Kitty Masters leaned out over the microphone and thrust ample cleavage their way.
“Holy shit.” Vanessa gasped. “Her boobs are swallowing her dress. Definitely fake.”
“Fake,” Jeremy agreed with a laugh.
The hostess cleared her throat. “And the winner of the Best Female Pleasure Product Manufacturer is…”
Vanessa squeezed his hand while Kitty Masters opened the envelope. “X Enterprises.”
Vanessa whooped and kissed him while the audience erupted. Jeremy could feel the cameras zoom in on him, watching as he made his way across the room. He felt a smug satisfaction as he walked to the stage to accept his award—his company had beat out Yessir Unlimited and a handful of other major players in this room to get here. This particular award meant more to him than almost any other one he had won.
Last week, X Enterprises had swept Sex Toy of the Year at the XBiz Awards in Los Angeles thanks to the Duality, and tonight’s honor was the cherry on top. The Duality was a dual-action vibrator, with one end tapered into a wand for clitoral stimulation and one end that thrust. The vibrator was just like Vanessa had suggested way back at the beginning. It was the best of both worlds—some internal movement with the option for external stimulation to mix things up—and X Enterprises’ latest bestseller. God, the product testing on that one had been fun. And Jeremy couldn’t have done any of it without Vanessa.
“Thank you, AVN, for your recognition, and thanks to the team who made this happen.” He located Vanessa in the crowd, his eyes drawn to her like he could find her anywhere. “You know who you are. And it means the world.”
Vanessa was sitting in the audience as his girlfriend, but she was also still an employee. On top of her brainstorming and sales, she now spearheaded the charity contributions committee. Jeremy couldn’t give her social work, but he’d been able to give her a place to put her passion. The branch—which donated money toward sex education, health, and civil liberties—had done almost as much for the X Enterprises image as the Duality had done for their bottom line.
Jeremy rushed through the rest of the speech, an enormous sense of validation flooding through him as he talked. He didn’t need anyone to buy X Enterprises to know how special it was. This business and all the sweat he’d put into it were part of him, sure, but it also made a difference to the millions of customers they served. Jeremy’s company had brought him out of his darkest times when he needed it most. And more important than anything, it brought him Vanessa.
Backstage, everyone streamed in to congratulate Jeremy on his win, but he slipped by them and made his way back into the audience. Strangers clapped him on the shoulder and offered kind words as he passed, but he was a man on a mission.
Jeremy found Vanessa waiting for him at his seat, and he lifted her into a giant hug. She squealed and kissed him on the lips, the fabric of her dress sliding against his skin. He deepened the kiss, and Vanessa softened against him, so it was just the two of them alone in the room. When he finally set Vanessa down, he handed her the gold statuette.
“I think this belongs to you.”
Vanessa’s eyes lit up as she accepted the award. “Gee, thanks.” She patted to the top of the statuette with a saucy smile. “What girl doesn’t love a little bling?”
Jeremy grinned. If she liked the award, she was going to love the diamond ring he planned to give her tonight. He’d carried the band all the way from Seattle, hiding the precious jewelry from Vanessa as they’d passed through airport security. Now he was tempted to drop to his knee right here in the audience and ask her to be his wife. But Vanessa deserved something private, a memory just for them.
So while they took their seats and the awards show rolled on, he had the hotel staff transforming their hotel room. He’d already booked a suite with an incredible view of The Strip, but now Vanessa would come home to a roomful of peonies, her GROW T-shirt—for old time’s sake—and a prize-winning vibrator, all for her. And the shiny engagement ring, of course.
Jeremy settled his arm around Vanessa’s shoulders, and she leaned into him. He could wait another few hours to ask his question; he had no doubt what the answer would be. Jeremy was Vanessa’s heart, just as much as she was his. She was his biggest distraction and his biggest muse. And he’d spend the rest of his life loving her, just as soon as she said yes.
THE END
Read Bex’s story in His Inspiration (X Enterprises Book Two)!
Coming Next
From Tanya Gallagher
His Inspiration (X Enterprises Book Two)
She wanted one night. Now he wants forever.
Bex Kingsley doesn’t do love, but sex is her specialty. As X Enterprises’ top adult product designer, she’s made a career out of turning disastrous bedroom sessions into bestselling toys. When her latest hookup, Gabriel Marks, is both great in bed and charming out of it, she writes him off as a nice guy but useless to her. After all, Bex is out to win the latest design competition at work, and she needs fresh ideas, not an encore performance—no matter how mind-blowing it might be.
But a one-night stand isn’t going to be good enough for Gabe. A hopeless romantic, emphasis on the hopeless, Gabe won’t let Bex deny the chemistry between them. To him, Bex is more than a fling—she’s quickly becoming his inspiration, both in his photography career and in his life. When Gabe offers to help Bex win the design competition, he’s determined to convince her that there’s more than just sex between them. Because he may crave her between the sheets, but Gabe is also after her heart.
Read His Inspiration!
Books by Tanya Gallagher
A Slippery Slope
His Distraction (X Enterprises Book One)
Your Opinion Matters
Thank you so much for reading His Distraction! I loved writing this book and creating the X Enterprises world. There’s lots more fun to come, and I hope you loved reading the story. If you enjoyed spending time with Vanessa and Jeremy, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased this book. Reviews help more readers find the X Enterprises series so the sexy fun can continue!
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Acknowledgments
Whew! Writing this book was no small undertaking, from expanding Vanessa and Jeremy’s story into the start of a series, to putting together the X Enterprises world. So many people contributed to the success of this book and taught me the power of flexibility, and I’m forever grateful.
To my readers - Thanks for diving into this story with me! Your support, encouragement, and feedback mean the world to me. His Distraction has been a joy to write, and the best part is getting to share it with you. Thanks for reading!
To the beautiful humans of the Art, Eat, Repeat Retreat - There’s nothing like a getaway with your friends to help you recharge, and I’m so grateful for all the laughter, long walks, and fun that led to the birth of this series. Thanks for helping me think bigger, and also for the wine.
To Jenny - Thank you for your comments on each and every version of this book. There were a lot of them, I know, and I appreciate all your feedback. You are a gem, and I couldn’t ask for a better friend.
To Ian and Lily - Thanks for making me smile every day, and for your patience as I spent time in my fictional world. It’s because of you that I can write love stories.
To my family - Thanks for being so proud of me, and for reading these books even when I tell you not to. To have your backing is really something special.
To my ARC team - Squee! I’m so glad you’re here! Thank you for taking the time and energy to help spread the word about this book and the X Enterprises series. It’s been a fun ride, and you’re a huge reason why the book world is so incredible. Thanks for your friendship and support.
About the Author
Tanya Gallagher is
the Seattle-based author of contemporary New Adult and Adult romances about smart, strong women and the sexy men who love them. She traded pencil skirts in the boardroom for stories in the bedroom and hasn't looked back since. You can find her traveling the world in search of beautiful scenery and delicious cake, and at penchantforpleasure.com, where she happens to sell one of the most popular brands of personal lubricant for your naughty bits. True story.
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Website: www.tanyagallagherbooks.com
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His Distraction Page 27