Table Of Contents
Books by Yahrah St. John
Dedication
Dear Reader,
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
TWO
HOT
KISSES
YahRah St. John
Two Hot Kisses
Copyright © 2020 by Yahrah St. John All rights reserved.
First Edition: January 2021
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.
Books by Yahrah St. John
1. One Magic Moment
2. Dare to Love
3. Never Say Never
4. Risky Business of Love
5. Playing for Keeps – Orphan Series
6. This Time for Real – Orphan Series
7. If You So Desire– Orphan Series
8. Two to Tango– Orphan Series
9. Need You Now – Adams Cosmetic Series
10. Lost Without You– Adams Cosmetic Series
11. Formula for Passion– Adams Cosmetic Series
12. Dirty Laundry
13. Delicious Destiny – Drayson Series
14. A Chance With You
15. Entangled Hearts
16. Entangled Hearts 2
17. Untamed Hearts
18. Restless Hearts
19. Heat Wave of Desire– Millionaire Mogul Series
20. Can’t Get Enough
21. Cappuccino Kisses – Drayson Series
22. Taming Her Tycoon – Knights of LA Series
23. Chasing Hearts
24. Miami After Hours – Millionaire Mogul Series
25. Secrets of the A-List
26. Taming Her Billionaire – Knights of LA Series
27. Unchained Hearts
28. His San Diego Sweetheart – Millionaire Mogul Series
29. Captivated Hearts
30. At the Ceo’s Pleasure – The Stewart Heirs
31. His Marriage Demand – The Stewart Heirs
32. Red Carpet Redemption – The Stewart Heirs
33. Secrets of a Fake Fiancée – The Stewart Heirs
34. Insatiable Hunger – Dynasty Seven Sins
35. Claimed by the Hero – The Mitchell Brothers
36. Two Hot Kisses – New Year Bae Solutions
Coming Soon in 2021
37. Seducing the Seal – The Mitchell Brothers
38. Consequences of Passion – The Lockett’s of Tuxedo Park
39. Guarding His Princess – The Mitchell Brothers
Dedication
To my husband Freddie for being my inspiration.
Dear Reader,
I was thrilled to be asked to be a part of the New Year Bae Solutions series with seven fantastic authors. From Dec 26th through January 1st, we’ll be introducing you to eight sexy Book Baes to help you bring in the New Year.
My story tells Brandon Cobb and Sasha Bennett’s friends-to-lovers story but with a twist because it happens in one day. My inspiration came from watching the movie Before Sunrise and having an unforgettable day with a stranger.
Brandon and Sasha have been friends since college and never crossed the line until they reunite on New Year’s Eve and share a magical day together. By the end of the night, they realize what they’re feeling is far from platonic. I can’t wait for you to read what happens when they finally open Pandora’s box.
Want more YSJ books? Visit my website for the latest YSJ news: www.yahrahstjohn.com or write me: [email protected] for details.
Best Wishes,
Yahrah St. John
Chapter 1
Could it be? thought Brandon Cobb when he spotted those familiar curly tendrils amongst the crowd of fans lined up to get his autograph at a small bookstore in Greenwich Village. He’d been toiling for years as a wannabe writer until his big break hurtled him into the stratosphere – an edgy suspense thriller he penned that had been touted as the next Gone Girl. His agent had already sold the film rights, and there was talk of A-list actors vying for the main role.
However, all of that paled in comparison to seeing the woman with the tendrils — Sasha — again. It had been at least a decade since he’d seen her last, when they were students in California at Stanford University, but she looked the same: smooth skin the color of crème brûlée. Big, expressive brown eyes rimmed with dark liner. Bright red lipstick over sumptuous lips. Today she clad her still-svelte figure in a distressed leather jacket, ruched top, and miniskirt over leggings and knee-high boots. She looked every bit the artist she’d always wanted to be.
From his perch on the loft looking down over the crowd, Brandon wondered if she’d made those dreams come true.
“I totally loved this book,” a customer gushed, and Brandon had to remind himself to focus on the task at hand.
Sell books.
“I’m so glad you enjoyed it,” Brandon said and smiled politely when the fan leaned in for a selfie.
His publisher had booked him on an eight-city tour, starting with this stop in New York, and then on to DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, San Francisco, and last, his home city of Los Angeles. It surprised him when his agent told him they’d booked his first signing on New Year’s Eve. It had to have been a glitch, but Brandon wasn’t going to complain because when he arrived at the store this afternoon, a line wrapped around the block. He couldn’t believe all these people, but more importantly Sasha, wanted to see him.
He added his John Hancock to the books, but every so often his eyes ventured to the long line, waiting for it to recede and bring him closer to Sasha. When he’d read an excerpt earlier, he’d caught her eye and she’d smiled the way she always had. His heart had sped up in anticipation of talking to her.
Two hours later near the end of the signing, Sasha approached. Brandon automatically stood. Sasha was even better looking than he remembered.
“Brandon,” she said with a grin, and before he knew it, Sasha pulled him into a bear hug. He reacted immediately, wrapping his arms around her slender figure and crushing her small breasts against his chest. As he released her, he caught a whiff of her intoxicating scent, which always drove him mad with desire.
Today was no different.
“Omigod! It’s so good to see you,” Sasha said, stepping back to look at him. “I mean how long has it been?” She didn’t wait for him to answer and instead kept speaking. “When I saw a flyer about you at the local coffee shop, I couldn’t believe it. No wait, yes I could. You’ve always had a determination to succeed, and look at you.” She motioned her arms around the room. “You’ve done it. You’ve arrived. I’m so proud of you.”
Brandon grinned. “Thank you. It wasn’t an easy road to get here.”
“It never is.” She reached inside her oversized purse and produced his book. “Will you sign it for me?”
“Of course.”
What did I just say? Brandon had wanted to utter something poetic and profound, and he found himself struggling to write something unique in her book copy
too. In the midst of his excitement, all he could come up with was “Dreams can come true, Brandon.” It was a sentiment he truly believed — he just wished he had expressed it in a more original way. He handed Sasha the book and watched as she clutched it to her bosom.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He was so busy staring at Sasha that he didn’t realize a few customers stood behind her waiting for his autograph until one of them coughed. Following his line of vision, Sasha glanced behind her. “Oh, I’m sorry. We go way back.” She looked at Brandon. “Well, I guess I should go and let you get back to it.”
He didn’t want her to go. Who knew when he’d see her again? Another decade? He had to strike while the iron was hot. She moved away and began walking down the steps, but Brandon called out to her. “Sasha, wait a sec.”
She looked up. “Yes?”
“Can you wait until I’m done signing books? I want to catch up.” He paused and then added, “If you have the time.”
When she smiled broadly up at him, Brandon felt relieved. “Sure thing. I’ll be downstairs perusing the travel books.”
Brandon’s heart kicked up a notch, and he hurriedly finished signing books so he could spend time with the incomparable Sasha Bennett.
Sasha’s heart was beating loudly as she made her way down the steps of the bookstore. She hoped she hadn’t looked like a complete idiot ogling Brandon like that.
He looks damn good.
He wasn’t only tall and gorgeous but sexy as all get-out too. Rocking a trimmed beard over nutty brown skin with full lips and dark brown eyes, Sasha was instantly smitten. She didn’t recall Brandon affecting her like this before. Perhaps it was his now-hard athletic body. The cardigan over his T-shirt did little to restrain his broad chest and bulging biceps. He was filling out those designer jeans quite nicely too. If they’d been alone when they’d hugged, she might have gone in for a squeeze of those cheeks. Instead, she’d kept her hands to herself.
She wondered what she must look like to an accomplished New York Times bestselling author — she, a vagabond off the street in her tiered skirt and leather jacket from the thrift store. Brandon was a success and had lived up to dreams they’d talked about while sitting up late in their off-campus apartments in Palo Alto, California, passing a bottle of cheap wine back and forth. She’d thought he was handsome but in a nerdy sort of way.
Back then, she’d had a penchant for bad boys like musicians or a wannabe rap artist waiting for his big break, all of whom treated her terribly. Why didn’t I go for the smart one like Brandon who was going somewhere? Because she’d thought of herself as the cool chick who didn’t conform to convention. She didn’t want to end up as some bored housewife. Instead, she’d become a college graduate with an arts degree who’d struggled for the last decade to get her foothold in the New York art scene.
It wasn’t easy.
No one gave you a break here. Sasha was always on the grind. Today was no different. Earlier, on the way out of her studio apartment, her landlady had caught her in the hall and given Sasha grief over being late with the rent again. This woman didn’t understand how hard it was being a struggling artist.
Then she’d missed the subway train on the way to an interview for a temporary receptionist gig at a local art gallery in the Village only to arrive and find the position had already been filled. So she had gone to drown her sorrows over a cup of her favorite holiday beverage: a chestnut praline latte. That’s when she spotted the flyer for Brandon’s book signing. Although she only had a few pennies to her name, she’d had to come and buy the book.
It was Brandon.
Brandon who’d never gotten tired of her endless dreaming about the future, who’d listened when every one of those bad boys had mistreated her, leaving her heartbroken. He’d always been right there to pick up the pieces. Then after graduation ten years ago, they’d lost touch. It was her fault because she never could keep her cellphone bill paid and she was terrible at remembering numbers. So she was thrilled to connect with him again.
“Hey,” Brandon’s deep tenor voice called from behind her.
Startled, Sasha spun around, and her gaze collided with his. Raw sexual attraction ripped through her. Suddenly, she was unsure of what to do next. “Hey.”
“I was really glad to see you in the crowd,” he said. He was at a loss for what else to say.
Sasha filled in the silence. “Is this your first book signing?” She felt like a groupie as she clutched the signed copy of his well-reviewed crowd-pleaser.
He nodded. “Yeah. My publisher has me on an eight-city book tour. New York is my first stop. ”
“That’s awesome. So how long will you be in NYC?”
“Not long. I leave tomorrow night.”
Sasha didn’t realize she was frowning until Brandon apologized. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for? You didn’t plan the tour, and you certainly didn’t have any idea you’d run across an old college acquaintance.”
This time, his mouth turned downward. “Is that all we were, Sasha? Acquaintances? I could have sworn we were more than that.” His eyes searched hers, and she nervously looked away.
She chuckled dryly. “Yeah, we were friends.”
He stared at her. “And that’s all?”
They’d never directly confronted the sexual tension that had always existed between them just beneath the surface. She’d always felt an underlying attraction to Brandon. To his charm. To his wit. To his giving nature. Some part of her had wanted to explore it when they’d been friends at Stanford.
His next response surprised her. “Because I have always wanted more, Sasha. Much more.”
“You have?” Maturity had made Brandon brutally honest and forthcoming. It excited her.
“We’ve always had bad timing, Sasha. When I was free, you were dating that wrestler, and when you were single, I was hooked up with that cheerleader Nikki Wright.”
“Oh yes, I remember her.”
He laughed. “You didn’t like her one bit. Said she wasn’t good enough for me.”
Sasha smiled. “And if memory serves, I was right. Wasn’t I?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. Anyway, that’s beside the point. I’m single now. What about you?”
“I’ve been casually dating someone on and off.” She and Kyle Johnson weren’t exclusive. They just hit it and quit it when the mood was right, but she couldn’t exactly tell Brandon they were friends with benefits – if they were even that.
“Do you have plans with him tonight?”
“We mentioned getting together, but it wasn’t in stone. I’m single.”
“Then that means we’re both unencumbered.” Brandon glanced down at his watch. It was four p.m. “Ditch him, and have dinner with me tonight.”
“Like a date?” It felt weird because she’d known this man since she was nineteen. He knew every one of her flaws and insecurities.
“Call it what you wish,” Brandon said, not taking his eyes off her. “Just agree to spend the night with me.”
Color bloomed in her cheeks, and he immediately retracted his statement. “What I meant to say was—”
Sasha grasped his hand to stop him. “It’s okay. I know what you meant.”
He stopped speaking and looked down at their joined hands. Their eyes met, and Sasha’s heart pounded as she thought about what his hands might feel like all over her body. Seriously disturbed by her own thoughts, she pulled her hand free. “Dinner sounds great.”
She immediately pulled her Android from her purse and sent a polite text to Kyle letting him know she’d made other plans for the evening. It was time she and Brandon finally explored what could come next.
“I’m afraid you’re going to have to take the lead. I’ve never been to Manhattan, and I wouldn’t have the foggiest notion about where to go.”
“Leave it to me,” Sasha said. “I have you covered.”
She certainly hoped she did because the sudden sexual connection she felt toward Brandon shook her intensely, making her recognize that she wanted to stay calm and cool.
Her last relationship had been an utter disaster, so she knew she wanted her relationship with Brandon to remain platonic. In the past, Brandon was the one man she’d always been able to count on. So why in the back of her mind was she hoping for a different outcome?
Chapter 2
Yes! Brandon thought. We’re going to spend time together in the city. After thanking the bookstore staff and signing the remaining attic stock, he and Sasha left the store for parts unknown. Even with the brisk New York wind, Brandon smelled Sasha’s sweet floral scent that was uniquely her as they walked side by side. Having grown up in Los Angeles, he wasn’t used to the cold weather, but he wouldn’t trade this time with Sasha for anything.
“So where to?” he asked. It was nearly dusk, but the Manhattan streets were coming alive as New Year’s Eve was getting underway.
She glanced up at him. “It’s still early for dinner. How about walking around for a bit? I can show you some of the sights.”
“Sounds great.” Without thinking, he reached for her hand. Sasha didn’t protest as they strolled the streets of Greenwich Village.
Because the Village had a bustling arts scene, Sasha pointed out some of the Off Broadway theaters, the Blue Note jazz club, and the Comedy Cellar, where lots of stand-up comedians start out. They walked through Washington Square Park too. There, they threw coins in the fountain and stopped to watch street performers dance and an elderly couple battle each other in an intense game of chess.
Brandon, however, was curious to know more about Sasha. “What have you been up to all these years? How’s your art going?”
“I’m afraid my career hasn’t done as well as yours,” Sasha said as she pointed out the Astor Place Theatre, where the Blue Man Group was performing.
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