Ask Me Nicely

By Dania Voss

She fascinates him, but he doesn’t trust her. He’s infuriatingly arrogant, but she’s attracted to him anyway.

Successful Chicago real estate developer Spencer D’Angelo will do anything for his family. Almost. When it comes to his younger sister's best friend, curvy blonde bombshell Harper Mitchell, all bets are off. Spencer is inexplicably drawn to Harper, but he’s never trusted her. His family adores her, but things just don’t add up.

A California native, Harper unexpectedly finds herself jobless and homeless after the Feds raid the real estate firm she’s been working for. When her bestie’s brother, Spencer, the sexy, arrogant Italian who’s starred in countless late-night fantasies begrudgingly offers her a place to stay in Chicago, she jumps at the chance to escape the chaos and darkness her life has become.

Harper and Spencer have traded insults and barbs from a distance for years, but they can no longer avoid each other. As their scorching chemistry ignites, how can they continue on as the rivals they’ve always been?

Fans of Donna Michaels and Jennifer Probst will love this frenemies to lovers steamy romance.

Grab your copy today and find out what happens when Harper’s secrets finally catch up with her.

Trigger warning for mentions of alleged child sexual assault, mentions of suicide, and attempted sexual assault on-page.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dania Voss
• Release date: Dec 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9798985260519

Dania Voss

Int'l bestseller and award winning author Dania Voss writes compelling, sexy romance with personality, heat, and heart. Born in Rome, Italy and raised in Chicagoland, she uses her background to create stories with authentic, engaging characters. A favorite with romance readers, her debut novel “On The Ropes,” the first in her Windy City Nights series, became an international bestseller.The second and third installments in the Windy City Nights series, “The Warriors' Whisper” and "Hannah's Bliss" received 5-star reviews from Readers’ Favorite ®. "Hannah's Bliss" was voted April 2019’s Book Of The Month at The TBR Pile. All three novels in the series were designated as Recommended Reads in the 2019 Author Shout Reader Ready Awards. “Hannah’s Bliss” earned an award in the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America’s 2020 International Digital Awards contest, and won 1st place in the 2021 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards (NERFA), in the Erotic Romance category. Dania has also contributed stories to multiple romance anthology collections.Dania’s work has been highlighted on NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX, and she has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Southern Writers Magazine, and Chicago Entrepreneurs Magazine (selected as the #8 Top Chicago Author in 2021). The Windy City Nights series is going to the moon in 2022, as part of the Writers on the Moon project.When she’s not writing, you can find Dania at a sporting event, a rock concert, or at the movies (usually a comedy).

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Harper Mitchell admired the fragrant multi-colored bouquet taking up a large portion of her desk. The San Diego early morning sun filtered through the window of her luxurious office at Harris Properties, Incorporated, creating a glistening display as it struck the cut crystal vase that held her birthday surprise. Her thirtieth birthday. A milestone birthday. One of many milestones her late grandmother would miss, having passed away a little over a year ago.

Harper attempted to ignore the familiar ache that had taken up residence in her heart when she thought of her Grandma Nancy. They’d shared twenty-nine wonderful years together. She was more than grateful for their time together. Blessed. Even more grateful that her grandmother had stepped up and assumed guardianship of her at the age of fourteen when Harper’s own mother took her despicable, perverted stepfather’s side over her own child’s. Her only child. At times, she still couldn’t believe it had happened. And Harper would have never considered treating her own child the way her mother had treated her.

The incident had destroyed the tiny shred of a relationship she and her grandmother Nancy had left with Harper’s mother after her father’s passing five years earlier, when Harper was nine years old. By the time Harper had turned ten, Harper’s mother Donna had chosen the easier path in the form of wealthy, but deplorable businessman, Trevor Moore, after barely grieving the loss of Harper’s father. It had been shameful. Harper doubted she’d ever be able to forgive her mother for her behavior.

The only saving grace of Donna and Trevor’s union was Trevor’s son, Nathan. Ten years Harper’s senior, Nate had taken his responsibilities as her big brother seriously. So much so, Nate had never doubted her version of the events that had driven Harper to move out of Trevor’s mansion and in with her Grandma Nancy. Nate was a good man. Decent. Hard working. Trustworthy. Nothing like his father. Harper was thankful to have him as a close friend years later.

Detesting the direction her thoughts had taken, Harper turned back to the colorful blooms – pink, yellow, white, and red roses amid splashes of lavender, bright orange, and hot pink from the multitude of Peruvian lily stems. The fragrant cloud in an assortment of hues was tied together by white baby’s breath and assorted accent greenery. Her lips twitched into a small smile. Her birthday surprise was breathtaking and unexpected, and she adored the two women who’d remembered her from halfway across the country in Chicago. God, she missed them.

Harper quickly dialed her Yale sorority sister, Ariana D’Angelo Williams. They’d conference in their other Yale partner in crime Bethany Emmerson once she had Ariana on the line.

Ariana picked up after the second ring. Hey there, birthday girl. Let me get Bethany.

Harper inhaled the sweet scent of her birthday blossoms while she waited for Bethany.

Happy birthday, Harp. We miss you something awful. Bethany’s jovial greeting surprised Harper considering Bethany was eight months pregnant with twin boys. Harper and Ariana were both anxious to meet their little nephews in the coming weeks.

I miss you both, so much. This arrangement is gorgeous, but you shouldn’t have. Harper leaned back in her executive leather chair, making herself comfortable, ready to enjoy a much-needed gabfest with her best friends. Her spirit sisters.

Are you kidding? It’s the least we could do. You’re the last one in our trio to turn thirty. Ariana’s smile came through loud and clear over the phone.

"What we need is in-person friend time. I’m too huge to travel right now, but it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other." Bethany sighed.

"Hey, you are not huge." Ariana assured Bethany.

Don’t you dare say that. Your job is to stay healthy and grow our nephews. You’re almost there. The familiar pang of envy threatened to rise, and Harper suppressed it.

Both Ariana and Bethany were happily married, and Harper was now thirty and single with no current prospects.

She didn’t need a man, and with her trust issues, thanks to her stepfather, she’d kept her romantic entanglements to a minimum over the years. She couldn’t help wanting someone special in her life though, like her friends had. Someone to share her life with. Companionship. Intimacy. Unconditional support and – dare she hope – love. Maybe soon love will find me. I deserve to be happy professionally and personally.

I know! Why not come to Chicago this weekend so we can celebrate in style? It’s only Tuesday, you should be able to get a good deal on airfare. Ariana’s enthusiasm came bounding over the line.

Bethany gasped. Yes! Great idea, Ariana.

Harper didn’t hate the idea and it had been too long since she’d seen her friends. San Diego sometimes seemed like it was a million miles away from Chicago. She silently vowed to make more of an effort to spend quality, in-person time with her friends from now on. Bethany was right.

It’s the third week in June. What’s the snow situation like, Harper teased her friends. Although she knew the weather in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs where both Ariana and Bethany lived usually endured a fair amount of snow and below zero temperatures every winter, she also knew in late June, the weather was pleasant. She just couldn’t resist ribbing them about Chicago’s unpredictable weather.

Bethany scoffed. Please.

Ariana chuckled. Smart ass. You know damn well we don’t have snow now. It’s been unseasonably warm, if you must know. You’re just soft, California dweller.

It was Harper’s turn to chuckle. "And you’re just jealous of this California girl. Admit it."

Only in January and February, Ariana countered.

No kidding, Bethany concurred.

So back to your birthday. Get a flight that arrives Friday night. You can stay with me and Tyler for the weekend. We’re going to have such a great time, Ariana said, excitement laced in her voice.

Harper stayed with you the last time. She should stay with me and Thomas, Bethany suggested instead.

Harper’s heart warmed at the affection and enthusiasm her friends showered her with. Her spirits lifted. She was liking this birthday trip idea more and more.

She rolled her eyes. Look, no need to fight over me, ladies. Flip a coin or something and I’ll stay with whoever wins.

Yay! Let Ariana and I fight over where you’ll stay. Just get your butt to Chicago Friday night.

"But today’s your birthday. I hate that you’re alone."

Harper appreciated Ariana’s concern. She didn’t consider her mother and her stepfather true family any longer, but she wasn’t completely alone, even though her grandmother was now gone.

I’m meeting Nate for dinner tonight at Fleming’s, so no worries, all right?

Nate had made reservations for them at the upscale steakhouse weeks before. It had become a favorite of theirs over the years. She looked forward to spending time with him. He worked far too many hours, and she worried about him.

Oh, my God! That thirty-five-ounce Tomahawk steak and their au gratin potatoes are to die for. Bethany’s praise wasn’t surprising. The award-winning restaurant chain was well regarded and poor Bethany was now eating for three.

I feel better now, knowing you have plans, Ariana began, have you heard from your mother and the asshole?

A smile tugged at Harper’s lips. By unspoken agreement, the three of them never mentioned her stepfather by name. How they referred to him varied – asshole, dickhead, pervert, scumbag, fuckbrain, fuckhead. The list was endless. They even challenged each other to dream up new names for the vile piece of shit. Ariana and Bethany were two of the handful of people Harper had told about the traumatic events of that fateful evening with her stepfather. They, as well as Nate, her grandmother, and Alexander Harris believed her without question. It brought her a small measure of comfort.

Thankfully, she hadn’t heard from her mother and stepfather, but the day was young. She dreaded the eventual contact, but she’d get through it as quickly as possible. Instinctively, she rubbed her right forearm. The healed, thin, white scars were barely visible now, but they served as a permanent reminder of how Harper had emotionally lost her mother not long after her father had passed away, and her mother had gotten tangled up with Trevor Moore.

"Not so far, but I’m sure I will. It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine." Harper assured her friends.

Commotion from the hallway drew her attention away from her phone call. What the hell? Only she, Alexander and two real estate agents were currently in the office.

What’s going on over there, Ariana asked.

I’m not sure. With a knot forming in Harper’s stomach, she cautiously approached her office door to investigate. Feeling uneasy, she glanced down the hallway toward the office entrance and her jaw dropped.

FBI agents, some dressed in plain clothes wearing navy blue jackets with FBI emblazoned on their backs and others wearing Kevlar vests, also displaying those three imposing letters on their chests, and carrying assault weapons, were storming into Alexander’s corporate offices.

Harper’s gut clenched, and an icy chill ran down her spine. Oh, my God. The FBI is raiding our office.

What? The FBI? Why? Bethany’s surprise and confusion matched Harper’s, and she trembled, unsure of what to do. She needed to speak with Alexander. He would know what was going on and what to do. The raid had to be a mistake. There was no other explanation.

What the fuck have you gotten yourself in to, Harper? Harper startled, taking a moment to register who was cussing her out. Spencer D’Angelo, Ariana’s older brother. He had never liked her and for the life of her, she didn’t know why. And because of his animosity toward her, she disliked him right back.

Unfortunately for Harper, her traitorous body hadn’t received the memo. Spencer’s deep, confident, arrogant tone never failed to arouse her. Heat consumed her, pulsing through her veins at the most inopportune moment.

"I haven’t done anything wrong Spence," Harper shot back. Why had Ariana gotten Spencer? The situation, although not her fault, wouldn’t do anything to improve his opinion of her. Not that she cared what Spencer thought of her. Not very much.

"It’s Spencer for fuck’s sake."

Harper knew what his name was. It bothered him when she called him Spence – so she did and had for years, just to mess with him. Cocky, egotistical, sexy Italian. Lust and frustration warred inside her. Get it together, Harper. We don’t even like each other. And now is not the time.

"Smettila di ensure un tale stronzo. La scavengeries," Ariana scolded her brother.

Agents carried laptops and files out of Alexander’s office. This was actually happening. The Feds were raiding their office. But why? Harper managed Alexander’s office and business operations. An economics major and Yale MBA, she knew without a shadow of a doubt, the company was solid. She hadn’t uncovered anything shady or suspect in the six years she’d been working there.

Business was good. Very good. The firm managed a large number of luxury rental properties, in addition to owning quite a few outright. Alexander