Hanging Around: Book 2 of Restoring Madison, TX: A Steamy Contemporary Romance

Sarah Montgomery has been dealing with a nightmare for months—chronic roof leaks in the County Clerk’s office that are steadily destroying irreplaceable marriage records, court documents, and historical files. Just when the county finally agrees to fix the courthouse cupola, preservation architect Andrew Kim makes a discovery that changes everything: a thriving colony of 2,000 Mexican free-tailed bats has made their home directly above Sarah’s office.

Enter Jake Martinez, the new Texas Parks & Wildlife game warden who delivers the devastating news—no repairs can be made until late August when the baby bats learn to fly. For Sarah, this means three more months of watching precious county records suffer water damage while buckets and tarps become her daily routine.

Jake understands Sarah’s frustration, but he’s sworn to protect Texas wildlife, and disturbing a maternal bat roost isn’t just illegal—it could destroy an entire generation of bats that consume tons of agricultural pests each night. When the community pressures him to “look the other way,” Jake must choose between his growing feelings for the dedicated county clerk and his professional oath.

As Sarah and Jake work together to find temporary solutions—monitoring weather patterns, relocating sensitive documents, and protecting what they can—their professional conflict evolves into mutual respect. Sarah begins to understand the ecological importance of the bat colony, while Jake witnesses firsthand how state regulations can impact the people trying to serve their communities.

When a severe thunderstorm threatens to destroy decades of county records, Jake arrives in the middle of the night to help Sarah save what they can. Working together until dawn, they realize they’re both fighting to preserve different but equally important pieces of Texas heritage—wildlife habitat and historical records.

With the help of Texas A&M mammalogist Dr. Emily Chen, Jake develops creative solutions that protect both the bats and Sarah’s office. But as the August deadline approaches, external pressures mount. Sarah’s family questions her association with “the government man” causing courthouse delays, while Jake faces scrutiny from supervisors demanding strict compliance.

When the juvenile bats finally take their first flights, Jake coordinates a carefully timed repair operation that protects the colony while finally fixing Sarah’s leaks. The successful compromise proves that environmental protection and community needs can coexist—and that sometimes the best solutions come from understanding each other’s perspectives.

A heartwarming romance about finding common ground, “Hanging Around” shows that love can bloom even when duty seems to drive people apart. Set against the backdrop of small-town Texas politics and courthouse restoration, this is a story about protecting what matters most—whether it’s wildlife, historical records, or the person who makes you see the world differently.