A Look Inside :: The Billionaire’s Reluctant Fiancée

From the beginning, there is such friction between Jake and Lily, it's no wonder that when things spark, they explode. 

Excerpt :

Jake made his way through the dark house without turning on any lights. The full moon provided just enough illumination to keep from bumping into things on his way to the kitchen. He pushed open the door and reached for the light switch, flicking it on.

Lily stood in front of the refrigerator, a carton of milk in her hand, at least until she spied him and dropped it with a gasp. His eyes widened at the sight of Lily in a pale pink nightie, her golden hair loose about her shoulders. The light material dipped low between her full breasts, delicately revealed the curve of her hips, and gave an alluring view of her bare thighs.


She wasn’t so mesmerized. She cursed, then reached for a towel on the counter and bent low to clean up the spill. Jake pulled his libido back in check and moved to help her. He took the towel from her and she stood. He had to bite back a groan at how the hem of her nightie came right into his line of sight.

“I’m sorry,” Lily said, walking around him and returning with another towel. “I didn’t expect anyone.”

“Obviously.” He finished the task and stood, enjoying the way her chest hitched with each breath as he looked down at her. “What are you doing down here?”

“Having a glass of milk, or trying to anyway. That’s what I do when I can’t sleep.” She kept her gaze locked on his, except for fleeting moments when it dropped to his bare chest.

He grinned, glad he wasn’t the only one hyper-aware after midnight. “That’s because you sleep alone.”

Her cheeks pinked, but she recovered quickly, narrowing her eyes. “You know, I think you may be right. It’s time I find someone willing to marry the penniless virgin and cure her insomnia.”

She tried to walk past him, but he caught her arm, turned her around and pulled her flush against him. “Try it, and you’ll find my patience exhausted quickly.”

“While you expect me to live a life in perpetual understanding of your need to go through mistresses faster than socks.” She tried to shake off his hold, but he pulled her closer.

“I’ve never claimed to be a saint. But I’m not going to spend my life feeding into your insecurity. I want you, only you, and have from the moment I saw you.

“I watched you, this golden angel gliding across a room, and I wanted you to be looking for me, not one of those worthless idiots you dated. We hadn’t even met, and I couldn’t get you out of my mind. Maybe I did use your father to get closer to you. It seemed kismet that we were in the same industry. Will became my friend, but he became my partner because of you. I had no other choice. I had to protect you somehow, and you never would have looked twice at me had I not thrown myself in your way at every opportunity.”

“You’ve been watching me?” Her haughty tone cut him to the quick. He was never going to be enough for her, never going to measure up to the vapid boys always trailing after her simply because he hadn’t lived their life.

“And you’ve been watching me, wondering what it would be like if you were only brave enough to step outside your perfect world for a minute and indulge in all I can offer you.” He took a step forward, moving them both until she was backed up against the kitchen table.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Her eyes flashed with an emotion he hadn’t seen in her yet. True fear, or excitement?

“What you’ve wanted me to do since you first started watching me. You think there’s something beneath what the world sees. Maybe it’s time I show you what that is.”

The Billionaire’s Reluctant Fiancée

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A Bit of My Latest Billionaire

 THE BILLIONAIRE'S HOLIDAY ENGAGEMENT

* blog exclusive excerpt * 

Cameron Price preferred to sit on the sidelines at parties and watch everyone else show their colors. But tonight, he was the one on display, the one under everyone’s microscope. He’d barely unpacked his suitcases, could hardly make it into the office without getting lost, and he already had to put on a show for the team of people who probably all thought they should have been given his job.

He stood on the landing and leaned over the railing, taking in the view of the downstairs. Come For Dinner catering earned every penny, no matter what they charged him. The house looked better than he’d ever seen it. Sonja Anders had decorated everything in white. Sterile, stark, cold. Now the rooms were washed in warm light, red scarves covering the lampshades and adding to the ambiance.

It was intimate, without being romantic. Classic, without being feminine. Everything he needed it to be. A weight lifted from him as he descended the stairs. He liked that it looked different, not wanting to seem like junior filling in for the old man.

The change in lighting, red pillows and throws on the couches, lush green plants in shiny silver pots, and little vases overflowing with red roses lining the dining room table and scattered on every other open surface made a statement. Saying to all who entered he was here to make his mark on the company. He’d never let on it really meant he’d gotten lucky when he hired a caterer.

At the base of the staircase he checked his watch. Ten minutes until the party started, guests would be arriving any minute. He wiped his damp palms against the gray wool of his slacks and closed his eyes, enjoying the solitude while he could.

A warm force plowed into his chest, opening his eyes with a start. He gripped the whirlwind by her slim shoulders and looked into her large round eyes framed by long blonde eyelashes. He couldn’t help but grin at the startled look in that gold flecked green gaze. Without letting her go, he pulled back taking in the smattering of freckles crossing her button nose, the long strawberry blonde hair pulled tight into a braid, and the milky skin of her shoulders, bare but for the thin spaghetti straps of her gauzy black dress. He blinked hard, bringing himself out of shock and dropped his hands, running one through his hair.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize anyone had arrived yet.” Cameron looked about the room for her date, but saw no one. She looked vaguely familiar, but both of the female executives invited were old enough to be this woman’s mother. “Who did you come with?”

An impish grin played on her pouty pink lips. She held out her hand. “I’m Lauren Brody, with Come For Dinner catering.”

“Oh. I apologize for assuming.” Stupid ass. Caterers could be pretty and well dressed. “I just never expected…wait, have we met?”

Her head jerked back and she gasped, her hand pressing against her stomach. Then just as quickly as she reacted, she calmed. “No we haven’t been introduced. But I’ve catered parties for the Anders’.” Her voice was breathy, almost to the point of a whisper.

“Have you decorated this way before?” His stomach sank. He’d look like a Bob Anders clone, the king of suck-ups.

“No.” She shook her head. “Mrs. Anders had her own sense of style. But I assumed since you had so little time to organize the dinner, you wouldn’t have time to decorate as well. It’s a service we provide for many of our single male clients.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “How did you know I was single?” And did she care?

“I asked your assistant. I needed to know if you would have a date for the evening, for the seating arrangements.”

He nodded furiously. Right, seating arrangements. Couldn’t just tell people to plop down wherever at a formal dinner. Thank goodness Lauren had him covered on that end. For two years Sonja Anders had been gently reminding him he should have a wife, but lately her approach grew more direct. As in blatantly telling him he couldn’t handle his new position without a wife. As if he had the time or energy to devote to a relationship.

Sonja Anders was obviously wrong. He didn’t need a wife, just Come For Dinner catering.

“If you’d like,” Lauren began, “I could give you a run through of how the night will go.” She crossed the room, turning on the stereo and picking up butane lighter from an end table. Cameron had to smile as the sounds of Pink Martini filled the large room.

“Isn’t that a little loud?”

“You want it just a smidge to loud at the beginning. Nothing is worse than stepping into a silent house. Gets the social swirl moving. Do you like it? I have six CDs in the rotation if it’s not your style.”

“No, I’m a fan. The founder went to Harvard, so they’re pretty big back there.”

“You went to Harvard?” Cameron nodded. “Impressive. And a relief. I have two more of their albums in the rotation.”

Cameron liked her before, but with eclectic tastes in music mirroring his own, she was dancing in dangerous territory. If he had time, or cared to risk his reputation with trying a relationship, she’d be an option. But showing his vulnerability to the world was not.

“I’ll turn it down as we start serving cocktails. Raspberry martinis, and of course, Chivas for Mr. Anders. We’ll be serving potato crisps with a caviar dip.” She slid about the room lighting candles. Did she know he needed to romance the team into trusting him?

“For dinner I’ll lower the volume more. Anita Baker should get us through the salad, and beef filet. I’ll crank it when it comes round to Pink Martini again and serve a flourless chocolate cake with raspberries for dessert.”

He watched as she walked around the room like she owned the place, far more comfortable there than he was. But then, she knew how to throw a party. He was in uncharted territory.

“Thank you for putting all of this together tonight. It’s exactly what I needed.”

A gleaming smile lit her face, lifting her rosy cheeks. “I’m glad to hear that. I hope –”

The shrill peal of the phone interrupted her. Cameron held up a finger so she would hold that thought and stepped to the side table lifting the receiver. Before he got out so much as a hello, the doorbell chimed.

*Want more?*

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A Little Lust In Translation

LUST IN TRANSLATION

by Jenna Bayley-Burke

"Cross a meandering playboy with a studious control freak driving cross country and you have a plot that is fresh, fun, and blatantly sexy!" 5 stars, Slick Reads at Guilty Pleasures 

**Blog Exclusive Excerpt**

The sky darkened and the storm that had been threatening for the past few hours loomed in the distance. Xavier must have sensed it too. He’d raised the roof of the convertible, closing them in the small space with no distractions from the conversation they needed to have. But even with over an hour of driving behind them, she still hadn’t figured out how to talk him into getting her to Oregon as fast as possible.

She turned in her seat and pulled out her travel folder, then placed it on her lap. Inside were the maps of three different routes they could take, with hotel stops marked along the way. She’d taken the drive so many times she barely needed them anymore, but it was always best to be prepared.

“What do you have there?” Xavier’s deep voice slid over her like molten chocolate over a truffle.

Truffles. Like the white chocolate version Allison had ordered for the wedding. Jaime blinked and steered her mind back to business.

“Driving directions. Since we got a late start and it looks like a storm up ahead, I think we should stop in Pittsburgh for the night. If the weather holds we might be able to make it to Ohio.”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. “How long were you thinking it would take us to get across the country?”

“Less than three days if we drive in shifts and get lucky with the weather. I don’t mind driving in the dark as long as it’s clear, but when it storms I’d rather be inside.”

“I don’t think we should get too caught up in the details, J’aime. It’s far too restricting.”

“It’s much more efficient this way.”

The muscles in his neck flexed as he swallowed. “I think we should stop sooner rather than later. That way we can get a few things straight before we head out tomorrow.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Such as?”

“I’m not driving three thousand miles to get somewhere; I actually want to see the country. I won’t be driving at night, or in a hurry. I want to enjoy the trip. You should too.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but wasn’t sure which argument to make. It wasn’t that she was against enjoying the trip. It just didn’t serve the purpose of getting to Oregon. 

She had to get there soon so she could start networking her way into a teaching position and find an apartment. She’d been on her own far too long to live at home for more than a couple weeks.

“This is an adventure. When was the last time you did something exciting? Something just to enjoy it?”

She couldn’t come up with a single instance, but would die before admitting it. “My life has plenty of excitement.”

He smirked. “Tell me about it.”

Clearing her throat, she offered up the graduation party she’d chaperoned, carefully omitting the fistfight that had broken out in the parking lot.

“That’s work. Do you ever enjoy yourself away from the kids?”

Again she felt like a fish, her mouth gaping open. “I run and I taught rock-climbing classes.” He looked thoroughly unconvinced she’d ever experienced elation. “Teaching is fun for me.”

“But what do you do for you, J’aime?”

Lightning flashed in the distance, illuminating angry clouds and a horizon blurred by driving rain. Electricity crackled in the atmosphere, the current flowing through the dense, humid air. She spied a road sign as they barreled down the freeway. Ten miles to Bedford. She checked her notes to see if they could stop there.

“What are you doing?” His voice held a mocking quality she didn’t appreciate.

“Looking to see if there is a Holiday Motel in Bedford. The weather looks pretty nasty up ahead.” The thunderous skies above them loomed ominously, waiting to release their fury.

“We’re not staying in a motel.”

“I have a preferred-customer account there. For every ten nights I stay, I get a night free.” Jaime rifled through the papers, looking for the list of participating motels along their route. “There isn’t a Holiday Motel in Bedford, so we’ll have to keep going. The closest one is in Mt. Pleasant, but that is barely an hour from Pittsburgh, so we might as well go all the way.”

“J’aime, can I see that folder?” He held out his large hand, never taking his attention from the road.

“While you’re driving?” To emphasize her point, large raindrops began to splatter on the windshield.

“I want a better look at that map on the top of the page.”

Reluctantly, she slipped the folder into his hand. He set it on his lap and pressed a button to lower the window. Before she could decide what he was up to, he’d slid her folder out the cracked window.

“Hey!” she yelled, the seatbelt cutting into her shoulder as she turned to watch the pages fluttering behind them. “That was mine. And littering is a huge fine, I’ll have you know.”

“Do you feel better?” A drum roll of thunder underscored his words.

“Better? I’m in a car with a crazy man who just dumped our itinerary in the middle of the road.”

Find out what happens now...

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Final Day for Deals & Giveaways

What a week! The release of The Billionaire's Private Scandal, release party, blog tour, two giveaways to celebrate the release, two group giveaways...

And the 99c sale of Compromising Positions.

Save yourself $3 and get Compromising Positions today, and be sure to get in on the giveaways.

☆★ THE BILLIONAIRE'S RUNAWAY FIANCÉE ★☆

The Billionaire is finally LIVE! Be sure to snag your copy of this sexy, sassy, friends-to-lovers romance with a fake engagement, hot boss, and a heroine with a Cinderella Complex!

THE BILLIONAIRE’S RUNAWAY FIANCÉE 

Invested in Love 2

A kiss can change everything...

Robyn Tindall’s new boss has a penchant for running off new personal assistants before lunch, but she’s not about to let herself be fired by the billionaire with a bad attitude, no matter how good he looks. She’s determined to be indispensable and unflappable, until he surprises her with a crazy proposal.

Curtis Frye is impressed with his new assistant’s dedication and decides she could be the answer to his publicity problems if only she’ll agree to marry him. It’s the perfect plan. He can offer her the world—everything he thinks a woman desires. But Robyn doesn’t want anything money can buy. She wants a happily ever after with a man who loves her. If only he can convince her love is off the table, not to mention convince his heart of that…

5.0 out of 5 stars...gets the heart involved every time.

By Isha Coleman on February 7, 2017

He's a jerk. She's a dreamer. Simple right? NOT! There is more to Curtis and Robyn. He wallows in regrets. She needs a reason to hope. Both are searching for that missing part of themselves. Perhaps, they've already found it. The Billionaire's Runaway Fiancee is part childhood fairy tale, part heartwarming romance. Ms. Burke is not afraid to blend the classics with the modern. She has a style that works for her and gets the heart involved every time

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EXCERPT

The Billionaire's Runaway Fiancée - How 'Bout That Title?

I learned so many thing while the Lovely Editor and I reworked Her Cinderella Complex into The Billionaire's Runaway Fiancée. SO MANY!

• My writing has improved like whoa.
• It's stupid hard to change a character's name. 
• Commercial real estate is a crazy lucrative business. 
• A fiancé is a man; fiancée is a woman.
• Only editors know this. And Amazon. Go on, search for The Billionaire's Runaway Fiancé - you need the extra e to find it.
• The easiest way to make the é thing is to Google fiancé then copy & paste. 
• A copyeditor can enter eleventy billion semi-colons into your mss, and you have to pick them out one by one. Like burrs. 
• Adding extra scenes is so much fun! And reader driven. Yes, I do keep those emails. 
• I remember the story in books, not how much sex is in it. Hot damn.
• I need to bring Mrs. Rutledge into more of the Invested In Love books. I like her. And Delia.
• Maybe I'll just spin off Curtis' whole family. Find the original Jason Frye. 

I am sure there are more. But I started to wander at the end there. Probably because I wanted to share an excerpt and haven't done it yet. Let's get to it, shall we?

The Billionaire's Runaway Fiancée


The water lapped at Robyn’s body like a hypnotic haze, soothing her desire, drawing out her every sensual reaction. Nearly weightless, she stared up at him, his light eyes shining an intense aquamarine that punctuated the hunger in his gaze. He stood above her, so big, male, and mesmerizing she couldn’t take her eyes off him. His defined chest with a fine spray of dark hair trailing over his flat stomach and lower… She dragged her gaze back up his body, meeting his eyes once more. The only thing that would make him look better would be if he were dripping wet.

She floated back a little to cooler water. She was deep under the spell of the sensations of the currents pushing around her, reacting to her every movement, luxuriating in the arousal.

“You should join me.”

“I will.” He looked at the far end of the pool, then back at her.

“What are you waiting for?”

“I’m trying to think of the best way to get in.”

“What is it? Can’t you swim?” She splashed at him playfully, slightly worried she might have hit the mark.

“Oh, that’s how it is?” He smiled down at her, warm and wicked. He took one step back, then cannon balled into the pool, sending water flying everywhere. Robyn ducked down to avoid the spray, but Curtis beat her beneath the surface, his hands on either side of her face as he pulled her to him, and they met in an underwater kiss.

She gave herself over to the exhilaration, their bodies floating together as their mouths met without friction. Breaking the kiss, he released her, leaving her alone to break the surface.

She swam to where she could anchor her feet on the pool floor, her head and neck above water. She’d made a silly list of fifty things to do in her life back in college, and kissing under water was right below skinny-dipping in the moonlight. She hadn’t thought of the list in years, until he was kissing her, making her wishes come true. Two for two on the day.

Water slid off her hair, across her face, as she tried to find her bearings. This felt real, yet maybe it was a vivid dream. The items on the list sped through her mind.

Fall madly in love. She was crazy to be in love with him, that’s for sure.

Have a fairy-tale wedding. Almost got that one, too.

Water rippled behind her, warning her before Curtis was there, sliding up her body so close she could feel the heat coming off him without his even touching her. One large hand snaked around her middle, pulling her back against him, so near she felt every muscle of his hard body....SHOOT. HAVE TO PG THIS PART.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he whispered against her ear, nuzzling her neck.

“You didn’t.” Her hand drifted down, against his firm thigh, the sparse hair the only friction between them. “I just remembered something.”

“What?” He peppered her neck and shoulder with hot kisses, the warmth moving down her body, anticipation building between her thighs.

“I made a list of things I want to do.”

“Am I on it?”

She couldn’t help but laugh, looking through the water to watch his hands drift up her body until ...AND HERE TOO

“Am I the only thing on it?”

“You are so arrogant.” His laugh vibrated the water around them, turning her desire up another degree. “I wrote it before we met, in college. I haven’t thought of it since.”

She couldn’t stifle a moan as he ...OOPS. ANOTHER ONE She rested her head back against his shoulder, letting him support her before she continued.

“Skinny-dipping in the moonlight was on the list, but I didn’t think of it until you kissed me underwater.”

“I didn’t think it would take my breath away. We can try it again tomorrow. Right now I’m too worked up.” SO, YOU KNOW THE DRILL BY NOW “Forget everything. It will be there tomorrow.”

He was right. Reality never left, but fantasy was fleeting. “I wanted to kiss in the rain, too, and beneath a waterfall.”

She turned easily in his embrace, the water making her slippery and slick. Her arms went naturally around his neck, his chest hair teasing her beaded nipples as she pressed against him. He took her lips between his, capturing them in a heated, promising kiss. She barely noticed as he lifted her up, her feet drifting as he moved them to the side of the pool, pressing her up against the wall. He pulled his lips away, taking her CURTIS IS A FILTHY BEAST
“I wanted to make love in a pool.”

He grinned, wicked and dark, before dipping his head to run his tongue THIS GUY IS MESSING WITH MY EXCERPT

“And on the beach.”

YES. THIS WHOLE BIT

“And in the rain.”

Again he rewarded her with more attention, more pleasure.

“A bed of roses.”

She tried desperately to remember the list, to keep the pleasure coming at a steady stream. “On a train. Under the stars.” She writhed against his onslaught. “On a yacht. A rooftop. On the grass.”

Oh sweet heaven, he switched CURTIS, WOULD YOU EASE UP She closed her eyes and envisioned all the places she’d ever wanted to knock him to the ground and take him.

“On your desk.” The moaning need in her voice must belong to someone else. “In your bed.”

“Yours is better.” He barely moved, the tension swirling deep in her belly.

“It is?”

“Trust me.” He played OKAY, SERIOUSLY DUDE “Is that all?” he asked, barely letting up. “Because we can have all that done before the end of the week.”

Think. It was nearly impossible when she was about to come undone. “On the kitchen table.”

“In every room of that house.”

“There are twenty-seven rooms in that house.” She ROBYN IS A HORNY TOAD TOO. .

“It will barely take the edge off.” His hand slithered down her body, cupping her SO MAYBE THIS WASN'T A GOOD CHOICE FOR AN EXCERPT

He had a point. She had nearly a year of frustration to work out. The house was just the beginning. “On a trampoline.”

He released her BLEEP BLEEP, straightening up. “Where do we get a trampoline?”

She was not thinking logically just now. “I was fantasizing.”

He shook his head. “This is a planning session. You want love, Robyn, we’ll make it.”

Copyright © 2017 Jenna Bayley-Burke
All rights reserved — Entangled Publishing