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Don't play doctor with your daddy's best friend. Especially when it gets you pregnant. One night with Doctor McHottie has him exploring every inch of my anatomy. It was supposed to be a fun fling with an out-of-towner. He turns out to be the new doctor and my daddy's best friend. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but he keeps coming back for more. I'm in trouble. Now I'm falling for this chiseled silver fox who looks like he just walked off the set of Grey's Anatomy. This is so wrong. He's way older. He's my dad's best friend. He's a doctor. And I just found out he's the father of the baby in my belly...
Chapter 1
Ava
I squeezed through the crowd and made it to the bar. "Two beers, please."
Linea stopped beside me, breathless, hands on the counter, tapping her fingers. "Yes, two."
"Each?" The bartender raised a brow and looked between us.
"Yes, each. We're both thirsty and need relief," Linea deadpanned. He got her meaning and left to fill our order.
"God, you can be so mean sometimes."
"What?" She rolled her eyes. "He asked for it."
"Just cut him some slack. We'll be needing him to fill our drink orders a lot tonight."
"Speak for yourself." Her face scrunched up. "I don't think I'll down half of one bottle."
"Let's make a bet. You'll be feeling no pain by the end of the night." "You're on."
Four ice-cold beers were placed on the counter, and we each grabbed two.
"I'll show you, Ava," she told me, then said to the bartender, "Thank you."
I surveyed the crowd, eyes out for a booth. "See? He smiled at me. I'm nice."
"I didn't see it."
"Should I go sweet-talk him again? You have to watch this time."
"Or we could grab the booth that just emptied." I nodded to the space a couple had just left.
"Yes!" Linea raced ahead. "Go, go, go."
She slid in first, and I quickly followed her lead.
We both giggled and thumped our beers onto the smooth polished table. "That's the biggest win I've had today."
"You say that about everything." I shook my head, a smile curving my lips. "Finishing the cleaning in Ramona's kitchen, snagging the last piece of cake she left out..."
"What can I say? I'm always winning." Linea shrugged off her coat, running her fingers through her honey-blonde hair, wet from the rain. Water droplets fell on my face.
I put out a hand. "Watch it." She laughed.
I unwrapped my scarf and my own damp hair touched my bare neck. "Argh." I shivered and shook out my hair.
Linea yelled and scooched far away from me, giving me a disapproving look.
Laughing, I picked up my drink and swallowed a mouthful.
My gaze skated around the room. Busters was a beehive this Friday night. It seemed everyone had clocked out after the work week ended and decided this was their favorite way to wind down.
It definitely was mine. Every few weekends, Linea and I showed up, had a few beers, and relaxed. Not that the karaoke singer's rendition of "Poker Face" was providing any form of relaxation.
"What is that?" Linea frowned and faced the stage.
The guy was in his element. He strutted across the stage, tossing his non-existent long hair over his shoulder.
"The diva we didn't know we needed."
My friend laughed and shook her head. "I want to go up there and tell him to stop. I've had a long week. He's ruining my evening."
"Don't." I eyed her. "I won't."
Keeping my eyes on her, I sipped my beer.
Linea chuckled. "So, about next week's schedule..." "What? No. It's the weekend, Linea, no shoptalk."
Linea and I ran our own business, cleaning homes for a living. We loved helping others by creating spick-and-span, organized havens for them. It was fulfilling and fun working with my best friend. But it also bled into after-work hours.
"Fine." She raised both hands and shrugged.
Linea grabbed her phone, and blue light illuminated her face. I slid lower in the booth, blew out a breath, and shot a gaze around. I could name almost every face my eyes connected with, and a couple waved. I waved back.
Lively chatter rang out around me. I could easily start up a conversation with anyone while my best friend was snapping different angles of her face to post selfies on Instagram. But chatting with the same people was all I ever did.
Every day, the same routine. Clean houses. See the same faces. Visit our hometown bar.
I loved living in a small town; I really did. But lately I'd been...bored. I just wanted something different. Anything at all to spice up my life. But in Hannibal, that was too much to hope for.
Or was it?
My eyes fell on the entrance just as a man walked in. Unlike those making up the typical crowd at Busters, he was dressed to the nines. A black suit clung to his tall frame, and a dark blue tie ran down the front of the white button-down underneath.
I tilted my head, trying to make out his features. His face was turned down, concentration fixed on his black umbrella. With long deft fingers, he fastened the tie wrap. Lucky umbrella.
Then his gaze lifted. My heart clenched.
Deep gray eyes set in a rugged, strong face took in the room. Those stormy eyes bounced off me, and my breath caught. A sensation snaked through my belly-something foreign and delicious.
His gaze fixed on the bar, and his body followed. Lean strength sparked through with every measured step he took.
He dropped lithely onto a bar stool, his back to the booths. I shook myself out of my trance, glancing around. I'd lost myself there for a minute. Judging by the ladies turned in his direction, I wasn't alone. All but Linea. She was still focused on her phone. I elbowed her and nodded to the
man.
She leaned over, trying to make out his face. "Oh my." She sat back. "Who's that silver fox?"
"Hell if I know." My words came out a little breathless.
Linea gave no indication she noticed, her eyes still on the man. "But really. Who is he? Where did he come from? That face is hard to forget."
More than his face. The energy surrounding him was potent, crackling like electricity. My body thrummed, wanting to tap into that power.
"Someone new? A visitor?"
"Probably," I muttered, then sipped my beer. My insides were still recovering.
Someone new. It clicked. Different from all the people I knew-and loved-but hell, I knew them all too well.
I didn't need to think about it. I should, instead, follow my instincts.
How many times did breathtaking strangers show up in Hannibal?
This was the universe deciding I deserved a good time. Just one night to forget my humdrum life. I'd never before had a one-night stand. It was something every confident woman should experience once in her life, right? My girly bits agreed, aching to be touched by those skillful-looking hands that were now nursing a beer.
I swallowed. He was what I needed.
He'd be a break from the same old same old. A breath of fresh air.
I wanted-no, needed-that fresh air. One night of hot, meaningless sex. The memories would last me a lifetime.
A shiver tingled up my spine, my nerves jumping. I was doing this. No turning back now.
I was going to hit on a handsome stranger.
Whatever resulted, stranger was the key word. A no strings attached, fun night. And if the sex was terrible, I'd never see him again, so it didn't matter.
"How many seconds until someone walks up to him?" Linea's gaze flitted around the bar.
I fluffed out my hair. "Five seconds."
"What?" My friend turned. "I was thinking they'd let him have at least one drink... Oh." Linea's eyes skimmed my body. "Undo one button. No, two."
I did as she asked. "Okay?"
"Mm-hmm." She drained her bottle.
"Wish me a win." I tossed her my scarf. It'd get in the way of my sexy look.
"May my winnings be with you." Linea raised her empty bottle. "Gosh, I need another."
Smiling at my friend, I slid the strap of my bag over my shoulder and started out of the booth. She followed suit. But as I headed for the bar, she dove into the next booth. A chorus of "hey" rang out behind me as our friends greeted Linea.
I paid them no mind, all my attention glued to the stranger's strong back. While others hunched over their drinks, he sat up straight, with perfect posture.
An image flashed through my head of my nails raking down his back. I bet his backside was muscular and taut. Fit for grabbing onto while he pumped between my thighs.
Said legs turned to jelly the closer I got. I took a deep breath, shaking out my hair and relaxing my shoulders. So what if I scrubbed floors for a living? And in contrast, this hot, hunky stranger looked like he could grace the cover of GQ?
None of it mattered. We wouldn't exchange anything beyond the physical. We could be a one-night distraction for each other, satisfying our animalistic needs.
I reached the stool next to him in two strides and slid onto it. The only indication he noticed my existence was the slight tick of his jaw. It relaxed as he resumed staring at his drink.
That gave me an opportunity to really look. His sharp features-high cheekbones and a strong jawline-were softened by full lips and long lashes. His salt and pepper hair was pushed back from his forehead, faded at the edges, and fuller on top. I slid a discreet gaze to his finger. No ring or ring outline.
My eyes lingered on his long fingers, and I swallowed. I wanted those hands on me.
"Hey." My voice came out smoky and low, despite my nerves. Win! The man side-eyed me.
Oh, shit. My stomach pooled with liquid heat from only a look.
Just that glance made me want to either shrink away or rub up against him. "You're not from around here," I continued, inwardly cringing at my cheesy pickup line.
His face turned to me now, brow raised. "What?"
Goosebumps skittered up my arms at his smooth, deep baritone. I wasn't sure where I found the voice to continue speaking. "I know nearly every face in Hannibal. You're not from around here."
"So?" His full brow arched higher, gray eyes rivaling the stormy skies outside.
I resisted the urge to stammer and forged on. He could just be at the end of a bad day. A little friendliness would help him loosen up. "You're new,
all alone. I could keep you company."
His eyes ran down my body, pausing on my exposed cleavage. His throat worked for a second before his gaze lifted to my face. "No, thanks."
His cold words doused the heat running through my veins. And yet...for a second, he looked ready to take me up on my offer.
Tossing my hair, I smiled. "Aww, come on. Everyone says I'm good company."
"So go and keep everyone else company."
"They're not hanging out at a bar all alone on a Friday night."
He sighed, looking away from me. Instead of showing interest, it seemed I annoyed him. Was I so dull? A sinking feeling crowded in my belly. I looked behind me and spotted Linea. She waved, then gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
I turned back to the man with a slightly boosted confidence. "So, would you like to buy me a drink?" I leaned forward on my elbow. His eyes ate me up once more, and I smiled. "That's the decent thing to do."
He tore his gaze from me, eyes back to his drink. "Maybe you should leave; that'd be the decent thing to do."
I sat back, my face flaming. I opened my mouth and shut it. No witty comeback came to mind.
There was no fun spin I could put on his words. He had rejected me.
Clearly.
I hopped off the stool, hands wrapped around my bag strap. I looked toward Linea, but she was caught up in cheering on the next karaoke singer, who was doing a great job. Keeping my head down, I headed for the exit.
Rain plastered my hair to my face and my clothes to my skin. But I kept my face down and walked, determined to get home and forget my embarrassing encounter tonight.
Why had I thought I could be a sexy temptress and lure a sophisticated man like him in? I was just boring old Ava. And getting soaked in the pouring rain was what I got for stepping out of my comfort zone.
Suddenly, the rain stopped. I brought my head up. No, it hadn't stopped. It was still falling around me, but not on me because...someone was holding an umbrella.
I turned, and my gaze met gray eyes. I took a step back, moving back under the rainfall. "What do you want?" I eyed the man.
He looked at the empty road before meeting my eyes. "I was being a jerk earlier." He lowered his head, like the thought embarrassed him. Then his gaze met mine again. "Share my umbrella and let me walk you home."
I started to say no, but he cut in. "It's the decent thing to do."
A small thrill zinged through me that he used my quip from earlier. "Fine."
Something that was not quite a smile passed across his face.
We huddled underneath the umbrella as we started off. Not the way I'd hoped the night would go. But the warmth from his body was welcome.
PERMISSION IS TAKEN FRIM THE ORIGINAL, BE WARNED!! Do you believe in Myths? Just when she thinks it can't get any worse, it does. Lucy lost everything four years ago in a rogue attack. She's been abused, starved, rejected, and broken. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, strange things start to happen, things that only happen once every century. She finds friendship in the most unlikely place and escapes to find her true self with the help of the most dangerous Alpha. Warning: This werewolf trilogy is not intended for anyone under the age of 18 or anyone who doesn't enjoy a good spanking. It will take you on adventures around the world, make you laugh, fall in love, crush your heart and possibly leave you drooling.
NOTE: THIS BOOK IS A SERIES BOOK FOR EX-HUSBAND'S REGRETS AND HEIRESS REVENGE. IT CONTAINS MANY OTHER INTERESTING SERIES. XOXO❤️😍 "We'll make another baby." These words broke her heart. She threw the divorce papers on his face. "Sign this. Let's get this over with. I'm tired of being your sidepiece." With a smirk, he replied without hesitation. "Elena, you won't get a dime as compensation. Pack your things and get lost." Disappointed, Elena goes through with the divorce and goes back to being the heiress of the wealthy Brooks family. At an auction, she meets her ex-husband and spends a fortune to get an antique. Shocked, her ex-husband asked her. "Who are you, Elena?" "The woman you rejected."
Do you love military Romance? She's crashed the biggest party of her life, and she's about to pay the price. As the leader of an off-the-books black ops SEAL team, Luke Scott can't afford for anyone to discover the truth about who he is or what he does. But when a critical mission gets botched by a member of an iconic Hollywood family, he'll have to fight to protect his team's identity, as well as keep himself from falling for the woman who's turned his life upside down. Eva Sharp's the writer and co-producer for the hit TV series SEAL Security. While on break from filming, the last thing she expects is to end up in the middle of a real-life action scene--one that puts her life on the line. At first, she's not sure if she can trust this stranger in the mountains, even if he has military written all over him. But the more time she spends with him, the harder it is to fight the pull of attraction, without also jeopardizing his op. They'll soon realize not everything is as it seems, and Luke will be forced to discover how far he's willing to go to find his mark.
In the shadows, I found a destiny that was never meant to be mine. All my life, I've been an outcast and the target of cruel jokes. But fate flings me onto a different path when I receive a full-ride scholarship to a prestigious university I never applied to. As the new girl at Evergreen Elite, I'm surrounded by whispered secrets and danger that lurks in every corner. Then I meet Raffe Wright, the university's sexy, broody quarterback, whose presence stirs something deep within me. Every instinct warns me away from him, yet I can't fight the magnetic pull between us. As I unravel the mysteries of the university, I uncover truths about my own past and secrets that could change everything. Each step leads closer to Raffe, and the destiny that brought me here. But the deeper I delve, the more I realize that Raffe might be both the answer to my questions and the greatest danger of all.
Permission duly taken. Attending a party with my stepbrother, I'm in for the surprise of my life. It's not a regular party, but instead, my wedding. To Angelo Rizzo. A coldhearted man who's feared by all. Including me. Turns out my stepbrother owes the Cosa Nostra money, and I'm being used to repay his debt to Angelo Rizzo. Do I have a choice? No. Not when it comes to matters concerning the Cosa Nostra. Three hours later, I have a new shiny wedding ring on my finger and a husband I'm terrified of standing by my side. Yep, my life just took a turn for the worse. There's no hiding. No running. All I can do is face the nightmare that awaits me and pray I'll survive being married to Angelo Rizzo.
After suffering a bad fall on the ice, Dalia finds herself at crossroads in her life. Ryan a gorgeous stranger gives her an ultimatum, forcing her to choose between himself, a guy who promises her a chance at becoming all that she can be or Adam the boy that she's in love with. Hearts are broken as Dalia's boundaries and courage are tested in this epic love story. With the Olympic Games over, the competition for Dalia's heart begins. Dalia was forced to give up Adam the guy of her dreams to pursue a skating career with her gorgeous partner Ryan. Now that the Olympics are over and Canada's favourite couple has returned, there's nothing stopping Adam from reclaiming the love of his life, except Ryan of course! In an attempt to find his way back into his ex-girlfriends life, Adam offers Dalia the opportunity of a lifetime: She will direct a television show that will air nationwide, earning her power and money she never dreamed of having. Everything goes according to plan until Global executives insist Adam hires Dalia's ex-husband and figure skating partner Ryan to work with her on the show. The station argues that Ryan's presence will attract more viewers and possibly reunite Canada's favourite couple. The tension mounts as the history of this love triangle finally comes to a head in the conclusion of the trilogy, Trapped in his love.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"