Title: Hard to Fight
Author: Bella Jewel
Series: Alpha’s Heart, #1
Imprint: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Publication Date: August 11, 2015
Format: eBook
ISBN: 978-1-466-89135-7
Price: $3.99
Aug 11
Hard To Fight by Bella Jewel Excerpt
HARD TO FIGHT Excerpt
“I’m freaking out, Kady,” I whisper down the phone. “How the hell am I supposed to get
“With your mind,” she says with amusement in her voice. “And your body.”
“Don’t you see? You’re looking at this all wrong. You’re expecting to be able to just go
over and drag him in but you can’t do that. Whether you like it or not, you don’t have the
physical power to bring a man his size in. So start thinking outside the box.”
She’s piqued my interest. “Go on. . . .”
She huffs as if my question is completely unwarranted. “Seduce him.”
I laugh nervously. “Kady, I met him and basically abused him for being a player. Then I
told him girls like me never sleep with men like him, and now you’re asking me to approach him
and try to make him believe I’m interested?”
I close my eyes. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
“What are you going to do, then?” she challenges. “Waltz up to him and order him to
come in? He’ll run before you get your damned gun from your purse.”
I laugh. “I know how to use my gun, thank you very much—I’m just not allowed to use it
“Seriously, Gracie,” she says, softer now. “Think about it. You seduce him, get him
interested, then you set him up. You could do something as simple as making him drop you to
She makes a really good point.
“He’s not just going to grow an attraction to me overnight.”
“What?” She giggles. “A man isn’t just going to fall at your feet? Gasp. But seriously,
that man was undressing you with his eyes. I don’t think you’ll have a problem.”
I snort. “Shut up—he was not.”
“He was so, and you can do it. I know you can. Just drop the charm on him, and you’ll
It’s actually not a bad idea. It would be an easy way of getting Raide in without alerting
him or having to wrestle him. I might be trained, but a man his size wouldn’t be easy to move.
Being a bounty hunter isn’t always easy. We have to track down criminals and bring them in for
their trials, things like that. It isn’t always a walk in the park, a good deal of them run or attempt
to assault us, so we’re always on our feet.
“I’ll think about it, but it is a good plan.”
I hear her clap and squeal. “While you’re at it, get some of that fine ass for yourself.”
“I think that’s against the code. . . .”
“Not if it’s kept secret.” She’s grinning—I can hear it in her voice.
I laugh, flopping down onto my couch. “You’re a rebel, Kady…”
…I hang up and lean back against the soft cushions of the couch. Seduce Raide Knox,
prove my team wrong, and get the chance to expand my career. It all sounds simple, but I have
no doubt whatsoever that it won’t be. Raide is a hard man, and he’s going to think I’m a great big
joke when I turn up, trying to seduce him. I can only hope he’s seducible.
Things are about to get interesting.
Check out our 5 smooches review HERE.
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Aug 11
Hard To Fight by Bella Jewel Review
5 Smooches
Synopsis
Grace is a bounty hunter who wants to be taken seriously, but her boss refuses to believe that a woman can bring down a dangerous criminal. She finally gets a chance to prove herself when she’s given the case of a lifetime: capture Raide Knox and bring him to justice.
Raide is a dangerous fugitive on the run…and the sexiest man Grace has ever met. Catching Raide won’t be easy. He’s not the kind of man to go down without a fight. Raide is more intense and frustrating than any man she’s ever had to deal with, and the instantaneous attraction that sparks between them is undeniable. One thing is for sure…it’s going to be a case they will never forget.
**Hard To Fight is a full-length standalone romance with a HEA**
Review
“Seduce Raide Knox, prove team wrong, and get chance to expand my career. It all sounds simple, but I have no doubt whatsoever that it won’t be.”
Let’s be honest here and say that not only am I a Bella Jewel newbie but I decided not to read the blurb and go in blind to this book so I had convinced myself that this was a fighter book, a genre I love dearly. I quickly realize that I was completely wrong and while at first I expected to be disappointed I was so immediately sucked into Raide and Grace’s story that I had no time to dwell on my misconceptions.
“Raide Knox doesn’t like women who flaunt themselves in front of him. No, Raide Knox like them wild and badass, but more than that, he likes a challenge.”
Unlike her two beauty queen sisters, Grace takes after her bad ass of a dad and has been working for the past five years to get the males of her field to take her ad her skills as a bounty hunter seriously. Finally given her first big chance she must bring in fugitive Raide Knox. Raide is wanted for on some serious and dangerous charges. A connection and sparks fly upon their first meeting and when Grace decides to use their attraction as a way to bring him in she finds she is placing herself in a questionable position that she is not sure she can maneuver out of . . . or if she wants to.
“God. His smile. It’s huge. And wolfish. And sexy as hell.”
Hard To Fight was DYNAMIC! I loved Grace and how she had a tough job and was wild, strong and kinda tom-boyish and yet never did she feel manly to me (a problem I have encountered in other books with similar heroines.) Being who she is not always easy and has alienated her from her mom and sisters and yet she always stays true to herself. Not only is this admirable it is a joy to read. Raide, for his part, was dark, myserious and dangerous but more than all that he was charming and fun and caring when needed. I fell hard for this “Bad Boy” and knew the moment I met him there must be more to his story.
“How the hell am I going to survive when I lose him? And it’s not a matter of “if” in this situation, it’s a matter of “when.”
I am kicking myself currently for taking this long to read a Bella Jewel book and I can promise you that there will be many more in my future. Hard To Fight was an intense roller coaster full of heat, action, forbidden romance and progressive characters. If you love alpha men but want a twist on the typical story than this one is probably perfect for you.
~miranda
Buy It Now
Aug 11
Anchor by M. Mabie Cover Reveal
Synopsis
I believe in love at first sight.
Now I know soulmates exist.
Nothing has ever been easy for us.
Every fight, every struggle, has been worth it.
I’m stubborn, but what woman isn’t?
She’s hard work and I love the overtime.
He’s frustrating and unpredictable. I hope he never changes.
I love driving her crazy. That’s half the fun.
Lou’s sexy curls.
Honeybee’s pink nose.
He still looks at me like I’m precious and unflawed.
She treats me like I’m the center of her world.
Our future will be full of happiness.
Despite everything, we’re two of the lucky ones.
I took the bait.
She was a lucky catch.
He is the wind in my sail.
She’s the anchor that grounds me.
The wake our love made is beautiful.
Every day I thank God for her.
No matter the hurdles, we’ve jumped them side-by-side.
No matter the obstacles, we’ve made it through together.
For better or for worse, I’d do it again.
I’ll love and protect her all the days of my life.
We made it.
We always will.
Anchor is the third book in the bestselling Wake Series. In this widely anticipated series finale, you’ll see Lou and Honeybee get all they’ve ever wanted and more.
Anchor Links Goodreads | Anchor Play list
Release date is slated for September 22, 2015.
Interested readers should start at the beginning:
Bait, Wake #1
Amazon US http://amzn.to/19oZZij
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/1CB7yMm
Amazon CA http://goo.gl/hjbwMZ
Amazon AU http://goo.gl/s1w3Rl
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Bait Links Goodreads | Casey’s Playlist | Blake’s Playlist
Sail, Wake #2
Amazon US bit.ly/SailAmazonUS
Amazon UK bit.ly/SailAmazonUK
Amazon CA bit.ly/SailAmazonCA
Amazon AUS bit.ly/SailAmazonAUS
B&N bit.ly/SailNook
iTunes bit.ly/SailiBooks
Kobo bit.ly/SailKobo
Sail Links Goodreads | Casey’s Playlist | Blake’s Playlist
M. Mabie Social Links
Goodreads http://bit.ly/1hzmhkk
Amazon http://amzn.to/1ovAayx
Newsletter http://bit.ly/1kMbfmo
Facebook http://on.fb.me/1pRBigO
Twitter http://bit.ly/1hznYOO
Website http://bit.ly/1nP9q04
Bio
Mabie lives in Illinois with her husband. She is the author of the steamy comedy Fade In. Her sophomore release, Bait, is the first book in the angst-filled erotic Wake Series. She writes unconventional love stories and tries to embody “real-life romance.”
She cares about politics, but will not discuss them in public. She uses the same fork at every meal, watches Wayne’s World while cleaning, and lets her dog sleep on her head. She has always been a writer. In fact, she was born with a pen in her hand, which almost never happens. Almost.
Mabie usually doesn’t speak in third-person either. She promises.
Other books by M. Mabie
Aug 11
The Escort by Laura Marie Altom Release Blitz and Giveaway
Title: The Escort
Series: Shamed Series
Author: Laura Marie Altom
Genre: Erotic/Contemp Romance
Release Date: August 11 ,2015
For fans of J. Kenner and Tracy Wolff, Laura Marie Altom’s heart-wrenching new Shamed novel features two broken-hearted lovers who fall for each other—one dangerous, sizzling encounter at a time.
When the woman he loves marries billionaire Liam Stone, Nathan Black swears off dating, constantly being broke, and playing by the rules. His new gig’s not exactly legal, but the cash will help him build a solid future. Then there’s Carol Moore, Liam’s personal assistant. She and Nathan always seem to get paired up at Stone family functions—and always seem to fall into bed together afterward . . . or even during. She’s the perfect rebound. So why does Nathan want more?
After Carol’s dreamy boss gets hitched, crushing any chance of them getting back together, she finds herself hooking up with the bride’s best friend. Nathan is hot, adventurous, and makes her feel even better than chocolate does. But when one of their sexy games reveals the presence of a relentless stalker, Carol discovers that Nathan has a dangerous secret. And before long Carol is forced to choose between her safe old life and the bad boy who makes her feel like the woman she’s meant to be.
Advance praise for The Escort “I couldn’t put The Escort down! Laura Marie Altom delivers one hell of an exciting and wickedly hot story.” —Stacey Kennedy, USA Today bestselling author of the Club Sin series
Praise for Laura Marie Altom’s Shamed series “Touching, sad, sweet, and sexy, Control will have you cheering for Ella and Liam right up to the end. Then you’ll start counting the days until we get to find out how their story really ends. Or begins.” —Laura Drewry, USA Today bestselling author of Prima Donna
Plain and simple, Carol and I were on the most pathetic of all possible rebounds. Her past with Liam was ancient history, and mine with Ella was nonexistent save for a lone kiss I’d stolen and for which I’d subsequently been slapped.
I hugged Carol, breathing her in. She smelled like orange blossoms—I knew, because when my mom was dying, I’d bought her a little orange tree. She’d loved it, but it died not long after her. Because of that, I usually shied from the scent, but on Carol, the lush sweetness laced with a crisp edge somehow seemed right.
“What now?” I set her back on the table’s edge and pondered how to save face while performing the awkward business of disposing of a used condom with no tissue.
She leaned backward, tearing a chunk of pearlescent white paper from the nearest gift. “Here.” She nodded toward my shrinking cock. “This might help.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” She arched her head back and sighed. “Think they’re done?”
“With the vows?” I nodded.
“It really was awful, wasn’t it?” She fluffed the ribbon atop the nearest gift. “I thought I was prepared, but there’s no manual for seeing the man you love marry another woman—don’t get me wrong. I like Ella—a lot. I just . . .” She glanced down at her dress, the way the fabric bunched around her waist and one of her breasts had sprung free. Laughing, she hopped down to cover herself. “Christ, would you look at me. I’m a hot mess. No wonder he wanted her over me.”
“Knock it off. Liam being with Ella has way more to do with him than you.” I cupped my hand to her cheek, brushing the mascara trail with my thumb. “You’re smart and beautiful, and any guy would be lucky to have you.”
“Things guys say when they want a Get Out of Jail Free card after an awkward fuck?”
I kissed her. “Things I say when I’m sorry for taking advantage of a woman I never meant to screw, but am damn glad I did.”
“Idiot. I took advantage of you.” Her laugh caught me as off guard as her original proposition. “Look, what’s done is done. No harm, no foul. We’re good. Let’s get cleaned up, get this god-awful night behind us, then be on our mutual merry ways, so we can spend the next fifty years pondering how to complete our lives without them.”
I winced. “Think it’ll take that long?”
She shrugged before turning for the bathroom at the end of a short hall.
I stood with my dick out, staring at the view—or rather, the lack of one. The sun had long since set, and now, where the ocean had once been there was only my faint reflection superimposed on darkness. I worked myself back into my boxers, then closed up shop.
I still tasted Carol—and craved more, only she was as far out of my league as Ella.
Even if she hadn’t been, she deserved more than to be some guy’s rebound.
She emerged from the bathroom, backlit by soft incandescent light. Her hair was once again upswept and her gown appropriately clinging to her curves.
“You’re beautiful.” I gazed upon her reflection rather than directly at her.
“Thank you.” Head bowed, she smoothed the front of her dress. “Lately, I’ve felt anything but pretty—especially inside. You know Ella’s pregnant, right? That’s why they had to fast-track the wedding.”
Pregnant? I clamped my hand over my mouth.
No. I hadn’t known. Now that I did, I wished myself back to when I hadn’t. Over the coming months, watching Ella’s belly swell with Liam’s child would be brutal. Up until this moment, I hadn’t realized how much I’d secretly wished her marriage to fail.
“She didn’t tell you.” Carol’s radiant heat warmed my back as if she were a cold night’s bonfire. “I’m sorry—for both of us. But hey, at least now that we know any hope we might have had with them is well and truly gone, we can get on with our own lives, right?”
“What life?” I clasped my hands over my forehead. “I stock grocery store shelves and take a few hours online at a community college. Yay, me.”
“If you’d ask, Liam would give you a scholarship to any—”
“Screw that. There’s no way in hell I’d ask him for a goddamned thing.”
“Suit yourself.”
“I’ve gotta get out of here,” I said more to myself than her, already heading up the winding redwood staircase leading to the upper floor. The news about the baby wasn’t sitting well. I felt cold, hot, clammy-sick. I loved Ella, but now—once and for all—it was time to let her go. Only the real pisser was the fact that only in my imagination had she ever been mine.
Laura Marie Altom is the author of over fifty novels spanning three genres. Her award-winning work has appeared on numerous bestseller lists and worldwide, she has over a million books in print. Laura graduated from the University of Arkansas, and often sets her stories in the Ozarks. She now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her husband of twenty-seven years. She has been blessed with boy/girl twins and lots of dogs and cats. For fun, Laura’s content to garden, thrift shop or curl up with a book.
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Aug 10
The Dark Ones by Rachel Van Dyken Cover Reveal
We are very excited to bring to you the first cover in a brand new series by Rachel Van Dyken, The Dark Ones.
This New Adult Paranormal will be released on September 20!
To touch a Dark One is death.
To talk to an immortal is suicide.
Yet, I’ve been marked by both.
A Vampire.
And the King of the immortals.
My life is no longer my own.
And now I know the truth, my life was never mine to begin with.
It was theirs.
It’s always been theirs.
Smashword
Rachel Van Dyken is the New
York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency
and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking
coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
Want to be kept up to date on new releases? Text MAFIA to 66866!
You can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken
or join her fan group Rachel’s New Rockin Readers. Her website is www.rachelvandykenauthor.com
Aug 10
Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre Cover Reveal
Thank you for Participating in the Cover Reveal of Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre.
This book is a Standalone Contemporary Romance.
A Hollywood Star. A Small Town Girl. Opposites Shouldn’t Always Attract.
* * * * *
Title: Hollywood Dirt
Author: Alessandra Torre
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: Hang Le
Release Date: September 7th
* * * * *
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
═══ RELEASING SEPTEMBER 7th ═══
Summer Jenkins. That’s me, a small town girl stuck in Quincy, Georgia. I cook some mean chicken and dumplins, can bluff a grown man out of his savings in poker, and was voted Most Friendly my senior year. Other than that… I don’t have too much going on.
We were from different worlds. Our lives shouldn’t have collided. But when Cole Masten’s jet landed in our country airport, we all sat up in our rocking chairs and watched. And when an opportunity crossed my path, I jumped at the chance.
But I didn’t expect what ended up happening. I didn’t expect Cole Masten to be an ass, or to pursue me, or for everything to get tangled up around set riggings, camera cords, bra straps and heartstrings.
Sometimes, opposites just aren’t meant to attract.
Pre-order Now at a 40% Savings!
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Want to read the first pages of Hollywood Dirt?
Visit http://www.meetcolemasten.com/
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Please like the Hollywood Dirt Book Facebook Page for updates!
Join Today
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Alessandra Torre is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of ten novels. Her books focus on romance and suspense, all with a strong undercurrent of sexuality. Torre has been featured in such publications as Elle and Elle UK, co-hosted Dirty Sexy Funny with Jenny McCarthy, as well as guest blogged for the Huffington Post and RT Book Reviews. She is also the Bedroom Blogger for Cosmopolitan.com.
You can learn more about Alessandra on her website at www.alessandratorre.com, or you can find her on Twitter (@ReadAlessandra) or Facebook.
Website | Facebook |Twitter |Goodreads | Amazon | TSU | You Tube | Newsletter | Goodreads Group
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Want to participate in this tour or help promote this release? Sign up below! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RELEASE TOUR & PROMOTION OF HOLLYWOOD DIRT!
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Aug 10
The Allure Of Dean Harper by R.S. Grey Cover Reveal
From: LilyNBlack@Gmail.com
To: JosephineKeller@VogueMagazine.com
Subject: You’re a flippin’ idiot
Good morning my dear, naive friend,
I hope you’re enjoying a breakfast of regret and sorrow.
Why?
Because you sent me to work for Dean Harper, aka a control freak in a tailor-made suit. Sure he owns the trendiest restaurants in NYC, but c’mon Jo, his ego makes Kanye West look like the Dalai Lama.
He’s the type of guy that only hears the word “no” when it’s followed by “don’t stop.”
Working for Dean Harper would be like selling my soul to the devil…and before you say anything, I don’t care if the devil has punch-you-in-the-gut brown eyes and an ass to match. My soul isn’t for sale.
Regretfully yours,
Lily
The Allure of Dean Harper is a full-length standalone romance with overlapping characters from The Allure of Julian Lefray. Both books can be read separately. Chronologically, The Allure of Julian Lefray happens first.
I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things… everyday.
I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I’m a comedy geek and love all things “funny”. Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.
Aug 10
Beneath Blood and Bone by Madeline Sheehan and Claire C. Riley Release Blitz
Synopsis
It is the end of the world.
They call him Eagle, like the grand and beautiful bird that symbolizes freedom. During these dark times, when humanity is experiencing nothing but suffering, a man with such a powerful name should be a beacon of hope, yet he is anything but.
Her name is Autumn, but she hasn’t said this name or much of anything else in the four years since the fall of civilization. A shell of her former self, living wild in a cave at the bottom of a ravine, Autumn is accustomed to being alone. She prefers it, actually, especially when her only options for company either try to kill her, or worse, to lock her up inside their walls.
Captured by Eagle’s people, Autumn is suddenly thrust back into the land of the living, but she would hardly call it living. The community of Purgatory is full of sinners, the most evil of whom seem to have set their sights on her.
In an act born of anger and defiance, Eagle becomes Autumn’s unexpected savior, forcing these two solitary people into each other’s broken worlds. Neither knows quite what to make of the other, but one thing is certain. To survive Purgatory, they must learn how to rely on each other, a feat that could possibly teach them both how to live again.
Teaser
“My wet reflection glared back at me—dark brown, nearly black eyes rimmed in red and encased in shadowed, hollowed circles sitting high on an angry, angular face that was framed in a heavy beard almost as black as my hair.
I was a fearful fucking sight. The people here were right to be afraid of me. The things I was capable of, the things I’d done . . . There were times I even feared myself.”
– Beneath Blood and Bone
BUY LINKS:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1TiGR5k
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beneath-blood-and-bone-claire-c-riley/1122478698?ean=2940152079890
Aug 10
Cocky Bastard by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland Excerpt Release
Chapter One
I wondered if the vibration would feel good between my legs.
The sun caught the chrome of a Harley Davidson parked a few spots over, gleaming in the sweltering midday sun. I waited until Maroon Five finished playing on the radio, oddly fixated on the two-wheeled-man-toy as I fished in my purse for my cell phone. The motorcycle was simple—high gloss black and shiny silver, worn leather saddlebags with a skull embossed below the initials C.B.
How good would it feel to ride? Wind blowing through my long hair, arms wrapped around a man with a tough sounding nickname, engine purring beneath my jean clad thighs. Horse? Drifter? Guns? Wait. No. Pres. My imaginary biker was most definitely called Pres. And he’d look just like Charlie Hunnam.
I glanced down at my iPhone and found a half dozen new messages from Harrison. Inwardly, I smirked. Certainly, there is no one named Harrison that ever rode a Harley. Tossing my phone back in my bag, I cut the engine of my packed BMW and glanced behind me into the backseat. Boxes piled to the ceiling were beginning to make my full-size car feel claustrophobic.
A bus full of travelers pulled into the rest stop. Great. I’d better go in now and get my lunch, otherwise I’d never get out of here. Ten hours into a cross-country trip from Chicago to Temecula, California, I was somewhere in the middle of Nebraska with about another twenty some odd hours to go.
After a fifteen-minute wait inside for Pepsi and Popeyes fried chicken bites that I planned to eat back in the car, I stopped into the small souvenir shop. I was so tired and didn’t really feel like driving the additional five hours I had to go before finding a place to sleep for the night. Yawning, I decided to stall and browse for a few minutes. Checking out some trinkets, I eventually picked up a Barack Obama bobblehead and shook it mindlessly, watching its maniacal smile as the head bounced up and down.
“Get it. You know you want it,” a deep, raspy voice said from behind my shoulders. Startling me, it caused a knee-jerk reaction that resulted in the bobblehead slipping from my fingers and falling to the ground. The head broke off of the spring neck and rolled away.
The woman at the register shouted, “I’m sorry, ma’am. You’ll have to pay for that. Twenty dollars.”
“Damn it!” I spewed, following the path of the rolling head. As I bent down to pick it up, there was the voice again from behind me.
“And to think, some people say he’s got a good head on his shoulders.” He seemed to have an Australian accent.
“You think this is funny, asshole?” I asked before turning around and getting my first look at the man behind the voice.
I froze.
Oh. Shit.
“You don’t need to be a fucking bitch about it.” His mouth curved into a wicked grin as he handed me the bottom half of Obama. “And for the record, I did think that was really funny, yes.”
I swallowed and seemed to lose my ability to speak as I took in the Adonis standing before me. I wanted to smack that cocky smile right off his face, though—his gorgeous, chiseled, scruffy face, framed by a thick head of copper-brown hair. Fuck me. This man was insanely hot, not someone I expected to come across out here. This was the middle of nowhere USA, not the Australian outback for Christ’s sake.
I cleared my throat. “Well, I didn’t think it was funny at all.”
“Then, you need to take the stick out of your arse and lighten up.” He reached out his hand. “Give it to me, Princess. I’ll pay for the damn thing.” Before I could respond, he grabbed the two broken pieces from me, and I cursed at the shiver that ran down my spine from the brief contact of his hand brushing against mine. Of course, he had to smell amazing on top of it all.
I followed him to the register as I fished through my messy purse for money, but he was too quick and had paid for it already.
He handed me a plastic bag containing the broken bobblehead. “There’s some change in the bag. Buy yourself a sense of humor.”
HUE-MA. That accent.
My jaw dropped as he walked away and out of the store.
What an ass.
It was. A fine one. A thick, juicy, round ass hugged tightly by his jeans. God, I really needed to get laid, because it didn’t seem to matter that this guy had just insulted me to my face; my panties were practically wet.
After several minutes of staring into space at a shelf of Nebraska Cornhuskers t-shirts, I gave myself a mental kick in the butt. My reaction to the incident proved that fatigue had gotten the best of me; I wasn’t usually that short-tempered. It was time to shake off the bizarre encounter and get moving. My stomach was growling, and I was looking forward to breaking into the fried chicken once I hit the road. I snuck a piece out of the box in my bag as I walked out of the building. My chewing ceased when I noticed him two spots down from my car—sitting on the very motorcycle I’d been fantasizing about earlier.
Approaching slowly, I hoped he didn’t notice me. No such luck. Instead, when he spotted me, he flashed an exaggerated smile and waved.
Frantically searching for my keys, I rolled my eyes and muttered, “You again.”
He snickered. “Did you end up buying a sense of humor?”
“I used the change to buy you some couth instead.”
Chuckling, he shook his head at me. Running his hand through his hair, he put his shiny black helmet on and cranked the Harley. The rumble shook me to my core.
Getting in the car and slamming the door, I couldn’t help taking one last look over at him, seeing as though I’d never see this guy again in my lifetime. He winked through the helmet, and my pathetic heart fluttered.
I watched through the rear view mirror as he backed out of the spot. I expected him to take off like a bat out of hell, but after moving away slowly, he abruptly stopped. He kept trying to rev the bike to get it to move, but nothing was happening. Eventually turning off the engine, he removed his helmet and ran his hand through his hair in frustration before getting off to inspect things. I should have just left, but couldn’t take my eyes off him as he struggled to get it to run. Man, that sucks.
I dipped one of the chicken bites into the honey mustard sauce and popped it into my mouth, continuing to watch this like a spectator sport for several minutes. At one point, he took out his phone and made a phone call as he paced back and forth.
Putting his phone away, he looked in my direction and glared at me. Caught in the act of watching him, I let out a nervous laugh. I didn’t mean to laugh at the situation, but it just came out. He raised his brow, and that made me cackle harder. He slowly walked toward me, clutching the helmet by his side. He knocked on my window, and I lowered it.
“You think this is funny, Princess?”
“Not really…maybe.” I snorted.
“Well, I’m glad you finally managed to find your sense of humor.”
HUE-MA.
God, his accent was sexy.
He arched his neck to look into the backseat and took notice of all the boxes. “You homeless or something? Living out of your car?”
“No. I’m in the middle of a cross-country move.”
“Where you headed?”
“Temecula.”
“California.” He nodded. “Me, too.”
I looked toward his Harley. “Well, it looks like you’re not exactly headed anywhere anytime soon. I guess it’s payback for calling me a bitch.”
“Well, that would seem to be the case.”
“That it’s payback?”
“No, that you’re a bitch.”
“Very funny.”
“You know what’s even better than payback?” he asked leaning into the window, his cologne intoxicating me.
“What?”
He wiggled his brows. “Karma.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Come around and have a look at the back of your Beemer.”
BEE-MA.
I got out and walked around to the back of my car to find my right rear tire was completely flat.
What? This cannot be happening.
With my hand on my forehead, I looked over at his smug expression. “Are you kidding me? Did you know my tire was flat all this time?”
“I noticed it right around the time I caught you popping chicken and laughing at me, yes. It was real hard for me to keep a straight face at that point.”
I didn’t know how to change a tire to save my life. I couldn’t believe what I was about to ask of him.
“Do you know how to change a tire?”
“Of course I do. What kind of a man would I be if I didn’t know how to change a tire?”
“Will you help me? I know you have no reason to want to…after our little altercation, but I’m seriously desperate. I don’t want to be stuck out here all alone at night.”
“Let me ask you a question.”
“Okay…”
He rubbed the scruff on his chin. “How badly do you want your tire changed?”
I backed away from him. “What exactly are you getting at?”
“Get your mind out of the gutter, sweetheart. I’m not fucking propositioning you if that’s what you think. You’re not my type.”
“And what exactly is your type?”
“I typically go for women who don’t have the personality of a door knob.”
“Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
“So, what are your conditions?”
“Well, as you clearly know from your laughing fit, my Harley is experiencing a technical malfunction at the moment. It needs a part that I don’t have. I just called a tow company. But I’m on a deadline, and like you, I need to get to California.”
“You’re not suggesting…”
“Yes. Yes, I am. If I change your tire, you let me ride with you.”
“Ride with me?”
“Ride me, yes.”
“What did you just say?”
“You’re hearing things.”
I shook my head to rid the images now flashing through it. Did my tired mind only imagine that he just said that, or was he messing with me?
“I cannot drive hundreds of miles with a total stranger,” I said.
“It’s a fuck of a lot safer than driving alone.”
“Not if you’re a serial killer!”
“Look who’s talking. You’re the one who decapitated a U.S. president.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. This situation was seriously insane.
“Holy shit, Princess, is that a laugh at your own expense, I see?”
“I think you’re making me delirious.”
He stuck out his hand. “So, you in?”
I crossed my arms instead of taking it. “What choice do I have?”
“Well, you could always have him change your tire.” He gestured to a large and scary-looking man who seemed to be watching us. This guy looked like Herman Munster in the flesh.
Letting out a deep breath, I conceded. “I’m in. I’m in! Just get me out of here.”
“I thought you might say that. Please tell me you have a spare.”
“Yeah. But I have to move some of my boxes so you can get to it.”
He started to crack up when he got a load of the situation inside my trunk. “Damn, what the hell is all this crap?”
I looked into his eyes and answered honestly, “My entire life.”
I temporarily piled the contents of the trunk onto the pavement. He got the spare out and immediately got to work.
As he was changing the tire, his white t-shirt rode up, exposing his tanned, rock-hard abs and a thin trail of hair that ran into his underwear line. Unwanted tension built between my legs. I needed a distraction, so I walked over to his bike and sat on it, gripping the handles and imagining what it would be like to ride in the wind. But all I could envision now was him in front of me, and that wasn’t helping.
He slid his body from under my car. “Be careful, little girl. That’s not a toy.”
I hopped off and ran my finger along the letters emblazoned on the saddlebags. “What’s C.B. stand for anyway?”
“Those are my initials.”
“Let me guess…Cocky Bastard?”
“See…I would have told you my name, but since you’re so clever, I think I’ll just let you guess.”
“Whatever, Cocky.”
He lay back down on the ground. “I’m just tightening up these nuts, and we’ll be ready to go.”
“Nuts?”
“Lug nuts…on the wheel, dirty girl.”
“Oh.”
Hopping up, he lifted his shirt and used it to wipe his forehead. “All set.”
Damn.
“That was quick. Are you sure it’s on right?”
“I’ve got a few screws loose, darling, as you’ll soon find out, but none of them are on your wheel.” He winked and for the first time, I noticed his dimples. “We should probably stop tomorrow and get a new tire put on. This spare is really not meant for long term use.”
Tomorrow. Wow. This was really happening.
“We should get going,” I said. “I’ll drive. I need to be in control of this situation.”
“Whatever you want,” he said.
I could feel the tension in my neck as I backed out of the spot. This was going to be very interesting to say the least. He wasted no time digging into my chicken bites.
I playfully slapped his hand. “Hey, lay off my food.”
“Honey mustard? I prefer barbecue.” He licked his thumb, and I swore at myself for getting turned on a little. This was going to be a long ride.
He smirked and lifted the plastic bag from the souvenir shop. “Did you even open it?”
“No. What’s the point? It’s just a broken bobblehead.”
Handing it to me, he said, “Is it?”
With one hand on the steering wheel, I took out the bobblehead which was…in one piece.
“What the…how did you?”
“You seemed to like it, so I paid for the other and bought you a different one. You were too busy looking through your purse to notice.”
I couldn’t help but smile and shook my head.
“Well, whaddya know. A genuine smile.” He held out his hand. “Here…gimme.” When, I handed it to him, he took an adhesive strip off the bottom and stuck it to the dash. Obama’s head was now bopping up and down with every movement of the car.
I broke out in laughter at the ridiculousness but also couldn’t help the warm feeling that came over me with that sweet gesture. Maybe he wasn’t really a bastard at all.
We were quiet for a while as he lay his head back and shut his eyes. Somewhere along I-76 after the sun set into a bright orange glow that illuminated the horizon in the distance, he turned to me.
His voice was groggy. “I’m Chance.”
After several seconds of silence, I said, “Aubrey.”
“Aubrey,” he repeated in a breathy whisper, seeming to contemplate my name before closing his eyes again and turning his head away.
Chance.
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RELEASE DATE: August 17th, 2015
Blurb
He was someone who belonged in my wildest fantasies instead of a rest stop in the middle of Nebraska.
A sexy, cocky, Australian named Chance was the last person I expected to run into on my cross-country drive.
When my car broke down, we made a deal. Next thing I knew, we were traveling together, spending sexually-tense nights in hotels and taking unplanned detours.
My ordinary road trip turned into the adventure of a lifetime. It was all fun and games until things got intense.
I wanted him, but Chance wouldn’t make a move. I thought he wanted me too, but something was holding him back.
I wasn’t supposed to fall for the cocky bastard, especially when I knew we’d be going our separate ways.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.
About the Authors:
Vi Keeland
