Love Hime or Leave Him
Page 20
With the quirky townspeople rallying against Veronica inheriting her grandfather’s business, it’s up to Matt to try to drive her out of town. But how can he, when instead she’s driving her way into his heart?
Find your Bliss with Paula Altenburg’s Desire by Design
Matt stared at the plans, his expression noncommittal. The expensive Italian suit made Eve self-conscious about her own worn-out, shiny-kneed jeans, and she couldn’t remember if she’d put on any makeup that morning. When she worked on site, regulations required her to wear steel-toed boots and a hard hat. They said nothing about lipstick. She wished they were having this conversation in her office at Sullivan Construction, and she were wearing her high heels.
Chewing on her naked lower lip, Eve tried not to notice how very tall he was or how very blue those eyes were when he looked at her. She tried not to notice the beginnings of a five o’clock shadow on a strong jaw or that he had a slight cleft at the curve of his mouth. She also tried not to notice how her breath quickened when his arm brushed against her shoulder.
She was unsuccessful on all counts.
He ran a hand through his short-cropped black hair and glanced down at her. His eyes twinkled with a glimmer of sympathy. Pure, physical attraction struck her, hard.
“I’ve had difficult clients, too. Tell you what,” he continued. “Why don’t we schedule a meeting to share our ideas? That will give me time to get some sketches together to show you.”
Time to prepare would be good. She was too rattled to make a firm commitment. “I have a lot of work on the go right now, but I should be available early next week.”
They were still in front of the drafting table, standing too close together. Matt was making no signs of leaving, just watching her face, and Eve wasn’t sure what to do about it.
“I wouldn’t mind having a quick tour of this site,” he hinted, his incredible eyes crinkling at the corners.
While she was cautious of his motives, Eve wasn’t about to pass up a chance to wow him with her accomplishments. She’d seen his work; let him see hers. “I’ll get you a hard hat.”
She grabbed her own, as well as a spare kept on a hook on the wall for visitors. She passed the spare to Matt. As he took it, his fingers caught hers, just their tips brushing the backs of her knuckles, and when she looked up at him, he smiled into her eyes. “Thanks.”
The fine dark shadow on his jaw showed off the perfect whiteness of his teeth. Eve blinked. The man was gorgeous. And he knew how to rock it.
Find your Bliss with Tracy March’s
The Practice Proposal
Mack pulled the truck and trailer alongside the barn. Before Liza and Cole had time to move, several reporters, cameramen, and photographers crowded behind the trailer. Liza squinted against the flash and glare of the lights. A middle-aged female reporter—dressed in a business suit and looking too city for an assignment on a farm—took the lead with questions. “Cole,” she said, as if she knew him personally, “isn’t this the date you donated to raise money for the BADD Athletes Foundation?”
“Yes,” he said. “It’s a good cause. I hope more people will learn about the important work BADD is doing to keep athletes drug-free.” He glanced at Liza. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his eyes sparkled with the reflection of lights from the cameras. “But I’m the one who benefited here. Look who I got to spend an evening with.”
Liza swallowed hard, thinking it was awesome that he seemed proud to be with her, and he’d pretty much made her donation pitch, too. She probably had a silly-looking grin on her face, but she couldn’t help it.
The reporter piped up again. “I have it from a reliable source that you might be settling down with Miss Sutherland.”
Liza’s grin flattened, and her heart raced double-time. What reliable source would’ve told the reporter that?
“Any truth to that rumor?” the reporter asked. “Inquiring women want to know.” Several of the photographers chuckled.
Liza couldn’t believe they even had to ask. Cole wasn’t settling down—he probably never would, and certainly not with her. She turned to him, hoping he had a clever answer. He glanced at her with a glint in his eyes, then turned back to the reporters. “Settling down is looking like a pretty good idea.”
Liza’s stomach clenched. What?
“Should we expect a proposal soon?” another reporter asked. “I’d love to be there for an exclusive on that.”
The flash of a camera highlighted the mischief in his eyes, and a wisp of a sexy smile played across his lips. “It’ll probably go something like this,” he said with a drawl. He faced Liza, skimmed his fingertips along her jawline, and guided her head until she met his gaze.
Her mind swirled with confusion. All she could think was, Please don’t kiss me here…now! She frantically wondered how to react to him in front of these people—in front of everyone, for that matter. Any stupid move she made would be captured on video and posted on YouTube forever.
He leaned closer, and Liza braced herself.
“Will you marry me, darlin’?” he asked.
Liza’s heart lurched. Stunned speechless, she blinked several times, her pulse thrumming in her ears. Cole tipped his head and whispered in her ear, “Just smile.” His warm breath sent another shiver through her, and she smiled with sheer bewilderment. He leaned back and tugged playfully on a lock of her hair, a crooked, coy grin on his face.
After a beat, he faced the reporters and winked as the cameras clicked and whirred. “That’s as close to an exclusive as I can give you.”
Find your Bliss with these new releases…
Taste the Heat by Rachel Harris
When chef Colby Robicheaux returned home, the last person she expected to run into was her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush, Jason. Fire captain Jason Landry isn’t looking for love. In fact, he’s actively avoiding it. But when Colby returns to town, all grown up and gorgeous, he can’t help but be drawn to her. When she suggests a no-strings-attached fling, Jason can’t say no. As their relationship heats up, though, Colby finds that Jason isn’t as easy to leave behind as she thought.
Act Like You Love Me by Cindi Madsen
Brynn McAdams isn’t the drama geek she was in high school anymore. But when her old crush, the unattainable Sawyer Raines, shows up to direct her community play, she’s determined to pretend she isn’t the girl he rejected all those years ago. As Brynn’s lies start to snowball, she struggles to stop acting and come clean. But what if Sawyer is already falling for the fake Brynn, not the Brynn she truly is?
Just My Luck by Kelley Vitollo
Betsy Harris has always known Jace Macnamara was off limits. He’s a close friend, plus her boss—making him doubly forbidden. Jace just found out he needs a wife now, but he never dreamed of settling down for real. Neither Betsy nor Jace wants to ruin their friendship when their fake marriage inevitably ends, but Jace begins to see his “wife” for the beautiful, caring woman she is. Can he risk their past for a future together?
The Switched Baby Scandal by Theresa Meyers
Single mom Taylor Lawrence just discovered that the hospital sent her home with the wrong infant five years ago. Now Reece, the headstrong and handsome biological father, wants his child back. Taylor and Reece find there’s more to sort out than custody of Emily—they must work together to protect her while grappling with their growing attraction. Can they pick up the pieces of two broken families and meld them into something new?