Sweet Sizzle: A Red Hot Valentine Story (9 page)
Read Sweet Sizzle: A Red Hot Valentine Story Online
Authors: Jodi Redford
“Really, bro? You couldn’t wait until next Valentine’s Day to do the deed?”
Grinning, Ben straightened the sprig of freesia pinned to his tuxedo lapel. “Nope. Too far away.”
“But think how romantic that would have been.” Michael sighed when it became clear that Ben wasn’t about to be swayed by his suggestion. “At least time it so your first rug rat is born on Valentine’s Day. And make sure he’s Michael if a boy, and Michaela if a girl.”
“You’ll have to swing that idea past Rory. Pretty sure she gets final say.”
“She’ll agree.” Michael flashed his pearly whites. “She likes me.”
Ben gave him a warning look. “Yeah, you keep your dirty paws off my future bride, Rico Sauvé.”
“Does that extend to her cookies too?”
“Nah, I don’t mind sharing those.”
Michael cleared his throat and tugged nervously on the cuffs of his tux. “Speaking of cookies, I’ve been meaning to ask if you know what the situation is with her partner, Hailey.”
Ben choked. Shaking his head, he glanced at Michael. “Too much carbon monoxide kill of your brain cells?”
“What? She’s cute. And feisty.” Michael made a predatory growling sound and waggled his brows.
“You better invest in a protective steel cup.”
Michael only laughed at that wise bit of advice.
Poor probie. He had no damn clue of what he was getting himself into.
The familiar opening strains of the wedding march drifted from the Vegas chapel’s speaker system, and Ben tore his mind from every other thought but the beautiful vision gliding towards him. Radiating absolute joy, Rory joined him at the altar, her smile more dazzling than the sun. His heart filling with so much love he swore it would burst, he took her hands and looked into her eyes. She was his soul mate, his light, his future. Always.
“Are you ready to do this?” she whispered.
“Past ready.”
Her mouth twitched. “Still impatient, I see.”
“These last three days have been hell.” He offered her a pout. “Intolerably cruel of you to limit me to only three daily rounds of hot loving until the wedding night.”
“I’ll make it up to you.” She stood on tiptoe to whisper in his ear as the ceremony officiates approached. “I brought extra whipped cream.”
Giggling at his exaggerated shiver, she squeezed his hand. Feeling like the luckiest bastard on the planet, he gave her a goofy grin. “I do love my cherry pie.”
At the ripe age of seven, Jodi Redford penned her first epic, complete with stick-figure illustrations. Sadly, her drawing skills haven’t improved much, but her love of fantasy worlds never went away. These days she writes about fairies, ghosts and other supernatural creatures, only with considerably more heat.
She has won numerous contests, including The Golden Pen and Launching a Star.
When not writing or working the day job, she enjoys gardening and way too many reality-television shows.
Currently residing in Michigan with her husband and overgrown lapdog, she is a member of RWA national and Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America.
She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at
[email protected]
and visit her online at
www.jodiredford.com
.
Jodi is also on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/jodi.redford.3
and Twitter
https://twitter.com/jodiredford
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Stacy Halligan has spent her adult life focusing on her career, choosing men with far less care than she does her professional path. That’s probably the reason all of her relationships end in disaster. Now she’s senior editor of the magazine where she works and she was so sure this latest hunk would be the one. When he dumps her, just before Valentine’s Day, who does she complain to, as always, but her next door neighbor and friend, backup quarterback Max Sullivan. She sees Max as her best friend. Comfortable. Easy to be with.
Max doesn’t mind hanging out with Stacy but in the three years they’ve lived next door to each other he’s hoped for a lot more. Now he sees his opening. When he offers to put on a blitz leading up to Valentine’s Day to make the guy jealous, he has an ulterior motive. He wants to show her he’s the one she should pick, because he wants Stacy for himself. His campaign includes, chocolate, flowers, little gifts and hopefully, really hot sex. Because he’d been dying forever to get her into his bed and keep her there.
Will this work? He only has until Valentine’s Day to find out.
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If You Dare by Aliyah Burke
When two people lost in their careers are thrown together, can passion kindle lost souls and ignite the flames of love?
Justin Kapp is on an Alaskan cruise when he meets a woman that gives the vacation an entirely new outlook. From the very beginning he knew she was something special. Something more.
Kathryn Maynard, a top divorce attorney in Virginia Beach, accepts a dare that puts her on an Alaskan cruise and rail package. She would rather be anywhere but here, however the arrival of an intense man, changes that. Changes her.
When reunited in Virginia and Justin wants more than she's willing to allow herself to give. After he leaves, she realizes what is the most important. Will she take the chance and dare her heart to love?
http://www.aliyah-burke.com/books/index.htm
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Redneck Romeo by Randi Alexander
When Genevieve Riley sneaks onto the O’Bannon Ranch to return a stolen heirloom, the boy she’d fallen in love with as a teenager, Nick O’Bannon, catches her before she can slip away. The problem is, he’s now a big, rugged cowboy, and those feelings from a decade ago resurface. She can’t concentrate on anything but picking up where they left off.
Nick can’t believe what his dogs cornered. Beautiful ‘Jellybean’ Riley, all grown up and sexier than sin. He never knew what tore her from his life when they were teens, just as their relationship was starting. With the heat radiating between them, he knows he can seduce her, but can he make her stay this time?
http://randialexander.com/preview/red-hot-valentine-redneck-romeo/
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Tastes Like Chocolate by Graylin Rane
Viviana's heartbreak and betrayal by her ex-fiance' is poured into her sculpting. While working on a statue of pure milk chocolate, she finds herself talking to the man emerging about her hopes, dreams, and desires. Sprinkling gold dust over his stunning finished form makes his body glitter as he comes to life taking her into his arms. Their passion ignites a side of her she'd given up on, can they survive the jealousy of her former flame to find love?
http://www.graylinfox.com/rhv-tastes-like-chocolate/
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Sweet Indulgence by Shyla Colt
This sexy short will help make your Valentine’s day sizzle.
Born on February 14th, Chastity Roberts has never taken stock in the holiday for lovers. But this year Cupid has a little something s
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http://www.shylacolt.com/books/
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Sweet Sizzle by Jodi Redford
Valentine’s Day—the bane of Rory Sinclair’s existence. Hard to forgive the one holiday responsible for the single most moronic decision of her life. If it was up to her, she’d skip anything to do with cupid, but with her business partner home sick with the flu, she’s stuck delivering a bunch of cookie bouquets to a local firehouse. Who knows, maybe she’ll cure her Valentine’s Day neurosis and heat up the mattress with a hunky firefighter. Her plan of donning some edible undies and getting her freak on goes up in flames though the instant she steps through the doors of Station 5 and spots Bennet Jackson—the man responsible for her decade long Valentine’s Day boycott.
No matter how hard he’s tried, Ben has never gotten over the innocent girl he foolishly let slip between his fingers. When Rory unexpectedly crashes back into his world, he figures it’s his only shot at righting the wrongs of his past and getting her back in his bed and his life. For good. Unfortunately, she has other plans. Ones that don’t include him. He’s well aware that she has every reason to despise him, but if there’s one thing he’s up for, it’s a challenge. Because there’s no way in hell he’s losing the woman of his dreams again. And this time he’s prepared to pull out every dirty, sexy, and hotter-than-sin trick to convince her to stay.
http://www.jodiredford.com/More_Books.html
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Turnaround by Cassandra Carr
Becca and James don't date. Both are in their thirties and neither has found anyone they feel is potential spouse material. Becca attends a "We Hate Valentine's Day" party at a local bar where James is bartending. He knows from the first day they meet that Becca is someone special, but Becca's more cautious. James sets out to prove to Becca there really are happy-ever-afters.
http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com
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The Bet by Ty Langston
Meet Chris Knight, lead singer of the international Rock Band, Knight’s Armor. He’s successful, rich and is in deeply in love with his girlfriend, Gabrielle. Gabrielle is a music columnist for Rockline Magazine. Her love of everything music pales in comparsion to the love she has for her boyfriend, Chris Knight.What happens when two people love each other so much, but decide to change the rules? The dice is cast, a bet is made, how much will things change between them? Or will it end things for good?
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Jenna Turner wasn’t looking for anything but a quick bite to eat when she met the sexy peace officer Marcus Peterson. While Jenna has always been singularly focused on her next big promotion at work, suddenly she’s distracted by alluring texts from Marcus.
His evocative words and her naughty responses invoke emotions neither seem ready for, and luckily, neither have room in their busy lives to follow through on all their sexting.
Can two career driven people find the time to take their relationship to the next level? Or will careers and the pressure to achieve goals cause the end to a budding love?
http://www.michelprincebooks.com/
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Cupid Valentine, a.k.a. Coop, is the worst divorce attorney in the entire Southeast. Ninety-eight percent of his clients reconcile before the gavel hits the block. He's dedicated his life to love; yet he's never experienced it for himself...until Daisy.
Plus size Daisy and her best friend, Brad, made a pact when they were younger: if they weren't married by thirty, they'd marry each other. Two years later, they've learned that love has many forms, and a passionate love is needed to have a fulfilling relationship.
The pair confounds Coop. His job has always been to repair relationships, but what happens when he suddenly finds himself rooting for the opposite of all he stands for? He does what any smart cupid would do and flies away. But you can only escape Cupid's arrow for so long, even if you happen to be Cupid.
http://christinlovell.com/
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While vacationing at a cabin in the Ozarks, Scott Walker - Austin neurobiologist, gets snowed-in and has to be rescued by local, Lia Houston. She brings him food, helps him fix his heat and tries to get his car on the road. A monster storm has paralyzed the mountain and as she’s trying to chain his car to her truck, a huge ice-covered limb falls, crushing the front of her pick-up and almost flattening Scott. If she hadn’t moved fast, he’d be a memory – but the brave action on her part comes with a price, she’s injured and stuck with Mr. Know-It-All until the weather abates. Scott doesn’t believe in love, much less love at First Sight. So when he meets Lia, he welcomes the attraction, but fights the tenderness with every breath in his body. Join Sable Hunter as she chronicles their journey from lust to love with a lot of fireworks in between. They meet at the dawn of the New Year, and by Valentine’s Day the fires of True Love are burning bright.
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