After Brenda broke up with her cheating boyfriend a week ago, she's having a hard time throwing out the endless boxes of his stuff. At least, until John Cole of the Cole Boys MC arrives back at his apartment and offers her a helping hand. Strong as an ox and with tattoos entwining his arms and neck, John is the exact person that Brenda is looking for right now. After a few hours of work that leaves his shirt clinging to his sweaty chiseled body, his offer of help is rousing more than just appreciation within Brenda. Brenda knows she shouldn't jump into a rebound relationship so quickly, but she's been feeling lonelier than ever. Plus, with all of her ex-boyfriend's stuff finally out of the apartment, there's a lot of space that Brenda is looking to fill... EXCERPT John Cole and I stand back and watch. It’s not the massive explosion I might’ve been hoping for, but it is satisfying to watch the way the flames lap at the speaker wire, Brad’s clothes, the beer signs, and the fishing lures. The edges of the cardboard boxes blacken and curl. And wouldn’t you know—it is cathartic. The flame will reduce this massive pile of shit to little more than a singed shell that the wind will blow away as ash. Gone. Just like Brad is gone from my life—off screwing Kelly or Donna or whatever her name is. It will be like none of this ever existed, like none of this ever happened. I feel some of the pain begin to recede, and hopefulness flows in to replace it. I glance to my left and see the fire reflecting in John Cole’s eyes—a calm look on his face. There’s not a hint of wind, and the flames shoot straight up. “Thanks for helping me out today,” I say. “Happy to lend a hand,” he replies. I turn so that I’m facing him and wait for him to look at me. It takes a second or two, but when he does, it’s in such a way that I know he would like to be with me as much as I would with him.