Seducing Peaches

By Crystal G. Smith

Lois was just a small town girl who lost her Mother at a very young age leaving her in the hands of an extremely mad Father who turned to alcohol for relief. After putting her through hell itself, she left and never looked back after turning eighteen.
She never thought her new life would be just as challenging and painful as her last. She worked job after job just trying to make her way through life. After opening her heart to someone, in one night he shreds it to pieces. Making a vow to herself to never trust a man again. She promises herself to only engage in conversation when she has absolutely no choice. Work.
Growing tired of the same old thing every night while waitressing at a local bar, she takes a job as a first assistant to a wealthy hotel chain owner. After her truck breaks down on the way to her first day at a new job. She is given no choice but to take a ride from a complete stranger. A man.
Lois and her ability to converse with the opposite sex only sparks a lot of curiosity with this new stranger and within herself. She finds herself struggling to maintain control. After insulting the stranger who graciously and safely delivered her to work, she receives the surprise of her life. This stranger turns out to be her new boss and the owner.
Her first impression is he is an arrogant asshole and womanizer just like every other man. So why is it she finds it hard to believe he can make her body, mind and soul respond to him in a way she never thought was possible? She never expected it would turn into love.
Tom Hastings is a Hotel chain owner who can have any woman he wants for the most part. After his father died, he took over running the family business and turning it into quite the success. He has one love in his life and that is his Mother and he has no plans on changing it. Tom only wanted a woman for one thing and it didn’t involve his heart being engaged in feelings.
After his first assistant grows tired of Tom refusing to give her more, she quits without notice. Tom encourages his right hand man, Mark to replace her immediately. Mark has grown tired of constantly training women for this position and losing out on his own life, he hires a first assistant that he is sure will stay, giving him freedom of getting his life back. She didn’t match one of Tom’s specifications. From her interview he could tell she was desperate for a job that would test her abilities. She was perfect.
Tom on his way to work in the sudden down pour picks, up a woman walking in the rain. She is timid and has an obvious fear of men. After talking with her on the way, he has growing suspicions that this is his new employee. Irritated by Mark for not following his orders, he is ultimately intrigued by her and sets out to find out more about her.
He never dreamed spending more alone time with her to learn about her past would cause him to first fall in total and complete uncontrollable lust, then love. After a business trip that Tom sets up to again be alone with her goes terribly wrong, Lois runs again.
Will Tom go on to have only a friends with benefits relationship with women or will he chase after her? Will Lois ever have her fairy tale ending or is this another end to a heartbreaking chapter in her life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal G. Smith
• Release date: Aug 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310332227

Crystal G. Smith

Crystal Donaldson-Smith was born and raised in Doniphan, Missouri. Crystal graduated from Sikeston Practical Nurse Program in 2009 and since then continues to work as a LPN in long term care. Her story telling abilities were first noticed by her kindergarden teacher who told her mother one day this little girl is going to be a writer. She completed her first novel, Seducing Peaches February 2012. Since then she has written with her sister other titles as well as several on her own. She is currently working on several titles, some are completed while others are in the works. She writes like people in her area speak. As a southern girl, she uses words like gonna, gotta, getcha, etc. She understands that this is not exactly proper grammar but at the same time, it makes for an easy read as most people are not proper. She hopes that you enjoy reading as much as she does writing it. When she isn't at her day job, or hanging out with her family, you can find her in front of her lap top dreaming up a new story or working on one. She enjoys finding a way to exit the world around her and enter a world she can call her own. When she was younger, she was once asked, why do you read so much? Her answer: Imagination makes the world a better place!

Book preview

Seducing Peaches

by Crystal G. Smith

Copyright © 2013 by Crystal G. Smith

ISBN: 9781310332227

Cover Design by Melody Simmons

Editing by Mia Darien

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. Your support and respect for the property of this author is greatly appreciated. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form, except for the use of brief notations in a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead or places, even or locales is purely coincidental.

Disclaimer: The material in this book is for the mature audiences only and contains strong and graphic sexual content. It is intended for those eighteen or older.

Dedication

Allen,

This has been a long time in the making. Thank you for standing by me through all the ups and downs. For having patience with me when I am not sure that I could have done the same. I love you.

Acknowledgements

There are so many people that I need to thank for this one. My beautiful kids, Zach and Ashley. I love you. Thank you for helping mommy with your creative ideas for my book. Mom thanks for being around to help with the kids. No matter what you say, Jade was all my idea. LOL! Liz, thank you for giving me words of encouragement through this entire process. Latam Green, Tom wouldn’t be as hot as he is without your help. Thanks much, girl. I love you.

Crystal G. Smith, 2013

Come visit me at www.crystalr022.wix.com/sisterauthors

The Beginning

You know, Michelle, this isn’t a good idea. I’m starting my new job tomorrow. I can’t be out getting drunk. Lord knows it will be the crack of dawn before I can drag your ass home and I don’t want to show up hung over from an all-nighter. First impressions mean a lot to me.

Look, you need to take a load off. We won’t stay out late. Have a few drinks. A few dances. A few hot, sexy guys. You know…the usual, Michelle said with a wicked grin.

No! I told you, it's not going to happen. I shouldn’t have ever told you my secret. I don’t understand why in the hell it bothers you so much. It’s not your body, it’s mine.

Because you are twenty-three years old and shouldn’t be living the life of a nun. Michelle gave her the ‘I am fixing to get us both into trouble’ look. You know you want to.

Uh-huh.

Sarcasm is not an attribute that will attract you a stud muffin, so I suggest you lose it before we hit the clubs, Michelle scolded her lightly.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Lois knew exactly how this night was going to end. Just like the last time she had gone out with Michelle: Lois holding her hair while Michelle puked her guts up from drinking anything and everything bought for her. It wasn’t a night of fond memories for Lois at all. In fact, it was more of a reoccurring nightmare.

Whistle… Damn! Someone’s getting lucky tonight, aren’t they? Michelle teased her.

If that’s what you’re getting out of this, then I am so changing.

Don’t you dare! You look hot. Come on. You never know, your Prince Charming could have a thing for red or black leather. Love the boots. Stay the way you are.

I don’t want to send off the message that I’m easy, Michelle.

Oh, trust me, it doesn’t say easy. Dangerous, kick your ass, don’t fuck with me without an invite, but definitely not easy.

Hmm. Lois turned, taking one good, long look. Her cherry red, v-neck top showed off just enough cleavage to let a man know it was there, but not enough that the mind didn’t have to wonder.

Her black leather mini skirt clung snugly to her hips, showing off her curves. Black four inch heel boots that came up just below the knee gave her height the extra oomph it needed.

Managing her hair had never been her greatest ability, so a simple pony with her bangs pulled to the side and wrapped did the trick and was easy to do. It was her dress me up ponytail.

Okay, let’s get going.

IT DIDN’T TAKE MICHELLE LONG BEFORE she had landed herself a man and he was practically humping her brains out on the dance floor. Lois shook her head in disbelief at how easy it was for Michelle. All it took was for Michelle to bat her lashes a few times and anyone with a dick was buying her drinks and taking their turn on the dance floor.

Lois, on the other hand, always spent the majority of her nights out with Michelle lonely and sitting at the table because when she was asked to dance, she always politely turned them down. The one time she had accepted the offer, she could barely walk the next day for the bruises on the top of her feet.

Lois wasn’t a professional dancer by any means, but she knew how to keep her feet to herself.

She glanced across the room again, checking on Michelle one last time before she went to the ladies room. Once inside, she looked at herself in the mirror and questioned why in the hell she had let Michelle talk her into this shit again. This wasn’t who she was. She occasionally liked to have a drink, but spending the night in a smoke filled room with drunk people everywhere wasn’t her idea of a good time.

COMING OUT OF THE BATHROOM, a force from behind sent Lois sailing forward uncontrollably. Lois closed her eyes, half expecting to land on her face. Instead, the warm, strong arms that held her caused her nerves to immediately shoot to the sky.

Are you okay? The stranger’s voice was deep, raspy, sexy as hell. She didn’t want to open her eyes. She only wanted to hear his voice and imagine how he looked. Her dream man. She felt herself grow nervous. But there was something about this man that she couldn’t believe. She wanted him. For the first time in her life, she wanted a man.

You’re mighty lovely laying here and all, but you need to open your eyes for me. Are you okay? This time the voice was different. Demanding. He wasn’t asking her to do anything, he was straight up telling her.

She batted her eyes open only to let her mouth open as well. Tall. Dark. Sexy eyes. Lips that made her mouth immediately crave a taste. Broad shoulders. Muscular chest easily visible through his dark navy shirt. Small beads of sweat rested where his collar bones met. Suddenly she had the urge to lick him there. Suck him. Taste him.

The sound of a clearing throat pulled her out of her soon-to-be wet dream, and back to looking in his eyes, when she noted his sly grin.

I’m guessing you're pretty okay now, then?

She pulled herself up to stand, unable to answer his question. Her hands were still holding on to his biceps, feeling the taut muscle beneath. If she didn’t let go of him and look away, she was sure her knees would give out any second.

But damn, his eyes had her locked completely. She couldn’t blink. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t do anything except stare into his hypnotizing gaze and wonder what was going through his mind.

Wondering if it was the same thing as hers. For the first time in her life, she had met a man that made her want more.

I’m gonna let you go now. She saw his mouth move but didn’t hear a damn word his sexy lips had said. She leaned forward, boldly pressing her lips to his. When his mouth moved back against hers, it was over.

Her tongue acted on her own accord, thrusting into his mouth, meeting his only for him to take over. He deepened the kiss while keeping it tender. Leading her in the battle of salvia.

Even as her mouth moved against his, she couldn’t believe this was happening to her. She couldn’t believe that in the last minute, she felt comfortable enough to be making out with someone she had just met.

A new found heat shot through her. Soft, gentle lips soon became heated and demanding. She gave him everything he wanted and everything he was taking.

She moved her tongue, taking in the taste of him. BBQ wings and beer. Yummy.

He brushed her lips one last time before lifting his mouth from hers. When Lois opened her eyes, it was as if she stared into a fire raging out of control. She wanted him. But most importantly, he wanted her.

Lois, let’s go. I can’t stand it. I gotta find a bed. The sound of Michelle’s slurred words brought a smile to his lips and irritation in Lois.

Nice to meet you, Lois. Maybe some other time. And then he was gone.

Lois searched the crowd, looking for her mystery man. She wasn’t ready to let him go. She wasn’t ready to not feel his lips on hers. She wasn’t ready to go home without him.

Lois looked back at Michelle, irritated by the fact that it was her fault she wasn’t still in his arms. Do I interrupt you when you are dance fucking every guy you can get out there on the damn dance floor? No! I leave you alone. Jesus, Michelle! You sure did pick a bad time.

I’m sorry, bestie. I can’t help it. I just kept drinking and they just kept buying. Please take me home. Come back if you want. Michelle couldn’t even keep her eyes open. She sure as hell wasn’t standing straight. Lois watched her body sway from side to side.

Come on! Lois was beyond annoyed, not to mention hot as hell. Not from anger. From Mr. Sexy Mouth. It was going to be one long night for her.

TUCKING MICHELLE INTO BED, Lois sat on her own bed, sipping her beer. She couldn’t believe that the first time she had met someone that made her body ache with need, Michelle of all people had interrupted it. Maybe she would go back again and hopefully find him there. No, there was no maybe to it. Her next night off, she was going.

Chapter One

Five miles into her trip, her truck's engine started clinking and banging. The 1957 Chevy was the only piece of her family she had left now. It had belonged to her grandfather.

Smoke rolled from under the hood.

Come on, girl, please. The truck didn’t respond to her plea. Lois had known it was in need of repairs, but she just couldn’t afford them right now. In fact, if the truck hadn’t belonged to her grandfather, she would have ditched it a long time ago.

Damn it! What am I going to do now?

Only four miles to go, she shrugged as she started to walk the rest of the way to her new start in life. She hadn’t made it a mile before rain started pouring, and not a light spring shower. She was soaked from head to toe. Not the look she was going for on her first day. She only imagined what their impression of her drowned rat appearance would do.

She kept walking.

I’ll make it.

The sound of music and the slight rumble of an engine behind her made her nervous. Lois kept her eyes forward and kept walking.

Then she heard the sound of a horn. The car pulled up next to her.

Ma’am, do you want a ride? That voice. Immediately she remembered it. Lady, did you hear me? Are you okay? She stopped.

Shit. If she turned around, would he recognize her? It only took his voice and she knew it was him.

No. Thank you, I don’t have far to go. Lois picked up her pace.

You do know it’s raining, right?

Really? I’m not blind and my feeling of being soaked is quiet existent.

She spun slowly, leaning down to look him in the eyes. Yes, I know it’s raining. Thank you for that bit of information. She stood to walk away when he began again.

He stared at her for a moment. I didn’t know lips like yours could be such a smart ass. You always like this?

Shit. Shit. Damn. Look, I’m sorry, it was the alcohol. I’m never that bold. I usually don’t drink, so it don’t take much. Her head tilted down, totally embarrassed.

Alcohol? Do you always drink this early?

What? No! I mean... You don’t… And her words drifted off.

Come on, get in.

There was something about the way he said those words that made Lois want to reply with a nod, a yes, sir, anything. Very authoritative. Powerful. But instead she went with a question. You don’t take ‘no’ very well, do you, sir?

No. Not really. I’m used to getting what I want.

Lois weighed her options. She could stand there arguing, or she could get in on good faith, hoping this was the last decent guy on earth, and if things went well, maybe get a number. No, she doubted that. She wouldn’t act like she had last night. She didn’t have her liquid courage in her. But if she took the ride, maybe then she wouldn’t be as late. She desperately needed this job.

Will you take me straight to work? No questions asked. She raised an eyebrow to prove she was quite serious and trying to give off some of that ‘I’ll kick your ass if you so much as even think about it’ attitude. She wanted to give the appearance that she was not a woman to be played with in any fashion. Well…except for the tiny voice in her head screaming, 'play with me.’

No. I plan on taking you to the airport, forcing you on my jet and then having my way with you on our way to Paris. He chuckled, no doubt from her mouth hitting the floor. Yes, I’ll take you to work. Lois just stared at him. She felt her cheeks heat, remembering how quickly her body had badly wanted him last night.

Look, you can stand there thinking this through all day if you want. I don’t have time. I’m on the way to work myself. So what’s the verdict? Nice dry car or soaking wet rain? She watched as he impatiently tapped his thumb on the steering wheel.

The ride, please. Something in her body wouldn’t let her move. She just kept standing there. She knew what that something was, though. He was by far the sexiest man she had ever laid her eyes on, not to mention played tongue hockey with.

You do know you will have to actually get in the car, don’t you? I’m not gonna get soaked in the rain opening your door for you. He stared at her. She stared back. Looking only at his lips.

Finally she forced herself to open the door. She was drenched, rain dripping from her. Won’t this ruin your seats? The look on his face told her he had no idea what she meant. I’m soaked. Your seats are leather, won’t it ruin them?

I’m not worried about my seats. It’s just a little rain. Where are you headed on this not so pretty or glorious morning?

Once again, she saw his lips move but didn’t hear a thing he said.

Where are you going? he repeated.

Paris, she whispered, turning red and looking away when she heard herself. She had thought it, but she hadn’t intended on it coming out of her mouth.

When was the last time you talked to a man?

What? What the hell kind of question was that? Why would he even ask that?

You seem nervous, so when was the last time you talked to a man?

It’s not talking to a man that makes me nervous, it’s the ride I’m taking with a man I don’t know.

Hm-mm. So where is this man taking you then?

I am headed to Hasting Hotel, Inc. Do you know where it is?

He hesitated for a moment. I believe I do. Then his facial expression changed as he tilted his head a bit. Why don’t you talk to men?

She noted a sense of confidence yet arrogance in his voice.

I don’t have a problem talking to men. Why was he so curious about her talking to men? So what, she was nervous, big deal. She didn’t think when she headed to work this morning that she would be getting a ride from the man that had awakened the woman inside of her.

How often? His eyes watched hers briefly before turning back to the road.

Whenever I want to, she said dryly.

Hmm…. he mumbled, then shifted the car into gear and began driving. Do you mind if I turn the radio back up?

Sure. Her nares flared again, curious to his smell. He smelled so good. Damn good. His scent pulled against her, urging her closer. Like a meth addict, reaching for their syringe.

She took in how handsome he was. No, how gorgeous. Dark brown hair. Dark brown eyes. Dressed well. Dark blue blazer, white button up shirt, tie, and dark jeans. Long, muscular looking legs. She was finding him very, very sexy.

A man driving a black, shiny Camaro, dressed nice, had to be a business man of some type. A lawyer, hotshot, corporate law more than likely. Probably a partner at his daddy’s law firm, she assumed from the whole bad boy image.

Lois again tried to keep her eyes to herself, but it didn’t happen. She had to keep looking at him. She had to study him. What could it hurt? It wasn’t like she was ever going to see this guy again. So what if he caught her staring? Sure, two meetings in less than twenty four hours, but that was just a coincidence.

His hands were large, gripping the steering wheel. She stirred in her seat and again made herself look out the window.

So, how long have you been working for Hasting Hotels?

Damn his voice. He could tell me to do anything right now, I would do it. Shit. I got to get the hell out of this car.

Um, I start today, actually. Let’s skip the small talk and fuck. Shit! What the hell are you doing to me?

What will you be doing there? His voice, unlike hers, was very confident. Like he didn’t have a worry in the world. As if he was used to speaking and then everyone doing what he wanted. Hell, Lois was ready to do things. Things that she had started at the club.

My title is first assistant. I think that is just fancy for secretary.

She watched