Miss Misguided

By Ash Hosking

Celeste was only looking for the escort she hired for her sister's wedding. Instead, she got Noah Archer.

Tall, dark and handsome, incredibly charming, and a doctor to boot.

Too bad she doesn't believe him when he tells her he isn't the guy she paid for, although he does get the job done.

Boy, does he ever.

Noah's new neighbors are interesting.

In particular, the cute teacher in the apartment below his.

Volunteering to be Celeste's wedding date seconds after meeting her was possibly not his wisest decision, but it turns out to be one of the best nights of his life.

Celeste Sweetley is utterly bewitching, but after their initial mishap, she only wants to be friends.

A misguided idea at best, but Noah's willing to play along if it means getting to spend more time with her.

Can they really just be only friends when neither of them can forget that night? Or are they setting themselves up for a messy heartbreak the likes of which they've never seen before?

Only time will tell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ash Hosking
• Release date: Nov 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648831020

Book preview

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Ash Hosking

Miss Misguided

Ash Hosking

Copyright 2020 Ash Hosking

All Rights Reserved

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real events, real people, and real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, organizations, or places is entirely coincidental.

All rights are reserved. This book is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author. All songs, song titles, and lyrics contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.

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ISBN: 978-0-6488310-2-0

Editing by Swish Design & Editing

Proofreading by Swish Design & Editing

Book design by Swish Design & Editing

Cover design by Tash Drake – Outlined With Love Designs

Cover Image Copyright 2020

All Rights Reserved

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Celeste was only looking for the escort she hired for her sister’s wedding. Instead, she got Noah Archer.

Tall, dark and handsome, incredibly charming, and a doctor to boot.

Too bad she doesn’t believe him when he tells her he isn’t the guy she paid for, although he does get the job done.

Boy, does he ever.

Noah’s new neighbors are interesting.

In particular, the cute teacher in the apartment below his.

Volunteering to be Celeste’s wedding date seconds after meeting her was possibly not his wisest decision, but it turns out to be one of the best nights of his life.

Celeste Sweetley is utterly bewitching, but after their initial mishap, she only wants to be friends.

A misguided idea at best, but Noah’s willing to play along if it means getting to spend more time with her.

Can they really just be only friends when neither of them can forget that night? Or are they setting themselves up for a messy heartbreak the likes of which they’ve never seen before?

Only time will tell.

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Blurb

Table of Contents

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

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

More Books To Check Out

Acknowledgments

Connect With Me Online

About the Author

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NOAH

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Archer?

My mind is hazy after my twenty-four-hour shift. Preoccupied with everything I’ll have to do before I can sleep, it takes a moment to register someone has said my name. Lifting my gaze from the sidewalk, I find a woman standing before me on the stoop of the brownstone apartment building where I now reside.

How did you know? I ask the knockout brunette.

It seems like she’s been waiting for my arrival, but I have no clue why or who she even is. There’s no reason someone should be waiting for me. What I do know is I’ve never met her before. I would definitely remember a face and body like hers.

"Not easy since none of your photos were sharp portraits, but the suit gave you away for one. Mostly it’s because I’ve lived here long enough to know no Adonis lives in this building. My neighbors are predominantly retirees who have no family that look like you because Betty would have been all over that on her mission to hook me up. So... hi. I’m Celeste, obviously. Are you ready to go, or do you need to come in first? I’ve never done this before. I’m not sure what the protocol is, but if we don’t leave in the next fifteen minutes, we’ll be late for the wedding, and my sister will kill me. We’ll have to work on our backstory in the car." Celeste talks like a machine gun. Firing words so fast I can’t keep up or make sense of what she’s saying. Clearly, I’m missing something here.

Uh... I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I just moved in upstairs. Apartment 2A.

Celeste considers me as she descends the steps, pausing on the one above me. I’m greeted by her welcoming, sweet-scented perfume.

That will work. Not too complicated that I’ll somehow mess it up. So, where’s your car? You do have one with you, right? The package did say door-to-door service.

"My car’s right there, but what package?"

The woman leaves me on the stoop to head for the passenger side of my Mercedes. I follow because she’s sounding like a loon, and I don’t want her doing anything to my car. Celeste turns at my approach, and I notice her cheeks flush with embarrassment when she quickly avoids my gaze.

You must be popular to afford this car. Busy, too, if you can’t remember the details of our emails. I booked you to be my plus one for my sister’s wedding. You called it the ‘Perfect Boyfriend’ package, with the added bonus of being a buffer between me and my parents while making my ex jealous. It was probably easy to forget the details since you did say you’ve had stranger requests, Celeste rambles awkwardly, daring to make eye contact for a split second at a time before her gaze darts away again.

It only takes me a moment to catch on to what’s happening.

I’ve been mistaken as my new neighbor’s hired escort.

I’m oddly flattered, though mostly caught in disbelief as I look her up and down. How in the hell can a woman this gorgeous be that hard up for a date?

A pretty, pear-shaped face, kissable pink lips, and big, doe-like brown eyes framed by a smart pair of spectacles with a mass of long dark hair that curls over her shoulder. She may be curvier and shorter than the waif-thin figure society tries to insist is perfection, but those lush curves are in all the right places and perfectly proportioned to be a real man’s object of desire, especially in the figure-hugging, dark blue dress that shows a spectacular amount of cleavage.

Celeste squirms awkwardly under my silent gaze.

Looking away, I check both sides of the street for any sign of her actual escort, but I am not sure what I’m supposed to be looking for.

Me, apparently.

There’s no one around who could fit the bill.

I turn back to consider her.

Celeste said it was her sister’s wedding and that her ex would be there. I imagine that will be a shitty thing to endure without also being stood up by a paid escort, which is going to add insult to injury.

It’s Friday night. I don’t have any plans that don’t involve assembling furniture, some unpacking, and maybe some sleep. There are worse things I could do with my time than taking a pretty lady to a wedding and acting like her boyfriend without her expecting more from me afterward.

Still, I can’t believe I’m about to do this.

"Okay. But I’m not your escort, I’m your new neighbor," I insist, reaching into my pocket to unlock the car so I can open the passenger door for her.

Celeste nods while stepping inside somewhat impatiently.

Sure, sure. Welcome to the neighborhood.

She doesn’t believe me.

Shaking my head with a quiet laugh, I shut the door behind her before jogging around to my side.

Well, this is going to be interesting.

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NOAH

What are we saying you do for work? Celeste asks a few minutes into the drive after putting the location of the wedding into the navigation system. We’ve driven two streets in silence, and she’s been fidgety and awkward the whole time. It makes me grin. Surely, she had an idea of what she was getting into when hiring an escort.

I’m a pediatrician. And please, call me Noah.

Celeste looks at me wide-eyed, so I shoot her questioning looks between watching the road.

"You’re going with being a doctor and a children’s one at that? My mother will try to make this into our wedding if you’re not careful, and I cannot afford to hire you for the rest of her life." Celeste slams her head back against the headrest with a huff, while I laugh with a shrug.

"It’s all I know how to be. And I’m sorry, but charming mothers are all part of the perfect boyfriend package, is it not?" Stirring her up is too much fun.

Celeste folds her arms across her chest, unhappily, making her cleavage all the more pronounced. I have to work at keeping my eyes on the road before I get us both killed.

Celeste is quiet for a good half of the drive. A little crease at the bridge of her nose makes it clear she’s worried about this going wrong. Unable to take her silence any longer, and feeling bad for stirring, I reach over from the gearshift to squeeze her knee in reassurance.

Hey, tonight will go off without a hitch, I promise. Have a little faith in us.

Celeste snorts but doesn’t otherwise comment.

Okay, can’t blame her for not trusting a total stranger. She’ll have to see it to believe it, but I’m not going to let her down.

So, what do you do for work? A guy should know what his girlfriend does if someone asks.

I’m an elementary school teacher. It’s said with a slightly defensive edge, the reasoning for which I don’t understand.

Cool. We have something in common then... working with children.

Celeste raises her eyebrows at me.

So, I backtrack to appease her. For our backstory, of course.

There’s more silence.

Okay, I have to ask. Why do you even need to hire an escort?

I am shot a look that says this is the last topic she wants to discuss, but I’ve been wanting to know since the second I figured this rouse out, so I’m not letting this go. I mean, you’re a gorgeous woman, and I’m sure you’re even more fun when you’re not stressing out.

Celeste rolls her eyes but grants me an answer. If you ask my mother, she’ll tell you I’m married to my job and don’t put myself out there to meet men. The truth is... I don’t date people I work with. Also, I don’t enjoy clubbing, loud bars, or online dating, and they’re the only places to meet people these days. Plus, my experiences with the men that frequent all three options leave much to be desired. I’m happier giving my best to my students and getting my fill of romance from books.

I feel like apologizing on behalf of my fellow men, though I refrain, commenting offhandedly instead, Another thing we have in common. Our mothers are of the same mind. Turning into the parking lot of a small church, I’m thankful for the navigation system because I have no clue where we are. The church looks like it should be historically listed with its whitewash brick, which is crumbling in a lot of places. Still, it is beautiful.

Taking the first available spot near the back of the lot, I switch off the engine before turning to Celeste while I free my seat belt. Ready?

Celeste turns to meet my gaze and considers me for a long moment before she releases a pent-up breath in a rush. I don’t think I know what I’ve gotten myself into here. I’m about to respond when she continues, Neither do you. I should warn you, no less than ninety-five percent of the people in there are complete snobby assholes.

Giving her my most confident grin, I release her seat belt. I know how to deal with that kind of crowd, having lived with them my whole life as it seems she has.

Another thing we have in common.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Hoping she finds my wink trustworthy as I get out of the car, I walk around to help her out.

Celeste takes my hand with an approving smile. Chivalry’s not dead, huh? Her comment is thick with amusement as I tuck her hand in the crook of my elbow.

"Not when you have the perfect boyfriend, I tease quietly as we close in on the group of people heading into the church. What do I address your parents when I meet them?" The words are whispered into her ear because I don’t even know her last name, which is surely something a doting boyfriend should know.

Mr. and Mrs. Sweetley unless they insist otherwise, Celeste murmurs just as quietly in return.

Miss Celeste Sweetley? Testing out her name on my tongue as I draw her to a stop on the stairs, I smile when Celeste nods with a frown, not understanding why it’s caused us to stop.

I knew you were sweet the second I laid eyes on you, I murmur, and she blushes.

The light of the golden hour before sunset plays over her face, illuminating the flush of her cheeks and the gold flecks in her eyes as she gives me an indifferent look before tugging me back into action with a shake of her head.

Like I’ve never heard that before. Celeste weaves her way through the people shuffling inside, continuously apologizing for pushing through but determined on her path. Being pulled along by my hand in her death grip, I receive the fallout of the unimpressed and disgruntled glares, so I feel obliged to join in with the apologies.

We make it to the front pews intact, although I nearly lost an eye to a feathered hat. Celeste takes a second to adjust her already perfect dress before pulling me into the bench to the left, settling in the farthest corner.

It looks like Celeste is trying to avoid the notice of the older couple talking to the priest. No such luck, though, because the woman in a pale blue ensemble turns to look at guests filing in and inevitably finds Celeste. Her gaze seems to sharpen when it lands on me before dismissing the priest to approach us.

Celeste, we’re so happy you could make it. Who is your friend?

Of course. I wouldn’t miss my sister’s wedding for the world, Mother. This is my date, Noah Archer. Celeste introduces us with thinly veiled ice in her tone for the woman in front of me, and I don’t blame her.

Putting on my most charming smile as I stand, I take her mother’s hand in mine as gently as possible. The woman is a fragile-looking waif, and I’m half scared I will break her. Hell, the slightest breeze could blow her over.

Celeste’s boyfriend. It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Sweetley. Might I say what an honor it is to be in the presence of such beautiful women today? Thank you for having me. I do hope I’m not imposing. Laying it on thick, I bend to kiss the back of her hand. The lady is flushing like her daughter did when I meet her gaze as I rise, while her free hand needlessly adjusts the fascinator attached to the side of her white hair.

It’s nice to meet the partner Celeste has divulged so little about. If you’ll excuse me, I need to tend to my daughter. I hope you both enjoy the wedding. The woman scurries to the side door to where I am guessing the bride awaits.

The man I can only assume is Celeste’s father is still standing with the priest. Looking slightly uncomfortable as he remains in his position, he gives Celeste a sorry-looking wave before following after his wife. Celeste slumps back against the pew, looking more than a little dejected.

Placing my arm around her shoulders, I pull her in close. You weren’t kidding about that ninety-five percent, huh?

Celeste wrinkles her nose before peering over her shoulder to check if anyone is listening. I guess you could call me the black sheep of the family.

Laughing hard and loud enough that it reverberates in the old church, I cull my immediate reaction to look at Celeste in shock, angling my body toward her when she continues watching me with a grave expression.

"What the hell kind of family do you come from where a teacher is the black sheep? Do you have other sisters who are actual sisters in a nunnery or what?" I feel a little better when Celeste laughs at my shock.

"God, no. That would be even worse than being a teacher in my mother’s eyes. Caroline’s not happy with how I’ve chosen to live my life ever since I ended my engagement with Randy and insisted to foolishly put the years of schooling they paid for to use, instead of being the happy little housewife with a useless degree. As for Randy... he was sweet to me until I decided what I wanted was important, and then he wasn’t. Us womenfolk of the twenty-first century are rebellious," she mocks.

I can’t help feeling proud of the strong, independent woman I’ve just met.

Good on you. You know, I’ve always been crazily attracted to women who would be a bad influence on me, I mention conspiratorially but mostly as a joke.

Celeste grins up at me—it’s a nice moment.

I’m happy to be the one here for her right now.

Celeste, it’s good to see you here.

I look up over my shoulder at the interruption to find a guy maybe a little older than Celeste, his frown and curled lip conveying the complete opposite of his words.

It’s my sister’s wedding. Why wouldn’t I be here, Randy? Celeste greets the guy with little to no enthusiasm. Again, I don’t blame her. If I had to describe the guy in one word, it would be lackluster. Although he is also average, nondescript, though I guess not wholly unattractive, but there’s nothing noteworthy about him.

This is the guy Celeste was supposed to marry? No wonder she ditched him—poor schmuck.

Randy, I’ve heard a lot about you. Nice to finally put a face to a name. I don’t stand to shake his hand. I don’t want him to like me.

Sorry, I’m Randolph Rodgers, and you are?

Seriously? His parents must have hated this guy when he was born to give him a name like