Read Recipe for Attraction Online
Authors: Gina Gordon
She tiptoed toward the door, gripping the bat tightly in her right hand.
“Carson!” She jumped when the person banged again.
But she knew that voice. She unlocked the door and swung it open and jumped back at the sight of Neil, his clothes soaked through. At the mere sight of him her, breath quickened and her heart sped up.
He looked up and met her gaze. But this Neil didn’t look like the confident man she had had meant over a year ago. He didn’t have his larger-than-life attitude she had become accustomed to. Nor did he have that brilliant smile that never failed to make her weak in the knees.
He looked…scared.
They stood staring at each other. “You’re supposed to be at a party right now.”
“I know.”
She straightened her robe on her torso. “So you left the party? To come here?”
He nodded.
“Why?”
“I have something to say.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Was here to tell her he’d moved on? Despite her broken heart, she hoped he was moving in the right direction. He might not love her, but someone, someday, would be lucky enough to have Neil Harrison all to themselves. And she would be the luckiest girl in the world.
“Don’t marry that jerk,” he whispered. “You can’t marry that jerk.”
Not exactly the declaration she was hoping for.
“He’s no good.” He squeezed his grip tighter on his helmet. “I don’t have all the proof I need yet but he just wants to—”
“I know.”
His eyes widened and he looked into hers. “You do.”
She nodded. “I know all about him leaking the video. I know all about his proposal.”
“Thank Christ.” He stalked inside without an invitation and threw his helmet on her couch.
“Come on in,” she mumbled as she closed her front door. This was not the happy ending she had imagined.
“Look…” He turned to face her. “I know things are tough working for your dad. You could start your own business. I’ll back you. I’ll give you all the capital you need to start up.”
Annoyance bubbled up inside her. “I don’t need your help. How dare you think that I can’t survive on my own? I’ll have you know that—”
She jumped when he rushed forward, his hands reaching up to cup her face and he pushed her. Her feet scurried to keep up with his force and next thing she knew her back was against the door, his lips were on hers and it was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
Water soaked through her robe. Despite the coolness of his body, his lips were hot, scorching as they melted against her, leaving heated kisses along her jaw and cheeks. And there was no mistaking the hardness that rubbed against her stomach every time he pulled her closer. And she couldn’t get close enough.
When he pulled back, he panted, resting his forehead against hers.
It took a few beats for her to get her bearings. That kiss had blurred her vision and just the feel of his lips on hers made everything right in the world.
“I know a good investment when I see one,” he whispered against her lips.
And then he spoke, and she remembered every reason why they would never work. “Is that the only reason?”
When he didn’t answer, she knew. It was all about the money. It was all about making a name. And this time it wasn’t even his name. His obsession was worse than she had thought.
She jerked away from his grip. “Those are the words you have to say? Start your own business, Carson. Make a name for yourself, Carson. You’re as bad as my father.”
“I’m sorry.” His body went rigid. “I did it again. Too strong.”
“You can’t just show up and pretend as if nothing has happened. I need…” She had no idea what she needed but a declaration of love would be a good start. What a fool to think she would get one. “The truth is, I don’t need your help. I finally stood up to my father and I
am
going to start up my own firm.”
He shook his head and laughed. He laughed.
Arrogant, obnoxious, son of bitch!
“Always calling me out on my shit.” He continued to laugh, his face actually lit up, his happiness extending all the way to his eyes.
The nerve of this man. “What is so funny?”
“You’re right. I took the easy way out. I found a loophole and ran with it thinking that you’d automatically forgive me and everything would go back to the way it was.” He chuckled. “I should have remembered who I was dealing with.”
“The easy way out?”
“This isn’t why I came here tonight. I came to tell you…” His hands fisted at his sides and his gaze travelled down to the floor. He blew out a long breath and shook his head. He trembled, his body wavered from side to side.
“Neil, I—”
“I love you.”
The words hit her like a tornado, knocking her back against the wall.
She forced her smile to remain a frown. She wasn’t going to give in so easily.
“You think that saying I love you is going to fix—”
He leaned in and kissed her. He knew exactly what to do to keep her off balance. To make her forget her own words.
“I just said I love you,” he whispered against her lips.
“I know.”
He stared back at her with nervous anticipation. She guessed she’d made him suffer long enough. “I love you, too.”
Lord in Heaven. He loved her. It was plain as day on his face. He loved her that night when he showed up here, and she had told him to take a flying leap.
But none of that mattered anymore. Neil loved her.
She fisted his hair and pulled his head back. “If we do this, work stays separate. I don’t need you to pave the way for me. Are we clear?”
“What if I want to hire you?”
She cocked her hip to the side. “You need an architect?”
He shrugged. “Someone’s going to have to design our new home.”
Her stomach danced with excitement. A house meant commitment. Long-term. But was he willing to go all the way?
She looked up into his eyes. “Is that all you need? An architect?”
“Architect. Lover.” He trailed his finger down the hollow of her neck then locked his eyes on hers. “Wife.”
She lunged forward and smashed her lips to his. It was a few moments before she came up for air. “I want to be all those things.”
He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Carson Kelly, you’re everything I never thought I could have.”
And he was everything she ever wanted.
“You have me. You’ll have it all, forever.”
About the Author
When her dream of becoming a mafia princess didn’t pan out, Gina Gordon went after her second dream…becoming a writer. And she hasn’t looked back.
Gina, a self-proclaimed happily-ever-after junkie and cupcake connoisseuse, loves spinning contemporary tales of knee-bending first kisses, unconditional love, and super-hot sex. She broke out onto the romance scene with her number one Amazon best-selling erotic short story “Her Five Favorite Words,” which has been called a “deliciously naughty tale” by
Joyfully Reviewed
.
When not chained to her computer, you can find Gina sipping Starbucks, making cupcakes or feeding her addiction to celebrity gossip. She lives in Milton, Ontario, with her husband and lovable dog.
Find out where it all began in...
the first book in Gina Gordon’s Madewood Brothers series
Mixing business with pleasure has never been so sexy…
Being the financial caretaker for her deadbeat parents isn’t the life professional organizer Sterling Andrews dreamed of. Tired of being the dependable—and boring—daughter, Sterling decides to have a little fun. And what could be more fun than seducing rich bad boy chef, Jack Vaughn? Except, after one scintillating night together, Sterling’s not only lusting for Jack, she’s working for him. And remaining professional becomes harder every day.
Already a major success thanks to his exclusive restaurants, Jack Vaughn is looking for something more. Ultra responsible Sterling is unlike anyone Jack has met…but she’s his employee. Unwilling to give her up, Jack makes Sterling an offer she can’t refuse—for four sexy weekends, he’ll indulge her most wicked fantasies with no professional strings attached. But will mixing business with pleasure spell disaster? Or will they find the recipe for satisfaction?
Also available this month…
Asking for Trouble
a Line of Duty novel by Tessa Bailey
The fighting was just foreplay…
Brent Mason and Hayden Winstead can’t stand each other. She plans exclusive parties for her rich family’s charities. He’s a rough and tumble cop who rigs explosives for a living. Could two people be any less suited for conversation? They think not and prefer to keep it that way.
Unfortunately, their two best friends are deeply, disgustingly in love. Forced together, the mutual attraction simmering beneath the surface of Brent and Hayden’s non-relationship grows with every argument until it explodes into a scintillating night of mind-blowing sex. And it won’t be the last, as far as Brent’s concerned.
Hayden has a secret, though. Her father’s company is relying on a merger to save them from financial ruin, and only Hayden’s marriage to the CEO’s wealthy son can secure the deal. If she’s to protect her family, she’ll have to forget Brent. And he has no intention of being forgotten.
Also available this month…
the Brazen debut from USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson
When the bedroom becomes the classroom…
Computer guru Abbi Hayes needs to kick her sex life into overdrive—and she’s designing the perfect App to make it happen. Thanks to all of the self-help bedroom tips she’s accumulating, she’ll be able to go from boring and passive to own-him-now vixen with a couple of swipes of a touch screen. And whenformer NBA basketball star Joe Burns offers to help her test out her ‘product,’ how can she say no?
Joe can’t quite believe this temptress-in-training is his formerly shy, geeky ex-math tutor. If Abbi wants to discover her inner vamp, he’ll happily be her how-to guide. But it only takes few face-to-face lessons to realize that underneath the talk, there’s a truly passionate woman begging to be claimed by someone strong. Someone like him.
Maybe it’s time to teach his former teen fantasy a few tricks of his own…