OUT NOW—Never Plan a Billionaire’s Wedding (Whatever It Takes, Maine, Book 1) by Julia Kent (@jkentauthor) Read a #teaser from this #newrelease #romcom

 

Release Date: November 28, 2023

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance

Cover Designer:  Staci Hart

Rule #1: Don’t fall in love with the groom

 

Stalker exes. Momzillas. Drunk uncles. Hurricanes. Jealous siblings. Paparazzi.

 

You name it, Kari Whitevelt has seen it all.

 

And that’s why brides and grooms hire her.

 

Because she makes it all go away.

 

Wedding Protectors, Inc., is here to make sure that special day stays special.

 

Whatever it takes.

 

No matter what.

 

But when her newest client turns out to be her own long-lost high school sweetheart, rising tech star billionaire Caleb Mikelmas, suddenly Kari’s not sure whether she’s protecting the wedding couple —

 

Or her own heart.

 

Tech billionaire Caleb never thought he had a chance, much less a second chance with his first love and high school sweetheart, Kari. When a case of mistaken identity turns their reunion into one big misunderstanding, unraveling his feelings about the one who got away while supporting his brother’s nuptials means facing old demons.

 

And kissing Kari.

 

He likes kissing Kari far more than that whole demon thing.

 

But if kisses were enough, Kari would already be his wife.

 

Maybe it’s time to revisit the past and right some wrongs.

 

One vow at a time.

 

Welcome to the Whatever It Takes series:

 

Every bride needs something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue -

 

But you know what brides don't need?

 

Complications.

 

Welcome to Wedding Protectors, Inc. Have a spritzer or a latte or some lovely Zen tea and sink into a comfortable chair in our sunlit offices as we listen to your wedding problem – and form the perfect solution to every possible contingency.

 

We plan for everything.

 

Except our own love lives.

 

But that's not your problem. ;)

 

Buy Links: 

 

Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CKB6KHD3

 

Amazon UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Never-Billionaires-Wedding-Whatever-Takes-ebook/dp/B0CKB6KHD3/

 

Amazon AU:  https://www.amazon.com.au/Never-Billionaires-Wedding-Whatever-Takes-ebook/dp/B0CKB6KHD3/

 

Amazon CA:  https://www.amazon.ca/Never-Billionaires-Wedding-Whatever-Takes-ebook/dp/B0CKB6KHD3/

 

Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/never-plan-a-billionaires-wedding/id6468538482

 

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/never-plan-a-billionaire-s-wedding

 

Nook:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-plan-a-billionaires-wedding-julia-kent/1144157018?ean=2940186153108

 

Google Play:  https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=Vn7aEAAAQBAJ

 

Print:  https://www.amazon.com/Never-Billionaires-Wedding-Whatever-Takes/dp/1638801975/

 

Website:  https://jkentauthor.com/books/whatever-it-takes/never-plan/

 

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/books/never-plan-a-billionaire-s-wedding-whatever-it-takes-book-1-by-julia-kent

 

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199278585-never-plan-a-billionaire-s-wedding

 

Audible:  COMING SOON

 

Amazon Audio:  COMING SOON

 

iTunes:  COMING SOON

 

Author Bio:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 4 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.

 

From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire she met in a romantic comedy).

 

She lives in New England with her husband and three children where she is the only person in the household with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.

 

She loves to hear from her readers by email at julia@jkentauthor.com, on Twitter @jkentauthor, on Facebook at @jkentauthor, and on Instagram @jkentauthor. Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com

 

Social Media Links:

 

Website:  http://jkentauthor.com/

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Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jkentauthor/

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-kent

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3238619.Julia_Kent

Amazon Author Page:  https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Kent/e/B00A99V268/

 

Read a teaser

 

Carolina was introducing him to his former fiancée.

Fine. Near fiancée. It had been a promise ring, not an engagement diamond, but still.

The run he'd just finished was apparently unnecessary from a cardio standpoint, since his heart was now racing, crashing into his ribs as if it were fleeing a crime scene. Not that he was the bad guy. But still.

Kari. No way.

It was his Kari. And okay, maybe she was never formally his fiancée, but until college and distance broke them up, they always planned on it. He’d given her a promise ring in high school, so that was close enough.

When Carolina had mentioned she was meeting two wedding professionals named Katie and Carrie, he'd heard it as the more familiar spelling. She'd never spelled it out, and she hadn't bothered to tell him Kari's last name.

“Caleb, have you swallowed your tongue along with your manners? Shake the poor woman's hand, for goodness sake!” Carolina crooned, giving him side-eye while managing a puzzled smile at Kari as the two stood awkwardly in front of each other, gaping.

Kari had changed in some ways, for sure, but it was her, alright. Her brown hair was a darker shade but still thick and shiny, framed in soft layers around her face, brushing the edges of straight, strong shoulders. He recognized those whiskey brown eyes, deceptively sleepy unless you knew her, knew that behind them, her brain was working constantly at warp speed.

She was taller now–or anyway, she didn’t wear four-inch heels back then–so instead of having to bend to kiss her lips, he could just dip his head.

If he wanted to kiss her.

If wanting to kiss her wasn’t the only thing he could think about.

Millie’s relationship is failing and she doesn’t know why. Her efforts to save it are fruitless. #teaser time from #womensfiction #romance @elodieparkes

 

Millie’s relationship is failing and she doesn’t know why. Her efforts to save it are fruitless.

At the office party, August kisses Millie under the mistletoe. The kiss is a revelation for Millie. She can’t remember when her partner actually kissed her back let alone like this.

 

It’s time fate changed Millie’s lonely life.

 

August hopes he’ll run into Millie at the office, and as time passes without this happening, his hope turns to longing.

 

Finally, they meet again.

 

By chance, August discovers why Millie’s partner treats Millie the way he does and it breaks August’s heart. He can’t tell her even though he wants to.

 

Gentle, kind, August is loved by all his friends. He’s the good guy. When they discover he’s falling for Millie and what he knows about Millie’s present partner, they decide to give fate a hand.

 

A modern love story. A Sweeter Romance. Women's fiction

Read the teaser

At work the next day, she hoped she’d run into August. She couldn’t seek him out for any reason. Their jobs were completely different.

Millie went home that evening feeling dejected.

A whole week passed in which she didn’t see August around at all, not even in the staff kitchen where everyone made coffee or tea, and she began to wonder if he’d left the company.

During that week, she hadn’t offered her husband affection, and he hadn’t noticed. That’s okay. I suddenly don’t want the lukewarm, half-hearted hug or non-kiss from him.

Another week went by. New Year had followed Christmas. Millie saw nothing of August, but the memory of his kisses faded only a little. She had given up hope of ever seeing him again, when, one evening after staying later than usual at the office, she was in the underground car park, and there he was.

He called her name. “Millie.” She turned to it.

They walked quickly toward each other, but then a step away stopped.

August spoke first. “I never see you at work. We never run into one another. It’s bizarre. I hoped to. I hope every day I’ll see you making coffee or something.”

Millie smiled. “Me too, August, I even thought you might have left the company.”

August took the step to be closer to her.

“Come for a drink, coffee, or something before you go home. I know a place with car parking not so far away. Follow me?”

Millie nodded at August’s suggestion.

Copyright Elodie Parkes , 2022

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From the author

Millie Reinvented is based on a true story about a lovely, lonely woman, who many years ago shared her despair over her marriage. She talked about her husband and the things he did as she wandered around the huge store where I worked. I sensed she needed to tell someone.

I wished I could help her, but I could only listen.

She bought a small statue—lovers kissing, before she left.

Peter’s behavior is based on this woman’s experience.

I hope that she escaped the way Millie does in this story. I hope she found her August and is right now living her happy ending.

My code name is Jealousy, and I take the moral high road…most of the time. #newrelease #bookblitz #romanticsuspense #thriller @LoloPaigeAuthor Read a #teaser

 

 

 

Romantic Suspense, Romantic Thriller

Release Date: September 5, 2022

Publisher: Avoca Press Publishing

 

My code name is Jealousy, and I take the moral high road…most of the time.

Righting wrongs where no justice exists.

In life. In death. And in love.

 

My sniper dot targets the red-hot Irishman as The One. He’s The One, all right…the one that steals what no one else can…my heart.

He lies.

He cheats.

He steals.

And so do I…we’re the perfect match.

But when jealousy is a weapon for an assassin faced with a life-or-death choice,

Love doesn’t stand a chance.

Dive into an elite assassin organization that brings justice to the world.

 

We are the Sisters of Sin: A new thriller romance novel series you’ll die for.

 

 

Excerpt

Chapter 16 - Shayla Byrne

 

Code Name: Jealousy.

Bratislava, Slovakia.

 

When the wheels touch down in Vienna, I take a train to Bratislava under a fake name. I want to view the countryside on the ground, since this is my first foray to Eastern Europe. Trains relax me, unlike hurtling through the air in a metal sausage tube that could fall out of the sky at any given moment.

It gives me time to prepare for my first official assignment with the Sisters of Sin and review a few Slovak phrases I’d practiced. I settle into a comfortable seat in the dining car and place my dinner order. Brushing back strands of my blunt-cut red wig, I resist the temptation to scratch my itchy scalp. I hate wearing these wigs and miss my trusty black knit cap I wore in Ireland.

Mother has made it clear I’m to do a better job of keeping up my appearance, especially for situations like this job I’m on now. I’m anxious about working more in the open; I miss the dark blanket of night where appearance wasn’t the major concern in our family’s operation back home.

My appearance wasn’t high on my priority list until Collin Stedman swept me off my feet—and swept my virginity along with them. I wonder what he’s doing right now. I miss how easy I am with him. He accepts me as I am without bombarding me with questions about my past.

Unlike our family operation back home, Mother wants us to know who our marks are and why we remove them. She had assigned Vanity to brief me about this job before I left headquarters in Rome. Vanity’s specialty was dealing with the traffickers. She’d explained that my target is a powerhouse in the human trafficking industry that snatches young girls and women from Eastern Europe and trafficks them to Western Europe.

I sit up in my seat and open my tablet to read the encrypted email from SOS intel, then I scroll down to the photos section. The bald, middle-aged man with an ever-so-charming smile and expensive suit emulates a successful CEO on the cover of a business magazine.

How quaint.

I move my finger down to note the name of his front company: EuroComm. I frown at the subheading. The leading edge of Europe’s 5G wireless network.

Not true. Declan says China has now usurped that desirable distinction.

My eyes narrow. It makes sense this guy would run his trafficking business solely by digital means. Cousin Declan had explained how cybercrime investigation bureaus had hacked into encrypted email between the man in this photo and other ‘independent contractors’ to trace sources and IP addresses. The bureaus had followed his pathway through dozens of servers around the world.

But this sleaze runs a sophisticated network, staying ten steps ahead of everyone.

Until now.

Apparently, someone had become fed up with Mr. Sleaze’s operation and relayed his intel to one of the three remaining Conexus board members, Jeff Lynsey. In the name of humanity, he’d directed Mother to assign this trafficker as a prioritized hit.

Thanks to Cousin Declan—who taught me well—my affinity for navigating the dark web, hacking into mobile phones and email has come in handy. I’d traced the most recent online IP address to Bratislava, and turned it over to Finn Rogers, Mother’s right-hand man. He and his staff oversee all things technical, and they’d flushed out the details of where and when the mark would be most accessible.

I’m not crazy about doing this hit in an up close and personal proximity. As part of my apprenticeship, Mother is evaluating my ability to execute close contact hits when situations require it.

My reasoning to accomplish this job from a sniper’s distance fell on deaf ears. Mother wanted me out of my comfort zone to ‘become more flexible.’ She didn’t realize what she was asking of someone with an autistic obsessive-compulsive brain—I refuse to invoke the word ‘disorder.’ I don’t have a disorder—I just interpret information differently.

The Uncles call it my extra special gift.

Collin told me I’m not disordered. He made it sound I was more normal than normal people. And all my life I’d thought of myself as defective.

I let out a shaky breath, wishing this hit wasn’t my first SOS assignment.

There is more than enough potential for me to mess this up.

 

 About the Author

LoLo Paige is an award-winning author and former wildland firefighter, whose debut novel, Alaska Spark, received three awards: An Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion, an Eric Hoffer award, and a Next Generation Indie Book award for romance. Alaska Spark and Alaska Inferno have ranked No.1 on the Amazon Bestseller Lists for action adventure and romantic suspense in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The true story about LoLo’s fire crew escaping a runaway wildfire won an Alaska Press Club award and inspired her fire series.

Back in 2021 LoLo was invited to collaborate with five other award-winning and best-selling authors to write in the shared universe of the Sisters of Sin series, and it has been a wild adventure ever since! It has been an honor working with these five super talented authors to write Jealousy.

LoLo also has other books under the romance umbrella. Hello Spain, Goodbye Heart, and Irish Thunder, are two romantic comedies being published by The Wild Rose Press. Sign up for LoLo's email list to learn more about her books.

 

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Brody Savage is an assassin who works both sides of the law. He doesn't have time for messy relationships and prefers one-night-stands. #newrelease #MCRomance from @ToryRichards Lulu, Desert Rebels Book 7, #giveawaytour

 

 

 

Desert Rebels MC, Book 7

 

Romantic Suspense

Date Published: 3/1/22

 

For years Lulu hid out with the Desert Rebels as one of their club whores. A sweetheart to everyone, and a favorite with the brothers. But now the time has come for her to choose her own path and pay her own way. With their help she leaves her whoring days behind to start a new life.

Brody Savage is an assassin who works both sides of the law. He doesn't have time for messy relationships and prefers one-night-stands. He's had his eye on Lulu for years. But as long as she belonged to the club he wouldn't touch her. Now she's fair game and he plans to do more than just touch her. He wants her for himself.

Excerpt

Brody moved so fast I didn’t hear him coming. The next thing I knew he’d pushed me up against the wall and covered me with his body. I caught my breath as I found the front of my body crushed against the wall, and turned my head sideways in order to breathe.

“The only whore here is you,” he grated roughly against my ear. “I don’t want to hear what you’re used to. You don’t know anything about me, and all that changes right now.”

I felt his lips murmur the words against my ear, the warmth of his breath causing a shiver of need through my body. I hadn’t been with anyone for the better part of a year, and loving sex the way I did, Brody’s overwhelming closeness was turning me on. It didn’t surprise me, even knowing that we didn’t like each other. Since when did liking someone have anything to do with fulfilling a sexual hunger? I bumped my hips back as if trying to dislodge him, but all it did was reveal how fucking hard his dick was against my ass.

I caught his hiss as he thrust right back against me.

“What do you want?” My words came out in a husky rasp. I wasn’t afraid of him, only of what he made me feel. I liked rough, take-charge men that took what they wanted. It was a good thing, because I’d surrounded my life with them. But Brody was different. Not in the way he was dominating me, but in the way that I felt for him. I wanted to hate him.

He ran his mouth up and down the side of my neck, grinding his cock into my ass.

“I want you, Hellcat. And someday soon I’m going to fuck you. So you might as well get ready, because when that day comes, you’ll never be the same.”

About the Author

Tory Richards is an author who writes smut with a plot. She's an Amazon bestselling author in erotic romance and romantic suspense categories. Born in Maine, she's lived most of her life in Florida where she went to school, married, and raised her daughter. She's retired from Disney and spends her time with family and friends, traveling, and writing.

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Dakota is different from anyone I’ve ever known, and it’s not because of who her brother is. #MCromance Charming , Devil's Boneyard #newrelease @HarleyW_Writer

 

Harley Wylde visits and talks about her Writing Companions

Some authors have a cat who sleeps nearby while they work, or a dog who begs for attention throughout the day. While I have both, I don’t permit them in my office as a general rule. They’re too distracting.

I keep a cat bed in my office for special occasions. There are times my giant orange tabby, Tanto, is extra clingy. The moment my office door opens, he darts inside. If I toss him out, he comes right back the second the door opens again. I eventually give in and let him sleep in the kitty bed. But that’s a once every 4-6 weeks sort of thing.

And every time there are fireworks, Ramses sleeps on the floor under my desk at my feet. He’s a big 65 lb Norwegian Elkhound who turns into a giant baby during New Year’s and the 4^th of July. Once the fireworks are over, he goes back out of my office.

So aside from those special circumstances, my office companions are my son’s cockatiel—Archimedes, and my day gecko—Flash.

The gecko is nice and quiet, although he is entertaining. Especially when he’s hunting crickets. Archimedes is another matter. He’s noisy when he wants attention—or the TV. Yes, he loves watching TV. In fact, he’s learned to whistle bits of Disney songs, and thanks to watching Frosty over the holidays, he now says “Happy Birthday” when I uncover his cage. Every. Single. Day. No more Frosty!

It's a good thing I don’t dictate my books. I’m scared of what he might learn!

 

Charming (Devil’s Boneyard MC)

By Harley Wylde

Published by Changeling Press

Cover Art by Bryan Keller

Release Date: February 18, 2022

 

Dakota -- Having a half-brother who’s an infamous assassin isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. At twenty-five, he’s still micromanaging my life. The moment Specter tells me about an arranged marriage to one of his associates I do what any sane woman would… I run. Never counted on meeting a biker I can’t seem to forget, nor did I plan on our two days together to have lasting consequences. When bad men find me, there’s only one person I want. Charming. I’m just not certain I’ll get a warm reception.

 

Charming -- Dakota is different from anyone I’ve ever known, and it’s not because of who her brother is. It’s simply her. Some sixth sense keeps telling me she’s in trouble. When she calls and asks for help, I know I’ll do anything for her. The men after her have no idea she’s mine, or that she’s carrying my kid, but they will soon enough. I won’t rest until they’re six feet under.

 

WARNING: Charming is part of the Devil’s Boneyard MC series and can be read as a stand-alone. There’s a guaranteed happily-ever-after, no cliffhanger, and no cheating. This is an age-gap romance of more than twenty years with bad language, adult situations, and violence.

 

Buy Links

Amazon - https://amzn.to/3IjYi68

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3qJXTnu

B&N Nook: https://bit.ly/3KvZAwX

Kobo/Walmart: https://bit.ly/32rsm0w

Changeling Press: https://bit.ly/32c5kKK

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fIc3PP

 

About the Author

Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Reckless Kings MC, Devil’s Boneyard MC, Devil’s Fury MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.

 

When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better -- off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.

 

The times Harley isn’t writing, she’s thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She’s also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980’s, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990’s to today, even though she’d much rather be reading or writing.

 

You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you’re there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!

 

Website: https://harleywylde.com

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harleywylde

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HarleyW_Writer

FREE BOOK – My Billionaire Boss: https://bit.ly/3s32uAP

Read a teaser

“I’m sorry. I just hallucinated.” I glared at my phone before putting it on speaker. “Repeat that, please?”

My big brother sighed. “I’ve arranged a marriage for you. It’s a good match, Dakota. He’ll keep you safe. Take good care of you.”

“Did I fall into a wormhole? Accidentally time travel?”

“What?” he asked, sounding bewildered.

“Specter, you realize we’re not in the Middle Ages, right? You can’t marry me off to some guy sight unseen. The world doesn’t work that way anymore.”

“Technically…”

I growled and flipped off my phone, wishing he could see the gesture. “You listen well, big brother. I am not marrying some guy you’ve picked out for me. You can’t do this to me!”

“You’re my only weakness, Kota. It’s only a matter of time before you end up with a target on you. Do you have any idea what it would do to me if I lost you? Like I lost…” He went silent, and I knew he was thinking about his daughter. The one they’d tortured, raped, and murdered.

“I love you, Specter. You know I do. But I can’t live like this. I have a life! Friends. A job.”

“I’m sorry, Dakota. Someone will be there in a few hours to pick you up. You’ll meet your intended by morning and be married shortly after. I swear I would never pick someone who would hurt you. The guy is someone I trust.”

I screamed and ended the call, throwing my phone against the wall. I hated when he did shit like this! Usually, I went along with it, at least for a little while. Not happening this time. I wouldn’t marry some guy just because Specter wanted me to. Nope. Nope. Nope.

I started throwing my stuff into a bag. I eyed my busted phone and realized this was it. My only chance to escape. I packed as quickly as I could, loaded my car, and put my apartment key in the manager’s drop box. Then I got the hell out of town as fast as I could.

 Copyright 2022, Harley Wylde

 Charming (Devil’s Boneyard MC) by Harley Wylde

 

Welcome to Drake Isle, where time moves differently, the air feels cleaner, the sun warmer, and the world feels calmer… #newrelease #contemporary #romance Read a #teaser and enter the #giveaway

 

 

Contemporary Romance

Release Date: January 12, 2022

Publisher: DFM Publishing

““Welcome to Drake Isle, where time moves differently, the air feels cleaner, the sun warmer, and the world feels calmer…”

“Emotions are intense and unstoppable. This island is filled with love.”

“I want to live on Drake Isle!”

Find out why readers love Allie Boniface’s island romance series in this duet boxed set:

Because of You (Book One) - Ten years ago, Piper Townsend fell to her death from the top of a fraternity house, and no one on Drake Isle has ever been the same. Blake Carter's fraternity was scandalized. Misterion College closed down. And Blake's girlfriend Emmy fled the island after her best friend died and never looked behind her.

Now Blake's the CEO of a multi-million dollar tech firm looking to relocate to the island. Emmy owns a yoga studio in the building he wants to buy. They haven't spoken in ten years. They're on opposite sides of the bargaining table. But old flames die hard, and sometimes soulmates can set the world on fire all over again…

Finding You (Book Two) - Lillian Santini came to Drake Isle pregnant, broke, and alone.Two decades later she owns a renowned beauty salon and has raised her twins to adulthood. Fiercely independent, she has no interest in settling down. Then she meets Trey.

Trey lives a jet-set life on the mainland, a billionaire who's hidden a shockingly abusive childhood from the world. His best friend, the only person who knew his secrets, died in a tragic accident twelve years earlier. Lil and Trey’s attraction is instant. Their desire is powerful. But can two people from different worlds find love on Drake Isle, or will past secrets tear them apart?

Bonus Story! Deck the Isle is a sweet Christmas story that takes place between Books 1 and 2 and highlights the island decked out at holiday time (along with a few more secrets between characters…)

If you like small town island romance with a hint of mystery, then you’ll love this introduction to the Drake Isle series. Jump in and discover the magic of the island!

Excerpt

“Why don’t we all close our eyes and get started,” Emmy said. Her hands were sweating. The back of her neck was sweating. She blew out a long breath and focused on the back wall of the studio. “Breathe in, hold one second, and breathe out. Again, breathe in...”

She had no idea how she got through the hour. She wished Blake had chosen an Advanced Class, just so she could put him through pigeon pose and a headstand or two. But apparently the basics of Sun Salutation were torture enough. He grunted trying to keep up. Once he stumbled and nearly took out the little girl in front of him. A sheen of sweat appeared on his brow, and in the middle of tree pose, as he was wobbling and reaching for the wall to keep from falling, Emmy could swear he cursed under his breath. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. He narrowed his gaze at her. She narrowed hers right back.

Finally the class drew to its ritualistic end. “All right, lie back, extend your arms and legs fully, and let go. Relax your breath. This is Savasana pose, also known as corpse pose, the way we end every yoga class. It is a chance for you to let go of all your efforts and let the effects of your practice sink in.” And a chance for Emmy to gain her composure, because as much as she’d gotten a kick out of watching Blake struggle, she’d also felt a slip of desire more than once.

Those palms, spread wide on the mat, that had once wrapped around her waist.

Those legs, strong calves and thighs, that used to flex while sprinting down the college football field.

That square jaw, the dark hair, the quiet sounds of sleep she used to love to wake up next to.

Stop remembering all that.

Sure. She could stop breathing too, while she was at it.

Emmy summoned them to a seat at the end and chanted the final meditation. As they rolled up their mats and replaced their shoes, she turned on the lights and slipped a waiver onto a clipboard for Blake. Really, she didn’t want his paperwork. She didn’t even want his money. It wasn’t like fifteen dollars was going to make or break her at this point. If he had five thousand dollars he wanted to put out for the class, that would be another story, but he’d made it pretty clear the other day that he was interested in buying the whole building out from under her. For way below its market value, probably.

“Goodbye, thank you, see you soon!” she called as the women walked out. She hoped one of them would stay, even if they made comments about Blake being her boyfriend, but they didn’t. It was as if Bev’s Boutique was having a fire sale they all had to get to. In less than five minutes, she and Blake were alone.

“Well, that was interesting.” He rubbed his shoulder. “That was a beginners’ class?”

“It was.”

“Some of those women are in pretty good shape.”

“They are.” Maybe if she spoke in single syllables and short sentences, he’d get the hint and leave. “Here you go.” She handed him the clipboard.

“Emmy.”

“Please don’t call me that.”

He swallowed back whatever comment he’d been about to make and glanced at the clipboard instead. He filled in the lines with a few scribbles, pulled out his wallet, and handed over a ten and a five.

“Thank you.”

“Can we talk?”

“About what? Did you have questions about the class or any of the poses?”

He gave her a look, that look, the one he used to level on her back in school when she was being deliberately unreasonable and they both knew it. “Actually, yeah. That dog one? Where we were supposed to be upside down? I don’t think I was doing it right.”

“Downward Dog?” One corner of her mouth tugged. Don’t laugh at him. Don’t even smile at him. But she couldn’t help it. “You weren’t.”

“I knew it.” He looked at his mat, still lying on the floor. “Can you help me?”

“Blake.”

“I’m serious. My doctor keeps telling me I need to relax. If I can learn yoga, maybe she’ll be happy. My father had already had his first heart attack at my age.”

“Fine. Come over here.” She unrolled her own mat and laid it a few inches from his. “Now watch.” She balanced herself on her hands and feet, straightening her legs and stretching deeply into the pose. She loved Downward Dog. It made her feel grounded and secure, even when nothing else in her life did. “See how my back and my arms are straight? And my head is down?”

He ran one hand along her spine. “Yes.”

She dropped to her knees. “Hey.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

She looked up at him, and there was another look she knew, a look she’d seen a thousand times before. Want. Love. Or something like it. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you’re about to kiss me.”

An eternal moment hung between them, and then Blake leaned over and did just that.

About the Author

Allie Boniface is the USA Today best-selling author of over a dozen novels, including the Drake Isle, Cocktail Cruise, Hometown Heroes, and Whispering Pines series. Her books are set in small towns and are all about the feels of falling in love.

Allie currently lives in a small town in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York with her husband. When she isn't teaching high school English, she likes to travel, visit the local shelter and love on the kitties, lose herself in great music, or go for a run and think about her next story. Take some time to browse around Allie's website, check out new and upcoming releases, and sign up for her newsletter.

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