Licked (L.A. Liaisons Book 1)

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for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

As the owner of Licked, an eclectic ice creamery and bar, Ryleigh Phillips doesn’t have time for that love stuff. Serving up Nibble My Nuts sundaes and Drunken Sailor boozy shakes are as close to an orgasmic affair as she’s had in months thanks to her expanding empire—until the night of her ten-year high school reunion.

When Ryleigh’s crush, gorgeous ex-football god Cameron Mathis, comes streaking into her life (literally—streaking), she begins to wonder if she really can have it all.

Wouldn’t it just figure that the moment you think life is perfect is when it falls spectacularly apart?

Enter Hunter Morgan, the contractor in charge of Licked’s renovations. Devastatingly handsome, and a smartass to boot, he’s got his eyes on Ryleigh from the moment he finds her passed out on his couch (yeah, that’s a long story). There’s just one tiny complication—he happens to be Cameron’s best friend.

When the lines between relationships and friendships blur, and it’s impossible to choose between two delicious flavors, what’s a girl to do? Taste a sample of each? Or go out and get LICKED?

Also by Brooke Blaine

Romantic Suspense

Flash Point

A Desperate Man Series

Co-authored with Ella Frank

A Desperate Man: Volume One

A Desperate Man: Volume Two

A Desperate Man: Volume Three

A Desperate Man: The Complete Series

To my Susie Q—

You would’ve gotten this story a lot sooner if you hadn’t read my diary to your friends all those years ago.

THE HIGH SCHOOL gymnasium smelled like freshly waxed floors, Polo Sport, and bad decisions. As I peered up at the gaudy blue and gold banner hanging precariously across the open double doors that proclaimed, “Welcome Back, Warriors,” a roll of nausea filled my gut.

A few small steps through that entrance would send me hurtling back into my past.
Ten years
back into my past, to be precise.

Speaking of bad decisions, this was up there on the list of all-time stupidest things I’ve done in my life. Why had I thought coming back here was a good idea? It wasn’t like I even enjoyed high school, what with the popular girls the size of my thigh, the strange meatloaf they served every day that could be classified as a mystery food, and the never-ending ridicule I’d faced after being caught stuffing my bra during gym class.

What? Those swing dresses weren’t gonna fill themselves.

Truth be told, I came here for one reason, and one reason only: I wanted to show Cameron Mathis I was finally a woman worth noticing.

I know what you’re thinking. Who’s Cameron Mathis and yeah, he’s got a dreamy name, but why the hell should I care?

Just wait. Wait for it…

Where was I? Oh yes. So, now here I was, the product of ridiculous fantasies regarding that certain someone and peer pressure from my best friends, all of whom had never set foot into Woodland High and couldn’t believe there’d ever been an awkward Ryleigh Phillips at any age.

But alas. There was. And it was a glaring reminder, now that I was here, that me and my black and white strapless rockabilly dress didn’t belong. My past was making me claustrophobic, the pale green walls that hadn’t changed in the last decade closing in.

Fingering the beaded necklace that sat just above my collarbone, I slowly backed away from the doors, the click-clack of my cherry heels against the vinyl tile moving in time to the band playing inside.

I hadn’t been seen yet, so I could sneak out of here and no one would be the wiser.
Yes. Brilliant idea.
Kicking off my shoes and relaxing with a huge bowl of ice cream sounded like a perfect—

The roar of male voices echoing up the hall to my right knocked me out of my sugar daydream, and I froze momentarily before whipping around and searching for a quick exit. There was only one, at the very end of the hall, and I made a mad dash before there were witnesses to my appearance here.

And then it happened. The moment that would change my life forever.

Just as I crossed the intersection, a tall, muscular body rounded the corner and smacked into me, causing me to lose my balance and reach out for something to grab on to. And that something, my friends, was Cameron Mathis’s penis.

Yes,
that
Cameron Mathis. Completely gorgeous former football God and sole object of my high school fantasies. The one I’d braved the nightmare of Reunionville for.
And now, the owner of the bare cock in my hand.

Wait—bare?

My eyes went wide as I looked down to his pelvis and stared, unbelieving, at the hot flesh of manstick in my hands.

“Oh my God,” I whispered.

“Ryleigh Phillips.” The rich baritone of his voice had me looking up at the face it belonged to. Cameron’s sea-blue eyes held mine as one side of his mouth turned up in amusement.

How do you know my name?
I wanted to ask, but then I remembered I was not that meek teenager with a schoolgirl crush anymore.
No way. I’m a poised, assertive woman with a thriving business who never has a problem finding a date. Well, when I have time for one. Which lately has been…oh, never.

“That would be me,” I said, my hand still gripping him like a vise. Though it seemed to be hardening underneath my fin—

“Cameron,” he said.

I blinked. “What?”

He laughed, a sexy, throaty sound. “You look like you don’t remember me. Cameron Mathis. We were in the same Spanish class all four years.”

Holy Jesus, how did he know that?
And then a random thought:
Why don’t I remember more from those classes than how to count to twenty?

But as I took in the perfectly gelled, sun-kissed blond hair and the brilliant white smile that was nearly blinding, I realized exactly why I’d never paid attention in class. Who could concentrate when they had a living Ken doll to fantasize about for hours on end?

“Right…right,” I said, my mind buzzing. He had to be joking if he thought anyone in this town didn’t know who he was. Students and teachers alike had bowed down to the guy after he’d taken them to the state championships four years running.

When his gaze dropped between us to the hold I still had on him, I flushed and quickly let go.

“Oh, God. Sorry. Uh…I don’t normally grab, um…other appendages instead of hands to shake.”

A rumbling laugh came from his chest. “Well, that’s a shame. It’s a nice way to say hello.”

My cheeks flamed hotter, and I could only shake my head. Before I could utter another apology, the booming voices I’d heard moments earlier came running down the hallway past us, every one of the guys naked as the day they were born—except for their shoes.

“What the hell…” I said, more to myself than Cameron, as I watched them run by. Shrieks of laughter from inside the building rang out, and I raised an eyebrow at the naked man in front of me.

“Sorry about the run-in,” he said with a wink, his smile sexy and full of confidence as he backed into the gymnasium to join them. “You know how dares go. I’ll come find you when I have some clothes on.” And then he turned and jogged into the room, the spectacular muscles of his ass flexing with each step.

Did that just happen? Holy…mother.

I was vaguely aware of my phone when it started to ring, and it took me a few seconds to shake off the daze before I answered.

“Ryleigh? Do I have to tell you there’s an emergency and you need to come back to the shop right now to have shots with us?” one of my fabulous foursome BFFs, Shayne, asked over the line.

“You’re not even in town right now to have shots
with
if I said yes. Aren’t you supposed to be at a wedding? Or do you need me to save you from that too?”

Shayne gave a dramatic sigh. “Bloody hell, it’s a nightmare. The groom caught the bride shagging his brother before the ceremony, and he’s been chasing him around the car park for half an hour already. Paige ducked over to the reception bar to get us drinks.” Shayne’s Australian accent was out in full force, as it tended to do when she was excited or pissed. Well, not
pissed
in the drunk sense like she’d say, though I had no doubt with Paige there they’d be that too in a matter of minutes.

“Tell her not to forget the popcorn for the show.”

“I’m sure they’ll be passing that out any minute. So. Did you run into Cameron yet?”

Oh, did I ever.
With a wry smile, I said, “You could say that.”

“And?”

“And I think I’m gonna stick around for a while.”

“Fuck me. Go get him, Ry, and then call us after and tell us everything.”

“I plan on it.” I straightened the wide red belt at my waist and threw my shoulders back. “But Shayne? Don’t wait up.”