Kele Moon ~ "Defying the Odds"

“Do you really believe in soul mates?”

“I do now.”

If choking and gagging over a piece of pie could help you find true love, would you do it?



Melody Dylan is a waitress. She ended up working in a diner in Garnet, after she'd run away from her abusive ex-husband, who's still after her. Although broken from the past, she's still sweet and caring soul, so when she sees a guy eating alone on Thanksgiving, she decides to buy him a piece of pie. Pumpkin pie.
The guy turns out to be Clay "Powerhouse" Powers - UFC heavyweight champion. Yes, UFC as in Ultimate Fighting Championship. And, Clay hates pumpkin pie. Not that he'd admit it, so he decides to choke and gag, but eat it no matter what.

“I wanted to say thank you,” he said, trying very hard to put emotion in his usually gruff voice. “No one’s ever done this for me.”
“Bought you a piece of pie?”
“No.” He felt his cheeks heat, and he looked to the pie in an effort to hide. “Nobody’s just nice to me, for free, without, you know, expecting something for it.”

Clay is rough, tough, intimidating and seriously lacking in social skills. He loves the sport, but hates groupies and all the media circus that surrounds him. It's easier to ignore it all. He's a loner. Except for Wyatt - the Sheriff - and his sister Jules, who are his best friends and kind of adopted family, he pretty much doesn't have anyone else. Which was fine with him... until he met Melody.

What is it with those tough and rough guys going sweet, that makes you melt into a puddle? Clay is six-five, all muscle, and watching him semi-stalking Melody, coming to diner on her shifts, doing everything he can to be as close as possible... it's so sweet. He wants to woo her, but has no idea how to do it. He wants to make it special between them, but the only way is just to go with it, and hope they'll figure it all out when that time comes.
They are just so different, and both broken and vulnerable in their own ways. The couple that would least likely have any chance of getting together. And, still...

“How’d this happen?” Melody asked in a stunned whisper. She never expected to fall in love and certainly not this swiftly or with this much finality. “We just met.”
“I don’t believe that,” Clay argued as he turned her palm over in his and traced the lines of it with the pad of his finger. “I’m pretty sure we’ve known each other forever. Seeing you the first time was like coming home, and there ain’t been anything to happen since that’s disabused me of the notion.”

This is such a sweet story. It's a quick read, but it leaves you feeling all nice and fluffy. Two broken souls finding each other, doing everything they can to mend all the wounds from the past, and - let me tell you - all that hot, soul-baring sex is nothing to sneeze at, either.
Clay is a wonderful guy, but I loved Melody for not letting her past stop her from giving him/them a chance, and for trusting and loving so completely and openly. They are so great together. Perfect for each other.


Next story in this series is about Jules and her Romeo. Can't wait to read how different their third act will be.