“What was that for?” she asked raggedly.
He pressed a thumb against her swollen lips. “You are the sexiest goddess to walk the earth. You taught them to count cards, didn’t you?”
Raven blinked. “Of course not. I don’t know how to count cards.”
“Liar.” He nipped at her jaw, then soothed with his tongue. “I know a con when I see one.”
“Sorry, Slick. The only con going on right now is the one you’re playing on me. Getting me all hot and bothered and doing nothing about it.”
“Wait till your punishment tonight.” Her tummy dipped in thrilling anticipation. His hot breath blew in her ear. “If you’re lying to me, I’ll be the one doing the counting. I’ll demand a minimum of three orgasms before I even get inside you. Sound fun?”
Oh, it did. Bastard. Now she’d be thinking about her punishment for the rest of the night. “You’ll have to prove I taught them to count cards.”
“I will. Sydney’s gonna show up with a flush next. Watch.”
He forced her to watch the game unfold while his fingers stroked all the hidden parts of her, safely concealed behind the bar. By the time Sydney showed her flush, Raven was about to explode with sexual tension. Arousal pounded between her thighs and tightened her nipples. The slightest touch elicited goose bumps and shivers over her skin.
“You’ve been a bad girl, Raven.”
“Are you going to tell your brothers?” she asked breathlessly, rocking her hips back against his erection.
“Hell no. They deserve a good trouncing. Oh, and make that four.”
“Four what?”
He winked and flashed his dimples. “Four orgasms before we even start.” Then he walked away and sat back at the table, congratulating Sydney on her epic win. Raven grabbed a bottle of water and her gaze settled on the prestigious framed article from Good Food & Fine Spirits. The write-up with a full center spread of photos had made a huge splash in Harrington, and now most weekends were standing room only. Al had belted out a laugh when she told him they might need to start taking reservations. Cocktail night had exploded, and Dalton had been known to jump behind the bar to handle the overload.
God, she loved him.
Raven watched the crew ribbing one another with good-natured teasing and affection. Over the few weeks since she’d shown up at Dalton’s door, they’d only grown closer, until Raven felt as if she had stepped into her own circle of adopted family. The nightmares had completely stopped, and a peace had settled over her.
For the first time, she felt completely whole.
It was odd how the crazy twists and turns of life could lead one to love.
Dalton crooked his finger, motioning for her to come over. She loved the path she’d chosen, and sometimes felt the soothing presence of her father stirring the air, as if he was happy, too.
Raven slid into the arms of the man who’d always been meant for her.
acknowledgments
Writers are only as good as the team that surrounds them. I have the best.
Thanks to the crew at Gallery/Pocket for everything they do. Lauren McKenna, my fab editor, I love writing books with you, lady! Thanks to my agent, Kevan Lyon; my assistant, Lisa Hamel-Soldano; and Jessica Estep at InkSlinger PR. A big shout-out to the Probst Posse—you guys rock!
Finally, thanks to all my amazing writing colleagues and friends who are always around when I need to bitch and who cheer me on or just remind me I’m not legally insane. I’m just a writer.
See where it all began with Everywhere and Every Way, Book One in the Billionaire Builders series!
Will hard-headed Caleb be able to open his heart to the most demanding—and alluring—designer he's ever worked with?
Everywhere and Every Way
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Keep reading for a sneak peek of the next book in the Billionaire Builders series
all or
nothing
at all
Available from Gallery and Pocket Books this fall!
chapter one
Sydney Greene rushed into the offices of Pierce Brothers Construction, madly calculating how she’d make up the twenty minutes she’d lost in morning madness. Her daughter, Becca, had insisted on wearing her hair in a French braid, then had raced back to her closet to change twice before school. If she acted like this at six years old, what would happen when she reached high school?
Sydney shuddered at the thought. Juggling her purse, laptop, and briefcase, she dug for the key, then realized someone was already in. She was a bit of a control freak when it came to running the office where she’d worked since she was eighteen years old and liked to arrive before everyone else started. Order was the key to dealing with chaos. Her life had been such a series of sharp turns and fear-inducing hills, her soul was soothed in the one place she could not only control but thrive in.