Only a fool would give her heart to a billionaire player like Tag-
until suddenly the one man who can't be caught is the one flirting with forever . . .
THE BILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR
Billionaire Bad Boys #2
Jessica Lemmon
Releasing Oct 25th, 2016
Forever
Can't
Buy Me Love
It's Tag Crane's job to be the life
of the party. Traveling from one exotic locale to another is just part of
running the luxurious Crane Hotel empire. But even paradise isn't perfect.
Devising a new business strategy is keeping Tag up at night-and so is the Great
Dane barking at all hours in the apartment below his. To muzzle the problem,
Tag charges downstairs . . . right into the most beautiful, blond distraction
he's ever seen.
Dog-sitting by day, bartending by
night. It's not exactly the life Rachel Foster dreamed of. But when Tag Crane
rushes in, all mountain-man shoulders and obscenely sexy smile, needing her
help for the Crane Hotels, it's a fantasy come true. What's the harm in a fun
no-strings fling? Only a fool would give her heart to a billionaire player like
Tag-until suddenly the one man who can't be caught is the one flirting with
forever . .
BUY NOW
When
she reached the door, she pulled her fingers through her blond hair, and
decided her visitor had earned the penalty of seeing her sloppy hair, leftover
makeup, and pale blue flannel pajamas with a polar bear and snowflake design.
She
turned the knob and blinked, stunned.
Holy
crap, there is a mountain man at my door.
She
was faced with wide, round shoulders. A waterfall of caramel-brown, slightly
wavy hair cascaded down his arms. He wore a closely trimmed beard, his mouth
flat beneath it. One eyebrow was arched over the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.
“Hello,”
she managed, before jerking her gaze from his assaulting blues to take in the
fitted cream-colored sweater, a pair of gray cargo pants, and laced leather
boots.
He
was like a sexy city lumberjack.
“Hi.”
Oh.
That voice. Deep, rich, and low enough that it registered in her belly.
When
his eyes dashed away from her face and he smiled, her brain turned to mush. She
couldn’t think of a thing to say. Not a single thing.
“There
he is. Hey, buddy.” The giant knelt as Adonis meandered through the living
room, pausing to do a downward-dog stretch in front of the man’s feet. The dog
received a scrub on the head, and she was rewarded with more of her guest’s low
voice. “You’re better today, yeah? Sleep okay?”
Meanwhile,
Rachel gawked at the two of them. Her appearance was probably less put-together
than the dog’s. She ran her fingers through her hair again, making it worse at
this point, and straightened her pajama top futilely. There was no escaping
that she looked as if she’d crawled out of bed after a late, late night.
The
man stood. “Typically, Adonis has had his walk by now, but I didn’t see you at
the elevator, so…”
She
squinted one eye and finally her brain chugged into gear.
Oh.
Oh.
Oliver
had mentioned a dog walker, but Rachel had sworn he said he’d postponed the
walks while she was staying here. But since he was here, he may as well take
Adonis. She wasn’t anywhere near ready to go for a stroll in the snow.
“I’m
sorry. I’m so sorry.” She went to where the leash was hanging—on a hook inside
the pantry—retrieved it, and chased Adonis for a few irritating seconds while
he turned in circles in excitement. “I took him out at three in the morning, so
I’m not sure if he’ll have to…you know.” Dog clipped, she handed the leash to
the ridiculously good-looking man at her door. “Do you bring your own poop
bags? Or do you…” The man was looking at her like she’d sprouted a third eye,
so she swept the topic away with one hand. “You know what? I’ll just grab one.”
She
shot him a tight smile, went back to the pantry, and returned with a bag made
for Adonis’s business. She offered it to the guy, who was holding tight to
Adonis’s leash while the pooch lunged for the elevator. The man didn’t budge,
despite the dog’s strength.
“Where’s
Oliver?” he asked.
She
frowned as she crinkled the plastic bag against her body. “You mean he didn’t
tell you? He’s on a business trip. I’m housesitting.”
“You
his niece?” he asked after running a long gaze down then up to her face again.
She
laughed. “No, not at all. He’s one of my regulars. Odd, right? But we hit it
off and he likes me, so…”
The
man’s frown deepened, those gorgeous eyes darkening to stormy blue. “I’m not
the dog walker.” He offered the leash but Adonis stayed in the hallway rather
than coming back inside. “I’m an upstairs neighbor.”
“Oh.
Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” Rachel took the leash and wrestled with Adonis, who
was much, much stronger than she. He knew it. The dog spread his feet wide and
stood his ground on the carpeted floor.
“I
suggest you find a way to keep him quiet at night while you’re out. I work from
home and I can’t listen to him bark for hours.”
Hours?
“If
I were anyone else, a noise complaint would be in your future. Oliver follows
the rules. He wouldn’t like knowing you’re breaking a big one.” That low voice
had dropped lower, the reprimand having the dual result of both pissing her off
and making her feel a little tingly.
God.
I need more sleep.
“No
need to be rude,” she snapped. He blinked, surprised. Probably not used to
being put in his place.
Look
at him. He’s a wall. Who would stand up to him?
Then
she remembered his kind smile, the way his hands rubbed Adonis’s flank with
rugged gentleness. A shiver climbed her spine at the same time Adonis jerked
hard on the leash.
She
expelled a dainty “oh!” and lunged forward at the same time the man in the
doorway caught the leash in one hand and her against him. Rachel found every
part of her from thighs to breasts plastered to the giant’s body. Her palms
flattened over two hard pectoral muscles hidden beneath the sweater, her legs
bumping his legs, which felt as solid as two marble columns. She tilted her
head, met those aqua blue eyes and…and…remembered she hadn’t brushed her teeth
yet.
She
shoved off his rock-hard stomach, slapping a palm over her mouth. Then she gave
a hard tug to Adonis’s leash, who turned with a sigh and paced back inside.
Once he was clear of the door, she sent the hard-bodied hunk at the threshold a
glare and slammed the door in his face.
Adonis
yipped his disappointment at losing the chance to go outside.
“You’ll
have to take him out now!” came a shout through the door. “Don’t blue-ball the
poor guy after taking him halfway.”
Adonis
wagged his tail so hard, he nearly took out a lamp. The hulk at the door was
right. There was no way she could turn down the Dane’s pale eyes and smiling
pink mouth, perked pointy ears, and lolling tongue.
“Fine,”
she growled and stomped for the bedroom. She snatched up her boots and hastily
picked out her clothes, feeling both tired and cranky. Yet as she tugged on her
coat, she found her mouth curving into a half-smile.
Blue
balls.
Who
was that guy?
A
former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her
husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently
gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy
heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and
eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a
purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.
Thank you for hosting THE BILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR today!
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