Contemporary Nights Volume One Read online

  Contemporary Nights

  Volume One

  C.J. Ellisson

  Hildie McQueen

  Lila Dubois

  Allie K. Adams

  Jami Davenport

  Published by:

  Farm Boy Press for TBR Authors (www.tbrauthors.com)

  First ebook edition February 2014

  Copyright © 2014 C.J. Ellisson, Hildie McQueen, Lila Dubois, Allie K. Adams and Jami Davenport, all rights reserved

  ISBN: 978-1-938601-24-8

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  Publisher’s note:

  These are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to your retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

  Introduction

  USA Today and New York Times bestselling author, C.J. Ellisson, along with four other bestselling authors, have put together their hottest contemporary romances guaranteed to heat up your e-readers. Over 700 pages of international lovers, college geeks, sexy number crunchers, and playboy bachelors sweep you away to island hideaways, hot nights in Vegas, haunted Irish castles, and secret trysts.

  Avoiding Mr. Right by C.J. Ellisson: Carla Johnson thinks issuing orders to a lover will keep her heart safe and leave her in charge of her own destiny. Andy Shea refuses to become another lover the feisty blonde dumps. It’ll take a patient man with a strong hand to unlock Carla’s sexual awareness and win her heart—he’s very eager to prove this number cruncher won’t make a boring bedmate.

  One Night in Vegas by Hildie McQueen: The morning after Amy Leigh Paisley, is left behind in Las Vegas, she wakes up with not only a huge hangover, but married to Trent Mulherin, who happens to be Charleston’s most eligible bachelor. Who can blame a girl when she decides to keep her hot husband?

  The Irish Lover by Lila Dubois: Mary Callahan doesn’t remember Glenncailty, or the handsome Michael Baker, yet she’s connected to both by a dark, dangerous past. Wary of her feelings for Michael, and the shadows within Glenncailty Castle, Mary must decide if she’s willing to risk her heart for a chance at love and a place to call home.

  Grooming the Player by Allie K. Adams: Emma Rae hates players. When the king of the nerds asks her to turn him into one, she wants to say no, but he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. It’s not like she’ll turn him into anything she wants. He could be her greatest creation…or her ultimate downfall.

  Save the Last Dance for Me by Jami Davenport: What’s a girl to do after her former fiancé declares that she’s frigid? Mariah Baker decides to take a jaunt on her wild side…if she can find it. The scruffy Puerto Rican leasing the waterfront house next door appears to be just the man for the mission. After all, what better way to defrost than with a sexy Latin lover? Only Rico isn’t who she thinks he is, and time is her enemy.

  Table of Contents

  Contemporary Nights

  Introduction

  Avoiding Mr. Right by C.J. Ellisson

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Additional Titles by C.J. Ellisson

  One Night in Vegas by Hildie McQueen

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  About the Author

  Additional Titles by Hildie McQueen

  The Irish Lover by Lila Dubois

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Additional Titles by Lila Dubois

  Grooming the Player by Allie K. Adams

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  About the Author

  Additional Titles by Allie K. Adams

  Save the Last Dance for Me by Jami Davenport

  Dedication

  Chapter One—The Fall

  Chapter Two—The Next Move

  Chapter Three—La Cantina

  Chapter Four—The Wine and Dine

  Chapter Five—The Prediction

  Chapter Six—The Godfather

  Chapter Seven—The Home-Cooked Meal

  Chapter Eight—The Gift

  Chapter Nine—The Trail Ride

  Chapter Ten—Friday Harbor

  Chapter Eleven—The Moment

  Chapter Twelve—The Goodbye

  Chapter Thirteen—The Company

  Chapter Fourteen—The Ex

  Chapter Fifteen—The Scheme

  Chapter Sixteen—The Reunion

  Chapter Seventeen—The Party

  Chapter Eighteen—The Heat

  Chapter Nineteen—The Truth

  Chapter Twenty—The Changes

  Chapter Twenty-one—The Hot Pink Chapel

  Chapter Twenty-two—The Wife

  Chapter Twenty-three—The Realization

  Chapter Twenty-four—The Magic

  About the Author

  Additional Titles by Jami Davenport

  Avoiding Mr. Right

  A Walk on the Wild Side Novel

  Book Two

  C.J. Ellisson

  Carla Johnson thinks issuing orde
rs to a lover will keep her heart safe and leave her in charge of her own destiny. Afraid for Carla’s future, her best friend Heather implores her to change her self-centered ways, handing her a list of love life mistakes to steer clear of:

  Casual Sex

  Friends with Benefits

  Avoidance of Intimacy

  Carla ignores the list—unwilling to face she might have a commitment problem. Until she invites a co-worker to her place one night. She instantly regrets the hum-drum sexual encounter and discourages the accountant from pursuing her.

  Andy Shea refuses to become another lover the feisty blonde dumps. It'll take a patient man with a strong hand to unlock Carla's sexual awareness and win her heart. He’s up for the challenge to convince her he’s the one—and eager to prove this number cruncher won’t make a boring bedmate.

  Published by:

  Red Hot Publishing,

  P.O. Box 651193,

  Sterling,

  VA 20165-1193.

  First ebook edition June 2013

  Copyright © 2013 C.J. Ellisson, all rights reserved

  Edited by Tina Winograd

  Cover design by Kim Killion, HotDamnDesigns.com

  ISBN: 978-1-938601-15-6

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  Publisher’s note:

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to your retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to Marianne Morea and T. Lynne Tolles. Your work is more than worthy and soon the world will know it. Never give up!

  Chapter One

  Carla

  “Casual Sex,” I say, twisting the phrase so it sounds like a bad thing. “There. I said it.” I look across the table and meet my best friend’s dark, knowing gaze. “Happy now?” Unable to hold her penetrating stare any longer, I reach for my tepid chai latte, grateful it’s tasty even cold.

  “I know you think I’m being a shrewish bitch, Carla. But it’s for your own good.” Heather picks up her favorite vanilla cappuccino and takes a drink.

  “And why is that, exactly?” Regret gnaws at my stomach. Why did I let myself get dragged into this conversation during my lunch hour? “Sure, you found your great ‘one-and-only’ guy, but I don’t think that’s going to happen with me.”

  Heather ignores me and taps her finger on the small sheet of paper on the table between us. “Next one.”

  Geez, this feels like a one-woman intervention, and despite the jokes I could make over that realization, I’m really not enjoying it. The pleading on her compassionate face has me glancing at the slip of paper once more. “Friends with Benefits. Oh, come on, that too? I kind of like that one. Makes it much easier to stay friends when the guy winds up being dumb, but not bad in bed.”

  Heather’s mouth sets in a firm line and I plow ahead to the last item on her unhelpful “list” of what she sees as my love life faults. “Avoidance of Intimacy. Seriously? You think I do all this crap?” A knot of anxiety sits in my throat. “I’m not a fun-loving chick all the time, you know. I have been searching for the right guy.” The right guy who’s perfect in the sack and magically disappears before dawn. “Just haven’t found him yet.”

  “Really?” she counters, showing a touch of backbone my once-shy friend didn’t have a month ago. “And none of them were worthy of your time after you slept with them, huh?”

  A grimace twists my face and I try to smooth my features. “It’s not like that—I swear.” Secretly I fear it’s exactly like that. And what the hell does that say about me? That I’m a slut? I’m not. I like sex but I don’t sleep with just anyone like her darned unasked for list of faults implies. “They weren’t good matches for me.”

  “Uh-huh. Sure.”

  “Why are we discussing this…,” I gesture to the paper between us, “list of yours? I’m a careful woman. I always make sure they use a condom. My instincts are good. I’ve never been in a situation I couldn’t handle. What happened to make you think I needed—no wanted—your input in my love life?”

  Heather’s strength deflates and I feel like I’ve kicked a puppy. “It’s because I care about you, Carla, and want to see you happy. You keep up with this casual approach to relationships and you’re going to be alone for the rest of your life.”

  A snort erupts from me. “Like that’s a bad thing? I’m not afraid of being alone. In fact, I’m quite all right with it.” I resist the urge, just barely, to throw her words from a few weeks ago in her face. She was the one afraid of winding up alone and eating microwave meals-for-one her whole life. Not me. Never me.

  My goal has always been to find an exciting, independent man—one who’s a great lover and wants nothing emotional from me in return. I gaze out the window of our favorite coffee shop, staring at the pelting rain washing the city streets. Maybe my relaxed attitude would be better suited in Europe. Seems like the Puritanical ideals of America are still going strong, no matter how much women struggle with equality. If I were a guy no one would bat an eye at my desire for a lover with no emotional attachments weighing us down.

  An exciting man who’s good in bed. That’s not too much to ask is it? We’re in “the city that never sleeps” for crying out loud. There’s got to be a few guys who learned something in the sack since college, right? Maybe I can find one who isn’t emotionally scarred from a long-term relationship and where the woman taught him a thing or two. That would be hitting the relationship lottery in my book.

  Don’t forget good looking, great body, successful career, a big dick…

  Yeah, a girl can dream, right?

  Aware I need to get back to work, I glance at my watch then gather the remains of my meal. We say our goodbyes and I race into the rain, pulling up the hood on my stylish raincoat for the three-block trek to the office.

  Heather likes to forget—I’m not like her. I’ve always known what I want in my life and in my bed. She and Tony met at the exact time she was ready to blossom. My sexuality bloomed a long time ago and I quickly became disappointed with the unknowledgeable lovers I invited into my bed. Hell, when the first few trysts were a let down, why go back for more?

  It’s pretty sad, really. They all appeared to be so promising during our initial dates.

  Despite Heather’s list making me sound like a “good-time girl,” a phrase I hear a lot from my mom, I actually practice a lot of decorum when choosing a lover. They all have ambitious careers, their own apartments, aren’t married, and know how to treat a lady with manners. I don’t have a set laundry list of physical attributes the guy has to have, but I do want a man who cares enough about his health and appearance to not be slovenly or obese.

  Unlike Heather, I never sit on the sidelines waiting for life to come to me—I actively seek adventure and always will. Who says a woman needs a man to be happy? I’m happy as I am on my own. And I intend to keep it that way—not hung up on a guy like my mom was with my dad. When he left us, she was devastated and it changed her outlook on life forever.

  Avoiding large puddles and dangerous sidewalk grating, I wish I would’ve changed out of my heels before dashing off to meet Hea
ther. A short woman like me learns the benefit of being on equal eye level in the advertising world. Doesn’t hurt that I look great in them, too.

  The awning to my building appears and I gratefully step under it and push back my hood. I unzip the coat and flap the sides, knocking off moisture before entering.

  “Hey, Carla,” a masculine voice calls from the doorway.

  I look up to see one of the company accountants holding the door for me. “Thanks, Andrew.” I step through, avoiding eye contact with him.

  He’s tried to make casual conversation with me for months, and I’m always polite but careful not to lead him on. I mean really, he’s an accountant. Could a job be more unexciting? Just stick him in an IT position and buy him a ticket to the next Trekkie convention in town.

  One thing I’ve learned while shopping for an exciting man—I won’t find one in a humdrum job like his. I’m not saying Andrew is boring, he seems nice enough. But his job sure as hell is unexciting, which decreases his chances of being a stimulating guy by eighty percent.

  While we walk across the lobby to the elevators, I sense him fidgeting beside me, perhaps too nervous to talk. I smother a smile at his awkwardness. Honestly, he’s not bad looking—no beer gut and he dresses okay. Maybe I should hook him up with Katrina from yoga class. She’s been on the prowl for a decent man.

  He clears his throat as we step into the elevator. “Do you have time later to talk about the Stringer account?”

  My ears perk at the mention of my largest client. “Of course. Is something wrong?”

  The doors whisk closed and we ascend to our floor. “No, nothing’s wrong. I was looking over the latest numbers and think I’ve found a way to free up some advertising money in their budget that isn’t working where it is now. Might help you up-sell them to a larger ad space in the areas that are working.”

  “Sounds good.” I smile, the first genuine one to grace my face since I met Heather for lunch. “Your cubicle or mine?”

  *****

  His blue eyes crinkle at the corners as he returns my smile. “Come to mine, I’ll show you the spreadsheets.”