***NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK- SEPT. 14-20TH***

EVERYTHING WITH YOU by Kaylee Ryan♥ Cover Reveal

Title: Everything With You (With You, #3)

Author: Kaylee Ryan

Genre: New Adult

Release Date: October 27, 2014

Cover Design: Okay Creations

Synopsis

Every road, even the broken ones, will eventually lead us to our destination. We hope to find our place in the world, sometimes getting lost and straddled with the fear of never being found. Ultimately it’s that broken road that leads us to the meaning of life, love and happiness. You watched as Allison and Liam fell head over heels. You watched as they sealed their love with the bond of marriage. Now it’s time to watch them take the next step - being parents. After years of denying their feelings, Hailey and Aiden are preparing for their happily ever after. When Hailey says ‘Yes’ to become Mrs. Aiden Emerson, she immediately begins planning their destination wedding. As the couple settles in as Mr. and Mrs. they dream of what the future holds. Unfortunately life puts them on a different path causing chaos and pain, leading them down a somber path of existence. Neither couple is sure if they’ll be able to find each other again. Follow both couples as their love and strength is tested. Can they overcome life’s obstacles and reach their destination?

About The Author

Kaylee Ryan has had a passion for reading since she was a little girl. That passion has slowly led to spinning romantic tales, and a one-click addiction. When she doesn’t have her nose stuck in her kindle or fingers glued to the keyboard, you can find Kaylee hanging out with friends and family. She loves all genres of music, and enjoys scrapbooking. She lives in Ohio with her husband (her real life happily ever after) and their rambunctious little boy.

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Giveaway!

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Playing For Passion Release Blitz

Playing For Passion Box Set is now live and ONLY 99 cents!

AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!

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Synopsis:

Love is the name of the game in this limited-edition boxed set of sizzling sports romances. Twelve New York Times bestselling, USA Today bestselling, and award-winning authors put you right in the action with scintillating stories of hot athletes and the women who prove love is the ultimate game-changer. Dare to Love by Carly Phillips: Riley Taylor believes herself immune to domineering men—until charismatic team owner Ian Dare turns a kiss into an assault on her senses and she learns she likes his brand of control in the bedroom. They complete each other, but Riley's past is closer than she cares to remember—and her struggles against Ian’s dominance might cost her everything. Breaking Away by Toni Aleo:Phillip and Reese are happy in their single lives. They do what, who, and how they want, but from the moment they meet, attraction is undeniable. Soon, they’re willing to get tangled in the sheets. But one night turns into two, and two into three, until they find themselves in a repeated dance of “One Last Time” that has the potential to be more. Hook Me by Chelle Bliss:Michael Gallo found his calling in life—he wants to kick ass. The title is no longer enough—he must capture the woman of his dreams. Bigger than Beckham by V.K. Sykes:Sports mogul and soccer star Tony Branch takes one look at sexy Martha Winston and her soccer team and decides he wants both. But Martha has no intention of submitting to Tony’s demands—until he gives her no choice! Love Bats Last by Pamela Aares: The baseball diamond isn’t the only field for all-star Alex Tavonesi; he also runs his family’s prestigious vineyard. But what he can’t seem to run is his love life. When love’s in the game you can’t play it safe... Schooling the Player by Allie K. Adams:Women throw themselves at star pitcher Zach “Breaker” Evans, and he plays the field. When curvy Becca Porter moves in next door and treats him as nothing more than a neighbor, he goes all-out for her attention. One night, one party, and one winner-takes-all bet, changes everything. Crashing the Boards by Jami Davenport:Professional party crasher Izzy Maxwell needs team captain and reluctant party guest Cooper Black’s cooperation, but he can’t get past his hockey team’s relocation to Seattle. Can Izzy melt his frozen heart or will this party crash along with her fledgling business? Breakaway by Catherine Gayle: Dana Campbell’s panic attacks make it impossible for her to have a normal relationship with a man. She asks her brother’s best friend, Eric Zellinger, for help. As the captain of the struggling Portland Storm, he can’t lose focus—but he can’t say no to Dana, either. Perfect Pitch by Mindy Klasky:When cocky star pitcher DJ Thomas slams reigning beauty queen Samantha Winger in an interview, Sam seduces him even as she uses their notoriety to promote her kids music program. Can Sam and DJ's blazing relationship survive when DJ's son begs to trade Little League for music class? Inside Heat by Roz Lee:Identical twins Jeff and Jason Holder share everything on and off the field, including Megan Long. When Jeff is injured, he could lose everything he loves: Megan, his brother, and his career. It’s going to take more than physical therapy to mend relationships and get him back on the mound. It’s all fun and games until someone falls in love. Fire on Ice by Dakota Madison: Firestorm Center Kian Kavanagh dominates the ice like a rock star on stage. After Taylor Thompson's heart was shattered by her high school's most popular jock, she vowed never to date another athlete, but after a chance meeting with Kian, Taylor's walls are in danger of being burned down by Mr. Fire on Ice. Game Misconduct by Bianca Sommerland:Oriana Delgado’s father owns the Dartmouth Cobras, but he doesn’t own her. When he treats her future like another play, she changes the rules and picks her own lineup. But the intended deke turns into the real thing, and the game can’t be won in one lusty night.

Run by Eve Vaughn Blog Tour

The Hunter…

Dare O’Shaughnessy had the world in the palm of his hand.  A man known and feared for his ruthlessness, his word was law. The last word he ever expected to hear was no. Until he met her.

The Prey…

Aya Smith despised the ruling class who looked down on hardworking people like her. Sick of being treated unfairly by laws that protect the wealthy and punish the poor, she takes a stand but soon realizes, she might have crossed the wrong man.

The Game…

Created as a government program to assist in the repopulation of the country when an untested drug wipes out millions of women, The Run eventually evolves into something much more sinister.  Now played for the amusement of the super rich, women down on their luck find themselves the prizes of sadistic masters.

Aya is forced to volunteer for The Run, and Dare, the most sadistic of all, places her in his crosshairs.She will belong to him, body and soul. But when he catches her will she succumb to his mastery, or will he find more trouble than he bargained for?

 

REVIEW

4 stars

Very interesting futuristic read. The Run is a game being played by wealthy men where they hunt women that have signed up for money. 

Dare O'Shaughnessy has met his match when he runs into Aya Smith & she turns his world upside down. Aya is such a strong & spirited woman. She refuses to bow down to the wealthy even when it costs her everything. Even when she's forced into a horrible situation she still remains strong. Aya has had a rough life & refuses to roll over for the wealthy. She'll keep fighting which in turn makes Dare want her even more. I did enjoy watching Dare's character evolve from such an awful man to a carrying & loving man. 

Dare was raised by his father to believe that the lower class people were beneath him & to do with whatever he saw fit. Have to admit I didn't like him at all for most of the book. Watching his eyes open & start changing made me change my mind. There are so many different emotions running through you as you read this book & watch the characters change over time. If you enjoy books that draw you in, then give this book a read. 

Penny for Eye Candy Bookstore

Aya took a deep breath as she made her way to the bar being careful not to look directly in the direction of the jerk supreme. As she poured his drink, she was tempted to spit in it. With each move she made, Aya could feel his heated gaze on her. She wasn’t naive about men like him. They acted like they owned everything they saw. He was toying with them and threatening their livelihood because he could.

She used as much time as she dared to fix his drink before walking toward him, still refusing to make eye contact. Aya forced herself not to slam the glass down in front of him. “Will that be all, sir?” she asked through gritted teeth while she kept her gaze planted on her feet.

“Look at me.”

Aya didn’t want to stare into eyes so deep a green they were almost hypnotizing. They were her favorite shade and she resented the hell out of him for that. Thoughts of her uncle forced her to comply. Slowly, she raised her head until she met his gaze full on. That cruel smirk curved his lips.

“If there’s nothing else, I need to see to the needs of the other customers.”

“I was under the impression from the proprietor that you don’t deal with customers. Which one of you is lying?”

She bit the inside of her lip to hold back an angry retort.

The bastard had the nerve to chuckle. “No need to answer. I can see he was just protecting what’s his. I can’t say I blame him. What are you to him?”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

“Fair enough.” He picked up his drink and took a sip all while his gaze roamed the bar. After placing the glass down, the smirk returned. “How much do you think a place like this would cost if someone wanted to invest for the purposes of tearing it down and rebuilding?”

The blood pounded in her head and she dug her nails into her palms. “He’s my uncle.”

He nodded in seeming approval. “Have a seat, Aya.”

She didn’t like how he used her name as if he had the right but she complied. “Look Mr. O’Shaughnessy, I don’t know what you’re trying to do here, but we don’t want any trouble. We’re sorry if you haven’t found the service to your satisfaction but we just want to be left alone. Please.”

“You seem like an intelligent woman. I would have thought it was fairly obvious what I wanted.”

She folded her hands in her lap and clinched them tightly together to keep herself from trembling. This couldn’t be happening. There had to be a way she could get herself out of this. She opted to play dumb. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I think you do. In fact, I know you do. So, let’s not play games. You can make this really easy on yourself. You and your uncle will be taken care of for as long as I want you. And when I no longer do, you’ll be well compensated. You’ll be under my protection.”

She fought back the urge to attack him. The arrogant son of a bitch. “And what if I don’t make things easy on myself?”

“I don’t think you want to know. But the end result will be the same. I will have you.”

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USA Today Bestselling Author Eve Vaughn has always enjoyed creating characters and stories from an early age. As a child she was always getting into mischief, so when she lost her television privileges (which was often), writing was her outlet. Her stories have gotten quite a bit spicier since then! When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, Eve is reading, baking, traveling or kicking butt in 80’s trivia. She loves hearing from her readers. She can be contacted through her website at: www.evevaughn.com.

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Release Blitz - My Heart to Fear by Lulu Astor - September 16th

Devious. Dangerous. Demonic. Damien.

People were either slavishly devoted to Eric Damien or they jealously hated him. Sometimes even both.

Eric Damien hunted and fed off shyness and innocence. Ali Spencer was a sitting duck.

He would learn all of her secrets while he had her locked in his rooms and at his mercy. Appeasement of all of his desires was his own personal manifest destiny—he honestly believed that was true.

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CHAPTER ONE

~Welcome to Hell~

The two women, one blond and one brunette, stood in the gallery of the Colorado University Art Museum gaping at the depictions of hell in front of them.

“Damn, this triptych is scary. I’m going to have wicked nightmares,” the pretty blond woman named Shea exclaimed as she stared at the Hieronymus Bosch painting.

Standing right beside her, Ali shuddered as an icy chill tore straight up her spine. “Nightmares maybe, but, oh my God, Shea, these are unspeakably beautiful, too. I never thought I’d be able to see them up close and personal.”

Shea shook her head at Ali’s assessment of the paintings and looked around. Noticing an elderly man with a sourpuss face give her a dirty look, she dropped the volume of her voice to a whisper. “It’s amazing that the curator was able to round up so many of them in one room—they’re normally all over the world, right?”

Ali nodded. “Yeah, I know. The Prado in Spain loaned Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights” although I think I’d rather have an excuse to go to Madrid, frankly,” Ali whispered back, unable to tear her eyes from the work. Her grandparents had a place in Madrid and she’d been aching to go there for a long time.

“Now you’re talking! Hey, we should plan a trip this summer together.”

Ali smiled. “I told you art can be fun.”

Grimacing, Shea retorted, “Yeah, especially when it’s being taught by a sizzling hot bloke like Blake.”

Ali hiked an eyebrow. “I like that alliteration. See, you can be trained.”

Holding up a perfectly manicured finger in protest, Shea said in a loud whisper, “I’ll admit that the liberal arts holds its fair share of hotties, but I happen to like the corporate kind. Nothing says man-candy like a well-cut suit filled out perfectly… and enormous power is the most potent aphrodisiac.

But Ali was not paying attention to Shea prattling on and on because she was riveted to the painting, a study of Dante and Virgil in Bouguereau’s hell, bearing witness to the damned stealing each other’s identities through vicious biting.

“You’re not even listening to me, are you? Ali!”

“Sorry, what?”

But now something had distracted Shea and she was craning her head to scan the large gallery. “Is the professor here? I see a commotion by the entrance.”

Ali again didn’t respond.

Shea elbowed her. “Do you think he actually believes he’s related to the Blake who created the Divine Comedy illustrations?”

Ali giggled at the idea. “I can almost hear the Aeolian harp accompanying him as he strolls about the gallery.”

Shea looped her arm through her friend’s, as Ali continued to gaze at the painting. “Are we meeting Sal for dinner tonight?”

“Not sure. He said to call him when we were done here. He had a big exam today in his civil and environmental engineering class that he was totally angsting over. I’m sure he’ll ace it—he always does. The man is annoyingly brilliant.”

“Is that why he’s in love with you, Ali?” Shea hip-bumped her friend.

The dark-haired young woman shook her head dismissively.

Ali tugged on Shea’s blond hair affectionately, as they moved on to the next painting. Shea was working toward her MBA while Ali was about to attain her prized MFA, so they were never in the same class but Shea had an elective to burn and took the art history class with Ali for fun. They both wanted in on Professor Blake’s Hell in Art seminar, if only to gape slack-jawed at the divine beauty of the professor. The man was incredibly handsome but also easily the most arrogant snob on campus: erudite, even brilliant, true, but sorely lacking in personal charm.

In truth, though, Ali would have taken the course if anyone decent were teaching it. The topic fascinated her, stretching across centuries from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century, focusing on depictions—the most terrifying ones—of hell and the demons who inhabit it. This seminar was actually predicated on this specific exhibit at the museum so students would be able to view all the works in question in a single room, a coup in and of itself amazing. In one gallery stood the masterpieces of Blake, Bosch, Bouguereau, Grunewald, and Goya.

Shea turned and confided in a theatrical, singsong voice, “Speaking of crushing on you, look what the cat just dragged in. He is so ogling you, Ali.”

Ali rolled her eyes. Shea always believed that all the men were panting after her. Ridiculous, especially since Shea herself resembled a beauty queen on steroids, with a killer body and long corn-silk hair hanging in soft waves down her back.

“Incoming,” Shea whispered, “don’t look now but he’s at two o’clock and approaching.

Geoffrey Blake strode directly toward the two young women as Ali’s heartbeat took flight when she saw him. “Ladies,” he nodded. Keen eyes traveled over both girls. Blake’s eyes were so light and eerie they defied description, even one as basic as color. Were they blue? Green? Gray? The answer to all three questions was yes. Depending on how the light hit them, they appeared to change hue. One female student, in a sorry attempt to flirt with the man, had the temerity to ask him in front of the other students exactly what color his eyes were. Blake’s expression turned sardonic, his lip curling in sneering contempt, and he proceeded to rip her a new one.

 “If you’re so blind as to be incapable of discerning the difference between green and blue, what are you doing in a graduate art seminar where color is a most important consideration when assessing and appreciating the art in question. Might I suggest you take up accounting?”

With that, he turned on his heel, gathered up his class notes, and stalked out of the classroom, leaving the poor girl standing there, mouth hanging open, and her cheeks ruddy with humiliation. Once she collected herself enough to move, she marched directly to the registrar’s office and promptly dropped the class.

Now he eyed Shea and Ali, his attention fixated on the students instead of the art with which they were engaged. “What is your opinion thus far, ladies?”

Ali blushed: when he looked directly at someone, the haughty professor seemed to focus entirely on that person to the exclusion of all else and now that intensity was trained on her. Clearing her throat, she answered his question. “Definitely planning on having some nightmares tonight.”

 “Yes,” he agreed, his gaze locked on the slim brunette student. Lately he’d been having a very difficult time looking at anyone or anything else when Ali Spencer was in his lecture hall. The girl was simply exquisite, easily competing with all the masterpieces dedicated to feminine beauty. Her friend wasn’t half bad either, but Blake gravitated to Ali as if by siren call. He sighed when he realized that nothing could come of his infatuation, as it would violate the college’s fraternization policy. More’s the pity, he thought, as he wondered if the near-flawless peaches and cream skin on her face was repeated all over her body, and other much dirtier contemplations. It was time to leave.

The professor’s arm gestured across the gallery. “I hope all my students realize how exceptional is this exhibit and the level of difficulty the curator faced in procuring all of the works to bring it to the adoring public.”

Ali nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. “Yes, Shea and I were just speaking to that accomplishment a few minutes ago.”

Shea was staring at the professor. “All this evil in art. And what does evil truly look like anyway? Is it Goya’s interpretation or Bosch’s?” asked Shea.

“Very good question,” Blake said. “What do you think the devil looks like?” He directed his question at Ali.

She chuckled. “I think the devil comes in many forms. Then there are all the impostors.”

Blake looked at her, eyes discerning. “Yes, beware the many impostors of the dark prince. They come at you from every direction. We’ll actually be referencing that very idea in our next lecture. Enjoy the exhibit, ladies.”

Shea turned to look at Ali, raising her eyebrows and they both giggled. “Do you think he has a tiny dick?” she asked in a conspiratorial whisper.

Ali giggled again but then groaned. “Thanks for putting that image into my head,” she snapped at Shea but her friend only grinned in delight.

Lulu Astor is a New York City girl, born and bred. She met her husband at a doggie play group in Tribeca in the ‘90s and together they embarked on adventures, moving first to Chicago, where their first son was born, then on to Santa Fe, New Mexico, followed by Los Angeles, Cali. Eventually they headed back to NYC where their second son made his debut shortly thereafter.

Beginning her writing career with nonfiction, she began writing short fiction (her first love) in grad school, moving on to longer works shortly thereafter. She wrote the Complements series in 2010, and it was published on KDP in 2013. Three and a Half Weeks was initially conceived as a short story but evolved into a full-length (very full) novel as time went on.

Immersing herself in fiction (whether reading or writing) every minute possible, she also teaches writing and literature as an adjunct professor in the New York-Connecticut area where she currently resides. Her books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Goodreads. You can follow her on Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter (reluctantly).

 

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Leighton Riley - Regretfully - Cover Reveal

Title: Regretfully (Sinfully #2)
Author: Leighton Riley
Release Date: Oct 16, 2014
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How do you heal after everything has been ripped away from you?
Completely devastated and alone, Tristen cannot fathom life after losing Cami and his unborn child. He attempts to find normality in his broken world but everything seems wrong.
Aria is compelled to help Tristen and cannot escape the undeniable connection she feels for him, even though Cami was one of her closest friends. She tries to help him move forward by befriending him but quickly realizes that there is more.
Tristen and Aria are both struggling to deal with these confusing emotions. Can they find happiness even when they feel utterly broken?

“You being on top of me, naked, doing that turns me the fuck on, Mica.  I’m trying to be a gentleman here, but I am dying to be inside you right now,” I answered.
“Yeah?”
“Hell yeah, baby.”  I moved her a little lower so she was sitting on my hard cock.  She jumped once she felt my undeniable arousal underneath her cheeks.
“Oh!  Oh, I’m sorry!  Does it hurt for me to sit on it?”  She furrowed her brows in worry.
I would laugh if she weren’t dead serious.  Poor thing.  “Does it hurt for your pussy to be sitting on my hard cock? Babe, it only aches because it’s under you and not in you.  Wanna fix that problem?”  I grasped her hips and lifted just a touch so that she could feel me move beneath her slick entrance.  If I wanted to, I could have slid right in; she was slick in her own juices from the orgasm I had just given her.

Texas born and raised, I found my love for dirty books rather recently.  I work in real estate for my day job and I write contemporary romance with a twist of suspense and erotica.  Sinfully, my debut novel was released in June 2014 with Regretfully following up in October of 2014.  Tate’s story, Deceitfully, will finish off the series and will be out in spring of 2015. I get asked a lot about if there’s any connection to Sinfully and my life.  I do go to Las Vegas often but I swear I don’t have as much fun as Payton does.  Although, if I found myself a Tate there, I might change my opinion…

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Juice (The O'Malley's #1) by Michelle McLoughney Tour

  Three years after the tragic accident that claimed the life of her brother Harry, Cassidy Evans is still struggling. Determined to focus on her career as an artistic consultant in London; when Cassidy lands the commission of a lifetime she has no choice but to dive in head first. There is only one very tall, very beautiful, man-shaped problem. Her attraction to her new client Rory O’Malley is proving impossible to ignore. Cassidy finds herself falling for Rory and for once she allows herself to be carried away by the prospect of true love. Rory seems almost too good to be true. Is he?

As CEO of the exclusive O’Malley resorts, Rory O’Malley frequently travels around the world. His good looks and healthy bank balance have always ensured that he has his pick of beautiful women, but through choice has been celibate for over six months. Whenever Rory is at home in Ireland his family provides more than enough drama to keep him entertained. Rory thinks his life is grand just as it is--until he meets Cassidy. Rory has never met anyone as sweet as Cassidy, both inside and out.

Cassidy is unaware that Rory harbours a secret about her brother’s accident. A secret that could potentially ruin their blossoming love affair. Soon, he is willing to move mountains to love--and protect--her, but should he be protecting her from himself?

Cassidy had vowed never to make the mistake of loving a man again. So, how the hell did she end up in his bed? And how the hell did he end up in her heart? The attraction between them sparkles and sizzles and love winds its grip around them both. But secrets rarely stay hidden and very soon Rory’s secret puts their love in jeopardy. Can Cassidy forgive the worst betrayal she had ever known?

REVIEW

Juice: The O'Malleys book 1

By Michelle McLoughney

Reviewed by Lesley Peck for Eye Candy Bookstore

4 stars

Juice: The O'Malleys is an amazing emotional first book in a new series by Michelle McLoughney. It is set is London but has a lot of Irish roots not only told in the story but is also shown by all of the Irish Proverbs at the start of each chapter.

The story focuses on two families who have both faced tragedies. One resulted in death, one was left with a tremendous amount of guilt. Then members of these families, Cassidy and Rory, meet each other and sparks fly. But it's never that simple because Rory is keeping a secret from Cassidy. A secret that will change everything.

This story is an wonderful story full of romance, suspense, heartbreak, and forgiveness. It had me crying a lot throughout and was just such a touching book. I truly felt the character's emotions. Absolutely wonderful!

 

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May your home always be too small,

To hold all your friends.

Irish proverb.

Walking onto Kirkland lane and heading towards the gallery, Cass noticed a sleek black SUV moving down the street at great speed. As it passed, she saw the little black kitten that had been hanging around the last few days dart suddenly across the road. The black SUV skidded to a grinding halt inches from the kitten. The kitten looked sheepishly at the wheels of the SUV and instead of running away, chose that exact moment to sit down and begin washing itself. A man jumped from the driver’s seat and started to shoo the kitten away with his shoe. Cass heard the kitten yelp as his foot made contact. Oh no, you did not! What the hell!  It was at this stage Cass realised with some trepidation that she was going to get involved, regardless of how stupid it was to approach the vehicle. Ordinarily, Cass left the superhero stuff to her best friend Marie who was more prone to sudden bursts of bravery. But seeing himkick the kitten roughly made her blood boil. What a fuck-knuckle!

Storming over to the car, Cass started to yell at him. If there is one thing she could not abide, it was the mistreatment of those most vulnerable. This jackass was going to hear it one way or the other. 

 “Oi tough guy, what the hell do you think you are doing? You big bully!” Cass picked up the kitten and cradled it gently in her hands.

The short stout man turned around suddenly and stared at her as though she had two heads.

  “Listen lady, I’m in a hurry here!”

 “In a hurry. Really?” she repeated incredulously, jiggling her shoulders in her most ghetto bitch pose.

 “Well maybe if you left earlier, you would get to your destination on time rather than bombing it down the street like you’re driving the flipping bat mobile.”     

  She snorted loudly in his general direction trying to keep the squirming kitten from running away. Ah hello kitty, a bit of cooperation please. I’m saving your arse here!

 Cass kept her eyes trained on the driver as she dropped and picked up the kitten a few times, finally snuggling it in-between her boobs in an effort to keep it still.

  “Poor kitty got a big fright, a big fright! Yes you did. Yes. You. Did. What is that bad man doing? Bad, bad man in a big silly car.” 

The driver stared open mouthed at her, and then dropped his gaze to her breasts which as usual were threatening to pop out of her top. As she rubbed the kitty in-between them, and murmured soft words reassuringly into the black fur. She felt his eyes on her and looked up to meet them. She squinted as she followed his gaze, until it landed on her boobs. The bloody cheek of it!

 “Have I something on belonging to you, Mister?’ she asked raising her eyebrows and jutting her chin out giving him ‘the look.’

  “No. But you certainly seem to be wearing that kitten quite well,” a deep voice drawled from the back of the SUV.

Cass stepped back and craned her neck in an effort to see who was behind the blackened window of the car. She hadn’t even realised the driver of the car had a passenger. The door opened, and she watched mute as a big Italian leather shoe dangled in mid air for a few seconds. The shoe was Promptly followed by a pair of grey suit trousers, a black fitted shirt, a body, and a man. A very-very, tall and very-very hot man!  Holy shit on a stick! 

Cass touched her face quickly to see if there was drool or leftover breakfast on her chin, and tried to stop the usual facial explosion of hot redness that she was cursed with. Epic fail. Having lived in London for a little over eighteen months now, she had seen plenty of good looking men in the city, but this guy…this guy! Towering over a foot above her own petite 5ft 2inches, he was built like a brick shit-house. Black shiny hair, cut long on the top and short at the back and sides flopped down over his right eye. 

As if on cue, he ran his fingers through his hair pushing it back. Cass gaped at the movement and darted her eyes back to the kitten. She looked up quickly, glanced to her left and right and wondered if she was being set up for a hidden camera show. Gorgeous, sexy, attractive, all the adjectives in the world seemed too paltry to describe him. She looked up at his face and took note of the sharpness of his cheekbones, the stubble, the wide set eyes and  strong jaw-line. She was surprised by the intensity of her attraction him. Her body was reacting to their closeness, and she didn’t appreciate it one little bit. He was staring at her. Why are you staring? The driver scurried back to the taller man and looked up at him with a lapdog expression on his face. His ridiculous chauffeur’s hat was too big and it kept dropping down over his eyes. Cass felt a giggle threatening to burst from her throat, and bit her top lip between her teeth. The driver spoke in a hushed whisper to the tall man. Cass assumed he was an important client and pursed her lips.

 “Apologies, Sir. I’ll have this taken care of in a moment. Listen, girl…. You-”

“Don’t you patronise me, Sir.” Cass fumbled with the daft kitten, and tried to put her hand on her hips while holding it. She watched as the sexgod smiled behind his hand, then rubbed his stubbled jaw and began to whistle softly between his teeth.

 And then he looked at her. He stared straight into her eyes, cocked his head to one side and suddenly held his hands up in mock submission.

 Cass raised one eyebrow at him.  Yeah big boy, you’re hilarious.

“Please accept my most sincere apologies, Miss?”

 He put out his hand for her to shake and ran the other one through his hair again, tossing it. Bloody hell! Thought Cass.

 “Evans. My name is Cassidy Evans.” Cass made no attempt to take his outstretched hand, and instead made a ‘tutting’ noise as loudly as she could and shook her head.

 Irish. He’d have to be. Typical! Hot and with a ‘fuck me’ accent to boot. Accents are the devil. Every girl knows that the right accent can guarantee that a man will get his leg over. Every. Damn. Time.

Cass felt a bitchy sense of self-satisfaction as his eyes widened in surprise when she left his hand hanging limply in mid-air. He adjusted his facial expression quickly to a cool and disinterested mask. Obviously not used to being rebuffed, Cass thought. Well, there ya go Mister sexy arse. Cass congratulated herself for taking one for the feminist movement. It didn’t feel too much like a win, admittedly.

 She failed miserably at trying to hide her inner evil smirk and it was proving impossible to keep the giddiness from her face.

“Miss Evans, please accept my apology. My driver should not have been so quick to remove the kitten without checking first, to see if it was okay.”

 The driver looked at Cassidy and then glanced back to his boss. He lifted his shoulders and dropped his eyes looking surprised. He looked as though he was about to argue, until sexy put his hand up in front of his face and muttered ‘Shush.’

  Denied. A bit of Cass wanted to high five sexgod for cutting off the little twerp. Sexgod looked at his driver and spoke sternly. “I think an apology is in order, don’t you.”

 “Am. Yes-” the driver stuttered. “Yes of course, is the kitten okay Miss-”

  “Cassidy Evans. Miss Cassidy Evans,” said the sexgod in an exasperated tone, never taking his eyes from Cass.

 “Yes. Apologies Miss Evans. The kitten, is it all right?”

Cass sniffed and looked down her nose at the kitty kicker. She held up the kitten and made a performance out of inspecting her paws and ears  “Why yes, I believe she is, Duffy is just fine now, just a little shook up. Thank you for your concern.”

  “Duffy?” queried the sexgod. He moved closer to her side and touched Duffy, tickling her ears.  Holy shit! He smells really good.

  His leg came to rest against Cass’ thigh, and she felt the muscles of her leg begin to quiver. Their eyes clashed and held each other until she was forced to look away from him.

 “It is your Kitten then, Cassidy?”

  He bent his head to one side and raised his perfect black brows at Cass, before smiling at her with straight white teeth. Bet an orthodontist had a field day with those choppers. Damn good work, damn good.

“Officially, no. But, she has been hanging around for the last two days and I have been feeding her. So I guess she has kind of adopted me.”

“How do you know her name is Duffy then?”

“Because she told me.”

“She what?” He stopped mid rub and frowned at her.

Cass was enjoying this far too much.

 “I’m kidding, relax! I just think she looks like a Duffy, don’t you think, yeah definitely a Duffy?”

  He looked at her as though she were a confusing puzzle.

“What is a Duffy?  I suppose she could be a Duffy,” he said rubbing the kitten under its chin. Duffy purred. Cass nearly groaned aloud. Were all females instinctively drawn to him? Probably. No doubt this man had pussys of all kinds at his beck and call.

He scrunched up his forehead and spoke to her with his face animated and curious. “Hang on, are you telling me you named this kitten in the last 30 seconds?”

“Everyone deserves a name, and I think it suits her,” said Cass furiously trying not to look at the him and failing miserably. Her eyes wouldn’t stop drinking him in and her imagination was in overdrive. Cass and sexgod holding hands, Cass and sexgod hugging. Hmm. Cass and sexgod in bed, fucking. Stop this immediately!

 “Oh..kay. Speaking of names, mine is Rory.” He put out his hand again, and this time Cass offered her shaking right hand slowly in return. As their fingers touched, Cass felt the electricity travel from her hand to her gut. Jumping back she frowned at him. Well that was new! Jesus did that actually happen in real life? Rory held her hand a moment longer than was necessary and she looked down at their hands still entwined. Eyeing the long brown fingers and wide hands, Cass wondered how hands could be considered sexy?

 “Rory…R..o..r..yyyyy.” She sounded it on her tongue. It sounded sexy, felt sexy. Rory coughed lightly and cleared his throat, Cass blushed to her roots realising that she had spoken aloud. Her nipples strained behind the fabric of her tee shirt, and between her legs suddenly felt electrified too. Cass clamped her legs together paranoid that it was visible in some way, and let an ‘oooh’ noise escape from her stupid betraying lips.

 Rory’s eyes widened and he parted his lips slightly.

Caught by the bollocks! Act normal for heavens sake, Cass! 

 “Rory, like from The G…Gilmore girls?” she stammered.

 He frowned then, as though she were speaking in tongues.

 “What or who is a Gilmore Girl?” When he frowned, little creases appeared on his forehead. Cute.

 “The TV show? The girl’s name is Rory. The daughter on the show. Lorelai's daughter?” 

Oh ye Gawds, this is going nowhere, fast. She was consciously aware that she was babbling and the more she tried to stop, the worse it got.

“Never heard of it,” he clipped. “Rory is an Irish boys’ name.”

“Oh, yes. Yes I know. It’s a nice name, and it’s a good show too. The Gilmore Girls, I mean.”

He nodded slowly at her. “I’ll check it out.” 

He was so not going to check it out. She nearly groaned at the mortification of it all. 

“Right,” she muttered, fidgeting.

“Cassidy is an unusual first name.”

“Yeah, I suppose. Most people call me Cass,” she shrugged.

“Pretty.”

“Huh?” She looked at him scrunching up her face. He thinks I’m pretty?

“I said your name is pretty, Cassidy. It suits you.”

“Oh…oh thanks. I’m an idiot! It was my great grandmothers maiden name, she was Irish too.”

“So we have something in common then.”

He smiled then, a big broad smile. Somewhere inside her, she envisaged her ovaries exploding and groaned internally.

“And where are you from, Cassidy? Your accent doesn’t sound like you’re from London.”

“Devon, I grew up in a small village called Ashworth.”

“Really? Nice part of the country, I’m told. And what brought you to London, Cassidy? Were you looking for something a bit more exciting than Devon?”

The way he said her name had the hairs standing on the back of her neck. His voice was gruff and deep. He had moved in closer to her. Too damn close. She had to lift her head back to meet his eyes, and could feel the hardness of his chest against her shoulder as he continued to rub Duffy’s body. Trying not to focus on the movement of his hand rubbing along the cats back, was an exercise in futility. Her breath was coming out hitched and nervous and the smell of him was intoxicating making her feel exposed, vulnerable.

“I came to London two and a half years ago to set up an art gallery with my friend 

Marie and we’ve have been here ever since. I run ‘The Muse’ gallery just off Brampton Street.  Just around the corner actually.”

Cass pointed in the general area behind him not taking her eyes from his face.

“Good for you, I might drop in for a look.” Yeah right, I won’t hold my breath.

“Cool. Anyway, I have to go, I have an appointment. It was lovely to meet you Mister…umm. Rory.” 

She took a step back from him.

He looked as though he wanted to continue the conversation, but Cass didn’t give him the chance. He was unsettling her, just by being so close. The artist in her kept imaging him naked, and spread out in front of her in all sorts of disgustingly elaborate, filthy poses. Gawd, I really need to get laid! Although, she had survived well this long without a man. Well, apart from the buzzing variety. A girl’s got needs!

And he smelled so good, like expensive cologne and lemon soap. Her eyes were wandering all over him, his crisp white shirt open at the neck revealed a smattering of  dark chest hair underneath. Very distracting indeed!

Cass realised that she hadn’t in fact moved at all, she was just standing there in the same position ogling him. Something she suspected he was fairly familiar with. Giving him a ridiculous half nod, half Japanese bow and an embarrassed smile she stalked off towards the gallery, kitten in hand. She cringed and mouthed ‘no no no no,' the entire journey to the other side of the road. She turned around and waved quickly, then groaned when she saw the two men still staring after her. 

Michelle McLoughney was raised and still lives in the south west of Ireland, where she runs a Montessori school. An award winning poet, she began writing her first adult romance over a year ago. Being a lover of all things romantic, Michelle just loves a happy ever after. She likes to write strong but loving male leads, and their feisty and funny love interests. When she is not busy daydreaming, plotting or having conversations with her characters; she likes to indulge her addiction to Netflix, usually accompanied by chocolate and wine.

I really hope readers enjoy my debut novel ‘Juice.’ It is the first book of the O’Malley family series, book 2 is due out in January 2015. Please feel free to drop me an email or contact me on Facebook. I would love to hear your thoughts.

 

  

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