I'm a Nordic fisherman with a simple life.
But when my sister dies in a tragic accident, I'm suddenly the guardian of three children who sorely miss their mother.
My fishing fleet won't run itself, so I hire help for my niece and nephews.
Sofie is no ordinary nanny - she's beautiful inside and out.
And when she's in my arms, I never want to let go.
But Sofie has a life that's bigger than a small coastal village.
And I'll have to prove to her that I'm more than a fling - I'm her forever.
Dear Reader,
Turns out we have a soft spot for fjords, fisherman, and Norse gods!
Well, Erik's not a god, exactly.
But with that hair, those stormy eyes, and that mountain of a body we're calling him Thor.
All. Night. Long.
Xo, Frankie & Chantel
So perfect!!! I think Sofie & Erik might be my favorite couple from this series! I loved how they both had a hard time adjusting to their new lives, but loved it from the start. I can’t wait to read what happens with Wendy
Erik
“Astrid, you need to eat.” I sit down at the kitchen table beside my niece and
push her plate closer to her, but the six-year-old just stares blankly at the
old raggedy doll she clutches to her chest.
She’s barely said any words
since my sister and brother-in-law were killed by a drunk driver six weeks ago.
The girl has grown more and more sullen, drawing deeper into her sorrow each
day.
Unlike the two unruly boys
that run around the kitchen, tormenting each other, and causing as much havoc
as they can, Astrid has internalized her pain. And I have no idea what I’m
supposed to do.
Finn,
my eight-year-old nephew, holds a candy bar above his brother’s head, taunting
him. “You can’t have it because you’re too little.”
“Finn, Lars, go outside,” I
order, running a palm over my beard, and wondering how I’m going to survive
this. I should be out on the water with my men, bringing in a haul of cod, not
looking after my sister’s children. But one selfish asshole changed all of our
lives forever.
“Give it to me,” Lars shouts
before using all of his weight to tackle his older brother.
The four-year-old is all
Johansen, sturdy and blond, with eyes like mine and Nora’s, the color of the
sky just before a storm rolls in. And I have no doubt he’ll match my
six-foot-four build when he’s older.
Finn, on the other hand, is
built more like his father, slim, and tall, with dark hair, and clear blue eyes
that are constantly looking for trouble.
The boys roll on the ground,
and I grab the two of them, pulling them apart before any punches are thrown.
God, what would Nora do right now? Or Daniel? He’d have these two under control
with one stern look.
I’d wondered what my sister
saw in the American when she’d first brought him home, but the man had quickly
become one of my closest friends. And together we’d grown our company, bringing
economic growth and prosperity to the small fishing village forty miles south
of Oslo. And while we grew our fleet, Nora had built a home.
A happy one.
A family that any man would be
jealous of.
Anyone but me. I’d been
content with my life at sea. Sure, one day I figured I’d find a good woman and
settle down. But I’d never imagined I’d be twenty-six and taking on the responsibilities
of three young children.
Children that are still
squirming in my arms, trying to strike out at each other.
“Outside, now,” I say, putting
them down. I break the candy bar in half and give each of the boys a piece,
then point toward the door. “And take Odin with you.”
The hound’s ears perk up at
the sound of his name, and he follows my nephews out the front door, wagging
his tail.
I can see them through the
large kitchen window as they race across the yard, Odin following behind,
crisis temporarily averted.
Leaning on the counter, I take
a deep breath.
Everything will be okay. But
even as I think it, I’m not sure if it will be.
I need help.
The woman from the nanny
placement services arrives tomorrow. And I’m hoping that things will be able to
get back to normal, or whatever my new normal will look like.
It was Daniel’s mother who’d
recommended the agency. After the accident, she’d come to Norway to help with
the children, but she’d only stayed a few weeks before returning to the States.
There’d been some talk about
her taking the kids back to Seattle with her. Part of me wondered if it would
be for the best, because honestly, what do I know about raising kids?
But I know my sister would
want her children to be raised here-in the home she built, surrounded by the
green hills and open sea. She may have married an American, but her heart
always belonged to Norway.
So I’d done as her will had
asked, and moved into their house, taking over the responsibilities of mother
and father.
And I’m drowning.
“I want my mamma,” Astrid says
so softly I barely hear her.
With a sigh, I turn and place
a hand on top of her head, willing myself to be what she needs. Knowing I’m far
from it. “I know, sweetheart. I wish she was here too.” I crouch down so I’m
eye level with her. “But even though she’s not here, I know she wouldn’t want
you to get sick. And if you don’t eat, you will. So will you please take a bite
for me?”
Fine wisps of blonde hair fall
over her face, and there are tears in her eyes when she finally looks at me.
“Okay, Onkel Erik.” She takes a slice of the bread from her plate and takes a
small bite before putting it back.
“Good girl.” I kiss the top of
her head before standing. It’s a small victory.
The boys are still in the
front, and I groan when I see Lars. He’s covered head to toe in mud, and from
what I can tell he’s got fists full of it and is chasing Finn. The phone rings
before I can yell out at him.
“Ja?” I say, answering the
phone.
“We need you down at the
harbor,” Filip says on the other end. “One of the boats is having engine
problems.”
“Then call the mechanic. I can’t make
it in today.”
Filip sighs. “The men need to
see you, Erik. I know you’re dealing with a lot right now, but there’s been
talk—”
“What kind of talk?”
He hesitates before answering.
“You’re a good man, Erik. But we all know that you’re a better fisherman than a
businessman. Daniel kept the books—”
“You can tell whoever’s been talking
that they don’t need to worry. They’ll get their paychecks on time.” A car has
pulled up the driveway, and I frown. I’m not expecting anyone.
“I told you, I’ll be there Tuesday.”
“It is Tuesday,” he says with a sigh.
I glance at the calendar and
curse under my breath. How did I lose a whole day? Not only that, I was
supposed to be at the airport three hours ago to pick up the woman the agency
sent.
“Dritt,” I mutter more loudly,
causing Astrid to raise her brows at me. “I’ll call you back,” I say before
ending the call. “Astrid, get your shoes on, we need to go.”
She slips off the chair. “Go where?”
“To the airport. We have to—”
Through the window, I see what happens next in slow motion. But no matter how
fast I move, I know I can’t stop it from happening.
Both Lars and Finn are hidden behind a
bush, and I see the trouble in their eyes, and the mud in their hands. When the
back door of the car opens, a pretty woman steps out.
Strawberry blonde hair whips
in the wind, crystal clear blue eyes scan the yard. She’s tall and lean and has
an elegance to her that takes my breath away. And she’s about to have mud slung
at her.
I push open the screen door,
yelling at my nephews as mud balls are flung through the air. The first one
hits her arm, and I’m halfway out the door yelling at the boys when the second
one lands square on her cheek.
Dritt.
She sucks in a breath, those
blue eyes going wide with shock. Her delicate hand reaches up and wipes away
the mud from her cheek, then her gaze locks on mine and I see her step back,
her hand on the door handle of the taxi.
“Vær
så snill,” I say, storming toward her. “What?” she asks, her voice soft and
smooth. Like she needs someone to hold onto her, to keep her here. That person
is me.
“Please,” I say in English.
“Don’t go.” I contacted the agency because I needed help this summer.
But one look at her tells me I
need a hell of a lot more than help.
I need her
Frankie Love
Frankie Love writes filthy-sweet stories about bad boys and mountain men. As a thirty-something mom who is ridiculously in love with her own bearded hottie, she believes in
love-at-first-sight and happily-ever-afters. She also believes in the power of a quickie.
You can find her at FRANKIELOVE.NET or on FB.
Frankie also writes under the pen names CHARLIE HART.
love-at-first-sight and happily-ever-afters. She also believes in the power of a quickie.
You can find her at FRANKIELOVE.NET or on FB.
Frankie also writes under the pen names CHARLIE HART.
C.M. Seabrook
Amazon bestselling author C.M. Seabrook writes hot, steamy romances with possessive bad boys, and the passionate, fiery women who love them. Swoonworthy romances from the heart!
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