The Ghost Groom (Texas Titan Romances) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Your Free Book Awaits

  Epilogue

  Bonus Chapter of The Persistent Groom

  Bonus Chapter of The Perfect Catch

  Foreword by RaeAnne Thayne

  Introduction by Christine Kersey

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Get Your Free Book

  Also by Jennifer Youngblood

  About Jennifer Youngblood

  The Ghost Groom

  Jennifer Youngblood

  Copyright © 2018 by Jennifer Youngblood

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Visit Jennifer’s blog at jenniferyoungblood.com

  This was such a fun book to write. I loved all the twists and turns. And, I enjoyed adding in the section about paramotoring.

  It’s interesting how things come about. I had no idea when I let my son borrow my car and he took it to a college campus where another student backed over the passenger side that it would lead me to paramotoring.

  Let me explain … My son was horrified about the accident, but it wasn’t his fault. The Honda was parked when it happened. The girl who ran over our car was kind enough to leave her name and number so we could contact her insurance company.

  We took the Honda to a highly recommended bodyshop guy named Russ Bateman. Russ and I struck up a conversation, through which I learned that he’s a certified paramotoring instructor. What is paramotoring, you may ask? In layman’s terms it’s paragliding with a motor.

  Russ and his son Dallin were kind enough to let me interview them at their home. Hearing Russ and Dallin talk about paramotoring made me want to try it. I haven’t yet due to the frigid weather this time of year. But I’m working up the courage to give it a go this spring.

  I love researching unusual topics for my books and felt privileged to get the inside track on this not-so-well-known sport. According to Russ, in France during the summer, there are on average forty-seven thousand registered pilots as opposed to roughly eight thousand in the US.

  Thanks, Russ and Dallin, for taking the time to educate me about paramotoring so I could share it with my readers! (And sound halfway intelligent about it.) LOL

  Contents

  Foreword by RaeAnne Thayne

  Introduction by Christine Kersey

  Your Free Book Awaits

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue

  Get Your Free Book

  Bonus Chapter of The Persistent Groom

  Bonus Chapter of The Perfect Catch

  Also by Jennifer Youngblood

  About Jennifer Youngblood

  Foreword by RaeAnne Thayne

  Dear readers

  If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of fast-paced, clean romances! There’s something immensely satisfying in cuddling up with a book that focuses on the emotional journey between the characters—all their trials, challenges, mistakes and ultimately triumphs!

  You’re sure to adore this collection featuring four tough and rugged NFL players looking for just the right women to claim victory over their hearts. Don’t miss these tender and touching stories!

  The Miracle Groom by Lucy McConnell: Cedar was only supposed to be a nanny for two months; but, Teo Parata will do everything in his power to convince Cedar that his love is real and that even a nanny can see a miracle.

  The Second Chance Groom by Taylor Hart: Anthony Kincaid never expected his first love to show up at sports camp, and he really never expected her to slap him when he accidentally kisses her, but sparks fly when she’s assigned to do an exclusive on him…maybe he wants more then a second chance in the game, maybe he wants a second chance in love.

  The Ghost Groom by Jennifer Youngblood: After a long, painful search that involved legions of duds, Ariana Sanchez finally meets Rennen Bradley, the perfect guy … until she learns that Rennen is the celebrated rookie who’s taking her brother’s position as starting running back for the Titans. Will Ariana choose her family or will her heart win out in the end?

  The Trustworthy Groom by Cami Checketts: Hailey Knight agrees to a fake marriage to cornerback, Brady Giles to protect them both from stalkers. When she falls in love with her husband, she knows it’s time to run, but Brady has never given up on an impossible battle.

  All best,

  RaeAnne Thayne

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

  Check out my latest book in Haven Point, SUGAR PINE TRAIL.

  Introduction by Christine Kersey

  I’ve been privileged to know Taylor Hart, Cami Checketts, Jennifer Youngblood, and Lucy McConnell for a few years. We even get together to have author lunch dates where we talk about how much fun we’re having writing our sweet romances. We get all excited as we talk about our characters and what’s happening to them. You would think these were real people we were talking about. Maybe because to us they are real people.

  To make it even more fun, the heroes in our stories are NFL football players--hot, athletic men who are driven to succeed despite their flaws. These stories wouldn’t be complete without our strong heroines who see past the flaws of these men to fall in love with them. I’ve enjoyed exploring these types of relationships in my own football romance series, the Fair Catch Sports Romance Series.

  Now, enjoy this exciting and romantic story about the players of the Texas Titans football team!

  Christine Kersey

  Author of the Fair Catch Sports Romance Series

  Your Free Book Awaits

  Get Beastly Charm: A Contemporary retelling of beauty & the beast for FREE. Get the book HERE.

  Getting this book will automatically sign you up for our newsletter where you’ll get information on discounts and other freebies.

  1

  Bass from the music thudded in Ariana’s chest like a second heartbeat as she threaded her way through the crowded club, searching for the man she was supposed to meet. They’d agreed on 7:30 and twenty minutes had passed since then, not a great start for a first date. She glanced back toward the bar where she’d been sitting. A guy with long, stringy hair was talking to a woman beside him. The guy was into the conversation, but the woman looked bored. A few seats over, an older man with his head down was downing shots like water. No sign of Justin.

  Ariana wasn’t crazy about the club scene, but she loved to dance. Supposedly her date, Justin, did too, which is why they’d planned to meet here. Plus, she had a fun surprise planned for Justin, something that would be right up his alley. If only he’d get here, they might just have a decent date. Although Ariana was on a streak of rotten luck where men were concerned. It all started when sh
e and Paul broke up, and went downhill from there.

  At first, she’d hoped maybe Paul was “the one," but after a few months of dating their relationship stagnated. Their breakup was a mutual thing, but a part of her missed Paul. Well, maybe not him, necessarily. But she missed having someone in her life. An insurance attorney, Paul was a nice guy, but married to his work … and kind of dull. She felt guilty even thinking that, but it was true. After the breakup, Ariana went on a handful of dates each month, but hadn’t met anyone she gelled with. Most of the dates had been so awkward, Ariana was starting to wonder if she’d ever find anyone.

  She’d been cautiously optimistic about the Heart to Heart App everyone at her gym raved about. A local company developed it as a way for singles in Dallas and Ft. Worth to connect. The app premise focused on the inner qualities of the person rather than the outward appearance, hence no photos. Couples were matched through an algorithm combined with a professional staff assessing the individuals’ compatibility. While that sounded good in theory, Ariana also knew physical attraction played a large part in a relationship. So, after she and Justin “matched” and began texting back and forth, they shared photos.

  Ariana was pleasantly surprised to find Justin a handsome man, not movie-star handsome, but good looking enough. She’d never been into the pretty-boy types and wanted to find someone down-to-earth who enjoyed similar activities. From what she could tell, Justin fit the bill. He enjoyed dancing, rock climbing, kickboxing, but also, photography and museums. In fact, Justin’s interests were so similar to hers that she wondered if he might be too good to be true. Well, there was his profession, which she wasn’t too keen on. But she was willing to overlook that due to his other qualities. Supposedly, he was a karaoke ninja. She’d find out about that one shortly, if the dude ever got here. Punctuality certainly wasn’t one of his strengths.

  Irritation prickled through her. Strike One. She reached in her purse to grab her phone. She’d sent him a text earlier, but he hadn’t responded. Maybe now … Yep. There was a text.

  Running late. Got held up at the office. Be there by 8:15.

  Really? 8:15? That meant she still had about thirty minutes to kill. Great. Now what?

  Twenty-five minutes later, Ariana was sitting at a table, slurping the remains of a Dr. Pepper through a straw when she saw the guy dancing. About six feet tall with a fit, muscular build, he had curly, dark-blonde hair with sun-bleached ends. A jolt shot through Ariana with enough juice to jumpstart a semi-truck as she watched him tear up the dance floor, his curls bouncing with every movement. Had he not been dancing with another girl, she might’ve obeyed the impulse to spring out of her chair and join him.

  It wasn’t that the guy had the best moves on the floor, but he was so fluid and charismatic, like he was living totally in the moment. Her gaze took in his even features. He was good-looking with a strong chin, maybe a little too good-looking for her taste. Unlike most pretty boys, so preoccupied with how they appeared to others they could hardly make a move, this guy seemed oblivious to what people thought of him. He was simply living in the moment, pouring a week’s worth of passion into that one dance. The girl he was with was losing steam, but not him. He looked like he could dance at that pace all night. Ariana jerked, tightening her hold on her drink, when his eyes locked with hers. She was shocked at the energy that buzzed through her. Her throat went dry as she swallowed.

  He smiled.

  She smiled back, going warm all over.

  His dance partner followed his trail of vision, and then frowned, glaring at Ariana.

  Ariana glanced down, breaking the connection. Everything in her wanted to keep staring at him, but that would be in poor taste. He was with another girl. She stirred her straw through the melted ice cubes. For all she knew the guy could be engaged to the other girl … or married. And she was making moon eyes at him. She tugged at her dress. Where in the heck was Justin? She allowed herself one more look at the guy. Thankfully, he had his back facing her. Sheesh. He had broad shoulders that tapered in to his waist. She knew plenty of guys who’d kill for a body like that. She tore her eyes away from him, not wanting his date to catch her watching him.

  Someone touched her shoulder. “Hello.”

  She looked up. “Hey, Justin,” she said as she got to her feet and gave him a quick hug. He pulled out a chair and sat down across from her.

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” he began. “The summer training camp ran longer than I expected. And traffic was a beast.”

  Justin was a high school football coach. She’d had terrible luck dating football players.

  She’d almost cancelled their date when she realized what Justin did professionally, but they seemed so well suited in other areas that she thought it might be okay. She forced a smile. “It’s fine.” She held up her glass, chuckling. “I had the Dr. to keep me company.”

  He tilted his head in confusion. “I’m sorry.”

  “Dr. Pepper,” she explained.

  “Oh.” He gave her a courtesy smile.

  She lifted the glass to her lips and swallowed down her disappointment with the remaining liquid. Justin was a good thirty pounds heavier than he’d appeared in his pictures with graying temples—which in and of itself was okay. But it was concerning that he’d portrayed himself so differently. She glanced toward the dance floor. The guy was no longer there. She sighed resolutely. It was probably a good thing. Otherwise, she would’ve had a hard time focusing on Justin. A part of her wondered if she should use Justin’s tardiness as an excuse to end the date and go home. Then again, she was here, so she might as well make the best of the evening. Better to be here than sitting at home, watching TV.

  Justin was eyeing her with open admiration that bordered on leering.

  She cocked an eyebrow, a smile straining over her lips as she touched her hair. “What?”

  “You’re flipping gorgeous.”

  “Thanks.” The brazen way he was staring at her was making her uncomfortable.

  He placed a hand over hers as he leaned forward, innuendo in his voice. “I’m so glad we matched.”

  She removed her hand. Down, boy. “Should I order you something to drink?”

  “That would be great.”

  Before she could make a move, he lifted his hand, signaling to the server. “Hey, over here,” he boomed, snapping his fingers, like he was summoning a servant.

  Ariana bristled in surprise.

  The server, a young girl in her early twenties, stepped up to the table.

  Justin flashed a broad smile. “Two beers.”

  “Oh, I don’t drink alcohol,” Ariana said.

  “Those were both for me.” Justin winked at the server, his eyes lingering on her slim hips. “Thanks, sugar. Hurry back.” He drummed his fingers on the table to the beat of the music.

  Okay, this guy was starting to get on her nerves. Talk about an overgrown frat boy. Ariana sat back in her seat and folded her arms over her chest, eyeing him. “I’d love to see your photographs. Do you use a Sony or Canon?”

  His eyes widened. “A cannon for what?”

  “What kind of camera do you shoot with?” Justin didn’t have a clue about photography. She wondered what else he’d lied about. “On your profile, you mentioned that you take pictures.”

  “Oh, yeah. That.” He offered a sheepish grin. “I mostly take pictures with my iPhone.”

  She eyed him. “And you’re into kickboxing and rock climbing? At least, according to your profile.”

  “Sure, I do both of those things.” He leaned in. “I’ll kickbox with you any day, baby.”

  A brittle laugh rumbled in her throat. “First of all, I’m not your baby.”

  He held up a hand. “Settle down. I meant no offense. It was a compliment.”

  She just looked at him, her eyebrow raised.

  “So you own a gym? That’s really cool.”

  She relaxed a fraction. “Yeah, it is cool.”

  His eyes moved over her. “No wonder
you look so great. I mean, normally I like girls with longer hair. But that pixie thing you have going is kind of sexy.”

  Was this guy for real? She was tempted to say that she normally liked guys who had an IQ greater than a hundred, but didn’t want to be rude. She touched her hair, which was longer on top and tapered around her ears. She practically lived in workout clothes, and it was easier to keep her hair short so that it was out of the way. Plus, short hair fit her personality.

  The server returned with the beers. Justin downed the first one in two minutes flat.

  “I’m surprised to see you drinking. When we texted, you said you didn’t drink because it interfered with your fitness regimen.” Even as she spoke the words, it went through her mind that the only fitness regimen Justin had been doing was probably flipping TV channels and shoveling potato chips into his mouth.

  Justin was lifting the second mug to his lips and froze, putting it back down on the table. He grunted. “You must be mistaken. I never said that.”

  “Yes, you did.” Strike two. “You know, Justin. I don’t think this is a good idea. Maybe we should just call it a night.” She moved to stand, but he caught her arm.

  “Let’s just dance a little, okay? I mean, we’re here. Right?”

  “Let go of my arm.”

  He held up his hand. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I really wish you’d stay though.” He smiled. “Dancing is something I do know how to do.” He made a dancing motion with his hands. “When you see these moves, you’ll be swimming in adoration.”