by Marie Harte
Deacon watched his friend disappear inside the house with Addy. Lucky bastard.
A shuttlecock beamed him in the head. “Hey.” He glanced over at Little Dee, as he’d taken to calling the boy. So cute, that kid. And smart. He babbled a lot, but he seemed like he was taking everything in. Future intelligence man. That’s my kid.
Deacon felt foolish thinking of the boy as his. The likelihood he’d knocked up a woman and hadn’t know it? No way. He was human, but like the others, he was cautious. That and he was almost positive he was sterile. Abuse suffered as a boy had rendered him unable to have children. Or so a doctor had told him in his teens. Considering where he’d come from and the things he’d seen, he hadn’t thought that would be a problem.
But seeing Little Dee, watching Ice thaw out and grow to love a woman, it gave a guy thoughts. He glanced at Solene, wearing her yoga pants and a trendy girly sweatshirt that did nothing to hide her curves.
Friggin’ ex-model. Leave it to Noel to find the perfect woman to mess up Deacon’s love life. He had no problem screwing on the move, screwing while not moving, or doing more than one woman at a time. Deacon enjoyed sex in a multitude of ways.
Sex was fun. Lighthearted. Dangerous. Raunchy. But the women never made him want to stick around after. None of them did.
Yet he found himself intrigued by the man-hating Solene Hansen. She had an ass and rack that didn’t quit, that was obvious. She also had a face that sure as shit had graced magazine covers and a body that made bikini ads seem indecent.
The moment he’d met her he’d checked her out online. Damn. Talk about Ice. She was like a female Noel, but sexy and feminine instead of deadly.
Another shuttlecock beamed him in the head. “Damn it.”
“Quit staring at my ass and play, Shaw.”
Deacon glared at her. She stuck out her tongue at him.
He grinned. “Is that an invitation?”
“You see?” she said to Vi, the striking nurse and possible Business plant Big Joe had sent to help Noel. “He’s impossible.”
Vi nodded and held the racket between her knees while she adjusted her long black ponytail. She looked Latina, dark hair, dark skin, dark eyes. She also had a fine figure Hammer couldn’t seem to tear his gaze from, and muscle from dealing with the dead-weight of her many patients.
“Try dealing with that giant.” She motioned toward Hammer, who tried to look innocent and failed miserably.
“What? What did I do?”
“Please.” Vi huffed. “You’re constantly rifling through my things, checking on me every five seconds, and I swear I’m missing one of my bras.”
Hammer scowled. “Hey now. I’m just making sure you are who you say you are. You got a bra problem, talk to Deacon. He’s got the underwear fetish. Not me.”
Solene raised a brow. “Is that so?”
Deacon wanted to pound his friend. “Not true.” Not exactly. He had thing for a fine woman in lingerie, and Hammer had seen him checking out an old ad of Solene modeling some lacy stuff.
He’d gotten hard just from an ad in a magazine. Pathetic, and a telling fact he needed to get laid again. Maybe he’d call on Julie from the grocery store. She’d been cute and petite, nice. The totally opposite of Solene. And she’d been more than willing.
“If you’re missing a bra, try the dryer. Noel’s machines eat clothes. I’m missing half of my socks.”
“You do laundry?” Solene asked she sent that stupid birdie soaring over the net.
He forced a grin and returned the volley. Deacon liked the setup Noel had. A fine house, big ass yard, people over hanging out. It was so normal and family-like. So not resembling anything Deacon had grown up with. At thirty-two, he was over having a hellish childhood. Except his teen years had been spent learning how to kill, to gather information, to seduce a woman into telling him anything he wanted to know. No wonder he had a fucked-up social life. He could pretend all day long, but he had never felt true affection or love for a woman.
Not the way Noel and Addy clearly felt about each other. It made him feel good to see his new buddy, a guy as fucked up as Deacon, find someone to love. Normalcy was possible. Noel was proof.
Except Noel was a decent guy. He didn’t steal more than a life here or there. Deacon stole dreams. He stole hopes. And he sold them to whoever Big Joe told him to.
The birdie flew back and forth a few more times before it landed between the girls. He and Hammer finally won a round, thought it was too late to do them any good. The ladies declared the men lame with a capital L, and themselves the victors. Game over.
Deacon grabbed a sleepy-looking Little Dee and carried him inside. He tucked him in his crib, turned on the monitor and dragged its twin outside with him, hoping he wouldn’t pick up any groans and moans through Noel’s adjoining bedroom wall.
He set the monitor down and waited while Hammer lit the grill on the outside patio. Totally killer house, Noel.
“Okay, I’m grilling hotdogs and burgers,” Hammer announced. “What else?”
“Beer.” Deacon sighed, at one with the festivities. So damn content right now. “We need beer.”
Solene surprised him by agreeing. “You got that right. This is my last night staying next door. Something to celebrate. I miss my bed.”
Deacon knew this would be tricky. And fun, seeing her all riled up. His mood turned from peaceful to crafty. He grabbed a few beers from a nearby cooler and handed them out. Then he held his bottle up for a toast. “To Solene moving home.”
“Cheers!” They clanked the bottles and drank.
Hammer watched him with amusement. He knew what was coming.
“And,” Deacon added, raising his bottle once more, “to me going with her. Solene has some of the finest views from the island. I can’t wait.”
Vi and Hammer clinked bottles, Vi looking like she tamped down laughter.
Solene gaped. “Excuse me?”
Hammer put on a sad face. “Sorry, Solene. But the threat is still out there. Until we have all the answers, we have to be careful. Deacon’s your shadow.” He gave Vi a toothy grin. “I’m yours.”
Vi didn’t look so amused anymore.
Solene appeared ready to kill. “No. No way.”
“Yes way, darling.” Deacon downed the rest of his beer and set it aside. “I’m so excited for our first big sleepover. Are we sharing a bed, or will I be using one of the guest rooms?”
She swore, rather creatively, then stomped inside shouting for Noel.
Hammer blinked. “Uh, Vi, you might want to get her. I think Noel and Addy went inside for some ‘alone time’, you know?”
“Well, hell.” Vi put down her beer and raced after Solene.
Deacon grabbed a fresh beer and handed Hammer one as well. “Think I said something wrong?”
Hammer chuckled and toasted him anew. “Nah. You said it just right. Now let’s see if you can survive her. ’Cause if you can live through the hell that blonde is planning for you, you can live through anything coming our way.”
“I’ll drink to that.”
About the Author
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit www.marieharte.com and fall in love.
Look for these titles by Marie Harte
Now Available:
A Scorching Seduction
Best Revenge
Served Cold
Served Hot
Served Sweet
Cougar Falls
Rachel’s Totem
In Plain Sight
Foxy Lady
Outfoxed
A Matter of Pride
Right Wolf, Right Time
By the Tail
Prey & Prejudice
Ethereal Foes
The Dragons’ Demon: A Dragon’s Dream
Duncan’s Descent: A Demon’s Desire
Havoc & Hell: A Dragon’s Prize
The Dragon King: Not So Ordinary
Westlake Enterprises
To Hunt a Sainte
Storming His Heart
Love In Electric Blue
Wicked Warrens
Enjoying the Show
Closing the Deal
Raising the Bar
Making the Grade
Bending the Rules
Coming Soon:
Triggerman Inc.
Secrets Sealed
Don’t miss these other titles by Marie Harte!
A prank gone wrong throws three unlikely partners together: A demon. A dragon. And an egg.
In the ordinary world, forces are at work which keep the balance of the universe in order. Enter Eve Sinclair, a higher demon with a mission—to sway those souls on the brink of Decision, to push them toward heaven or toward hell, as they are meant to go.
After a prank played by her brothers, Eve finds herself holding the proverbial bag, accused of stealing a precious dragon egg. Worse, it’s a royal egg, as she learns from Ranton, the furious commander of the dragon legion.
Not a creature to have on one’s bad side, Ranton shifts between his human and dragon forms, keeping Eve off-balance and off her game. Normally a master at manipulating males, Eve finds that Ranton is more than a match for her…as is his brother, the new dragon king. In their arms, she’s mere putty.
And soon they’re not only molding her desires, but her heart.
Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, ménage a troi, and steamy dragon love.
He’s enough to tempt a Sainte to sin.
Westlake Enterprises, Book 1
Telekinetic Alexandra Sainte is through serving time behind a desk at Buchanan Investigations. She’s more than ready to prove she’s capable of fieldwork, if only her uncle will give her the chance. Tired of waiting, she turns a sudden opportunity into something more.
Her unauthorized raid of a suspected kidnapper’s office goes off without a hitch—mostly—but as she makes her escape, she sees a pair of golden eyes watching her every move. Eyes that spark erotic dreams of a dark stranger taking her in ways that make her blush.
There’s a reason Hunter Greye can’t take his gaze off the sticky-fingered woman he catches ruining his investigation. She fights like a warrior. She bears a striking resemblance to a string of kidnapping victims. And she stirs a wildness within him he thought he’d learned to control a long time ago. She’s a dangerous distraction he can’t afford.
Thrown together in an undercover operation to find the mastermind behind the kidnappings, Alex and Hunter fall in lust, in love, and in danger. Only by trusting each other can they save the girl…and each other.
Warning: Beware psychics with attitude, a killer red dress, a ruthless villain with an angel obsession, and rivals who can’t figure out who’s better on top.
A little white lie has the power to bring a reformed bad boy to his knees.
Best Revenge, Book 1
Back in high school, Ann Weaver told herself getting ditched by Jack Bloom was for the best. At twenty-nine, she’s way over him. He was her first, but definitely not her last.
On weekly wine night with her friends, the talk turns to regrets—and Ann finds herself pledging to fix her past, starting with confronting those who treated her like dirt. Her first target: Jack, who’s recently moved back to town to stay.
But something’s different. He’s funny, kind, and amazing in bed. He acts like he really likes her, might even love her. Soon Ann is having a hard time remembering she’s only in it for revenge. Especially when she learns the real reason he dumped her.
Jack is older, wiser, and has a hell of a lot of experience behind him. For a chance at a future with this grown-up, gorgeous Ann, he’s ready to do whatever it takes. Until her true motive for rekindling their romance comes to light, and Jack must decide if forgiveness is enough to let love push through the lie.
Warning: A woman who’s out for revenge and encouraging friends rooting her on. May include sex in the outdoors, fun with salad, kissing in class, and a school teacher swearing like a sailor—not necessarily in that order.