Stronger Than Me — Shara Azod

Kennedy is just plain tired. Her long time, live-in boyfriend is lazy, trifling and a cheat. She keeps telling herself that one day she is going to leave, that one day her future will start. But as the years fly by that one day never comes. There is never enough money, never an opportunity. Trudging along her depressing existence, she runs headfirst into her one day in the form of one seriously fine former Marine and hometown hero.

Emory couldn't explain it. There was something about Kennedy that touched down to his core. It wasn't just her beauty, but the woman haunting his every thought. It killed him to see her working her fingers to the bone for a man that didn't deserve her. All he wanted to do was gather her in his arms and make it all better. But how could he if she refused to lean on him, even just a little?