Her Apple Pie CEO

By Linzi Basset

Trust Max Turner to be the only man who could save the legacy Lexi’s grandmother had left behind.
He was the last man she wanted to ask for help but since she had no other recourse she took matters to the extreme and shoved her tangy apple pie down his throat ... literally.

Trust life to throw a curveball back at him.
Lexi Dutton hated him ... with a passion and he couldn’t blame her. Maybe now he could make up for the heartache he’d caused five years ago. Except his good intentions ran out the door the moment a much sassier and sensual woman than he remembered hijacked him on the way to a meeting ... armed with a dangerous weapon ... a decadent apple pie.

There was much to be said for the immediate addiction to her sweet and saucy ... er ... offering. All he wanted now was a daily taste, consequences and forgiveness be damned.

Her Apple Pie CEO was originally part of the Eat Your Heart Out Anthology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linzi Basset
• Release date: Jul 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005602642

Linzi Basset

“Isn’t it a universal truth that it’s our singular experiences and passion, for whatever thing or things, which molds us all into the individuals we become? Whether it's hidden in the depths of our soul or exposed for all to see?” Linzi Basset is a South African born animal rights supporter with a poet’s heart, and she is also a bestselling fiction writer of suspense filled romance erotica books; who as the latter, refuses to be bound to any one sub-genre. She prefers instead to stretch herself as a storyteller which has resulted in her researching and writing historical and even paranormal themed works. Her initial offering: Club Alpha Cove, a BDSM club suspense series released back in 2015, reached Amazon’s Bestseller list, and she has been on those lists ever since. Labelling her as prolific is a gross understatement as just a few short years later she has now been published forty-one times; a total which fails to take into account the three other published works of her alter ego: Isabel James who co-authors—nor does it include the five additional new works marked for imminent release. “I write from the inside out. My stories are both inside me and a part of me so it can be either pleasurable to release them or painful to carve them out. I live every moment of every story I write. So, if you're looking for spicy and suspenseful, I'm your girl... woman... writer... you know what I mean!" Linzi believes that by telling stories in her own voice, she can better share with her readers the essence of her being: her passionate nature; her motivations; and her wildest fantasies. She feels every touch as she writes, every kiss, every harsh word uttered, and this to her is the key to a never-ending love of writing. Ultimately, all books by Linzi Basset are about passion. To her, passion is the driving force of all emotion; whether it be lust, desire, hate, trust, or love. This is the underlying message contained in her books. Her advice: “Believe in the passions driving your desires; live them; enjoy them; and allow them to bring you happiness.” Follow Linzi everywhere: https://linktr.ee/LinziBasset

Book preview

Reader’s Reviews

A robot holding a sword Description automatically generated with low confidence

Sweet and savory delights

"I am amazed at how fruit and vegetables can be very sensual. Your heart will flutter and you crave more. This amazing, steamy, sensational story featuring Lexi and Max will steam up your kindle. Do you Believe in second chance? You will love this as much as I have. A must must read!

/.... Jen odonnell

This gives a whole new meaning to playing with your food.

This story was funny, sensual and oh so sweet! You definitely don’t want to miss this story!

/.... ChasnTrav

A delightful story!

This story makes me want to have a warm, delicious apple pie! I enjoyed the interactions and funny innuendos between Lexi and Max. This is a delightfully delicious story that you will love!

/.... Joy

Author’s Note

A robot holding a sword Description automatically generated with low confidence

Dear Reader,

Her Apple Pie CEO was part of a charity anthology to feed the hungry, Eat Your Heart Out. It was a huge honor to be part of it, especially since it was such a fun story to write.

Blurb:

Trust Max Turner to be the only man who could save the legacy Lexi’s grandmother had left behind. He was the last man she wanted to ask for help but since she had no other recourse she took matters to the extreme and shoved her tangy apple pie down his throat... literally.

Trust life to throw a curveball back at him. Lexi Dutton hated him... with a passion and he couldn’t blame her. Maybe now he could make up for the heartache he’d caused five years ago. Except his good intentions ran out the door the moment a much sassier and sensual woman than he remembered hijacked him on the way to a meeting... armed with a dangerous weapon... a decadent apple pie.

There was much to be said for the immediate addiction to her sweet and saucy... er... offering. All he wanted now was a daily taste, consequences and forgiveness be damned.

Enjoy!

Linzi Basset

Chapter One

A robot holding a sword Description automatically generated with low confidence

WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE’S NOT HERE? My appointment was scheduled a month ago already.

The perky receptionist didn’t seem intimidated by the sharp, discordant staccato of Lexi Dutton’s shoe slapping out a morse code of her irritation against the wooden floor.

I’m sorry, Miss. I’m just relaying the message from his PA. You’re welcome to reschedule the meeting if you’d like.

What, so he can snub me again?  Surely, you’re joking.

Lexi looked around at the vast reception area of Turner Investments Incorporated. It was all glass and steel... cold and uninviting. Just like the owner and CEO. Max Turner, gorgeous, filthy rich, who once again confirmed his unimpeachable character as the most arrogant, self-conscious prick east of the Mississippi.

Is there anything else I can assist you with, Miss Dutton?

I guess I don’t have a choice but to reschedule. Which way to his PA’s office? A pursed smile was the best Lexi could offer to blunt the caustic sting in her voice.

The third elevator will take you directly to the top floor. I’ll inform Miss Walters of your arrival. She handed over a pen. Please sign for the elevator tag.

Elevator tag? Good lord. What happened to simply pressing a stupid button?

She was rather proud of herself for not showing her thoughts as she scribbled her signature. With the tag and a precious confectionery box clutched in her hands, she walked in the direction Roxy, the receptionist, pointed.

Lexi’s ears pricked minutes later upon hearing Max’s name as she walked into the PA’s office... or rather suite, which was twice the size of her entire two-bedroom house!

I just confirmed it, Max. They’re still there. The restaurant is a twenty-minute drive from the airport. If you hurry, you’ll be in time for the meeting with Wills Bros Coffee. If you want to beat Rudolph Ericksen and invest in their latest range of roasts, it’ll have to be today since they’re in Cincinnati for only one day.

The woman was a striking brunette who, having leveraged her chin higher to correct the vision of a pair of tortoise-shell glasses perched on the tip of her nose, gave a perfunctory glance of acknowledgement then hastily gestured to one of the visitor’s chairs.

I guess I better sit down, Lexi rolled her eyes inside her mind at the chilled glare cutting her way when she didn’t immediately comply. She perched at the edge of the seat, still holding onto the precious apple pie she’d brought along for tasting. She snorted quietly. What a waste getting up at four in the morning to bake a fresh one to ensure the high and mighty Max Turner wouldn’t be able to resist investing in her bakery... or rather, pump an enormous amount of money into opening a factory to manufacture her sought-after pastries and distribute them across the States, thereby offering hundreds of people jobs.

Failure wasn’t an option. The population of the Village of Williamsburg, Ohio, depended on her to find a way to keep the community alive. Since the recession and the pandemic that had rocked the world, many of the small business owners had to close down. It had gotten so bad that half of the town’s shops stood empty. Work was non-existent and further afield, even less so. Everyone was looking for work for a way to survive but there were just not enough opportunities to accommodate those in need.

Lexi’s Decadent Delights, the pastry shop she’d inherited from her grandmother, had survived but only just. If not for the fact that she baked the best apple pies ever— not blowing her own horn just confirming what the majority of the town’s people claimed— she too would have had to walk away from her life's work and dreams.

Instead, she’d made a promise at the last community meeting in the Town Hall to find an investor. Since she’d inherited the shop from her grandmother six years ago, it had been her dream to expand and become the household name in pastries and pies across the country. It hadn’t been as easy as she had thought. One after the other investors had either dodged her calls or immediately cut her off without offering