Piper Sullivan – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Piper Sullivan – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:20:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.ilovenovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Piper Sullivan – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.ilovenovels.com 32 32 Curvy Nanny for the Grumpy Mountain Man Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/curvy-nanny-for-the-grumpy-mountain-man-read-online-piper-sullivan Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:20:56 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/curvy-nanny-for-the-grumpy-mountain-man-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Piper Sullivan Advertisement

Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 53516 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)

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I didn’t ask for a baby on my doorstep. I sure as hell didn’t ask for a nanny.Especially not one with curves that could tempt a saint and a smile that could melt glaciers.
I built my life on solitude, cold mountain air, and zero complications.
Then she showed up.
Soaking wet, half-frozen, and utterly infuriating with her sunshine personality and her stubborn refusal to leave.
Rosalee Samuels was supposed to take care of my kid, not worm her way under my skin.
Not make me feel things I swore I’d never feel again.
But when she looked at me like I was more than just a grumpy recluse?
When she made my cabin feel like a home?
Suddenly, keeping my distance wasn’t just hard, it was impossible.
And when her past came knocking? Let’s just say I’d burn down the mountain before I let anyone, especially her ex, hurt what’s mine

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

Chapter 1

Xavier

"Stupid damn hikers," I grumbled to myself as I stomped into my cabin and tore the knit cap from my head. It was after sunset, and it was cold as hell up in the mountains where I made my home—too cold and too close to night for newbies to try out the most difficult trail in these parts. I shucked off my boots, my coat, gloves, and scarf, which were just the first layer of clothing for a nighttime rescue.

It took me and Chase, the other mountain rescuer, an hour to locate them and damn near three more hours to get them down from the rocky summit they had no idea how to climb down from, and they were too scared to even if they did. We finally got them to the mountain ambulance service close to an hour ago, and all that was left was paperwork.

It was the worst part of the job—other than the people, of course.

Chase was snuggled up in a cabin on the other side of the mountain with his wife of six months, and I was here, at home. Alone. It was how I wanted it, how I’d set my life up for the past few years. And I was more than satisfied with my life.

Mostly.

I shrugged off those thoughts the way I always did when they became a little too intrusive and stripped out of the rest of my clothes, stepping into a steaming hot shower to rinse away the chill, the dirt, and the grime. A long, hot shower was just the thing after a mountain rescue like that, and it was only possible because I'd sprung for the best water heater on the market, sparing no expense to have it installed up here in the middle of nowhere. I stepped out of the shower with a sigh when I saw it was already after ten at night.

It was too late to visit Triple Horn, the private sex club I visited once a month—sometimes more—to get my needs satisfied. Too late, and I was too damned tired to get what I desperately needed, which was a hot and dirty hookup with some hot but ultimately anonymous woman before I settled in for another four weeks of solitude and peace. Yeah, it was definitely too late, so I dressed in flannel pants and a black T-shirt and settled in front of the fire with leftover chili from yesterday. It wasn't the night I had planned, but I was warm and my belly was slowly filling up.

"At least it was silent," I grumbled when my phone rang and vibrated on the coffee table. There was only one person stupid enough to call me this late. "What do you want, Nate?"

My brother's deep laughter rumbled through the speaker. "Hey, it's nice to hear your voice too, baby brother."

I rolled my eyes, but my lips twitched with a smile because Nate was the only asshole who could still make me smile. "Yeah, of course it is. Why are you calling?"

"I have a problem, and I need your advice."

I shook my head even though Nate couldn't see me. "You run the company now." Yeah, it was technically still my company. I started it, and I was still listed as the owner, but Nate was the CEO of Outer Edges, the outdoor sporting and clothing company I started fresh out of college, which now seemed like a lifetime ago.

Nate sighed, and I felt a lecture coming on. "Yeah, I run the company now, but it's still your company, Xavier. You still own most of the company, even if you don't want that to be true." He snorted, and I could almost see him shaking his head at me. "You can pretend to be the grubby mountain man all you want, but you're still the billionaire businessman who started this company."

"Fine," I growled and leaned back, my chili forgotten as I listened to some supply problem. "Don't sacrifice the quality, period. Our customers won't mind paying extra if we have to pass it on to them, but I don't want that to be the go-to move." That mentality was one of the reasons I burned out on the business side of things.

"Okay, good. Now we're talking." Nate laughed. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"It was terrible," I groaned and picked up my spoon again. "And now my chili is cold, Nate. Thanks."

"Do you ever eat anything but soup?"

"Chili is not soup," I shot back.

"A close relative," Nate said, his exasperation clear. "There's something else."

I froze with another spoonful of chili halfway to my mouth. "There always is with you, Nate."

He laughed again as if the whole damn world was just one big joke. "It's Mom. She's planning another one of her dinner parties and she expects both of us to be there."

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Curvy Nanny for the Mafia Daddy Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/curvy-nanny-for-the-mafia-daddy-read-online-piper-sullivan Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:20:55 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/curvy-nanny-for-the-mafia-daddy-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Piper Sullivan Advertisement

Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >59

I never thought I’d see her again.
Serenity Majors. The only woman I ever loved.
The one I had to walk away from to protect.
Now, with my son’s life on the line and my empire crumbling, she’s the only person I trust to keep him safe.
But bringing her back into my world means dragging her into the darkness I’ve spent years trying to shield her from.
She hates me. She should.
But when she looks at my son with those fierce, tender eyes, I remember why I fell for her in the first place.
I’ll destroy every enemy just to keep them out of harm’s way.
But the real battle isn’t against the threats closing in, it’s the fear in her eyes when she looks at me.
How do I prove I’m not the same man who left her behind?

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

Chapter 1

Serenity

“Yeah, I mean, you’re pretty hot for an older chick.” That’s what this man—who is only four years older than me, thank you very much—said to me over a mediocre bottle of Bordeaux he ordered with the same confidence he probably used to choose his entirely too-strong cologne.

I stared at him, silent, letting the words hang in the air like a bad smell while I wondered whether Toni had finally snapped. Maybe this was her revenge for all the times I gave her the most difficult parents because she could handle them.

This was what happened when your employees found love: they started touting the benefits of being in love while those of us not in love—namely, me—got shoved onto dating apps, into blind setups, and onto bar stools where you met men like Samuel.

Samuel was forty-five, an investment banker from Houston with a full head of hair—mostly—and straight white teeth that practically glowed in the low golden light of the wine bar. He clearly believed both made him an irresistible catch. Sure, he was wealthy with a stable career, but he lacked polish, and he wasn’t nearly as interesting as he thought. In fact, the condensation sliding down my glass was a more interesting conversationalist.

“You’re older than me,” I reminded him, taking a sip of the Bordeaux and resisting the urge to grimace. It was an abysmal vintage, which made it perfect for this date.

He waved his hand dismissively. “Yeah, but men age like fine wine and women, well… you know.”

I tilted my head, a small smile curving my lips. “No. I don’t know. Please, enlighten me.”

His smile faltered. “Come on, you know what I mean.”

“I really don’t. But I’m dying to hear the rest of this sentence. Go on.”

A flicker of discomfort crossed his face, the first uncertainty he’d shown all night.

I leaned forward, resting my chin in my hand and watching him squirm. Part of me enjoyed it. The other part wondered, briefly and traitorously, if this was why I was over forty and still alone. Too mouthy. Too direct. Hard to please, successful, and I didn’t take shit from men, especially when I was supposed to smile while they insulted me.

“You’d have more luck out here if you were easier,” he muttered into his glass.

I barked out a laugh. “Why should I make things easier for you, Samuel? You just insulted me. And now what? I should pat you on the head like a good boy for it?”

His cheeks went blotchy red. He pushed back from the table so abruptly his chair screeched along the polished floor. “I don’t have to put up with this. Not from you.”

“Of course you don’t,” I said, keeping my voice calm, almost bored. “I’m sure there’s a daycare letting out where you’ll find a girl at your maturity level. Run along.”

He sputtered and, failing to come up with a cutting comeback, stalked out.

The waitress approached a moment later, her smile twitching but trying really hard not to. “Bad date?”

“Almost as bad as this Bordeaux. Bring me a glass of something red, Italian, and full-bodied, please. Hold the regret.”

She laughed, taking the bottle with her and returning with a gorgeous glass of Barolo, which almost made Samuel’s presence worth it.

Almost.

I sipped it slowly, savoring the flavors as they exploded on my tongue. Nothing beat a good glass of wine, especially after a trying interaction with a man who thought he was God’s gift to womankind. “Damn good wine,” I said to myself when it was finished, paying the bill and heading out into the warm night air.

Another bad date behind me meant I had a few hours left to head back to the office and finish some work I’d left incomplete to go on a date I didn’t even want to be on.

It was just another confirmation that romance wasn’t in the cards for me. I wasn’t even upset about it anymore, not the way I’d been once I’d gotten over my first and last heartbreak in my twenties. Or in my thirties when I thought there was still hope.

I’d given up on love and poured all of my considerable time and energy into Elite Nanny Service, growing my business to the point that I had a waiting list, a big fat bank account that allowed me designer shoes, and a wardrobe a twenty-year-old me never dreamed possible. The trade-off, in my opinion, was well worth it. Louboutins don’t leave you hanging.

I stepped inside the building that housed my baby. It was dark except for the soft glow from the hall sconces and the ambient lavender scent that drifted from the diffusers Toni refused to stop refilling. I sent her a text.

Me: No more lavender.

Instead of responding, Toni’s face appeared on my screen, and I answered with a laugh. “No more lavender. Seriously. It’s making me sick.” My heels clicked on the pale oak floors. The space was exactly what I’d wanted when I opened the Houston branch: sleek and modern, but not cold. No one, not even the ultra-wealthy, wanted to walk into a sterile environment to hire someone they had to trust with their children. Warm lighting, plush chairs, watercolor prints, and a gallery wall of candid photos featuring nannies holding babies, toddlers painting, and teenagers grinning beside the women who helped raise them. It was a space where families felt welcome.

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Curves with Benefits (Small Town Holidays #4) Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/curves-with-benefits-small-town-holidays-4-read-online-piper-sullivan Thu, 25 Dec 2025 22:03:16 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/curves-with-benefits-small-town-holidays-4-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male Authors: Piper Sullivan Series: Small Town Holidays Series by Piper Sullivan
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Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >30

Broken-Hearted Girl's Guide to Birthday
If the wishing well sends you a six-foot-tall miracle, don't be surprised when all you want for the holidays is his "stocking stuffer."I am officially in a funk. I’m almost thirty, newly single, and my carefully constructed life plan has completely gone off the rails. My only birthday wish? Just a little clarity.
Instead, I get Brock.

He’s a gorgeous, loaded, grey-eyed stranger who seems to have been placed in my path for the sole purpose of tempting me like a slice of pumpkin pie.
And in a town as small as Holiday Grove, he’s absolutely everywhere.
One minute we’re sharing pastries, the next he’s saving me from my obnoxious ex!

I know I should keep my distance. I have a life to figure out, and a devastatingly charming newcomer is a distraction.
But with every pie-eating contest and carnival ride, his pursuit makes me forget why I was so determined to stay away.

I’m trying to protect my heart, but I have a sinking feeling that losing to Brock might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me this season

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

Chapter 1

Sela

Just let me find my path in life. And for once, let me have a good birthday before I turn thirty. Please.

My eyes were shut tight, and I clasped the quarter in my fist, pressing it to my chest as I sent my wish, or maybe it was a prayer, out into the world. The cool November breeze sharpened, a reminder that autumn was in full swing and my choice to skip a jacket was yet another questionable decision. I opened my eyes and shook off the thought, staring at the newly erected fountain in the park, built especially for the weeklong Thanksgiving celebration.

“Okay,” I whispered to myself. I balanced the quarter on my thumbnail, flicked it, and watched as it arched high before landing with an almost anticlimactic splash in the water. The wish was sent, but instead of feeling hopeful, I felt nothing.

I knew part of it was the holiday blues. My birthday falling on Thanksgiving always made it a little melancholy. I had to share my day with the entire world, which usually meant I was forgotten in the mix of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. This year, I would turn thirty, which gave the week even more significance. Okay, and maybe it had a little something to do with being dumped recently for no good reason. Not because I was a prude in bed, not because I was too clingy or too aloof. No, it was all because I was a hometown girl and content with it.

Maybe it was shortsighted to build all my hopes and dreams in Holiday Grove, the very definition of a small town with few opportunities for those who didn’t know what they wanted to be when they grew up. But I liked it here. I was comfortable here. I knew I couldn’t be a waitress forever, I knew that. Right now, though, I liked working at Ol’ St. Nick’s Pub. The tips were good most of the year, and I was good at it. The only other thing I’d ever really been good at was being hot.

Another thing, like waitressing, that wouldn’t last forever.

No more sadness. I couldn’t be sad forever, and I wasn’t the type of girl to sit around wallowing. I wasn’t a wallower, but it felt like I’d been doing nothing but wallowing for the past couple of weeks. Not in the sad, listening-to-emo-music-on-repeat way, not even blasting girl rock and singing along at the top of my lungs. No, it was far less dramatic than that, which was how I ended up at the fountain early on a chilly Sunday morning. I’d just felt off.

Not my usual bubbly self. My smiles didn’t come as easily, and I faked them more than ever. It was an insidious bleakness, the kind that wrapped its bony arms around me and held tight, leaving me cold, hard, and off-kilter.

I didn’t do off-kilter.

Not ever, and I didn’t like it.

“What a gorgeous fountain.” The voice was deep and smooth, and more importantly, unfamiliar. It wasn’t shocking to hear an unfamiliar voice. After all, Holiday Grove was one of Colorado’s tourist destinations, after the big cities, of course. Our nonstop holiday celebrations had put us on the map, and tourists came through to enjoy the Silver Bells mountains, the holiday-themed businesses, outdoor activities, and thanks to Lee Lancaster, a luxury spa and resort.

I looked up from the quarter that sank to the bottom of the fountain and into the most alluring gray eyes I’d ever seen. He was beautiful. No, "beautiful" was too smooth a word for what I saw: his sharp jaw, the faint scruff highlighting his high cheekbones. They drew my gaze to his thick, pink lips, the kind that promised long, dream-worthy kisses. His wavy black hair was a little long and brushed against the long gray wool jacket he wore. I couldn’t see his body beneath the jacket except for broad shoulders, and his height, which I estimated to be well over six feet based on my own five-and-a-half-foot frame.

Shake it off, woman. I did just that, shaking off the effect this handsome man had on me, and probably every woman with a beating heart, and found my smile. “It really is stunning, isn’t it? It’s a new addition for the Week of Giving Thanks.” There, that sounded normal, right?

He smiled in return, and I really wished he hadn’t. The dark and brooding thing was hot, but the smile? Panty-melting.

Breathe, I reminded myself just before I let out a long, slow breath.

“Did you make a wish?” His tone wasn’t mocking, so I didn’t take offence.

“I did. Do you need a coin to make your own wish?”

The gorgeous man pulled his lips into his mouth as if biting back a smile. “No, I have my own coin. Thanks.” His gaze flicked down to the water and then back up at me. “What did you wish for?”

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Curvy Nanny for the Cowboy – Curvy Nannies for Single Dads Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/curvy-nanny-for-the-cowboy-curvy-nannies-for-single-dads-read-online-piper-sullivan Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:19:03 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/curvy-nanny-for-the-cowboy-curvy-nannies-for-single-dads-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Piper Sullivan Advertisement

Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >62

A spicy, emotional cowboy romance featuring an older single dad, a curvy virgin nanny, and a love that won’t be denied.

I needed a fresh start. What I found was him.After a breakup with an ex who didn’t understand the word "over," I jumped at the chance to escape.
A temporary nanny job for a widowed single dad?
Perfect. Quiet. Simple. Safe.

Until I met Colton Dawson.

Tall, rugged, and brooding beneath that Stetson
The man was everything I shouldn’t want.
Older. World-weary. Way too experienced for someone like me.
But between late-night talks and stolen glances, his guarded heart started to crack.
And so did mine.

Then came the first kiss.
The first touch.
The first time he showed me just how good it could be between a man and a woman.

I was falling hard. But when my past showed up, threatening the life I’d built, Colton did something reckless.
He claimed me.
Now, I just have to prove this isn’t a fling.
It’s forever

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

Chapter 1

Molly

I was so excited that my body literally shook with it; having a new placement felt like a lifeline just when I needed one. My cousin was at work, and she’d be so excited to learn that I was getting off her couch that I decided I would give her the good news later, once I was all packed. My first call was to the only real friend I’d made since moving to Texas. “Hey, Toni. Guess what?”

There was a long silence and then a sigh. “Um, the Highlanders have a nude calendar coming out?”

I frowned at the phone. “What?”

“You know, sexy team full of hunky hockey players with big, rippling muscles? They have a nude calendar coming out?”

“They do?”

Toni sighed. “I don’t know, Molly. I thought that was the news you’re calling with. What’s going on?” she asked with a laugh. Toni was all red hair, curves, and badassery. She was also sweeter than she let on.

“I got a placement!” As a professional nanny, you wouldn’t think I’d be so excited about getting another placement, but the past year had been the worst of my life. Between a terrible relationship that ended six months too late and a string of insecure wives, stepmothers, and girlfriends who cost me placement after placement, I needed some good news. “Toni?”

“I’m here, Mols, and it’s about damn time. Where is it?”

“Up in the boonies,” I confirmed, even though I had no problems with the far-out location. “It’s a ranch, Toni. An honest-to-goodness ranch. The parent is a single dad, and I’m hoping there’s no woman in his life. Damn, that sounds bad, doesn’t it?”

Toni barked out a laugh. “Not at all. After the last few placements, I can’t say that I blame you. But a ranch?”

I laughed, shaking my head because of course Toni had that question. She was the quintessential urban queen in her leather jackets and stylish clothes. “I grew up in a small Louisiana town, growing veggies and flowers with my folks.”

“Yeah? How did I not know this?”

I shrugged. “Don’t know. Thought for sure the accent gave it away.” Most Texans I came across knew for sure that my twang wasn’t Texas-born, but non-southerners thought all accents sounded the same.

“I just figured you were from Texas.” I laughed again, happy to have a friend like Toni this past year.

“Nope, not from Texas. Louisiana. I really hope this placement works out.” The hope, the desperation in my voice was a dead giveaway, and I knew Toni wouldn’t miss it. “Anyway, what’s going on with you? How’s the baby? How is wedding planning going?”

“The baby is kicking my ass, or more accurately, my bladder, and wedding planning is a mess. But don’t try to distract me. What else is going on?”

I sighed and rolled my eyes; my heart felt heavier instantly just thinking about what else was going on. “Nothing. Not really. I mean, Travis isn’t taking we’re over for an answer.” My ex-boyfriend has spent more months trying to win me back than we actually spent together, which is odd because he never treated me like he was all that happy to have me around.

Toni was silent for a long time, which was never a good sign. “That rat bastard. If you want, I can hire someone to break his legs.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’d rather he just go away. But,” I sighed, and I physically felt the weight being lifted from my shoulders, “getting away from the city and from Travis is just what I need.”

“I’m going to miss having you so close, but I really hope it works out. And please, to the heavens above, let the cowboy be hot, hard, and ready.”

Another laugh exploded out of me at Toni’s crass wishes. “Thanks for that. I think.” Even if the single dad cowboy is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen, I just want him to have a confident, secure woman who doesn’t care that my curves fill out my clothes a little too much. I knew my worth, and I wasn’t suffering from a lack of confidence, but I also knew I wasn’t a threat to those women. “I’ll settle for a good parent and a good employer.”

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Rockstar Baby Daddy – Small Town Doctors Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/rockstar-baread-online-daddy-small-town-doctors-read-online-piper-sullivan Thu, 01 May 2025 18:18:09 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/rockstar-baread-online-daddy-small-town-doctors-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male, Chick Lit Authors: Piper Sullivan Advertisement

Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55458 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >59

Strumming my guitar and traveling the world. Charming the panties off women on every continent. That was my life, so I wasn’t expecting her. The too smart hospital administrator with sexy glasses. Dr. Suzie Wright came out of nowhere, stealing my heart. Love knocked me over the head and I ran like a coward. Suzie didn’t chase me, because she was an independent woman. She made it clear she didn’t need me for anything. But one trip back to her small town changed my entire life. Turned me into the man I wanted to be. Turned me into a father. Now I have to convince her that I want her, and our surprise twins

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

Suzie

“Dammit.” With an annoyed sigh, I sat back in my office chair and stared down at the offensive mustard stain on my red blouse. “So much for a quick lunch before my meeting.”

I had taken my time before work this morning, choosing the right outfit for my meeting with a mysterious VIP client this afternoon. I wanted to look like the capable, sophisticated administrator who ran Jackson’s Ridge Medical Center efficiently, not the frumpy woman who had fallen into the job.

And I’d been taken out by mustard. Not even Dijon or whole-grain mustard, but plain old yellow mustard, because I was a plain old yellow mustard kind of girl. But now I was also a girl desperately in need of a new shirt. So instead of hiding in my office until two-thirty, I got out of my chair, squared my shoulders, and went in search of the medical center’s resident fashionista.

“Persy, oh, thank goodness. I’m glad you’re not having lunch with Ryan today.” The best friends had recently gotten together and often mysteriously disappeared during lunchtime.

Persy, or Dr. Persephone Vanguard, looked up from her tablet with an arched dark brow and a smile. “That’s not a very nice thing to say.”

“Oh, you know what I mean. I’m in need of the kind of help only you can provide.” Slowly, I let my arms fall from my chest until the stain was visible.

Persy gasped and shook her head. “Too bad, that blouse is beautiful on you. Red is definitely your color.” She tapped her chin and then stood. “I have two options.”

“Thank you!”

Persy let out a small laugh. “Don’t thank me yet, you might hate both.”

“Doesn’t matter if I hate them or not, I need a clean shirt before two.” I told her all about the upcoming VIP meeting in the conference room. “I need to appear as capable as I am, not as capable as I look.”

She handed me a garment bag with two shirts inside, violet eyes filled with excitement. “VIP? That’s kind of cool. Oooo, maybe it’s a politician or a mobster, or one of those third-world dictators.”

I rolled my eyes. “No pressure, right?”

“None at all. Here, try the lavender.”

I stared at the silk blouse with the tie neck and shook my head. “You don’t think this color will wash me out? And what about the tie neck? I already have a long neck.”

“It’s called a graceful neck, Suzie. Like a ballerina.” Persy shook her head and sighed. “The lavender will highlight what’s left of the tan you got working on those low-income homes destroyed by the summer storms. Just try it.”

I took the blouse and replaced my functional, stained red blouse for Persy’s silky lavender one. “You’re right about the color.” I didn’t look pale at all; my skin had a nice late-summer glow that made me smile. The tie neck wasn’t all that flattering, but it wasn’t as awful as I thought it would be. “You have such a wonderful sense of style, Persy. How do you do it?”

“A childhood spent devouring fashion magazines? I like clothes and all the things they can do for your confidence, and how you see yourself.” She gripped my shoulders and turned me until we were face to face. “You need to tie these a little more carefully, symmetry is key. And anytime you want a shopping makeover, you know where to find me.”

A few swift movements and the tie neck looked… good.

I arched a brow at her. “Ryan’s office?”

The pink bloomed on her cheeks and I laughed. “Or mine.” She winked at my shocked expression and turned me toward the mirror stuck to the back of her office door.

The shirt did look good, and I sighed in relief. “It’s perfect, Persy. Thank you.”

“My pleasure. Good luck with your meeting.”

“Thanks.” I would need it because these VIP types always thought they could come in and dictate the kind of care they received. I had worked hard over the past few years to make JRMC the kind of medical center that people sought out, hiring doctors and surgeons who were at the top of their field and who continued research that allowed them to pursue new techniques and treatments for a variety of illnesses. JRMC was my baby in every sense of the word, and I would protect it the same as any mama bear.

Fifteen minutes before the meeting was due to start, I made my way to the larger of our two conference rooms and set out information packets on the hospital, including our lineup of doctors and physicians, their impressive backgrounds, and our latest cutting-edge equipment. A knock sounded and a moment later, a handsome man with slicked-back hair and a three-piece suit entered.

“Dr. Suzie Wright?”

I stood tall and squared my shoulders with a friendly nod. “That’s me.”

The man stepped inside, the king-of-the-world vibes strong in his presence, his deep voice, and his expensive suit, complete with a pocket square that matched his tie. “I’m Alex Storm.” He held out a big hand that felt more manicured than my own. “The agent.”

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Bartender’s Surprise Baby (Small Town Holidays #3) Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/bartenders-surprise-baread-online-small-town-holidays-3-read-online-piper-sullivan Mon, 21 Apr 2025 22:19:49 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/bartenders-surprise-baread-online-small-town-holidays-3-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male, Erotic, Insta-Love Authors: Piper Sullivan Series: Small Town Holidays Series by Piper Sullivan
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Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >30

One hot night with a bearded bartender. Two pink lines. And a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt that might just break me.

I moved back to my hometown, a retired model with zero life plan.
I definitely didn’t expect to end up pregnant after a no-strings night with a bartender with sinfully skilled hands.
Now I’m navigating pregnancy hormones, our small town Matchmaking Brigade convinced we’re “destined,” and a flannel-wrapped man who’s weirdly excited about diaper duty.
I left me glamorous life behind to escape the chaos.
Not to fall for a small town guy who brings me pickles at midnight and looks at me like I’m still the most beautiful woman alive. Baby bump and all.
Levi’s all-in.
But this jaded ex-model’s heart?
Forgot it was supposed to be bulletproof.

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

1 ROB

“Sorry I’m late!” Kayla rushed over to the booth, shrugged off her green wool jacket, and dropped down in the booth beside me. “Mac wanted me to hear the new version of one of his songs.” Her cheeks were flushed with love and probably something a little naughtier. “I told him I could wait until he was back in town for the St. Patrick’s festivities, but he needed me to hear it now.”

“Hey, I’m just glad you made it. All of you, actually,” I said honestly, and looked around the table at the friends I’ve known most of my life, though I haven’t seen much of them in the past decade.

“Sorry,” Torey apologized sincerely. “We’ve been terrible at touching base lately.”

The last thing I wanted was for my friends to feel guilty for moving forward with their lives simply because mine was at a standstill. “It’s okay, really. I miss you girls, but I understand.” I’d spent the past decade rarely keeping in touch, not because I didn’t love and miss them, but because I was out making something of myself, trying to prove something to somebody.

“Still,” Nix began with a sympathetic smile, “we all suck, and we’re all here tonight because our men are out of town.”

“I know,” I smiled brightly, as if I didn’t feel like the biggest loser in the world. “That’s why I picked tonight for us to hang out.” Ryan was off meeting with his commanding officer about his return to the Army, Lee was in New York doing whatever billionaires do in The Big Apple, and Mac was with his band in the studio, laying down their next album. “I’m glad you all came.”

“Always,” Kayla promised, and laid her hand on top of mine. “How are you?”

I sighed heavily, my shoulders drooped forward, but I tried to keep my full lips tugged into a smile. “I’m fine.” I was washed up at the ripe old age of almost twenty-six, which was almost thirty, which pretty much made me a senior citizen in the world of modeling. “Still trying to find my way forward before Sonya drops me.” My agent was like any other, solely motivated by money, and right now I wasn’t making her any, which made me less than useless.

“You’ll find your way,” Torey insisted. “I found a way to turn both of my loves, baking and marketing, into two careers that pay the bills and then some.”

That was the problem: I never gave myself time to figure out what I loved beyond fashion and being pretty. “I don’t even know what else I’m good at.”

Nix smiled. “You’re an amazing stylist. Remember how much you helped me find clothes and a style that flattered my body? I’ve never forgotten those tips. Truly.”

“That was nothing. You just needed a push, and now you’re a knockout, even in jeans and a t-shirt.”

Nix’s cheeks flushed prettily. “That’s good, I suppose, since I live in jeans and t-shirts.” She laughed at her own joke. “Lee doesn’t mind though, and neither do I.”

“That’s what matters.” Nix was proof that being yourself was better than dressing up and putting on a show—or maybe she was just lucky.

“Nix is right,” Kayla agreed. “You can use your fame to document your second chapter, starting over and finding what comes next. Oh! You can get sponsorships and stuff based on your followers…and stuff.” She shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Mac talks about it, and I’ve picked up a lot, just not the specifics.”

“Is that, I don’t know, like a step down?” Was I really so pathetic? “Sorry, that came out wrong.”

“It’s all right,” Torey said. “You’re accustomed to having your face on magazine covers and billboards around the world. It’s going to take a while to adjust.” She took a big sip of her pineapple margarita and sighed. “Do you want to leverage your name and your fame to help, or do something else completely?”

“When you put it like that, I have no clue.” How could I, a grown woman, have no idea what to do with my life when there was so much of it left ahead of me? “I’ll figure it out. Let’s talk about something else. Anything else, please.” I sipped my gin and tonic while the girls caught me up on what was happening in their lives over a gigantic platter of nachos, which I mostly picked over.

My friends were happy and successful, and most of all, they were in love. I was happy for them—incredibly happy, in fact. Love had always been elusive to me, just out of my reach. That’s why I’d spent all of my time and energy on my career, building up a nest egg so that when my beauty began to fade, I would have something to fall back on.

I just hadn’t spent any time thinking about what I would actually do when that time came. “Next round is on me.” I stood with an eager grin, my hands itched, and my limbs tingled uncomfortably.

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Lucky Dr and the Rockstar Next Door Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/lucky-dr-and-the-rockstar-next-door-read-online-piper-sullivan Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:58:26 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/lucky-dr-and-the-rockstar-next-door-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Erotic Authors: Piper Sullivan Advertisement

Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27528 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)

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Picture I'm a small town doctor who's perfectly content with my quiet life.

Then, one mixed-up pizza delivery later, I'm sharing dinner with my new neighbor.

Who just happens to be Mac freakin’ Lancaster, the hottest rockstar on the planet.

Yeah, THAT Mac Lancaster.

The one with the voice that melts hearts and the abs that should be illegal.

And now he’s living next door, just in time for our town’s St. Patrick’s Day madness, where our overenthusiastic Matchmaking Brigade never takes no for an answer.

I tell myself I’m immune to his charm.
I am a doctor after all, practical, sensible.

My heart didn’t get the memo though, and every smirk, every stolen glance has me questioning my sanity.

But I'm a practical girl.

And he's, well... Mac’s world famous with millions of screaming fans willing to do anything to get in his pants.

So here I am, caught between my sensible doctor brain and my not-so-sensible heart that skips a beat every time he smiles.

Maybe with a little Irish luck and some St. Patrick's Day magic, I might just find myself in the sweetest duet of my life

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

1 MAC

Welcome to Holiday Grove.

The sign wasn’t the typical industrial blue or green highway sign; that wasn’t how Holiday Grove rolled. The town went all out for the holidays, featuring a multi-colored sign to announce that you were in a place that celebrated something nearly every day of the month—which was only a mild exaggeration.

Holiday Grove was also where my brother had chosen to build his next resort, a crunchy granola place that wouldn’t obstruct the gorgeous mountains visible from every spot in town. It wasn’t just the location of his newest business venture; it was his new home since he had fallen for a local bakery owner. So when my tour ended three days ago, I made plans to surprise him.

I found a house to rent where I could work on my next album in peace. The one thing Holiday Grove didn’t have was paparazzi, making it the ideal place to unwind after nearly a year of touring the world. I rented a gorgeous red electric vehicle for a quiet drive, just me alone with my thoughts and a few threads of lyrics and chords that might become something—though for now, they were little more than a welcome distraction on the road.

“What in the hell is that?” I slowed down at the sight of what looked like a chair tipped over on the side of the road. That didn’t make sense. As I got closer, I realized it wasn’t a chair but one of those motorized scooters. I hadn’t seen anyone riding around when I was here at Christmas, but it didn’t look like it had been on the side of the road for long.

Just keep going, Lancaster, don’t end up dead and buried. My inner coward was right; this all felt like a scene straight out of a horror movie, and I wanted no part of it.

Something told me I’d regret driving off without checking if the scooter was abandoned. “I’m too damn pretty to die this young. I want more Grammy awards, more chart-topping songs, maybe even a track that could win me an Oscar.” With that thought in mind, I stopped the car and stepped out.

“Hello!” I called, scanning the empty road for anyone, but it remained just as desolate as it had been five minutes ago when I passed the welcome sign.

I took a few steps closer and shouted again, “Is anyone over here? Need some help?”

I heard a rustling, followed by a small voice saying, “You’re not some sex-crazed killer, are you?”

I laughed and shook my head, unsure of where the voice was coming from. “Do you really care?”

“No,” the female voice replied after a moment. “I suppose not. I seem to have taken a tumble.”

Shit. I stepped closer and paused just behind the scooter. “You’re not some sex-crazed killer, are you?” It was worth confirming.

The older woman laughed. “I’ve made it to ninety-plus years without being one, so I guess it depends.”

“Depends on what?” I asked, intrigued.

“On what you look like, of course. I don’t want to be a victim of some indiscriminate sex-crazed killer.”

I chuckled and followed the sound of her shaky voice until I stood above a woman who had to be at least one hundred and ten years old.

“Shit, are you all right?”

The woman had a shock of silver curls and was tiny—probably less than a hundred pounds. “Do I sound all right? After your interrogation, we’re lucky I’m still alive.” She laughed again at my glare. “Goodness, you are a tall drink of water, aren’t you? Handsome devil, too.”

“Are you injured?”

“Nah, just my pride. Finally get that pool boy I’ve been praying for, and here I am sprawled on the grass like one of those Halloween skeletons.”

I bent down and scooped her into my arms, pleased to find she was indeed about a hundred pounds. “It’s all right, honey, I’m used to women falling at my feet.”

She erupted in laughter, wrapping her arms around me. “I’ll just bet you are with that face. Oh, and these muscles.” She paused, squeezing my back muscles while looking at me with confusion and concern. “Are you taking me somewhere to take advantage of an old woman?”

“Absolutely,” I assured her, depositing her in my passenger seat. “I’ll bring you back to the scooter when you’re able to walk again.” Her laughter echoed as I closed the door and went around to the driver’s side.

“Damn you,” she grunted when I pulled into the parking lot of the medical center. “I don’t need to see a doctor.”

“How do you know? Are you a doctor?” I raised an eyebrow at the feisty old woman and waited for her response.

“No, I’m not. But I’m fine.”

“Okay, you’re fine. But I need to know you’re okay too, so let’s get you in there and checked out, yeah?” I gave her my best smolder, and, of course, it worked like a charm.

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Fake Dating My Valentine (Small Town Holidays #2) Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/fake-dating-my-valentine-small-town-holidays-2-read-online-piper-sullivan Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:15:28 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/fake-dating-my-valentine-small-town-holidays-2-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male Authors: Piper Sullivan Series: Small Town Holidays Series by Piper Sullivan
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Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >29

It all started with seeing my best friend's Army brother in nothing but a towel... A heartwarming & steamy romance packed with small town charm, fake dating fun, and the kind of love that’s worth the risk. Perfect for fans of fake dating, best friend’s brother, military heroes, and small town love stories that’ll leave you swooning.

I love Valentine’s Day. Just not the part where the town’s busybody matchmakers try to pair me up with every dorky guy I grew up with.
I can already feel the awkward dates and cringy setups coming.
I need an escape plan. Fast.
Enter Ryan, my best friend’s insanely hot Army brother, who just happens to be back in town.
My first run in with him? He was fresh out of the shower in nothing but a towel.
And oh boy, did my brain take a screenshot of those six-pack abs!
When I bump into Ryan again, right in the middle of a matchmaking ambush, I do the only thing that makes sense, I kiss him.
Yep, right there in front of everyone.
And boom!
Instant fake boyfriend. Problem solved.
Kind of.
Somewhere between the pretend cuddles and the way too real chemistry, things start to get...complicated.
I've fallen for my best friend’s brother.
Or is this just a Valentine’s delusion?
Either way, I’m in big trouble.

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

Chapter 1

Torey

"Well at least one of us is wearing the glow of being well-loved." I was happy for my best friend, really I was, but I couldn't deny the sharp pang of envy that shot through me. She'd found her happiness, and damn if she didn't wear it like a second skin.

Nix sighed dreamily, her smile so radiant it outshone the harsh fluorescent lights in the bakery kitchen. "Lee does love to start the day with an orgasm or two."

"Lucky bitch." I grinned. Lee and Nix were solid now, but their path to happiness had been anything but smooth—last Christmas had brought enough drama to fill a Hallmark movie marathon.

“I’m pretty lucky, aren't I?" A rosy flush crept across her cheeks as she slid another batch of croissants into one of the industrial ovens. "What do you think about adding red food coloring to a few favorites for the Valentine's Day rush?"

I kneaded my dough with extra vigor. Valentine's Day was its own special kind of torture when you were single in a small town—especially in Holiday Grove, where every calendar event was treated like a combination of New Year's Eve and the Last Day on Earth. "As long as you're not trying to make me turn my rolls, biscuits and baguettes pink or red, I'm on board."

"No red baguettes," Nix promised, "but you'll have to take photos for social media."

"Just tell me when they're coming out of the oven." Besides working at the bakery and supplying bread to local restaurants, I handled marketing for half the businesses in Holiday Grove. The constant hustle kept my bank account growing—for what, I hadn't figured out yet.

But I would.

Hopefully.

Some day.

"Are you sure you're not spreading yourself too thin?" Nix fixed me with that penetrating stare she reserved for moments of genuine concern. "You can always say no to some things, Tor."

"Yeah, I know, and I'm fine. I like keeping busy. It keeps me..." I paused, searching for the right words.

"Busy?" she offered with a smirk.

We shared a laugh that was cut short by her stomach's angry growl. "Hungry?"

"I only had time for an espresso this morning."

"No wonder you're glowing—you're burning calories like crazy in the bedroom and running on caffeine fumes." My own stomach chose that moment to join the chorus. "Okay, I'm getting us lunch."

"Yes, please! Can we get something from the Merry Holiday Deli? Your focaccia would be perfect with some pastrami and cheese."

I studied Nix for a moment, filing away her sudden craving for future reference. Too early to ask if she was pregnant, but I'd keep watching. I hung up my flour-dusted apron and headed for the best—and only—deli in town.

The moment I stepped inside, a symphony of aromas hit me, briny pickles, smoky meat, and the nutty warmth of Emmentaler cheese. A crowd of construction workers from Lee's spa resort project blocked the counter, giving me time to scan the chalkboard menu even though I knew it by heart.

"If we want the next few generations of Holiday Grove, we have to be more proactive." Krista Jensen's voice carried over the lunch rush chatter. As town busybody and self-appointed festival queen, her words made my stomach clench. "I suggest we restart the Matchmaking Brigade."

My groan was thankfully lost in the construction workers' animated discussion about their lunch orders.

"Oh, I love that idea!" Molly Dickson's enthusiasm felt like nails on a chalkboard. "And with the Week of Love Valentine's Festival coming up, we should make it interesting."

"I'm listening." The third voice had to belong to Sara Kinley, the youngest of the meddlers at forty-four.

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Snowed in with the Enemy (Small Town Holidays #1) Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/snowed-in-with-the-enemy-small-town-holidays-1-read-online-piper-sullivan Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:51:50 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/snowed-in-with-the-enemy-small-town-holidays-1-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire Authors: Piper Sullivan Series: Small Town Holidays Series by Piper Sullivan
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Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >29

Stranded in a snowy cabin with my secret high school crush and only our steamy chemistry to keep us warm?
Yes, please.

And all this because I wanted some tacos and a chance at happily ever after.
Five minutes into another terrible date, I realized I should have just stayed home.
After storming off with my take-out consolation prize, I ended up spinning my car into a snowbank.
A light dusting of snow—yeah, right.
Thankfully, my knight-in-shining-tow-truck arrives to save the day and rekindle my crush. But because nothing is ever easy, we are forced to seek shelter from the rapidly worsening weather.
Cut to me stuck in a picturesque snowy cabin with my secret high school crush and plenty of time on our hands. Things are looking up!
And it turns out he’s always had a thing for me too. Who knew?
Spencer Cassidy might be a hot-as-sin mechanic who rebuilds cars for a living and spends his winters pulling tourists out of ditches, but he’s also a gentleman—respectful, protective, and worried about taking advantage of me. So we agree not to start anything while we’re trapped together.

But after years of dating non-committal boy-men and repeatedly having my heart broken, a chance with a real man like Spencer may be too tempting to resist.

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

Chapter 1

Nix

“Are you still at the bakery?” My best friend Torey called for the third time since my bakery, Mt. Holiday Bakery, closed to see if I was still there.

I rolled my eyes because she couldn’t see me as I nodded. “You called the bakery and I answered so yeah, I’m still here. And before you go in on me, I’ve just finished up all the cookies, brownies and muffins for tomorrow. When they cool, I’ll pack them up so they’ll be ready for delivery first thing in the morning.” Running my sustainable bakery, even in a small town like Holiday Grove was a twenty-four-seven job most days, but when Christmas rolled around that was doubly true. There were so many committee meetings to get ready for the Christmas Festival, the New Year’s Festival and even the Valentine’s Day Festival and they all required my baked goods to get through the planning process. And then there were the holiday parties all over town that needed me too.

“That’s why I’m calling Nix. You should really head home. Now.” The thread of worry that made my friend’s voice wobble gave me pause.

“Why? What’s going on Torey?”

“Let me guess, you’ve cranked up Adele while you baked for the past four hours, ignoring all of your news and social media notifications?”

“Maybe?” It was how I preferred to bake, especially once I closed the bakery for the day. “There’s nothing like singing badly at the top of your lungs to make the goods taste better.”

“Right, but that also means that you miss out on important information like the incoming storm, Nix!” She was using her maternal voice that I usually loved, but not today.

“It’s not supposed to hit until tonight so I’ll be home in plenty of time. Promise Mom.”

“That was the weather report from this morning. It’s already snowing Nix. Snowing and sticking.” Her emphasis brought me up short and I rushed to the back door and shoved it open.

“Wow!” My eyes widened as I took in at least one inch of thick, fluffy white snow that coated everything in sight. “You undersold it, Torey.”

She laughed. “Serves you right. Pack up and go home. I’ll walk over in the morning and finish prepping everything for delivery.”

I looked over my shoulder at the cardboard boxes decorated with the green logo for Mt. Holiday Bakery, stacked neatly in rows against the wall. “I’m almost done.”

“Good. That means it won’t take me long to do it before I get started on the bread. In the morning.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I rolled my eyes and put her on speakerphone so I could remove my apron. “I heard you loud and clear, Torey.”

“Excellent. Call me when you get home so I know you made it safe. Unless you want to come over and we can hit up Holiday Tap, stumble home tipsy in the snow?”

“Thanks but I’m good.” The last thing I wanted to do was get tipsy around a few handsy tourists and the only other romantic options were the boys—now men—I grew up with here in town. “You go and have a drink for me. There’s a stew in my slow cooker that’s calling out for your potato bread.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere sweetheart.”

“Okay, I’m leaving as soon I finish loading up the dishes.”

“Now, Nix. I’ll do it in the morning. Unless, of course, you want to get stuck in town and sleep at the bakery?”

Ugh, she was right. “Nope. I’m leaving now,” I promised as I loaded up the day’s leftovers for the Holiday Shelter that helped abused women, children and the unhoused. “Locking the door as we speak, which would be a lot easier with both of my hands.”

Torey laughed. “Call me when you’re home safe.”

“Yep,” I promised and shoved the phone into my pocket. The drive through Holiday Grove never failed to put a smile on my face, especially this time of year. Christmas was in a week and the entire town looked like the picture perfect village it was, the place famous for the over-the-top holiday festivals and celebrations.

Every street, every house and every business was decorated to celebrate the season in its own unique way. And the week would be filled with holiday fun, including a cookie bake-off that I would be judging along with two random festival goers, a tree decorating competition in the park and even the Holiday Grove Carolers, even though I lived too far from town to get a song of my own.

“Hey Sonya!” I greeted the adorable blond with the pixie cut who ran the shelter and she jumped up to help me with the bags.

“Nix! I thought for sure you’d have gone home by now.”

I shrugged. “I was too busy baking to realize until Torey called and browbeat me until I locked up the bakery but I couldn’t head home without dropping off this.”

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Curvy Nanny for the Nerd Read Online Piper Sullivan http://www.ilovenovels.com/curvy-nanny-for-the-nerd-read-online-piper-sullivan Fri, 06 Dec 2024 20:23:28 +0000 http://www.ilovenovels.com/curvy-nanny-for-the-nerd-read-online-piper-sullivan Genre: Alpha Male Authors: Piper Sullivan Advertisement

Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >61

Nerd Rule #1: Don’t fall for the Nanny in sexy leather pants.
I’m a tech genius, not a babysitter. But when my niece showed up on my doorstep, I had no choice but to figure it out—or find someone who could.

Enter Toni.

She was nothing like the sweet, cardigan-wearing nanny I pictured.

Instead, she’s all wild red hair, leather pants, and a smile that’s as dangerous as the bugs in my code.

She turned my world upside down from the moment she walked in.

Worse?

She saw me—the real me.

Not the billionaire tech mogul, but the awkward nerd who loves bad puns and late-night coding.

And she liked me anyway.

Between bedtime routines and her uncanny ability to challenge me at every turn, I couldn’t stop myself from falling for her.

But opening up isn’t part of my programming, and love is the one risk I’ve never been able to take.

She’s chaos. She’s irresistible.

And she just might be the only person who can teach me there’s more to life than algorithms and firewalls.
Because love? Love isn’t logical—it’s terrifying.

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

Chapter 1

Brady

Nothing is working the way I wanted it to. Not today.

Not yesterday. Not any day for the past year or more. I can’t concentrate. I can’t focus, not for hours on end the way I’m used to while working. My relentless focus was why the first game in this series, Shooter Alpha ONE, was such a success, and it’s why the last three game series my company released over the past four years were equally successful.

My company, Winsome, Lose Some, has been my wife, my children, my whole entire life since I started it at the ripe old age of twenty-three. I have lived and breathed this company from the very beginning, putting my heart and soul into every game, every app and every line on every spreadsheet.

But now? It’s all gone to hell. I can’t seem to string together enough time to make Shooter Alpha TWO even better than the first game, but I have to. I need to keep the momentum going because it’s not enough to be among the top three gaming companies in the industry, and it’s not enough to be billionaire before thirty.

I want to be the best.

I need to be the absolute best.

A loud shrieking noise sounded in the distance and I tried to ignore it and get back to the task at hand, tweaking the dialogue so it sounded more authentic. The research I’d done online and in person had given me everything I needed to improve it. Everything except time.

The commotion grew louder and I got up from my desk, knowing that I wasn’t going to be able to get anything done until I stopped that infernal racket. I stood with a grunt and raked a hand through thick brown hair I hadn’t done more than finger comb in too many days to count, steadying my nerves before I made my way out of my office in the back of the mansion and down a long hall that wound through the large living room and ended at the kitchen. Here the noise was so loud I couldn’t hear myself think.

“What in the hell is that?”

Silver blue eyes that were identical to my own glared at me as if I was the cause of the offending sound. “It’s the smoke detector,” my niece Layla shouted at me. “I can’t reach it. Obviously.”

I ignored her rude tone and jumped on the counter to stop the smoke detector from making my eardrums bleed. “Better.” I jumped down and stared at my niece through a plume of quickly fading dark smoke. “What in the hell were you thinking?”

Layla folded her arms, flicking the blond hair she’d inherited from her dad off her shoulders, and rolled her eyes with all the sass of a seven year old going on sixteen. “I was thinking that I’m hungry and since there are no responsible adults in this house, it was up to me to feed myself.” She was being dramatic.

“You’re being dramatic,” I told her and glanced down at my watch to prove my point, but my eyes widened. “Four-thirty? It’s four-thirty, why didn’t you say anything?”

She shrugged, but the look of disappointment in her eyes made me feel like I was failing at everything. “I assumed you forgot about me. Again.”

My shoulders sank at her words, spoken so frankly and simply as if she just accepted it. “I’m sorry, Layla. I’m working really hard on this game and I lost track of time.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “You’re busy and important. I’m aware.” She held up her hands. “I got it. You don’t need to worry about me.” Without another word she reached for the blackened grilled cheese and a butter knife, angrily scraping off the burnt layer.

I reached for the knife and she yanked it away, tossing it angrily into the sink and the sandwich in the trash. “Let me help.”

“I’m fine,” she yelled and stomped out of the room. She didn’t run, which somehow made it worse. Her controlled pace combined with her straight spine and squared small shoulders was proof that I was failing more as a parent than as a game developer.

I felt helpless, so I did what I always did, I went back to my office and buried myself in work. My sister was probably turning over in her grave at all the ways I was failing her little girl. Why in the hell did Marnie leave her kid with me, anyway? I was the awkward brother. The introvert who spent more time on his computer than with live human beings. Why had she, in her infinite wisdom, decided that I would be a good choice in the event of her untimely death?

Because it’s been me and you since the beginning of time, she’d written in a note given to me by her and her husband’s estate attorney, and she was right. Our parents died early and Marnie had stepped up to get her awkward brother to college before she made her own dreams come true.

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