Hero Complex

Hero Complex
 
 Bluestone Series: Book Three
 Isobel Reed
 Table of Contents
 Title Page
 Hero Complex (Bluestone Series, #3)
 DEDICATION
 CHAPTER ONE
 CHAPTER TWO
 CHAPTER THREE
 CHAPTER FOUR
 CHAPTER FIVE
 CHAPTER SIX
 CHAPTER SEVEN
 CHAPTER EIGHT
 CHAPTER NINE
 CHAPTER TEN
 CHAPTER ELEVEN
 CHAPTER TWELVE
 CHAPTER THIRTEEN
 CHAPTER FOURTEEN
 CHAPTER FIFTEEN
 CHAPTER SIXTEEN
 EPILOGUE
 SEE WHERE THE BLUESTONE SERIES BEGAN: | Love Tools
 Expiry Dating
 DON’T MISS THE FOURTH BOOK IN THE BLUESTONE SERIES: | Love Shots | Chapter One
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.
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 If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this “stripped book.”
 Hero Complex: Bluestone Series: Book Three
 Copyright © 2023 Isobel Reed
 All rights reserved.
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 ISBN: (print) 978-1-958136-49-2
 (ebook) 978-1-958136-48-5
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 Inkspell Publishing
 207 Moonglow Circle #101
 Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
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 Cover art by: Fantasia Frog Designs
 Edited by: Yezanira Venecia
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 This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
 DEDICATION
 
 
 For my friends- the inspiration and embodiment of the strong and funny women that I love to write. 
 CHAPTER ONE
 
 
 The sun wasn’t even up yet, and Ivy was already having an existential crisis. Even the warm, orange glow from the table lamp did nothing to flatter the reflection staring back at her. One thing was for sure though, no matter how long she looked, nothing was going to change anytime soon. 
 Internally she berated herself. She didn’t have time for this. She had chores to do. Horses to feed. And a sexy-as-hell man to try not to humiliate herself in front of. 
 “Fucking YouTube.” She huffed under her breath before dragging herself away from the tilt of her floor-length mirror. 
 Damn you, Pricilla28! I’m not feeling sexy OR confident. What a load of crap. 
 There was no time for Ivy to wallow in the YouTube star’s betrayal. Or dwell on her poor judgment at trying out a new hair tutorial at stupid o’clock in the morning. Right now, she had things to do. And that meant leaving the confines of her bedroom with her new hairstyle, which was much more male Viking warrior than the sexy, feminine goddess look she was going for. 
 Damnit all to hell.
 Letting out a heavy sigh, Ivy dragged herself and her manly braid downstairs in search of caffeine. Caffeine wouldn’t disappoint her at least. Caffeine was consistent. Reliable. Not at all filled with lies. 
 With coffee brewed, she was just one sip away from bliss when a loud knock had her cursing again. Back was that funny feeling in her stomach. She knew exactly who was at the door. It had been the same person for the past five days now: Ace. Sweet, kind, thoughtful Ace. Quite possibly the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. 
 Stop swooning and get it together. 
 After attempting to plaster on her most neutral, non-swoony facial expression, she made her way through the living room and down the familiar dark-green hallway. A frown momentarily cracking her mask as she took in her surroundings. All this time she’d been worrying about the state of herself instead of the state of her house. What must he think? 
 Oh, I don’t know, maybe that the house is in just as bad shape as everything else in your life? 
 Ignoring the shockingly loud creak, she flung the front door open and was treated to the best view in town. Her eyes first darted to that perfectly chiseled chest. Thank the Lord for her laundry skills because if she didn’t know any better, she was the reason his shirt was currently straining to contain his pecks, and she just couldn’t bring herself to be sad about it. Or guilty. She’d done womankind a service, if anything. 
 When her gaze finally drifted up to the dark stubble dotting his square jaw, it was his intense blue eyes that captured her. She was drowning in them. So much so, it wasn’t until Ace cleared his throat that she snapped out of the spell he had her under. 
 “Mornin’, darlin’.” There was that deep, smooth Southern drawl that never failed to set butterflies swarming in her stomach. “Can I come in?” 
 That’s about the time she realized she still hadn’t said anything.
 “Of course. Sorry, sorry. I’m still half asleep. Come in, come in. I’ve got coffee—well, I just made some. Just this minute. So, you’re right on time.” Her enthusiasm was verging on manic, but she’d just been caught gawking and desperately needed to distract him from the heat she knew was now darkening her cheeks. 
 The word vomit continued as she led him past the duct tape-covered couch. “Did you sleep well? I mean, is the cabin okay? It’s getting colder now; I’m not sure how warm it’s going to be out there this winter. Maybe I could get you some extra blankets. Do you need extra blankets? I’m sure I have some upstairs. Maybe I should go—”
 Before she could finish, strong arms spun her around and gripped her biceps. Ace was in her space. His head was dipped, and his mouth was just a breath away from her. How was she supposed to form coherent sentences now? And that smell. Sweet baby Jesus. He smelt