Carrie Thorne

Hiding Away

He won't. She can't. Neither is safe.

He’s not a playboy. Not a bad boy. Not an alpha.

Admittedly, Aiden McAllister didn’t always keep his nose clean, and there are those that might describe him as… well, as any of the above. Most regrettably, he’s always been bridled with a bullseye on his forehead that decries him as marriage material, so he ran far and fast to avoid such a suffocating trap.

Natalie is clearly hiding something, and Aiden suspects she is more than the introverted photographer she claims to be.

One fantastic night, and Natalie’s former boss connects them as partners in crime. To keep him safe, Natalie has to revisit the past she’s been desperate to keep hidden.

Like shoving his fingers in a light socket, he was electrified.

Glancing down in genuine surprise, he lost all train of thought at the view. Distressed jeans with more holes than denim, her toned, tanned leg held against his for a whisper of a moment, enough to singe his skin, the heat radiating through his veins and setting his heart into an erratic rhythm… only to pull away.

“Sorry,” he apologized, his voice no more than a whisper, as the ability to speak had flown away with his brain.

“No worries,” she muttered, her eyes not veering from her book. Clearly, she was underwhelmed by the connection that had rocked the hell out of him.

“A midnight stroll on the beach? What could be more romantic?” He kissed the back of her hand and flashed her a wink, hoping to bring that light inside her back.

Better yet, she giggled with a beyond-tired slap-happy enthusiasm. “You’re such a dork,” she bumped his arm with her shoulder.

They crawled over a rocky jetty, across a grassy field, then back to another long stretch of sand. The only sounds of the night were the waves receding then crashing, the wind rustling through the long grass.

“Sorry, but I don’t do… Well, I don’t indulge on seconds with guys like you.” What had her life become? She hadn’t been on a real date in… ever? And Aiden was about as safe as they came. He was less motivated to stick around than she was.

Snapping her laptop closed, she focused on packing up her stuff. Stop justifying things. You’re just horny.

Aiden winced, biting his cheek and looking away. He almost looked like he was suffering from hurt feelings. As if.

Resigned, he raised his hand and caught the professor’s attention. “It says to provide an explanation on the attached blank page if you need more room, but there is no attached page.” Oh boy. Off to a great start.

“Mr. McAllister, right?”

“That’s right.” And now he would permanently be known as the guy who had a record. A few of his fellow law students looked his way and snickered, already done with their perfectly above-board background checks. Across the room, Ev, his ex-girlfriend, and only friend in the program, rolled her eyes and winked.

Clearing her throat, his professor sauntered toward him with a reem of white paper. “And how many pages do you require?”

“Just one, thank you professor.”
“Remember last year at the beach party? You accidentally relaxed and had fun?” Heat licked through her as she let herself remember. “How could I forget? I turned to find my shoes, and somehow bumped into your lips instead.” “Hey, I was just bringing you your shoes. And you jumped me.” “I wouldn’t say jumped.”

“You only took your tongue out of my mouth long enough to invite me back to your place.”

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What people are saying about Hiding Away

"This is the first book I've read in the series. This can be read as a standalone, I definitely plan to read the first two books. This was well written, has amazing characters and the storyline was intriguing. When Natalya was nineteen she witnessed a murder while on a burglary job. Two FBI agents were investigating the person she stole from so they followed her back to her house. She has to change her identity and keep hidden. Aiden is an attorney trying to get his new practice up and running. He was a troubled teen and did somethings that could have ended with him in jail. His brother and sister are both settled with the loves of their lives but Aiden doesn't go back for seconds with anyone. The attraction between Nat and Aiden is explosive and their playful banter was enjoyable to read. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."

"Wow I couldn't put this book down as I had to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next and there was so many twists and turns that it keeps you on your toes and it is so addictive. Carrie is an amazing author and writer and I definitely recommend you read this book and other's by her and you will definitely not be disappointed and I can't wait to read more of her books."

“Okay, so I’ve never really had a hobby. But I’ve been thinking about developing one.” - Aiden, Hiding Away