Weekend Fiance: A Jared and KeShana InstaLove Novella

By Tina Martin

When serial bachelor, Jared Delarosiere asks KeShana Taylor to accompany him for the weekend as his fiancée, he thought it would be a whirlwind trip to trick his parents into thinking he's finally settling down. But a tragedy in the family throws his plans into a tailspin, leaving him broken in the end.

 

Can this fake situation be the key to providing him with solace and hopefully some real love?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tina Martin
• Release date: Apr 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393644255

Tina Martin

TINA MARTIN is the author of over 80 romance, romantic suspense and women’s fiction titles and has been writing full-time since 2013. Readers praise Tina for her strong heroes, sweet heroines and beautifully crafted stories. When she’s not writing, Tina enjoys watching movies, traveling, cooking and spending time with her family. For more information, visit www.tinamartin.net

Book preview

WEEKEND FIANCE

CHAPTER 1

Jared’s eyes locked in on KeShana as she strolled into Mainstreet Coffee – hips swaying naturally from side-to-side like she was strutting down a runway trying to sell overpriced clothing. He couldn’t turn away even if he tried. If she’d decided to come, he knew she’d show up late. It’s why he got there early – for the show. The struttin’ and her antics. Thirty minutes after waiting solo, he was having doubts that she would come – especially since she’d made a big deal about him asking her out for coffee – insinuating that coffee was code for something else – but here she was in all her take-me-as-I-am glory.

KeShana Neck-Snapping Taylor.

He chuckled to himself. He hoped their coffee date would help dissolve the ache inside of him that suggested this KeShana girl was more than just a chick who acted all loud and boisterous. There had to be a much more tamed woman beneath that pretty, chocolate skin, overly long fingernails and her larger-than-life presence. She couldn’t be this way all the time, could she?

Nah, she can’t be, he decided as he sized her up like he’d done so many women in the past. He couldn’t help it. It came as natural as blinking. As he watched her sashay toward him, he thought about how, in the past, he would’ve never given a woman like KeShana a second look. She was from a different side of town – literally and figuratively. He came from abundance – from a family who owned vineyards all over the country and made some of the best wine in the world. Delarosiere Vineyards was a force to be reckoned with and he would soon be CEO of the multi-millionaire brand. She worked part-time as an office assistant, and he hadn’t the slightest clue what she did with the rest of her time.

With that being said, when it came to women, Jared rubbed shoulders with the best of them – beautiful, stunning women who were just as wealthy as he was. Not to say KeShana wasn’t beautiful because she was. Goodness, gracious – he couldn’t deny that. Additionally, she had certain features that he found lovely – like her extra-rich mahogany skin that reminded him of his partial heritage. Then there were those dark round eyes curtained with pretty lashes and her lips – she had the biggest, most thickest, delicious-looking lips he’d ever seen on a woman. Whenever he saw her – like now – he had trouble taking his eyes off of them. For a split second, he thought about how soft they might be and how it would feel to kiss those ample lips. Probably felt like the tenderness of a steak cooked medium. The thought made his mouth water. He’d never conquered a set of that size and she had him up to the challenge.

As for her other features, she was about five-seven. Body curvy how he liked it – thin waist, thick hips. Breasts like melons. And she came with a good dose of attitude. He liked a woman who could hold her own. Who didn’t beat around the bush. He knew his parents wouldn’t. It’s the only reason he wanted to offer her this proposal. If he pretended to get serious with a woman he knew his folks wouldn’t like, maybe they would end their relentless pressuring for him to get married. People acted like marriage was the ultimate goal in life. For him, it was anything but.

As KeShana neared the small, two-seater table with her hip-swinging, slow-mo walk, he rose to his feet and pulled out her chair.

She said, Well, well, well...if it ain’t Mr. Dolce and Gabanna...

Jared grinned. Hi, KeShana. I didn’t think you would make it.

I almost didn’t. I thought about going home several times.

Did you?

Uh...yea-yah, she answered, then pursed her lips. I shonuff did.

Jared sat down, looking at her nails as she tapped them on the table. They were sharp enough to put someone’s eyes out. Why would you want to do that?

She narrowed her eyes.

He smiled in response. Women usually didn’t turn him down no matter what the ask was, so he wanted to know her reason for desiring to go home.

She responded, First off, I’m not the kind of chick who throws back coffee at night.

Jared glanced at his Audemars Piguet. It’s seven-thirty.

And?

"You consider seven-thirty night time?" he asked, amused. She would never know he was tickled. You couldn’t tell by looking at him. Jared could keep a straight face like nobody’s business.

Sho do.

Sho do. It doesn’t get dark until around eight-thirty, he told her.

She shrugged, quirked up her lips. More attitude. Your point?

"My point is, you need to live a little, KeShana Taylor. Coffee in the evening won’t kill you. I can promise you that."

It won’t, but a sister needs her beauty rest and last I checked, caffeine was the exact opposite of melatonin.

KeShana stared skeptically across the table at him. Why had he asked her here with his – with his...his finer than fine self? Sheesh! All she wanted to do was sit there and stare at him. Skip the coffee. He was giving her the jitters every time she connected her eyes to his amber colored ones. And why was he staring so hard? His eyes stayed trained on her like, whatever it was that he wanted, he’d convince her to do it by way of staring – enticing her into a drugging, mind-controlling daze.

Mercy...

She broke away from his gaze, making subtle attempts to silence her beating heart as it pounded loudly in her ear. Why was Jared making her feel this way? She’d been around other good-looking men before – well, none as good-looking as Jared Dela-whatever-his-face, but still. The man was giving her heart palpitations and all he was doing was staring. That’s it. If he so happened to touch her, she’d probably crumble apart and die, then and there.

She glanced at his hands. Those large hands appeared strong. Nails, well-manicured and clean. He had a dreamy, light-skinned complexion but not Drake-the-rapper light skin. He was more like a Russell Wilson brown, about the same height, too. His hair was dark brown and curly. Eyes crisp and extra white to the point that it made his pupils stand out. His nose was so perfectly shaped, it looked like it had been enhanced. His lips were the perfect size for a man and his mustache on point. He was the clean-shaven type. Everything perfect type. What did he want with her?

So, what’chu want? KeShana asked.

Brows furrowed, he asked, Excuse me?

KeShana looked at him sideways. Did he not hear her or could he not understand her citified, country-style ebonics. She cleared her throat and spoke in her professional work voice when she asked, I said, what do you want? Why did you ask me here?

You don’t have to alter your voice, KeShana. I heard what you said the first time.

Then why you actin’ like you didn’t?

Jared leaned back in his chair. She was going to be more trouble than he needed, but he was willing to put up with it because she was exactly who he needed for his plan. He said, Be easy, babygirl. This is supposed to be a chill, laid back discussion.

Still skeptical, KeShana said, Then ya girl needs to know the topic at hand.

I’ll tell you after you simmer down. You freakin’ hot tamale. Jared grinned. She looked like she needed a good cooling off. She acted all big and bad, but she couldn’t handle a man like him. She thought she could, but she couldn’t.

What’chu laughing at? she asked.

Nothing.

Lawd, you better be glad you’re fine or I would’ve been done bounced. "And FYI, I don’t have to simmer down. I’m already—simmered."

The corners of Jared’s eyes crinkled. "If you say so. I’ll go get us some coffee. How do