Showing posts with label excerpt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label excerpt. Show all posts

Thursday, November 9, 2023

The wait is over! A new Maverick is Here!

 

Yes, it’s true! I’m excited to tell you all that Endless in Love is now available!



Bella and I loved writing Endless in Love. And we fell in love with our hero, Dane Harrington, and his beautiful heroine, Cammie Chandler. Actually, I fell in love with Dane when he first popped in to visit us in Unforgettable in Love. You might remember that Dane bought Gideon’s painting. And if you can’t remember the painting, catch up with Captivating in Love!

So here’s a bit more about Dane and Cammie’s endless love story!


A sexy billionaire and the one woman he can’t have…


Dane Harrington is the epitome of power, wealth, and success. The self-made billionaire is used to getting what he wants, when he wants it. And he’s well aware he wouldn’t be able to get it all done without his brilliant personal assistant, Cammie Chandler.

 

Cammie is smart, beautiful, and fiercely independent. And before she ever thought she’d work for Dane, the two of them shared a steamy night full of sensual touches and passionate kisses. But once he offered her the fantastic position as his personal assistant, they both agreed the only possible way to make it work was if they remained perfectly professional. But no matter how hard they’ve both tried, neither of them has been able to completely forget their one incredible, sexy night together.

 

When Dane finally admits the only woman he’s ever truly wanted is Cammie, their burning desire becomes too powerful to resist. Can they throw out the rule book that has kept them safe for so long? Or will a love that seems endless be forever doomed?


Ooh, these two make me swoon and so does their love story! Here’s where you can get Endless in Love! 


Kindle | Kindle UK | Kindle AU | Kindle CA

Apple Books | Apple Books UK | Apple Books AU | Apple Books CA

Nook | Kobo | Google Play


I’ve got a few bits of news to impart, and at the end of the blog, look for an excerpt of Chapter One of Endless in Love! 


First, I’m running a special contest with a couple of great writer friends! We’re each giving away one of our holiday romances through BookFunnel. All you have to do is download your free read! In addition, you can enter our contest for a $50 e-gift card! Here’s where you can find all the free book links and the details on entering our gift card contest:

https://forms.gle/MvxwEoX7S8PRzgLJ8

Note: This giveaway will end on Nov 30


Second, Bella and I have a special giveaway for you, Endless in Love! The US-only Goodreads giveaway starts 10/28 and runs through 11/17. So get your entries in for this Goodreads Giveaway!



ThirdReunited in Love, Maverick Billionaires Book 9, will be winging its way to you on June 20, 2024!  So get in your preorder now!

Kindle | Apple Books | Nook | Kobo | Google Play




And fourth, in case you didn’t know it, I’ve got two series in Kindle Unlimited. So for those of you who belong to KU, be sure to check out the Once Again Series, from Dreaming of Provence to Cruising the Danube, And Courtesans Tales, starting with The Girlfriend Experience.  And 3 new boxed sets for the Courtesans, Courtesans Box Set 1-2-3, Courtesans Box Set 4-5-6, Courtesans Box Set 7-8-9!




Check out all the other current freebies, first-in-series Dead to the Max and Revenge. And don’t miss Sheer Dynamite, Show Me How to Love You, and Breathless in Love, free for a limited time! And right now, Unforgettable in Love is on sale for .99. Grab it now before it goes back to full price!




Be sure to join my newsletter for more free books and to get the 411 on contests! http://bit.ly/SkullyNews


And now for your excerpt of Endless in Love!


CHAPTER ONE

© 2023 Bella Andre & Jennifer Skully

 

“Now, that’s a lot of pregnant ladies.” Eyes on the women on the sidelines, Dane Harrington’s sister Ava pulled her glossy, dark red hair into an elastic band.

Dane couldn’t tell if that was envy in her eyes. Or terror. Knowing his sister, who was thirty-six and a couple of years younger than him, it had to be terror. She didn’t flinch in boardrooms, and a ferocious game of soccer never alarmed her. But babies struck fear into the hearts of all the Harrington siblings—his two sisters and two brothers.

Golden Gate Park on a Sunday afternoon provided the backdrop for one such ferocious soccer game. The Mavericks set up the collapsible goal nets his sister Gabby had brought, and his brothers, Troy and Clay, finished the chalk lines. Since the lawn wasn’t an official soccer field, they shared it with kids flying kites, dog owners throwing Frisbees, families enjoying a picnic, and sunbathers catching rays on the first sunny Sunday anyone had seen in six weeks.

January had been wet in the San Francisco Bay Area, with storms hitting hard along the entire West Coast. The rain, thankfully, had let up a week ago, and now, at the tail end of January, the turf had dried out, making an impromptu game possible without it turning into a mud bath. Not that Dane was averse to getting dirty for something important.

And today was important to him.

The Maverick ladies sat in deck chairs on the grassy sidelines, ready to cheer on their husbands and significant others. And yeah, that was a lot of pregnant women. Paige Collins was the furthest along, her due date somewhere around the end of March.

Fernsby, Dane’s butler, who insisted on going everywhere with Dane, rolled his ubiquitous tea trolley through the gathering, offering his baked treats and cups of tea.

Dane caught Cammie’s eye, and she gave him a thumbs-up. While her hair shimmered red-gold in the sunshine, Cammie’s green eyes seemed to sparkle, something he swore he could see even from this distance. Among the women on the sidelines, she formed the Harrington cheering section—along with T. Rex, the long-haired mini dachshund they shared, who’d run to her the moment Dane unleashed him.

His personal assistant for the last twelve years, Cammie Chandler was one of the most caring, loyal people he knew. He felt exceptionally grateful she’d taken time away from her uncle’s bedside in the San Juan Bautista care home to make the two-hour drive north to Golden Gate Park. Her uncle suffered with late-stage Alzheimer’s, and Cammie had been on family leave for the past five months to be with him.

But Dane needed her input on the Mavericks before he moved forward with his plans. Cammie’s impressions were always spot-on. He thanked his lucky stars for the day Clyde Westerbourne sent her to him for that job interview twelve years ago. His work life had been a shambles, with one assistant after another only making his problems worse. All of twenty-two at the time, Cammie had saved his work life from catastrophe.

Ava kicked his shin. Thinking about Cammie, he’d missed Will Franconi kicking the ball and starting the game. Though soccer normally required at least seven players, there were only five Harringtons. Playing in teams of five, the Mavericks probably thought they had the advantage since they could bring in Cal Danniger or Gideon Jones to spell the others—not that Dane had ever seen an exhausted Maverick.

But they didn’t know Gabby and Ava were the Harringtons’ secret weapons.

Gabby was right there, taking control of the ball, dribbling it down the field, even though she could have kicked it to one of her brothers. But that was Gabby, totally focused on the goal. Youngest of them all at only thirty, she was blond like their mother, while all the males of the family were dark-haired. Ava, with her red locks, was a throwback to their grandfather.

Both his sisters were holy terrors on the soccer field. And super competitive. Even he found their ruthlessness shocking. They could steal the ball out from under you in a split second. Of all the Harringtons, they were the fastest and wiliest. Soccer wasn’t about brute strength. It was about agility and strategy. And they were both excellent tacticians.

Gabby swiftly passed the ball to Ava, just as Matt Tremont made his move, going in for the steal. But he pulled up short, mystified to find the ball no longer there.

Dane and his siblings had played soccer with Gabby since she’d joined her middle school soccer team in the Bay Area, then had gone on to play all through high school. The family had used the game as a way to deal with their parents’ deaths in an avalanche while skiing in the French Alps. The blows had continued when they’d learned their parents had squandered their fortune, racking up huge debts. Soccer practice helped them blow off steam and kept the family from imploding. Dane had spent his entire adult life keeping his brothers and sisters together. They were all his best friends, the ones he turned to, counted on, be it critical middle-of-the-night calls or just goofing around.

But now they’d all found their own paths and were doing damn well. Even if each of them had yet to find a partner—or, hell, even a serious relationship. And at thirty-eight years old, his life had become about business, his resorts, and expansion.

His team—his family—moved the soccer ball rapidly down the field toward the Mavericks’ goal net. While Clay played goalie, Troy and Ava kicked the ball back and forth, but soon Gabby would move in for the kill. Cal and Gideon yelled instructions from the sidelines while Matt, along with Evan Collins, tried vainly to steal the ball. They hadn’t a clue it was no use.

Gabby went for the goal. Sebastian Montgomery dove for the ball before it made it into the net, his fingers falling an inch short.

Of course one of his sisters scored first. Dane high-fived his teammates, while the Mavericks stomped the grass like angry stallions.

They were an equally competitive bunch, one of the many reasons they interested him. Since that New Year’s Eve gala at Dane’s Napa resort, the Mavericks and Harringtons had been feeling each other out over one-on-one lunches, drinks, or dinners. All the proceeds from the fundraiser had gone to benefit Lean on Us, Gideon’s foundation for veterans and foster kids. Dane had worked with Cal Danniger and Lyssa Spencer extensively on the holiday gala, getting to know them well. As he learned more about the Mavericks, he discovered a synergy between them he couldn’t quite explain. And he envied it.

A couple of days ago, Will Franconi had called him, saying they should all talk.

Dane had suggested the soccer game.

“Sounds perfect,” Will said. “Afterward, we’ll grab a pint in the city and talk.” After a beat, he added, “We feel there’s great potential in working some business ventures with all of you.”

Dane thought the same thing. His family agreed. The Mavericks would complement everything his sisters and brothers brought to the table.

They got in position for the Mavericks’ turn at the ball. Now they’d had a taste of the Harringtons, the Mavericks would be on guard and not as easy to beat.

Dane went for the steal right under Evan’s nose. But the man saw him coming, and the ball whirled out of his reach to Matt, who dribbled it down the field. Yeah, the Mavericks were now playing tough.

He’d first met the Mavericks when he anonymously purchased a Miguel Fernando Correa painting from Gideon. The famous artist’s work had come into Gideon’s hands through an army comrade. After remaining unknown for generations, the painting was now worth millions. Instead of exploiting the windfall, Gideon had used the proceeds to start his nonprofit foundation.

Of course, Dane had heard of the Mavericks long before that. Who hadn’t? When Lyssa and Cal came to London with the intention of hitting him up for a donation, he’d revealed the Correa painting upstairs in his study. And told them of his desire to help the foundation in any way he could. He’d brought in more donations and offered his resort for the gala fundraiser Lyssa planned.

But it was Cammie who’d first seen the magic in the painting, encouraging him to bid on it. He’d upped the bid until there was no doubt the amazing work of art would be his. After he’d enjoyed the painting in his London townhome for a few months, it was now making the rounds of galleries and museums worldwide. Cammie had set up the tour from her uncle’s bedside.

His gaze drifted once more to her on the sidelines. She watched the game as avidly as the Maverick ladies, all of them shouting encouragement as their men kicked the ball between them, moving it swiftly down the field, neither Gabby nor Ava able to check their momentum.

If Cammie hadn’t pointed out the Correa painting to him, Dane would never have connected with the Mavericks.

She amazed him with her dedication. She’d taken care of her uncle for years after he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Seven years ago, the disease progressed to the point that she’d had to put him in a memory care facility. He’d lived far longer than most Alzheimer’s patients. A few months ago, however, it became clear he was close to the end of his journey. Dane had insisted Cammie take family leave when he found her sleeping at her desk. The only person who could calm her uncle, she’d been traveling back and forth to the care home several times a week. But caring for him and managing her job at the same time was affecting her health.

After the last months without Cammie, Dane’s life was again in a shambles. Which was why he was so glad to have her here today, though he knew how hard it was for her to leave her uncle. She was more than Dane’s personal assistant. She was as important to him as his family. She kept him on track. She was right on about ventures he should go for and schemes he should avoid, seconding his gut feelings. She was smart. She was diligent. And so efficient there’d never been a single hiccup in his work life. Until she left. Even with the temps who’d taken her place, he was barely hanging on. Not that he’d tell her. Her place was by her uncle’s side right now.

Except today, when Dane needed her.

The ball thwacked him in the head. He hadn’t even realized he’d stopped running. Or that Gabby had gone for another steal. But Matt stole it back. On her feet, his wife, Ari, punched her fist in the air, screaming at Matt to go all the way.

The sidelines erupted with cheers when the Mavericks kicked the ball into the corner of the net despite Clay’s dive.

Almost lost among the women on the sidelines, Cammie jumped up and down on the grass, waving her hands, throwing out catcalls. Because she was all for the Harringtons. Always had been. Always would be.

That was his girl Friday.

***

The tied game roused all the passions on the sidelines, everyone shouting hurrahs for the Mavericks, who’d just put in Gideon and Cal to replace Evan and Daniel.

Lyssa Spencer, her dark curls shining in the sunlight, turned to Cammie. “Dane’s sisters are crazy good.” Even her eyes, a chocolate brown like her brother Daniel’s, seemed to smile.

Having taken her seat again, Cammie ran her fingers through Rex’s fur as he climbed once more into her lap. Ava and Gabby were the Harringtons’ surprise advantage. “They’re pretty good.”

Letting out a big laugh, Lyssa gushed, “They’re out of this world. They could go pro. I mean, my brothers are no slouches.” She put a hand on her belly. “And look at Cal out there. He’s crushing it.” The pure love on Lyssa’s face made Cammie’s heart stutter. Cal Danniger, the Mavericks’ business manager, though quite a few years older than Lyssa’s twenty-six, was still extremely attractive and fit, with a hint of silver in his dark hair.

At more than three months pregnant, Lyssa wore that special motherhood glow. Dane had mentioned that Cal and Lyssa had postponed their wedding until after the baby came in July.

Kelsey Collins, Evan’s younger sister, nudged Lyssa’s arm. “And let me tell you, those Harrington men are no slouches either.” She winked, adding a swoony note to her tone. “Talk about tall, dark, and handsome.”

The Harrington brothers were definitely a handsome lot—all over six feet, with thick, dark hair and blue eyes that seemed to see everything inside you. At least, Dane’s gaze did. Once, long ago, Troy had asked her out. Naturally, she’d turned him down. Working for Dane, it would have been awkward, even if she’d been interested. She was fairly certain Dane had read Troy the riot act for trying to poach one of his employees. He’d even apologized for Troy’s harassment, though Cammie had scoffed at his use of that word. Troy had asked, she’d said no, they’d both been fine, end of story. Clay, of course, had never even thought about dating her. They might be drop-dead gorgeous like their older brother, but no way did she need that kind of complication.

But she certainly wasn’t blind. They were all drop-dead gorgeous. Especially Dane. Not that she actually looked.

“I really thought you would date him, Lyssa.” Kelsey waggled her eyebrows. “He’s such a hottie, with all that thick hair a woman would just die to run her fingers through.” She kneaded the air with her fingers like a cat. “Especially after that trip you made to his London townhouse.”

Lyssa’s gaze rested on Cal, adoration in her eyes as she said, “Dane’s London house is stunning, filled with furniture and artwork that should be in a museum.” She ignored Kelsey’s insinuations about Dane and pointed to Fernsby. “And the house came with its very own British butler.”

Fernsby, now busily passing out his baked treats, had been with Dane for years, long before Dane bought the townhouse in the fashionable London borough of Chelsea. Cammie always suspected that baking was how Fernsby showed his love, though you certainly couldn’t tell from his manner. With the ageless face of a person who neither smiled nor frowned, he could be anywhere from forty to sixty. Wearing his ever-present stern expression, and with his tall frame and cultured voice, he was the epitome of the loyal manservant, always at Dane’s side no matter where, be it the London house, the manor in the English countryside, the Pebble Beach estate, the San Francisco flat, or even the small Caribbean island Dane owned.

But Kelsey didn’t let the subject go. “Come on, Lyssa, don’t tell me you didn’t think about a little—” She fluffed her ponytail of tawny blond-streaked hair and grinned instead of saying exactly what. “—for just a moment during that first meeting with Dane in his fabulous London home.”

Hands on her baby bump, Lyssa’s gaze fastened on Cal as he masterfully controlled the ball. “You know Cal was always the man for me.” Her eyes reflected the dreamy note in her voice. And she nudged Kelsey. “You’re the one who should date Dane. He’s perfect for you.”

Kelsey visibly shuddered. “No way. He’s too rich, powerful, and handsome. I want someone I don’t have to compete with.”

Cammie liked the outspoken Kelsey. From Dane, Cammie had learned that Kelsey and her twin brother, Tony—who couldn’t make it today—had appeared in their older brother’s life only a year ago. Evan had known nothing about the twins, his mother having left when he was only nine years old. But he’d apparently welcomed them all with open arms, his birth mother included. Cammie was sure there had to be a major story there.

On the field, Dane stole the ball from Cal, and the Maverick ladies erupted once more. Of course, Cammie jumped to her feet cheering. Rex, accidentally dumped on the ground, barked his joy, too, then abruptly ran off to beg Fernsby for a treat.

Kelsey had said she didn’t want someone too rich, powerful, or handsome. But she’d forgotten one adjective—perfect. The things Kelsey said about Dane didn’t bother Cammie. She wasn’t proprietary about her boss. She certainly wasn’t jealous. She was just a little uncomfortable with Kelsey talking about Dane as if he were a prize piece of beef. Even if he was. Cammie had done her best not to notice that over the years she’d worked for him. She’d had her uncle to think of, who’d relied on her so long she couldn’t remember a time when he hadn’t. And she’d always been there for him.

But even if she had absolutely no designs on Dane—their working relationship was too important—she liked the way he’d introduced her today, not just as his assistant, but adding, “I can’t do anything without her.”

With all the jeering from the Maverick ladies, Cammie cheered the Harringtons. Staid Fernsby, incapable of even cracking a smile, certainly couldn’t do it.

Cammie punched the air. “You go, Dane. Crush those Mavericks.”

Suddenly, she was the target of all the Maverick females, battle light in their eyes, ready to squash the opposition.

Until Kelsey laughed loudly. Then they all doubled over, laughing in near hysteria.

Lyssa held her baby bump. Ari Tremont and Rosie hugged each other, both women as far along in their pregnancies as Lyssa. Paige Collins, Evan’s wife, had to sit. There wasn’t a more polite way to say it: She was huge, beautifully pregnant with twins, and due in a couple of months.

Wistfulness fell over Cammie, even as she wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. They were all so happy. And their children would be so close in age. The two boys, Matt’s son, Noah, and Rosie’s son, Jorge, both almost seven, were dying to be big brothers. One huge happy family, they were wonderful to watch.

And the burst of laughter they’d all shared made Cammie long to be one of them.


Get it now!


Kindle | Kindle UK | Kindle AU | Kindle CA

Apple Books | Apple Books UK | Apple Books AU | Apple Books CA

Nook | Kobo | Google Play


Wednesday, June 22, 2022

The summer sizzles on Santorini!

Memories of Santorini is here, just in time for summer reading! Finishing up the story made me itch for a trip abroad! I’m thinking Spain. Or a riverboat cruise. And of course, those locales will surely show up in a book! For now, enjoy Santorini!



There’s magic on Santorini, beneath the beautiful bougainvillea, under the blue domes, and in the enticing Aegean Sea.


Angela Walker spent three glorious weeks on Santorini after she graduated from college. Three weeks that changed her life forever. Thirty years later, it’s time to go back to that beautiful island and the warm blue sea, the only place where she was ever completely happy.


Thirty years ago, Xandros Daskalakis fell in love with a summer girl who came to his beloved island. When Angela had to return home, they agreed they’d meet in one year, and he believed he’d spend the rest of his life with her. But Angela never returned. Not for thirty years.


Now she’s back. And she’s brought her daughter with her. Suddenly they all have questions that could cause an eruption massive enough to destroy their lives. Or bring them the happiness they lost so long ago.


Take a holiday to the gorgeous Greek Isles and feel the magic for yourself in this later in life, second chance romance.


You can find the excerpt on the website! And here are your favorite retailers where you can get Memories of Santorini!


Kindle | Kindle UK | Kindle AU | Kindle CA 

Apple Books | Apple Books UK | Apple Books AU | Apple Books CA 

Nook | Kobo | Google Play

Print version coming soon


And check out all the other current freebies, starting with Dead to the Max, Max Starr Series Book 1, as well as first-in-series books The Girlfriend Experience, Revenge, and Desire Actually! Pleasing Mr. Sutton and Breathless in Love!


Be sure to join my newsletter for more free books and to get the 411 on contests! http://bit.ly/SkullyNews

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Unforgettable in Love!

 

Happy New Year! Can I just say I sure hope that 2022 is better than the last two years!


Unforgettable in Love is now available! Can I just say that I love Lyssa and Cal’s story. One of my favorite romance tropes is the May-December romance. And right from the beginning I’ve had a soft spot for Cal, a Maverick, but not a Maverick. We knew he needed the perfect woman. Then Lyssa saw him in a new light at Matt and Ari’s wedding. Their story was inevitable! And unforgettable!


Lyssa Spencer is the apple of the Mavericks’ eyes, the little sister they adore and vowed always to protect. But Lyssa isn’t a little girl anymore. More than anything, she wishes they could see she’s a grown woman and perfectly able to take care of herself. Her new boss, Cal Danniger, certainly appreciates and respects her abilities. And she appreciates Cal...in every way possible. Yet she can’t imagine he’d ever consider dating her, not when her brothers would rip him limb from limb if he so much as looked at her the wrong way. But boy, does she ever want him to look at her exactly that wrong way.


The Mavericks are Cal Danniger’s best friends, as well as his business partners. So when they ask him to watch over Lyssa by giving her a job in the San Francisco Bay Area, of course he agrees. While she impresses him with how smart, dependable, hard-working, and dedicated she is, he’s not at all prepared for the powerful, sizzling attraction that takes everything in him to fight. He needs to keep his hands off her no matter what, even as he dreams of all her sweet spots he desperately wants to touch.


After one passionate and unforgettable night in London that neither can resist, Cal vows never to let it happen again…if only he could stop thinking about Lyssa, or wanting so much more.


Between a secret Lyssa is keeping from him and the Maverick Billionaires hellbent on protecting her at all costs, do they have any chance of finding a future together?


Drop to the bottom of the blog to read an excerpt!


If you haven’t already preordered, you can get
Unforgettable in Love in all these places!

Kindle | Kindle UK |Kindle AU |Kindle CA

Apple Books | Apple Books UK | Apple Books AU | Apple Books CA

Google Play | Nook | Kobo | Print

 



And don’t forget that Breathless in Love is still free! Pick up your copy!

Kindle | Apple Books | Nook | Kobo | Google Play

 

 

Once Again Series

Can a deluxe trip aboard the most romantic train in the world save their failing marriage?


Preorder Stargazing on the Orient Express and have it dropped into your Kindle on release day, Feb 16! Read an excerpt!

Kindle | Kindle UK | Kindle AU | Kindle CA

Apple Books | Apple Books UK | Apple Books AU | Apple Books CA 

Nook | Kobo | Google Play

 

Just for fun

Here’s the new addition to my dinosaur garden! Mr. T! The turkey, however, comes and goes!



Freebies!

I’ve got three new freebies for you this month, Breathless in Love , Desire Actually and Pleasing Mr. Sutton, free for the first time ever!


And here's the promised excerpt!

Unforgettable in Love
Maverick Billionaires, Book 7
© 2022



Lyssa Spencer had flown in sumptuous private jets before. But this was by far the nicest plane she’d ever been in. The carpet was plush, the seating was upholstered in the softest leather, and the onboard bathroom was so large and luxuriously appointed that she could have quite happily lived in it.

 

“Did one of my brothers get a new plane?” she asked Cal Danniger as she settled into a leather armchair, making herself comfortable for the long flight to London.

 

Across the cabin table, Cal shook his head. “No.”

 

“I didn’t realize any companies rented private jets this nice.”

 

“As far as I know,” he said in that deep voice that made all of her nerve endings come alive despite knowing he was off-limits, “none do.”

 

It finally dawned on her. “You own this jet?”

 

He nodded.

 

She felt all kinds of embarrassed. As if she’d implied that Cal was nothing more than an administrative lackey for her brothers, rather than an incredibly successful businessman in his own right. Especially when she knew exactly how it felt to be undervalued in the shadow of her amazingly successful family.

 

Her whole life, she’d been seen as nothing more than an extension of the Mavericks. Most people didn’t realize that, apart from Daniel, the Mavericks were actually her foster brothers. But blood ties didn’t matter—they had grown up as family, which meant that she had five big brothers. Six, if you counted Gideon, who, upon entering the fray, had immediately treated her like a little sister he needed to protect.

 

“I didn’t mean—”

 

She would have continued her apology, but the flight attendant stepped into the cabin. “Would you like coffee, Mr. Danniger?” The woman had zeroed in the entirety of her attention on Cal, and her gaze on him was like a caress.

 

And why not? Cal was an extremely attractive man. In his mid-forties, with a few strands of gray streaking his chestnut hair, he was tall and fit, his eyes a penetrating silvery shade that made Lyssa feel like he could see all of her secret hopes and dreams and longings.

 

This summer at Ari and Matt’s wedding, Lyssa had drunk just enough wine to let her guard down with her girlfriends and voiced her appreciation of Cal’s taut muscles and toned body. Unfortunately, Daniel had overheard and gone Neanderthal on her. Her brother’s words still rankled: He’s not for you.

 

It was precisely how the Mavericks had always taken care of her—by trying to make all of her big decisions for her while also dictating everything she could and couldn’t do. She knew they loved her to pieces and would do anything for her. They had already done so much. They’d looked out for her growing up in Chicago and supported her in her choice of majors at college and then in her career as an accountant. And she loved them without reservation. Even if they too often treated her like she was still fourteen years old, rather than a twenty-six-year-old woman who was perfectly capable of taking care of herself and making her own decisions, big and small.

 

Cal smiled at the flight attendant. “I’d love some coffee. Thank you, Delilah.”

 

“I’d love a cup, as well,” Lyssa said, even as she wondered if he had any idea how sexy his smile was. Delilah had certainly noticed.

 

“It will be my pleasure,” the flight attendant said to Cal with absolutely no subtlety—and not even the slightest glance toward Lyssa—before she headed back to the galley, her hips swaying.

 

To Cal’s credit, his eyes didn’t follow the woman’s movements, nor did he seem to be counting down the minutes until he could sneak away with her to make use of the onboard bedroom.

 

His behavior was consistent with what Lyssa knew of him. While he definitely didn’t lack for female company—some might even use the word playboy to describe him—at his core, he was an upstanding guy who would never take advantage of his wealth or position of power.

 

Cal had been her boss for six weeks. In September, she’d quit her job in Chicago, moved to San Francisco, and taken on the accounting activities for Gideon Jones’s Lean on Us Foundation.

 

For years, Gideon had owned a painting given to him by Karmen Sanchez, a fellow comrade-in-arms who had been killed overseas. Little had Gideon known that the painting was worth sixty million dollars until his fiancée, Rosie, who had knowledge of the art world, had done some research and realized he was in possession of a rare masterpiece by famed eighteenth-century artist Miguel Fernando Correa. Instead of using the money on a lavish new lifestyle, he’d started a foundation to benefit foster children, returning veterans, and military families. As a veteran himself, Gideon understood the difficulties of assimilating back into civilian life. Rosie had gone through the foster care system along with his sister, Ari, so it was only natural for him to want to help. However, given that Gideon had neither the time nor the expertise to run a nonprofit foundation, Cal had offered to step in to manage it.

 

Cal’s first move had been hiring Lyssa, and she absolutely loved her new job. Though a part of her wondered if her brothers had asked Cal to give her this job because they knew how unhappy she’d become at her previous company, it only made her more intent on proving to all of them that she had earned it.

 

As they waited for coffee, they got down to business, both opening their folders on their latest potential contributor, resort tycoon Dane Harrington. Dane had built a worldwide empire of health spas and resorts. Though his headquarters was in Northern California, he was currently in London launching a new resort. Dane was the reason for this trip—they hadn’t wanted to wait for his return to the U.S. to make their pitch.

 

“I’d like to begin the presentation by explaining a bit about the programs we want to fund,” Cal told her. “Once I’m done with the dog-and-pony show, it would be great if you stepped in with the budgets.”

 

Lyssa almost gave herself whiplash looking up from the papers she’d been scanning. “You want me to detail the budgets to Dane?”

 

Cal smiled, seemingly unaware of just how sexy he looked—or how much he made her heart race. “You’re the one who put the numbers together, so you’re the best person for the job.”

 

Lyssa was astounded. She’d figured he’d brought her along simply to run the presentation software and provide background data if he needed it, not to actually present her budget to a hugely valuable donor.

 

“Besides,” he added, “I’ve never seen anyone do as thorough a job as you.”

 

His appreciation for her talent made her glow in a way she couldn’t hide. In Chicago, she’d been relegated to collections despite having earned a degree in accounting with honors. She’d asked her boss for more responsibility, but he’d had no interest in finding out what she was capable of. Working for Lean on Us was a dream come true, even better because she’d moved to San Francisco, which she loved.

 

As soon as Lyssa had flown the coop, her parents had also decided it was finally time to go west and join the rest of the family in the Bay Area. Though she was pleased that her parents would be nearby, she had a niggling suspicion that one of the main reasons they were moving was so they could still watch over her.

 

Her brothers had found the perfect home for her folks in Portola Valley and were having a great time fixing it up. Her dad had taught them all about home repairs when they couldn’t afford a repairman, so each of them not only knew their way around a tool belt, but after spending so many of their days behind a desk inside an office, they loved the hard, hands-on work of the house renovation project.

 

Delilah returned with their coffees. “There you go, Mr. Danniger. Your coffee, just the way you like it.”

 

“Thanks, Delilah.” Though he was polite, he was so focused on the document he was reading, he barely looked up.

 

“If there’s anything I can get you, Mr. Danniger, just let me know.” She paused before adding a husky, “Anything at all.”

 

At last, Cal met the woman’s gaze. “I’m good, thanks. But I’ll let you know if I need anything later in the flight.”

 

Delilah practically melted into a puddle of goo when his eyes met hers. She seemed distracted as she put Lyssa’s mug down in the middle of a stack of papers, coffee slopping over the rim to leave a ring.

 

Lyssa sopped it up with a napkin as Cal opened another folder, saying, “Let’s move on to the six-month forecast.”

 

Her numbers were solid on their plans to purchase buildings, hire staff, and buy equipment. This was where new contributors came in. As huge an amount as sixty million sounded—and despite the fact that Cal was working pro bono for the foundation—when the money was spread across everything they hoped to accomplish, it was nowhere near enough.

 

Throughout the flight, Cal never wasted a moment. He was intelligent, diligent, incisive, and all business. And, she thought with a sigh she never gave voice to, sexier than any man she knew.

 

 

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