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Secrets... The secrets are still there, plaguing me, disrupting my everyday life, only now... the unthinkable has happened. Lies... Payton insists that it is time that I deal with the lies that seem to make up my entire existence, the ones that have produced the chaos in my head. I don’t know if she realizes it, but if it weren’t for her being by my side, I don’t know how I would survive. Greed... Everything is unfolding right before my eyes, the truth is being revealed and there are people who don’t want us to be together, but as I have vowed before, no one will keep her from me. Payton is my anchor in the waves that are crashing through my life and I will do anything to keep her safe. My name is Sebastian Trovato and this is the conclusion of my story. If you are wondering who I am, then I'm here to tell you. Timberlyn is the sweeter alter ego of New York Times bestselling author Nicole Edwards. I can hear the question now... Why? Why do you have another pen name? It actually came about when a storyline developed in my head. As I saw it coming together, I knew it was vastly different than what Nicole Edwards writes. So, it was then that I was created. Anyway... Thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad you did. HOSTED BY:
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Dalton Calhoun hadn’t always planned on a life up on the big stage, beneath the bright lights, but that was where he found himself. A second chance of sorts. An opportunity that had come along after his real dreams vanished when he was eighteen years old. Although country music was more than he could’ve expected, he’d never dismissed the notion that there was still something missing. When Dalton followed his buddy Cooper Krenshaw to Devil’s Bend, Texas, it didn’t take long before Dalton realized just what that was. But just because he has topped the country music charts, and made his fair share of women swoon, doesn’t mean that everything comes easy to him. And when he sets his sights on the black-haired, gray-eyed waitress at The Rusty Nail, Dalton realizes he might just have to work for what he wants. Katie Clarren’s life has been a series of unfortunate events, starting from the time her mother left on her eighteenth birthday. Not exactly how she had planned to spend one of the major turning points in her young life. Nor had she planned to spend the next five years dealing with the fallout. Somewhere along the way, Katie adapted, doing exactly what she needed to do in order to survive. But Katie has secrets that even her closest friends don’t know. Secrets she has worked hard to protect. Although she longs for handsome, charming, country music sensation, Dalton Calhoun, she knows that anything that starts between them can’t last. Too bad her heart doesn’t seem to be on the same page. Katie gives in to her love for Dalton, needing that human connection that has been missing for so long. But when it comes time to make the hard decisions, Katie forces herself to walk away from him. To protect her secrets, and him. The last thing she wants to do is hurt Dalton, no matter how much pain she has to endure in the process. She loves him. Can the two of them overcome the secrets and lies? Can they look to the future and stop living in the past? Or will they keep dwelling on the dreams that vanished, not seeing what is right in front of them? Each other. Katie Clarren was walking on a cloud, the big, puffy white kind that dotted a brilliant blue sky on a beautiful summer day. Or at least that’s what it felt like as she floated across the rustic, hardwood floors in what had become her favorite bar, taking drink orders and chatting it up with the customers. They were unusually busy tonight, but she knew who to thank for that. Unlike her mood, the weather outside was dreary, the sky a dull gray, and the dark, heavy clouds were threatening to open up at any time. But that hadn’t stopped anyone from coming out to The Rusty Nail, even on a Monday night. They were here to see him and she certainly couldn’t blame them. Up on stage, Dalton Calhoun was gearing up to play for the small gathering, laughing with a group crowded by the edge of the stage while he set up, his wondrous smile making him even that much more attractive. And that was saying something. The way he moved reflected his excitement and stirred the energy in the room, and yes, even Katie was infused with it. Yeah, the guy certainly loved to entertain a crowd which was a good thing considering he was so freaking good at it. Dalton was exactly as he appeared on television and in magazines, his picture probably hanging on the walls of teenage girl’s rooms everywhere. Having gotten to know him on another level, Katie had learned early on that there wasn’t anything fake about him. He was a country music phenom, one who had garnered the attention of women of every age. From his sexy dark hair usually hidden by his signature, black Stetson, to his drool-worthy ass, there was no question as to why everyone loved him. Including her. However, Katie’s love was a little deeper than theirs was. Or at least she liked to think so. Not only was she drawn to all six foot two inches of him, and his intense, dark brown eyes, Katie had managed to establish a friendship with the man known for his quick smile and charming drawl. Aside from a few make out sessions, it hadn’t gone much farther than that. Yet. And each night that she watched him up on that stage was a little different from the last time Katie had watched him play. He was more at ease with every performance, befriending the locals and becoming an integrated part of the town. However, she still recalled the first night she saw him walk into The Rusty Nail. Not to sound like a bad cliché, but that night had been the night that had changed her life. New York Times bestselling author Nicole Edwards launched her professional writing career in July of 2012. Having been an avid reader all of her life and a huge fan of creative writing, it seemed the likely path for her to take. Since then, she has released fifteen books and has no plans to stop. As her full-time career/hobby, Nicole writes steamy contemporary and erotic romances. Nicole is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who was born and raised in Texas. Married with three kids and four dogs, she has plenty of interaction to keep her imagination brewing. Her books have been featured in USA Today’s Happy Ever After segment as well as Indie Reader’s best seller list. She has forged her way as an independent author. Although she has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, she prefers to be hiding out in her writing cave, talking to the fictional characters that have built up in her head over the years. When she isn’t writing or plotting her next book (sometimes translated to “playing on Facebook”), Nicole loves to read and spend time with her family and her dogs. HOSTED BY: Landon Stone has it all. He’s the star quarterback for one of the powerhouse teams in a professional football league, has a beautiful supportive wife cheering him on, and plenty of money to support him for the rest of his life. In the blink of an eye, it all comes crashing down as every player’s worst fear unfolds right in front of his eyes. With nothing left, he finds himself going back to where it all started. Autumn McCray has lived in the same small town her whole life. Being tormented and bullied throughout high school, she has those constant reminders surrounding her every day. Having put most of those demons behind her, she’s forced to confront them once again and find her inner strength in order to move forward. With Landon and Autumn’s paths crossing, they both are faced with obstacles they never imagined they would have to overcome. Will they help each other with their struggles, or be left to tackle them on their own? In a quiet, husky tone, Landon says, “I don’t know what it is about you, but I can’t help myself. I want to devour every inch of your skin every second I’m with you, and I think about all the places I want to feel you when I’m not.” And if I didn’t need new panties before, I definitely do now. I’ve never had a guy turn me on like this with simple words. His eyes remain on the road, but each syllable has left a hot trail straight to my most intimate parts. Because my brain has completely fizzled out, I’m left speechless. “Did I scare you?” He glances over at me with a sexy grin on his face. “No, just processing. I’ve never had a guy talk to me that way before.” I look out my window, nervous to meet his eyes. “And how am I talking to you?” His tone is commanding, like he wants to hear exactly what he does to me. “Like you’re going to eat me alive and do things I couldn’t possibly recover from.” My voice comes out breathy as my own desires become quite obvious. “I wouldn’t mind eating something, but I promise you’ll survive it, sweetheart. Barely.” My eyes widen and my skin instantly heats up all over. He gives me a knowing look and responds with a wink. My mouth goes completely dry and I suddenly have a very vivid imagination that runs wild with all the things he could do to me. Rachael Duncan is an Army wife living in North Carolina with her husband and two kids. She grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a bachelor’s degree in political science. After working on Capitol Hill for a short time, she realized that a career in politics just wasn’t for her. A couple years later, she rediscovered her love for reading and writing. She’s co-author of the books The One Left Behind and Shattered Lives Mended Hearts by Lena Nicole. HOSTED BY: Itâs the most exciting time of the year in Branson Falls, Utahâthe annual county fair and parade. Branson Tribune editor, Kate Saxee, is busy covering stories involving animal auctions, the popular âpoop dropâ lottery, and a clown crash. Oh, and the Branson sugar factory just exploded. The sugar factory explosion seems strange, and when an unidentified body is found inside, Kate is even more suspicious. In the middle of that investigation, Kate starts noticing other odd things going on around town, like a hot air balloon robbery, and a manâs attempt to wrestle a deer. After Kate has an eventful night that she canât rememberâshe realizes something fishy is happening in Branson, and thereâs more to it than a little memory loss. Her investigation leads her down a rabbit hole of mysteriesâsecrets the mysterious P.I., Hawke, and politician, Drake, are more than willing to help her uncover. Along the way, a poorly negotiated wager forces Kate to spend time with Drake, and suddenly, her feelings about the men in her life are starting to conflict. As if those things arenât enough, the Ladies have started a Hate Kate Facebook Group, and Kateâs mom is on a baking vendetta thatâs bound to cause an epic Catasophie. Kateâs not sure what waits for her at the end of the rabbit hole, but chances are good itâs more bodies, and if Kateâs not careful, her body might be one of them. I was taking more notes when a deep, sexy voice whispered in my ear. âHey, Kitty Kate.â Every part of me was instantly aware of his presence. Even the hair on my arms paid attention. I was surprised I hadnât smelled his Swagger body wash before I heard him. I turned around and my breath hitched. I took him in from head to toe. His sandy brown hair was short and messy, like heâd styled it with just his hands, and his light green eyes were even more piercing in the sun. His faded jeans fit his ass perfectly, and hung looser around his thighs. His tight, teal t-shirt clung to his hard abs and biceps with a tattoo that peeked out from under his sleeves. I was determined to find out what it was a tattoo ofâand if he had any more. But, it hadnât happenedâyet. When I was nine, Mary Ann Boggs had written, âRosses are red, violets are blue, I turned out perfict what happened to youâ in my yearbook. Iâd returned the favor by writing, âAt least I can spell, you stupid butthole.â
"A fantastic contemporary mystery romance! The Devil Drinks Coffee is superbly written with a great cast of characters, comedy, a mystery with a twist, and a budding love triangle to round it out!" âInDâtale 4.5 Star Review Angela Corbett graduated from Westminster College and previously worked as a journalist, freelance writer, and director of communications and marketing. She lives in Utah with her extremely supportive husband, and loves classic cars, traveling, and chasing her five-pound Pomeranian, Pippinâwho is just as mischievous as his hobbit namesake. Sheâs the author of Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult fictionâwith lots of kissing. She writes under two names, Angela Corbett, and Destiny Ford. HOSTED BY: Abel Gunner is a rock-star with legendary skills both in and out of the bedroom. He swore he wouldn't fall for another woman after being schemed and manipulated by an ex-lover. He kept that vow until he met Gia Mastro. The Dom inside of him awoke the moment he set eyes upon the submissive beauty. His dark soul hungered for her submission and affection. The deep connection they share leaves him desperate for something he never expected – her love. Her pain brings him the pleasure he craves. Her smile calms the beast that rages within him. Gia loves Abel more than life itself, but Abel is disillusioned by love and wrecks Gia in the process. Her life hangs in the balance. His life depends on forgiving her. This couple must face many truths. Is love enough to overcome the damage that dwells within? Gia’s experiences with love have been nil until meeting the infamous bad-boy rocker, Abel Gunner. Swept up in a mind-bending, Dom/submissive love affair, she’s forced to make decisions that both help and hurt their relationship. They both have to face their demons before they can embrace a future together. In the end, they’re faced with two choices: Fight for their love, or die with their demons. Follow Brody Haight on Facebook I grew up reading Judy Blume, and Nancy Drew books. I was raised in the town of North Valley Stream, New York(Long Island), and attended community college for fashion design. At 19 years old I opened a boutique. Recently, I published my second novel Beautiful Lies(erotica). Saving Abel(Erotic-Rock-Romance) will be my third and will be published June 30th. When I'm not writing, you can find me with friends and family. I live in Massapequa, NY with my two beautiful boys PJ and Drew, and our Mastiff Hercules. Reading has always been a passion and obsession. You can usually find me typing furiously while shouting obscenities over my latest WIP. My guilty pleasures are: a good laugh, being snarky, espresso, Pistachio ice-cream, alternative music, sunflower seeds, I.P.A's, twizzlers, and above all steamy swooning angst filled novels. I'm pathologically obsessed with True Blood(Eric ;), Games of Thrones, White Queen, Vampire Diaries, Resurrection, and The Originals. If you'd like to chat. Hit me up on Facebook or twitter. HOSTED BY: Pandora Wild Child by Sunniva Dee Publication date: October 28th 2014 Genres: Contemporary, New Adult Synopsis: I’m free. Fucking free! I’m in college with my best friends and far, far from home! With my Scheuermann’s disease as the excuse, my father kept me locked up at home all through high school. Here in Deepsilver, I can finally be me, Pandora, so-- Why the hell should I hold back? They accept our fake IDs at Smother, our local haunt. I’m the life of the party, everyone loves me—hell, I could get away with murder in this place! Drunk off my ass, I dance on the bar, and-- I’m on top of the world! I need to get my shit together, though. If I don’t pull off good grades, my father won’t pay my tuition. There’s no way I’m moving back into his “fortress.” At the bar, I set my eyes on a gorgeous stranger. My plans don’t involve him long term; one night should be enough. But Dominic is more than I bargained for. God, I’m so drawn to this man. My skin hums at his touch because-- He expels the shadows of my past and replaces my pain with desire. Perfect Dominic. Beautiful, graduating, soon-to-move-on-with-his-life Dominic. I’m a wild child. A hot mess. Not grownup and focused like him. He’s addictive, and I am weak, but—screw this; I can wean myself off him! With the right antidote-- Addictions can be broken. Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22616158-pandora-wild-child?ac=1 Purchase: Will be found here come release day: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Pandora+Wild+Child+Sunniva+Dee&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3APandora+Wild+Child+Sunniva+Dee EXCERPT PANDORA On his bench, I melt. My shield shatters, and I am open to him. He always gives me more than the hour I come for, and warm, strong hands slide over my bare skin in exactly the way he’s paid to do. Still, there’s an electricity in the room when he’s near. My heart accelerates instead of slowing down. And sometimes, when I can’t help the way my insides clench for him, my breath stutters. My response never goes unnoticed; for an instant, his hands freeze. Then, they resume their beautiful dance over me. When I am starved for him, I flip on the bench. I shut my eyes because sometimes, sometimes, I am shy. He doesn’t speak, then. Through thin slits under my lashes, I watch him watch me. Some days, his breath coasts light over my face before he kisses me. “Pandora,” he whispers, “I can’t do this here.” I don’t answer. He stops massaging me, and his hands caress me instead. Glide over the ridges of my ribs until they brush the sides of my breasts. I’ve got to get my shit together. My life’s a mess, and I love it, fear it, hate it. I’m driving him crazy. Driving myself crazy. But it is what I allow myself. For these few hours a week are my respite, when his hands quiet my mind. I write New Adult fiction with a paranormal twist and don’t shy away from romance and heart-wrenching passion when necessary.
I moved from Norway to the United States in 2001, and the first awesome five years I spent in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles. Then I read “The Book,” akaMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which spurred my husband and me to move cross country to beautiful Savannah, Georgia. I’m currently on my seventh year in the Deep South, where I enjoy the heat and the humidity. Besides writing, I spend my time with our “petting zoo” as in an opinionated parrot, a herd of cats that are experts on keyboard shortcuts, and puppies that…uh, bark. I hold a Master’s degree in languages, with concentrations within literature and linguistics. I taught at college level for a decade before settling in as a graduate adviser at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Writing is my passion, my joy, and my addiction. When I’m not writing, I read. Shattering Halos is my debut novel, and its standalone sequel, Stargazer, is due out later this year. Author links: http://www.sunnivadee.com/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191170.Sunniva_Dee https://twitter.com/SunnivaD https://www.facebook.com/sunniva.dee Full of romance, intrigue, emotion and passion, Silver Dove is the concluding part to Craig and Amber’s story that began in Silver Lining. After the chaos of their early relationship and with their history of broken pasts behind them, Craig and Amber prepare to say ‘I Do’ on their Happily Ever After. Life rarely runs to plan though. Amber has fought long and hard to bury her fears and become a stronger person, but when old feelings resurface and tragedy strikes, it takes an intervention from Craig to prove her doubts are unfounded and to believe in love and hope. Just when they think they are at a point where they can be happy and move forward together, the pair find themselves fighting obstacles and difficulties that will truly test the strength of their bond. Can Amber gather the strength to fight against the forces trying to destroy her? Will Craig keep his promises of remaining truthful? As a couple are they tough enough to battle through these turbulent times and emerge stronger than ever?
Turning on my stool at the island in the middle of the kitchen, I looked over into the seductive hazel eyes of my Pingu, my penguin, my soul mate. She looked sexy as hell. Her hair was all dishevelled from sleep, her short nightdress and robe were crumpled and she had that innocent, just woken up expression. She was so beautiful and I thanked my lucky stars every day that fate had pushed us together. “I couldn’t sleep,” I murmured, shrugging like it was no big deal. “Because of me,” she stated, and started nibbling on her bottom lip. “Craig, I’m sorry.” “Baby, come here.” I opened my arms to invite her in. As she stepped between my thighs, I placed my palms on either side of her face, and angled her head to look into my eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry for okay? I won’t pretend that what you told me last night doesn’t hurt like hell, because it does. But I understand why you feel that way. I am going to prove to you every day that I'm here for the long haul, though…as your husband.” Before she had a chance to retort I pulled her lips to mine, drawing her into mind obliterating passion so that all she could think of was us and how good we were together. EJ Shortall was born and raised in London, England where she currently still lives with her teenage son. Having worked in education for the better part of 12 years, EJ decided a change was needed and, following a moment of inspiration, she decided to put pen to paper and start writing her first novel, Silver Lining. Not content with just the one, she continued with book two and hopes to write many more. She has always enjoyed reading, but found it was mostly just a holiday extravagance. Then she discovered a certain worldwide best seller, and that was it she was hooked. Reading quickly became an obsession and she couldn’t devour books fast enough. The books on her shelves and reading device range from sweet, Young Adult romances, to smoldering erotic encounters. Aside from reading and writing, EJ also enjoys amateur photography and cake decorating. “I am on one amazing roller coaster ride at the moment, meeting new and wonderful people, discovering new music gems to integrate into my stories, and learning so many new skills. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.” If you would like to join E.J. on her journey, please follow or contact her. She would love to hear from you! HOSTED BY: Coming: October 31, 2014 Secrets... The secrets are still there, plaguing me, disrupting my everyday life, only now... the unthinkable has happened. Lies... Payton insists that it is time that I deal with the lies that seem to make up my entire existence, the ones that have produced the chaos in my head. I don’t know if she realizes it, but if it weren’t for her being by my side, I don’t know how I would survive. Greed... Everything is unfolding right before my eyes, the truth is being revealed and there are people who don’t want us to be together, but as I have vowed before, no one will keep her from me. Payton is my anchor in the waves that are crashing through my life and I will do anything to keep her safe. My name is Sebastian Trovato and this is the conclusion of my story.
If you are wondering who I am, then I'm here to tell you. Timberlyn is the sweeter alter ego of New York Times bestselling author Nicole Edwards. I can hear the question now... Why? Why do you have another pen name? It actually came about when a storyline developed in my head. As I saw it coming together, I knew it was vastly different than what Nicole Edwards writes. So, it was then that I was created. Anyway... Thanks for stopping by. I'm so glad you did. HOSTED BY: His second chance may cost him his sweetest addiction … The truth about NEVEAH’S cheating fiancée hit hard—but not as hard as her right hook to his jaw. After ridding herself of him she travels back home to Huntsville, Texas to her father and his boxing gym where she grew up. When she finds a beaten man in the woods beside her home, her entire life changes and things get—complicated. Ex-con RAGE only wants two things—for the man that set him up to release his sister, and for him to burn in Hell where he belongs. After being released from prison, he heads straight to the man that put him there, only to be beaten and tossed in the woods for dead. When he’s found by the most beautiful girl he’s ever met, he knows he’ll have a chance to rescue his sister even though she doesn’t realize she needs saving. Neveah and her father, nurse Rage back to heath, offer him a job at their gym and quickly find out that he’s amazing in the ring. Without them knowing who he is, he knows he’s been given a second chance to live his life. The only condition is that he has to stay away from Neveah, which is a promise he soon realizes is hard to keep. The feisty southern beauty normally gets what she wants, and Rage wants to give her everything. With the truth lurking in the shadows, Rage must decide if he’s sweetest addiction is worth giving up his second chance. “Do I have to?” My dad glanced over the rim of his glass of orange juice. “Yes. I’m late to open the gym and the guy needs to eat. Just bring it out to him, Neveah.” Dammit it all to hell. I bit the inside of my lip and pulled at my bright pink yoga pants. He’d seen me peeking in his window the night before and I did not want to relive that embarrassment. I had hoped we could avoid each other until he was gone. “Whatever,” I mumbled. Dad sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. “You’ve got to get used to him because I offered him a job at the gym when he gets better.” “You what!” I yelled. Dad frowned. “I thought you were all for helping this kid out? You’re the one that didn’t want to take him to the hospital because he asked you not to.” Yes, I had. That was before he’d caught me watching him like a creepy sixteen-year-old. “Okay, Dad. I’ll freaking do it.” Dad gave me a bored look. “Are we going to do the whole teenage whiny bullshit again? I thought you’d outgrown that.” I rolled my eyes, then eyed the bowl of soup for Declan. “Aren't you late?” He smiled. “I’ll see you later. Call your Aunt Shelly today.” “I will.” Dad kissed my forehead, grabbed his things, and then hurried out the front door. The silence that fell over me was the loudest silence I’d ever heard. All I could think about was his food getting cold. God. I palmed my forehead and sighed. Better get it over with. Lucy and I walked the short distance to the guest house but I stopped hesitatingly in front of the door . The soup was burning my hand but my feet were still stuck to the porch. I pressed my ear to the door but I couldn’t hear anything. Lucy whined while pawing the door. I hurried and knocked before she decided to start barking like the night before. No need to get caught again. How humiliating. “Come in.” The door felt heavy against my palm but I used everything I had and shoved it opened. Greedily, my eyes searched the room and I found him lying in his bed, the covers thrown on the floor, in nothing but a pair of my dad’s red Underarmour underwear which looked completely different on him than my dad. Shit. Shit. Shit. He’s looking at me. “Oh,” he said, like he was shocked to see me. But he didn't grab for the covers, he stayed sprawled in front of me, his thick thighs wide and his chest sweaty from the heat. I was hardly winning the battle with my eyes not to look at the bulge lying between those said thick thighs. “I thought you were Wes.” My fingers tightened around the bowl and my gaze traveled down the ridges of his taut stomach. “Stop that,” he growled. I jumped backwards and hit my head against the wooden door with a thump. “Stop what?” The way his eyes swept me from head to toe had my body burning from the inside out. “Stop staring at me.” Embarrassment flooded me. There he was with bandages wrapped around his bruised body and I was ogling him like a piece of meat. And it was worth every second. “I’m not.” His dark brows shot up to his hairline. “Oh really? It looked like it to me.” Lifting my chin, I gave him a smartass smile. “Well, I guess you need to go to the eye doctor. I was just bringing you your breakfast because my dad asked me to.” Those dark eyes watched me carefully until I squirmed in the doorway. “Well, are you going to bring it here or do you want me to get up and get it?” I gritted my teeth before taking a leisurely step inside. Lucy bounded forward and took liberty on herself to plant her front paws on the side of his bed, begging for attention. No shame in her game. Declan’s gaze cast down to Lucy. “Hi girl. You found me the other day, didn’t you?” he cooed, running his fingers against her head. Something wicked swelled between my legs. I need to get out of here. But—once again—my feet were taking a permanent residence on the floor. Lucy’s tail wagged in a steady rhythm as he cooed and brushed his knuckles against her which only drew attention to how massive his forearm was. God, I need to get out of here—like yesterday. Stepping forward, I offered him the bowl of soup. Dragging his eyes from Lucy to my own, he carefully eyed the bowl and then let his gaze travel back up my breasts to my eyes. I’d only been this close to him when he was covered in mud and blood. Now that his face was cleaned, I could see every flawlessly imperfect thing about him. The fresh scar on his lip only intensified how full they were. A five o’clock shadow was light on his strong jaw. And his fucking eyes. Things were stirring inside of me that I had never felt in my short twenty-one years on this planet. He reached forward, the tips of his fingers skimmed down the path of my own until he palmed the bowl and brought it down to his chest. His brows furrowed, his hand jerked outward, his fingers encircled my wrist before flipping my palm upward. Shock raced through me, but I didn't snatch away as he examined my reddened palm from the bowl. “It’s fucking hot. Why didn't you put it down?” Oh God. What was I supposed to say? I’m so incredibly attracted to you that I couldn't risk getting too close to you? “It’s not hot.” God, how lame can I be? I dropped my gaze to the wooden floor. His fingers tightened around my wrist, he jerked me closer to him, and my body pulsed from the bluntness of it. “Stop lookin’ away from me, it’s annoying.” I gasped and jerked away from him. “I’ll look wherever I want to look, thank you.” He looked down to his abs, and my sex clenched tighter. “Obviously.” He meet my gaze. “I saw you earlier, and last night.” Damn it all to hell! The heavy pressure in my ears doubled from embarrassment. “I wasn't lookin’ at you last night. I was checking on you.” The leg closest to me dropped to the floor with a loud plop but he didn't move. “I saw you checking—Angel.” Shit. Fuck. Shit fuck! “You’re mistaken but I’ll let it go.” A wide grin blessed his face, and he could have been the fault Adam wavered with Eve. The seductive evil that was so fucking beautiful that you didn't care the consequence. “You like to be in control, don’t you?” What? I nearly gasped but bit my tongue to keep my mouth at bay. Heath had always complained that I had to be in control of every situation but in reality he was just weak. “No, I don't” I snapped. “You do,” he said back. “But that’s okay because I’m the master of control, and it’s tough shit for whoever doesn't like it.” Something about the tone of his voice told me that he was probably telling the truth. And by the look of him he’d have another woman underneath him in two seconds to fill that void the disappoint left behind. “I’m not falling for your tricks,” I said. “I know you want me to fall for this bad boy bullshit but asshole really isn't my style.” Oh shit. If looks could kill. His jaw twitched and he sat his soup to the side. “I’m not trying to seduce you, Angel. I've already got you. I’m trying to make sure you don’t fall for my bullshit, and into this fucking bed because it doesn’t need to happen. It won’t happen.” I stepped back like I’d been slapped. I was sure he'd liked what he'd seen when I walked in here. “Fuck you. I wouldn't fuck you if you were the last fuck on earth.” The bed squeaked, his arm snaked around my waist and he drug me closer to him. Mouth parted, eyes on my lips, his minty breath heaved against me. “Take it back,” he whispered against my mouth. Warmth settled between my legs, and I went liquid. If he hadn't pulled me against his chest I would have been a puddle of goo on the floor. My fingers sprawled against his tanned skin and my breasts brushed against his own. “Let me go,” I whispered, aware of how his eyes hadn’t strayed from my opened mouth. Wetness puddled in my panties as he brushed the pad of his thumb against my lower lip. “I wish I didn't have to.” But he released my waist and allowed me to stand which didn't go very well. I stumbled to the left, and caught myself on the small nightstand at the same time he reached forward to catch me. “Careful,” he whispered, and I didn't have to look to hear the smugness in his voice. “I’m leaving,” I whispered helplessly. “Eat your food. I’ll be home today if you need anything.” “And how do you expect me to get you?” “Oh,” I said, meeting his gaze. “Here is your phone.” I dug it out of my butt pocket and handed it to him. He kept eye contact but reached for his phone. “You looked through it.” I swallowed, too stubborn to lie. “Yes.” “And what did you find?” I looked over at Lucy who had her head rested on her front two paws, watching us. “Nothing. I found nothing.” He nodded. “Good.” We watched each other for several seconds, the obvious he’s bad news weighing between us. I needed to leave because the small voice in the back of my head was telling me to ask questions that I was sure I didn't want to know the answers to. “Call me if you need anything.” He nodded once, and I felt his eyes on me as I swayed my hips, my insides practically begging me to stay. Once I shut the door, I used it as a crutch because my wobbly legs were threatening to betray me. God he was tense. I was tense. I was turned on beyond oblivion, a feel of desperation flooded me with need. This isn’t going to be good. Alla Kar lives in the deep south with her husband, chihuahua, and pitbull. When she isn't bringing alpha males, southern gentlemen or anything new adult to life, she's obsessing over Dancing With The Stars, Once Upon a Time and The Walking Dead. HOSTED BY: Palmer Sinclair was on the edge of happily ever after when she broke off her engagement to Brady Grant. The end of their relationship marked the beginning of a painful solitary journey for her. Though she makes places beautiful with her work as an interior designer, the rest of her life is anything but beautiful â itâs slowly pulling her under. Brady, a contractor, is swiftly building his business into an empire. Work is a faithful companion that never lets him down like Palmer did. When he sees women now, itâs on his terms. And his terms are simple: just sex. He wonât let a woman break him again. Palmer is barely holding it together when she and Brady are unexpectedly paired on a project after a year apart. The pull between them is stronger than ever, but the fallout from their reconnection leaves them both wondering if maybe some things are better left unsaid. **Part of the Proceeds of the Sale of Unpsoken will go toward The Keith Milano Memorial Fund at AFSP for the rest of the month of October.** For More Information on AFSP and The Keith Milano Memorial Visit: Keith Milano Memorial #isupportmentalhealthawareness Chapter 1 I grinned at the image of the bride in the magazine I held, picturing her classic, beaded veil and big cascading curls on myself. âYou like?â I asked, turning the magazine around for my design partner Georges to see. âEh,â he said, frowning. âMaybe if you were going to prom in 1985. Add some pink frosted lipstick and dark blue eye shadow.â I narrowed my eyes at him. âI donât want my hair pulled back tight the way you like. Brady wouldnât like it, either. He likes to touch my hair. You know, run his hands through it.â Georges gave me a horrified stare. âNot on your wedding day, Palmer! What about the photos? Tell him to keep his caveman hands to himself until the wedding night.â Just the words wedding night brought on a tingle of excitement. Not that Brady didnât bring it every time we had sex, but the idea of wedding night sex was especially hot. Heâd told me about a fantasy involving his face between my thighs while I still had the dress on, and I couldnât deny that I was now fantasizing about it, too. âWe still have quite a few details to work out,â Georges said, looking up from the bridal magazine he was flipping through to give me a chastising look over the dark rims of his glasses. âI know,â I said, snapping out of my sexy reverie about Brady. âLet me get out my wedding planner.â âLetâs finish this over sushi,â Georges said. âI skipped lunch and Iâm starving.â I glanced down at my watch and shook my head. âUgh, itâs after six. I canât. My mom asked me to stop by her house on my way home and I told her Iâd be there around six.â âDamn you. Now I have to get carryout.â Georges rolled his eyes dramatically. âIâll buy lunch tomorrow,â I said. âDonât forget that weâre going to the floristâs shop for a dry run of the centerpieces.â Georgesâ face brightened. âLetâs go visit the dress again, too.â âMaybe,â I said, smiling at him. âIt has been a full week since we last saw it. Iâll see you in the morning, okay?â He nodded and turned back to the magazine. I checked my phone on the way to the parking deck, smiling when I saw a message from Brady. Brady: Going to see Dad. Be home late. Lunch tomorrow? Love you. I wrote back, glancing up occasionally to make sure I didnât crash into anyone. Me: Lunch with G tomorrow. Iâll cook dinner tomorrow night at my place. Love you too. We still called it my place even though heâd practically moved in. One married, we planned to live in my tiny bungalow after instead of his tiny apartment. Between Bradyâs building skills and my design ones, weâd made my place into a cozy love nest. On the drive to Momâs, I let my mind wander to the job Iâd just been hired for. I was designing a nursery for twins â a boy and a girl. My client loved a traditional look, so I was using gingham, soft yellows and greens and gorgeous white painted furniture. This job was creating unexpectedly strong maternal pangs. Brady and I both wanted kids, but we wanted to wait a couple years. He was paying a price for his fatherâs lousy decisions, and we both had to focus on our careers for a while. Still, I let myself dream about the day weâd have a baby. Hopefully one with his dark hair and bright green eyes. I parked in front of Momâs house, noticing the faded maroon shutter that had been hanging by one screw had finally fallen off. Brady had offered to paint the dingy brownish exterior when Mom and Danny moved in here last year, but Mom always put him off, saying she knew he was too busy with work. This place needed a spruce-up, though, even if Brady and I had to show up and just do it. Weeds were beginning to overtake the small flower bed next to the front porch. When I pulled open the creaky back screen door, Mom glanced up from the kitchen table and stood, meeting me for a hug. She held on longer than usual, and I studied her face when she pulled away. âYou okay?â I asked. âYeah.â She headed for the stove, not meeting my curious gaze. âI made you a plate of dinner. Chicken pot pie.â I sank into a chair at the table, looking around the kitchen for my younger brother. âWhereâs Danny?â On cue, his wheelchair came rolling into the room. âAlmer!â he cried, reaching out his arms. I grinned and stood, bending down to hug him tight, the way he liked. As soon as I released him, he turned his chair around, grunting with the effort, and worked his way back out of the room. âWhere are you going?â I called behind him. âI just got here!â âCubs,â he said shortly. I smiled at his retreating form, realizing I shouldâve guessed from his baseball hat and Cubs t-shirt that he was immersed in a game on TV. Though he was 23, Dannyâs doctors said he had the mental capacity of a four-year-old. I knew he was smarter than they gave him credit for. But no matter what his mental capacity, he was the brightest ray of sunshine in my life. Iâd been in one fist fight in my life â when I was eight and a kid in our neighborhood called my five-year-old brother stupid. Mom set a plate down in front of me, fussing over grabbing the salt and pepper shakers and a napkin and pouring me a glass of iced tea. âI can get that stuff. Sit down,â I said. âThis looks delish.â âHow are the wedding plans coming?â she asked, her eyes warming with excitement. âGood. Iâm going to make the final decisions on the flowers tomorrow.â I blew on a steaming forkful of pot pie, studying my momâs drawn expression. She didnât bother with fixing her hair or makeup, since she spent her days taking care of Danny. But the lines on her face were more pronounced than usual. Something was off. âWhatâs up?â I lowered my fork and set it on the plate. âYou look worried.â She sighed deeply. âItâs probably nothing.â âWhatâs probably nothing?â âI got a call from the hospital today about the pre-op testing for my back surgery.â âThatâs right,â I said, chiding myself for forgetting to call her about it yesterday. âIs there a problem with the surgery?â Hopefully the doctor hadnât changed his mind about it helping her or the insurance hadnât denied coverage. Mom needed this surgery. Years of lifting Danny in and out of his chair had left her back aching every minute of the day, though she rarely complained about it. âThey did an x-ray and it showed a possible mass,â she said, wrapping her arms around herself. âIn one of my lungs.â My heart pounded as her words sank in. âA . . .â I cleared my throat. âA possible mass? What does that mean?â She sighed again. âIt means I have to get a CT scan tomorrow. Aunt Claire came over to be with Danny while I was at the hospital yesterday, and itâs an hour drive for her. I didnât want to ask her to come back tomorrow. Is there any way you could come over in the morning, around 9:30?â âOf course.â Emotions swirled inside me. This was so unexpected that I was still trying to wrap my mind around it. âBut I want to go with you. Iâll ask Brady to come stay with Danny.â She shook her head. âI donât know that theyâll do anything but the scan tomorrow, Palmer. The results may take time. I can handle it on my own. If youâll be with Danny, thatâd be perfect.â âSure,â I said, not sure at all. âAre you okay?â She nodded and attempted a smile. âItâs probably nothing. Just a precaution. They havenât cancelled my surgery or anything.â I nodded, too, trying to see that as a positive indication. But the worry that had kicked up my heart rate and drained my appetite in an instant was still there. Flowers, cake and the perfect wedding hairstyle suddenly felt like ridiculous things to care about. All that mattered right now was my mom being okay. She had to be. Brenda Rothert is a proud indie author who loves writing stories that make readers laugh, cry and occasionally, yell at their e-readers. Her Contemporary Romances include Unspoken; The Now Series - Now and Then, Now and Again and Now and Forever, and The Fire on Ice Series - Bound, Captive, Edge and Drive. Brenda lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three boys. HOSTED BY: |
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