by Julie Leto
His mouth quirked into a grin, his gaze expectant and—for the first time that she’d ever witnessed—uncertain. She wanted to speak, but there were so many words jumbling in her brain, she couldn’t pick which ones to say.
“Dante, I—”
“I bought this for you nine years ago. In a way, I’m grateful that I never had the chance to ask you to marry me. Neither one of us was ready. Now, we know how much we mean to each other, how much we can accomplish together. Please, Macy Rush, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She opened her mouth, certain she could pull one word out of her repertoire, but a knock on the door broke the moment.
“What?” Dante snapped.
“Communiqué from headquarters, sir. “
“Shove it under the door.”
Dante took Macy’s ringed hand in his, kissed her palm, then retrieved the note. He scanned it with a scowl, but by the time he reached the end, he was chuckling.
“What is it?” she asked.
“It’s from your boss, or I should say, your former boss.”
Macy grabbed the paper and read. Her jaw dropped. When her gaze met with Dante’s, the twinkle in his eye made her suspect he’d had something to do with this turn of events. “Did you do this?”
“Make Abercrombie Marshall retire? No, love, even I’m not that powerful. Besides, he’s not really retiring. Read the note on the bottom.”
In his woefully bad handwriting, Abe had jotted a personal note to Macy, informing her that he’d just been appointed as the new head of the Arm. He was finally returning to the outfit that had drummed him out on account of his skin color—and now, he was in charge.
“Bully for him,” Macy said. “He’ll do wonderful things with your legacy, Dante.”
Dante shook his head and shrugged, as if he was pleased, but truly didn’t give a damn. “Now, back to the proposal on the table.”
Macy allowed the paper to drift to the floor and slid her arms around Dante’s neck. “Yes.”
Dante’s eyes widened. “That’s it? Yes? What’s the catch?”
She grinned, remembering how she’d questioned him similarly just a few days ago. “Catch? Well, there is the fact that I love you, too. And I’m not a patient woman, with time for long engagements. But if you want something more…”
He snaked his hands around her waist and tugged her so that their bodies aligned perfectly. “May I make a suggestion?”
She nuzzled his neck with her nose, inhaling that spicy tobacco scent she’d crave forever, even if he was with her every single day. “Feel free.”
“I was thinking that your flat in Paris is much too small for two people.”
The warmth of his skin acted like a magnet to her lips. She hummed her agreement as she bathed his neck in slow, erotic kisses.
“So I thought I could fill my spare time looking for an old house to renovate. You know how I love old houses,” he said.
She pulled back and eyed him with naughty suspicion. “I don’t suppose you’ll want a similar deal to the one we had here, do you? Something like I can’t spend time in a room until we’ve made love there?”
With a chuckle, he buried his nose in her hair and dropped gentle kisses on her face. “Works for me. We could try out multiple rooms in multiple houses, until we find just the right spot. You game?”
Macy laughed, secure in Dante’s embrace and certain for the first time that they had a real shot at a future together. “With you, Dante, I’m game for anything.”
************
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading KICK ASS: A COLLECTION. I enjoy writing about tough, no-nonsense heroines who can take care of themselves… and the men who love them. I hope you’ll try out my other books from either my Sexy Suspense or Paranormal Romance series. Or both!
Also, if you have a moment, I would be very appreciative if you’d take a moment to return to Amazon and post a book review. It doesn’t have to be long or detailed. A short, honest assessment of what you’ve read is worth its weight in gold! You can leave a review by clicking this link.
Also, though I have gone over these books with a fine-toothed comb and they were edited and proofread extensively in both their original publication and in the re-release, if you caught an error or typo that you believe I should address, please send me a note via my email, [email protected]. I would truly appreciate it!
Happy reading!
Other Works by Julie Leto
Dirty Little Lies
(Sexy Suspense)
Book Two
Staying alive isn’t easy when people with guns tell Dirty Little Lies…
PRAISE FOR DIRTY LITTLE LIES…
“A must read for anyone enjoying a little female butt-kicking with a little flare.”
~C.J. Yasay, Bookstove
“Leto’s style is fast, breezy and loaded with tension. She’s created a complex plot that’s executed with precision. Her characters have no middle ground and are worth a second look.”
~Donna M. Brown, RT Bookreviews
“Compelling drama, engaging and vibrant characters, along with a spicy Latin flavor all combine together to make Julie Leto’s latest story a must-have for fans of truly well written romantic suspense.”
~Sonya, Fallen Angel Reviews
OVERVIEW:
— A disgraced bounty hunter faces down a deadly assassin.
— A brush with death changes the rules for friends with benefits
— Should she stop the seasoned killer’s quest for vengeance… or join her on the hunt?
Buy Dirty Little Lies with your e-ink Kindle
Buy Dirty Little Lies with your Kindle Fire or Kindle App
* * * *
Want to spend more time with Marisela and Frankie, but your reading time limited? How about a sexy novella… perfect for reading before bed!
Dirty Little Christmas
(Sexy Suspense Novella)
Book Three
Sex, lies and mistletoe—who knew they’d be such a deadly combination…
PRAISE FOR DIRTY LITTLE CHRISTMAS…
“A mystery, action, book with some hot sex scenes, what more can you ask for?”
~ Julie Ramsey, Julie’s Book Reviews
“Leto underpins it all with provocative emotional twists that kept me thinking about the characters and their story long after I read the last page.”
~ Phyllis Towzey, Amazon Reader
“Sexy Suspense is an understatement. Caliente!”
~ Anne-Marie Carroll, Amazon Reader
OVERVIEW
— A street-wise sister schemes a holiday surprise
— The unexpected kidnapping of a pregnant woman waylays her plans
— Can her super-sexy ex-lover help her pull of a thrilling Christmas miracle?
Buy Dirty Little Christmas with your e-ink Kindle
Buy Dirty Little Christmas with your Kindle Fire or Kindle App
* * * *
Some women kick-ass in back-alleys, but Alexa Chandler does her ball-busting in the boardroom… check out book ONE in the “Phantom” series…
Phantom Pleasures
Book One
PRAISE FOR PHANTOM PLEASURES…
“Ms Leto is in top form here as she strikes the perfect balance between moving the story along and filling the reader in on details.”
~ Mrs.Giggles
“Phantom Pleasures will appeal to readers with a strong appreciation for the fairy tale.”
~ The Romance Reader
“This was quite a smart read.”
~ Chills, GoodReads
OVERVIEW
— A powerful nobleman, trapped in time, falls victim to a Gypsy curse
— A shrewd modern woman inherits a cursed castle and the phantom within
— Will she submit to his dark magic or free him from his prison—and her heart—forever?
Buy Phantom Pleasures with your e-ink Kindle
Buy Phantom Pleasures with yo
ur Kindle Fire or Kindle App
* * * *
Meet the woman who kicks ass on the silver screen… and the warrior who knows better than to try and tame her…
Book TWO in the “Phantom” series…
Phantom’s Touch
(Sexy Paranormal)
In Hollywood, you can never be sure what’s real…
PRAISE for PHANTOM’S TOUCH…
“When Hollywood magic meets real magic, the collision leads to a sexy and thrilling tale.”
~Jill Smith, Romantic Times
“Phantom’s Touch is an amazing tale by Julie Leto filled with magic, sensuality and sizzling tension.”
~Steph, Bookaholics Romance Book Club
“The story is mythical and sexy and as the saga of the Forsyth family continues I am happily along for the ride.”
~Cherise Everhard, Amazon Top #1000 Reviewer
OVERVIEW
— A dark-hearted warrior trapped by a powerful Gypsy curse
— A street-smart actress desperate to break free of Hollywood’s seductive trap
— Will an evil cult and dangerous stalker end this epic romance before it begins?
Buy Phantom’s Touch with your e-ink Kindle
Buy Phantom’s Touch with your Kindle Fire or Kindle App
About the Author
New York Times bestselling author Julie Leto is the multi-published and award-winning author of over forty-five novels for publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Penguin and Harlequin who has now turned her attention to independent publishing. She pens the popular “Dirty” sexy suspense series starring kick-ass, ex-gang girl Marisela Morales and the sensual paranormal “Phantom” books.
Julie lives on the west coast of Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance. Readers can find her at www.julieleto.com, on Facebook and as @JulieLeto on Twitter.
Contact Information
Website: www.julieleto.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/readjulieleto
Twitter: www.twitter.com/julieleto
Blog: www.plotmonkeys.com
Copyright
Dirty Little Secrets
First published by Downtown Press, a division of Simon & Schuster.
Print Copyright by Book Goddess, LLC, 2005
E-book Copyright Book Goddess, LLC, 2011
E-book Published by Book Goddess, LLC, 2011
E-Book Cover Photo by Pat Ryan Graphics
All rights reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Author.
Kiss of the Phantom
First published by Signet/NAL, a division of Penguin Books
Print Copyright by Book Goddess, LLC, 2008
E-book Copyright Book Goddess, LLC, 2011
E-book Published by Book Goddess, LLC, 2011
E-Book Cover Photo by Earthly Charms
All rights reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Author.
Dare Me
First published as “Dare to Desire” in the DARE ME collection with authors Cherry Adair and Jill Shalvis by Signet/NAL, a division of Penguin Books
Print Copyright by Book Goddess, LLC, 2005
E-book Copyright Book Goddess, LLC, 2011
E-book Published by Book Goddess, LLC, 2011
E-Book Cover Photo by Pat Ryan Graphics
All rights reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Author.
Contents
Main Menu
Start Reading
Afterword
About the Author
Contact Information
Copyright
Other Works by Julie Leto
Dirty Little Secrets
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | Epilogue
Kiss The Phantom
Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30
Dare Me
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
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