Tempting Fate

What’s the point of tempting fate if you can't have a little fun in the process?

Mia’s lived in her sister’s shadow long enough. Now that Abby is getting married to a Frenchman, Mia scents freedom. In fact, Jean DeLeon, the groom’s too-charming cousin, seems like the perfect place to start. But the House of Lions is full of secrets, and what started out as an exciting fling is quickly becoming more frustration than fun. Mia wants answers, or she wants out, and it isn’t like she doesn’t have other options. Ethan Hastings, for example. Tall, handsome, and gray eyes like nothing she’s ever seen before. The fact that Jean seems to hate him is just a bonus.

Praise for Amalia Dillin and
The Fate of the Gods Trilogy

“Amalia Dillin is a fresh, exciting voice!” —Saranna DeWylde, author of the
10 Days
series

“It’s like nothing I’ve read before… a complete game changer. You won’t be able to deny Miss Dillin is a genius.” —Parajunkee

“Inspired! An amazing fantasy world.” —Book Chick City

“I was hooked!” —Jeep Diva Reviews

“A unique, hauntingly beautiful story.” —JC Andrijeski, author of the
Allie’s War
series

“
Forged by Fate
is a beautiful, sweeping story that puts on display the power of every interpretation of love, and the truth of what can be accomplished when people choose peace over strife. I couldn’t put it out of my mind for days.” —Trisha Leigh, author of
The Last Year
series

Tempting Fate

A Fate of the Gods Novella

Amalia Dillin

World Weaver Press

Copyright Notice

No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of World Weaver Press.

TEMPTING FATE

Copyright © 2013 Amalia Dillin

Published by World Weaver Press

Kalamazoo, Michigan

www.WorldWeaverPress.com

Editor: Eileen Wiedbrauk

Cover designed by World Weaver Press

First edition: August 2013

ASIN (mobi): B00EI4GUVW

B&N ID: 2940148707653

Kobo ISBN: 1230000159560

Excerpt from "Fate Forgotten" Copyright © 2013 Amalia Dillin

This is a work of fiction; characters and events are either fictitious or used fictitiously.

For The Writer’s Block, because without the Word of the Day thread, this novella may never have been written.

One

Mia

Mia bit her lip, watching the cluster of men by the bar. She glanced at her sister, but Abby was still distracted by her in-laws. Brides never had time for anyone at weddings. Well, she’d just have to make her own introductions then. Mia smoothed her dress, gave her hair a pat, and walked toward them.

“Excuse me,” Mia said, giving the group her best sultry look. Good Lord, but they were gorgeous. All four of them looked as though they could have been on a magazine cover. And Abby was marrying into this genetic lottery? Mia liked her own odds. “I was wondering which one of you is walking me down the aisle? I’m Mia, Abby’s sister.”

“
Je suis désolé, mademoiselle
,” one of the men said, taking her hand and raising it to his lips. “I wish I could say it was me, but I fear that honor falls to my cousin Luc.” He lifted his head in the direction of the man in question. Luc seemed to be the oldest, but he wasn’t even Garrit’s age, by his looks.

They were going to be impossible to tell apart, all these DeLeon boys. Tall, with the same dark eyes, impeccably dressed in designer suits. They could have been brothers just as easily as cousins. What had Abby said? Did Garrit have three aunts and uncles, or two? Well, it hardly mattered.

Luc smiled pleasantly enough, but he glanced over her shoulder instead of at her—and she had chosen this dress purposely to keep attention. A man with a date, no doubt.

“It’s nice to meet you, Luc,” she said. “I just wanted to be sure I had a face with the name so I didn’t miss you tomorrow.”

Luc smiled. “Even if you had,
mademoiselle
, I’m sure there is little chance I would have missed you.”

True. And she gave him points for making it sound like a compliment. She wondered what Abby had told them about her, if anything. God, Abby could have warned her about all Garrit’s cousins before she got here. What if she hadn’t brought the right dress?

“We’ve been admiring you all evening,” the first man said. His eyes swept over her body, head to toe and back again with warm appreciation. “Luc was trying to tell me you couldn’t possibly be related to Abby. I’m glad he’s wrong. If you’re her sister, that means we’re certain to see much more of you,
non
?”

“Well, as much of me as she’ll have, anyway.” She frowned just slightly. The fact that this was the first time Abby had invited her to visit hadn’t escaped her. Ever since her sister had gotten involved with Garrit she’d been distant, and it was downright selfish of her not to have shared all these men.

“I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t have you,” he assured her. “Can I get you something to drink? Judging by the look on
Tante
Juliette’s face, I don’t think we’re quite ready to start by any means.”

“Oh, a glass of wine would be lovely!”

He smiled, offering his arm. One of the other men, she hadn’t caught his name, muttered something in French, and her escort flashed a very smug smile at him with a sharp retort she didn’t need translated. She winked at the man as they passed him, and whatever it was he said in response sounded like an invitation. Well, she had the entire dinner later to get to know Garrit’s other cousins.

“
Monsieur
, a glass of Garrit’s good red for the bride’s sister,” her escort said, then he turned back to her, his lips twitching with his amusement. “My cousins are jealous that I swept you away, but I think if they were not wise enough to speak, then they were not meant for you,
n’est ce pas
?”

She laughed. “Well, I can’t blame them for being shy.”

“No, but I think you prefer men who are not so afraid of your beauty.” He grinned. “Less boring, don’t you think?”

“If you’re so sure of yourself, why haven’t you even told me your name?” He did look good, leaning against the counter. And he was right that she preferred more confident men.

“My name is Jean,” he said. “Would you like to know how I’m related as well, or shall we leave it at that?”

The bartender set the glass of wine down, and she accepted it, taking a sip. It was dry and fruity, the flavor filling her mouth and nose. He hadn’t been kidding when he asked for the good red, and he smirked, watching her as she tasted it. Like he knew what she was thinking.

“As long as you’re not Garrit’s brother, I don’t see how it matters.” She could just see Abby being difficult about it if she got involved with one of her sister’s brand new brothers-in-law. “You’re not, are you?”

Jean shook his head. “Just a cousin. Garrit and I are both only children.”

“Well, then.” She smiled, looking him over again now that she was certain he was fair game. “I’m very pleased to meet you, Jean. I have a feeling that we’ll get along just famously. Don’t you think?”

Jean gave her the most charming smile she’d ever seen, catching her hand in his and bringing it to his lips again. She couldn’t wait for this rehearsal to be over, so she could drag him off to a dark corner and see what else those lips could do.

“I’m glad we agree,” he said.

And then Garrit brushed past them, extracting Luc from the other two men, and Mia sighed to see Abby waving for her. It would have to wait. And who on earth was that man who had just come in behind her? He was a behemoth, and none of the DeLeons she’d met had hair that color. Somewhere between red and gold. Too old for her, though. Too serious for her, for sure.

She glanced at Jean sidelong. She could have done a lot worse, and he was very attentive.

“Watch my wine?” she asked.

Jean smirked. “Of course.”

When Mia walked away, she made sure to let her hips sway.

The wine made her lightheaded in a pleasant way; Jean had kept her glass filled all night, but even if he hadn’t been plying her with it, her body would still be buzzing from his proximity.

He pulled her into an alcove just outside the main hall where the rehearsal dinner was winding down, and she fell into his arms. His lips moved from the column of her neck, to her jaw, to her mouth. He tasted like chocolate, and it went well with the wine.

“Where are you staying?” she asked, her hands slipping beneath his suit jacket. By the feel of him, he would look even better without his clothes, and she wanted to find out. Don’t fall in love with him, Abby had said. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy herself.