Spotlight – Once Upon a Halloween Night Anthology

06 Friday Oct 2023

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

Tags

Courtney W. Dixon, Dating in Disguise, Ghosted, Halloween Dance Floor, Haunted Melodies, Hot Hex on a Platter, Hurricanes & Halloween, Kate Stacy, Katrina Marie, Lauren Helms, Louise Lennox, Masked Love, Mel Walker, Once Upon a Halloween Night, Susan Renee

Join us this Halloween for the exclusive Once Upon a Halloween Night bash in the New Orleans Warehouse District for an evening of fun, costumes, and romance. The Indie Pen PR and Beyond the Bookshelf Publishing are excited to kick off spooky season with seven brand-new, fun, and sexy novellas from Lauren Helms, Kate Stacy, Mel Walker, Susan Renee, Kartina Marie, Courtney W. Dixon, and Louise Lennox.

Once Upon a Halloween Night

by Lauren Helms, Kate Stacy, Mel Walker, Susan Renee, Katrina Marie, Courtney W. Dixon, Louise Lennox

Blurb:

Congratulations!

You’ve been invited to attend the exclusive Once Upon A Halloween Night bash.

This year, join us in New Orleans Warehouse District on Halloween Night for an evening of fun, costumes and… romance?

Wait. What?

That’s right.

The Indie Pen PR and Beyond the Bookshelf Publishing is proud to host Lauren Helms, Kate Stacy, Mel Walker, Susan Renee, Kartina Marie, Courtney W. Dixon, and Louise Lennox – in this fun Halloween romance anthology.

So, throw on your best costume and get ready to sit back and enjoy seven brand new novellas to celebrate spooky season with a romantic twist.

Add to Goodreads!

Buy Now: https://books2read.com/u/3k2QKG

*****

She sets the drink down and turns to me. “You must love Robin Hood if you’re willing to invest.”

“Robin Hood and I have a lot in common, actually.” I inform her.

Her nose scrunches. “Oh really? How so?”

“Well, for starters, I’m a master archer”

“Nope. I don’t believe it.” She giggles.

“I am. Really. I learned at summer camp when I was twelve. Hooked ever since.” I tell her almost defensively.

“Ah, okay then. What else do you have in common?”

“I’m glad you asked. See, I’m also a master of disguise.”

Her eyes widen playfully, “Oh my. I can see that. Is this even your real face?”

I lean my head back and smirk at her. “Everything about me is real, baby. Truth is, I’m not worried about disguising myself tonight, so what you see is what you get.”

“I’ve heard that he’s also a charmer. A ladies’ man. Obviously, that checks out.” She grins.

I nod. “I was born a charmer. It’s in my blood.”

“Right.” She nods in understanding, laughter dancing all over her face. “So what you’re saying is that you are the embodiment of Robin Hood.”

“Oh, I like that. The embodiment of Robin Hood.” I snap my fingers. She’s brilliant and beautiful.

Her brows furrow, “Does that make you an outlaw then?”

“Nah, I mean, if stealing from the rich and giving to the poor is considered breaking the law…”

She huffs out a laugh. “Stealing is totally considered breaking the law.”

I shrug, “Meh, maybe, but I’ve got a heart of gold, so that’s all that matters.”

“I suppose that’s true.” She reaches for her drink and sips it, keeping eye contact with me over the glass. She’s flirty and I’m digging it, but she’s not getting all touchy-feely with me, so I’m a little unsure of where this is going.

“Come with me,” I say, grabbing hold of her hand.

Remi’s laughter rings through the night air as I lead her between the cathedral and museum, slipping into one of the alcoves there. The joy in her voice mirrors the twinkling stars in the sky, and her eyes sparkle with a mix of amusement and excitement. Fuck, she’s beautiful.

Carefree looks incredible on her.

Shrouded in shadows, I watch Remi as her laughter subsides into a contented sigh. She looks at me and smiles, so I kiss her again, pressing her body against the hard stone behind her.

I can’t get enough.

The way she tastes.

The feel of her body against mine.

“Luke,” she murmurs breathlessly against my lips.

I trail kisses along her jaw, groaning when she tips her head back, giving me access to more of her soft, silky skin.

“Luke,” she says again, and I want to hear her say it a thousand times more. “We can’t do this here.”

“Afraid of things that go bump in the night?” I murmur, smiling as I kiss down the column of her throat.

She sucks in a breath.

“No. Just charges for indecent exposure, public lewdness, or—”

Chuckling, I take her mouth with mine, kissing her deeply.

“You promise to wait for me?” She asks the question, already knowing the answer. At a concert in Detroit that had technical issues with the lighting and sound equipment, Aaliyah spent nearly an hour reaming out the organizer. She came out an hour later and was shocked to see me waiting for her. I committed to her that day that I would never leave a venue without her.

“The rest of my life if I have to.” The words slip from my heart to my lips without thinking. My chest thumps heavily with my misstep. She twists to read in my eyes the meaning of my words.

Lights bounce off her glasses, and I fail in my attempt to read hers. An explosion of cheers erupts in front of me, and I look up to investigate. Ali is bowing at the front of the stage. The performance has ended.

The house lights rise in the theatre, and Poppy leads the girls back to their families. Whistles and cheers continue to float in the air.

A warm set of lips land on my cheek. I hold my breath and record this moment, stored alongside a treasure trove of protected memories.

Aaliyah’s lips linger for a heartbeat longer than normal, a hesitation I pick up on because when it comes to her, I notice everything. “Really good work today. Congrats. See you in ten.”

“Here, let me …” I take her hand to help her out of the pit. I chew on my tongue to distract myself from the spark that shoots through my body.

“Such a gentleman. Someday, some lucky woman will …” She doesn’t complete the sentence. The words hang like a challenge.

A challenge I’ve yet to answer.

My eyes linger on Aaliyah as she navigates the narrow aisle. She moves with a purposeful stride, a woman on a mission. My eye refuses to look away until she disappears out the exit. Only then do I take a breath. Only then do I realize I hadn’t.

Like I said, I got it bad.

She has work to do. But I’ll wait. I’ll always wait for her. I whisper the words I don’t have the courage to say to her face. The words I pray may come true someday. “Someday. Someday that lucky woman will be you.”

“How do you make it so easy to breathe, Scarlett?” Oliver asks me, his forehead pressed to mine.

“Because I don’t expect you to be someone you’re not, Oliver. You’re free with me. Zero expectations. Consider me your safe space.”

“I’m finding myself overwhelmingly attracted to you,” he says. “And I’m sorry if that’s too much. Maybe Rowena was right. I’m not good at hiding my feelings.”

“It’s perfectly fine to have feelings. I have them too.” I bring my hands to his cheeks. “I wasn’t sure how this day was going to go, but somehow, you’ve managed to make every moment perfect. You let me take the lead instead of treating me like your personal arm candy. You’ve asked about my feelings. My desires. What I want for myself and for my future. Do you know how long it’s been since a man has asked how I feel? Hell, I could marry you right now and have no remorse given what I was about to walk into.”

“I’m really fucking glad you didn’t marry him.”

“Me too.”

“My bad.” He doesn’t look sorry at all. The wide grin he’s sporting as he watches the people still staring at us says he’s pretty proud of himself. I don’t blame him, though. He never would have had the confidence to do that at eighteen. Now, in our mid-thirties, he’s sure of what he wants. Even if that person lives hours away from him, and has no idea how we are going to make this work.

“It’s all good.” I lean my head on his shoulder. “I’d say it was more than worth it.”

We sit in silence as the DJ continues to play music downstairs. There are still a couple of hours until this thing ends. And as much as I want to ditch the rest of the party and head straight to our hotel room, I know we should stay a little longer. Especially since our tickets were essentially free. I know the payoff will be fine with Kelly, though. This was her moment to play fairy godmother. Her way of making my wildest dreams come true.

“Want to see what else this party has to offer?” Patrick squeezes my knee. It might be my imagination, but I think his hand moved further up my leg. There’s a good chance he’s having the same thoughts I am. Both of us are too polite to voice them aloud.

“Sure.” I stand and he does the same. Grabbing my drink, I hook a finger into his belt loop. Not so accidentally grabbing his butt in the process.

“You keep doing that and I’ll carry you out of here.”

The drinks are working their way through my system because what falls from my lips next is something I’d never say. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Greyson sat back in the seat and stared out the window. We were almost there despite the heavy traffic. “How did we meet?” he asked.

“Hmm, how about at my favorite coffee shop? You spilled coffee on me.”

He waved a hand at me. “Ugh. Please. That trope has been done to death.”

I huffed a laugh. Seriously, I was going to give him wine more often. “And what would you suggest?”

“Let’s keep it relatively realistic and almost the truth since it will be easier to remember the lie.”

“Good at lying, are we?”

He smirked and leaned closer to me. “Did you just make a joke?”

“I never joke.” Which was also a lie.

“Anyway! Let’s say I applied to Nomadology, and you found me so hot and irresistible that I swept you off your feet, and you refused to hire me so you could date me.”

For the first time since I could remember, I barked out a laugh and enjoyed watching him blush.

“What? It could happen.”

At this point, I have tunnel vision. I’m focused on taking out the piece of shit who had the nerve to violate my woman. No one touches or hurts what’s mine and gets away with it.

I maneuver around him while he continues cursing and swinging, matching his speed and intensity as he advances closer to me with every step. As he reaches out with both arms to grab me, I take a chance, knowing I need to knock his big ass out and get this over with.

I hit him with a powerful uppercut that sends him sprawling onto the ground below.

He lies there motionless as I stare down at him with disgust; the power of my punch had been enough to knock him out cold, and between that and his intoxication, he’ll be down for a while.

Tessa rushes over to me, her face filled with worry as she glances at the man’s condition and grimaces.

“Thank You. But I had him under control. The violence wasn’t necessary.”

Her voice has a bite of annoyance, but the relief on her face is evident. She didn’t want to admit it, but she liked being rescued, but I’ll gladly admit that saving her has made my dick impossibly hard. I want to love. Protect, and fuck her until she passes out in equal measure.

Maybe there was a chance of staying out of her life if I hadn’t seen her in the flesh. However, now that she’s within arm’s reach, I know I’ll never let her go.

Her sister steps over the unconscious man, who is now snoring loudly and shakes her head. The man she was with was long gone. “Tessa, are you kidding me? You couldn’t control him, and I swear if I had known he was that disrespectful, I would have never dragged you up here.”

Tears well up in her sister’s eyes. “I’m sorry; I should have listened to you.”

Yeah, she should have.

Tessa gives her a sweet smile and pulls her into a hug. “It’s OK; you didn’t know how bad he could be because I never told you how he harassed me in high school. I was too ashamed and thought I was leading him on or something.”

“This fool harassed you in high school?” I roar. “He doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you.”

Both women look at me like I’m crazy, but I don’t care. The idea of him hurting my sweet girl in any way makes me want to wake him up to knock him out again.

Tessa looks at me warily. “Umm, thank you, I guess.”

She looks back at Foolio lying on the ground and ponders something before returning to me. I hate the look of worry on her face, and all I want to do is kiss every stress line away.

“Look, Marcus, it’s been a long night. We’re heading home, and you should probably get home before he wakes up. He will be furious, and I’d hate seeing you get into trouble on my account.”

I frown. “I’m not scared of him. Didn’t you see me lay his ass out?”

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Action Jackson, we all saw you, but do you even know who you knocked out?”

Exasperated, I step closer and breathe her in. She smells like cherries and doesn’t flinch away like she did with the man lying on the ground. Instead, she subconsciously steps closer to me.

That’s because she’s mine.

I brush the back of my knuckles over her arm. “No, sweetheart, I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

Her sister Selene snorts and speaks up. “Well, you should care Romeo because he’s Richard Harris, the Chief of Police. What do you have to say now?”

I give her an incredulous look but say nothing.

This can’t be life.

*****

Author Info:

Lauren Helms is a romance author her nerdy and flirty contemporary words. Lauren has forever been an avid reader from the beginning. After starting a book review website, that catapulted her fully into the book world, she knew that something was missing. While working for a video game strategy guide publisher, she decided to mix what she knew best–video games and romance. She decided to take the plunge and write her first novel, Level Me Up. Several published novels later, Lauren created PR company, Indie Pen PR, to help other authors promote their books.

Lauren lives in Indianapolis, Indiana sharing her love of books and video games with her own Gamer Boy husband and three young kid nerds who will hopefully grow up to share the love of things that united Lauren and her husband on their own happily ever after.

Author of emotionally-gripping, contemporary romance, Kate Stacy’s novels feature sassy heroines, swoony heroes, life, love, friendship, and all the angst. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family and friends in small-town North Carolina, Kate can most likely be found nose deep in her Kindle. She stays up too late, swears too much, and loves too hard.

Mel Walker has been writing fiction most of his adult life. Specializing in Short Stories and Contemporary fiction and Romance Novels. A native New Yorker and life-long frustrated NY Mets fan. He loves to write about ordinary people placed in difficult situations, especially as it relates to their closest relationships.

Mel Walker is a rare bird, the male romance author. Specializing in heartfelt small town romance, he enjoys telling compelling romances with all the feels. A native New Yorkers and life-long frustrated NY Mets fan, he enjoys long walks, bike rides and taking in the energy of the city.

Susan Renee wants to live in a world where paint doesn’t smell, Hogwarts is open twenty-four/seven, and everything is covered in glitter. An indie romance author, Susan has written about everything from tacos to tow-trucks, loves writing romantic comedies but also enjoys creating an emotional angsty story from time to time. She lives in Ohio with her husband, kids, two dogs and a cat. Susan holds a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Music Education and a self-awarded Doctorate in Sass and Sarcasm. She enjoys laughing at memes, speaking in GIFs and spending an entire day jumping down the TikTok rabbit hole. When she’s not writing or playing the role of Mom, her favorite activity is doing the Care Bear stare with her closest friends.

Katrina Marie lives in the Dallas area with her husband, two children, bonus child, grandchild, and fur babies. She is a lover of all things geeky and nerdy. When she’s not writing you can find her at her children’s sporting events, curled up reading a book, or binge watching her favorite shows.

Courtney W. Dixon loves to write steamy romance, but in each story, she gives her character’s challenges and struggles. She writes m/f and m/m stories within one series to add a variety to her characters. And she writes her characters as having flaws, imperfections, and who don’t always do the right thing. Humans are never perfect, and make a lot of mistakes in their lives. In the end, she tries to help them grow to be better as they achieve their HEAs.

You can find Courtney working in Central Texas with her husband, two boys, and two crazy dogs, none of whom know how to knock on a door while she’s working.

Contemporary romance Author Louise Lennox is a hopeful romantic writing steamy romances full of heart and healing.

A Spelman College and Georgetown University graduate, Louise provides women with diverse and meaningful representation in romance novel pages. Not seeing enough women like herself headlining positive love stories, she launched #HappyBlackRomance; a community of readers and writers committed to the creation and sharing of positive romance stories featuring Black heroines.

Louise Lennox plots highlight the joys of Black relationships across the diaspora; pushing readers from all cultural backgrounds to admire them for their strength and downright sexiness. In her novels sparks always fly; the sex amazes; and the characters always leave the world better than they found it through their love.

When she’s not writing, Louise is enjoying her work as a school leader, wife, and mother of the two cutest dragons to ever walk the earth!

To learn more about #HappyBlackRomance and to score a free book or two, check out her website http://www.lovelouiselennox.com.

*****

This promotional event is brought to you by Indie Pen PR

Spotlight – The Wine Down

20 Monday Jun 2022

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Louise Lennox, Meet Cute Book Club series, The Wine Down

In THE WINE DOWN by Louise Lennox, Brandi Armstrong leads a life with no room for error—or romance, but when she has to fight for something close to her heart, she turns to her best friend, Riddick Kruger. Can Riddick help to save Brandi’s family farm, and convince her that his love for her is worth fighting for? Fans of Kennedy Ryan’s Kingmaker Series, cultured yet humorous reads, will devour this must-read friends to lovers romance from the Meet Cute Book Club Series.

The Wine Down

by Louise Lennox

Blurb:

Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club, where meet-cutes don’t happen only between the pages of romance novels, and one by one, all the members find their own happily ever afters.

Meet Brandi Armstrong and Riddick Kruger in book one: The Wine Down…

Brandi…

Fearless

Southern

Broken

I’m the heroine saving farms from financial ruin and racism.

Who will save me from my loneliness?

I’m Too Busy.

I’m Too Hurt.

But it’s homecoming weekend and I really want to WINE Down.

Except now, my family’s farm is on the chopping block.

My best friend Riddick vows to fix it.

Because…

I’m the object of his affection.

And money is no object.

He wants me. But I don’t want anyone.

I’m too fractured to put the pieces back together again.

But it’s fun to feel Riddick try…

Riddick…

Dominating

South African

Billionaire

I’m the wealthy Restaurateur all the ladies love…

But I’m in love with my best friend.

Brandi doesn’t want my love, but she does need my help.

She will get more than she asks for.

I’ll destroy the past that’s haunting her.

I’ll own the present by pleasuring her.

I’ll design our future; healing her.

She will be mine, and her heart will no longer hide…

Will Brandi Wine Down long enough to let love rule?

Can Riddick save Brandi’s farm without killing their friendship?

Find out in this hot friends-to-lovers romance from Louise Lennox!

The Wine Down is a standalone, Friend to Lovers romance that is part of the multi-author series, Meet Cute Book Club series. Escape with this swoon-worthy collection of romances where meet-cutes don’t only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever after.

Add to Goodreads!

Read Now!

*****

Excerpt:

“Riddick!” A shrill voice I hate all too well calls out. “Long Time, no see! Did you come to watch me perform? You know I’ve still got all my moves.”

Mandy fucking Foster

I’m going to be sick. And Riddick looks like he may be as well. That’s his fault. No one told him to use Mandy as his go-to fuck toy all throughout college. She’s always thought she had claim to him, even though he never made the slightest gesture to claim her. Now, she’s all over him like a cat with claws.

He clears his throat and seeks me out with his eyes. “Umm… no, I’m actually here to support Brandi.” He nods his head towards me, forcing Mandy to turn around. I give her a saccharine smile and wave. She rolls her eyes but quickly recovers.

“Oh yeah, I forgot she’s like a little sister to you. Of course, you’d want to see her perform. But isn’t it a bonus that you also get me out of the deal? Someone who knows how to use her body very well.”

Bitch. Two can play this game.

I walk over to Kruger and step beside him. Placing my hand in his, I squeeze and throw him a quick wink before bringing his ring hand to my lips and brushing my lips over the back of his knuckles. Sweet baby Jesus, his skin is incredible. I feel his calluses on the inside of my hand, but the skin brushing my lips is soft as silk.

My poor neglected pussy is dripping from his sexy scent alone. Lord, I want to huff him like fiend addicted to glue. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before I hear him clear his throat, soft enough for my ears. That’s right, I had a reason to come over here, and getting high off the smell of his skin was not it. I glance at him and peep the right side of his mouth turned up in the beginning of a smile. I look away and glare at Mandy.

“We are not siblings. Far from it, Mandy, what we are goes deeper than that. Wouldn’t you agree, Riddick?”

My eyes never leave her scowl. Her eyes never leave my hand wrapped in his. She looks like she might combust, she’s so angry.

Riddick faces me and his jaw flinches. His eyes are predatory, and I get the distinct feeling that I finally opened a door he was seeking entrance into. “I definitely agree,” he rumbles. “We’re the best part of each other.”

His words almost knock me to my ass. What the hell is that supposed to mean? He returns my earlier gesture by flipping our clasped hands over and dropping kisses on the inside of my wrist. My knees buckle at the gesture and my breath catches. He chuckles and pulls me away from Mandy, winking as we turn to leave. “We’ll see you around, Mandy. Break a leg.”

When we get out of her view, I drop Riddick’s hand and laugh. The sound is nervous and unnatural, but I follow through with it, anyway. Anything to break this awkward tension between us. But when I look up at Riddick’s face, he doesn’t look uncomfortable at all. He looks determined. I place my hand on my neck and swallow.

“Mandy is still hot for you. She never could keep her hands off you.”

Riddick nods. “Yeah, she never could.’ He steps closer to me, and I step back. Still, he stalks me until my back is against a wall and I realize we’re practically alone on the side of the stage. He trails the back of his knuckles across my cheek and smirks.

“But you know, Kitten, I’m curious about your touch, not hers. Do you want me to touch you again?”

“Wh..wh..at.” I stammer.

He nods. “Umm hmm. Unfortunately, Mandy has had the undeserved privilege of touching my body all over. I wasn’t very discerning in the past. She’s had her legs wrapped around my thighs, lips around my cock, her hands grabbing my ass as I thrust into her. But none of those touches set my entire body and soul on fire, like the brush of your lips against my hand a few moments ago.”

Oh, God… his mouth. It’s so dirty. Every word is going straight to my core.

Riddick steps into me, and I gulp at his closeness. Part of me is terrified of being pushed against a wall by such a powerful man. If he wanted to, he could trap me there with his weight. It reminds me of the first time Byron took my innocence. The pressure of his body made me feel trapped in a situation I could not control. With Riddick, I just feel deliciously covered.

*****

Author Info:

Contemporary romance Author Louise Lennox is a hopeful romantic writing steamy romances full of heart and healing.

When she’s not writing, Louise is enjoying her work as a school leader, wife, and mother of the two cutest dragons to ever walk the earth!

To learn more about #HappyBlackRomance and to score a free book or two, check out her website http://www.lovelouiselennox.com.

*****

Escape with the Meet Cute Book Club where meet-cutes don’t only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever afters.

Eight single women bound by their love of books take a monthly break from real life to lose themselves in the chapters of romantic fiction. From friends to lovers to fake relationships and more, each story features a brand new couple and their journey to find love from an amazing lineup of authors including Louise Lennox, Tracy Broemmer, A.M. Williams, Mel Walker, RJ Gray, Rebecca Wilder, Julie Archer, and Kate Stacy.

These eight standalone romances are packed with meet-cutes, heat, and of course a happily ever after!
This promotional event is brought to you by The Indie Pen PR

Spotlight – Savannah’s Salvation

03 Thursday Jun 2021

Posted by romanticreadsandsuch in Blog Tour, Sneak Peek

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A Billionaire Blackmail Romance, Louise Lennox, Savannah's Salvation, Single Dad's Romance series

For Savannah Fraiser, her one-night stand with billionaire Michael Asara changed her life forever. But becoming a family will be harder than expected when fighting for those you love are threatened by power and greed. Readers will devour this billionaire blackmail romance featuring one sexy reluctant dad. Fall in love with your next book boyfriend with Savannah’s Salvation by Louise Lennox, the first book in the Single Dad’s Romance series.

*****

Savannah’s Salvation

A Billionaire Blackmail Romance

Single Dad’s Romance series

by Louise Lennox

Blurb:

For one night, I had the one man that millions of women worldwide fantasize about.

My time with the French billionaire Michael Asara shouldn’t matter, but it does. Because one night left me with so much more than a good time.

Except, he has no idea that he left me with more than a smile on my face, because I fled without a good-bye. And planned to never look back.

Until I’m forced to tell Michael about the product of our one-night stand while on assignment a year later in Paris.

Already a devoted dad to a little girl who was abandoned by her gold-digging mother, Michael isn’t looking to get burned twice.

Unless that fire is between the sheets, where our chemistry is off the charts. Reconnecting and proving to him that I’m not like everyone else quickly has Michael staking his claim on me and our son.

For a moment, we’re almost like a real family.

But when a blackmailer comes along and threatens to take what belongs to him, he vows to do anything to protect us…even if that means letting us go

Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3w08NWY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3dAH6gp

*****

Excerpt:

My daughter is my entire world, but my father views her birth as a blemish on my record. He loves Gabrielle and treats her like spun silk. But whenever I talk of taking over the family business, he mentions the circumstances of her birth and accuses me of poor judgement. And because I still wet my wick more often than my father likes, he thinks I haven’t changed.

I need to prove to him I am more than a pretty face for the cameras and women to love. I can run the business. Closing this deal in America will show him that.

However, coming to SAX Lounge before I head home and being loudly called an asshole by one of the most beautifully ballsy women I’ve ever seen will not.

She is breathtaking… whoever she is.

She’s taller than most women, but still at least a full foot shorter than me. Her legs went on forever in that dress and her skin is the color of browned butter. It looked smooth and touchable. She wore little make-up and when she spoke to me, her full lips begged me for a kiss.

I almost obliged them. But I can’t take chances like that. I’m in America, but that kiss could end up all over the French tabloids before I landed back home. Plus, I don’t know her angle. She could be just as predatory and traitorous as Gabrielle’s mother, Eve.

I need to feel her out; to get her close and away from the crowd… on the dance floor.

I didn’t notice her at first, which is probably a good thing. If I had, I would have charmed her until I talked her right out of what I imagine being very sexy panties. Instead, I was accosted by one of the many groupies I tried to shake off when I entered the bar. I can’t believe women over here even know who I am, but I should have known better.

Gold diggers do their research.

But the feisty woman at the bar doesn’t strike me as a groupie. Everything about her screamed refinement and respect.

She looked moved like she commands any room she enters.

Her eyes were an intense chocolate brown with specks of gold that demanded my attention.

Her ebony hair swung confidently down her back as she walked away. And that ass… C’est manifique!

Meeting her made my decision to get my own drinks for the night a worthy one.

When our drinks got mixed up, I wanted to play with her. I knew she was there first; I should have given her the drinks, but I wanted a reason to talk to her. Plus, I didn’t like her answer when I asked a favor.

I really needed to go. Leaving my cousin Kwame alone too long in a place like this is not a good idea. He’s a magnet for mischief and trouble. Her defiance made my dick throb, but it also made me want to discipline her. I can’t be told what to do and when she begs me to fuck her, because she will, she will learn she can’t boss me around.

Which is what I’m sure she does to everyone else in her life.

So instead of getting on my plane, I am planning how to get her into my bed.

Another night in D.C. won’t be bad at all if I have her shapely legs wrapped around my waist. Gabrielle is at Disneyland Paris with her maternal grandmother for the week, so I can spend an extra day here to have some fun with the mystery woman.

When she called me a fucking asshole, I wanted to take her pretty mouth and cleanse it of those filthy words. But I held myself, which is a feat. I usually take what I want. No one speaks to me with such disrespectful words. But if I have my way, she will apologize through multiple orgasms.

When I reach the booth Kwame secured for us, I slide his drink to him, but he barely registers my presence. He’s wrangled three women, and they are all practically naked and chomping at his rich bit. I do not have time for this. One woman licks her lips and gives me a look that says I can do anything I want to her… for the right price. But that’s not what I’m looking for.

Tonight, I want the woman who I’m pretty sure won’t do whatever I want without being perfectly persuaded. I want the woman who had the gall to call me an asshole.

“You all look cozy.” I shoot Kwame a look, and he squirms. My plan was to keep a low profile, and this is the exact opposite. “If I knew we were having company, I would have ordered more drinks.”

The women smile, and Kwame laughs nervously.

“No worries, cousin, this is VIP. Bottle service will start soon. Why don’t you sit down and join us? The ladies were just telling me about their favorite places to visit in D.C.”

“Yes.” The lip-licker purrs while patting a space beside her. “Why don’t you come and take a seat next to me.”

I conjure up the best smile I can. “No, I don’t think so. I’m actually looking for a friend.” Her face drops, and I can see the flash of annoyance in her eyes. She’s used to men just falling face-first into her fake cleavage. But I am not most men.

“Kwame, I will check on you later.”

He doesn’t protest, but I know he’s annoyed. I doubt he will keep those ladies interested without the major cash cow in the booth. But that’s his problem. And so is drinking.

Kwame drinks and gambles way too much. He boasts about power and money that he does not have. And he’s always dragging me into foolishness. I’m practically his babysitter, but tonight I have other plans. I have a woman to find.

I stop by the bar to grab another drink. Hennessey neat. I scan the lounge, and it doesn’t take me long to find her. She is sitting in a booth on the opposite side of the bar, holding court with two women.

She looks even more beautiful, relaxed and with her girls. The two women with her are also beautiful but can’t hold a candle next to her. She reminds me of a young Diahann Carroll. Her deep golden skin shimmers under the lights, making her beauty stand front and center. They are celebrating something. I hear her table scream congratulations as they toast their glasses.

Now is as good a time as any to introduce myself.

*****

Author Info:

Contemporary romance Author Louise Lennox is a hopeful romantic writing steamy romances full of heart and healing.

When she’s not writing, Louise is enjoying her work as a school leader, wife, and mother of the two cutest dragons to ever walk the earth!

To learn more about #HappyBlackRomance and to score a free book or two, check out her website www.lovelouiselennox.com .

*****

About the Single Dad’s Romance Series

Seven single dads, all from different walks of life and doing the best they can to raise their children – are ready to make you fall in love.

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