The Olivia Brynn Collection
Volume 1
ISBN 978-1-62622-658-6
Copyright © 2009, 2011, 2012, Olivia Brynn.
Published by Dark Mountain Books.
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Cover Story
ISBN 978-1-4580-0355-3
Copyright © 2011, Olivia Brynn.
For a Price
ISBN 978-1-4580-4330-6
Copyright © 2009, Olivia Brynn.
Company Ink
ISBN 978-1-4659-4645-4
Copyright © 2012, Olivia Brynn.
These are works of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in these books are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Cover Story
Forty-something divorcée Cate Roberts was always a pushover when it came to her little sister, but agreeing to pose for the cover of Zoe’s romance novel might be taking it too far. Especially when she’s confronted with the male lead, Bo Gaddis. It’s a good thing that Bo is gay, and much too young for her, because Cate could easily see herself falling for the embodiment of every romance lover’s dream man.
Bo never renounced the rumor that he was gay. In fact, it helped his career, and helped him stick to his strict rule about sleeping with his co-model. That’s about to be tested though, because Cate is everything he wanted in a woman. If only he can convince her that age isn’t a factor, and he’s not only straight, but very attracted to her.
For a Price
You can’t get blood from a stone. That’s what Maureen Sullivan’s mother always told her, but now it’s collection time, and bill collectors aren’t after blood; they want money. At this point, she’d do just about anything…for a price. To get her mother out of the red, Maureen packs her tiny nest egg and runs to Las Vegas, hoping for a miracle. Once in Sin City, Maureen’s Aunt Lottie shows her that the fastest way out of a financial hell doesn’t lie in Maureen’s luck at a blackjack table, but in the auction of a much more controversial commodity: Maureen’s virginity. Vegas is the perfect place to cash in. What they decide to do will not only make headlines in the Nevada city, but around the world. The last thing Maureen needs right now is to fall for sexy Nicholas Webster, who’s used to getting everything he wants. Because when the time comes, she’d have to betray the man she’s come to love in order to fulfill her contract. Will she be able to sell herself? And at what price?
Company Ink
Sidney Rhodes has crushed on her boss Grant for over two years. When she finally pushes him to his breaking point, they both end up winning. The fraternization rule their company holds dear means that they’ve got to keep their new relationship deep under wraps. Grant knows that this could end very badly. He could be charged with sexual harassment, accused of favoritism, or worse–they could both be unemployed. Grant is willing to risk it all to dip his pen in the company ink.
About the Author
Connect with Olivia
COVER STORY
By Olivia Brynn
ISBN 978-1-4580-0355-3
Copyright © 2011, Olivia Brynn.
Published by Dark Mountain Books.
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Editor
Cassandra Carr
Cover Artist
Michael Hart / Booknibbles.com
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
Chapter One
Cate groaned into the phone. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She slid off the plush king sized bed and padded over to the window to stare out at downtown Los Angeles.
She’d always supported her sister Zoe’s romance writing career. She’d been the first one to send congratulatory chocolate and flowers when she signed a publishing contract, and she was more than happy to read Zoe’s “rough chapters”, but agreeing to pose for her next novel cover was going above and beyond. The fact that Zoe insisted Cate was “just perfect” for the cover made her even more wary. “You swear you didn’t model your heroine after me?”
“Of course not. You’ve read it. Cassandra is outgoing, and fun to be around. She’s nothing like you.” Zoe snorted through the phone. “She just happens to be your age with your coloring. This will be good for you anyway. You always spend your vacations sitting around your house doing laundry, cleaning things that don’t need to be cleaned and moping. Already you’re coming out of this with a week in a luxury hotel. Besides, every woman should have a few sexy shots taken before she gets so old she can’t.”
“I’m only two years older than you.”
“Eternally. Remember that.”
As if she could ever forget. “You weren’t so happy about being younger when I got my driver’s license first.”
“Quit living in the past. Now listen. This just worked out perfectly. You have a week off work with nothing to do, and Bo had an opening. It was fate. You agreed to it, and after only two mojitos. So—the photographer will show up around ten to set up equipment. Bo will get there about eleven. A few dozen shots and you’re done.”
“A few dozen? How many books did you write?”
“Aw come on. You know how this stuff works. They’ll take a ton of pictures and find the best one to use. Bo keeps a bunch of stock photos on his site for other novel covers so if you don’t end up on my book, you’ll probably land on a buttload of others. Actually, I don’t even know if my publisher will use any of these.”
“Wait. What?” Cate pinched the bridge of her nose. “You mean these pictures might not even be used? Zoe, I swear you’re trying to kill me.”
“Oh shut up. You knew that. You read the contract.”
“But you said your publisher takes exclusive rights, so I thought that—”
“They do. If they want the picture at all, they take exclusive rights. If they don’t want them, Bo will sell them as stock. Now would you relax already? It’s not like you’ll be working up a sweat for this. All you have to do is look sexy.”
“Zoe, I don’t want to be on a ‘buttload’ of other books. I was only doing this for you—”
“Big deal. We’ll worry about that later. Did you lose the glasses?”
“Yes, I’m wearing my contacts, but—”
“And who did your makeup?”
“Who? I did it myself. It’s not like I’m a model.”
“You are today. Now hang up and curl your hair.”
“And it’s not a date.”
“No, but you want to look good, right? I want to see Bo’s eyes dripping with lust on those cover proofs.”
“Wait a minute…you told me Bo was gay.”
“He is. But he’s a professional model. He works off of his female model. If you look like hell, and act like some old spinster woman, it’s not going to work. I’ve seen him at work during one of our conferences. As soon as there’s a camera, Bo can fake lust lik
e no other. You can’t, so I’m counting on you to clear your mind of all of these reservations.” Zoe popped her gum, leaving Cate scowling through the phone at the habit. “The guy’s hot, so all you have to do is pretend he wants you.”
“You owe me so big.”
“I know. You’re welcome.”
“Very funny Zoe…Zoe?”
The little brat hung up.
Cate threw her phone against the pillows, and sat on the edge of the bed. She was a doormat when it came to her little sister. It had been that way since Zoe’s first newborn cry, but none of the extra dessert helpings or keeping secrets from mom compared to this one. Cate ran both hands through her hair. The fact that Zoe’s favorite model was available on the same day that Cate started her staycation was just too perfect. Zoe reserved the hotel suite for a week, and even offered unlimited room service as incentive. And it worked. Cate jumped at the chance to have hotel staff wait on her in exchange for some photos.
And why not? She’d been divorced for four years. Her son Sean would be starting his second semester in college, and still Cate was acting like a goody-two-shoes PTA mom.
But Zoe was up to something, she just knew it.
Cate chewed on her lip. She still had an hour before this “gig”. There was time to back out. Maybe Zoe could get a refund for the rest of the week.
Rather than pack her suitcase, she looked around the hotel room. White, Grecian design, plush white bedding, dark wood floors. It was beautiful. If she wasn’t going to enjoy a real vacation in Acapulco, why not have a week away from home in this luxury?
Plus, she could hold this over Zoe’s head for years to come. By the time Cate called in this favor, it would be big.
She double checked her makeup. Not too much, not too little. No nail polish. Brand new red bra and panty set picked out by Zoe, legs smooth, invisible antiperspirant…she was all set, even though she hadn’t completely committed herself to this ridiculous thing.
She threw on her new jeans and sweater before starting on her hair, cursing her sister with each Velcro curler rolled to her scalp.
She was checking out Bo’s website one last time when the photographer knocked on the door. Tall and lanky, he introduced himself as Keith, brought a luggage cart through the doors, and twisted his glossy black hair into a pony tail at his nape before setting up the lamps and tripods. Cate wrung her hands. It still wasn’t too late to back out.
“Contemp, right?” Keith nodded toward her outfit. His slim body moved fluidly, reminding Cate of the way a dancer glided across stage.
“Excuse me?”
“Contemporary. The book. It’s not a historical or werewolf thing, right?”
“Oh. Yes. It’s a contemporary story. I didn’t know what I should wear, my sister was the one corresponding with Mr. Gaddis, so I’m afraid the information I got was filtered through her.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He shrugged, his eyes moved down her body as if he were a sculptor with a lump of clay. “This publisher likes skin. I can’t imagine you’ll be wearing much in the end.”
Good thing Keith squatted down to plug in a row of cords so he didn’t see her jaw drop. Not that she should be surprised. She’d practically memorized Bo’s website, and his stock photos for sale. Did she think Zoe would have the only chaste Bo Gaddis cover on the market?
She bit her lip. She could do this. So a hunky gay man will be feeling her up while another hunk takes pictures. No big deal.
I can do this.
It’s not like Sean would be teased by his dorm mates. Her boss didn’t read romance novels. Even if he did, the cover models were pretty much anonymous. She knew. She looked. Even Bo, who was widely known inside the industry, wasn’t credited in the book itself. The focus would be on him. Not her. She’d be surprised if she got a partial profile in the final picture.
I can do this.
A knock on her hotel door ended her internal pep talk.
“That’ll be Bo.” Keith spoke over his shoulder. “Get that, would ya, Doll? I’m just about done here.”
I can do this.
She pasted on a polite smile, and opened the door. When Bo’s smile disappeared, so did hers. Along with all of her hard-fought bravado.
Okay. I can’t do this.
He stood in the hotel hallway, a hanging garment bag slung over one shoulder, a stack of manila envelopes tucked under his arm, and a duffle bag in hand. His broad chest bulged beneath a tight white tee shirt that molded over every sculpted curve. He was taller than she’d expected, but after pouring over each of his website photos, she knew this was him. The man was perfection, and by the shape of his body, he worked hard at keeping it that way. Cate’s libido perked to life at his mere presence, then simmered down with the reminder that he didn’t like women.
It took a second for his gaze to finish their journey along her body and meet hers. Even his eyes were a perfect shade of blue. Maybe he wasn’t human.
“Hi. I’m Bo Gaddis. You’re…uh…” he jerked his chin toward her, “Catherine?”
Oh God. He’s disappointed. She was probably too old. All of a sudden she could feel every one of her forty-two years as a weight pulling her heart into her stomach. “Please, call me Cate.” She tried a smile, though it was shaky.
Maybe she wasn’t good enough. Hell, measuring up against every other twenty-year-old model she’d seen him with, she would have to agree. This was a bad idea. Mortified, she shoved her hands in her jeans pockets and struggled to maintain eye contact. “I’m afraid so. My sister set this up. I apologize if you were misled. I’m sure I’m nothing like what you must be used to.”
“Oh, now wait…wait.” He entered the room, hung the garment bag on the now empty luggage cart, and threw his duffle bag and folders on the chair.
She took a step back as Bo shut the door behind him. She almost wished he’d left it open to make it easier for her to escape.
“I didn’t mean to offend you. I suppose that after talking to your sister I was expecting someone a little…different,” he said gently. His warm hand cupped her shoulder, stifling her thoughts about running.
“I don’t think I want to know what she said.”
“Believe me. Nothing bad.” He smiled, showing off his perfect teeth. “She sent me a few scenes of her book to get a feel for the characters, but you’re not how I pictured Cassandra.” He gave her the same thorough inspection that his photographer had.
Cassandra—the heroine in Zoe’s book, Four Seasons. Cassandra was an outgoing fireball, with a killer body who falls for Lucas, the wealthy, cocky alpha hero. No one would think romance heroine when faced with Cate. Cassandra was perfect in every way, and Cate was just…well…not. Maybe this was her way out. “If you think this won’t work, I’m sure Zoe will understand.”
“Oh it’ll work.” His grin turned naughty. Zoe was right. He was good. “I just had a different picture in my head after reading Cassandra. Believe me, you look a lot better than Zoe’s description of her. I thought she was supposed to be…older.”
“Oh.” That was good, right? Cate relaxed marginally, making a mental note to tip her hairdresser big.
As if she spoke out loud, Bo reached up to her hair, and when he unfurled one curler, she shut her eyes in horror. She’d forgotten about the damn curlers. Great first impression, Catherine.
She twisted her fingers together as he slowly removed each one. “Hm. A little too curly, but they’ll probably relax. Keith, toss me the spray.”
She kept her eyes shut as Keith joined him and they spritzed her with products.
I can do this. Today, she’d just pretend to be Cassandra. That’s it. Catherine Roberts wasn’t really here about to undress in front of this gorgeous young model and his equally hunky photographer. With his camera.
I can do this. Cassandra would do this, right?
“All done.” Bo’s voice was sexy too. It didn’t seem very fair that this delicious male played for the other team.
She peeled open
her eyes and smiled. Not very convincingly. “What do you want me to do?”
Keith chuckled. “First, you need to relax. You look like you’re on death row. I swear Bo doesn’t bite. Well, except when he’s supposed to.”
Was it her imagination, or did Bo glance down at her neck? Did she just stare too long at his teeth?
“No fangs today, Keith.” Bo shook his head.
“Maybe after these contemps are done? Come on, look at her skin. She’d make a great vamp.” He unzipped Bo’s garment bag, and sorted through the contents.
“You’re scaring our model.” Bo took her by the hand and walked toward the center of the room, where Keith’s equipment was all set, and huge lights covered the bed with an unnatural brightness. To her relief, he led her to the sitting area, where he sat on the sofa, and pulled her down beside him. Keith shook his head and continued setting up his equipment.
“Zoe said she had to twist your arm to do this.”
Cate pulled her hand free of his as unobtrusively as she could. “I still can’t believe I agreed.”
“You’ve never modeled before?”
“No.” She clasped her hands tightly in her lap to keep from fidgeting. “I usually hide from the camera.” Did he have to be so damn good looking? So damn young? Muscles bulged underneath his shirt, and he’d propped an ankle on his knee, pulling the fabric of his slacks tight.
“Don’t be afraid of the camera.” He gestured toward the tripod just as Keith tightened a bolt on the camera. “I’m going to do my best to make you forget that it’s there.”
Olivia Brynn Collection Volume 1 Page 1
