Cover Design: Hang Le
Photo: David Wagner
Model: Davey Fisher
of England.
The way he looked at me sent shivers down my spine.
Our first meeting was at a wedding, where he followed me outside and kissed me.
Our second meeting ended in a huge fight with me kicking him out.
Our third meeting, I went on a double, blind date.
You can imagine my surprise when I saw familiar blue eyes across the table
opposite my friend.
Oh….no….
He was sarcastic and witty and damn,
If he wasn’t the sexiest bastard I ever laid eyes on.
Then he sent me an email listing thirty reasons
why I should go on a date with him.
I was expecting a suave and intelligent list.
Curious, I read on.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧
𝟏– 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧
𝟐– 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧
𝟑– 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝟏𝟑 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐞
– 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡.
The man’s a fool, his list was some of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever
read.
And the funniest.
We laughed hard…and loved harder.
You can outrun everything……except your past.
And his has caught up.
Wild handsome players don’t fall for wholesome girls like me,
Or do they?
ADD TO GOODREADS
that woman?” I ask, completely distracted.
frowns. “Which one?”
dress. Charlotte.”
widen, and he chuckles. “Stay away from that one, old boy. She’s out of your
league.”
would you say that?”
man in the county is after her and she won’t give any of them the time of day.”
And then you have to get past her father and brothers even if she is interested
at all.”
her father on the right. If I stand correct, he is the third wealthiest man in
the country. He owns casinos around the world and has connections everywhere.
On the left of her is her older brother Edward. Complete and utter bastard.”
my eyes as I watch him. “What does Edward do for a coin?”
Charlotte, from what I hear. He doesn’t let her out of his sight. It’s a
full-time fucking job.”
my glass to him in a silent toast.
shakes his head. “Not her, Spencer. She really is off limits. Way too pure for
you.”
rolls over me. “The thrill of the chase is alive and well, my friend.”
chuckles. “Or the thrill of a death wish. You fuck around with her and her
father will murder you without a second thought.”
as I turn to watch Charlotte talk to the two men. “Challenge accepted, old
boy.”
laughs into his beer and shakes his head. “Next time I see you, it may be your
funeral.”
dance with delight. “Give me a good wrap in the eulogy, hey? I’m sure it will
be worth it.”
chuckles, and with a shake of his head, he disappears through the crowd.
on my own simply watching her. She is the most beautiful thing I have seen in a
very long time. At once, she glances up and her eyes fall on me, holding my
gaze. I smile and raise my beer to her in a silent toast. She immediately looks
away and fidgets with her hands in front of her.
to myself as I watch her.
along, boys.
her alone.
smiles sexily and raises his glass in my direction. I bite my bottom lip
nervously. Is he doing that to me? He’s standing alone in the crowd, a beer in
one hand, his other hand tucked away in his expensive suit pocket. I snap my
eyes away as my stomach flips with excitement.
He’s probably not even aiming it at me.
I have someone I want you to meet,” my father says.
now. I don’t want to meet any of your boring friends.” I sigh.
his eyes, and I glance back over at Mr Spencer still staring at me. I glance
back up to my father. “What is it?” I ask with a huff.
is Evan. I know his family, and he happens to be a lawyer.”
“Father, please,” I moan. “Stop. I’m not dating one of your boring friend’s
sons.”
Edward looks at my father and scowls. “Yes, please stop. The thought makes me
murderous.”
eyes at my overbearing brother. “You, too.”
and Edward fall into conversation, leaving me to glance back over at Mr
Spencer. As soon as our eyes connect, he crooks his finger and gestures for me
to go to him.
look around, and point to my chest.
with a sexy smile. I look around, instantly filled with some kind of guilt, and
I subtly shake my head.
My stomach flips over.
his finger again, and I find myself biting my bottom lip and dropping my head
to hide my smile.
like a drink, Charlotte?” my brother asks.
smile as I concentrate on not looking Mr Spencer’s way again.
falls into conversation with a man who walks past, and I glance around
nervously. I’m not sure whether to go and talk to Mr Spencer or not. No, that’s
a bad idea. Perhaps I’ll go and get some fresh air instead.
heading to the bathroom,” I whisper to my father.
love.” He smiles as I put my hand on his shoulder. I walk through the ballroom
and out onto the back terrace and down the steps. Fairy lights are strewn
across the garden giving it a romantic feel. Waiters are circling the garden
with trays of fancy cocktails and champagne. This wedding has been amazing, and
the attention to detail has been impeccable. Every detail is perfect. I walk
along the pathway down to the outdoor bathrooms. Once there, I head inside and
close the door behind me.
last.
the music in the distance as I stare at my reflection in the mirror and reapply
my fuchsia lipstick. My thick shoulder-length blonde hair is down and pulled
back on one side behind my ear. My pink strapless dress fits perfectly and
clings to my curves. I roll my lips as I stare at my reflection. Eventually, I
exhale heavily and snap my lipstick back into my silver clutch.
eligible bachelor in London, an appalling rake.
first man I’ve been attracted to in forever and he’s a womaniser. Typical.
would like to meet an honourable man who is actually appealing.
have to be one or the other? Who made this god forsaken rule that any man who
is a tad interesting must be a player? And why are all the good men as boring
as hell? God must definitely be a man.
last look at myself, I head back out into the garden and make my way up the
path towards the party.
a deep voice calls from behind me.
falter, taken aback. It’s him.
Spencer.
sexily and his eyes hold mine. “Hello.”
rate spikes. “H-hi.” I smile nervously.
towards me and takes my hand in his, and I inhale sharply. He holds my hand up
in the air and nods, as if bowing. “Forgive me for following you, but I had to
come and meet the most beautiful woman in the room tonight.” He kisses the back
of my hand tenderly, and I raise my brows. “My name is Spencer.” He smiles
against my skin.
really quite…
hand away sharply. “I know who you are, Mr Spencer.”
smoothly with a raise of his brow.
hands nervously in front of me. “Your reputation precedes you.”
breaks out into a broad smile. “Ah, you can’t believe everything you hear, now,
can you?”
is deep and permeating. It somehow sinks into my bones when he speaks.
you with something?” I ask. What the hell does he want?
so.” He smiles and picks up my hand again. “Would you do me the honour of
dancing with me?”
nervously, and he smiles and drops his lips to the back of my hand to kiss me
softly. His sexy eyes stay fixed on mine.
he’s good. Really good.
talking because I really can’t concentrate when he’s touching me.
forward.
he repeats, pulling me out of my thoughts.
head in a fluster. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
hand over to gently kiss the inside of my wrist. I feel his touch deep inside
my stomach.
He gently licks my wrist and my knees nearly buckle out from underneath me.”
love of God!
and brother…” I frown as my voice trails off. How in the hell am I supposed to
string two words together when he’s doing that to me?
forward and takes me into his arms. “We’ll dance here then.”
close to him, takes one of my hands in his, and he smiles down at me as he
begins to sway to the music. “You’re a wonderful dancer, Lady Charlotte.” He
smiles mischievously.
his sheer audacity. “Does this routine work on every woman you meet?”
his first genuine smile and I feel the effects of it hit me deep in my stomach.
“Please don’t talk about other women. I’m in the courting zone, concentrating
on you and only you.” He spins me around, and we both chuckle at his
ridiculousness.
go and holds one hand up, and then he spins me in his arms and pulls me back to
his body at force until we come face to face.
at him, my heart skipping a beat. “I have to go,” I whisper.
intoxicating breath washes over my face.
will be looking for me.”
are you, Lady Charlotte?”
for you, Mr Spencer.”
softly. “I have no doubt.” He bends down and softly kisses my lips.
constricts.
me again, soft and tenderly, hovering his lips over mine. Unable to help it, I
smile, and that’s when he kisses me again but this time more urgently, his arms
curling around my waist and bringing me to his body.
been kissed like this.
sweeps through my open mouth and our tongues dance together.
whole minutes, I drink him in as we kiss like teenagers.
fucking Christ, Charlotte,” he gasps as he kisses me again.
control and my hands go to his hair, and then I feel something hard up against
my stomach.
that…?
pull out of the kiss and step back, panting for breath.
for me again, but I step back farther. “Don’t touch me!” I whisper sharply,
holding my hand up in defence.
Why?”
head. “I’m not the kind of girl you are used to, Mr Spencer.”
hard. “And what kind of girl is that?”
one of those high society sluts. Y-you should go back inside and find someone
else to… entertain you,” I stammer.
want anyone else!” he snaps. “If I overstepped the line, I apologise. I never…
I mean…”
tripping over his words, trying to right the situation.
again, creating more distance. “You have stepped over the line… by a lot.” I
glance up and I can see my father is out on the terrace looking for me. “I have
to go.” I brush past Mr Spencer, walk up the path and up the stairs. My father
smiles the second he sees me.
ready to leave, Charlotte?”
say quietly. My eyes fall back down to the garden where Mr Spencer stands.
puts his arm around me and we walk around to the front of the house to get into
the back of his Bentley. His driver shuts the door and I peer out just in time
to see Mr Spencer appearing from the shadows next to the house, watching me
leave.
softly and blows me a kiss, and I drop my head at once, gripping my clutch on
my lap.
great night, wasn’t it?” My father smiles as the car slowly pulls out.
force a smile. My fingertips rise to brush my lips which still tingle from Mr
Spencer’s touch. I smile to myself softly.
he’s the most eligible bachelor in London.
perfect.
trouble.
margaritas.
a café drinking coffee with friends.
Adore
Unconditional
Completely
Bliss
Alastar
Stantons The Epilogue