Caught Between a Lie and True Love (Caught Between series Book 1) by Sheila Seabrook

think that he was totally delicious, totally drool worthy…and totally out of her league.
    All six-foot-two-inches of temptation.
    The smart thing to do would be to stay away from him, but all she could do was stare at him and imagine what it would be like to be naked in his arms.
    Despite her determination to keep her distance, she acknowledged that she’d have to be dead not to notice how his t-shirt clung to his frame, or how his shoulders looked like the perfect invite to lay her head against, or how he smelled so good, she just wanted to climb into his skin.
    As she watched him, her thoughts went beyond the pleasures of the body, and she remembered what he’d told her about his relationship with his daughter.
    She moved closer to the window.
    His discomfort with the teen was obvious, and even though Hope appeared to be all prissy and superior and independent, she sensed something deeper there.
    The girl wanted his attention. Needed his attention. She just didn’t know that she didn’t have to be bad to get it.
    Maybe while she was here, she could do something to ease the relationship between father and daughter.
    But she knew…no good could come of getting involved with Brody, not even for the short time she’d be on the island.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    After making chit chat with his elderly neighbor, Brody stood awkwardly at the edge of the garden. “What are you doing over here, Hope? Aren’t you supposed to be grounded?”
    At which Hope replied, “I don’t have to listen to you. You’re not my dad.”
    Before he could order her back home, Olivia stepped in. “The girl is fine here, Brody. I’ll keep her so busy, there’ll be no time for mischief. Why don’t you go inside and fix the faucet?”
    Brody nodded, but before he turned away, he said, “As soon as I’m done in there, Hope, you’re coming with me to town hall.”
    She didn’t glance up. “What for?”
    “The Judge and Delores have nominated me for Mayor. I want you there to show your support.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
    Olivia made a motion with her hands, shooing him away.
    Before he stepped into the kitchen, he paused, one hand on the screen door handle, and turned to look at Hope in the garden.
    She appeared comfortable there, chatting with their elderly neighbor and her houseguest, far more comfortable than she looked when she was around Matilda or himself. Smiling and laughing. Why couldn’t she be like that with him?
    How could he create that kind of relationship with his daughter? It shouldn’t be this tough, which only made him wonder once again what he was trying to prove by taking on the responsibility of a teenager.
    Brody finally turned his back on them and stepped into Olivia’s kitchen, where the woman slouched at the table took one look at him and smoothly came to her feet.
    “Well, hello there, handsome.”
    Paige’s mom. Despite the sunglasses hiding her eyes, it was clear she’d recently had a nip and tuck. The skin across her cheeks looked smile-proof tight, and her upper lip barely moved when she talked.
    He nodded politely and remained where he was. “Sorry to interrupt. I’m here to fix Olivia’s faucet, but I can come back later.”
    She closed the distance between them, and inches from him, proceeded to walk her fingers up the front of his t-shirt. “I’m in need of your…let’s just call it assistance.”
    Brody resisted the urge to bolt. “What can I help you with, Ma’am?”
    Shock cracked the tight expression and she grabbed a fistful of his t-shirt, her knuckles white. “Did you just call me Ma’am ?” She breathed out the last word as though it was something dirty.
    “Ummm, yes, Ma’am.”
    She hissed out a breath and slouched her shoulders. “Ma’am? Why, I’m barely older than…you.”
    Behind him, the screen door opened and Paige walked in. Her voice was droll, humorless. “And if you believe that, I have land for sale in the swamp.”
    The shapely brunette drew herself