Short and sweet novella about Marcus, who we first met in Getting Rowdy. Rowdy rescued him from his druggie father, and Reese and Alice Bareden later adopted him. Now he's all grown up and following in Reese's footsteps - not just as a cop, but also in falling hard for his neighbor, Lucy.

I loved seeing Marcus and Lucy together. Over the past six months, they've become good friends, bonding over their love of MMA fighting. She often joined Marcus and his friends to watch the matches on television, and I loved seeing the closeness and teasing among the group. Lucy mothers them a little by providing homemade snacks for their viewing parties.

Marcus wants to move out of the friend zone with Lucy, but he senses an occasional wariness in her that holds him back. It's the same kind of wariness he remembers from childhood, and he doesn't want to make her uncomfortable.

Lucy had a terrible childhood, which affected the way she saw herself. She wears baggy clothes and does everything possible to downplay her looks. She's attracted to Marcus but doesn't believe he would be interested in her. She also doesn't want to do anything that could wreck their friendship.

I loved Marcus's patience and understanding while waiting for his chance with Lucy. Lucy is shocked and disbelieving when he finally lets her know how he feels. She can't believe he hasn't pulled away even after he encourages her to tell him everything. It was sweet to see how Marcus worked so hard to show her he believed in her. I loved Lucy's joy when she realized that her feelings truly were reciprocated and how it unlocked the passionate woman she's kept hidden.

The other guys' reactions to the changes in Marcus and Lucy's relationship were hilarious. The shock, surprise, and overt happiness made me laugh out loud. The three of them immediately took on "big brother" status, and their rapport returned to normal.

There was a brief hint of suspense when someone from Lucy's past left an unusual gift for her. She was a little freaked out by it, and I loved seeing Marcus's protective streak kick in. I liked how Lucy dared to face that past with Marcus by her side for support. The resolution was not what I expected, but I loved what happened.

I hope the other guys get stories, too. ( )

Loved everything about this book. I enjoyed it so much I read it twice. Quick and fun read, highly recommend. My more detailed review here:
https://cautiouslyoptimistic474006888.com/2023/01/02/marcus/ ( )