Sultry in Stilettos
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She shook her head. "You don’t owe me any explanations. She offered you the one thing you've been dying for. That job would have given you the means to renovate Swim on J. I just wish you’d told me."
He put up a hand to stop her. "That's just it. You were right."
She cocked her head. "I was?"
He nodded. "I only considered her offer for about a minute before I knew what I wanted to do. I was going to tell her to go fuck herself, but I wanted it in writing. I wanted her gone. I guess I wanted to punish her for nearly killing you. I wanted to expose her in the most public way possible.”
"You were paying her back for me?"
He shrugged. "Well, yeah. I knew from the get-go that you deserved the job. You were just a natural. Sure, I could be a daredevil, and I wanted it, but you’re level-headed. It suits you."
She nodded a thanks. God, she looked so beautiful. He hadn’t even known how much he missed her until he couldn’t just pick up the phone and call. Just stroll over and let himself in and help himself to dinner. Couldn't just call her and start yapping about whatever was on his mind. He needed her.
"I still can’t believe you turned down the job."
"Yeah, well, someone once told me I had a flare for the dramatic."
She giggled, and his heart raced. He missed her laugh.
"I heard Zach promoted you."
She nodded. "Yeah. It’s been a little chaotic, but I’ve been having fun." She lowered her lashes. “Beckett. What are you doing here?”
Do or die time. “Ricca, I’m in love with you. I’ve been twisted up inside since that night of the Gala. I know—I should have told you sooner, but truthfully, you scared me shitless.”
“Beckett, we’ve been through so much. I need to know you will talk to me. Even if you don’t know how I’m going to react. You’re not an island.”
“I know. And I don’t want to be. If you give me a chance, I’ll do everything I’m capable of to make you happy. I’ve been miserable without you.”
She blinked at him mouth agape. “I’m sorry. Did you say you love me?”
He nodded. “I’ll use small words. I. Love. You. I’m sorry it took so long to tell you.”
****
All Ricca could manage for several heartbeats were a few deep breaths. Beckett loved her. Like in wanted to be with her? She shook her head trying to dislodge the fantasy. She’d wanted this for so long that her brain couldn’t quite adjust to the new version of the fantasy. Because no matter how long she’d wanted a life with him, she’d known that he couldn’t love her. Wouldn’t love her. But now, here he was—making her dreams come true.
She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Trying again, she willed her brain and her heart to work in unison. Still nothing.
Beckett’s breath came out in ragged huffs as his eyes searched her face. Stepping into her, he took her hands in his and dropped to one knee. “I know I don’t deserve you or your patience. I know that I won’t always get it right. I know you can do better than me. But I want you to know that no matter what, I love you. You don’t even have to say anything now. I just want the chance to be able to prove it to you. You’re my family, always have been. When you’re ready, I want to make that official. I just want you to give me the chance to keep proving it to you. Anything you want. Just take me back and give me a chance.” He laid his forehead on her clasped hands. “I am in love with you, and I need you in my life.”
Ricca blinked away the stinging burn in her eyes. This was real? Not a fantasy? Not a dream she needed to wake from? She cleared her throat and used her thumb to caress his cheek. “Beckett, stand up.”
He obliged, and as his gaze bore down on hers, she saw the glimmer in his eyes. He loved
her. In that moment, she found her voice. “I love you too, Beckett. I always have."
With a quick release of breath, he drew her into him. "I'm not running again. You’re stuck with me."
"Good. Cause Mr. Mills, I have big plans for us. And just so you know," she trailed her fingertips down his chest to his belt buckle. “I plan on making you work for redemption.”
A slow, sexy grin played on him lips. “How about I start working right now?”
Other Contemporary Romance Books by Nana Malone
Sexy in Stilettos
©2012 Nana Malone
~ 4 out of 5 stars - Picked by Poison ~ "I liked Nana's writing style and how she made her characters quirky and fun, and not the usual romantic type."
Blurb:
What’s worse than having to watch your sister marry your ex fiancé? How about when that fiancé fires you from the family business?
Hyper-organized, event planner Jaya Trudeaux is used to doing things by the book and never making waves. It’s a strategy that’s served her well until she finds herself in failure alley with no fiancé, no job and her thirtieth birthday looming. Maybe it’s time to change her methods. Starting with an unlikely date to the wedding from hell.
The only thing that can tie carefree playboy, Alec Danthers down is his formidable step mother. When she calls him home to help find his wayward brother, he never imagines an uptight, list making, sass- talking woman would make him think about putting down roots.
Can Jaya put the lists down long enough to enjoy the ride that is Alec? Will Alec stop running long enough to recognize true love?
Warning: Sexy, sass talking women will make you laugh, cry and want a pair of killer footwear.
Game, Set, Match
©2010 Nana Malone
“Titillating and heartwarming, GAME, SET, MATCH is a delightful contemporary romance that will touch your heart….Wonderfully enhanced with a poignant plot, compelling characters, humor, secrets, blazing hot sex scenes, surprising plot twists and plenty of love, this story is brought to life right before your eyes by the appealing writing style of author Nana Malone.”
~Review by Dottie for Romance Junkies
“Game, Set, Match had me enjoying Izzie’s sass and Jason’s coming back for more attitudes. Ms. Malone’s depth to her characters, their actions, and their choices made them more lifelike and gratifying in this story.”
~ Reviewed by Vanessa for Joyfully Reviewed
Blurb:
Off the court, tennis star Jason Cartwright's playboy image is taking a public beating. On the court, he's down forty-love. A knee injury is shutting down his game, and the paparazzi are splashing his love life on every magazine. A comeback is in order, but the makeover he needs to save his faltering career is in the hands of the woman he loved and left fifteen years ago.
While single-mom, Izzy Connors, sees people for who they really are through the lens of her camera, even without it, she knows Jason isn't the star he appears to be. Although his charm and good looks haven't dimmed since he broke her heart, all she sees is his wasted talent and playboy lifestyle.
Can Izzy put the past behind her and help Jason get his game, and his image, back on track? Or will the click of her camera shatter his world as well as his heart?
Available for purchase on www.nanamalone.com
About the Author
Nana’s love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she borrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.
Waiting for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, Nana, meantime works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is. Though, until that ninja job comes through, you’ll find her acting out scenes for hubby and puppy while catching up on her favorite reality television shows in sunny San Diego.
Her novels are available whereever ebooks are sold or from her website www.nanaamalone.com
To learn more about Nana and her books, visit www.nanamalone.com, follow her on http
://www.twitter.com/nanamalone, or chat with her on Facebook.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Other Books By Nana Malone
About the Author