Life To The Max

By Mia London

The reserved, quietly confident Jeneva Reese is focused on buying a business. Meanwhile, the relationship with her current boyfriend is fulfilling, and on the surface looks to have the potential for happily ever after. Until she meets a tall, dark, and handsome playboy which brings everything to question.

Maxim Montgomery is a successful telecomm sales manager, lifetime bachelor, and breathtakingly beautiful. His biggest commitment is to his dog. He has no intention of ever settling down. Can he be convinced otherwise?

As Max and Jen’s friendship grows, the chemistry between them is undeniable and soon Max makes her an offer that is near-impossible to resist. Does she have the guts to risk it all? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mia London Books
• Release date: Jul 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9780990527411

Book preview

Life to the Max

By

Mia London

Table of Contents

Title Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

SNEAK PEAK OF PERFECT SEDUCT‭ION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

To Ren, thank you from the bottom of a grateful heart. For your guidance, advice, and whatever I needed to bring this book to life.

To Scott, my token male whose perspective and counsel helped this book immensely, thank you.

To Jessica, for making my cover look so fantastic. Twice. Thank you.

To the countless friends and colleagues whom I’ve called upon for input, expertise and sometimes just simple advice, you know who you are and I thank you.

And lastly to my wonderful husband. You are still the love of my life after sixteen years.

CHAPTER ONE

JEN WALKED OUT of the shop and the breeze in her face caught her by surprise. The late-September morning promised fall was on the horizon. The coolness came like a welcome vacation—a vacation from the Texas heat.

Jen needed the walk that morning to clear her head and calm her nerves before her sales meeting at a large, five-star hotel in the process of being renovated. The meeting, if successful, would grant their store a contract of framed art and mirrors throughout the hotel, which meant a welcome cash flow for a store Jen hoped would be hers in the near future.

She and Beverly Franklin, the shop owner, already tackled questions from the hotel’s assistant manager as well as the decorator hired for the job. All that was left to finalize the contract was a face-to-face meeting with the hotel manager. A meeting she would face alone since Bev decided that it was time for Jen to fly solo if she was ever going to take over the business.

Jen arrived at the hotel several minutes early, and was greeted by Brad Williams, the Banquet Manager. The hotel manager was running late, and Brad offered her a seat in the conference room with space to lay out her frame samples. After a few minutes he came back with a glass of water and they chatted a bit while she waited to be seen.

Jen’s heart gave a little pitter-patter as his fingers accidently brushed against her neck and shoulders as he helped her remove her jacket. She couldn’t help but notice Brad was a handsome man with caramel brown eyes, a warm smile and a soothing voice which helped calm her nerves. He was tall, probably in the six-foot mark by the way he overshadowed her as he stood next to her, but she wasn’t intimidated by his stature. On the contrary, she felt safe and at ease. His stylish sandy-blonde hair and impeccable designer suit only served to emphasize his professional image, which she liked.

The hotel manager and designer walked in the conference room after several minutes and apologized to Jen for keeping her waiting. Brad made the introductions.

I’ll leave you to your meeting. Brad reached to shake Jen’s hand. Nice meeting you. Then he leaned in and in a low voice said, Good luck.

Thank you. And nice meeting you too. Brad smiled back at her and he left.

So, Jen let’s take a look at what you’ve got here. The manager’s voice beckoned her back to the room.

After a two-hour meeting, Jen left the conference room with a thorough list of requirements for the frames and mirrors needed for the hotel renovation plans, and a new sense of achievement. The project was practically theirs. Jen knew hers probably wasn’t the only frame shop they were looking at, but that didn’t bring her off her high.

With a smile on her face, Jen replayed the meeting in her head. Her presentation went well. She was engaging with her questions and felt confident in answering theirs. She took a deep breath, hoping for the best.

The next week, Jen returned to the hotel for a follow-up meeting, at the designer’s request. She wanted to review some specific frames and art pieces with Jen.

Jen set up and displayed her samples in the same conference room as before, this time in front of the designer and the hotel’s assistant manager. She licked her lips several times realizing she was nervous. The very to-the-point designer wasted no time asking Jen product and pricing questions. She took notes in her notebook, which put Jen on edge. The assistant manager leaned back in his chair and said very little. He smiled and nodded at Jen and thankfully seemed impressed with what Jen had to show them.

They wrapped up after only twenty minutes and told her they would be making a decision shortly. Jen shook their hands seeing only then that her hand trembled. She thanked them for their time and proceeded down the corridor to the lobby. She took a deep breath and willed her thumping heart to slow.

Jen.

Jen heard her name called from behind. She turned and saw Brad strolling toward her. Her breath caught at the sight of his smile. He wore a dark suit both times they met. That suit and his brilliant smile made him look incredibly handsome.

Hi.

Hey, are you leaving? May I walk you out?

Sure, she smiled back at him.

So, how did it go in there? He nodded toward the conference room.

She scrunched up her nose. I’m not exactly sure. I think they liked what I showed them, but I couldn’t get a line on the designer.

Yes. Brad bowed down closer to Jen’s side and whispered as they walked, She certainly seems like a tough nut to crack.

Jen giggled and glanced up at him.

They arrived at the hotel lobby and continued to chat for several minutes. Brad asked her questions about her work and the shop. She noticed even with the activity around them, Brad’s gaze never left hers. He seemed captivated with her every word.

Jen, would I be too forward to ask if I could have your phone number? His lips curved up softly.

She smiled and replied, Sure.

He jotted down her number and they said goodbye as she turned to leave. She felt lightheaded with joy and squashed the urge to skip out the door.

The following day the hotel’s manager called to inform her the shop won the project. And to top it off, Brad called that night asking her out on a date. She accepted, hung up and let out a shriek of excitement that probably scared the neighbors. She covered her mouth with her hand and laughed at herself. Her life seemed to be on the right track.

That weekend, Brad took Jen out for a casual dinner and then to an outdoor jazz concert at the Arboretum. He brought a blanket and some wine for them to enjoy during the concert. After their date, he drove her home and said goodbye with a gentle, warm kiss on the lips.

It was the perfect ending to a perfect date, and Jen couldn’t stop thinking about him and their evening together the whole next day at work.

***

Brad took Jen out several times over the next few weeks. They did the typical dinner and a movie date. They went for walks in the park. Brad slipped his hand in Jen’s, in a simple yet romantic gesture, that made Jen feel warm all over her body.

Jen’s mother, Teresa, became positively ecstatic with the news that Jen was dating a man seriously. Although to Jen, serious was debatable, but Teresa wouldn’t hear any different. She was ready to send out wedding invitations. But Jen and Brad hadn’t even consummated their relationship yet.

After six weeks of dating, Jen invited Brad up for a nightcap, and he accepted. She felt a kick of excitement as the adrenaline started pumping through her veins. She smiled to herself; thankful she’d shaven her legs.

Jen was prudent and selective when it came to sex. She didn’t sleep with every man she dated. According to the Book of Jen, dinner and a movie did not necessarily mean sex, which at thirty made her less experienced than most women, but she didn’t care. She knew in her heart that once married, she and her husband would learn and experiment about sex together, and maybe tonight was just the beginning.

For now, she knew enough to know what felt good for her, what she liked. Perhaps because Brad wasn’t trying to get her to sleep with him, she became more interested in having sex with him. She wanted to be intimate and her heart sped with anticipation.

Brad closed the door behind them and slung his jacket over the back of the living room chair. He took Jen’s head with both hands and looked into her face.

You have the most beautiful eyes, he said as he closed his lips over hers. One kiss led to the other, which ended up in her bed.

In the end, it wasn’t the most explosive, adventurous sex in the history of the world. In fact, she might have deemed it a little cautious. But then, Jen attributed it to being their first time together. She hoped future encounters between them would be more…fulfilling.

CHAPTER TWO

HE WHIRLED HER around and thrust her up against the wall. She yelped—more from surprise than of pain. The sheetrock felt cold against her cheek. Comforting since her face was too…warm.

Large, powerful hands glided up her back beneath her shirt, and she felt the caress of his hot breath. His fingers unclasped her bra and stroked up and down her torso, followed by searing, sensual kisses. His hands skimming the side of her breasts. Her moan broke the room’s silence.

Sweet Jeneva, she heard him say as he pulled her t-shirt and bra up, forcing her arms up the wall and over her head. He stopped and bunched the garments around her hands and wrists. Hold this here. Don’t let it fall, he breathed in her ear. Shivers ran down her back as his tongue left a wet warm trail along her spine.

Oh, God. Her breath came faster.

She felt those hot hands grasp her hips and pull her back from the wall slightly. Could she stand on her volition? Then his hands moved across her stomach, her ribcage and cupped her swollen breasts. Her achy core surged when he pinched her nipples. Caressing them between his thumb and forefinger.

Ah, she cried out.

You like that, he whispered. Keep your hands on the wall. He pulled her back, her hands slowly slid downward as she stepped backward. Her ass brushed against his hard length. He stopped when her arms were completely outstretched, with her torso parallel to the ground. And as quick as lightning, he yanked her workout pants down over her ass to puddle at her feet. She gasped. He didn’t speak when he parted her legs into a wider stance.

Her sex screamed for attention. Slow drips of her nectar oozed down her inner thigh.

Please. Sensual cries fell from her lips. Then she felt his mouth there. Heaven.

It was pure heaven. Don’t stop, she screamed in her head. Don’t stop! He laved at her swollen lips. Fingers played in and around her needy sex, smoothing her juices around. His soft tongue caressed, poking inside her and over her clit. The expert flicks and pressure caused her to orgasm so fiercely she could no longer stand. He caught her midway down, spun her around and flung her against the wall.

His mouth claimed hers before she could regain her composure. His tongue swept into her mouth, sliding sensuously against hers. He pulled back, and she opened her eyes and saw his face. Correction, his eyes, his hair. Beautiful, heated sapphire eyes that looked like the ocean, deep and rich, a place where she could lose herself; and his thick, dark brown hair begged for her fingers to tangle in it.

She was breathless.

Hold on to my shoulders, I’m going to take you against this wall.

She moaned in agreement.

Then a violent bright light speared her eyes forcing her to turn her head. No! she heard her own voice resonate in her ears.

Jen covered her head with a pillow to block out the light.

She moved the pillow and willed her eyes to open. She lay in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She forgot to close the drapes the night before and now the morning sun filled her bedroom, jerking her out of her slumber.

A dream.

She had a perfect hot, erotic dream with a fantastically sexy man as the lead. Why did she wake up? She wasn’t done.

And who was that man? Yum. She couldn’t recall his face, but she would never forget his eyes, the deep, shining pools of mesmerizing blue.

She felt warm even though she’d kicked the covers off. What an amazing dream. It felt so real. A phantom sensation lingered up her spine as if she’d really been kissed there.

She closed her eyes, stretched out on her bed and exhaled. Her nipples were still hard. She knew she was wet she didn’t need to check. She felt like she truly had had sex… here and now. God, what a dream!

***

Jen carried her groceries inside, kicked the door closed behind her and plopped the bags on the kitchen counter. She took a deep breath, and tried to calm her panting. She loved her one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment located in Dallas; it felt like home. Naturally, smaller than the house where she was raised in Austin but for her it was perfect.

The apartment complex couldn’t be in a better location. It was secure, near a huge park with easy access to shopping; and the bonus, it was close to her work. She didn’t mind her apartment was on the top floor. She considered trekking up three flights of stairs part of her daily exercise regime. Especially if it meant she would be able to sit in her balcony and unwind.

She usually sat there, looked out over some semi-flat land designated for drainage, put her feet up and relaxed. The view wasn’t spectacular but it was peaceful, and there was a value in looking out and not seeing buildings in her line-of-sight.

One of her favorite things to do was to sit on her balcony, listen to music, sip some wine or tea, and possibly read a book. It became almost ritual after a long day at work. Sometimes her friends would join her and they could be out there for hours.

Jen thought tonight might be one such night. She expected her good friend Piper for dinner in under an hour. Jen planned to have fettuccini and a salad. Piper would bring the wine and chocolate. How they dearly loved their chocolate.

At six, her doorbell rang. She opened the door for Piper. Piper Diamond was one of Jen’s best friends. Considering she was drop-dead gorgeous, men would occasionally ask her if that was her stripper name. They had no way of knowing she was an Oracle-database programmer, fluent in Spanish and Italian, and could throw a fastball like Nolan Ryan.

Once when she and Piper were standing in line for movie tickets, some reasonably cute Italian guys started talking about Piper and Jen, in Italian so as not to be understood.

Little did they know, she understood every single word.

Piper innocently turned around, smiled as they smiled back, and proceeded to lay into them, in Italian. The men were flabbergasted, turned sheet-white, apologized and left the line out in utter embarrassment. Piper told her later the crass things they had said.

Jen didn’t have that kind of gumption. That would take serious cojones to speak out, and put strangers, no less, in their place. That moment she had never been more proud of her friend.

Hey sweets! C’mon in. Piper breezed in like she hadn’t a care in the world. She smiled and kissed Jen’s cheek.

Hey babe. I picked up a new pinot grigio we’re gonna try tonight, she announced as she followed Jen into the kitchen. What can I do to help?

I’ve got pretty much everything ready. The pasta’s keeping warm in the oven. I thought since it’s such a great night, we’d go eat on the balcony.

I was hoping you’d say that. Piper grinned and grabbed the wine, an opener and two glasses and made her way out.

Jen picked up the salad, bowls, napkins and silverware. I love it out here. She leaned forward to light a votive candle, and asked, How’s vinaigrette dressing?

Perfect. So how’s work going?

The two sat and chatted over dinner. They talked about work and happenings with friends and family. Then Jen decided to broach the subject of her dream; the thing had haunted her all day.

So I had this dream last night.

Oh?

She bit her lower lip and grinned at the memory. It was pretty hot.

Oh, do tell, Piper cajoled.

I think I came in my sleep at the same time as he made me come in my dream. Jen flushed.

Who he? Brad?

Well…no. Actually, it wasn’t Brad. I don’t know who it was. He had dark brown hair and the most amazing blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Her voice sounded almost dreamy to her own ears. "I blame you.’’

What? Piper guffawed.

All your sex talk is infiltrating my subconscious and messing with my dreams.

Hardly. That’s all you, babe. Those are your true desires.

Piper decided to jump on the opportunity while she had it. So, how is Brad?

He’s good. Jen scrunched up her face. He works weird hours because of the hotel, but we’re having a good time.

I see, Piper looked at Jen and pursed her lips.

What?

"I’m surprised you didn’t say nice. Piper sipped her wine, narrowing her eyes at her friend. Does he wow you, Jen? Blow your socks off in the throes of passion? Maybe like your dream? Are you

Reviews for Life To The Max

[linda.bass · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was given this book in return for an honest review, and I'd never read this author before but will definitely seek more of her books!Quiet and reserved, Jeneva Reece is on a mission to buy a business and CAPTURED in FRAME will be her as soon as she saved enough money. Owning a business had been her dream for three years and now all of her hard work and no social life were coming to an end! When her boss told her to get her feet wet by designing a once in a lifetime display to get a bid contract, she decided to give it her all and entered the hotel only to be greeted and shown to a conference room where she could struck her stuff. After her presentation she headed to the front door only to hear her name, it was the drop dead gorgeous man that had showed the conference room and he asked for her number!Max Montgomery thought when his two friends told him they were going to have a fun night he thought they'd shoot pool and knock back a few beers, he never thought he'd see the woman of his dreams. and since he had no plans to ever get married after he witnessed his folks bitter divorce and his younger brother's short lived marriage, he omny wanted her friendship but as he stayed around Jen more and more he couldn't deny their chemistry.