Romancing the Author

By Kali Willlows

NFL star, Connor Caine has given up on romance. Starved for a real woman with curves, intellect, and a sharp wit, he exchanges playful messages with an online crush. But when he can’t connect with her, he’s urged to seek out a 1Night Stand while in the Canadian capital for business.

Steamy sex is plentiful for author Gemma Daveen—at least on the pages she writes. Publicized as happily married, she has kept a few well-hidden secrets. But her publicist knows better, and ravenous for sexual reprieve, Gemma soon finds herself booked for a 1Night Stand during a romance convention in Ottawa.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: Apr 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781613338339

Book preview

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Romancing the Author

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2015 by Kali Willows

ISBN: 978-1-61333-833-9

Cover art by Fiona Jayde

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

Look for us online at:

www.decadentpublishing.com

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Also by Kali Willows

Designing Passion

Damnation and Desire

Savannah’s Ghost Tale

Terminal Lust

Double Dragon Seduction

Dragon Temptation

Tantric Storm

Dragon’s Breath

Dragon’s Bond

Dedication

To friends and lovers of romance, those who are able to attain their desires, and to those who continue to strive for them. Don’t give up, romance is but a heartbeat away…

To JoAnne Kenrick, my continuous sounding board, and to Kate Richards, my never-ending inspiration, thank you both for your encouragement.

Romancing the Author

A 1Night Stand Story

By

Kali Willows

Chapter One

You’re beautiful. I know you’re taken, just saying.

The endless barrage of messages from strange men and women in remote places had infested her inbox for months, peppered with communications from an unknown stalker who seemed to hone in on her status as a bestselling author. She peered at the sender’s name on the instant chat. Connor Caine.

An actual old high school acquaintance, Connor, who retained a dry but potent sense of humor, the same as he had in their glory days. He possessed broad, athletic shoulders and abs a girl could scrub her laundry on. Sports magazines featured photos of him tossing footballs—often shirtless—posed to capitalize on his rugged good looks and virile physique.

He had worked hard for the last fifteen years to become a football star and maintained a radiant social media presence since his recruitment in his senior year of high school. His regular upbeat posts and witty repartee had helped lighten her spirits through some of the most dreadful moments in the last ten months of her private life.

A nomadic author on a worldwide tour, Gemma had little time for genuine interactions outside of book signings and release parties. Online communications with people who knew her before the fame, held a sense of comfort and inclusion which had evaded her in her public profile. She hesitated then clicked the reply box, unsure if this would be another bout of antics to make her chuckle.

A trickle of giddiness fluttered over her, and then doubt.

Gemma: LOL, you’re pulling my leg, aren’t you?

His reputation as an online prankster preceded him. His fans hung on every word he typed. Although she had indulged in occasional banter with him, she had thought nothing of it, believing he considered her another among the masses.

Connor: Not at all! I’ve wanted to tell you for years, but never had the courage to say it until now.

Gemma: Come on, you’re kidding, right?

Connor: I’m dead serious.

Gemma: *Blushing* An author rendered speechless? No other words came to her.

Connor: I’ve been scanning over your online pics for years.

Gemma: *Blushing again*

Was he trifling with her? Wouldn’t this very hot, single guy with ebony hair and smoldering brown eyes have better things to do, late on a Friday night? How many women did he send these messages to?

Connor: I know you’re capable of a broader vocabulary. He added a smiley face.

Gemma eyeballed the screen in disbelief. No one was supposed to know about her divorce from her husband of eight years.

Who will want to buy romance novels from a divorcee, Gemma? Honestly, what would you do without me to maintain your professional image? When Candace had laid down the law about announcing the split, Gemma hadn’t disputed the logic. After all, her publicist had handled some of the biggest names in romance.

You still there? Another message popped up on the screen.

Gemma bit her lip. Would her old friend Connor participate in a ruse to get her to spill to the media about the break up? Candace had warned her against any admission online—even telling a friend could be her career ender. Fans could not learn about the abusive asshole her husband had turned out to be. But could he be pulling a prank?

Gemma: Why me?

Connor: Why not you? You’re beautiful, intelligent, and sexy.

Gemma: