And if she couldn’t be the bride, then she sure as hell could take herself on a vacation to Sin City, itself.
Sure, her logic might be off, but what else could a wallflower like her do? Stay in the same town and wait for a man who would never be hers—not any longer.
On the other side of the pool, a couple of guys smiled at her. Nervously, she raised her daiquiri and attempted to toast them, but the icy-liquid sloshed over one side.
With an inward sigh, she sucked the drink off her hand.
“It’s you,” a voice slurred.
She inhaled a small piece of ice. Her eyes watered but luckily the ice melted quickly. Glancing up, up, up, she found herself staring into the face of the man who regularly starred in her dreams at night.
“You’re the pixie from my brother’s wedding,” he said, his voice clearer now. Maybe he’d swallowed wrong too. “Maple…no…” He snapped his fingers. “Willow. You’re Willow.”
Heart beating like deranged hummingbird wings in her chest, she said, “Willow Vaughn.”
He eyed her, and for once she eyed him right back…until she blushed and had to look away. “Willow Vaughn. How would you like to spend some time together?”
She opened her mouth to speak but nothing would come out beyond a squeak.
“Are you okay?”
Nodding frantically, she gulped down her drink, becoming lightheaded in the process. “Fine. Just dandy. Fine and dandy.” Stop sounding like an old-fashioned idiot! With a smile she clamped her lips together.
He held out his hand, his strong, sexy hand that made her knees shake. “Let’s go, Willow Vaughn.”
In that instant, Willow knew that if she took his hand everything would change.
Preorder The Christmas Bride now!
Books by Marquita Valentine
The Brides of Holland Springs Series
The Billionaire Bride
The Forgotten Bride
The Christmas Bride
Seducing the Billionaire Series
Seducing the Billionaire’s Wife
Seducing the Billionaire’s Secretary
Seducing the Billionaire’s Brother
The Lawson Brothers Series
Love So Hot
Love So True
Love So Irresistible
Love So Tempting
Holland Springs Series
Drive Me Crazy
Driving To You
Twice Tempted
Third Time’s a Charm
His Christmas Wish
Not Over You
Be Mine
Boys of the South Series
Live For You
Only For You
True For You
All For You
Wish For You
Burn For You
Need You Tonight
Take The Fall Series
Take the Fall
When We Fall
The Request Trilogy
The Request
The Deception
The Confession
There are so many people I would like to thank for helping me with The Temporary Bride. Thank you to Autumn Hull, Jen Frederick, and Cynthia Shepp for their amazing attention to detail and suggestions.
Big hugs to my readers, especially the Martinis!—you make what I do each and every day worthwhile.
And last but never least, I want to thank my family for supporting me. I love y’all so much.
Author Bio
Marquita Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Holland Springs, Seducing the Billionaire, The Lawson Brothers, and Boys of the South Series.
Since first taking the plunge in July of 2012 to self-publish, Marquita Valentine has sold over a quarter of a million books around the world. She’s appeared on the Top 100 Bestselling Ebooks Lists on iBooks, Amazon Kindle, and Barnes&Noble. She’s been called “one of the best new voices in romance” (Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews) and her books have been accused of being “a sexy, fun, and slightly addicting contemporary read” (The Book Queen).
When she’s not writing sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to her high school sweetheart, Marquita lives in a seriously small town in the south with her husband, two kids, and a dog.
www.marquitavalentine.com
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Contact Marquita at marquita@marquitavalentine.com