Searching for Harmony (Boston Love 1)

Associate Publisher

Read on for an excerpt from

Hard to Fall

by Marquita Valentine

Available from Loveswept

Chapter 1

Hayden

My head is pounding like someone took a jackhammer to it. I haven’t had a hangover like this in years, not since college, but my buddy’s family knows how to throw an after-party like no other.

Tequila had been the drink of choice. Pretty sure his mom drank me under the table. In any case, I ended up flying to Tijuana with half the bridal party and all of the Castillos.

Forcing my eyes open wide, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and check behind me to make sure I’m alone. There’s no one with me, not even an indentation in the pillow. The bedcovers are reasonably rearranged. No condom wrappers on the floor and the morning wood I’m sporting is barely a semi.

Pushing out of bed, I go in search of coffee and pain reliever. Ms. Castillo let the entire wedding party stay at her house, which turns out to be a huge hacienda on the outskirts of the city. I can’t remember what her family is into, but based on what I’ve seen so far, it’s very lucrative.

Yawning, I scratch my chest and go through another door, which leads me straight into the kitchen. The smell of coffee fills the air and I want to kiss the pot brewing near the stove.

There’s a woman sitting at the table. From my vantage point, I can see legs, an oversized shirt…and chocolate brown hair pulled into a messy bun, like she spent the night in someone’s bed.

The lucky bastard.

Not a bad view at all.

“Good morning.” I step past her, heading straight to the coffee. “Do I have you to thank for making this?”

“No.” Her voice sounds vaguely familiar to me. “It was already brewing when I got here.”

Grabbing the pot of coffee and a mug, I lean against the counter and pour a cup so that I can get a good look at her. A flash of pink catches my eye firs

t. She’s wearing flowers in her hair. Her chin tips up slightly, revealing a full, pink mouth, high cheekbones, and glasses that frame a pair of dark brown eyes.

I’ve always been a sucker for brown eyes. One of the bridesmaids at the wedding had eyes like that, glasses too.

“I know you.” I snap my fingers. “You’re the naughty bridesmaid, Sammy.”

“It’s Saylor.” Her head tilts to one side, then she pushes those sexy-as-fuck black glasses back up on her nose. “Saylor Dean.”

“Got it.” I grin sheepishly at her. “Sorry, I’m not my usual self.”

Her lashes flicker down, then back up. “You don’t seem any different to me.”

I frown. “Is that an insult?”

“Do you think how you normally act is offensive?” She sips daintily from her mug.

“Depends on who you ask. Need a refill?”

She shakes her head. “Not drinking.”

I look pointedly at her cup. “You sure about that?”

“Positive.” This she says right before taking another sip.