Any Time, Any Place
Page 82
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“Four what?”
He winked and flashed his dimples. “Four orgasms before we even start.” Then he walked away and sat back at the table, congratulating Sydney on her epic win. Raven grabbed a bottle of water and her gaze settled on the prestigious framed article from Good Food & Fine Spirits. The write-up with a full center spread of photos had made a huge splash in Harrington, and now most weekends were standing room only. Al had belted out a laugh when she told him they might need to start taking reservations. Cocktail night had exploded, and Dalton had been known to jump behind the bar to handle the overload.
God, she loved him.
Raven watched the crew ribbing one another with good-natured teasing and affection. Over the few weeks since she’d shown up at Dalton’s door, they’d only grown closer, until Raven felt as if she had stepped into her own circle of adopted family. The nightmares had completely stopped, and a peace had settled over her.
For the first time, she felt completely whole.
It was odd how the crazy twists and turns of life could lead one to love.
Dalton crooked his finger, motioning for her to come over. She loved the path she’d chosen, and sometimes felt the soothing presence of her father stirring the air, as if he was happy, too.
Raven slid into the arms of the man who’d always been meant for her.
acknowledgments
Writers are only as good as the team that surrounds them. I have the best. Thanks to the crew at Gallery/Pocket for everything they do. Lauren McKenna, my fab editor, I love writing books with you, lady! Thanks to my agent, Kevan Lyon; my assistant, Lisa Hamel-Soldano; and Jessica Estep at InkSlinger PR. A big shout-out to the Probst Posse—you guys rock!
Finally, thanks to all my amazing writing colleagues and friends who are always around when I need to bitch and who cheer me on or just remind me I’m not legally insane. I’m just a writer.
See where it all began with Everywhere and Every Way, Book One in the Billionaire Builders series!
Will hard-headed Caleb be able to open his heart to the most demanding—and alluring—designer he's ever worked with?
Everywhere and Every Way
* * *
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
Keep reading for a sneak peek of the next book in the Billionaire Builders series
all or
nothing
at all
Available from Gallery and Pocket Books this fall! chapter one
Sydney Greene rushed into the offices of Pierce Brothers Construction, madly calculating how she’d make up the twenty minutes she’d lost in morning madness. Her daughter, Becca, had insisted on wearing her hair in a French braid, then had raced back to her closet to change twice before school. If she acted like this at six years old, what would happen when she reached high school? Sydney shuddered at the thought. Juggling her purse, laptop, and briefcase, she dug for the key, then realized someone was already in. She was a bit of a control freak when it came to running the office where she’d worked since she was eighteen years old and liked to arrive before everyone else started. Order was the key to dealing with chaos. Her life had been such a series of sharp turns and fear-inducing hills, her soul was soothed in the one place she could not only control but thrive in.
Her job.
The office was quiet, with only a few lights flickering, but the scent of brewed coffee drifted in the air. She sucked in a breath like a druggie smelling weed, quickly heading to her office to drop her stuff before darting toward the kitchen in a hunt for sanity.
Or at least some clarity.
The kitchen was high-tech, from the stainless steel refrigerator to the cappuccino maker, soda machine, and various vending booths. She grabbed her fave Muppets mug and filled it up, already mentally clicking her way through the day’s activities. Brady needed to deliver the final architectural plans for the house on Tree Lane, and Dalton needed to get her invoices on the deck project so she could calculate the final-quarter profits. Numbers flashed in her mind in a precise, neat little row, and she muttered under her breath, wondering if they’d break last year’s profit margin, which would prove they were finally back on top. If only—
“I brought in some blueberry muffins.”
She jerked at the deep, cultured voice spilling into her thoughts. Coffee splashed over the edge of her mug onto her apple-green business suit. Cursing, she swiveled her head, her gaze crashing into whiskey-colored eyes that were as familiar as her own beating heart. Familiar yet deadly, to both her past and present. Why did he have to be the one who was here early?
Anyone else would’ve brought a smile and cheerful “good morning.” But Tristan Pierce didn’t talk to her. Not really. Oh, he lectured, and demanded, and judged, but he refused to actually have a conversation with her. Not that she cared. It was better for both of them to keep their distance.
“You scared me,” she accused. “Why don’t you ever make any noise when you walk into a room?”
Those carved lips twitched with the need to smile. Unfortunately, her presence rarely allowed the man to connect with any of his softer emotions, so he kept his expression grim. They’d been dancing around each other for over a year now and still struggled with discomfort when they were together. Well, he experienced discomfort in the form of awkwardness.
She experienced discomfort in the form of sexual torture.
“I’ll work on it. Need help?”
“I got it.” Her body wept at the thought of him touching her, even for a moment. Down, girl. She grabbed a napkin and ran it under water, then dabbed at her suit jacket. “Why are you here so early?”
“Working on a real estate flip. Can’t seem to figure out if I should tear down the porch and turn it into a ranch, or fix it to keep it as a colonial. Been going over the plans but I may need to talk to Brady.”
She swiped at the stain with the expertise of a mom used to last-minute disasters. “What’s the address?”
“Rose Lane. Right outside of Harrington.”
Her memory brought up the city street and its residents. Lots of rentals. Old architecture. It was a street once known for drug problems, but was slowly being rejuvenated by renovated houses and young families moving in.
He winked and flashed his dimples. “Four orgasms before we even start.” Then he walked away and sat back at the table, congratulating Sydney on her epic win. Raven grabbed a bottle of water and her gaze settled on the prestigious framed article from Good Food & Fine Spirits. The write-up with a full center spread of photos had made a huge splash in Harrington, and now most weekends were standing room only. Al had belted out a laugh when she told him they might need to start taking reservations. Cocktail night had exploded, and Dalton had been known to jump behind the bar to handle the overload.
God, she loved him.
Raven watched the crew ribbing one another with good-natured teasing and affection. Over the few weeks since she’d shown up at Dalton’s door, they’d only grown closer, until Raven felt as if she had stepped into her own circle of adopted family. The nightmares had completely stopped, and a peace had settled over her.
For the first time, she felt completely whole.
It was odd how the crazy twists and turns of life could lead one to love.
Dalton crooked his finger, motioning for her to come over. She loved the path she’d chosen, and sometimes felt the soothing presence of her father stirring the air, as if he was happy, too.
Raven slid into the arms of the man who’d always been meant for her.
acknowledgments
Writers are only as good as the team that surrounds them. I have the best. Thanks to the crew at Gallery/Pocket for everything they do. Lauren McKenna, my fab editor, I love writing books with you, lady! Thanks to my agent, Kevan Lyon; my assistant, Lisa Hamel-Soldano; and Jessica Estep at InkSlinger PR. A big shout-out to the Probst Posse—you guys rock!
Finally, thanks to all my amazing writing colleagues and friends who are always around when I need to bitch and who cheer me on or just remind me I’m not legally insane. I’m just a writer.
See where it all began with Everywhere and Every Way, Book One in the Billionaire Builders series!
Will hard-headed Caleb be able to open his heart to the most demanding—and alluring—designer he's ever worked with?
Everywhere and Every Way
* * *
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
Keep reading for a sneak peek of the next book in the Billionaire Builders series
all or
nothing
at all
Available from Gallery and Pocket Books this fall! chapter one
Sydney Greene rushed into the offices of Pierce Brothers Construction, madly calculating how she’d make up the twenty minutes she’d lost in morning madness. Her daughter, Becca, had insisted on wearing her hair in a French braid, then had raced back to her closet to change twice before school. If she acted like this at six years old, what would happen when she reached high school? Sydney shuddered at the thought. Juggling her purse, laptop, and briefcase, she dug for the key, then realized someone was already in. She was a bit of a control freak when it came to running the office where she’d worked since she was eighteen years old and liked to arrive before everyone else started. Order was the key to dealing with chaos. Her life had been such a series of sharp turns and fear-inducing hills, her soul was soothed in the one place she could not only control but thrive in.
Her job.
The office was quiet, with only a few lights flickering, but the scent of brewed coffee drifted in the air. She sucked in a breath like a druggie smelling weed, quickly heading to her office to drop her stuff before darting toward the kitchen in a hunt for sanity.
Or at least some clarity.
The kitchen was high-tech, from the stainless steel refrigerator to the cappuccino maker, soda machine, and various vending booths. She grabbed her fave Muppets mug and filled it up, already mentally clicking her way through the day’s activities. Brady needed to deliver the final architectural plans for the house on Tree Lane, and Dalton needed to get her invoices on the deck project so she could calculate the final-quarter profits. Numbers flashed in her mind in a precise, neat little row, and she muttered under her breath, wondering if they’d break last year’s profit margin, which would prove they were finally back on top. If only—
“I brought in some blueberry muffins.”
She jerked at the deep, cultured voice spilling into her thoughts. Coffee splashed over the edge of her mug onto her apple-green business suit. Cursing, she swiveled her head, her gaze crashing into whiskey-colored eyes that were as familiar as her own beating heart. Familiar yet deadly, to both her past and present. Why did he have to be the one who was here early?
Anyone else would’ve brought a smile and cheerful “good morning.” But Tristan Pierce didn’t talk to her. Not really. Oh, he lectured, and demanded, and judged, but he refused to actually have a conversation with her. Not that she cared. It was better for both of them to keep their distance.
“You scared me,” she accused. “Why don’t you ever make any noise when you walk into a room?”
Those carved lips twitched with the need to smile. Unfortunately, her presence rarely allowed the man to connect with any of his softer emotions, so he kept his expression grim. They’d been dancing around each other for over a year now and still struggled with discomfort when they were together. Well, he experienced discomfort in the form of awkwardness.
She experienced discomfort in the form of sexual torture.
“I’ll work on it. Need help?”
“I got it.” Her body wept at the thought of him touching her, even for a moment. Down, girl. She grabbed a napkin and ran it under water, then dabbed at her suit jacket. “Why are you here so early?”
“Working on a real estate flip. Can’t seem to figure out if I should tear down the porch and turn it into a ranch, or fix it to keep it as a colonial. Been going over the plans but I may need to talk to Brady.”
She swiped at the stain with the expertise of a mom used to last-minute disasters. “What’s the address?”
“Rose Lane. Right outside of Harrington.”
Her memory brought up the city street and its residents. Lots of rentals. Old architecture. It was a street once known for drug problems, but was slowly being rejuvenated by renovated houses and young families moving in.
