It’s been in my family for three generations. My aunt converted the bottom floors for her business.”
His gaze touched on the missing pieces of crown molding, the chipped paint and the fading, worn woodwork. “So you live upstairs?”
“On the third floor. Why are you asking?”
He moved closer. “I’ve bought the properties on either side. I want to discuss buying yours.”
Tami clutched the back of the nearest chair. “That’s you ? We heard rumors a developer wants to put up a small hotel and spa. I didn’t believe them.”
“It’s true. I’m planning an upscale boutique hotel, spa, and catering facilities for romantic getaways.” He smiled. “With a location on the beach and a name like Loving, this town is perfect.”
“And the township approved this?”
“They will,” Olivia interjected. “It’ll bring in more tax revenues and jobs to the area.”
Despite the rumors, the township supervisors had been quiet—too quiet. Now Daniel Ramsey wanted her house, the house that had been Tami’s anchor ever since her parents had been killed. She was five years old again, all alone in the world. Except for Aunt Pauline. Except for this house.
She lifted her chin. “My home is not for sale.”
His confident smile told her he was a man who knew how to get what he wanted. “I know we’ve barged in on you today without warning and I apologize. Take some time to think about it and we’ll talk later. I’ll pay you fair market value just as I did your neighbors. The location of all three properties, at the end of the beach here, is perfect for what I’ve planned.”
Tami bristled. “But it doesn’t suit my plans. Wedding Dreams Bridal has been at this location for thirty years.”
“Your neighbors had no problem selling.”
“My neighbors only live here part of the year.”
Olivia stepped forward and put her crimson-tipped claws on Daniel’s arm. Somehow that irritated Tami even further.
“We need to go, Danny. We have that meeting.”
He nodded at Tami. “I’m willing to negotiate the price.”
“Money has nothing to do with it,” she snapped.
His lips tilted into the sardonic grin she remembered from school, only now it had a much harder edge to it. “We’ll see about that.”
He turned and followed Olivia from the shop. After they left, the bell over the door tinkled for several long seconds, as if warning Tami of an oncoming storm.
“Who was that?” Jennifer asked, coming up behind her. “New clients?”
Tami thought of Daniel’s intense green eyes and shivered. “No,” she said. “Trouble.”
**I hope you enjoyed this preview of Loving Or Nothing . If you’d like to read the book in its entirety, check Cara’s website for purchase info: CaraMarsi.com . Please turn the page for an excerpt of California Girl by Sandra Edwards.**
CALIFORNIA GIRL
by
Sandra Edwards
CHAPTER 1
THE CHATTER OF RAINDROPS coaxed Veronica Stanford awake. Soft, luxurious, indulgent bedding pleased her naked body and compelled her to keep sleeping.
Naked! What the—?
Veronica bolted upright in the bed. A French linen sheet settled around her waist. Too dazed to notice her exposed breasts, she shook her head trying to expel the sleepy fog.
Languor fading, her consciousness unfolded into a luxury hotel suite, at least she thought it was a hotel. The scent of Issey Miyake—she’d know that smell anywhere—filled the air. Veronica marveled at the upscale furnishings, they were spiffier than anything she’d ever seen, and Veronica had seen a lot.
The morning sunlight blazed through a wall of windows and pierced through pale-yellow curtains, searing her sight. A figure emerged, silhouetted by the luminosity. She squinted, trying to identify—what was it?
A man?
Standing in the midst of the sheer drapery, with his back to her, was the most exquisitely chiseled, half-naked man she’d ever seen. His bronze skin showed no signs of tanning. Nope, his complexion was natural.
Veronica
His gaze touched on the missing pieces of crown molding, the chipped paint and the fading, worn woodwork. “So you live upstairs?”
“On the third floor. Why are you asking?”
He moved closer. “I’ve bought the properties on either side. I want to discuss buying yours.”
Tami clutched the back of the nearest chair. “That’s you ? We heard rumors a developer wants to put up a small hotel and spa. I didn’t believe them.”
“It’s true. I’m planning an upscale boutique hotel, spa, and catering facilities for romantic getaways.” He smiled. “With a location on the beach and a name like Loving, this town is perfect.”
“And the township approved this?”
“They will,” Olivia interjected. “It’ll bring in more tax revenues and jobs to the area.”
Despite the rumors, the township supervisors had been quiet—too quiet. Now Daniel Ramsey wanted her house, the house that had been Tami’s anchor ever since her parents had been killed. She was five years old again, all alone in the world. Except for Aunt Pauline. Except for this house.
She lifted her chin. “My home is not for sale.”
His confident smile told her he was a man who knew how to get what he wanted. “I know we’ve barged in on you today without warning and I apologize. Take some time to think about it and we’ll talk later. I’ll pay you fair market value just as I did your neighbors. The location of all three properties, at the end of the beach here, is perfect for what I’ve planned.”
Tami bristled. “But it doesn’t suit my plans. Wedding Dreams Bridal has been at this location for thirty years.”
“Your neighbors had no problem selling.”
“My neighbors only live here part of the year.”
Olivia stepped forward and put her crimson-tipped claws on Daniel’s arm. Somehow that irritated Tami even further.
“We need to go, Danny. We have that meeting.”
He nodded at Tami. “I’m willing to negotiate the price.”
“Money has nothing to do with it,” she snapped.
His lips tilted into the sardonic grin she remembered from school, only now it had a much harder edge to it. “We’ll see about that.”
He turned and followed Olivia from the shop. After they left, the bell over the door tinkled for several long seconds, as if warning Tami of an oncoming storm.
“Who was that?” Jennifer asked, coming up behind her. “New clients?”
Tami thought of Daniel’s intense green eyes and shivered. “No,” she said. “Trouble.”
**I hope you enjoyed this preview of Loving Or Nothing . If you’d like to read the book in its entirety, check Cara’s website for purchase info: CaraMarsi.com . Please turn the page for an excerpt of California Girl by Sandra Edwards.**
CALIFORNIA GIRL
by
Sandra Edwards
CHAPTER 1
THE CHATTER OF RAINDROPS coaxed Veronica Stanford awake. Soft, luxurious, indulgent bedding pleased her naked body and compelled her to keep sleeping.
Naked! What the—?
Veronica bolted upright in the bed. A French linen sheet settled around her waist. Too dazed to notice her exposed breasts, she shook her head trying to expel the sleepy fog.
Languor fading, her consciousness unfolded into a luxury hotel suite, at least she thought it was a hotel. The scent of Issey Miyake—she’d know that smell anywhere—filled the air. Veronica marveled at the upscale furnishings, they were spiffier than anything she’d ever seen, and Veronica had seen a lot.
The morning sunlight blazed through a wall of windows and pierced through pale-yellow curtains, searing her sight. A figure emerged, silhouetted by the luminosity. She squinted, trying to identify—what was it?
A man?
Standing in the midst of the sheer drapery, with his back to her, was the most exquisitely chiseled, half-naked man she’d ever seen. His bronze skin showed no signs of tanning. Nope, his complexion was natural.
Veronica
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