Her Billionaires
EXCERPT (Book 1): “Luscious, curvy financial analyst seeks friendship and more. Financially independent and self-assured, I’m a fit woman who wants a man (or, more than one! YOLO!) for stimulating conversation…er, yeah. Conversation. Message me (or massage me!).” Something fierce and hot inside him came to life. From that description it sounded like she…seriously? No way. “Mike! Hey, Mike! Get in here!” If there were a chance— any chance at all, here, then he had to act fast. Someone this amazing was about to get inundated by messages from needy weirdos. And he needed to be the first. His roommate wandered in. Where Dylan was all muscle and brawn, Mike Pine was tall and sleek, a marathoner’s body of long, lean tissue. Dylan’s dark, thick, Italian, looks made him popular with women, but Mike was the golden boy, with blonde hair and blue eyes—the long-distance runner with a soft heart, the guy women turned to and poured their hearts out, Mr. Sensitive to Dylan’s Mr. Conquest. Dylan tapped the screen. “Take a look at her.” He smiled smugly as Mike’s eyes raced across the screen. They’d been waiting for a long time. Too long. His roommate’s expression told him everything he needed to know. Score! It might finally be time.
GIVEAWAY!
1 Comment
Title: Faithful Peace Author: Anna Bishop Barker
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: June 23, 2020
Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.
TAKING BACK HER LIFE WAS THE EASY PART. LEARNING TO LIVE WITH THE SCARS WAS NOT.
When she was twelve years old, they took her childhood and made her a wife.
Chattel.
Property.
When she was thirty-four, she crawled to her freedom. In Faithful, Tennessee she found refuge, safety, and family.
Esther Howard spent the next two years clawing and scratching through her nightmares to take her life back.
For those two years, he was there – a quiet, solid presence that never failed her—even when she pushed him away.
HE MADE HIS UNEASY PEACE WITH WHAT HE HAD.
John Valentine’s life had been little bits of heaven and huge chunks of hell. Now he focused on his sons and the land and tried hard to curb the need to be more to a woman who did not want more of him.
Until the day he discovered that she did.
THE LEADER WOULD RECLAIM WHAT BELONGED TO HIM.
Eli Babylon had led the Brotherhood of The Father. He was the rightful Leader, and The Wife was his. He had earned her, and he would have her.
The reckoning was coming.
AMAZON
I was born in Kentucky and raised in Florida, so I am a southerner through and through. Since I was old enough to pick up a book, I have been a voracious reader. I wrote the usual poetry and short stories in high school, and I kept the dream of writing in the back of my heart until opportunity and encouragement helped me to realize that dream. I live in Tampa with my kids, grandkids, dogs, various other livestock, and way more books than is strictly healthy. Hot Romance. Suspense. Humor & heart. Grown up stories for grown up people. This is what I write. There's also food, music, dogs, the occasional geek reference, and quite possibly an inappropriate joke. There will likely be dead bodies as well. Three random facts about me:1. I was bitten by a shark when I was 14.2. I have read War and Peace. (When I get to the afterlife, I am demanding that week of my life back. Sorry, Tolstoy.)3. It is my sincere belief that any situation can be improved by eating some cheese. My life philosophy is guard your inner peace and read dirty kissing books.
AMAZON | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAYAMAZON |NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY
A RECKLESS NOTE (The Brilliance Trilogy #1) by Lisa Renee Jones
Release Date: June 23rd
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48570822-a-reckless-note
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3e1kVNJ
Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/RecklessNote
Apple Books: https://apple.co/34pvt4o
Nook: http://bit.ly/34pLTtA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2pAlvOO
Blurb: Passion, seduction, and my family’s secret that could change everything. I went looking for my missing brother, but instead, I found him: Kace August. He's dark. He's dangerous. He makes me want things I can’t have and brings me into a world of forbidden seduction. But I just can't seem to walk away. Book one in the Brilliance Trilogy.
About the Series:
A Reckless Note (book one) – June 23, 2020 Amazon: https://amzn.to/3e1kVNJ
Apple Books: https://apple.co/34pvt4o
Nook: http://bit.ly/34pLTtA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2pAlvOO
A Wicked Song (book two) – August 18, 2020
Amazon: http://mybook.to/WickedSong
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2NAiB4E
Nook: http://bit.ly/2r2v5u1
Kobo: http://bit.ly/34nJEa4
A Sinful Encore (book three) – September 22, 2020
Amazon: http://mybook.to/SinfulEncore
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2JHJX7R
Nook: http://bit.ly/2JKITQB
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2PIwEaW
About the Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. In addition to the success of Lisa's INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is also the author of the bestselling WHITE LIES and LILAH LOVE series. Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women's Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine. Connect w/Lisa: Newsletter ➜ http://lisareneejones.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Bookbub ➜ http://bookbub.com/authors/lisa-renee-jones
Amazon ➜ https://amzn.to/2MoWosB
Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/LisaReneeJones
Instagram ➜ http://instagram.com/lisareneejones
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/LisaReneeJones
Title: Forever Only Once
Series: Promise Me #1
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 23, 2020
Blurb
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan comes a sexy new contemporary stand-alone series.
Hazel Noble has survived horrors she wouldnât inflict on her worst enemy. Since then, sheâs healed, found herself, and connected with a group of women sheâs proud to call her friends. However, when they make a pact to start looking for love, Hazel finds herself not only up first but also forced to face a past she thought sheâd escaped.
Cross Brady has no need for a relationship. As the oldest of five, heâs always been the one his family can rely on. Now, all he wants is to work in peace and live his life. His priorities shift dramatically, though, when Cross finds himself in Hazelâs path.
Though the two initially fight their connection, they soon learn that itâs safer to fall for each other than keep running from whatâs holding them backânot to mention, who wants them dead.
B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS
ALSO AVAILABLE
Coming Soon
Releasing August 18
Releasing October 27
B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS
Releasing December 8
B&N / KOBO / APPLE BOOKS
Author Bio
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasnât stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When sheâs not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, sheâs reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
Author Links
CHARMING LIKE US (Like Us #7) by Krista & Becca Ritchie
Release Date: June 23rd Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45837810
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Amazon: http://bit.ly/CLUAmazon
Apple Books: http://bit.ly/CLUAppleBooks
Haven't started the Like Us series yet? It's perfect for binge readers! It's all about three wealthy families and the hot bodyguards that protect them. Start at Book 1 and continue down the list below!
THE LIKE US SERIES
1. Damaged Like Us: https://amzn.to/2CTwPbT
2. Lovers Like Us: https://amzn.to/32W8m05
3. Alphas Like Us: https://amzn.to/2CTwTIF
4. Tangled Like Us: https://amzn.to/2XltdZq
5. Sinful Like Us: https://amzn.to/2rLdMxZ
6. Headstrong Like Us: https://amzn.to/2rSIYvr
Blurb: As the hottest bodyguard on Security Force Omega, Oscar Oliveira has no trouble finding a warm body at any odd hour. But he's ready for more. And for the first time in this ex-pro boxer's life, he just got rejected. For a kiss. Oscar's friends warned him not to fall for the straight guy, but flirty, sexy-as-hell Jack Highland made that difficult. Now Jack has Oscar's sweater. His belt. His bandana. And Oscar seriously wants them back. As for Jack – well, Jack wants a lot of things. But for the first time in this confident filmmaker's life, he's absolutely 100%... confused. Add another ultra-complication in a sea of complicated: Enter Charlie Cobalt. The enigmatic famous one that Oscar is sworn to protect wants his own show, and he's asked Jack to film it. A Charlie-centric docuseries will force Oscar & Jack to share the same air again. Option 1: Ignore each other.
Option 2: Flirt, aw yeah. And act like the rejection never happened.
Option 3: Confront each other about the rejected kiss.
With options on the table and their romantic lives unsettled, both Jack & Oscar are concerned about why Charlie wants his own show. And the longer filming lasts, the more tumultuous their personal & professional worlds become. Chaos reigns when you're around the Cobalts, and Jack & Oscar are swept up among the most destructive one. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Like Us series is a true series, one continuous timeline, that follows a family of wealthy celebrities and the people that protect them. It must be read in the following order:
THE LIKE US SERIES
1. Damaged Like Us
2. Lovers Like Us
3. Alphas Like Us
4. Tangled Like Us
5. Sinful Like Us
6. Headstrong Like Us
About the Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors and identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. Now in their twenties, they write about other twenty-somethings navigating through life, college, and romance. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love. Connect w/Krista & Becca: Website: http://kbritchie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KBRitchie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KBRitchie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbmritchie/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7056935.Krista_Ritchie
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Zu4plH
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/krista-ritchie
Newsletter Signup: http://kbritchie.com/newsletter.html
New York Times bestselling author Samantha Chase is back to take you on more crazy road trip! Grab your copy of TEST DRIVE today and see what happens when two people who are just pretending to be in a relationship forget that it's all supposed to be fake!
About TEST DRIVE
Willow Andrew’s life is a hot mess. Coming from a family of successful professionals, the fact that at twenty-seven she still doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up doesn’t sit well. Desperate not to disappoint her grandmother, she invents a fake boyfriend so Gammy won’t worry so much. It seemed a victimless lie... until Gammy announced that Willow AND her boyfriend needed to be present at her 75th birthday party. Or else. Out of time and options, Willow turns to the sexy bartender she’s been secretly crushing on for help. Levi Sullivan has his life in order and thrives off helping others. In fact, he would do anything to help out a friend. But he’s angling for far more than friendship with Willow. Entranced by the clumsy beauty since the first time he watched her trip over nothing, he happily agrees to a chance to spend more time with her. Fake romance or not, he’s determined to use their long-distance road trip to turn a game of pretend into something more. Warning—the roads ahead will twist and turn with laugh-out loud moments and sizzling chemistry. But traffic should be aware, the journey ahead is far more important than the destination. Add TEST DRIVE to your TBR!
Get your copy of TEST DRIVE today! Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo | Google PlayRead all the Roadtripping books!
Drive Me Crazy | Wrong Turn | Test Drive
About SAMANTHA CHASESamantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
Website |Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter | BookBub Gemma Lane built an empire. Not a small feat, considering her home as a teenager was a makeshift tent in a California junkyard. She’s dedicated her life to turning pennies into millions. She has power, fortune and prestige. And she’s leaving it all behind. Gemma is headed across the country in her best friend’s Cadillac when a detour in Montana reunites her with old acquaintances and a man who hasn’t changed. Easton Greer challenges her every word and tests her every limit because he doesn’t believe she’s really abandoned her riches. She ignores his snide remarks and muttered censure—until the day she’s ready to return to the wild highway, and Easton taunts her to stay. She’ll prove to him she’s not just running back to her wealthy life, that she’s more than her money. She’ll unlock her guarded heart and hope that this time around, he’ll treasure the key. 4.5 Heart Review by Ashley Devney Perry strikes again with Wild Highway. While this doesn't have her signature touch of suspense, it was no less gripping. A road trip. Righting wrongs. A second chance at so much more than love kept me glued to my kindle. I loved Gemma. From her willingness to put in hard work to the way she guarded her tender heart. How she was trying to mend broken fences. How she loved deeply, but quietly. How she was putting her happiness first. Which led her back to Montana, the only place that had ever truly felt like home. But not everyone was happy she was there. Namely Easton. Oh broody Easton. He had a lot on his plate with running the ranch. Gemma showing up was not in his plans. And he sure let her know it. At the same time, he couldn't stop himself from wanting to be around her. As Gemma and Easton spent more time together, she started to open up. Share the pain from her past. Oh my heart- the things she endured and came out on the other side of slayed me. My heart bled for this beautifully strong and broken woman. And poor Easton. He was caught in this purgatory of wanting to push for more and bracing himself for her inevitable departure. Because their time together had an expiration date on it, didn't it? Easton and Gemma's second-chance romance made me swoon and smile in equal measure. Devney Perry got me right in the chest with this one. The heady tension. The heartache. The steam. The horse rides. The peace in the quiet moments. But more than that, it was seeing Gemma grow and find the thing she had always wanted that made Wild Highway unputdownable. Excerpt I opened the door, a smile still on my face, and collided, headfirst, with a wall of muscle. “Oh, sorry.” I looked up and my heart stopped. The smell of leather and aftershave filled my nose. I looked up to see a pair of dark brown eyes hooded by long, onyx lashes. I took in the straight nose, the sharp jaw and strong chin. My gaze dropped to the full lips I’d tasted once, on a night eleven years ago. I’d never seen a face as symmetrical and so beautifully masculine as Easton Greer’s. Even when he scowled, like he was now, it was a wonder. He’d gotten even more handsome. How was that possible? He’d transformed from a young man to just a man, man. Rugged and rough and sexy. “Gemma.” My name came out as a growl in his deep voice and I tore my gaze away from his mouth, taking a step back. “Hi,” I breathed, the air heavy and thick. He took a step away, then another, his glare unwavering. Easton cast his scowl over his shoulder and spotted the Cadillac. “That yours?” “Yes.” “You’re staying here.” Not a question. An accusation. If he had it his way, I’d be uninvited. I lifted my chin. “Yes, I came to see Katherine.” His jaw ticked. “I thought we’d gotten rid of you years ago.” Ouch. I guess he was still pissed about that whole sex in his room and waking up to find me gone. But, good or bad, he hadn’t forgotten me. About the Author Devney is a USA Today bestselling author. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her husband and two sons. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop. Devney loves hearing from readers! Connect with her on social media. AUTHOR LINKS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devneyperrybooks/ Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2N1u9xz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devneyperry/ Website: https://devneyperry.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/devneyperry Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15854913.Devney_Perry Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/devneyperry/ BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/devney-perry
Release Date: June 23
Imagine youâre a matchmaker and you realize too late youâre in love with your childhood best friend. You only have yourself to blameâyouâre the one who matched him and now heâs engaged to be married. When you find yourself in this position thereâs a few secrets youâre going to need to keepâ¦
Secret #1 â Smile when he tells you the happy news, even if your heart cracks in half.
Secret #2 â Donât compare yourself to his beautiful French fiancée. Youâre just as beautiful.
Secret #3 â Donât tag along to the tux fitting with him alone. Just no.
Secret #4 - Donât help him learn to dance to his wedding song.
Secret #5 â Erase all memories of the two of you through the years when lines blurred for even the briefest of moments.
And the one you never saw comingâ¦
Secret #6 âDefinitely, donât stand and objectâsomeone else might just do it for you.
Grab Your Copy Here:
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Apple | Nook | Kobo | Google Play Piper Rayne, or Piper and Rayne, whichever you prefer because we're not one author, we're two. Yep, you get two USA Today Bestselling authors for the price of one. Our goal is to bring you romance stories that have "Heartwarming Humor With a Side of Sizzle" (okay...you caught us, that's our tagline). A little about us.... We both have kindle's full of one-clickable books. We're both married to husbands who drive us to drink. We're both chauffeurs to our kids. Most of all, we love hot heroes and quirky heroines that make us laugh, and we hope you do, too. Connect with Piper Rayne: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub | Goodreads Join our newsletter & get 2 FREE BOOKS! Be one of our Unicorns!
Series: The Casella Cousins Book 1
Author: Kathryn Shay
Genre: Contemporary Romance Novella
Release Date: June 23, 2020
She drives him crazy in court. Heâs the most irritating, self-absorbed defense attorney sheâs ever met. What happens when a couple like this goes from enemies to lovers in one moonlit night on his boat?
Assistant District Attorney Hayley Casella wants to tear her hair out whenever she has to argue against her nemesis, Paul Covington, in court. Sheâs battled the white-collar defense attorney for a year and their appearances together are only getting more emotional and tinged with sexual tension.
Hot shot attorney Paul Covington is not letting DA Casella ruin his chances of becoming a partner in the prestigious law firm he joined last year. Sheâs a looker and smart as hell, but heâs as determined to show her up as sheâs determined to put him down.
This heartfelt legal drama is backdropped by the glamor of New York City galas, restaurants and boat trips on the ocean. Will Haley and Paul be able navigate the murky waters of competing careers and baggage from their childhoods to make a life together?
Donât miss all The Casella Cousins Books: Hayley, Seth, Finn, Alessia, Gideon and Ronan from the NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author Kathryn Shay.
He was slick, all right. Hayley Casella watched her nemesis walk across the over-sized courtroom with a confident stride. He turned a big, smarmy smile on the female witness. Well, not smarmy exactly. Secure. Scintillating. Maybe sexy. If she didnât despise him so much, she mightâ¦
Best not to think about that.
âMrs. Thomas, you comfortable? Need anything?â He was delaying the point, which he always did to build up tension. After arguing several cases with him, she knew his tactics.
The elderly woman put her hand on her heart. âWhy, I donât think so, Mr. Covington.â
âGood, good.â Covington pivoted slightly and glanced at Hayley, his expression one of amusement. He didnât take her seriously, which maddened her. Her brother Finn said he was psyching her out, which was worse. Every time she argued with him, she vowed not to fall into that trap.
âNow, for the day in question, June 12th, did you see the fight in the cafeteria?â
âI was supervising the second lunch period. Thereâs a group of boys who act up.â
âAct up how?â
âThey make rude noises. They say things to girls. They try to leave early. I alerted the principals to this, but nothing was done.â
âWhat did these boys do on June 12th?â
âThey picked on a younger student. They always do. His name is Bobby Hanson, right there in the audience.â
âHow do they pick on him?â
âThey topple his tray. Once they tripped him.â
âDid he get hurt with their mischief?â
âI object.â
Amy Branson, the judge, was a fair, respected woman in her fifties. She was also tough on decorum. âWhatâs your objection, ADA Casella?â
âMischief is not what weâre prosecuting in this courtroom. Mr. Covingtonâs use of the term is not only erroneous, but insensitive.â She extended her arm with a flourish. âAs you can see in the third row, Jamie Callahan assaulted Bobby Hanson.â
Callahan was rich kid whoâd gotten into Grayson Academy only because his parents donated money. Bobby, on the other hand, had won a scholarship to go there. His mother said she thought heâd be safe from the public-school bullying. Little did she know the likes of Jamie Callahan populated the school.
Since Bobby was sitting where she pointed, the jury would witness the casts on both his arms.
âYou have not proved the assault was perpetrated by my client!â
âHmm, I wonder why.â She turned back to the judge and smiled sweetly. âWe located several eyewitnesses to the incident, that for some unknown reason are getting picked off, one by one.â
âNow, I object.â Whirling around, Paul Covingtonâs face flushed. Angular, rough-hewn features, eyes as blue as the Caribbean Sea, and full lips were all accented by his anger. âThe implication of Ms. Casellaâs histrionics is that perhaps my client had something to do with witnesses recanting.â
âI retract the question.â Under her breath she said, âHistrionics, my ass.â
âYour honor, could you please muzzle her asides?â
She pivoted quickly. âMuzzle? How dare you refer to women with animal imagery?â
A hard gavel silenced them. It echoed in the large room, wood-paneled, with a row of windows and sky-high ceilings. âI declare a fifteen-minute recess. Counselors, in my chambers.â Judge Branson glared at them. âNow.â
They followed her into her large office, with wood paneling interrupted by shelves filled with books, a television, several framed awards and degrees. Leather couches and a chair faced wide windows. A bathroom completed the suite. She removed her robe, hung it up on a hanger and sat behind her desk. Like school children, Hayley and Paul stood before her.
âI have had it with you two. Every time you show up in my courtroom, I cringe knowing whatâs coming. And Iâm not the only judge in the circuit who dreads dealing with you.â
âIââ
âWeââ
âDo not speak. This is a warning. One more clash like what I just endured and Iâll put both of you in jail for contempt. Do you two even understand the concept?â
They both nodded.
âThen tell me. You begin, ADA.â
âContempt is being disobedient to or disrespectful toward a court of law and its officers.â
âMr. Covington, what behavior happens in contempt?â
âBehavior that opposes or defies the authority, justice and dignity of the court.â
âNow that weâve established the definition, I hope you can see that name calling and asides are disrespectful and disruptive. If this happens again, you will be hauled away and jailed.â
Contempt charges issued to lawyers rarely, if ever, happened. Hayley couldnât think of any lawyer being accused of it.
âYes, maâam.â
âYes, maâam.â
âNow leave me alone for five minutes to recover from you.â
They turned and walked out the door. Hell, all Paul Covington did was get her in trouble.
* * *
They both marched into the corridor. âYouâre the only one I get in trouble with,â he called out to the woman ahead of him, after he let the door to the judgeâs chambers shut softly. He hated when he behaved this way.
Stopping, Casella turned. âAre you talking to me?â
âOf course I am.â He asked, âWhen are you going to learn to behave?â
She shook her head, dislodging a few tendrils from the knot at her neck. She always scraped it back like some elderly matron and the style was unattractive. For as prim as she looked, she was hell on wheels.
But now, those usually snapping green eyes clouded. âYou sound like my father.â
âWho didnât do a very good job raising you.â
That took the starch out of her. Her already light complexion paled making freckles stand out. Finally, she said, âSince he died when I was nine, and I missed so much time with him, thatâs a shitty thing to say, even for you.â
Some starch left him, too. âIâm sorry. I didnât know.â Heâd lost his father, too, but in a different way.
âI donât want your condolences.â
âWhat do you want from me, Casella?â
âYour behavior in court is atrocious. Iâd like you to show some manners.â
âThe potâs calling the kettle black there, donât you think?â
âI comport myself well.â
âNot according to Judge Branson.â He frowned. âCould she have really meant sheâd throw us in jail?â He winked at her to piss her off. âI have a hot date tonight.â
âGive the woman my condolences.â She walked away. He watched her hips sway in the dark green suit she wore with a sage blouse. Then he cursed himself for noticing.
* * *
During the lunch break, a very interesting visitor came to Hayleyâs office. Now, she stood at the prosecution table. âI call Harry Jenkins to the stand.â
Covington shot out of his chair. âHe wasnât on the witness list.â
That was true but she delighted in needling him. She widened her eyes in sham innocence. She and her brother Ronan were in all the plays in high school, and though he was a lot better than she was, she remembered how to act. âThis witness came forth during lunch.â And shocked her with his story. âHe followed the reports on the trial online.â
âApproach,â the judge said wearily. There had been no fireworks in this afternoon sessionâso far.
âWho is this guy?â Covington asked, his tone belligerent. Maybe she could finagle it so only he was accused of contempt.
âThe former principal of the last school Jamie Callahan got kicked out of.â
âOnce again, Ms. Casella is quoting facts not in evidence.â He arched a brow. âWhatâs the relevance of Mr. Jenkins?â
She looked at him like he was a cockroach. âYouâll see if you let me question him.â She made the statement in a sugary voice to upset him more.
âADA Casella!â Again, Judge Branson was angry. âIâm going to allow the witness but no more surprises from you.â
âYes, Judge,â she said demurely.
A tall, thin man with the bearing of a Dean of Students he used to be came to the front, was seated and sworn in. âThank you for coming forward, Mr. Jenkins.â
He nodded. âI felt it was my duty.â
âTell us how you know Jamie Callahan.â
âI was a teacher at Havisham Prep, then became Dean of Students.â Another of the most prestigious private schools in New York. The name came right out of a Dickens novel.
âAnd did you know the Callahans? Jamie?â
âYes to both.â
âWhat kind of student was he?â
âHe was a C student.â The man cleared his throat. âAnd young Mr. Callahan was a bully.â
âHow did that manifest itself?â
âI object.â
Hayley barked, âOn what grounds?â
She suffered a stern look from the judge. âMr. Covington, what do you object to?â
âI can see this witness is going to be important. I need time to prepare my cross examination.â
âI object to that. You said all you wanted was relevance. You accuse us of having no corroboration or pattern in Mr. Callahanâs behavior.â
âYou ambushed me.â
âYour honor, as I said, Mr. Jenkins came forward at lunch time.â She turned to Paul. âIâm sorry if Mr. Covington canât keep up. Perhaps your second chair, Ms. Parker over there, can help you.â
A lovely woman, Marcy Parker was a good second chair. At least she was well-behaved.
Judge Branson banged her gavel. Her face red, she announced, âIâm going to allow this witness then adjourn for the weekend.â She glared at first Hayley, then Covington. âAnd Iâm charging you both with direct contempt of court for misconduct. Bailiff, you can take them away as soon as we finish with Mr. Jenkins.â
âButâ¦â
âThe next one of you to speak will get two nights.â
âOvernight?â Hayley asked.
âYes. Proceed, Ms. Casella.â
Upset at the prospect of jail time, Hayley was off-kilter now. âW-what did Callahan do to make you label him a bully?â
âHe picked on weak classmates. Backed them into corners, stuffed them in lockers. I tried to punish him so nothing worse would happen. But his parentsâ¦had sway with the board.â
âAh. Did he ever hurt anybody?â
âYes, a young student fell flat on the floor when he tripped the boy. Broke several of his teeth.â
âAnd how was Jamie punished?â
Mr. Jenkins pressed the glasses at the bridge of his nose. âHe wasnât. Again, his parents intervened.â Turning his head, his gaze narrowed on Mr. and Mrs. Callahan. âI quit the school at that point because I couldnât tolerate the politics.â
âDo you have another job?â
âIâm afraid I was blackballed in all private schools.â
âHmm.â She turned to the jury and said, âAnother victim on Jamie Callahan.â
âI object,â Covington said.
âOf course, you do.â
* * *
Paul took it as long as he could, but he finally spoke. âI canât stand this silence,â he admitted to the woman beside him. Theyâd been sitting in here in this dank, dreary and odorous cell for two hours and the only word spoken was supper when the guard brought them food. Which neither of them touched.
âI was about to say that.â She gave a small smile. In the light from the hallwayâthere were no windows in this tiny caveâhe could see sheâd bitten off her lipstick and more hair had come out of her bun. âProbably isolation is the worst thing about being in jail.â
âNot the worst, Hayley.â
She raised her auburn brows, the same color as her hair. âYouâve never called me that before.â
âItâs a nice name. Mineâs Paul, by the way.â
âIâve known that for a year, Paul.â Since heâd joined the high-powered law firm of Cook, Cramer and Cromwell in New York after he left California and started arguing cases against her. âI heard through the legal grapevine that you want to add another C to the partner collective.â
He chuckled. âHow long have you been an ADA?â
âI joined right after I passed the bar. So, five years.â
âHmm. That makes you, thirty?â
âNot quite yet. Soon.â
âA baby.â
âWhat made you leave California?â
âI was born in New York. I got homesick for the glitz and glitter of the streets of New York.â He shrugged a shoulder. âIt was time, I guess.â
âIâve lived here all my life.â
âWhere?â
âFirst on Long Island, then in lower Manhattan.â She didnât want to tell him sheâd grown up in the Hamptons, on the tip of Long Island. âYou?â
âI live in Brooklyn.â
Silence.
He broke it. âWhat are we going to do about us?â
âYou mean why we were put in here?â
âAmong other things.â
âI donât know. We shoot sparks off each other.â
That made him wonder what other kind of sparks they could shoot off. âYou know, I read a study where suppressed attraction makes people fight with each other.â
Her fake shock was comical. âWhy, Mr. Covington, are you saying you lust for me?â
âMaybe when you wear that little pinkish suit with a tank top.â He let out a wolf whistle. âIt makes all the men in the room sweat.â
âThat is so sexist.â
Now he threw up his hands and slapped them on his thighs. âI donât get it. When a man compliments a woman on her appearance, she calls him names for noticing her when sheâs probably spent an hour that morning trying to look good.â
âAn hour? Give me a break.â She had to know that, so she was pretending again. Orâ¦
âYou donât do that?â
âI spend the half hour after I get up on my elliptical or if the weather permits, I go out for a brusque walk, then eat a nourishing breakfast. Whatever timeâs left, like maybe ten minutes, I shower, get dressed and put on lipstick. Some rouge.â
âYeah, I like you better without a lot of goop on your face.â
She rolled her eyes. âI donât know how to take that. But in any case, Counselor, itâs your turn. Whatâs your morning routine?â
âI get up a couple of hours before work starts.â
âYour workday begins a lot later than mine does.â
Ignoring what she meant to be a criticism of the life heâd chosen, he continued, âI go for a run or do my treadmill, catch the news, check my email. I eat, of course, then spend about the same time you do getting ready for work.â
âDo you like your job, Paul?â She wasnât letting that go.
âYes, itâs exactly what I want to be doing.â
âDefending rich kids? Guilty adults?â
âEverybody deserves a defense, Hayley.â
âI agree with that. But I donât think I could do your job.â
That pissed him off. âLucky you donât have to.â
âTell me about your family. Married? Divorced? Brothers and sisters?â
âMarried early on and divorced six months later. In my extended family, I have brothers and sisters.â
âWhere are they?â
âIn New York.â
âWhy didnât you say they were the reason you came back here?â
âBecause they werenât.â
âI donât understand that. I adore my brothers.â
He changed the very dangerous subject. And the night wore on. He told her about living in California, what he did in his spare time, and she told him about her semester in France when she was at Radcliff. They talked about foodâshe loved seafood and sushi, and he was a steak man. They both liked champagne.
Hours later, she yawned.
His early training surfaced, even with her. âWhy donât you get some sleep?â
A slimy cot with stains from God-knew-what sat across from them. âOn that? Yuck.â
âNo, here on the bench, which is at least half-clean.â He stood, removed his very expensive suitcoat and spread it on the bench.
âHmm, maybe. Iâm having trouble keeping my eyes open.â She took off her jacket, too, then folded it up and laid down with it as a pillow. âThanks. Wake me in a couple of hours so you can catch some zees in here, too.â
âSure thing.â
She fell asleep right away. He always envied people who could do that. He had bad insomnia sometimes. Staring down at the woman with him, still visible in the hall light, he noticed her delicate bone structure. She was tall and thin. He wished sheâd taken that mane of auburn hair down. And why the hell was he going down this road? Still, he watched her for a long time until he fell asleep sitting up.
* * *
Hayley bolted up into the darkness. âOh, my God. Oh, my God.â
He reached out and touched her arm. âHey, calm down.â
She swiveled her legs to the floor and once she was acclimated from the hall light, she glanced next to her. âHell. I didnât know where I was.â
âThat happens to me sometimes. No way you expected to be in jail.â
âWhat time is it?â
Something lit up. âNearly four.â The guards hadnât taken his watch.
She went to rake back her hair, and found it tied up in a bun. She secured it as much as she could with the escaping pins, then said, âYou let me sleep. Thank you.â She stood up and stretched. âYour turn. Lie down.â
âI slept sitting up. I donât need much, anyway.â
She sat back down and sighed. âIâd kill for a cup of coffee.â
âMe, too. What kind?â
âDouble latte. All fat milk, or cream.â
âNo skim?â
âNo. How do you like yours?â
âBlack, of course.â
âThat fits you.â
They both quieted.
After a while, she woke up completely. âPaul, are you going to get in trouble for this contempt of court charge?â
âDeep, deep trouble.â
Hayley expelled a heavy breath. âMe, too. I donât know of any cases where a lawyer was jailed for contempt.â
âI know of a few out in California. But they were released in hours. We canât let this happen again, Hayley.â
âThatâs for sure.â
His dark brows formed a vee. Sheâd admitted during their tenure in jail that he was an attractive man and an interesting conversationalist.
âWell, weâve gotten to know each other some.â He chuckled. âAnd we did sleep together. Maybe we can be more civil in the courtroom.â
âMaybe. Iâll try.â
âI will too, Hayley.â
* * *
When she got to her apartment, Hayley dragged herself inside. She was tired now and bordering on depressed. Getting sued for contempt with Covington had been awful. The Chief Assistant of the DAâs office had already left a message she wanted to see Hayley Monday morning. Paul told her he would get in trouble over this, too.
Just as she started toward the bedroom, the doorbell rang. She and Finn, along with Ronan, inherited this place after their fatherâs death. Finn was out of town at a book conference in London for a week, and Ronan had disappeared completely twenty years ago. Heâd never even called her or Finn in all that time. But every time the doorbell rang in their luxurious apartment in New York, she got a quick flash of hope that it was the brother she loved so dearly. On that sad note, she hauled herself to the foyer and pulled open the door.
Hell. This was all she needed.
The woman standing there had dressed in haute couture on a Saturday morning. âSo, the jailbirdâs out.â
âHello, Mother. How did you get up here?â
âRobert knows me.â Bridget Sullivanâs face was pinched. Then again, whenever she laid eyes on her daughter, her features crunched up and got ugly. âLet me inside, please.â
âI was about to take a bath. Iâd like to be alone.â
Bridget, as Hayley thought of her, brushed past her daughter, entered the apartment, went down the short hallway and into the living room to the right. âCome in here, Hayley.â
Best to deal with this now. Hayley went inside and sat on one of the leather couches. To say she felt scuzzy was an understatement.
Bridget surveyed the huge apartment in lower Manhattan, consisting of an oversize living space in the front with a view of the city and a kitchen behind it. Off that were two complete suites, on either side, one for her and one for Finn. Then she turned her attention to Hayley, whoâd finally learned not to shrink under her icy gaze. âImagine my surprise when I received a phone call last night from Marian Jackson asking if I knew my daughter was in jail.â
âI didnât get even one phone call, so I couldnât call you.â As if that would ever have entered her mind.
âDonât be impudent.â She adjusted the skirt of her Armani suit, a peach one which complemented her severely cut blond hair. Young looking, sheâd had a couple of face lifts. Her mother would fight growing old forever. Hayley vowed to go through the aging process gracefully.
But right now, she had to hold her own with the woman who was her mother, after all. She did soften her tone. âIâm sure that was a shock, that you worried about me, and that I disappointed you. Again. So, Iâm sorry for all those things.â
âDid you really spend the night with Paul Covington?â There was an odd tone to her voice.
âI did. The judge isolated us thinking we might be forced to call a truce.â
âDid you?â
âIt doesnât matter. My boss probably wonât assign me his cases anyway.â
âI hope this isnât a black mark on your name.â Bridget sighed. âI met him, you know?â
Hayleyâs jaw dropped. âWhen?â
âAt a gala two months ago. Heâs very charming.â
She would have snorted if her mother wouldnât have had a fit. âTo others maybe. Though he did give me his jacket to stretch out on so I could sleep.â
âYou look horrendous.â
âHence the bath I was going to take.â
Again, Bridget raised her chin and watched her with an expression of distain. Hayley vowed never to do that to her kids. âGo clean up now, and Iâll answer some email on my phone. Then we can have lunch together.â
âNo, we canât. Iâm drained. I need time to regroup.â She couldnât face a lunch with her mother, which was always tense. âIâll take a rain check.â
âThat wasnât a request.â
Hayley stood. âNeither was mine. Now, I insist you leave.â
âYou are so much like your father it frightens me sometimes.â
The hell with being nice. âIâm glad to hear that.â Hayley walked to the foyer and opened the door. Her mother made her wait, then finally appeared.
âGoodbye, Hayley. I wonât contact you again. When you want to see me, call.â
Donât hold your breath, Mommy Dearest.
âUnderstood. Goodbye.â
Though sheâd put up a good front, Hayley closed the door and slid down the wood, unable to bear her motherâs wrath. Ronan used to intervene between them, but he was gone now. She put her head in her hands.
A NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestselling author, Kathryn Shay has been a lifelong writer and teacher. She has written dozens of self-published original romance titles, print books with the Berkley Publishing Group and Harlequin Enterprises and mainstream womenâs fiction with Bold Strokes Books. She has won many awards for her work: five RT Book Reviews awards, the Booksellerâs Best Award, Foreword Magazineâs Book of the Year and several âStarred Reviews.â One of her firefighter books hit #20 on the NEW YORK TIMES list. Her novels have been serialized in COSMOPOLITAN magazine and featured in USA TODAY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL and PEOPLE magazine. There are over ten million copies of her books in print and downloaded online. Reviewers have called her work âemotional and heart-wrenching.â
Relentless Stranger
|