Bella Andre – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Bella Andre – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:26:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 http://www.ilovenovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Bella Andre – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com 32 32 The Surprise Wedding – Married in Malibu Read Online Bella Andre http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-surprise-wedding-married-in-malibu-read-online-bella-andre Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:26:58 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/the-surprise-wedding-married-in-malibu-read-online-bella-andre Genre: Alpha Male Authors: Bella Andre Advertisement

Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)

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Nate Waterson, Married in Malibu’s tech expert, is Tamara Truscott’s best customer at Malibu T and Coffee. Nate claims he needs lots of coffee to keep him sharp and full of energy, but his friends and co-workers at the boutique wedding venue know that buying countless cups of coffee is his perfect excuse to see Tamara as often as possible.

Though Nate is usually glued to his computer and Tamara is happiest at the beach, they’re surprised to find that they have a great deal in common too –– they both agree that relationships are nothing but trouble. But despite vowing to remain friends, and nothing more, it’s as if Cupid is following them with his bow and arrow everywhere they go. When the heat between them can no longer be denied while dancing together at a wedding, they share a sizzling kiss. Will that one special kiss lead the computer geek and the sunny beach girl to a deeper love than either of them ever thought was possible?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

The staff at Married in Malibu were gathered in the main room on Monday morning with their coffees and tablets. Business at Southern California’s most exclusive wedding venue was really taking off, and this morning they were going to begin planning for an exciting new wedding. Nate Waterson hadn’t had time to pick up his usual morning double espresso from Malibu T and Coffee before the meeting, and he was definitely feeling the absence of his first caffeine fix of the day.

“I think we can safely say,” their fearless leader Liz Wilkinson began as she sat down at the large table with the entire staff, “that the launch for Lucas’s music video on Friday night was a huge success. The record label was thrilled with how it went, and even better, Lucas himself was over the moon about it. Well done, everyone.”

Friday’s launch of rock star Lucas Crosby’s new single had garnered amazing attention on social media, as well as mainstream radio and music streaming sites. The track was already shooting straight to the top of the charts. On a more personal front, Nate could see that Meg was clearly thrilled by her relationship with Lucas—if her blush at just hearing his name was anything to go by. Despite an extremely bumpy start with Meg’s mother, Meg and Lucas had been inseparable on Friday night. The two of them had made quite the cozy picture of new love.

As Nate looked around the room, he couldn’t help but wonder if Cupid also worked at Married in Malibu. The many brides and grooms who booked weddings at the venue were all madly in love, of course. But Liz and Jason, Jenn and Daniel, and Travis and Amy had also found their one true love here. And now Meg and Lucas were a couple as well. It truly boggled the mind that there had been so many love matches among the staff. Only Kate and Nate himself were still footloose and fancy-free.

Liz’s phone rang, and after looking at the name on the screen, she made a quick apology to the group. “I’ve been waiting for this call since yesterday.” She pushed her chair away from the conference table. “I won’t be long.”

Kate immediately took the opportunity to hop to her feet and dashed out to the gardens to check on the new automatic watering system. Jenn and Daniel, and Travis and Amy, spoke quietly to each other. Both couples were so clearly deeply in love with each other, Nate almost had to look away. And given Meg’s smile and flushed cheeks as she typed on her phone, Nate knew she must be messaging Lucas. Not wanting anyone to think they were leaving him out—honestly, he couldn’t be happier for them all—he looked down at his tablet and started to read the specs on a new version of WedminX, a new data-handling software that had just been released and which he thought might be useful for streamlining operations at Married in Malibu.

The words blurred on his screen, however, because he couldn’t stop thinking about Tamara Truscott, the owner of Malibu T and Coffee. On Friday night, while they were at the club for Lucas’s video shoot, she’d surprised him by pulling him out onto the dance floor. Although Nate wouldn’t have normally been caught dancing in public, he hadn’t been able to resist her invitation. She was so beautiful, so full of life and laughter, that he would have done anything for her in that moment, just to make her smile. Just to be close to her.

And then the most unexpected thing of all had happened. She had leaned in close to him while they’d danced in each other’s arms… The next thing he knew, they were kissing.

He still couldn’t believe the kiss had happened. After all, he was the geek who dealt with Married in Malibu’s tech systems, while she was the most effortlessly beautiful and sweetest woman he’d ever known. Plus, she ran her own successful business, which she’d built from nothing.

Despite putting in countless hours running her café, she always managed to look as though she’d just come from a day at the beach, tan and wind-blown and happy. Yet on Friday night there had been something extra special about her. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Nate hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her. So when she’d held him close during that slow dance, kissing her had seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Not only natural. Perfect. The kind of kiss that happened only when two people were in perfect synchronization, and there was enough emotional connection for it to feel like magic.

With a start, Nate realized both Kate and Liz had returned to the table and Liz was speaking. It took more than a little effort for Nate to push Tamara from his mind to focus on what his boss was saying.

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California Love Songs (The Davenports #4) Read Online Bella Andre http://www.ilovenovels.com/california-love-songs-the-davenports-4-read-online-bella-andre Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:51:55 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/california-love-songs-the-davenports-4-read-online-bella-andre Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Erotic Authors: Bella Andre Series: The Davenports Series by Bella Andre
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Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 87091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)

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A Top 100 Amazon Bestselling Series!“The Davenports are a wonderful family and I can’t wait to read all their happily ever afters! The writing, story and characters are all amazing. A Must Read!” 5 stars

Rock star Damien Davenport has it all: brilliant talent, effortless charisma, and a life in the limelight. But while Damien has reached success beyond his wildest dreams—with fifteen years of sold-out shows around the world and songs that millions of fans are crazy for—everything that used to thrill him suddenly feels like it’s lost its glow. Right now, all he wants is to spend time with his family in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and to hang out with old friends who want nothing more from him than to have a laugh and hit some waves on their surfboards…especially his high school best friend, Crystal Lopez.

During the years when Damien was touring, Crystal turned her talent for organizing events into a successful party planning business, from A-List weddings to lavish beachfront parties. When Damien plays a multimillion-dollar gig at Pebble Beach—organized by Crystal—and she sees her superstar friend blowing the audience’s mind with his incredible songs, she finally has to admit to herself that she’s never recovered from her high school crush. Of course, she would never, ever let on that she wishes he was more than just a friend. Because even if the man who could have any woman in the world actually wanted her, she can’t imagine fitting into Damien’s rock star world.

But Crystal isn’t the only one who has been secretly wishing they could be something more. Way more. And when the sizzling attraction between them becomes utterly undeniable—and breathlessly delicious—after fifteen years of close friendship, can the world-traveling rock star and the home-town girl make true love last?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Prologue

Monterey High School, fifteen years ago…

The ticking of the auditorium clock echoed like a metronome counting down to disaster. It was finally the night of Battle of the Bands—the event the whole school had been waiting for—especially Crystal Lopez, who was looking forward to watching one band above all the others.

Except there was a problem. A big one. The lead singer hadn’t shown up yet.

Principal Hargrove’s polished loafers squeaked on the linoleum as he paced, his gaze darting between his watch and the empty stage. The crowd’s murmurs swelled, punctuated by worried whispers. “Where’s Damien?”

Crystal’s clipboard trembled slightly in her hands as she scanned the set list for the hundredth time. She took a deep breath, inhaling the auditorium’s pervasive scent of floor polish and gym socks, and tried to rise above the infectious nervous energy onstage. Her voice remained steady as she addressed the fidgeting members of Steel and Shadow. They were the headliners and the crowd was getting restless.

The drummer tapped his sticks nervously. “What if he doesn’t show? We can’t go on without him.”

Crystal flashed her most reassuring smile, though her stomach churned. “He’ll be here. Damien always shows.”

The cold soda can grew warm in her sweating hand as she waited. She pictured Damien’s intense gray-green eyes, imagining the apology that would surely dance in them when he arrived. If he arrived.

Principal Hargrove’s clipped tone interrupted her reverie. Addressing the band, he said, “If Mr. Davenport doesn’t grace us with his presence in one minute, you will forfeit your spot. Punctuality is important. The rock ’n’ roll mentality has no place at school.”

Crystal’s diplomatic instincts kicked in. “I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation. Damien’s really excited about performing. I know he’ll be here.”

The members of Steel and Shadow huddled near the edge of the stage, their instruments clutched like lifelines. The bassist, Alex, cleared his throat. “Maybe we should work out a backup plan? I mean, I could try to sing. I know the words⁠—”

“No way,” Jake cut in, shaking his head vehemently. “Damien’s our front man. Without him, we’re just… Shadow.”

Steel and Shadow, reduced to mere echoes without their charismatic and talented lead. The importance of their impending performance seemed to press down on them, a weight almost as tangible as their instruments.

And then the auditorium doors burst open with a thunderous bang. A hush fell over the crowd as a figure strode in, backlit by the hallway lights like some rock and roll messiah.

Damien Davenport had arrived.

He moved with a fluid grace, each step purposeful and charged with energy. His long, dark, curly hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, a few rebellious strands framing his face. The lights caught the silver glint of his earring and the subtle sheen of his black leather jacket. He gripped his guitar in one hand, holding it against the side of his body like armor.

As he strode down the aisle, all eyes were on him. Whispers erupted in his wake, a wave of excitement rippling through the crowd. Damien’s presence seemed to fill the entire auditorium, his charisma palpable. The mood shifted into one of exquisite anticipation.

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Painted in Love – The Maverick Billionaires Read Online Bella Andre http://www.ilovenovels.com/painted-in-love-the-maverick-billionaires-read-online-bella-andre Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:07:43 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/painted-in-love-the-maverick-billionaires-read-online-bella-andre Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary Authors: Bella Andre Advertisement

Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)

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After years of working with artists to build their careers in a world where fame can exact a terrible price, billionaire Clay Harrington’s number one priority is to foster creativity and nourish artistic dreams through his innovative video platform. So when he agrees to mentor a former foster kid with raw talent, Clay is determined to find the young man’s hero, a legendary street artist named San Holo. In his wildest dreams, Clay never thought it would be so difficult to uncover the real identity of this elusive superstar. Until he discovers that the key to unlocking the artist’s identity might be sexy, brilliant Saskia Oliver.

When Saskia opens her door to the tall, handsome, and sexy-as-hell stranger, she can’t fight their immediate electric and irresistible attraction. But even after passionate kisses and seductive nights, she still can’t give Clay what he wants. She’s sworn to keep San Holo’s identity a secret no matter the cost…even if love is on the line.

When their two hearts and bodies collide like shooting stars, is there any way they can create a love that will last forever? Or will the cost of keeping secrets destroy any chance at having the love they’ve both craved for so long?

PAINTED IN LOVE is part of Bella Andre and Jennifer Skully’s bestselling series about The Maverick Billionaires. While it can easily be read as a standalone story, you'll likely enjoy reading the other books too.

THE MAVERICK BILLIONAIRES
Breathless In Love
Reckless In Love
Fearless In Love
Irresistible In Love
Wild In Love
Captivating In Love
Unforgettable In Love
Endless in Love
Reunited in Love
Painted in Love
*** More Maverick Billionaires are coming soon! ***

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Prologue

People think the night is darkest at midnight. They’re wrong. True dark comes just before dawn, when the temperature drops and the fog rolls in. I pull my hoodie over my head to keep my ears warm. A streetlight shines through the fog, giving me just enough light to work by. This alley in San Francisco’s Mission District is perfect for my next masterpiece.

Night is when I work, with the foggy halos around the streetlights. This isn’t commissioned work, but a piece for myself. I’ve been dreaming about it for weeks now, but I’ve been too busy to get out here. My best work is always the stuff I paint just for myself. Don’t get me wrong—commissions are good, my bread and butter. I’m not ashamed of that. But this work, it’s special.

The narrow, dingy, stinky alley—I’ve painted in places far worse than this—is off the beaten track, definitely not an attraction on the street art tours. Most likely, no one will ever see what I’ve painted, let alone realize it’s my work, unless they look closely. But no one will. Because it’s street art, and the next artist will paint right over it. I don’t care. All I care about is getting the images out of my head and onto the wall. That’s how I stay sane—by painting the pictures out of my head. Until another one comes along from some deep secret place inside me.

Out here, no one tells me what to paint. No one judges it. Under the veil of night, that’s when I feel most creative.

As dawn breaks through the dark and the fog, I step away to survey what I’ve done. “Yeah,” I say aloud. “This is good.”

I’ve got to remember to get out here more often, to work in the middle of the night. Because these are my roots. This is where I came from—the dark, the cold, the loneliness of the middle of the night.

I look behind me. Yes, the street is lighter than before. The dawn is coming. I need to get away before the light hits me. I add my last flourish, then escape down the alley, leaving behind the tools of my trade. Some other street artist will need them.

By the time I make it back to the place where I sleep, the sky is lightening. Fog still shrouds the city by the bay, but in a little while, it’ll be gone, just as I’ll be gone.

Like a vampire, I climb into my bed as the sun spills its rays over the city.

Chapter One

Clay Harrington looked at the kid beside him. Pretty soon, Dylan might be taller than him, though Clay was well over six feet. “If you want to do more street art,” he said, “this is a great place for it.”

They’d come out early on a Wednesday morning, before Dylan had to get to school, to San Francisco’s Mission District, famous for its street art. Early April could be cool in the Bay Area, but neither of them minded.

A lanky kid three months shy of his eighteenth birthday, Dylan Beck pushed his longish hair back from his face. Clay would have called its color dirty blond, but since Dylan was a foster child, the term felt demeaning.

Dylan shrugged. “I don’t know.” They stood in front of a mural resembling a robot made of small buildings melded together into its robot parts.

“But you’ve already done a lot of street art,” Clay reminded Dylan.

Again, he shrugged. “That’s just stuff.”

Clay knew what he meant. Dylan got out his frustrations by throwing paint at the wall. But Clay wanted to see the kid put his best work out there.

He’d mentored Dylan since Rosie and Gideon Jones’s wedding six months ago. It started out as a favor to Gideon, who’d met the kid through his foundation, Lean on Us. Dylan would soon be aging out of the foster care system, and he’d been getting into trouble tagging in places where he shouldn’t. Since Clay worked with a lot of artists, Gideon had asked him to help out, claiming Clay understood the artistic temperament.

Clay had come to appreciate the brilliant young street artist. He’d given Dylan a studio in his warehouse, among the other artists Clay assisted. While the kid’s tagging was good, the stuff he created in his studio came straight from the heart.

Instead of telling Dylan he needed to put his real work out there, Clay had brought him to the Mission District, home to some of the most amazing murals in the city, maybe even the country. Many of these wall paintings weren’t strictly street art, because the nature of street art was that it could be painted over, sometimes the same night it was created. These commissioned murals would remain for all to enjoy, but there were plenty of nooks and crannies where street artists could make their mark.

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California Sunsets (The Davenports #3) Read Online Bella Andre http://www.ilovenovels.com/california-sunsets-the-davenports-3-read-online-bella-andre Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:36:41 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/california-sunsets-the-davenports-3-read-online-bella-andre Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Funny Authors: Bella Andre Series: The Davenports Series by Bella Andre
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Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)

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Meet the Davenport family! Six brothers and sisters who call picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea home. Successful, brilliant, and passionate, the only thing they all still need is the perfect partner in love and life.

Erin Davenport always imagined she’d end up with a quiet man. Someone like her. Then she met Jay Malone. He’s the loudest, pushiest, most sales-oriented man she’s ever met. A top Hollywood agent, Jay’s bought a waterfront house in Carmel, and everywhere Erin turns, he seems to be there, Big, gorgeous and pulsing with life. He seems to go through women like candy, but Erin has no intention of being his latest treat. Jay can sell anything to anyone. He turned a hot young surfer into an A list movie star, so why is it so hard to sell himself to Archer Davenport’s sister? Erin isn’t like anyone he’s ever known. He’s been in Hollywood so long, he’s accustomed to being surrounded by some of the most beautiful, talented women in the world. But Erin attracts him in a way no other woman ever has. She’s gorgeous and rarely bothers with makeup or fancy clothes. She’s a brilliant writer, but happy to work for the local newspaper, The Seashell. He thinks she’s the woman he’s been looking for all his life. But can he convince the emotionally risk-averse writer to take a chance on their love story?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

When Erin Davenport walked into Anna’s Coffee Shop on Tuesday morning, Tessa and Mila had already settled themselves at their favorite table. Mila was wearing a smart navy blue suit and had a particularly brilliant smile on her face, which usually meant one of two things: a really fun night with her fiancé, Herschel, or she’d sold another house.

Before Erin had a chance to ask her which it was, Mila said, “Today isn’t a coffee day, ladies, it’s a champagne day. Guess who just sold a waterfront home on Scenic Drive?”

Erin stroked her chin, pretending to ponder the question. “Dan Ferguson? I hear he’s the best Realtor in Carmel.”

“Very funny,” her sister said, flipping back her long blonde hair, which was bleached lighter than normal from the July sun. Since Dan Ferguson was Mila’s mentor and had trained her, it was a mild jab at best.

Tessa shook her head at them, a slight frown worrying her usually smooth brow. She was getting better, but she still wasn’t completely accustomed to the way the Davenport siblings liked to tease each other. Erin regarded her new sister-in-law for a moment. Tessa was dressed in what looked to be vintage blue Levis and a pretty pink pastel shirt that no doubt she’d found at one of the thrift stores she loved to visit. Even in a casual, comfortable outfit, she was absolutely glowing—there was no other word for it. Despite her more introverted nature, she’d managed a very public wedding to Erin’s A-list celebrity brother Archer at a grand, sprawling castle in Scotland, which had been splashed across every media outlet from digital to cable to print. Erin had noticed the way she’d avert her gaze if she saw their wedding pictures on the front cover of an entertainment magazine, but she never said anything, and in Erin’s opinion, Tessa had handled the transition from a very private person to the wife of a big celebrity with true grace. Although, based on the way her paintings were starting to sell, Erin thought she was going to have to get used to the limelight. To everyone’s joy, but possibly Archer’s more than anybody, a Tessa Taylor-Davenport painting was becoming a real collector’s item and the demand—and price—for her work was soaring.

Erin ordered a cappuccino and as she took her seat next to the two women she loved so much, she was perfectly willing to listen to Mila, who was just about bursting to tell them about her latest sale. “Go on.”

Mila grinned. “It’s that house you love, Erin. The one on Scenic Drive with the deco windows and all the Carmel stone. I don’t want to boast, but the commission was a nice chunk of change.”

Erin felt her jaw practically hit the floor. “I can’t believe that house was for sale and I never even knew it.” Even in her wildest dreams, Erin couldn’t have afforded that home, but she loved it so dearly there was a tiny part of her that thought the house was waiting for her. That she didn’t even know it was for sale was like a betrayal.

A little secretive smile played around Mila’s lips. “That’s why they pay me the big bucks, sis. I have my finger on the pulse and I get the scoops. Like you, at the newspaper, except with multimillion-dollar properties.” She paused to enjoy getting in a little jibe of her own, and let the small smile grow. “Plus, it turned out the new owner is friends with another of my clients, and they gave me a recommendation. It was such an easy sale too.”

“Who bought it?” Erin asked. How lucky they were to have that house and how she hoped they would treat it right. She sighed. She wasn’t wealthy like some of her siblings and could never afford her dream house. But she didn’t envy them. She was truly happy at her job as a reporter for the Sea Shell, Carmel-by-the-Sea’s local paper, and not earning a big wage was okay with her. She’d created a life she loved and that suited her quiet nature. She couldn’t imagine anything worse than having millions of screaming fans chanting her name, like her rock-star brother Damien, or being hounded by paparazzi like Arch.

Now Mila couldn’t stop the grin from all but exploding on her face. She glanced at Erin in a very significant way. “Actually, you know the new owner.”

“I do?” A spark of joy went through her and she reached out and grasped her sister’s hand. “It’s not Smith Sullivan and Valentina, is it? It would be so great to have them in the neighborhood, especially now that they’re expecting a baby. And Arch—”

Mila shook her head. “Not even close. Well, actually, sort of close. Try again.”

Her sister was clearly enjoying stringing this one out. Erin racked her brain. Who did she know who could afford that place and wouldn’t have told her about it? “Is it another actor?” Mila shook her head. “A director?”

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Stars Shine In Your Eyes – London Sullivans Read Online Bella Andre http://www.ilovenovels.com/stars-shine-in-your-eyes-london-sullivans-read-online-bella-andre Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:05:58 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/stars-shine-in-your-eyes-london-sullivans-read-online-bella-andre Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary Authors: Bella Andre Advertisement

Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)

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According to the British gossip columns, billionaire Malcolm Sullivan is one of the most eligible bachelors in England. His siblings love to tease him about that, and since he also thinks the whole thing is ridiculous, he takes no offense. The irony is that while he is great at his job, he’s terrible at dating…let alone falling in love. In fact, he’s been told during nearly every single break-up that as long as he stays wed to his high-powered job, he will never find true love.

Josie Hartwell is thrilled about her new contract job working with bookstore owner Mari Everett to set up a reading retreat on Elderflower Island. However, she’s shocked to realize that she will not only be working closely with Malcolm Sullivan on the project, but that she’ll also be staying in his houseboat on the Thames. For more than a decade, she’s worked to forget about Malcolm, who had been an exchange student at her high school in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Like everyone else, she’d had a secret crush on him. Unlike everyone else, however, it was only her heart that he’d crushed.

Now that they’re unexpectedly reunited, as they spend more and more time together, the sizzling heat between them becomes hotter than anything either of them have felt with anyone else. But do they have any chance of a lasting love? Can Josie risk her heart on the man who smashed it into a million pieces? Can she trust him to get it right this time? Or should she walk out of his life, the same way he once walked out of hers?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Josie Hartwell could hardly believe she was in England. It had been an eleven-hour trip from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Heathrow Airport in London. She should be tired after spending hours beside a couple who chattered the entire way, and if there was a crying-baby section, she was in it. However, she was so excited to be in the UK that she didn’t feel tired at all.

Instead, she was energized. She couldn’t wait to run her first reading retreat at Elderflower Island Books on Elderflower Island. Even the name sounded magical. When she had started her business of creating reading retreats, she had never dreamed that one day it would take her all the way across the Atlantic. She felt so lucky, as though everything she’d been through in her life to get to this point was finally all worth it.

She’d developed an expertise not only in running retreats but in designing spaces in which to hold them. As she and Mari Everett, the owner of Elderflower Island Books, had chatted on email and then, when they got more comfortable, on Zoom, she’d discovered Mari to be an energetic woman with big plans. She wanted to create a retreat space, and she wanted Josie to design it, then run the first reading retreat. “And more if it works out, which obviously I hope it will,” Mari had said.

Josie was excited to see the project through from design to holding the first retreat, so she’d enthusiastically agreed. Mari had booked a flex ticket in case the two weeks ran over, and Josie was careful not to take any bookings too close to the end of her time in the UK. She knew perfectly well that sometimes projects took longer than expected.

For the next two weeks, she was going to be staying on a houseboat on Elderflower Island, in a borough just outside of London. Mari had offered to book a hotel room if she preferred, but the houseboat belonged to her partner Owen’s brother, and since Mari was working so hard to launch her bookstore and reading retreats, Josie imagined money was tight. A loaned houseboat would be a lot cheaper than a hotel and, to Josie’s mind, so much nicer, so she happily chose the boat. She’d read a little bit online about the area, but she hadn’t wanted to do too much research before embarking on the trip. She wanted to experience it all fresh—to see and feel and be amazed by everything in person for the first time.

One thing she noticed as soon as she got to Arrivals at Heathrow: Everyone looked so cosmopolitan in their trench coats and fashionable boots, with expensive bags swinging from their shoulders. They all walked with such purpose, as though they had important meetings to go to. Or, like the woman who ran into the arms of a man holding flowers, they were meeting a lover whom they hadn’t seen for a while. And there was the family waiting for their father to walk out of the baggage claim area, holding a sign that said, Daddy, we are so happy you’re home! Already, England felt welcoming, and Josie hadn’t even left the airport yet.

Unlike the lovers reuniting beside her, Josie didn’t have anybody waiting for her back in Coeur d’Alene. Her mother had moved from the rainy Pacific Northwest to the Las Vegas area for year-round sun, and Josie’s friends were so busy with their kids and husbands that Josie no longer felt like she fit in anywhere. Or with anyone.

Once upon a time, she’d thought she was headed toward wearing a wedding dress and walking down the aisle to recite vows of forever. Maybe she’d even start a family in the not-too-distant future. She’d thought she’d found Prince Charming, her one true love, the man she was supposed to be with. Everything had been so perfect.

Until the day she’d had the biggest shock of her life… when she’d learned that her boyfriend already had a wife and baby.

Until the day she’d been forced to face the fact that she was nothing more than a mistress who had been lied to in every possible way.

She’d never forget the day she opened the door and found a young, attractive, furious-looking woman holding a baby and accusing her of being a homewrecker.

No, Josie thought with a shake of her head. That was her past. And this—coming to London to do her dream job—was her future. She was living a different life now. A better life. One where she chose books—both fiction and nonfiction—to help her clients.

Whatever state their personal, physical, or mental affairs might be in, the right book could help. She still could hardly believe that she was making her living by helping others find the books that were right for them, in the same way stories had always helped her through tough times… and now she’d be working in London too!

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Reunited in Love – The Maverick Billionaires Read Online Bella Andre http://www.ilovenovels.com/reunited-in-love-the-maverick-billionaires-read-online-bella-andre Mon, 08 Jul 2024 20:38:36 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/reunited-in-love-the-maverick-billionaires-read-online-bella-andre Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary Authors: Bella Andre Advertisement

Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)

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She’s the love he foolishly let go…

Ava Harrington, brilliant billionaire businesswoman, has conquered the world. And yet, scarred by a love lost fifteen years ago, she's built a wall around her heart, swearing off love forever.

Ransom Yates’s culinary genius has taken him to the pinnacle of success as a magnetic celebrity chef. But that success came at a devastating price when he left behind the woman who held the key to his heart.

Their reunion is anything but sweet when Ava must swallow her pride and seek Ransom's help, though he’s the last person she ever wanted to turn to in a crisis. But the sparks flying between them are hotter than ever — and their undeniable chemistry reignites their long-buried passion with steamy kisses and sultry nights.

Ransom can't help but fall for the woman he never stopped loving. But Ava's heart is still hardened with the memory of how their long-ago affair ended. Can they find a second chance at love? Or is their love forever lost in the ashes of their past?

REUNITED IN LOVE is part of Bella Andre and Jennifer Skully’s bestselling series about The Maverick Billionaires. While it can easily be read as a standalone story, you'll likely enjoy reading the other books too.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

They say redheads can have a temper. Ava Harrington did not. At least, not usually. But today, she was furious. When she left her San Juan Bautista care facility, she’d been near boiling. And not due to the unseasonably warm late-September weather. Now, as she entered her San Francisco headquarters after the ninety-minute drive north, her anger had turned into a raging inferno.

In the elevator, she punched the button for the top floor, almost breaking her nail. What she’d witnessed in the care home’s dining room had filled her with horror. The situation was horrendous, and even now, she trembled with the aftereffects.

As she passed through the accounting department, her high heels stabbed the carpet. But despite her roiling emotions, she smiled at her assistant, Naomi Wells, as she entered the outer office of the executive suite. None of this was Naomi’s fault.

And yet her blond, thirtysomething assistant seemed to be quaking behind her desk.

Ava ratcheted down her temper. She liked to think of herself as a good boss. She was firm, she was take-charge, but she secured what she wanted through diplomacy rather than haranguing. While male executives could rant all they wanted, when a female executive went off on a tear, she was labeled a ballbuster and even worse.

Though she desperately wanted to rant about what she’d witnessed this morning, she couldn’t lay that on her assistant.

Naomi handed her a sheaf of pink message slips, her hand trembling slightly.

“Can you brief me on the contents?” Ava asked.

Naomi was good at synopsizing notes. Out of respect for her residents at the San Juan Bautista senior living facility, Ava had turned off her phone’s ringer. And on the way back, as her driver negotiated the freeway, she’d formulated her response to what she considered a grievous incident that needed immediate action when she returned.

Though she’d asked Naomi to brief her, Ava was already thumbing through the message slips. She actually felt her gorge rise at what she read.

“It seems that in several of the Bay Area facilities,” Naomi began, swallowing hard, “there are reports of nasty behavior from the catering staff. So far, the facility directors have handled such incidents on their own, but they’re becoming common enough that three of our directors felt the need to report this to you.”

Holding the pink message slips, Ava felt this morning’s entire deplorable scene flood her senses all over again.

She’d been heading to the staff table in the back of the dining room to confer with her management team. Close to the end of the lunch hour, few diners remained, but as she’d crossed the room, waving to those she knew, she’d heard the low growl of a middle-aged server as he leaned close to Mrs. Greeley.

“Look at the mess you made,” he hissed. “You eat like a pig at a trough. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

Ava had been so stunned she’d stopped right there. Unable to move. So shocked she couldn’t say a thing. Until Mrs. Greeley quietly began to cry.

She’d rushed to comfort the woman. And to confront the server. The nerve of the man. With a soothing hand on Mrs. Greeley’s shoulder, she spoke to him in the deadliest of voices. “First of all, Mrs. Greeley has macular degeneration, and she can’t see her food.” She pointed to the plate. “You’re supposed to put her meat at twelve o’clock, the potatoes at three, vegetables at six, and bread at nine. Otherwise, she doesn’t know what’s on her plate.” She speared the man with a scathing look. “Secondly, she accidentally dropped her fork and you—” She pointed at the man’s chest, her manicured nail just short of knifing him. “—didn’t get her a clean one. Third—” She lasered him. “You never, ever speak to one of our guests that way. And fourth.” Her nostrils flaring with anger, she smiled like a feral animal. All teeth. “You’re fired.”

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California Waves (The Davenports #2) Read Online Bella Andre http://www.ilovenovels.com/california-waves-the-davenports-2-read-online-bella-andre Thu, 13 Jun 2024 07:55:00 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/california-waves-the-davenports-2-read-online-bella-andre Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary Authors: Bella Andre Series: The Davenports Series by Bella Andre
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Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)

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Meet the Davenport family! Six brothers and sisters who call picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea home. Successful, brilliant, and passionate, the only thing they all still need is the perfect partner in love and life.

When Herschel Greenfield achieved his dream of becoming an astronaut and going on space missions, he thought he knew the risks—but he never expected his splashdown would go wrong and he’d nearly drown. He tells everyone he’s fine, but if that’s true, then why can’t get into the ocean? Somehow, some way, he needs to conquer his fear so that he can continue going into space.

When pro-surfer Mila Davenport suffered a career-ending accident that almost cost her life, she had to adjust to an entirely new life where she spent more time on land than in the sea. While she loves her new career as a realtor, nothing makes her feel more alive than riding the waves. Certainly, no man has ever come close to giving her that same rush that the ocean does.

But after meeting Herschel, when she learns about his emotional fallout from his crash landing, she wants nothing more than to help him learn to love the sea as much as she does, despite his harrowing experience. The only problem is that she also thinks he’s incredibly sexy and can’t help but want him. More than she’s ever wanted anyone. And when it seems like he feels the same way about her, that’s when things suddenly feel truly dangerous. Far more dangerous than any surfing accident or crash landing. Because this time around, Mila isn’t just risking her body—she’s risking her heart.

But is Hersch willing to risk his heart, too? Or once he gets over his issues with the sea, will he be on the next spaceship out of town…and she’ll be left with nothing but the memories of being with the most incredible man she’s ever known?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

The sun smiled down on the plein air art show at Devendorf Park in Carmel-by-the-Sea, where Herschel Greenfield couldn’t stop staring at Mila Davenport. She was tall, blonde, and fearless. A surfing goddess of the waves, and he’d just said the clumsiest thing to her, implying he wouldn’t want a painting of her on his wall precisely because of that. Truth was, he couldn’t imagine anything he’d rather look at all day than Mila, but preferably on dry land, so he wouldn’t have to look at crashing waves and be reminded that the sea had very nearly killed him.

However, she couldn’t know that was what he’d meant when he’d implied he didn’t want to buy a picture that featured her surfing. Mila was stunning. Tall, statuesque, with long sun-kissed blonde hair and sea-witch eyes that seemed to see right through him. As she walked away, Hersch felt as though the breath had been knocked out of him. Not only was Mila gorgeous, she was strong enough to ride those treacherous waves. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be able to walk into the water without fear.

And with that single thought, his near-death experience came rushing back, as intense and terrifying as the very day it happened, more than a year ago.

The mission to space had been successful. Everything had gone as planned, and re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere was smooth. Even the splashdown itself was textbook. But within minutes, the seas turned, the waves roaring up with a sudden squall. The capsule, tough as it was, didn’t stand a chance. Unable to orient itself upright, it was hit by a wave and knocked onto its side. Water began to gush in, freezing and frothing, swirling around their feet.

Hersch didn’t panic—there wasn’t time for that. Instead, his training kicked in, and he knew that the most important thing was to get every astronaut out safely. Hersch insisted his team exit the flooding capsule ahead of him into the flotation collar to await rescue. He was single. If he perished, he wouldn’t leave behind a spouse or kids to mourn him.

With everyone out safely, Hersch left the capsule, but as he crossed the threshold, a huge wave grabbed him and swallowed him whole.

It happened so quickly he was robbed of a last breath before he plunged into the icy water and was pulled down. Survival instincts took over, something innate in him that screamed live, live, live. He managed to kick his way to the surface, desperate for air.

When he managed to get his head above water, the relief was only momentary. He began to flounder. Despite the regimented two hours of daily exercise while in the space station for so many months, his muscles had begun to atrophy, and his legs and arms were jelly, useless against the fierce waves.

He was left struggling in the ocean for what seemed like an eternity, spluttering as salt water filled his mouth, his nose, his eyes.

Rescuers almost didn’t get to him in time, and he very nearly drowned. To make matters worse, it was filmed by media, so the whole excruciating episode was reported in minute detail worldwide. His near-death experience was viewed, discussed, written about, and retold repeatedly. He could never escape it.

Only when he heard his name spoken in a tone that suggested someone had been saying it multiple times did Hersch snap out of his dark memories. In front of him was a tall man in chinos and a polo shirt. His shaved head lent him a tough edge, but there was a warmth in his steely gray eyes that Hersch noticed immediately.

“You looked light-years away,” the man said, not unkindly.

Not a bad guess, Hersch thought, wrenching himself back into the present. Thursday afternoon, third week of May, in Carmel. His heart was still pounding, but he pieced the fractured parts of himself back together until his breathing regulated and a smile could form on his face.

“Lost in thought,” he replied.

“I’m Jay Malone,” the man said, extending his hand. “And you’re a man who needs no introduction. Herschel Greenfield, astronaut hero. I’ve been following your stellar career since the beginning.”

Hersch swallowed. Since his accident, his relationship with the media had changed. Where once he’d been happy to give interviews or take photos for the press, now he would do anything to sink into anonymity and be spared retelling his story. He began to thank Jay, asking which newspaper or magazine he wrote for, when Jay cut him off midsentence.

“I’m a Hollywood agent,” he explained. “I’ve got an eye for a story. And boy, do you have a good one. Have you ever considered turning your life story into a movie?”

Hersch was stunned. “A movie?”

Jay grinned. “When you sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to your mom on her sixtieth birthday from space, you were the most famous person on the planet for a week. That video went viral. Millions of hits. You touched people. Got them right here.” He thumped his chest.

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California Dreaming (The Davenports #1) Read Online Bella Andre http://www.ilovenovels.com/california-dreaming-the-davenports-1-read-online-bella-andre Tue, 27 Feb 2024 19:57:08 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/california-dreaming-the-davenports-1-read-online-bella-andre Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary Authors: Bella Andre Series: The Davenports Series by Bella Andre
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Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)

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Meet the Davenport family! Six brothers and sisters who call picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea home. Successful, brilliant, and passionate, the only thing they all still need is the perfect partner in love and life.   

Hotshot movie star Archer Davenport has never met a stunt he couldn’t ace, a challenge he couldn’t overcome, or a woman he couldn’t have. When he breaks his leg during a dangerous stunt, the production company insists on hiring a live-in caretaker for him. He refuses the help…until he meets Tessa Taylor. She’s not only caring and beautiful, she’s also as tough on him as a drill sergeant.

  Tessa knows all about confident men. She used to be married to one and that didn’t go well. Her only solace is her painting, even if she has no talent, as her late husband always claimed. Her biggest problem on this job, however, is that sexy, magnetic Archer makes her toes curl with desire every time he’s near. She does everything she can to try to remain professional. But it gets harder and harder every day as she starts to fall for him—and for his amazing family—even though she knows she’ll have to leave him for her next client as soon as he’s fully recovered.   

Arch, however, has no plans to let Tessa disappear once his leg is fully recovered. In fact, as the sparks between them grow hotter and hotter, he’s determined to show Tessa that she’s not only the most incredible and loving woman he’s ever known, she’s also the most talented.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Archer Davenport gazed out at the beach below the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea and took a deep breath of the salt-tinged sea air. The waves were often huge, crashing into the shore, but today the water lapped gently on the sand. He didn’t have much time in town, and he craved a walk on the beach before he had to leave his favorite place on earth and head back to Hollywood.

He pulled off his shoes and socks, rolled up the cuffs of his jeans, and let his toes squish into the soft, golden sand, just the way he had for more than thirty of his thirty-four years. He loved Carmel, loved it more than anything he could think of, except for his family. Coming home for his dad’s sixty-fourth birthday party had given him the excuse he needed to get away from filming in LA for a couple of days.

Arch was at the point in his acting career where he could pick and choose his roles. At present, he was having the time of his life remaking a famous buddy Western with his real-life friend Smith Sullivan. Smith was playing the older, wiser gentleman train robber, while Arch was playing the younger, devil-may-care character who ran headfirst into danger and worried about the consequences later. Apart from the Western garb and the steam trains, it wasn’t so different from their relationship in real life.

He grinned, watching the dogs running free on one of the few truly dog-friendly beaches in the US. Somehow, without it being explicitly said, all of the dog owners made sure to pick up after their dogs and also knew to bring only friendly dogs that wouldn’t get into fights. Before Arch’s career had taken off, he used to love to come down to the beach to walk the family dog, Buster, and soak in the joy of watching dogs running with their ears flapping in the wind and their tails wagging as they met other dogs.

He knew a few of the people on the beach by sight and took the time to say quick hellos. In most places around the world, he needed to wear a ball cap and sunglasses so that he wasn’t constantly bombarded by requests for selfies. He was beyond grateful for his fans and knew it was the price he paid to be one of the hottest actors in Hollywood. But sometimes he just wanted to walk on the beach in peace. One of the best things about Carmel-by-the-Sea was that there were so many celebrities here—the legendary Clint Eastwood had been mayor for nearly a decade—and the town culture was to leave famous people alone. Amazingly, even the tourists mostly picked up that basic courtesy.

Just then, he heard the click of a smartphone camera and knew someone had caught on to his identity, but apart from that snatched photograph, he was left in peace. At least until a shaggy white dog spotted him, ran up fresh from the sea, and shook itself, depositing a spray of sandy seawater all over Arch. Then the dog dropped a slobbery red ball at his feet and barked an instruction for Arch to throw it.

Obeying the dog’s command, he picked up the ball and lobbed it into the edge of the surf. As the dog went careening after it, Arch kept walking, giving a cheerful wave to its owner.

Coming toward him was a sprightly older lady with a cast on her arm. He had known Margaret Percy all his life. She owned one of the historic fairy-tale cottages built by Hugh Comstock that was a couple of blocks back from the beach. Margaret was one of Arch’s favorite people in Carmel. In her early eighties, she was always off on some adventure or another. There might be a large age difference between them, but deep down they recognized each other as kindred souls.

They were both daredevils.

Margaret was walking with a much younger woman. A woman who made him feel like all the air had been sucked out of his lungs just from looking at her.

Arch mingled with celebrities every day. He worked with some of the most beautiful women in the world, all of whom had makeup, hair, costume, and lighting designers to enhance their looks. But all of those famous women left him cold. Whereas this one, with her blue jeans and navy hoodie, her dark hair pulled back in a simple ponytail, had something about her that drew him. She hadn’t done a thing to enhance her looks—in fact, the only thing on her face even close to makeup was a little gloss on her full lips. Her eyes were big and blue and framed by dark, spiky lashes.

And he couldn’t stop staring.

When she turned her gaze on him, he saw the moment that she recognized him, because her eyes widened ever so slightly. A moment later, however, she seemed to realize she was staring and looked toward the ocean.

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Endless in Love – The Maverick Billionaires Read Online Bella Andre http://www.ilovenovels.com/endless-in-love-the-maverick-billionaires-read-online-bella-andre Sun, 12 Nov 2023 07:05:01 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/endless-in-love-the-maverick-billionaires-read-online-bella-andre Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary Authors: Bella Andre Advertisement

Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)

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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?

ENDLESS IN LOVE is part of Bella Andre and Jennifer Skully’s bestselling series about The Maverick Billionaires. While it can easily be read as a standalone story, you'll likely enjoy reading the other books too.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

“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.

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