Billionaire Romance Novels

The Millionaire's Royal Rescue Read Free Tempted by the rebellious royal... Millionaire Grayson Landers has fled the paparazzi back home--only to find himself in another media storm: rescuing the king's niece from a thief!Lady Annabelle DiSalvo is no pampered princess--she's come to the Mediterranean island of Mirraccino to solve the mystery of her mother's death. Grayson can't help but want to assist her. Plagued by guilt over not being able to save his ex, this is his chance for redemption. Only he absolutely cannot fall for her and risk his heart again...unless it's already too late! *************** PROLOGUE ANOTHER DISASTROUS DATE. Lady Annabelle DiSalvo’s back teeth ground together as memories from the night before came rushing over her. It was tough enough finding a decent guy who liked her for herself and not for her position as the daughter of the Duke of Halencia, but then to expect him to put up with her overzealous security team was another thing altogether. And so when her date had tried to slip away with her for a stroll beneath the stars, her bodyguard had stopped them. Heat rushed to Annabelle’s face as she recalled how the evening had ended in a heated confrontation between her, him and her unbending bodyguard. It had been awful. Needless to say, there’d be no second date. The backs of Annabelle’s eyes stung with tears of frustration. She couldn’t stand to live like this any longer. Her friends were all starting to get married, but she was single with no hope of that changing as long as her every move was monitored. She just wanted a normal life—like her life had been before her mother’s murder. If only her mother were here, she could talk some sense into Annabelle’s overprotective father. She missed her mother so much. And the fact that her father rarely spoke of her mother only made the hole in Annabelle’s heart ache more. She clutched her mother’s journal close to her chest. Maybe she shouldn’t have been snooping through her mother’s things, but her father had left her no other choice. How else would she ever really get to know her mother? Annabelle slipped the journal into her oversized purse and rushed down the sweeping staircase of her father’s vast estate in Halencia. At the bottom of the steps her ever-vigilant bodyguard, Berto, waited for her. There was actually a whole team of them, all taking turns to protect Annabelle. Ever since her mother had died during a mugging, Annabelle had been watched, night and day. And since her mother’s murderer had never been caught, Annabelle had understood her father’s concerns at the time. But now, eleven years later, the protective detail assigned to her felt claustrophobic and unnecessary. She’d thought by moving to Mirraccino, her mother’s home country, that things would change, but with the king of Mirraccino being her uncle, she was still under armed guard. But Annabelle had a plan to change all of that. And she was just about to put that plan in motion. “Berto, I’m ready to go.” T

The Sicilian's Banished Bride Read Free Banished from his bedBound by a scandalous secret!Believing she betrayed him, Rocco thought he’d said goodbye to his ex-fiancée, Mia, for good. So the revelation of his unknown heir throws his world into chaos. For a start, Mia was sure that he knew about their baby! Yet determined to raise his child in Sicily, Rocco suggests they wed.It’s for her son’s happiness alone that Mia agrees to Rocco’s proposal. She can’t risk falling under the Sicilian’s intoxicating spell again. But that’s easier said than done when their chemistry is more magnetic than ever before… *************** CHAPTER ONE ‘HE’S YOURS, ROCCO. Find him...find him!’ The words pounded a relentless refrain in Rocco Vitelli’s head as his Gulfstream sped him in the opposite direction towards a destination that had been nowhere on his itinerary when he’d woken up that morning. The photograph in his hand shook and he tightened his grip. Impossible. His grandmother’s words were simply...impossible. Didn’t they say everyone had a twin somewhere in the world? Dio, even that extrapolation was too far-fetched. This picture was of a child. He was a grown man of thirty-three. This child had nothing to do with him. Nothing... ‘We’ll be landing shortly, signor. Is there anything you require?’ his attendant enquired. Inform the pilot that I wish to change course immediately, he wanted to say. He held his tongue, his grandmother’s pale face etched in anguish fresh in his mind. Jaw clenching, he closed his fist over the picture, hiding it from sight. Unfortunately, Nonna’s distressing words weren’t so easy to dismiss. ‘He’s yours. Find him!’ Ridiculous. If he had a son, a flesh and blood extension of him somewhere in this world, he would know...wouldn’t he? A sudden wave of long-suppressed yearning swept through him, stealing his breath. He would know. He was strict about taking precautions with his sexual partners. None of his liaisons in the recent past had lasted longer than a few weeks. And, by strict choice, none of them had been English. He hadn’t set foot in England in years and he hadn’t taken an English lover since— ‘Signor?’ He sighed. ‘No, grazie.’ Just this once, he promised himself grimly. His grandmother rarely asked him for anything, not because he’d refuse, but because she insisted she needed nothing but the roof he’d provided over her head. After everything she’d sacrificed for him, running this fool’s errand, even though it lodged a fist of remembered bitterness in his gut, was necessary if only to reassure her. This visit would be short, however. Whoever this child was, Rocco intended his presence in its life to be very brief indeed. ‘Has the driver been apprised of our destination?’ he asked. ‘Sì, signor. I emailed the details immediately after take-off.’ Satisfied, he nodded. Barring traffic, he should be back in the air within a few short hours. A quick detour via his Palermo villa to reassure Nonna there was no mysterious great-grandchild

Maid for You (The Billionaire's Maid) Read Free *************** Prologue LILAH Today started out as an excellent day. It started off like any other day. I woke up, made breakfast for my sisters, checked the almanac to see what the forecast for my zodiac sign was. I know. I sound young and immature. I get it. But I believe in not only something higher than me but also in the universe. For instance, when I wake up in the morning, I take a few minutes to meditate. I give myself the time to seek my aura. I believe the colors surrounding my energy are a foreshadowing of my coming day. Which is how I knew today was going to be great and it was. Today is the day I go to the Manhattan Library and read to the children who come from the daycare. It is the best part of my week. I love their smiling inquisitive faces as they listen to the stories and ask questions. Lately, the day has been made better by the frequent visits of Markis. I met him for the first time a month ago when he came in here looking for a book on 16th century literature. The head librarian was at lunch and even though I don’t work here, as a volunteer and frequent reader, I know where everything is, so I offered to find it for him. We spent hours talking about his job as a history and literature teacher for a Community College. His wit, knowledge and charm entranced me. I listened as he regaled me with stories from his travels in England and all across Europe. By the end of the first meeting, he made me promise to be here the same day and time. For the last four weeks, this has been our timeline. Last week, it elevated to lunch across the street and an occasional handhold. He explained over our first lunch that he follows the rules of old. He believes in courting, chastely and earning the hand of his betrothed. Most girls would find it weird and balk at it, but I don’t know, I find it sweet. It certainly lifts the pressure from worrying about kissing and sex. None of which I have any experience with. During our lunch today, he was asking me about my family. I smiled. My family is my safe space. The one place I always fit in. There are eight of us, all girls. My father was a Mexican Immigrant, fresh across the border when he met my mother in a diner in Texas. She often said it was a good thing he had been practicing his English for months before he came because we might not have been born. They were married three months later and living in California. She was nineteen and he was twenty-five. Nine months after they were married, my mom gave birth to Catalina, followed by Margaret, Melinda, Gabriella, Evelyna and then I am an identical twin. My twin sister’s name is Lily. When Luna was two, my dad died from a heart attack. Apparently, he had a defective heart valve, and it went undetected until the day he passed away. My mom was left raising eight rambunctious girls on her own, trying to maintain a life for us. The cleaning business my parents had created was the only source of income and

Mr. Grumpy Boss (Alphalicious Billionaires Boss 1) Read Free My boss saw it...The diary where I wrote all the hot shit about him.By shit, I really mean SHIT.Like the highest degree of criticism you will ever find.I couldn't help it, okay.It's pretty stressful working for the jerk,And I needed a place to vent.I just never thought I'd be stupid enough to accidentally hand over the notebook from hell to him.Guess I might as well start writing my resignation letter.Because there will definitely be no mercy from the Devil.Or so, I thought.Instead, Mr. Grumps came back with more orders.And no, they were not orders about reformatting his documents for the nth time.If I wanted to keep my job, I had to pretend.Pretend not to hate him.Pretend to be head over heels in love with him.Pretend to be his girlfriend.Hell, the devil really knows how to strike his bargain.Now, I had to choose.Which one would be worst?Losing my hard-earned job or inviting the Devil into my life as my "boyfriend"?SIZZLING NEW SERIES READY TO LIT YOUR LADY BITS LIKE A HOT BLAZING INFERNO! Each book in this series is a standalone and can be read in any order. And don't forget, we are team HEA all the way! *************** CHAPTER 1 Sutton Dear Electronic Diary Thingy, My boss, as usual, is a giant, epic, total, gargantuan, MASSIVE, pain in the ass. Okay, that’s nothing new. I have enough evidence stored away in all your saved files by now that this point is just a given. I’m not going to delete it because it gives me satisfaction to vent, which I guess is what this whole project is about. Granny told me to write. So, I’m writing. Yes, I’m pointedly ignoring the fact that Granny also said Philippe Wilson isn’t just an ass—he also has a nice ass. And that if she was fifty years younger, she might have considered getting remarried again. Or at least entertain naughty thoughts. *Shiver*. Thinking about Granny having naughty thoughts about my boss is just about the grossest, most unnatural thing in the universe. I’d rather think naughty thoughts of my own. Like how to get back at said boss for giving me two different cost report sheets to complete by Monday at five minutes to five on a Friday. When I fetch him his sandwiches every single day, I already get the full-fat mayo instead of light mayo. He’s never complained. That’s about the extent my evil goes. I know. #SadAF. That’s me. So yes, come Monday, I had those reports done. I also never complain when Philippe—who by the way isn’t even French but likes to say his name like he is even though his last name is Wilson, which is also clearly NOT French—gives me his credit card statements with like a thousand charges and two receipts to try and reconcile. Nope. I never say a thing. I leave my cursor blinking on the next line and stare at the white screen until my eyes threaten to drop out of my head and roll onto the carpet. Yes. They’re that dry. I finally tear my eyes away to glance down at the keyboard. I hover my finger over the delete but

A Sicilian Seduction Read Free A most passionate revenge...Giancarlo Cardinale was determined to have his revenge. He thought Natalia Deyton had slept with his sister's husband. His passionate Sicilian nature demanded a vengeful seduction -- and total surrender.But Giancarlo wasn't prepared for the innocence shining out of Natalia -- or the sensual power of her stunning beauty. He knew he was falling in love for the first time -- but family came first. He had no choice but to carry out his plan.... *************** CHAPTER ONE GIANCARLO CARDINALE arrived in the doorway of Knight’s executive dining room to the surprise discovery that some kind of function was taking place. The remains of a gourmet-style lunch still lay in evidence amongst a scatter of empty wine bottles, and the twenty or so people who were gathered there were now standing around in small groups talking while they sipped at champagne. ‘What’s going on?’ he asked the man beside him. ‘Lunch between presentations to one of our best clients,’ Howard Fiske explained. ‘And Edward really should have made the effort to be here for it.’ His anger was clear. If it wasn’t bad enough that the corporate chairman himself should have turned up here unexpectedly, to have done so on a day when Edward should have been presiding over such an important meeting, annoyed Howard intensely. Giancarlo said nothing, but he sympathised. He knew all about Edward’s irresponsible streak, after all. In fact Edward’s flagrant lack of responsibility on all fronts was the sole reason for his being in London. He had come to deal with it once and for all, and the sooner he got it over with the better it was going to be for everyone. Which left him with only one question he needed answering before he got down to the nasty business of dealing with the problem. Which one was she? As he stood there, still unnoticed by the rest of the gathering, his gaze began moving over the newly refurbished ultra-modern room with its beech-wood surfaces and flashes of so-called inspirational colour—all paid for with his money in an attempt to haul Knight’s out of the dark ages. But it was not so easy to revamp the people, he observed, seeing the same starched collars and the same grey faces, with their grey little minds which collectively helped to keep the company in a state of near peril. His teeth came together on a snap of irritation. Edward had promised to restructure his workforce last year when they’d discussed merging Knight’s into the Cardinale Group. In fact, Giancarlo had insisted upon it before he would agree to ratify the deal. Edward might be his brother-in-law but the Cardinale Group was not run as a charity. As a venture capitalist Giancarlo looked for potential in any proposed merger before he even considered putting together a rescue package. Edward had been told this, had understood it, and had agreed to all the provisos at the time. So—other than for laminate flooring and some splashes of colour on the walls—where h

The Desert Sheikh's Captive Wife Read Free Captive in the sheikh's harem!Tilda was living to regret that once she'd had a short--lived romance with Rashad, the Crown Prince of Bakhar. Now, not only had he gained possession of her impoverished family's home, Rashad was also blackmailing her for the huge debt they owed him--and insisting she pay the price...ashis concubine!Tilda was appalled--but in no position to refuse. Soon she was the arrogant sheikh's captive, ready to be ravished in his faraway desert kingdom. But Rashad slipped up by publicly naming Tilda as his woman...and under the law of Bakhar this meant she and he were bound together forever...as husband and wife! *************** CHAPTER ONE ‘HAVE I met anyone whom I would like to marry?’ Rashad, Crown Prince of Bakhar almost laughed out loud as he considered his father’s gently voiced question. Engrained good manners, however, restrained such a blunt response. ‘No, I fear not.’ King Hazar surveyed his son and heir with concealed disquiet. His guilty conscience was pricked by the truth that he had been blessed by Rashad’s birth, for his son was everything a future monarch should be. His sterling qualities had shone like a beacon during those dark days when Bakhar had suffered under the despotic rule of Sadiq, Hazar’s uncle. In the eyes of the people, Rashad could do no wrong; he had endured many cruelties, but had still emerged a hero from the war that had restored the legitimate line to the throne. Even the rumours that the Crown Prince was regarded as a notorious womaniser abroad barely raised a brow, since it was accepted that he had earned the right to enjoy his liberty. ‘There comes a time when a man must settle down,’ King Hazar remarked with all the awkwardness of one who had never been anything other than settled in his habits. ‘And put aside more worldly pursuits.’ His lean and darkly handsome features grim, Rashad stared stonily out at the exquisite gardens that were his father’s pride and joy. Maybe when he was older he too would get a thrill out of pruning topiary, he reflected wryly. Although he had a great affection for the older man, father and son were not close. How could they have been? Rashad had been only four years old when he’d been torn from his mother’s arms and denied all further contact with his parents. In the following two decades, he had learned to trust nobody and keep his own counsel. By the time he had been reunited with his family, he had been an adult, a survivor and a battle-hardened soldier, trained to put duty and discipline above all other virtues. But on this particular issue he was not prepared to meet his father’s expectations. ‘I don’t want to get married,’ Rashad declared levelly. King Hazar was unprepared for that bold response, which offered neither apology nor the possibility of compromise. Assuming that he had broached the subject clumsily, he said earnestly, ‘I believe that marriage will greatly add to your happiness.’ Rashad almost winced

Bad Seed Read Free *************** CHAPTER 1 THERESA ELEVEN YEARS AGO “Theresa, the guy’s bad news”. “He’s not a bad guy, Jane. He just had a rough home life. That’s why my parents took him in,” I said. “Fine, but I still can’t believe you’re fantasizing about your brother’s best friend.” “I’d rather talk about your love interest. Did you actually kiss him?” I asked. “Who?” Jane asked. “Do I have to specify?” “Come on,” Jane said as she giggled. “Who are you talking about?” “You know. Chance. The captain of the football team? You can’t tell me you didn’t kiss him after the game last night.” “Maybe,” Jane said with a grin. “You little tease! I knew it! And you’re giving me a hard time about my innocent crush on Grant. You’re sucking face with the school quarterback. Why can’t this be my miracle moment?” I asked. “Are you saying Chance kissing me is a miracle?” she asked, her face turning a slight shade of red. “Jane, that’s not what I’m saying.” “That’s what it sounds like you’re saying.” “Look, I don’t want to argue, okay? I want to know how it was,” I grinned. Jane’s face perked back up. “It was awesome. His lips were all warm, and he had just put on Chapstick so they were nice and soft. And his tongue…” “He used tongue?” I asked. “Have you ever done that before?” “Not until him, but he didn’t need to know that. Confidence is key, Theresa. Project confidence and he will think you know what you’re doing,” she said. “You’re so lucky, Jane. I haven’t kissed anyone yet.” “And if you stop daydreaming about your brother’s best friend, maybe you’ll see that Ike has the hots for you.” “Ew. Ike?” I asked. “Yeah. Don’t you see him staring at you every day in science class? Even I can see it, Theresa.” “But Ike is—Ike,” I said. “Sure, he doesn’t wear a leather jacket, but he’s smart like you. And if you look past his baggy shirts, he’s got some muscles going on under there.” “No, he doesn’t. Ike wears glasses and reads books.” “Like you,” she said. “But I don’t want someone like me. I want—” “Grant?” she asked.

Ensnared (The Accidental Billionaires 1) Read Free *************** PROLOGUE JADE Five months ago . . . “Just a few more minutes, Ms. Sinclair,” the secretary informed me as she hung up the phone. “Mr. Stone is running somewhat behind today.” Somewhat behind? I’d been waiting for close to an hour. I’d pretty much read every magazine in the waiting room from cover to cover, even the articles I wouldn’t normally bother to read. Did women really want to know how to attract a man, or how to get the attention of one of them who didn’t want to be with her? Pretty weird articles, really. Or was I the one who didn’t really understand? Judging by my not-so-exciting dating life, maybe I should have paid more attention to all those women’s magazines. I didn’t exactly have men beating down my door to go out with me. But then, it had always been that way. Can I have a dating slump when I never really had an incredible dating life in the first place? Because of work and school, I hadn’t been able to try out a lot of different guys, and to be honest, they hadn’t wanted to date me, either. I’d made one major mistake in college. I had to either blame that one on complete exhaustion and stress, or admit to myself that I’d let somebody use me for two years. I preferred the former excuse. I don’t really want to attract a guy who doesn’t notice me the first time he meets me. Wasn’t there supposed to be some kind of spark, some unknown recognition that somebody was my soulmate? And wouldn’t they realize it, too? I certainly hope so, otherwise I’m waiting for something that’s never going to happen. Unfortunately, thanks to the score of women’s magazines in the room, I now knew how to get a man who didn’t want me, and what the moon and stars had in mind for my future mate, according to the horoscopes. Maybe the article about improving my orgasms would have been useful if I had any, but I could have skipped the piece on giving a guy a better blow job. Not exactly something I’d normally peruse, but I’d had an hour to kill, and after I’d read the interesting stuff like National Geographic, I’d still had time on my hands, so I’d pushed my way through the women’s magazines, too. I was pretty sure I wasn’t better off because I was now armed with the wisdom on how to deal with a commitment-phobic male, and I was getting restless. I smiled and nodded at the secretary politely from my seat in the plush outer office of billionaire and business mogul Eli Stone. It wasn’t the elderly assistant’s fault that her boss had left me waiting for way longer than anybody should have to wait for a scheduled appointment, even with a billionaire. I’m a billionaire, too. Isn’t there some kind of unspoken courtesy thing among the megarich? Does one billionaire leave another one waiting for an hour to see them? Unfortunately, I hadn’t been rich long enough to know the rules. Mr. Stone had a net worth a lot higher than mine, but once somebody reached billionaire status, did it really matter? I

Killer Crush Read Free I left a job I was very good at to seek a better life. The new life is boring. I get up. I go to classes. I avoid people. That last one isn’t a new thing for me, though. I never much-liked people before and now that I’m in college, I’m finding that it’s for good reason. People knock on my door, play their music loudly in public, and ask me invasive questions that I pretend I don’t hear. I shut it out because I need to stay on this new path. Then I saw her and found myself slipping back into bad habits that I thought I packed away with my black gloves, camouflage scope, and special weapons case. But what’s a reformed assassin going to do when he develops a killer crush?
 *************** Chapter One Daman “Hey, seatmate, I’m Trinity, but all my friends call me Trin.” The girl next to me sticks out her hand. I stare at it for a half-second and then return to packing my bag. Next to me, the girl with the pink lipstick and extra-large forehead gives off an exasperated breath. “I was just being nice. You don’t have to be a prick about it. God.” I zip up the backpack and get to my feet. “Sorry, just plan to study.” “I am, too,” she insists, jumping to her feet. Unwillingly, my eyes return to her forehead. She’d be an easy mark. I wouldn’t even need to worry much about the wind cuz the target’s so big. I wrench my eyes away and force myself up the aisle. I’m not that person anymore. The time for looking at people and determining the best way to kill them is past. I’m Daman Patrick, a twenty-five-year-old non-traditional student trying to get his landscaping degree. I thought about getting into accounting but then remembered all the mob CPAs I offed in my eight years as a paid assassin. I think the number was around fourteen by my last count but those are old figures. I stopped tallying a couple of years ago because it was messing with my head. “I wouldn’t have said anything but you were staring at me the entire class. I get that I’m intimidating to people and you’re older, but if you want to buy me a latte or something I’m open.” Guilt slows my footsteps. I was staring at her, but who wouldn’t? The target landing was as wide as a runway. If I joined one of those killer group chats, her forehead would be the type I’d share. If I did those things, which I didn’t because what a dumbass way to get caught. One time, a couple years ago, Interpol infiltrated a group on Instagram. Instagram! How fucking dumb could you be? I had to go and kill all of them. He’d paid me a fuckton of money for it and inadvertently jump-started the idea of retirement. He says that’s his biggest regret and if he had to do it all over again, he would’ve hired someone else. I was the best for the job, though, and we both knew it. No one else could’ve carried out the five hits with as much efficiency as I did. To be fair, I caught two of them in bed with each other. It was literally killing two birds with one stone. “Are you listening? Can you hear me?” I look do

Housekeeper at His Beck and Call Read Free Maid for his bed!Lieutenant Cade Grant wears his scars well on the outside. He’s rugged, strong and gorgeous, but his heart is as hard as they come. Sweet, innocent, and in need of employment fast, Liv will do almost anything. If that means donning her housekeeper’s pinny for the brooding Lieutenant then so be it. As sparks fly between them, Cade’s more interested in having his beautiful new housekeeper between his sheets rather than washing them. But the plucky virgin’s nervous. The job description has just been changed – the situation vacant is now in his bed – and Cade will teach her everything she needs to know... *************** CHAPTER ONE HE WAS aching with inactivity. He could never sit down for long. The television company had asked if they could conduct the interview in the farmhouse kitchen at Featherstone Hall, saying the kitchen would make him seem more human and approachable. Thinking publicity would help raise awareness of his campaign, he had agreed, and now he found himself sitting in the glare of camera lights, while a girl with dirty toenails and an earnest air snapped a clapperboard in his face—which was doing nothing for his blood pressure. ‘That’s it,’ he said, standing up. ‘But, Lieutenant Colonel Grant…Cade.’ She clearly thought that using his first name might soften him. She was destined to fail. ‘You haven’t finished interviewing the prospective candidates for the post of…’ she paused for dramatic effect ‘…Housekeeper to a Hero—’ ‘If you mean the stooges—’ The earnest one’s eyes gleamed. ‘’No one else turned up…And so in order to prevent the interview from being a complete disaster, I provided—’ ‘Stooges from your team? Yes, I know.’ He pushed his chair back. ‘And now you can all pack up and go home; this interview is over.’ He stood at his full height, knowing that with the top of his head brushing the beams he was an intimidating sight. He should have known it was a mistake to let anyone into his life, and that it was just an excuse to pry. The only reason he’d done it this time was because he’d hoped television coverage would promote his scheme to turn Featherstone Hall into a rehabilitation centre for returning soldiers; a service he was determined to expand throughout the country. But the reporter was only interested in graphic stories of heroics, with plenty of blood and gore, she told him. He’d flinched at that, and when she’d added that sort of stuff worked miracles for the ratings he’d felt like telling her it was lucky for her she wasn’t a man, or he’d have invited her outside. Grinding his jaw as he waited for the camera crew to pack up their gear, he knew he shouldn’t blame the reporter. He should be glad she was ignorant of what he had been through and was spared the reality behind the images on her television screen. As soon as the last of them had gone he set about clearing up, and had no sooner piled their dirty coffee-cups into an already overloaded sink than th

Brother to the Boss (Managing the Bosses 8) Read Free “We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. Mark Reid, with his brother, Alex, are building a dynasty of power. One behind corporate offices and tall sky-scraper buildings, the other through the elite social club of a high society golf and country club where the ridiculously rich can golf, talk business and hit a few balls. With Jamie more at home that at work, Alex finds himself longing to be with her instead of focusing on the billion-dollar empire he’s built. Trying to figure out some sort of balance, he realizes one of the two things he loves will suffer no matter what he does – family or Reid Enterprise. Meanwhile, Mark’s country club is hitting the news, and interest of every CEO and socialite around. Excited at how fast it’s growing Mark follows his brother’s work ethic even though he can barely keep up. His professional golfer, Erika, is doing whatever she can to help it succeed. Jealousy runs high between the two of them as over-work and beautiful, rich men and woman flirt inside the country club. The brother’s competitive nature begins to drive a wedge between the two of them and when a sneaky underdog decides taking down Reid Enterprise is his top priority; Alex is left in a vulnerable position. When the tables turn, Mark might be the only one who can save his brother this time, but will they fall back to old habits and push each other away? How far are you willing to go for your brother? How much are you willing to risk? ** Wife to the Boss is book 6 in the Managing the Bosses series. ** Managing the Bosses Series: The Boss The Boss Too Who's the Boss Now * Gift for the Boss (Christmas Novella) Love the Boss I Do the Boss Wife to the Boss Employed by the Boss Brother to the Boss Senior Advisor to the Boss This is steamy romance, NOT erotica. *************** Chapter 1 The soles of Alex’s polished work shoes clacked quietly against the marble of the foyer as he crossed from the elevator to his office, a steady beat under the noise of his employees going about their business. He nodded to Justin at the secretary’s desk, and again to Miss Eriksson as she went by with her own quick tap-tap-tap of heels. He stepped through the door into his office, and shut it behind him. Standing at the desk, Alex looked out over the view from the window, Manhattan spread below him, and felt the heady rush of power. All of this, this building standing tall among the skyscrapers of one of the greatest cities in the world, he’d built. Reid Enterprises and everything that came with that was his. And yet, as he sat down at the big desk of sleek wood and logged into his computer to begin the day’s work, he couldn’t help feeling that something was missing. Less than a year ago Jamie had been here with him, working in the room next door now occupied by Miss Eriksson. Even after a

Millionaire's Woman Read Free *************** CHAPTER ONE THE moment Cory let Rufus off the lead she knew it was a big mistake. The powerful Labrador cross golden retriever shot across Hyde Park like a bat out of hell, mothers whisking toddlers up into their arms at his approach and elderly couples leaping out of his way with a nimbleness they probably thought had been lost to them years before. Even the group of young people who had been ambling towards them clad in strategically slashed jeans and with piercings in seemingly every nook and cranny lost their cool aplomb, scattering with shrieks and cries which—on the whole, Cory was thankful to note—were good-humoured. For the first minute or so of following in the dog’s wake Cory shouted apologies to all and sundry, then, when Rufus showed no signs of slowing down, she kept her breath for running. Why hadn’t she listened to her aunt? Cory silently berated herself as she panted after the dog, wasting valuable breath every twenty yards or so by screeching his name. But Rufus had been so docile and obliging on the walk down Bayswater Road from her aunt’s house, sitting at all the right times without being told and keeping to heel like an old pro. And the deep brown eyes had been so imploring once they’d entered the park, the doggy expression of longing as he’d watched other canines chasing balls and playing making her feel like the wicked witch of the west. ‘Keep him on the lead, Cory,’ Aunt Joan had warned as she’d seen them off at the door, her left leg encased in plaster due to a nasty fall a couple of weeks before. ‘I can just about trust him to come back now but I don’t know how he would react with someone else. He’s perfectly friendly, of course, and just adores children and other dogs, but the original owners kept him confined all the time as well as neglecting him in other ways, as you know. The poor darling.’ ‘The poor darling’ was not the phrase she’d choose to describe the dog right at this moment, Cory thought grimly. Her lungs felt as though they were going to burst and her throat and chest were on fire. There were various choice names which sprang to mind but poor and darling didn’t feature in any of them. Rufus having made a couple of lightning stops to sniff the certain part of other canines’ anatomies which dogs found so interesting, Cory now found herself closer to him than at any time since the undignified chase had begun. Summoning all her strength, she bellowed, ‘Rufus! Stay!’ just as the animal prepared to take off from socialising with a French poodle. The golden head turned, brown eyes considering her with a faintly amazed expression as though he couldn’t understand why she wasn’t entering wholeheartedly into this wonderful game he’d organised. Seizing the opportunity, Cory growled, ‘Come here. Heel, Rufus.’ There was still a good fifty yards between them but she couldn’t run any more, the stitch in her side excruciating. Whether it was her ferocious voice or the fact that

Bad Liar (The Reed Rivers Trilogy 1) Read Free Swallowing lies has never felt so good.Reed freaking Rivers. I wouldn’t trust a word out of the arrogant music mogul’s mouth if his gold-plated tongue were notarized. The Man with the Midas Touch would say anything to get me into his bed, and I know it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want him to succeed.Indeed, the moment I laid eyes on Reed while he was speaking at an on-campus event I’d crashed, my body physically ached to feel his golden fingers—and tongue—all over me. Unfortunately, though, I can’t give into my powerful craving to jump Reed’s cocky bones. Not until I’ve figured out my best strategy with him . . .The truth is Reed has something I desperately want. Something my heart desires even more than my body craves one night of delicious fun with the yummiest man alive. Reed assumes he’s running this game of seduction. He thinks he’s a thirty-four-year-old big cat on the prowl, and I’m nothing but a blushing twenty-one-year old field mouse with stars in my eyes. Yeah . . . no.As Reed is about to find out, he’s not the only cat on the hunt in this game of cat-and-mouse . . . . BAD LIAR is the first book of the standalone REED RIVERS TRILOGY. The full trilogy is BAD LIAR, BEAUTIFUL LIAR, and BELOVED LIAR, to be read in order. *************** Music Playlist for Bad Liar “Had a Dad”—Jane’s Addiction “Father of Mine”—Everclear “Hustle”—Pink “Bad Guy”—Billie Eilish “Truth Hurts”—Lizzo “Bad Liar”—Selena Gomez Chapter 1 Reed Fifteen years ago As the sorority girl in the purple wig kneels before me, her mouth working enthusiastically on me, I lean back in my armchair and try to clear my mind. I don’t want to think about my father’s lifeless body dangling in his prison cell while this girl is sucking me off. Actually, I don’t want to think about that under any circumstances, obviously. But after getting that horrible call this morning, I can’t stop imagining the grisly scene. I thought getting this pretty girl onto her knees would distract me from the images ravaging my mind. Apparently not. I should probably pull her off me. Pay her the usual fifty bucks and explain I’m just not feeling it tonight. But my dick is rock hard in her mouth, despite the chaos swirling inside my mind... So, fuck it. I sit back, close my eyes, and will her talented mouth to coax my racing mind into a temporary state of amnesia. This girl isn’t a professional, despite appearances, even though she’s presently sucking my cock for cash. She’s a student here at UCLA, the same as me—a fresh-faced sorority girl I met at a costume party at my fraternity house a month ago. The theme of the party was “Hookers and Pimps,” and she was dressed like Pretty Woman. So, naturally, there was no shortage of raunchy jokes throughout the night... all of which ultimately led to her following me to my room upstairs and giving me head like a pro. When the girl finished her task that night, I patted her head, congratulated her on a job well done, and

A Mother's Secret Read Free *************** CHAPTER ONE ‘LOOK, MUMMY, THAT’S our island!’ Isla was bouncing up and down and pointing through the ship’s railings. Gemma put her bags at her feet and rested her elbows on the railings. ‘Yes,’ she said quietly, ‘it is.’ The ship gave another shudder as it moved away from Ardrossan Harbour and out into the Firth of Clyde. Arran looked so close she could almost reach out and touch it. But, then, it had looked that way the whole time they had driven along the Ayrshire coast. Her stomach gave a little flip—and it wasn’t from the choppy waters. Her hand settled on Isla’s shoulder next to her little red curls—the only permanent reminder of her father. This would be better. This would be safer for them both. A chance for a new start. A chance for some down time. A chance to meet some new friends who knew nothing about her past and wouldn’t stand in judgement of her. Glasgow and the surrounding area had been just too small. Everywhere she’d gone someone had known Patrick or Lesley. They’d gone to medical school together, or been on a course with one of them, or knew a neighbour. The list was endless. As were the whispers. The bad surrogate. The woman who’d made the papers when she’d ‘stolen’ another couple’s baby. Not strictly true. But true enough that it had caused her a world of pain, a court case and five years of sleepless nights. But now it was finally over. Now she could finally move on. Now, in accordance with the law, Isla was officially hers. She stared out across the water. Arran. Twenty miles long and ten miles across. A population of ten thousand that swelled to twenty thousand over the summer holidays. It was perfect. Even down to the cottage she’d purchased over the internet for her and Isla to stay in. Two days’ work as a paediatrician all year long and one day’s work as a GP over the busy summer months. That, along with an occasional emergency shift in the island hospital, would be more than enough. Some of her friends thought she was crazy, moving to a place she’d only ever visited on summer holidays as a child and making a new life there. Taking up a new job with some extra part-time hours when she hadn’t even sorted out her childcare for Isla yet. That did make her stomach give a little flip. But she’d had long conversations with the head of the GP practice and he’d assured her he had a few people in mind he could vouch for to help with Isla’s care. Time with Isla was precious. She was starting school in August. And although properties on the island could be expensive, the sale of her flat in Glasgow had given her a healthy profit. She didn’t need a big income. She wasn’t looking to be a millionaire. She just needed enough to keep her and Isla comfortable. ‘Mummy, can we look at our new house again?’ The brisk sea wind was whipping their hair around their faces. The sun was shining brightly but the wind was cutting straight through the thin material of her summer dress. Maybe she’d been a

Meddling with a Millionaire (Case Brothers 1) Read Free Emma Montgomery wouldn't be manipulated into marriage as part of Daddy's business deal—even if he cut off access to her trust fund until she complied. The talented jewelry designer would just make her own way. Or go down trying. Too bad her intended groom—maverick businessman and former crush Nathan Case—made her stubborn stance so difficult. The heat of his touch had her nearly betraying herself at every turn. Resisting Nathan and regaining her money were the name of the game—but meddling with this millionaire might land her right back in his arms! *************** One Sighting his quarry at last, Nathan Case dodged a waiter carrying a tray of champagne and navigated around a chocolate fountain. Twenty feet ahead, Emma Montgomery slipped through the cream of Dallas society gathered to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Ever since arriving at her father’s home an hour ago, Nathan had been searching for Emma, contemplating exactly what he intended to do when he tracked her down. His options ranged from kissing her to throttling her. He had yet to decide which way to go. As if sensing the intensity of his thoughts, she glanced over her shoulder. A strand of hair caught on her lush lips as she scanned the party guests. Delicate fingers brushed long sable bangs back from her forehead, exposing the frown that pulled her brows together. She looked like a wild creature caught out in the open, unsure of where to flee. Then, her chocolate eyes locked on him. Quick as a rabbit, she ducked around a potted palm and disappeared. His heartbeat surged as he picked up his pace. He’d had women play hard to get before. The game sweetened their ultimate surrender. But Emma had taken the maneuver to a whole new level. If he didn’t know better, he would think she was avoiding him. Ridiculous, given what he’d learned today. He passed the library where a rollicking sing-along was taking place, with two dozen people crowded around the grand piano to belt out Sinatra tunes. He caught sight of Emma just before she ducked into the room and followed, glad to leave behind the throng drinking Silas Montgomery’s booze and gawking at the mansion the oil tycoon had built as a testament to his wealth and power. The two-story library with its cherry paneling and wall of bookshelves was more intimate than the colossal great hall they’d left behind, but not quiet enough for Nathan. He intended to have Emma to himself by midnight. He had no intention of letting anyone but him kiss her incredible mouth. She stopped dead as he cut off her escape route. The noise level was too high for conversation, but Emma had little trouble communicating her impatience as he herded her toward the piano and nudged her into a narrow space between a blonde in a red halter dress and a short balding man whose attention was riveted on the woman’s cleavage. Nathan surveyed the blonde without interest. Although he appreciated a half-naked woman as much as the ne

Alastair Read Free *************** 1 “Don’t take too long in there or you’ll be late! The agency won’t appreciate that, Maisie!” shouts my mum through the bathroom door. I’ve just lowered myself down into a hot, delicious bath filled with floral-scented bubbles, piling my chocolate-brown hair back into a messy knot on top of my head. I roll my eyes and heave an exasperated sigh. My mum means well, but she has a tendency to hover a bit, always worrying over me. “I know, Mum,” I groan, staring over at the door, praying she’ll leave soon. I was hoping for a little more privacy, but living with my mother in such tight quarters does not allow for a lot of time for myself. We share a tiny two bedroom terrace house in Conwy, North Wales, and we’re constantly bumping into each other, driving one another up the wall. We love each other, of course, but there comes a point when you’re eighteen years old and you’re just ready to be on your own. “And don’t use up all my nice bubble bath!” she adds pointedly. I grimace, glancing over at the now-empty pink bottle perched on the edge of the bathtub. “I’ll, um, get you some more,” I say sheepishly. I can nearly see her crossing her arms over her chest and shaking her head in that oh-too-familiar way. “Anyway, you don’t want to be late for work, either! I’ll be fine. Have a good day!” I continue quickly. I hear her gasp a little and say, “Blimey, the time! Okay, I’m off.” I listen to her heels clacking across the linoleum floor, fading away as she finally leaves. With a sigh, I close my eyes and sink down further into the aromatic water, enjoying the rare silence and solitude. Today is an important day, and I need to be in tip-top condition to handle it. I want a chance to zen out a little bit before I walk into the housekeeping agency office for that interview. I have to be perfect in every way if I’m going to land a good job. Reaching over blindly, my fingers close around the item I’m looking for: a squishy sponge. Opening my eyes for just a moment, I squirt some lemony-scented soap onto it and begin massaging my naked shoulders, then down my arms and back up to my neck. The hot water is utterly heavenly on my skin, especially since it’s getting rather chilly outside. I dip the sponge into the water and lift it up, wringing it out over my perky breasts, my soft pink nipples just barely peeking out of the water. They stiffen slightly at the sensation of hot water sprinkling tantalizingly over my chest and I lean back, biting my lip. I never, ever get alone time… and it shows. From the moment I wake up in the morning until the second I fall back into bed at night, I am awash in sexual frustration — and just frustration, in general, actually. Living out here in such a small town is idyllic when you’re a child. The sea is mysterious and the forests enchanting. The streets are friendly and safe, and everyone knows your name. But now that I’m a young adult, I’ve grown tired of looking at the same sights and faces eve

The Virgin's Debt to Pay Read Free Indebted to the billionaire… And he will collect!Nessa must appeal to notorious tycoon Luc’s better nature to exonerate her brother of theft. But Luc is the most merciless—and sinfully attractive—man Nessa’s ever met! Until the debt is settled, he’ll hold her as his captive. And when undeniable attraction overwhelms them both, it becomes clear that Nessa’s innocence is the real price to pay…! *************** CHAPTER ONE NESSA O’SULLIVAN HAD never considered herself capable of petty crime, and yet here she was, just outside a private property, under the cover of moonlight, about to break and enter to steal something that didn’t belong to her. She grimaced. Well, to be accurate, she wasn’t really going to be breaking and entering, because she had her brother’s keys to his office in the Barbier stud farm offices. Luc Barbier. Just thinking of the owner of this stud and racing stables made a shiver of apprehension run through Nessa’s slim frame. She was crouched under an overhanging branch, on the edge of a pristine lawn in front of the main reception buildings. She’d left her battered Mini Cooper a short distance away from the gates and climbed over a low wall. Nessa’s own family home was not far away, and so she knew the land surrounding this stud farm very well. She’d played here as a child when it was under different ownership. But any sense of familiarity fled when an owl hooted nearby, and she jumped, her heart slamming against her breastbone. She forced herself to suck in deep breaths to calm her nerves, and cursed her hot-headed older brother again for fleeing like he had. But then, could she really blame Paddy Junior for not standing up to Luc Barbier—the intimidating French enfant terrible of the thoroughbred racing world, about whom more was unknown than known? His darkly forbidding good looks had rumours abounding...that he had been orphaned by gypsies, and that he’d lived on the streets, before becoming something of a legend in the racing world for his ability to train the most difficult of horses. He’d progressed in a very short space of time to owning his own racing stables outside Paris, and now he owned this extensive stud farm in Ireland attached to another racing stables, where his impressive number of successful racehorses were trained by the best in the world, all under his eagle-eyed supervision. People said his ability was some kind of sorcery, handed down by his mysterious ancestors. Other rumours had it that he was simply a common criminal who had grown up on the wrong side of the tracks, and had managed to climb out of the gutter to where he was now by using a fluke talent and ruthless ingenuity to get ahead. The mystery of his origins only added to the feverish speculation surrounding him, because along with his racing concerns, he had invested in myriad other industries, tripling his fortune in a short space of time and securing his position as one of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneu

Road Trip with the Best Man Read Free A jilted bride, a best man…And a journey that will change their lives!With her dream wedding in tatters, Dawn Featherington resolves to track down her errant groom and demand answers. But there’s one obstacle in her way—billionaire best man Cooper Edwards! Not trusting her intentions, the cynical divorcé refuses to let her go alone. But with each passing mile, Cooper begins to realize they could be on the road to happily-ever-after! *************** CHAPTER ONE DAWN FEATHERINGTON STARED down the aisle at the perfect floral arrangements tied to each row of chairs set out on the grass. The string quartet was playing Pachelbel’s Canon—again—the officiant smiling serenely at the foot of the pagoda steps. The late-afternoon sun shone down on the manicured lawns of the Californian coastal mansion Justin’s mother had insisted would be the perfect venue for the two hundred and fifty guests they needed to invite, lighting up the delicate white ribbons and lace strung around the pagoda. Everything looked perfect. Until she turned her attention to the expectant guests, all waiting slightly less patiently than they had been twenty minutes ago, and felt her stomach twist. Because the only thing missing now was the groom. Dawn ducked back behind the screens that the venue staff had put in place to keep the bridal party’s arrival a secret until the last moment. Behind her, her four sisters whispered amongst themselves, their rose-pink silk bridesmaid dresses rustling with them. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but then she didn’t really need to. Can you believe this is happening again? No. They were wrong. Justin loved her, he wanted to marry her. He’d hated even having to spend last night in a different hotel—although he’d insisted they had to, for tradition’s sake. He’d be here any moment. Probably. Dawn bit back a sigh. It wasn’t as if this exact thing had happened before, anyway—whatever her sisters were whispering. She’d never got quite as far as the altar with any of the others. They’d all called it off before it reached this point. Two broken engagements—one at the rehearsal dinner, but that still wasn’t the actual altar, right?—three long-term cohabiting relationships that had never even got as far as the ring and now Justin. Forty minutes late for his own wedding. It wouldn’t be quite so bad if every single one of her boyfriends hadn’t gone on to marry someone else within twelve to eighteen months. Including, in one particularly soul-destroying case, marrying her own sister. ‘The Dry Run.’ That was what her sisters called her. Dawn was the woman that guys tried out settling down with before they picked the woman they actually wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. And for some reason that woman was never Dawn. But Justin was different. Wasn’t he? From the moment they’d first met, she’d felt it. She’d been at a work event, one held at an estate not unlike this one, with vineyards stretching back from t

Bound to the Tuscan Billionaire Read Free Nine months to claim what's his!  For gardener Cassandra Rich, working in the foothills of Tuscany is the perfect way to escape her past. Until the man of the manor graces the villa with his presence and Cassandra with his attention. Marco di Fivizzano can't take his eyes off the delectable Cass. So when he requires a plus one for a gala, Marco will uncover who this fiery blonde is—over dinner, or in his bed!  In Marco's arms, Cass blossoms, finding the freedom she's always craved…until she discovers she's pregnant and bound to the billionaire forever! *************** CHAPTER ONE PLUNGING HER SPADE into the rich moist earth of Tuscany, Cass smiled as she reflected on her good luck in landing the job in Italy. She loved nothing more than being outdoors, using her body to the full. And where better than here, to an accompaniment of birdsong and the gurgle of a crystal-clear river. Her job was to help out at a grand estate over the planting season. The staff had a day off on Wednesdays to break up the week, so she had the place to herself, making it all too easy to imagine that she was the chatelaine in charge of the glorious grounds—though perhaps not kitted out in mud-caked boots, braless in a skimpy vest she’d ripped on some barbed wire, topped off with a baseball cap that was as frayed and faded as her shorts! The estate was miles from anywhere and the solitude was bliss, especially after the clamour of the supermarket where she worked back home, and being on her own was better than facing the owner of the estate. Marco di Fivizzano, an Italian industrialist, hadn’t been near the place since she’d arrived. She was in no hurry to meet a man who, according to the press, was as bloodless and cold as the Cararra marble he mined. She didn’t need to worry about him, Cass mused as she stabbed her spade into the ground. She couldn’t imagine a man like Marco di Fivizzano taking time out of his busy schedule to drive down from Rome to his country estate in the middle of the week. When she’d asked Maria and Giuseppe—housekeeper and handyman, respectively—if and when she was likely to meet her boss, they’d just looked at each other and shrugged. Which was probably as well, Cass reflected as she returned to vigorously prepping the ground for the seedlings she was planting. She had no problem with hard work. Tugging her forelock was something else. She’d always been a rebel, though a quiet one, all the rebellion being in her head. Dumb insolence, her headmistress had called it, when Cass, at seven, had refused to cry on the day she’d been made to stand on the school stage as all the pupils had trooped past. That had been the headmistress’s idea to shame her on the day Cass’s parents’ had been arrested for drug offences. Young as she had been, she had determined never to be bullied again. One thing still perplexed her. If her parents hadn’t been the type of people the headmistress had wanted to encourage, why had the s

His Ultimate Prize Read Free His Ultimate Prize Winning is everything Rafael de Cervantes was a devil behind the wheel and in the bedroom until his near-fatal crash. To mask his pain? He'll seduce his beautiful physio, Raven Blass! Knowing she's responsible for his scars, will Raven risk discovery for one glorious night in Rafael's bed? *************** CHAPTER ONE ‘PUT YOUR ARMS around me and hold on tight.’ The rich, deep chuckle that greeted her request sent a hot shiver down Raven Blass’s spine. The same deep chuckle she continually prayed she would grow immune to. So far, her prayers had gone stubbornly unanswered. ‘Trust me, bonita, I don’t need guidance on how to hold a woman in my arms. I give instructions; I don’t take them.’ Rafael de Cervantes’s drawled response was accompanied by a lazy drift of his finger down her bare arm and a latent heat in ice-blue eyes that constantly unnerved her with their sharp, unwavering focus. With gritted teeth, she forced herself not to react to his touch. It was a test, another in a long line of tests he’d tried to unsettle her with in the five weeks since he’d finally called her and offered her this job. Maintaining a neutral expression, she stood her ground. ‘Well, you can do what I say, or you can stay in the car and miss your nephew’s christening altogether. After agreeing to be his godfather, I’m sure you not turning up in church will go down well with your brother and Sasha.’ As she’d known it would, the mention of Sasha de Cervantes’s name caused the atmosphere to shift from toying-with-danger sexual banter to watch-it iciness. Rafael’s hand dropped from her arm to grip the titanium-tipped walking stick tucked between his legs, his square jaw tightening as his gaze cooled. Deep inside, in the other place where she refused to let anyone in, something clenched hard. Ignoring it, she patted herself on the back for the hollow victory. Rafael not touching her in any way but professionally was a good thing. Recite. Repeat. Recite. Repeat— ‘I didn’t agree...exactly.’ Her snort slipped out before she could stop it. ‘Yeah, right. The likelihood of you agreeing to something you’re not one hundred per cent content with is virtually nil. Unless...’ His eyes narrowed. ‘Unless what?’ Unless Sasha had done the asking. ‘Nothing. Shall we try again? Put your arms—’ ‘Unless you want me to kiss that mouth shut, I suggest you can the instructions and move closer. For a start, you’re too far away for this to work. If I move the wrong way and land on top of you, I’ll crush you, you being such a tiny thing and all.’ ‘I’m not tiny.’ She moved a step closer to the open doorway of the sleek black SUV, stubbornly refusing to breathe in too much of his disconcertingly heady masculine scent. ‘I’m five foot nine of solid muscle and bone and I can drop kick you in two moves. Think about that before you try anything remotely iffy on me.’ The lethal grin returned. ‘Dios, I love it when you talk dirty to me. Although my moves have

Take Me (Dirty Ever After 3) Read Free *************** CHAPTER ONE ELLE What do people think of when they think of the name Elle Morris? Wife. Mother. Homemaker. I love being all those things. The twins, Jody and Keira, are still my babies, even at fourteen, although they would both prefer I not describe them that way publicly. Naturally, knowing this means I’m much more likely to do it. And then there’s Falcon, my husband. Even after fifteen years of marriage, I still love him every bit as much as I did in the beginning. Maybe even more so. I still love the pants off him—literally. He used to be an MMA fighter, and although he retired from the sport and now works as the CEO of an investment banking company, he has never let himself go physically. He still works out five times a week, and fuck me, does it show. He has washboard abs and a chest to die for. His sparkling green eyes and mess of blond hair make him look younger than his years, and just looking at him is enough to get me wet. We used to have a fucking awesome sex life, but now we don’t get it as often as I’d like us to, with the girls and Falcon’s job taking up so much of our time. But when we do, he still completely rocks my world, making me come hard and fast, and yes after all these years, he still makes me weak inside. So yes, I’m happy. I know I have the sort of life a lot of women would kill for: a big house, a nice car, nail appointments, spa days, a full name-brand wardrobe, and I even get to do brunches. But lately, it’s not enough, and I’ve found myself questioning my identity more and more in recent years. When Falcon and I got married, I had big dreams. I was going to be a corporate litigator, like one of those glamorous women you see on TV who make mincemeat of their opponents in court and have this air about them that says don’t fucking mess with me. But then I got pregnant, and I dropped out of law school. It was the right choice at the time. I wanted so badly to be a good mom and stay at home with my girls, and Falcon was making enough money from his fighting that we could afford for me to stay home. And then he moved into the CEO position, and to say we’re well off is an understatement. I have been thinking about all this for at least a year now, and it hit me this morning what I want to do. I want to go back to work. Not as an attorney; I really don’t like the idea of going back to college and interning for partners who are younger than me. But I feel like, at thirty-four, it’s time I made my mark on the world and accomplished something that’s just for me. The twins are fourteen now, old enough to be home alone for a couple hours after school, and now is the perfect time for me to start searching for a job. It’s summer vacation, and my parents took the twins on a month-long trip around Asia. After they left yesterday, I realized the house was too empty—too quiet, and Falcon seems to be working longer and longer hours. I’m done with rattling around our big old house

Wanting Mr. Cane (Cane 1) Read Free KANDYIt was love at first sight when I met Mr. Cane.He was handsome, broody, tattooed, and rich. For years, he’s been mine. He just didn’t know it. I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with him, or for him to want me in the ways that he did.None of it was ever supposed to happen, but after all we’ve done together, it’s too late to turn back now. A once harmless crush had blossomed into so much more. CANEWhen we first met, she was just a kid - my best friend’s daughter. A sweet, young girl with a big heart. But now, she’s a young woman who knows what she wants, and all she wants is me. I’ve tried holding back, pretending the connection meant nothing, but my sweet candy cane made it impossible. If anyone finds out, I’ll be ruined. I’ve worked too hard to lose everything I’ve built. But there’s just something about her that tempts me, making me want to sacrifice just about anything to have her. *************** 1 KANDY I remember the very first day I met Mr. Cane. I was only nine years old, but I remember exactly what I saw and how I felt when I first laid eyes on him. A shiny black car pulled into the driveway of our two-story home, parking less than a yard away from where I was. I sat on the tire swing of the big tree on the front lawn, wearing dingy-white chucks with rainbow laces, jean overalls, and knee-high pink socks. I was covered in grass stains after playing hide-and-seek with Frankie earlier that day. I squinted my eyes and watched as the car door swung open and the sole of a shiny, black dress-shoe planted itself on the pavement. My eyes shifted over to the navy blue suit pants he wore, then up to the white button-down shirt that was rolled at the sleeves, revealing strong, inked forearms. And then I found his face. He stood tall, shoulders broad, a pair of sunglasses covering his eyes. His skin was a rich bronze, like it’d been kissed by the sun his entire life. He rolled his neck, and I swear I could hear the crack of it from where I sat. I don't think he saw me right away, but I saw him. He was too busy looking at the house, probably impressed by it. I really liked that house, too. The man shut the door behind him, and when he took a step to the side, I noticed a tattoo on the curve of his neck. RISE. I could see the word in bold script from the short distance away. His jawline was sharp, the barest trace of stubble on his face. There was ink on his hands and all over his arms, some of it dark, some colorful. His dark brown hair was tapered on the sides and in the back, the lengthier part at the crown gelled back. If I were to guess, I would have assumed he was no older than thirty. Maybe twenty-six or twenty-seven? He inhaled and then exhaled, taking off his sunglasses, and when he finally turned his head to the left, his eyes landed right on mine. His face didn't change. He almost seemed unbothered by my presence, or like he already knew who I was. I didn't know him at all. He walked toward the hood

The Second Mrs. Adams Read Free *************** CHAPTER ONE THE siren was loud. Painfully, agonizingly loud. The sound was a live thing, burrowing deep into her skull, tunneling into the marrow of her bones. Make it stop, she thought, oh please, make it stop. But even when it did, the silence didn’t take the pain away. “My head,” she whispered. “My head.” No one was listening. Or perhaps no one could hear her. Was she really saying anything or was she only thinking the words? People were crowded around, faces looking down at her, some white with concern, others sweaty with curiosity. Hands were moving over her now, very gently, and then they were lifting her; oh, God, it hurt! “Easy,” somebody said, and then she was inside a…a what? A truck? No. It was an ambulance. And now the doors closed and the ambulance began to move and the sound, that awful sound, began again and they were flying through the streets. Terror constricted her throat. What’s happened to me? she thought desperately. She tried to gasp out the words but she couldn’t form them. She was trapped in silence and in pain as they raced through the city. Had there been an accident? A picture formed in her mind of wet, glistening pavement, a curb, a taxi hurtling toward her. She heard again the bleat of a horn and the squeal of tires seeking a purchase that was not to be found… No. No! she thought, and then she screamed her denial but the scream rose to mingle with the wail of the siren as she tumbled down into velvet darkness. * * * She lay on her back and drifted in the blue waters of a dream. There was a bright yellow light overhead. Was it the sun? There were voices… Disembodied voices, floating on the air. Sentence fragments that made no sense, falling around her with the coldness of snow. “…five more CC’s…” “…blood pressure not stabilized yet…” “…wait for a CAT scan before…” The voices droned on. It wasn’t anything to do with her, she decided drowsily, and fell back into the darkness. * * * The next time she awoke, the voices were still talking. “…no prognosis, at this stage…” “…touch and go for a while, but…” They were talking about her. But why? What was wrong with her? She wanted to ask, she wanted to tell them to stop discussing her as if she weren’t there because she was there, it was just that she couldn’t get her eyes to open because the lids were so heavy. She groaned and a hand closed over hers, the fingers gripping hers reassuringly. “Joanna?”

Cherry Lover (Cherry 2) Read Free 4.5 StarsThis is the second and final book of the Cherry series, and I loved it. The story takes right away where the first book ended with Slate and Monroe starting a three months period relationship based on their new deal.Their bond grows more with each passing day and she's falling hard. He too, but he's still trying to fight those feelings and is still stubborn. He's hurting her and himself.There is more action and drama in this one. Past destroyed relationship are mended and the walls around Slate's heart start crumbling. I loved how the story between hero and heroine was developed. Victoria knows how to write great stories. I liked also Cohen a lot in this book. He's a type. He will become Monroe's best friend and will have a central role in his brother's happiness. Simone will get the end she deserves in the end.This was a very beautiful romance series and I really enjoyed it. The epilogue was adorable!! Loved it! *************** 1 Slate The office was a paradise while Coen and Simone were away. They spent a week in the Bahamas, somewhere remote where he didn’t even have an internet connection most of the time. That prevented him from flooding my email with updates. It was nice. I tried to enjoy the calm before he returned—with the devil on his arm. I wondered how long she would play nice before she showed her true colors. Would she stick around for at least a year just to make it seem like their marriage was real? Or would she waste no time and get rid of him in just a few weeks? The sooner, the better in my opinion. Once the truth was out, Coen would know I had his best interests at heart—and I tried to warn him. Max walked into my office a moment later, his folder tucked under his arm. “Haven’t heard from you in a while.” “You can just call.” “Yes, but you need pictures. I’m not sending that over email.” He set the folder on my desk. “The line of eager girls just keeps getting bigger and bigger. What’s the holdup?” A single woman was the holdup. “We’re going to have to put this operation on hold for three months.” “Three months?” he asked blankly. “Why? You keep putting this on hold over and over. What’s the problem?” I paid him, so I got to be the one to ask questions—not the other way around. “It doesn’t matter. But I’m not taking new clients for the foreseeable future.” “Does that mean you have one client in mind?” I was sleeping with the same woman over and over again, a woman so vanilla, but she tasted so sweet. “Yes.” The last woman I had committed to was Simone, and that ended up being a mistake. I didn’t consider myself to be committed to Monroe in the same way, but I was definitely monogamous. “So is this just three months?” he asked. “Or do you think it may be indefinite…” It couldn’t be indefinite. I didn’t want to lose Monroe, but I didn’t want to marry her either. “Because I need to find a new client if you’re retiring.” “I’m not retiring. I’ll keep paying you.” “Until you decide in three

Expecting the Billionaire's Baby (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 4) Read Free A Texas-size pregnancy surprise!Cecelia Morgan needs to take her business to the next level, and decorating the new luxury resort in Royal, Texas, is just the ticket. But at the meeting to pitch her designs, she comes face-to-face with Deacon Chase, her former flame from the wrong side of the tracks who grew up to be a billionaire hotelier. Turns out he's the silent partner in this project. Their chemistry is off the charts. Too bad she's spoken for.But when the blackmailer terrorizing the Texas Cattleman's Club targets Cecelia, revealing a past secret that ruins her present engagement, she turns to Deacon for comfort ... only to soon be expecting! *************** One “You can do this, Cecelia.” Cecelia Morgan attempted to encourage herself as she looked over her portfolio for the hundredth time. Tomorrow, she was presenting her design plans to the board of directors of the new Bellamy Hotel. This was a big step for her and her company, To the Moon. The company she started after college specialized in children’s furniture, bedding and toys. From the beginning she had targeted a high-end market, catering to wealthy parents who were looking for luxury products for their children. The company had been a success from the very start. What had begun as a small online boutique had exploded into a series of stores across the United States after a celebrity posted on social media about how much they loved one of TTM’s nursery designs. Cecelia had been forced to open her own production facility and warehouse outside her hometown of Royal, Texas, to keep up with the demand. The portfolio on the desk in front of her, however, could take To the Moon to the next level. Designing furniture, toys and accessories for pampered little ones had been her first love, but now Cecelia was ready for her business to mature along with her tastes. The Bellamy Hotel was her chance to make this a reality. The Bellamy was a brand-new five-star resort opening right outside Royal. Owner Shane Delgado had contacted Cecelia about decorating and furnishing the hotel about a month ago, after a previous designer had been fired well into the process. This would be a big step for Cecelia. If she could secure the contract with The Bellamy, it would give her the footing she needed to branch out into the luxury adult furniture market. As her daddy always said, if you’re not moving forward, you might as well be moving backward. She was successful, but that wasn’t enough for the Morgans. Her subsidiary of To the Moon—Luna Fine Furnishings—could change everything for her. She was shocked that Shane had reached out to her, given he was pretty clear he’d dismissed her as part of the mean girls clique, along with her best friends Simone and Naomi. Admittedly, she wasn’t very nice to his girlfriend Brandee and recent gossip had been less than flattering about Cecelia and her friends. Some even suspected them of bein

After Their Vows Read Free Broken vows don’t necessarily mean a broken marriage…Angie de Calvhos meant every word of the vows she shared with husband Roque at the altar. Pity he didn’t return her sincerity… Expecting happy-ever-after, instead Angie found herself going through a mortifyingly public separation!Now, divorce papers in hand, Angie has finally built up the courage to put an end to her time as a de Calvhos wife once and for all.But she’s forgotten the magnetic pull that devilish Roque possesses. And that broken vows don’t necessarily mean a broken marriage… *************** CHAPTER ONE ‘WHAT do you want me to do about it?’ Seated behind his desk, engrossed in the business report spread open in front of him, Roque de Calvhos responded impassively, ‘You do nothing.’ Mark Lander continued to hover like a man in a quandary, frowning behind his spectacles because doing nothing was not an option his employer could afford to take. ‘She could make trouble,’ he dared to offer, all too aware that the younger man did not take kindly to interference into decisions he made about his private life. Roque de Calvhos was a chip off the old block when it came to a cut-throat mentality. When Eduardo de Calvhos had become ill and died suddenly three years ago, no one had expected his notorious playboy son to calmly stride in here and start making his presence felt, with far-sweeping decisions most people had believed were a precursor to the quick demise of de Calvhos power. They now knew better. What Roque had done with the huge network of diverse companies which made up the de Calvhos business empire had put his father’s colossal success in the shade. Now obsequious respect shadowed the thirty-two-year-old’s every elegant footstep. If the financial industry could give out such awards, Roque de Calvhos would have sprouted wings. He was also remarkably good-looking, insufferably laid-back, and so impossible to read that there were still some fools out there who dared to underestimate him—only to learn the hard way what a huge mistake they had made. His estranged wife was not one of those people. ‘At the moment she is citing irreconcilable differences. Think about it, Roque,’ Mark advised. ‘Angie is basically letting you off the hook here.’ Giving up on the report, Roque sat back in his chair to look up at the older man. Eyes as black as the neatly groomed hair on his head revealed nothing as he studied the lawyer’s concerned face. ‘You are about to remind me that my wife signed no pre-nup,’ Roque predicted. ‘Take it from me, Mark, Angie is not greedy. I trust her not to attempt to skin me alive, okay?’ ‘That depends on what you mean by skinning you alive,’ his lawyer responded dryly. ‘That she doesn’t want your money? Okay, I will agree with you that Angie does not want your money, or she would have been demanding a large cut of it long before now. I would, however, be willing to lay odds that she does not feel the same way about skinning you of your honour

Exotic Nights Read Free *************** PROLOGUE LEONIDAS PARNASSUS looked out of the window of his private plane. They’d just landed at Athens airport. To his utter consternation his chest felt tight and constricted—a sensation he didn’t welcome. He was curiously reluctant to move from his seat, even though the cabin staff were preparing to open the door, even though sitting still and not moving was anathema to him. He told himself it was because he was still chafing at the reality that he’d acquiesced to his father’s demand that he come to Athens for ‘talks’. Leo Parnassus did not carve out time for anything or anyone he deemed a waste of his resources and energy. Not a business venture, a lover, nor a father who had put building up the family fortune and clearing their shamed name before a relationship with his son. Leo grimaced slightly, his face so harsh that the steward who had been approaching him stopped abruptly and hovered uncertainly. Leo saw nothing though but the heat haze on the tarmac outside and the darkness of his own thoughts. He was Greek through and through, and yet he’d never set foot on Greek soil. His family had been exiled from their ancestral home before he was born, but his father had returned triumphantly just a few years ago; finally realising a lifelong dream to clear their name of a terrible crime and to glory in their new-found status and inestimable wealth. Bitter anger rose when Leo remembered his beloved ya ya’s lined and worn face. The sadness that had grooved deep lines around her mouth and shadowed her eyes. It had been too late for her to return home. She’d died in an alien country she’d never grown to love. Even though his grandmother had urged him to return as soon as he’d had the chance, he’d condemned Athens on her behalf for breaking her heart. He’d always sworn that he wouldn’t return to the place that had spurned his family so easily. Athens was still home to the Kassianides family who had been responsible for all that pain and sadness, and who were suffering far too belatedly and minutely for what they had done. They had cast a long shadow over his childhood which had been indelibly marked by their actions, in so many ways. And yet, despite all that … here he was. Because something in his father’s voice, an unmistakable weakness had called to him, in spite of everything that had happened. It had touched him on some level. In short, he’d felt compelled to come. Perhaps he wanted to prove to himself that he was not at the mercy of his emotions? The very thought of that made him go cold; at the tender age of eight he’d made an inarticulate vow never to let any intensity of emotion overwhelm him, because that’s what had killed his mother. Surely he could handle looking his ancestral home in the face and turn his back on it once and for all? Of course he could. But first he had to deal with the fact that his father wanted him to take over the Parnassus shipping business. Leo had denied his inheritance a l

Baby Twins to Bind Them Read Free Carol Marinelli was born in England to Scottish parents, then emigrated to Australia, where there are loads of Scottish and English people who did exactly the same, so she’s very at home there.She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing. *************** The ultimate baby bombshell! For delicious Dr. Guy Steele, life is all about flirting and never about forever! It’s the only way to avoid discussing the painful issue of his infertility. So a fling with Candy Anastasi, the sexiest nurse in the hospital, is the perfect solution…right? Candy’s desperate to take her mind off her good-for-nothing ex—and six weeks of the best sex of her life is the ideal distraction! Until she realizes that she’s fallen for Guy…and that she’s pregnant–with twins! Could her double baby bombshell ultimately bind her to Guy forever? It was a very new thing to her—to be somewhere simply because she wanted to be. It should be wrong, except it felt completely right. He was older, wiser and sexier than any man she had ever dealt with, and she was more turned on than she had ever been in her life—and he hadn’t even kissed her. That was about to be corrected, though. Her heart was galloping even more than it had the first day they’d met. Right now it was almost leaping out of her throat in anticipation. An anticipation she had never known before. When their lips met it seemed to set off a chain reaction. This is what a mouth should feel like, Candy thought, and This is what a tongue was surely designed for, she decided as his tongue stroked hers. His mouth, the pressure of his lips, the constant beckoning of his tongue made her move in closer and she felt breathless. Each of them rested their forehead on the other’s for a moment. Trust time to make things complicated—because if it had been nearly two a.m. they would be racing home right about now. But it was daylight, people were talking, and a lazy Sunday afternoon was going on all around them as they pulled back and met each other’s eyes. Tonight was the unspoken word between them. Candy had never really looked forward to a night in that way before. “I’m going to be late for my meeting,” Steele said as she moved back to his mouth. “You can be two minutes late,” she said. She just needed one more taste. Dear Reader, Sigh… I completely loved writing this book. The only downside to loving my hero, Dr. Guy Steele, so much is that he has spoiled any future relationships—because I will forever be thinking, Steele wouldn’t have said that… or Steele wouldn’t have done that… Yes, he’s really that delicious—just so assured and sexy, yet nice. I’m actually jealous of my own heroine! Happy reading! CHAPTER ONE Before ‘YOU PAGED