Jesse's Girl

"I wish that I had Jesse's Girl"*Successful Texas lawyer, Reade Walker, curses that damn song every time it plays, all too aware of the irony of its lyrics. After all, he has been secretly and painfully enamored with Jesse's girl, Gwen, for nearly a decade. It was love at first sight for him, but sadly she's not his girl. She belongs to the one man who betrayed him and knows Reade's hidden family secret. Yet Reade can't seem to love anyone except the one woman he can't have. Or can he make her mine? When Gwen Clark's senator husband runs off with his intern and all their money, the ensuing scandal turns her life upside down. Deserted, penniless and desperate to provide for her six-year-old daughter, Gwen has no one to turn to but Reade Walker. The one man her heart desperately wants, but her pride dreads having to ask for help. Despite welcoming them into his home, it seems like Reade can barely stand being in the same room with her anymore, let alone under the same roof-in the same bedroom. But Gwen is determined to get her life back on track. It is past time to rediscover her own dreams...if only she can keep her aching heart from breaking all over again. *Song lyrics by Rick Springfield Jessie's Girl, 1981ABOUT: -HEA (Happily Ever After) ENDING-STANDALONE (not part of a series, no cliffhanger, fully wrapped-up novella)-"FRIENDS-TO-LOVERS" CONTEMPORARY ADULT ROMANCE-INSTA-LOVE with a MEET CUTE-CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE based on the pop song of the same title. -HEAT LEVEL: HOT AWARD WINNING NOVELLA: -2018 Orange Rose First Place Winner for Best Romance Novella by OCCRWA.org-2018 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest 1st Place Winner for Contemporary Short-The Catherine 2018 2nd Place Winner from Toronto Romance Writers -2018 Unpublished Maggie Awards Finalist-2018 Golden Rose Contest Finalist - 2nd Place -2018 Unpublished Maggie Awards Finalist-Maine Romance Writers 2017 Strut Your Stuff Finalist-Pages from the Heart 2017 Finalist - Third Place