by Maya Banks
Seemed he was right about her being on a mission, but damn, he’d been wrong about her not being a man-eater. She was so similar to his ex, he wouldn’t be surprised if she pulled off a mask to reveal Laura herself.
He took a long slug of his beer and then swiped his tongue over his bottom lip. This woman was either crazy or desperate or both. Figured. He should’ve known a woman this beautiful would be nuttier than a sack of trail mix.
“Well?” Her eyebrow arched again, her too-serious expression snapping seamlessly into place. “I don’t have much time, so I’d appreciate an answer.”
Was she for real?
He’d never imagined she’d march over here and demand to…to…hire him to be her date, let alone expect him to agree without so much as a casual introduction. For all he knew, she would lure him in with promises and then steal his identity.
Or my kidneys.
The answer was an easy no, but he wouldn’t let her off the hook without making her explain first. He opened the edge of her purse with his index finger so he could examine the cash inside as he pretended to consider her offer.
“How will payment work? You just hand me all the money in your purse and then I give you my phone number?”
“No. Of course not.” She snatched her bag out of his reach. “Then I’d have no guarantee you’d show up. I’d give it to you at the wedding.”
“Why would I clear my weekend plans and fly with you to Ohio on a promise of two thousand dollars if I don’t have any of it?”
A frown muddled her pretty face. “You can have half. But I need your phone number. And your address. And your word.”
Unbelievably gorgeous and absolutely crackers. It was a shame.
“But I need your answer now.”
“Right now.” His gaze locked on her pink mouth and he had a moment of regret for not getting to have a taste of her lips. To feel how silky that red hair was against his fingertips. He lifted his beer bottle, delaying. The kissing and fingers in her hair were an impossibility but his curiosity to watch her reaction still burned. He was trying to decide what she would do when he said no. Would she slap him or scream at him or run from the bar?
“Yes, now,” she said through her teeth.
Damn. Maybe he could convince her to stick around after he shot her down.
“I can’t help you out, Strawberry. I don’t particularly like the Midwest. And despite what first impression I must’ve given you, I don’t need two thousand dollars. But if you’d like to finish your wine—”
That long swath of hair flicked as she turned on her heel and tromped toward the exit. Option C it was. She left behind a plume of softly scented perfume and a fantasy that lasted the rest of the week. One about long, silky hair and a parted pink mouth. About her beneath him naked atop those bills scattered over his bed…
Whoever she was, she left an impression. The way looking at the sun left bright light burning behind his lids for a while.
Gage turned back to his beer. Even though Strawberry was a little nutty, he honestly hoped she found a date to that wedding in Ohio.
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ALEXA RILEY
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Mallory Sullivan never expected Oz to be the greatest culmination of her dreams. But sometimes fate determines who you fall in love with. And then you realize it wasn’t fate at all…
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Paige Turner is trying to outrun her past, but there it is, tossed back in her face any time she manages to get two steps ahead. But before she knows it, Ryan has made his way into her life and into her heart…
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CEO Henry Osbourne has only ever desired one woman—the one who got away.
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ISBN-13: 9781488056888
Breathless © 2019 by Harlequin Books S.A
The publisher acknowledges the copyright holders of the individual works as follows:
Wanted
First published as Wanted by His Lost Love by Harlequin Desire in 2011.
Copyright © 2011 by Maya Banks
The Siren
Copyright © 2012 by Tiffany Reisz
Hold Tight
Cop
yright © 2017 by Author Alexa Riley LLC
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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