You know what’s great about applying for an art history PhD program at one of the world’s most prestigious universities? I get to study what I love and land my dream job at the end of it. You know what’s not so great? Being told I’ll only get accepted to the program if I gain access to my aloof, uppity, super grumpy boss’s private art collection.
As it turns out, said boss—a one Lord Hayden Stuart—needs to get married to inherit his late father’s estate and earldom. And if there’s one thing Hayden Stuart is never going to want for real—it’s a wife.
So, we strike up a deal: I marry him and go live at his castle, where I’ll have unlimited access to his collection, he gets his earldom, and when the estate is settled, we part ways forever.
Win-win, right?
Wrong.
I may have fooled myself into believing I wasn’t risking my heart, but there’s one huge problem: I’m definitely falling for him. He’s not just another man. He’s THE man—an irresistibly good-looking, in-control, expensive-suit-wearing man who makes all the other men look like little boys. And the more time I spend with him pretending to be his wife, the more desperate I become to believe the lie.
But he’s never going to fall for some lowly PhD student. So what if at the wedding he looked at me as if I’m the only woman in the world, and kissed me like he’s shipping off to war in the morning? It doesn’t mean anything.
Or does it?
Because the more we’re together, the more I realize that, even though we’re from totally different worlds, we have a lot more in common than I ever could have imagined.
Now all I have to do is convince him he really does want a wife…
Finally, Hayden opens his mouth. “I’m not sad he’s dead, you know.”
“I know,” I tell him, squeezing his hand.
“I hated him. He was a complete bastard.”
“I know.”
He looks down at me with tears in his eyes. “Then can you please tell me why the hell I’m so sad right now?”
A lump forms in my throat. “I think you’re grieving the father you should have had.”
Nodding, he sniffs, clears his throat, and says, “How stupid is that? I’m a grown man, for God’s sake.”
“But you used to be a little kid and he needed a dad.”
His shoulders crumple and he lets out a couple of sobs. Letting go of his hand, I wrap my arm around him and pull him close, resting his head on my shoulder and dropping a kiss on his head. I have no idea how long we stay like this, but by the time he’s done, my shoulder aches from the weight of him, and I’m absolutely terrified that I’ve fallen completely in love with him.
Melanie Summers also writes steamy romance as MJ Summers.
Melanie made a name for herself with her debut novel, Break in Two, a contemporary romance that cracked the Top 10 Paid on Amazon in both the UK and Canada, and the top 50 Paid in the USA. Her highly acclaimed Full Hearts Series was picked up by both Piatkus Entice (a division of Hachette UK) and HarperCollins Canada. Her first three books have been translated into Czech and Slovak by EuroMedia. Since 2013, she has written and published three novellas, and eight novels (of which seven have been published). She has sold over a quarter of a million books around the globe.
In her previous life (i.e. before having children), Melanie got her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta, then went on to work in the soul-sucking customer service industry for a large cellular network provider that shall remain nameless (unless you write her personally – then she’ll dish). On her days off, she took courses and studied to become a Chartered Mediator. That designation landed her a job at the R.C.M.P. as the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for ‘K’ Division. Having had enough of mediating arguments between gun-toting police officers, she decided it was much safer to have children so she could continue her study of conflict in a weapon-free environment (and one which doesn’t require makeup and/or nylons).
Melanie resides in Edmonton with her husband, three young children, and their adorable but neurotic one-eyed dog. When she’s not writing novels, Melanie loves reading (obviously), snuggling up on the couch with her family for movie night (which would not be complete without lots of popcorn and milkshakes), and long walks in the woods near her house. She also spends a lot more time thinking about doing yoga than actually doing yoga, which is why most of her photos are taken ‘from above’. She also loves shutting down restaurants with her girlfriends. Well, not literally shutting them down, like calling the health inspector or something–more like just staying until they turn the lights off.
She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth of The Cooke Agency International.
Title: King of Spades Author: Alta Hensley Genre: Romantic Suspense
Nick Hudson has a dangerous reputation.
That’s what I need if I’m going to survive.
Desperation makes me seek out a ruthlessly powerful billionaire.
I need protection.
He demands my virtue as payment.
I’m falling into a world of luxury and sin.
With every twist and turn, I need more.
Except this is not a man to love.
This is a man to fear.
His obsession grows. So does the threat, until I’m trapped in a world of depravity. I’ll need more than Nick’s strength to survive. I’m going to need his heart.
I continue to stare at the figure in the distance.
Why is he up there watching and not down below dancing with everyone else? It’s his party and yet, he’s off and alone. It reminds me of when I first met him alone in a study rather than being in the mix of another celebration.
The shadowed figure moves just enough that I can see him leaning against his cane. If I had any doubt it was Nick up there, now I don’t. I get this odd sense that the man is watching me. That he is seething as he realizes he has an uninvited guest, and he’s planning the appropriate punishment for breaking the rules of his Wonderland.
I slowly move my body in a sensual dance, keeping my eyes locked on the man above. My movements are meant for his eyes only. I want to play my part in this game between us. He left us unfinished, and now I’m here. I’m here. I want him to watch and to fantasize about what more I can do with this body. He didn’t think I was ready when he first met me, but I’ll prove him wrong.
But then reality sets in, and I know there is no way that Nick is noticing me in a crowd of hundreds with flashing lights all round us. The arrogant thought is squashed as I refocus my attention on living in the moment.
For tonight… I’m a Morelli. I’m exclusive. I’m wanted. I’m here.
Alta Hensley is a USA TODAY bestselling author of hot, dark and dirty romance. She is also an Amazon Top 100 bestselling author. Being a multi-published author in the romance genre, Alta is known for her dark, gritty alpha heroes, sometimes sweet love stories, hot eroticism, and engaging tales of the constant struggle between dominance and submission.
She lives in a log cabin in the woods with her husband, two daughters, and an Australian Shepherd. When she isn’t battling the bats, and watching the deer, she is writing about villains who always get their love story and happily ever after.
My new job landed me in another country, but it might as well have been an entirely different world. An underground world of magic and secrets ruthlessly guarded by an elite group of Fae warriors.
This place has brought out a power buried deep within me. A dark and monstrous power.
I have no choice but to turn to the Fae for help.
Lochlan is the leader of those warriors meant to guard the border between realms. He’s secretive and arrogant yet undeniably alluring. I have no reason to trust him, but he’s the only person who can teach me to protect myself.
He pushes me to my limits and threatens to unravel me with every husky command. More than anyone, he has the power to undo me. Because with every lesson, I lose more of myself to him and this new world I never asked to be a part of.
We walked a mile or so to the city gates, where we were offered a mount by the city guards to ride to the palace in the center of the city. Not anticipating visitors, they only had one spare horse at the gate. We would have to ride together.
Of course, we would.
I took a deep breath and joined Lochlan near the majestic black beast. The horse began to whinny anxiously and prance in place, his brown eyes bulging wide. I was no horse expert, but it was plain that the horse was uncomfortable with my presence.
“Stop upsetting the horse,” Lochlan said as he walked up to the agitated creature and took the reins, stroking the behemoth’s neck while cooing softly at him.
“I’m not doing anything!” I replied indignantly.
Lochlan grunted, then swung me onto the saddle without warning. I squealed like a five-year-old girl.
“Stop your screaming. You’ll upset the horse more than he already is.”
“I couldn’t help it. You startled me. Next time, let me know before you throw me onto the back of an angry animal.” Boorish, impossible man.
Lochlan lifted himself onto the saddle behind me, one arm snaking around my middle. His lips lowered to my ear. “Keep up with the attitude and see where it gets you.”
His words sent an avalanche of shivers down my spine.
Before I could recover, he gave the reins a tug. The horse surged forward, forcing me to cling to Lochlan’s arm at my waist.
Award-winning author of contemporary and fantasy romance. With Jill’s books, you can count on confident heroines, plenty of steamy tension, and deliciously assertive leading men. There are no guarantees in life, but with her books, you know everything will work out in the end. However, a perfect ending would not be nearly as satisfying without a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Jill loves to add plenty of adversity in her stories, creating unforgettably dynamic characters and sneaky plot twists you will never see coming.
