Claire and Liam had a good thing going until he walks out of her life. Being dumped without warning is devastating enough, discovering she isn’t pregnant leaves her without even a part of him. Withdrawing from everyone, she moves to another city and immerses herself in work, the better to forget Liam. Not that it’s working. Claire is a one-man woman, to her despair.
Back stateside after an unexpectedly long deployment, security contractor Liam Cafferty has accepted the truth: walking out on Claire makes him a coward. Thinking it for the best, given his dangerous profession, doesn’t cut it. She should have been given the choice. With the biggest heart of any woman he’s known, he’s hopeful she might take him back and makes it his new mission to convince her.
Claire must decide what matters: her pride or taking another chance on Liam—and love.
Excerpt:
The streets were full of people as she used her phone to arrange an Uber. Small groups with youthful faces, couples, and the occasional single individual moved along, their destinations unknown but likely the restaurants that crowded downtown, or maybe a club later on after dusk fell. The camaraderie left her cold, and with some desperation to escape, she scanned the curb for her lift.
Maybe she was indeed crazy, choosing to cut herself off from everyone, cutting ties with her old life, all to forget Liam. Because, newsflash, it wasn’t working. She was like one of those historical romance novel heroines who languished and withered into old age after losing their beaus. Whatever empty spaces that opened up in her head, past all her attempts to fill them, Liam snuck in.
While she waited, she opened her messages, trying to shut out the people and noise around her that were reminders of a different life. There weren’t many on the phone. She had no one local to give the number to, outside of work, sad commentary. She was more like one half of those werewolf or vampire couples who wasted away without their mate.
Joanne’s number came up several times, and there was also a text. Hoping nothing was wrong, she opened it.
Haven’t been able to reach u b/phone and u haven’t responded to vms. Assuming u r busy but u should know Liam is looking for u. Call me!
Suddenly lax fingers nearly let the device slip to the pavement, and she tightened her grip. Rereading the text, she remembered to breathe and swayed on her feet.
“Claire?” His familiar voice, hard on the heels of Jo’s text, was surreal. Had she conjured him?
She resisted the urge to spin wildly and shriek at the top of her lungs. It couldn’t be. She wasn’t prepared. How was this happening?
His SUV was nose-in to the curb, the back end blocking traffic and already, impatient drivers were honking. But her attention was on the tall, broad-shouldered man rounding the hood.
“Claire.”
He hadn’t changed at all. Unless one considered the burnished skin and a leaner look. Her stare took in his appearance in minute detail, and something in her chest lurched his way, even as her feet tried to carry her in the other direction.
Hand shaking, she held it up as if to ward off an advancing horde and shook her head. “Go away!”
{"num_reviews":0,"sku":"978-1-77339-929-4","add_this":[{"service":"facebook","annotation":""},{"service":"email","annotation":""},{"service":"print","annotation":""},{"service":"twitter","annotation":""}],"gtin":null,"id":2536,"can_purchase":true,"meta_description":"","category":["Romance on the Go","Contemporary","Erotic "],"AddThisServiceButtonMeta":"","main_image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2536\u002f2795\u002fnothingelsematters1l__75567.1555371698.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 13, 640\n\nISBN: 978-1-77339-929-4\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2536","backorder_availability_prompt":"","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fnothing-else-matters-by-peri-elizabeth-scott\u002f","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eRomance on the Go ®\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fem\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClaire and Liam had a good thing going until he walks out of her life. Being dumped without warning is devastating enough, discovering she isn’t pregnant leaves her without even a part of him. Withdrawing from everyone, she moves to another city and immerses herself in work, the better to forget Liam. Not that it’s working. Claire is a one-man woman, to her despair.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBack stateside after an unexpectedly long deployment, security contractor Liam Cafferty has accepted the truth: walking out on Claire makes him a coward. Thinking it for the best, given his dangerous profession, doesn’t cut it. She should have been given the choice. With the biggest heart of any woman he’s known, he’s hopeful she might take him back and makes it his new mission to convince her. \u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClaire must decide what matters: her pride or taking another chance on Liam—and love.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpt:\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eThe streets were full of people as she used her phone to arrange an Uber. Small groups with youthful faces, couples, and the occasional single individual moved along, their destinations unknown but likely the restaurants that crowded downtown, or maybe a club later on after dusk fell. The camaraderie left her cold, and with some desperation to escape, she scanned the curb for her lift.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eMaybe she was indeed crazy, choosing to cut herself off from everyone, cutting ties with her old life, all to forget Liam. Because, newsflash, it wasn’t working. She was like one of those historical romance novel heroines who languished and withered into old age after losing their beaus. Whatever empty spaces that opened up in her head, past all her attempts to fill them, Liam snuck in.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eWhile she waited, she opened her messages, trying to shut out the people and noise around her that were reminders of a different life. There weren’t many on the phone. She had no one local to give the number to, outside of work, sad commentary. She was more like one half of those werewolf or vampire couples who wasted away without their mate.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eJoanne’s number came up several times, and there was also a text. Hoping nothing was wrong, she opened it.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHaven’t been able to reach u b\u002fphone and u haven’t responded to vms. Assuming u r busy but u should know Liam is looking for u. Call me!\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eSuddenly lax fingers nearly let the device slip to the pavement, and she tightened her grip. Rereading the text, she remembered to breathe and swayed on her feet.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“Claire?” His familiar voice, hard on the heels of Jo’s text, was surreal. Had she conjured him?\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eShe resisted the urge to spin wildly and shriek at the top of her lungs. It couldn’t be. She wasn’t prepared. How was this happening?\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eHis SUV was nose-in to the curb, the back end blocking traffic and already, impatient drivers were honking. But her attention was on the tall, broad-shouldered man rounding the hood.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003e“Claire.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eHe hadn’t changed at all. Unless one considered the burnished skin and a leaner look. Her stare took in his appearance in minute detail, and something in her chest lurched his way, even as her feet tried to carry her in the other direction.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: medium; font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"\u003eHand shaking, she held it up as if to ward off an advancing horde and shook her head. “Go away!”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\u002fp\u003e","show_backorder_message":false,"tags":[],"warranty":"","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$2.99","value":2.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"},"default_shipping_expectation_prompt":"","detail_messages":"","availability":"","page_title":"","cart_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fcart.php","show_backorder_availability_prompt":false,"max_purchase_quantity":0,"show_quantity_on_hand":false,"show_default_shipping_expectation_prompt":false,"show_quantity_on_backorder":false,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fbrands\u002fHeat-Level-3.html"},"attributes":[],"mpn":null,"upc":null,"options":[],"related_products":[{"id":2349,"sku":"978-1-77339-686-6","name":"Nothing in My Heart by Peri Elizabeth Scott","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fnothing-in-my-heart-by-peri-elizabeth-scott\u002f","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Contemporary","Erotic "],"summary":"Feeling trapped into marriage, Beckett Kilmer doesn’t hide his disdain for his young wife, although he certainly wants her physically. Grace didn’t deliberately trap the man she loves, but ign","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2349\u002f2597\u002fnothinginmyheart1l__88618.1526616549.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 44, 480\n\nISBN: 978-1-77339-686-6\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2349\u002f2597\u002fnothinginmyheart1l__88618.1526616549.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 44, 480\n\nISBN: 978-1-77339-686-6\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"18th May 2018","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":null,"num_reviews":1,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2349","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$3.99","value":3.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}},{"id":2965,"sku":"978-0-3695-0587-3","name":"Chopped by Peri Elizabeth Scott","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fchopped-by-peri-elizabeth-scott\u002f","availability":"","rating":0,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Contemporary","Erotic ","Romance on the Go"],"summary":"Romance on the Go ®\nRegan Braxton is a prep cook at The Salt Cellar, an up-and-coming restaurant in Las Vegas. She has aspirations to make line cook and actually thought it was a done deal—before...","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2965\u002f3242\u002fchopped1l__80349.1648696393.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 15, 000\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0587-3\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2965\u002f3242\u002fchopped1l__80349.1648696393.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 15, 000\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0587-3\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"30th Mar 2022","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":null,"num_reviews":0,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2965","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$2.99","value":2.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}},{"id":1864,"sku":"978-1-77233-992-5","name":"Ruler's Concubine by Peri Elizabeth Scott","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002frulers-concubine-by-peri-elizabeth-scott\u002f","availability":"","rating":4,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 2"},"category":["Suspense","Sci-Fi","Mainstream"],"summary":"Meridia is headed for extinction, unless a compatible species can be found. The backward planet, Earth, the one the Meridians stripped of technology now holds the only promising species in the Galaxy...","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f1864\u002f2082\u002frulersconcubine1l__82287.1472771219.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Sci-Fi Romance\n\nHeat Level: 2\n\nWord Count: 66, 365\n\nISBN: 978-1-77233-992-5\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f1864\u002f2082\u002frulersconcubine1l__82287.1472771219.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Sci-Fi Romance\n\nHeat Level: 2\n\nWord Count: 66, 365\n\nISBN: 978-1-77233-992-5\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"1st Sep 2016","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":null,"num_reviews":2,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=1864","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$4.99","value":4.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}},{"id":2627,"sku":"978-0-3695-0085-4","name":"Lesson Learned by Peri Elizabeth Scott","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002flesson-learned-by-peri-elizabeth-scott\u002f","availability":"","rating":0,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Romance on the Go","Contemporary","Erotic "],"summary":"Romance on the Go ®\r\nAdrian Matsakis is a successful businessman with terrible luck in personal relationships. His ex-wife wrecked him, and when he tried again with Jessie Brandt, she too betrayed h","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2627\u002f2894\u002flessonlearned1l__62377.1572573668.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 16, 000\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0085-4\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2627\u002f2894\u002flessonlearned1l__62377.1572573668.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 16, 000\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-0085-4\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"31st Oct 2019","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":null,"num_reviews":0,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=2627","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$2.99","value":2.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}},{"id":1926,"sku":"978-1-77339-083-3","name":"The Tattered Bride by Peri Elizabeth Scott","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fthe-tattered-bride-by-peri-elizabeth-scott\u002f","availability":"","rating":4,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 2"},"category":["Mainstream","Contemporary","Suspense"],"summary":"Victoria Sparrow's childhood traumas are deep-seated. Her father still rejects her as not being worthy, and her romantic relationships flounder as a result—until Logan Doherty. He gives her reason to...","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f1926\u002f2150\u002ftatteredbride1l__99406.1479348803.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 2\n\nWord Count: 34, 185\n\nISBN: 978-1-77339-083-3\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f1926\u002f2150\u002ftatteredbride1l__99406.1479348803.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 2\n\nWord Count: 34, 185\n\nISBN: 978-1-77339-083-3\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"16th Nov 2016","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":null,"num_reviews":3,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=1926","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$3.99","value":3.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}}],"shipping_messages":[],"rating":0,"reviews":{"messages":[],"total":0},"bulk_discount_rates":[],"meta_keywords":"","show_quantity_input":0,"title":"Nothing Else Matters by Peri Elizabeth Scott","gift_wrapping_available":false,"min_purchase_quantity":0,"customizations":[],"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f2536\u002f2795\u002fnothingelsematters1l__75567.1555371698.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 13, 640\n\nISBN: 978-1-77339-929-4\n\nEditor: Audrey Bobak\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}]}
[{"url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002f","name":"Home"},{"url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fcategories\u002fErotic-\u002f","name":"Erotic "},{"url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fnothing-else-matters-by-peri-elizabeth-scott\u002f","name":"Nothing Else Matters by Peri Elizabeth Scott"}]
