Go to www.novels that rock.weebly.com for the latest Informatio!!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Falling Into Us (One More Night Trilogy) is LIVE!


Exciting news, ladies and gentlemen! Falling Into Us is live and can be purchased now! Just be aware the price on Amazon is for a Limited Time so get it while it's hot and before it returns to its normal price!

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
All Romance
Kobo

Remember, Falling Into Lust is 99 cents until Sunday, June 2nd.

Amazon

Happy reading everyone and have a wonderful Tuesday!

Friday, May 24, 2013

Cover Reveal for Falling Into Us (One More Night Trilogy)!




Blurb

“Kaz asked me a simple question and offered a way out. He said I could stay here and visit him on tour when ever I wanted but I am tired of feeling vacuous and useless so I said yes. I could use my photography skills and I’d been to plenty of concerts but never have I gone on tour with a band. The concerts are amazing but Scarlet Fever and Winter’s Regret are a formidable combination and just as in life as in art, nothing is ever what it appears to be. Even the most perfect paintings have slight imperfections and I have to discover them one by one…about Kaz, my lover, and the man I have come to adore…”

Part two of Syd and Kaz’s exploration takes place in dual points of view and covers the North American leg of the Gods of Rock World Tour with Scarlet Fever and Winter’s Regret. Kaz thought he knew what he was doing when he decided to enter into a relationship with Sydney but his underestimation of her might cost him everything including the self-control he has held on to so tight for many years.

Can he mold her into the woman he needs her to be or will she break him in the end?

Falling Into Us premieres on Tuesday, May 28th, 2013 so don't forget to pick up a copy! 


Selene Chardou's Contact Info:

Blog: The Realm of Selene Chardou located http://selenechardou.blogspot.com/
Join Selene. Chardou’s Mailing List for early notification of New Books HERE!
Follow Selene Chardou on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/ellechardou
If you would like to email Selene Chardou, she can be reached at: selenechardou@gmail.com

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Indie-Licious Teaser...

Well, I am taking May and June to finish the One More Night Trilogy since my next couple novels will be too angst heavy for summer. I will be working on Bleeding Love and Reckless Behavior, a prequel to Indecent Behavior. Sarah at Okay Creations is doing the cover for Indecent Behavior so that novel won't be out until October of 2013.

So, without further ado, here is a little tease from Falling Into Us, the second book and full length novel from the One More Night Trilogy.


Add it to your Goodreads TBR List!


Excerpt


Kaz sat next to me and downed his in a couple of swigs. “Today was complete and absolute bull, Syd. I swear to God, if you weren’t going on tour, I wouldn’t want to do this. You’re my rock, you know that, right?”
Perhaps it was the feel the nine hundred dollar of scotch was giving me or the conversation I’d had with Laurel but I slipped my arms around his neck and kissed the side of his face.
“I feel the same way about you. Sometimes…I feel so useless and perhaps that is why I shopped all the time and did stupid, vacuous things with my friends but you saying I give you strength…that is one of the most beautiful statements I have ever heard.”
He set the glass down on the art deco coffee table before he stared into my eyes, those aquamarine irises were mesmerizing. “You don’t have to do anything but be you. I know how unsure you feel about this—what we have—and let me just reassure you this isn’t a plaything. You aren’t some groupie I am keeping around for a while. When I see you, no matter how bad my day was, you brighten it up for me. I promise you with all my heart that when I love you, I’ll tell you…until then, know you are working your way into my soul, my very being. Everything about you and I just works and I can’t be more grateful for that.”
I bit my lower lip before I said, “Love takes time, Kaz, don’t feel bad. I don’t love you either…not yet but what we have goes well beyond lust or infatuation and I am very fond of you. I would have to be to get your name tattooed on my back, wouldn’t I?”
“Tattoos can be changed but what we feel for each other is real and I don’t want to rush that. I want to enjoy all my moments with you and you’re not just some hot piece on my arm or some groupie, you’re my woman and don’t let anyone tell you different, not even my witch ex-wife.”

I hope you enjoyed today's tease and remember to check out all the other teasers this week!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

A Question and Answer with Donna Fasano on her new novel, Reclaim My Heart!







Blurb


Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined.

Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't rip them apart.


Q&A with Donna Fasano


What attracted you to writing in the first place?
I came to writing from my love of reading. While growing up, I lost myself in books in order to escape an unhappy childhood.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?
Romance. I wrote for Harlequin for 20 years, writing sweet romance (as Donna Clayton) and women's fiction/contemporary romance (under my own name). I have self-published some of my back-list Harlequin books. The Merry-Go-Round was never published by a traditional publisher, so I guess that would be my first indie-published book. Reclaim My Heart is the second of my front-list indie-published titles.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
I think authors who face a lot of pain and anguish seem to write stories with great depth, with honesty and compassion. It could be that dealing with trauma brings out the best (or worst) in people. I believe that losing my mother at such a young age had a huge impact on me not just as a writer but as a human being. I became, I don't know, more maternal towards my family, my friends, heck, towards everyone I meet... more giving of myself. I'm not sure. But I know that the loss could have made me bitter and angry. I'm just so grateful that the exact opposite seems to describe me.

Where do you get your inspiration and ideas from?
My mind is always on the alert. I take ideas from everything I see, hear, read, experience. I have been known to take a snippet of conversation overheard in an elevator and turn it into a book (Return of the Runaway Bride), or from a location (His Wife for a While), or from a person I met (Taking Love in Stride). So be careful! If you interact with me, you might end up in one of my novels.

What’s your favorite place in the entire world?
I have visited so many beautiful places. The South of France, the rolling mountains of Italy, the Mediterranean Sea, the cobbled streets of Brussels, the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, beautiful Morro Bay, California, and I spend lots of time in Ocean City, Maryland. I obviously can't pick a favorite. Besides, there are so many places waiting to be seen!

What was your favorite part of this book to write? Which part was the hardest?
I really enjoyed writing the love scenes. In my sweet romances, all the 'spice' takes place behind closed doors. So this was very fun. And which part was hardest? The "kitchen love scene" (naughty pun intended!).

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you “grew up”?
I wanted to be a teacher. My aunt attended college and earned her teaching degree. I always idolized her.

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
Teacher. I love kids, and I often include them in my stories. I always say that children are very honest and outspoken. Kids inject a great deal of fun into a book.

If you could live inside the world of a book, which book would you choose?
Pride and Prejudice. Love that Mr. Darcy!

Give your fans three fun facts that they may not already know about you.
I love to cook! (I often post recipes on my blog.)
My reading tastes are crazy-eclectic. I read anything and everything.
I'm a little on the chubby side.

Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?
Depends. If we're talking ice cream, then vanilla… and I love mine topped with sliced banana and warm caramel sauce. If we're talking cake, then chocolate, and don't forget the fudge frosting. If we're talking milkshakes, then strawberry. Wow, now I'm hungry.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
I put my heart and soul into this Reclaim My Heart, and I think it shows… in the characters and in the story.

So what’s next for you as an author? Any last words?
I'm thinking of writing a book that revolves around three friends in different stages of marriage, but I'm not sure yet. I've worked very hard on Reclaim My Heart and I'm going to take a few days off. Then I'll get back to work!

I want to thank you for hosting me, and I want to thank your followers for taking the time to read about Reclaim My Heart.

Link to Amazon
Link to Apple (Coming Soon!)
Link to Kobo
Author Facebook
Author Twitter
Author Website
Goodreads author/book page: 
Link to Pinterest



About The Author

Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17.

What others are saying about Donna's books:

"...complex, funny, and realistic..." ~ Wilmington News Journal
"Excellent!" ~ Bookreview.com
"Could not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is well written, the characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author." ~ Elizabeth M. Caldwell on Amazon
"...a fast paced riotous look at family life today. Donna Fasano is right on target!" ~ Donna Zapf, SingleTitles.com




Monday, May 13, 2013

Until I Break has premiered!


Okay, I won't kid you people. I adore M. Leighton's writing. And she a new novel out that is completely different than anything she's ever written. It was supposed to premiere tomorrow but it is already available!


Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
In case you have been under a rock, I am talking about Until I Break! I am reading it now and she has me mesmerized. I have to finish this book and while trying to finish Falling Into Us but it is *that* good. No, I am not going to compare it to 50 Shades, The Crossfire series, or even The Ties That Bind Trilogy. This is its own genre and I love it!


Blurb

Until I Break

In love, sometimes what you fear most is exactly what you need. 

Laura Drake is an author. She writes bestselling paranormal romances that continue to top the charts. She is sharp. She is confident. She is in control. 
And she doesn’t exist.

Samantha Jansen is the woman behind the wig, the woman most of the world doesn’t know exists. She is shy. She is insecure. She is nothing like her main character or her alter ego. She is scarred—deeply scarred—by a past she can’t let go of and a present she can’t make peace with.

Samantha’s dreams are consumed by one man, the broken hero from her books. Mason Strait is both her wildest fantasy and her most terrifying nightmare. 

When Samantha meets Alec Brand, a corporate consultant, it is as though Mason has come to life. Alec is handsome to a fault, as elegant as he is arrogant, and more intense than any man has a right to be.

Samantha is soon sucked into a world that mirrors the fiction she writes. Just like her main character, Daire Kirby, Samantha finds herself unable to resist the forbidden lure of Alec. And just like Daire, she also finds that she is faced with taking a chance on a man who could either set her free or destroy her.

The scale tilts toward destruction when Samantha finds out that Alec is as much a work of fiction as Mason. And he has scars of his own, scars that could ruin them both.


**This book may be read as a stand-alone, as the story of Alec and Samantha comes to a conclusion in this book**

Okay, now you know what it's about and why I think it is completely different from anything else she's ever written! Michelle didn't ask me to do this and because I know her, I also know how passionate Ms. Leighton is about this novel. Not only is she a beautiful person on the outside but she is a beautiful and wonderful person on the inside.



Go out and buy this novel. NOW!



M. Leighton's Biography

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood,  Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

A note from Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

Follow M. Leighton on Twitter!



Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day! It's Teaser Blog Hop Time! ;-)


I am only working on my rock and roll trilogy at the moment so here is an excerpt from that novel. Yes, I said novel because Falling into Us is no longer a novella but a full-length novel. ;-)


Excerpt


Kaz turned away from me but it had more to do with what he was thinking about rather than avoiding my gaze. “We have two well-known druggies on tour. They have relapsed after very expensive rehab stays and this could pose as an issue.”
“Don’t drugs and rock stars usually go together?” I tried to make a joke out of it but the way he looked at me when our eyes met told me loud and clear he wasn’t buying what I was selling.
“It’s a little 80s and 90s of a concept, yes, but at one time, most rockers and hip hop stars used drugs and didn’t even hide their addictions. Just so you know I am not some health freak, I have no problem with drugs—I’d rather not use them because I have a fairly straight forward personality. I loved getting high when we first made it but it got old and it was no longer fun. I stopped using cold turkey.
“I might have the odd hit off a joint every now and then because I have a weakness for well-grown marijuana but I don’t do anything harder than that. It’s my policy—not Introspect Records. They couldn’t give a crap what we did as long as we performed our jobs to the best of our abilities and didn’t go on stage noticeably high where people would make comments and the rumor mills would start.”
I played with several strands of my hair. “I take it these members you are talking about aren’t recreational users, then?”
“No. I mean, they pretty much have addiction issues. They do coke to function and then they take hillbilly heroin to come down. The worst part is the OxyContin is prescribed by our tour physician so if they are caught with it, they won’t get busted. They aren’t stupid enough to carry coke on them, especially when the physician gives them Adderall or Ritalin. It’s not as good as cocaine but it will do in a pinch and it’s legal. Plus Jaden has a lifetime prescription since he was diagnosed with ADHD when he was ten.”
I suddenly stood and began to pace. “Damn. Does Faith know?”

To be Continued...

Check out all the other great bloggers on today's Hop!

Friday, May 10, 2013

99 cents Special, Tyhada Reads 500 Facebook Like Challenge & Something Special for Mother's Day!


Hey everyone! 

The price will be raised tonight to $2.99 to celebrate Mother's Day (so you still get a dollar off before it returns to its normal $3.99 price tag) but A Summer to Remember is a bargain right now at Amazon!


Click here to purchase on Amazon!

Also, there is a contest going on at Tyhada Reads! 500 Facebook Likes on her page and she will be giving away a host of books listed below:

Group 1


Group 2

Group 3

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

A Summer to Remember Premieres!


It's finally here!!!!


Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Apple / iBookstore
Kobo
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks


Don't forget this is one of the books that helps you towards winning the Kindle Paperwhite! Happy Sunday everyone!

Update...look out for a certain novella coming this summer!


I have gotten quite a bit of feedback and it looks like Talia Viaro-Stewart from A Summer To Remember (Seasons of Love & Lust) is going to be a very popular character indeed.


Talia and Seth


To answer some questions I have been asked:

-Yes, Talia is in both Seasons of Love and Lust and my alter-ego, Selene Chardou's One More Night Trilogy, simply because she has a certain job and if anyone has read one or both books then they know Scarlet Fever is touring with Winter's Regret.

- Yes, Talia's story will be complicated. In fact, hers is the third in the series and a love triangle so there will be cheating (consider yourself warned right now).

- So, to give a you a bit more back story and just because I wanted a sexy time novella between Talia and her current beau, Seth Delveccchio, I am releasing a novella within the next six weeks titled A Weekend to Remember (A Seasons of Love & Lust Novella). This takes place during the time Talia leaves Martha's Vineyard in the middle of the 4th of July vacation and will only make sense if you read A Summer to Remember so this novella is not a stand-alone. 

I am very pleased with how this series is being received because each book is designed to reflect the season. 

There is less angst in A Summer to Remember because it is supposed to be carefree and light, a lot like summer. 

Falling for Autumn won't be as light but it won't be dark either. 

Winter's Regret is going to be the brooding, angsty book because it centers around a love triangle, rock stars, drugs, cheating and everything awful and ugly about the music industry. 

Spring Fling lightens up again and will have some angst but not nearly as much as Winter's Regret.

Again, thank you for all your support and thank you for buying A Summer to Remember! Don't forget, purchasing either A Summer to Remember and/or Falling into Lust qualifies you for the Kindle Paperwhite so enter the contest after you purchase! The contest ends June 2, 2013. 

P.S. And to thank my readers, A Weekend to Remember will be priced at 99 cents if it is 20k or less. I think that is fair. Readers want more Talia but I am not trying to rip off anyone. ;-)

Friday, May 3, 2013

A Summer to Remember Sneak Peek...The First Chapter!


To apologize for a late premiere (the novel will premiere *EVERYWHERE* tomorrow), I have included the first chapter from A Summer To Remember! Enjoy and when the novel premieres tomorrow, I will be sure to post with all the websites it is available. Thanks and have a wonderful Friday everyone!




Blurb


“Life is really strange. Two events have shaped mine although I am only twenty-four, a successful entrepreneur and owner of my own gallery, Maison des Artistries, in Tribeca. One happened when I was ten: I realized I was in love with my brother’s best friend, Paul. The other event happened while I attended Vassar College during my last semester.”

Jerrica Peterson doesn’t believe in fairytale relationships but she does believe in friendship and she has three best friends who will stick by her through thick and thin.

Jerrica and her best friends: Talia, Autumn and Savannah bond over a summer of heartbreaks and discoveries, love and scandal, and three unforgettable vacations to Southampton, Martha’s Vineyard and Miami Beach. Every moment they spend together will enrich their lives and make it a summer they will never forget and one they will always remember.

A Summer to Remember is the first novel in Seasons of Love & Lust, a combination of Gossip Girl meets Sex & the City. This is a series of novels where each book can be read as a stand-alone novel and there aren’t any cliffhangers.





I don’t believe in love or happy endings but I do believe in lust.
Call me cynical at the tender age of twenty-four but after having my heart broken by my first love and college boyfriend, Kevin, I no longer allowed myself to get involved in relationships.
However I wasn’t dead and my libido was still quite active. That annoying, sexual part of me was the reason why I studied the latest piece of eye candy with interest the moment he’d stepped into my gallery, Maison des Artistries. Yes, I owned my own art gallery in the luxurious bohemian district of Tribeca because my parents were incredibly wealthy beyond belief and my older brother worked for one of the top Wall Street firms that didn’t take a hit during the downturn. His firm, CDG Investments, also didn’t have to beg one dime from the Federal government because they’d covered their asses and preferred their clients invest in blue-chip stock instead of starter-up companies that had decided to go public.
Jude tried to hold my attention but my eyes were glued to his “actor friend” he had brought to my gallery.
“Hello, earth to Jerrica? Brandon really needs your assistance in acquiring some pieces that would suit the brand new mansion he purchased in L.A.”
I silenced my brother with an icy glare and he smirked at me.
The Brandon in question was hot new actor, Brandon Wilkinson, and he was older. Not old as in late thirties old but he had to be at least twenty-eight or twenty-nine. He and my brother, Jude, had gone to Princeton together and he’d left a few credits shy of his degree to try his passion for acting.
Princeton had given him his degree in Business Administration when he’d won an Oscar for best original screenplay; the film he’d also starred in had swept the award show season that year and he’d been in demand and a sex god ever since.
Jude and Brandon could have passed for brothers since they both had blond-streaked brown hair, cobalt blue eyes, lightly tanned skin, tall with lean, muscular bodies and were not only handsome but sexy as well.
However, I had grown up with my brother and although I was told by all my friends he went well beyond just sexy and good looking, personally, I couldn’t see it. He would always be plain old Jude to me.
Not that it had stopped him from going after every one of my best friends and for that I could have killed him. He shattered my best friend’s heart in Academy so bad, her parents’ pulled her from the school and she finished her high school education in a fancy Swiss boarding school. Meanwhile, my brother’s punishment was spending his senior year at an all-boys boarding school in Massachusetts.
I wasn’t friendly with anyone I attended high school at the Academy in Connecticut because while most of my friends chose Princeton, Yale, Harvard or Stanford to attend—along with a few who had opted for Cambridge or Oxford in England—I had decided on Vassar College long before my junior year was over.
My parents thought I was crazy and so did my brother but from the moment I visited, I knew it was the university for me. Had I not gone there, I wouldn’t have met my three best friends: Talia, Savannah or Autumn.
They were all so different and we all came from such different corners of the States—with the exception of Talia Viaro-Stewart because I’d known her at the Academy. Her beautiful yet working-class mother had married a wealthy man though she was originally from South Boston. Autumn Jensen was a Gold Coast raised Chicagoan on her mother’s side while her father was originally from Wisconsin. Savannah Becker was from an upscale neighborhood in northern Virginia near Washington, D.C.
It was funny because while my mind was concentrated so deeply on my friends, I was able to show Brandon several pieces by up and coming artists he thought would be perfect for his new L.A. pad.
“What are you doing here anyway?” I inquired as soon as my brother got an emergency phone call and had to take it away from us.
“I’m sorry?” He honestly looked perplexed by my question and his cobalt blue eyes stared deeply into mine.
“What are you doing here in New York?” I rephrased quickly before I allowed my lips to part with warmth.
Brandon immediately relaxed and smiled back at me. “Oh, I’m filming a movie up in New England but it doesn’t start until next week so Jude invited me to spend a few days at his pad. I was happy to oblige. Your brother is a great guy though I can see why he never introduced his kid sister to any of us.”
If it was possible for me to blush, I would have but I had a pretty high self esteem about myself despite everything that had happened in my life so far.
My hair, naturally mousy brown and quite plain, was dyed honey-blonde with subtle highlights which made it look completely natural since I also made sure my professionally done eyebrows matched. Unfortunately, “the curtains didn’t match the rug” which is why I had my pubic hair waxed, Brazilian-style. It was also great because I didn’t have to worry about what I looked like in a bikini.
My brother possessed the most gorgeous blue-green eyes, a gift from our mother, but I had inherited our father’s blue-gray eyes and they were one of my best features along with my pert nose and slightly full lips. I was tiny, barely 5’3” but I compensated by wearing lots of high heels courtesy of Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo et al.
My wardrobe was also classic New York: lots of silk blouses and knit skirts, beautiful dresses in all kinds of fabric and every kind of shoe—from the strappy sandal to the knee-length boot—decorated my closet. Although both Jude and I had been born and raised in Connecticut, our father worked in New York City and our mother went to more charity events there than my brother and I could count on all our fingers and toes. Some people might have found it strange but to Jude and I, buying a loft together seemed like a great idea.
It was a spacious and beautiful penthouse in the Tribeca area and we both loved it. He had his side and I had mine; the only time we met up was in the kitchen. Jude stayed out of my love life and I stayed out of his. The situation was absolutely perfect and fit our lifestyles because we both worked such sporadic and long hours, we barely saw much of one another.
“So, that means you’re staying at our pad?” I questioned with more than just a little interest.
I hadn’t gotten laid in what felt like months and I could definitely use the company.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. I only brought a duffel bag because all my other stuff has already been moved to Boston where the film takes place.”
“Interesting,” I said though I left it at that as Jude rushed back to us.
“Listen, I have to go. There is a mini crisis at CDG but rest assure, Brandon, my sister will take great care of you,” my brother announced before he speed-walked out of the gallery like his ass was on fire.
“In more ways than one,” I murmured to myself more than to Brandon.
***** 
Three hours later, Brandon and I lay beside one another in my California King bed. It had been a great workout and fabulous sex but something was missing and I couldn’t put my finger on what exactly.
The attraction between the two of us existed but there wasn’t anything else. No love, warmth or genuine affection and I think that was more of a problem for him than it was with me but I could feel his immediate emotional distance.
He sat up and moved toward the edge of the bed as he swung his legs to the floor. “I’m sorry. This was a mistake. I mean…you’re a terrific woman and you have a hell of a gallery but you and I…” he trailed off.
“There is no you and me, Brandon.” I sat up, unashamed of my body which was in perfect shape thanks to my workouts five times a week and my strict diet which mostly consisted of vegetables and seafood though I ate what ever I wanted when I was on vacation. “Listen, it was just sex and you don’t have to feel bad or make up excuses. I don’t expect you to call me and proclaim how much you miss me once you leave for Boston. I feel wonderful…it’s been a long time since I have had sex so satisfying.”
He turned toward me and his cobalt blue eyes shined hard like diamonds. “You mean…you don’t expect a commitment of some sort?”
“For what? We had a one night stand for God’s sake and I barely know you. Why would I expect a commitment?”
“We barebacked and…we enjoyed each other in every way there is to receive satisfaction from one another.”
I pulled my hair back away from my face and sighed softly. I hated having to play the “guy” all the time. “Listen, we just had mind blowing sex. I understand you are going through some issues…everyone knows about your breakup with Camilla Castillo but I’m not looking for a relationship, Brandon. I’ve had my heart broken once and it isn’t going to happen again.”
I crawled toward him and slipped my arms around his neck as my bare breasts caressed his naked back. “I am not the one for you. I don’t do happy endings and false proclamations of love. I am a single woman living her life. Hell, I am only twenty-four and I am not looking to marry anyone at the moment. I am just enjoying my life and I don’t kiss and tell. What happened between us will stay between us and no one has to know, Jude included.”
Brandon turned my way but all I could see was the outline of his profile. “Are you happy? Don’t you believe you deserve to be happy?”
My arms fell away and they crossed against my nude breasts in a defensive stance. “Who the fuck ever said I wasn’t content living my life the way it is now? What is it with you guys who think all women want roses and Swiss chocolate? Sorry to disappoint but all I wanted was a hot fuck and you managed to deliver. Congrats. Perhaps you’ll find your perfect woman in Boston because she sure as shit isn’t me.”
I knew I’d hurt his feelings and it was a purposeful act. I didn’t want his pity or sympathy because I didn’t and couldn’t bring myself to have a relationship.
Brandon stood reluctantly, grabbed his clothes and the last I saw of him was his perfectly muscled ass as he left my bedroom and closed the door quietly behind himself.
*****
The next morning, my bags were packed and I spoke on the phone to my mother who sounded extremely delighted.
“I don’t mean to bother you, especially since you work so hard, dear, but could you do your father and I a favor? Is it too much to ask for you to check on our summer home in Southampton?” she inquired between sips of tea.
My mother was determined to stay as youthful and beautiful as she could. She did not partake in alcoholic beverages, carbonated drinks or coffee. Instead she lived on green tea and a micro-biotic diet that would have made Madonna jealous.
“Uh, that’s where I thought you and Dad were. I am packing my bags as we speak. I’m tired of the City and my assistant is taking over while I am gone. I need to get away and I thought Southampton would be perfect.”
Mother laughed out loud. “You know your father, sweetheart. He surprised me with a brand new fabulous condo in Nice and it is absolutely stunning! We’re spending the summer here in France. You would love it but since you plan to get away for a while, you should invite the girls to join you. I bet they would love to spend some time in the Hamptons with you.”
“Mmm, that isn’t a bad idea, Mom. I will get on the phone and track them down. Thanks for the idea.”
“In the meantime, I’ll make sure the place is immaculate so when you all arrive, it will be perfect.”
“Okay. Love you and talk to you soon.”
“You too, sweetheart.”
My mother ended the call and I started going down my list, starting with Talia. She lived the furthest away in L.A. and although I considered Savannah and Autumn best friends as well, Talia was my absolute favorite. I enjoyed her spunk and she had a similar wild streak and lust for life the same as I did.
She answered after a few rings with a distracted, “Yeah?”
“Hey, girlie, it’s me, your best friend. Is that any way to answer the phone?”
“Sorry,” Talia began and sounded slightly winded. “I am writing for some of the biggest assholes in the music business at the moment and I am not in a good mood. What is it?”
“The Hamptons…on my folks? You know: sun, sand and endless fun?”
Talia sighed out loud. “Are you kidding me, Jerrica? I couldn’t escape now even if I wanted to. The music label would have a shit fit. I am a resident music writer which means I have to be available at any given moment. Unlike you, I don’t own my own company and I can’t just up and leave when ever it strikes my fancy.”
“Fine,” I began, “I’ll have Jude call Dominic Stenfeldt at Introspect Records and let him know you need some R&R. He’s a major client of my brother’s and he will give you the time off.”
She gasped out loud. “Are you serious? You would do that for me?”
“Of course I would.”
“Oh my God, Jerri, you’re the best.”
Talia was the only person in the world who could get away with calling me Jerri therefore I let it slide. “No problem.”
We ended our call shortly afterwards and that is when my brother decided to put in an appearance. Jude was dressed immaculately as usual and looked good enough for any female to swoon over but I merely acknowledged him wordlessly while flipping through my Ulysse Nardin to call Savannah.
He made himself a cup of coffee, black, and sat across from me at the table.
“Listen, we have to talk.”
“About what?” I wondered out loud before I pressed Savannah’s number.
He took the phone away from me and told one of my best friend’s I would call her back.
“Listen, you gotta stop sleeping with every available guy I bring home. It’s starting to get downright embarrassing. Brandon left so fast it made the Airbus seem slow and I can only guess why,” Jude explained in a no-nonsense manner.
I rolled my eyes. “Listen, you act like I raped the guy or something. Believe me, he was a very willing participant.”
“I know that, Jerrica, but still…you’re my sister and it really does hurt me that you are behaving like a slut just because of what Kevin did to you.”
“Wow.” I glared at my brother with cold eyes before I stood and walked over to the state-of-the-art power press coffee machine and poured myself another cup of coffee. “What the hell do you think I am doing? Mom told me to check on the Southampton guest house and that is exactly what I plan to do. However, since it is empty, I am inviting Talia, Savannah and Autumn along. We haven’t seen one another in ages and I can get out of your hair. Happy, dear?”
“I guess…if that’s what is going to make you less likely to jump the bones of every available guy friend I have.”
I turned toward him as I leaned against the spotless marble countertop. “It will. I need to get out of the City and get my life straightened out…somehow. I know the path and where I am heading isn’t healthy. I can’t stop feeling guilty about what happened between Kevin and me yet I know it wasn’t my fault. None of this is…I just need some time on my own with my friends.”
Jude finished his coffee in record timing before he stood and began to rearrange the document folders in his briefcase. “I’ll try to make it out there for a weekend or two but work is crazy busy at the moment. I won’t promise anything but…take care of yourself, all right?”
I smiled slightly though it never reached my eyes. “I always do.”


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