So Not a White Knight

by Starla Kaye

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  So Not a White Knight

  Copyright 2016 by Starla Kaye

  ISBN: 978-1-68361-043-4

  Cover art by Mina Carter

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

  Look for us online at:

  www.decadentpublishing.com

  So Not a White Knight

  It’s past time for Essie to break out of the box, to rebel, to live the life she wants and not what everyone else wants for her. Working as a chemical engineer for her family’s oil company isn’t what anyone would call exciting. It pays the bills. But she wants more, in every part of her life. She’s dated men mainly interested in her family. Decent men. Boring men. Except for one man she lived with several years back, until he became more infatuated with his business than with her. She left him, and he barely seemed to notice. She’s come to the conclusion she needs a makeover, something to make a man take enough notice of her that all else will pale in comparison. No more blending in, being the wallflower of the world. She’s certain an inner wild woman lies buried within her, and she’s ready to set it free. Next step, have at least one “hot” night with a “sexy beast.” Bring him on, Madame Evangeline.

  It took a while for the truth to slap him in the face, but Trevon sees now that he was an idiot. He got lost in building his Houston architectural firm into one of the most respected firms in the country. He’s played all of the social games, belonged to the right clubs, knows the important people, lived and breathed reaching his goal. But he failed to see the true worth of the woman he allowed to walk away. Essie deserved more than what he gave her. In a unique twist of fate with a matchmaking service, he gets a second chance to prove his worth to her. He damn sure better not screw this up.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  For Ruby’s Love by Starla Kaye

  Dedication

  To all those women who dream and dare to take a chance on their dream

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  Maggie’s Secret Wish

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  The CEO and the Cowboy

  Acceptance

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  For Ruby’s Love

  A Note from Starla Kaye

  Dear Reader,

  I’m a dreamer, a lover of happy endings, and especially of that fabled “white knight” who rides in to save a woman. Okay, in reality I’m a very independent, can take care of myself woman. I don’t need a man to save me. But, oh, in my heart of hearts, the idea seems so nice. And I’m married to a man who is my personal “white knight.”

  I’ve written many romances, with all kinds of heroes: medieval knights, modern day and historical cowboys, pirates, Regency lords, commanders of spaceships, and lots of businessmen. In each story the hero struggles with the heroine who is perfect for him. He butts heads with the woman for so many different reasons. He can’t resist her, and then fights with himself about the attraction that he believes weakens him in some way. Or he lets the outside world get in the way of his romantic relationship.

  In So Not a White Knight, my hero is a businessman blinded by ambition and what the outside world requires of his success. He loses the romantic man he once was, and he loses the woman meant for him. Through a twist of fate and a stroke of luck, he is given a chance to redeem himself with her. He is gifted with an opportunity to be the man of her dreams…and, hopefully, of her future.

  I love to hear from readers and you can contact me at starla@starlakaye.com .

  So Not a White Knight

  A 1Night Stand Story

  By

  Starla Kaye

  Chapter One

  “Well, damn,” Shane said in an appreciative drawl. “What got into you, sweet thing?”

  Essie Reynolds beamed at his compliment. When the extremely hot cowboy ambled up behind his wife, she stopped Skyping with her friend Kendra. Essie had just stood up from her desk chair in her home office to do a little model’s spin. On a whim, this last Saturday in August she wanted a complete change in her appearance. She’d grown tired of conforming to what was expected of her, in all parts of her life. She wanted to begin the “new her,” and this was her first test for reactions.

  Kendra blinked without saying a word. Essie worried about having gone too far, too soon. Except Shane didn’t seem to think so, which was encouraging. She wanted a man to see her as more than a brainiac with no particular appeal. She wanted to be memorable.

  “So you approve of the new haircut, the different clothes?” Essie asked.

  Earlier today, she’d shown her regular hairdresser a photo from the Internet and announced she wanted to cut off her shoulder-length hair and try the short, flirty style. The woman frowned and tried to change her mind. The beautician also resisted changing what Essie considered a mousy-brown color to something more vibrant, almost black. “I’m not sure about the color with your skin,” she’d protested. But Essie held firm to her decision.

  “Hell yes,” he said, still sounding admiring.

  She ran her hand over the sleek bangs almost hiding her left eye. Never before had she worn bangs. Her mother disliked the look. Until now, she’d pretty much gone along with her mother’s decisions for her. This little rebellion was new and fun. Although, when she went to her parents’ home tomorrow for the family’s regular Sunday lunch, she
didn’t expect a good experience. They would not be pleased at all with the changes. Their problem. They would have to adjust.

  Carson moved behind Kendra and Shane, grinning. He held a wiggling six-month-old baby in his strong arms. “Ditto, definitely.”

  “She’s so precious,” Essie said, sitting down again and feeling more than a bit envious. She wanted what her three friends shared, some day. A man who loved her and a baby to cuddle. Only rarely had one of her parents hugged her. She couldn’t remember them cuddling her older brother or sister, either. They weren’t warm-and-fuzzy people, something she’d accepted long ago.

  Kendra frowned at her cowboys. “How about you two giving me some alone time with Essie? Go play with our daughter. Better yet, get the munchkin bathed and dressed for bed.”

  Shane winked at Essie. “Leather looks good on you. So does that sexy-as-hell short cut.” He fingered Kendra’s long hair. “But I don’t want this beautiful mane cut off.”

  Carson tried to hold his daughter closer to his chest, but she had none of it. She arched backward and reached out her pudgy arms toward her mother. He twisted away so Kendra was out of reach. “Guess it’s time for bath playtime. Meaning I’ll end up almost as wet as Evie will. The kid loves to splash.”

  He smiled and winked just as Shane had done. “Tell Kendra where you got those skintight leather pants. I’m buying her a pair right away.”

  Kendra blew out a breath of irritation, making Essie laugh. “I thought you liked my tight jeans.”

  “Oh, darlin’, we sure do,” Shane and Carson confirmed at the same time.

  “Still….” Shane added with a sexy grin.

  Evie squirmed for all she was worth, snagging her fathers’ attention. Shane pulled her from Carson’s arms and then the men walked off.

  “I want that,” Essie said on a sigh.

  “What? An ornery baby like Evie?” Kendra asked, smiling with pride.

  “Someday, yes.” Essie watched the men disappear from the kitchen where her friend sat at the table in a bay window. “What I meant, though, is sex-in-boots, like your cowboys.”

  Kendra chuckled. “Cowboys aren’t your type. But, yeah, they are darn sexy. Mine, all mine.” Her eyes sparkled with pleasure.

  Essie felt a stronger twinge of envy, but her friend was right. Other than Shane and Carson, cowboys didn’t appeal to her. She preferred businessmen. Something about a suit on a man did it for her. Lately, the men she’d dated, even those in well-tailored suits, left her cold. So maybe a cowboy….

  “I want a stud muffin. A man who can show me some serious fire in bed,” she admitted, trying not to remember the last time a man brought her close to an orgasm. She took care of that on her own, after the man left, or after she went home. But she dreamed of it.

  Kendra gaped at her. “Stud muffin? Fire in bed?”

  She puffed up with indignation. “I’m tired of men who don’t have even a hint of a wild side. Missionary sex done at record speed—”

  “Whoa! What have you done with my ultra-conservative, easily embarrassed friend?” Kendra hesitated, her brow pinched in curiosity. “We’ve never talked about S E X before.”

  Essie snorted. “Well, it’s personal stuff. But I’m frustrated, way beyond it.”

  Once more, she thought back to the man she’d dated the last couple of years, and the one before him. Her father had thrown both men at her, trying to guide her to the “right” possible husband. Neither were “keepers,” in her opinion. Although Trevon seemed to have potential…until he didn’t. She’d tolerated Daniel for too long and ended things with the lawyer last week. Tomorrow, she planned to tell her parents to back off. From now on, she would find men who actually suited her. That conversation wouldn’t be pleasant.

  She glanced at the photo of her parents on the corner of her desk. They matched in attitude and favored expensive, conservative clothing. Nothing wrong with that, except…it was boring. Besides, they didn’t look happy or in love with each other. She wanted more than what they had in a marriage. Respecting each other enough to let the other person go their own way most of the time—other than social appearances they made together—wasn’t what she wanted. She’d already seen a hint of that kind of relationship when seeing Trevon Chanders.

  “I’m feeling rebellious.” How out of character for her. For thirty-five years, she’d tolerated her parents almost running her life, even going into chemical engineering at her father’s guidance. She was good at it, but she didn’t love her work. She tolerated it.

  Kendra cocked an eyebrow. “I see. This has to do with your family, doesn’t it?”

  Essie nodded. “They’re good people, just so blasted conventional in every way. Until now, I’ve emulated them. But I’ve come to realize I don’t want to do it for the rest of my life.”

  “Good for you.” Kendra smiled in approval.

  “I’ve spent a lot of years doing what they wanted of me, going places they approved of. I can’t tell you how many mind-numbing symphonies I’ve attended, how many operas, how many art openings. Not bad things to do, just not what draws me.”

  “Wow. You’ve been doing a lot of serious thinking, haven’t you?”

  “Yes.” On her birthday a couple of months ago, she’d realized how unhappy she was with her life, with the men she dated, and with what her parents expected of her. And even more with her job as the lead chemist in her father’s Houston-based oil company.

  “I’m ready for some changes, none of which my family is going to approve of. That’s a given.”

  Kendra studied her. “Like the haircut, which I do like. Like the leather pants, which my men like.” She hesitated. “And this sudden desire for a stud muffin.”

  “All of it. I’m beginning to have a real nesting desire. First, though, I want something magical to remember the rest of my life.” She sighed. “I want one night with a sexy beast.”

  “Sexy beast,” Kendra repeated, grinning. “Why for only one night?”

  From her limited experience with men, they were all “hot and wild” but only for a disappointing amount of time. Then life outside the bedroom got in the way. “Because I’m practical, honest with myself. A sexually demanding man is a rarity in this world. But maybe I can find one good for at least a night, maybe two. I’m determined to give it try.”

  “I live with two super-sexual men,” Kendra stated, with a dreamy look. “Let me tell you, I couldn’t be happier. Although, sometimes, they wear me out.” She giggled. “Bless them.”

  “Count yourself lucky,” Essie said, again envious. “Besides, I’m not sure I have the kind of stamina you do.” She might, but she’d never found the opportunity to find out and didn’t think she ever would. “Which is why I’ll eventually look for a man more familiar to me. A businessman, a less boring one than those I’ve dated so far.”

  Kendra shook her head, looking sad. “I hope you don’t just settle for someone who can’t make you happy.”

  It was up to her to make herself happy. But she did want to be with someone she could share a life with, be content. “Before I go the comfortable route, I want to detour down a wilder path. For one night, or one weekend.” She blew out a frustrated breath, and her new bangs fluttered around. “That’s why I called you today. Because I don’t know where to find a highly sexual man, willing to settle for one night of giving me mind-blowing orgasm after orgasm. Please me, not just him.” The key element. None of her men so far took longer than necessary for themselves. As if “mutual satisfaction” was an unknown concept to them.

  Kendra’s eyes widened at Essie’s blunt declaration. “You think I know of such a man? Well, besides my cowboys.”

  “Can you hook me up with the matchmaker you went through? Madame Evangeline, wasn’t it?” Essie looked with pleading at her friend. “She managed to give you what you wanted. Actually, more than you asked for.” Twice as much. But Essie knew that would be way more than what she could handle. One gifted man for one wonderful night couldn’t be as
king too much.

  Kendra gushed out, “Absolutely! She’s a bit pricy, but you can afford her services.” She looked thoughtful. “Let me find her information, and I’ll get back with you.”

  “Soon, okay? You can’t imagine how much I need this little adventure.”

  ***

  Trevon sat in the great room of the log cabin outside of Oklahoma City. He looked out the large window at the forested acreage. His thoughts turned inward; frustrations in so many parts of his life left him on edge. Because of his mood, his partner in the Houston architectural firm had insisted he leave for a while, at least for the weekend. So, he’d come here to his place of solace from his hectic business life. And his disappointing personal life, too.

  As the front man representing the firm, he attended far too many social functions. Four years ago when they’d decided to grow the firm to something in demand, Trevon sacrificed more than he should have. Newly married, Ed’s concentration was torn between the company and his new wife. He had managed to handle both well. Not Trevon. He had let the public relations demands become his focus and failed to maintain his relationship with Essie Reynolds. He’d regretted her walking away from him every day since then. Maybe they wouldn’t be together now, but maybe they would be.

  He blew out a breath, disgusted with his current situation. He’d been in an arrangement with three women for the last few years, almost since Essie left. The firm’s reputation, his financial success, his charisma all worked to make him a much sought after bachelor in the Houston area. Women wanted to be seen with him, wanted to go to his bed. In an attempt to control that, he’d found several women with similar problems. Their reputations required them to be in the public eye, needing someone suitable on their arm, someone not interested in tying them down. And they were all sexual by nature. They served each other’s desires of the moment, whatever they were. He usually spent a weekend with one or another of them. They were aware of each other and didn’t mind. They weren’t exclusive with him, either.