Rock Hard Prince Charming: A Royal Bad Boy Romance

by Rye Hart

  “You mean her.”

  I froze, and my coffee turned bitter in my mouth. Not only had my sister promised not to nag me about my social life, but we’d sworn years ago not to talk about my old relationship with her best friend, Rachel Dean.

  “Yeah, that and other things, but I suppose since you brought her up there’s no harm in me asking how she is.” I had often wondered what she turned up doing. Had she married, had children? The hollow spot in my chest grew tender.

  “You mean you really want to know?” My sister had never forgiven me for leaving things with Rachel the way I had, but I had never taken the time to explain things to her. Rachel was too young to devote her life to me. When I was preparing to leave for the military, she was only a sophomore, and I hadn’t wanted her to put her dreams on hold for mine. She had so much talent and life in her that I knew she’d have a great future ahead. Her father knew it too and had his plans all laid out for her. As much as I regretted to this day what I’d done, the way I’d done it would haunt me to my dying day. She’d deserved so much better.

  He’d been the town’s leading attorney, so naturally, he’d wanted his daughter to follow in his footsteps. But I could never see it, not my Rachel. She was too much a free spirit to be cooped up in a courtroom. She needed a paintbrush in one hand and a book in the other. She was going to be so much more, and waiting for me was never an option.

  “Yeah, so is she a powerhouse attorney like her old man wanted?” Her adventurous spirit and artistic dreams were more fitting for a gallery or a trip around the world, always had been.

  “She’s fine. Just fine. But that’s not what I called to talk to talk to you about.”

  And just like that, the conversation about Rachel was over, as usual. I had asked for it though. I’d been the one who wanted to keep my memories preserved, and the tiny pieces of whatever lay hardened and stone-like in that dark cavity where my heart should be left untouched.

  “So, spill it, I haven’t got all day, I’ve got to run Katherine out so I can salvage what’s left of my weekend.” With any luck at all, I’d make nine holes and get my car washed and diapered dry.

  “You’re impossible. I thought you might like to know that there’s a new job opening up. Harris called me about it last night. It’s perfect for you.” Her fiancé, Harris Connor had helped me land some of my more eccentric clients, but the money had always out-weighed the drama that came with them.

  “Yeah, well all my guys are tied up in contracts. So, it will have to be me.” We’d been so busy lately that I’d had to start taking on jobs again instead of only managing the business. I didn’t mind doing a job or two, as long as it was something interesting. Harris’ connections usually were.

  She let out a breath. “Yes, I remember you saying that. This one is tailor-made for you. I wouldn’t want you trusting it to just anyone.”

  I gave a sound of displeasure. “It better be good and not some spoiled rich kid’s birthday weekend this time. I mean it, Shauna, I’m still picking glitter out of my hair, and that was months ago.”

  She giggled, and I could picture the look on her face on the other end of the line. “No, this is much better. You’d be working with one of the studios in Hollywood. Harris will tell you more about it. He said to meet with him Tuesday, and he’ll give you the details. And be nice to him. He said you intimidated him the last time.”

  Her fiancé was a good guy, but he needed to toughen up a bit. “I didn’t do anything. If he’s going to act like a snowflake, he’s bound to feel intimidated..”

  “Be nice,” Shauna scolded. “You know he’ll be family soon.”

  “I suppose you set a date then? Finally?” My sister had been stringing Harris along for years, and that gaudy ring of hers was already starting to look outdated.

  “Not quite, but soon, I promise. Who knows, if this job goes right maybe Harris will let you be the best man.” She let out another giggle, and this time it seemed as if she were up to something.

  “Fine. But he better be nice to me. I’ll be the one walking you down the aisle.” I was more than ready for that honor to be mine.

  “Duncan, please.” Her sweet tone hit my soft spot.

  “I’ll try to be good. I can’t help but look like a mean bastard, though.” It was the dark hair, light eyes, and tattoos that gave me that infamous deadly look. All of my SEAL brothers had envied it, but Harris was too soft to appreciate it. It was perfect for my line of work though.

  “You could shave off that goatee. Not that you aren’t stunningly handsome with it, but you do seem a bit less intimidating without it.” She had always liked me cleanly shaven and said I looked like our dad that way, which was all the more incentive to grow my goatee.

  “I like the intimidating look. It pays the bills.” I put that goatee to work.

  “Fine, Tuesday morning,” she said, and then she hung up the phone.

  I turned around to see Katherine standing in nothing but her towel, which she had wrapped loosely around her waist, her bare breasts still glistening and her nipples tight and rosy. “What’s for breakfast?” Her chest heaved as she stared into my eyes and as my cock stiffened, I had a pretty good idea what was on the menu.

  I could send her away later.

  CHAPTER TWO - RACHEL DEAN

  I raked my hands through my hair and rested my head against my palm as I looked over the list before me. I had been adding to the list all morning and now had a clear vision in my head of what the stage needed to look like. I’d get the preliminary sketches to the producer by the end of the day, but first I needed to make sure I had everything I’d need to pull it off.

  I glanced up at Jeffery. “What about the funhouse mirrors?” We had contacted a prop company that had the ones we wanted, and I was hoping that they’d be available.

  “We got them, and the spinning wheel too, but I’m still not sold on the color. It looks too much like a child’s princess party, and I think we should stay darker.”

  “It’s pink?” I began to panic. I hadn’t even noticed. Pink would not work at all. This was supposed to be a circus freak show theme, not my pretty princess.

  Jeffery nodded his head. “I told you it was pink with glitter. I even showed you a photograph. Do you want me to cancel the spinner?”

  “Oh, the spinner is pink?” I breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought you meant the mirrors. Yes, scratch that spinner, and we’ll look for something else. I’d like a few touches of black and white in the madness of color, and that spinner might have to be a custom in black and white if we can’t find something else.”

  “Okay, scratch the pink glitter nightmare. I’ll look for something in black and white. The mirrors, which are candy apple red, are a go. You’ve had three calls today do you still want me to monitor your phone?”

  “Only if it’s my father or that creep from last week.” I got the chills just thinking about that freak. He’d make the perfect prop for this new job.

  “You’re dating?” Jefferey’s perfect brows lifted.

  “No, you’re slipping. Greg, that man from the last job. He’s trying to ask me out, but there’s no way in hell. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have duct tape, garbage bags, and a saw in his trunk.”

  “That’s only the characters he writes about. I’m sure he’s a real kitten.” He flashed me a wink.

  “If that’s true, then he’s more your type than mine.” I gave him a sweet smile. Jeffrey was not only my assistant, but also one of my best friends.

  Jefferey let out a howling laugh. “Bitch.” Jeffery was so low under most people’s gaydar, but he definitely preferred men. He’d actually had better luck with them than me.

  I quickly changed the subject from men. “Oh, and I was thinking last night that I want the same artist we used on the last set for our detailed panels. She’s amazing, so see if you can get her again. I know she’s busy.” Jefferey nodded and took down the information.

  I went back to making notes and pouring over t
he ones the producer had passed along from Star Summers, whose video I’d be working on. I found a few inconsistencies with the script that we had to make right. About thirty minutes had passed before my phone buzzed and Jeffery held it under my nose.

  “You’ll want to take this one. It’s Shauna.” Jefferey had met my best friend a couple of times over lunch and knew how special she was to me. I quickly answered the phone and leaned back in my chair to give my eyes a rest from the paperwork.

  “Shauna? How’s life?

  “It’s wonderful. How’s yours?”

  “Perfect.” I rubbed my temples and breathed a cleansing breath.

  “You sound tired. I hope you’re not working too hard.” She was one to talk. Shauna stayed just as busy as I did, if not busier. Before I could reply, she started again. “Oh, I sent your thanks along to Harris, and he said to think nothing of it, anything for a friend of mine. He’s sure he’ll be able to keep you in work for a while. Oh, and you can expect security on the set daily. Harris said it’s quite customary for his company. You never know when there’s some nut roaming around.”

  “I have a feeling I’m working for the nut.”

  “Now be nice, I’m sure he’s changed since college and besides, the fact that he knew us both was what landed you this gig. Don’t blow it by telling him off.”

  “I’ll be good and try to remember that he’s Harris’s friend.”

  “God no, he’s not really his friend, just an acquaintance in the business, but you should still be nice. Brock Reed is a spoiled brat, but he’s not that bad.”

  I thought about the last man I’d worked for and she was right, there were worse people in the world. Like creepy Greg.

  “Anyway, I’m glad it’s all working out, and I appreciate Harris and you helping me out. Things are taking off full speed now.” My business had been growing by leaps and bounds, and I’d gotten to make some nice connections and wonderful clients who’d wanted me to do sets for them, even personal ones.

  “No problem. How’s your father doing? Has he changed his mind about your career path now that you’re a big Hollywood set designer?” Shauna asked.

  “He’s barely letting me breathe. He’s got a house here now down in Temecula. Speaking of family. How’s your brother doing?”

  “I talked to him yesterday. He’s good. Still single.” Her voice lifted a pitch on the end of her sentence as if she meant it as a suggestion.

  “Duncan made it perfectly clear how he felt when he left, and that ship sailed away with him a long time ago. Literally.” He’d left me to go into the Navy, and even though I’d vowed to wait on him, he’d left without so much as a goodbye. My heart had been crushed and stomped on by that man.

  “Yet, you still ask about him.” A soft laugh sounded through the phone.

  I’m just being polite. You ask about my father and yet, you’ve never tried to date him.” I gave Jefferey a wink when he gave me a wary look.

  “How come you haven’t moved on then? Unless you’re dating someone that you haven’t told me about?”

  I cringed thinking about creepy Greg. He was the only person I’d been to any sort of meal with aside from her or Jefferey and my father and that hadn’t been business-related. In the first years after high school, I’d tried to go out, but all of the dates had gone badly. Most of the men had tried to sleep with me even though they hadn’t taken the time to know me. I had finally decided to focus on my career and follow my dreams in spite of my father. Dating hadn’t been that important to me, and I could never seem to get past that awkwardness of a first date.

  “No, I haven’t seen anyone else. I don’t have time for men.” I glanced up to see Jefferey giving me the lifted brow stare again. I wasn’t about to go into things and have him overhear about my virginity, though Shauna knew damned well I’d never slept with anyone. She’d often remarked that was the oldest virgin in the world, but only when she wanted to pressure me into going out with someone.

  “Well, anyway, I wanted to say hi and see how you’re doing. I’m sure we’ll talk soon.”

  There was something in her voice that made me feel like she was up to something but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it could be. Was there something about this job or perhaps the producer that she wasn’t warning me about? I decided to let it go, especially since Jefferey was still giving me the eye.

  “Talk soon, friend. Take care.” I hung up the phone and passed it back to Jefferey who took it and put it in the pocket of his loose pants.

  “Why don’t you date? I think you need a man and I don’t think I’m the only one making that suggestion,” he said, tapping my phone in his pocket.

  “I had my heart broken once, and I’m not ready to move on yet.” I lifted a shoulder casually and then glanced back down to the paper before me.

  “How long ago was that? Because if memory serves me, you haven’t been with anyone in the two years I’ve known you.” He straightened the cuff of his sleeve and then tapped his pen.

  “So, what? I haven’t dated anyone in years, and you’ve been more men than I have, it’s not the end of the world.” I let out a long breath and decided not to give him a specific answer. He didn’t need one. “I’ve got to get through this list and have everything ready for Brock.”

  “Mm, Brock. Speaking of dating, I’m sure that our sexy-ass producer has a crush on you.” Jefferey smiled but never took his eyes off his own work.

  “Mind your own business and get back to work.” I tried to act tough but the corners of my mouth played upward and once he peeked he let loose a soft giggle. I’d had enough of the subject, even though I loved my friends for caring.

  End of Sneak Peak. Would you like to know how this continues?

  Click Here: Hot Bastard Next Door: A Boy Next Door, Second Chance Romance

  I wanted to go all the way...

  But Duncan left town to become a Navy SEAL.

  A cruel text was the last I heard from him.

  Now he's back and says he wants what's his:

  My V-card.

  He was my HOT next door neighbor.

  A nightly ritual of him watching me behind the curtains was our dirty little secret...

  I wanted to give myself to him - ALL of me.

  But then the bastard broke my heart over a text and left town. WTF?

  I moved on - but never fully filled the void he left behind.

  Now I'm working my dream job as a Hollywood set designer.

  Imagine my shock when I discover Duncan is the new bodyguard on set.

  He tells me this time he'll have what's his and his alone.

  That he’ll give me the best O of my life.

  I'm not falling for it again.

  So what if he’s the only one who can make me wet with one glance?

  So what if I’m still a virgin?

  As far as he's concerned, my legs are SEAL'd

  Hot Bastard Next Door: A Boy Next Door, Second Chance Romance

  Older Man Romance: Teach Me Doctor

  CHAPTER ONE - GAVIN

  Mrs. Tracy McAdams stood before me wearing nothing but a G-string. Ah yes, among the many perks of the job, one of my favorites had to be the clientele-- or rather, the clientele's ex-wives and ex-girlfriends. In some cases, like Mrs. McAdams, I got the soon-to-be ex of professional athletes. Pro ball players always had the most gorgeous women on their arms – and being who I was, I got the opportunity to see many of them in their natural glory.

  Her platinum blonde hair fell in ringlets down over her shoulders, covering her small, but perky breasts. She was young – too young to be a divorcee – but there she was. Her hubby had quite obviously fucked up in a big way by neglecting this beauty, which forced her to jump into my bed instead. I couldn’t exactly complain.

  “Gavin, have I told you lately that your brain is the sexiest thing about you?” she purred, pursing those perfectly pouty lips as she stared down at me.

  I reclined on my bed, quite comfortable in the knowledg
e that I was a good-looking man, but I was also no Tyler McAdams, winger for the San Jose Sharks. McAdams was the hottest athlete of the moment; a real game changer, they said – even though he'd torn an MCL and had been relegated to the sidelines for a while.

  Still, I'd like to think Tracy saw something in me other than my brains and medical degree. I pulled down my boxers, showcasing my hard cock and watched as her eyes bulged in their sockets as she drank me in. I'd never grow tired of seeing that look on a woman's face. Even though she'd experienced that cock several times the night before, she hadn't seen it by the light of day and shamelessly displayed as it was now.

  “Still think my brain is the sexiest part of me?” I teased.

  Tracy dropped down to her knees on the bed, spreading my legs wide as she moved up the length of my body. God, I was so fucking hard for her, wanting nothing more than to go another round with the blonde bombshell. But my alarm went off over an hour ago and I was running the risk of being late. Very late.

  “I thought you were getting ready to head out?” I said, stopping her from kissing me.

  “That was before I saw how hard you were for me,” she cooed.

  “Tracy, as much as I'd love to fuck you again, I really have to get to work,” I said.

  “We have time for a quickie,” she said.

  I looked over at the clock and cursed silently to myself. “No, I'm afraid not,” I said, pushing her long hair out of my face. “I have appointments this morning, and I'm already late.”

  My balls were aching, and I knew I’d pay for that later.

  “Are you seeing Tyler today?” she asked, her face growing serious.

  “Actually, I am,” I said. “We have to talk about his upcoming surgery.”

  “Can you fuck it up for me?” she said. And for a moment, I thought she was serious – until she laughed, rolling her eyes. “I'm just joking. I wouldn't wish that, even on my cheating soon-to-be ex-husband.”