Copyright © 2020 by Laurelin Paige
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Paige Press, LLC
Leander, Texas
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ISBN: 978-1-942835-90-5
Editing: Erica Russikoff at Erica Edits
Proofing: Michele Ficht, Kimberly Ruiz
Cover: Laurelin Paige
Contents
A Message to my Most Important Readers
Also by Laurelin Paige
Foreword
1. Tess
2. Scott
3. Tess
4. Scott
5. Tess
6. Scott
7. Tess
8. Scott
9. Tess
10. Scott
11. Tess
12. Scott
13. Tess
14. Scott
15. Tess
16. Scott
17. Tess
18. Scott
19. Tess
20. Tess
Epilogue: Scott
Author’s Note and Acknowledgments
The Dirty Universe Continues…
Also by Laurelin Paige
Let’s stay in touch!
About Laurelin Paige
A Message to my Most Important Readers
That’s you!
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You people checking out this book for me before release day, taking your time to review it, dedicating space in your day to share it - all of that’s a real commitment, and if I don’t say it enough, please know that I appreciate you.
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There are some reoccurring questions I get from Advanced Readers, and I thought I’d see if I could answer the more common ones now.
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What if I find a mistake?
This version of the book is not the final - there are still people proofreading it for mistakes. If you find mistakes and want to report it to me, you’re welcome to let me know by emailing me at [email protected]. Please include the chapter number the error is in and the entire sentence that includes the mistake. You’re just as welcome to ignore any typos and keep reading. I should find them before release either way!
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What if something comes up, and I can’t review in time?
Make sure you contact Candi Kane or Melissa Gaston. ARCs are technically not a free book - they are given to readers in exchange for an honest review. If you don’t review the book, the book hasn’t been “paid for”. We will remove any people who receive an ARC and don’t review from any future blog tours or ARC teams.
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Can I tell people I’m reading?
Please do! Building up buzz for release is part of the reason authors give reviewers advanced copies! Please tell people you’re reading, post the cover, and make everyone else wish they were you. I’ll love that. <3
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Can I tag you in the post?
Of course you can! I will try to respond with a like or a comment as soon as I can!
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Can I message you while I read?
Definitely! I love that. I don’t always get to my PM’s in a timely manner so it may be awhile before I respond, but be assured I see them!
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What if Amazon won’t let me leave a review there?
There are plenty of other places to leave a review for the book! Goodreads, Bookbub, Nook, iBooks, Google Play, and Kobo are just some of your options!
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Can I review in more than one place?
Will you??? I’d be thrilled! Copy and paste the same review, even.
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When is the audio coming out?
Audio will be released around the time of the ebook.
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When is the paperback coming out?
It’s on preorder now and will release when the ebook does. You can order signed copies from my website on release day. The store will be open for a couple of weeks. laurelinpaige.com/signed-books
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xoxo,
LP
Also by Laurelin Paige
Visit my website for a more detailed reading order.
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Man in Charge Duet
Man in Charge
Man in Love
Man for Me
The Dirty Universe
Dirty Filthy Rich Boys - READ FREE
Dirty Duet (Donovan Kincaid): Dirty Filthy Rich Men | Dirty Filthy Rich Love
Dirty Games Duet (Weston King): Dirty Sexy Player | Dirty Sexy Games
Dirty Sweet Duet (Dylan Locke): Sweet Liar | Sweet Fate
(Nate Sinclair) Dirty Filthy Fix (a spinoff novella)
Dirty Wild Trilogy (Cade Warren): Wild Rebel | Wild War | Wild Heart
The Fixed Universe
Fixed Series (Hudson and Alayna): Fixed on You | Found in You | Forever with You | Hudson | Fixed Forever
Found Duet (Gwen and JC): Free Me | Find Me
(Chandler and Genevieve) Chandler (a spinoff novel)
(Norma and Boyd) Falling Under You (a spinoff novella)
(Nate and Trish) Dirty Filthy Fix (a spinoff novella)
Slay Series (Celia and Edward): Rivalry | Ruin | Revenge | Rising
(Gwen and JC) The Open Door (a spinoff novella)
(Camilla and Hendrix) Slash (a Slay spinoff novella)
First and Last
First Touch | Last Kiss
Hollywood Standalones
One More Time
Close
Sex Symbol
Star Struck
Written with Sierra Simone
Porn Star | Hot Cop
Written with Kayti McGee under the name Laurelin McGee
Miss Match | Love Struck | MisTaken | Holiday for Hire
DID YOU KNOW…
This book is available in both paperback and audiobook editions at all major online retailers! Links are on my website.
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If you’d like to order a signed paperback, my online store is open several times a year here.
One
Tess
“Your fiancé,” I repeated because no way. No fucking way was Scott Sebastian—the man who’d assured me he was unattached, the man I’d spent the last three weeks flirting with and fucking, the man that had brought me coffee when I’d woken up this morning in his bed—engaged to Kendra Montgomery.
But there he was, standing next to her looking as uncomfortable as I felt as his eyes darted everywhere in an attempt to hide from mine. And there she was with a ring the size of a Chapstick lid on her finger. Which was why I didn’t put a question at the end of the statement because of course he was her fiancé. Of fucking course.
“Surprise!” Kendra’s smile was overly bright. Like she was trying too hard, and suddenly I decided this had to be some prank. That she’d found out about me going behind her back to pitch to the Sebastians and this was her way of revenge.
But then why was Scott letting her thread her arm through his like that?
She must have told him, and this was his revenge for my secrets. This whole ruse was maybe even his idea.
Fuck. I probably deserved it.
No, I didn’t. This was a cruel, cruel joke.
“Are you serious right now?” As I spoke the words, I knew that she was. Because Kendra Montgomery wouldn’t go to these lengths—involving her parents, throwing a party—just to call me out.
She stopped trying to force the smile. “I should have said something to you,” she said guiltily. “I know. And
you can hate me later for that, I promise. Right now, you can meet Scott.”
She peered up at her fiancé (her fucking fiancé) and gave him a smile that was more genuine. “This is my assistant, Tess Turani.”
She seemed to expect a handshake, but I didn’t put mine out, and neither did he.
“Tess and I have already…” he began, his brows furrowed, and I realized he was about to tell her that we’d already met, a fact she should have known if she’d actually sent me to pitch to his company in her place.
So he didn’t know about my deceit. And she didn’t either. Which meant this was either all for real, or I was having the most horrifying nightmare of my lifetime, and since the half-size-too-small shoes I’d stolen from Kendra’s closet were currently pinching my toes with legit pain, I decided it had to be real.
I was too shocked/mortified/betrayed to even try to jump in and rescue myself.
Thankfully, he didn’t finish the thought. “Did you say assistant?” Scott asked, zeroing in on my title with the attention to detail he’d displayed over the last three weeks.
If the world opened up and swallowed me on the spot, it would have been an improvement to the night.
“Probably not an apt title for her,” Kendra said. “I can’t do anything without Tess. She keeps my head on straight.”
That could be the description of an employee who steps in to pitch to heavy-hitter clients when the boss is out of town. Right?
Possibly. If Scott would accept that and let it drop, but as seemed to be the current trend for my life, he didn’t. “It’s great that your business has grown to the point that you can have someone help you present to clients.”
I didn’t know it was possible to feel smaller than I already did.
Kendra’s gaze went to the floor. “Oh. Well. She doesn’t pitch. Yet. We keep talking about it.” When she brought her eyes back to mine, there was an apology in them. Or a promise that she really had meant to give me that opportunity, it just hadn’t been the right time, and all that other bullshit she fed me whenever I asked her for a chance.
I was quickly remembering all the reasons I resented my friend turned boss.
Scott appeared rightfully confused. “But you had her present to—”
“Let’s not talk business on such a happy occasion,” I said, rushing in. So he knew now that I’d deceived him. And Kendra still didn’t. That didn’t mean we needed to cause a scene by getting into it now.
Though a scene couldn’t make the moment any worse than it was now.
He was her fiancé.
I forced an expression that I hoped looked pleasant. “Congratulations to both of you. It’s a hell of a surprise. Oh, there’s your father, K. I haven’t had a chance to say hi to him yet, and I’m sure you have plenty more people to greet, so I’ll just…”
I took off, letting my words trail away as I headed toward Martin Montgomery. I didn’t know what I was going to say when I got to him. There was a ball in the back of my throat, and the only thing I could manage to think was he’s her fiancé over and over again in my head.
But he’d been my excuse for escape, and now that my feet were walking toward him, I didn’t know how to change course. If I had any control over thought in my head, I would have gone straight to my room instead. Or, better yet, I would have called an Uber and gone home to die in Teyana’s arms instead of at a fancy dinner party. I wouldn’t have cared if Scott and Kendra were watching. I would have just run.
“Tess, I thought that was you.” Martin Montgomery gave me the same fatherly hug that he always did when greeting me. “Kendra was quite insistent that you come. In fact, you’re the only person she cared to invite when we decided to throw this together this morning. Something about needing you at her side.”
Even in my daze, that seemed strange. Kendra was sort of a lone wolf. Sometimes, though our friendship had disintegrated since college, I had the feeling I was still her closest friend. But she still had a socialite brand, and she definitely had women in her circle who should have been invited to an engagement announcement. Why was I number one on the list when she hadn’t even bothered to tell me she was engaged?
It was almost as if she didn’t want anyone to know.
More likely, I was making too much out of it. It wasn’t something I could properly think about at the moment. I needed air. I needed out.
“I’m grateful as always for your hospitality, Martin, and glad I could be here for your daughter.” Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie. “I hope you don’t mind, though. I’m feeling a bit under the weather suddenly, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m headed to my room for Advil.” And to change because I wasn’t wearing Vera Wang on the train back to NYC, and that was definitely where I was headed next.
“Yes, of course. Sorry to hear that. Please let the staff know if there’s anything they can get you.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” I was already moving away, my head turned in his direction, which was why I didn’t notice the bulk of a man standing in front of me until I’d bumped squarely into him. “Excuse me, I wasn’t watching where I was going. Oh. Mr. Sebastian.”
I couldn’t decide if it was better or worse that this particular Sebastian wasn’t Scott but rather his father.
“Henry,” he corrected, his voice as gruff as when I’d last seen him back at Sebastian Industrial during the meeting to discuss his company sponsoring the Dysautonomia Relief Foundation.
The meeting where I’d acted as though I had the authority to be coordinating the sponsorship when I most certainly did not.
And I’d thought my evening couldn’t get any worse.
“Henry,” I conceded. “I apologize for bumping into you. I’m not feeling well, and I was in a rush to get out.” I tried to step out of the way, but he stepped with me.
“Now that Kendra’s back, I’m expecting she’ll take over the negotiations,” he said as though I hadn’t just told him I was sick. What if I’d needed to throw up? I wished I had to so I could puke all over his Berluti Scritto shoes.
“We haven’t discussed it yet. I really don’t want to cloud the occasion with talk of work.” Once again, I took a step to the side.
Once again, he blocked me. “When you do discuss it, I’m certain that Kendra will come to the conclusion that clients as important as SIC deserve to be handled by the top-tier talent.”
Ah. It was a threat. A subtle one, but a threat nonetheless. He’d been the one obstacle to getting the sponsorship contract signed. Scott had promised he’d come around, and that Henry was having this conversation at all seemed to suggest that he would. If Kendra was the one handling the deal and not me.
If I had any dignity, I would have stood up for myself.
But I was in no position to do so. And if there was any chance that the DRF could still get the sponsorship, I had to play nice.
“I’m sure she’ll probably agree,” I said, which was more the truth than he realized since I was definitely fired when Kendra discovered what I’d done.
“If this foundation means anything to you, as I’m guessing it does since you waxed on so passionately the other day, then she will agree.”
I’d understood the first time, but I managed to keep the bite out of my tone. “I’ll discuss it with her first thing tomorrow.” On the phone from my apartment in Jersey City.
“Excellent. We’re staying the night as well. Let me know if you’d like me to pop in on the conversation.”
Goddammit all to hell, they were staying the night?
Kendra’s mother had said there weren’t any extra rooms available. It made sense that the Montgomerys would suggest that their daughter’s future in-laws stayed in Greenwich instead of heading back to the city so late on a Saturday.
Which meant Scott was undoubtedly staying the night as well.
Which meant I had to stay the night too so I could actually talk to Kendra about the DRF and what I’d done. If I wanted the sponsorship to happen, anyway.
If it weren’t
for Teyana, my best friend, I might have decided it wasn’t worth it. But Tey was the whole reason I’d deceived everyone in the first place. She had POTS, an autonomic disorder, and getting SIC to sponsor the DRF in order to get more funding, research, and awareness of what my friend went through on a daily basis was a high priority because of her. It was personal.
“I’ll let you know if I need you,” I said, my voice tight. “Now, please, if you’ll excuse me.” I’d stay the night, but I wasn’t staying at this fucking party.
This time he let me step around him.
Only to be stopped by Kendra. Thankfully, she was no longer with Scott.
“Please don’t be mad at me for not telling you,” she pleaded.
Honestly, with as little as she told me about her personal life these days, I wasn’t all that surprised to discover she was getting married when I didn’t even know she’d been seriously dating. In any other circumstances, I would have probably rolled my eyes and said that figures.
Man in Love Page 1
