Blown Away: A Small Town Military Romance (The Moore Brothers Book 1) by Abby Brooks
Authors: Abby Brooks
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unlovable.”
“I never said I thought I was unlovable.”
“You never had to. I know you well enough to figure that out. So your dad spent his time and attention on your step-mom and step-brother. So your mom was busy being happy with her husband. So what? That doesn’t mean anything about what kind of person you are.”
Tears pricked Juliet’s eyes and she absolutely refused to cry. She’d taken too much time with her makeup. “I know none of that matters,” she said around the lump in her throat.
“Your head knows it, Julz, but your heart never has. You’re the sweetest, hardest working, most caring, special-est girl I know. Now, you go out there and let that Ian sweep you off your feet. Let him make you feel special. Let him take care of you. Let yourself love him, if it comes to that. But most importantly, have fun!”
Juliet thanked her friend and said her goodbyes before dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a tissue. She’d never told anyone how alone she’d felt, that she’d deemed herself unlovable. For Willow to have known, for it to have been so clear, it cut her to the quick.
What was it Ian had said this morning? New town, new home, new guy, new rules? Juliet decided to take that to heart and make it her Bliss motto. Enough sadness. Enough control. Enough self-doubt. It was time to really and truly take charge of her life and find happiness. Throw caution to the wind. Follow her heart. And if her heart led her straight into Ian Moore’s bed, then so be it.
Chapter Fourteen
Juliet
Tires crunched into her driveway at precisely seven thirty. Julz hopped up from where she’d perched on the edge of the couch and started towards the door. How about you wait for him to actually knock? You know, maybe try to play it cool? She blew a long breath out through her mouth and wiped her hands on her thighs. It took concentrated effort, but when Ian finally knocked on the door, she walked like a grown woman rather than skipping and running over there like an excited child.
Julz threw open the door and her heart stuttered and stammered to see him, the memory of that kiss still lingering heavily on her mind. “Hey,” she said, smiling and biting her lip. He looked absolutely delicious all clean shaven and dressed in a dark gray button up and slacks.
Ian took a step back. “Wow.”
“You like it?” She spun in a slow circle, knowing his eyes would travel all over her body and liking the way that felt.
“Very much. You look spectacular.”
Juliet beamed. Ian offered her his hand and he led her down to the M4 and opened the passenger door for her.
“Thank you,” she said, sliding into the leather seat and looking up at him.
“Of course.” He shut the door and Juliet tracked his progress as he walked around the front of the car. He looked absolutely sexy as all hell. The perfect combination of everything. His dark features giving him that edge of mystery. The nice clothes giving him an aura of luxury. And that little swagger in his step? That swagger that looked damn good in his cowboy boots and jeans? That gave him all the dominant man edge that Juliet found so attractive. In theory, she reminded herself. Dominant men are only attractive in theory.
Ian hopped into the driver’s seat, threw the car in gear and backed out of the driveway. They chatted amicably as he wound his way through the streets of Bliss, pointing out landmarks along the way. It wasn’t long—or at least it didn’t feel too long—before he pulled into the parking lot of a little seaside restaurant, very unassuming in its exterior.
“Welcome to Moore Good Eats,” Ian said as she got out of the car, and he offered her his elbow before leading her towards the entrance. “I promise you’ll love everything you order or I’ll personally drag the owner out of the kitchen and give him a noogie.”
“That sounds a little extreme.” She made a face. “Extreme and strange.”
“I
“I never said I thought I was unlovable.”
“You never had to. I know you well enough to figure that out. So your dad spent his time and attention on your step-mom and step-brother. So your mom was busy being happy with her husband. So what? That doesn’t mean anything about what kind of person you are.”
Tears pricked Juliet’s eyes and she absolutely refused to cry. She’d taken too much time with her makeup. “I know none of that matters,” she said around the lump in her throat.
“Your head knows it, Julz, but your heart never has. You’re the sweetest, hardest working, most caring, special-est girl I know. Now, you go out there and let that Ian sweep you off your feet. Let him make you feel special. Let him take care of you. Let yourself love him, if it comes to that. But most importantly, have fun!”
Juliet thanked her friend and said her goodbyes before dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a tissue. She’d never told anyone how alone she’d felt, that she’d deemed herself unlovable. For Willow to have known, for it to have been so clear, it cut her to the quick.
What was it Ian had said this morning? New town, new home, new guy, new rules? Juliet decided to take that to heart and make it her Bliss motto. Enough sadness. Enough control. Enough self-doubt. It was time to really and truly take charge of her life and find happiness. Throw caution to the wind. Follow her heart. And if her heart led her straight into Ian Moore’s bed, then so be it.
Chapter Fourteen
Juliet
Tires crunched into her driveway at precisely seven thirty. Julz hopped up from where she’d perched on the edge of the couch and started towards the door. How about you wait for him to actually knock? You know, maybe try to play it cool? She blew a long breath out through her mouth and wiped her hands on her thighs. It took concentrated effort, but when Ian finally knocked on the door, she walked like a grown woman rather than skipping and running over there like an excited child.
Julz threw open the door and her heart stuttered and stammered to see him, the memory of that kiss still lingering heavily on her mind. “Hey,” she said, smiling and biting her lip. He looked absolutely delicious all clean shaven and dressed in a dark gray button up and slacks.
Ian took a step back. “Wow.”
“You like it?” She spun in a slow circle, knowing his eyes would travel all over her body and liking the way that felt.
“Very much. You look spectacular.”
Juliet beamed. Ian offered her his hand and he led her down to the M4 and opened the passenger door for her.
“Thank you,” she said, sliding into the leather seat and looking up at him.
“Of course.” He shut the door and Juliet tracked his progress as he walked around the front of the car. He looked absolutely sexy as all hell. The perfect combination of everything. His dark features giving him that edge of mystery. The nice clothes giving him an aura of luxury. And that little swagger in his step? That swagger that looked damn good in his cowboy boots and jeans? That gave him all the dominant man edge that Juliet found so attractive. In theory, she reminded herself. Dominant men are only attractive in theory.
Ian hopped into the driver’s seat, threw the car in gear and backed out of the driveway. They chatted amicably as he wound his way through the streets of Bliss, pointing out landmarks along the way. It wasn’t long—or at least it didn’t feel too long—before he pulled into the parking lot of a little seaside restaurant, very unassuming in its exterior.
“Welcome to Moore Good Eats,” Ian said as she got out of the car, and he offered her his elbow before leading her towards the entrance. “I promise you’ll love everything you order or I’ll personally drag the owner out of the kitchen and give him a noogie.”
“That sounds a little extreme.” She made a face. “Extreme and strange.”
“I
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