Style Me Sexy (novella) (3 page)
Read Style Me Sexy (novella) Online
Authors: Tara Chevrestt
She hesitated but sat down again. ‘You said you were an artist.’ Her tone was accusatory, but not angry.
Diego nodded. ‘I am. I do hair to pay the rent on my studio. I didn’t lie about that either. Besides,’ he laughed, ‘hair styling is an art too.’
She smiled back at him, and he felt a rush of blood head south. She was still wearing that lip gloss. ‘True. That was evident today.’
Diego ordered her a drink and reached out to put his arm around her shoulders. She didn’t move away. ‘I’m pleased. I’m pleased that it’s you.’
‘You are?’ Her voice sounded shaky, surprised.
‘I am,’ he said firmly. ‘I—I’ve always thought you were something. I have wanted to get my hands on you for a long time—in a good way.’ He faltered.
Oh no. I’ve just blown it.
To his surprise, she laughed. ‘I thought you were gay.’
He pretended to be outraged. ‘Me?’
‘You do hair.’
‘Just one of my many skills. My mother taught me. I had four younger sisters, you know, and when my mama had to work two jobs, it was up to me to get my sisters ready for school and all, and when I needed a job to support my art, that’s what popped up. I’d been to barber school so what the hell. I’m not ashamed.’ Afraid he had been too forceful with his
words, he cleared his throat and added in a playful tone, ‘You shouldn’t stereotype. You know what they say about ASS-U-ME.’
A wry smile curled up the corners of her lips, and a blush tinted her cheeks. ‘I love that about you,’ she finally murmured.
‘What’s that?’ he asked, curious, pulling her closer to his body. She smelled so good, looked so good. He wanted to taste her…and he couldn’t help but enjoy the view. She
had
chosen a top that showed some cleavage.
‘You’re comfortable with yourself and your masculinity.’ The bartender placed a drink in front of her, and Bridget paused. ‘You don’t act like most men, threatening and intimidating and macho.’
‘And I never will,’ he promised.
‘And that’s why this will work.’ She turned and spoke to him breathlessly, her green eyes shining, her lips just an inch from his. ‘Us,’ she added.
He couldn’t resist. He kissed her, and it rocked his world. Damn right, it was going to work.
It
was already working.
His kiss swept her off her feet. She felt as though she was melting right there in his arms. Bridget had to grasp his shoulders to prevent herself from sliding off the stool. His lips were warm and tasted of beer. When he pulled away, and the cool air of the bar replaced his touch, she felt a pang of displeasure, but if the look in his eyes was anything to go by, there was more to come…later.
‘A table is ready for you two. A waitress’s voice intruded on her thoughts and broke apart the heated gaze she was sharing with Javier—Diego. Her date was all she’d dreamed of and more. She couldn’t believe her good fortune, nor could she believe the way she felt as he reached out his hand to her, offering to escort her to their table.
As they followed the waitress, she savoured the approving glances cast their way from other patrons. Diego was pleasing to look at, and a lot of women smiled with speculative gleams, but she was nice to look at too, and many of the men glanced at her admiringly. The feel of Diego’s hand at the small of her back told her that he, too, liked what he was seeing and wanted the world to know they were together.
A chair was pulled out for her, and she sat. Diego sat across from her. A commotion at a nearby table diverted their attention from the menus that were being handed to them. A woman was loudly scolding her male companion. Her words carried over to their table, causing Bridget to blush. ‘Quit checking out other women, you oaf!’ As just a moment before she had caught the berated man looking at her intently, there was no doubt in Bridget’s mind what “women” he’d been checking out.
A warm glow started in the pit of her belly and worked its way towards the rest of her body. Diego reached his hand across the table and grasped hers. She looked into his eyes, fully aware that love and hope were shining in the depths of her own because that’s what she was feeling…among other things, and she wasn’t ashamed of it.
And there, in the warm, chocolate brown eyes staring back at her, she saw the same.
Plotting to Win
by Tara Chevrett
Reality TV has made stars of dancers, bachelors and singers. Now authors get a turn.
In New York City, seven writers compete for a hundred thousand dollars, a publishing contract with Bright House, and the title of the next bestseller. One is Felicity James. One is Victor Guzman.
Drama, plagiarism, and trash talk play out to enthralled audiences across the country as all seven contestants compete against each other in a range of heated challenges, with tensions reaching breaking point. As Felicity and Victor start up a show-mance, their relationship burns up the ratings.
Will this sizzling fling escalate into a vicious battle for money and fame, or will these two authors manage to write their own happy ending?
by Kendall Talbot
An action adventure novel set in the Australian jungle where two unlikely people prove just how attractive opposites can be...
It’s pretentious socialite Abigail Mulholland’s worst nightmare when her plane crashes into an ancient Australian wilderness. Things go from bad to downright hellish when rescuers never come. As she battles to survive in an environment that’s as brutal as it is beautiful, Abigail finds herself also fighting her unlikely attraction to Mackenzie — another survivor, and a much younger man.
Mackenzie Steel is devastated by his partner’s death in the crash, the only person with whom he shared his painful past. Now, as he confronts his own demons, he finds he has a new battle on his hands: his growing feelings for Abigail, a woman who’s as frustratingly naïve as she is funny.
Fate brought them together, but they’ll need more than luck to escape Kakadu alive. Could the letters of a dead man hold the key to their survival?
by Elizabeth Dunk
From the author of
Arranged to Love
comes a romantic story of forgiveness, secrets, small towns and second chances.
Ten years ago, Todd Lansing stood over his father’s grave, his heart thumping out curses on Sia Collins for causing his death. When he returns to Oberon and sees Sia again, his heart thumps with a different emotion, one he fights with all the anger he still feels.
Sia didn’t commit the break-in that ended up killing Mr Lansing, but to admit that would send her father to jail. She has rebuilt her life in the small town, atoned for her accused crime, and carved out a niche using her talent with paint to reach out to the community, raise funds, and support her family.
When Todd finds out the truth, he can’t understand why Sia won’t speak out and clear her name, and it threatens to tear them apart. With her relationship with Todd on the line, will Sia choose loyalty or love?
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ISBN: 9780857990815
Title:
Style Me Sexy
Copyright © 2013 by Tara Chevrestt
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