Carly Phillips's Blog: Carly's Web Blogs, page 3

Just One Fling Cover Reveal

Coming April 18th

He’s Hollywood’s playboy.
She’s going to have his baby.

Freelance journalist Winter Capwell knows allabout superstar actor and producer Harrison Dare’s bad-boy reputation – her upcoming article isin part about him. 

His all-pleasure, no-commitment rule worked well for her, too. Until fate flipped the script. 

Harrison Dare never wanted a wife or kids. His incredibly large family 

provides all the siblings and children he needs. Besides, no woman has ever tempted him to give up his bachelor lifestyle.

Until the mysterious and sexy Winter entered his life.
But when someone comes after the woman he loves, he will stop at nothing to protect her and make her his. For good.

Book InfoPreorder today:AmazonApple BooksNookGoogle PlayKobo

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Huge Announcement & Cover Reveal!

Carly Phillips, and Erika Wilde are back!

You asked for more characters in the Kingston ~ Dirty Dare world and we’re giving them to you!

JUST A LITTLE HOOKUP – Coming March 21st

When Jessica Cavanaugh bids on her brother’s business partner in a bachelor auction, it’s supposed to be payback for old-time’s sake. Not the weekend of sexy fun she can’t forget.

What is Derek Bettencourt supposed to do when he can’t get the self-assured, full-figured, forbidden woman out of his head?

A Dare Crossover novel featuring Derek Bettencourt from Carly Phillips’ novel, Just One Taste and more characters you’ve come to love from the Kingston ~ Dare world!

With more to come in the Kingston ~ Dare world!

Book InfoPreorder:AmazonApple BooksNookKoboGoogle Play

Narrated by Connor Crais and Samantha Cook!

Print & Audio preorders coming soon!

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Just One Taste – Chapter One Preview

Chapter One

Nicolette Bettencourt woke up and reached for her cell phone. She set the ringer and notifications on silent at night and checked her email and texts first thing in the morning. As soon as she turned on her phone, the messages and notifications popped up so fast she couldn’t keep up.

She pushed herself up and focused on a message from her modeling agent, Amelia Mitchell: Open this and call me immediately. You’re all over the internet.

Nikki looked at the link to the biggest tabloid site, one known for breaking the hottest stories in celebrity and entertainment news, and her stomach pitched. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.

She clicked and studied the photo on the screen, trying to process what she saw. It was her bedroom, with the familiar chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the twin floral framed photos on the wall above the headboard, and the domed smart light on the right nightstand because Nikki found it difficult to wake up on workdays. What the hell?

Her pale pink duvet lay rumpled on one side of the bed, and then she took in the part she’d avoided looking at until now, the female lying asleep on the other side. Nikki tried but found it impossible to swallow. Heart pounding, she enlarged the picture, even though she already knew. She was the girl naked in bed, her ass exposed for the world to see. But how?

Nauseous, she scrolled lower only to find another photo of herself, her hair pulled up into a messy bun, her face visible as she slept on her back. Censorship bars covered her private parts but she was naked nonetheless. Shame washed over her and she started to tremble.

How had someone taken photos of her in her own home? Tears filled her eyes, and she glanced down at her nude body — because that’s how she slept… when she slept — and freaked out. She jumped out of bed, grabbed the silk robe slung over the footboard, and wrapped the material around herself, shaking as she tied the sash tight around her waist.

She felt exposed, violated, and utterly petrified.

She wasn’t ready to talk to her agent or anyone else for that matter. She scrolled through her phone, seeing her mother had called no less than a dozen times. Her parents would be furious, worried about how this would impact her senator father’s potential presidential campaign.

Any other twenty-one-year-old girl would call a friend, but Nikki didn’t have anyone she trusted completely. The closest person to her was Megan Cologne, another model. But Meg wasn’t the warm-fuzzy type, and Nikki needed someone to comfort her, not gloat. Meg was the gloating type.

Her doorbell rang and she froze. She couldn’t face anyone. Not now. Then she remembered the doorman would only let a select few people come up without calling. People she could handle seeing.

Pulling her robe tighter, she walked into the main area of her apartment and tiptoed to the door.

Someone banged again and rang the bell. “Come on, Nikki. Let me in.”

She let out a breath of relief and opened the door. “Derek!” She fell into her big brother’s arms, not bothering to hold back choking sobs.

“Come on.” He wrapped an arm around her and walked them inside, shutting the door and locking it behind them. “I don’t have to ask if you’re okay but how did this happen? How were pictures like that taken and exposed?”

She pushed herself out of his embrace. “I don’t know, okay? I admit I sleep naked but nobody’s been here!”

“No guys? Boyfriends or otherwise?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Not since Lance Freeman. That was six months ago.” Her ex-boyfriend was a photographer she’d met through her modeling career.

They’d been casual, and Nikki always had a hunch he’d been with her for the wrong reasons. Namely her family name and modeling connections. But she’d been lonely and he’d been there. Eventually, they’d argued more often than not and she broke up with him. He’d seemed to agree it was over and that was that.

“I’ll be right back.” She rushed to the bathroom and grabbed some tissues, blotting her eyes and wetting her face before rejoining her brother in the family room.

“Have you spoken to Lance lately?”

“No. I ended things and it was as amicable as a breakup could be.” She lifted her shoulders. “That was it. I swear to you I have no idea how anyone got in here while I was sleeping. And that had to be what happened, right?” She shivered at the possibility.

Derek’s scowl would scare anyone except her. Nikki knew he wasn’t angry at her, he was pissed at the situation and worried. “I’ll figure that part out.”

Her phone rang from the bedroom and she groaned. “Mom’s been calling nonstop. So has my agent. I didn’t look to see who else left messages. I just know I’ve been slammed with notifications, too. I don’t want to deal with any of it.” She grew queasy at the thought of people viewing those photos, yet she knew half the world had seen them by now. God, what if the pictures had been uploaded somewhere without the black bars covering her most private parts? What if she was truly naked online for the world to see? Nausea filled her at the violation that was even worse than the fact that Senator Corbin Bettencourt’s daughter was in the headlines again.

Derek put a calming hand on her shoulder. “Go get your phone and call Mom while I’m here. Then we’ll figure out our next move.”

Knowing he was right, she nodded. She walked to her room and picked up her cell, suddenly uncomfortable being in the bedroom that had always been her comfort space.

She returned to Derek, who’d taken or made a phone call of his own.

Her cell rang again and Mom showed up on the screen. “Might as well get it over with,” she muttered. Drawing a deep breath, she took the call. “Hello?”

“Nicolette Anne,” her mother cried out, her voice shrill, as she used the longer, proper name her parents preferred, refusing to call her Nikki, the shortened version she’d chosen. “How could you let such a thing happen? Do you have any idea how mortifying this is for your father and me?”

What about what how awful it is for me? Nikki wondered, not voicing the thought out loud. Her mother wouldn’t care. Thank God she had Derek by her side and always had.

Seeing he’d put a hand to his ear to block her voice while he spoke on his phone, she took a few steps away so they could each hear their respective callers.

“It’s not like I posed for the photo, Mother. Someone somehow took pictures of me when I was sleeping. They violated my privacy!”

“Come now. Do you really think I believe such a thing? You’ve constantly disappointed us. Between your grades in school and the issues with being on time for modeling shoots, your name in the papers when your contract details leaked–”

Nikki blinked, hating the tears her mother managed to bring out so easily. Normally she tried to be immune to the you’re a disappointment theme, but she was in a vulnerable place and her mother was using it against her.

“There were legitimate reasons for those things, too,” Nikki reminded her mother. But heaven forbid Collette Bettencourt acknowledged her daughter’s issues.

Nikki had inherited dyslexia from her mother’s side of the family, since her uncle suffered from it as well, and Nikki’s inability to read well had resulted in poor grades in school. Her mother had never allowed tutors because nobody could find out Nicolette wasn’t perfect.

“Nicolette, are you listening?” her mother asked, her annoyed tone one Nikki was used to hearing.

“I’m here.”

Her mother had been asking how they were going to explain naked pictures of their daughter to the press and digging in on what an embarrassment Nicolette was to the family. She’d tuned her mother out.

“I’m not interested in anything but making this go away. Who took the pictures?” her mother asked.

“I told you, I don’t know.”

Derek finished his call, slipped his phone into his pants pocket, and walked over, holding out his arm, palm up.

Nikki handed him the phone, their mother’s tone loud as her complaining continued.

“Mother.”

At the sound of Derek’s voice, Collette stopped her berating and changed her inflection. “Derek, honey, please help us. Your sister–”

“Is in trouble, or don’t you care? Her privacy has been violated, she’s scared to death, and all you can think about is Dad’s career. If you can’t find compassion for your daughter, leave her alone. Goodbye, Mother.” He disconnected the call and turned to Nikki. “Now that’s taken care of. Let’s talk.”

Although there’d been a time Derek was more amenable to their mother’s needs and demands, after a broken engagement with a woman their mother had insisted was perfect for him, he’d taken a stand. Derek was his own man. Not that it stopped their mother from trying to manipulate him.

Nodding, Nikki followed him into the kitchen. In a daze, she made them coffee, finding the chore of doing something routine helpful in calming her nerves.

After she’d put milk and sugar on the table and joined him, they each doctored their morning brew.

Derek met her gaze. “The paparazzi are going to swarm outside the building soon, if they haven’t already. I’d like to get you out of here.”

Her stomach twisted at the thought. “And go where?”

Derek reached out and covered her hand with his. “I have an idea but you need to trust me. I’m going to talk to Asher,” he said of his close friend.

Asher Dare was a sexy, brooding man she barely knew, but she recalled making an awful impression on him when they’d met. She’d been seventeen, coming home from a rough photo shoot in Mexico, tired, miserable, and so ready to get home when a customs agent pulled her over thanks to a medication bottle found in her bag. Nobody believed she hadn’t bought the drugs herself, that she’d been set up. Flashes of being arrested had gone through her mind during the questioning, and panic had engulfed her.

By the time her father’s team had done their magic and gotten her out of there, she’d been sweaty, had had to pee for hours, and her mother’s yelling over the phone had upset her even more. Neither of her parents had picked her up after her ordeal. No doubt her mother had refused to come or let her father show his face – in case the media had caught on to the story. Her mother was the force behind the senator, and he caved to her demands.

Derek had picked her up and Asher had been with him. She admitted now that she’d been obnoxious and probably rude, but after what she’d been through, it was a miracle she hadn’t collapsed into a puddle on the floor. But Asher’s initial impression of her hadn’t been a good one.

She sighed. “Why talk to Asher?” she asked her brother.

“He has an estate on Windermere Island. It’s off Eleuthera, near the Bahamas. You can lie low until something else takes over the news cycle. You’ll be safe and no one will think to look for you there.”

“Will you come with me?” she asked.

Derek squeezed her hand. “I wish I could, but I have a closing this week.”

“Oh, right.” Derek’s company, Blackout Media, was purchasing a start-up social media group he planned to incorporate into his conglomerate. She didn’t want to make him feel any worse, so she forced a small smile. “Okay. If you think that’s best.”

He nodded. “I do. If Asher agrees, I’ll be back to take you to his private jet. Can you pack while I’m gone?”

She hated the idea of going away alone right now. “Are you sure I need to leave?”

Derek rose and walked over, bracing an arm around her shoulder. “Would you rather stay in Manhattan until things die down and we figure out who did this?”

Her eyes filled again. The thought of staying in her home, where it had happened, was more terrifying. “No.”

He rose to his full height. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Meanwhile, you’re safe here. Not only did I put the fear of God into Preston at the desk downstairs, but I have a bodyguard hanging around incognito on the front sidewalk and another out back. Nobody’s getting into the building who doesn’t belong.”

They both knew her father ought to be the one to hire security for his daughter. He was the parent. It wasn’t Derek’s responsibility, but here he was, stepping up. As always. He’d been twelve when she was born and had been an amazing big brother. When her sleep issues kicked in, he’d been there, letting her use a sleeping bag in his room every time thunder and lightning struck or if she couldn’t get her brain to shut off. Even if she tossed and turned, Derek’s presence had always calmed her.

“Love you,” she said.

“Love you, too, peanut.”

He used the nickname he’d chosen as she was growing up and she groaned. “Don’t call me that.”

He reached out and tweaked her nose with his thumb and forefinger, another holdout from when she was a kid. “I’ll be back. Don’t let anyone in you don’t know.”

Nodding, she walked him to the door and locked up behind him.

#

After receiving a call from Derek Bettencourt, a business school buddy and good friend, Asher left a family barbecue early to meet him at Asher’s office. Derek’s younger sister, Nicolette, had gotten herself into another situation that required fixing. Compromising photos were splashed all over the internet, and Asher winced, knowing if it had been his sister, he’d want to kill someone. If Derek wanted to stash Nicolette at Asher’s island home until things blew over, that was fine with him.

He recalled meeting Nicolette when she was seventeen and he’d gone with Derek to pick her up at the airport. She’d been late, and it had taken a ridiculous amount of time to find out she’d been caught by customs with illegal drugs in her bag.

She’d sworn someone had set her up. Derek had believed her. The senator and his wife had not. Asher, who’d already had a bad experience dating a model, was inclined to agree with the elder Bettencourts.

Asher’s ex had been a model with a big-name agency. Christy had been doing well for herself. She was gorgeous, which, in his mid-twenties, had been a huge bonus. Over time, he’d learned she was flighty, consistently late for important events, and too self-centered for his liking. But she’d looked good on his arm, had been great in bed, and he’d been shallow enough to ignore the warning signs of trouble. He’d even given her a key to his apartment, which, by the end of their relationship, they were basically sharing.

He’d left work early to surprise her, something he rarely did, and came home to find cocaine spread over the table in the living area and Christy in his bed with her new yoga trainer. A flexible guy if their position had been any indication. He thought he’d been in love, though he knew better now. She’d been the second and last woman to break his heart. From then on, he’d thrown himself into short-term flings where the women knew not to expect more than sex.

As he turned into the parking garage, Asher acknowledged that his vision of Nicolette was skewed. Her behavior had brought back bad memories of Christy but he was still inclined to err on the side of caution when it came to Derek’s sister.

Asher pulled into a parking spot below the Dirty Dare Spirits offices in Midtown West. The company and the property were owned by Asher and his siblings, but he ran the business. As it was a long July Fourth weekend, the building was quiet.

The interior design consisted of four bars spread out on the ground level. Each served a variety of coffee and alcohol, depending on the time of day. A separate floor held a lab where mixologists created craft cocktails, and the office space was on the floors above.

He took the elevator from the underground garage to the main level, stepped out, and walked toward the front entrance. Derek was waiting outside and the security guard had yet to notice him. The building was locked on the weekends and Asher strode over to let his friend in.

Asher greeted Derek with a brotherly hug and pat on the back.

“Thanks for coming. I figured this place was the easiest for us to meet.” Derek ran a hand through his already mussed jet-black hair, a sure sign he had a lot on his mind.

“No problem. Let’s go upstairs and talk. Want coffee?” Asher offered. The coffee bars were closed but he could make them drinks.

Derek shook his head. “I’m wired enough already. Thanks.”

They started to walk toward the elevators, and Asher nodded at the weekend guard. “Hi, Tim. Good holiday weekend with the family?”

The older man, who’d worked there prior to Asher buying the building, nodded. “We had our barbecue yesterday. Thanks for asking, Mr. Dare.”

Asher smiled. “Have a good one.”

He and Derek took the elevator to his office floor. Once inside, Asher turned on the light. They settled into the comfortable chairs in the corner across from his desk, and Asher waited for Derek to talk.

“You’ve seen the photos?” Derek finally asked.

Not wanting to make things worse, Asher said, “Just a glimpse.”

“But enough to know what we’re dealing with.”

“Yeah. Is your father livid?” Asher said.

“Haven’t heard from him but my mother sure as hell is.” Derek’s expression grew furious, his mouth turning downward in a scowl. “And not for the reasons she should be. As usual, she’s concerned with dad’s reputation. I’m worried about my sister. Somehow, someone got into her apartment to take those photographs, and she’s a mess. Scared, embarrassed, you name it. I’m not sure there are enough words to cover it.”

Asher winced. Jade was right. He’d been judgmental without knowing the facts. Still, once again, Nicolette was in trouble that she claimed someone else had caused.

He got right to the point. “So, you want to send your sister to my island house?” A place he’d purchased once Dirty Dare Vodka, as it was then known, had succeeded. His getaway had become a family escape.

Derek nodded. “I know it’s a big ask, but I need to get Nikki out of town until things blow over in the press. It’ll also give me time to have someone figure out when and how those photos were taken.”

Asher met his friend’s gaze. “No problem. But we didn’t need to meet in person. I’d have said yes over the phone. What’s going on?”

Derek steepled his fingers, his gaze steady on Asher’s. “I want you to go with her and stay so she’s not alone.”

Asher blinked in shock. “Seriously? Why don’t you take her? I’m sure she’d be more comfortable with her brother than someone she barely knows.”

Inclining his head, Derek groaned. “You’re right and I would, but I have a deal closing this week.”

“Shit. Does she want to go with a friend?” Asher wouldn’t mind letting two women use the guest rooms at his house. That way he could do his friend a favor and avoid babysitting a woman with a penchant for finding trouble. One who reminded him of his own bad choices.

Derek shook his head. “Our family name makes it hard for her to trust. People in the modeling industry think she got where she is because of connections. There have been a number of incidents over the years in both social media and the news that make her look bad.”

Asher kept his opinion to himself.

Derek leaned forward. “Listen, I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t really need the favor. I can’t send her alone, she’s too shaken up, and I trust you.”

Asher pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn’t have any pressing business coming up, but he wasn’t a good choice to be Derek’s sister’s companion. They had nothing in common, not to mention, Asher wasn’t sure she was as innocent as her brother believed. Not with the way she jet setted across the world and the fast crowd he’d seen photos of her running with.

“I didn’t want to do this,” Derek said in the wake of Asher’s silence. “But remember the stage-five clinger you couldn’t shake? You owe me.”

Asher groaned. After Christy, he’d tried to be selective and not get into long-term relationships. The woman Derek mentioned though? She’d been impossible to get rid of despite the fact that he’d been blunt up front. He hadn’t been looking for anything but fun in bed.

At first, he’d tried being pleasant, but she wouldn’t take a hint and brought him lunch every day at work for a week until he’d had to tell the guard to turn her away. She’d shown up outside his apartment each time he went to the gym, and he’d had to change his schedule. He had no idea how she’d known where he lived or what his plans were until he’d discovered she’d befriended his personal assistant, who had shared his information. Then he’d had two women to get rid of.

Asher had been at his favorite upscale bar with Derek, and she’d arrived uninvited. Apparently, she’d decided the best way to get Asher’s attention was to make him jealous, and she’d started hanging all over Derek.

“She sure as fuck transferred her affections easily enough and then she became my problem. I had to change my cell phone number and make out a police report,” Derek muttered.

The man had a point. Asher did owe him. Besides, he’d been about to agree anyway, because he valued the other man’s friendship. “Okay. I was just wrapping my head around the idea of taking Nicolette to the island.”

“She likes to be called Nikki. Only my parents call her Nicolette.”

“And the media,” Asher said, but once they reached the hangar where his plane was, they wouldn’t have to worry about the paps.

“Thank you.” Derek slapped him on the back. “There are only a handful of friends I trust with my baby sister, and you’re one of them. Plus, you have a house on an island,” he said with a chuckle. “Look at it this way. This time I owe you one.”

“It’s no problem,” Asher lied.

“I’ll bring Nikki to Teterboro,” Derek said of the private airport where Asher kept his jet.

Asher nodded, wondering how the hell he’d handle being alone with a twenty-one-year-old girl with a diva-like reputation, who’d no doubt been pampered throughout her life. Even if spoiling her seemed to be a way for her parents to keep her at a distance. Knowing what it was like to have a close family, he felt a tug of conscience for what Nikki had been through, but at least she’d had her brother.

Asher would give anything for Derek to have chosen someone else for this job, but as he’d pointed out, Asher had the home on the island. And a promise was a promise. Even if this trip was guaranteed to be the longest of his life.

Last day to enter:

Giveaway:

A chance to win a Michael Kors Jet Set Saffiano Leather Shoulder Bag and A SET of signed Kingston Family books! That’s 7 books!

Enter here and fill out entire form

No Purchase Necessary to Enter

Book InfoPreorder now:AmazonApple BooksNookKoboGoogle PlayAmazon PrintBarnes & Noble Print

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Just Another Spark Cover Reveal!

A Short Story – Coming January 17, 2023

He’s a rock star wanted by millions.

She’s a wife willing to fight for their love.

Rock star Dash Kingston is finishing the last leg of his band’s U.S. tour. Exhausted and ready to be home, he can’t wait to see his girl. Time zones, show times, and the demands of his career have made married life harder than expected. Even knowing the rock star life wouldn’t make their relationship easy.

Cassidy Kingston thought she was ready to handle being married to a man idolized by women everywhere. She believes in their love even though the separations when the band is on tour can be torture. But the paparazzi and media don’t make their time apart easier and the gossip headlines hit her harder than they should. She trusts her husband even if she misses him like crazy.

When rumors surface that Dash is seeing someone, what’s a girl to do? Surprise her husband and remind him of what he’s been missing. Except you know what they say about the best laid plans.

Book InfoPreorder:AmazonApple BooksNookGoogle PlayKobo

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Just One Taste – Preorder Giveaway!

I’m celebrating my upcoming release, JUST ONE TASTE!

One grumpy billionaire.

One sassy-sweet supermodel.

Add in a tropical private island paradise.

What could go wrong?

Giveaway:

A chance to win a Michael Kors Jet Set Saffiano Leather Shoulder Bag and A SET of signed Kingston Family books! That’s 7 books! 

Enter here and fill out the entire form!

Enter here & fill out the entire form!Google FormPreorder Just One TasteKindle: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOTKindleAmazon Print: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOTAmzPrintApple: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOTAppleNook: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOTNookGoogleplay: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOTGoogleKobo: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOTKoboAudio: Jason Clarke and Samantha Cook – December 6, 2022Audible: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOTAudibleAmazon Audio: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOTAmzAudio

*No purchase is necessary to enter.

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Read Just One Kiss Today!

Read Just One Kiss Today

“No one writes feel-good swoon with a touch of angst and suspense like Carly Phillips! I absolutely devoured Just One Kiss. You don’t want to miss this perfect escape!” – Catherine Cowles, USA Today Bestselling Author

It was supposed to be one fun night of hot sex.

It turned into a second. Then a third.

Now Mother Nature is having the last word—with a secret baby surprise!

Jade Dare has done everything in her power to overcome her mother’s unstable influence. Changed her name. Became a success. Vowed never to risk passing on the potential for inherited pain. What has it gotten her? One fiancé who wanted her for money. A second who cheated on her with his brother’s wife.

Now she’s sworn off men. Or at least off serious relationships. But when the chance to indulge in a one night stand with a man she’s secretly fantasized about arrives, she jumps in. Only to land heart-first into a case of the feels she can’t bring herself to trust.

Knox Sinclair always suspected he liked his brother’s fiancé a little too much, that’s why he kept his hands to himself. But with ties broken and Jade all too willing, a no-strings-attached night sounds like a damned good idea.

Except one night isn’t nearly enough. But while Knox is busy convincing Jade they have a chance at forever, the past is planning one last parting shot.

Read now and I hope you enjoy!

Kindle: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKKindle

Amazon Print: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKAmzPrint

Amazon Audio: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKAmzAudio

Apple: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKApple

Nook: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKNook

Barnes & Noble Print: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKBNPrint

Googleplay: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKGoogle

Kobo: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKKobo

AUDIO: Jason Clarke and Samantha Cook – 9/6/22

Apologies: due to illness in my immediate family, audiobooks will be later this year.

Audible: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKAudible

Amazon Audio: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKAmzAudio

xo, Carly

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Just One Kiss Chapter Two

Chapter Two

That evening, Jade left the expo early. Lauren, the best assistant ever, had offered to run the booth until the event was over and even handle cleanup. Jade had apologized for saying no to Lauren’s plans tonight and yes to Holly but Lauren had been giddy that Jade was going out… with Knox.

Without Jade having to say anything, Lauren understood that, with her migraines, Jade would be in sensory overload from the noise in the convention center. A nap before dinner would definitely help her recuperate for tonight. Lauren was a true friend and Jade owed her one.

Back at her apartment in Manhattan, she took a long shower, washing off the grime of the day. She dried her hair and settled into bed, hoping exhaustion from being on her feet all day would pull her into a deep sleep. It didn’t.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Knox Sinclair. He wasn’t an easy man to put out of her mind. She’d always been a sucker for a man in a suit, and Knox, dressed in a sport jacket and white shirt, unbuttoned enough to show a sprinkling of chest hair, had made her mouth suddenly go dry.

But Jade wasn’t breaking her man fast, not even for the sexy guy who had reappeared in her life. When a woman was betrayed as often as she’d been, she learned to be cautious, regardless of the chemistry. Still, she’d be a liar to deny the attraction. And if she wished she could unbutton that shirt and lick his chest? Nobody would ever know.

After twenty minutes of staring at her ceiling, she accepted she wouldn’t be getting any sleep, but her ears were no longer ringing from the noise echoing around her. She got out of bed and walked to her closet. Picking out an outfit to wear for dinner with a man she didn’t want to be tempted by wasn’t easy. Still, her pride made her want to look good.

She took her time with her makeup and left her hair down.

She chose a new Milly designer dress, a one-piece black sleeveless mock turtleneck that ended with a Boho colorful handkerchief hem she adored. The shoulders were a generous cut, revealing arms she worked hard to keep toned. She paired the dress with a medium-height block heel and a fun natural-and-black-striped clutch that had a thin strap if she wanted to hang it over her shoulder.

Grabbing a short, thin black leather jacket, she was ready to leave. She opened her ride share app and called for a car. Knowing she’d see Knox again, the butterflies in her stomach had only gotten worse, and by the time she stepped out of the car and walked into the restaurant, they’d fully taken flight.

At the hostess stand, the woman there informed her the rest of her party had already arrived, then led Jade to a back corner. Knox and Holly sat at a table, deep in conversation, giving Jade a chance to stare at Knox without his knowledge.

Once again wearing a sport coat—this one a tonal navy, with a light blue shirt beneath—he was everything she liked in a man. Dammit. Why couldn’t he have worn a T-shirt? Maybe she wouldn’t have been as attracted to him.

Liar.

As if he sensed her stare, Knox looked up and saw her, then rose to his feet. Had Theo ever stood up when she walked into a room? Ummm… No. His gaze slid over her like a soft caress, his warm smile telling her he liked what he saw. She let out a sigh. At least she wasn’t alone in this unwanted attraction. Though he didn’t seem to mind.

“Sorry I’m late,” Jade said. “My Uber got stuck in traffic.”

Holly waved her hand, dismissing Jade’s concern. “We haven’t been here long.”

“Here. Have a seat.” Ever the gentleman, Knox pulled out her chair and Jade sat down.

He settled in the chair next to her, making her aware of the alluring scent of his cologne—a scent any sane woman could get high on inhaling.

“Was your expo booth successful?” he asked.

She nodded. “It was,” she said with a grin as she placed the folded napkin on her lap. “We accumulated a list of names to add to our mailing list. Some women even wanted to set up appointments to book wedding dates two years in advance.”

“Two years!” Holly let out a squeak, causing Jade to laugh.

“I know, you’re in a rush,” Jade said. The young woman’s enthusiasm was infectious.

Knox groaned. “She’s determined,” he muttered.

The waiter walked over and paused by Holly. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’ll have a glass of pinot grigio.”

When he looked at Jade, she said, “A club soda with lime, please.”

“Sir?” he asked.

“Whiskey, on the rocks. Dirty Dare, if you have it.” Knox locked eyes with Jade and winked.

Her panties grew damp at that subtle gesture, and she shifted in her seat.

“I thought Dirty Dare was vodka,” Holly said as the waiter walked away.

“It is. But they bought out a whiskey company last year,” Knox said. “Right?”

Jade nodded. “We did.” Her family vodka business, in which all her siblings had a stake, had begun to expand, buying a well-known brand and relabeling it under the Dirty Dare name. “To quote Asher,” she said, using finger gestures, “if we want to be a major player in distilled spirits, we need to invest in a variety of categories of alcohol.” She indicated the end quote with her fingers and laughed. “No joke though, Asher is brilliant at what he does.”

She admired her brother’s business savvy. When he’d decided to create Dirty Dare Vodka, he’d insisted all the siblings contribute from their family-provided trust funds. He then proceeded to increase their income, ensuring none of them would ever have to worry about money. Each of them still worked in their chosen fields—Harrison was a world-famous, award-winning actor, Nick and Jade worked in the hotels, and Zach spent his hours in the bar he owned, though everyone suspected Zach did more than just run a bar. Her brother loved being mysterious.

“Asher’s smart,” Knox agreed.

“You and Asher are old friends, right?” Holly asked her brother. “I remember you mentioning him back when… Yeah, I remember.” Her cheeks turned red. It was obvious she’d just realized that when she’d mentioned back when, she was talking about the time Theo had cheated on Jade with Knox’s wife.

“They are,” Jade murmured. She glanced at Knox. “Though I didn’t realize Theo was your stepbrother until he and I started dating. It was a little… complicated in the end,” she said.

“Incestuous but not,” Knox grunted, just as the waiter set down their drinks.

“I was going to say it was just so wrong. Sometimes, I can’t quite believe I’m related to Theo.” Holly wrinkled her nose in disgust.

As if to change the subject, both Holly and Knox picked up their drinks and took a long sip. “Are you sure you don’t want something stronger?” Holly asked her.

Jade chuckled. “I don’t drink. I get migraines and I’ve found drinking just isn’t worth the pain it’ll cause.”

Holly nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me.”

“Not at all. I get asked about it all the time. I’m good with club soda.”

They paused to peruse their menus, and since Holly had chosen a steak restaurant, Jade ordered filet mignon and maple roasted Brussel sprouts, with bacon on the side. Knox chose a rib-eye, fries, and asparagus, and Holly, the glazed salmon. For the next hour, they talked about everyday things, their jobs, Holly’s ideal wedding plans, and Jade told stories about some of the Bridezillas she’d had to contend with. They laughed, and Jade relaxed, allowing herself to enjoy both Holly’s and Knox’s company.

After dinner had been cleared, Holly placed her napkin on the table. “I hate to eat and run, but I have to go pick up Miles from the airport.”

“You didn’t mention that,” Knox said, raising an eyebrow.

“Are you sure?” Holly leaned down and picked up her purse. “I could swear that I did.”

Knox shook his head. “I’d remember,” he said wryly. “We took a car share service here. How are you picking him up?”

“I’m meeting him at the airport. He left his car there, so stop with the twenty questions. You two stay for dessert. Thanks for dinner,” Holly said, laughing, and kissed his cheek. “Bye, Jade. This was fun! We’ll have to do it again soon. I’ll be checking in about any cancellations, but don’t forget to call me if you hear something!”

She waved and walked to the front of the restaurant in a flurry of activity Jade was coming to associate with Holly.

“That was a setup,” Knox said, an amused smile on his face.

“Definitely a setup.” Jade couldn’t help but laugh. “Your sister is one determined woman.”

“That she is.” Knox slid an arm over the back of his chair and leaned close. “What do you say we stay? We can have coffee and dessert and get to know each other better.”

She shouldn’t. She really shouldn’t. But looking into his eyes, Jade couldn’t think of a good reason to say no.

#

Knox should have been annoyed at his sister’s machinations, but he was enjoying his time with Jade too much to worry about Holly’s games. Her move, leaving him alone with Jade, was vintage sibling matchmaking, and Knox intended to make the most of the time Holly had given him. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t find a way for some payback. The next move was his.

“So? Dessert?” he asked, looking into Jade’s gorgeous navy-colored eyes.

“That sounds perfect. Something decadent.” She ran her tongue over her lower lip in an innocent gesture that had him taking notice. “What do you want?” she asked, and he barely withheld a groan.

He cleared his throat. “Lady’s choice. We can share.”

“Sounds good.”

The waiter brought over menus, and after looking through them, Jade ordered a concoction with vanilla ice cream, a strawberry and blueberry compote, and crushed graham crackers mixed in and on top.

Personally, Knox would have rather nibbled on the woman beside him, but when the dessert arrived, her eyes lit up, so he’d have to make do with food.

Since he had her undivided attention, he decided to take the opportunity to get to know her better. He leaned in close. “Why don’t we get the obvious awkward subject out of the way for good? I know Holly already mentioned Theo, but you and I never talked—afterwards.”

“If we must.” Jade wrinkled her nose, but her expression turned to delight as she closed her mouth over the spoon, slowly pulling out the utensil and licking it clean.

Jesus. His cock was rock hard, making him extremely uncomfortable. “Let’s call it clearing the air. I’ll go first. My stepbrother is a douchebag.”

She laughed. “That he is and I’m well rid of him. As it turns out, I’m well rid of men in general.”

“Ouch.”

She grinned at his reaction.

“Why do you say that?” he asked.

She scooped another helping of dessert before meeting his gaze. “I doubt you know this, but I have two broken engagements behind me. Two.” She motioned with the spoon for emphasis. “My track record leaves a lot to be desired. And, as I’ve discovered, so does my taste in men.” She glanced at the sundae-styled glass sitting between them. “However, when it comes to dessert, I know what I’m doing.”

She scooped up more of the ice cream and berries, holding out the full spoon for him to taste. Her gaze held his as he opened his mouth and closed it around the dessert, letting the rich, sweet, cool mixture coat his tongue.

She pulled the spoon back, removing it from between his lips. “Good?” she asked.

“Delicious.” His body vibrated with need, and it wasn’t for more dessert. The woman sitting beside him made his mouth water.

“Oops.” She reached out and swept her delicate finger over his bottom lip, removing some vanilla ice cream before he could dart his tongue out for a lick. “Ice cream,” she said in a husky voice.

“Want to tell me about the idiots who let you slip through their fingers?” he asked.

She smiled. “Well, winner number one was a guy I met at Starbucks. I was rushing to a meeting. I bumped into him and spilled my coffee on his suit. The barista didn’t put the top on right.” She shrugged. “I apologized and insisted on taking his number so I could pay for the dry-cleaning. We went on a few dates. In the beginning, he said he wasn’t interested in anything serious, but later claimed he couldn’t help but fall for me. Unfortunately, what he’d fallen for was my family name and money.” She let out a sad sigh that broke his heart.

“Asshole. How’d you find out?” he asked, wondering if he could find the bastard and break a bone or two.

“My brother Zach. He realized what was going on and approached my fiancé behind my back with a prenup in hand. Douglas, that’s his name, refused to sign. In fact, he laughed in Zach’s face and bragged that he had me wrapped up so tight I’d do anything for him. Zach broke his nose and told me the truth. I thought I loved him, when the truth was, I never knew him at all.”

Knox covered her hand with his. “I’m sorry. I know what it’s like to be wanted only for money and not for myself.”

She nodded. “Thanks for admitting that.”

“Did Zach really break his nose?” he asked.

She laughed and nodded. “He said nobody fucks with his family.”

Knox wasn’t surprised. He’d have done the same thing if Holly had ever been in a similar situation.

“No trouble for Zach afterwards?” Knox asked.

She shook her head. “Nope. Douglas was too afraid of Zach to even meet with me so I could return the ring.” She shrugged. “So I sold it and invested the money.”

“Smart.” He picked up his water and took a long sip.

“What about you? Did you get your ring back?” she asked.

He coughed as the drink went down wrong.

“Are you okay? I didn’t mean to pry, but since I answered your personal questions, I figured you owed me some answers in return.” Her lips twitched, lifting in a naughty grin.

Knox liked this girl’s sass. He cleared his throat and waited until he was certain he could talk without choking. “Fair point,” he said at last. “Okay, here goes. Celia kept her rings and I’m sure she sold them, too. But it’s not the same situation. Celia cheated on me.” Bitterness rose, along with the memories.

“With your stepbrother.” Jade’s expression turned sad. “Which brings up another question, since we’re being so honest and everything.”

“Go ahead.”

She pushed the melting dessert aside. “Theo could have cheated on me with anyone. I mean, he probably did. But why did he choose your wife? That was the one thing I could never understand. You two were supposed to be family. Look how close you are with Holly.”

“Theo can be charming—I’m sure that’s the man you first met.” Knox paused, gathering his thoughts. “But deep down, he’s an insecure little boy.” He leaned his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. He’d given this question a lot of thought. “From the day Theo’s mother married my father and they moved into our house, Theo was jealous of me. If something didn’t come easily, he looked for someone else to blame. Very often, he chose me. That was ironic because sports were more his thing than mine, at least back then.”

Jade blotted those sexy lips with her napkin and placed it on the table. “I’ve seen him in action,” she murmured. “When he had a bad game, he’d blame everyone else—his teammates, the coaches… even a fan once.” She shook her head. “He always had excuses, never taking accountability for anything he did.”

“Exactly.”

She tipped her head to the side, her eyes unfocused, as if remembering. “I remember the time the coach benched him for a whole period. He’d missed a save and blamed it on the defenseman screening him so he couldn’t see the puck. Theo had been livid. Then again, so was the coach.” She cleared her throat. “It became my job to soothe his anger so he didn’t lose his position on the team.”

Knox recalled that moment. Rumors were that the owner was thinking of sending Theo down to the farm team for a while, until his attitude improved.

Theo couldn’t risk that. He’d told Knox that Jade Dare made him appear important. His engagement to her would make him look like a man willing to commit, on and off the ice, making changes the team’s management would approve of. Jade brought him respectability with her family name.

Knox grimaced, remembering. Far be it for his brother to actually put in the work to make himself respectable. He looked up at the woman sitting beside him. Jade had obviously fallen for Theo, unaware of his true nature.

“It sucks that you had to deal with his behavior. Theo is a piece of work,” Knox admitted. “He thinks things come easily to me. And yes, I worked for the team out of business school, and when Dad died, I inherited it. But I inherited a team that hadn’t made the post-season in years. I’ve worked hard to build a championship organization.” He shook his head in disgust, thinking of his brother. “It’s always been a constant argument with him about how life is unfair. The less often I see Theo, the better.”

Her features grew soft with understanding. “And your wife? I mean ex-wife?”

He raised an eyebrow. Jade was digging deep, but then, he’d done the same. “Celia was different when we married. My dad had just passed away and I was in a bad way. She was there. But once she was exposed to having a lot of money, she changed. She wanted more. I tried to be available to her despite how busy I was between taking over the team and settling my father’s estate. No amount of time together ever satisfied her. She wanted to be my focus all the time.”

Jade twisted her lips. “It doesn’t seem like she went about getting your attention in the best way—not if she wanted to keep you as her husband.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, well, that ship has sailed.”

If Celia hadn’t cheated, Knox would never have considered ending the marriage. He’d seen how his parents’ divorce had hurt his father, and his dad had raised him alone until Theo and Holly’s mother came along. Knox had been determined to make his marriage work, but infidelity was something he just couldn’t overlook. It helped that, by the end, his heart hadn’t been engaged for a long time.

He studied the woman beside him. She ran her finger over the rim of her water glass, deep in thought.

“What about you?” Knox asked. “Are you over Theo?”

She lifted her gaze, her eyes locking on his. “Are you kidding? I was over him the day I found out.”

He leveled her with a knowing stare.

“Okay, fine.” She held up both hands in submission. “It took a long time to get over the hurt, but I really believe it was the pain of being duped and cheated on that stayed with me. Not to mention, it reinforced the fact that I don’t trust my judgment when it comes to people. Especially men.”

He winced at her admission but she obviously believed it was the truth.

“Anyway, once again, my brother came to the rescue. Zach assured me that I’d dodged a bullet. And that, in short, is why I am on an official man fast.”

Knox jumped on her statement. “What’s a man fast?”

“I’ve decided that there’s no place for a man in my life. I’m done with relationships.”

“After what you’ve been through, I can understand that. And honestly, I can relate, too.” But he was attracted to her.

She had an outgoing personality, which was always a turn-on for him, a curvy body he longed to touch with his hands and his mouth, and full lips he was dying to kiss.

“Jade,” he said in a gruff voice meant to let her know things between them had taken a more sensual turn.

“Yes?” Her eyes were open wide.

“I’m not looking for a relationship, either.” He picked up her hand and settled his thumb on the rapidly beating pulse in her wrist. “But I do want you.”

Her lips parted and a small puff of air escaped. “But my man fast…” She said the words without any heat behind them.

He grinned. “Change the definition. You’re now purging relationships from your life. That leaves wiggle room for many, many other things.”

She widened her gaze, her eyes dancing with delight. “It does, doesn’t it?”

Yeah, he liked this woman. “It means you can come home with me tonight and we can have some fun.”

Her tempting tongue swept over her bottom lip again. “In your bed?”

He nodded, his fingers toying with her hand, his thumb pressing into her palm. “And out of it.”

Her eyes dilated, a haze of desire washing over them. “No strings.”

“None.”

“Just one night?” she asked for confirmation, her voice firm.

He grinned because he’d already won. These negotiations were just foreplay. Damn, he loved an easy win—not that he considered Jade at all easy. Just well worth his time.

“One night only,” he assured her. “Agreed?”

She leaned close, her lips inches from his. The scent of coconut aroused him more than any expensive perfume he’d ever smelled.

“Get the check, Mr. Sinclair. We have a deal.”

#

No second thoughts. Jade repeated the mantra as she accompanied Knox to the Uber he’d called to take them to his building. Her palms itched with the need to put her hands all over his muscular body, and the urge to kiss him and taste him for the first time was strong. So no apprehension, no changing her mind. She planned to enjoy tonight. Enjoy him.

Knox confirmed the address with the driver, an apartment building on the Upper East Side, a few blocks from hers. Her heart pounded hard, anticipation building inside her.

On the ride, Knox held her hand, running his thumb over the pulse point in her wrist. “Nervous?” he asked.

She let out a laugh. “Not nervous. It’s just… I don’t do this often.” Or ever.

His smile put her at ease. “I never took you as a one-night-stand kind of woman.”

“And yet, that’s all this can be.” She needed him to believe her intentions. Jade was the type of woman who usually couldn’t have sex without her emotions eventually becoming involved. But knowing what this was, and wasn’t, up-front should help.

“Because you’re on a man fast.” To his credit, he didn’t sound like he was making fun of her.

She grinned. “That and I tend to fall easily,” she admitted. “And there is no way I’m getting involved in another relationship. But one time should be safe enough.”

His sexy grin had her heart kicking harder in her chest. “Who said anything about just one time?”

She caught the naughty look in his eyes, and her panties grew damp. “You know what I mean. Tonight only.”

The car came to a stop and Knox nodded. “Don’t worry, beautiful. We’re on the same page.”

Her stomach fluttered at the endearment. He opened the door and climbed out, extending his hand to help her out of the car.

Tension built inside her as they passed the doorman, who smiled at her and acknowledged Knox by name. They took the elevator to the penthouse, the ride seeming to take forever.

Flashes of the movie Fifty Shades of Grey passed through her mind, but Knox didn’t push her against the wall and ravish her. And that was too bad—her body was hot and ready for his.

The doors opened and he pulled out his phone to scan, allowing him access. Then he extended his arm, indicating she should enter ahead of him. After stepping inside, she looked around his apartment, which was decorated professionally but with a heavy accent on the masculine feel. She loved the open space, and though she’d prefer lighter accent touches to the darker color scheme, the place was gorgeous.

“I love the decor,” she said, taking in the far windows overlooking Manhattan at night and the mocha-colored sofa, which had a comfortable, beckoning look.

“Thanks. I pretty much got what I asked for.” He glanced around the space, as if seeing it from her perspective.

“Which was?”

He shrugged. “Masculine and comfortable.”

She laughed. “You sound like my brothers.”

“Speaking of your brothers, I heard Nick’s a father.” Knox tipped his head, indicating she follow him, then led her through the large living room and over to the kitchen area, which was also open concept. “Can I get you something to drink?”

Even his gentlemanly qualities turned her on. “No, thank you.” What had he asked her? Oh. Her twin. “Yes, Nick’s the father of a bouncing six-year-old girl and his wife, Aurora, is pregnant again.”

She grinned at the thought of Leah, an adorable spitfire Jade loved to spoil. “He and Aurora met up again at one of Harrison’s movie premieres. It’s a long story, but essentially, they had a one-night stand, no last names exchanged, when they were younger. He left and she had no way of finding him to let him know she was pregnant.”

He shook his head. “Wow. Thank God for fate.”

“I know. I can’t imagine them not ever becoming a family.” Her eyes misted when she thought about what her brother might have missed out on.

“Good for them. I’m glad.” He placed his phone on the counter. “So, you don’t want anything to drink. What do you want, Ms. Dare?” He began undoing the button on his cuffs, causing her mouth to go dry.

She’d already agreed to do this, so there was no reason to be shy. “You,” she said, reaching for the first button on his shirt. “I want you.” She undid his shirt, slowly revealing muscular, tanned skin, and a dark sprinkling of sexy chest hair.

She breathed and inhaled his musky male sent and nearly moaned as arousal washed over her. She laid her palms on his chest, leaned forward, and pressed her lips to his warm skin as she’d daydreamed about doing earlier.

A low growl sounded from his throat. Next thing she knew, he’d lifted her up, and she had to wrap her legs around his waist to hang on. She expected him to carry her into the bedroom, but instead, he walked her across the room and pressed her back against the cool glass window. Then finally, finally, his lips were on hers.

His tongue thrust into her mouth and devoured her, as if he was starving. His lips were warm, his breath minty. He must have picked up a candy on the way out of the restaurant, too. The flavor exploded on her tongue, but beneath the fresh flavor, she tasted the man. Everything that was Knox aroused her, and she wanted more.

She clasped her legs tighter, allowing her to feel the swell of his erection against her core and causing a rolling wave of desire to wash over her. She pushed her fingers through his thick hair and held him in place, kissing him back, taking what he gave and offering more.

She didn’t know how long they stood there, lips locked, hips moving and shifting, their lower bodies grinding against each other, getting lost in not just any kiss. A spectacular, mind-blowing kiss she’d never forget.

In an impressive feat while holding her up, he lifted the loose, generous lower part of her dress, and air drifted across her bare legs. He slid his rough fingertips up her thighs until he slipped beneath her skimpy thong panties and immediately ran his fingers through the slick dampness of her sex.

She gripped his hair and moaned into his mouth. He didn’t break contact and her lips felt bruised, but everything about this moment was worth it. He rubbed along her sex and her hips jerked harder against him. Then he ran those digits through her wetness and pushed one long finger inside her.

She jerked her head to the side and pulled in a deep, much needed breath. He pumped his finger in and out, and her inner walls clasped him tight. “Oh, God.”

“You’re so wet and ready. You like this, don’t you?” he asked in a gruff voice as a second finger joined the first, filling her even more. “You need this.” He picked up a steady rhythm. “Tell me.”

“Yes. Yes, I like this. I need it.” She squeezed his fingers, moaning at the delicious feelings soaring through her.

Then his thumb pressed on her clit and tweaked back and forth at the same time one long digit found a spot inside her no one had ever discovered before. Like a bolt of lightning, her orgasm rushed through her. He kept up the internal massage, and stars flashed behind her eyes. Waves rolled over her, until she fell limp against him, grateful for the window at her back, holding her up.

“How was that for a kiss?” he asked, his voice cocky, but she couldn’t begrudge him the arrogance.

“I think you can do better.” She laughed and he pinched her ass.

“Wise guy.”

She grinned, enjoying him very much.

“Okay, beautiful. Bedroom time.” He lowered her to the floor, but before she could get her bearings, he’d shifted and lifted her again, this time heading for his room.

If that orgasm was anything to go by, she had one hell of a night ahead of her.

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Just One Kiss First Chapter Preview

Chapter One

The sun shone overhead as Knox Sinclair pulled into a parking spot at the Bridal and Wedding Expo in New Jersey. He cut the engine and turned to his newly engaged stepsister, Holly, who sat in the passenger seat, her body vibrating with excitement. Unlike Knox, who dreaded dealing with wedding-related things ever since his marriage had blown up around him over a year ago.

Was he over his ex? Yes. Did he carry a grudge against his cheating former wife and disloyal stepbrother? Also yes. Any rational man would.

“Ready?” he asked Holly.

Her brown eyes lit up, making Knox’s feelings about the bridal expo irrelevant and this event all the more important.

“Beyond ready! I can’t wait to check out all the booths,” she said. “How awesome is this going to be?”

He held back a sarcastic reply because he loved his younger sister. “Too bad Miles had to be out of town for work and can’t be the one to walk you around,” he said of her future groom, a mergers and acquisitions attorney.

Reaching over, Holly patted Knox’s cheek. “Good thing you love me and are willing to take his place. Come on. It’s going to be fun!” Holly unhooked her seat belt and opened her car door, turning to face him before letting herself out. “Besides, you know you’d do anything for me. I’m the baby of the family.”

He rolled his eyes. “Someday that reasoning is going to wear thin,” he said on a chuckle. But she was right.

He’d adored her from the day they met. Knox and his father had opened their home to a four-year-old Holly, her thirteen-year-old brother, Theo, and their mother, Knox’s father’s new wife, Addison. Holly had been adorable and exuberant, and she’d latched on to Knox. She’d been in need of an older brother, and he’d had patience where Theo had none. The selfish bastard still lacked any indulgence for his sister. Hell, he was missing most human emotions that weren’t aimed at helping himself.

“No, it won’t.” She grinned and hooked her arm in his.

He resisted the urge to rub the top of her head like he had when they were kids, knowing she’d be annoyed for the day if he messed up her hair. Today was her day. He was just happily paying for whatever choices she made.

Their parents had separated when Holly was eighteen and in college. Knox’s dad had passed away shortly after the divorce was finalized, leaving everything to Knox, including the football team he owned. The New York Warriors were in Knox’s blood. And Holly was his family. Knox had taken it upon himself to support his sister, whose mother had disappeared to Palm Springs with another wealthy man she’d met.

“Let’s go.” She started their walk to the building, and he matched her shorter strides.

They reached the doors and he opened one for Holly. Together, they walked inside, and the cool air-conditioned lobby shocked him into paying attention.

“We need to sign in and get our badges.” Holly led him toward the end of a long registration line, and he settled in to wait.

She rose onto her tiptoes and looked around, trying to see around the crowd in front of them.

“Looking for something?” he asked.

She sighed and turned back to face him, a pout on her lips. “I was looking for a rack with maps or brochures, but I guess we’ll get them when we register. I want to check the layout of the exhibit. I already know which vendors I want to see, but I need to make sure of their location. And I need to talk to Jade.”

“Jade?” His brain came to a halt at the name, and his cock jerked in excitement.

“Come on, Knox, you know. Theo’s ex,” Holly said.

Yeah, he knew. Jade Dare. The woman who’d experienced the same betrayal he had. And the woman he’d had a serious attraction to at a time when he’d been in a shitty marriage with a wife he could never make happy.

He recalled the night Theo had walked into the restaurant where Knox and Holly were having dinner, with a familiar I’m up to something smirk on his face and a beautiful young blonde on his arm. Knox hadn’t recognized the woman until their introduction. The last time he’d seen Jade, she’d been a teenager attending Asher and Knox’s business school graduation.

The female with her arm hooked into Theo’s had grown into a gorgeous woman. With a statuesque body, long, wavy hair he wanted to wrap around his hands, unique navy eyes that ran in her family, and plush glossed lips he’d like to kiss. Finding out she was Asher’s younger sister had been a shock.

Seeing her on Theo’s arm? A gut punch that had him wanting to look out for her. Few escaped Theo unscathed. But Knox had been married at the time and kept his opinions … and desire, to himself. Which was not to say he hadn’t warned Asher to keep an eye on the new man in his sister’s life, but even Knox could never have imagined the lows to which his stepbrother would go.

“Knox?” Holly waved a hand in front of his face. “Where did you go?”

“I’m right here and I remember Jade.”

“Of course you do.” Holly tucked a strand of her shoulder-length brown hair behind her ear. “You had a thing for her,” his sister said, as if his feelings had been obvious.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I was married when we met.” He followed the people in front of him, stepping forward.

Holly did the same. Turning to him again, she tilted her head. “Right. You were married to that horrible woman but you weren’t dead. Of course you noticed how beautiful Jade is. It’s just that, unlike our asshole sibling, you didn’t act on the attraction when you were already with someone else.” She put her hand on his arm and leaned against him, offering comfort.

“It’s okay. I’m over Sofia.” He didn’t want his sister worrying about him, and he rarely gave that bitch a thought.

As for Jade, he couldn’t deny he was looking forward to seeing her again. Not something he’d admit to Holly, who tended to be overly interested in his love life.

“Good. So seeing Jade won’t be awkward. Because she’s the event coordinator at the Meridian Hotel, and I’m dying to get married there. I thought it would be better to see her in person than pick up the phone and say, Hi, this is Holly Matthews, your cheating ex-fiancé’s sister.” Holly shuddered. “That would be uncomfortable.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “But I always got along with

Jade, so hopefully an in-person meeting will work out.”

The line inched forward, and they moved along with the crowd.

“No reason to worry,” Knox assured her. “I’m sure Jade’s a professional. She won’t hold Theo’s behavior against you.”

Almost twenty minutes later, they reached the registration booth and were handed their badges and packets. Holly carried a huge tote bag, and Knox had a hunch, by the end of the day, he’d be carrying it once she’d filled it with samples and brochures.

She took a few minutes to scan the map and mark her targets before she grasped his arm and they were on their way. After an hour, he had to hand it to her; she navigated the massive event hall like a pro, pausing at already crowded tables to pick up brochures, enter giveaways, and take business cards. The vendors she had real interest in she paused to introduce herself, talk, and make an impression. He knew she’d been accumulating a mental list of who she wanted to make appointments with to follow up. With a lot of luck, her fiancé would be the one to tag along to those meetings.

“This is Jade’s booth,” Holly said, pausing.

The corner location had no long table blocking it off from the people walking by. Instead the entire space was open and carpeted, allowing for meet-and-greet conversations and making it much more welcoming than talking across a counter. High-top tables were strategically placed with brochures and bottles of water on each, providing a place for visitors to rest. A young girl was busy replacing each drink and the pamphlets someone took, showing good business sense by Jade.

“I love the tulle backdrop with the fairy lights,” Holly said, her brown eyes sparkling.

“It’s beautiful.” And so was the woman talking to clients.

Pale blonde hair pulled into a loose braid hung down her back, and the delicate features he remembered drew him in once more. And as she talked, her hands waved expressively in the air, causing him to grin. Whatever they were discussing, she obviously loved her job.

Holly nudged him in the side. “It’s good to see you smile.”

He’d been thinking the same about Jade. She looked good. Happy. And he was glad.

“I told you that you liked her.”

He rolled his eyes. “What are you, ten?”

Holly perched her hands on her hips. “Is it so bad that I want to see you happy?”

“No, but I know that gleam in your eye. You want to matchmake, and that’s where I draw the line.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say,” she muttered. But he knew nothing he said would deter Holly when she was on a mission.

He could handle his life, his choices, his women. If he decided to make a move on Jade, he didn’t need his sister arranging things to his advantage.

“Do you want to go talk to Jade?” he asked.

Holly shook her head. “Not yet. Let her finish with her current people first.”

Having Jade’s full attention? Knox couldn’t argue with that.

#

Jade Dare wrapped up her conversation with a woman she felt sure would be a bridezilla if she booked Jade and the Meridian’s services. She’d kept a forced smile pasted on her face until the woman walked away.

As soon as said woman and her meek fiancé were out of sight, Jade turned to Lauren Connelly, her assistant and best friend. “No, I will not work with her. One of the perks of my family owning the hotel has to be my ability to turn down people I don’t want to deal with. Life’s too short. When she calls, say we’re booked. Forever if need be.”

Lauren tipped her head and laughed, her chic long bob swaying around her face. “Twenty bridesmaids and don’t worry about the budget, I’ll work on my father?” she said in a perfect imitation of the woman, down to the hair flip. “Can’t say I blame you.” She shuddered just as Jade had. “And that poor man. He needs to grow a backbone or his life is going to be hell.”

“Amen,” Jade muttered. In her business, she met all kinds of people, male and female alike. “He’s never going to be happy.” That much she could confidently predict.

Lauren glanced around their assigned venue space with a quick and experienced eye. “Layla, can you put some more water on the tables?” Stepping toward Jade, Lauren spoke, her voice lowered. “I think that bridezilla’s group of friends snagged all the waters from every table.”

“No problem,” Layla said, putting down the book she’d been reading. The fourteen-year-old hopped off the stool she’d been sitting on and walked to the hidden area behind a curtain, where they kept the extra supplies.

“Your sister is great. She’s been so helpful!” Lauren smiled as they then watched her set up each table just so.

“She is,” Jade murmured. Layla was technically Jade’s half sister, but since Layla’s mom, Serenity, had raised Jade and her four siblings, nobody dealt in words like half. They were a family, period.

“Wouldn’t she rather be with her friends?” Lauren asked.

“I think something is going on. Teenage angst or boy drama. I’m not sure which. Maybe both.” Jade shrugged. “She asked if she could hang out with us today. I thought she’d enjoy keeping busy.”

“Aah. Poor kid. Middle school sucks. But she looks up to you and it’s so cute to see.”

Jade smiled. “We’re ten years apart. You’d think it would be awkward, but because my family spends so much time together, there’s no real distance between any of us.”

Something her father and stepmother had made sure of. After Jade’s mother’s mental illness and death by suicide – not something Jade ever wanted to think about — the family had closed ranks. Her older brothers, Asher, Harrison, and Zach, had painful memories of their birth mother. Jade and her twin, Nick, had been two when she’d left. They had no memory of anyone but Serenity as their mother, and that’s what Nick and Jade called her. But Jade still feared what her real mother had done and what that meant for her own mental health.

“Speaking of men…” Lauren’s voice broke into the morose thoughts and facts she tried hard not to dwell on.

“We weren’t.” She narrowed her eyes at Lauren, aware her friend would veer off into personal territory. “We were discussing my sister and, before that, bridezilla.”

Lauren opened a water bottle and took a sip. “Just pretend we were discussing men. Are you still on a man-fast? Because it’s been a year and a half since you broke up with Dickhead, and I think it’s time you get out there.” She twirled around and her long brown ponytail swung with her. “Mix and mingle. My neighbor invited me to go to a bar with some friends this weekend and you should come.” She turned pleading eyes on Jade.

Eyes Jade knew were meant to manipulate. She’d done it often enough during their college days at NYU when she would try and get Jade to go somewhere she didn’t want to be. Jade suffered from migraines and anxiety, and she considered herself lucky Lauren had stuck around back in the days when partying was everything in college. A lot of her high school friends had gotten bored of her issues.

“Thanks for the invite. I’ll think about it.”

Lauren raised an eyebrow. “You’re lying.”

Unable to hold it in, Jade burst out laughing. “You know me too well.”

“Is it because of the man-fast?” Lauren asked, her tone serious.

Jade took a quick glance at the rear of the exhibit, making sure Layla was back to reading, with no chance of overhearing their conversation. Man-fast was what Jade called the time since she’d broken up with that lying, cheating SOB, Theo Matthews, her then fiancé. And before that, she’d ended things with Douglas Webster, who’d only wanted her for her family money.

“I’d say I have good reason for steering clear of men,” Jade muttered. “And would you stop saying those words? We’re here to sell a fantasy for happily ever after, not run people away,” she said of the visitors looking at their brochures and photos.

Lauren sighed. “One of these days, you’re going to give in and go out again. I just know it.”

“Hi!” A perky redhead walked up to Jade and Lauren, ending the conversation, for which Jade was grateful.

“Hello,” Jade said, smiling. “How can we help… Oh! Natalie! It’s good to see you. I’ve talked to so many people today, I just dove in without realizing I knew you.”

The attractive woman laughed. “Six months and counting!” she said, her smile as big as her obvious excitement.

She was one of the brides Jade always enjoyed talking to. “I know. You remember Lauren, right?”

“Of course!” Both women spoke at the same time and laughed.

“What are you doing here today?” They’d booked all her vendors already.

“Jason is having a guys-only day, so I figured I’d come sign up for some of the giveaways. I’m feeling lucky!” Natalie said.

“Well then, why don’t you enter ours? We’re giving away a night in the bridal suite at the Meridian. You never know. You might end up staying for free.” Lauren winked at Jade and led Natalie toward the giveaway table, giving Jade a few minutes of blessed peace and alone time.

She picked up a bottle of water from a table, opened the cap, and took a long sip. As she replaced the top, a female voice called her name.

She put the bottle down and turned.

“Jade, hi!” Holly Matthews, her most recent ex’s sister, rushed over and engulfed her in a hug. “I’m so happy to see you!” Holly exclaimed loudly in Jade’s ear.

“Let her go, Holl,” a deep, masculine voice said. “You’re squeezing the life out of her.” A rumbling sexy chuckle followed.

Holly laughed and released her. “Sorry. It’s just been way too long. I missed you.”

Jade smiled. “I missed you, too.” She should have kept in touch with Theo’s sister. They weren’t all that far apart in age and she’d always liked her. “What are you doing at the bridal expo?”

“She’s getting married,” the same masculine voice said, drawing her attention.

Jade met Knox Sinclair’s amused gaze, and she let out a rush of air. He was Holly’s brother, Theo’s stepbrother, and the man whose wife Theo had slept with when he’d cheated on Jade. It wasn’t a great connection to have, and they hadn’t commiserated after.

“Hi, Knox,” she said to the handsome man who’d made an impression the first time they’d met.

“Jade.” He tipped his head in greeting.

Her name on his lips sent tremors of awareness shooting through her. With his dark hair, hazel eyes that appeared more green than brown, and a face that was close to perfect, she couldn’t help being attracted to him. He had a straight nose, a strong jaw, and full lips she’d imagined kissing. And yes, she’d felt guilty about it, since she’d been with Theo at the time. But she hadn’t acted on the attraction, which was more than she could say about her ex.

Knox, the football team owner, always in a sport jacket and slacks, was more her type than Theo, the right winger for the New York Rockets, had been. She’d never dated an athlete before, but Theo had been persistent, and she’d been ready to try again after her first broken engagement. Theo had taught her a hard lesson. She had shitty taste in men, bad judgment, and no business dating.

“How are you?” she asked him.

Even his genuine smile with straight white teeth drew her in. “I’m good. And you?”

“Busy.” She gestured around the booth.

“Impressive display,” he said, following her wave.

Pride filled her and she smiled. “Thanks. We worked hard.” She looked to where Lauren had stood, but her assistant had stepped aside to talk to Holly. She hadn’t realized she and Knox had been left alone. “What brings you to the bridal expo?”

“Holly’s engaged, and she asked me to come since the future groom is out of town.”

His indulgent tone when he spoke of his stepsister was so different than Theo’s had been. He’d had no patience for Holly, her bubbly personality, or her desire to please. And they were blood relatives. Looking back, there’d been red flags she’d ignored about Theo’s behavior, and she wanted to kick herself for being so blind.

“Holly! Congratulations,” Jade said, walking over to where she and Lauren stood.

Knox followed.

“Thank you. I’m very happy,” Holly said. “Look!” She held out her fingers to show off her ring.

Used to this with all her brides, Jade lifted her hand to admire the beautiful emerald-cut diamond. “Gorgeous. I’m thrilled for you.”

“Thrilled enough to be my wedding coordinator and help me find a date at your hotel?” Holly clasped her hands together. “Please?”

Jade glanced at Lauren, who winced from behind Holly’s back. “I’d really love to work with you, but we’re booked for the next year. When did you have in mind?”

Holly glanced at Knox, who shrugged.

“Your call,” he said. “What did you and Miles discuss?”

She bit down on her lower lip. “We figured a year, but I admit I was hoping to find an opening sooner.”

Jade wrapped an arm around Holly’s shoulders. “It’s difficult to plan a wedding on short notice if you’re looking for all the bells and whistles. Why don’t you give me a call at work. I’ll look at my calendar and check the soonest open date. In the meantime, sign up to win a free night in a Meridian suite.” She pointed to the sign-up area.

Holly, looking disappointed, nodded. “I guess I knew that. I was just hoping things would go my way. Can you call if you get a cancellation? I know that’s highly unlikely.”

“Of course. Leave your number with Lauren. If something opens up, I promise you’ll be my first phone call.” Jade didn’t mention that, should such a thing happen, another bride-to-be would be devastated. She’d been down that road herself, and the thought made her ill.

“Hey! Let’s take a picture of all of us together,” Holly said. “Come on, move over here.” Despite attendees walking in and out of the booth, Holly directed Jade and Lauren to stand in front of the fairy lights.

Knox stood to the side, arms folded across his chest.

“You, too! Come on.” Holly grabbed his arm and pulled him across the floor. “Stand here.” She nudged him between Jade and Lauren.

His broad shoulder rubbed against her arm, and her nipples puckered in reaction.

“I don’t think it’s necessary for me to be in the photo,” Knox said, his voice gruffer than before.

Jade reached out and touched his shoulder. “Stay. You’ll be good PR for the hotel.”

Holly nodded. “See? Now step back.”

“I can take the picture,” Layla offered, placing her book on a stool.

Holly smiled. “That would be great. I want to put it on my Instagram.” She handed Jade’s sister her cell phone.

“As long as we’re doing this, can you make sure to get the hotel and business logo in the photo?” Jade gestured to the Meridian Hotel Events sign.

A few minutes and photo attempts later, they had the money shot, and everyone was happy with the end result. Holly immediately posted the picture and tagged them all. Lauren crossed the booth to talk to a woman who had a question, and Layla settled back onto her chair to read.

“Before we go, I want to enter the giveaway,” Holly said. She stepped over to the table with the forms and filled out her entry.

Jade stood with Knox and he met her gaze. “How have you been?” he asked.

She assumed he was referring to getting past the heartbreak they’d both experienced. “I survived Theo if that’s what you’re asking.”

He shook his head. “That’s not what I want to know. How are you?” Those gorgeous hazel eyes studied her intently.

“I have work, friends, close family. I’m good,” she answered honestly.

His smile warmed her. “I’m glad.”

“All set.” Holly joined them. “I’ll be calling you to book when you’re free … and to see if something opens up.”

Jade nodded. “Sounds good. I’ve missed you,” she told the other woman.

“Me, too.” Holly tipped her head to the side. “Do you have dinner plans when the expo is over? We should all go out, right?” she asked, nudging Knox not too subtly with her elbow.

Jade bit the inside of her cheek. At this point she was certain Holly was trying to push Jade and Knox together, which would be as awkward as it sounded.

“Why not?” Knox surprised her by saying. “I’m free.”

Holly’s eyes lit up. “Jade?”

The woman was impossible to say no to. “Sure. I can make it around seven thirty? Somewhere mid to uptown would be easiest.”

“Not a problem,” Knox said. “Holly will make a reservation since it was her idea.” His sexy lips turned up in a grin.

“How many people are we? Lauren, can you make it?” Holly asked.

“Sorry,” Lauren said as she joined them. “I have a plans.”

Jade narrowed her gaze. She’d been hoping her friend would be another buffer with Knox. The man’s sex appeal was potent, and Jade would have liked Lauren’s presence to play against Holly’s obvious matchmaking intentions. Then again, Lauren might hop on the set-Jade-and-Knox-up bandwagon.

“How about your sister?” Holly tipped her head toward her quiet younger sibling.

Jade shook her head. “My parents are picking her up later this afternoon.”

“So that makes three. Great! We can all catch up. See you later!” Holly started to walk off, her attention on her phone, probably looking for reservations.

Knox tipped his head. “Later, Jade.” He winked and strode off after his sister.

She tried not to drool as she watched him walk away, while wondering what she’d gotten herself into.

#

Knox was in a surprisingly good mood as he pulled out of the parking spot at the expo for the drive back into the city. Sure, Holly had manipulated him and Jade into dinner, but since it gave him an excuse to spend time with a pretty woman who intrigued him, he figured why the hell not go?

From the corner of his eye, he glanced at his sister. “You’re looking pretty smug.”

She turned to him. “About dinner? I am. About having to wait a year for the wedding? Not so much.”

“If you want to get married sooner, pick a different venue. I know the upscale places book out, but I guarantee you we can find you somewhere you’ll be happy.”

She frowned. “That’s my dream location.”

“Then we wait.”

Her cell phone rang and she answered the call. “Theo! Guess where I just went?”

Knox shook his head. She’d never stop trying to get her brother interested in her life.

“Oh! You saw the picture I posted?” She listened to the asshole’s answer. “Yes, I’m still with Knox.” She narrowed her gaze and glanced his way.

He shrugged and merged onto the highway.

“Fine.” She let out a groan. “Theo wants me to put him on speaker.” She hit the button on her screen. “You’re up,” she said to Theo. “What’s going on?”

“There are thousands of wedding planners in Manhattan. You don’t need to use Jade,” Theo said.

Knox set his jaw. What the fuck was Theo’s problem? He was the one who’d screwed things up with Jade. It shouldn’t matter to him whether Holly wanted to work with her or not.

“If I want to get married at the Meridian, she’s their wedding planner. Her family owns the hotel, and she runs their entertainment. You know that,” Holly said. “And the Meridian is at the top of my list.”

“A place is a place. Pick somewhere else. It’ll be awkward for me.” Theo’s voice sounded more like a whine.

“It’s not about you.” Knox was growing more pissed by the second. “It’s about Holly, and she is the only one who gets a say.”

He’d like to remind his stepbrother that Knox was the one paying for this wedding since their mother had disappeared with her latest wealthy pawn, and Theo hadn’t offered up a dime. But Knox would never make Holly feel bad.

“You’re so full of shit, Knox. It’s not about what Holly wants. You want to be around Jade. You always did have a hard-on for her. Guess you like my leftovers,” he said, chuckling, but there was anger beneath the sound.

Knox forced in a deep breath and gripped the leather steering wheel harder.

“Theo, cut it out,” Holly said, the joy from earlier leeched out of her voice.

Time to end this conversation. “I’d say it’s been a pleasure but we both know that’s a lie.” Knox glanced at Holly. “Disconnect the call.”

Theo did the honors and ended the conversation before she could hit the button on the phone.

“Hey. Don’t let him get to you. He’s always been self-centered and thinks everything’s either about him or someone’s done him wrong. None of this has anything to do with you.”

Holly sighed. “I know. He never takes responsibility. Anytime something bad happens to him, it’s someone else’s fault.” She picked at her nails. “I’m sorry for what he said to you.”

Knox reached over and grasped her hand. “Don’t take his shit on yourself. Come on. What happened to the smug, giddy woman who set her brother up tonight?”

Holly blinked in an exaggerated fashion. “Who, me?”

He laughed, glad her fun side had returned. “That’s better. Now get to work finding a restaurant for tonight.”

She turned up the radio and began scrolling on her phone, giving Knox time to think about Theo’s reaction. If a mere photo with Jade set his stepbrother off, Knox couldn’t imagine what he’d do if Knox really spent time with his ex.

Available August 16, 2022 – Preorder your copy today!

Kindle: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKKindle

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Just One Kiss – Preorder Giveaway!

Jade Dare escapes to her brother’s island retreat. Determined not to let her run from him, Knox follows. 

We can’t all have the luxury of our own beach but we can enjoy summer sun and fun!

Enter for a chance to win an adorable btb straw beach tote, a bottle of sunscreen, and A SET of signed Kingston Family books! That’s 6 books! 

ENTER HERE:Fill out al info on form!PREORDER JUST ONE KISSKindle: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKKindleAmazon Print: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKAmzPrintApple: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKAppleNook: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKNookGoogleplay: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKGoogleKobo: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKKoboAudio: Jason Clarke and Samantha Cook – 9/6/22Audible: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKAudibleAmazon Audio: https://www.carlyphillips.com/JOKAmzAudio

Apologies: due to illness in my immediate family, audio books will be later this year

*No purchase necessary to enter

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Just One Taste Cover Reveal

One grumpy billionaire.
One virgin supermodel.
Add in a tropical private island paradise.
What could go wrong?

As owner and CEO of Dirty Dog Spirits, thirty-three year old, Asher Dare has it all. Money. Power. Women whenever he wants. A private island retreat when he doesn’t. People he trusts? He can count those on one hand. When one of his best friends asks a favor—hide his twenty-one year old, supermodel sister, on the island until a scandal blows over—Asher can’t say no. But he doesn’t have to like it.

The daughter of a Senator and a Presidential candidate, Nicolette Bettencourt always acts with decorum. Yet through no fault of her own, scandal seems to follow her every move. When nude photos surface, the uproar puts her father’s campaign at risk. And forces her into hiding with Asher, the hottest—and grumpiest—billionaire she’s ever met.

Under soothing tropical breezes, Asher discovers that Nicolette is nothing like the spoiled brat portrayed in the tabloids. She’s warm, sexy, and a temptation Asher must resist at all costs—or he risks betraying his closest friend, bringing a powerful political dynasty to its knees… and losing the woman he loves.

Thank you

Maria @steamy_designs and Wander Aguiar Photography.

Book Info

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