Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

Naughty Notes

Y’all, Luke and Alexa’s story has been with me for so long I can’t believe I’m actually finished writing their HEA. Handing characters over is not the easiest thing to do. I get used to them. They become a part of my world—I’m not kidding. I wake up wondering how Alexa would handle something. I see something I know would completely piss Luke off and it makes me laugh. This is what happens to writers. We get in deep!

But I have to let them go and give them over to you so you can fall in love just like I did. So many people helped me work through this story and pushed me when I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get it right. Because that’s what matters to me—writing something that makes the readers feel. Something fun and sexy with twists of emotions here and there. And who are we kidding … we want that super hot guy. We want Luke Canton!

I have to share this memory because it seriously shapes my love for Texas guys. One of my all-time favorite nights when I lived there included this guy I was seeing. He was an artist, loved to two-step, had his share of tattoos, played baseball, loved country music, and was broody as hell. Oh, and the longest most beautiful eyelashes I have ever seen on a guy. He was not doting or super romantic—nothing like that, but one night he led me outside with a huge pile of blankets and spread them out in the backyard. He had a few of those famous Texas beers and we hung out and watched shooting stars and drank beer. It was simple, sweet, and just one of those moments a girl doesn’t forget.

Somewhere in the back of my head I think Luke would do the same thing for Alexa.

Seriously, everyone involved in this book (you know who you are) you rock! Thank you! I couldn’t do it without my family, friends, and the super awesome readers who have supported me this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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Enjoyed Turn Over? Read on for a bonus novel, Beauty and the Billionaire Bachelors.

BEAUTY AND THE BILLIONAIRE BACHELORS

1

Abby

Abby pressed her ear to the door. The sounds were muffled, but she could hear enough of the conversation to know all hell was about to break loose. Her hell. She realized they didn’t care if she overheard them. They didn’t whisper. They didn’t use code words. The fear shot down her spine. They didn’t care about her at all. When had they?

Abby shook her head in disbelief when she picked up the remnants of the conversation. They mentioned her as if she were some kind of bargaining tool. She listened harder, straining to make out what Cal said.

He had never respected her. Never treated her as an equal in the family, even though they were the same age. Once he became the head of the Mantellis he forgot all the years they had grown up together. He didn’t remember Christmases or birthdays. He forgot their mothers were sisters. None of it mattered to him.

“She needs to be delivered this morning,” he stated. “As soon as possible.”

No. No, he couldn’t do this. How was this happening? Who in the hell did he think he was?

“When will she be ready?” the other man asked her cousin. He had shown up this morning. She’d never seen him before.

“You can take her now,” Cal responded. “The sooner I get this debt paid, the better.”

Abby paused in shock. Did he just say that? Did he actually trade her for money?

“I told her to wait for our meeting to be over. She should be in the hallway.”

Shit. The panic almost paralyzed her. She looked for a place to hide. There wasn’t enough time to make it to her car. The hall closet was her only option.

She whipped open the door and pushed the winter coats aside. She huddled in the back of the closet, stilling her breath. She inhaled the scent of heavy cologne. It had seeped into her cousin’s wool coats. She turned her head toward the wall.

Maybe if she squeezed her eyes tighter the heavy footsteps she heard would keep walking. This was insane. She shouldn’t be hiding in a closet. But Cal had promised her to the brute in his office and she knew logic didn’t apply when it came to the family business. The footsteps grew increasingly louder.

“Where is she?” he barked.

Cal was only feet away from the closet. “I told her to wait here. She’s in the house. The alarm is on, so I know she didn’t leave. I’ll check upstairs.”

“If you back out, Cal my clients are going to fuck you over. Big time.”

“I won’t. She’s here. I’ll find her. You can take her with you. Just calm down.”

Abby’s chest hurt from keeping the air in her lungs. They were burning. God, this was a nightmare. She looked through the crack where the door met the floor. Her view was blocked by a shadow.

Oh shit.

The door flew open. The light hit her between the eyes as a pair of rough hands grabbed her shoulders and yanked her to her feet.