by J. Kenner
Darling, please
Don’t you ever stop loving me.”
Beside Mina, Darryl whispered, “Wow,” and across the table, Noah sat enraptured. Mina felt the same way, and she twisted in her seat to find Cam, but he was in the back bar with the other contestants, watching the show from the doorway. She saw a glimpse of his hair, but that was all.
It was enough to make her crave him, though, and as Kiki left the stage to enthusiastic applause, Mina sighed, wishing that she had the ability to voice her emotions that way.
When Stark returned to the stage, she could see real emotion in his face as he found Kiki at their table and tilted his head in approval. “Now my wife is really going to be upset she mi—” He stopped, his eyes going to someone off stage near the main door to the bar. Mina caught Noah’s eyes, who shrugged, but stood up to peer over the crowd as Darryl did the same on the other side of Mina.
Too short, Mina couldn’t manage, but she could tell from Noah’s amused grin and the look of undiluted love on Stark’s face that Nikki Fairchild Stark must have made it after all.
For a beat, Damien simply looked at her. “Mrs. Stark,” he finally said, as he pointed to his vacant chair at Mina’s table. “Your seat.”
Mina had heard the scandal story about Stark offering the former Texas beauty queen a million dollars in exchange for a nude portrait. Maybe that really was how it started between them, and maybe it wasn’t, but as Nikki came closer, it only took one look at the two of them for Mina to know there was nothing contrived or fake about their commitment.
“And I think that’s plenty for the warm-up,” Stark said, laughing. “Now it’s time for the real show.”
After she was seated, Nikki explained to Noah and Kiki that she’d found a sitter. “Thank goodness for Grayson,” she added. “I hate using one of the jets just for me, but I didn’t want to miss your performance. You’ve been on the road so much we haven’t talked in ages.” She turned to Darryl and Mina, then flashed a wide, sincere smile. “I’m Nikki.”
Mina laughed. “Believe me, I know,” she said, then realized how horrible that sounded. Nikki, however just nodded toward the stage with a wry grin. “The price I pay for being married to him. Everybody knows me.”
That was probably true, Mina assumed, but from what she could tell, Nikki thought he price was more than fair.
“I’m Darryl, and this is my sister Mina. Glad you could make it.”
“Mina’s Cam’s girlfriend,” Kiki explained.
“Oh! He’s competing, isn’t he? This should be fun.”
Kiki rolled her eyes and Mina soaked up the solidarity, enjoying the company, Damien’s easy banter, and the first eleven men who strolled across the stage.
“Saving the best for last,” she said to the table at large.
Damien’s voice boomed out, “Please welcome the final contestant for Mr. March, Cameron Reed.”
Cam strolled up the red carpet looking as comfortable as if he was at home. He wore jeans and, Mina noticed, one of his button down shirts that she’d claimed as her own to sleep in since it was missing some buttons and the cuffs were frayed. Not what she would have picked for an onstage experience, but she supposed he had his reasons.
Nolan crouched at the base of the stage, his microphone on a stand and a handheld camera in his hand. She’d have to remember to check his Facebook page later tonight.
“Ladies, I know I’m supposed to say something to convince you to vote for me for Mr. March. But the truth is, I only have one thing to say and one woman to say it to.”
Oh no.
Darryl nudged her as everyone else at their table turned her direction, and as they did—as Nolan pointed his camera right at her—she felt her cheeks flush.
Cam thrust his hand out, his finger pointing at her as his hips did a Chippendale’s style swivel that had her cheeks heating even more. “You’re mine, Mina Silver. And,” he added as he ripped open the shirt to reveal his almost bare abs, “I’m yours.”
Sure enough, there was another message scrawled in lipstick on his chest. This time, it said, “Mina’s.”
“Yes, you are!” she called out as she jumped to her feet, making the audience howl and applaud.
Then the music started, he strolled off, and Darryl smacked the table with unrestrained laughter.
She was still giddy when she threw herself into his arms five minutes later. He was shirtless, all the men were, and she got lipstick all over her blouse. Not that she cared. “I love you,” she said.
After a moment, she pulled gently away. “I brought you a present.”
“Really?” He looked surprised, but pleased.
She grabbed her purse, then handed him the flat object wrapped in tissue. “It was a last-minute wrapping job,” she said apologetically.
As soon as he unwrapped it, and she saw the tender awe on his face, she knew she didn’t need to apologize. He pulled out the framed photo of his graffiti art—Mina + Cam 4ever.
“I wanted to memorialize it,” she said. “Now even if they do demolish the park, at least we really will be forever.
“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” he asked.
“Tell me.”
He looked around, as if trying to find the right words. Then he nodded toward the stage where Nikki and Damien stood talking close together, the love on their faces so vibrant it was humbling.
“Those two? They don’t have anything on our love,” Cam said.
She lifted her eyes to his, losing herself in humor and passion. “No competition at all,” she agreed, then melted into the arms of the man who was her past and her future, who knew her fears and her dreams. With Cameron, the future was safe, because whatever came next, she knew they’d handle it together.
Epilogue
Shelby Drake watched as Nolan stood on stage next to the newly crowned Mr. March, Cameron Reed, and told his radio audience that Cameron not only had big sparkly balls, he also had fine taste in women.
In the audience, the dark-haired girl that Cameron had singled out during the contest blushed again, and Shelby knew there was something between her and Cameron. But that’s about all Shelby knew. Mostly because she hadn’t been paying attention to the Mr. March contest at all.
She’d come to The Fix tonight for one reason, and one reason only—to make a new play in the battle of wills that had been going on between her and Nolan for weeks.
She pressed her legs together under the small table, remembering all the wicked things he’d done to her. The kind of things that she’d never imagined doing in a million years, but couldn’t deny that she liked.
She knew that he believed he had the upper hand. That he thought she would never manage to surprise him.
Well, tonight she was just drunk enough to try.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she scribbled a note on the back of her receipt, then folded it over three times and added a twenty as a tip before handing it to the waitress she’d called over. “Make sure Nolan gets that when he comes off the stage, please. And if you would, tell him to read it right away. It’s important.”
“Sure,” the girl said, then hurried away to take care of another customer in the jam-packed bar.
Shelby stood, knowing she was going to lose her table, but that was okay. She had only one more thing to do, and then she was leaving.
A little wobbly on the unfamiliar heels, she hurried to the back, then waited for a free stall to open up in the ladies room. She didn’t need to use the facilities; she only needed privacy, and she emerged in less than five minutes, the wobbly feeling now upgraded to exposed and decadent and decidedly naughty.
She left the restroom, certain that all eyes were on her. That everyone in the place knew what she was doing. That they were all staring down her cleavage, now revealed by the fact that she’d opened the top four buttons of her silk blouse, revealing the lacy trim of her camisole.
As she’d hoped, Nolan had read the note, and he was waiting for her at
the end of the bar, his expression concerned. “Shel? What is it?” His eyes dipped to her neckline, and she saw the confusion in his eyes and the furrow of his brow. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said. “I have something for you.” Then she reached into her purse and put the small ball of crumpled material into his hand.
After that, she drew in a breath and hurried past him toward the door, forcing herself not to look back to see if Nolan was following, or if he was still standing in the middle of The Fix, her red La Perla panties held tight in his hand.
Yeah, she thought. Game on.
Keep reading for Chapter One of Start Me Up!
Are you eager to learn which Man of the Month book features which sexy hero?
Here’s a handy list!
Down On Me - meet Reece
Hold On Tight - meet Spencer
Need You Now - meet Cameron
Start Me Up - meet Nolan
Get It On - meet Tyree
In Your Eyes - meet Parker
Turn Me On - meet Derek
Shake It Up - meet Landon
All Night Long - meet Easton
In Too Deep - meet Matthew
Light My Fire - meet Griffin
Walk The Line - meet Brent
I hope you enjoyed, and please keep in touch! You can subscribe to my newsletter or text JKenner to 21000 so you’ll be among the first to know when fab things happen!
Check out all of my books at www.jkenner.com and be sure to join my Facebook fan group!
Preview: Start Me Up
Wicked days. Sinful nights.
Meet Mr. April.
A high school drop-out with only his twisted sense of humor and panty-melting good looks going for him, Nolan Wood has turned a small radio gig into a thriving career.
Now a local celebrity, Nolan never wants for female companionship. But he never gets too close. And he damn sure never lets them see the man—or the pain—behind the jokes.
Then a one-night stand changes everything.
Career-focused, goal-oriented, and buttoned-down accountant Shelby Drake isn’t the kind of woman who’d usually catch Nolan’s attention, but her soft mouth, hidden curves, and deep sensuality blow his mind. And after only one taste, he wants more.
But Shelby wants nothing more to do with him. And now the radio playboy is on a sensual mission to convince her that opposites really do attract.
Her pleasure is his passion.
Grab your copy now: Start Me Up
J. Kenner Series In KU
Check out these blurbs for KU first-in-series books
by J. Kenner!
Because books are constantly being added to KU (and sometimes leave KU for a period of time) you can always find an updated list of JK’s Kindle Unlimited books here!
Born in Darkness
Fight and redeem myself … refuse and suffer an eternity of torment.
I intended to kill him—to avenge my sister by destroying the vile human who’d tortured and broken her. My plan was simple. Foolproof.
Except somehow I ended up dead.
Now the joke’s on me, because I’ve been resurrected as an assassin and given a choice: Fight the forces of darkness and redeem myself … or refuse and suffer an eternity of torment.
The choice seems clear. But I’m unprepared for the depth of the evil I must face. And I’m unsettled by my attraction to the darkly sensual man whose words seduce me, but who is hiding secrets of his own.
All I know is what I’m told. I’m afraid I’m a pawn in a much larger game where I can’t tell my enemies from my allies. I just hope it’s a game I can win.
Down On Me
With his tight muscles and vibrant ink, certified bachelor Reece Walker is the kind of man who’s used to having any woman he craves in his bed—except Jenna Montgomery. She’s been his best friend for years, and that’s a line he just can’t cross.
Until a wild, stolen kiss changes everything. Now anything goes, and Reece is determined to use every wicked skill in his sensual repertoire to claim Jenna as his friend, his lover, his everything.
Carpe Demon
Kate Connor is your average, everyday mom with two kids, a husband, and one very big secret ... she used to be a Demon Hunter for a secret arm of the Vatican. Now retired, she's more interested in the domestic than the demonic. So when she catches sight of a demon in Wal-Mart, she tells herself it's some other Hunter's problem. But when that demon attacks her in her kitchen, retirement is no longer an option.
Now Kate has to kick a little demon butt, figure out why the creatures are trying to take her out and take over her home town, and at the same time take care of her 2 year old, deal with a hormonal 14 year old, get the family to Catholic Mass on time, and try to keep her past a secret from her daughter and her husband.
She's a little out of practice, but hey ... if she can juggle two kids and an impromptu dinner party, ridding the town of demons should be a piece of cake. Like the saying goes, Carpe Demon ... and Kate intends to do just that.
So (Very!) Much More than
the Girl Next Door
With her X-ray vision and super-senses, Zoe Smith is about as far from normal as a girl can get—and she intends to stay that way. Half-mortal and half-superhero, Zoe is determined to help save the world. But first she has to pass her upcoming tests and avoid having her memory and powers erased through “mortalization.”
An ex-cop turned private investigator, George Taylor craves a normal life with a normal wife in a normal neighborhood. The typical American dream—and when he meets Zoe Smith, he’s certain she’s one-hundred percent “the girl next-door”.
With her super powers, Zoe can do just about anything … except make Taylor fall in love with her. For that, they’re both going to need a different kind of magic …
Because books are constantly being added to KU (and sometimes leave KU for a period of time) you can always find an updated list of JK’s Kindle Unlimited books here!
Also by J. Kenner
Click here for a printable booklist
J. Kenner Titles - Partial List
Click here for an updated list of JK’s Kindle Unlimited books!
Man of the Month
Who’s your man of the month …?
Down On Me
Hold On Tight
Need You Now
Start Me Up
Get It On
In Your Eyes
Turn Me On
Shake It Up
All Night Long
In Too Deep
Light My Fire
Walk The Line
Man of the Month Box Sets
Winter Heat (books 1-3)
Spring Fling (books 4-6)
Summer Love (books 7-9)
Fall Fantasy (books 10-12)
*Bar Bites: A Man of the Month Cookbook(by J. Kenner & Suzanne M. Johnson *not in KU)
Extraordinarily Yours
Sexy paranormal rom-coms!
So (Very!) Much More than the Girl Next Door
The Charmed Affair of an Invisible Bodyguard
The “Super” Secret Life of an Accidental Daddy
Never Trust a Rogue on a Magical Mission
Mayhem, Matchmakers, and a Bit of Bewitching (novella)
How a Sexy Hero and a Marvelous Makeover (Sorta!) Saved the World (novella)
The Seductive Charm of a Sexy Shifter (prequel)
The Extraordinarily Yours Collection #1
The Redemption Chronicles
A sexy apocalyptic urban fantasy trilogy!
Born in Darkness
Lost in Shadows
Surrender to Dawn
The Redemption Chronicles Collection (All 3 books!)
Demon Hunting Soccer Mom
Like Buffy … grown up!
Carpe Demon
California Demon
Demons Are Forever
Deja Demon
The Demon You Know (short story)
Demon Ex Machina
&n
bsp; Pax Demonica
Day of the Demon
The Trouble With Demons (Books 1-5 Box Set)
Other titles in KU
Wild Thing
’Til Death Do Us Part
J. Kenner Titles Not In KU
The Stark Saga Novels:
Only his passion could set her free…
Meet Damien Stark
The Original Trilogy
Release Me
Claim Me
Complete Me
And Beyond…
Anchor Me
Lost With Me
DAMIEN
Stark Ever After
(Stark Saga novellas):
Happily ever after is just the beginning.
The passion between Damien & Nikki continues.
Take Me
Have Me
Play My Game
Seduce Me
Unwrap Me
Deepest Kiss
Entice Me
Hold Me
Please Me
Indulge Me
The Steele Books/Stark International:
He was the only man who made her feel alive.
Say My Name
On My Knees
