RELEASE BLITZ

Love, Laughter, and Merrily Ever Afters

(Holiday Novella Collection)

Release Date: 

November 25, 2014

By New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Authors:

Sawyer Bennett

Mari Carr

Janelle Denison (aka Erika Wilde)

Violet Duke

Karen Erickson (aka Monica Murphy)

Jessie Evans

Cathryn Fox

Melody Grace

Alannah Lynne

Marquita Valentine

TEN fun, romantic holiday novellas by ten New York Times & USA Today bestselling authors

An all-star gathering of some of today's most popular NYT and USA Today bestselling romance authors in a fun-filled collection...holiday style! With the overwhelming response to the chart-topping summer boxed set, we've brought together even MORE of your favorite authors for a winter compilation, and this time, we've giftwrapped TEN stories for you all. From the funny & sweet, to the STEAMY & heartfelt, each novella is packed with a whole lot of romance, and hand-picked to infuse perfectly-portioned holiday cheer into your busy days this season...along with hot bursts of holiday steam for those winter nights. 

And at just ***99 CENTS USD*** that's a huge savings of over 95% off retail for the individual books sold separately! This is an extremely limited edition bundle available for just 5 weeks so get your copy today! 

Amazon | iBooks | B&N

THE BOXED SET INCLUDES

IF I RETURN by Sawyer Bennett 
Hope Camden is relentlessly serious, awkwardly shy, and in complete need of a walk on the wilder side. At least, that's what her sister tells her when she drags her off on an impromptu Christmas getaway in the mountains, where Hope meets gorgeous, enigmatic Army helicopter pilot Jack Freeman...who's headed off to war in a week.

SEDUCING SANTA by Janelle Denison (aka Erika Wilde)
All Faith Roberts wants for Christmas is one sexy night with Matthew Carlton, the hot, gorgeous pediatric surgeon posing as Santa for a visit to the children's ward where she volunteers. While Matthew is more than willing to fulfill her naughty wishes, he's determined to show Faith that he's the kind of gift that keeps on giving.

TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS by Jessie Evans (aka J. Evans)
When Lula Jo refused Carter's proposal one dark December night--unwilling to abandon her hometown to live the dangerous life of a treasure hunter's wife--the holiday lights went out in her heart. She vowed to keep her distance from dangerous men and untamed cowboys. But now Carter is back and hoping for a holiday miracle to reunite him with his first and only love.

DECKING DREW by Violet Duke
If anyone can make Drew Lawson believe in the magic of Christmas, of course the universe would pick the addictively sweet, mind-wreckingly beautiful Skylar Sullivan to try. She's only the girl-next-door of his dreams he'd classified as completely off-limits two years ago...the same one now standing on his doorstep on Christmas eve.

FAIRIES & WISHES by Karen Erickson (aka Monica Murphy)
Lily the holiday fairy is given a new assignment this Christmas season--teach a lonely doctor how to love again. But all Lily knows how to do is gently coerce people into embracing the Christmas spirit; she doesn't have a clue what love really is. So imagine her surprise when she falls madly in love--and lust--with the good doctor in the process.

WILD IRISH CHRISTMAS by Mari Carr
It's Christmas Eve, and all seven of the Collins siblings have gathered together to give their father Patrick a precious gift. Gather 'round the tree and join the Collins family as they pass a bottle of Jameson, and Patrick shares the story of how he won the heart of Sunday, his true love, his soul mate...and the mother of his seven Wild Irish.

UNWRAPPED by Melody Grace
Lacey James is wild, spontaneous, and up for anything. Daniel Sullivan is careful, sensible, and mending his broken heart. When the unlikely pair get stranded together on the way home for the holidays, Lacey finds her long-term crush impossible to ignore. And as a game of truth or dare spins out of control, Daniel discovers the one girl he truly wants is the last person he expected.

HIS CHRISTMAS WISH by Marquita Valentine
War hero Joaquin Morales is back in Holland Springs for the first time in years. His mission? To convince his wife that they have a future together. But falling in love with her husband for the second time is not a part of Sage Caswell's plans this holiday Season. With the help of a little Christmas magic (and a well-timed snowstorm), can Joaquin and Sage's dreams come true?

HOLIDAY SPIRIT by Cathryn Fox
What's a girl to do when she finds herself held captive in a bedroom--with the man she's been lusting after for months--by a voyeuristic spirit on Christmas Eve? Give it what it wants, of course. If a holiday romp with her sexy co-worker is what it'll take for Elly Watson to solve her latest Paranormal Task Force case, she's up for the challenge...over and over again if need be.

A CHRISTMAS HEAT WAVE by Alannah Lynne
All Samantha Mazze wants for Christmas is to create the perfect Christmas Eve celebration for her friends and family. The house is decorated, the meal has been prepared, the guests are arriving...what could possibly go wrong? Come spend the holidays with your friends from the Heat Wave series, and meet a few new additions.

Giveaway!

Grand Prize = (1) Kindle Fire HD 6 Tablet AND (1) $100 Gift Card

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RELEASE BLITZ

**This book is intended for a mature reading audience and isn't suitable for readers under the age of 17.**

In love with a man on the brinks of greatness, Dee has her life figured out. The love they share is comparable only to the love they feel when they find out Dee is pregnant. Josh and Dee welcome their future together with eagerness as they plan a wedding, baby, and the upcoming tour for Josh’s band Wasted Circle. Big things are finally happening.

During Wasted Circle’s first big show, tragedy strikes leaving Dee alone. The life her and Josh planned for ends up being nothing but desolate promises. Unable to watch his best friend’s girlfriend drown under her own despair any longer, Adam steps in to help Dee cope with her loss and the upcoming birth of her baby. Adam is patient, kind and unrelenting. He stands by her side, never faltering despite his growing desire to be more than Dee’s supportive shoulder and the idea that he is betraying Josh. He refuses to give up on Dee and remains loyally by her side even when she admits herself into a psychiatric ward and he is left to father Josh and Dee’s baby.

But even sweet and sturdy Adam has his limits.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22753739-love-always

Purchase Links:
 
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00NK4HP0Q

Adam kneels down beside me and hands me his phone after hitting play. I look at the screen and feel my lips tug when I see his face flash onto the screen.
“This is for you, Dee,” Adam says from the phone so I look back at him and he grins so I turn my attention back to the phone.
I watch him walk through the grocery store and only stops when he finds a young male associate; poor kid is probably in his late teens and has no idea what Adam is up to. I have no idea what Adam is up to but I feel for the kid because Adam can be downright devious.
“Excuse me,” Adam calls out and the boy turns his attention to Adam. “Do you know where I can find nipple butter?”
The camera shakes a little but I see the boy look around. “What kind of butter?”
“Nipple butter.”
The boy laughs. “Say that again.”
“Nipple butter.” The camera shifts and I see a blurry Adam run his finger in circles over his nipples. “You know, for your nipples.”
The boy laughs again and I feel my body shake in laughter as well. “For your nipples?”
“Well not mine.” I look back at Adam and find him watching me. He’s so sweet and cute.
“I don’t know what nipple butter is, man.” The boy looks around the store but I can see he’s laughing.
“Can you find out?” Adam asks, leaving no room for him to say no.
“Uh, yea.”
I lean my body against Adam and chuckle as the camera follows Adam’s paces throughout the aisle. After a long time, the boy returns and shows Adam where to find it.
I see Adam’s hand hold up the cream and wiggle it in front of the camera. “My nipples thank you.”
I lose it. I very literally lose it as I start to shake from laughter. I feel Adam laugh with me and for just a moment I forget that I’m sad.

I'm a Hispanic living in South Florida with my redneck husband from Texas and our "half breed" son, who is actually the reason I started writing again after years of celibacy. My son loves stories, but not the kind you can read in an existing book. No, he'd rather make up a story, complete with our own illustrations. So, thank you, Son, for igniting a flame I had let go out.
I also live with two dogs: a neurotic Border Collie we call Nitro and a midget Rottweiler named Nisa.
I have always found my sanctuary at the beach and in music and writing. I wish I could write rhymes so I could become a famous rapper, but rhyming is completely lost on me. My son surpassed me in the rhyming game by the time he was four. This is something I am very proud of.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and a Master's in Human Resource Management. I have held several jobs, from picking up dog poop to upper management positions. And now I am hoping to leave the business world behind so I can live full time in a world that does not exist until I place my fingers on a keyboard and bring them to fruition.
I published my first book Life's A Cappella last year.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yessismithauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emosewAYessi

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7365697.Yessi_Smith

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Yessi-Smith/e/B00GUJ6MQG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Life’s A Cappella

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1oGwXAd

AMAZON UK: http://tinyurl.com/l9mnksy

B&N: http://tinyurl.com/ojsnegx

KOBO: http://tinyurl.com/mwj4qxl

Our A Cappella

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KOBO: http://tinyurl.com/p6vzeb9

COVER REVEAL

Title: 

Love, Always

Author: 

Yessi Smith

Genre: 

New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Releasing: 

Fall 2014

**This book is intended for a mature reading audience and isn't suitable for readers under the age of 17.**

In love with a man on the brinks of greatness, Dee has her life figured out. The love they share is comparable only to the love they feel when they find out Dee is pregnant. Josh and Dee welcome their future together with eagerness as they plan a wedding, baby, and the upcoming tour for Josh’s band Wasted Circle. Big things are finally happening.

During Wasted Circle’s first big show, tragedy strikes leaving Dee alone. The life her and Josh planned for ends up being nothing but desolate promises. Unable to watch his best friend’s girlfriend drown under her own despair any longer, Adam steps in to help Dee cope with her loss and the upcoming birth of her baby. Adam is patient, kind and unrelenting. He stands by her side, never faltering despite his growing desire to be more than Dee’s supportive shoulder and the idea that he is betraying Josh. He refuses to give up on Dee and remains loyally by her side even when she admits herself into a psychiatric ward and he is left to father Josh and Dee’s baby.

But even sweet and sturdy Adam has his limits.

Adam kneels down beside me and hands me his phone after hitting play. I look at the screen and feel my lips tug when I see his face flash onto the screen.

“This is for you, Dee,” Adam says from the phone so I look back at him and he grins so I turn my attention back to the phone.

I watch him walk through the grocery store and only stops when he finds a young male associate; poor kid is probably in his late teens and has no idea what Adam is up to. I have no idea what Adam is up to but I feel for the kid because Adam can be downright devious.

“Excuse me,” Adam calls out and the boy turns his attention to Adam. “Do you know where I can find nipple butter?”

The camera shakes a little but I see the boy look around. “What kind of butter?”

 

“Nipple butter.”

The boy laughs. “Say that again.”

“Nipple butter.” The camera shifts and I see a blurry Adam run his finger in circles over his nipples. “You know, for your nipples.”

The boy laughs again and I feel my body shake in laughter as well. “For your nipples?”

 

“Well not mine.” I look back at Adam and find him watching me. He’s so sweet and cute.

“I don’t know what nipple butter is, man.” The boy looks around the store but I can see he’s laughing.

“Can you find out?” Adam asks, leaving no room for him to say no.

“Uh, yea.”

I lean my body against Adam and chuckle as the camera follows Adam’s paces throughout the aisle. After a long time, the boy returns and shows Adam where to find it.

I see Adam’s hand hold up the cream and wiggle it in front of the camera. “My nipples thank you.”

I lose it. I very literally lose it as I start to shake from laughter. I feel Adam laugh with me and for just a moment I forget that I’m sad.

 

 

 

I'm a Hispanic living in South Florida with my redneck husband from Texas and our "half breed" son, who is actually the reason I started writing again after years of celibacy. My son loves stories, but not the kind you can read in an existing book. No, he'd rather make up a story, complete with our own illustrations. So, thank you, Son, for igniting a flame I had let go out.

 

I also live with two dogs: a neurotic Border Collie we call Nitro and a midget Rottweiler named Nisa.

 

I have always found my sanctuary at the beach and in music and writing. I wish I could write rhymes so I could become a famous rapper, but rhyming is completely lost on me. My son surpassed me in the rhyming game by the time he was four. This is something I am very proud of.

 

I have a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and a Master's in Human Resource Management. I have held several jobs, from picking up dog poop to upper management positions. And now I am hoping to leave the business world behind so I can live full time in a world that does not exist until I place my fingers on a keyboard and bring them to fruition.

I published my first book Life's A Cappella last year.

Links:

Love, Always Goodreads:

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22753739-love-always

Yessi Smith:Facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/yessismithauthor

Twitter:

 https://twitter.com/emosewAYessi

Goodreads: 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7365697.Yessi_Smith

Amazon:

 http://www.amazon.com/Yessi-Smith/e/B00GUJ6MQG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

 

AMAZON:

 http://amzn.to/1oGwXAd

AMAZON UK: 

http://tinyurl.com/l9mnksy

B&N:

 http://tinyurl.com/ojsnegx

KOBO:

 http://tinyurl.com/mwj4qxl

AMAZON:

 http://amzn.to/1tTo2e2

AMAZON UK: 

http://tinyurl.com/k2bmap8

B&N:

 http://tinyurl.com/lbyux3x

KOBO:  

http://tinyurl.com/p6vzeb9

 

 

RELEASE BLITZ

Title: 

Love, Laughter, And Happily Ever Afters Boxed Set

Authors: 

Violet Duke, Melanie Shawn, Melody Grace , Marilyn Brant, Erin Nicholas, Jessie Evans, Marquita Valentine, Beth Michele

Release date: 

June 24th, 2014

About Love, Laughter, And Happily Ever Afters:

ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAE by USA Today Bestselling Author Marilyn Brant -- A shy dessert cookbook writer reconnects with her longtime crush--an ex-football star turned businessman--when they run an ice cream shop together.

FINDING THE RIGHT GIRL by NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Violet Duke -- Tessa Daniels has no idea why she told her friend's brother she was some sort of fling expert. She's never been flung before and she sure as heck doesn't know where or how to begin flinging a guy like Brian Sullivan.

The man's got the body of a football god straight off a billboard, as many skeletons in the closet as she does, and worst of all, he's got her thinking of the one thing she stopped letting herself hope for years ago. A happily-ever-after.

SWEET TO YOU by iTunes & Barnes and Noble Bestselling Author Jessie Evans -- Where there's smoke, there's fire... When s'mores and whiskey shots lead to skinny-dipping at a singles' camping retreat, Maddie Whitehouse knows she won't be able to resist another steamy encounter with the sexy firefighter her childhood friend, Jamison, has become...even if he is off limits.

UNAFRAID by USA Today Bestselling Author Melody Grace -- Brittany Ray's learned the hard way that some dreams aren't meant for girls like her. Handsome, charming Hunter Covington is one of those dreams. Years ago, they shared one life-changing night together, but Brit walked away before he could break her heart. Now Hunter's back in Beachwood Bay, their reckless passion can't be ignored.

But will dark secrets tear apart their new beginning?

LOVE LOVE by Amazon Bestselling Author Beth Michele -- Gabrielle Willis is smart. She's funny. And oh yes, she's a bit klutzy. But she's also running. When she meets Brad Dixon, the sweet guy with the crooked smile, can he make her see that the very thing she is trying to run from is the very thing that just may push her to see the light?

GETTING OUT OF HAND, the brand new novel by Samhain Bestselling Author Erin Nicholas -- Genius scientist Mason Riley can cure world hunger, impress the media and piss off the Vice President of the United States all before breakfast. But he's not sure he can get through his high school class reunion. Then he meets the new girl in town. Adrianne Scott loves the sleepy little town of Sapphire Falls--the perfect place to open her candy shop and live a quiet, drama-free life. Until Mason Riley bids four hundred dollars just to dance with her.

TEMPTING LOVE by Amazon Bestselling Author Melanie Shawn -- Haley Sloan knows exactly what she wants out of life. With her designer lingerie business booming, her career is moving forward, but her heart is still in the same place it had been for four long years...hopelessly in love with the former wild boy turned responsible adoring father, Eddie Thomas. Will this self-sacrificing single father finally realize that accepting his love for Haley may be just what his little girl needs to get the family they both deserve?

NOT OVER YOU by NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Marquita Valentine -- Summer Holland is set on one thing--convincing her childhood sweetheart *and* local preacher's son, Gabriel Edwards, to marry her so she can get back the daughter she gave up for adoption. She's always been able to count on him rescuing her when she needed it most, but this time is different... there's a new woman in Gabriel's life. Only, Summer's not going to let that get in her way.

Get your copy today! This limited edition collection  is available until July only - you don't want to miss out on this deal!

Eight full-length romantic love stories for only 99c!

Amazon | iBooks | B&N

SALE ALERT

Ready for some Violet Duke?

For a limited time Love, Chocolate and Beer is on sale for $0.99! Grab your

copy before the sale is gone! (Sale ends this week!)

Amazon | BN | iTunes | Kobo | Google Play

Also, get ready for the next Cactus Creek book - Love, Tussles and Takedowns releasing

on June 13th, 2014.

Special limited time fan appreciation pricing of $0.99! Pre-order your copy

today:

Amazon | iTunes

About Love, Chocolate and Beer by Violet Duke:

 

"A new must-read series from Violet Duke." --

NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Kathleen Brooks

Romance has met its most unlikely match-up...

Luke Bradford is a chocolatier on a mission. After moving his chocolate shop, and newly

single life, to the quirky town of Cactus Creek, Luke wants nothing more than to devote

all his energy into making his business a success--by taking the romance market by

storm. But his grand plans get thrown for a loop when he locks horns with the feisty beer-

brewing beauty next door who calls his 'romantic idealism' a load of fairytale bull. Soon,

driving the woman sparking nuts becomes another wickedly fun priority he simply can't

get enough of.

In his defense, she's addictively easy to incite...and plain impossible to resist.

Beloved local brewmaster Dani Dobson is beyond riled up. It's bad enough the new shop

owner in town comes locked and loaded with both a distractingly rugged charm and sexy

flashing dimples, but the whole only-in-the-movies variety of romance he's selling--the

kind her world has been crushed by before--is really doing a number on her allergy to

unrealistic clichés. What's worse, he's created an annoyingly clever ad campaign that

dubs 'beer joints' like hers as the "cave where romance goes to hibernate." The nerve of

that man.

Combustible chemistry or not, damn it, this means war. The stakes...very likely, her

heart.

About Love, Tussles and Takedowns

He's a better fighter

A fighter to the core, Hudson Reyes has collected enough battle scars now to last several

lifetimes. But after his combat injuries retire him from the life he wasn't ready to give up,

Hudson finds himself spending the carbon copy days of his new career as a Hollywood

fight scene and weapons specialist just doing what he knows best: surviving. Until he

meets her. The one woman who makes him want to live again. With wounds as deep as

his own, she's a scrappy little thing--an angel-faced paradox that comes as a package deal

with an offbeat town of admirably protective, but downright nosy folks.

And a wicked roundhouse kick that's become intimately familiar with his head.

...but she has all the weapons.

An antique arms authenticator by day and a self-defense instructor by night, Liana Lin

has made a living turning the unthinkable demons of her past into the passions that fuel,

and fill, her life. So when the unjustly handsome man she's been unable to stop thinking

about literally takes her to the mat with martial arts styles unlike anything she's ever seen-

-pinning her with a molten hot stare that melts her like a marshmallow trapped between

a graham cracker and a chocolate square--Lia flips into no-holds-barred fight mode.

Because if one man could find a way to disarm her carefully-built defenses, it'd be him.

Now if only they could stop sparring long enough to find out...

About Violet Duke

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Violet Duke is a

former professor of English Education who is ecstatic to now be on the other side of the

page writing wickedly fun contemporary romance novels. Her NYT and USA Today

bestselling books have been Top 10 bestsellers on Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes &

Noble, and featured on IndieReader, GalleyCat, and USA Today as breakout hits. When

she's not writing or feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, Violet enjoys tackling reno

projects with her power tools, trying pretty much anything without reading the directions

first, and cooking 'special edition' dishes that laugh in the face of recipes. She lives in

Hawai'i with her two cute kids (daughter Violet & son Duke) and similarly adorable

husband.

Find the latest on her books and fan giveaways at www.facebook.com/VioletDukeBooks



Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

RELEASE BLITZ

Title: 

Love, In English

Author: 

Karina Halle

Genre:
Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 

April 20, 2014

Synopsis

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter.

I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.

Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a

lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she

would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English

to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated

resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with

wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s

usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for

music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits

and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close

and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.
Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.

Excerpt

Claudia shrugged and pulled down at her yellow tee. “Not my problem. Eduardo is nice but Ricardo is really nice.”

“How did it happen?” I asked, kinda wanting the sordid details.

She was coy. “The way it usually happens.”
 

“Did you make the first move?”

Another shrug. “Why not?”

I swear, a shrug and a “why not?” were the

Spaniards’ go-to answer for everything.

“Well, then I guess it seems safe—and a little

boring now—to tell you that I have a crush on someone.”

Her brows quirked up. “Other than Mateo?”
“What?”

“You are sleeping with Mateo, no?”

“WHAT?!”

“No?”

“No!” I exclaimed, appalled. “Why does everyone

keep thinking that?”

“Because you are always together,” she said

simply. She took a sip of wine. “The attraction is very obvious. So, I figured you must

be sleeping together.”

“He’s married!”

“Yes, but you are not.”

I shook my head adamantly. “It’s wrong. I don’t

want to be the other woman. I’ve seen my dad go for the other woman, and I can’t

put Mateo’s daughter through that,” I said. “Or his wife,” I quickly added.

“That doesn’t mean that you can’t have feelings for

anyone else.”

“Yes, it does mean that.”

“Maybe you are meant to be together.”

“We’re not! There isn’t even a together. We’re

just friends. I haven’t done anything about it, and so far my feelings are totally one-
sided.”

Claudia got up off the couch and brought a pack

of cigarettes out of her front jean pocket. “If you think it is on the one side, you have

not seen the way he looks at you.”

She walked over to her small patio table and

pulled out a chair. I got up and stormed after her, my nerves dancing excitedly.
 

“What do you mean, the way he looks at me?”

I asked, lowering my voice in case there were people around listening. I felt like

bouncing off the walls.

She slid the ashtray toward her as I sat down. “You

do not see it. But I do. I think everyone does. He looks at you like…like you’re his

favorite food.”

“Favorite food?”

She lit her cigarette. “Yes. You’re like his favorite

food in the whole world. He wants to have you, eat you, devour you. He thinks about

you all the time, craves you. But he cannot have you for one reason or another.

Perhaps you upset his stomach. Maybe he is on a diet, yes? All he wants is a taste,

but he cannot even have that. That is how he looks at you.”

I sat there, stunned, as some of her smoke blew

in my face. That’s how Mateo looked at me? Like he wanted to eat me? I was pretty

sure that’s how I looked at him. Just last night I was contemplating nibbling on his

earlobes.

“And yes,” she said, leaning closer to me, a small

smile on her lips, “that is also how you look at him.” Great, a mind reader. “But you

are more subtle about it. You try not to let everyone know. But, we know.”

“There is nothing to know,” I reminded her,

poking the table with my finger for emphasis. “We are not sleeping together. He is

married. I have a crush. That is it. The end of the story.”

“A crush?” she questioned. “Vera, I think you’re in

love with him.”

No fucking way. Not love. That did not happen

with me, not ever and not now.

“You can’t fall in love in a week,” I told her

heatedly.

“You can fall in love in a second,” she said with a

snap of her fingers. “The heart has no regard for time.”

With that sobering thought, Claudia told me about

her ex-boyfriend and how they fell in love at first sight then took the conversation

back to Ricardo and their exploits. I envied her so badly right then and there. She

could fawn over Ricardo, kiss him, fuck him, and no one would ever bat an eye. It

was okay for them to be together. It wasn’t forbidden.

I gulped the rest of the wine and left her

apartment, heading back to reception to meet Cristina for my next one-on-one, my

mind and heart and hormones all over the place. Lo and behold, Mateo was walking

up the path toward me.

He was on the phone, smiling.

His shirt was off and slung over his shoulder,

exposing his bare chest, abs, and arms.

Holy fuck.

For a moment, I was sure that time had stopped.

Or maybe ever single nerve, cell, vein, bone, muscle in my body just slowed as I took

him all in.

From his thick-veined forearms to his sculpted

shoulders and broad chest peppered with neatly-trimmed chest hair, to his six-
pack abs, he had, by far, the best body I’d ever seen on a man. He kept himself in

fine-ass shape, looking more like a young athlete than anything else. He and David

Beckham had more in common than I thought, although David’s skin tone wasn’t

as mesmerizing. Mateo’s color was amazing, just beautiful, this dark, golden bronze

that covered him everywhere. I wanted so badly to just touch him, to lick the sheen

of sweat off his skin. I bet he tasted like victory.

And to think this was the man that Claudia said

wanted to taste me.

I really, really wanted to believe her.

Meanwhile, I was just standing there like I was

melting into a puddle of myself. I clamped my mouth shut as he walked past and I

heard him say into the phone, “No, mi tesorito, it was easy, I didn’t injure myself.” He

was beaming, talking about the game, to his wife. To his tesorito. And he called their

relationship complicated? This was complicated.

He winked at me in acknowledgement, his smile

becoming broader. I tried to smile back but it wouldn’t come. I just stared at him,

feeling stupid, foolish, and strangely rejected. In a perfect world I may have been his

favorite food, but it still wasn’t what he got served every day. I turned around and

walked down the hill, my heart feeling like a pincushion.

“Vera!” I heard him call out from behind. I stopped

and nervously glanced over my shoulder. He was holding the phone’s receiver to his

chest, grinning at me. “I need to ask you your question.”

“What?” I asked, hoping it was quick.

“Who is your favorite Spaniard here?”

Seriously?

And yet I couldn’t lie to him.

“You,” I said, more to myself than to him. Then I

turned around and walked away as quickly as I could.

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About the Author

With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term "Hybrid Author."  Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, a sexy and edgy, she's a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA.... whenever possible.

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Soud, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides.  She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she's preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiance and rescue pup. 

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