Twice Smitten (A Modern Fairy Tale) (22 page)

“You crashed my party,” Marilyn complained.

“Technically, I was invited.” Abigail rested her face in his palm, eyes closed for a quiet moment. Eventually, she sucked in a deep breath, opened her eyes and said, “My friends said I was supposed to make some grand gesture. Sasha nominated something naked. Emma nominated something sappy and sweet, because you know, she’s got happily ever after on the brain.”

He dropped his hand and let it rest on the empty glass. “And you?”

“I figured to make this thing a full circle. I crashed a wedding. Might as well crash a party. And…” She grinned. “Marilyn, we’re dating and probably more, so suck it up and deal with it. And you should know I love him. I probably did every time I called him a man-whore or a lush. It was there.” Her voice lowered. “Always there.”

Marilyn picked up her drink and stood. “As grand gestures go that sucked, but since you’re here I don’t have to act mopey with my favorite cousin.” She frowned. “You brought the cavalry?”

Drew followed Marilyn’s gaze. Emma stood at the bar with her hands clasped on her chest. Sasha had the same pouty smile she always had.

“They’re here to watch,” Drew muttered. Marilyn snorted and walked away.

“My friends are voyeurs.” Abigail shrugged but looked happy.

“Really?”

Abigail laughed, shaking back the ebony strands from her face. “God help me, I love you anyway.”

He tugged her hand so she’d fall in his lap, and Abigail did without question. “Are you still scared?” he whispered in her ear.

“The usual amount.”

Drew placed a finger on her chin so she’d face him. He had to see her expression when he said the next words. “I want to marry you. Not right this moment Vegas style, but one of those trumped up, bragging rights kind of weddings. In front of every family member we have. ’Cause they’ll want to witness it and say it actually happened.” He paused and watched her face. “What do you think about my end game?”

She sucked in a slow breath and her eyes filled with tears. From a mile away anyone looking could see there was no fear, only love. “You’d have to do the proposal right, down on one knee, in front of God and everybody. You’ll lose all rights to your reputation.”

He shrugged. “Well, that was my end game during the argument.”

“
Really
?”

He nodded. “I love you and we both know it.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “Yeah. I do. You walked away from me. Don’t do that. Ever. It hurts and I don’t really care for it.”

He snorted. “I knew you’d come for me. I know you, Abby.”

She cradled his face in her hands and laid her head against his, a soft cry escaped. He nodded because she didn’t have to say it. She knew him, too, finally, and he was the man she loved. The man she could see herself marrying, having babies with, fighting with and for and no one else would do.

She blinked back the tears. “I promise to do something wicked to you later for being so smug.”

He smiled. “And I am looking forward to it.”

And then she kissed him. His brain misfired like it usually did when she was around, but the kiss felt right, absolutely right, because it felt like home.

Bio

Melissa Blue’s writing career started on a typewriter one month after her son was born. This would have been an idyllic situation for a writer if it had been 1985, not 2004. Eventually she upgraded to a computer. She’s still typing away on the same computer, making imaginary people fall in love.

Where to find me online or places to sign up for my newsletter to get the latest news:

My Blog

My Website

Other Titles by Melissa Blue

Double Dare, A Modern Fairy Tale: Book 1

First impressions are lasting impressions…

Pastry baker Emmaline Sharp is one business connection away from turning her bakery into something more than the dessert shop on the corner. She believes she’s found Mr. Right in café owner Tobias Merchant. His Caff-aholic brand of freshly brewed coffee makes him the perfect partner. When she accepts a dare that thrusts her naked self into Tobias’ waiting arms, she jeopardizes her entire future. Emma will have to convince him to give her another chance, and somehow she’ll just have to ignore the unexpected passion he ignites within her.

Tobias needs the connection with Emma’s bakery, Sweet Tooth, in order to liberate himself from the financial and emotional obligations of his past. Unfortunately, Emma’s reckless behavior leaves him doubting she can be level-headed and business savvy. Every one of his instincts tells him to walk away, but she’s a temptation he can’t seem to deny. He’s inexplicably drawn to the lightness in her, especially when he knows just how dark the world can be. Against his better judgment, Tobias ignores his instincts and proceeds to form a partnership with Emma.

When their relationship shifts from business to personal, will Emma and Tobias be able to conquer their demons and find their sweet reward before the deal turns sour?

Everything He Dreamed, Palmer Island Series

Phoenix Taylor takes one look at Tony Creed and knows she’s in trouble. Everything inside her screams run. If she didn’t need the finishing bonus from Everything You Need, she’d listen to her gut. The company has hired her as project manager to build cabins on Palmer Island and work with Creed Construction. Tony’s the general contractor and there’s no way to avoid him. Just when she has a plan to move on and close the door on a very dark chapter in her life…there he is. Falling for the contractor with the wicked smile and infectious charm doesn’t fit into her plan. She’s not ready for that captivating emerald gaze or the trouble Tony can surely cause her heart.

Tony Creed has forced his father to draw up a contract that explicitly states this will be his very last job before going on a much needed vacation from the family business. The pressure’s getting to him, and he feels himself turning into his father, a hard and heartless man. He just needs a break, period. He doesn’t have the time or energy to give this simmering attraction between him and the new project manager. All he wants to do is focus on building the cabins for the next six months and be a free man. After all, he’s not looking for anything, but her vivacious personality has his mind wandering back to her much more than he wants to admit.

They just have to keep things light, which is hard at first, and then just impossible when something just a little supernatural intervenes on their well-laid plans.

Weekend Lover, Down With Cupid Shorts

The weekend that started it all…

Sebastian Clark’s intentions are simply to buy Nicole, a beautiful stranger, a drink, make her laugh and disappear before dawn. As a publicist for Snapshot, his days are long and his moral code is to always keep things light. Until he touches her, and lust fades any lasting hold on common sense. His questionable motives pave a road to unbelievable pleasure.

Nicole Harrison is on the fast track for a promotion at Limelight, a PR boutique. She’s given up dating, especially handsome men. They tend to suck up time and sometimes common sense. Sebastian has the ability to do both. One single night won’t break her own rules and Nicole gives in to temptation.

The boundaries are clear—no last names, no shared details. She has only to walk away to end the affair. One night turns into three, and her naughty little weekend becomes more than just sex.

One night of consenting pleasure sets Sebastian Clark and Nicole Harrison on a course that could ultimately destroy them both, or bring them a love for all time…

See Megan Run, See Her Fall Series

All Megan Hazely has to do is stay home for thirty days and attend her mother’s wedding to get the deed to her father’s home. Except there’s Aiden Blake, Megan’s ex-boyfriend. The boy she loved has become a man. Time hasn’t lessened the spark between them, a spark that should have died the day she hitchhiked out of her small town. A rock and a hard place has nothing on Megan.

See Lynne Chased, See Her Fall Series

Nathan Craine eats small businesses for breakfast. There’s one store he is dying to buy, but this time it is for very personal reasons. He’s certain the owner will hand over the store; it’s only the matter of naming a price. To his surprise, Lynne Kelley refuses to sell, now or ever… In this battle, someone has to lose. And the cost of winning might be far more than either is willing to pay.

Excerpt from the final book of the A Modern Fairy Tale series: Double Trouble

Sasha chuckled when Warren swayed a little on his feet when a sweet yeasty scent wafted from the open door of Sweet Tooth. The smell alone backed up Sasha’s insistence to come here before getting coffee.

She smiled at him now and pushed through the door. “Told you so.”

A bell dinged, announcing their entrance and he followed behind her. Her mouth watered at the aromas fighting for space in the store. Sasha’s heels clicked on the black-and-white checkered floor as she headed for one of the many display cases filled with pastry after pastry.

Every time Sasha came here she knew what Charlie must have felt like entering Wonka’s factory. “Want me to choose for you? I’m an expert.”

The penchant frown deepened as he took in the amount of pastries. “Everything looks good.”

She placed her hands on her hips and turned to the display cases with him. “I usually chose by what mood I’m in.”

“You designed the placards?” His eyes unfocused for a moment and then cleared. “And the sign outside?”

“You notice everything, don’t you?”

He snorted. “Annoying habit actually.”

“I couldn’t let my friend pay through the nose for something subpar.” Her cheeks heated. “That sounds so arrogant, doesn’t it?”

He shrugged. “Do you have Google Alerts?”

She shook her head, trying to keep up with his train of thought. “No. Have no idea what it is.”

“It’s a way to get like an alarm through you’re email account every time someone mentions your name on the Internet.”

She laughed. “Let me guess: you have Google Alerts for your name and your books.”

“For a while until I got over myself. Long and short of it, I understand.” He lifted the laptop bag. “You can choose something for me. I’ll be sitting down, making some more notes.”

“Ok,” she said and watched him walk away.

Warren wasn’t her type at all, but he kept surprising her. He had the ability to pay attention to everything and nothing. There was something about him that eased out all the tension in her frame when they talked. Sasha felt relaxed and intelligent and sexy all at the same time when he focused on her. She could get addicted to the feelings.

“Break the stupid bet,” Emma’s whisper cut in on Sasha’s thoughts. Her best friend leaned on the glass and motioned her to come closer.

Sasha did and whispered back, “It’s a matter of pride.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “All matters of pride end in bloodshed.”

Sasha schooled her face to look innocent. “I would never stab Abigail.”

Although there had been times…

Emma pursed her lips, looking exasperated. “You know exactly what I mean. You acting dumb is out of character.” She gestured with her chin to Warren. He’d settled into a booth, laptop open and frowning, already, at the screen.

Sasha balled her fists against the tingle. She’d done so well for the past four hours. They’d ended up sitting on the same couch, arm to arm and thigh to thigh as he watched her do a rough sketch of a country side. An ease didn’t mean there wasn’t a small buzz from their skin touching. Sasha was human, after all.

“What?” she asked, playing dumb.

Emma tilted her head. “Warren was checking out your butt when you walked in, but when he noticed what he was doing he blanched.”

“And that means?”

“He’s so not your type, and that’s the one you shouldn’t run from.”

Sasha let the silence be her answer before saying, “I’m not calling off the bet.”

“I’m not saying draw him. I’m saying…” Emma lifted her brows twice. “You know.”

Scandalized, Sasha gasped. “I expect this type of advice from Abigail. Not you. You’re supposed to be—”

“The boring level-headed one? The one who is walking down the aisle practically a virgin.”

“The one who doesn’t have meaningless flings,” Sasha corrected.

“Well, you have me there, but that’s me. You’re the one who jumps head first into every situation. You’re the one with the limitless amounts of courage to make the leap of faith again and again.” Emma’s pinched expression filled with worry.

Sasha sighed. “That’s the thing, it wasn’t a leap of faith any time I went out with young, male models. It was a surefire way to avoid serious relationships. At the time it’s what I wanted. And wasn’t it you who said not too long ago that a woman shouldn’t settle for the first man who comes along and is nice to her?”

“My battle cry had nothing to do with settling. It had everything to do with being scared.” Emma placed both hands over the glass. “I had these insane expectations no man could have ever meet, to ensure no man could ever meet them. I could go on, but as I recall, it was you who pointed that out a time or four million.”

Frustration stirred in Sasha’s chest. “What is this?”

Emma sighed. “It’s my way of saying I love you the way you are. And that man is hot and you should totally reel him, because he’s swimming around looking for the hook.”

Sasha’s gaze cut to Warren. He hunched over the computer typing like hounds were nipping at his fingers if his hands weren’t on the keyboard. She could go over there and flirt with him shamelessly. She could fall back on the tried and true way of snagging a date. She could use all the assets in her arsenal to fluster him and leave no doubt in his mind what she wanted.

But it wasn’t what Sasha wanted anymore. She wanted the stumble upon the man of her dreams. She wanted the old fashioned way of falling in love. She had her own un-named expectations, and Warren didn’t fit them. No matter how unbelievably…adorable he was.