eyond Desire Collection

by JS Scott, M Malone, Marie Hall, et al

  Nick stood in the middle of her living room and stared at her couch. They’d done some pretty inventive things on that couch. Raina blushed. It shouldn’t embarrass her but somehow it did. She’d been someone totally different that night, and as much trouble as it had caused her, she couldn’t find it in her to regret it.

  “How is Ridley doing?” Nick asked. He looked faintly guilty.

  “Better. Nothing that rest and a little peace and quiet won’t cure. Which is why I’d appreciate it if you’d go bother someone else.”

  “She hasn’t returned any of Jackson’s calls.”

  “Maybe she doesn’t want to talk to him.”

  Nick ran his hands over his hair. “Is she even getting his calls?”

  Raina thought about lying, but knowing him he’d already figured out what she’d done. Part of the reason they loved to hate each other so much was because they were alike in a lot of ways.

  “Not unless he knows her new number. I had it changed before she even left the hospital.”

  Nick shook his head. “I figured it was something like that.”

  “I’m just trying to protect my sister. She’s been hurt enough.”

  “You’re right. She’s been hurt and it’s mainly my fault. My fault. Not Jackson’s. I screwed this up because of what happened between us. But unlike us, Jackson and Ridley are good for each other. Let’s fix this.”

  Raina squeezed her eyes shut against a sudden rush of emotion. She whipped around, horrified when tears welled in her eyes.

  “All my life, I’ve worked so hard to make sure that we’re safe and we’re never vulnerable again. I thought if I had enough money, everything would be perfect. But everything I have wasn’t enough to keep the only person who loves me safe.”

  The hand that settled on her shoulder was as unexpected as it was comforting.

  “She’s not the only person who loves you.”

  She shivered and tried to pull the emotion back in, to lock it up before she became an inconsolable, sobbing mess. It actually hurt to tamp it back down, a literal crushing pain in her chest, to ignore his offer of comfort. But if she ever made the mistake of allowing anyone in, she feared she’d simply break apart—all her insecurities and fears spreading her into a million tiny fragments.

  “You’re right,” she admitted, “Jackson and Ridley do belong together. So, just tell him to come over and I’ll let him in. Someone deserves a happy ending.” She wiped her cheeks and faced him.

  Nick went to the door and opened it. A second later, Jackson appeared.

  He waved from the doorway, a sheepish smile on his face. “I was hoping you’d say yes.”

  Raina shook her head, unable to resist smiling back. “Let me just go see if she’s awake.”

  There was a loud crash right above them. Raina looked up, dread racing through her.

  “What was that? Ridley!”

  ***

  Ridley fell against the dresser and dropped her head down to the wood. Going to get her man was not supposed to be this hard.

  The door flew open and she was scooped into a pair of strong arms. Her gaze met Jackson’s. Everything that had happened over the past week fell away and suddenly all the pain, fear, and heartache didn’t exist. There was just the pure, incandescent joy of being in the arms of the man she loved.

  “This reminds me of how we met,” he said.

  Ridley sucked in a breath, suddenly overcome with some emotion she couldn’t define. It seemed crazy that she could be so happy to see him after only a week apart. How could someone she hadn’t even known existed last month suddenly hold the difference between happiness and misery?

  “Yeah, except this time we don’t have an audience.”

  “Well, not exactly.” He looked over his shoulder and turned slightly. Raina and Nick came into view. Nick waved.

  She smiled through her tears. “Oh, you’re right. This is just like old times.”

  He carried her to the bed and put her down gently on top of the covers. “Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head. “No, but that picture frame can’t say the same. Sorry, Ray.”

  Raina knelt and picked up the pieces of the frame that had broken when it fell. “I never liked this one anyway. I’ll just go throw this away and leave you two to talk.”

  Ridley watched as Raina left the room and Nick followed, pulling the door shut behind him. For a long moment, they sat in silence just gazing at each other.

  “What? You’re staring,” she whispered.

  “I am. You’re beautiful.”

  She smiled at the familiar words.

  “I just want to look at you for a minute,” he continued. “I thought I was never going to see you again.”

  She understood. It felt as if she could look at him for hours, just soaking up his scent and memorizing the lines of his face.

  “I came to apologize. When you didn’t answer any of my calls I figured you meant what you said when you left. That after you proved you were innocent, you never wanted to see me again.” His bowed his head for a moment.

  “Wait? You called me?” Ridley pointed to her phone on the nightstand. “I never got any calls.”

  Jackson picked up her phone and handed it to her. She tapped the screen a few times and then showed him the missed-calls log. His number wasn’t there.

  “I probably called a hundred times. Wait, call me.”

  She tapped the screen. His phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at the unfamiliar number.

  “You changed your number?”

  “No. When would I have had time to change my number?” She thought for a moment, then groaned. “But Raina had plenty of time to change it without me knowing. I knew there was a reason she wouldn’t give me my phone back!”

  “She’s just trying to protect you. I don’t blame her. I’m not good for you. I’m not a good bet for anyone. I’m damaged and even if you give me another chance I’m sure I’ll make mistakes over and over again.”

  “I lied to you. And I’m not sure if I would have believed me either if that much money showed up missing from my account. We both made mistakes.”

  “I finished our song.”

  Ridley squinted at the sudden change in subject. “You did?”

  “It’s called ‘One More Day.’ I’m going to record it.”

  “Jackson, that’s wonderful! But I thought you said it would never be recorded? That you were scrapping it.”

  “Some things are worth saving.” He got off the bed and knelt on the floor in front of her. For a moment, Ridley felt weak again and leaned against the pillows for support.

  “Working on the lyrics really made me think about my mom’s advice. About wanting one more day. The thing is, sometimes you don’t have one more day. Sometimes all you have is the moment. And if you don’t take it, it’s gone forever.”

  “What are you saying, Jackson?”

  “I’m saying I love you. And I really hope you love me, too.”

  Ridley bit her lips. “Is this crazy? Is it just completely crazy that I felt like I’d lost a limb just because I didn’t see you for a week? Is this even logical?”

  “Screw logic. I love you . I love the way your forehead crinkles when you laugh. I love how you put everyone at ease—my mom, my brothers, even the kids. I love waking up and looking over at you and being the happiest I’ve ever been. Even if you find someone else, someone who isn’t all damaged and scarred, he’ll never feel the way about you that I do.”

  “I love you, too. So much.” Tears spilled down her cheeks as she smiled at him.

  “Give me one more day, Ridley. Marry me?”

  The sound of whooping in the hallway made him scowl. The door to her room swung open and she saw Nick and Raina cheering and dancing in the hallway.

  “If I’d known you were going to propose, little brother, we could have stopped at a jewelry store on the way,” Nick said.

  Jackson looked down. “I guess this would be a great time for me
to have a ring, huh?”

  “Say yes, Ri!” Raina yelled.

  Jackson’s lips twitched. He lowered his voice so that only Ridley could hear him. “You realize it’s always going to be like this, right? Just wait until the rest of my family hears about this.”

  Ridley laughed, the beauty of the moment so overwhelming it had no way out of her system except through laughter. The past month had been the worst and best of her life. She’d been stalked, terrified, and shot at. But she’d also been cherished. She’d fallen in love. She’d made friends. Most importantly, she’d gained a family.

  “I’m not sure laughter during a marriage proposal is a good sign,” Jackson said.

  Ridley cupped his face. “Oh, yes it is. Our lives are going to be filled with laughter and joy and love. So, yes . I’ll give you one more day. Every day.” She kissed him gently.

  “For the rest of our lives.”

  THE END

  You just finished reading the first book in the USA TODAY bestselling ALEXANDERS series. Nick & Raina’s book, The Things I Do for You is available now. Be warned, if you thought Jackson & Ridley were hot, you might want to get a glass of ice water before you read that one.

  Author’s Note

  To sign up for the Alexanders Pre-Order List: Just click HERE.

  Also, if you’ve enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review. I love to hear from readers!

  The Things I Do for You

  (Nick + Raina)

  A bargain. A baby. A billion things can go wrong.

  Nicholas Alexander doesn’t mind being called a playboy. His charm serves him well in business and a beautiful woman is always on his arm. Except the one he’s in love with.

  Raina Winters doesn’t believe in love, so when she’s dumped right before her wedding, she’s more upset about losing what she really wants from marriage. A baby.

  When Nick learns about Raina’s dilemma, his first reaction is to leave her hanging like she left him after their steamy one-night stand. But he finally has something Raina needs, so he offers her a deal. He’ll give her a baby if she gives him something he desires just as much. Just two little words.

  I. Do.

  Warning: This book contains encounters with a drunken Elvis, pushy mamas, tabloid shenanigans, several occurrences of bad cooking and hot sex between two people who aren’t even sure they like each other. Just saying...

  The Alexanders

  The USA TODAY Bestselling series

  Book 0.5 - Teasing Trent: the prequel

  Book 1 - One More Day ~ Jackson & Ridley

  Book 2 - The Things I Do for You ~ Nick & Raina

  Book 3 - He’s the Man ~ Matt & Penny

  Book 3.5 - Christmas with The Alexanders

  Book 4 - All I Need is You ~ Elliott & Kaylee

  Book 5 - Say You Will ~ Trent & Mara

  Book 6 - Just One Thing ~ Bennett & Katie (coming soon)

  For sale pricing on all new Alexander books:

  Sign up for the pre-order notification list HERE

  Reader’s Club Guide

  One More Day by M. Malone

  1) Ridley spends a lot of time searching for her father. How important is it to know your biological parents? If you found out you were switched at birth, would that change how you view yourself? Your parents?

  2) Community and acceptance are huge themes in this book. How important is your “community” in your life? How do you define community? How has technology changed our definition of the word (in light of social media and the ability to see/talk to people over great distances)?

  3) The romance between Jackson and Ridley starts with a lie. This is a romance novel so, of course, there’s a happy ending. But do you think this kind of happy ending is possible in the real world?

  4) “But it’s not easy when your sister is smarter, more confident, and more popular than you are. It’s living with constant comparison and feeling like you never measure up.”

  This is how Ridley describes growing up in her vibrant sister’s shadow. Since the girls are identical twins, clearly her sister has no physical advantage over her. So, how much of Ridley’s current troubles do you think stem from her self-esteem issues? Do you think the differences in the girl’s lives is due to her poor self-esteem or does society truly reward certain personality types over others? Raina is very brash and bold while Ridley is introverted and hesitant. Are people with the former personality type predisposed to success?

  5) Even though romance fiction is a billion dollar industry, until recently many women were embarrassed to admit they read it. Romance novels usually present a relatively conservative definition of a happy ending with two people falling in love and then getting married.

  Are modern women made to feel that wanting “traditional” things like marriage is at odds with being independent and self-sufficient?

  Do you think it is?

  About the Author

  USA TODAY Bestselling author M. Malone lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with her three favorite guys: her husband and their two sons. She likes dramatic opera music, staid old men wearing suspenders, claw-foot bathtubs, and unexpected surprises.

  The thing she likes best is getting to make up stuff for a living.

  http://www.mmalonebooks.com/

  Don’t miss a thing!

  Join the Mailing List

  For You

  By Mimi Strong

  Copyright © 2013 Mimi Strong

  New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

  Chapter One

  Dear Mom:

  Bell is growing like a sunflower. I bought her some new shoes, a size and a half larger than the last pair, but she insists on wearing the old ones with her toes sticking out of the holes. She told me to return the new ones and put the money into our Disneyland fund, but what she doesn’t know is there is no fund.

  I made up the Disneyland thing so she wouldn’t know the real reason we don’t order pizza delivery like other people do.

  Before we found our current place, we spent a month couch-surfing, and two nights sleeping in the car when there was nowhere else to go. The second morning was really cold, and Bell drew faces in the fog on the glass.

  I looked up your brother, and he helped us find an apartment that’s too good to be real. Bell has her own bedroom, and it’s called Princess Land.

  The funny thing is, your brother didn’t believe I was real. He’d never even heard my name before the day I knocked on his door.

  I hope you’re still alive.

  Aubrey

  ***

  The guy with the messed-up tattoos kept staring at the gold ring on my finger, like he knew it was a lie. Every time I came by to check on him at his corner table, he’d look up at me expectantly. Confess, his beautiful moss-green eyes said. Confess.

  “Another beer?” I rested the round tray against my hip like a professional. I’d barely been inside a bar before, and now I was waiting tables like an expert.

  “Why are you so familiar?” He set down his pen, closed his sketch book, and shook out his right hand. The sinews of his forearm flexed beneath his strange tattoo. It was a seascape, with an octopus and other creatures. The black lines were clean and straight, but the blue and green made no sense, crossing over the lines randomly.

  Was the new tattoo a cover-up of something else, and not yet finished? There was a more logical answer, though, and it was on the edge of my mind.

  “Cat got your tongue? Who are you?” he asked.

  Without taking my eyes off the blue-smudged octopus, I muttered, “I’m nobody. I’m new here.”

  “But you look like someone I know. Why is that?”

  I swallowed hard and jerked my eyes to meet his. Dark, wavy hair framed a handsome face with high cheekbones. And those eyes. They were like the bottom of the sea, like my worst nightmares and darkest dreams.

  He continued, “Maybe if you smiled for once, I could figure out
who you remind me of. Do you ever smile? Are you a happy girl with a sad face, or are you sad through and through?”

  “Why are your tattoos so messed up?”

  He rolled his one sleeve up over his bicep, revealing a pair of seahorses, scribbled over in orange and pink.

  “The male seahorse gives birth to the young,” he said.

  “Everybody knows that.”

  He chuckled. “Every hot girl I meet is a marine biologist.”

  As he pushed his dark hair away from his eyes, the inside of one arm flashed its secret—a name, scrawled in marker: Toby.

  “I get it,” I said. “You fell asleep, and some little kid colored in your tattoos with markers.”

  “You’re half right. I wasn’t asleep.”

  “Is the kid your son?”

  He laughed, loud, then pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. “C’mon, do I look like I have a kid?” He stretched his arms out for us both to admire. “The colors are from my nephew.”

  “Toby,” I said. He seemed confused, so I pointed to the signature, accidentally touching him with my fingertip. “He signed his masterpiece.”

  The stranger smiled, revealing perfect, straight teeth. Good breeding. Or money. I wondered what his parents thought about the tattoos. They probably had an opinion.

  I twisted my lie of a ring and tried not to think about how hot his skin had felt, and how stupid and giggly his eyes made me feel.

  “I’m Sawyer Jones,” he said, offering me his hand to shake. He had a scar above his knuckles that stretched up to his thumb. I’d seen scars like that on guys who fought a lot—they got the scar from hitting someone in the mouth and having the guy’s teeth slice the skin right open.

  His palm waited before me. I didn’t want to touch him, but the other servers had been lecturing me about being friendlier. I couldn’t understand why running back and forth with the right drinks and change wasn’t enough for people.