Unexpectedly Yours: A Slow-Burn Lesbian Romance Full of Dogs, Humor, and Heart by Nina Lobe Selič

Author:Nina Lobe Selič [Selič, Nina Lobe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0FXXM7J6D
Goodreads: 243255798
Published: 2025-10-27T04:00:00+00:00

- 30 -

The wind carried the sharp tang of salt and diesel as Alex paced the weathered dock, Justice trotting dutifully beside her. The harbor was unusually quiet for a Saturday morning—just the creak of moored boats and the occasional cry of gulls. Perfect for avoiding certain strawberry-blonde neighbors and their yapping accomplices.

“Jesus, Hartley. You look like someone kicked your puppy.”

Alex didn’t need to turn to know Claire was smirking. Her sister materialized beside her in overalls, two steaming coffees in hand.

“I thought you were diving today for your research,” Alex deflected, accepting the cup.

“And I thought you had a strict no-sunrise policy,” Claire countered, eyeing Alex’s rumpled Harvard Law hoodie. “Yet here we are.”

Justice barked at a passing seagull.

“So.” Claire sipped her coffee. “How’s your favorite chaotic neighbor?”

Alex stiffened. “Riley’s fine.”

“Mmm.” Claire’s eyes gleamed. “And how’s her ex’s bullshit lawsuit going? What was his name—Liam the Leech?”

“Dropped. Last week.” Alex kept her tone flat, but her fingers tightened around the cup. “Turns out financial fraud doesn’t hold up well when your victim has—”

“—a ridiculously overqualified lawyer?” Claire grinned. “Shocking.”

Alex glared. “She paid me.”

She didn’t mention it was only one dollar.

“How very official.” Claire paused dramatically. “Speaking of neighbors—how was Cape Cod?”

The coffee cup slipped in Alex’s grip. “What?”

“Oh please.” Claire rolled her eyes. “I saw how Riley looks at you. She’s good for you, Alex. Really good. And if you’d stop being so stubborn for five seconds, you might actually let yourself be happy.”

Alex’s pulse roared in her ears. “We needed space to prep her case.”

“Right. Because Boston apartments are famously short on tables.” Claire’s smirk faded as she studied her sister’s face. “Look, I get it. You helped her, it got... complicated. But now you’re lurking around the harbor like a divorced sea captain—”

“I got promoted.” The words tore out of her. “New York. Head of Mergers.”

Claire blinked. “Holy shit. That’s—”

“What I’ve worked for. Yes.”

The silence stretched between them, filled only by the lap of waves against the dock.

Claire exhaled sharply. “Does she know?”

Alex watched a fishing boat navigate the channel markers. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“Bullshit.” Claire stepped into her sightline. “You’re terrified because for the first time in your life, you want something more than that stupid corner office.”

Justice let out a soft whine, pressing against Alex’s leg.

“It was one weekend, Claire.”

“And yet.” Claire gestured at Alex’s death grip on the coffee cup. “You’re acting like you left your spleen there.”

A gull landed nearby, eyeing Claire’s muffin.

“What do you want me to say?” Alex snapped, her carefully constructed walls crumbling. “That I’m scared to death I’ll ruin her life? She’s young, Claire. She’s going to be an incredible artist—she doesn’t need some workaholic lawyer dragging her down. And this promotion... it’s everything I’ve worked for. If I walk away now, I’ll regret it forever.”

Claire’s eyebrows vanished into her hairline. “Wow, you really believe that?”

“Not a word.” Alex pointed a finger at her.

“Oh, I need way more than one.” Claire took a victorious bite of muffin. “Starting with: When do you leave?”

“Three months.

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