Alphas & Millionaires Starter Set

Copyright © 2013 Brooke Cumberland

Copyright © 2014 Brooke Cumberland

Copyright © 2015 Brooke Cumberland

www.brookecumberland.com

Kitchen Affairs

Spark

The Intern, Vol. 1

Bad Girlfriend

Alphas & Millionaires Starter Set
cover photography by
FuriousFotog
, Cover design by
Perfect Pear Creative Covers
,

Kitchen Affairs
cover design by
Quirky Bird
,
Cover photography by
Perrywinkle Photography
,
Models: Alexa Lawrence and Malcolm Peck

Spark
cover
photography & designer:
Sara Eirew Photography
, Cover models: Danys Flamand and Synthia Vignola

The Intern, Vol. 1
cover photography by
K Keeton Designs
, Cover design by
Perfect Pear Creative Covers
,
Cover models: Tessi Le’Anne and Matthew H. Samson

Bad Girlfriend
cover photography by
Mae I Design and Photography
, Cover design by
Quirky Bird

Literary Editor:
Kiezha Ferrell of
Librum Artis Editorial Services

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From
USA Today
Bestselling Author comes a sexy debut novel in the first of The Riverside Trilogy...

Drake Stagliano is a high maintenance man from a wealthy empire family in Chicago. He managers The Riverside Hotel/Restaurant where he only expects the absolute best. With a past filled with being used and heartbreak, the last thing he expects is to find a woman he can't control himself around—a chef intern.

Molly Woods is not your typical 23 year old. She's in her last semester of culinary school and interning at Drake's restaurant. She's closed dating off her list—her only priorities are finishing school & her 4 year old daughter. When Molly is pursued by Drake, she does everything she can to deny the chemistry and sexual tension. However, that doesn't last long & she finds herself completely captivated by him.

When an intimate video goes public, Molly's internship and credibility is threatened. She's lusts for the one man she's been able to connect with after the sudden death of her late fiancé - but can Drake hold on for the emotional ride? Molly will need to let go of her past in order let Drake in, but can she let go of something that meant so much to her in the first place?

Fall in love with this steamy & romantic story of two people who find each other just when they both need someone the most.

Drake

From the moment I walked into the conference hall, my eyes were drawn to her. She was wearing a gorgeous, red dress with black stilettos.
Simple, but stunning.
Her long, dark hair lay beautifully down her back with loose curls at the end. She was standing next to someone, holding a drink in one hand and twirling the straw with the other. She looked bored, at best. I couldn’t blame her. These orientation gatherings typically were. They were the official meet-and-greets for the new interns for the semester.

I stood on the other side of the hall and stared at her for a moment, memorized by her. She reminded me of a painting, simply stunning but with a mysterious theme behind it. I couldn’t help wanting to figure her out.

I lost all track of time staring at her and almost didn’t notice it was time for my opening speech. Clearing my throat and adjusting my tie, I made my way to the stage.

I always started the night off with a welcome speech to all the new interns; I was in charge of the internship program for the restaurant and carefully picked applicants I thought would benefit from working here.

The more I looked at her, the more I needed to know who she was. I wanted to hear her voice. I wasn’t a man who was easily affected by women, because the sea was filled with a lifetime supply, but there was just something about the way she looked. She stood with confidence and nonchalance, almost as if she could do this in her sleep.

“Welcome. Thank you all for coming here tonight, celebrating a new stage in your career. Riverside is excited to have you become a part of our family! You will struggle, you will fail, and best of all, you will succeed. If you don’t struggle, and if you don’t learn to fail, you will never know what it feels like to succeed. So, before you get down on yourself, remember that. This program is challenging, time-consuming, and, at times, mentally exhausting, but I promise you that it will all be worth it.” As I was speaking, I tried my hardest to scan the room and make eye contact with the other interns and staff, but it was hard to peel my eyes away from her. Just as I was telling a joke and ending my speech, it happened. She laughed and smiled so big it made her cheeks turn pink. She has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen—carefree and full of life. It made me wonder if she had ever experienced heartbreak in her short life. I certainly hoped she hadn’t.

“Mr. Moore, I need to know that woman’s name,” I told my assistant, nodding my head in her direction.

“Yes, sir.” I watched as he walked out of the room, punching keys into his cell.

I keep my distance from her, but I could find her in a crowded room in a heartbeat. She stood out amongst the rest and she didn’t even know it. She stood with grace, casually chatting with the other interns around her.

Wren Fields, a business partner of mine, came to stand next to me. He started talking about some project and how the shareholders were complaining about something—I wasn’t paying attention anymore. I was starring at her from across the room, hoping she tilt her head up just enough to lock eyes with me.

I didn’t even know her name yet, but I was fixated on her. The longer I watched her, the more she reminded me of a young Kate Middleton—classy and elegant, gorgeous and sophisticated. I knew I was being obtuse, but I was rarely wrong about people.

Fighting the urge to walk over there and sweep her away from the crowd, I kept my distance, but just close enough to hear the sweet sound of her laughter again. It made me smile to myself, but when she brought a hand up to brush the strands of hair out of her face when I saw it.

The ring on her left hand.

I was in denial the second I noticed it. She didn’t look like any older than twenty-three, maybe twenty-four. Most interns in the program were not married, and for some reason, I felt like there was no way.
Engaged? Perhaps.
I was determined to find out.

“Mr. Stagliano?” My assistant spoke from behind me, grabbing my attention. “I have that information you asked me about.” I could see a manila folder under his arm. Her file.

Wren finally took the hint and took off, patting a hand on my shoulder as if we were friends outside of work. We weren’t.

“Let me have it, please.” I reached out and took it from his hand. “Thank you.” Walking away, I opened the file and began searching it over.

“Molly Woods,” I read quietly to myself. “Twenty-three, scholarship applicant, lives in Chicago, graduated high school with honors.” I continued skimming the file, in hopes of finding any information that’d be helpful. As I scanned my eyes lower, I finally found it. At the bottom where it asked for the emergency contact was a man’s name, but it didn’t say spouse, it read
roommate
.

So perhaps she wasn’t engaged after all.

I allowed my mind to run with reasons she’d be wearing a ring on her ring finger, such as it was a family heirloom, maybe it was the only finger it’d fit her, or she was wearing it as a means of professional, in hopes it’d gain her respect from her peers. Whatever the reason, I had to find out.

After returning the file to my assistant, I walked back in the conference hall and immediately started looking for her again. The orientation mixer was a nice way for the interns to meet each other and get all the information they’d need for that semester.

I watched as she playfully twirled her hair around her finger and sipped on her drink. I noticed a guy walking up to her and my face tightened as I watched him take a seat next to her. She was giving him the cold shoulder, avoiding his eye contact and presence all together . It was obvious he was making her nervous and uncomfortable, but I forced myself to not get involved. Not here.

As the orientation ended, she finished her drink and gathered her things. She waved to her friend and as she walked out the door, I felt a pang of loneliness. I was drawn to her, and I didn’t know why. I’d never experienced anything like it before, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. 

I knew it wasn’t normal to feel like this with someone I hadn’t even met yet. Even if she could end up have the same feelings, it could never turn into anything—at least while she was interning at the Riverside. It’d be breaking so many work policies and ethic codes, but I also knew that deep down I really didn’t care. I would risk it for her.

If she wanted me to.