by Layla Hagen
“Fine, we’re in. But Sebastian and I want to have the last word on any potential candidates. Before you tell her about them.”
Ava leans toward me. “I like our men when they’re so pretentious.” She says this loud enough for them to hear it. Sebastian raises his eyebrows, and Logan drums his fingers on the table.
“If you play nice, we might let you know when we have a candidate for Pippa,” Ava teases.
“What about Alice?” Sebastian asks. I take a good look at him to make sure he’s not pulling my leg. Nope, he genuinely has no idea. Men can be so oblivious. Alice has been pining for one of Sebastian and Logan’s oldest friends since she was in high school.
Judging by the glances that he gave Alice at the last meeting with the wedding planner, he’s done some pining too, or at the very least lusting. The wedding will be an excellent opportunity for these two to... explore each other.
“We’ll see,” I say vaguely. Ava warned me that Sebastian wouldn’t take this lightly. His best friend is a heartbreaker. “Let’s concentrate on Pippa first.”
Ava’s phone beeps. She checks it quickly then groans, turning to Sebastian. “The wedding planner wants us at the location ASAP.”
“Since when do you say ASAP?” Sebastian teases her.
“She actually wrote that to me. Come on, let’s go, and let the lovebirds enjoy their new house.” Ava sighs, hugging me goodbye. “A word of advice: run away to Vegas and marry. Skip the reception. Preparations are a nightmare, even with wedding planners.”
“Aww, it’s not so bad.” I hug her back.
“Don’t overwork yourself this week. You’re my maid of honor, and I require you to be in top shape.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Honoring her request won’t be all that easy, however. My shop is booming. I’m now selling my designs mostly, and I’m on the brink of signing contracts with big department stores. Several boutique shops in New York carry my dresses, and I can barely keep up with demand. I had to hire two seamstresses. Archer disappeared. Logan and I agreed that he shouldn’t be allowed to scam anyone anymore, and Logan informed me that he’d take care of it. He was quick too; Archer’s website disappeared a week after that. I’m not even sure I want to know how everything went down.
“Ava is right,” Logan says after they leave.
“About what?” I sit in his lap, running my fingers through his hair and admiring my engagement ring. Logan finally gave it to me two months ago. It’s gorgeous, made of white gold with a large sapphire in the center. I sneak glances at it all the time, even in meetings, when no one’s paying attention.
“We should elope to Vegas.”
I open my mouth then close it again, my stomach dipping. “I... We... No. Your parents—”
“Will still have Ava and Sebastian’s wedding to enjoy.”
“Mom would kill me if she didn’t see me in a white dress, and I can’t do this to Ava, even though I do find the idea tempting.”
“Fine, but I want to set the date already.”
“What’s the rush?” I ask.
He wiggles his eyebrows. “I have big plans with my future wife.”
“Wanna share those plans?”
“Only after the wedding, so you can’t run away.”
I narrow my eyes. “Sounds dangerous.”
“You and Ava did say you like to live on the edge.”
“Speaking of which, I forgot about Alice.”
I fish my phone out of my pocket. With Logan peeking over my shoulder, I text her.
Nadine: Your brothers agreed to our plan for Pippa. We can start with the first stage already.
My phone chimes with a new message a few short seconds later.
Alice: Game on.
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Dear Reader,
This is the end of Logan and Nadine’s story. Pippa’s book, Your Forever Love, will be next. It will be released mid-summer. Please sign up HERE to be notified about the release date for Your Forever Love (you will also receive a FREE copy of my full-length romance Found in Us if you sign up. The retail price is $3.99).
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Other Books by Layla Hagen
The Lost Series
Novella Lost
Lost is a FREE is a prequel novella to Lost in Us and can be read before or after.
Whatever might help him forget his past and numb the pain, James has tried it all: booze, car races, fights, and then some. Especially women. College offers plenty of opportunities for everything. . . Especially when you have a trust fund to spend.
Serena spirals deeper and deeper into a hurricane of pain. But no matter how far she falls, there’s no redemption from the overwhelming guilt. Two souls consumed by their pasts fight to learn how to survive. But all hope seems to be lost. Until they meet each other.
AVAILABLE AS A FREE DOWNLOAD. You can find the links to all retailers HERE.
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Lost in Us: The story of James and Serena
There are three reasons tequila is my new favorite drink.
• One: my ex-boyfriend hates it.
• Two: downing a shot looks way sexier than sipping my usual Sprite.
• Three: it might give me the courage to do something my ex-boyfriend would hate even more than tequila—getting myself a rebound
The night I swap my usual Sprite with tequila, I meet James Cohen. The encounter is breathtaking. Electrifying. And best not repeated.
James is a rich entrepreneur. He likes risks and adrenaline and is used to living the high life. He’s everything I’m not.
But opposites attract.
Some say opposites destroy each other.
Some say opposites are perfect for each other.
I don’t know what will James and I do to each other, but I can’t stay away from him. Even though I should.
AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS. You can find the links HERE.
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Found in Us: The story of Jessica and Parker
Jessica Haydn wants to leave her past behind. Hurt by one too many heartbreaks, she vows not to fall in love again. Especially not with a man like Parker, whose electrifying pull and smile bruised her ego once before. But his sexy British accent makes her crave his touch, and his blue eyes strip Jessica of all her defenses.
Parker Blakesley has no place for love in his life. He learned the hard way not to trust. He built his business empire by avoiding distractions, and using sheer determination and control. But something about Jessica makes him question everything. Not only has she a body made for sin, but her laughter fills a void inside of him.
The desire igniting between them spirals into an unstoppable passion, and so much more. Soon, neither can fight their growing emotional connection. But can two scarred souls learn to trust again? And when a mistake threatens to tear them apart, will their love be strong enough?
AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS. You can find the links HERE.
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Caught in Us: The story of Dani and Damon
Damon Cooper has all the markings of a bad boy:
• A tattoo
• A bike
• An attitude to go with point one and two
In the beginning I hated him, but now I’m falling in love with him.
My parents forbid us to be together, but Damon’s not one to obey rules.
And since I met him, neither am I.
AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS. You can find the links HERE.
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Standalone USA TODAY BESTSELLER
Withering Hope
Aimee’s wedding is supp
osed to turn out perfect. Her dress, her fiancé and the location—the idyllic holiday ranch in Brazil—are perfect.
But all Aimee’s plans come crashing down when the private jet that’s taking her from the U.S. to the ranch—where her fiancé awaits her—defects mid-flight and the pilot is forced to perform an emergency landing in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
With no way to reach civilization, being rescued is Aimee and Tristan’s—the pilot—only hope. A slim one that slowly withers away, desperation taking its place. Because death wanders in the jungle under many forms: starvation, diseases. Beasts.
As Aimee and Tristan fight to find ways to survive, they grow closer. Together they discover that facing old, inner agonies carved by painful pasts takes just as much courage, if not even more, than facing the rainforest.
Despite her devotion to her fiancé, Aimee can’t hide her feelings for Tristan—the man for whom she’s slowly becoming everything. You can hide many things in the rainforest. But not lies. Or love.
Withering Hope is the story of a man who desperately needs forgiveness and the woman who brings him hope. It is a story in which hope births wings and blooms into a love that is as beautiful and intense as it is forbidden.
AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS. You can find the links HERE.
Your Irresistible Love
Copyright © 2016 Layla Hagen
Published by Layla Hagen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Published: Layla Hagen 2016
Cover: http://designs.romanticbookaffairs.com/
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Acknowledgements
There are so many people who helped me fulfil the dream of publishing, that I am utterly terrified I will forget to thank someone. If I do, please forgive me. Here it goes.
First, I’d like to thank my beta readers, Jessica, Dee, Andrea, Carrie, Jill, Kolleen and Rebecca. You made this story so much better!!
I want to thank every blogger and reader who took a chance with me as a new author and helped me spread the word. You have my most heartfelt gratitude. To my street team. . .you rock !!!
Last but not least, I would like to thank my family. I would never be here if not for their love and support. Mom, you taught me that books are important, and for that I will always be grateful. Dad, thank you for always being convinced that I should reach for the stars.
To my sister, whose numerous ahem. . .legendary replies will serve as an inspiration for many books to come, I say thank you for your support and I love you, kid.
To my husband, who always, no matter what, believed in me and supported me through all this whether by happily taking on every chore I overlooked or accepting being ignored for hours at a time, and most importantly encouraged me whenever I needed it: I love you and I could not have done this without you.
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