She has complete controland hes determined to take it away
A librarian in the small town of Hood River, Natalie Claytons world is very nearly perfect. After a turbulent childhood and her once-wild ways, life is now under control. But trouble has a way of turning up unexpectedlyespecially in the tall, charismatically sexy form of Paddy Hurley.
And Paddy is the kind of trouble that Natalie has a taste for.
Even after years of the rock-and-roll lifestyle, Paddy never forgot the two wickedly hot weeks he once shared with Natalie. Now he wants moreeven if it means tempting Natalie and her iron-grip control. But theres a fine line between well-behaved and misbehavedand the only compromise is between the sheets!
The Best Kind of Trouble
Lauren Dane
www.millsandboon.co.uk
MILLS & BOON
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Sometimes in your life you go through some rough spots, low points, places where youre not sure what to do or how to do it. This one goes out to every single one of you who have pushed me, supported me, placed wonderful opportunities in my path, whove checked in with a little bit of love, delivered a pep talk or a come to Jesus when I needed it. Thank you for reminding me in some way, big or small, just how blessed I am in my friends and family.
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
Title Page
Dedication
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Copyright
CHAPTER ONE
IT REALLY DIDNT matter that the day was sure to be hot enough to melt asphalt; coffee was a necessity if she was expected to work all day at the library and not maim anyone.
Public safety was important, after all. That and her terrible addiction to things that were bad for her like caffeine and sugary baked goods.
Common Grounds was a daily stop on her way to work or other errands in town.
Bobbi was behind the counter, and when she caught sight of Natalie coming through the doors, she grinned. Morning! So. Perky.
Perky was not in Natalies wheelhouse, so she aimed for amiable because Bobbi the barista was Natalies pimp. Morning. Hit me with something awesome.
Another luminous smile from Natalies favorite barista as she got to work. I have a new something to try. Are you game?
My vices are few, so I like to enjoy what Ive got. She looked over the stuff in the case. There were no doughnuts, sadly, so a scone would have to do. Id like to enter into a relationship with that cinnamon scone there to go with my something new.
Its early for you, isnt it? I thought the library didnt open until ten today?
It doesnt, but Im doing story time for some preschoolers.
Aw, thats nice of you.
Natalie had the financial ability to volunteer in her free time and a strong commitment to giving back, so reading to preschoolers once or twice a week was pretty fun as such things went.
Bobbi handed over the bag with the scone and her drink. Latte with orange essence and a little shaved chocolate. Tell me what you think.
Sounds fantastic. As for nice for reading books to kids? Its a good thing when children like to read. Plus, theyre adorable when theyre three and four. They blurt out the best stuff. Usually shit about their parents. Last week, right as I finished up Fancy Nancy, one of them pipes up and says, my dad doesnt wear pants on weekends. It was awesome.
Bobbi laughed. My nephews like that. My sister says she and her husband have to be careful about stuff they say now because he told his kindergarten class that he walked in on mom and dad naked wrestling.
That made Natalie guffaw. Its pretty hilarious when its other peoples kids ratting them out.
Yeah. Our time will... Oh...my. Bobbis gaze seemed to blur as she gaped in the direction of the front door, and that was when Natalie heard his voice.
Not for the first time.
Care to help out a man in dire need of some caffeine?
She couldnt help it. Natalie turned to take in the ridiculous male glory that was Paddy Hurley. In jeans and a T-shirt, he still looked like a rock star. Though shed seen him naked, and he looked like a rock star then, too. His dark brown hair had lightened up, probably from being out in the sunshine. Hed put his sunglasses on top of his head, so those big hazel eyes fringed by gorgeous, thick sooty lashes had extra impact.
Impact that made Natalies heart beat faster and her face warm as she remembered some of the things theyd done together. To each other. Dirty, filthy, naked things. Really good things the mere memory of had her libido sitting up and panting over.
Bobbi was entranced by him as she stood at the counter, blinking slowly, clearly caught up in her admiration. He kept smiling, as if he was totally used to that sort of attention. Of course he was.
Can I get an iced coffee and a slice of that blueberry loaf for here? He changed his tone a little from that flirty drawl to something more direct, and it seemed to do the trick.
Bobbi stood a little taller and cleared her throat. Uh. Yeah. Sorry. Yes, of course.
Thanks. He grinned, all white teeth and work-in-the-sun glow. Good God, he was beautiful.
Ill bring it out when Im done. Bobbi got to work but waggled her brows at Natalie, mouthing holy shit, its Paddy Hurley.
Natalie tried to turn quickly and make an exit, but hed caught the direction of Bobbis look, and she saw the moment he recognized her, too.
Hey, there. Wow. He searched for her name, which was what allowed her to pull her mask on and pretend she had no idea who he was.
Hello. She turned to Bobbi. See you tomorrow! Natalie put the lid back on her cup and gathered her things, but Paddy stepped closer.
Natalie, right? You worked at that dive bar attached to the bowling alley near Portland.
A lifetime before.
Sorry? She cocked her head as if she had no idea he was talking about the two weeks theyd spent nailing each other as though sex was going to be outlawed any moment.
Its Paddy Hurley. Id know that mouth anywhere. He said it quietly. Enough that she appreciated his discretion.
That Natalie stayed in the dive bar. The Natalie she was now had risen from the ashes while she was in college, and she rarely looked back if she could help it. Paddy Hurley and those two weeks theyd shared were a great memory, especially the naked part. But shed spent too many years and a whole lot of effort to be more and had no desire to go digging up that lifetime again.
Nice to meet you, Paddy. I enjoy your music. I need to be on my way. She reached for the door, and he searched her features and shook his head as if he couldnt believe what was happening. Which was sort of charming, and she had to remind her hormones sternly to back off and let her brain do the work.
But he rallied. I know its you. Stay and have coffee with me so we can catch up.
I have to get to work. She opened the door, nudging him out of the way a little as she did. The heat of the day greeted her, and she stepped out, covered her eyes with her shades and walked away.
The past was the past. She had a life now. One shed spent a lot of time and energy building, and she needed to keep the door on who shed once been firmly closed.
Even if it left a tasty bit like Paddy Hurley on the other side.
* * *
PADDY WATCHED HER retreat down the sidewalk, the hem of her skirt swishing back and forth, exposing the backs of her thighs. Thighs that had been wrapped around his hips more than once.
She had tattoos, matching ones, at the top of each thigh, right under each ass cheek. Pretty red bows like at the top of stockings. He smiled at that memory.
Her name is Natalie, right? he asked the barista when she brought him the coffee and pastry.
Yeah. You know her?
She lives here in town? He sipped his drink. He and his brothers had gone out for an early ride so he was hot and a little sleepy. The iced coffee helped with both.
Sure. Works at the library. Comes in every morning before work to get coffee. Well, except Monday because the library is closed on Mondays. Shes single. You know, if you were asking because you thought she was pretty.
He gave the barista a smile. He did indeed think Natalie was pretty. Her hair was short now where it had been long years before. He normally loved a woman with long hair, but on her that pixie thing worked. She had a great neck.
A great everything. Shed kept up with him on every level. They partied hard, fucked hard, worked hard. He and the band his brothers had formed, Sweet Hollow Ranch, had had a series of gigs at dives all over Portland and Southwest Washington. Theyd managed to get two crappy hotel rooms included as part of their pay.
The motel had been right behind a bowling alley and the shithole of a bar attached to it. Natalie had been a waitress there, slinging drinks and dodging overeager hands when hed met her.
It had been a matter of hours after meetingthe chemistry so instant and thick between themuntil theyd stumbled into her studio apartment and into her bed.
Shed been underage, as had he, but theyd spent the next two weeks together around her shifts at the bar and his gigs.
And then hed gone on the road, and shed gone off to college. Hed thought of her over the years. One of their songs, Dive Bar, had been about her and those two weeks.
Turns out she lived in the same town. Which meant it was fate. He continued to smile after hed thanked the barista.
Why shed pretended not to know him was the question. She had her reasons, and he aimed to know them, too. The woman behind the counter said Natalie was single, so it wasnt a boyfriend.
Paddy hadnt achieved the success he had because he gave up when things got hard.
Hed simply keep at it.
He leaned back in his chair and watched the street outside as he drank his coffee. A new challenge was always fun. Especially when it concerned a pretty blonde with long legs and a smile that invited a man to sin and not repent.
CHAPTER TWO
YOU REMEMBER THAT shithole of a bar we hung out in just outside Portland? Paddy handed a coil of rope to his oldest brother, Ezra.
Dude, youve got to be more specific than that. There are dozens upon dozens of shithole bars I remember. More I dont. Ezra snorted as he hung the rope up on a hook just inside the stable door.
Paddy laughed. It had been fifteen years since theyd started out, and that particular shithole bar had been at least a dozen years before. Back at the beginning. Right before we headed to L.A. and made the first record with the label. The bar was next to a bowling alley. We had two rooms in that rattrap of a motel that was behind it.
Ah! Yes, I do remember that one. Damien got his ass jumped by those cowboys who heckled us and waited for him after the show.
Then we all jumped in, and you got arrested.
Wasnt the last time.
And now you have pigs and dogs, and you only beat on your brothers.
Im too old to beat up anyone but you people. Plus, I have great hands. Why you taking me down memory lane?