The Harder You Fall. Gena Showalter

      

      From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes another scorching Original Heartbreakers tale featuring an aloof bad boy and the rowdy Southern belle who rocks his world…

      Millionaire video-game creator Lincoln West has a dark and tragic past. The sought-after bachelor lives by a rigid schedule and a single rule—one relationship per year, lasting no more than two months—until a brash beauty dredges up long-buried emotions.

      A reformed party girl, Jessie Kay Dillon is determined to walk the straight and narrow. But her love-hate sizzle with West is just too irresistible. They can’t be near each other without tearing off their clothes, but the last thing she needs is to be his next two-month dump. Will she become the one exception? Because as any former girl-gone-wild knows: rules are made to be broken.

       Praise for New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

      “Showalter…rocks me every time!”

      —Sylvia Day, #1 New York Times bestselling author

      “Showalter writes fun, sexy characters you fall in love with!”

      —Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author

      “Sassy, smart characters and an expertly woven, unconventional plot, The Closer You Come showcases Gena Showalter in all her shining talent.”

      —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author

      “Showalter makes romance sizzle on every page!”

      —Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author

      “Emotional, heart-tugging, kept me turning the pages!”

      —Carly Phillips, New York Times bestselling author

      “With compelling stories and memorable characters, Gena Showalter never fails to dazzle.”

      —Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author

      “The Showalter name on a book means guaranteed entertainment.”

      —RT Book Reviews

      “The versatile Showalter…once again shows that she can blend humor and poignancy while keeping readers entertained from start to finish.”

      —Booklist on Catch a Mate

      “Gena Showalter is a romantic genius.”

      —San Francisco Book Review

      The Harder You Fall

      Gena Showalter

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      To Allison Carroll for your invaluable feedback. And for taking me on despite my warnings about “the process.”

      To Craig Swinwood, Margaret Marbury, Loriana Sacilotto, Dianne Moggy, Susan Swinwood, Michelle Renaud, Stacy Widdrington and Fritz Servatius—and so many others at Harlequin—for all you do on my behalf.

      And to Lisa Wray for going above and beyond as we prepare for the launch of each new book.

      And to one of the most awesome ladies I know, Liz Berry. I owe you a bear hug!

      You guys rock so hard!

      To Kresley Cole and Beth Kendrick, the Chef Boyardee gang!

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

      Praise for New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

       Title Page

       Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

       CHAPTER TWELVE

       CHAPTER THIRTEEN

       CHAPTER FOURTEEN

       CHAPTER FIFTEEN

       CHAPTER SIXTEEN

       CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

       CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

       CHAPTER NINETEEN

       CHAPTER TWENTY

       CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

       CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

       CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

       CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

       CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

       CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

       CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

       CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

       Recipe

       Extract

       Copyright

       CHAPTER ONE

      Sister dearest,

      My darling Brook Lynn,

      Yo!

      So, check it. I’ve totally invaded your old bedroom to watch snow fall in the backyard. (Insert a couple minutes—or an hour!—of whining because your window alcove is better than mine.) BUT. Despite such a heinous injustice, I’m smiling so wide my jaw hurts. I remember the first time we built a snowman. I still think he looked like a puffer fish. Anyway. You cried “He’s dying” when the sun came out,