Working to take my fury down ten notches, I breathe deep and tell myself to be practical as I scan the yard. I don’t see any children. Is Jamie already asleep? Maybe so. It’s ten thirty. Don’t little kids go to bed early? I didn’t consider that sooner. Damn it.

Now what do I do? I’m hardly in the mood to stand here and toast the bride.

Britta isn’t hard to find since she’s the only blonde among a sea of native Hawaiians in bright, tropical prints and sandals, clinking glasses and smiling.

From a distance, she’s wearing a pencil skirt in a sedate gray that clings to a curve in her hips she didn’t used to have. Her ass looks lusher, rounder. Her hair, though wrapped up in some classic twist, looks longer or thicker—something.

The lust that hits me is stronger than ever.

Jesus, when am I going to stop wanting her?

She’s talking to a pretty brunette who’s about her age. The striking woman hugs her, joy evident in her huge smile. Britta replies. I can tell because she still talks with her hands. She’s graceful, as always. Not surprising. She entered college on a dance scholarship.

I remember watching her move on stage for the first time. The beauty of her movement stunned me, the way she was aware of her every muscle, the complete control she had over even her smallest gesture. Pale tights and a flowing scrap of chiffon flirting with her thighs gave me a hard-on from hell. I was her boss at the time. She’d just begun to work for Maxon and me. I appreciated her smarts in the office and her talent on stage, sure. But more than anything, I wanted those slender thighs wrapped around me while I fucked her. I told myself to back down. She was still young. Everything about her screamed hands off. I didn’t listen. I corrupted every bit of her purity. Then I walked away, leaving her with a pregnancy she hadn’t planned for, and myself with a mountain of fury and regret.

I wonder how much she’s changed. Maxon told me that I broke something in her. Fuck.

Is she bitter now? Withdrawn? How much does she hate me?

How many beds has she slept in since mine?

I swallow the question down. I have no right to ask. Besides, do I really want to know?

I keep staring at her, watching her slender shoulders as she laughs gently. I hear the sound rising above the din of conversation. It’s good to hear her happy even though I’m so fucking sad.

No one else has noticed me. I need to approach her, think of something rational and non-confrontational to say. Or turn around and come back tomorrow, when she doesn’t have a whole bunch of company who will gawk at me the minute I demand to see my son. When she isn’t celebrating her pending union to another man.

But I can’t make myself leave. I just stare, willing her to look my way.

Suddenly, she stiffens. I see the moment she becomes aware of my presence. She tilts her head toward her right shoulder. The cock of her ear and the jut of her chin follow. She pauses for a sliver of a second, as if she’s not sure she truly wants to know if I’m just beyond her line of sight, making her senses flare.

“Britta,” I call out to her.

At the sound of my voice, she whips her head around, as if she’s heard a ghost and is eager to dispel the notion I could be standing ten feet behind her.

Our eyes meet. My breath stops. God, she’s still so fucking beautiful to me.

In that moment I know one thing: no matter what’s happened or how long it’s been, I want her back. Whatever Britta thinks, she’s still mine.

5 Stars! “I adore Shayla Black! She masterfully delivers story after story full of passion, love, heartbreak, and redemption.”
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5 Stars! “I love this book!!! It has all the elements that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster.”
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A True Gem! “More Than Need You took me on an extremely emotional, realistic, passionate journey towards an HEA for two people, who each went through emotionally scaring events yet finally were able to come together in a beautiful HEA, one that will remain one of my all-time favorites!”
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5 Stars! “It’s a dream-inducing story that will undeniably touch your heart and have you cheering for that second chance.”
-Marie’s Tempting Reads

“This story was such a great read that twisted me up emotionally that it may be days to recover… Shayla has a way of making her characters so real and their stories so gripping that you can’t help but fall for them and root for them to get their HEA.”
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“So real and so raw! Be prepared to fall in love, have your heart broken, and then carefully mended back together by a master.”
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“More Than Need You is more than just a book; it’s a story of love and taking advantage of the second chance you are lucky enough to get.”
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5 Stars! “Emotions felt by Griff and Britta are so vividly and beautifully delivered, the reader can’t help but to experience the rawness, determination and passion.”
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“…a captivating look at family, love, and the fallout of secrets and lies.”
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5 Stars! “Shayla Black’s books are MUST Reads!!!”
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5 Stars! “I did love every moment I spent with Griff and Britta.”
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5 Stars! “This story shows what chemistry is like for soul mates. I completely loved this book!”
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5 Stars! “This book has everything. The love in this book is endless.”
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Hooked! “A lot of pain and love flow through the pages. “
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“I loved watching these two try to mend their broken relationship, to get their facts straight and even find out if there’s still something between them.”
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“Lots of drama and intense moments in this book but the end was absolutely beautiful.”
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Awesome! “The emotions that are shown in the book are deep and will make your soul hurt yet also sing.”
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5 Stars! Must Read! “This book was definitely comparable to a bumpy roller coaster ride. There was so much hurt and despair that you heart physically hurts.”
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5 Stars! “Absolutely brilliant and a total must read!!!”
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5 Stars! “The author’s writing is flawless and engaging and this book is definitely one to read.”
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5 Stars! Must read! “Amazingly well written!”
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