by Zuri Day
Childhood crush. Shrewd businessman. Billionaire playboy.
Totally off-limits.
Lauren Hart is escaping trouble, not starting more. But her new boss’s son, Christian Breedlove, is too tempting to resist. Christian wants no strings attached, so Lauren tries to ignore the simmering passion between them. But when the fiancé Lauren fled appears in Sin City, the runaway bride claims she’s married to Christian! Now their relationship is a tangled web...and only “I do” can fix it!
Lauren braced herself against the onslaught of desire.
When their eyes connected, she felt girlie, almost shy, and the silky kimono mini that draped her body teased her skin. An unbidden image flashed through her mind—Christian’s lips replacing the fabric that kissed her skin.
As quickly as it appeared, she shut her mind against it.
Christian was a tempting morsel. He was also Victoria’s eldest born and Lauren had no plans to get entangled with the boss’s son.
“Good evening, Lauren.”
She nodded slightly. “Christian.”
Christian paused, looked around. “Is this your handiwork?”
“I had help.”
His eyes narrowed, darkened as they shifted from the room’s decor to Lauren’s face. An expression as tantalizing as it was unreadable sent a blast of heat to her core.
What was it about this guy, she wondered, that lit her body up like a match?
* * *
Sin City Vows is part of the
Sin City Secrets series from Zuri Day.
Dear DayDreamer,
Have you ever had a disappointing experience, only to later realize what happened was a blessing in disguise? Or been heartbroken over losing a “great” guy who was really a jerk, eventually learning you dodged a bullet? Or what about situations where others felt they knew better for you than you knew for yourself? If you can relate, then you’ll identify with Lauren Hart, a woman determined to live life on her own terms.
I could really relate to Lauren and her struggle to exist in her own authenticity, even when it wasn’t popular or was a little bit uncomfortable. Even when doing so felt risky, a throw of the dice. It helped to have a sexy distraction like Christian Breedlove to smooth out some of the rough patches and give her a different perspective. She never would have dreamed that a preteen crush would come full circle. Life’s like that. Just when we think we’ve got it all figured out, we get zapped by the unexpected. And sometimes, that which we never considered ends up being the best thing that could have ever happened. Better than we could have dreamed.
Enjoy, and have a zuriday.com!
Zuri
Zuri Day
Sin City Vows
Zuri Day is the national bestselling author of two dozen novels, including the popular Drakes of California series. She is a winner of the RSJ Emma Award, the AALAS (African American Literary Awards Show) Best Romance Award and others, and a finalist for multiple RT Book Reviews Best Book Awards in Multicultural Fiction. She wants you to have a zuriday.com!
Books by Zuri Day
Harlequin Desire
Sin City Secrets
Sin City Vows
Harlequin Kimani Romance
Champagne Kisses
Platinum Promises
Solid Gold Seduction
Secret Silver Nights
Crystal Caress
Visit her Author Profile page at Harlequin.com, or zuriday.com, for more titles.
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For all of us who’ve dreamed of vows
Experienced love’s oohs and aahs and wows
The journey is worth it but not always pretty
As you’ll see in this read that takes place in Sin City
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
Excerpt from Son of Scandal by Dani Wade
One
Breedlove birthdays were always exciting. As the firstborn son of this close-knit clan, Christian knew that well. But as he relaxed against the company limo’s luxurious interior, he had to give it to the family, especially his dad. They’d surprised him at a time in his life when he thought few things could. The gift he’d received just hours ago had been totally unexpected, had humbled the self-confident, almost cocky businessman in him even as it had filled him with pride.
Now, as they passed the family mansion and reached the estate’s private airstrip, Christian realized one more surprise awaited him. A slow smile spread across his face, highlighting dimples that more than a few times had gotten him out of trouble with authority and into the romantic crosshairs of the opposite sex. One look and he was mesmerized. What he saw was a thing of beauty. Sleek lines, muted earth tones, curves in all the right places. Wow.
Christian looked over at his brother Adam, who was on his smartphone, texting away. “You knew about this?”
Adam looked up. “About what?”
Christian’s smile broadened. “Yeah, you knew about it. Ty is here.” His best friend had cut short his business trip and come to help the eldest Breedlove sibling celebrate a milestone. And boy, had he arrived in style.
The sound of another car approaching pulled Christian away from the dazzling view. He turned and saw his dad’s newest toy—a black Escalade SUV customized with all the bells and whistles—pull up next to the limo that he’d exited. Their driver, Elvis, hopped out and opened the door for Christian’s mother, Victoria, while his father, Nicholas, eased out the other back door, grinning as he approached his firstborn.
They knew about this, too? That Tyson had flown in to surprise him on his birthday and show off what looked to be a brand-new Gulfstream G600 jet?
“Well, son, what do you think?”
Christian returned his attention to the rare and opulent beauty now backlit by the setting sun.
“I think I owe Tyson money.”
“Why?” Adam had finally put away his phone when they pulled up and exited the limo to join the group.
“To settle a bet. After flying in one of those customized babies last year, we put a thousand bucks on which one of us would be the first to get our own.” Christian waved his hand toward the plane. “Looks like Ty won.”
The door of the plane opened. Christian took a step forward as the airstair lowered and someone moved through the doorway.
“Happy birthday, Christian.”
He stopped in his tracks, shielding his eyes against the sunlight to get a better view of the newcomer, convinced that the ethereal beauty before him could not be real. A woman—tall, richly tanned, with curly dark hair cascading
over one shoulder—beckoned him with a smile.
Stunned, Christian turned to his mother, who now stood next to Nicholas, her face beaming. “Who is that?”
“You remember Lauren, don’t you, dear? Faye’s daughter? She was heading this way, and I felt you wouldn’t mind that she caught a ride on your plane.”
“Wait, what? My...” Christian looked from his parents to Adam. Everyone was smiling.
Nicholas slapped Christian’s back before placing an arm around his shoulders. “Happy birthday, son.”
Christian turned back to where Lauren now descended the plane’s airstair. She was dressed in a belted wide-legged jumpsuit that emphasized pert, ample breasts and a small, curvy waist, and Christian noted a casual yet almost regal air about the way she carried herself. The emerald color brought out the golden tones in her skin and highlighted specks of green in the hazel eyes now fixed on him as she neared them.
He whispered to his mother, almost incredulously, “Is that my birthday present?”
Victoria continued to smile at Lauren while coyly replying, “Only the plane, son.” Seconds later Lauren stepped into her open arms. “Hello, darling.”
“Hi, Victoria.” Lauren turned to Christian. “Hi, Chris.”
“Hello.” He hitched a thumb toward the plane as he looked at her. “So, Tyson isn’t in there?”
“Who’s Tyson?” Lauren asked.
“Chris’s best friend,” Adam replied.
Lauren slowly shook her head from side to side. The impish upturn of plump, glossy lips begging to be kissed suggested to Christian that she’d been in on it, too.
He turned sincere, grateful eyes on his parents. “Mom, Dad... I don’t know what to say except...wow...thanks.”
“You deserve it, son,” Nicholas said.
Christian turned back to the plane. “Well, hot damn!” he exclaimed as the truth fully sank in. He reached out and offered Lauren his arm, which she graciously accepted, then gestured for his family to follow them. “Come on, beautiful. Show me around!”
Even in his excitement, Christian noted Lauren’s silky skin and caught the subtle scent of something floral and delectably spicy. Gentleman that he was, he stepped back and allowed her to precede him up the stairs. The view from the back was the same as from the front—very alluring. So much so that entering the upscale and stately cabin that had been tailor-made to the specific instructions of his interior designer mother was almost anticlimactic.
Almost, but not quite. As Christian stepped inside the cabin and looked around, the magnitude of his parents’ generosity made his chest swell with gratitude. The interior was exactly what he’d imagined while talking with Tyson, as comfortable as any found in the homes on the Breedlove estate. Walls covered in ivory suede. Ebony-stained hardwood floors. Recliners upholstered in jacquard chenille boasting company colors of black, white and tan. Seats on the left side of the cabin could be swiveled to view the flat screen mounted up front or around to the dining table behind them.
Christian looked from Lauren to his mom, his voice raspy with emotion. “How did you know?”
“Your brother, sweetheart. Adam talked to Tyson not long after the two of you had the extensive custom jet conversation and made that wager.”
“Tyson knew about this surprise?” Adam nodded. “And he kept his mouth shut, for almost a year?”
“Wonders never cease, bro,” Adam replied.
The pilot came out of the cockpit. Christian recognized him at once. “Not you, too,” Christian muttered, shaking the outstretched hand of the family friend who’d grown up with his father and now piloted the company plane. “Am I the only one who wasn’t in on this secret?”
Nicholas nodded. “Just about.”
“Allow me to show you around,” the pilot offered. “She’s a real beauty. Glad I got to fly her first.”
Once again, Christian held out his arm. “Care to join me on the tour?”
Adam hooked his muscular forearm through the one Christian offered. “I’d love to.”
Christian moved his brother aside and placed a hand on Lauren’s back. “Do you have brothers?”
“No.”
“Do you want one?” Her throaty chuckle was music to his ears. Nicholas and Victoria sat on the white leather sleeper sofa that anchored the right side of the cabin while Christian, Lauren and Adam checked out the accommodations. There was a granite bath with a full shower, a compact chef’s kitchen, two sleeping bunks along with a master bedroom, and an area set up as a small private office but that had padded flooring and workout equipment hidden behind the walls.
“How’d she do, Chris?” Nicholas asked when the group returned to the front of the cabin. He stood, then turned to help Victoria up. “Your mom get the design just about right?”
“It’s incredible,” Christian said, moved. “It’s everything I imagined and much more. Hard to wrap my brain around. Earlier this week, the promotion to president, I thought that was the gift.”
“Speaking of...” Nicholas turned and removed a thin layer of paper covering a platinum plaque with carved lettering: Christian Breedlove, President. CANN International Inc.
Christian took it in with the utmost pride. The acronym, CANN, stood for the names of him and his brothers—Christian, Adam, Noah and Nick—along with the family’s unwavering belief that while working together there was nothing they couldn’t do. That belief was the foundation of the Breedloves’ empire, an international chain of casino hotels and spas that were second to none.
“That’s...exquisite.” He smiled and swallowed hard. “Where are the twins? Since everyone knew about it, the dynamic duo should be here, too.”
“They’re handling the second half of the evening.” Victoria eyed her watch. “Dinner at the hotel, where we should be heading right about now. Hope you’re hungry. Holding in the secret all day left me with very little appetite. Now that it’s out, I’m starved.”
Christian hugged his dad and mom and kissed her on the cheek. He shook Adam’s hand before pulling him into a tight embrace.
“Jesse,” Nicholas called out to the pilot. “You’re welcome to join us.”
“I’ve got a hot date,” Jesse replied. “But thanks.”
The group headed down the stairs and over to where the drivers leaned against the gleaming black limousine. Christian placed a hand on Lauren’s arm until the others had taken several steps and created a bit of distance between them. He wanted to take a moment and properly thank her for participating in his birthday surprise. He knew with Adam in the limo he’d get in few words.
Adam saw the move and stopped, too. “I’ll catch a ride with Mom and Dad. You two can take the limo.”
“Thanks, bro,” Christian said.
“Only because it’s your birthday.” He threw a playful punch at his brother and headed to the SUV.
Moments later, Christian and Lauren entered the limo. The driver followed the SUV’s circuitous route out of the estate and across to Las Vegas Boulevard, where the CANN hotel anchored one end of the Strip.
“It appears I’m supposed to know you,” Christian whispered once they’d settled into the roomy seats. “But that’s impossible.”
A slight arch of Lauren’s manicured brow preceded her response. “Is it?”
“Absolutely. You look...ravishing. There’s no way I’d forget having met you.”
“Well, you did.”
He thought for a moment. “You’re Faye’s daughter? Faye Hart?”
Lauren nodded. “Yes.”
Christian liked Lauren’s voice, low and husky. He could imagine how it would sound in the throes of passion as he branded her as his.
“It’s been at least two years since I’ve seen her, so when did you and I meet?”
“When I was twelve, and just so you know, my inner child is wounded.”
La
uren feigned a pout. Christian’s eyes dropped to pursed lips now held tightly together. Even though he knew she was joking, he wanted to kiss her until the frown disappeared, and then kiss her some more.
Not sure he could touch those lips, though, and keep the kiss chaste, he reached out and squeezed her hand instead.
“Twelve?” Christian’s relieved laugh was genuine. “Did you look then the way you do now?”
“Not quite.” Lauren laughed, too. “I was four years younger than my sister, Renee. You were all into her. I was practically invisible.” Lauren delivered the last line with a whine appropriate for a jilted preteen.
Christian’s head fell back as more laughter erupted. “Renee Hart! Now it’s all coming back to me. You guys used to live in California but moved across the country to...”
“Maryland. My dad took a job in Washington, DC. They bought a home in nearby Brandywine.”
“Right. That was part of the excuse used for my being rejected. I think she had a boyfriend. I didn’t want to visit LA for a while after that. My sixteen-year-old ego was crushed.” He placed his hand over his heart. “In remembering my anguish then, I can very much relate to your inner child’s pain.”
The atmosphere shifted as comfortable interaction morphed into daunting attraction. Christian opened the door to an elaborate minibar. “Would you like a drink?”
“No, thanks. I’m good.”
“Come on, it’s my birthday. Don’t make me drink alone.”
“Okay, champagne then.”
Christian opened a bottle of pricey champagne and filled two flutes. He handed one to Lauren. Their fingers touched. Sparks. Heat. Did she feel that? He looked up. She glanced away.
Yes, she’d felt something.
“To what shall we toast?” he asked.
“You, of course. It’s your birthday, and given your gift, it’s obviously a big one.”
“For a second back there I thought the plane belonged to a friend of mine, Tyson, and had the foolish hope that you were my present.”
Her eyes narrowed in a face that became impossible to read. “A foolish hope, indeed.”