Until We’re More by Cindi Madsen is the second book in the Fighting For Her series! Check out an exclusive excerpt from the romance here.

What can six months apart change? A lot.

While Chelsea has been away focusing on building her career in another city, Liam has been focusing on helping to save his family’s MMA gym. But when she surprises him with a work trip that has her back home for a few weeks, Liam will learn just how much harder it has become to keep his feelings under control.

For as long as Chelsea and Liam can remember they’ve been telling everyone that they’re just friends. And then it became a kind of mantra to keep their relationship firmly a friendship. Yet, with each day that passes it’s getting more difficult for the best friends to pretend they don’t long for more.

Liam’s biggest fight yet might be for Chelsea’s heart.

Related:Until We’re More by Cindi Madsen book review: An exemplary alpha male that softens for his heroine

‘Until We’re More’ by Cindi Madsen exclusive excerpt:

The clock ticking down Liam’s and my time together hung heavier over our heads, each falling second louder and louder. Two weeks had gone by in a blink, and I started thinking about regrets. What would leave me with more? Making things weird by hinting I wouldn’t be opposed to a with-benefits-type arrangement?

Or not taking the last chance we might have to see if we could be something before life pulled us even farther in different directions?

My stomach swirled with nerves and desire and…well, some of that might be alcohol. Thanks to my last especially strong cocktail, I was pleasantly buzzed. Through the haze, my body was making its vote well known, though, and it was in favor of having Liam’s large hands traveling across more of my skin.

Heat licked higher up my thigh, and the thought of asking Liam for what I wanted later tonight had me ordering an extra glass of liquid courage. I can do it. It’ll be better than always wondering what if…

My next drink arrived right in time to silently toast to that sentiment.

One by one, the rest of the group made their excuses and pushed away from the table.

Oh, jeez. Time’s almost up. Since I’d already polished off my last drink, I reached for the glass of scotch that Liam had barely touched and tipped it back, coughing when it was way stronger than I thought it’d be. “So that’s how scotch tastes. I don’t like it.”

“Probably why your boss ordered it for me, not you. But since I knew I’d be driving, I only took a polite sip.”

“I just…” I peered into his blue eyes. Then, as if someone else was in control of my arm, I reached up and dragged my fingers across the side of his face and along his jaw. His stubble tickled my skin and sent a zip through my arm and down my core. “Dude, this face. Do you ever, like, think about your face?”

Equal parts amusement and confusion flickered through his features. “Not sure what you mean. It’s my face. I see it every day.”

“I see it most every day, too, and it still affects me.”

Did that just come out? Like, out loud? And why couldn’t I read his reaction? He stayed perfectly still, and I gave in to temptation and ran a hand down his chest.

“Chelsea.” His voice was ragged, deeper than usual—I was sure of it.

“Liam.” I continued lower, lower… As soon as I reached his abs, he caught my wrist. “Ooh, quick reflexes,” I said with a giggle. Why was I giggling? This wasn’t a giggle situation.

“You’re drunk.”

“Duh, that’s why I called you, remember?”

“And that’s why I’m going to take you home.” He stood and tugged me up with him, catching me when I stumbled.

Wow. I was more impaired than I realized while seated, and now the room was spinning. “Dammit, I didn’t mean to get this drunk. How’d it sneak up on me?”

“My guess? The scotch.”

“Dammit.”

“You said that already,” he said with a chuckle. “And it looks like I will be carrying you out of here. Don’t worry, it’s not flattery. Just necessity.”

“No, I—” The next instant he was carrying me, and I’d be embarrassed if I wasn’t so turned on by the way he scooped me into his arms and pulled me to his firm chest. But when I’d tried to make a move, he’d stopped me, which meant…ugh, I was probably going to regret everything in the morning.

Cool night air hit me, and Liam boosted me higher in his arms, making the world around us spin again. “Where’s your car?”

“In the parking lot.”

His low laugh vibrated through me, awaking every cell in my body. “Never mind, I see it.”

The next thing I knew, I was in my passenger seat, and Liam was getting behind the wheel.

“My car emphasizes how big you are. You look like one of those Space Jam aliens, all crammed into such a small seat.” Another round of giggles burst out of me.

“Not really sure what to say to that. Guess I’ll add that to things to ponder about myself, right after my face.”

“Right?” A vague self-preservation instinct instructed me to zip my lips and not say anything more, but thoughts were so hard to keep hold of. The drive home only took a few minutes—or maybe my eyelids had drifted shut. Hadn’t I decided to flirt with Liam so I wouldn’t have regrets?

Or did I decide I’d regret it?

Until We’re More by Cindi Madsen will be released on August 27! Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or Kobo. And don’t forget to add it to your Goodreads!