© 2017 Sheridan Anne.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
All Rights Reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
Cover Design by: Sheridan Anne
Photograph: Andrew Poplavsky
Editing by: Sheridan Anne, Dusty Layton
Introduction
Danielle
What’s that saying? When life hands you lemons…
What if I don’t want to make a damn lemonade?
What if I want to crush the damn things and pummel them into non-existence?
Anything is better than admitting that I really, desperately, want a taste of that sweet, sweet lemonade.
That’s exactly how I felt when my PR assignment threw me in the direction of Miller Cain.
My body screams for him while my brain is telling me to run for the damn hills.
He is the captain of the Ice Hockey Team, a player with a cocky reputation, a sweet talker and all-around bad boy who promises to take me for the ride of my life.
He is bad for my health.
I just need to last one year without falling into his bed.
What happens when he tries to break down my walls?
Miller
She came crashing into my world like a damn tornado.
Sexy as Hell and an absolute firecracker with deadly green eyes.
I want her, in fact, I need her and I will do whatever it takes to get her.
She doesn’t know it yet, but she is mine.
WARNING: Miller is a steamy romance with a HEA and NO CLIFFHANGER. It contains sexual content and coarse language and is recommended for mature readers. Please be aware that some scenes may cause stress for some readers.
Dedication
Wow, where do I even start?
Actually, that’s easy, if my husband found out that I dedicated my first released novel to anyone but him, there’d be trouble! So, to you David, for all your grunts of ‘Good work, babe’ and ‘that’s nice’. It wasn’t all that helpful and I know you’ll never ever read it, but I appreciate it all the same. Oh, and thanks for buying me a new laptop when the old one craped itself.
Haylee, my beautiful little girl. I love you to the moon and back! I’d love to be one of those mums who say ‘I set out on this journey to show you that you can do and be anything you want to be’ but let’s face it, we all know it was selfish and I just wanted to write a novel to have a little peace of mind. By the way, you’re banned from reading this, like ever! Oh, and clean your room, it’s disgusting!
Michelle and Liz, you two basically make up a few people who have actually supported me during all this and I just want to say a massive thank you for letting me take over the lunch room and claiming it as my own! So, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
So, that only leaves Dusty, DUSTY, DUSTY!!!!!!!…… hmmmm, what can I possibly say about you? I guess, without you practically forcing that first Lani Lynn Vale book into my hands, this book never would have come to life. I quite literally have you to thank for all this. You’re the one person who puts up with all my messages about silly scenario’s I can put my characters through and you’re the person who gave me the confidence to click that scary little button to publish this novel. As soon as this baby pops out of me, we’re having a drink to celebrate!
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
About the Author
Sneak Peek – Jaxon – Kings of Denver (Book 2)
Prologue
I stand at the crowded bar, scowling as the bartender skips right past me for the third time. Damn him! I mean, am I really not that noticeable? I know my boobs could certainly be a little bigger and my hair seems to be a little on the wild side but at least I have an ass to kill for. Well, an ass that this douche bag can’t actually see past the high bar he works behind, but I swear if he could, I would have had my drinks 15 minutes ago. Hmm, maybe I should get up on the bar and give it a little shake, I’m sure that would get me a bit of service.
“Finally,” I grumble when his eyes land on me. I give him my show-stopping smile. “Two vodka sunrises, please,” I say, hoping he hears me over the impressive crowd. He nods and sets on his way to get my drinks. I hand over a twenty and drop the change down into the tip jar, not that he really deserved it tonight, but hey, my mamma raised me right.
I push my way through the throng of students who I assume are all here to watch the championship ice hockey game for the famous Denver Dragons. The crowd suddenly roars around me, pushing me left and right, causing me to spill both drinks down my arms as I try to save myself from landing on my ass and making a damn fool of myself. Just my luck. I make it back to the table and place what is left of our drinks down. “What took so long?” Sophie asks, leaning over the table to pick up her drink, “Ugh... Sticky.”
“Shut it. You’re lucky you even got a drink, have you seen how crowded this place is?” I ask, reaching under the table for my oversized purse, rummaging through until I find my trusty packet of wipes. One can never be too prepared. I pull out two wipes, handing one over to Sophie and immediately get to work cleaning up the spilled juice dripping down the side of my glass and hands.
I glance up from my task to find Sophie raising her glass to me. “Here’s to you, Dani girl. For finally dumping that sorry ass boyfriend of yours and agreeing to move in with me and Jared,” she squeals. I laugh at her excitement but none-the-less pick up my glass and clink it against hers. We skull what is left in our glasses and get back to gossiping about her brother’s new girlfriend who is possibly the biggest twat known on earth.
The crowd of eager Dragons fans all begin to shout in outrage and I take a moment to glance at the screen to find out what all the fuss is about. Ahh… And it all makes sense. A fight has broken out, not only during the championship game but during the last few minutes. Why am I not surprised? I squint at the small screen, yep just as I thought, the Dragons are behind by two points and are going to throw all their hard work away just to show the world who has the biggest dick. What a bunch of moronic dickheads. No wonder they haven’t been able to win the championship for the last 3 years. The buzzer sounds ending the game with the Dragon’s still pounding the other team, though I’m pretty sure the commentator just said something about the teammates beginning to fight each other. The camera zones in on the guy who must be the coach and man, does he look pissed, I would hate to be in that locker room.
Sophie pulls me out of my thoughts when she grabs my hand and drags me out of my chair. “Come on bitch. We need to find you a man to dance with.” I smile at my best friend. God, where would I be without her?
We spend the rest of the night out on the dance floor. An hour later I call out to Sophie that I’m heading back to the bar for another drink. I get halfway there when my el
bow is yanked back and I’m forced into a hard body. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing shaking your ass out here like a fucking cheap whore? No girl of mine is going to make a fool out of me.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. How did he find me?
“Brett, what are you doing here?” I ask, trying to pull my elbow free, but it’s just no use, he is too strong. I glance around hoping to catch someone’s eye, maybe I could scream but I know for a fact that will only make things worse.
As if reading my mind he smirks down at me. “Try it. I dare you, but you’ll fucking pay for when I get you home. I promise you that.”
Chapter 1
Danielle
“Get up,” I say, grabbing the edge of Sophie’s blanket and ripping it off of her. She gasps as the chilly air beings to rush her body and squints into the morning light.
“What the hell, Dani?” she groans, turning to check the time on her bedside table. “It’s only 6.30,” she whines, reaching for her blanket and attempting to pull it back up.
“Nope, sorry Soph,” I say, fighting the blanket back off her. “You said you were going to start working out with me. It’s a new year and we're starting it right.”
“No,” she grunts, digging her face into her pillow.
I steal that too, getting an odd satisfaction out of the way her pretty face bounces off her mattress. “Please… You promised,” I beg, giving her my best puppy dog eyes.
She glares at me then lets out a frustrated huff. “Fine,” she says with a moan as she forces herself into a sitting position. “But you’re buying me breakfast after.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I grin. “Trust me, you won’t regret it.”
“I’m already regretting it,” she mumbles.
I scoff at her as I make my way out of her room, giving her a bit of privacy to get dressed. “You’ll be thanking me when you’re rocking the hottest bikini body on campus,” I laugh.
“I already am, you bitch,” she calls after me.
I head into the kitchen and grab two water bottles out of the fridge before taking a seat on our couch to do up my Nikes. A few minutes later Sophie emerges from her room, looking much more awake as she pulls her blonde hair up into a bun. “We’ll take my car,” she says, walking to the front door and picking up her keys as she checks her hair in the hallway mirror.
“Ah, no,” I smirk. “We’re walking.”
“You’ve got to be kidding. It’s the first day of semester. Are you trying to kill me?” she groans.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” I say, joining her near the door to check my own reflection. “It’s like a 10-minute walk to the gym, it will give you a chance to wake up properly.”
“Whatever,” she grumbles taking her water bottle from me and tossing it into her bag.
I smirk at her and push my way through our front door. I’ve lived with Sophie and our friend Jared for the last 4 months in a beautiful little cottage style house which we rent for next to nothing and seeing as though each of us holds only part-time jobs, we consider ourselves pretty, damn lucky.
We walk the 10 minutes it takes to get to the Denver campus gym, swiping our student passes to gain access. We push through the large door, head straight to the lockers and throw our things in.
Sophie turns and studies the gym as I dig through my bag for my iPod. “Wow,” she says. “It’s like a sexy sausage fest here, this morning.”
I smirk, knowing she is currently living the dream, “Yeah,” I laugh. “Why do you think I come?”
She leads the way over to the small floor space where we sit and stretch before our workout. “You ready for classes?” she asks as she reaches for her toes.
“Yeah,” I smile. “I’m pretty pumped for our communication class,” I comment. She nods back at me with the same enthusiastic smile. We're both in our last year of university and are in a few of the same classes this year, particularly our communication class. Sophie is studying a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism and I’m doing a Bachelor of Media and Communications in Public Relations and then a photography course on the side, so a lot of our study goes hand in hand, which is how we became such good friends.
Sophie and I met our first year of college, both newbies living in dorm rooms. Neither of us knew a living soul on campus and were fumbling around without a clue of what to do. We were paired up for a project and instantly became great friends. Now I can’t get rid of her, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We get up off the floor and head over to the squat rack which I’m surprised is actually available with all these guys crammed in the gym. We get to work loading up the bar, taking turns completing our sets.
“Hey,” a low, husky voice asks from behind as Sophie raises out of her squat. I turn to look at the newcomer while Sophie watches on from the reflection in the mirror before her. The largest man I have ever seen stands before me, good looking and most certainly an athlete with a body like that. The guy has got to be at least 6’4 with beautiful tanned skin and a sexy smirk that is enough to knock any woman off her feet. His eyes glance in my direction but it is Sophie he has in his sights.
A seductive smile comes over Sophie’s lips as she takes in the huge man behind her. “Hi,” she purrs to Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome.
His eye flare at her cheeky smirk, though I'm not surprised. Sophie is beautiful. She has the body of a model, blazing blue eyes and thick, blonde hair. She is definitely a show stopper. If I was the casting guy for Victoria Secret, I’d be getting this girl.
“I thought a pretty lady like yourself could use a spotter,” he suggests, coming on strong, though I know Sophie would eat this all up.
“What’s your name big guy?” she asks raising the weights off her shoulders and bending in slow motion to place the bar back on the rack. Making sure to keep her firm ass high in the air.
His eyes don’t leave her as he answers. “Name’s Tank, but you can call me whatever you’d like.”
She smirks at him once again. “You know, I think I might need a little help,” she says.
Yep. That’s my cue to leave. “I’m heading to the treadmill,” I tell her, though I’m not entirely sure she heard me.
She glances at me and gives me a cheeky smile that tells me she won’t be coming home with me “K,” she says.
“Alright,” I nod. “Just don’t be late for class.”
She nods and I turn in the direction of the treadmills and take a few steps. I turn back around once I am out of Tank’s eye line. “Be safe,” I mouth to her. She covers up another cheeky smile but focuses her attention on Tank, who steps up behind her and places his hands on her hips while she puts the bar back on her shoulders.
I step onto the treadmill and fiddle with the buttons until I’m in a comfortable jog. I hit play on my iPod and focus on my run.
Watching Sophie out the corner of my eye, she gets through half her set with the monster behind her and I recognize the look in her eye. She puts the bar back on the rack and turns to face Tank, grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him in, which of course, he goes willingly. He picks her up and she winds her legs around his waist while he walks them in the direction of the bathrooms, neither of them caring one bit about the people staring at their display and I realize, Sophie has just met her match.
----------
“You better get going before you’re late,” Jared tells me as I run around our lounge room collecting my books.
“I know, I know, I’m going,” I say rushing to the door and blowing him a kiss, making sure I grab my camera on the way out. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Dani girl,” he says as I shut the door.
I fiddle around in my bag searching for my phone as I make my way down the path to the campus and begin hashing out a text to Sophie.
Dani – Hey, you never came home… You ok? Class starts in twenty minutes.
Sophie – HOLY SHIT! Best morning EVER! I’m on my way, I’ll tell you all about it.
I make my
way into our communications class and take a seat up the back. The first class of the semester always seems to be a bludge day when it comes to Professor Whitaker and I know Sophie has got a lot of gossip to spill.
After another few minutes, I see the familiar blonde, bombshell making her way up the stairs, positively glowing from her morning activities, still in her gym clothes. She smirks at me as she flops into the seat beside mine with a satisfied sigh. “I told you, you wouldn’t regret coming to the gym with me,” I tell her.
She scoffs at me but agrees all the same. “Oh, I never regret coming,” she smirks as she jumps straight into her story. “You should have seen the size of it, he was a beast and God, he knew what he was doing,” she says not skipping out on a single, dirty, detail. “We got kicked out of the gym so he took me back to his place for round 2 and 3 and far out, don’t get me started on his tongue. He was a machine.”
I laugh at her enthusiasm. “Wow, so I’m assuming he was pretty good.”
“Hands down. The best sex I’ve ever had,” she says in all seriousness.
“Geez, must have been good to deserve that title,” I smirk. “Are you sure though because you said that about that guy you met during the photography exhibition a few weeks ago.”
“Oh yeah, Jack,” she laughs. “I forgot about him. He was great, but compared to Tank, he’s got nothing.”
“So when are you seeing him again?” I ask.
“What?” she scoffs. “You know that’s not how I roll. I never go back for seconds, no matter how amazing it was.”
My response is cut off when Professor Whitaker strolls into the room, calling the room to silence. She stands front and centre looking as professional as ever in her grey pantsuit. She slides a pair of glasses up her nose and welcomes us all to our first class. “I trust you’ve all had a great break and are motivated for a hard year,” she says jumping straight into her lecture.
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