Table for Two-epub (20 page)

Copyright © 2014 Jess Dee

It’s been eighteen months since Ava Torres last saw her best friend, Jared Thurston. In that time she’s been married, separated and gone all the way to hell and back as a wife. She keeps her emotional scars buried deep beneath the surface, loath to let the world know they exist.

Jared had no choice but to leave Sydney. The alternative meant staying and watching the woman he secretly loved marry another man. Now it’s time to return home and pick up the pieces of his broken heart.

Ava is both thrilled and thrown by Jared’s unexpected arrival home. While seeing him brings true happiness for the first time in months, it also presents a new batch of problems. Jared won’t let Ava hide from her pain any longer, nor will he let her hide from him. He’s determined to show her that true love doesn’t just exist in fairy tales. If Ava is willing to fight for it, together they can find their very own happy ever after.

Warning: Please don’t go thinking this is your regular fairy tale. No one under the age of 18 should be reading the tale of this ridiculously sexy Prince Charming.

Bound by the Past

Copyright © 2014 Mari Carr

Raised in a cult, BDSM Masters Jon and Night ultimately help destroy the Commitment Church after a federal agent exposes its seedy underbelly—bringing down Night's father in the process. Years later, Jon's job as a teacher, coupled with his heated passion for colleague Carly, bring him as close to normal as he's ever been. Just when happiness is within his grasp, that same federal agent returns...

The cult has been rebuilt—with Jon's evil mother at the helm.

Shocked by his mother's return and his BDSM past come back to haunt him, Jon is terrified of Carly discovering his darkest secrets...including his complex relationship with Night. And his unrelenting need to share Carly with his best friend.

Sometimes facing your past results in both agony—and ecstasy.

Bound by the Past has been revised and was previously published as Retreat.

Bound by the Past: An Excerpt

“Jon, you don’t have to say anything. I mean it was just a little kiss. Don’t worry about it.”

“‘Worry about it’?”

“Yeah. I mean, you’ve been so sweet to me today, but you really didn’t have to kiss me just to make me feel better about myself.”

“What?” He was perplexed by her comments.

“I know I’m not exactly what you would call the most self-confident woman in the world, but I meant what I said about Adam. I’m not hurt by his decision, so you don’t have to worry that I’m in denial or pining away or lonely or anything.”

She thought the kiss was simply to cheer her up? A pity kiss?

She was still talking and he forced himself to tune back in to her rambling conversation. “Suppose I’m just not the kind of woman to evoke that kind of passion in a man.”

“What?”

“I’ve always been the girl next door, never the fantasy. I’m a tomboy—always have been. Guys see me as a friend, not a conquest, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I mean, I think fellas are cool to hang out with. Much better than women who only ever want to shop and talk on the phone.”

He shook his head, certain he hadn’t heard her right. She thought that he wasn’t attracted to her. That she didn’t ooze passion and sex out of every pore of her delectable body.

“So thanks for the nice words and kiss, but you don’t have to worry, I don’t expect anything more. Nothing’s changed. We’re still friends.”

“The hell we are!” He realized he was shouting and he spoke with more heat than he’d intended. She flinched as if he’d hit her. “Don’t say another word.” He opened his door and circled the car to open hers. “Get out.”

She got out of the car stiffly, clearly unsure how to react to his angry response. Grabbing her hand, he half-led, half-dragged her to her front door, barely keeping himself in check.

“Where’s your key?” He grabbed it from her when she attempted to hand it over. Her hands were shaking now but he was too far gone to care. Reilly had lured the bear out of its den this afternoon and her comments had poked it into a fury.

Once he had the front door open, he followed her in, latching it behind them.

Warily, she turned to him. “Jon?”

He didn’t reply to the question in her voice. “Upstairs.”

He was slightly surprised when she followed his command without refusal. Having been in her home numerous times, he knew exactly where her bedroom was. When they reached the top of the stairs, she paused until he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward her room.

Upon reaching his destination, he stood in the doorway as she moved away from him to the center of the room. Obviously she’d had enough time to gather her wits and she rounded on him, fury evident in her face.

“What the hell is wrong with you today?” She yanked off her denim jacket and threw it across the room.

Still angry, he was itching for a fight. “I’ll tell you what’s wrong with me. You!” He pointed a finger at her before divesting himself of his own leather coat. “You’re what’s wrong with me, but you know what, Blue Eyes? I’m about to correct that.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She backed away slowly but he matched her step for step.

“I’m talking about the fact that you are so fucking blind to your own beauty you can’t see when a man is attracted to you. That was no goddamn pity kiss and if you can’t tell the difference, then it’s obvious you need to be taught a lesson about kissing.”

“Lesson?”

He halted her retreat by grabbing her upper arms and pulling her toward his chest.

“Lesson.”

Once Jess discovered it was okay to leave the bedroom door open in her romance novels, she decided to leave everything open. Buttons, zips, pants, number of lovers... Which is why her books are all steamy erotic romances.

While Jess lived most of her life in South Africa, the last twelve years have been spent in Australia. From the fast paced Sydney lifestyle to the laid back islands and beaches, there's always another gorgeous Aussie setting for a contemporary romance.

Jess loves hearing from readers. You can email her at
[email protected]
or find her at:

Her website – http://
www.JessDee.com
.

Her blog –
http://JessDee.wordpress.com

Twitter -
@jessdeewriter

Facebook –
https://www.facebook.com/jess.dee.921

Like Jess on Facebook -
https://www.facebook.com/Jessdeewriter

Now Available:

The Tanner Siblings

Photo Opportunity

Ask Adam

Circle of Friends

Only Tyler

Steve’s Story

A Question of…

A Question of Trust

A Question of Love

Fire

Winter Fire

Hidden Fire

Three of a Kind

Going All In

Raising the Stakes

Full House

Bandicoot Cove

Exotic Indulgence

Island Idyll

Afternoon Rhapsody

Speed

See You in My Dreams

Colors of Love

Rhythm of My Heart

More Than

More Than Friends

More Than Lovers

More Than Words

Tastes of Seduction

Summer Wine

Red Red Wine

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine

Sunday Night Dinner Club

Party of Three

Stand Alone Books

Office Affair

A Touch of Confidence

Visiting Paradise

The One That Got Away

Print Collections and Anthologies

Risking It All

Three’s Company

Red Hot Winter

Red Hot Weekend

Three of a Kind

Bandicoot Cove: Tropical Desires

Bandicoot Cove: Tropical Haze

Two To Tango

Rhythm of the Night

More Than This

Coming Soon

Sunday Night Dinner Club

Dinner at Eight