While she reads every genre under the sun, she’s always been drawn to guns, bombs and fighting men. Secrecy and suspense move her to write edgy stories about daring and honorable heroes who manage against all odds to end up with their one true love.
To keep the serious side of life at bay, Geri likes to write sexy short stories for her fans. In the Women of Courage series, Geri explores the deeper, darker nuances of life and relationships in small-town mid-century America.
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