MasukAfter Hours A Small-Town Forbidden Romance Alli never meant to fall for him. Eighteen, freshly graduated, and slinging drinks at the town’s no-frills dive bar, she was just looking for a paycheck and a way out of her quiet life. But then Johnny started showing up—twenty-five, devastatingly handsome, and haunted by more than just his late-night whiskey. Everyone knows Johnny. The town's favorite bad decision. A brooding mechanic with blue eyes that burn and a reputation tangled up with Layla, the town’s resident scandal—and someone else's wife. But when Alli catches Johnny’s gaze from across the bar, something ignites. Something forbidden. Something explosive. What starts as subtle glances and lingering stares turns into late-night texts, a kiss that ruins them both, and a fire that neither of them can put out. Just when Alli begins to believe there might be more between them, Layla drops a bomb: she’s pregnant. Now, Alli must face the truth—was she just a distraction? Or is Johnny just as trapped in his past as she fears? In a town where everyone talks and secrets are currency, love after hours might be the most dangerous thing of all.
Lihat lebih banyakThe morning light stretched lazily across the farmhouse kitchen, golden and warm as it spilled in through the windows. The smell of cinnamon rolls and fresh coffee floated through the air—evidence that Johnny had been up for hours. Again.Alli padded in barefoot, wearing one of Johnny’s old t-shirts and yoga pants, her hair twisted into a loose bun. She paused in the doorway, smiling softly as she took in the scene before her.Elena sat at the kitchen table, her soft blonde curls bouncing as she concentrated fiercely on her pink crayon. Elias, equally blonde and equally stubborn, was standing on his chair with a spoon in his hand, pretending his oatmeal was a monster that needed defeating. And John—now eight, long-limbed and all boy—was helping Johnny crack eggs at the stove like a seasoned sous chef.“Good morning, chaos crew,” Alli said with a tired laugh.“Mommy!” the twins shouted in unison.Elias tried to leap from the chair but got caught in the apron tied around his waist. John
The farmhouse was never quiet anymore.Crying. Feeding. Diaper changes. Repeat.And still—it had never felt more like home.Alli sat curled up on the big couch in the living room, one twin on each side, a double breastfeeding pillow wrapped around her like armor. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but her heart? Her heart was full to the brim.Johnny shuffled in with a tray—water, snacks, her prenatal vitamins, and a fresh burp cloth tossed over his shoulder like a battle-worn soldier.“You are officially my hero,” Alli mumbled, shifting Elena to burp her.“I’d say the same about you,” Johnny said, sitting beside her, gently stroking Elias’s downy blonde hair. “But I think you’ve crossed into goddess territory.”She smiled, eyes glassy. “You’re just saying that because I haven’t brushed my hair in four days.”“No, I’m saying it because you’re keeping two humans alive with your body and still manage to look like the woman of my dreams.”She blinked at him. “Hormones, Johnny. You can’
The hospital was calm. Too calm.At least that’s how it felt to Johnny.Everything was white and quiet, with that faint antiseptic tang in the air that made his skin crawl. But beneath the stillness, his heart thundered like a war drum.Today was the day.He held Alli’s hand as the nurse wheeled her into pre-op. She was in a blue gown, her hair braided and tucked to one side, and she was trying—so damn hard—to be brave.“You okay?” he whispered, crouching beside her.She smiled weakly. “I think I left my bravery in the parking lot.”Johnny pressed his forehead to hers. “Good thing I brought enough for both of us.”The prep was a blur—IVs, monitors, a gentle-voiced anesthesiologist explaining what to expect. Alli lay on the operating table, her swollen belly exposed and draped, her hand trembling slightly in Johnny’s.He was in scrubs now, a cap on his curls, booties on his boots. But his eyes—those eyes—never left her.“I’m right here, baby,” he murmured, his thumb stroking over her k
The farmhouse had never looked so bright.Balloons in soft lavender and pale blue floated along the porch rails. A giant hand-painted sign read Welcome Baby Warren Twins! with two cartoon rattles dangling from the corners. Folding tables were covered in pastel linens, stacked with cupcakes, sweet tea, and finger foods only Southerners would dare serve with pride—deviled eggs, mini ham sliders, macaroni salad, and enough potato chips to feed a small army.It was one week until Alli’s scheduled C-section.And today was all about celebrating.She sat under the canopy of the old oak tree in the backyard, tucked into a pillowy armchair Marc insisted on hauling from her living room.“You’re not sitting in some flimsy plastic thing,” he’d said with a scowl. “You’re the damn guest of honor.”Alli was radiant—even swollen and sore and cradling her belly like it weighed the whole world. Her sundress was cream with little sunflowers, her reddish hair braided into a crown, and her feet propped on


















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