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CINQ A SEPT
Adult Contemporary RomanceCover designer: Designs by Dana
A single mother often lives by certain rules, and Angela Petrov has made certain to adhere to hers: Mom first, career second and no man will meet her child unless they will be in her life long-term.
However, with her daughter now in college, the company she has worked at for over a decade facing major changes, and no lover in sight, Angela’s life has lost all its carefully construed and configured organization.
When news that the annual, employee, Labor Day party in the Hamptons will still be held, Angela tries to bail out. However, her best friend and coworker, Autumn, convinces her otherwise.
Turns out that, while attempting to enjoy the elite Hampton nightlife with her coworkers, she meets a much-younger, tall, dark, and sexy man who offers her an escape for the long weekend. So, throwing caution to the ocean breeze, she accepts his offer of a true time-out in life, focusing only on time between the sheets with no …strings attached.
What happens when you allow yourself to let go of life’s stresses, release inhibitions, and embrace desire?
You chase regret.
*This is a stand-alone novel part of The Vault collection.
EXCERPT:
Love is the most beautiful illusion there is, but like all illusions, in time it fades away.
Speak of the devil and he appears, I sigh out loud when I see Davis, my ex-husband, through the glass centered in the large oak double doors leading onto the outside deck.
When I see him looking around, I make my way to the stairs that lead to the beach and escape what would be a mind-numbing and infuriating conversation about Sabrina, his wife’s constant nagging, turning into a nauseating drunken rambling about how he fucked up and should have stayed with me. As if that was even an option at any point. When I walked out the door, there was never any intention of going back.
My steps are not easy, sand and heels don’t mix, but I trudge on.
Story of my life.
With the trifecta of change upon me, my emotions are not as easy to hamper. My child is soaring like she should, I’m forty years old, and the career I have built, that supports not only mine but my daughter’s lifestyle is not quilted in a nice, solid and planned pattern it once was. In fact, it’s more like a childhood blanket after years of having given comfort and security, it’s—all hanging by threads. Enter Davis and the infuriating realization that he has not, nor would he ever go the extra mile for Natasha. Not even if it meant crushing her dreams and what should be a relaxing weekend, one to celebrate the fruits of my labors with the company that I’ve treated as if it’s another child. I’m far from the state of relaxation.
Yes, life would be easier with two incomes flowing into one household, but Davis’s dangling the carrot of reconciliation in my face every time he’s had a drink is nauseating.
Could I have him back? Without a doubt.
Would I want him back? Never in a million years.
“I’m not, nor will I ever, choose a man with an average size dick and less than average ability.” I huff, as I pull off my heels and walk down the sandy beach.
“Infuriating,” I puff.
“Disgusting,” I blow out the words like they're on the end of a wand and will float off into the air, pop, and never return.
The smell of smoke stops my rambling and a chuckle causes me to look left towards the source. The orange glow of cigarette ambers lights the face of a tall dark haired male.
His hair is thick and wavy, pushed back by a pair of sunglasses atop his head.
He exhales and butts the cigarette out in the sand, bends down and picks up the butt while looking up at me smirking.
I sigh and turn to walk away.
“She complains about average Joe and his less than average ability, yet walks away from a man above average in everything.”
I stop quickly and turn around, “Excuse.”
He steps out of the shadow into the moonlight, and my throat dries immediately.
My breath is lost, and so are my words.
Me, the word is me Angela, I scold myself.
Pushed away from the wooden fence behind him, he straightens to his full height. He’s over six feet tall. The white linen shirt he wears is unbuttoned just below his chest, displaying his beautifully sculpted pectorals, and a light sprinkling of dark well-groomed hair is peppered perfectly on them.
The shirt sleeves are rolled up exposing his forearms. They’re strong, muscular, and defined. My eyes sweep upward to his muscular shoulders and thick neck. His hair isn’t just dark, it’s a jet black mess of wave. Although his face is lightly bearded, you can still see the spectacular strong bone structure beneath it.
I close my mouth even tighter as I swallow back the instant desire this mans presence causes.
His eyebrow cocks as the corner of his mouth slowly ascends, as he assumedly sees exactly what effect he has on me. The tightening of my nipples confirms its probability.
His eyes start at my toes and slowly move up my legs, then follow the curve of my hips even slower. They stall on my breasts, and his Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. He slowly licks his full lips, then rakes his bottom lip between perfect teeth as his eyes, that I believe are brown, run up my neck and finally settle on mine.
I open my mouth to tell him I don’t appreciate the way he just took me in, caressed my body with just a look, however it would be a blatant lie.
It takes but a moment to allow reality to dissolve the feeling of desire, and it crashes like the evening waves only a few feet away. I’m a female, alone on a beach and the look in his eyes comes with an intent as clear as the moonlit evening sky.
Without a word, I force myself to choose logic over lust as I lift my chin, turn on my bare feet and march toward another bar, just a few yards away.
That choice should have earned me an Olympic medal in restraint.
I feel a chill, flow up my spine to the back of my neck, causing my hair to stand up on it, making me all too curious to look back and see if he’s still watching me. However, I know better than to throw caution to the wind, when the breeze could easily turn and I could end up in a situation worse than sand in my face. Perhaps a situation that would include sand in my panties.
I lift my head higher beckoning the breeze with the pure, raw need to cool my heated skin. My steps quicken as I near the safety that comes in numbers. Walking up the sand covered steps to the vinyl decking, I take in a few deep breaths. Only then do I realize there is music playing.
No Rain, by Blind Melon, reminds me of the drought I’ve experienced over the past several months and just how easily I could quench the thirst caused by it. If I just let myself succumb to my want.
About the Author:
Her style is raw, gritty and authentic.
Love an alpha and a strong heroine? She does too.
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