Take Me Home Tonight

One unforgettable night…a lifetime of regret? Welcome to Paradise, Book 2 Three years. That’s how long Maddie’s been ru...

Author: Kennedy Elle

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One unforgettable night…a lifetime of regret? Welcome to Paradise, Book 2 Three years. That’s how long Maddie’s been running the reception desk at Owen Bishop’s construction company—and waiting for her sexy boss to wake up and realize she’s more woman than the airhead bimbos he seems to prefer. Even after her friends spring an ambush makeover on her, Owen barely notices. Apparently shedding her one-of-the-guys, tomboy looks isn’t enough. Looks like it’s time to step up her game, even if it means looking for lessons in all the wrong places. While Owen can’t help but notice Maddie’s stunning transformation, the truth is, he likes her just the way she is—polished up or dressed down. Like his playboy father, though, he’s always been restless when it comes to women. Maddie’s friendship is too important to risk hurting her. When Maddie shows up at his door ready to rock his world, all his resistance crumbles. But in the back of his mind, the question remains…how can she trust him with her vulnerable heart, when he’s not sure he can trust himself? Warning: Contains a girl who’ll do anything to please her man, even if it means signing up for a master class in seduction with the town bad boy. Plus a man who may let the “sins of the father” stop him from accepting the gift of a lifetime.

eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work. This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. Samhain Publishing, Ltd. 11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B Cincinnati OH 45249 Take Me Home Tonight Copyright © 2011 by Elle Kennedy ISBN: 978-1-60928-623-1 Edited by Lindsey Faber Cover by Scott Carpenter All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: October 2011 www.samhainpublishing.com

Take Me Home Tonight Elle Kennedy

Dedication

To Lindsey Faber, a top-notch editor who decorates my manuscripts with smiley faces and solid advice 

Chapter One

Owen’s butt looked good in a pair of jeans. Crazy good. He didn’t have one of those pancake backsides that a lot of men had, where their pants just sort of hung over their rear ends and made them look flat. Nope, Owen Bishop’s ass was round enough that the denim had something to cling to, but not big enough to give him man booty. The rest of his body was pretty damn perfect too. Long legs, broad shoulders, muscles rippling all over the place. She wondered if he had muscles on his butt—was that even possible? Probably not, but she wouldn’t be surprised if— “Maddie,” came a harsh male voice. “For fuck’s sake, did you write down those measurements?” Maddie Wilson’s head jerked away from the delectable vision she’d gotten lost in and she found a pair of dark eyes glaring at her. Shocking. Since Cooper Grady didn’t seem to have any other expressions in his facial repertoire, she decided to do what she always did—pretend he was smiling at her and give a big, beaming grin in return. “Sorry,” she said, grabbing the pencil she’d stuck behind her ear. “What were they?” “Ten and a quarter by fifteen and a half,” Cooper muttered as he shoved his measuring tape into the brown leather tool belt strapped around his trim waist. “I called it out three times, though I can understand why the boss’s ass might be distracting. I’ve been tempted to give it a squeeze numerous times myself.”

Take Me Home Tonight

He was making fun of her, using that lazy, insolent tone that never failed to annoy the crap out of her. “I was not looking at his ass,” she lied. “Sure you were.” Rolling his eyes, Cooper reached into his back pocket and pulled out a pack of Camels. He extracted one cigarette, lit up, and blew a plume of smoke in her direction. Oh sweet mother of darkness. Maddie immediately held her breath, refusing to let the tantalizing scent of smoke fill her lungs. She’d quit cold turkey two years ago, yet the stupid cravings refused to go away. Now she understood why her older brother Luke had freaked out when he’d caught her smoking at the side of their house when she was sixteen. Luke had been twenty-four at the time and already a longtime smoker, and he’d proceeded to lecture her for two hours about how she was making the biggest mistake of her life. Back then, she’d scoffed and told him to stop being a hypocrite. Now she wished she’d listened to her annoying big brother. Smoking was the devil, and no matter how long she’d been cigarette-free, that devil hopped onto her shoulder every time she was around another smoker. “You want this, don’t you?” Cooper taunted, his dark eyes twinkling. He drew the cigarette to his lips again and inhaled with an exaggerated moan. “Come on, Maddie, take a drag. Just one…” “I hate you,” she said between clenched teeth, promptly taking a couple of steps to the side and focusing her gaze on something else. Anything else. Unfortunately, her eyes found their way right back to Owen Bishop, who was laughing at something Ann Hastings had said. An instant jolt of heat shuddered through her. She loved his laugh—deep, husky, melodic in a masculine sort of way. Heck, she loved everything about that infuriating man. His dark, unruly hair, always covered by that beat-up Broncos cap. His cloudy

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gray eyes. The tiny cleft in his chin. His biting sarcasm, dry humor. The way his eyes blazed when she pissed him off—which she did a lot. Every day she added a new item to her Why I Love Owen list. And every day she also added one to her Why Owen Won’t Give Me The Time Of Day list. Ex-smoker was on the latter list. So was tomboy. Confrontational. Daredevil. Yep, it was no surprise Owen didn’t even know she existed—as a woman, anyway. She was getting so damn tired of lusting over this man. She’d been working at his construction company as his assistant for three years now, and although he was her boss, he was also her best friend. Sure, the two of them argued like cats and dogs, but they definitely had a connection. Just not a carnal one. For three years, she’d watched him drift from one woman to another, those airhead blondes with big boobs he tended to gravitate towards. Not once had he gravitated towards her. Maybe they existed in separate sexual solar systems or something. Or maybe he’s just not attracted to you. That too. “All right, come back here,” Cooper said with a sigh. “I promise I won’t lure you to the dark side.” She glanced over to see him tossing his cigarette on the grass. He snuffed it out with his steel toe, black boot and held his hands up in mock submission. Maddie couldn’t help but grin. Truth was, she liked Cooper. He might be a total asshole sometimes, and his wild and dangerous reputation was a constant topic for town gossip, but she suspected his whole bad boy thing was mostly an act.

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She drifted over to him, holding out the estimate she’d scribbled on the piece of paper. “I think this is pretty much it,” she said. “Now if our boss can tear himself away from the client, maybe he can add his two cents.” Cooper smirked. “Look at those tits,” he retorted, gesturing to Ann Hastings in a totally not discreet way. “I wouldn’t want to tear myself away either if I was two feet away from them.” She bristled. Owen was standing pretty close to Ann, the trophy wife of Paradise’s DA. An unwelcome spark of jealousy lit Maddie’s gut. What was Owen doing, flirting with a married woman? And not just any married woman, but one with a boob job and a reputation for sleeping around on her workaholic husband. Ann had dragged them over here—on Sunday morning—so they could give her an estimate on the deck she wanted built in her backyard, but from the way the woman was giggling and touching Owen’s impressive biceps, Maddie had to wonder if this deck was just a ruse. The woman probably just wanted to get Owen in bed. Not that Maddie blamed her. She wanted to get him in bed too. Although sad as it was to admit, Ann Hastings probably had a better chance of scoring a touchdown. Maddie, on the other hand, was deep in the friend zone. “You know, your tits aren’t bad either.” Her head shot up. Sure enough, Cooper’s gaze was glued to her chest. “Of course they’re not bad,” she snapped. “My boobs happen to be spectacular.” “How am I supposed to know? You always wear these ugly, loose T-shirts.” He slanted his head. “But now that I’m taking a closer look, I definitely see the potential.” “Gee, Coop, thanks. I’m so pleased you find potential in my breasts.” His eyes were now sweeping up and down her body. To her sheer mortification, he even peeked around her to examine her butt. “There’s potential


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everywhere,” he concluded, nodding to himself. “Why don’t you ever wear skirts? And heels. I think you’d look super hot in a short skirt and some stilettos. Your legs have—” “Potential,” she finished for him. An unwitting grin tugged at her mouth. “Are you hitting on me, by the way? I have a whole bunch of rejection speeches prepared, but I don’t want to injure your ego, especially if this is just some weird small talk thing.” Cooper threw his head back and laughed. Huh. This might actually be the first time she’d ever heard him do that. “No, I’m not hitting on you,” he replied with the roll of his eyes. “I was trying to help you out.” She raised a brow. “Help me out how?” “Well, it’s clear to me that you’re obsessed with the boss, and he’s, well, oblivious.” Cooper shrugged. “So if you really want to get his attention, my advice is—if you got it, flaunt it.” Flaunt what? Maddie was pretty secure with herself—she was damn awesome and she knew it—but she was also secure with the fact that she had absolutely nothing to flaunt. She was a freaking giant at five nine, taller than most of the women in town and a lot of the men. She had zero curves, save for the big boobs that only sports bras could control. Her hair was the most boring shade of brown and couldn’t seem to decide if it wanted to be curly or straight, so most times she just threw it into a ponytail because any other option required too much effort. Her eyes were brown and as boring as her hair. And she had freckles. What twenty-seven-year-old woman had this many freckles, damn it? So yeah, although Cooper’s pervy assessment of her body was a tad flattering, she wasn’t an idiot. She had a better chance of becoming this glorious country’s next president than of catching Owen Bishop’s attention.

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Call her pessimistic, but some things were just simple facts of life. The Maddie Wilsons of the world didn’t end up with the Owen Bishops. She was a guy’s girl, a buddy, good for a laugh and a Sunday afternoon of watching football. But men didn’t sleep with their buddies. They slept with the girly girls and then told the guys’ girl all about it. Didn’t mean she couldn’t fantasize about it, though. At least for a few more days. Yeah, that sounded good. A few more days of lusting, and then she’d force herself to snap out of dreamworld and accept that she and Owen were never going to be anything other than friends. Without benefits. Maddie was being quiet. Too quiet. Owen cast a sidelong glance at his assistant, stifling a groan when he noticed the little frown marring her lips. Shit, he knew that frown. He’d spent so much time with this woman that he could decipher every look, every gesture. He knew when she was happy, when she was sad, frustrated, pissed off…annoyed. Yep, she was annoyed now, but this wasn’t the scowl-and-dark-eyes annoyance. This was the half frown, which meant she was annoyed with him. Focusing on the road ahead, Owen steered his pickup toward the heart of town and decided to wait it out. The explosion would come soon. Ten seconds probably. Or maybe five. Maddie didn’t usually last too long when she— “Can I ask you something?” she burst out. Owen hid a smile. “Sure.” “Who exactly are we building a deck for? Mrs. Hastings—or Mrs. Hastings’ boobs?” “Mrs. Hastings’ boobs,” he said solemnly. Her jaw dropped. “You have got to be—”


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“Kidding,” he finished, holding up one hand in surrender. “Jeez, I was just kidding.” “Well, I wasn’t.” She crossed her arms over the front of her loose royal-blue T-shirt. “That woman is super slimy. I feel dirty just being around her.” Owen had to laugh. If there was one thing he could always depend on when it came to Maddie, it was her no-holds-barred honesty. She did have a point, though. Ann Hastings’ ogling had been kind of uncomfortable. The woman was hot, sure, but also married, and Owen didn’t do married broads. It was an ironclad rule he didn’t break. Ever. Besides, even if Ann Hastings had been single, he probably still wouldn’t touch her. As Maddie said, she really was super slimy. “Good thing neither of us has to sleep with her then,” he said lightly, turning left on Rocky Road—actual street name, not the ice cream—and heading toward the turnoff for Main Street. “We’re just building her a deck.” “Well, I’m pretty sure she wants more than that,” Maddie retorted. “Looks to me like she was trying to hire your penis.” Owen choked on air, proceeding to cough wildly. When his windpipe opened, he was prepared to scold her for being so vulgar, but he ended up laughing instead. Tear-inducing laughter. Maddie Wilson could be infuriating as hell, but she never failed to make him laugh. That was probably why she was his best friend. Actually, make that only friend. Aside from his brothers, Owen didn’t have many friends. He sucked at small talk, and when it came to sharing his feelings and all that crap, he sucked even more. It was a Bishop trait—everyone in his family kept their emotions tightly reined. But with Maddie, he felt he could say anything. She was like his little sister— annoying, sarcastic, but always there for him when he needed her. “Good thing my penis is not for sale,” he answered, still laughing.

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Maddie’s brown eyes narrowed. “You sure about that?” He bristled. “She’s married to the DA, for fuck’s sake. I’d be crazy to start something up with her.” When Maddie didn’t answer, he found himself getting defensive. “Seriously. I have no desire to hook up with that woman.” After a moment, Maddie’s eyes twinkled. “You’re smarter than you look, at least.” Owen rolled his eyes. He slowed the pickup as they reached the three-story Victorian that housed Bishop Contracting. He parked out front, and they hopped out of the truck and headed inside. The company’s office space was on the bottom floor of the quaint house, while the top two floors made up his living quarters. He had a private office up there too, with a large drafting table he used to draw up plans for ongoing or upcoming projects. Sometimes he wished that he lived farther away from town, like his brother Nate, who had all the privacy in the world in the isolated A-frame home Owen and his crew had built for him. Living right on Main Street meant Owen didn’t get much peace and quiet, not until the evening anyway, when everyone in town closed up shop and went home for the night. But it wasn’t so bad. Betty’s diner was right across the street, which meant he never had to cook for himself. And Bishop’s Corner, the pub Nate owned and ran, was a hundred yards from the house, so Owen could pop in and see his brother whenever he got bored. Speaking of Nate, Owen realized he needed to secure a date for Nate’s wedding next weekend. Nate was marrying his high school sweetheart, Charlotte Hill, who also happened to be one of the hottest singers in the country. He supposed he could always go solo—he wasn’t seeing anyone at the moment—but weddings made him extremely uncomfortable. Forever seemed like a fucking long time, and it always bugged him how easily—and willingly—


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people said those vows. Still, he couldn’t not go to his own brother’s wedding. He was one of the best men. “You’re coming next weekend, right?” he asked Maddie as they walked across the hardwood floor toward the big desk where she worked. “To the wedding?” She nodded. “Yeah, of course I am.” “You going with one of your brothers?” Instantly, he realized he’d said the wrong thing, as Maddie’s brown eyes flashed and her freckled cheeks turned pink. He’d pissed her off again, though for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why. “No, I am not going with one of my brothers,” she said in a lethal voice. “Oh.” Her jaw tightened. “Is there a reason why I wouldn’t have a date who wasn’t a family member?” Owen had stepped into minefield, and his brain worked hard to try to navigate the obstacles in his path. What had he done wrong? Maddie loved her three older brothers—she talked about them all the time. And she never dated. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a boyfriend. He quickly sidestepped that scary little mine—he definitely shouldn’t remind her of that. As his silence dragged on, Maddie’s cheeks went redder. “You’re unbelievable,” she huffed. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said quickly. “I just figured—” “That I wouldn’t have a date to your brother’s wedding,” she snapped. “Why is that, Owen? Am I incapable of having one?” “Uh…” “Do you have one?” she demanded. “Well, no, but…”

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“But all you have to do is snap your fingers and a big pair of boobs will land in your hands?” She shook her head, her expression livid. “Unbelievable.” His nostrils flared. “I don’t get why you’re so pissed.” “Of course you don’t. Why would you?” she muttered. Before he could wrap his head around that derisive remark, Maddie was marching to the door. “I’m going to get some coffee. I’ll be back in five.” Blinking in confusion, he stared at her retreating back, wincing when she slammed the door so hard it rattled. What the hell was wrong with her? Had he really committed some unforgivable crime by asking her who she was taking to Nate and Charlotte’s wedding? Sighing, he walked into his office. He headed for his desk and flopped down on the plush chair, suddenly feeling annoyed. He could use some coffee right now too, but he was kind of terrified to call Maddie’s cell and put in a drink order. Besides, he was confident she’d bring him a cup anyway. She always did. Buying coffee, taking messages, talking to clients, checking up on job sites— Maddie did it all, and she did it so well he knew he’d be utterly lost if she quit. Well, she quit every other day, he amended with a rueful grin, but only during their heated arguments, and never for good. Because no matter how prickly she could be, Maddie Wilson was the most dependable woman he’d ever met. He would just let her cool off for a bit. He wasn’t sure why she’d gotten all huffy over an innocuous little question, but she’d get over it. She always did. Feeling better, Owen unrolled the blueprints for the lake house they would be starting construction on next month, quickly getting lost in details and measurements. He heard Maddie return a few minutes later, but he kept working, and it wasn’t until two hours had passed that he realized she hadn’t brought him back a coffee.


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Chapter Two

“Are you serious?” With a shocked look, Maddie gaped at the beautiful redhead in front of her, wondering if she’d misheard her completely. Charlotte Hill wanted her to be a bridesmaid? Her, Maddie Wilson, who didn’t even own a dress? Wait, she did own a dress, that black one she’d worn to her Grandpa Andy’s funeral. But still. She must be dreaming. “Of course I’m serious,” Charlotte replied in that throaty voice of hers. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t mean it.” Well. Bridesmaid request aside, Maddie was still trying to get over the fact that she was having lunch with Charlotte Hill, singing sensation. And Lexie Price, the editor-in-chief of the Paradise Post. When the two women had stopped by the office and asked if Maddie wanted to join them at the diner, she’d been pretty damn surprised. She didn’t have many female friends, probably because she was more comfortable having a beer and watching football rather than gossiping and talking about makeup. But she’d accepted the lunch invitation because Charlotte was marrying Owen’s older brother, and in all honesty, she was curious about both of the women sitting across the booth from her. Charlotte had only recently returned to town after spending fifteen years climbing the charts and becoming a star. She’d reconnected with Nate, her high school boyfriend, and now the two of them were getting married. And Lexie, well, she’d always lived in Paradise, but Maddie couldn’t remember ever exchanging a single word with the blonde. Lexie was older, but that wasn’t the


only reason Maddie had never struck up a conversation. Truth was, Lexie had always seemed like a total ice princess. Maddie hadn’t thought she’d ever be having lunch with either one of them, let alone be asked to serve as a bridesmaid in Charlotte’s wedding. “Nate can’t choose between his brothers for the best-man honor,” Charlotte added with a sigh. “So he has three best men. Which means I need three bridesmaids up there with me. My assistant Georgia is one, Lexie is the other, and I need a third.” The redhead offered Maddie a genuine smile. “Owen was over for dinner last night and he mentioned how cool you were, so I figured I’d ask.” Owen had told someone she was cool? Uh, since when did he think that? Only two days ago he’d assumed one of her brothers would escort her to the wedding—because she couldn’t possibly get a real date. “I know we hardly know each other,” Charlotte said as she reached for her coffee cup. “But I’m in a jam and it would really help me out. And I really do want to get to know some of the other women in town. Lexie here can be really high maintenance, and I totally need to spend time with women who are more down to earth.” Lexie balked. “I am not high maintenance.” Her blue eyes focused on Maddie. “Seriously, I can be very laid-back.” Maddie didn’t quite buy that. The blonde was wearing a hunter-green blazer, a brown suede skirt, three-inch heels and a pale-green silk scarf around her neck. For lunch at Betty’s diner. “You type up an itinerary when we go for dinner and a movie,” Charlotte retorted, her green eyes twinkling in amusement. “You are not laid-back.” “There’s nothing wrong with being a planner.” “There’s something wrong when you plan bathroom breaks.”


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As entertaining and bewildering as the exchange was, Maddie had to interrupt. Clearing her throat, she said, “I’m flattered that you asked me, Charlotte, but I’m not really the fancy-dress-wearing type. And I’m too damn tall. I’ll tower over you up there on the altar.” “Please?” Charlotte said, giving her an imploring look. “I don’t know who else to ask.” She stifled a sigh, wondering if it was a crime to say no to someone as famous as Charlotte. But really, why would she want Maddie to be part of her bridal party? There were so many other better candidates. Ones who knew how to walk in heels, for example. “It’ll be fun,” Lexie added, taking a sip of her herbal tea. “Tomorrow we’re driving to Denver for the dress fittings, and Friday is the bachelorette. We’re doing a drunken karaoke night.” Dress fitting aside, the drunken karaoke thing did sound pretty fun… “Please?” Charlotte echoed. “I’d love to have you standing up there with me. Any friend of Owen’s is a friend of mine.” “I’m no friend of Owen’s,” Maddie mumbled under her breath. But both women heard the remark, and two pairs of eyes narrowed on her. “You’re not?” Charlotte sounded confused. “But he said—” “Oh, I’m sure he said a lot,” she answered through gritted teeth. “We’re best buds, Owen and me.” A short silence fell, broken by the sound of Lexie’s husky laughter. “Oh my God, you like him,” the blonde accused. Maddie flinched. “What? No.” “You do,” Lexie said in a delighted voice. “You totally have a thing for Owen Bishop.” “Does he know?” Charlotte asked curiously.

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“Have you slept with him?” Lexie demanded. She could feel her cheeks getting hot. Great. She was being interrogated by two women she hardly knew. “No, I haven’t slept with him.” She couldn’t stop her next words from popping out. “And I never will.” Charlotte eyed her in fascination. “Why not?” After three years of keeping her feelings for Owen to herself, Charlotte’s measly question released some kind of floodgate. Before Maddie could stop herself, she opened her mouth and everything came out like a gush of water. “Because he treats me like a pesky little sister,” she confessed. “Because I’m his best friend. Because he’s too busy screwing every airhead with big boobs. Because he thinks I’m so undateable that I need one of my brothers to escort me to a wedding. Take your pick.” Lexie let out a soft whistle, while Charlotte’s green eyes widened. “Wow,” the singer said. “Sounds like you have some pent-up anger issues.” Maddie had to laugh. “More like frustration issues.” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, though. Owen sees me as some faceless, sexless blob.” “You are not a blob,” Lexie said in a surprisingly fierce voice. She laughed again. “Thanks, but let’s be honest here. I’m no supermodel.” “You’re tall enough,” Charlotte replied with a grin. She pushed away her coffee cup and clasped her dainty hands together. “And you’re really pretty.” “You are,” Lexie agreed, sweeping her blue-eyed gaze over Maddie. “You’ve got great skin—” “With freckles,” she cut in. “Pouty lips,” Lexie went on. “Fish lips,” she corrected. “Gorgeous eyes,” Charlotte piped up. “Spectacular rack. Long legs.”


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“Seriously,” Lexie insisted. “Some makeup, tighter clothing, a haircut—and you’d be a perfect ten.” “More like a solid five,” she grumbled. “Owen does like the busty airheads in the short skirts,” Lexie conceded, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “But I think, with a little effort, you could totally catch his eye.” Maddie suddenly felt like a specimen under a microscope, the way the two women were studying her. How had the conversation gotten so far off track? She hadn’t meant to gripe about Owen, but the words had just spilled out, and now she couldn’t take them back. Truth was, his remark about taking one of her brothers to the wedding had really grated. Not to mention punched a couple of holes in her self-esteem. Did he really think she couldn’t find a real date? Anger bubbled in her stomach. That man was a real ass sometimes. And totally clueless. After his comment, she’d completely shut down, refusing to start an argument over it, mostly because it was too damn embarrassing, how low his opinion of her was. And for the past two days, he’d carried on as if he hadn’t completely humiliated her, oblivious to her inner turmoil. She really was nothing but background scenery for him. An old couch or chair that he turned to whenever he needed something, but never a true blip on his radar. And even knowing what he thought of her, she still couldn’t get the man off her mind. She loved him, idiot that she was. Had loved him from the moment she’d walked into his office and interviewed for the assistant position. Owen might not see her as feminine, but being around him made her feel that way. He was so big and sexy and masculine, and when they were in the same room, every female part of her reacted. Her nipples hardened, her breasts got achy, her clit throbbed.

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“You think a makeover will actually get him to notice me?” she asked slowly. “Hell yeah,” Lexie said with a grin. “We can do it tomorrow when we go to the dress fitting,” Charlotte suggested. “I don’t know…” “Come on, Maddie, it’ll be so much fun!” Charlotte clapped her hands together. “We’ll go to the salon, do some shopping—and when you go in to work on Wednesday, you’ll knock his fucking socks off!” As silly as this idea was, she couldn’t deny it held some appeal. She’d been waiting for Owen to notice her—her, and not just his best bud Maddie—for three years, but maybe it was time to stop waiting and take some action. No matter how infuriating he could be, no matter how clueless, she still loved the big jerk, and she wanted to be with him. So why not get his attention? Why not get dolled up and look super hot and make the damn man take notice? “Okay, I’m in,” she announced with a grin. Charlotte grinned back. “Does that mean I’ve got myself a bridesmaid?” She sighed. “Looks like it.”

Lexie Price was chuckling to herself as she strode into the living room of her house and dropped her purse on the white upholstered sofa. She’d actually had a really good time at lunch, which still surprised her. Though she’d never admit it to anyone, she was terrified of meeting new people, especially other women. To everyone in town, she was the confident, successful editor of the Post. But nobody knew how hard she’d had to work, how much pressure her parents had placed on her to be “better” than everyone else, how in high school her father


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wouldn’t speak to her for days if she’d come home with a grade lower than an A+. Truth was, she felt like a phony. Women like Charlotte and Maddie were so damn genuine. Genuinely smart, genuinely fun. When she was around people like that, she felt as if she were lacking something, and that was a crushing emotion that made her shut down, hence becoming the ice princess people thought she was. But meeting Maddie had been nice. She’d truly enjoyed the woman’s sarcasm and easygoing personality. Maybe the two of them could actually be friends, which would bring her friend count up to three. Nate, who was serious and gruff and always there for her. Charlotte, who’d come to town as Lexie’s enemy and was now her closest friend. And maybe now Maddie Wilson. She was still smiling to herself as she slid out of her blazer, revealing the lacy white camisole underneath. She kicked off her heels and headed for the kitchen, just as the doorbell rang. Wrinkling her brow, she walked across the shiny parquet floor toward the front door. Charlotte had gone to see Nate at the pub and Maddie had returned to work, so she had no idea who else would be at the door. Maybe her father, which wasn’t a fun thought. Last time he’d dropped by, it had been to give her an hour-long lecture about why the editorial she’d written didn’t quite meet the grade. When she opened the door, however, she realized her father would have been a way better visitor. “What do you want?” she asked with a sigh. Cooper Grady shot her that little-boy grin he probably practiced in front of the mirror. “Owen gave the crew the day off, so I wanted to see if you felt like hanging out.” Translation: having sex.

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Because why else would Cooper be here? Up until three months ago, the two of them had been involved—if you could consider having sex and hardly talking an involvement. But she’d been fine with it. She hadn’t wanted any lasting attachment to Cooper, only the hot, sweaty sex he was always willing to give her. And she would’ve kept up the fling—if he hadn’t treated her like a piece of garbage a month ago and thrown her out of his house. Since then, she’d made an effort to avoid him, and when several weeks had passed and he hadn’t come aknocking, she figured he’d written her off too. Apparently not. “I don’t think so,” she said with a frown, making a move to shut the door. He wedged one steel toe boot in the doorway. “Come on, Lex, you can’t still be pissed off at me. I told you I was sorry for what happened. I was having a bad day, okay?” “You threw me out after I gave you a blow job because you were having a bad day? Gee, Coop, forgive me if I can’t accept your apology.” He reached out and dragged his thumb over her chin. Lexie forced herself not to react. He was too damn sexy for his own good, with those glittering charcoal eyes, scruffy black hair, and lean, muscular body. Shoving his hand away, she crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at him. “I’m serious, Cooper, go away. I’m not starting things up with you again.” He ran his hand over the razor-sharp stubble coating his strong jaw. “Is it because of Lockhart?” Lexie smothered a groan. Why did he always feel the need to bring up Gabe Lockhart? A few days into their fling, she’d made the mistake of revealing to Cooper her on-again, off-again relationship with Gabe, and since then, he’d been like a dog with a bone, refusing to let the subject go.


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“No, it’s not because of him,” she snapped. “In fact, you’ll be happy to know I’m not seeing him anymore.” She could have sworn she glimpsed a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. “Then what’s stopping you?” “You,” she said softly. “You are stopping me. You treated me like a cheap whore, Cooper. Do you honestly blame me for not wanting to see you again?” Now she thought she saw a flicker of vulnerability. Damn it, she would never understand this man. One minute he was like a shark, circling her, ready to go in for the kill. The next, he was a lost little boy, begging her to take care of him. Well, forget that. She was done with guessing Cooper Grady’s moods, done with the way he pierced her with a harsh word then licked away the sting with the brush of his talented tongue. “You’re being stubborn,” Cooper grumbled. “So sue me.” She tried to close the door again, but this time he shoved his big body through the threshold to stop her. And he kissed her. It happened in the blink of an eye. Suddenly his warm mouth was pressed against hers, and his tongue was prodding at the seam of her lips. She instinctively parted her lips to let him in, and their tongues tangled and swirled as he cupped her ass with his hands and pulled her closer. An involuntary moan slipped out at the feel of his erection on her belly. He rolled his hips, sending a flurry of shivers through her body. “See,” he rasped when they finally broke apart. “We can’t ignore this. We’re too damn hot together, princess.” It was the mocking endearment that snapped her back to her senses. The shivers dissolved, the heat in her belly extinguished. Taking a step back, she

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drew air into her lungs in an attempt to control her rising anger. Cooper Grady was a total asshole. Sexy, yes. Amazing in bed, definitely. But still an asshole. “I am going to ignore it,” she squeezed out. “Wanna know why, Coop?” Wariness filled his eyes. “Why?” “Because you don’t deserve me. I’m not a damn toy for you to play with, only to throw aside when you get bored. I’m worth more than that.” To her shock, tears stung her eyelids. Oh no. No fucking way. She was not going to cry in front of this man. Setting her jaw, she pressed her palms on his rock-hard chest and gave him a little push. He stumbled backwards, and once he was no longer blocking the door, she shot him one last glare and said, “Go home, Cooper.” Then she slammed the door in his face.


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Chapter Three

As irritation snaked its way up his spine, Owen glanced at his watch for the millionth time and let out a loud curse. Maddie was forty-five minutes late. No, make that forty-six minutes late. The coffee he’d picked up for her at the diner was getting cold, and as he looked at the no-longer-steaming cup, he finally reached a decision—he was done making amends. If she wanted to be pissed off at him, she could go right ahead. He’d been bending over backwards the past three days, trying to fix whatever had gone wrong with them, but he was done trying. He wasn’t even sure why it bugged him so much. So what if Maddie was angry? So what if she hadn’t looked him in the eye since the day they’d gone to Ann Hastings’ place to do that estimate? So what if she hadn’t picked a lighthearted argument with him in days? Okay, well, maybe he knew why it bugged him. It was because he still had no idea what he’d done to make her so mad. He suspected it had to do with the wedding, but what had he done wrong? He’d just asked if she was going with one of her brothers. Was that really a reason to start a cold war? Releasing a troubled breath, he picked up his coffee cup and took a long swig. All right, maybe he wasn’t done making amends yet. Truth was, he hated it when he and Maddie were on the outs. She was his best friend, not to mention a damn good assistant. All the clients loved her, probably because she was so quick to make people laugh. And she was so damn organized—she ran the office like a well-oiled machine.


His ears perked as the little bell over the front door chimed. He heard the door creak open, the sound of footsteps in the main room, and then Maddie’s apologetic voice drifted in. “I’m sorry I’m late, boss. We got home late last night from Denver, and I slept right through my alarm this morning.” She sounded so sincere that his anger quickly evaporated. Owen got to his feet. “It’s fine,” he said as he stepped out of his office. “Just don’t do it aga—” His vocal chords stopped working. With a little smile, Maddie searched his face. “Everything okay?” He gulped. Twice. Then blinked. Three times. But no, he wasn’t imagining it. Maddie was wearing a skirt. A skirt. It wasn’t short by any means, just filmy black material that swirled around her bare knees. Her arms were bare too, thanks to her sleeveless T-shirt, which was red and snug and clung to a pair of firm, high breasts. Oh sweet Jesus, he could see her nipples jutting against the thin bra she wore—and what had happened to her face? Why did her eyes look so enormous and why were her lips suddenly red and pouty? His brain went on sensory overload. For a moment he felt disoriented, as if he were looking at a completely different woman, but no, this was Maddie. He recognized her brown eyes and the freckles and the amused expression she always wore. “What have you done?” he choked out. One slender brown eyebrow rose gracefully. “What are you talking about?” He blinked again. “Why are you all dressed up?” Nonchalantly, she gestured to her outfit and said, “Oh, this? I’m just practicing for the wedding.” Confusion spun inside him. “Huh?”


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“Charlotte asked me to be a bridesmaid, so I figured I should wear a skirt for the next few days, just to get used to it.” “Oh.” He swallowed to bring moisture to his arid mouth. “Right, that makes sense.” Maddie headed for the desk and walked around it, setting her purse on top of the laser printer. “So anyway, I’m sorry for showing up late. Like I said, we ended up staying in Denver longer than we’d planned and—” “Did you do something to your hair?” he blurted out. She wrinkled her forehead. “What? Oh yeah, I got a haircut. The wedding, and all that.” Owen noticed that her hair was so long it hung halfway down her back. And she’d cut it? He wondered how long it had been before, but realized he couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen her without a ponytail. Now her hair was loose, a shiny light brown, and she’d layered it so that it framed her heart-shaped face in an extremely fascinating way. And why hadn’t he ever noticed how long her eyelashes were? Was she wearing mascara? And why, damn it, could he still see the hard peaks of her nipples? A shot of lust jolted through him, shocking him into speechlessness. As his cock thickened beneath his jeans, Owen choked down a wave of mortification. Was he actually springing a boner at the office? “Anyway,” Maddie said again, “I checked the company account today and the deposit from Ann Hastings came through, so—” “I’ll be right back,” he cut in, his throat so tight he was surprised he managed to say a single word. Before she could respond, he spun around and marched into his office, closing the door behind him. He sagged against it, taking a long, bewildered breath. What the fuck? He was harder than a damn two-by-four—all because

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Maddie had shown up to work in something other than jeans and a baggy Tshirt. As his cock twitched relentlessly, he dragged both hands through his hair and drew in another breath. He was only reacting this way because he hadn’t had sex in a while. That had to be it, right? A pair of nice tits and long shapely legs would do that to a guy who’d been celibate for a few months. It had nothing to do with Maddie, or how startlingly hot she looked today. Because really, it was Maddie. His assistant. His closest friend. Of course he wasn’t attracted to her. He’d be an idiot if he was. You’d be an idiot to lust over a hot chick? He faltered, clenching his teeth. “It’s Maddie,” he hissed to himself. Not that there was anything wrong with her. She was one of the most intelligent people he knew, she was funny, kind, patient. She listened to his complaints, made him clutch his side in uncontrollable laughter, watched football with him on the occasional Sunday. She wasn’t one of the women he played around with, and her friendship meant a lot to him. Which was why he was determined to rein in this weird rush of desire. He wasn’t allowed to feel shit like that for Maddie Wilson. Inhaling deeply, he raked his hands through his hair a few more times, just to release the frustration, and then he willed away his erection and left the office. Maddie was sitting behind the desk when he came out, her fingers moving across the computer keyboard while her brown-eyed gaze focused on the monitor. Putting on a pleasant smile, Owen gave an overly casual tilt of the head and said, “What were you saying about the Hastings job?”


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Un-freaking-believable. Maddie could barely control the anger seething inside her as she slid out of the passenger seat of Owen’s truck and followed him toward the company’s latest job. Despite her not-quite-business attire, she’d worn a pair of comfortable black flats with the knowledge that they would be visiting the site. As they walked up the sawdust-covered path toward the log house up ahead, she resisted the urge to slip one shoe off and hurl it at the back of Owen Bishop’s head. He hadn’t so much as looked at her since they’d left the office. It had been such a promising start—she’d had to fight back laughter when Owen had stared at her with wide gray eyes, as if he didn’t even recognize her. In that moment, she’d even glimpsed a flash of desire in those eyes. He’d liked what he’d seen, she was sure of it. But then he’d stormed into his office, and when he came out, he’d turned into an expressionless robot, treating her like a stranger, like a random employee he’d only hired a day ago. And to think of all the trouble she’d gone to for that jerk. She’d spent three hours at the salon in Denver while Charlotte and Lexie teased her as they watched everyone poke and prod at her like a medical guinea pig. She’d gotten a haircut, endured a leg wax, bikini wax, eyebrow wax—God, so much damn wax—followed by a makeup-applying lesson, a mani-pedi, and then a two-hour shopping spree in which the two women had convinced her to purchase enough clothing to supply a Goodwill store. The day in Denver had been tedious, but this morning she’d stood in front of the mirror for an hour, marveling over her reflection. She couldn’t believe what a good haircut, some makeup and revealing clothing could do for one’s appearance. She’d always thought herself to be kind of plain, but now she

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realized just how pretty she could be if she put some effort into it. The makeover had definitely done wonders for her self-esteem. And the result? Not Wow, Maddie, you look incredible. Instead, she got Why are you all dressed up? And Did you do something to you hair? She was still fuming as they approached the site, but the heat in her cheeks morphed to the kind caused by embarrassment as she received several loud wolf whistles when the guys on Owen’s crew caught sight of her. Cooper was the first one to comment, of course. Hopping off the ladder he’d been hanging from, he jumped on the grass and headed her way, his eyes glimmering with appreciation. “Jesus, you look amazing,” he drawled. From the corner of her eye she noticed Owen frown. “Thanks,” she said lightly. “I’m a bridesmaid at Nate and Charlotte’s wedding, so I figured I need to look the part.” Cooper didn’t take his eyes off her. “Well, you definitely look the part.” She thought she heard him mumble “potential” under his breath, and when their gazes locked and she saw the twinkle of amusement on his face, she realized she’d heard right. Fortunately, he didn’t say anything else. Knowing that he knew that she’d done all this for Owen only heightened her humiliation. But it was too late to do anything about it now. Besides, her transformation from ugly duckling to swan hadn’t achieved a damn thing. Owen didn’t even seem to care. “Why hasn’t the porch been sanded yet?” Owen barked at Cooper, glaring at the cedar wraparound porch of the house they were renovating. “You said to focus on the roof first,” Cooper answered.


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Owen frowned again. “Right. I forgot. Show me the progress you’ve made. The Graysons can’t afford another leak. The last storm nearly flooded the entire house.” As the two men strode off, Maddie hid her annoyance. Owen was acting like she wasn’t even there, when normally he would have had her climbing ladders and peering into every corner, asking for her opinion about everything. Trying to control her anger, she walked over to the porch and smiled at two of the crew members, Wyatt and Pete. “Hey, guys,” she said easily. “Nice job on the porch.” She studied their handiwork, genuinely impressed with what they’d done. The old porch had been completely gutted, thanks to rotting logs and a termite problem that had cost poor Mr. and Mrs. Grayson a ton of cash. The fresh cedar glistened, awaiting sanding and varnishing, which she would have probably helped with if she wasn’t dressed like a Barbie doll today. She’d known the outfit wasn’t exactly work wear, but she hadn’t been able to resist wearing it. She probably shouldn’t have bothered. She could shave her head and get a nose ring, and Owen wouldn’t even bat an eyelash. “What’s the occasion?” Wyatt teased, his light-blue eyes darkening as he admired her outfit. She shrugged. “Just felt like dressing up today.” His gaze smoldered some more, and she felt a prickle of discomfort. She wasn’t used to these men seeing her as a woman. She was their buddy, the sarcastic tomboy who made them laugh. But Wyatt looked incredibly taken with her, which wasn’t a surprise when she stopped to think about it. Wyatt Killington was Cooper’s BFF. The two men went carousing every weekend, holing up in bars and cozying up to any female that caught their eyes. They were notorious lotharios, so really, why wouldn’t Wyatt appreciate the new view?

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His obvious interest had her taking a closer look at him, and she realized he really was a good-looking man. He was her age, tall, muscular, with a head of sandy blond hair and cute dimpled cheeks. “Seriously, you look unbelievable today,” Wyatt said in a husky voice. She blushed again. “Thanks.” “Hey,” he said suddenly, “what are you do—” “Come on, Maddie,” came Owen’s sharp voice. “Time to go.” She glanced over in surprise, just as he strode toward them. “Already?” “The guys are handling everything just fine. We don’t need to stick around and supervise. Or chat,” he added, an edge creeping into his tone. Maddie offered Wyatt a sheepish shrug. “Sounds like I’ve been ordered to get out of your hair. See you later.” As she fell into step with Owen, she cast him a sidelong look and saw the hard set of his profile. He looked pissed off, but she couldn’t figure out why. She always chatted with the men on their crew, but today he seemed irritated that she had. Well, fine, let him be irritated. He’d been short and grumpy with her all morning, and he hadn’t even complimented her appearance. The appearance that she’d painstakingly altered for him. They’d almost reached the truck when someone called her name. She turned around in time to see Wyatt hurrying over. “Do you have a second?” he asked. She looked at Owen, whose jaw was even stiffer now. “I’ll be in the truck,” he muttered. As he stalked off, she faced Wyatt, curious. “What’s up?” she asked with a smile. “I was just wondering if you had any plans for tomorrow night.” He raised his arm to move a lock of hair off his forehead, and she noticed how firm and


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defined his biceps were. “And if you don’t, how about drinks and billiards at Bishop’s Corner?” Maddie’s smiled wavered. Was he asking her out? “Just the two of us?” she found herself blurting, then cringed at the idiotic question. “Just the two of us,” Wyatt confirmed, his blue eyes twinkling. “Is that a problem?” “N-no.” She cleared her throat. “No, that sounds like fun.” “Cool.” Looking pleased, he took a step back. “Pick you up at eight?” She managed a nod, trying not to shake her head as she watched Wyatt walk off with a confident gait. Had that just happened? Wyatt Killington was one of the hottest single guys in Paradise, and he’d just asked her out on a date. Well. At least her makeover had managed to catch someone’s attention. A sharp honk broke through her thoughts. The bewildering pleasure that had been rushing through her body dissolved, replaced with a burst of aggravation. Did he really have to honk at her? Drawing in a calming breath, she headed for the pickup and slid into the passenger seat, turning to Owen with a frown. “What’s the rush?” “I’d just like to get back to town,” he mumbled. “I’m meeting Nate for lunch.” She rolled her eyes. “God forbid you keep Nate waiting for one extra minute.” Owen started the engine and drove away from the Grayson house. He was silent for so long she thought he might have forgotten she was with him, but then he shot her a scowl and, in a gravelly voice, said, “What did Wyatt want?” She clasped her hands together on her lap. “Nothing really.” “It didn’t look like nothing.” His eyes narrowed. “What’s the big secret? I can’t know what he said to you?”

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She huffed out a breath. “There’s no secret,” she replied in exasperation. “He just asked me to have drinks with him tomorrow night.” Owen didn’t so much as blink, but the air in the pickup went cold. “And you said yes?” “Yes, I said yes.” She paused. “Is there a problem with that?” His eyes turned stormy silver. “Well, you know how I feel about employees fraternizing. It doesn’t make for a healthy working environment.” A laugh popped out of her mouth. “Are you joking?” “No, I truly believe in that philosophy,” he insisted. Since when? She couldn’t remember Owen ever warning her about dating anyone on the crew. And his philosophy apparently didn’t extend to himself, because she clearly remembered him going out on a few dates with that woman whose bathroom they’d remodeled two years ago. “It’s just drinks and a game of pool, Owen,” she said, laughing again. “I don’t think it’s going to cause any problems for Bishop Contracting. Especially since I don’t even work on the crew.” He muttered something she couldn’t make out, then shrugged and said, “Fine, whatever. But don’t get your hopes up about this being some magical love connection with Wyatt. You know that guy is a total player.” She swallowed a lump of offense. “I know he is. But he’s also a fun guy, and there’s no harm in having some fun, is there?” “I guess not,” he replied, though he sounded like it physically pained him to make the concession. A silence settled between them, and Maddie spent the quiet time wondering what the heck was up with him. His rigid shoulders and deep frown told her that he was upset, but she highly doubted he meant his whole no-employee-


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fraternizing crap. If she didn’t know any better, she might think he was jealous that another man had asked her out. But that was just crazy.

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Chapter Four

The next afternoon, Owen strode into Betty’s to meet his older brother for lunch, a daily ritual for them. With Jake and Austin traveling all the time, Owen and Nate were the only Bishops who lived in Paradise full time, and they spent a lot of time together. The two of them were always worrying about their daredevil brothers, especially Jake. Owen was seven minutes older than his twin, but sometimes it felt like they were separated by years. While Owen had been content to stay in town and start his own business, Jake had enlisted in the army at eighteen, and for the last five years he’d been with the Rangers, taking on dangerous assignments and risking his life every other minute. Austin worried them too, though not as much. Their youngest brother was a photographer, constantly flying off to war zones and sometimes disappearing for months at a time. Austin had been AWOL for six months during his last gig, but he’d finally phoned in a couple of weeks ago, much to their relief. Finding Nate in their usual corner booth, Owen walked over and slid onto the vinyl bench, already reaching for the menu. He hadn’t eaten breakfast this morning. For some reason his stomach had been in knots, and when he’d come to work, those knots had gotten thicker and harder once he’d seen Maddie. She’d worn a dress today, a loose yellow sundress paired with cute little open-toed shoes, and once again, his traitorous body had reacted. “Hey, everything okay?” Nate asked.

Elle Kennedy

No, I’m freaking out! he wanted to yell, but he clamped his mouth shut. Neither he nor his big brother did the whole mushy, talking-about-their-feelings crap. “Fine. Just hungry,” he said. And wildly attracted to my best friend. He shoved that thought aside too. They ordered their usual—turkey club for Nate, double-decker BLT for Owen—then settled in the booth and sipped their coffees, while Nate talked about his upcoming wedding, grinning sheepishly the entire time. “You don’t need to look embarrassed about getting married,” Owen finally said, grinning back. “Charlotte is awesome.” “I know, it’s just weird. I really don’t want to stand up there in front of everyone, but Charlotte wants a real wedding. I tried to convince her to do it at the courthouse and she freaked.” “It is kind of weird that she’s set on having a traditional wedding,” Owen admitted. “Doesn’t she hate everyone in this town?” “Not everyone, just most of them.” Nate chuckled. “But it’s a small wedding, only people we want there are going to be there.” “Did you guys figure out what to do about the media?” Owen was still wondering how Charlotte planned on getting married without the press finding out. She was a big deal, his future sister-in-law, and he knew that in New York, she never went anywhere without bodyguards. “The press doesn’t even know she’s engaged,” Nate replied, “and I think most of them will assume she’ll be in New York next weekend since she’s doing the benefit show on Friday. We planned it that way on purpose.” Owen had thought it weird that Charlotte was performing the night before the wedding, but now he realized it was a smart move. No one would expect

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Charlotte to play a concert on Friday night, then take a late flight to Colorado to get married the next morning. “Oh, and by the way, we figured out the aisle stuff,” Nate added. “Austin will walk down with Charlotte’s friend Georgia, Jake’s with Lexie, and you’re with Maddie.” He clenched his teeth. Of course Nate had paired him with Maddie. From the amused gleam in his brother’s eyes, Owen had to wonder if his brother knew just how much Maddie’s transformation had affected him. Too much, that was for sure. For the past two days, he’d forced himself to view Maddie the way he always did—as a dependable friend and assistant—but it was getting harder and harder to ignore the rush of desire that flooded his body each time he saw her. Last night he’d laid in bed for hours, agonizing about Maddie’s long legs and silky hair and pouty lips. It made him wonder why he’d never noticed how pretty she was. Did baggy jeans, T-shirts and a makeup-free complexion really hide a woman’s true beauty? Or had he just been too stupid to notice her hotness? And now that he did notice it, he was going absolutely crazy. He’d never been tempted to sleep with Maddie. Now it was all he wanted to do. “She came by last night to pick up the bridesmaid dress they got in Denver,” Nate spoke up. His lips twitched a little. “Charlie told me she and Lex gave Maddie a makeover, but damn. She looked really fucking good. Do you know who she’s bringing to the wedding?” His shoulders stiffened. “Probably Wyatt Killington,” he muttered under his breath. But Nate had heard him. “Wyatt? Really? I didn’t know they were dating.” “They have a date tonight,” Owen said darkly.


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He figured Nate would side with him here, declare that a player like Wyatt was completely unsuitable for a woman like Maddie, but to his shock, his brother nodded in satisfaction. “Good for her. It’s about time she went out and had some fun. You work her too hard.” “It’s Wyatt Killington,” he snapped. “That guy is nothing but trouble.” “Yet you employ him and pay him full benefits,” Nate replied with a grin. “How bad can he be?” “He might work for me, but I’d never date him,” Owen grumbled. “Uh-oh…” His eyes narrowed. “Uh-oh what?” “Sounds like the jealousy fairy just flew into town,” Nate said, solemn-faced. “The jealousy fairy? Did you make that up all on your own?” “Yep, and don’t deny it. You’re totally jealous that Maddie’s going out with Wyatt.” “I am not.” He knew he sounded like a petulant ten-year-old, but he couldn’t help it. The thought of Maddie becoming Wyatt Killington’s latest belt notch made him want to punch something. And his disapproval had nothing to do with the fact that he couldn’t seem to control his newfound desire for her. Maddie was simply too good for a guy like Wyatt. She was nice and funny and way smarter than that loser, and she was only going to end up hurt. Wyatt had a reputation for sleeping with women and dumping them when he got tired of them. Owen didn’t want that happening to Maddie. He knew she didn’t have much experience with men, and she tended to be too naïve when it came to relationships. She was obviously being naïve now, if she actually thought Wyatt was a suitable candidate for a date.

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She definitely needed someone to step in and reroute the stupidity train she’d hopped on. Someone who could yank on the brakes and say, Bad idea, Wilson. And it looked like that someone was going to have to be him.

“You want me to do what?” Maddie exclaimed in disbelief. She gaped at Owen, who was leaning in the doorway of his office, his strong arms crossed over his broad chest, the expression on his face revealing that this wasn’t up for discussion. “Alphabetize the file cabinets,” he repeated. “Right now? Owen, it’s six o’clock. I’ve already stayed an hour longer than I should have because you demanded I photocopy the plans for the last twenty-two jobs we’ve done.” Aggravation clamped around her throat. “And now you want me to organize the files? That’ll take hours.” And completely ruin her plans for the evening, she wanted to mention, but she had a feeling he already knew that. In fact, she was beginning to suspect his main goal was to keep her from going out with Wyatt tonight. “I know it’ll be a lot of work, but it has to be done,” he insisted. “Today I was looking for the Harris file and it took me ten minutes before I found it in the M section. The cabinets are a mess.” “And they can’t wait until tomorrow morning?” “You know I don’t like procrastinating. If it’s not done now, I’ll stew about it all night and won’t be able to sleep.” She shook her head in amazement. “You won’t be able to sleep? I’m the one who’ll be here until dawn, doing the job.”


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He paused, slanting his head in thought. “You’re right. This isn’t really fair to you.” Relief shuddered through her. “Thank you. I knew you’d see—” “I’ll help,” he interrupted, a satisfied glint in his gray eyes. Maddie’s jaw dropped. “What?” “I’ll stay and help,” he clarified. “We’ll get some coffee from the diner, order a late dinner, and with the two of us working on it, the cabinets will be neat and orderly in no time.” Except she wouldn’t be able to have drinks with Wyatt, though she realized this was exactly what Owen wanted. He strode to the door, looking energized. “I’ll place a dinner order for us. I’ll tell Bobby to deliver it around eight, sound good?” Gee, at the precise time she was supposed to meet Wyatt. With wide eyes, Maddie watched as Owen left the office. The bell chimed cheerfully overhead after he disappeared through the door. Unbelievable. She couldn’t figure out what kind of game he was playing. He didn’t want her, but nobody else could? Was that it? And if so, that was completely ridiculous. He would actually make her work late just so she would miss her date? Maddie knew she had no choice in the matter. When Owen set his mind on something, you needed a SWAT team to get him to back off. He’d decided they were organizing the cabinets, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it, short of quitting. Which she could totally do—she quit every other week, for Pete’s sake—but this time she was loath to do it. Normally when they argued and she quit, she knew Owen would always take her back. But he’d been acting so strangely the past couple of days, and she was worried that if she did threaten to leave, he might actually let her this time. And seeing that she’d just spent eight

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hundred dollars on that bridesmaid dress in Denver, she kind of needed a steady paycheck if she wanted to pay off her credit card. Sighing, she pulled her cell phone from her purse and sent a quick text to Wyatt, telling him she couldn’t have drinks with him after all. A responding text came in a few seconds later—Sorry to hear that. Rain check? She texted back definitely, then shoved the phone back in her bag, kicked off her wedge shoes and headed for the cabinet. She was still wearing her bright yellow sundress and the material swirled around her knees as she bent down and yanked open the top drawer, which contained all the A files. She was thumbing through them, chagrined that Owen was right as she discovered a C in the A files, when he returned with two Styrofoam cups of coffee. “I see you’ve already gotten started,” he said cheerfully. He placed the coffees on the desk, moved to the second cabinet and dropped to his knees. “I’ll just work on the Zs, and we’ll meet in the middle.” Was it inappropriate to punch your boss in the face? Yeah, probably. Controlling the impulse, Maddie focused on the files, but it was difficult to do when Owen was so close. She could smell his aftershave, a woodsy spicy mixture that never failed to make her palms go damp, and he’d rolled up his sleeves, revealing corded forearms that bunched and flexed as he pulled out random files and set them on the floor. Was she destined to always lust after him? It was funny, ten minutes ago she’d been really looking forward to going out with Wyatt, and now it was Owen who yet again captivated her senses. Why did she have to be in love with this man? He wasn’t even all that great. He could be too serious, cranky, completely obstinate at times. He did things his way—no highway option—and when it came to women, he was so damn fickle it made her want to kick him. He went out with the dumbest girls, his relationships never lasting more than a


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week or two, a month tops. And he treated her like an ottoman he could put his feet on. So why on earth did she love him? Because…because he’s Owen. Emotion clogged her throat as she gave him a sidelong glance, noticing the way his dark eyebrows were drawn in concentration. He might have a lot of flaws, but there were so many good things about him. He was smart, unbelievably dedicated to his work and to his clients. He had a great sense of humor. A drool-worthy body. A chiseled, handsome face that made her breathless sometimes. He was kind. He loved his family, treated everyone in town with the utmost respect. And maybe he didn’t do long-term relationships, but Maddie had always suspected he’d make a great dad. In the fall he coached a football house league for third and fourth graders, and she’d seen the sweet way he treated those children. Owen Bishop was truly a first-class man. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t a first-class jerk for making her skip out on her first real date in more than a year.

Owen could tell Maddie was still angry with him. Even the delicious dinner he’d had delivered—his treat—hadn’t lifted her spirits. Their empty food cartons littered the desk, but neither of them had made a move to get back to work. They were sitting cross-legged on the hardwood floor, and he noticed she was fidgeting an awful lot, a scowl on her face. “You can’t still be mad at me,” he finally sighed. “We’re almost at the Rs. It’ll only take another hour or so to finish.” By then it would be ten-thirty, and too late for her to meet up with Wyatt. Mission accomplished.

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To his surprise, she shook her head. “I’m not mad. I’m antsy. The afterdinner cigarette used to be my favorite, and the cravings for it are always the worst.” That startled him. He’d known Maddie had quit smoking a couple of years ago, but he hadn’t realized she still got cravings. In fact, there were a lot of things he didn’t know about her. What did she do when she left the office and went home in the evenings? He knew she watched football on Sundays, but he suddenly realized he had no clue what else she did for fun. “But you wouldn’t know,” she grumbled. “Mr. Perfect here has never had a drag of a cigarette, has he?” “Nope,” Owen admitted proudly. “Jake smokes, though.” Looking interested, Maddie met his gaze for the first time in days. “When is he showing up, anyway? I haven’t seen Jake in more than a year, maybe longer.” “He’s flying in a few days before the wedding. He’ll miss Nate’s bachelor party tomorrow night, but at least he’s coming home.” “It’s so weird, how different you two are.” She cocked her head in curiosity. “Were you ever tempted to join the Army when he enlisted?” “Not in the slightest.” He grinned ruefully. “Getting shot at isn’t something I ever wanted to experience.” Maddie gasped. “Has Jake ever been shot?” “Half a dozen times, at least. Ask him to show you the scars—he likes bragging about them.” He immediately regretted the remark as he remembered that several of his twin’s scars were in places Maddie had no business looking. That weird jolt of possessiveness startled him, and the following rush of jealousy didn’t help much either. He wished she didn’t look so damn good in that yellow dress. She was no longer cross-legged, she now had her legs stretched out, and they were so long


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and smooth he curled both hands into fists to refrain from reaching out and touching all that silky skin. He forced his eyes back to her face, noticing the faint blush on her cheeks. “Were you just checking out my legs?” she demanded. Of course she just had to go and point it out, didn’t she? “You’ve got nice legs,” he said lightly, feeling his own cheeks go hot. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, her lips tightening in a harsh slash. To his disappointment, she got to her feet and headed toward the file cabinets. He heard her mumble something under her breath, but didn’t catch a single word. “What did you say?” he asked. Maddie began rifling through the S files, thoroughly ignoring him. Owen’s shoulders stiffened as he marched over to her. Her muttered remark hadn’t sounded all that pleasant, judging from the tone of her voice, and he got the feeling it had been directed at him. She bent down, and her long brown hair fell over her shoulders like a silk curtain, a few strands disappearing in her cleavage. He gritted his teeth. “If you have something to say to me, just say it.” She lifted her head and shot him a cool look. “I’d rather not.” As irritation gathered in his gut, he reached out and clasped his fingers over her arm. Instantly, heat suffused his palm. “Say it,” he ordered. Brown eyes flashing, she met his gaze head-on. “I was just commenting on the fact that my nice legs are being wasted here, in this office, when I could be having drinks with someone who actually appreciates them.” His mouth fell open.

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“But you took care of that, didn’t you?” she said with an annoyed huff. “One question, Owen—why don’t you want me going out with Wyatt? And don’t give me that employee-fraternizing bullshit.” Owen just gaped at her, unable to come up with a single argument in his defense. She was right, of course. He’d purposely ordered her to work late so she would miss her date with Wyatt. But he’d done it for her own good. Wyatt Killington was a sleazy player—Maddie deserved way better than that. He opened his mouth to explain, but she didn’t give him the chance. Her cheeks were flushed with anger as she unleashed one of her infamous Maddie Wilson attacks. “You know what? I don’t care what your reasons were,” she burst out, slamming the drawer so hard the metal cabinet rattled. “You had no right to purposely sabotage my date. That was a total asshole thing to do—and mean, damn it! It was mean and I don’t appreciate you interfering in my love life. It’s none of your damn business who I go out with, and if you pull a stunt like that again, I will quit. For good, this time, and trust me, Owen, without me, you’ll…” He tuned her out. Maybe he was an asshole, but he was far too fascinated with her mouth to focus on the furious words coming out of it. Why hadn’t he ever noticed that her bottom lip was so much fuller than the top? “I swear to God, Owen, if you do something like this again, I’ll—” “Shut up,” he said hoarsely. Her eyes widened. “Did you just tell me to shut up?” “Yes,” he shot back. “I told you to shut up. Wanna know why?” “No,” she yelled, taking a step to the side. “I don’t want to know why you would have the nerve to—” He decided to answer anyway. “So I could do this.” And then he kissed her.


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Chapter Five

Holy sweet Mary and Moses. Owen nearly came in his pants from the feel of Maddie’s warm mouth against his. He felt like someone had shoved a hot poker down there. Heat sizzled in his groin, shooting out in all directions until his entire body was so hot he feared he might self-combust. Maddie gasped, whimpered. Maybe she was trying to tell him to stop, but when her lips parted he couldn’t help but slide his tongue through them. The kiss was deep and passionate and at the same time hurried and clumsy. He felt like a bumbling teenager again as their noses bumped and his lips trembled against hers. The clumsiness didn’t take away from his current state of unbelievably turned on, though. Why the hell did it feel this good? This was Maddie’s mouth, Maddie’s lips…God, Maddie’s tongue swirling against his own. Pulling back to catch her breath, Maddie searched his face, her brown eyes glazed with desire. “Why did you do that?” she whispered. “Because…” He swallowed. “Because…fuck, I don’t know. Do you want to stop?” “No.” And then they were all over each other and Owen’s heart nearly beat itself right out of his chest. He ran his hands over every inch of her body, stroking her cheeks, her bare shoulders and arms, sliding underneath the hem of her dress to grip her firm thighs. He groaned at the feel of her smooth skin. Tugged on the material of her dress and brought it up her body, until finally he pulled it over her head and threw it aside. Left in nothing but skimpy green panties and an


equally skimpy lace bra, Maddie stood there, cheeks flushed, lips swollen from their kisses. With another groan, he cupped her breasts through her bra and squeezed. He discovered that his hands were shaking like a leaf in the wind. Christ, her tits were so big, so firm. He couldn’t believe that he’d never done this before. “Owen,” she pleaded, jutting out her breasts so that they filled his palms. His head spun like a carousel as he fondled and explored, as he shoved the cups of the bra down to free her breasts. They popped out, her nipples the color of dark-red wine and hard to the touch. He was so focused on those mouthwatering buds, on rolling them between his fingers, that he barely noticed Maddie tugging on his clothing. “Naked,” she choked out, shoving his hands away as she fumbled with the waistband of his jeans. Her hands were shaking too, he realized, as he helped her get rid of his clothes. She tore his button-down shirt open and a few buttons snapped off and bounced on the floor. His boots disappeared, followed by his jeans, his boxers, the white undershirt he wore under his shirt. “Oh God,” Maddie moaned as she stared at his naked body. A thrill shot up his spine, pleasure exploding in his stomach at the obvious appreciation in her eyes. No woman had ever looked at him this way, as if he were a new toy she couldn’t wait to play with. But there was apprehension there too. A flash of vulnerability. There was no skill in the way she touched him. Her delicate hands stroked his chest, her caresses both careful and curious. Indecision moved across her face, her breasts heaving from each ragged breath, and when her hand, somewhat awkwardly, came down to circle his cock, he suspected this was new territory for her. His ridiculous fumbling stemmed from the fact that this was his best friend


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standing naked in front him; hers clearly showed how green she was when it came to sex. Yet her inexperience only sent another jolt of arousal through him. The thought of helping her explore her sexuality, showing her what he liked, discovering what she liked…it was so damn hot he almost exploded right then. He sucked in a calming breath and quickly willed away the rising climax. How was this happening? He was consumed by lust, mindless with need. He had to…had to taste her, damn it! He stilled her hand and removed it from his aching erection. She gave a surprised squeak as he cupped her ass and practically flung her up on the desk. Sinking to his knees, he peeled her panties down her legs, tossed them away and pressed his mouth to her core, his tongue seeking her clit. He groaned against her mound when he realized it was completely bare. No hair, just smooth, moist flesh and honey pooling in her opening. He lapped it up, drowning in the taste of her, the sweet tangy scent. He could have stayed down there for hours, but suddenly her fingers were in his hair, pulling, yanking. He lifted his head and saw the unadulterated heat in her eyes. “Get in me,” she said fiercely. “Now, damn it!” He shot to his feet like gunpowder from a cannon, grabbing his jeans on the way up. As his pulse drummed in his ears, he groped in his pocket for his wallet. He found a condom, sheathed himself in three seconds flat, and positioned himself between her sexy thighs. And then he froze. “Owen?” He registered the sound of her sweet, tentative voice, but was too focused on her face to reply. Her cheeks were pink, that same flush rising on her breasts as evidence of her desire. Her eyes were beautiful, surrounded by thick lashes, and

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her expression reflected anticipation and lust and…trust. It was that last one that did him in. With a strangled noise, he moved back, retreating farther and farther until his ass slammed against the file cabinet. What the fuck was he doing? This was Maddie. He couldn’t just screw her on the desk she’d sat behind for the last three years! He couldn’t screw her, period. Self-recrimination pummeled into his gut as he realized how close he’d come to ruining everything. Maddie was the only woman he’d ever allowed himself to get close to, and the only one he hadn’t lost as a result of that closeness. With everyone else, he got bored. Got close and got bored, quickly ending the affair before the woman in his bed got hurt. Not surprising, seeing as he was the son of a carousing womanizer. Henry Bishop had been notorious for cheating on his wife, moving from woman to woman and breaking hearts wherever he went. And yeah, Owen might not be a cheater like his dad was, but he’d inherited that same restlessness, the inability to be satisfied with just one person. He’d first noticed it back in the tenth grade, when he’d pursued Rebecca Hollyfield for months, only to dump her two days after she finally gave in. Two days was all it had taken to get bored with Rebecca and lust over Susie Denton. And when he’d won over Susan, he’d dumped her too, for Connie Beals. Rebecca, Susie, Connie—they’d all been nice girls. Good girls who hadn’t deserved the way he’d treated them. Even now, the memory of how much he’d hurt them sliced into him like a dull blade. Well, he refused to hurt another female again. His restlessness had followed him into adulthood, but nowadays he was better at making sure the women he dated knew it would only be a temporary thing.


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Maddie Wilson was not temporary. She was his assistant, his best friend. More than that, she wasn’t the kind of woman you had a fling with. Her clumsy kisses and careful caresses proved that, and instead of respecting her the way she ought to be respected, he’d been prepared to screw her on a desk when she deserved to be made love to on a damn bed of roses. “Owen.” Her voice was louder this time. “Why did you stop?” He found the courage to meet her gaze, and nearly lost his load in the condom covering his dick. She was still sitting on the desk, her bra tangled around her waist, nipples harder than icicles, legs spread open to reveal the damp pink flesh of her pussy. He’d never seen a sexier sight. “We can’t do this,” he muttered, dropping his gaze to the floor. “Are you kidding?” He could hear the astonishment in her tone. “We can’t.” He let out a ragged breath. “You’re my best friend, Maddie. As…um, nice as this feels, we can’t get involved, okay?” Although he was still staring at his socked feet, he heard her hop off the desk, felt the waves of shock and confusion radiating from her body. He stood there, naked as the day he was born, listening to the sound of Maddie gathering up her clothing. When he finally had the guts to look up again, she was dressed, and sticking her feet into her shoes. “Maddie,” he started. A pair of incredulous brown eyes silenced him. “Not another word, Owen. I hear you, loud and clear.” “I don’t think you do,” he said, wincing at the desperation in his voice. “I…we can’t do this, all right? It’s obvious that you’re new to this sort of thing, and I don’t want you getting hurt, okay? We work together. And we’re friends. An affair will only end up in disaster.” “I get it,” she said, so quietly he had to strain to hear her.

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“It really was nice,” he added. When her nostrils flared, he plowed on like the idiot he was. “I mean, it was fine…well, more than fine. It was…” “Nice,” she finished flatly. “I heard you the first time.” To his frustration, she grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind, but I really want to go now.” “Maddie, wait,” he protested. “Look, we need to talk about this.” “Not now,” she answered without meeting his eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it now.” Without another word, she flounced off, disappearing through the door as the annoying bell gave a cheerful little chime. Owen watched her through the front window, his chest tight with regret. Damn it, he’d handled this all wrong. All fucking wrong. And he was still buck naked, he realized, in plain view of anyone who happened to walk by the window. His erection slowly wilted away, propelling him to search for his own discarded clothes. He dressed in a hurry, wanting to kick himself the entire time. Well. He’d totally fucked that one up, hadn’t he?

“We did the makeover four days ago and you’re telling me Owen hasn’t made a single move?” Maddie averted her eyes, unable to look at Lexie’s gaping expression. Instead, she reached for her martini glass and focused on the small stage at the other end of the karaoke bar, where Charlotte was belting out “I Will Survive” in that beautiful throaty voice of hers. Charlotte had rented out the bar for the night, so it was empty save for the bartender, a waitress and the seven women attending Charlotte’s bachelorette. Along with the three bridesmaids, Charlotte had extended an olive branch to a few other women in town, including Laura Easton, Paradise’s librarian, who was currently slugging back vodka shots with


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Vicky Lewis, the town florist. The duo weren’t the only ones making an effort to get drunk. It really wasn’t fair, doing karaoke with a professional singer, so it wasn’t surprising that the seven women who weren’t Charlotte had proceeded to get plastered. Apparently alcohol was the only way any of them were getting up on that stage. Maddie, on the other hand, was more interested in drinking her mortification away than mustering up the courage to sing in front of Charlotte. “Not a single move,” she lied, still avoiding Lexie’s eyes. “I’m shocked,” the blonde said, shaking her head. “Seriously. You’ve shown up to work for four days looking drop-dead gorgeous and he hasn’t said or done a thing?” “Three days,” she corrected. “I called in sick today.” So she wouldn’t have to face him. Call her a coward, but the last thing she’d wanted to do this morning was pretty herself up and go into the office. After last night, she wasn’t sure she even wanted to work there anymore. Nice. He’d called their encounter nice. It was still humiliating to even think about it. There she was, dying with the need to have that man inside her, burning with arousal, and instead of giving her the hot sex she’d been desperate for, he’d rejected her. But why? Even as he’d recited his rejection speech, she could have sworn she’d seen desire flickering in his gray eyes. And regret. Yeah, she’d definitely seen regret there. He’d wanted her. She’d felt his need in his drugging kisses, witnessed it in his rock-hard erection. So why had he stopped? She didn’t buy his bullshit about their being best friends, and how an affair would ruin their personal and professional relationship. So why, damn it?

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“Well, screw it then,” Lexie declared, flipping her hair over her delicate shoulder. “If he’s too stupid to see what’s right in front of him, then don’t waste your time. You deserve someone who recognizes how awesome you are.” Maddie wanted to point out that Lexie didn’t even know her all that well, or at least not long enough to call her awesome, but it felt nice having someone stand up for her. But although a part of her knew Lexie was right, that she did deserve better, she couldn’t quite forget about how incredible last night had been. Before the rejection, that is. Kissing Owen had been a dream come true. Sure, there had been some clumsy moments, noses and teeth bumping, some fumbling around, but the passion had been unmistakable. Or at least she’d thought so. It’s obvious that you’re new to this sort of thing… Maddie set her martini glass down with a thump, the pale liquid sluicing over the rim of the glass and staining the wood tabletop. Her heart pounded as she allowed the humiliating notion to settle in the forefront of her brain. She’d been trying so hard not to think about what he’d said, but now it came rushing back, making her second-guess the entire encounter. Had Owen stopped because she’d been too inexperienced? Because he hadn’t enjoyed it as much as she had? Sure, he’d been hard as a rock, but…but he’d moved her hand away when she’d wrapped her fingers around his erection. She hadn’t thought it odd last night, but now… Her cheeks went scorching hot. God, had her inexperience turned him off? With shaky hands, she picked up her glass again, drained it, and proceeded to signal the waitress for another. Oh God. And she’d thought she couldn’t possibly feel any more mortified. She didn’t want to believe that Owen would completely derail their sex train because she lacked the right moves, but what if


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he had? She’d only slept with one other man in her life, and that had been four years ago. Being a virgin at twenty-three had made her feel like a total loser, so she’d gone out and lost it to the first guy she’d started dating after college. The relationship had only lasted a few months, and the sex had been kind of bland, so really, she shouldn’t be surprised that Owen might have picked up on her amateur sex status. He’d probably made up all that stuff about not wanting to hurt her so she wouldn’t feel embarrassed. “Look,” Lexie said with a sigh, evidently taking Maddie’s silence as a sign of depression or something. “I know what it’s like to have someone treat you like a piece of…garbage, I guess.” The soft remark jolted Maddie from her thoughts. She turned to Lexie with a bewildered look. “Really?” “Yeah,” Lexie confessed. “I was involved with a guy recently and he totally took me for granted. Just expected me to always be around, even when he treated me like shit. I let it go on for months, until one day I realized I deserved better.” She couldn’t even imagine Lexie being mistreated. Along with being stunning and utterly elegant, Lexie seemed like the kind of woman who didn’t take crap from anyone. But the vulnerability flashing across the blonde’s face was unmistakable. “That sounds awful. I’m glad you dumped him.” “Me too.” Lexie grinned. “He’s not so glad about it, though. He keeps showing up at my door, begging for forgiveness.” “And you won’t give it to him?” The other woman slowly shook her head. “I can’t. Not after the way he treated me.”

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Maddie paused, wondering what she would do when Owen asked for her forgiveness. She knew he would, when she went into work on Monday. If she went into work. At the moment, the thought of seeing him again made her feel a bit nauseated. “Lex!” Charlotte’s voice interrupted them, and both women glanced over to see Charlotte beckoning to Lexie with her martini glass. “Come up and do a duet with me,” the redhead called. Although Lexie looked less than enthused, she put down her glass and got to her feet. “Can’t say no to the bride,” she said grudgingly before heading off. Maddie stayed at the table for a moment, then stood up herself and headed for the door. It was times like these when she definitely needed a cigarette, but she’d have to settle for fresh air instead. It was dark when she stepped outside, and when she tipped her head up, she noticed the spattering of shiny stars in the clear inky sky. She welcomed the sight, breathing the cool night air. When she’d been away at college in Denver, she’d missed seeing the stars. She’d been so happy to come home to Paradise, the beautiful little town she’d lived in all her life. She’d only been back a week when she’d spotted Owen’s job ad in the paper, and she’d instantly printed up a resume. Living with her father after four years on her own had been a total pain in the ass, and she’d been desperate to get her own apartment. She’d remembered Owen from high school—he’d been two years ahead of her—and the memory of his gorgeous face had pushed her to interview for the job. Within days of working for him, she’d fallen head over heels for the man. For three years she’d fantasized about what it would be like to kiss him, to have sex with him. Last night, she’d found out. Almost, anyway. It’s obvious that you’re new to this sort of thing…


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Hard as it was to accept, she knew that must have been the reason he’d stopped. Because, really, why else? Considering the way he’d been sexing it up all these years, it was clear that Owen Bishop had no problem getting it on with any female who was willing. She imagined he’d left a trail of broken hearts in his wake, so why the sudden bout of morality? God, why hadn’t she been bolder, more confident? She’d fantasized about being with Owen a million times in her head, but when the fantasy had become reality, she’d blown it. When she’d touched him, she’d kept overthinking it, unsure about what would make him feel good. And her stupid hands had refused to quit trembling. By the time he had her up on the desk, though, she’d felt herself loosening up, and when she’d begged him to get inside her, she hadn’t been reciting some cheesy line she’d heard in a porno. She’d been wet and needy and desperate for him. But apparently the confidence had come too late. “Maddie?” Her head lifted at the sound of her name and she saw Cooper Grady hopping out of a black pickup and crossing the gravel parking lot in her direction. A lit cigarette dangled from the corner of his mouth, but at the sight of her, he quickly tossed the butt on the ground and put it out with his boot. For some reason, she felt like bursting into tears at the gesture. “What are you doing here?” she asked hoarsely, blinking through the sudden moisture in her eyes. “Came to have a drink.” His black eyes clouded over when he noticed the sign on the door. Closed for Private Party. “Aw, you’ve got to be shitting me,” he muttered. “Charlotte’s having her bachelorette,” Maddie explained. “Drunken karaoke.”

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He offered a curse, followed by a shrug. “Guess I’ll head over to Bishop’s Corner.” He cocked his head. “Wait, if the party’s inside, then why are you out here?” “I needed air.” She let out a sigh. “Actually, I needed to sulk.” Cooper laughed. “What, they booed you off the stage or something?” “No, I’m just having a bad day. Or maybe a bad week.” “Well, at least you look hot.” His teasing voice brought a smile to her lips. She glanced down at the kneelength black dress she wore, with its low-cut neckline and flouncy skirt. Newly purchased, of course, and she’d accessorized with a pair of black flats and a silver pendant that nestled in her cleavage. As much as she hated to admit it, she was actually enjoying her new look. She’d never bothered before because it took too much effort, but the makeover had succeeded in making her feel really good about herself. She liked looking pretty. Even if Owen Bishop didn’t appreciate it. At the thought of him, her heart twisted in her chest, and a rush of embarrassment filled her belly. She couldn’t stop wondering whether she’d blown her chance with Owen because she hadn’t been sex-capable enough. “Potential, remember?” Cooper went on, shoving his hands into the pockets of his faded blue jeans. “Told ya you had it in you. You look like a total temptress tonight.” Her shoulders sagged. “Well, apparently dressing like a temptress and being a temptress are two separate things.” He wrinkled his brow, and she took his moment of confusion as an opportunity to study his face. He really was an attractive man, with those chiseled features and long, muscular body, but it wasn’t his good looks she was thinking about when she studied him. It was his reputation. Ladies man. Sex


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god. Cooper would have no trouble in the sex department. He’d probably known from birth exactly what to do when in the company of the opposite sex. It was too bad he couldn’t teach her a few tricks. Maddie bit her lip suddenly. Well, why couldn’t he? “We’re friends, right, Coop?” she said slowly, searching his dark eyes. His forehead creased. “Yeah, of course.” “You’d help me out if I was in a jam?” The crease deepened, his expression growing even more bewildered. “You know I would.” He suddenly swore. “Are you in a jam? What the hell did you do?” She bristled. “I didn’t do anything. Actually—” she huffed out a breath, “— that’s the problem.” “Would you quit talking in riddles and tell me what’s going on?” “Nothing. I just wanted to make sure that if I needed help, you’d give it to me.” “You know I would,” he said gruffly. “Okay.” She drew in a courageous breath. “I need your help.” His eyes narrowed. “What do you need me to do?” She exhaled in a big rush. “Show me how to turn you on.”

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Chapter Six

Coughing wildly, Cooper stared at her in shock. “What?” It wasn’t often that she was able to catch Cooper Grady off guard. Maddie glanced at him in amusement, wondering if she should point out that there was an honest-to-God blush on his cheeks. Probably not. Cooper was incredibly proud of his manliness. “I’m not even sure what that means,” he sputtered. “Exactly what it sounds like. I want to learn how to turn you on.” Now his cheeks were beet red, and from the harried way he was rubbing them, he probably realized he was blushing like a schoolgirl. “Why?” he croaked. “We’re…me…and you…are you saying you’re into me? Oh fuck. If I led you on in any way, I—” “I’m not into you,” she cut in, rolling her eyes. “Then why?” “Because…” She inhaled a deep breath. “Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone, okay?” “How could I? I have no idea what we’re even talking about.” She ignored him. “I almost slept with Owen last night.” Cooper blinked in surprise. “What?” “We…he…we fooled around, okay? And there were some awkward moments, I guess.” Her cheeks flamed. “And then he stopped it, and referred to what we did as nice and fine.”

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Cooper laughed. Evidently he’d gotten over his shock and was reverting back to his usual state of being: insensitive asshole. “Don’t you dare laugh,” she snapped. “It’s not funny. It’s embarrassing.” He had the decency to look penitent. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed.” He sighed. “So what does this have to do with me?” “I… God, this is humiliating…” She took a breath. “I think he thinks I suck at sex, and that’s why he stopped it.” Cooper gave her a patronizing grin. “People don’t suck at sex, darlin’.” “What if I do? I’ve only done it with one guy, and that was four years ago.” “You haven’t had sex in four years?” he exclaimed. Annoyance prickled her skin. “I’ve been busy. I went on a few dates, a couple of guys my brothers set me up with. But nothing serious.” “And you want to sleep with Owen?” “Yes. But I don’t want to be all clumsy and amateur about it. I want to feel confident and bold and sexy.” She gave him an imploring look. “I want to practice first.” He sighed. “This has bad idea written all over it, Mad.” Her chin lifted in determination. “I think I need to do this. I need to prove this to myself.” “Prove what?” he asked warily. “That I’m not some inexperienced loser.” As she said the words, her chest suddenly felt lighter. “Sex appeal isn’t my strong suit, all right? I’m a tomboy— look how long it took me to start dressing like a girl, for Pete’s sake.” She swallowed. “But I don’t want to be a tomboy in the bedroom. I want to feel feminine and desirable.” “For Owen.” “For me,” she corrected.

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Cooper coughed again. “And I’m your guinea pig?” “Don’t act like it’s such a horrifying idea. You love sex. You’ll have it with anybody.” “Oh really?” he said with a mocking lift of his eyebrows. “Maybe I’m a virgin—ever think of that?” She faltered, and he laughed. “No, I’m not a virgin,” he admitted. “But we’re friends, Maddie. It would be weird.” “No, it wouldn’t. It would be perfect. We’re not in love with each other, and never will be. And I know you think I’m attractive, at least now that I’m looking all cute and sexy. And I think you’re attractive. So let’s just try it.” After a moment of silence, he let out a heavy breath. “You’re drunk.” “Not that drunk.” “Fine, then you’re crazy.” “Maybe, but can’t you just be a good friend and help me out? Let’s see what happens. If you’re attracted to me, we’ll know. And if you’re not, and can’t get it up, I won’t even be offended because at least you tried to help.” “I can always get it up.” The wounded look on his face made her laugh. She should have known that the way to gain his assistance was to suggest that he couldn’t spring a boner in her presence. “Prove it,” she answered with a grin. “Be a good friend and take me home tonight.” His sexy face scrunched up, both pensive and apprehensive. He was silent for so long she felt a burst of disappointment, knowing she’d lost, but then Cooper exhaled slowly and said, “One condition. Well, two.” “Name them.”


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“One, you don’t tell anyone about this, especially the boss.” He scowled. “If you two live happily ever after, I don’t want him firing me because I slept with his girl.” “Deal. What else?” she asked. “You help me with the renovations I’m doing on my place.” She gaped at him. “You’re trading sex for manual labor?” Cooper shrugged. “I don’t exactly have the cash to hire a crew to help me, and I know you know your way around a hammer and power tools, so…” She couldn’t fight back a laugh. Wasn’t a bad deal, though, she realized when she thought about it. She’d always enjoyed working with her hands. Speaking of hands, she stuck one out in Cooper’s direction. “Fine, I’ll help. Shake on it?” After a moment of reluctance, he broke out in a grin and shook her hand. “Let’s go,” he said, rolling his eyes. “If we’re going to show you how to step up your game from nice to un-fucking-believable, we have a long night ahead of us.”

Lexie knew something was wrong when she got off the stage and noticed Maddie at the table, bending down to pick up her purse from the chair. It hadn’t taken a rocket scientist to figure out that the younger woman was upset over Owen Bishop, and though Lexie had tried making Maddie feel better about it, she didn’t think she’d succeeded. Charlotte must have noticed Maddie getting her purse too, because she hurried over to the table at the same time Lexie reached it. Brushing a strand of red hair from her forehead, Charlotte fixed a concerned look on her bridesmaid. “Are you leaving already?”

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Maddie nodded in apology. “Yeah, I am. I think I drank too many martinis and I have a bit of a headache now.” Lexie didn’t buy the excuse. There was an odd flush to Maddie’s cheeks, a strange look in her brown eyes. She suddenly realized that Maddie didn’t look at all upset anymore. If anything, she seemed…satisfied? “Oh, that sucks,” Charlotte said, sounding genuinely regretful. “Go home then, drink some water and take an Aspirin.” Relief crossed Maddie’s face. “You’re not angry that I’m leaving?” “Not at all,” Charlotte replied. She waved a hand to the stage, where Laura Easton was singing a duet with the reluctant bartender she’d dragged up there. “We’ll manage without you.” Charlotte leaned forward to squeeze Maddie’s arm. “I hope your head feels better.” As the singer wandered off, Lexie took a step forward and said, “I’ll walk you out.” “No, that’s okay,” Maddie said quickly. “I called a cab when I went outside for air, and it should be here already. Enjoy the rest of the night, Lex.” Without waiting for a reply, Maddie hurried off. Narrowing her eyes, Lexie watched her go, wondering what the girl was up to. Then an idea dawned on her. Had Owen finally come around? Maybe with three martinis in her system, Maddie had found the nerve to call him, and he was coming here to pick her up and whisk her away for a night of long-deserved passion. As the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile, Lexie headed for the door, needing to see for herself if her suspicions were correct. She really hoped so, for Maddie’s sake. The woman had undergone a drastic makeover to catch that jerk’s eye—it was about time he noticed her.


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In case Maddie was standing out there indeed waiting for a cab, Lexie opened one of the double doors an inch, not wanting to look like a nosy Nancy or anything. She peered out into the dark night. And gasped. Was that… Was Maddie getting into Cooper Grady’s pickup? Lexie squinted. No, that could be anyone’s truck, nearly every man in Paradise owned a black Dodge. She poked her head out for a better look and caught sight of the man leaning into the passenger seat to greet Maddie. Black hair, a flash of straight white teeth. Cooper. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. A rush of disbelief and anger filled her body, the taste of bitter betrayal burning her throat. Why was Maddie going off with Cooper? Lexie knew they worked together, but she hadn’t realized they were more than professional acquaintances. The taillights blinked red as the truck drove out of the parking lot. Lexie swallowed down the lump in the back of her throat, knowing she had no reason to feel this upset. She’d ended it with Cooper, and as for her new friend, hadn’t she just been urging her to forget about Owen Bishop and find someone else? Well, Maddie had taken the advice to heart, apparently. Letting the door swing closed, Lexie sagged against the heavy wood and tried to snuff out the irritating sparks of anger in her gut. Cooper was a grown man. He could spend time with whomever he pleased. And he had no reason to be faithful to her, not since she’d banished him from her life. So why did the sight of him with another woman hurt so much?

Cooper had been right about his place needing renovations. The first thing she noticed when they stepped into his modestly sized living room was the

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scuffed-up hardwood floor, planks splintered and sagging in certain areas. The walls were wood paneled and could have used a coat of varnish, and the large windowpane needed to be replaced, thanks to a crack that was beginning to form a spider-web pattern in the glass. “A baseball did that,” Cooper spoke up, following her gaze. “Wyatt and I were playing catch in the yard and one of my fastballs had a mind of its own.” Maddie laughed. “You and Wyatt play catch? What are you, twelve?” Her jab didn’t seem to faze him. In fact, nothing fazed this man. She’d figured that out from the moment he’d showed up in Paradise three years ago, around the same time she’d come home from college. They’d both started working for Owen at the same time too, though as they stood there in his living room, she realized this was the first time they’d ever been truly alone. “How ’bout we quit the chitchat and just get on with it?” he suggested in that lazy drawl of his. “Take off your clothes.” Her cheeks flamed. “What? Now?” “Now’s as good a time as any.” Good point. She really hadn’t come here for small talk, had she? But now that she and Cooper were alone, in close quarters, she was wondering if maybe she’d made a mistake. Could she really sleep with him? This was bound to be crazy awkward and—awkward is the problem, a little voice reminded her. Ah well. She’d already gone this far, propositioning the guy. Might as well see it through. The impulse to plow ahead was a familiar one—she never backed down from a challenge, ever. It drove her older brothers mad how easily she was willing to take chances. Skydiving when she was nineteen, bungee jumping on that family trip to the Grand Canyon when she was twenty. She’d always been a daredevil, even as a kid, though it was kind of funny that the only time she didn’t have buckets of courage was when she was in the company of men. Sure, she


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could hold her own as one of the guys, but not when it came to flirting or seduction. She was always Maddie the buddy, never Maddie the temptress. Taking a deep breath, she reached for the little zipper at the side of her dress and tugged it down. She dropped the spaghetti straps off her shoulders then began to wiggle out of her dress. Rolling his eyes, Cooper held up a hand. “Slower. You’ve got to create some anticipation.” She tightened her lips. “Seriously? You want me to do a striptease? That’s so sleazy!” A low laugh rumbled out of his chest. “It’s sexy,” he corrected. “You want to know how to turn a man on? Well, I’m telling you. And if you’re going to complain about it, then the lesson’s over, darlin’.” He had a point. Relaxing her mouth, she touched the straps of her dress again, but this time she toyed with them, sliding them down a fraction of an inch. “There you go.” Cooper’s gruff voice held a note of encouragement. Moistening her dry lips, she pushed her bodice lower, the straps hanging down, the top of the dress revealing only a hint of her black lace bra. She met Cooper’s eyes, floored by the sudden glimmer of lust she saw in them. Oh. Maybe the slow and sexy thing did work. Feeling emboldened by his reaction, she let the dress fall lower, so that her bra cups were exposed. He hitched a breath. “Lord, those are big.” For once in her life, she found herself grateful for the size of her chest. The appreciation on Cooper’s face spurred her confidence. Locking her gaze with his, she slowly peeled the dress off, hesitating as it snagged on her hips, then letting the material drop. It pooled in a silky puddle at her feet and she kicked it away with the toe of one black flat. She suddenly wished she’d worn heels. From the

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cinematic stripteases she remembered, women always wore heels with their lingerie, right? Well, too late for heels, but the lacy lingerie seemed to be doing the trick. When Maddie glanced at Cooper’s groin, she saw the definite bulge beneath his faded blue jeans. “It’s up,” she murmured. “Sure is.” His black eyes focused on her chest. “Take the bra off, darlin’.” She obliged him. The cool air met her bare breasts, instantly making her nipples go rigid. On a whim, she cupped her breasts, pushing them together as her thumbs toyed with her puckered nipples. “You like?” she asked, feeling somewhat awkward. His gaze heated. “Fuck yes. Now get rid of the panties.” “Yes, sir.” A moment later, she stood before him fully naked, and as he stared with unabashed lust at her body, she felt a jolt of discomfort. This was Cooper! Why was she letting him see her naked? And yet, along with the apprehension came a rush of liquid desire between her legs. God, she was turned on. “Now come here and take my clothes off,” he ordered, his tone low and almost lethal. As her heart pounded, she moved toward him and gripped the hem of his black T-shirt. Her fingers trembled as she bunched up the material. “Touch my chest when you’re lifting the shirt up,” he said in a husky voice. “Scrape your nails over my skin.” She did as he asked, and was rewarded by another sharp intake of breath. Without his shirt, Cooper looked even sexier and more feral than usual. His chest was perfectly sculpted, his skin tanned and smooth, and there was a nastylooking scar right above one hip. She traced it with her finger, meeting his eyes. “Where’d you get that?”


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“Stupid bar brawl,” he murmured. “Five or six years ago.” She touched the scar once more, then moved her hands to his waistband, where she popped open the button of his jeans before undoing his zipper. Cooper helped her out this time, kicking out of his boots and shoving the denim off his thighs, right along with the dark blue briefs he wore. “Oh,” she breathed at the sight of his nude body. “You’re pretty damn hot, you know that, Coop?” He offered a faint grin. “Why, shucks, Maddie, you’re gonna make me blush.” She grinned back. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” A short silence fell as their gazes roamed over each other’s respectively naked bodies. “What now?” Maddie whispered. “Now you kiss me.” She licked her lips again, and he groaned. “Yeah, definitely lick your lips like that. It’s sexy.” Pleasure warmed her skin. She stepped closer, happy to find that she had to tilt her head to look at him. She’d always hated her height, felt like a damned giant at five-nine, but Cooper was at least four or five inches taller. So was Owen, for that matter, but she forcibly shoved all thoughts of him from her mind. She couldn’t think about Owen right now, not when she was about to get it on with another man. And besides, now that she was here, with Cooper, she was beginning to realize that this “lesson” wasn’t even about Owen. This was about her. About feeling bold and wanton and sexy for the first time in her life. She drew in a breath, grasped the back of Cooper’s neck and yanked his mouth down to hers. There was nothing shy about the kiss. She just slid her tongue into his mouth and kissed the living hell out of him. Desire jolted through her as he responded with fervor, cupping her bare ass in his big, warm hands

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and pulling her against his rock-hard body. They were both breathless when they pulled apart, and before she could blink, Cooper scooped her into his arms as if she weighed nothing more than a feather and marched toward the dark corridor. He kicked a door open and then she was being thrown on a soft mattress. She waited for him to cover her body with his, but it didn’t happen. Instead, he flopped down beside her and lay on his back, his expression casual. “Well, go on,” he drawled, propping his hands behind his head. She swallowed. “Seduce me,” he clarified. “Turn me on, Maddie.” The mocking tone of voice made her bristle, but she calmed herself, realizing this was exactly what she’d come here to do. “Tell me how,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Climb on top of me and kiss me again.” She followed his orders. Straddled his muscular thighs and brought her mouth to his. This time she was gentle, brushing her lips over his in a featherlight caress. She dragged her tongue over his bottom lip and he groaned. His long fingers tangled in her hair as he arched his back. His thick erection pressed against her thigh and now she was the one groaning. “Kiss your way down to it,” he said roughly, fingers still toying with her hair. “Bite a bit too, but not too hard, okay?” “Okay,” she whispered. Nobody could say she didn’t take direction well. Using her mouth, lips and teeth, she explored his broad chest, the flat, brown nipples, his hips, the tender flesh of his inner thigh. She hesitated when she reached her destination, then placed one hand on his thigh, the other around the base of his cock. He was


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bigger than Owen, but not as thick, and when she planted a kiss on his tip, a pearl of moisture formed there. She licked it, savoring the salty taste. “Now suck me,” he wheezed out, one calloused hand caressing her shoulder. “Slow at first, from base to tip.” She took him in her mouth and did as he asked. The feel of his velvety soft flesh against her tongue made her moan. She went quiet, though, when he continued to hiss out gruff orders at her. “Wrap your fingers around me, pump it on the upstroke…ah, that’s good…fuck, Maddie, no need to be so gentle, I won’t break, darlin’.” He groaned as she scraped her teeth along his shaft. “Yeah, that’s good…real good…cup my balls with your other hand.” She didn’t know how long she was down there, sucking, licking, pumping. When he lifted his hips and thrust into her mouth, his pace quickening, she knew he must be close. She felt his cock pulsing against her tongue and drew him in deep, while shivers of pleasure shimmied up her spine and tickled her skin. She wanted him to explode, wanted to see him come apart, wanted to make him come apart. But to her disappointment, he suddenly yanked her up, and she found herself sprawled on her back as Cooper licked and caressed every inch of her body. He didn’t need any direction—he simply knew exactly what to do. One hand squeezed and fondled her breasts, his mouth surrounded her nipple, sucking hard. His other hand slid down between her legs, where he palmed her wet core and rubbed until she cried out in pleasure. He pushed one long finger inside her, then a second, a third, moving them in and out and eliciting wave after wave of sheer sensation. “Don’t come yet,” he rasped against her breast, and then he was gone, off the bed, disappearing through a darkened doorway across the room. A bathroom,

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she deduced, when he came back a moment later with a condom stretched over his impressive erection. She figured he’d spread her legs and do his thing, but once more, he lay on his back and made her straddle him. Heart thudding, she slowly brought his cock to her opening. “No,” he murmured. “Tease me first.” She wasn’t exactly sure what to do, so she improvised. Grasping him in one hand, she used his cock to rub her slick folds, leaning forward so that her breasts were pressed to his chest. The wiry dark hairs there tickled her nipples. And what she was doing down below teased her as much as it teased him. She ground her clit against his cock and they both moaned loudly. Ripples of impending orgasm danced inside her, threatening to break the surface, and when she finally couldn’t take it a second longer, she seated herself on his cock and started to move, slow and apprehensive at first. “Harder,” Cooper ordered, gripping her hips with his hands. “Fuck me like you mean it.” Insult flashed through her. Fuck him like she meant it? Well, he asked for it. She rode him fast and furiously, grabbing one of his hands and placing it between them, forcing him to stroke her aching clit. A flicker of surprise flitted in his eyes, replaced by a glint of satisfaction. He rubbed her with his thumb as she rode him, fisting a hunk of her hair to bring her head down so they could kiss. As their tongues tangled, Maddie closed her eyes and threw self-control into the wind. She came in a wild, heated rush, digging her nails into Cooper’s shoulders. She moaned and shuddered, lost in a burst of ecstasy that only intensified when she felt him thickening and pulsing inside her. His fist tightened in her hair, hard enough to bring a jolt of pain, but that only heightened the orgasm too.


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“Holy fuck,” Cooper choked out when they both went still a minute later. She pressed her face into the crook of his neck, her breath fanning over his damp skin. “So did I pass?” she asked in a muffled voice. “I think that was an A+ effort, darlin’.” His arms wrapped around her, and a rumble of laughter tickled her ear. “I should write you a fucking recommendation letter.” Maddie burst out laughing.

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Chapter Seven

“Hey, Maddie, it’s me. Again. It’s pretty clear you’re still avoiding me, but sooner or later you’re going to have to call me back. We need to talk about what happened.” With a stroke of inspiration, he finished with, “Never thought you’d run away from a confrontation.” Owen hung up, his jaw set in determination. She’d have to call back now, what with his insinuation that she was a coward. Nothing pissed Maddie off more than being accused of cowardice. He supposed he could always drive over to her apartment, but he was kind of apprehensive about seeing her until he gauged how angry she actually was. Besides, the large Victorian she lived in had been converted into four apartments, and if she started hitting him or throwing things, the other tenants would surely hear everything. Which would be embarrassing. He wondered how mad she was. Like on a scale of one to ten. Where would practically throwing a woman off him before intercourse land on the scale? A five? Seven? Owen still felt like a total ass for the way he’d handled things. And he still craved that damn woman on some crazy primal level that had left him with a hard-on, even two days later. He just wished she would let him explain, damn it. Tell her that he hadn’t rejected her because he didn’t want her—but because he wanted her too much. He glanced at the cell phone he’d placed on the kitchen counter, but it lay there, still and silent. She wasn’t calling back.

Elle Kennedy

Groaning, he turned away. He needed a distraction. Maybe there was a preseason game on or something. He drifted into the living room, caught sight of the treadmill by the window and made a beeline for that instead. Exercise. A surefire way to clear his head and rid all traces of desire from his body. He stripped off his shirt, shoved a pair of sneakers on his bare feet, and headed for the machine. He started with a slow jog to warm up, then changed the setting and picked up the pace, determined to run every thought right out of his head. He wasn’t sure how long he’d run, didn’t care. The burn in his leg muscles felt damn good, and he could have kept going if not for the dry voice that sounded from behind him. “You’re going to break the machine if you keep at that pace.” Break it, no, but he did almost stumble off the thing like a total loser. He steadied himself at the last second, quickly changed the setting, then slowed down and got off the treadmill. As he collected himself, he spotted Maddie standing in the doorway. For the first time in days, she was actually wearing jeans, but they were tighter than the ones she normally wore, and were accompanied by a snug, blue tank top that hugged her firm breasts. Her hair was loose, falling over one shoulder, and there was a flush on her cheeks and a sheen of sweat on her collarbone. She must have walked over here—Maddie was the only person he knew who didn’t own a car. “I got your messages,” she spoke up, a smile lifting the corners of her lush mouth. “All seventeen of them.” He felt a pang of embarrassment. “I was anxious to talk to you.” “Yeah, I got that.” She walked over to the black leather couch and flopped down, resting her long legs on his glass coffee table. “So, let’s talk.” Her matter-of-fact tone made him gulp, though it didn’t surprise him. Of course Maddie would get right to the point. After a few seconds of hesitation, he

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sat next to her, swiping his hand over his forehead to soak up some of the workout sweat. He shifted so that he was facing her and waited for her to speak. When she didn’t, he bit the bullet and said, “I’m sorry about the other night.” “I’m not.” Owen’s mouth fell open. “What?” “I’m not sorry,” she answered with a shrug. “Truth is, I’ve wanted that to happen for a long time.” One thing you could say about Maddie—she never failed to surprise him. Gaping, he searched her face and saw nothing but sincerity. “You have?” “For a long time,” she repeated. Catching his shock, she let out a sigh. “Come on, Owen, don’t tell me you didn’t notice. I’ve had a thing for you since the day you hired me.” He reached up to rub his temples, trying to make sense of what she was saying. She’d had a thing for him? For three years? “Why didn’t you say anything?” he blurted out. “Because you were too busy going out with all those airheads.” She flashed him a grin. “You have terrible taste in women, you know that?” Because those “airheads” were the only type of woman who didn’t expect a relationship from him, he wanted to explain, but he kept the callous-sounding thought to himself. Although he talked to Maddie about plenty of things, his love life wasn’t one of them. I can’t commit to one woman because I’m easily bored wasn’t something you wanted to share with another person. It made him sound like a total dick. “But I’m not going to pretend anymore,” Maddie continued, fixing him with a determined stare. “I wanted you that night, Owen. I still want you.” He swallowed. “Maddie—”


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“I ran off because I was embarrassed,” she confessed in a quiet voice. “You were right—the whole thing was new for me. I was nervous.” He managed to get out another “Maddie” before she cut him off again. “Did you really mean what you said? That we can’t get involved because we’re friends?” He nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I did.” “Well, I say it’s bullshit. In fact, I think we should get involved because we’re friends.” She scooted closer, so that one of her firm thighs was pressed against his. His cock instantly rose to attention. “You can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy the other night,” she murmured as she placed her hand on his knee. “You were attracted to me.” “Yes,” he admitted. “But—” “No buts.” Her hand traveled to his thigh, then glided up his body, brushing his chest, his collar, and finally stroking his chin. “Let’s see this through, Owen.” “We can’t,” he choked out, yet at the same time, he found himself leaning into her touch. She traced her fingers along the line of his jaw. “Why not?” “Because I don’t want to hurt you.” “You won’t. I won’t let you.” The confidence ringing in her voice did nothing to soothe the doubts running through his brain. “My relationships never work out,” he said gruffly. “The last thing I want is for us to get involved only for it to end in disaster.” “Your relationships don’t work out because you don’t let them,” she said bluntly. “I can’t figure out why you sabotage yourself, why you won’t let yourself be happy, but that’s a conversation for another time.” She leaned closer, and he could smell the sweet flowery scent of her shampoo. Her breath was

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warm against his ear as she whispered, “Right now, I just want to finish what we started the other night.” Owen’s throat was working hard as he repeatedly swallowed. Maddie could see the reluctance flickering in his sexy gray eyes, but she also glimpsed a spark of anticipation, a flash of heat. He did want her. Her gaze dropped to his crotch, which now sported a thick bulge, and a burst of satisfaction went off inside her. Oh, he wanted her, all right. She hadn’t been sure what she’d say when she’d decided to come here. At first she’d thought of simply ripping her clothes off and seducing him, but at the last minute she’d opted for the honesty route. Why not tell him how she felt about him, that she’d been lusting over him for years? After all, she had nothing to lose. As she’d walked over from her apartment, she’d realized that, instead of sitting on the sidelines and waiting for him to notice, she should have told him a long time ago how she felt. Now, she was glad she’d told him the truth. She might have slept with Cooper on Friday night in order to gain some new skills, but she wanted so much more from this man. Sleeping with Cooper had been fun, had made her feel brazen and sexual, but she wanted more with Owen. She wanted his heart, damn it. She just had to convince him to give it to her. “This can work out,” she whispered, cupping his chin with both hands. “It can, and it will, if you’d just open yourself up to it.” A pang of apprehension tugged at her gut when he didn’t answer. “Do you want me, Owen? Really, truly want me?” Another silence, and then the word “yes” shuddered out of his mouth.


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A wave of pleasure swelled in her belly. “Then let’s take a chance,” she said softly. “Let’s…see what happens.” He didn’t respond again, but he did cover her hands with his own and stroke her knuckles. She took that as a positive sign, and, before he could say another word, she leaned in and kissed him. He kissed her back. Hard. Maddie gasped for air as their mouths fused together in reckless abandonment. Emotion flooded her body, heat sizzled in her veins, and the only thought running through her mind was this. This was what had been missing with Cooper. No matter how fun and dirty the sex had been, the emotional connection hadn’t been there. As their tongues danced and tangled, Maddie grabbed Owen’s shirt with one hand and shoved it up his chest. She broke the kiss and moved her mouth to his pecs, kissing his bare skin, enjoying the spicy, salty taste of him. He groaned when she swiped her tongue over his nipple, his head lolling to the side. He offered no resistance when she kissed her way down his body and tugged on the drawstring of his gray sweatpants. She had him naked in three seconds flat, then got on her knees in front of the couch and took his thick erection into her mouth. She was rewarded with a low growl of appreciation, along with a rush of heat that settled between her legs. God, she loved the taste of him. The feel of his steel hardness and velvety softness. The confidence that had been missing in that first encounter now poured out in bucket loads. She wasn’t caught off guard this time, wasn’t second-guessing a single thing. A part of her suspected her night with Cooper had helped, but on another level she knew that fear had played a role the last time. Fear that Owen would always see her as an unfeminine tomboy, even during sex.

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Well, she wasn’t scared anymore. If anything, she was even more determined to prove to this man that they could have something good together, if he would only open his mind—and heart—to the possibility. Cupping his balls with one hand, she squeezed them gently, while dragging her tongue along the sensitive underside of his cock. His soft groans made her dizzy with pleasure. When her core clenched, she realized she was seconds away from a spontaneous orgasm and he hadn’t even touched her. “You don’t know how much I’ve wanted to do this,” she murmured as she licked up and down his shaft. His fingers threaded through her hair. “Yeah?” She lifted her head and their eyes locked. “I used to lie in bed at night, wondering what you’d taste like. How it would feel to have you in my mouth.” She ran a finger along his sac, summoning a low curse from his lips. “So what’s it like then?” he choked out. “Best feeling ever.” Grinning, she lowered her head and took him into her mouth, sucking gently. “Can’t disagree with that,” he said between groans. She loved the rough sounds he was making, the way he played with her hair and whispered her name. God, she loved every last thing about this man. She took him so deep his tip prodded the back of her throat, but she didn’t let that slow her down. As her heart thudded wildly, she sucked him hard, picking up the pace as his fingers fisted her hair and his hips rose to match her movements. She felt him throbbing, heard him moan again, and then he withdrew from the soft suction of her mouth in an abrupt motion that made her blink. “I’m too close,” he rasped. “I don’t want to come yet.” When she met his eyes, the haze of desire she saw in them floored her. “Undress for me, Maddie.”


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Without a word, she stood up and did just that. Scandalous temptress that she was, she hadn’t bothered with a bra or panties, just her jeans and tank top, and Owen’s eyes widened when he realized she’d gone commando. “Christ,” he squeezed out. “Well, aren’t you a little slut.” The humor dancing across his face told her he wasn’t trying to be an ass. Laughing, she offered a shrug. “I probably should have mentioned it on my job application, no?” A laugh rolled out of his broad chest. “Skills—not wearing underwear. God, if I’d known that, I would’ve had my way with you a long time ago.” “I wish you had,” she murmured. Before he could say anything, she picked up her purse from the coffee table and took out the condoms she’d stashed there. She tossed him one and said, “Put this on already so I can have my way with you.” His twin brother might have been the army man in the family, but Owen rolled the condom on with swift, military precision. His eagerness made her laugh again, but the amusement faded when he crooked a long finger and said, “Come here, baby.” Baby. The rush of emotion she experienced from the endearment made her legs wobble. Collecting her composure, she sauntered back to the couch, climbed onto his lap and sat right on his cock. They both moaned from the intimate contact. “God, Maddie,” he whispered as she started to move. “God, that’s good.” She rolled her hips a bit, eliciting another moan from him. They kept to a slow, lazy pace, their gazes locked, their breath coming out in soft pants. Despite herself, she remembered the husky commands Cooper had given her the night they’d been together, how she’d eagerly soaked up the knowledge, playing student to his teacher. Funny, how all those new skills had flown out the

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window, how they didn’t even matter in this moment. Owen raised his hips to thrust into her, and she moved faster, her body taking on a life of its own. She watched his eyes as she made love to him and saw glimmers of wonder and desire. Tenderness and bewilderment. He felt it too, she realized. The warmth. The connection. The feeling of sheer and total rightness. It didn’t matter who did what, didn’t matter if each stroke was smooth or unpolished. Everything about this simply felt right. “Maddie,” he murmured again, reaching up to bring her face to his. They kissed again, deep and gentle, and then he flipped her over without any warning. She lay on her back, Owen’s hard, beautiful body moving over hers. Wrapping her arms around him, she welcomed each thrust, moaning with sudden impatience. “Faster,” she urged him. “Slower,” he corrected. She blinked, and then he was no longer inside her. Disappointment bloomed in her chest, but it was swiftly replaced with a jolt of arousal as Owen slid down her body and brought his mouth to her aching sex. She nearly protested—she was the one who was supposed to take control. She was the seductress. But then Owen looked up at her, his handsome features taut and creased with blatant desire, and Maddie realized all the power was still firmly in her hands. He was clearly ready to explode, yet her pleasure was his priority. “Tell me what you like,” he rasped out, his breath tickling her damp folds. She had to smile. “I’m pretty sure I’ll like anything you do to me.” And she did, each slow lick and flick of the tongue making her claw at the couch cushions. When his tongue entered her, mimicking what his cock had done, she grabbed his head and pressed his face to her core, taking everything he offered, demanding more. Her pulse drummed between her ears. Her thighs


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turned to jelly. And just before release could crash over her, she pulled his dark hair, yanked his head back, and said, “I want to come with you inside me.” His eyes glittered. “Fuck, I love the whole bossy thing you’ve got going,” he muttered as he climbed back up. “Yeah?” “Oh yeah. It’s such a turn-on.” Satisfaction flooded her body, followed by a whole lot of raw pleasure as his erection slid into her and his mouth came down on hers. Slow was no longer on the menu. His hips pounded into her, his tongue thrust into her mouth, and when he reached between them and stroked her clit, mumbling unintelligible words of encouragement, Maddie came apart. She cried out as the orgasm swept through her, rocking against him as she came so hard, so fast, she couldn’t even breathe. With a groan, he gave in to his own release, and she held him tightly, squeezing her inner muscles around him to prolong his climax. Eventually their breathing steadied and they grew still. As Maddie lay there, feeling the wild thump of his heartbeat against her breasts, a single, relentless thought burned through her mind. Mine. She loved this man, had loved him for so damn long, and she tightened her grip around his sweat-slicked shoulders, never wanting to let go. Owen Bishop was hers. And her heart…well, that was his.

“I can’t believe you talked me into a day off,” Owen grumbled two days later as he ducked under a low-hanging branch and followed Maddie deeper into the forest.

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“Oh, quit complaining,” she called over her shoulder. “You know you’re having fun.” He was glad she was ahead of him and couldn’t see his face, because he knew she would’ve teased him about his big, goofy smile. She was right—his griping was nothing more than a show. Truth was, this was probably the best day of his life, and it was only midafternoon. He and Maddie had shared breakfast in bed this morning, followed by a long shower that ended with the hottest bathroom-floor sex ever. He’d intended to get some work done at some point, but then Maddie had reminded him of what had happened yesterday, when they’d gone to work together only to lock themselves in his office for the entire morning and afternoon. She’d convinced him to take the day off, saying they’d just work extra hard tomorrow, though he couldn’t really see that happening. Ever since Sunday, when he’d thrown caution to the wind and given in to his desire for Maddie, he’d been like a man obsessed. Obsessed with her delectable body, that is. He couldn’t seem to get enough of her, no matter how many times they had sex. Pretty damn amazing, considering it usually only took two or three days for him to get tired of the woman in his bed. But he wasn’t tired of Maddie. Not by a long shot. If anything, he only wanted her more, and that, well, that was pretty damn troubling. “We’re here.” Maddie’s cheerful voice drew him from his thoughts and he blinked a few times to orient himself. Pushing branches aside, they stepped through the brush. A moment later the trees and shrubs cleared, and they reached the edge of a rocky cliff. Maddie was grinning as they approached the edge. “This was my first cliff dive,” she told him. “I was here with my brothers, and Jim went first, taunting Luke and Josh from the water and saying they didn’t have the balls to


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jump. They totally didn’t—the two of them were looking at each other all hesitant, trying to figure out which one would make a move first.” “And let me guess, your balls were big enough for the both of them,” Owen said dryly. “Yep. While they were debating, I ran right past them and dove in.” She laughed. “When I hit the water, Jim was there, scolding me and threatening to spank me for being so reckless.” Owen looked down, not sure he disapproved of her older brother’s reaction. It was only about a fifteen-foot drop to the calm, murky lake below, but there were nasty-looking boulders down at the bottom. If the diver didn’t have a good running start, no way could they clear those rocks. He pictured Maddie diving off the cliff, and his throat tightened. He’d always known she was a bit of a daredevil, but he hadn’t experienced it firsthand before. From the corner of his eye, he caught a blur of movement, and when he turned his head, he saw Maddie wiggling out of her jeans. “What are you doing?” he demanded. “Don’t want to get my clothes wet,” she answered breezily. “Wet jeans suck.” His mouth went dry as she removed her T-shirt. She looked so freaking sexy standing there in her bra and panties. He knew her height bothered her, but he loved it. All those long, smooth lines of her body, the endless legs and graceful neck. He went into a daze for a moment, his cock thickening and pressing against his zipper, but he snapped out of it when he noticed Maddie striding away from the edge. “Wait, what are you—” “See you at the bottom!”

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And then she dashed toward the edge of the cliff and soared right over it. Owen’s heart lodged in his throat as he watched her body curve in a dive. With a jolt of fear, he peered over the edge, relief coursing through him when he saw her slice into the water cleanly. Ripples formed around the spot where she’d submerged. She surfaced a few seconds later, pushing wet hair from her eyes. Jesus Christ. The woman was insane. How hadn’t he noticed that when he’d hired her as his assistant? The sound of her melodic laughter reached him. “Come join me, Bishop—or are you too scared to jump?” His nostrils flared. Too scared, his ass. Not wanting to be showed up by a grown woman with freckles, Owen hurriedly undressed and got a good running start. He took a quick breath, sprinted toward the edge and said a prayer. The cool water engulfed him, a refreshing feeling after the hour-long hike in the late August sunshine. He stayed under water for a moment, swimming a few strokes, then emerged to find Maddie treading water beside him, a big grin on her face. “Isn’t it a total thrill?” she demanded. He smiled at the jubilant tone of her voice. “Yeah, but I can think of better thrills,” he responded. “Like what?” Owen grabbed hold of her hips, brought her body to his, and leaned down to kiss her. Sighing in pleasure, Maddie wrapped those long legs around his waist and kissed him back, her tongue sliding over his in slow thrusts. Lord. It still sent his mind reeling, how sensual this woman was. She had no inhibitions, and no matter what he did to her, no matter what position they found themselves in, she threw herself into it with wild abandon.


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He hadn’t expected that. Also hadn’t expected that nothing would change. Incredible sex aside, their relationship was exactly how it had always been. Filled with humor and good-natured bickering, along with the occasional heated argument. They were both too stubborn for their own good, so it probably shouldn’t surprise him that they would still fight like cats and dogs, even as lovers. Lovers. Christ, he still couldn’t believe how quickly they’d adapted to the new title, how comfortable it was. He’d never felt this relaxed with the other women he’d dated, which was why he’d made sure to keep everything strictly about sex. But with Maddie…it was so much more. The scary realization had him breaking the kiss. He floated on his back, pretending he’d ended the intimate contact out of sheer laziness, but the perceptive look in Maddie’s brown eyes told him she hadn’t bought it. “What’s wrong?” she murmured. “Nothing’s wrong.” “Liar.” She swam alongside him. “What’s going on in that brain of yours?” “I…I was just thinking,” he answered in a reluctant tone. “About?” she prompted. “About us. About how normal this feels.” She laughed. “Should it feel abnormal then?” “No, but…but I just don’t understand how sex…well, why we can still be friends even though we’re having sex.” He felt like an idiot just saying the words, but for some reason, he’d never been able to lie to or hold back from this woman. “Because we are friends,” she said simply. “Weren’t you friends with any of the women you dated?”

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“Well, no.” They treaded water for a moment, eyeing each other. Maddie wrinkled her forehead. “Why didn’t any of your relationships work out?” Discomfort crept up his spine. “I don’t know.” “Sure you do.” She slanted her head. “So why?” She was touching on territory he didn’t like discussing, and maybe it made him a coward, but he found himself eager to get away from her. “I’m hungry. Let’s climb up and get our clothes.” He took off in a fast breaststroke before she could answer, but Maddie was a damn good swimmer, and she reached the shore at the same time he did. They climbed onto the rocky bank, water dripping from their bodies. Owen glanced over and saw Maddie watching him with an intrigued look. “Do you really think I’m going to drop the subject?” she asked with a faint smile. After a second of silence, he let out a heavy sigh. “No.” “Then quit avoiding and tell me why you think you’re not cut out for relationships.” He blinked in surprise. “Who says I think that?” “I do.” She crossed her arms over her chest, which only directed his attention to the nipples poking against her sheer pink bra. His mouth grew dry, and his face—or maybe his groin—must have conveyed his rising desire, because she shot him a frown and said, “I’m not having sex with you again until you tell me the truth.” Owen sighed. “I mean it,” she warned. Stubborn woman.


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With another breath, he sank down on one of the large, moss-covered boulders. She joined him, tilting her head as she waited for him to explain. “I think I inherited my dad’s adultery gene.”

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Chapter Eight

There was a deafening silence. Then Maddie burst out laughing. “What?” As Owen’s jaw tensed, she realized that laughing at him while he was sharing his deepest, darkest secret probably hadn’t been a good idea. She couldn’t help herself, though. Owen’s abrupt confession was so absurd she wasn’t even sure how to approach it. “Forget I said anything,” he muttered, starting to get up. She clamped her hand over his bare thigh and forced him to stay put. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed. But…are you serious?” He nodded. “Owen, that’s crazy. Adultery doesn’t run in the family, for Pete’s sake.” “How do you know?” he countered. “You’re not a geneticist.” “Neither are you!” He opened and closed his mouth, as if he had a tic in his jaw, then released a ragged breath. “You know about my dad, right?” She faltered. “You mean…” “That he cheated on my mom with anything in a skirt?” Sarcasm dripped freely from his voice. “Yeah, that’s what I mean.” “I heard the rumors,” she said tentatively. A lot of rumors. Even in high school, she’d heard about Henry Bishop’s indecent reputation. Owen and Jake had been two years ahead of her in school, their younger brother Austin a year behind, so it was no surprise that all their

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peers constantly gossiped about the boys’ father. Apparently Henry Bishop hadn’t tried to hide his behavior either, not from his wife, or anyone else in town. Owen was quiet for nearly a minute. “Before he died, I asked him why he did it,” he confessed. Eek. Maddie could just envision that conversation. Henry lying in a hospital bed as the cancer ravaged his stomach, while his son questioned him about his extracurricular activities. Owen would have been about nineteen when his father died. “What did he say?” she asked softly. Owen made a harsh sound in his throat. “Oh, he gave me a whole speech about how much he loved Mom, that he’d always loved her, but that he was just weak. He said he got restless, tired of the same old thing—yeah, apparently Mom was a thing—and that he couldn’t resist temptation.” Maddie raised her eyebrows. “And you think that you’re like him?” She shook her head. “No way, Owen. You’re not weak, and you certainly don’t treat women like objects.” “But I think I inherited that restlessness,” he said hoarsely. “Even in high school, I’d go out with a girl, but get bored and restless with her after only a few days, already having eyes on someone new.” “Lots of people get bored with the people they’re with,” she said in a quiet voice. “It usually means they haven’t found the right person.” He glanced over at her in dismay. “You really believe that?” “Sure.” “Then what about my dad?” he pointed out. “Because he claimed that my mother was the right person for him. He just couldn’t stay faithful to her.” He visibly swallowed. “What if that happens to me? I find the right woman, but she’s still not enough for me.”

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Frustration filled Maddie’s chest. “My mom used to say that people who live their lives worrying about the what ifs aren’t actually living their lives.” “That’s pretty perceptive of her.” He focused those sexy gray eyes on her face. “You never talk about your mom.” “She died a long time ago,” Maddie said with a sad smile. “There’s not much to say about it.” “Do you miss her?” “All the time.” They went quiet, lost in their own thoughts. Maddie wished her mother were still alive, so she could tell her about Owen, ask her advice about the ridiculous fear he’d evidently harbored all of these years. Her mom had always known exactly what to say, but she’d died when Maddie was eleven, leaving her to be raised by a strict father and three overprotective older brothers. Maybe if she’d had a feminine role model, she wouldn’t be such a damn tomboy. Maybe she’d have a better understanding of men as a woman and not just a buddy. “I think you’re comparing yourself with your father when there really is no comparison,” she finally said, reaching for his hand and stroking his calloused palm. “You’re not going to cheat on your wife, Owen. When you find the right woman, you’ll be faithful to her.” A lump lodged in the back of her throat. Me, she wanted to add. I’m the right woman. But she didn’t have the nerve. Everything between them was still so new, so fragile. She didn’t want to scare him off, so she kept quiet, only to experience a shock at his next words. “I think I’ve already found her,” he said in a husky voice. Their gazes locked. “You mean that?” she whispered.


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He leaned closer and brushed his lips over hers. “You’re my best friend, Maddie. And you drive me absolutely mad with lust.” His gaze dropped to his groin, which now sported a massive erection. “I can’t think of a better deal than that, can you?” A smile reached her lips. “No, I don’t think it gets any better,” she agreed.

Cooper’s palms were unusually damp as he waited on Lexie’s front porch. Last time he’d been here, she’d slammed the door in his face, and he was pretty sure this was going to be a repeat performance, especially after she heard what he had to say. He rubbed his hands on the front of his jeans. The door still hadn’t opened, but he knew she was home—her silver BMW was parked in the driveway. Maybe she’d spotted him from an upstairs window and simply decided not to come down. The thought made him clench his fists. Damn that woman. He knew it was his fault that she didn’t want to see him, but that only made him angrier. Because he wanted to see her. He wasn’t sure when or how Lexie Price had gotten under his skin, but it was getting harder and harder to deny what he felt. That pissed him off too. He didn’t want to feel anything for Lexie. He’d moved to Paradise for a reason, and that reason hadn’t been to get involved with the snooty daughter of the town mayor. Cooper stared at the closed door, cursing under his breath. Screw it. He shouldn’t have come here anyway. It wasn’t Lexie’s business who he slept with. She’d dumped him, for fuck’s sake. Turning away, he headed for the porch steps, reaching the bottom one just as a creak sounded from behind. “Cooper?”

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With great reluctance, he turned around. Lexie stood in the doorway, wearing nothing but a fluffy green bathrobe. Her blonde hair was wet, and her face had a pink, freshly scrubbed glow. “Hey,” he greeted her, voice gruff. His cock decided to offer its own greeting, growing harder than a slat of wood. It made climbing the porch steps difficult, but he managed. It always turned him on, seeing her without the makeup and fancy clothes. She was much hotter when she wasn’t so put together. “What are you doing here?” she asked with a weary sigh. He’d wanted to ease into the confession slowly, maybe work up to it a little, but when he opened his mouth, the words just flew out. “I slept with Maddie Wilson.” Lexie’s pale-blue eyes flashed for a second, then went emotionless. “Yeah, I figured.” Surprise jolted through him. “You did?” “I saw her get into your truck the night of the bachelorette. Knowing you as well as I do, it wasn’t hard to imagine what you two were going to do.” His skin prickled. “Of course,” he said mockingly. “Me being such a man whore, obviously I’d screw anything in sight.” Lexie barked out a laugh. “And you did sleep with her, so there you go.” “I was helping her out,” he blurted out. She arched one blonde eyebrow. “I’m sure you were.” “I’m serious,” he insisted. “That’s why I came here today, to tell you that there’s nothing going on with me and Maddie. It was just one night, a favor to a friend.” “Uh-huh.” “She needed to feel wanted,” he said in a low voice. “She’s head over heels in love with that fucking Bishop, all right? She just needed a friend.”


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To his surprise, Lexie’s features softened. “She told you about her crush on Owen?” “Crush?” He sighed. “It’s more than a crush. Like I said, head over heels.” Her face hardened once more. “And you so graciously decided to help her out, didn’t you? Can’t pass up an opportunity to use that dick of yours, right?” “No need to be a bitch,” he said through gritted teeth. “I just wanted you to know that I’m not with Maddie or anything.” “Why?” Frustration laced her words. “Why did you need me to know that?” “Because…” He trailed off, finding the courage to meet her eyes. She looked angry and confused, and so fucking beautiful his heart ached. “Because I haven’t given up on us.” She stared at him, incredulous. “There is no us, Coop. There never was.” “Yes, there was.” He moved closer, lifting a hand to her face. Her breath hitched as he caressed her silky cheek with his thumb. “And there will be again, Lex.” “Why?” she demanded, suddenly looking annoyed. “What the hell do you want with me, Cooper? I’m five years older than you. I’m an ice princess, cold and emotionless, like a damn robot. I’m neurotic and insecure and a total pain in the ass most of the time. What on earth do you want with me?” A laugh escaped his lips. “You’re five years older, yeah. But the rest of it? Bullshit, darlin’. And that bullshit is the reason I’m not giving up on this.” Her features collapsed, etched with bewilderment and doubt. “I don’t understand you at all.” “Not sure I understand myself half the time,” he replied with a shrug. He dropped his hand from her cheek and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m going to leave now, Lex.” She blinked. “What?”

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“I’m leaving, giving you some time to let it settle.” Determination seized hold of his chest. “But I’m coming back. I’m coming back, and I’m claiming you, and I’m going to show you that all those things you think about yourself— they’re pure crap.” Her mouth formed a shocked “o”. He would have liked to stick around and wait for the anger and indignation—she was so sexy when she was pissed off— but he was too damn close to pulling her into his arms and kissing the shit out of her. Better to go now, give her something to think about. “See you soon, darlin’,” he said with a faint grin, and then he turned on his heel and left her there on the porch.

Maddie liked old action movies. Owen had always considered himself an expert in the genre, particularly when it came to anything Bruce Willis related, but he’d been gravely mistaken. Maddie could quote every line from every Die Hard movie. She was well versed in anything Seagal. A fan of the underrated Demolition Man. And he was undeniably, irrevocably in love with her. Ducking his head under the hot shower spray, Owen closed his eyes and let out a soundless groan. His stomach was in knots, his hands trembling like those of a nervous preschooler on the first day of kindergarten. It had been four days since he’d given in to this insane attraction to Maddie. They’d had sex and cuddled, hiked and dove off a cliff, had breakfast in bed, dinner on his living room carpet. She’d slept at his place since that first night—they’d driven to work together, visited job sites while shooting each other lascivious sidelong glances. During all that, he’d managed to control his conflicting his emotions. Managed to


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pretend that this thing between them wasn’t as deep and monumental as he’d worried it would be. And then he’d heard her recite the opening scene of Die Hard and he’d nearly blurted out the words I love you. He gave another groan, this one out loud but fortunately muffled by the rushing water in the shower. He was in love with Maddie. There was no other explanation for the hot spurt of emotion that spilled over each time he looked into her big brown eyes, or for the vise of protectiveness that clamped around his heart each time he held her in his arms. He was in love with Maddie. How had he let this happen? She might have laughed at him when he’d revealed his innermost fear of ending up like his father, but to him, it was no laughing matter. He was terrified of hurting her. He hadn’t felt anything for the women who had previously walked through the revolving door of his love life, but Maddie was different. She was his closest friend. God, what if he lost her? “Move over.” His head lifted as the shower door slid open, letting out a cloud of steam. He swallowed when a very naked Maddie joined him in the stall, brushing past him to soak her long hair. “I know you said separate showers, but you were taking too damn long,” she said over her shoulder. “I was scared there wouldn’t be enough hot water left to wash my hair.” Owen instantly got hard watching the water sluice down her long, curvy body. Unable to help it, he stepped directly behind her, his erection pressing between her ass cheeks. When she moaned and leaned into the contact, he was tempted to slide into her. But they were in the shower without a condom, and so he reined in the impulse, grinding his cock against her ass instead.

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Maddie reached for his shampoo bottle, but he intercepted her hand. “Let me do it,” he said gruffly. He squirted a glop of shampoo into his hands and lathered up her hair, gently rubbing her scalp. “Oh, that’s good,” she said with a tiny moan. When she turned around and brought her head under the spray, he stared at her closed eyelids, the relaxed curved of her sexy mouth. Lord, why had it taken him so long to notice how beautiful she was? Or maybe he’d always noticed, but had buried the truth in an attempt to keep his distance. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever been able to talk to.” Her eyelids snapped open, shock on her face, and Owen felt his cheeks grow hot. Shit. Why had he said that? Where had it even come from? “Is that a good thing, or a bad one?” she asked. “A good one.” He held her chin with one hand and said, “Tilt your head back.” She did, and he rinsed off the remaining shampoo. When he finished, he pulled her toward him and kissed her. Her lips parted for him and he pushed his tongue into her mouth, cupping her breasts with his hands. As she let out a soft purr of pleasure, Owen toyed with her stiff nipples, then ran his hands over her wet, flat stomach. He wasn’t bored, he realized. That gnawing feeling he usually got, the end this now thoughts that typically plagued his mind after he’d spent too much time with one woman—none of that was happening. A gust of liberation flew through him as he let that register. Maybe this could work, this thing with him and Maddie. Maybe for the first time in his life, he truly had found the right woman. The one woman who would satisfy him for the rest of his life.


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Chapter Nine

“She’s the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” Maddie whispered to Lexie as the two of them stood on the edge of the dance floor. She couldn’t take her eyes off Charlotte, who was dancing with Nate. With her long red hair piled atop her head, her cheeks flushed with happiness and her green eyes focused on her new husband, Charlotte made a truly stunning picture, a vision in white lace. “And it was a beautiful ceremony,” Lexie added, her blue eyes awash with emotion. Maddie had to concur. She’d definitely shed a few tears watching Nate and Charlotte exchange their vows. The ceremony and reception were both being held at Nate’s place, and although his house was modest in size compared to others in the area, he had an enormous property. Owen and the crew had built a dance floor right over the grass, and the newlyweds had said their vows under a beautiful, intricately carved wooden altar that Owen had built himself. He’d showed it to her last night, and she’d nearly cried at the sight of it. Owen hadn’t said a word about it, but apparently he’d been working on the altar for months, stashing it on the property of one of their clients until the big reveal. There were only about forty people in attendance—the Bishop family, a handful of Nate and Charlotte’s friends, and the agent, manager and musicians Charlotte had worked with in the past. Tables piled with food were set up on one end of the yard, and the mother of the groom, Della Bishop, was bustling around making sure the guests were well fed and that their champagne glasses were full.


Maddie understood Della’s excitement—Nate was the first of her sons to get married, and it was obvious his mother was over the moon about it. Maddie had noticed Della shooting her and Owen a few curious glances too, especially when Owen had revealed to his mom that the two of them were dating. Dating. That he wasn’t shy or scared to tell people about their relationship brought a rush of pure joy to her belly. She’d noticed a change in Owen over the past week, a subtle shift in behavior that she still couldn’t figure out. He almost seemed…lighter. As if confessing his fear to her that day at the lake had lifted a weight off his chest. Or maybe the change had happened during the movie marathon they’d had a few days ago, when she’d glanced over and noticed him looking at her with the most wondrous expression, as if he were seeing her for the first time. Whatever it was, she wasn’t complaining. Owen had been unbelievably loving and attentive this week, and he’d clutched her hand so tightly and had looked at her with such emotion during their walk down the aisle. A part of her wondered if maybe he loved her, but she was too nervous to ask him how he felt. Her feelings, on the other hand, were as clear as the blue sky overhead. She hadn’t said it out loud, but he must know she loved him. She’d loved him from the day they’d met. “By the way,” Lexie spoke up, pulling Maddie from her mushy thoughts, “Cooper told me you guys slept together.” Maddie nearly dropped her iced tea glass. She swiveled her head in shock. “He did? But…why were you talking to Cooper?” Lexie shrugged, her expression becoming veiled. “Oh, we just ran into each other.”


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“And he just happened to mention that he and I slept together? Why would he say that to a total strang—” She halted, her eyes widening. “Oh my God.” The blonde beside her looked distinctly uncomfortable. “What?” “Is he…is Cooper the guy you were telling me about?” Disbelief swirled inside her. “You were involved with Cooper Grady?” Lexie frowned. “Keep your voice down.” “Why?” She paused. “Nobody else knows?” With a shaky exhale, Lexie met her eyes and said, “You’re the only one who knows.” She shook her head, trying to comprehend it all. Lexie Price and Cooper Grady? It was such a ridiculous pairing she had trouble wrapping her mind around it. “But…you’re so…elegant,” she blurted out. “And he’s so…” “Crude?” Lexie filled in, a glint of humor entering her blue eyes. “Rough? Rude? An asshole? Yeah, he sure is.” “When did…how long were you two together?” “A few months.” Lexie didn’t elaborate, and Maddie didn’t push her. She was still reeling over the revelation, and also feeling a bit horrified. “It only happened once,” she admitted in a hushed voice. “Cooper and me, I mean. We’re not…we’re not together or anything.” Lexie shot a discreet glance at Owen, who was laughing at something his mother had said. “I kind of guessed,” she said dryly. “Owen’s been going around telling everyone you two are an item.” She blushed. “He has?” “Yep, and he seems pretty happy about it. What about you? Are you happy?”

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“Blissfully happy,” Maddie said, a lump of emotion clogging her throat. “I…I love him.” There was a wistful twinge in Lexie’s voice. “I can see that.” “As for Cooper,” she added awkwardly, “we’re just friends. And I swear to you, if I’d known about you two, I never would have…you know.” Lexie waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fine. I’ll admit, I was a bit jealous when he told me, but I’m over it now. I’m over him.” The wobble in that last bit didn’t go unnoticed. “Are you sure about that?” Maddie asked in a gentle tone. “Of course I’m sure. Cooper and I are done. Over.” After a beat of silence, Maddie just shrugged. “Whatever you say.” “Owen’s waving you over,” Lexie said, abruptly changing the subject. “I’ll go see what he wants,” she murmured. With a quick squeeze to Lexie’s arm, Maddie drifted away, wondering if the other woman realized what Maddie had seen the moment Cooper’s name had been mentioned. No, she didn’t think Lexie was even aware of it. But it didn’t take a genius to see that Lexie was in love with the guy. And speaking of love, Owen had noticed her coming toward him and his handsome face brightened at the sight of her. He held out his arms to her, and a smile stretched across Maddie’s face as she walked into the embrace of the man she loved.

Maddie smelled like heaven. She was wearing some kind of perfume that smelled like honey and sunflowers and Owen breathed her in as he planted a quick kiss on her neck. She looked like heaven too, in a pale-green strapless dress that draped over her long body in Grecian-style folds. The other bridesmaids


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were wearing the same dress, but Owen hadn’t even noticed them. He only had eyes for Maddie. “Well, well, what happened to the tomboy I knew and loved?” Owen rolled his eyes as his twin brother approached them, a champagne glass in his hand. This was the first time he’d seen Jake in nearly a year, and he was still trying to comprehend the subtle change he’d noticed in his brother. Although their features were identical, Jake’s face had a harder edge to it now, made all the more lethal by his military buzz cut and the new scar slashing through his left eyebrow. Owen hadn’t had a chance to ask Jake about the scar— it hadn’t been there last time Jake had come home—but Jake’s missions were usually top secret, which meant Owen wouldn’t be privy to the details anyway. “Jake,” Maddie said in delight. Owen experienced an odd spark of jealousy as Maddie hugged his twin brother. The spark died when he saw Jake pinch one of Maddie’s cheeks as if he were her elderly aunt or something. “You clean up well, Wilson,” Jake teased, his gray eyes dancing with amusement. “So do you,” she replied with a grin. She gestured to his black tux. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you without camo pants and a T-shirt.” “Mom would’ve killed me if I wore that to my big brother’s wedding,” Jake said with a sigh. Owen smiled as he watched the exchange between Maddie and his twin. It brought him a weird sense of pleasure that she got along so well with his family. His mother had already pulled him aside and begged him to let her plan the wedding, a suggestion he’d merely laughed at. He definitely wasn’t ready for that, but the fact that he hadn’t been terrified when his mom said the word wedding told him that his feelings for Maddie were as strong as he’d suspected.

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He loved being with her, loved the sex, and now he was loving the way she interacted with his family. She was already growing closer to Charlotte, his new sister-in-law, and he’d even seen her joking around with his uncle Rice earlier. “Are you going to tell us about the scar?” Maddie’s question caught his attention, but as he’d figured, Jake simply shrugged and gave a secretive little smile. “Nope,” he said. Her eyes narrowed, focusing on someone behind Owen. “And you,” she called, “don’t tell me you’ve been fighting battles too.” Owen turned to see his younger brother approach. Austin’s appearance was probably even more startling than Jake’s—his face was thinner, his body a bit lean beneath his tuxedo, and as Maddie had noticed, he had a new scar too, a thin pink line along the curve of his jaw. But it wasn’t just Austin’s looks that troubled Owen. His little brother had barely said two words to their mother in the three days he’d been home, and Owen still couldn’t figure out what had gone down. Della had admitted that she and Austin had had a falling out, but he couldn’t seem to pry any details out of either of them. He knew he wouldn’t get any answers today either, not during Nate’s big day. “No battles, just a knife fight in Johannesburg,” Austin said as he joined them, flashing his teeth in a nonchalant grin. “A knife fight?” both Owen and Jake demanded. Austin ignored the identical disapproving tones. “Some asshole was trying to steal my camera—what was I supposed to do, let him take it?” “Yes,” the twins said in unison. Austin looked to Maddie for backup. “Tell my brothers to stop worrying about me. I’m a big boy.” Maddie grinned. “Big boys don’t play with knives, pal.” She glanced at Owen. “Would you mind getting me an iced tea? I’d get it myself, but your mom


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is standing by the drink table and I’m scared she’s going to ask me about wedding dresses again.” “Coming right up, ma’am.” As he hurried off to get her that drink, he heard his brothers laughing. Thought he heard one of them say “whipped.” But he ignored the good-natured teasing. He knew Jake and Austin loved Maddie, and if he was whipped, then so what. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this happy. Like Maddie had warned, his mom was by the refreshment table, but fortunately she was chatting with Charlotte’s manager, leaving Owen to get Maddie’s drink without being harassed. As he poured iced tea from the large glass pitcher on the table, he caught a flash of movement from the corner of his eye, and turned to find a beautiful blonde standing next to him. “Would you mind pouring me one of those?” she asked in a throaty voice. He nodded rather than answering, taken aback by the gorgeous female beside him. She had the palest blonde hair he’d ever seen, nearly platinum, but it didn’t look dyed. Rather, her hair resembled strands of fine silk, plaited into a braid that hung over one shoulder. She had nice eyes too, a deep amber color, and the lavender dress she wore hugged a body that was both petite and abundant with curves. She smiled at him as he handed her a glass of iced tea, and Owen was shocked by the flicker of arousal that tickled his body. “I’m Kerry, by the way,” the blonde said, still smiling. “I played bass on Charlotte’s last tour.” Owen just nodded again, all the while trying to figure out where that burst of attraction had come from. He wasn’t supposed to find other women attractive. And he definitely wasn’t allowed to feel aroused by anyone other than Maddie. “You’re Nate’s brother, right?” Kerry pressed.

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Another nod. When she smiled again, the tiny tug of attraction returned, making his head spin. Lord, how could this be happening? He was with Maddie. He was happy, damn it. As his hands shook, he poured iced tea into another glass and took a desperate step to the side. “Uh, it was nice meeting you. I have to…uh, give this to someone.” He held up the glass as evidence, then darted away, feeling like he’d been punched in the gut. Gulping down the lump in his throat, he headed back to Maddie, who was now talking to Lexie Price. The way he’d reacted to that blonde sent a tremor of shame through him. It had been a familiar reaction, one that usually led to a flirty exchange, a round of casual sex, and a good-bye. But all that was in the past, right? He was in love with Maddie. He’d never act on some traitorous pull of desire that drew him to another woman, even a hot one like Charlotte’s bassist. Right? The thoughts wreaking havoc on his brain confused the shit out of him. Swallowing, he tried to ignore them as he made his way over to Maddie. “Are you sure you’re not angry?” He halted at the sound of her hushed voice. She and Lexie had their backs to him, and he could see from the sudden stiffness of Lexie’s shoulders that she wasn’t happy with the current topic of conversation. “I told you,” the other woman said, “it’s fine. I don’t care that you slept with Cooper. I really don’t—” What? As his chest tightened with shock, Owen took a hurried step to the side, ducking behind a group of his mom’s friends from her knitting club. For a


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moment he wondered if he’d imagined it, but Lexie Price’s cool voice continued to blaze through his mind. I don’t care that you slept with Cooper. Ice slithered trough Owen’s veins as he absorbed the horrifying thought. His hands curled into fists, one pressed against the trousers of his tux, the other nearly breaking the iced tea glass he’d brought for Maddie. Maddie had slept with Cooper? Cooper Grady? What. The. Fuck.

“Why are you so quiet?” Maddie asked, following Owen into his living room. He made a sound that was a cross between a grunt and a grumble, which brought a wave of uneasiness to her stomach. He hadn’t said a word since they’d left the reception. Hadn’t even smiled when she’d suggested they spend the rest of the evening watching Jean-Claude Van Damme’s entire filmography. God, he could be so damn frustrating sometimes, especially when it came to revealing what was on his mind. So tight-lipped and stubborn about sharing his feelings. “Are you angry about something?” she asked when he still didn’t utter a word. Owen removed his tuxedo jacket and tossed it on the leather recliner next to the couch. “Should I be?” he finally said, his voice lacking any shred of emotion. “I don’t know,” she retorted, biting back irritation. “Should you?” Tightening his jaw, he flopped down on the couch and casually crossed his ankles together. “Well, I don’t really know. Is a man supposed to be angry when he finds out the woman he’s with slept with someone else?” Shock crashed into her. “What?”

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Owen looked at her with stormy gray eyes. “I overheard you and Lexie. You were talking about how you slept with Cooper Grady.” Maddie nearly keeled over by the wave of guilt that swelled inside her. She stared at Owen, shame creeping up her spine and grabbing hold of her throat. She gulped a few times, afraid to meet his harsh gaze, but then she forced herself to snap out of it. She had no reason to feel guilty. She might have had sex with Cooper, but she’d done it before she and Owen agreed to see this relationship through. “I did sleep with Cooper,” she said in a steady voice. “Before you and I got together.” “So that makes it better?” he muttered. “It doesn’t make it anything,” she said quietly. “Cooper and I had sex. Once. And it was after you pushed me away, saying you couldn’t get involved with me.” “Are you in love with him?” The hoarse question made her heart clench. “Of course not,” she said firmly. “Like I said, it was just sex.” “Just sex,” he echoed dully. After a second of hesitation, she went to sit beside him, placing her hand on his shoulder. “It wasn’t a big deal,” she murmured. “It happened one time.” “I…” He raked a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t know what to say.” “Say you agree that it isn’t a big deal.” She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t care that you slept with a ton of women before we got together. It doesn’t make a difference to me.” “Oh really?” She faltered. “It doesn’t. Everyone has a past, Owen. It’s the present and future that matter most.”


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“I guess,” he said darkly. “You guess?” Her irritation returned. “Are you saying you really can’t get over the fact that I slept with someone else—when we weren’t even together?” His jaw twitched. “Maybe that is what I’m saying.” Maddie’s eyebrows shot up. “You can’t be serious.” He turned to meet her eyes, and she realized with growing dismay that he was serious. His features were taut, his expression blank, and she could see his throat working as he swallowed. “I don’t know if I can look at you without picturing you having sex with that guy.” She just gaped at him. “Wow. You’re being unbelievably ridiculous, you know that?” A panicked thought occurred to her. “Are you…are you breaking up with me?” He didn’t answer. Anger and disbelief formed a bitter cocktail that swirled in her gut. “Do you even want to know why I did it?” More silence. “Because I was insecure,” she growled. “After you pushed me away, I thought it was because my inexperience might have scared you off.” His head lifted in surprise. “I needed reassurance, okay? And Cooper was there, willing to give it to me.” Owen stiffened at the mention of Cooper’s name. “So, what? You slept with him to get back at me for that night?” “Of course not.” She stared at him in utter misery. “I just wanted to feel…wanted. Maybe it was silly, but I wanted to feel like I could handle myself in

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the bedroom, that I wasn’t some naïve schoolgirl who couldn’t turn someone on.” Bitterness laced his next words. “Did you turn Cooper on?” Without letting her respond, he hurried on, his voice cold. “You claim you’ve been in love with me for years, and then we fool around, and three days later you hop into bed with another man. What am I supposed to make of that?” “You can accept that maybe we both had some issues,” she said quietly. “Mine were about insecurity, yours about fidelity.” He gave a humorless laugh. “Yeah, and the fact that you screwed Cooper Grady doesn’t really convince me that people are capable of being faithful to one another.” Maddie shot to her feet, unable to believe what was happening. “So you’re saying I cheated on you when we weren’t even together?” “I don’t know what I’m saying.” He sighed. “But I do know we need some time apart. Time for me to digest all this.” “Digest it?” Wow. Maddie couldn’t control the annoyance pricking at her skin. Maybe she should’ve told him sooner about Cooper, but she didn’t regret what she’d done. She’d needed Cooper that night, though she probably shouldn’t be surprised that Owen didn’t understand. He was Mr. Confident when it came to sex. And he’d hooked up with countless airheads before they’d gotten together. You didn’t see her holding it against him. How could he be so willing to throw away something so good, something so— She suddenly froze, another thought dawning on her. “Oh for Pete’s sake,” she grumbled. “You’re doing this on purpose.” Owen’s head shot up. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, eyeing her in suspicion.


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“Oh yes, you do.” She eyed him right back, equally suspicious. “You’re in love with me, aren’t you?” His jaw tensed again. “What?” “You’re in love with me. That’s why you’ve been acting so strangely the past few days,” she said slowly. “Looking at me with that weird expression, as if you’re confused about something.” Owen was shaking his head. “Stop trying to change the subject. This is about you sleeping with—” “No, it’s not,” she interrupted, an amazed laugh slipping from her mouth. “This is about you. Being scared again. And fine, maybe you’re a bit jealous of what happened with Cooper, but I don’t think that’s what this is about. I know you, Owen. I know you better than you know yourself.” His gray eyes flashed. “That’s rather presumptuous.” “What’s presumptuous is you thinking you can just push me away again without me putting up a fight,” she shot back. “What happened today? You were so happy the past week, and now you’re back to holding me at arm’s length.” Frustration bubbled in her throat. “Tell me what got you scared.” “Nothing got me scared,” he said gruffly. “Okay.” She paused. “Tell me how you feel about me then.” She glimpsed a flicker of panic in his eyes. “I…damn it, Maddie, what are you trying to do? Why can’t you accept that maybe I really can’t get over the fact that you slept with another—” “Because you’re not a damned caveman, and even if it makes you jealous, I know you wouldn’t break up with me just because I was with another man before we got involved.” She let out a frustrated curse. “Why can’t you just tell me how you feel about me?” He stared at her in obvious dismay.

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“I have no problem telling you how I feel.” She sucked in a breath. “I love you, Owen. There. I said it. I’ve loved you for three years, and I love you now, and damn it, I want to know how you feel.” “I…” As he stammered, hesitated, raked his fingers through his hair again, Maddie was overcome with a rush of pure helplessness. He couldn’t do it. No matter how hard she tried, no matter how hard she pushed him, he couldn’t even tell her how he felt. And now he was ending things because something had scared him off again, and he was using her night with Cooper as an excuse. As a reason to cut and run, the way he did in every relationship he’d ever had. “I’m done,” she announced. His head jerked in her direction, his gaze becoming desperate as he looked at her. “What?” “I’m done,” she repeated. “You want to break up with me? Well, tough. Because I’m breaking up with you.” “Maddie—” “Don’t,” she said, holding up her hand. “You’re pushing me away for no good reason. Instead of trying to understand why I might have slept with Cooper, you’re just using it as an excuse to shut down again. You’ve let some silly fear rule your life for years, which is a damn shame, because you have nothing to be afraid of. You’re nothing like your father. You’re kind and sweet and devoted, and I love you for it.” She exhaled a shaky breath. “But I’m done. If you’re not willing to let yourself love me, the way I love you, then I’m not wasting my time anymore.” Her legs wobbled like a bowl of Jell-O as she staggered toward the door. Owen was still on the couch, and when she glanced over her shoulder, she noticed he looked a little shell-shocked. Well, good. Let him be shocked. Or


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angry. Or whatever he was. She’d wasted three years of her life pining for this man and she wasn’t going to waste one more second. “By the way,” she added as she reached the door, “I quit.”

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Chapter Ten

Owen spent the rest of the weekend feeling as if he were in a hypnotic trance. He cleaned the house, went to dinner with his mother and brothers, drove Nate and Charlotte to the airport to send them off on their Hawaiian honeymoon. He ran ten miles, went over some blueprints, filled out expense reports. Yep, he did a lot of things. Yet, if you asked him to provide any details about the tasks, he would’ve drawn a blank. Because his every conscious thought had been focused on Maddie. He couldn’t believe she was actually gone. When he’d walked into the office on Monday morning, her desk had been empty. It had remained empty on Tuesday. And Wednesday. And Thursday. Now it was Friday, nearly a week since the wedding, and it was time to accept the cold, hard truth. She’d really quit. It was really over. Rubbing the thick stubble covering his jaw, he stared at her desk, sheer agony slowly filling his body until every inch of him throbbed with pain. He was supposed to meet Jake and Austin for lunch soon, but he couldn’t tear his gaze from that damn desk. And he couldn’t stop wondering if he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. She’d been absolutely right when she’d accused him of pushing her away. Truth was, he didn’t care all that much that she’d slept with Cooper Grady. After an initial bout of jealousy, he’d realized it didn’t even matter. So what if Maddie had had sex with another man. He’d slept with countless other women.

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But that was the problem. Maddie had said the past wasn’t important, but damn it, it was. He hadn’t told her about the disloyal reaction he’d had to that woman at the wedding, but he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. He was supposed to be with Maddie, supposed to want only her—so why had his body reacted? It wasn’t just the semi-erection that scared him. Men got turned on by hot chicks. It was a fact of life. Temptation. It was always there, and most men were strong enough to ignore it. But most men weren’t Henry Bishop’s son. Owen let out a groan, tired of thinking in circles. Might as well meet his brothers for lunch. Hopefully they wouldn’t bring up the subject of Maddie. He hadn’t told his family about the breakup, and he was pretty sure they’d yell at him when they found out. All his brothers loved Maddie, as did his mother. And so did he. When she’d pleaded with him to tell her how he felt about her, he’d almost blurted out the truth. Told her that he loved her so damn much his heart squeezed at the mere thought of her. But he’d held his tongue. Loving Maddie was one thing—staying faithful to her was another. Maybe it was a silly fear, as she’d said, but it wasn’t a risk he was willing to take. Maybe hurting Maddie now was better than hurting her later. Jake and Austin had their heads bent together in discussion when Owen strode into Betty’s diner. They were in a corner booth in the back, talking in hushed whispers, and both looked up guiltily at his approach. “What’s going on?” he asked warily as he slid into the booth. “Nothing,” they said unison. Flagging down a passing waitress, Owen ordered a cup of coffee and a BLT, then fixed a suspicious look on his brothers. “You two are terrible liars. So what the fuck is going on?”

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“Uh…” Jake leaned back against the vinyl padding, splaying his hands on the checkered tablecloth. “We were…” “Trying to figure out which side we should take,” Austin finished, his green eyes flickering with resignation. Owen was distracted for a second, floored as usual by the sight of his younger brother’s eyes, which were the darkest green he’d ever seen. Along with his brothers, Austin had inherited their father’s dark hair, but not Henry’s gray eyes or Della’s brown ones. Their mom blamed the green eyes on some maternal grandmother on the family tree, but Owen and the other boys used to cruelly tell Austin he was adopted. Since his face was all Bishop, nobody actually believed it, but it was fun to tease him about it. Realizing he’d gotten lost in thought, he focused on Austin’s comment, wrinkling his brow. “What are you taking sides on?” Jake and Austin exchanged a look. “Jim Wilson was just here,” Jake finally admitted. Owen gulped. “Maddie’s brother?” “Yeah. He asked us if we’d be able to help with the move tomorrow,” Jake added, reaching for his coffee and taking a long sip. “Apparently Mr. Wilson and the other two brothers are out of town this weekend, so Jim needs some extra hands.” He shot Jake a blank look. “What move?” His brothers glanced at one another again, both wearing matching expressions of discomfort. “Maddie’s leaving Paradise,” Austin revealed. “At least that’s what Jim said.” His heart dropped right down to the floor. Maddie was leaving Paradise? “No,” he said roughly. “She can’t be leaving town.”


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Austin softened his tone. “Jim says she is. Apparently she’s going to stay at Josh’s place in Denver until she finds a job.” He started to reach for his coffee cup but stopped. He ended up laying his trembling hands flat on the table, knowing he’d spill his damn drink if he tried to hold it. His twin immediately noticed Owen’s shaky condition, frowning deeply. “What exactly happened with you two?” Jake demanded. “You haven’t mentioned her all week, and now she’s leaving town?” “We broke up,” he said flatly. Jake shook his head. “What’d you do?” His nostrils flared. “Why do you assume I did something?” “Because you always do,” Jake said, rolling his eyes. “You haven’t had a relationship that’s lasted more than a week. You always screw things up.” “Mom says he’s scared of love,” Austin piped up. He rolled his eyes. “Pansy.” Owen scowled. “Why were you and Mom talking about my love life?” “What love life?” Austin countered. Jake sighed and put down his cup. “O, you know normally I’d take a bullet for you, but this time, I think I’d step aside. You’re a real idiot, you know that?” “Gee, thanks.” His jaw was so tense he could barely open it to get the words out. “Maddie is an amazing girl,” Jake went on, his voice gruff. “Why would you ever let her get away?” “How am I getting love advice from the two most commitment-phobic dudes on the planet?” he grumbled. “You, Jake, spend all your time crawling through jungles with a bunch of sweaty men, and you—” he hooked a thumb at Austin, “—haven’t had a date in years.”

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“I am serving my country,” his twin answered stiffly. “Settling down is something I’ll do later.” “And I am shedding light on the injustices of the world with my camera,” Austin said smugly. “And I’ll have you know, I went out with a really sexy reporter when I was in South Africa.” “And I’m just a lowly construction worker, right?” he said bitterly, though in all honesty, he wasn’t really angry with his brothers. They were right—the two of them had busy lives, and who was he to judge them if they were too caught up in their wanderlust to settle down? At least they had things they were passionate about. What did he have? A construction business he enjoyed, sure, but what else? The only other thing he cared about was leaving town. So don’t let her. The irritated voice in his head was like a slap in the face. Don’t let her. It was so damn simple, but then again, why shouldn’t it be? He didn’t want Maddie to go. Fuck, just the thought of never seeing her again made his chest clench with pain. He missed her. He missed having her by his side at work every day. Missed arguing with her. Missed running his hands over her amazing body and kissing her soft, welcoming lips. It was funny—normally when he ended things with a woman, he moved on within days, hours sometimes. He had no trouble finding a warm, willing female to spend time with, but he’d been alone this entire week, with zero interest in hooking up with someone new. That had to mean something, didn’t it? He could have moved on, could have slept with someone else, but he hadn’t. Because he only wanted Maddie. She was infuriating and annoying and did insane things like dive off cliffs—and he was going to miss her if she left.


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Because he loved her. With a sudden burst of clarity, Owen practically hurled his body out of the booth, just as the waitress approached with his food order. “You’re leaving?” she said, looking confused. He was already pulling out his wallet. Dropping a few bills on the table, he shot his brothers a grin and said, “Feel free to split the sandwich. I’ve got somewhere else to be.” Squaring his shoulders, he strode out of the diner, feeling his brothers’ amused gazes on his back as he marched out the door.

So many empty boxes. Maddie stared at the mess that was her living room, not even sure where to begin. She supposed she could start with the DVDs—she owned far too many action movies, she realized in distress—or maybe she should tackle the kitchen first. She absolutely hated packing, especially since she happened to be a hoarder and therefore possessed way more things than she actually needed. She’d already packed up her bedroom, which was the easy part. Doing the rest of the apartment was much too daunting. Sighing, she finally walked over to the DVD cabinet and started pulling out the cases. They were organized in alphabetical order and she wanted to store them that way so she wouldn’t have to do any work when she organized her new apartment. Well, when she got a new apartment. Moving to Denver had seemed like her best option, since she could stay with Josh until she found a place of her own. Her older brother had sounded confused when she’d told him about her plans, and she didn’t blame him. More than anyone else in her family, Maddie had always loved Paradise. Both Josh and Luke had stayed in the city after they’d finished college, but she’d come home at the first chance.

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God, she was going to miss this place. “No other choice,” she murmured to herself, her voice firm. Right, she had to go. She couldn’t stay here, not anymore. She couldn’t keep working for Owen after the way things had ended, and even the thought of staying in town, of possibly running into him on Main Street, made her edgy and nervous. If she lived in the same town as Owen, she would never be able to move on. She’d realized that three days ago, when she’d come up with the plan to move to Denver. She hated to leave, but what other choice did she have? For a few brief weeks, she’d been on top of the world, finally in the arms of the only man she’d ever loved, but now she and Owen were over. She’d meant every word she’d told him last week—she was done fighting for him. He was so caught up in comparing himself to his father that he refused to see what was right in front of his eyes, and she had no intention of being background scenery again. She couldn’t, not after everything they’d shared. Sighing, Maddie tackled the D section, shoving her Die Hard collector’s set into the cardboard box. She was moving on to the Es when she heard a knock at the door. Probably her brother Jim. He was supposed to come over and help her disassemble some of the furniture, which she was throwing in storage until she found an apartment. “It’s open,” she called out. Footsteps sounded from the narrow front hall. “I’m just packing these DVDs and then we can take apart the bed,” she said without turning around. “You’re really going.” The familiar male voice had her spinning around so fast she dropped the DVD cases in her hand. They clattered to the floor, some of them smashing into


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her bare toes, but the jolt of pain went unnoticed as she stared at Owen’s gorgeous face. His eyes were awash with dismay as he said, “I didn’t think you were actually going to do it.” She found her voice. “Well, I am. My flight leaves in two days.” Grudgingly, she added, “I’m sorry I didn’t give you two weeks’ notice. Obviously I won’t ask you for a reference.” “I wouldn’t give you one.” Her jaw stiffened. “Good thing I’m not asking then,” she shot back. “Because you won’t need one,” he clarified, seeing the insult on her face. “I’m not letting you leave, Maddie.” “Wow,” she said with the raise of her eyebrows. “I didn’t realize you ran my life, Owen.” His gray eyes swept up and down her body. “You’re not wearing your new clothes.” The change of subject caught her off guard. She glanced at her ratty denim shorts and the oversized Broncos jersey she wore, both items from her premakeover wardrobe. “I don’t exactly need to dress up in order to pack,” she said dryly. Owen’s heated gaze continued to roam over her body. “I like seeing you in those. I think I like you better without the tight tops and skirts.” “Uh-huh,” she said warily. “I’m sure my baggy jersey is a real turn-on.” “It is.” She studied his face, beginning to grow annoyed with this exchange. “What are you doing here, Owen? I’m busy.” “No, you’re not.” He sounded a bit smug. “I told you, you’re not leaving town.”

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Okay, now she was really annoyed. Breaking eye contact, she bent down to pick up the fallen DVDs. A shadow loomed over her, and she looked up to see Owen standing right there in front of her. Without a word, he took the movies from her hands, threw them in the box, and tugged on her hands to bring her to her feet. “You can’t go,” he said in a hoarse voice. She sighed, trying to take a step back, but he only drew her closer, so that their chests were nearly touching. He cupped her chin with his hands, and an involuntary shiver skittered up her body. “What are you doing?” she whispered, avoiding his eyes. He angled her head so that she had no choice but to look at him. “I’m telling you how I feel.” Her heart did a little flip, which she ignored. “Really? Because it sounds like you’re just telling me what I can’t do.” He let out a groan. “I’m totally fucking this up, aren’t I?” She couldn’t help but smile. “Fucking what up? I still don’t know what’s happening.” “I’m an idiot,” he burst out. Her smile widened. “That’s what’s happening? I thought we already established that you’re an idiot.” “Would you just shut up?” he ground out. “You’re not helping.” Though it went against her very nature, she closed her mouth and waited for him to continue. “I messed up,” he said roughly. “You were right—I pushed you away because I was scared. See, I got a hard-on at the wedding when I was talking to one of Charlotte’s friends—” “What?”


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“I know, it’s awful,” he mumbled, looking utterly miserable. “She was really hot, and…it just happened…I reacted. And afterwards, I felt so damn guilty, and then I got all panicked about it and…” He trailed off with a helpless shrug. Maddie stared at him for a moment. Unable to stop herself, she began to laugh. “Wow. You really are an idiot.” He frowned. “I—” “You saw a hot chick and reacted. Big deal.” She shook her head in amazement. “You’re human, Owen. You’re bound to find other women attractive—hell, I find other men attractive. It happens all the time, and it means nothing.” “I was scared I might hurt you one day,” he confessed. “Meet someone I found attractive and do something stupid, like give in to temptation.” She sighed. “When you were talking with that woman, did you want to carry her off and fuck her brains out?” “Well, no, but—” “But nothing.” She studied his face, then shook her head in resolve. “No matter what you think, you’re an honorable man. You wouldn’t cheat on someone you cared about.” “You sound so sure of that.” “Because I know you. You’re nothing like your father.” He swallowed. “The other day, you asked me how I felt about you.” “And you didn’t answer,” she said, pain slicing into her heart. “I was being stupid.” His hands moved down to her waist, and he drew her close again. “I smartened up, though.” “Yeah?” “Yeah. So ask me again.”

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Emotion clogged her throat, but she managed to get out the words. “How do you feel about me, Owen?” “I love you,” he said simply. Their gazes locked, and Maddie was overwhelmed by what she saw on his face. No fear, no panic, just love and sincerity. “You mean it, don’t you?” she breathed. “I mean it.” His voice cracked. “When I heard that you were leaving town, I wanted to die. I couldn’t imagine living here, working here, without seeing you every day. And I realized that if you really did go, you’d be taking my heart with you.” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. A part of her was still plagued with doubt, refusing to accept that he actually meant any of this, but there was no mistaking the tenderness in his eyes. “You drive me crazy sometimes,” he said with a deep laugh. “You can be really annoying, you’re a know-it-all, you take risks that make me want to throttle you—and I love you for it. I love everything about you, Maddie, the good and the bad.” He slanted his head in the most adorable way. “Do you think you can love me again? I know my bad sometimes outweighs the good, but—” “Love you again?” she cut in, her throat so tight it burned. “I never stopped loving you.” He blinked. “But…you were going to leave town.” “Because I couldn’t bear to stay here, feeling the way I did about you and knowing that you didn’t feel the same way.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek. “I do feel the same way. I think I always have, I’ve just been too damn scared to admit it. But I’m not scared anymore. And I don’t want to be with anyone else. Just you, Maddie.”


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She leaned into his touch, the warmth of his fingers seeping into her skin and heating her entire body. She knew she ought to be angry with him, outraged by his stupidity and the way he’d pushed her away, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel anything negative. Maybe she was a fool, but she’d loved Owen Bishop from the moment she’d met him. Despite all his flaws—and he had a good deal of them—she knew without a doubt that this was the man she wanted to be with. She’d always known. “I want you too,” she whispered, standing on her tiptoes to brush a kiss on his mouth. He pulled back, urgently searching her face. “You do? Even after the way I acted?” “I do.” He had the nerve to look surprised. “Why?” “Because I love you too, idiot.” His face broke out in a grin as he bent his head to kiss her, so passionately they were both gasping for air when they pulled apart again. Owen reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly, then glanced at the boxes littering the room with a look of concentration on his face. “Let’s get to packing,” he said briskly. She hissed out a breath. No, he hadn’t just said that, had he? He’d just declared his love for her and now he was going to pack up her stuff and ship her off to— “Yes, you’re still moving,” he said, interrupting her angry thoughts. She glared daggers at him. “Are you fucking kidding me?” “Nope.” He grinned again. “If we’re going to be married, we can’t be living in separate houses, baby.”

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Maddie was stunned speechless. Didn’t happen often, but there was no other way to react to this. “You’re moving in with me,” he said in his typical and grating commanding tone. “I am?” she sputtered. He faltered. “Well, yeah.” She slowly regained her composure. “And I’m going to marry you?” Owen’s forehead crinkled. “Of course you are.” Maddie choked down a laugh. “Do I get a say in any of this?” “Nope.” There was a playful twinkle in his eyes, which told her he knew exactly how arrogant he was being. “We can argue about it for a while, if you want, but we both know I’ll win. Actually, we’ll both win.” Well, he had her there. Moving in with Owen, marrying him—it was all she’d ever wanted. “I’m not going to argue.” She cocked her head. “But I do want you to get on your knees.” He raised one dark brow. “Oh really?” “Really,” she confirmed. “Because I may be a tomboy, but I’m still a woman, you stupid jerk. And if you’re going to propose, you’d better do it right.” Proving that he wasn’t a total jerk, Owen obediently sank to his knees, gripped her hand, and raised it to his lips. He kissed her knuckles, then looked up at her with sexy, heavy-lidded eyes. “Madeline Wilson, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” “You bet your ass I will.” Laughing, she got down on her own knees and wrapped her arms around his neck. Their mouths met in a lingering kiss, sending a streak of joy through her body.


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Suddenly she pulled back, stricken. “Oh no. You proposed while I was wearing my ratty old jersey and ancient shorts,” she realized. “Should I put on one of my sexy outfits and we can do it again?” A laugh rumbled out of his chest. Yanking her into his arms, he reached for the hem of her Broncos jersey and whipped the material over her head. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and Owen’s gaze instantly zeroed in on her bare breasts, his eyes smoldering with desire. “You don’t need clothes to make you sexy, baby.” He grinned. “Besides, I prefer you naked anyway.”

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About the Author

A RITA-award-nominated author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting! Elle

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Look for these titles by Elle Kennedy

Now Available: Bad Moon Rising Dance of Seduction Midnight Encounters Going for It Red Hot Summer Hot Summer Nights Hidden Desires Out of Uniform Heat of the Moment Heat of Passion Heat of the Storm Heat It Up Heat of the Night The Heat Is On Welcome to Paradise Welcome to Paradise

Coming Soon: Hot and Bothered

Revenge can be sweet. Forgiveness is sweeter.

Welcome to Paradise © 2011 Elle Kennedy

Welcome to Paradise, Book 1 Singing sensation Charlotte Hill can’t wait for her high school reunion. She’s out to give Nate Bishop—the man who walked away with her virginity—the sexiest ride of his life. Then give him a heaping dose of the same medicine he gave her fifteen years ago. Stomp all over his heart as she walks out the door. Nate has never forgotten the green-eyed redhead who set his body on fire, the one girl who saw past his bad reputation. The heat of those memories still warms his thoughts, even after all these years. After he did the right thing and let her go, rather than let his love chain her to a town she despised. Now she’s back in Paradise looking sexier than ever, and Nate finds himself powerless to keep his distance. And Charlotte, in spite of her resolve, can’t believe she’s so easily falling under his spell. Yet mind-blowing sex doesn’t bury the past. It unearths painful emotions too long buried. Emotions that could stamp out rekindled love before it catches flame… Warning: Contains a reformed bad boy and a newly minted bad girl with revenge on her mind, feuding families, dirty little secrets, and a lot of dirty sex. Enjoy the following excerpt for Welcome to Paradise: There was something different about her. Nate couldn’t exactly put his finger on it, but something about Charlotte and the way she was looking at him brought on a spark of unease. She hadn’t said much since they’d gotten into his

beat-up black pickup truck, and as they neared the B&B, Nate was rethinking his decision to be alone with Charlotte. He wanted her so badly he could taste her. Her perfume, an intriguing combination of roses and honey, sent his senses into overdrive. He breathed her in each time he inhaled, his cock growing harder by the second. Yet this didn’t feel entirely right. She’d claimed that she was over everything, that their past didn’t matter, but her sudden aloofness didn’t sit well with him. “You okay?” he asked, pulling up to the curb and killing the engine. Charlotte blinked, as if coming out of trance. “I’m fine,” she said lightly, already reaching for the door handle. “Let’s go inside. I’m a little cold.” Nate got out of the truck and followed her toward the porch, unable to stop himself from admiring her perfect ass. She was all grown up, all right. His apprehension continued to climb as they headed upstairs. Though it was only nine-thirty, the house was bathed in darkness. The Andersons lived in a small suite on the main floor, and they must have turned in already. Nate’s pulse sped up when Charlotte opened the door to her room and gestured for him to come inside. He hesitated in the doorway. “What are we doing, Charlie?” Her mouth quirked. “Catching up.” A little alarm went off in his head. “Why don’t you want to talk about what happened between us?” “Because it’s in the past. I told you, Nate, I got over it a long time ago.” Her green eyes twinkled. “Are you just going to lurk there in the doorway?” He took a step forward then halted again. “Are you trying to seduce me?” Both anticipation and dread accompanied the question. “Would it bother you if I was?” The teasing look on her beautiful face made his cock twitch. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” The tease became a taunt. “Come on, Nate, you were never one to mince words. Tell me, do you want to be seduced?” His entire mouth went as dry as sawdust. Who was this woman and where had his Charlotte gone? As a teenager, she’d never been this forward. He’d made every move in their relationship, including that final one that resulted in the two of them lying naked on a blanket by the lake. “Here’s the thing,” the new Charlotte said in the old Charlotte’s familiar throaty voice. “Like I said before, my life is hectic. I don’t have a lot of time for, you know, fun stuff. And chances are that won’t change in the near future since I’m going on tour early next week. So I figured as long as I’m here…” “You want to do some fun stuff,” he finished. “With me.” “With you,” she confirmed. He gulped. Charlotte took a few steps toward him. “Come on, Nate, you know you want to say yes. And I can assure you, I’m much more experienced than I was with you.” A hot blade of guilt sliced into him, which she must have picked up on because she waved a careless hand. “In the past,” she reiterated. Before he could respond, she moved even closer. Her hands dropped to his waistband, and he sucked in a breath then released a ragged burst of air when she unsnapped the button of his trousers and tugged on the zipper. And Nate did what any healthy red-blooded male would do when a beautiful woman was trying to take off his pants. He let her.

Where seduction is the perfect revenge…

South Beach

© 2011 Lacey Alexander A Hot in the City Story Ten years ago, Holly Pettit spent one romantic, super-sexy summer with Trey Kennedy. The aftermath of their breakup changed her life, and changed her into a no-holds-barred wild child. Now she’s on vacation—and on a mission to rid herself of his memory, once and for all. She never dreamed she’d return to the Imperial Palms Hotel to find Trey running the place. Nor did she imagine that the very sight of him would reawaken those old, sizzling-hot desires. There’s only one remedy: spend one torrid weekend seducing him with a barrage of naughty sexual skills. Then walk away. That’ll teach him a lesson, and prove to them both she’s not the softhearted girl he once knew. When the time comes, though, she’s not so sure she can break his heart. Not without shattering her own. Warning: Contains sun and sand, umbrella drinks, and ex-lovers reunited—mixed into the perfect, explicit recipe for sex on the beach. No one underage will be served. Enjoy the following excerpt for South Beach: The truth was, if she’d just met him here on vacation, if she’d had no past with him, she would have…liked him. Maybe even a lot. But life wasn’t that simple. Her life wasn’t that simple, and part of that was his fault. And in reality, she wasn’t trying to do anything too horrible to him here. She wanted to seduce him, for heaven’s sake—she wanted to fuck him. And he would love it. So there

was nothing to feel even remotely guilty about, nothing to do but proceed with her plan. “Now you, fishie,” he finally said. “Tell me all the personal stuff about you that I just told you about me.” Their glasses were empty now and they’d both opted not to have a second. And she certainly felt the alcohol she’d taken into her system, but fortunately, she’d grown to be as skilled at drinking as she was in bed, so she still had command of the situation. “Let’s go for a walk on the beach,” she replied. He drew back slightly, slanted her a teasing grin. “You trying to put the moves on me, fishie?” Her smile stayed confident, in control. “What if I am?” “Then I’m flattered.” “Then let’s walk.” And with that, she reached out and took his hand. Like before, when he’d helped her up onto her stool, the touch was electric— she hadn’t expected it then and she hadn’t expected it now. But the sensations skittered up her arm and down into her breasts, turning her nipples hard. And the spot between her legs spasmed slightly at the full realization of what she was preparing to do. They left their shoes at the edge of the bar’s patio, sinking their feet down into cool evening sand. For the first time—maybe it had taken her eyes this long to adjust, or maybe it was the moonlight beginning to illuminate the beach—she noticed that he’d dressed much more casually than this afternoon, in khaki shorts and a more-stylish-than-silly tropical shirt. And that he looked good. He’d looked good this afternoon, and he looked just as good now, and having sex with him again wasn’t going to be a sacrifice. Feeling powerful and more aggressive than she usually did in her everyday life, she pulled him across the wide beach and down toward the water.

Compared to the daytime hours when this stretch of sand was packed with sun worshippers of every ilk—from topless girls to happy families—the beach was quiet, though dotted with other late-night walkers, too. “Okay, you’re up. Start talking,” he said as they strolled hand in hand along the shore, warm Atlantic waters washing over their toes with every surge of the tide. “I want to know exactly how my little corn-fed farm girl became this bold, sexy, take-charge woman.” Holly took a deep breath and considered how best to reply. The truth was, maybe a little liquor plus old memories—added on to Trey’s likable openness— made her want to be open, too. And real. Even if she didn’t come right out and blame it on him, she could tell him the truth about her life—that she’d gotten off the path she’d intended to take. That she’d sought refuge in wild times, wild people. But…wait, no. That only made her sound vulnerable, like a woman with regrets. And she couldn’t risk him even wondering if he was the reason why. Stick to the plan. “I guess somewhere along the way I just decided to try a different sort of life than I’d always thought I wanted. You only live once, after all.” “And…” he prodded her. “And…I moved to Vegas and made a lot of new friends. Did a lot of new things. I guess that builds a girl’s confidence.” Yeah, just leave it at that. But he wasn’t buying. “That’s all I get, Holly? Come on, that’s not fair.” “That’s all there is,” she insisted. That was when he stopped walking, the move drawing her to a halt as well, and turned to face her in the dark. He still held her hand and now gripped it tighter, squeezing. “What are you about? What makes you happy? What do you love, baby?”

God, such deep questions. Holly thought about the many answers she could give. I love my family. I love my friends—the oldest ones the best. I love cats, old Frank Sinatra records, warm nights, and…possibility. I love the way it feels when possibility stretches before you in some moments, like anything could happen, like your dreams could be only a heartbeat away. But why on earth would she ever, ever let herself be that vulnerable with him? What on earth was there to gain? No, she had to stay tough here. Hollyfrom-Indiana was only a distant memory; newer, bolder, Las Vegas Holly was in charge tonight. So it seemed like a good time to move past all the catching up and just cut to the chase. “I love sex, Trey. I love sex like I love nothing else in life. And I’m damn good at it, too. And if we were the only people on this beach right now, I’d drop to my knees and give you the best blowjob you’ve ever had.”

Who says you can only score on the court?

Slam Dunk

© 2011 Mari Carr A Black & White Story Trey Donovan is mourning the end of summer with fellow teachers when Ellie Hunter walks into Tully’s Bar. Better yet, she’s now a former rival basketball coach and the newest science teacher at his high school. He can’t think of anyone better to fill the vacant assistant coach job. In fact, if he plays his cards right, she might end up his perfect match off the court, too. If she stops holding him at arm’s length long enough to give him a chance. Coming off a year of bad decisions that not only broke her heart, but cost her a job, Ellie has good reason to swear off workplace romances. Her undeniable— and undeniably mutual—attraction to Trey is a serious threat to her resolve. Especially since Trey’s too-easy capitulation to her boundaries stings just a little too much. Funny thing, though. When she sees Trey dancing with someone else, the edges of her vision turn decidedly green. And when another man tries to kiss Ellie, Trey sees red. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to fudge the rules. Just a little. After all, casual sex doesn’t count. Right? Warning: Lots of red-hot, half-dressed court presses complete with sex toys, food, bubble baths, strip poker and, oh yeah, balls. Enjoy the following excerpt for Slam Dunk: “Don’t look so grim. I’m not going to put you before the firing squad. Just a simple game of Blackjack.”

“What’s the wager?” “Winner gets to do whatever they want to the other person, but the loser can't join in. When I win, you have to sit there and take whatever it is I do to you.” He frowned. “What exactly are we talking about here? Give me an example of something you might do.” She rose and Trey’s mouth went dry as she walked around the coffee table to stand in front of him. “For example,” she said, bending over until he could smell the sweet scent of her shampoo in her hair. “I might do something like this.” She cupped his cheek, turning his face until her lips met his. She kissed him—the touch soft, gentle, and nowhere near enough. Trey reached up to grasp her hair, to deepen the kiss, but Ellie pulled away. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Still trying to take control. My kiss, my way. All you can do is sit there and take it.” She wanted power. Trey tried to wrap his head around that concept. He was used to being in charge—on the court and in the bedroom. “Fine. We’ll play. Just so long as I get the same reward when I win.” “If you win, you can do whatever you want to me.” She smiled and walked back to reclaim her place on the couch. As she sat, she added the two words that told him while they could play, they wouldn’t finish. “Within reason.” He wanted to protest the limits, but he didn’t. He wanted Ellie Hunter more than he’d ever wanted another woman. She wasn’t ready for what he was offering. However, this game gave him hope. She was definitely initiating some dirty foreplay and he didn’t intend to turn down the offer. After all, his mother didn’t raise a fool.

She dealt the first hand and he looked at his cards—a three and an ace. “Hit me.” She handed him another card—a five. “Dealer’s sticking,” she said. He nodded. “Me too.” They flipped over their cards. He had nineteen. She had two face cards— twenty. “My hand wins.” She rose once more and Trey anticipated another of her too-soft kisses. While there was nothing he enjoyed so much as her lips on his, it was going to be torture not to pull her onto his lap and fully explore the depths of her mouth. When she got to his chair, she gestured for him to turn it so that he faced her. He followed her command, his curiosity overriding his pride. She was definitely going to push the control card tonight. As she bent at the waist, he leaned forward slightly, expecting her kiss. He was surprised when she ignored his lips altogether and, instead, reached for the hem of his T-shirt. Before he could consider her actions, she pulled the shirt off completely. Her eyes devoured his chest and he soaked up her appreciation. She’d never seen his bare chest before. She dropped to her knees, pushing his legs apart so that she could kneel between them. Her gaze never rose above his neck. She ran her hand over his chest to his upper right arm, tracing the barbed wire tattoo there. “I’ve only ever seen glimpses of this tattoo.” She continued to touch him as she spoke. “I wondered what it was.” Trey felt the breath leave his body when she leaned forward to press a soft kiss on the tattoo, her tongue brushing his skin. His body was overheated, his

cock on red alert, and all he could do was sit while Ellie seduced him with her lips, her tongue and those soulful dark brown eyes. Jesus. What had he signed on for? After a few moments of soft touches and light kisses along his arm and chest, Ellie stood and returned to her seat. “Next round?”

Take Me Home Tonight

Take Me Home Tonight

Take Me Home Tonight

Take Me Tonight

Take Me Tonight

Take Me Home

Take Me Home From the Oscars

Love Me Tonight

Promise Me Tonight

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Take me

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Give Me Tonight

Satisfy Me Tonight

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Take Me

Give Me Tonight

Love Me Tonight

Take Me Home Tonight