“Oh, good.” She sighed, taking in an uneven breath. “Good. Yes. Perfect. It’s going to be so nice for all my boys to have that special someone this holiday.”
Sadly she would be the odd person out. A stab of pain hit the center of his chest. His father had been too young to leave his mother all alone.
He put on a fake smile; he’d read somewhere that people could always tell if you were really smiling when you spoke to them on the phone. “Love you, and see you Monday.”
“Wait, Ocean?”
“Yeah?”
“You might want to consider helping someone for Christmas. I know you get busy and kinda lost in your head.”
Well, that was unexpected. “O-kay.”
“I mean, just giving to others feels good, Ocean. Be helpful, and your life will be better.”
He fought the urge to roll his eyes at the life lecture. “Sure, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Ocean.”
He pressed end and stared at the phone, wishing he could take a time machine back and tell the truth about Susan from the beginning. What was he going to do?
Moonlight beamed down, and the water was calm. He sucked in a breath. It’d been rough since Ty had told the family last year that he had ALS. Ty was his baby brother, the brother right beneath him, and the news had nearly ripped his heart out.
He tried to push all the anxiety away. It would be fine. All the Brady brothers were hitched now, except him and Ty. At least Ty had Luna, his girlfriend of the past few months. Ocean and his brothers worried about Ty having a girlfriend, but none of them ever mentioned it to him.
Ocean needed to run. He left his flip-flops on the patio and took off down the beach. It was almost eleven o’clock, but the dark didn’t bother him. Why should it? If someone was crazy enough to attack a six-two, two-hundred-fifteen-pound running back, they’d regret it.
He ran faster, loving the release he felt when he pushed hard. He thought of Rocky and Apollo running down the beach in Rocky. Briefly, he slowed so he could tug his phone out of his pocket, put on the Rocky soundtrack, and slip his earbuds in; then he took off again, letting the music swallow him. Faster, faster, faster.
He didn’t know how long he’d been running. He was a couple of songs in and “Hearts on Fire” was blasting his ears when he saw someone. It looked like a woman was crying on the beach, holding her ankle. He slowed to a walk and yanked an earbud out.
Curse words tumbled out of her. “I hate this!” she growled.
Athletic, blond, pretty face. Cute in a girl-next-door kind of way. Ocean stopped next to her. “Excuse me, can I help you?”
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Also by Taylor Hart
Here is a list of Taylor's books, grouped by series:
Hardman Brother's Ranch Romance:
Her Hidden Falls Anti-Hero Cowboy: A Sweet Brother's Romance
Her Hidden Falls Doctor Cowboy: A Sweet Brother's Romance
Bachelor Second Chance Cowboy Romance:
Her Country Star Billionaire Groom: Sweet, Christian Married by Christmas
Her Quiet Billionaire Groom: Sweet, Christian Married by Christmas by guest author
Her Football Star Billionaire Groom: Sweet, Christian Married by Christmas by guest author
Her Horse Racing Billionaire Groom: Sweet, Christian Married by Christmas by guest author
Her Protector Billionaire Groom: KB Ranch Married by Christmas
Bachelor Texas Rebel Romances:
Her Second Chance Prodigal Groom: No Regrets Christmas
#Lost
#Seen
#Lured by guest author
#Caged by guest author
Coconut Bachelor Beach Romances:
The Second Chance Billionaire Boss
A Timeless Romance Anthology
Kissing a Billionaire Anthology: The Forgotten Billionaire by Taylor Hart
Royal Palm Resort Series:
The Dancing Groom: A Sweet Beach Romance
Last Play Masquerade Romances:
The No Regrets Groom (A Brady Brother’s Romance)
The Bighearted Groom by guest author
The Ever After Groom by guest author
The Blindsided Groom by guest author
Last Play Christmas Romances:
The Beauty's Groom
The Betting Groom (The Legendary Kent Brother Romances)
The Risky Groom by guest author
The Haunted Groom by guest author
The Midnight Groom (A sequel to The Football Groom)
The About Face Groom by guest author
Christmas Romance Series:
Her Hollywood Fake Fiancé (The Legendary Kent Brother Romances)
Her Football Boss Fake Fiancé: Sweet Brother's Romance
Texas Titan Romances (I recommend this order to read them)
The Tough Love Groom
The Second Chance Groom
The Dream Groom
The Prince Charming Groom
The Good Groom (A Brady Brother’s Romance)
The Broken Warrior
The Found Warrior
Bachelor Billionaire Romance Series (I recommend this order to read them)
The Football Groom
The Country Groom
The Unfinished Groom
The Barefoot Groom
The Masquerading Groom
The Christmas Groom
Rescue Me (Park City Firefighter Romances--Cross over with Bachelor Billionaire Romances) (Freestone Brother Romances)
The Lost Groom (Freestone Brother Romances)
The Undercover Groom (Freestone Brother Romances)
The Lone Star Groom
Last Play Romance Series
Last Play
The Rookie
Just Play
A Player for Christmas
End Zone
Hail Mary
Snow Valley Romances
Pre-Order Now! New Release February 2nd, 2020 - Her Snow Valley Fake Valentine Girlfriend
Her Snow Valley Fake New Year's Eve Boyfriend
Her Snow Valley Christmas Eve Kiss
Her Snow Valley Second Chance First Love Boyfriend
Spring in Snow Valley: The Bet
Fall in Snow Valley: The Better Man
A Return to Snow Valley: The Christmas Boyfriend
A Return to Snow Valley: The Christmas Girlfriend
The Real Thing Suspense, Romantic Series
Book 1 On the Run
Book 3 Get You Back
Stand Alone Books
A Girl Named Grace
The Secret
Prom Diaries
Her First Love Billionaire: Second Chance Time Travel Romance
Collections
Cozy 2020 Magic Starter Romance Collection
Snow Valley Romance Collection
Fake Fiancé Christmas Collection
Brady Brother Romance Collection
Lonely Bachelor Christmas Collection
Mistletoe Football Romance Christmas Collection
Cozy Christmas Mistletoe Collection
Snow Valley Collection
The Legendary Kent Brother Collection
Country Star Romance Collection
The Freestone Brother Collection
Bachelor Billionaire Romance Collection
Football Romance Collection (Last Play)
Taylor’s Football Collection (Texas Titans)
Christmas Romance Sampler Collection
Movie Star Romances Billionaire Collection
About the Author
Taylor Hart has always been drawn to a good love triangle, hot chocolate and long conversations with new friends. Writing has always been a passion that has consumed her dreams and forced her to sit in a trance for long hours, completely obsessed with people that don’t really exist. Taylor would have been a country star if she could have carried a tune—ma
ybe in the next life. Find Taylor at:
www.taylorhartbooks.com │ Twitter: @taylorfaithhart │ Facebook: Taylor Hart