Just One Night (9 page)

She squeezed him hard, needing his strength. It was going to be a while before it truly sank in. Tomas Santos was finally hers to keep, and that was a gift she would never take for granted.

“Let’s unpack you, okay? Seeing your suitcases by the door makes my stomach hurt.”

They broke apart, and she stroked his cheek. “Last time you’ll ever see them unless we’re going on a trip.”

“Deal.” His face brightened, and his dimple flashed. “Hey, which suitcase are the shoes from last night in? Because I have big plans for those.”

Her pulse raced as she pointed to the bag in question. He had it opened in record time, and less than ten seconds later the stilettos were dangling from his fingertips. He looked up and gave her a sexy grin.

“We have a lot of time to make up for, babe.”

“I know, and I can’t wait to start.”

About the Author

Chloe Cole is one half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. When she isn’t acting as maid, chef, chauffeur or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from young adult novels to books on poker theory. She hates bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate. She loves writing super-steamy romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons. If she had to pick another occupation, she’d be a pirate. Ooh, or, like, a ninja maybe.

She also writes adventure romance under the name Christine Bell. She loves to hear from her readers, so please feel free to contact her via the contact page at her website,
www.christine-bell.com/ChloeCole
, or chat with her on Twitter
@_ChristineBell
.

Behind the scenes, beneath the covers…

Starstruck

© 2012 Ashleigh Raine

Hollywood Heat, Book 3

Jenna Byers approaches her first day as a background actor on
Sexy M.D.
with one goal in mind—impress the right people with her acting, make connections, and prove she’s a hard worker. Things go sideways when an up-close-and-personal encounter with the uber-sexy lead ends with Jenna flat on her butt, and she’s noticed for all the
wrong
reasons.

In all his years of acting, there’s only one thing Micah Watley hasn’t done: accidentally punch an extra in the face. Going against protocol, he hunts her down to apologize and discovers a rare phenomenon in the entertainment industry. A sweet, uncorrupted-by-Hollywood woman, whose smile grabs him by the heart—and other not-so-innocent body parts—and won’t let go.

Their attraction is instant and intense, and Micah finds himself desperate to believe the woman with the beautiful smile, hot body and naughty mind wants him, not the doors he could open for her. When the press catches on, twisting Jenna and Micah’s love story into a Hollywood scandal, they’re forced to fight for their happy ending—both on
and
off camera.

Warning: This book contains a hero and a heroine who don’t know a household surface they won’t get horizontal on. Sometimes vertical too. Counters, sinks, showers, sofas, washing machines, beds, walls…they’ve got all the angles covered.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Starstruck:

They walked together toward the front door. She considered asking where he wanted to go, what he wanted to do, but she didn’t want to pressure him. Honestly, even if all they did was walk out the door, say their goodbyes and then he turned left and she turned right, she’d be okay with that. Him showing up to see her tonight was awesome enough.

Okay, that was totally a lie. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him yet. “How was your—?”

“You were fantas—”

They laughed, and he held open the door for her to pass through. “You first,” he said. “I’m on my best behavior tonight. Holding doors rather than knocking you over. Is it working?”

She gave him a considering look, murmured, “Hmm…” and nodded. “Although sometimes good behavior’s overrated.”

“That, I can work with,” he said softly as she eased past. When she stepped outside, the cool night breeze washed over her heated face. She wasn’t blushing though—at least she didn’t think she was. This all-over warmth could be one hundred percent attributed to Micah.

Hat shading his eyes, he held the door for another exiting couple, and then walked to her side. “Where are you parked?” he asked.

“Behind the building.”

“Me too.” They followed the sidewalk around to the back of Stars.

She watched him out of the corner of her eye as they crossed into the parking lot. The cap kept most of his face in shadow, but the streetlight highlighted his jaw, and she had the absurd desire to reach out and feel the stubble there shining golden in the light.
Down, girl.
Instead, she fiddled with the length of purse strap hanging from her shoulder and tucked her other hand into her pocket. “Did you have a good dinner?” There, that was polite, hands-to-herself conversation. Go her!

“Dinner was good. But the entertainment,
that
was fantastic.
You
were fantastic.”

Okay, now she was blushing. And beaming. And really wanting to throw her arms around him. She stopped walking and faced him, although her hands stayed firmly at her sides. Tackling him in a parking lot would probably be considered bad form.

“Thank you.” Her mother would be proud that even when starstruck, Jenna remembered her manners.

“So if I come back on my birthday, will you sing to me too?” He had the devil in his eyes, and his mouth was quirked up at the corners. Two could play at the teasing game.

Channeling Marilyn in expression and voice, she purred, “Oh, you like Marilyn?”

He stepped closer, so close she could see herself in his eyes, feel his breath brush her cheek as he said, “No. I like
you
.”

And then she couldn’t see anymore, she could only feel, because her eyes were closed and his mouth was on hers, and they were kissing. The softest pressure of his lips, not demanding, just sharing. Touches. Breaths.

And God, this man knew how to kiss. Not only with his mouth, but with his whole body. One of his hands came up to cradle her head, tangling in her hair, fingertips stroking along her neck. His other hand cupped her hip, his thumb sweeping back and forth. Even through the cotton she felt that caress, and she wished her shirt would ride up a few inches so he’d graze bare flesh.

Finally giving herself permission to touch, she lifted her hands to rest on his waist. He was so warm, his body tight and strong beneath her palms.

He pulled back and leaned his forehead against hers, their panted exhales mingling in the small space between their lips. He smoothed his hands over her back, along her shoulders and down her arms.

“Can I see you again?” he asked as he tangled their fingers together.

“Will there be more kissing involved?”

He huffed out a broken laugh and brushed his lips over hers. “Yeah, I can pretty much guarantee that.”

“Well then. I think we should make plans to meet.” This time she closed the distance between them and pressed their mouths together. “And soon.”

A sound between a moan and a sigh rumbled from his throat. “Not soon enough. My next three days are gonna be hell. Long shooting days. I’m in almost every scene. What about Saturday?”

“I work an early shift, but I’ll be out by two.”

“How about dinner that night?”

“I’d like that.”

Lifting their clasped hands, he kissed the back of hers. “Me too.”

It was a good thing they were holding hands, because Jenna still had that itch to touch him…everywhere. The limited tactile taste had only whetted her appetite. She
needed
to stroke his stubble-rough jaw, run her fingers through the hair flattened to his scalp… “What happened to your hat?”

His shoulders came up in a cute shrug. “Stuffed it in the back of my pants.”

“Real smooth.” Jenna chuckled. “And it’s a good thing, too, because I’ve already proven I might not duck in time.”

“Well, I am still on my best behavior.” Micah winked as he put the hat back in place. “Can I walk you to your car?”

“Sure.” She was tempted to prolong the evening by doing laps around the parking lot, but considering it would probably make her look a little crazy and a lot desperate, she took a few steps and stopped in front of her dingy, banged-up Sentra. “This is mine.” She unlocked her car and tossed her purse on the passenger seat. “So, Saturday night then?”

“Most definitely. Wait, what’s your number?” He pulled his phone out and keyed in her number as she told him, then tucked it back in his pocket. She did the same, dipping into the car to grab her green-rhinestone-star-decorated cell from her purse, so she could input his number. “Can’t wait.”

“Me neither.”

He grabbed the brim of his hat and twisted it to the side, before bringing his hands to her face and cupping her cheeks. Her eyes closed as his lips landed on hers for a sweet, beautiful, oh-too-short moment of bliss.

“Good night, Jenna.” He slowly retreated and drew his hat forward.

“Good night, Micah.” Still feeling the warmth of his hands on her cheeks, she sank into her car, barely noticing the duct tape holding the seat together scratching against her butt. Tonight had been awesome and called for loud music blasted from ancient speakers so she could sing at the top of her lungs. After she left the parking lot, though, since Micah was waiting only a few feet away, seeing her off.

She turned the key in the ignition, but her car only made its irritating fast clicking noise.

Well, she’d wanted to prolong the evening, but not by playing the damsel in distress. Fingers crossed, she turned the key again, but was met with the same lack of progress.

Crap.

She popped the hood release, got out and headed straight for the front.

“You need any help?” Micah asked, and even with the hat hiding his features, she could see his look of concern.

She shrugged like it was no big deal. “Holly does this sometimes. She’s been a bit moody since I moved to L.A.”

“Holly?” One side of his mouth tilted up.

“My mom named her. Told me that this car would get me wherever I needed to go—to school, the supermarket and even Hollywood.” She got the hood open and started jiggling the wires. “I don’t know why, but every time Holly does this, I wiggle all the wires and she starts. Just like a girl, right?” She got in the car and turned the key. Holly purred to life—well, more like choked and spluttered, but she was running and that’s what mattered. “See, all better.” She hopped out of the car to close the hood.

Micah looked at her, her car, and her again. “Can I follow you home? Make sure you get there okay?”

“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to go out of your way for me.”

“How do you know it’s out of my way?” he teased.

“How do you know it’s not?” she teased back.

Micah leaned in close. “Seriously. I’d feel better knowing you made it home okay. Plus, I need to know where you live so I can pick you up on Saturday night. See, win-win situation here.”

How could she say no to that? Besides, she wanted to spend more time with Micah. Not that him in one car and her in another constituted time together, but still. “I live in Van Nuys, fifteen, twenty minutes from here, depending on traffic. You really don’t mind?”

“Consider it a done deal.”

One unforgettable night…a lifetime of regret?

Take Me Home Tonight

© 2011 Elle Kennedy

Welcome to Paradise, Book 2

Three years. That’s how long Maddie’s been running the reception desk at Owen Bishop’s construction company—and waiting for her sexy boss to wake up and realize she’s more woman than the airhead bimbos he seems to prefer.

Even after her friends spring an ambush makeover on her, Owen barely notices. Apparently shedding her one-of-the-guys, tomboy looks isn’t enough. Looks like it’s time to step up her game, even if it means looking for lessons in all the wrong places.

While Owen can’t help but notice Maddie’s stunning transformation, the truth is, he likes her just the way she is—polished up or dressed down. Like his playboy father, though, he’s always been restless when it comes to women. Maddie’s friendship is too important to risk hurting her.

When Maddie shows up at his door ready to rock his world, all his resistance crumbles. But in the back of his mind, the question remains…how can she trust him with her vulnerable heart, when he’s not sure he can trust himself?

Warning: Contains a girl who’ll do anything to please her man, even if it means signing up for a master class in seduction with the town bad boy. Plus a man who may let the “sins of the father” stop him from accepting the gift of a lifetime.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Take Me Home Tonight:

Owen could tell Maddie was still angry with him. Even the delicious dinner he’d had delivered—his treat—hadn’t lifted her spirits. Their empty food cartons littered the desk, but neither of them had made a move to get back to work. They were sitting cross-legged on the hardwood floor, and he noticed she was fidgeting an awful lot, a scowl on her face.

“You can’t still be mad at me,” he finally sighed. “We’re almost at the Rs. It’ll only take another hour or so to finish.” By then it would be ten-thirty, and too late for her to meet up with Wyatt. Mission accomplished.

To his surprise, she shook her head. “I’m not mad. I’m antsy. The after-dinner cigarette used to be my favorite, and the cravings for it are always the worst.”

That startled him. He’d known Maddie had quit smoking a couple of years ago, but he hadn’t realized she still got cravings. In fact, there were a lot of things he didn’t know about her. What did she do when she left the office and went home in the evenings? He knew she watched football on Sundays, but he suddenly realized he had no clue what else she did for fun.