by Lila Monroe
Cynical? Me? I prefer to think of it as keeping one foot firmly on the ground. It was my (unofficial) job to break the news to the discarded girlfriends after my boss decided to move along. And sure, he shaped up in the end after he fell in love, but watching him act like, well, a total manwhore for years made me wise to the playboy modus operandi. I’ve sworn to steer clear of men with more charm than substance.
Like this Hottie McHotterson right here in front of me.
“I’m Max, by the way,” he says, offering the hand that’s not occupied with a cupcake.
I take it, ignoring the heat from his firm grip. “Hallie. Assistant photographer for the day.”
“What a day, isn’t it? I thought the priest was going to have a nervous breakdown by the time the flower girl made it down the aisle.”
“That’s nothing,” I tell him ruefully. “The wedding I shot last month, the guy officiating answered his own call for objections, got down on bended knee, and asked the bride if she’d marry him instead.”
Max snorts and nearly chokes on his cupcake, which somehow makes him even more attractive. “You’re joking.”
“Nuh-uh. The worst part—or best, if we’re going for entertainment value—is she actually seemed to consider it before she turned him down. And then they still let him do the ceremony!” I exclaim. “If I were wagering, I’d give that couple three months, tops.”
“Okay,” Max says, “but I bet you’ve never been to a wedding where the father of the bride got so drunk during the reception he stripped naked and dove into the wedding cake.”
This time, both my eyebrows shoot up. “What kind of company do you keep, exactly?”
“Oh, you know, a little of this, a little of that. I get around.” His smile turns slightly wolfish.
“I bet you do.” I give him a look, but he just laughs.
“So, what do you say we blow this joint?” he asks. “Go have ourselves some fun.”
“Didn’t you hear the part where I said I’m working?” I ask, amazed at his confidence. “I can’t just bail.”
“Why not?”
I roll my eyes. Of course, a man in a designer tux and ten-thousand-dollar watch wouldn’t care about a little thing like a paycheck.
“Oh, come on.” Max leans closer, and the heat of his body washes over me. I swear I feel my panties dampening just like that. “Live a little.”
I pause. It’s been too long since I did something crazy, and he is the hottest thing I’ve seen in, well, ever . . .
Do it, my devil whispers, despite all my pledges to be sensible. Do it twice, and then again in the morning.
I open my mouth to reply, but suddenly, a shrill voice carries from beyond the tent.
“Max? Oh Maxie-boy!”
Max stiffens. “Damn,” he mutters under his breath. “She’s found me.”
“Persistent, is she?” I murmur, stifling a giggle. “You’d almost think you were a real catch or something.”
Footsteps rustle. A sinewy hand pushes the sparkly gauze aside. I catch a glimpse of a gaunt, haughty face topped by an updo that would make Marge Simpson proud, and then Max is cupping my jaw, pulling my face to his.
He kisses me like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Hot and slow, his mouth seductively easing my lips open. Hello. A shiver of pleasure races through me as he angles his head to deepen the kiss. His arm wraps around my waist and pulls me right up against his solid body. Yep, he’s all muscle under that suit. Muscles I suddenly find myself really, really wanting to run my hands all over. For research’s sake, obviously.
There’s a huff from Mrs. Collingwood, and then she’s stalking away. I’m too busy seeing stars to care. Then Max lets me go, and I realize we’re alone again. He grins at me, a spark dancing in his blue-gray eyes.
“There,” he grins. “That should throw her off the scent. Well, I won’t keep you any longer. Thanks for the help.”
He gives me a quick salute, then saunters out of the tent as if nothing all that important just happened.
Oh my God.
I sink back against the nearest chair, still reeling from that incredible kiss. I wasn’t even sure about having a drink with him, and now I’m disappointed he didn’t stick around to ravish me on the cupcake table.
Where’s a cold shower when you need one? Apparently the whole “getting it on with anyone, anywhere” atmosphere has infected the entire guest list, including me.
But I’m not really a guest. As becomes even more obvious a second later with the boom of Frederico’s voice.
“Hallie! I need you over by the lake, stat!”
The last effects of the kiss evaporate. I grab my camera and scamper out of the tent.
Frederico strides over to meet me. Somehow he manages to look manic and stern at the same time. “The dogs,” he says, pointing vaguely behind him. “And then I need you inside.”
He starts to walk off as if he’s given me any actual instructions. “Um, what about the dogs?”
“The canine ‘bridal party’ is waiting for their photographs down by the lake. I think they’re getting a little impatient.”
Bridal dogs. OK.
I hurry towards the lake, where some poor assistant is clutching the leashes of six yappy shih-tzus. And they each have a white collar fixed around their necks glittering with what look like real diamonds.
Of course they’re accessorized better than me.
“Lucky and Pebbles are Trista’s,” the assistant babbles as I pull out my camera. “She wants lots of pictures of them especially. And you can get some groupings by family, right? Chance is her parents’ dog. And of course we have to get them all together.”
“No problem!” I manage to hold my amusement in check and get to work. The light is pretty good here, the afternoon sun beaming over the lawn between the trees. But the click of the camera seems to stir up the dogs.
“Hey, hey,” the assistant says nervously, as they tug at their leashes. “Settle down!”
“Just keep them together for one group shot!” I call encouragingly. I back up towards the dock, trying to get them centered in the frame. “One more minute, I promise!”
Suddenly, a yappy fight breaks out, and one of them lunges—breaking free. “Come back! Lucky! Stay!” The assistant is powerless, and the next thing I know, all six of the furry wedding guests are charging straight at me.
I yelp, scooting to the side. Two of them veer to cut me off while the others race toward me from the other side. “Good doggies, good doggies!” I plead, dodging their eager paws. Their leashes whip around my ankles, and before I can free myself, one leaps right at my legs. I stumble backwards, and lose my footing on the dock.
SPLASH.
I tumble backwards into the cold lake.
Move over, ladies and gentlemen—“worst wedding ever” has a new winner.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Will Hallie see her mysterious wedding make-out again? Spoiler alert: yes! Max and Hallie’s sizzling adventure is just getting started in VERY IRRESISTIBLE PLAYBOY - available now.
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***Click here to download from your retailer of choice!***
Welcome to Billionaire Bachelors Inc, where the sexiest men in the city are about to meet their match..
Hot bachelor Max Carlisle is heir to a media empire, tabloid catnip, and… wants to hire me to be his fake fiancee. I know what it takes to keep a billionaire in line, but signing up for seven days in close quarters with this Very Irresistible Playboy? It’s just asking for trouble. The kind of thrilling, reckless trouble I could use a little more of since my career is currently ass-backwards in a mud bath with six shih-tzus (don’t ask).
So do I:
a) Take the job, and bicker wildly every step of the way?
b) Embark on a mad-cap treasure hunt to claim his billion-dollar inheritance?
c) Try my hardest not to fall head-over-heels in love with him and wind up having the best sex of my life?
d) All of the above?<
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Something tells me I’m about to be way out of my league… and under the most handsome, infuriating man I’ve ever met. But with a fortune on the line, can we beat out his crazy relatives to win the prize? And will our fake relationship be game over at the finish line?
Find out in the new sexy, hilarious romantic comedy from Lila Monroe!
***Click here to download from your retailer of choice!***
Billionaire Bachelors Series:
1. Very Irresistible Playboy
2. Hot Stuff
3. Wild Card
4. Man Candy
5. Mr Casanova
6. Best Man
Also by Lila:
Cupids Series:
1. Cupids Anonymous
2. What’s Your Sign?
3. The Romeo Effect
4. The Break-Up Artist
5. The Romance Plan
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The Lucky in Love Series:
1. Get Lucky
2. Bet Me
3. Lovestruck
4. Mr Right Now
5. Perfect Match
6. Christmas with the Billionaire
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The Chick Flick Club Series:
1. How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days
2. You’ve Got Male
3. Frisky Business
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Billionaire Bachelors Series:
1. Very Irresistible Playboy
2. Hot Stuff
3. Wild Card
4. Man Candy
5. Mr Casanova
6. Best Man
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The Billionaire Bargain series
The Billionaire Game series
Billionaire with a Twist series
Rugged Billionaire
Snowed in with the Billionaire (holiday novella)
About the Author
Combining her love of writing, sex and well-fitted suits, Lila Monroe weaves sex, humor and romance into tales about hard-headed men and the strong and sassy women who try to tame-slash-love-slash-tame them. Her books are extensions of her own fantasy life and take readers from the boardroom to the Berkshire Mountains, with keen character development, unique plot lines, and fanciful romance.
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