MR. SECOND BEST

by LM Fox

Cover & Excerpt Reveal

Release Date: December 1, 2022

Cover Design: Hang Le

Photo: Michelle Lancaster

Model: Heath Hutchins

Genre: Contemporary romance
Trope: Friends to lovers, best friend's widow, angsty

Synopsis

I’m in love with my best friend’s widow.

The only person I’ve cared more for is gone.

There’s no doubt he knew, and never let on.

It was just the kind of man Jake was.

I’ve worn my guilt like a second skin since we were teens, worshipping her from afar.

Yet time has done me no favors.

Under the surface, resentment grows.

A rage no one else sees.

Because I’m trapped. I can’t move on, but I can’t have her.

But now she’s asked me to do the unthinkable…

grant her the comfort she needs.

I’m helpless to say no to Melanie.

I’d give her anything.

Even if doing this will ultimately destroy me when it’s over.

Excerpt

Nate, Jamie, and I trudge into the firehouse, exhausted after the last several hours of working a car fire. The car accident required us to extricate the driver and help EMS get him to the trauma center. Then we had to act quickly to take care of the vehicle after it burst into flames.

“What are the odds I can make it in and out of the shower without the alarm going off?” Nate asks.

“The way today has gone, not good. But if you don’t chance it, I will.” I say.

“Okay. This is going to be the quickest shower in history.”

Nate heads for the bathroom, and I grab my toiletry bag, hoping I can manage one myself before we receive another call.

“I’m starving,” Jamie says.

“Man, do you eat twenty-four-seven?”

“It takes a lot of calories to keep this body churning.”

“Well, I’m hitting the shower after Nate is out, and then maybe we can feed your tapeworm.”

“Okay, Huggie, you’re up,” Nate belts out.

“That was fast. Be right back.” I head to the shower and practically whistle. I should be exhausted, but I have to fight to keep the constant grin off of my face, or someone will surely think something’s up.

I admit I haven’t slept well since Saturday night. And not for the reasons sleep has evaded me in the past. I’m not stressed or nervous about Mel. I cannot stop replaying that glorious night. Sure, I broke almost every ground rule I set. It was supposed to be all about Melanie that night. Ha! Who was I kidding? I’ve been longing for her for so long. I enjoyed every second. And it was supposed to be one night. Yet I couldn’t get enough. I was so certain one time wouldn’t be enough that I snuck out to a twenty-four-hour convenience store for condoms.

I tried to separate my feelings. Only focus on the physical. And oh, how I loved being physical. But it took incredible effort not to blurt exactly how I felt about her. At least I managed to keep two rules. I didn’t come inside her, and no one knows but us.

I quickly towel off and grab my clothes. The last thing I need is for an emergency call to come in, and I’m holding up the works trying to get dressed.

“Okay, I’m done,” I announce to no one in particular. I sit on the edge of my bunk and put my shoes on, knowing it’s only a matter of time before we leave. Whether in response to a call, or Jamie’s stomach is left to be seen. I lie back with my arms crossed behind my head, waiting for the memories from the other night to dance across my mind’s eye and smile.

“You didn’t?”

My eyes flick open, and I find Nate standing above me.

“Didn’t what?”

“You slept with her.”

I bolt upright, looking around. “Who? What are you talking about?” I whisper.

“Cut the crap, man. I’ve known you forever. When we get back from a call like that, you’re the first to grumble about it until you can distract yourself with your phone or the television.”

“And?” I prod.

“You’re lying on your back, no phone, no TV, grinning like a Cheshire cat.” He bends, so he’s right in my face. “Unless you met someone since Saturday, my bet is the turkey wasn’t the only thing getting stuffed that night.”

“Come on, Nate.” I fall back onto the bed, disgusted. Both by his statement and the fact I must be the most transparent guy on the planet. Guess that’s rule number four down.

“Are you two─”

“No. “It’s only physical, Nate. There’s nothing more.”

“Who are you kidding? You’ve been in love with her for years. That’s the very definition of more.” He’s quiet for a moment. “You know this is bad, right?”

“What? Spending any time with you? Yes.” I mock.

There’s a brief period of silence, and I start to second-guess everything. Why did I let things go this far?

“No wonder you chose this profession. You like playing with fire.” Nate mutters.

Part of me wants to sit up and give him what for. But the thing is, he’s right. There is no doubt when this is all over I’m going to end up burned. 

About the Author

Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.

Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.

She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.