Anthony’s interest in her, accordingly, ran far more toward adoption than marriage.
He shook the girl’s hand. “Of course. How are you, Annabelle?”
“I’m really good.” She giggled. “We’re going to Eleuthera for the holidays.” Giggle. “So I can’t wait for that.”
Anthony nodded, wishing both the Carmichael females would notice, just the once, that he had absolutely zero interest in either of them, take the hint and leave. But then it occurred to him that he might be demonstrating the kind of rude behavior that frequently got him in trouble, and decided to make more of an effort.
“And have you both met my school chum, Domenico Rossi?” he asked tiredly, motioning Nick forward.
And there went the wide and blinding flash of Nick’s smile, right on cue, leaving both the women looking a bit dazed.
“Delightful to meet you, Mrs. Carmichael. Annabella.” Nick’s discreet gaze, honed to a razor’s edge by years of practice, skimmed Annabella from head to toe, assessing her for relative fuckability. “Such a pleasure. Call me Nick.”
“And you, Nick.” Mrs. Carmichael’s plump cheeks, normally rosy, went bright red as she beheld the Roman god. “And what a lovely accent you have. I take it you’re from Italy?”
“Forgive me, Mrs. Carmichael.” Anthony didn’t have the patience to keep the crisp finality out of his voice, but painful experience had taught him that the matchmaking mama wouldn’t hear it anyway. “But I’ve just spotted, ah, someone I need to introduce to Nick. You’ll excuse us, won’t you?”
Without waiting for any response, he clapped a hand on Nick’s shoulder and steered him away.
“Dio Santo,” Nick muttered when they were out of earshot, shuddering. “Fucking that one would be as exciting as a blow-up doll. Is she even a legal adult?”
“God knows.”
“I was afraid the mama was going to offer you a fifty-thousand pound dowry and some cows for her.”
“I’m sure Mrs. Carmichael has considered it,” Anthony said darkly. “She’s not exactly subtle—hang on. There she is again. Melody.”
Anthony froze as he watched Melody join the end of the queue at one of the carving tables, his heart skittering like a fox mid-hunt. Nick followed his line of sight, then turned to face Anthony, placing both hands on his shoulders and leaning in close.
“Now, listen,” Nick said, skewering Anthony with that gray-eyed gaze of his. “This is your second change, eh? Don’t blow it. You’re a good guy. A handsome guy. Stop being your own worst enemy. You’re too old to be this shy. Go over there, talk to her and be yourself. And if that doesn’t work? Pretend you’re me. Okay? Andare.”
With that, he took Anthony’s face between his hands, gave him smacking kisses on both cheeks and turned him loose with a slight shove to get him moving.
Anthony glowered over his shoulder at him. “Stop kissing me. I’m British. We hate that.”
A shrug from Nick. “I’m Italian. That’s why I do it.”
Chuckling, Anthony hurried the rest of the way. He slipped into line behind Melody and helped himself to a plate, praying she didn’t notice him for a second or two—long enough for him to think of something to say.
But Melody, naturally, saw him immediately.
She stiffened, stabbing his flagging morale directly in the heart with her dinner fork.
And that was when he gave himself a swift kick in the arse. He’d been a captain in Her Majesty’s service, and he wasn’t going to let a case of nerves keep him from getting to know Melody better while the opportunity presented itself. He could be brave when he needed to, and this was one of those moments.
He took a deep breath.
“It seems we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot,” he said.
Click here for more information about Anthony & Melody’s story and more titles in the Billionaires of Journey’s End series!
Also by Ann Christopher
JOURNEY’S END Small-Town Contemporary Romance Series
“Book” 1: A JOURNEY’S END Novella
Book 2: LET’S DO IT
Book 3: ON FIRE
“Book” 4: LET’S STAY TOGETHER Novella
Book 5: UNFORGETTABLE
Billionaires of Journey’s End Contemporary Romance Series
Book 1: NO ORDINARY LOVE
Book 2: BEYOND ORDINARY LOVE
Click here for more titles in this series!
DEADLY Romantic Suspense Series
Book 1: DEADLY PURSUIT
Book 2: DEADLY DESIRES
Book 3: DEADLY SECRETS
IT’S COMPLICATED Contemporary Romance Series
TROUBLE
RISK
JUST ABOUT SEX
SWEETER THAN REVENGE
The Davies Family Contemporary Romance Series
Book 1: SINFUL SEDUCTION
Book 2: SINFUL TEMPTATION
Book 3: SINFUL ATTRACTION
Book 4: SINFUL PARADISE
The Warner Family Contemporary Romance Series
Book 1: TENDER SECRETS
Book 2: ROAD TO SEDUCTION
Book 3: CAMPAIGN FOR SEDUCTION
Book 4: REDEMPTION’S KISS
Book 5: REDEMPTION’S TOUCH
Boxed Sets
DEADLY Series
IT’S COMPLICATED
SWEET LOVE
BELLA MONSTRUM Young Adult Horror Series
Book 1: MONSTRUM
Single Titles
CASE FOR SEDUCTION
THE SURGEON’S SECRET BABY
SEDUCED ON THE RED CARPET
Novellas
TAILS OF LOVE
GIFT OF LOVE
To Richard
Acknowledgments
Once again, special thanks to:
My great writing friends Maureen Smith and Eve Silver, whose timely advice made this series possible;
My old friend and classmate Sophie Wean, whose French translations help Baptiste come to life (any mistakes are, of course, my own);
Copy editor extraordinaire Martha Trachtenberg, who does her best to keep me on the right side of the spelling and grammar police; and
Damonza, for the lovely cover.
© Copyright 2017 by Sally Young Moore
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This is a work of fiction. All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone, living or dead, bearing the same name or names. All incidents are pure invention from the author’s imagination. All names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information or retrieval system, is forbidden without the prior written permission of both publisher and Author copyright owner of this book.
For information, contact:
Blue Iris Press LLC
7350 Montgomery Road #36476
Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.BlueIrisPress.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-948176-00-2
Excerpt from Anthony & Melody’s Untitled Story © 2017 by Sally Young Moore
If you love sexy interracial contemporary romance, check out Maureen Smith’s latest entry in her Denver Rebels Series TODAY!
Scarlett Warner has three passions: singing, drumming, and hockey. She’s already living her dream as front woman of an indie rock band. And then she meets NHL superstar Viggo Sandström, her favorite player and secret fantasy.
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He’s got a few demons to work through, but so does she. Does that make them the perfect match? Or will they end up derailing each other’s dreams?
All Scarlett knows is that she needs him like nothing she’s ever needed before. It should send her running in the other direction.
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About the Author
A recovering lawyer, Ann Christopher has been published since 2006 and writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She’s also written a young adult horror novel, Monstrum.
When she’s not writing, Ann likes to do the following, in no particular order: read; cook; eat; hang out at Target looking for new stuff she doesn’t need; play with her 2 rescue dogs and 2 rescue cats; and travel the world with her family. She lives in Ohio with her family.
If you’d like to recommend a great book, share a recipe for homemade cake of any kind, or have a tip for getting your teens to do what you say the first time you say it, Ann would love to hear from you!
Stay in touch with Ann!
AnnChristopher.com
[email protected]
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