ONE NIGHT WITH HIS RIVAL
by Robyn Grady
Publication date: March 1st 2020
Published by: Harlequin Desire
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Selling his soul for a sizzling night of passion…
“Wanting something doesn’t make it good for you.”
BLURB
Wealthy horse breeder Ajax Rawson can have any woman he wants. So why can’t he keep his hands off the one woman he can’t have? Beautiful, independent and passionate, Veda Darnel is the daughter of his family’s biggest competitor. Years of bad business blood makes their affair dangerous…and forbidden. But will accusations of foul play end their star-crossed romance before it even begins?
—
EXCERPT
Last night was the best and worst decision of her life. On
the one hand, it was ecstasy. On the other hand, disaster.
Veda Darnel couldn’t get
her head around it. She had practically sold her soul to spend one sizzling
night with a man who had reinvented the word satisfaction. A consummate
charmer who’d caused her to swap out her common sense for the thrill of
unparalleled pleasure.
Lying together now, front
to naked front, Veda studied the cocky cowboy in question as he continued to
grab some much-needed sleep. Primal instinct was keeping his hand glued to her
behind, pressing her hips against his. Each time he breathed in, that
mouthwatering chest expanded and wiry hairs teased her nipples. Whenever his
lips twitched with a dream-induced grin, she longed for just one more kiss.
Just one more time.
Well, sorry, universe. Not
happening. Not now. Not ever again. Damn it, she knew better.
In the future, would do better.
Still asleep, Ajax Rawson
drew in a sharp breath at the same time the fingers on her butt flexed, then
dug in more. Veda had to bite her lip to stem the groan; her Benedict Arnold
body wanted those expert hands everywhere and all at once. And if he
woke up now, that could very well be where they’d end up. Making love like
nothing else mattered.
As if there weren’t already
enough prices to pay.
Tippy-toe quiet, she
reached behind her and found the big, hot hand cupping her rear end. She
carefully coiled her fingers around his wrist, then tried to lift and shift it.
Seriously? His arm must be
made of lead.
Knuckling down, Veda tried
again. When she’d finally managed to ease herself away, she held her breath.
But he didn’t stir. Not an inch.
So, slide off the bed, dive
into your clothes, bolt out the hotel suite’s front door and never look back. Never
go back. Still, a knot of bittersweet longing kept her hanging. Ajax
was the best she’d ever had—the best there ever was.
And how many other women
had thought the exact same thing?
He sucked in another sharp
breath, rolled onto his back and scooped his arm under his pillow while his
other hand gave those ripped abs a languid rub or two. Then his brow pinched,
eyelids flickered open, and Veda’s stomach dropped.
Too late to run now.
Ajax frowned sleepily at
the ceiling, getting his bearings, before turning his gaze onto her. When one
corner of his wholly kissable mouth eased up—when his lungs expanded on a
breath that said, “Oh, yeah…I remember you”—Veda’s resolve to do better wobbled
like a thimble full of Jell-O.
Ajax’s dreamy ocean-deep
blue eyes smiled into hers as he spoke with a sexy growl that was equal parts
playful and deadly serious.
“You need to come over
here.” He cocked an eyebrow, smiling wider as the sheet tented over his waist.
“On second thought, I can’t wait that long.”
When he rolled back toward
her, heat rushed through her blood, pooling deliciously low in her belly. But
tempted as she was, Veda didn’t lean in. Didn’t surrender. Instead, she brought
her portion of the sheet higher and sat up.
“Actually,” she said, “I have
to go.”
Ajax paused, then leaned up
on an elbow, head in hand, biceps bulging. “You mean to the bathroom or
something?”
“No. Not that.”
“Ah, you need food,” he
said. “Me, too. I’ll order up. Maybe some green pepper omelets,
hot-off-the-grill bacon and chocolate-chip-banana pancakes drowned in syrup. We
can eat breakfast in bed.” He came near enough to brush his gorgeous stubble
against her cheek. “Lunch and dinner, too, if you want.”
Ajax was never lost for
words—more specifically, the right words. He gave off a vibe that confirmed
that everything good fortune had to offer came to him naturally. Like he never
had to even think about trying.
If only she could say the
same for herself.
Years ago, and more than
once, a much younger Veda had watched Ajax from afar while daydreaming about
being in this exact situation. Back then, as well as now, she hated to think
what her father might say. Drake Darnel had an ax or two to grind with the
Rawsons, the first dating back decades to a time when Ajax’s dad, Huxley Rawson,
was known as a stud.
What was the saying?
Oh, yeah.
The apple never falls far
from the tree.
Have you ever made the mistake of your life and couldn’t wait to
do it again?
ONE NIGHT WITH HIS RIVAL is available in digital and print this
month!
Author Info
Robyn Grady's stories have been published in 29 languages with millions of copies sold worldwide. Her books have appeared at award ceremonies including the National Readers Choice, the Booksellers Best, and Australia's prestigious Romance Book of the Year. Stories in her latest Harlequin Desire series, About That Night, will hit the shelves January and March, 2020. Stay up to date with the latest news at www.robyngrady.com.
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