Deborah Bladon – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Deborah Bladon – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:40:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.ilovenovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Deborah Bladon – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com 32 32 Remain Small Town Second Chance Holiday Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/remain-small-town-second-chance-holiday-read-online-deborah-bladon Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:40:50 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/remain-small-town-second-chance-holiday-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Novella Authors: Deborah Bladon Advertisement

Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >39

I didn’t come home for Christmas.

I came back to Pineview to finalize my mother’s estate, sign the paperwork, and leave before the memories had a chance to catch up to me.

My mom has been gone long enough that people assume the hardest part is over. But grief doesn’t fade quietly, especially not in a small town during the holidays, when traditions are loud and everyone remembers who you used to be.

I wasn’t supposed to run into Erik Beaumont.

Erik stayed when I left. He built a life here that is steady, rooted, and quietly magnetic. He is familiar and different all at once, the kind of familiar that still knows exactly where it hurts.

When Pineview pulls us back into its Christmas traditions, old feelings resurface. So do unanswered questions, buried truths, and a past that refuses to stay behind me.

With my return flight booked, my life in New York City waiting, and Christmas closing in fast, I am forced to confront what I have been avoiding for years. What it means to leave. What it means to stay. And whether some loves ever truly let you go.

Because in Pineview, Christmas doesn’t just bring people together.

It brings the truth you can’t outrun.

A deeply emotional, slow-burn small-town Christmas romance about second chances, childhood sweethearts, enduring traditions, and the kind of love that lingers long after you think you have moved on

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

1

Savannah

New York City doesn’t ease you into Christmas. It slinks a garland around your neck and slaps you across the face with mistletoe. Hard.

Then asks why you’re not smiling.

It glitters at you, loudly, aggressively, as though Christmas showed up uninvited and immediately took over the whole damn house. You can’t escape it even if you try with lights everywhere, wreaths zip-tied to scaffolding like the city panicked at the last minute, and bells ringing with the enthusiasm of someone who’s never met seasonal depression.

Rockefeller Plaza looms like a dare. An iconic shrine to Christmas past, present, and impossibly well-lit. The kind of place you grew up watching in movies, where everyone falls in love, nobody slips on ice, and coats apparently provide zero insulation but look great doing it.

This is the Christmas people picture when they think of the holidays and New York City is turned all the way up to an eleven. The city comes alive buzzing with tourists, overpriced cocoa, and the unspoken understanding that we are all pretending this is magical and not deeply inconvenient.

I kind of like that about it. Even if I dread this time of the year.

Snow drifts between buildings that have never known my mother’s name, and that anonymity feels like mercy. No one here expects me to decorate a tree or show up for traditions I abandoned years ago. No one looks at me like they’re waiting for me to remember who I used to be. I can just dip into it momentarily and find refuge back in the safe space I built for myself.

I wrap my fingers around my coffee mug and stare out the window of my Brooklyn studio apartment, watching the city pulse below. Somewhere down the block, Mariah Carey is threatening to defrost, and I shut the window before the sound can crawl inside my chest.

I step back from the glass.

My apartment is quiet in a way Pineview never was. Clean lines. Neutral colors. No hand-me-down furniture. No photographs framed with love instead of symmetry. Everything here is intentional, curated. A life assembled piece by piece until it fits neatly around the parts of me I’m willing to acknowledge.

Behind me, the bed creaks.

“You always drink coffee like it personally offended you,” a rugged voice, rough with sleep.

I don’t turn around right away.

He’s stretched out across my bed, naked and unbothered, one arm tucked behind his head, the sheet pooled low on his hips like it forgot its job sometime during the night. His hair is mussed, his mouth curved into an easy smile that suggests he’s very pleased with how the morning started. I won’t lie, so am I.

“I’m thinking bagels,” he adds. “Or we could be ambitious. Eggs. Something with effort. I make a mean scramble.”

I glance over my shoulder. “You don’t strike me as an effort-before-noon person.”

He laughs softly. “You seemed to like my effort last night.”

Heat flickers in my chest. “Coffee first,” I blush. “Then we’ll see.”

“Fair,” he pushes himself upright, the sheet slipping further. I catch a glance of what lies beneath, the pressure of him still lingering inside of me. “You’re staying in today?”

“For a bit.”

“Good.” He stretches, unhurried. “I could be convinced to stay too.”

“Don’t tempt a girl,” I tease.

He grins. “Challenge accepted.”

I don’t respond. My gaze falls to the floor as I turn back to the window, to the city that keeps moving.

My phone buzzes against the counter. I don’t need to look to know who it is. I already know.

Aunt Carol.

I let it ring.

“Everything okay?” he asks casually, reaching for his jeans.

“Yeah,” I sigh, louder than I’m expecting. “You know, that time of the year. Family.”

“Oof,” he says softly, sympathy in his eyes as he buttons his shirt. “Do you want me to head out?”

The question is careful and kind. We matched on a dating app not long ago, and I know what he’s hoping for. I only wanted the distraction along with the brief forgetting. I’m not ready for more from him.

I’m not even ready for more from myself.

“I think I do. Thank you for understanding. I’ll text you later, okay?”

He nods, unfazed. “I’ll hold you to that.”

The phone buzzes again, insistent now, the way Pineview people are when they’ve decided something is happening whether you like it or not.

I answer. “Hi, Auntie.”

“Oh thank God. I was worried you wouldn’t pick up. I’ve been texting and emailing. Next I thought, I’d have to show up there myself.”

“I’m in the middle of something,” I half-lie, because that’s easier than admitting I was standing still, wrapped in a life that looks complete from the outside, watching a man I barely know finish dressing.

“Well, I’ll be quick.” A pause. “It’s December.”

There it is.

Pineview never dives straight in. It circles, building momentum and waits for the inevitable.

“I’m not coming home for Christmas,” I affirm, voice light. I’ve practiced and rehearsed this all year. “You know that.”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >39

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Charm (The Buck Boys Heroes #7) Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/charm-the-buck-boys-heroes-7-read-online-deborah-bladon Sat, 16 Aug 2025 22:25:32 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/charm-the-buck-boys-heroes-7-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary Authors: Deborah Bladon Series: The Buck Boys Heroes Series by Deborah Bladon
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Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91594 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >95

I spent a weekend with a mystery man I found skinny-dipping in my pool.

I had no idea I was swimming with the corporate shark trying to steal my company.

A weekend at a luxury beach house is exactly what the doctor ordered after my year from hell.

I’m looking forward to long days lounging by the pool with a good book and a glass of wine at my side. Moonlit walks along the beach are on the agenda, as is the chance to finally test out whether the cooking classes I invested in were worth the money.

All those glorious plans get tossed aside when I spot a stranger in the pool within minutes after I arrive for my peaceful escape from the big city.

I do what any New Yorker would I curse at him.

He laughs at me.

When I order him to get out of the pool, he does just that…completely naked.

It turns out the mystery man owns the beach house next to the one I’m staying in.

What was supposed to be a long weekend of solitude turns into three days of solid fun, as in he’s solid from head to toe.

We part ways with nothing but sweet memories.

Six weeks later, I walk into the most important meeting of my life and find him sitting across from me.

Holden Sheppard may be my corporate enemy, but it takes all my strength not to be charmed back into his arms and his bed

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

CHAPTER ONE

Greer

“Greer Laurel Irwin, are you seriously not going to tell me where you are?” Krista Bellard, one of my oldest and sometimes dearest friends, whines over the phone.

I smile at the sound of my full name. She only uses it when she really wants something from me. In this case, it’s information about my current whereabouts, but that’s top secret. Krista can’t stand being out of the loop, and right now, her curiosity is getting the better of her.

“You know you always have more fun when I’m with you,” she says.

I’d amend that statement with an almost right before the always because things haven’t been as rosy as they could be when we’ve been together over the past few months.

Krista’s upcoming wedding has taken its toll on her and our friendship. I can’t blame her for any of it, though. She’s trying to balance the requests of her mom and her future mother-in-law with her fiancé’s vision for the wedding. Add the demands of our shared business to that, and Krista’s plate is full.

I feel a slight pang of guilt for keeping my destination a secret, but it vanishes as I step inside the house that will be my home for the next three days.

East Hampton is a dream this time of year. When I realized I had the opportunity to stay here for an entire weekend, I jumped at the chance. I was tempted to cartwheel at the chance, but I left those days behind when I gave up cheerleading after high school.

That was fourteen years ago. I shake my head at the thought of the girl I was on the day I graduated as a senior with an eye on the future.

My life hasn’t conformed to the script I thought it would, but I’m not complaining.

“I’m in a safe place,” I say to Krista as I drop my overnight bag and purse on the white tile floor in the entryway. “It’s very safe here.”

“That’s a shitty clue, Greer.” She laughs. The sound is so warm and comforting that I can’t help but smile. Krista’s laughs have always been the best.

“I prefer to remain clueless.” I sit with that for a second before I chuckle. “You know what I mean.”

“I know that you needed a break from Manhattan.” She sighs. “My big break is coming up, so how can I fault you for wanting one, too?”

She can’t.

She’s set to jet off to Hawaii in just a few months for her honeymoon. Since it’s her favorite place on earth, I’m over the moon happy for her.

East Hampton may not be Honolulu, but it’s the perfect place for me to relax. I have three days to do that, and I plan on taking advantage of every second.

“If you run into any issues with…”

“Stop,” Krista jumps in to interrupt me. “You’re off the clock in every way. I vow not to disturb you for any reason. In fact, I’ll forget your phone number until Monday at nine a.m. sharp.”

I don’t bother reminding her that I’ll be back in Manhattan by six p.m. sharp on Sunday night. “What is my phone number, Krista?”

Silence greets me before she laughs again. “Very funny. I admit I don’t know it off the top of my head, but I’ll ignore your name in my contact list until Monday morning. How’s that?”

I’m all in since it’s just past seven p.m. on Thursday. I have all day Friday, Saturday, and most of Sunday to lose myself in the fresh air and the breeze coming off the water since this gorgeous gem of a house is beachfront with a perfect ocean view.

“Deal,” I whisper, knowing I’ll be the first person she calls if there’s an emergency. I always am.

“I love you, Greer,” she says. “In case I don’t say it often enough.”

We promised years ago that we’d never end a conversation without those three words, so I repeat them, “I love you.”

“I hope this weekend gives you everything you need.” Her voice softens. “Get a little sun if possible, and some sex wouldn’t hurt you, although some of the best sex I’ve ever had hurt a little.”

I’m not about to open a discussion about my non-existent sex life, so I avoid it altogether. “Don’t stress about the wedding plans. You’ve got this.”

“I sure do,” she says, but doubt taints each word. “I’ll see you on Monday, Greer.”

Before I can tell her goodbye, she ends the call. I toss my phone on a table next to where I’m standing. The vase filled with wildflowers that is sitting on it is an added bonus. I make a mental note to thank the owner of the house for her hospitality with a card and a fresh fruit bouquet.

Like a moth to a flame, I’m drawn to the wall of windows that beckon from across the expansive space. I dart around the large, comfy-looking furniture and a tall lamp set up next to a chair. I’ll put that to good use later when I sit down to open a thriller novel for the first time in years.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >95

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Game Changer Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/game-changer-read-online-deborah-bladon Mon, 12 May 2025 18:28:43 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/game-changer-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary Authors: Deborah Bladon Advertisement

Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >102

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Deborah Bladon, comes a standalone romance featuring a deliciously handsome dating coach and the woman who breaks all his rules.

I’ve built a successful career helping men get the women they desire while schooling them in the lost art of respect and chivalry.

It’s much more than a job to me. I live my life by those same principles.

I’m polite and generous, and I always call after spending the night with a woman.

But don’t be mistaken – this gentleman still knows exactly where to kiss, bite, lick, and touch.

I’m William Knight.

Professional Wingman. Master of Sex. The Dating Doc.

My official title is Personal Advisor. At least, that’s what my business card says.

I believe I have it all. Money. Power. Respect.

Until I meet her.

Opal Waverly is the game changer. She’s smart, witty as hell, and she’s kind. She’s the type of kind that sneaks into your heart and cracks it open far enough that love slips in.

Hear that? That’s me waxing poetic while I drown my sorrows in a glass of scotch because Opal is the object of another man’s desire.

And he’s paying me an obscene amount of money to make her fall in love with him.

Author’s This breathtakingly refreshing romance does not contain any cheating or a love triangle

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

1

William

“If you ask me to go home with you, I will.”

I shift my gaze to the right so it lands on the woman who just uttered those words to me. She’s cute. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and full lips covered in a pink shimmery gloss are what I notice first.

The tight black dress she’s wearing fits the occasion. I’m at a fundraiser because I do my part to contribute when needed. Tonight, it’s a gala to benefit an off-Broadway theatre organization. The host is a man I did business with two years ago. The woman he married last month is a fan of the arts, so he took on the role of raising money even though he can cut a check for millions, and it wouldn’t leave a dent in his bank account.

“What do you say, handsome?” The woman next to me trails a finger up the sleeve of my tuxedo jacket.

I say no.

It’s not because she’s not desirable. The woman is attractive, but there’s a tan line wrapped around the ring finger of her left hand. She’s either married and looking to score some tall, dark-haired, chiseled-jaw handsomeness on the side, or she’s recently divorced. She could be a widow, but I doubt like hell she’s in mourning.

She saddles up closer to me at this makeshift bar in the corner of the ballroom at one of Manhattan’s most luxurious hotels.

“Do you have a roommate?” Her finger reaches the top of the collar of my white button-down shirt. “I can get us a room here if that’s the case.”

I turn to give her my full attention because women deserve that.

Her gaze skims over my face.

I’m better looking than most men in this room. That’s not my ego talking. I know I was blessed when it comes to good bone structure.

I’m gifted in other ways, but she won’t enjoy that tonight.

“I’m flattered.” I flash her a smile to lessen the blow of the next words out of my mouth. “I’m not interested.”

I could have played it kinder and told her I’m tired or in a committed relationship.

Both the former and the latter are lies.

I don’t see the point in lying to a woman who is putting herself out there. She’s being straight with me by telling me she wants me. I’m being clear with her by explaining she’s not what I’m looking for.

“What do you mean you’re not interested?” She arches her back to bring her ample tits into the conversation.

My gaze drops to the low cut neckline of her dress because breasts…but I shift back to eye contact immediately. “I’m not interested in fucking you tonight.”

“Ohhhh,” she drags that one-syllable word out. “You’re busy tonight, so another night works better? I’m free tomorrow.”

She’s making this harder than it needs to be, and I’m not talking about my dick. It’s still taking it easy. Nothing about her is getting a rise out of me.

“I’ll never be interested.”

Her eyes widen in shock. “Why not?”

I imagine men would come running if she snapped her fingers, but I’m not one of them. “I know what I’m looking for, and you’re not it.”

“I could be,” she says hopefully. “I’m not interested in more than one night.”

I have enough experience with women to know that there’s a good chance she’s not being completely honest. The tan line on her ring finger suggests she was interested in more than a one-night stand at some point in her life; some recent point in her life.

If I take her to bed, she’ll want more.

Again, my ego is not driving this train, but women love good sex. They dream about great sex, and when they get phenomenal sex, they latch on.

I’m a notch above phenomenal.

I carefully pick and choose the women I sleep with. I vet them, if you will, so when we say goodbye after we’ve had fun, they aren’t going to chase me down looking for more.

My work keeps me too busy for a social life, and my choice to not commit to one woman means there’s a permanent lasso wrapped around my heart.

I’m self-aware. I’m not strolling through life avoiding a relationship because I have issues that date back to my childhood.

To put it simply, I’m happy living alone. I’m happier when I’m fucking different women.

There’s no need to delve deeper than that.

“When was your divorce finalized?” I question.

Her gaze drops to her hand. “What?”

“Your marriage ended when?”

“It’s not officially over.” She rolls her eyes. “We separated last week.”

Nodding, I scan the room. “Is this your first time out since you two called it quits?”

Her shoulders slump forward. “Yes, and it’s hard.”

“What’s your name?” I’m not interested in knowing this woman, but she wants to feel something from me. Outright rejection will sting. I sense that’s the last thing she needs right now.

“Holly.” Her smile brightens. “What’s your name?”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >102

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Honor Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/honor-read-online-deborah-bladon Mon, 21 Oct 2024 11:26:25 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/honor-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Erotic Authors: Deborah Bladon Advertisement

Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >109

I agreed to be a stranger’s maid of honor because of the perks.

How was I supposed to know my grump of a boss was the best man?

Reid Hunt has it all – he’s a partner in a private equity firm, his bank account is bulging, and he gets anything he wants at the snap of his fingers.

How do I know?

I’m his executive assistant.

The jerk has me running around New York City at breakneck speed doing menial tasks.

I didn’t earn a degree from a prestigious school for this, but I need the job, at least for now.

So when fun falls in my lap in the form of a desperate heiress looking for someone to be her maid of honor, I agree to do it. It all feels too good to be true including a whirlwind weekend trip to Paris to choose her wedding dress and champagne tasting after work.

I’m having the time of my life until the night I meet the groom and his best man at one of the most expensive restaurants in Manhattan.

Fate gets the last laugh when Mr. Hunt heads straight to our table and sits down beside me.

He’s the worst best man ever. I’m the maid of honor who loves to hate him.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness my life explode.

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

CHAPTER ONE

Evie

I elbow the guy next to me on the subway because his manspreading is seriously cramping my style. It’s cramping everything and everyone trying to get to work this morning.

He’s taking up at least three seats. Every person on this train now knows that he’s a rich son-of-a-bitch who made Julie scream to the high heavens last night. Those are his words, not mine.

Why anyone chooses to talk on the phone while riding the subway is beyond me. Keep it to yourself. No one cares that you’re wealthy and, according to yourself, a great lover.

I toss him my best ‘you’re disgusting’ look, but all I get back is a flash of his Prince Charming smile.

Men like him lurk around every corner of Manhattan.

They are also at the helm of many multi-million and billion dollar businesses. I should know. I work for one of those men.

One big difference between my boss, Reid Hunt, and the man beside me is that Mr. Hunt doesn’t take public transportation. That and Reid is a fifteen hundred on a scale of one to one thousand. The suit staring at me right now is maybe a seven hundred.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Julie’s big-mouthed lover cocks a brow. “What’s your name?”

Shaking my head, I scratch the side of my nose.

He ends the call he’s been ignoring since we locked eyes. “I know you.”

He doesn’t.

His phone starts ringing again. He glances at it before his focus shifts back to my face. His gaze trails over my chin, cheeks, and nose before landing squarely on my blue eyes.

I haven’t had the displeasure of meeting him in person, but we spoke on the phone a few times, and I never forget a voice.

Magnus Brewster owned a business that my boss bought eight months ago. Even though Vidori Capital Partners had a team of attorneys handling the finer details, Mr. Hunt took a hands-on approach and befriended Mr. Brewster. My boss wanted the deal so badly that he’d interrupt anything to make it happen.

I know this because one afternoon, when Mr. Hunt was handling a personal matter, Magnus called the office looking for him. I told him Mr. Hunt was unavailable, but Magnus claimed it was an emergency, so I called my boss. When Reid answered, he was out of breath, and judging by the feminine laughter floating in the air around him, he wasn’t out jogging.

Magnus narrows his brown eyes. “I swear I know you.”

Shaking my head, I smile. “You don’t.”

“You’re a friend of Giselle’s, aren’t you?” He circles his index finger in the air in front of my face. “I remember every friend my younger sister ever had. You’re one of them. You went to Fortman with her.”

I went to public school in Milford, Connecticut. A year of tuition at the renowned Fortman Academy on the Upper West Side of Manhattan costs more than my current annual salary.

“Wrong face.” I laugh it off. “I’m just a woman trying to get to work on a very crowded subway.”

Looking me over, he runs a hand along his smooth jaw.

I wish I had taken a minute more to choose something to wear to work today. My light blue dress screams spring, but it’s a smidge too tight in the chest area. That’s what I get for buying it off the discount rack.

While he tries to figure out the riddle of who I am, I point at him. “Would you mind moving over a bit, please?”

He finally crosses his long legs. “Something about you is very familiar. Did you have a crush on me when you and Giselle were teenagers? Is that it? You’re embarrassed to admit it now, aren’t you?”

Inflated ego much, Brewster?

Feeling as though it’s my duty to knock him down a notch or two, I sigh. “It’s not that. It’s…”

His back straightens. “It’s what?”

I hope Julie, the woman who supposedly made a call to the high heavens when he was nailing her, appreciates what I’m about to do. A man should never kiss and tell.

The train slows as it approaches my stop, so I raise my voice just loud enough that every person within three feet can hear me. “That night we spent together was one of the worst I’ve ever had.”

His mouth falls open. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“That’s what I said when it was over.” I roll my eyes. “You must have been having an off night, Brewster.”

Confusion knits his brow at my mention of his surname. “We fucked? You’re cute, but you’re not my usual type.”

“I feel the same way about you.” Rising to my feet, I pat his shoulder. “Thank goodness there are a lot of single men in this city.”

I exit the train, never turning back to catch the look on Mr. Brewster’s face. I don’t have the time. I’m already running late, and if there’s one thing Mr. Hunt despises, it’s tardiness.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >109

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Dreamboat – The Hawthornes of New York Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/dreamboat-the-hawthornes-of-new-york-read-online-deborah-bladon Sat, 31 Aug 2024 08:13:38 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/dreamboat-the-hawthornes-of-new-york-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary Authors: Deborah Bladon Advertisement

Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >74

I came home with more than memories from a luxury cruise.
I’m pregnant, and my brother’s boss is my baby’s daddy.
Dr. Donovan Hunt is a respected veterinarian, the poster boy for panty melting hot, and a wizard between the sheets.
He’s also my brother’s boss.
Boo, right?
Wrong.
A few tropical drinks in the Caribbean sunshine on a luxury cruise and all of my reservations disappear, as does my tiny string bikini when we hit Donovan’s stateroom.
We spend two glorious days in his bed.
When we return to Manhattan, we agree to go our separate ways.
Technically, I agree to go my separate way because Donovan wants our high sea adventure to continue on solid ground.
I give in because the man is fun with a capital F, if you know what I mean.
Fast forward six weeks, and I’m in for the surprise of my life.
I’m pregnant, and Donovan is on board to be the ultimate dad I’d like to… well, you get the idea.

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

CHAPTER ONE

Delia

“Would you care for a glass of champagne, Miss Hawthorne?”

I’m a lifelong New Yorker, so alarm bells start ringing in my head when I hear a stranger say my name.

It takes me no more than a millisecond to quiet that down because the passenger ID badge with my name and picture printed on the front of it is dangling between my breasts from a royal blue lanyard.

It wouldn’t be my first choice of an accessory for the red and white sundress I’m wearing, but it’s a necessary part of my ensemble for the ‘meet and greet’ portion of my evening.

“Sure,” I volley back with a slight smile.

When my younger brother handed me the information packet for this cruise along with a half-hearted “Happy Birthday, Delia,” I was stunned.

I’ve never told Callum that I wanted to go on a cruise to the Caribbean because I didn’t, but he saw fit to buy me a ticket complete with meals and drinks so I could spend five days on the ocean with several hundred people I’ve never met.

The server hands me a tall crystal flute filled with a blush pink bubbly liquid. “Here you go, Miss Hawthorne.”

“It’s Delia,” I tell him as I trade him the champagne for one of the five dollar bills I have tucked in the pocket of my dress.

During the flight from New York City to Miami, I looked up ship tipping etiquette online because the last thing I want to be is someone who doesn’t know the unspoken rules of the sea.

The results of that search were mixed.

Some cruisers on the forum I found wrote that it’s unnecessary to tip on an all-exclusive package, while others commented to tip to your heart’s content.

My heart is telling me that it can’t be all fun and games to handle overzealous passengers and everything that comes with that.

“Wow,” he mutters under his breath. “Thank you. I’m Clever, by the way.”

“Are you now?” I grin as I down half the champagne in one gulp.

“That’s my name,” he further explains to chase away my assumption that he’s clever in a smart kind of way.

“Your name is Clever?” I spit out before I raise the glass to my lips again.

His blue eyes are a perfect complement to his scruffy blond hair.

That online forum I scanned also had a section for anonymous cruise confessions. Let’s just say that it’s not unheard of for the staff to indulge in a little extra fun with the passengers.

It’s going to be a never for Clever and me, though.

I’m not looking for a hook up on this trip. I’m here to enjoy the sun and the two Caribbean ports that promise delicious treats and white sandy beaches that stretch on for miles.

This is the first time I’ve ever taken a vacation alone, and although I’m still reluctant to be here, carving five days out of my life for nothing but relaxation may be just what I need.

“It’s cool, right?” His perfectly straight white teeth gleam bright as he smiles. “My real name is Marvin, but I’m a magician in training. Clever sounds better on stage.”

“You’re a magician?” I ask before finishing the champagne. “How long have you been doing that?”

Without questioning me, he plucks the empty flute from my fingers and replaces it with a full one from the circular tray he’s been balancing on one palm.

I tried waiting tables once years ago. Carrying a tray with more than an empty plate and fork was beyond my skillset, so I was unceremoniously fired partway through my first shift.

“Two years.” He nods. “So I was nineteen when I started. I want my name to be lighting up the Vegas strip by the time I’m twenty-five.”

“You’ll do it,” I say to encourage him because who doesn’t occasionally need to hear that someone has blind faith in them?

His smile widens even more. “Thanks, Delia.”

I sip my champagne while he looks me over. “My shift is over at eleven. We could meet up for more champagne if you want.”

“I’m thirty-one,” I blurt out for some reason.

Clever nods. “Good to know, but age is only a number. Let’s just say I showed some magic to a passenger celebrating her forty-eighth birthday last week, and she’s already booked herself in to sail my way again.”

I can’t help but smile. “I’ll pass on the private magic show.”

“I get it.” He glances toward two women chatting it up near us in this piano bar. “You’ve got someone special waiting for you at home, right?”

I’ve got an empty apartment and a monumental decision waiting for me at my home in Manhattan.

“If you change your mind, I’ll be around,” he promises with an exaggerated wink of his left eye. “A cruise is a place to toss your inhibitions into the sea. No one will know what you do on this ship.”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >74

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Rook (The Buck Boys Heroes #6) Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/rook-the-buck-boys-heroes-6-read-online-deborah-bladon Sat, 30 Mar 2024 18:33:55 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/rook-the-buck-boys-heroes-6-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Alpha Male Authors: Deborah Bladon Series: The Buck Boys Heroes Series by Deborah Bladon
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Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >85

I’m a fragrance chemist with a genius IQ. He’s a hotshot, dirty-talking lawyer.So long, virginity. I almost have it all including a loving family, a not-too-annoying best friend, and a thriving career I’m proud of.What I don’t have and have never had is a lover.I’m a… (wait for it because I have)… twenty-nine-year-old virgin.I’m determined to change that on my thirtieth birthday.I devise a plan to make it happen. The plan consists of a hookup app and some liquid courage in the form of a few glasses of champagne.My perfect plan falls apart when I blurt out to the hottest man on the planet that I’m still carrying my V-card.Being the gentleman he is, he offers to help me out.I should say no because he’s my sister’s boss, but he’s too good to pass up. I mean, the offer is too good to pass up. (Either way, I’m not about to turn him down.)Rook Thorsen will be my first, and then we’ll part ways because he has a law firm to run and a daughter to raise.I have a heart that I protect at all costs, so our first time arrangement suits me just fine.Until I realize that one night with Rook isn’t nearly enough.

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

CHAPTER ONE

Carrie

As soon as I turn around, my gaze drops to the man on one knee in front of me.

“Not now, Telford,” I scold him. “We’re on a tight deadline.”

He ignores everything I just said. “Love Bug, you own the key to my heart, so go ahead and use it to open our wedlock.”

I flash him two thumbs down. “Epic fail, Tel.”

His nose scrunches, causing his eyeglasses to wiggle. “What? An epic fail? Why?”

I motion for him to stand. “Get up.”

He darts to both feet, straightening the employee ID badge hanging from the lanyard around his neck. “Will I ever get it right?”

I can’t promise he will, so I do the next best thing and offer the reassurance I know he needs. “Stop searching online for proposal scripts. You’ve got this. All you need to do is speak from the heart.”

“From the heart?” A look of horror flashes over his expression. “How? What? Why?”

I hold in a grin. “Yes, from the heart.”

He taps his chest before his hand jumps to his forehead, pushing a few strands of his blond hair aside. “This heart and this mind don’t communicate.”

“They communicate non-stop.” I glance at the clock hanging on the wall in our lab. “You’re a scientist. You know this.”

“I’m not talking about my subconscious mind.” He rolls his eyes. “I’m talking about my conscious mind and its inability to come up with even one original romantic thought. Do I need to remind you about what happened last Valentine’s Day?”

Shaking my head, I shudder. “Please, no. Don’t do that.”

Ignoring my wishes yet again, Telford Harpin sighs. “I ordered what I thought was a singing telegram. It was actually a strip-o-gram, Carrie. A strip-o-gram.”

Even though I’m well aware of what went down on February fourteenth, since it happened right in front of me, I stay silent.

Telford has brought up that mistake at least a dozen times since.

I admit, I’ve replayed the moment in my mind more than that because the stripper was all kinds of hot. Telford stood in shock in the corner of the lab with his mouth hanging open until the stripper was down to his tighty whities. That’s when Tel decided to step in and pull the plug on his elaborate Valentine’s gift. It was in the nick of time because one of the executives of the company we work for showed up just as the stripper finished putting his clothes back on.

Crew Benton, the COO of Matiz Cosmetics, greeted the stripper with a hearty “hello” before he strolled over to Telford and me to discuss the project we were working on at the time.

It was a close call that could have ended horribly.

Telford glances toward the door of our lab. “I need guidance here. Your sister got engaged recently. What was her proposal like?”

“Her fiancé was naked.” I smile. “My sister was, too.”

“Naked?” The look of horror reappears on Tel’s face. “I’m not proposing naked. No damn way.”

I glance at his perfectly pressed white button-down shirt before my gaze drops to his brown pants and beyond to his sensible shoes. “Just because it worked for them doesn’t mean it will for everyone.”

“Their proposal wasn’t in public, was it?”

I bark out a laugh. “No. Abby told me that Declan dropped to one knee after they… you know. It all sounded very romantic. He gave her the ring that her late mom wore.”

My stepsister’s face lit up when she told me her engagement story. I’ve never seen her happier, but I suspect I will a week and a half from now when she gets married.

Telford clicks the pen in his hand. “It’s not my style, but I guess it’s a proposal Abby will never forget.”

“She won’t.” I smile. “We need to work. We have to turn in our samples by the end of the day.”

Telford glances at the long counter that holds all of the vials that contain small amounts of the concoctions we’ve spent the past two months working on. Matiz is one of the world’s most successful cosmetic brands. When I landed a position as a fragrance chemist with the company, it was like winning the lottery. The job is everything I’ve ever wanted, but if we don’t get these samples submitted now, we’ll have a lot of explaining to do.

“Let’s get to work.” He looks into my green eyes. “My next proposal will be the one. I can feel it.”

I’m not convinced, but I give him an A for effort.

“That dress could not be more perfect.” My sister stands back and stares at me. “Look at your waist, Carrie.”

I adjust my black-rimmed eyeglasses and peer into the floor-to-ceiling mirror in the middle of this bridal boutique. Katie Rose Bridal is the go-to destination in Manhattan if you need a wedding gown in record time and a gorgeous deep green maid-of-honor dress.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >85

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Virtue (The Morgans of New York #4) Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/virtue-the-morgans-of-new-york-4-read-online-deborah-bladon Sun, 03 Mar 2024 19:18:51 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/virtue-the-morgans-of-new-york-4-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary Authors: Deborah Bladon Series: The Morgans of New York Series by Deborah Bladon
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Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >74

Dr. Gaines Morgan is a man of virtue and a savior to many, but when I get on my knees for him, he transforms into someone only I know.

He’s always been the good one. The responsible one. The one with a list of accolades a mile long.

Dr. Gaines Morgan.

He’s a cardiologist with a stellar reputation.

He has saved countless lives with his brilliant mind and skilled hands.

But when he leaves the sanctity of the hospital, he craves more than the whispered words of gratitude from his patients and the pats on the back from his colleagues.

Dr. Morgan craves me.

He’s over a decade older than I am and has a lifetime’s worth of experience, but when he comes knocking on my door, I know he wants only one thing.

Me.

Our time together is perfect. It’s a fantasy come to life.

It’s all too good to be true until the man renowned for mending broken hearts does something that shatters mine.

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

CHAPTER ONE

Gaines

“Help! He passed out!”

Dammit.

I glance at the bag in my hand. Its takeout. A perfectly seared ahi tuna steak paired with a double serving of the best mushroom risotto in Manhattan. I ordered a side of steamed broccoli because I preach eating more greens to my patients daily, and occasionally, guilt spurs me to follow my own advice.

I look toward the door of Atlas 22. I’m less than ten steps away from exiting this restaurant in the West Village. If I do that, I’ll be home and indulging in my first good meal in a month. I plan on following that up with a solid eight hours of sleep. That’s another thing that has been sorely lacking in my life lately.

“Someone call 911!” Panic edges the same male voice that first alerted everyone in this packed restaurant to the fact that someone is in distress. “Tell them to hurry!”

Resigned to helping, I turn and drop my takeout bag on the checkout counter.

Naturally, it’s unmanned since virtually everyone in this establishment has rushed to the aid of the person who needs medical attention.

“I’m a doctor!” I shout as a warning for the crowd to part.

They do.

I sprint through the masses with a few pats on my back and a couple of people whispering that I’m a hero.

I’m far from that, but my training and experience will hopefully pay off tonight.

“Over here!” The manager waves me over with a flash of his hand. I recognize him from the countless times I’ve been here over the last few years. “He collapsed over here.”

I spot a man sprawled out on the floor between two tables, so I up my pace. This obviously isn’t as simple as a case of indigestion.

I’ve come to the rescue of a few of those at various restaurants over the years. Tonight is different. I can tell by the way the man on the floor is motionless.

“Move,” I demand to two wait staff clumsily trying to perform CPR.

“Are you sure you’re a doctor?” one asks. “You don’t look like any doctor I’ve ever been to.”

I don’t know what the hell she’s getting at, but I sense it’s a combination of my attire and the tattoo on my right bicep peeking out from under the sleeve of my gray T-shirt.

“Move!” I repeat louder so she’ll get her ass out of the way.

She scurries backward in an awkward crab walk, her cheeks blushing at my admonishment.

Her counterpart springs to his feet only to bump into the table we’re next to. A drink of something pink and sweet-smelling lands squarely on the chest of the guy on the floor.

“Jesus,” I whisper. “This is ridiculous.”

I drop to my knees, the fabric of my jeans landing in a puddle of the spilled drink.

My quiet night at home has been shot to hell, but I can’t focus on that right now, so I drop two fingers to the neck of the guy sprawled out wearing a now pink-stained white button-down shirt.

From the looks of him, he’s younger than I am.

I’d guess he’s around twenty-two or twenty-three, possibly edging closer to twenty-five.

“Who is he with?” I ask as I search for a pulse.

“Me,” a woman says from my left, her voice barely audible over the panicked hum of the people around me. “We’re on a blind date.”

“What’s his name?” I drop my ear to his lips, hoping like hell I hear a breath come out of him.

“Daxton,” the same woman answers. “I don’t remember his last name. A friend of a friend set us up.”

I barely register what she’s saying before I begin chest compressions. Daxton doesn’t have a pulse, and he’s not breathing. There’s no fucking way he’s dying tonight.

“I need an AED!” I yell, searching the gathered faces for the restaurant’s manager. When I spot him, I ask the question that could save this guy’s life. “Do you have an AED?”

He rakes both hands through his hair. “A what?”

“An automated external defibrillator. I need it now! Now!”

“We have one!” he shouts before he pushes his way through the crowd.

“I’m the manager. Tony Colter.” The man who raced to get the AED pats me on the back. “You saved his life.”

I take the compliment in stride as I watch the EMTs wheel Daxton out to the waiting ambulance. I’d accompany them, but he’s stable and in good hands. I’ve already alerted my colleague, who is on duty tonight, to expect Daxton to arrive at the hospital shortly. I’ll make my way over there and check in on him, but my first stop will be the staff locker room so I can change clothes. The sticky pink shit that spilled on Daxton and the floor is seeping through my jeans.

“You can eat on the house for the rest of your life,” Tony blurts out, grateful that someone didn’t die in the middle of his dining room tonight.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >74

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Wild Love – The Calvettis of New York Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/wild-love-the-calvettis-of-new-york-read-online-deborah-bladon Sun, 12 Nov 2023 07:05:16 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/wild-love-the-calvettis-of-new-york-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Contemporary Authors: Deborah Bladon Advertisement

Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >79

My older brother’s best friend has always been my archenemy.

Now he’s my husband. Thanks a lot, Las Vegas.

Daniel Lawton is the most annoying man on the planet.

He’s also my husband after a weekend spent in Vegas to celebrate my brother’s upcoming nuptials.

After a string of bad relationships, I swore I would never get married, but here I am, legally tied to the jerk.

With his big blue eyes, five hundred dollar haircut, and a body that would make any action hero sob in envy, he’s impossible to ignore.

I should know. I tried avoiding him in Sin City, but that ended with a wedding ring on my finger.

Now we’re at home in Manhattan and arguing at every turn.

When I make plans to fly back to Las Vegas to get an annulment, Daniel asks me for one small favor before I leave.

Unlike my husband, I have a heart, so I agree to help him out.

I soon realize that walking away from my mistake of a marriage may not be that easy after all.

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

CHAPTER ONE

Gina

Las Vegas is supposed to be the land of the lucky, so why do I feel like the unluckiest woman on earth?

I nudge an elbow into my sister’s ribs.

She turns to face me. “What the hell, Gina? That hurt.”

The smile on Bella’s face tells me that it might have stung a touch, but she’s fine.

I tilt my head slightly. “Why is Lawton here?”

Her gaze wanders to where our older brother, Dominick, is standing next to a poker table in this crowded casino. Seated to his left is his lifelong best friend.

Daniel Lawton.

I’ve known him for as long as I can remember. I can count on one hand the moments when we haven’t wanted to strangle each other.

“He’s Dominick’s best man,” she points out. “How could I not invite him?”

I tuck a few strands of my long brown hair behind my ear. “You could have given me a heads-up that he’d be here.”

“He said he couldn’t make it,” she explains, shrugging her shoulders. “I guess he decided to make a surprise appearance.”

That’s the type of surprise I can do without.

She glances to the left when the joyous sounds of someone hitting the jackpot on a slot machine fill the air.

I trail her gaze to see a woman dressed in a long white lace gown jumping up and down. Next to her is a man in a black tuxedo, complete with a red bow tie.

“Do you think they’re on their way to one of the chapels to get hitched?” Bella’s hands dart to the middle of her chest. “Or maybe they’re already married, and this is their wedding night.”

My sister is three years younger than me. She’s also happily married with a beautiful daughter.

Bella is a firm believer in true love.

She found it with her husband, and now that Dominick is marrying the love of his life, I’m the focus of my sister’s heart eyes, and wishful dreams.

On her wedding day, she predicted that I’d be married before my twenty-ninth birthday. Since that’s less than a month from now, it’s time for her to face reality.

I’m never walking down the aisle. Love hasn’t been kind to me.

I’ve lost count of how many men have broken my heart. There was a time when I thought I’d find my perfect match, but those days are long gone.

“If they got married here, I give it a week,” I say flippantly. “Las Vegas weddings are a bad idea.”

Bella’s head snaps in my direction. “Don’t be so cynical.”

I skim a hand over the skirt of the short royal blue dress I’m wearing. It was a gift from one of my many sponsors.

When I announced on social media that I was heading to Vegas for the weekend, I was inundated with messages from companies looking to cash in on my online popularity.

I’m an influencer.

My follower count across all platforms is in the tens of millions.

Countless strangers scrutinize every image, video, and review I post. It doesn’t matter if I’m raving about a new lipstick shade or if I’m in the kitchen of my grandmother’s Italian restaurant back in New York City. Everyone has an opinion on my every move.

It’s exhausting.

“I like that dress.” Bella points to what I’m wearing before her gaze drops to her black pencil skirt and pink blouse. “I’m a mom, so I dialed it back.”

I smile. “You look beautiful, Bella.”

She does.

My sister and I share the same hair color, but that’s where our similarities end.

She’s shorter than I am, and her striking blue eyes don’t match mine. I was born with the same shade of brown eyes as our mom.

“We should go over and say hi to Daniel,” she suggests. “When’s the last time we saw him?”

I can’t speak for her, but I know the exact date I last saw Daniel Lawton. I can tell her the time and where I was when he walked away from me. It was just past three on a Wednesday afternoon almost a year ago on the sidewalk at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street in the shadow of the Empire State Building.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >79

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Greed (The Buck Boys Heroes #5) Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/greed-the-buck-boys-heroes-5-read-online-deborah-bladon Mon, 04 Sep 2023 20:22:44 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/greed-the-buck-boys-heroes-5-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Contemporary Authors: Deborah Bladon Series: The Buck Boys Heroes Series by Deborah Bladon
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Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >71

A red-hot billionaire offered me a ride home. I’m about to find out if he’s as greedy in the bedroom as he is in business. The night I met Declan Wells, I was dressed as a fairytale princess. He looked like the devil in disguise. When my rideshare driver was a no-show, Declan offered me a lift home. Since we worked in the same building in Lower Manhattan, I didn’t see the harm in it. I had no idea that night would end with my gown and tiara on Declan’s bedroom floor. I had more fun than I’ve ever had before, so when Declan suggested a friends-with-extra-fun-benefits arrangement, I was completely on board. As an attorney, I don’t have time for a serious relationship, and after my messy divorce, I’m determined to honor my commitment to put my career before everything else. But then, Declan walks into my law firm with an offer too good to pass up. Agreeing to represent him is the best decision I’ve ever made.
Or is it the worst?

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

CHAPTER ONE

Abby

“What do we have here?”

I turn at the sound of the deeply seductive voice behind me. I’m not alarmed, but maybe I should be, given that it’s Saturday night and I’m alone on a sidewalk in Manhattan.

My gaze trails over expensive black leather shoes before landing on a well-tailored tuxedo. When I finally glance at the man’s face, I already know what I’ll find.

Eyes that are a shade of blue that the bright summer sky would envy stare at me. His bone structure is something out of the studio of a sculptor, and his dark brown hair is styled back from his forehead, giving him a look that speaks of sophistication.

He’s not a stranger to me, although we’ve never met.

“Hey,” I toss that out nonchalantly as if I’m unaware that I look like I stepped out of a child’s fairytale book, complete with the fake diamond tiara on my head and the glass slippers on my feet.

They’re not actually slippers or crafted of glass. They’re three-inch clear heels made from some type of plastic resin that is pinching the life out of my toes.

He looks at the light blue satin gown I’m wearing. “Your chariot has turned into a pumpkin. That’s why I heard you curse just now.”

“Curse?” A soft smile edges over my lips. “I swore.”

“You did,” he agrees with a nod of his chin. “I believe fuck was the word you chose to express your disappointment at being stood up by your rideshare.”

I shake my head. “I said all that out loud?”

“Loudly,” he makes the subtle correction. “Were you at a costume party?”

“Were you?” I bounce the question back at him.

“This is a tux.” He tugs on one of the lapels of the black jacket. “I’d only wear this to a costume party if I were pretending to be a billionaire.”

“Which suggests that you are a billionaire.”

He grins. “I didn’t say that.”

He didn’t need to.

I know exactly who he is.

He’s Declan Wells. He co-owns one of the most successful men’s underwear brands in the world. The company bears his surname. The headquarters for Wells happens to be in the same building where I work.

I’ve seen Mr. Wells in the lobby on more than one occasion. I’ve stood in front of him after boarding the elevator on the way up to my office at Thorsen & Associates. The legal firm is one floor below the three floors that Wells inhabits.

“I was at a fundraiser,” he says. “You weren’t. I know that because I would remember seeing you there.”

Tucking a strand of my blonde hair behind my ear, I sigh. “My fundraiser gown is green. This is my surprise-my-friend’s-daughter-on-her-fourth-birthday gown.”

“Do four-year-olds party until midnight?”

“The party broke up at seven-thirty,” I clarify. “The birthday girl was in bed by nine, but then her mom ordered take-out and wine, and well…”

“Well, how can a beautiful hazel-eyed princess turn that down?”

I smile at the compliment. “She couldn’t.”

He glances at the approaching traffic. “My driver is close.”

“Mine isn’t. I need to order another ride.”

“We’ll drop you off,” he offers. “There’s more than enough room in my car for you and your tiara.”

I smooth my fingers over the clear stones on the headpiece. “Thank you, but I’ll grab another ride.”

“You can trust me.”

My eyes lock on his. “Can I?”

That sends his head back in laughter, and it’s a sight to behold. Some men are handsome. Others border on gorgeous, but Declan Wells is in his own category. I know I’m not the only one who thinks that. Half of the women I work with have mentioned how hot he is.

His hand dives into the inner pocket of his jacket. He produces a leather wallet. He has it open in no time, and his driver’s license is in his palm.

“See for yourself.” He turns the license toward me so I can read the details, including his birthdate, thirty-three years ago.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >71

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Sweetheart – The Morgans of New York Read Online Deborah Bladon http://www.ilovenovels.com/sweetheart-the-morgans-of-new-york-read-online-deborah-bladon Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:03:42 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/sweetheart-the-morgans-of-new-york-read-online-deborah-bladon Genre: Billionaire, Contemporary, Erotic Authors: Deborah Bladon Advertisement

Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >77

I refused to fake marry my former best friend.
Now he’s my very real roommate.

Jameson Sheppard hates me.
The reason is simple. Two years ago, I refused to go along with his plan to get fake married.
That’s right. Jameson, my best friend for most of my life, wanted me to agree to be his wife so he could inherit his grandmother’s candy company.
He offered me two million dollars if I promised to say, “I do,” and stay married to him for five years.
When I said, “I don’t,” Jameson cut me out of his life.
I couldn’t lie for money. I can’t lie for any reason, not even if it meant losing the best friend I ever had.
I run into Jameson at the real wedding of our mutual friends. After a few glasses of champagne, we have some choice words for each other.
We started as friends, now we’re enemies, but our story doesn’t end there.
I never thought I’d end up living with Jameson.
But here we are, and it’s becoming harder every day to stay angry with my gorgeous ex-best friend, not fake fiancé, and sinfully sexy temporary roommate.

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

CHAPTER ONE

Sinclair

“How many glasses of champagne are too many?”

I can’t tell if the question my friend just asked is rhetorical, so I keep glancing around the crowded terrace. All I see are well-dressed people gathered here for the same reason.

The movement of Molly’s hand draws my gaze back to her face. Her curly red hair is tucked behind her ears. Her blue eyes weren’t bloodshot when we met up two hours ago, but they are now.

“Sinclair,” she bites my name out in a whisper shout. “How many glasses are too many?”

She follows the question with a sip of the expensive champagne that she’s become incredibly fond of since we arrived at the wedding of two of our former classmates.

I tilt my head. “How many have you had?”

“Counting this one?” she asks before she finishes what’s left in the glass in a single gulp.

I nod. “Yes. Counting the one you just downed.”

“Three.” She taps the center of her forehead. “Silly me. I meant four.”

I pluck the empty champagne flute from her fingers. “Three is one too many. Four is two too many.”

A bright smile glides over her lips. “So five is three too many?”

Molly Parkes is still as sweet as when we met in kindergarten. Our bond was forged in a sandpit on the school playground when she offered me half of a chocolate bar. That was twenty years ago. Although we don’t see each other as often as we’d like, it always feels like a homecoming when we get together in person.

“Yes,” I answer with a nod. “I hope they serve dinner right after the ceremony.”

“It’s a hope and a prayer from me because I am starving,” she enunciates both syllables of the last word. “I heard that the food at this place is heavenly.”

I can attest to that. One of my brothers celebrated his wedding here, and the food was incredible. Howerton House has built a solid reputation as the premier venue for events in Manhattan.

“You are going to score so hard tonight.” She bats her eyelashes. “Did I mention that your dress is hot as sin? Get it? Sin like your name and sin like really good sex.”

She did mention that when we met outside her apartment building in Greenwich Village. I asked my cab driver to stop by Molly’s place to pick her up. She came bounding out of the lobby doors with the bottom hem of her green dress brushing against her knees. As soon as she caught sight of my light blue dress, the compliments came spilling out of her at breakneck speed.

If I ever need an ego boost, Molly is my go-to.

“I only came so I could toast to the happy couple.” I raise the empty glass in my hand in the air. “Can you believe Dwight and Donna are tying the knot today?”

Molly’s head bobs up and down. “I one hundred percent believe it. I knew they were destined for each other in seventh grade.”

I shoot her a glance. “You did?”

“I clearly remember the first school dance we had that fall.” She twirls in a circle with her arms outstretched as if she’s about to launch into a waltz. “Dwight held out his hand to Donna. She took it, and they set the gym floor on fire with their fierce moves.”

That’s not how I recall it at all. From what I remember, Dwight hopped into what looked like a jig while Donna held onto his wrists while barely moving in her effort to match the ballad that was playing.

“All eyes were on you and Jameson at that dance too.” She winks. “Everyone was jealous because you looked like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers out there.”

I doubt like hell that most of the people we went to school with even know who those silver screen gems are.

I shake my head. “Jameson stepped on my toes more than once. He never apologized for that.”

Or the dozens of other ways he hurt me.

I considered Jameson Sheppard my best friend back then. I’ve known him longer than I’ve known Molly since Jameson’s mom and my mom met at a baby store. Jameson’s mom was on the hunt for a perfect crib for him. My mom pointed out the one she had just ordered for me, and the two pregnant women forged a bond over nursery furniture.

I could always count on Jameson to have my back. I had his, too, until he asked me for a favor that would have completely changed the course of my life. I couldn’t do it. I outright refused to do it. That ended my friendship with Jameson for good.

He cut me out of his life, moved away, and never spoke to me again.

Molly’s gaze wanders from my face to the crowded terrace. “Maybe you’ll get your apology tonight.”

I laugh. “Jameson wouldn’t come to this wedding. He hasn’t set foot in New York City since he took off two years ago.”

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