Noble Neighbor

by Nicole Ann Nielsen

Genres: Small-town Romance; Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

The warmth of his touch, the strength in his grip, the connection to him aroused feelings long smothered by choice and responsibility.

Escaping the publicity following the murder of his wife, Oliver and his son relocate to a small town and start afresh.

He never expected to fall for another woman.

After years of moving from place to place, Sunny and her daughters finally settle on a little slice of Nebraskan soil.

Falling for her neighbor was not part of her plan.

But when Sunny’s past collides with her present, will she do what she's done before — take her girls and run?

Or will she stay and fight for love?

NOTE: Part of the Cocky Hero Club, Noble Neighbor is a standalone story inspired by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Mister Moneybags, and features, Clement, Dexter Truitt’s young whittling nemesis.

Release date: August 15, 2021

Publisher: Nicole Ann Deacon and Cocky Hero World

Print pages: 320

Content advisory: Steamy

Sample

Sunny Jones leaned into the back of the Suburban and unstrapped her daughter from the child seat.

“Mommy …”

“Hmm?”

“This gonna be our ever home?”

Startled by the question, she glanced down, meeting the hopeful gaze of her younger child. “Yes, Molly. This is our forever home.” I hope, she thought, sending a quick, fervent prayer to the heavens above.

“Yeah. Right.” Kenzie slammed the opposite door, and Sunny bit back her equally sharp response. The kid’s tired, she reminded herself. Just as I am. The last few days had been long and hot. She shut the car door with almost as much force as Kenzie.

“I like it, Mommy.” Molly took her hand and squeezed. “Let’s explore,” she added, tugging impatiently.

With her gaze sliding over the rambling, white, three-story farmhouse nestled upon the rolling hill, Sunny pasted a smile on her face and murmured, “Good idea, honey.” Buying a house sight unseen was risky, but she’d liked the look of the place from the web listing, and the realtor had humored her with a video tour.

The farmhouse was dated, but its bones were good, the wiring, plumbing, and roof redone within the last five years. Surrounded by wide-open land of which she now owned fifty-five acres, there was space for the pets they all hankered after, maybe some horses. And hens. Definitely hens. A home like this needed a few roaming about.

It was just the place for her girls to grow and thrive; just the place for Sunny to let go of the past and concentrate on her future. She needed the stability as much as her girls did.

Molly dragged her along the path to where Kenzie stood, arms folded and foot tapping, on the edge of the large wrap-around porch. Ignoring the filthy glare her daughter speared her with, Sunny looked around. The porch needed a couple of welcoming Adirondacks with colorful cushions, maybe a matching swing chair—

She pivoted to the mature trees about forty yards away to the right. Yes, a hammock strung from the sturdy branches would be awesome. Truth be told, it had been the trio of trees, a reminder of her carefree childhood, that had sold her the house.

“Home,” she murmured, her mood lifting as the word manifested in her soul.

Turning her face to the sun, she raised her head and arms, stretching out the travelling kinks, sucking in a deep breath. A genuine smile replaced the fake, growing wider as the air filled her lungs and the sun warmed her face. Clean air, carrying the unmistakable tang of country. Sunshine, grass. A hint of manure. Maybe she should buy a cow or two, just for the heck of it.

And please, she was DONE — yes, capitalized — with homeschooling. She’d enrolled her girls in the local school, and in a few weeks’ time, they would board the yellow bus that stopped at the start of the lane each morning, giving her ample time during the day to figure out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

For the first time in absolute ages, Sunny felt the suffocating weight of her past ease. Their new beginning had started, and life was truly looking up.