Authors: Desiree Holt
Firecracker (5 page)
Dani wanted to ask if either the hostess or Wanda had been one of their special treats.
If so, it encouraged her that the situation between them was still warm and friendly.
The atmosphere was pleasant, the crowd noises buzzing around them, and a gentle breeze
blowing. They placed their orders, and Dani relaxed in her chair, sipping her drink.
She took a moment to watch the people making their way along the cobbled walkways,
and when she turned back to Chad, she discovered them watching her intently.
Uh, oh. The big discussion.
She took a healthy sip for courage and set the glass on the table.
“Okay, guys. You’ve got something heavy on your minds, so out with it.”
They looked at each other and back at her.
Brody spoke first. “We thought we’d wait until after we’d eaten to do this, but we’re
not always so good at patience.”
She forced her lips into a smile. “Don’t worry. Whatever it is, we’ll all be fine.
No sweat. So hit me with it. I’m a big girl. I know the rules of the game.”
They exchanged another glance and frowned.
“Maybe you’ve got the wrong rules,” Chad told her. “What do you think we’ve got in
mind?”
“I know last night was a one-time thing. I’m good with it.” She leaned forward and
discovered her smile was real after all. “But it was the best night of my life.”
“For us, too.” Chad reached for her hand. “And we don’t want it to stop.”
What?
“What?” She lifted her glass with her free hand and took another fortifying swallow.
“I don’t understand. What are you saying?”
Brody leaned on the table. “What we’re saying is, we want more of what we had last
night. Dani, Chad and I are not novices on this circuit. I’m sure you figured that
out real fast. We’ve been happy going along the way we were, taking our pick of willing
bodies. But we’ve found something special with you.”
“A connection.” Chad picked up the thread. “A lot more than sex.” He winked. “Although
the sex was ten points past spectacular.”
“So, what we’d like to know,” Brody continued, “is if you’d like to give this thing
a chance. I know it’s unorthodox, a threesome like this. But if we take it nice and
slow, we can see if we’re the good fit we think we are, all the way around.”
“Y-you mean, I would be with you on a regular basis?”
“Would that be so bad?” Chad asked. “One night at a time, Dani. To see if the magic
stays. And maybe take some downtime to get to know each other outside the bedroom
and the rodeo.”
Dani thought her heart would stop beating. She had hoped they’d come up with something
like this because she had felt the magic, too.
“We care for you, Firecracker.” Brody’s voice was husky.
“Yeah, we do,” Chad added. “A lot. You’re something really special to us.”
Dani wet her lower lip with her tongue, trying to absorb the whole thing.
“Say something.” Brody’s voice had an urgent tone. “Say yes. No. Go to hell. Something.”
“I-I don’t…. I mean….”
“If the answer is no, we’ll understand,” Chad told her. “But we’re hoping you’ll give
this a chance. We all know the score on the circuit, and we know how to be discreet.
But, Dani? Say yes. Let’s give this a try.”
A feeling of warmth suffused her that had nothing to do with sex. These two hot, smart,
strong men wanted to make her a part of their lives. They’d told her she was special.
More than just a friend. Who could say no to that?”
Identical smiles broke on the faces of both men. Her lips curved in a grin of her
own as elation flooded her. Winning the rodeo had been exhilarating, but this was
turning out to be the real prize.
“Hot damn!” Chad kissed the hand he’d been holding all this time. “Just hot damn.”
Brody picked up the other one and did the same. “You won’t be sorry, Dani. We promise
you that. When we get back to the suite, we can discuss logistics.”
“Also,” Chad added, “we have an extra travel day to the next circuit stop. If we go
out to the rodeo grounds and make sure Rosie is taken care of, I’d like for us to
spend another day here and leave tomorrow morning. That work for you?”
Another night so soon like the last one? You better believe it does.
“Yes. As long as we see to Rosie, I’d really like that.”
“This calls for another round of drinks.” Brody rubbed his hands. “What better way
to celebrate the Fourth of July than with a real live Firecracker?
A Slow Burn
Tigris Eden
In the Fictional town of Beauville, anything is possible.
Annabelle Macon left home to become somebody. When fired from her job in New York,
she’s anxious to come home. Home is where the heart is, and her heart has always been
set on Jackson Storme. But when opportunity presents Anna with an exciting new job
back in New York, she doesn’t know what to do.
Sheriff Jackson Storme is happy being deemed a player. He hasn’t found the one woman
to call his own, and that’s okay with him. When his baby sister pulls up to the Fourth
of July picnic and her passenger steps out, Jackson realizes his woman has made herself
known.
Will Anna and Jackson’s fire only burn for one night, or can he convince her that
the best burn is a Slow burn…
http://www.authortigriseden.com/stories-from-beauville.html
********
Return to Her
Alexandra O’Hurley
Cheated on and dumped, Cassie Summers feels nothing but relief. She’d stayed too long,
and honestly, it was her attraction to her ex’s roommate Mason that kept her hanging
on past the expiration date. Mason makes her heart beat faster and her panties damp.
Too bad he’s only a friend, as she’s not his type.
Mason Parker’s Southern charm and good looks let him through a lot of doors—and into
beds. A protective instinct a mile wide pushes Mason to be Cassie’s shoulder when
his roommate skips town, and he has to face his real feelings for her. Can he find
the patience to just be the friend Cassie needs while she gets over her ex?
When Mason’s called for duty and has to ship out for a year, he knows he can’t leave
without telling her exactly how he feels. Amid the fireworks on the Fourth of July,
they’ll make their own sparks and give in to the crushing need both have for one another.
http://www.alexandraohurley.com/p/red-hot-and-boom.html
********
Sparks Fly
Mari Carr
I Do
is the easy part.
Happily ever after
? Not so much.
Evan and Annie are deeply in love, but that hasn't stopped tension from creating cracks
in their relationship. Determined not to fail his wife, Evan takes action before those
cracks become craters, damaging their marriage irreparably. Over the Fourth of July
weekend, he'll reignite Annie's passion with his own brand of fireworks.
Stand back and watch the sparks fly.
********
Naughty Girls Do
Jodi Redford
Lexie Winters is on a mission—to lose her good girl image and tempt resident bad boy,
Ash Bodry, into her bed. Tired of being treated like his kid sister, it’s past time
for her to play dirty. She has her work cut out for her though when it comes to the
sinfully sexy yet incredibly frustrating man.
As far as Ash is concerned, Lexie is strictly off limits. Not only are they friends,
her dad just happens to be the sheriff, and years ago the man steered Ash away from
a life of crime. No way is he repaying that favor by giving into his wicked fantasies
of Lexie. But when the little vixen strolls into his tattoo parlor and requests a
very naughty piercing, Ash’s honorable intentions are tested to their limits.
Now that Lexie’s hammered the first chink in Ash’s defenses, and he’s sweating bullets,
there’s no chance in hell she’s settling for his hands off policy. Even if it means
some flirty strip tease action and late night skinny dipping to convince him that
this newfound naughty girl will do whatever it takes to get her man.
http://www.jodiredford.com/More_Books.html
********
For Liberty
Rene Folsom
While deployed overseas, his mission classified, the heartfelt letters Maximus writes
are the only bits of communication Liberty receives during the year he is away. Her
memories of him, along with a box full of letters, become her most prized possessions—that
and the life growing inside her.
It’s not until communication stops, and the scheduled return of her Army hero comes
and goes, that Libby begins to freak out. Her worry for his welfare, along with concern
over her current situation, wreaks havoc on her once-solid nerves.
While she’s waiting for his return with bated breath, she clings to hope and remembers
the words he once wrote: “A soldier doesn't fight because he hates what is in front
of him. A soldier fights because he loves what he left behind.” The infamous quote
is a constant reminder of why he chooses to fight: For Liberty.
http://renefolsom.com/2014/04/for-liberty/
********
White Chocolate Cherry
Graylin Rane
Julia is getting ready for work, her camerawoman and best friend Amy by her side,
when a notice is left at her door. She’s been chosen to receive a sculpted chocolate
man picked personally by Eros to fulfill her romantic and sexual needs.
While other women would jump at the offer, Julia is torn. It’s been three years since
she lost her beloved Jorge after twenty-five years of wedded bliss. How would she
explain a chocolate man to her six kids?
Anteros is carved perfection, luscious, and gorgeous with a surprise for her. He loves
books and discussing history, he backs away when she feels a loyalty pull to her lost
husband, respects her devotion to family. Time and patience pay off as Julia slowly
opens her home, her body, and her heart.
http://www.graylinfox.com/candy-man-delivery-service-stories/white-chocolate-cherry/
********
Come With Me
Sable Hunter and Ryan O’Leary
Lacy spends her time planning events at a country club. Her latest and greatest project
is the big Fourth of July celebration. Fireworks lighting up the sky – Red Hot and
Boom! She loves the excitement and the spectacular display of sparkles and heat gives
her a thrill. The only problem is… Lacy has never had any fireworks of her own. Despite
having to listen to her friends tell of their sexual escapades, she has never experienced
the big ‘O’. According to the only man she’s ever given herself to, Lacy is frigid.
Is something wrong with her or has she just not met the right man for the job?
Jake is the manager of the golf course at the country club. He’s designing and overseeing
a building project and the sight of him shirtless and sweating and flexing…has given
Lacy ideas. Jake has a certain reputation of being able to handle almost any task
he’s given. Rumors of his sexual prowess are legendary. Now, every time Lacy sees
him working with his hands, doing some heavy lifting, his body gleaming with the sheen
of exertion – she begins to hope that Jake can give her what no one else ever has.
IF - she can just figure out how to ask him. But what Lacy doesn’t know is that Jake
has ideas of his own. His outlook on love and life has been molded by the mistakes
of his family. He doesn’t think true love exists, there’s just sex. Until he meets
Lacy. This Fourth of July celebration proves to have more explosions in store than
those in the sky, for Jake sets out to prove that he can give Lacy exactly what she
needs. In fact, Jake intends to show Lacy that what she needs – is him.
********
Scorin’ on the Fourth of July
Cassandra Carr
After Mikael signs a free agent contract with the Buffalo Storm professional hockey
team, he finds himself agreeing to a part of a charity hockey tournament taking place
over the Fourth of July weekend. While there, he meets Terri, the goaltender who recently
backstopped the US women’s hockey team to a gold medal. He’s instantly enamored, both
by her skill and her beauty, and sets out to learn more about her.
While Mikael has a brand-new life in Buffalo, Terri fears that to be able to continue
playing her beloved hockey she’ll have to leave the area, possibly going far away
if that’s what it takes to find a professional team willing to take a chance on a
female goaltender. She likes Mikael, but fears becoming involved and then having to
leave him.
Both Mikael and Terri are facing turning points in their career and must decide if
love is worth it or if they’ll leave their passion on the ice.
http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com
********
Dual Desires
Shyla Colt
The red, white , and blue rally used to be a high point for Ardy Larkin. The festival
brought in enough money for the town to scrape by, and added a bit of excitement to
the air. This year everything’s different. Her father made a deal he couldn’t back,
and now her life is forfeit. Demanded as payment for their debt she finds herself
attached to the biggest, baddest, member of the Dueling Devils M.C., their president,
Demon.
In need of someone to watch his children while he was away, Ardy Larkin seemed like
the perfect solution to all Demon’s problems, until he caught a case of feelings for
an innocent girl who didn’t belong in his world. When a dangerous situation forces
his feeling to the forefront, he shows her what it means to be claimed by a member
of the Dueling Devils.
********
All Hat No Cattle
Randi Alexander
It’s Independence Day, and Harper Johansen is at the rodeo in South Dakota on business.
While she’s deep in cowboy territory, she’s hoping to meet a real cowboy—one who shares
her dreams for the future. Shaw Donahue, tall and sexy in his cowboy hat, jeans, and
boots, could be that man, and Harper quickly falls for his seductive charm. Until
he tells her he’s a roughneck.
Shaw can’t believe his luck. Harper is an accomplished, intelligent businesswoman,
and she’s beautiful, sexy, and willing. Until she learns he’s working the local oil
field. Before he can explain the reason he’s roughnecking, she pushes him away, telling
him they can only be friends. He doesn’t fit into her plans. With four days of rodeo
ahead of them, can Shaw convince Harper to value a man for more than his cattle?
http://randialexander.com/preview/red-hot-boom-hat-cattle/
********
Knocked Out
Ty Langston
Fresh out of Grad School, Hayley Monroe gets the chance of a lifetime when her boss
gives her the opportunity to produce and host a reality series on finding MMA’s “Next
Great Hope.”
Enter former MMA contender Evan Bates. His sudden re-appearance into the sport after
a mysterious five year absence not only raises eyebrows, but also temps both in and
out of the Octagon.
Can Hayley keep everything in check? Or will she be Knocked Out?
********
One Last Rodeo
Michel Prince
Betsy Flynn's star is rising as she serves as the color sports reporter for the local
CBS affiliate. Her focus, knowledge and high heels have become a staple along every
sideline in Minneapolis, but a rodeo has come to Minnesota and this Texas transplant
will have to go back to her roots.
Five years ago JT Long chose being a rodeo pick-up man and his best friend’s career
over the love of his life, Betsy. As JT’s rodeo shows up in Northern Minnesota he
quickly realizes his chances of winning Betsy back are getting slim. She has a hot
new man after her and she’s not about to let JT break her heart again. Now he has
one last rodeo to win her heart.
http://www.michelprincebooks.com
********
Stars and Sparks
Christin Lovell