A Sweet Life-kindle

by Andre, Bella

  Then she’d shown up.

  He’d looked up to see Madison standing there, blonde hair spilling over her shoulders, covering luscious breasts he’d had in his mouth and hands the night before. He might’ve been down for the count but he could still appreciate a beautiful woman and this one did it for him. She had from first sight, which was why he’d kept her around longer than his usual female.

  But he’d been getting antsy lately, especially with how close she was to his family, spending the Thanksgiving holiday with them. How stupid was he, fucking where he lived? He had an old man who’d married one woman while keeping another on the side. Was it any wonder Alex had done something so dumb?

  The one and only time he’d let a woman close, she’d cut his heart out without thought. He’d sworn never again and thought he meant it. Only Madison had broken through those walls he’d erected, fitting in with his life too well, and it scared the shit out of him.

  And now? He had no career, no future, and he sure as hell didn’t need to be worrying about a relationship of any kind.

  “What are you doing here?” he’d asked her.

  “I’m worried about you. I came to see if you’re okay.” Concern filled her big blue eyes and she started towards him.

  He held up a hand to stop her. “I’m fine.”

  “Riley said –”

  “I don’t care what Riley told you. I’m not your problem, got it?”

  She visibly swallowed hard, the delicate muscles in her neck working up and down. “I thought you might need me.”

  He managed a harsh laugh. “I’ve got my family. I don’t need you.”

  “So we’re –”

  “There is no we, sweetheart. It was fun. Now it’s over.”

  Moisture filled her eyes and in that moment, he hated himself.

  “I forgot,” she said. “Alex Dare doesn’t do relationships.”

  “Damned right,” he muttered.

  She straightened her shoulders, backbone he’d sensed in her from the beginning taking over. “I was foolish for thinking I found someone human and real beneath the façade. You’re every bit the man whore the Internet and your reputation say you are.”

  She started for the door, then turned back to face him. “You’re a cold hearted selfish bastard, too.” She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

  His head pounded at the noise and he cursed out loud.

  He could admit now that he deserved every word. There was no getting around the fact that until six months ago, he’d been exactly the man whore Madison had accused him of being. He hadn’t seen anything wrong with it, either. All the women in his life up to that point knew what they were getting into.

  Hell, he thought Madison did too, but that’s what he got for assuming. But he should have known better. She was different and he’d always sensed it. Which must explain why he couldn’t get her out of his head, all these months later.

  No other woman who’d graced his bed ever lingered in his mind. Except for the blonde-haired vixen he never should have fucked. At this point he was sure that concussion had scrambled his brains even worse than he thought. But he couldn’t deny that the memory of what he’d said to her shamed him and it’d been a long time since he could remember feeling that particular emotion.

  He slid out of bed and took a long hot shower. He’d just stepped out when his phone rang.

  He grabbed his cell from the counter. “What’s up?” he asked, answering at the same time he wrapped a towel around his waist.

  “Good morning, Alex,” a familiar voice said.

  “Ian, good to hear your voice.” Alex clenched his jaw, still not comfortable with any kind of relationship with his half-brother.

  For Riley, he reminded himself. Alex and Ian’s wife were best friends, childhood friends. He’d do anything for her, including deal with Ian. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “Got a job proposition for you,” the other man said.

  Alex blinked. “Are you seriously asking me to work for the opposition?” Until his injury, Alex had been the quarterback for the Tampa Breakers. Ian was the President of the Miami Thunder.

  Half-brothers. Rivals. In more ways than one.

  “Not to rub it in but you’re a free agent,” Ian said.

  At least he hadn’t used the word unemployed. Because with his recent head injury, that’s exactly what he was, with no job prospects in sight. “Yeah,” Alex muttered.

  “Are you available this morning? Your name came up and Riley thinks you’d be perfect for what we need.”

  Now Alex was intrigued. “You’ve got my attention. What time?”

  “Eleven at the stadium,” Ian said.

  “See you then.” It wasn’t like Alex had anything better to do.

  Dare to Desire – Alex & Madison

  Available April 10, 2014

  About Carly Phillips

  N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carly Phillips has written over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels. After a successful 15 year career with various New York publishing houses, Carly made the leap to Indie author, with the goal of giving her readers more books at a faster pace at a better price. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.

  Please turn the page for Carly’s Booklist.

  CARLY’S BOOKLIST by Series

  Below are links to my series on my website where you will find buy links for each novel!

  Click here for a complete list of Carly’s books.

  Dare to Love Series

  Dare to Love

  Dare to Desire

  Dare to Surrender

  Serendipity Series

  Serendipity

  Destiny

  Karma

  Serendipity’s Finest Series

  Perfect Fit

  Perfect Fling

  Perfect Together

  Serendipity Novellas

  Kismet

  Fated

  Hot Summer Nights (Perfect Stranger)

  Bachelor Blog Series

  Kiss Me If You Can

  Love Me If You Dare

  Lucky Series

  Lucky Charm

  Lucky Streak

  Lucky Break

  Ty and Hunter Series

  Cross My Heart

  Sealed with a Kiss

  Hot Zone Series

  Hot Stuff

  Hot Number

  Hot Item

  Hot Property

  Costas Sisters Series

  Summer Lovin’

  Under the Boardwalk

  Chandler Brothers Series

  The Bachelor

  The Playboy

  The Heartbreaker

  Stand Alone Titles

  Brazen

  Seduce Me

  Secret Fantasy

  Love Unexpected Series

  Perfect Partners

  Solitary Man

  The Right Choice

  Midnight Angel

  Anthologies

  Truly Madly Deeply (boxed set of Perfect Partners, The Right Choice, Solitary Man)

  Sinfully Sweet (also includes The Right Choice and 5 other authors)

  More Than Words Volume 7

  Santa Baby (Carly’s Naughty or Nice novella)

  Invitations to Seduction (Carly’s Going All the Way – not in print)

  Executive Seduction

  (Previously published as Heart of Steel)

  Jennifer Probst

  Chapter 1

  Chandler Santell studied the man behind the sprawling mahogany desk and wondered if she’d lost her mind. She took a deep breath and tried not to fidget. Damn suit. The expensive wool looked great on the hanger, but scratched her sensitive skin. She needed to keep her head in the game and not on the sudden skin allergy begging for relief.

&
nbsp; What was she doing here?

  The answer pounded in her brain like a mantra. Save her Yoga and Arts Center. By any means possible.

  Even if the solution was Logan Grant.

  At least she now knew why they called him the man of steel.

  Chandler ran down his list of attributes: owner of L&G Brokerage—one of the most successful companies in the city; dubbed the “man of steel” by the business community due to his ruthless reputation in closing a deal; a man whose word was law—and whose name commanded respect. His hard, steely presence in a room made people step out of his way. One word from the man’s lips caused companies to double their profits or go bankrupt from loss of investors.

  Now Logan Grant held another fate in his very capable, very large hands. He held her entire future.

  He read her business proposal without looking up. She studied the strands of dark sable hair cut slightly longer than what was fashionable. A hint of silver at his temples helped Chandler place him in his mid-thirties. His features were too bold to be called typically handsome, but he had an interesting face. A tanned, almost olive complexion set off hard cheekbones and a strong jaw. Dark eyebrows lowered into a frown as he flipped through the pages of her proposal. His mouth tightened into a thin line, but his lower lip hinted at a devastating smile that could change his whole demeanor. Unfortunately, Chandler bet the man didn’t smile too often.

  He wore a dark charcoal gray suit, and though conservatively cut, the quality of the fabric and elegant lines told her his clothes were custom made. When he stood to welcome her, he towered easily over six feet, and radiated a tightly contained raw energy. Even as he studied the figures in front of him, his presence pressed down upon her in a purely masculine intimidating manner. Another advantage the man held when closing a business deal.

  Chandler pulled discreetly at the neckline of her suit and wished she were back in her studio, conducting a class in her own comfortable clothes. Four years ago, she’d walked away from the corporate world and vowed to never return. The irony of the situation hit her full force. The Fates certainly possessed a sense of humor. She was now about to use all the skills she’d acquired from her past to convince Logan Grant to help save the Yoga and Arts Center, the school she’d built from scratch.

  She hoped the Fates were also kind.

  Logan dropped the proposal back on the polished wood and looked up. His gray gaze, as clear as ice but with a smoky intenseness, made her stare helplessly back, as if she had no choice. A shiver rose up her spine. She knew immediately he was not a kind man. Chandler fought against the sudden urge to walk out of his office and hide in a safe place.

  An inner voice mocked her thoughts. If Logan Grant wanted to find her, there would be no safe place. She took another deep breath and braced herself for his decision.

  “You are one gutsy lady.”

  She blinked. “Excuse me?”

  He leaned back in his chair and surveyed her. The leather creaked gently beneath his weight. “I’ve seen many projects looking for funding, but never one with so many—how should I put it? Good intentions. I’ve heard of financing a health club, but a class that helps my employees manage stress? The results are impossible to measure. How do I make a profit?”

  Chandler leaned forward and resisted the urge to pull down the hem of her tight skirt. No need to draw his attention there. “Your investment will come back to you time and time again, Mr. Grant. As you’ve just read in my research, employees today aren’t working to their full potential. L&G Brokerage, like many firms, suffers from high turnover. An employee hired by your firm shows productive results for an average of two years. Then the employee exhibits signs of burnout, and your firm hires a batch of fresh blood. Teach an employee to deal with stress, and he or she will keep productivity steady over the years. This saves you from hiring and retraining a new work force.”

  He studied her in silence. His piercing gaze tried to strip away the cool, professional image she presented. She hoped he never glimpsed her desperation, or she’d fail. A man in his position respected strength, and she bet he’d expected a mild mannered yoga teacher with no developed business plan. She’d spent weeks begging his secretary to schedule this meeting. Chandler knew she’d have one shot to sell her proposal.

  She reached up unconsciously to push back her long hair, then realized the strands were confined in a tight bun. “Mr. Grant, if you’d let me—”

  “Logan.”

  “Logan, if you’d let me give you a brief rundown of my plan, I’m sure you’ll see the benefits.”

  A soft knock on the door made her pause. A tall man with sandy brown hair entered the room and stopped beside her chair.

  “Chandler, this is Richard Thorne, my attorney. I asked him to sit in on this meeting if you don’t mind.”

  She forced a smile and stood. Offering up a quick prayer that her palms weren’t damp, she reached out and shook the attorney’s hand. Somehow, the idea of a lawyer listening to her proposal drove home the fact she was dealing with major league players. She fought back a nervous giggle when she remembered she’d failed at t-ball. “Nice to meet you,” she said.

  The attorney held her hand for a moment longer, and he smiled as if he knew her thoughts. Chestnut-colored eyes showed a teasing glint. “Don’t let my being an attorney intimidate you,” he said, with a wink. “I’m really harmless.”

  She laughed. His lean, angular face seemed kinder than Logan’s, and his smile came quick and easy. He took a chair near the window and settled a legal pad on his lap.

  Chandler managed to give one leg a quick scratch, and her skirt a discreet tug as she sat back down. She re-focused her attention back to Logan.

  “You’ve made some good points but still didn’t answer my question.” Logan handed the proposal to his attorney, then tapped his gold pen against the arm of his leather chair. “Why funnel money into a program that can’t guarantee a profit?”

  Chandler dug bronze fingernails into the seat cushion, and reined in her frustration. Businessmen only liked the bottom line—money. People didn’t interest Logan Grant. Profit did.

  She concealed her rising irritation and gave Logan her most convincing business smile. “When employees suffer from stress, job performance also suffers. My workshop will teach them to be calm under pressure, and attack problems with a clear mind. Employees will show a more positive attitude toward their jobs. Maybe my workshop won’t make you a million dollars, but investing in people always brings profit in the long run.”

  She almost bit her tongue when she caught the hard steel gleam in his eyes. Damn, she wasn’t softening him up. In fact, he looked a little angry. She tried to casually re-cross her legs. Perfect. Both men’s eyes went immediately to her hemline. The meeting was becoming a disaster, and she was definitely allergic to wool.

  “Interesting point,” Logan said. “You don’t sound as if you approve of million dollar profits.”

  “Oh, but I do. As long as people aren’t sacrificed.”

  He nodded. “Spoken like a true yoga teacher.” His gray gaze drilled into her. “I’m curious how you became involved in this field of work. Your proposal is impressive. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you graduated with a business degree.”

  “I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business.” She tried to keep a straight face when she saw his surprise. “I confess I’m a vegetarian—or at least I try to be—but I hate green sprouts and tofu. I do chant, don’t worship Buddha, and still have trouble standing on my head. But I take a multi-vitamin daily.”

  A smile tugged at his lips. “Am I that bad?”

  Chandler nodded her head and laughed. “Most people still equate the term ‘yoga’ with an image of a guru in a turban. The practice has gotten more popular now, but I was equally doubtful the first time I took a class. I completed a paper in college on the effect of meditation on society. My research hooked me. Learning to focus so clearly gave me the feeling I could accomplish anything. It
also gave me the freedom to be comfortable doing nothing at all.”

  She sighed. “Everyone is so caught up in the rat race. Complete a degree, make loads of money, support a family.” She leaned forward. “We start to forget the feel of sunshine on our face, the salty smell of the ocean, the taste of chocolate. We sleep through the sunrise and ignore the sunset. We don’t know how to stand still and enjoy the moment.”

  A slight frown creased his brow. “You sound like you decided to give up the kind of life most people strive for.”

  A shadow passed over her face as she fought back the memories. Then she forced a smile. “There’s a certain amount of reality in that world. I follow a different path. I’d like to see people made more aware of the simple daily pleasures, then they can make their own choice.”

  “Sometimes there are no choices, Chandler. Sometimes people do the best they can.”

  She blinked in surprise at her body’s sudden, feminine reaction to his words. Her mouth became dry. Her stomach clenched into a tight, silken fist. Funny how the sound of her name from this man’s lips evoked a sensation she’d never experienced before. Her body seemed to vibrate, humming to a tune she couldn’t quite catch. Maybe it was just the way his voice caressed, deepening to a low, dark pitch as he spoke. Maybe it was the sudden glint of regret she caught in his eyes that made her wonder what events had shaped this powerful man’s life. Or maybe she was just finally losing her mind.

  This time she caught her hand in mid-air before she pushed away honey brown strands that weren’t there. She tried to re-direct the conversation back to business. “This program will keep you on the cutting edge.”

  “How would you implement the workshops?” he asked. “To be perfectly blunt, I can’t see my executives seeking out a stress reduction class. Their time is too valuable.”