by Lee, Geneva
It fit perfectly.
Reaching for him, I took his face in my hands and drew it down to mine. Our lips sealed the commitment we just made to one another, our bodies beginning to press urgently together. I finally remembered where we were and pulled away. “Ever done it on a Skee-Ball machine?”
I was only half joking. I wanted to get him alone—quickly. Then, I glanced around and realized we were already completely alone. “You planned all of this,” I accused him. Now I knew why my friends expected phone calls in the morning. “How did you get everyone out of here?”
He looked down at his shoes like he’d developed a sudden interest in footwear before sheepishly admitting, “I own the place.”
“And I’ve been paying my tab for the last year.” I smacked him on the shoulder playfully.
“So, if you’re serious about the Skee-Ball machine…” he said in deadpan tone.
“Too hard.” I took his hand and tugged him toward the door.
“Where to then?” he asked.
“Take me home,” I told him, “to our bed.”
He caught me around the waist and brought me back in for one more kiss. When our lips broke apart, he pressed his forehead to mine and I marveled at how lucky I was. This man who had taught me that I could be loved just the way I was, who had shown me some things were worth fighting for, who I felt like I’d been looking for my whole life—I had finally reached him.
* * *
The girls are back one final time!
A first for Jillian.
A decision for Jess.
A last for Cassie.
A Wedding Season for all your favorite characters! Coming summer 2020.
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He’s my family’s sworn enemy, the heir to an empire, and the guy I just spent the night with…
BEAUTIFUL CRIMINAL is available for free!
Fans of Veronica Mars will love this quick-witted, enemies-to-lovers series…
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And now a sneak peek of BEAUTIFUL CRIMINAL:
“I don’t think you’re supposed to be in here.”
I startle at the sound of the disembodied voice, my hand flying to my chest like a bad actress.
“S-s-sorry,” I stammer as I begin to back out of the room. I’ve been caught sneaking around by Nathaniel West. I guess I’ll finally find out if casino owners really have the power to break someone’s legs or if that’s just an urban legend.
The desk chair spins around slowly revealing the owner of the voice. As he comes into the light I know he’s wearing jeans instead of a suit and that the thin T-shirt hugs his biceps. He clutches the arms of the chair with broad strong hands that bear no signs of age. By the time the light hits his face I know I haven’t stumbled upon Nathaniel.
“I don’t think you are either, but I won’t…” My words die on my lips as his brutally beautiful face is revealed. I’ve never been the girl who hung pictures of rock stars or actors on my walls. I don’t gush over how hot Hottie McHottie is, and I don’t turn into a blubbery puddle when I meet a cute guy.
But this guy isn’t cute. He isn’t hot. He exists on some other plane of attractiveness altogether. His jawline is sharp, chiseled and sculpted by genetics far superior to the rest of humanity. There’s a slight crook to his nose that is somehow so perfectly imperfect. A slight smirk plays at his lips. My gaze lingers there wondering what it would be like to kiss him. So much for being above all that boy crazy shit. I’d hang his poster over my bed shamelessly. His tousled brown hair is long enough that I can imagine grabbing it. It’s his eyes, though, that arrest me. In the dim light of the room they’re deep gray, flashing with dangerous interest. The other half of his face remains in shadow as if I’m only seeing as much of him as he’ll allow me to see.
“You’re correct.” He leans forward pressing his hands flatly against the glass desktop. He’s completely in the light now, showcasing the wide curve of his mouth. His eyes are bluer now, the color of the sea after a storm. I could drown in those eyes.
Warning bells ring in my head but my subconscious hits the snooze button. “I won’t tell if you won’t tell.”
“That sounds like a proposition.” His eyes trail over my face and my cheeks begin to heat under his watchful gaze.
Two minutes alone with this guy and I’ve shut down all my defenses. That’s the last thing I can allow to happen. “It’s not. It’s merely playing it smart.”
I fold my arms over my chest and tear my eyes from his. He can’t be oblivious to his effect on girls, which is why I won’t give him the satisfaction of toying with me.
“I didn’t mean to offend, Duchess.” He shifts in the chair crossing his arms behind his head and no longer bothering to hide his cocky grin.
“You didn’t.” I study the top of the replica Eiffel tower a few blocks away.
“Then I didn’t mean to annoy.” He sounds amused but I refuse to check to see if his smile has widened.
“Do I look annoyed?” I shrug and pivot on my heels toward the door. It’s well past time for me to take my exit. If Josie is in trouble she’ll call. She always does, but not before making me worry a bit. This time though, I'm out. Getting caught trespassing twice in one night is my quota.
He stays silent as I walk toward the door but before I reach the hall, he calls out, “You do look ruffled.”
“Ruffled?” I repeat, twirling around to glare at him. “Ruffles are for dresses and potato chips. I don’t ruffle.”
“Oh, you are definitely ruffled.” He brushes a hand over his hair, somehow managing to make it even messier—and sexier. Natural, coppery highlights glint from it as he laughs.
I plant my hands on my hips. When I find Josie, I’m going to kill her. For now, I’d settle for strangling him. “I’m just not interested in playing games.”
“Most girls love games,” he says.
“I’m not most girls.”
“Of course,” he continues without acknowledging that I’ve spoken, “most girls aren’t very good at playing.”
“Is that so?” I ask. The flush I feel now has nothing to do with embarrassment.
“They never seem to win.” He stands and circles the desk, walking toward me with a swagger that sets off my bad boy alarm.
“Try me.”
His eyebrow arches up. I’ve got his attention now. “How did you get in here?”
“I walked,” I answer with a shrug. “This is a terrible game.”
“I’m just setting the stage, Duchess.”
I groan, dropping my arms to my sides as my hands ball into fists. “That’s the second time you’ve called me that. Why?”
“I’m the one asking questions.” He takes a step closer and now I can smell his cologne–leather and spice and sex.
“You asked your question. I asked mine. Quid pro quo.”
“Fancy words. I’m going to guess you don’t go to Las Palmas.” A smile twitches at his lips, making him look both kissable and smackable at the same time.
I bat my eyelashes a bit too fast as I answer. “Who says I go to school?”
Hottie McHottie is turning me into a giggling school girl faster than a cheerleader drops her panties on prom night. I step backward instinctively and bump against the door. So much for a graceful exit. My blunder gives him the opportunity to lean over me. He grips the wood frame, hovering dangerously close. I can't help but get the sense that I'm being stalked. Any moment now he might lunge and devour me.
“The uneducated generally don’t drop Latin idioms, even common ones.” His words dance over my face, leaving a breathy trail of whiskey. “But I’m impressed, so I’ll answer your question on the condition that you answer my early one.”
I open my mouth to protest but instead I find myself nodding, hypnotized by the magnetic hold of his gaze. Whoever he
is, he has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. I know because I’m already under his spell.
His head slants to whisper in my ear. “You look like a Duchess. Regal. Haughty. Untouchable.”
I tuck that description away. Later I’ll dissect it, fulfilling the biological imperative of femininity. I suspect I’ll be annoyed. Maybe even pissed. For now, though, all I can think is that I don’t want to be untouchable, not with his lips so close to my skin.
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Acknowledgments
It’s hard to believe that this is the last book with these characters. Jillian, Jess, and Cassie have become my friends over the years and I’m so happy to see them off on their happily ever afters!
So many people helped this book into the world. A huge thank you to my agent, Louise Fury, who puts up with me, encourages me, gets me lost in the South of France-you are my spirit animal. Thank you for your patience and support. To the entire team at The Bent Agency, thank you for always being on the ball and keeping me together.
Thank you to my foreign teams who have helped my books reach a worldwide audience. For a girl who loves to travel, it’s a dream come true.
Huge thanks to the team at Blanvalet, especially Wiebke Rossa, editor extraordinaire, and my friend Berit Boehm.
Thank you to Leonie Schoebel at the Meller Agency for your tireless work on behalf of my own.
Thank you to Kristin Gumpert for coming out of ‘retirement’ to edit this book. You’re not only a great editor, you’re a better friend.
To my readers, who’ve waited a really long time for this book, thank you! Your stories have inspired mine. Your photos and messages, meeting you —I couldn’t do this without your support and love.
Thanks to the home team. Elise, for her enthusiasm (kid, this is your book), my kids for accepting mom’s crazy career, my whole big wild family, Olive, our newest cat, who inspired me, and of course to Josh. You’ve taught me what love is. Every love story I’ve ever written is a piece of ours. I’m so thankful I reached you.
