Read an Extended Excerpt from ONE NIGHT WITH HER HUSBAND by @SSaraDaniel #Giveaway #1NightStand @DecadentPub

Reader Letter from The Star Princess ... Author @CeriseDeLand celebrates 200th...

Read an Extended Excerpt from ONE NIGHT WITH HER HUSBAND by @SSaraDaniel #Giveaway #1NightStand @DecadentPub

Enjoy an Extended Excerpt from Sara Daniel’s ONE NIGHT WITH HER HUSBAND…

Pushing back his chair, the man who haunted her dreams rose to his feet and smoothed his tie over his flat stomach. “I’m Adrian Torres, a relatively new member of Gladstone PR. However, I’ve been in public relations for my entire career. I have a lot of good ideas to turn your image around.”

Okay, so he hadn’t appeared out of nowhere to suddenly reclaim their relationship. His appearance made more sense, but damn if she didn’t feel let down. Of course, Marcia had no right to be disappointed when he’d chosen the same work-over-relationship priority she had.

“You’d better,” she choked out, fumbling with her laptop. Either they’d become such complete strangers Adrian thought he needed to reintroduce himself or he didn’t want the others in the room to catch on that she knew him. Hell, she more than knew him. She could have written a report on the amazing experience of his cock thrusting inside her.

Not that anyone would believe he’d once found her attractive enough to cuddle with. Working late and shoveling down meals at her desk had caught up with her until her curvy figure had become undeniably fat. She’d left him to build her career, but she’d stayed away until she could return to the same physical shape as when she’d left. Unfortunately, she continued to move further from that goal, rather than closer.

Karma, the bitch, hadn’t given Adrian a gut and a double chin. Nope, he’d become more fit, along with giving every appearance of being on the road to a successful career.

Instead of attempting to shake her hand, he glanced at her junior-level marketing team seating themselves around the oval. “I assume we’re still waiting for a few more people before we get started?”

Since she alone represented upper management, somehow she had to push all her personal turbulence aside and match his fixation on business. “Everyone is here, except Mr. Sunburst, who is under strict instructions from his doctor not to overexert himself. He will, however, be in later today to hear our report.” And Marcia needed to deliver good news if she had a hope of saving her career.

“Let’s start with introductions.” Adrian nodded to his team to go first while she settled into the empty seat across from him. She’d assumed, if they ever faced each other across a table, divorce lawyers would be present on both sides. So, despite the surreal experience, the situation was far better than the worst-case scenario she’d both imagined and dreaded through the years of minimal phone and mail contact with her husband.

The introductions traveled around the table until, all too soon, the collective gaze turned to her. She cleared her throat. “I’m Marcia Johnson.”

Adrian arched an eyebrow.

She’d never officially taken his name after they’d married, and, despite his silent challenge, she had no intention of cluing in the employees who looked to her for guidance that they were witnessing her reunion with her estranged husband. Especially since he’d given no indication he wanted to clue them in. His unwavering composure suggested they weren’t in the same room by coincidence. But surely he recognized he’d dropped into her life at the worst possible time for her to deal with a personal crisis.

“I’m the executive assistant to Blake Wellington, Sunburst’s CEO,” she explained, pushing down her inner turmoil. “I am acting CEO this week while he’s out on family leave.”

“Hell of a week to be in charge,” muttered a woman from the Gladstone team who’d introduced herself as Jasmine.

“Tell me about it.” Marcia shared a wry smile with the woman, grateful for the opportunity to tear her gaze from her spouse. Legalities aside, could she still claim him as hers? He could have moved on to someone who would put her relationship before her career. She balled her hands into fists under the table.

While mentally tallying the ways she came up short in comparison to any new woman in his life, she recapped the hacker damage to their computer systems and the mass exodus of the marketing department to bring the Gladstone people up to speed. “The security leak is fixed. We have the very best firewalls, encryption, and consumer protections in place so this will never happen again. We just need to convince our guests and the public they can hand over their credit cards, book a stay with us, and carry on with business as usual.”

“I have a plan to make that happen,” Adrian said, his voice confident and authoritative.

For the first time since the crisis had begun, someone offered assurance instead of looking to her to provide it. Tears pressed against her eyelids. She didn’t have to be strong on her own anymore. Someone had her back.

“We’ll start by appealing to your most loyal customers, the ones you never thought would go elsewhere, the ones who never planned to leave you,” he continued.

That sounded personal. He’d meant a business context, not their past, right?

“Shouldn’t we ensure they have something to return to, first?” she asked.

If he no longer loved her, having him in the same room didn’t matter. And how could he love her? She no longer bore much physical resemblance to the woman who’d attracted him in college, when they been so crazy in love they’d eloped over spring break of their junior year. Eight years later, she lived alone without so much as a pet goldfish to keep her company and only contacted her husband to discuss official things, like their tax-filing status.

“These customers are the heart of your business. If they come back, you can save the company. If they don’t….” His sentence hung in the air.

She’d left him and never returned, and he’d never chased after her. After years of minimal, strictly-business contact, they had nothing left to save. Working until at least 10:00 p.m. each night, she had no friends other than her boss’s family and turned to food for comfort when the loneliness became unbearable. Instead of taking Adrian’s words and his presence personally, she needed to focus on the corporation and career she still had a chance to salvage.

“Are you suggesting we give our loyal customers a free night’s stay?” She could do the same thing. Her pathetic, warped brain refused to give up the personal angle. When Blake and Luciana had gotten married, they’d given her a certificate for a free night with a one-night stand matchmaking service as a bridal party gift. She could call the number and ask for a night with her husband. But would he accept a freebie with her? If he did, she had to brace for the possibility her new physical shape would turn him off for good.

“A free night is a tool at our disposal, but we need something bigger for the main thrust of the campaign.” He captured her gaze and leaned forward. “You need to win back their trust and prove you deserve their loyalty.”

Marcia’s stomach twisted until she fought the violent urge to heave. She couldn’t prove she deserved him because she didn’t. Maybe if she’d returned to his side within the first couple months, they could have worked out their differences, but the years hung between them, a chasm of time…and heartache. After she’d already left him once, she couldn’t imagine why he’d ever trust her again. The meeting continued, but with despair overwhelming her, she couldn’t process the flurry of words.

“I’m losing you,” Adrian said.

Through no fault of his own. Once again, she’d proven herself unworthy.

“Everyone take a ten-minute break,” he continued. “Get some water or coffee, whatever helps you focus. I expect 100 percent attention when we reconvene.”

A break. She could escape and regroup without every eye in the company watching her reaction and counting on her vote of confidence.

“Marcia,” he called.

Pretending not to hear, she bolted from the room. She needed every second of those ten minutes. The elevator doors opened, and she jabbed the button to the sub-level parking garage before anyone could follow her. As soon as the doors opened, she hurried toward her car, tears blurring her vision as she fumbled in her purse for her keys.

Not yet. Hold it together a minute longer.

At last, she yanked open the door and climbed inside, slamming it behind her. Finally, she was alone. All alone. Her life stretched before her as an endless, empty highway.

A sob burst from her throat. When she’d bought the one-way plane ticket to California, she’d expected her husband would follow and they would make up and pick up their relationship where they’d left off.

But he hadn’t followed. And they no longer had anything left to pick up.

Learn more about

One Night With Her Husband,

Sara’s new release

She walked away from her marriage seven years ago…

Marcia Johnson always assumed her husband would follow her eventually. She’d achieve success while she waited and prove her decision the right one. But when he finally turns up, she’s not ready. Her career hangs in the balance, and her weight has skyrocketed. How can she face the man she loves and show him she made the right choice? Especially when he’s matured from a decent-looking college student into the sexiest man she’s ever seen.

He’s waited seven years for his wife to finally need him…

If Adrian Torres can save her business, maybe he’ll have a shot at saving their marriage. But the woman he finds is too competent and independent to ask him for help. She even shrugs off his touch instead of reacting with the desire he hoped to ignite. Have the embers of their marriage finally died? Is it time to end their relationship and move forward?

He wants a divorce…

Her world ripped apart, Marcia turns to 1Night Stand to give her one more night before she lets Adrian go. She dares not hope for more. Even Madame Eve couldn’t have the magic to save their neglected disaster of a relationship…could she?

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Sara Daniel writes what she loves to read—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She battles a serious NASCAR addiction, was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels, and loses her car keys several times a day. One Night with her Husband is the latest book in her One Night with the Bridal Party series.