“Okay, so now for the big event of the evening, at least for me,” Hudson said.
Bri heard ripples of laughter, but she wasn’t sure where they were coming from or what was going on.
His gaze on hers, his expression completely open, love in his eyes, he said, “Sometimes in life, the unexpected happens, and you meet someone who completes you.”
He took her hand in his, and her heart began to pound rapidly in her chest. Why, she didn’t know, but she had the sense something monumental was about to happen and swallowed hard.
“You’re lucky in that you know what family means and how important it is to have in your life. I didn’t know what that was like until I met you.”
When he slipped his other hand, the one not holding hers, into his pocket, she began to tremble, and when he pulled out a solitaire diamond ring, her eyes opened wide.
Then he dropped down on one knee. “Brianne Prescott, will you marry me and officially become my family?”
“Say yes!” someone shouted from the crowd.
Laughing, smiling, and crying at the same time, she nodded. “Yes. Yes! I’ll marry you.”
More applause sounded around them as he slipped the ring on her finger and rose to his feet. Next thing she knew, he’d pulled her into his arms and his lips came down hard on hers. She might have given him a family, but in him she’d found home.
* * * *
Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Carly Phillips, discover Sexy Love, Take the Bride, and His to Protect.
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Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Eight
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DRAGON REVEALED by Donna Grant
A Dragon Kings Novella
CAPTURED IN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
A Montgomery Ink: Boulder Novella
SECURING JANE by Susan Stoker
A SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series Novella
WILD WIND by Kristen Ashley
A Chaos Novella
DARE TO TEASE by Carly Phillips
A Dare Nation Novella
VAMPIRE by Rebecca Zanetti
A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella
MAFIA KING by Rachel Van Dyken
A Mafia Royals Novella
THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SON by Darynda Jones
A Charley Davidson Novella
FINALE by Skye Warren
A North Security Novella
MEMORIES OF YOU by J. Kenner
A Stark Securities Novella
SLAYED BY DARKNESS by Alexandra Ivy
A Guardians of Eternity Novella
TREASURED by Lexi Blake
A Masters and Mercenaries Novella
THE DAREDEVIL by Dylan Allen
BOND OF DESTINY by Larissa Ione
A Demonica Novella
THE CLOSE-UP by Kennedy Ryan
A Hollywood Renaissance Novella
MORE THAN POSSESS YOU by Shayla Black
A More Than Words Novella
HAUNTED HOUSE by Heather Graham
A Krewe of Hunters Novella
MAN FOR ME by Laurelin Paige
A Man In Charge Novella
THE RHYTHM METHOD by Kylie Scott
A Stage Dive Novella
JONAH BENNETT by Tijan
A Bennett Mafia Novella
CHANGE WITH ME by Kristen Proby
A With Me In Seattle Novella
THE DARKEST DESTINY by Gena Showalter
A Lords of the Underworld Novella
Also from Blue Box Press
THE LAST TIARA by M.J. Rose
THE CROWN OF GILDED BONES by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Blood and Ash Novel
THE MISSING SISTER by Lucinda Riley
Discover More Carly Phillips
Sexy Love: A Sexy Series Novella
Click here to purchase.
Learning curves have never been so off-limits.
Professor Shane Warden is on the verge of getting tenure. He never thought he'd see the day, after a false accusation from a student years ago that nearly destroyed his career, and decimated his ability to trust. But the moment he walks into class and lays eyes on the seductive blonde with legs that go on forever and lips he immediately wants to kiss, he knows he’s in trouble.
This time for real.
Single mom Amber Davis is finally living her dream of going back to college. In the ten years since she dropped out to have a baby--and recover from his father's death--it's been the goal that always felt just out of reach. Until now. But one look at her hot, sexy professor, and Amber is head over heels in lust. It doesn’t take long before their attraction blazes out of control.
Neither of them can afford a forbidden affair.
Yet it's the one thing they are powerless to stop.
It will only take one hint of a rumor to destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve... and in this case the rumors are true.
* * * *
Take the Bride: A Knight Brothers Novella
Click here to purchase.
She used to be his. Now she’s about to marry another man.
Will he let her go … or will he stand up and take the bride?
Ryder Hammond and Sierra Knight were high school sweethearts. Despite him being her brother's best friend, their relationship burned hot and fast…and ended with heartbreak and regrets.
Years later, she’s at the altar, about to marry another man.
He’s only there for closure, to finally put the past behind him.
But when the preacher asks if anyone has a reason the couple shouldn’t wed, she turns around and her gaze locks on his.
Suddenly he’s out of his seat.
Claiming.
And ultimately stealing the very pissed off bride and takes her to a secluded cabin.
He wants one week to convince her they’re meant to be, to remind her of the fiery passion still burning between them.
When their time together is up, will she walk away and break his heart this time, or will he finally have the woman he's wanted all along?
* * * *
His to Protect: A Bodyguard Bad Boys/Masters and Mercenaries Novella
Click here to purchase.
Talia Shaw has spent her adult life working as a scientist for a big pharmaceutical company. She’s focused on saving lives, not living life. When her lab is broken into and it’s clear someone is after the top secret formula she’s working on, she turns to the one man she can trust. The same irresistible man she turned away years earlier because she was too young and naive to believe a sexy guy like Shane Landon could want her.
Shane Landon’s bodyguard work for McKay-Taggart is the one thing that brings him satisfaction in his life. Relationships come in second to the job. Always. Then little brainiac Talia Shaw shows up in his backyard, frightened and on the run, and his world is turned upside down. And not just because she’s found him naked in his outdoor shower, either.
With Talia's life in danger, Shane has to get her out of town and to her eccentric, hermit mentor who has the final piece of the formula she’s been working on, while keeping her safe from the men who are after her. Guarding Talia's body certainly isn't any hardship, but he never expects to fall hard and fast for his best friend’s little sister and the only woman who’s ever really gotten under his skin.
Just One Night
The Kingston Family Book 1
By Carly Phillips
Click here to purchase.
She’s the woman he can’t live without.
The one he can’t risk screwing up their relationship by sleeping with her.
Linc Kingston doesn’t accept anything less than perfection. Not in his billion-dollar
business or in his personal life. He has it all. Except one thing. His personal assistant and best friend in his bed, moaning his name. No matter how much Linc wants her, she’s completely off-limits.
Jordan Greene grew up the daughter of the housekeeper at the Kingston estate, where she met and bonded with Linc at a young age, despite their economic differences. But no matter how close they are now or how much their attraction simmers beneath the surface, they’re still from two different worlds. Besides, Jordan isn’t about to risk losing her best friend for one sensual night.
Jordan might be the only woman who can handle Linc and his domineering, bossy attitude, but beneath that gruff exterior is a vulnerable man who, despite his wealth, has had a less-than-charmed life. And when Linc’s father dies, she’s there for him—unwavering in her friendship.
Until one night of passion and a positive pregnancy test changes everything.
* * * *
“I need a plan,” he said, speaking up out of the blue.
She’d actually thought he’d fallen asleep.
“Do I go meet my sister? Or do I let it go because knowing the truth about her father might be too painful for her?” His tone sounded slurred and he was obviously in no position to talk tonight.
“I think we should discuss this in the morning. You need a clear head to make those kind of decisions.” She pushed herself off him and rose to her feet.
“Stay with me,” he said and when she glanced at him, his lips were set in a little boy pout.
This was the Linc not many people saw. The vulnerable man beneath the businessman he presented to the world. “You need sleep. Do you have a car waiting?” she asked because he used a driver to get around the city.
“I sent him home.” He stretched his feet out on her couch and she realized he was settling in for the night.
“Kick off your shoes,” she said. No way could he sleep on the couch in his work clothes.
He did as she instructed and his black dress shoes fell to the floor.
“Now take off your tie and shirt so you’re comfortable.”
“Bossy,” he muttered and began undo the buttons. He worked his way down, revealing his muscled chest and defined abs from time with a professional trainer. He shrugged out of the shirt, struggling with the buttons on the cuffs but he managed to release them.
Swallowing hard, took the shirt and tie from him and put them aside, planning to hang them up so they didn’t wrinkle even more. He’d need them to wear home in the morning.
Despite herself, she couldn’t help but stare at his naked chest. It had been years since they were kids swimming together in his family’s pool and the man in front of her now was a far cry from the boy he’d been.
How could she look at him and not drool? “Do you want to wash up before you settle in for the night?” she asked in a husky voice.
She reached a hand out to help him to his feet and without warning, he pulled her forward. She tumbled, twisting herself so she landed on top of his hard body.
“Linc, what are you doing?” She lifted herself up, intending to climb off him when a firm arm around her back locked her in place.
“I need you,” he said, his voice full of longing.
His words took her off guard. Heart pounding, she looked up and his gaze, hazy with alcohol but no less compelling, met hers. Everything inside her twisted with need. Need for this man and everything he was.
“Kiss me, Jordan.”
Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights
Collection One
Collection Two
Collection Three
Collection Four
Collection Five
Collection Six
Collection Seven
Bundles
Discovery Authors
Blue Box Press
Rising Storm
Liliana Hart's MacKenzie Family
Lexi Blake's Crossover Collection
Kristen Proby's Crossover Collection
On behalf of 1001 Dark Nights,
Liz Berry, M.J. Rose, and Jillian Stein would like to thank ~
Steve Berry
Doug Scofield
Benjamin Stein
Kim Guidroz
Social Butterfly PR
Ashley Wells
Asha Hossain
Chris Graham
Chelle Olson
Kasi Alexander
Jessica Johns
Dylan Stockton
Richard Blake
and Simon Lipskar
Table of Contents
Book Description
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Epilogue