Sultry in Stilettos (30 page)

"You were paying her back
for me?"

He shrugged. "Well, yeah.
I knew from the get-go that you deserved the job. You were just a
natural. Sure, I could be a daredevil, and I wanted it, but you’re
level-headed. It suits you."

She nodded a thanks. God,
she looked so beautiful. He hadn’t even known how much he missed
her until he couldn’t just pick up the phone and call. Just stroll
over and let himself in and help himself to dinner. Couldn't just
call her and start yapping about whatever was on his mind. He
needed her.

"I still can’t believe you
turned down the job."

"Yeah, well, someone once
told me I had a flare for the dramatic."

She giggled, and his heart
raced. He missed her laugh.

"I heard Zach promoted
you."

She nodded. "Yeah. It’s
been a little chaotic, but I’ve been having fun." She lowered her
lashes. “Beckett. What are you doing here?”

Do or die time.
“Ricca, I’m in love with you. I’ve been twisted
up inside since that night of the Gala. I know—I should have told
you sooner, but truthfully, you scared me shitless.”

“Beckett, we’ve been
through so much. I need to know you will talk to me. Even if you
don’t know how I’m going to react. You’re not an
island.”

“I know. And I don’t want
to be. If you give me a chance, I’ll do everything I’m capable of
to make you happy. I’ve been miserable without you.”

She blinked at him mouth
agape. “I’m sorry. Did you say you love me?”

He nodded. “I’ll use small
words. I. Love. You. I’m sorry it took so long to tell
you.”

****

All Ricca could manage for
several heartbeats were a few deep breaths. Beckett loved her. Like
in wanted to be with her? She shook her head trying to dislodge the
fantasy. She’d wanted this for so long that her brain couldn’t
quite adjust to the new version of the fantasy. Because no matter
how long she’d wanted a life with him, she’d known that he couldn’t
love her. Wouldn’t love her. But now, here he was—making her dreams
come true.

She opened her mouth to
speak, but nothing came out. Trying again, she willed her brain and
her heart to work in unison. Still nothing.

Beckett’s breath came out
in ragged huffs as his eyes searched her face. Stepping into her,
he took her hands in his and dropped to one knee. “I know I don’t
deserve you or your patience. I know that I won’t always get it
right. I know you can do better than me. But I want you to know
that no matter what, I love you. You don’t even have to say
anything now. I just want the chance to be able to prove it to you.
You’re my family, always have been. When you’re ready, I want to
make that official. I just want you to give me the chance to keep
proving it to you. Anything you want. Just take me back and give me
a chance.” He laid his forehead on her clasped hands. “I am in love
with you, and I need you in my life.”

Ricca blinked away the
stinging burn in her eyes. This was real? Not a fantasy? Not a
dream she needed to wake from? She cleared her throat and used her
thumb to caress his cheek. “Beckett, stand up.”

He obliged, and as his
gaze bore down on hers, she saw the glimmer in his eyes. He
loved

her. In that moment, she
found her voice. “I love you too, Beckett. I always
have."

With a quick release of
breath, he drew her into him. "I'm not running again. You’re stuck
with me."

"Good. Cause Mr. Mills, I
have big plans for us. And just so you know," she trailed her
fingertips down his chest to his belt buckle. “I plan on making you
work for redemption.”

A slow, sexy grin played
on him lips. “How about I start working right now?”

Sexy in
Stilettos

©2012 Nana Malone

~ 4 out of 5 stars - Picked by Poison ~ "I
liked Nana's writing style and how she made her characters quirky
and fun, and not the usual romantic type."

Blurb:

What’s worse than having to watch your
sister marry your ex fiancé? How about when that fiancé fires you
from the family business?

Hyper-organized, event planner Jaya Trudeaux
is used to doing things by the book and never making waves. It’s a
strategy that’s served her well until she finds herself in failure
alley with no fiancé, no job and her thirtieth birthday looming.
Maybe it’s time to change her methods. Starting with an unlikely
date to the wedding from hell.

The only thing that can tie carefree
playboy, Alec Danthers down is his formidable step mother. When she
calls him home to help find his wayward brother, he never imagines
an uptight, list making, sass- talking woman would make him think
about putting down roots.

Can Jaya put the lists down long enough to
enjoy the ride that is Alec? Will Alec stop running long enough to
recognize true love?

Warning: Sexy, sass talking women will make
you laugh, cry and want a pair of killer footwear.

©2010 Nana Malone

“Titillating and heartwarming, GAME, SET,
MATCH is a delightful contemporary romance that will touch your
heart….Wonderfully enhanced with a poignant plot, compelling
characters, humor, secrets, blazing hot sex scenes, surprising plot
twists and plenty of love, this story is brought to life right
before your eyes by the appealing writing style of author Nana
Malone.”

~Review by Dottie for Romance Junkies

“
Game, Set, Match
had me
enjoying Izzie’s sass and Jason’s coming back for more attitudes.
Ms. Malone’s depth to her characters, their actions, and their
choices made them more lifelike and gratifying in this story.”

~ Reviewed by Vanessa for Joyfully
Reviewed

Blurb:

Off the court, tennis star Jason
Cartwright's playboy image is taking a public beating. On the
court, he's down forty-love. A knee injury is shutting down his
game, and the paparazzi are splashing his love life on every
magazine. A comeback is in order, but the makeover he needs to save
his faltering career is in the hands of the woman he loved and left
fifteen years ago.

While single-mom, Izzy Connors, sees people
for who they really are through the lens of her camera, even
without it, she knows Jason isn't the star he appears to be.
Although his charm and good looks haven't dimmed since he broke her
heart, all she sees is his wasted talent and playboy lifestyle.

Can Izzy put the past behind her and help
Jason get his game, and his image, back on track? Or will the click
of her camera shatter his world as well as his heart?

Available for purchase on
www.nanamalone.com

Nana’s love of all things romance
and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she
borrowed from her cousin on a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana at a
precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick butt heroines
ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her
inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started
creating her own characters.

Waiting for her chance at a job as a
ninja assassin, Nana, meantime works out her drama, passion and
sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as
she thinks she is. Though, until that ninja job comes through,
you’ll find her acting out scenes for hubby and puppy while
catching up on her favorite reality television shows in sunny San
Diego.

Her novels are available
whereever ebooks are sold or from her website
www.nanaamalone.com

To learn more about Nana and her books,
visit
www.nanamalone.com
, follow
her on
http://www.twitter.com/nanamalone
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