Emergency Ex: Teach Him Tonight, Book #2
By Mardi Ballou
()
About this ebook
Emergency Ex: Teach Him Tonight, Book #2
a contemporary romance novella by Mardi Ballou
Novella Emergency Ex is the second book in Mardi Ballou's Teach Him Tonight series. In these contemporary romances, a determined woman provides an essential lesson in love to a deserving guy.
Attention Readers: Emergency Ex is a hot and sexy tale.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Love is the emotional chocolate of the universe.” Actually, successful chocolatier Brenda Lockheart deals with the sweet brown confection lots better than she does with love. For years she’s been in love with Keith Tarrant, her best friend with benefits. As her thirtieth birthday approaches, hot lovemaking and intense friendship no longer satisfy her. She demands more. It’s time to make a commitment or say good-bye. Keith goes along at first, and she’s hopeful. But as her birthday gets closer, her relationship with Keith hits snags.
Keith loves Brenda and can’t bear to lose her, but he’s got lots of unresolved baggage and a history of being less than she deserves. Though he’ll try to get over his issues in time to make her birthday special, when a new roadblock arises, he’s out of his depth. Can Keith man up and commit to Brenda in time? Or will their relationship crumble and turn her into one more of his many exes?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Mardi’s past reviews:
Mardi Ballou is a wonderful storyteller... [she] writes a passionate and sensual tale...
— Romance Junkies
I really like Ms. Ballou’s writing voice.
— Good, Bad and Unread
Ms. Ballou certainly knows how to turn on her readers!
— Just Erotic Romance Reviews
...a great erotic read that just flew off the pages. ... Keep it up Mardi, you will always have me as a reader of your great books.”
— Paranormal Romance
I always enjoy Mardi Ballou and her witticisms.
— Fallen Angel Reviews
Mardi Ballou
By day, she’s a mild-mannered language teacher. But after hours, Mardi Ballou’s wild writer persona erupts and entraps her in bondage...to her computer. Release comes only once she achieves her word count goal, at which point the maniacal chocolate monster will give her one sublime piece. And then she can spend time with her hero husband Lee, who gives great massages at strategic times. So Mardi writes what she knows—romances—hot and mainstream. In addition to independent publishing—Emergency Ex: Teach Him Tonight, Book #2 and Photo Finish: Teach Him Tonight, Book #1 are her first two—she’s written for Ellora’s Cave, Samhain, NCP, Whiskey Creek, and Changeling. Also women’s fiction. Other recent releases are Deja Brew, Dark Venues, and Soap Bloke in e-book format and Perfect Pear in the Ripe and Ready print anthology from Ellora’s Cave, plus the Fangly, My Dear anthology—Byte Marks, What’s a Ghoul to Do?, and Playing with Matches in print from Samhain. Check her out at http://www.MardiBallou.com .
Read more from Mardi Ballou
Photo Finish: Teach Him Tonight, Book #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAfter Class: Teach Him Tonight, Book #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Emergency Ex
Related ebooks
A Cowboy Family Christmas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWedding Auction 2: The Billionaire Borrows a Bride: Wedding Auction 2, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA New Year in a Small Town: A Year of Love in a Small Town, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsComing Home to a Cowboy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Catia (Billionaire Single Dad Romance) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Creating A Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5End Zone (Texas Titans #2) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bella's Wish Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wedding Bet: The Wedding Whisperer, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBest Friend Billionaire: Billionaire Bachelors, #3 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Texas Family Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSeven Days in December Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTransitions: short stories for a rainy day Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ice Man Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Shards of Murder Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Promise Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSingle-minded: Single Girls, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProof of Love: Arden's Glen Romance, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLicense to Date: Better Date than Never, #6 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Kendra Temples: The Demonic Diaries - Volumes 1-3 (Boxset) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boot Scootin' Secret Baby Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBoy Re-Meets Girl Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhen Love Chimes: Broken Valor, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCandied Wolf: A Kinship Cove Fun & Flirty Romance: Mates & Macarons, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Mighty Good Man Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wicked with the Professor: Taboo Temptations, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Last Single Girl: Brew Ha Ha, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMama B: A Time to Heal: Mama B, #8 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGoing Broke Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Alluring Turmoil: Bayou Stix, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Humor & Satire For You
The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don't Panic: Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Swamp Story: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Man Called Ove: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love and Other Words Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5101 Fun Personality Quizzes: Who Are You . . . Really?! Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar...: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Best F*cking Activity Book Ever: Irreverent (and Slightly Vulgar) Activities for Adults Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Anxious People: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Killing the Guys Who Killed the Guy Who Killed Lincoln: A Nutty Story About Edwin Booth and Boston Corbett Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mindful As F*ck: 100 Simple Exercises to Let That Sh*t Go! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Big Swiss: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 2,548 Wittiest Things Anybody Ever Said Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Go the F**k to Sleep Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: the heartfelt, funny memoir by a New York Times bestselling therapist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Soulmate Equation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer: A Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Britt-Marie Was Here: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tidy the F*ck Up: The American Art of Organizing Your Sh*t Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Favorite Half-Night Stand Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don't Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In a Holidaze Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Solutions and Other Problems Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Emergency Ex
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Emergency Ex - Mardi Ballou
Emergency Ex
Teach Him Tonight, Book # 2
a contemporary romance novella
by Mardi Ballou
Emergency Ex
Teach Him Tonight, Book #2
a contemporary romance novella
Published by March Forth Press at Smashwords
Copyright 2012 Mardi Ballou
http://www.MardiBallou.com
ISBN 978-1-939222-04-6
All rights reserved. This is a work of imaginative fiction. Any resemblance to any person living or deceased is the result of unintentional coincidence.
The e-book version of this story is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Please purchase an additional copy of this e-book for each person with whom you want to share it. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at Mardi@MardiBallou.com .
Dedication
Creation always takes a village. Thank you to all my village mates – especially Lynn, Janet, Marlene and Louisa. And my hero Lee – the guy I teach every night.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Other Works by Mardi Ballou
The Teach Him Tonight series
An Excerpt from PHOTO FINISH
An Excerpt from AFTER CLASS
About Mardi
Chapter One
May 5—Brenda’s thirtieth birthday minus three weeks
Brenda Lockheart unwrapped the fancy gift wrap and gazed at a beautiful book. Invasion of Love Slaves from Planet X. A deluxe first edition, signed by the author, K.C. Corrigan, who sat across form her at their favorite coffee shop.
Omigod. I can’t believe you’re giving me this.
Brenda ran her an appreciative hand over the cover. Thanks, K.C. It’s gorgeous. Way too generous. I feel like a celebrity.
You are a celebrity in the world of chocolatiers. Lockheart Chocolate inspires my work, my life. This gift is a token of my total appreciation. For all you’ve done for me. And to start the ball rolling in the celebration of your upcoming birthday.
Brenda swallowed hard. Despite all the professional accolades she’d collected, she was not used to this sort of attention in her personal life. Not my birthday yet. Knowing you, there’s another special reason why you’re giving me this today.
You mean aside from the fact that I celebrate birth months and even birth seasons, not just single days?
Much as I like the way you think, yes. What else is going on? Give.
K.C.’s grin lit up her face. Okay, if you insist. Just got the news that this book is on a writer’s dream of a trajectory.
Which means—
It will probably hit the top spot on a major best seller list or two. Soon. Glory and income.
Brenda clutched her friend’s hand. Fantastic—but, I have to say, not unexpected. I’ve read your other books and can’t wait to read this one. I’m sure it deserves every possible success, recognition, great wealth…
From your mouth to the goddess’s ear. But I couldn’t have done it without your excellent chocolate. That’s why I want to include your special celebration with mine.
Really? You’re a great customer, but crediting my chocolate—
K.C. nodded emphatically. I absolutely do. Chocolate provides pure and essential inspiration along with being a source of energy and the ultimate comfort food. A power nourishment. Required for my creative processes. Your chocolate is one of the wonders of the modern world.
Brenda raised a brow and chuckled. Now surely you’re exaggerating.
K.C. waved a hand in dismissal. I’m a writer. I use language to create. It’s part of my job description. Heck, it’s my calling. But in this case I’m not exaggerating. On behalf of writers and other creative artists everywhere, thank you for your chocolate. Lucky me. In addition to providing sustenance, you’re also my friend.
Brenda basked in the generous praise on top of the gift. Tell me what your book is about. I love the title.
Catchy, isn’t it?
K.C. thought for a moment. I’m continuing to explore my main theme. Namely that love is the most important force in the universe, no matter what planet or galaxy or world people inhabit.
I really like that.
Love is the emotional chocolate of the universe.
Brenda sat bolt upright. Wow. Did you make that up?
Her friend nodded.
‘Love is the emotional chocolate of the universe.’ Dang. Sounds like an ancient maxim. I want it needle-pointed on a pillow for my boudoir. Heck, with your permission, I’d love to find a way to use that ‘truth’ in my business. Of course I’d credit you.
You can ‘pay’ me in chocolate.
K.C. chuckled.
I’d be happy to. Though with all your new wealth, you can easily afford all you want.
I’ll know I’ve really arrived when I can buy your chocolate without blinking at the price.
Brenda mock scowled. She considered her prices fair for the quality she provided. You’re making me feel guilty now.
You shouldn’t. Whatever you charge is absolutely worth it, no matter how much customers may groan.
Thanks, I think.
She shifted in her chair. "Invasion of the Love Slaves from Planet X. Tell me more."
Always happy to talk about my writing. Like all my books, this one is full of love and sex. But the women start off in a weak position. Men are using sex and love to take advantage, entrap their women.
Brenda made a face. Boy, that sounded a whole lot like her past. So that doesn’t happen only on our planet.
I’m afraid not.
Eyes narrowed, K.C. studied Brenda, who squirmed under the scrutiny. She’d often confided in her friend about her frustration with Keith, when he’d been her best friend—with benefits—and thus occasional lover. A man she’d allowed to make her miserable far too often. Fortunately, they were at a new and terrific place in their relationship, but it had taken lots of hard work—for both of them—to get there. The past wasn’t far enough behind for Brenda to view it with detachment or for her to face the future with complete confidence
I hate to say it, but you and Keith helped inspire my story.
Really?
Brenda’s voice squeaked. In what way?
Oh, I was thinking about something you told me from your early days with him. When you were best friends with benefits. You once did a role play to help bail Keith out of some mess.
She made a sour face. "You were his so-called Emergency Ex. He got you to pretend to be his furious ex. You created a scene and his girlfriend at the time backed off from putting pressure on him to commit."
Brenda went into a full body shudder. I remember. Actually, she disappeared. I should never have done what he asked. I chalk up the whole episode to being a stupid, regrettable thing you do when you’re young, something you’d never do once the genetic code for intelligence kicks in.
K.C.’s frown had a touch of skepticism. You only did it that one time?
Brenda nodded. "I’m surprised I even mentioned it. Keith and I came up with the whole stupid Emergency Ex scheme in college, on a crazy night when we had too much wine and pizza. It was almost like a dare I shouldn’t have taken. I pretended to be his screaming banshee of an ex, and his girlfriend believed I was for real. I felt icky afterward. Guilty."
K.C. grunted and her lips formed a disapproving line. And did Keith ever reciprocate? You know, pretend to be your ex so you could get rid of an inconvenient boyfriend?
A big fat blush heated her face. No. I’d never ask him to.
Of course not. If you didn’t want to be with a guy any longer, you’d do the decent thing and tell him upfront.
Brenda nodded in reluctant agreement. "Sure I would—not that I’ve had any such problematic boyfriends. But that