~ Staking Her Claim… ~ Book One in the Patricks' Brothers series ~ Alysia and Rob's story ~ Growing up with seven brothers, Alysia Patricks’ had always been considered ‘one of the boys’, which was fine with her. Or at least it was until she met one, Robert Leighton. Robert was a gorgeous, yet emotionally scarred boy who stole her heart at the age of twelve before he’d even uttered a ‘hello’. Deciding to devote herself entirely to helping, Robert heal was easier said than done. Because behind the scenes every hurt she conquered, another three would take its place. Robert’s life was spiralling dangerously out of control, causing he and Alysia’s friendship to falter and eventually fall apart. But regardless of his devastation at the loss of his best friend, he knew two things to be true. One, Alysia was too good, too pure, and too important to let his demons darken her world. And two, he didn’t intend on sticking around longer than he absolutely had to when he aged out of the foster system. Both of these reasons only served to make it blindingly clear that it was better to let her go sooner rather than later. Especially seeing as his heart, and hers were already becoming too involved. Fifteen years later by a twist of fate, Alysia comes to Robert’s rescue, and for the first time in years Robert can finally breathe again. For over a decade, he had been merely existing, making it from one day to the next. Seeing Alysia brought everything he’d managed to convince himself was simply a nightmare back into focus with a clarity that threatened to overwhelm him. Basically; Alysia was a reminder of his past that he neither wanted or needed. Secrets are unveiled, tempers flare, and passions ignite when Alysia and Robert find themselves working together to solve a case that puts her best friend, Harper’s, life in jeopardy. But as horrific memories of his childhood surface, Robert’s attention is divided between unravelling a mystery and keeping his past hidden, leaving him with an impossible choice…Fight or flight. The line between what he wants and who he needs unclear, it’s left up to fate to decide whether, Robert should cut and run, or if he’s finally ready to accept Alysia’s challenge to stay and fight. Because one this is certain; Alysia has already staked her claim and Robert’s time is fast running out.