One More Chance - Malone M(ang.)

table of contents Authors Note Back Cover Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Excerpt of Just One Thing Books by M. Malone About the Author Copyright

Authors Note

This novella is a companion piece to Just One Thing, the sixth book in The Alexanders series by M. Malone. It is not intended as a standalone read. Jackson and Ridley’s story starts in the international bestselling book One More Day. Go to minxmalone.com/onemoreday to find out more.

ONE MORE CHANCE (a Jackson + Ridley novella) All Ridley Alexander has ever wanted is the life she has now: a devoted husband, children to love and a home of her own. So what’s the problem? While pregnant she’s gained a lot of weight and her usually insatiable husband is suddenly interested in anything but seeing her naked. As much as it hurts, all she needs is for Jackson to pretend that he finds her as sexy as he used to, even if it’s not true. Now with a little advice from her meddlesome twin, she has a plan to seduce her own husband. This novella is a companion piece to JUST ONE THING, the sixth book in The Alexanders series by M. Malone. * * Join my VIP list for bonus content & FREE books! * *

chapter one

♥ “Ok, what’s wrong with you?” Ridley Wells Alexander looked up from the bowl of triple fudge brownies she was currently mixing. “What do you mean? Nothing’s wrong.” Her twin sister yanked the bowl out of her arms. “If you beat that batter any harder it’s going to file a restraining order against you.” Ridley scowled. She couldn’t even blame all the changes of the past few years for her sister’s dramatics. Getting married and having a baby hadn’t changed Raina in the least. She was just as meddlesome and overly dramatic as always. She was also Ri’s very best friend. “I’m just frustrated.”

Raina carefully tipped the bowl and filled the clear glass baking dish on the counter with the decadent chocolate batter. As per their usual routine, she handed Ridley the spoon to lick while she swiped a finger through the batter left in the bowl. Ridley moaned as the chocolate hit her taste buds. When she looked over at her sister, Raina was watching her with a horrified expression. “What?” she asked, uncharacteristically annoyed. She was always the easygoing twin but it had been harder and harder lately to keep a smile on her face. “Nothing. I just wasn’t expecting you to make out with the spoon,” Raina joked. “Do I need to have a talk with my brother-in-law about how to keep the home fires burning?” Silence fell over the room as thick as a blanket. Ridley carefully set the spoon down on the counter, not even bothering to lick the rest of the batter off. Her appetite was gone. Raina watched her curiously as she put the bowl in the sink. “I was just kidding, Ri. I wasn’t trying to upset you. Considering how the two of you go at it, clearly Jackson doesn’t need any help.” Ridley shrugged. “Lately he does,” she muttered. “Holy crap. You’re serious aren’t you?” Raina’s mouth fell open.

“Please don’t make fun, Ray. I just can’t… not about this.” Ri knew her sister never meant any harm, it was just her nature to mock everything. She’d always claimed “bitchy” was her native language. But this was too close to home for her to take a joke. It was too close to her heart. “Oh honey!” Raina pulled her into a hug. “I would never make fun about … well, about that. I was just shocked. I’m used to the two of you being all over each other, that’s all. But it’s normal for things to slow down. No one goes through years of marriage getting freaky on a daily basis.” Silence settled between them. Ridley closed her eyes, humiliation burning through her like wildfire with what she was about to admit. As usual, Raina sensed how upset she was instantly. She led her over to the kitchen table and pulled out two chairs. Ridley sat and kept her eyes on the floor. She jumped when a warm hand settled over hers. When she looked up, Raina’s eyes were soft but understanding. “What’s going on, baby girl?” Immediately tears welled. Hearing that soft understanding voice from her sister who was usually joking around or being snarky was the last straw. She’d been strong for months. Ridley didn’t have any strength left. “It’s been three months, Raina. He hasn’t touched me since I really started showing. I

guess I’m lucky this is my first baby and I didn’t pop out right away.” The shocked intake of breath was the only indication that Raina heard her. The hand covering hers tightened. “Well, then … well.” Ri sighed. “I know. That’s really bad. He’s probably getting it somewhere else!” “No, no. We’re not going to do that.” Raina leaned over and brushed away the tears on her cheeks. “Jackson loves you and he would never do that to you. I’ve always been the crazy twin so you don’t get to take on that role even if you’re knocked up.” Ri chuckled softly even as her head started hurting. She’d been crying so much lately that it felt like she had a permanent headache. “Mommy? Why are you crying?” Her stepson, Jase, appeared at her side. His hand rubbed over her baby bump. “Is our baby making you sick? Maybe you need the ginga ale again?” Ridley smiled at his attempt to say ginger ale. He’d seen Jackson pour her a glass enough times to know it was one of the only things she could keep down when she felt sick. Her other stepson, Chris, appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, his dark eyes worried. Raina held out her arms to him and he ran over, immediately snuggling

into her embrace. He peeked over at her hesitantly. “What’s wrong, Mom?” Unlike Jase, it had taken Chris a little while to adjust to calling her Mom. Sensitive and cautious by nature, she suspected he’d been afraid to call her that. After all, the only thing he’d known about mothers for years was that his had died. The day he’d called her that spontaneously was one of the best of her life. Raina kissed him on top of his head. “Sometimes women cry, my sweet boy. The sooner you learn that, the better.” Ridley shook her head. “I’m fine, sweetie. You know I cry at everything these days.” Jase patted her cheek until she looked down at him. He puckered his lips and gave her a little kiss. “Love you, Mommy.” “I love you too, sweetie.” She let out a little sigh and squeezed him extra tight. She loved her life and her amazing new family. Nothing would hurt her more than losing them. That’s why she had to figure out what was wrong with her husband. After the boys ran off to play with the new video game system their Uncle Nick had just bought, Ridley looked up to find her sister watching her with narrowed eyes. “What’s that look?” Raina glanced over her shoulder

before answering. “This situation cannot continue. We have to do something.” Suddenly she was ashamed that she’d spilled such intimate details. If Jackson was telling people these sorts of things she’d be mortified. What was between them was private. It was something they would have to work out together. It wasn’t his fault if he didn’t find her pregnant body sexy. He was probably trying not to hurt her feelings by commenting on the weight she’d gained. He knew she was sensitive about it. It just seemed so unfair that her twin hadn’t gained very much and she felt like such a cow. Then again, Raina had always kept her weight low from her years modeling while Ridley loved to cook. And the evidence was on her hips and thighs. “Never mind, Ray. I shouldn’t have even said anything.” “Screw that! This is war. What he’s doing is just… it’s cruel. If your libido is anything like mine, you want it now more than ever. He needs to be taking care of you in every way.” Her face burned at her sister’s frank talk. “Raina, this is ridiculous. I’m hardly going to force him to … do it.” Raina got up and walked out of the kitchen. Puzzled, Ri was about to go after her when the timer went off for the brownies. They’d cooled and she was cutting the first piece by the time

Raina came back carrying a small cardboard box. “Found it. Everything you need to fix this is in this box.” Munching on the chewy brownie, she leaned over and peered into the box. Lace in every color of the rainbow was jumbled together in a heap. “Raina, I couldn’t fit into that expensive lingerie you buy even when I wasn’t carrying forty pounds of baby weight.” “It’s pregnancy lingerie. It’s designed to highlight and conceal all the appropriate areas. I did some pregnancy modeling, remember? Whoo, you don’t even want to know how crazy Nick went for some of this stuff.” Normally she would be mortified at hearing anything about her brother-in-laws preferences in the lingerie department. But in this particular case, she could only hope his brother shared his interests. “I’m not sure I can pull this off. You know how to be a sexpot. I don’t. I just don’t … feel sexy anymore.” Raina smirked. “Trust me, it’s all in the attitude you project. Pretend you feel hot and you will be. All you have to do is wear something skimpy, give him the look and you’re in business. Men are simple and they can’t say no to sex.” Ri couldn’t help laughing at that.

“Way to generalize, sis.” “Am I wrong?” Ridley sighed. “I guess not. Ok, show me what we’ve got.”

♥ Ridley pulled out a box of pasta and a jar of canned sauce. Gone were the days when she had the energy to cook everything from scratch. Her shoulders drooped. Honestly, they'd been ordering out an awful lot lately since she hadn't felt up to cooking. But since Raina had offered to keep the boys for a while, she could at least make dinner before she attempted to twist herself into one of the lace nightmares in Raina's box of horrors. She glanced over at the box sitting on the floor next to the couch. Taking it upstairs and out of sight would have required energy she simply didn't have so she'd settled for draping a throw blanket over it. Jackson would have laughed but it seemed a little inappropriate to have racy lingerie just sitting out in plain view. Even though there was no one there but her. Ridley had to laugh at herself. She looked in the refrigerator again and noticed they didn't have shredded cheese. She could always shred some but how long would that take? Her feet were starting to hurt and it was going

to take her awhile to get cleaned up and into the lingerie. With a sigh, she gave up and pulled open the freezer. Her mother-in-law kept them stocked with casseroles so she could always just reheat one of those. Thank God for Julia, she thought. Once a chicken casserole was in the oven, Ridley made her way upstairs. She set the box on the bed and then went into the ensuite bathroom to start the tub. After a nice relaxing bath and then putting on her favorite scented body lotion, she would be set. Maybe some of the issue was that she hadn't had the energy to primp much lately. She had one particular body lotion Jackson used to go crazy for but she hadn't used it in a while. Ridley smiled. Perhaps Raina was right. She just needed to feel sexy again and then they'd be back on the horse. She took off her clothes, making sure not to look at herself in the mirror, and stepped into the bath. The water wasn’t as warm as she’d like, one more thing she’d had to give up with pregnancy, but the scent of the body oil she'd drizzled over the water wafted up to her nose, wrapping her in a soft, inviting haze. Ridley couldn't hold back a little moan when the water rose up to her neck. She lifted her foot, trailing her toe over the tub spigot. It was so nice to get off her feet and relax. She took her time, washing with her

loofah sponge and then got out and slathered her entire body in the vanilla scented lotion Jackson loved. Then she walked in her bedroom, eyeing the box on the bed like it was filled with poisonous snakes. It was time. The first thing she pulled out had so many snaps and ribbons that Ridley wasn’t entirely sure how to put it on. She set that one aside. The next was fire engine red and although it would look great on her skin tone, she wasn’t sure she had the confidence to carry off red right then. Baby steps. Let’s start slow, she thought. When she saw the petal pink babydoll, she smiled. It was a little sweeter than she’d expect her sister to go for so it must have been something that was sent to her. Raina was always getting sample clothes from designers hoping she’d highlight them on her fashion blog. It was a nice perk but usually wasn’t something that benefited Ridley since she and her sister had completely opposite taste in clothes. But it was coming in handy now. She pulled the babydoll over her head and it floated down around her in a cloud of lace and silk. Her hands trailed over the smooth fabric, positioning the cups over her now full breasts. It highlighted her new cleavage perfectly and

skimmed over her round baby bump. It was also way more comfortable than she’d expected. She went into the bathroom to see how it looked in the full-length mirror. “Wow. I look hot.” Ridley turned to see the back of the gown and almost choked. Somehow she’d missed that the back of it was completely sheer so her bare bottom was on display. “Jackson is definitely going to like this one.” Her husband had always been crazy for her bottom and this sheer nightie was definitely catering to that. It was nice to feel sexy so Ridley used her newfound energy to style her hair into a side part and pulled the top part up into a ponytail so her curls cascaded over her shoulders saucily. Then she put on a little mascara and a soft pink lipstick. When she was done, she grinned at her reflection. She was definitely getting some tonight! After cleaning up the bathroom, Ridley decided to wait for Jackson in the bed. She felt weird going downstairs dressed like this, even if she had a robe on, plus if they were going to end up in the bedroom anyway, why bother? She pulled the covers back and let out a little sigh when she got off her feet. Everything

exhausted her lately and all that primping had taken longer than she’d expected. Fifteen minutes went by and Ridley glanced at her cell phone. Jackson should be home soon. That was the last thing she remembered before she fell asleep.

chapter two

♥ Jackson Alexander couldn’t concentrate. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind so he could focus and get out of the office at a decent hour. There were quite a few outstanding projects that needed his attention and he couldn’t afford to slack. He needed to do as much as possible before the baby came. Last time he hadn’t helped his late wife, Cynthia, as much as he should have. It was still a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that he’d let down a woman he’d loved. But it gave him the determination to change. This time he was going to get it right. Somehow he’d managed to convince the best woman in the world to take a chance on

him. Ridley was his perfect match and he wasn’t going to do anything to screw it up. Even if it meant driving himself crazy in the process. His production assistant, Michael MacCrane laughed out loud, drawing Jackson’s attention. “I haven’t seen you like this since Ridley first came to town. It’s nice to see true love still exists. For the rest of us out here, it’s proof that we’re not just going on all these bad blind dates for nothing. You give me hope, man.” Jackson accepted the other man’s teasing with a little smile. He knew his friend meant well and couldn’t know how conflicted Jackson was underneath. Although he was happy to let Mac think his preoccupied state was due to delirious happiness, it was really a combination of worry and fear. His wife wasn’t happy and he was entirely to blame for it. Ridley would never tell him she wasn’t happy. She was the sweetest thing and always more concerned about the happiness of others than herself. But a few months ago, after he’d been particularly… demanding in the bedroom, he’d noticed the change. She was tired all the time and he’d seen her wince when putting her bra on. His older brother, Nick, had loaned him a pregnancy book and he’d read all about how

a woman’s breasts became sore and tender. Jackson ran a hand over his hair, grimacing when he remembered how much attention he’d paid to the breasts in question. No wonder she’d looked so miserable the next day. She was too nice to tell her beast of a husband when he was hurting her. “It’s definitely worth it. Although I’d probably avoid too many of the blind dates. After all, I found my lady when I wasn’t looking. Maybe you will, too.” Mac nodded. “Sounds like good advice to me. I’m tired of looking. Maybe I’ll just hang out in my backyard and hope a beautiful girl comes along since it worked for you.” They worked in tandem to clear his schedule so he didn’t have to work over the weekend. His friend’s skills had really improved over the years and Jackson hadn’t hesitated to give him more responsibility and a few independent projects to produce on his own. Although he’d gotten some fame in recent years as a performer, Jackson would never forget that his talent as a producer was his bread and butter. He’d garnered professional respect and acclaim for his production skills and he was happy to have someone to share his knowledge with. By the time he locked up his studio and waved goodbye to Mac, Jackson was in a much better frame of mind. Work was one of the only

things that could take him away from his problems and he’d relied on it more and more lately to keep him from spending too much time at home and annoying his wife. Ten minutes later, he pulled his car into the garage and grabbed the backpack on the passenger seat. He’d brought home his laptop and a few marketing materials he needed to approve for his sister-in-law’s EP. Kaylee was a talented singer and Jackson was honored to be producing her album and singing on one of the tracks with her. She’d be really excited when he showed her what the independent marketing firm he’d hired had come up with for her album cover. As soon as he opened the door that led into the kitchen, the smell of smoke assaulted him. Panicked, Jackson dropped his bag and ran into the kitchen. Black smoke billowed from the oven. “Oh shit!” He stumbled across the room to grab the fire extinguisher from the pantry. After turning off the oven, he opened the door and then jumped back as the flames roared out. Pointing the fire extinguisher, he squeezed the trigger and prayed he was spraying the right place since he could barely see. By the time the flames stopped, he was sweating and shaking and completely terrified. Where were Ridley and the kids? “Ridley? Chris? Jase?” He opened all

the windows in the kitchen to let out the smoke and then poked his head into the family room. It was quiet on this level. He walked up the stairs and noticed the light in the master bedroom. “Ridley? Baby are you okay?” He skidded to a stop inside the doorway when he saw Ridley asleep on the bed. She was curled up on top of the comforter with her head pillowed on her arm. She also looked like sex personified. Jackson groaned as his entire body tightened. What the hell? Ridley’s lush body was covered with some pink and lace night gown that looked like it had been designed specifically to make any man who saw it lose IQ points. Add to that the effect of her curly hair framing her face and all the cleavage revealed by the deep cut of the gown and he was fighting a losing battle. He clenched his fists. She was perfect and looked completely… fuckable. There was no other way to describe it and it was killing him. Ridley chose that moment to wake up. Her lashes fluttered and she let out a soft little sigh that he felt right in his dick. God, what was that slick pink stuff on her lips? It made him think about those full lips wrapped around… Fuck. He had to control himself. He couldn’t just maul her like a wild animal. “What the hell is going on?”

It came out a little more harshly than he intended and Ridley jumped. She glanced around frantically and only calmed when she realized it was him. “Jackson, you’re home. When did you get here?” Then she looked down at what she was wearing and blushed a pink that turned him on fiercely. “I just got here and the kitchen was on fire. What is going on? And what the hell are you wearing?” Ridley grabbed the sheet and wrapped it around her, which didn’t help his unrelenting erection much. It would probably help more if she put the sheet over him. Ridley could look sexy in anything. “Nothing. I was just… nothing.” Her face crumpled and she ran into the bathroom, the door slamming behind her. Perplexed, Jackson followed her until he heard something that nearly took him to his knees. Crying.

♥ An hour later, Ridley still hadn’t come out of the bathroom. Nick had shown up with the boys so he figured they’d been spending time with

their aunt and uncle while Ridley had been at home wearing sexy lingerie and almost burning the house down. What he couldn’t figure out was why? Was she trying to make it harder for him to stay away from her? Then it hit him. She was no doubt worried that if he wasn’t getting sex at home that he was getting it somewhere else. There were plenty of men who used a dry spell at home as an excuse to go out and screw anything in a skirt and even though he knew Ridley trusted him, she was still pregnant and hormonal. She was probably worrying herself sick about whether he was tempted. He didn’t even want to tackle opening the oven yet, so he microwaved some frozen chicken fingers for the boys and listened to their stories about Uncle Nick’s new game system. Ridley walked by while he was supervising shower time but he didn’t try to talk to her then. It wasn’t until after he’d gotten both boys tucked into bed that she appeared in the doorway to their room. He watched as she gave them both hugs and kisses. Out in the hallway, he took her hand. “Hey, can we talk?” She didn’t look enthusiastic about it but followed him to their room. He closed the door behind them, trying to collect his thoughts. There was certainly no delicate way to tell his wife that he

wasn’t cheating and never would. “About earlier, when you were wearing the … night gown. You don’t have to do that. I mean, you’re probably worried that I’m getting … that… elsewhere. But I’m not. Getting that anywhere else. I would never do that to you so you don’t have to wear that stuff or whatever.” She lay down on her side and closed her eyes. The dark shadows under her eyes had only gotten more pronounced over the last few weeks. His worry for her was like a constant companion. She was only getting more absentminded and tired. He was trying to do the right thing and take care of her instead of mauling her like a horny bastard. He thought he'd been prepared for how beautiful she'd be pregnant since he saw his sisterin-law go through it but he'd been taken off guard by how much he wanted her. “I’m sorry about the kitchen. The oven is probably ruined,” she whispered. Relief swept through him. She was just worried about the damage to the kitchen. “Don’t worry about that. It’s time for a new oven anyway.” Her eyes narrowed and he thought she was going to call him out on the obvious lie. Even though he’d reassured Ridley many times that he was a wealthy man and could afford to buy her

whatever she wanted, he’d noticed she was still very frugal and rarely asked for any extravagances. As such, he’d made it a personal mission to spoil her whenever possible. He should have known she’d be worried about the cost of kitchen renovations. But that was a concern they could take care of tomorrow. His immediate concern was taking the haunted look from her eyes. “Now do you need anything? Food, water, maybe a foot rub?” Ridley swallowed a few times and wouldn’t look at him. When she swiped at her cheeks, he knelt on the floor in front of her. Her eyes were red and slightly swollen and it crushed him to see her looking so sad. “What is it, baby? Tell me what's upset you. I only want to give you what you need.” Her eyes stayed on the wall behind him. “Can we just go to sleep? I’m so tired.” There was something he was missing. Something big. But he honestly couldn’t imagine what it was so he did the only thing he could. Gave her what she asked for. But it was a long time before he fell asleep and when he dreamed it was of falling off a cliff onto the jagged rocks below.

chapter three

♥ Ridley had been so preoccupied lately that she forgot it was time for Girl’s Night, her group of friend’s monthly gathering to catch up, hang out and talk about their men. It was a welcome distraction to plan the menu and she even bust out the bottle of tequila she hadn’t touched since she’d gotten pregnant to make margaritas. Her future sister-in-law Kaylee arrived first with her best friend, Sasha, in tow. Both were singers and had been friends since childhood. Over the years, Ri had gotten to know Sasha quite well, too. “Oh my god! Look at you!” Sasha embraced her gently. “You’re about to pop!” Ridley rubbed her belly. “It feels like

it, too.” Kaylee led her toward the sofa. “You need to put your feet up. We can handle letting everyone in.” Grateful, Ri allowed them to tuck her into a corner of the couch, her eyes tearing up slightly when Sasha rushed over with a throw blanket to cover her legs. “You guys are the best,” she whispered. Kaylee peered down at her with concern in her eyes. “Is everything okay, Ri?” But just then the door opened again and she heard the voice of her friend Penny and then the extremely loud voice of Raina. Ridley sighed. “I’m fine. Just tired and wishing I could have a margarita.” Kay gave her a sympathetic look. But just then they heard Raina’s voice calling out again. “Ri! Where’s Ri?” When the crowd parted so she could see her sister, Raina bounced up and down in excitement. “I just got a major campaign! The first since I had the baby!” A cheer went up from the others and Ri held out her arms. Raina dropped down on the couch next to her and hugged her. “Congratulations, sis. I’m so proud of you.” Raina shrugged but Ri could tell she

was just bursting with excitement. “Maybe I really can have it all. Nick, a family and my career. It feels too good to be true.” She stood. “I need a drink. Ooh you made margaritas!” When Raina walked to the kitchen, Ridley’s neighbor and good friend Katie Mason sat in her place. Ridley observed her silently. One of the things Ridley loved the most was matchmaking. Despite everyone else’s claims that she was “meddling” she’d done a pretty fine job of matching couples so far. When Nick and Raina were still dancing around each other, she’d told her brother-in-law that her sister longed for a baby, knowing that he wouldn’t want anyone else fathering her children. Now they were happily married. When Kaylee had still been too nervous to talk to her brother-in-law Elliott, Ridley had come up with a way to force the two together. She’d been asked to schedule a small gig for Kay and instead of booking an extra room for Eli, who was coming along as her security, Ridley had made sure to only book one. Now they were engaged. So when she’d seen the way Katie looked at the oldest Alexander brother, she’d hoped that her matchmaking luck would hold out once again. She’d gotten her friend a job assisting Bennett in his lab but if the sad look on Katie’s face

was any indication, things weren’t working out so well. Katie sighed and peered down at the drink in her hand. It was still full. “You’re not drinking. Is it too strong?” Ridley asked. “I probably overdid it. Since I can’t have alcohol anymore, I had to guess at how much tequila to add.” Katie smiled but Ri could tell it wasn’t genuine. “No, the drink is fine. I’m just daydreaming.” “Are the kids okay?” Ridley pressed. “Oh yeah. They’re fine. Mrs. Hillard is babysitting tonight and she brought her grandson Carter along again. They always have a good time when she babysits so it’s not that.” “But it is something,” Ridley argued, her eyes narrowing. Kaylee plopped down on the couch beside Katie. “You might as well just tell her. You know how she gets.” The whole group laughed and Ridley flushed. What did that mean? Raina patted her hand. “You know it’s true, Ri. You’re not happy unless you’re meddling.” Kaylee covered her mouth with her hand she was laughing so hard. “You’d better watch out. If she thinks you’re not moving fast enough, you’ll end up booked into a hotel with

Bennett.” “That was an accident I swear,” Ridley lied. It wasn’t that bad, was it? When she’d done it for their own good? Kay didn’t look convinced. “I think your brain does matchmaking subconsciously.” “I’m just concerned for my friends. I want you all to be happy, that’s all.” Suddenly Ri was extremely tired. Was she really so annoying to everyone? Maybe she just thought she was helping. Obviously it wouldn’t be the first time when she’d read a situation wrong. Katie seemed to sense that she was upset because she smiled. “I know you do, Ri. I’m happy. I’m just… confused. Okay, here’s the thing.” She took a deep breath, like she was gathering her courage. “You know how Bennett and I have been dating, right?” “Uh huh. Things seem to be going well. Julia’s thrilled about it, you know.” Katie winced. “I’d hate for her to get her hopes up. Especially since it’s probably already over.” Ridley paused. “Whoa. What does that mean?” “You know how Bennett originally wanted me to help him so he could impress his friend Olivia?” Everyone nodded agreement. Ri

wasn’t sure how the others had heard the story but it was pretty much impossible to keep anything a secret in the Alexander family. “Well, apparently even though we’re together, Bennett is still going on a date with Olivia.” Ridley immediately started to shake her head. “Wait, what? Bennett wouldn’t do that!” “Oh I didn’t think so either. So I asked him point blank and he said he couldn’t cancel on her so close to the event. That it was rude. The man who would barely say hello to his neighbors is worried about being rude.” “That’s crazy. I can’t believe Bennett said that. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind the next time I see him.” Ridley was going to strangle her brother-in-law. Here she was going through all this trouble to find him his perfect match and he was jacking it up! Who went on a date with another woman when they had a girlfriend? Bennett was brilliant but completely clueless socially, everyone knew that, but even he should know better. “No, I don’t want that. He should be with me because he wants to be. Not because he’s afraid of his sister-in-law.” “He’s not afraid of me,” Ridley protested. Raina looked at her twin from the

corner of her eye. “Um, you haven’t seen you when you’re on a tear. You’re pretty scary.” Kaylee got up and came back with the pitcher of margaritas. Without asking she refilled Katie’s cup. “This sucks. I still think we should go kick his ass. Why do men have to be such idiots?” Soon the room was a chorus of voices, all talking about the dumb things their men had done. Ridley sank back into the cushion of the couch, wishing desperately that she could chime in and ask for advice. But she’d already done that once and look at what had happened. She hadn’t had the heart to tell Raina that her seduction plan had backfired so spectacularly. It would only make her sister feel sorry for her and Ri didn’t want that. No, she didn’t want anyone’s pity. She just wanted her husband to want her again.

♥ Ridley closed the door behind Kaylee and Sasha gently, who’d stayed behind to clean up. It had been so much fun hanging out with her friends. She rotated her neck. Fun but exhausting. Not that she minded. At least it took her mind off her problems.

Before she even got out of the entryway, the door opened again and Jackson stepped inside. As usual, her heart rate picked up as soon as she saw him. Even after several years together, she still got breathless at the thought that this incredible man was actually hers. Then she remembered how awkward things had been since the night she’d started calling The Great Lingerie Fail. They’d been dancing around the topic for days, each pretending nothing was wrong. She wasn’t sure how long they could go on like this. “Hey baby. Everything okay?” Jackson glanced behind her curiously. “Oh yeah, I’m fine. I was just daydreaming. The girls just left.” He kissed her forehead and Ridley sighed. It was such a small thing but after how tense things had been lately, it was heaven to feel like things were okay again. “Where are the kids?” she asked. Whenever she had Girl’s Night, Jackson took the kids out for ice cream and a movie or to his parents’ house. “At Mom and Dad’s,” he answered. “They fell asleep playing in their room so Mom told me to let them sleep over. I think she’s just happy for any excuse to use the bunk beds she bought them.” He hung his coat absently on the hook

by the door and then walked to the kitchen. Ridley was about to follow when his coat fell off the hook. Luckily she was standing so close to it that she caught it. It was a good thing too since she hadn’t been able to bend over in ages. Ridley rubbed her belly absently as she hung the coat back on the hook. It would be awesome when she could finally see her feet again. As she was hanging the coat, she noticed something white sticking out of the pocket. A business card. Don’t do it. You trust your husband. Women who trust their husbands don’t go snooping in their coats. But despite all the warnings swirling through her brain, Ridley snatched the business card. When she saw the name on it, her throat instantly went dry. She crumpled the card in her palm and then carried it to the kitchen. What was she supposed to do? Confront Jackson? But what good would that do? People who were doing things behind their spouse’s back didn’t just admit it when confronted anyway. The kitchen was empty by the time she got there, so Ridley was left alone to stew and stare at the card she’d now crumpled into a ball. It was probably for the best. Even though Jackson was just as sweet to her as ever, there was a huge difference in the way he interacted with her since

she’d gotten pregnant. At first she hadn’t thought anything of it, he’d just been more careful with her when they made love and he didn’t initiate as often. But then slowly, all the passion had disappeared and he kissed her chastely, like a distant cousin you hadn’t seen in years. Maybe that was just the reality of marriage, that her husband wouldn’t always think she was the hottest thing out there. He was damn near perfect in every other way. Was it really the worst thing if he wasn’t groping her all the time anymore? There were plenty of women who had way worse things to deal with. But did those women’s husbands have their ex-girlfriend’s number in their pocket?

chapter four

♥ The next day Ridley went to visit her mother-in-law. All she really wanted to do was stay in bed and eat cookies but she’d promised to help Julia decorate for the ladies tea she was hosting the next day. She took extra time on her makeup, trying to cover the dark circles under her eyes with concealer but it was probably for nothing. If there was anyone who could sniff out a mystery, it was Julia Alexander. The woman had radar and could tell when any of her family members needed her. Ridley definitely could use some motherly influence right about now. However when she arrived at the Alexanders’ sprawling farm, there were people running around outside and Julia was too busy to even look at Ridley directly.

Julia had her normally perfectly coiffed dark hair thrown up in a messy bun and looked harried. She sighed. At least she’d have time to get her thoughts together before Julia started asking questions. For the next hour, Ri was able to forget her own problems and just focused on helping arrange the living and dining rooms. “Just put that vase right there in the center of the table,” Julia instructed. Ri leaned over the table and then stopped short at the sharp pulling sensation in her abdomen. “Oh!” That got Julia’s attention. “Are you all right, sweetheart? Here I am running you ragged and you should be off your feet!” “No, I wanted to help. Really. It’s been fun and everything looks so pretty.” Ridley looked around at the elegantly decorated rooms. Everything was in a shade of light blue, cream or rose and the effect of the soft colors together was stunning alongside Julia’s cheerful country style. Julia took her arm and gently led her to the couch in the living room. Ridley sat gratefully but looked up in surprise when Julia sat next to her. “What’s wrong?” Uh oh, Ridley thought. Busted. As much as she wished she could confide in Julia, it was just too embarrassing to talk to her husband’s mother about intimate things.

“Nothing, I just didn’t sleep well.” “Hmm. I’d say it’s more than that. My sweet girl hasn’t had her usual sparkle lately. Which probably means my son has done something.” Ridley opened her mouth to protest but closed it when she saw Julia’s arched eyebrow. It was silly to keep pretending when anyone who looked at her could tell she didn’t look like herself. Julia rubbed her arm gently. “Mr. Alexander and I had a bit of a rough patch during my first pregnancy as well. Mark has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth, you know. He caught me eating a tray of cornbread one night and made a comment about it. That really got under my skin. I’ve never been a thin woman. Men don’t know how hurtful their little jokes can be sometimes. So I hope you can forgive him if he said something stupid.” “Oh no, he hasn’t said anything about the weight I’ve gained. I just…” “You worry that he doesn’t like it?” “Yeah.” Ridley should have known that Julia would understand. Her mother-in-law often spoke about her struggles with weight over the years. “Well, take a little advice from someone who has gone through quite a few ups and downs in a marriage. Talk to your husband.”

“I’ve tried to. But I wasn’t really sure what to say without sounding hysterical. Maybe I’m overreacting.” “Honey, if it upsets you, then he needs to know. Just be direct. No hinting. Despite what they think, men rarely understand women and they need all the help they can get. Just lay it out there.” “Okay, I’m going to do it.” “Sorry to butt in. I don’t want to be that nosy mother-in-law type but I get concerned when one of my girls doesn’t have her usual sunny smile. You and your sister are truly like the daughters I never had, you know that?” Ridley leaned over into Julia’s embrace and breathed in deep the scent of flour, sugar and sass. It was hard to feel that any situation was too dire if Julia was there. She managed to make everything seem possible even when things felt hopeless. After a moment, she peeked up at Julia. “After growing up the way we did, it’s so nice to have a mother again. You’ll never know how much you mean to the both of us. I know I speak for Raina too when I say that.” Julia wiped away tears. “Oh, now you’ve got me crying! Come here, sweet girl.” Later, once Ridley was back at home, she resolved to follow Julia’s advice to the letter. She was going to just lay it all out there and they

would have to figure it out. Jackson loved her, that was one thing she’d never doubted. Surely they could find a way to go forward that kept her from feeling completely undesirable. Maybe they could just cuddle up a bit even if they didn’t do anything else. But she couldn’t take feeling like she was on the outside looking in with her own husband anymore. She opened the door to their room and then closed it, the sounds of the kids running around downstairs muted. Jackson looked up from the tablet in his hands. “Hey, there you are. Did you have a nice time with my mom?” “I did. Everything looked so beautiful. The ladies are going to have a nice time tomorrow.” He smiled but it was an absent one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was a smile she was becoming very familiar with lately. “I wanted to talk to you about the other day.” Jackson sighed. “Me too. I feel bad about that. I hate to see you cry. I’ve been trying to come home earlier to help with the kids but it’s not enough. I’m sorry, I honestly thought that I’d do a better job being a husband the second time around.” Shocked, Ridley could only stare at him. “What? You’re an awesome husband.”

He scowled, and Ridley looked over his handsome features greedily. God, he was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him. The smooth, caramel skin coupled with the dark thickly lashed eyes that always made her feel like he could see straight through to her soul. More than that, he treated her like he wanted to see her soul. Ever since they’d met, he’d been one of the only people she’d ever felt completely comfortable being herself with, insecurities and flaws be damned. “I don’t feel too awesome when I see tears in my beautiful wife’s eyes and know that I’m not making her very happy.” Ridley started to protest but then remembered her mother-in-law’s words. If they were going to get past this, they had to stop tiptoeing around each other and really talk. “I haven’t been very happy lately and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. But I don’t want you to think that you’re not a great husband, because you are. You’re such a loving husband and father. I love you so much.” Jackson pulled her into his arms. “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that. I’ve been going crazy. I thought you were going to leave me.” “Jackson. I’m not leaving you. Ever.” Ridley held him tight, overcome with emotion for this beautiful, sensitive man. Her

mother-in-law was totally right. This entire time she’d assumed that Jackson wasn’t happy and he’d been assuming the same thing about her. “We haven’t had sex in a really long time,” she blurted. Jackson stiffened against her but she didn’t allow him to pull back. She couldn’t say this if he was looking into her eyes. It was too embarrassing. “Don’t say anything yet. I just need to get this out. I know I’ve gained a lot of weight so I was wearing that lingerie the other day because I thought it would help. But… well, you saw how that worked out.” She sniffled against his shirt. Everyone talked about how it was so important to be honest and talk about things but it was much easier said than done. It was so hard to put all your feelings and vulnerabilities out there so plainly. But if she didn’t have the guts to tell her husband what she needed, then neither of them would be happy in the end. And they both deserved better than that. So Ridley blew out a breath and gathered her courage. “When we got married, you promised you’d try to always give me what I need. Well, here it is. I need you to pretend for me. Pretend you still find me sexy. Pretend you want me just a little bit. Because I need you so much.”

♥ That was when Jackson lost it. “What the hell? Ri, I don't have to pretend. I always want you.” He tried to pull back again but she wouldn’t allow him to, clasping her arms around his waist so tightly that it felt like being strangled by an octopus. “I saw how horrified you looked when you saw me wearing that negligee. I know this belly isn't exactly a turn on.” “You think I looked like that because I was turned off?” Jackson was finally able to disentangle himself from her and tipped up her chin gently. She wasn’t crying, thankfully but he could tell how uncomfortable she was by how long it took her to meet his eyes. “I was trying not to attack you and rip that fucking material off with my teeth,” Jackson gritted out, satisfied when her expressive eyes softened with desire. Then she licked her lips and looked away. “You don't have to spare my feelings. I thought I would stay slim like Raina did but I’m always so hungry and I’ve gained so much weight already.”

“Hell yeah you have,” Jackson murmured eyeing the full cleavage that pressed against her sweater. Damn, she just got more curvy by the day. It was almost like nature was trying to torment him by making her more lush and desirable to test his control. He swore softly when his dick responded immediately, punching against his zipper like it was pissed it hadn’t been let out of the cage. He was so busy trying to control his own reaction that he almost missed his wife’s. She winced and then pink spread over her cheeks. “Yeah, I know.” Jacksons swore again. “Baby, I'm talking about these.” He cupped her breasts gently. “Every time I see you I want to dive in between these babies and stay all night. I've tried to be respectful. You're an amazing mother to Chris and Jase. You've always treated them like they're your own but seeing you like this, so ... ripe and knowing that I made you this way. Hell, it does something to me. All I can think about is dirty things.” She swallowed and even that turned him on, watching her throat move. “Dirty things?” she repeated softly, glancing up at him hesitantly. “What kind of dirty things?” Apparently it was torture Jackson time. She actually wanted him to detail them out? “Things like watching these bounce

while I’m inside you.” He leaned down and nuzzled her cleavage. “Like the fact that you’re already pregnant so I can be inside you bare. That I can come inside you and fill you up. Feeling you like that, god, just thinking about it is making me crazy.” Ridley moaned. “Yes, I want to feel that.” “But that’s not going to happen,” he finished and then jumped when Ridley whacked him on the shoulder. “Why not? I need you so much.” Jackson kissed her gently on the forehead. “I can’t be so demanding. You’re carrying my child and I can’t bear the thought of hurting you.” Ridley’s mouth fell open. “You’ve been avoiding me because you think you hurt me?” “I know I did. There was a day…. well, I have eyes and I saw how sore you were the next morning. It looked like it hurt you just to get out of bed.” He’d been an absolute monster, he thought with disgust remembering how slowly she’d moved that morning. There were a lot of reactions she could have to that but the last thing he’d expected was for Ridley to throw her head back and laugh until she had tears in her eyes. She finally calmed and then put a soft hand against his cheek. “You sweet crazy man.

Sometimes women get a little sore afterward but usually it’s after they’ve gotten it so good their muscles are tired from too many orgasms!” Jackson was startled into laughing, too. Ridley had always been on the shy side so it was a little shocking to hear her talking openly about orgasms. “Is that right?” he murmured, everything inside of him starting to wake up at the thought that she actually enjoyed his wilder side. “Very right. In fact, if I’m not walking bowlegged by tomorrow morning then I’ll demand to know why. You’ve got months worth of frustration to work out for me, you know?” “Oh shit. I’ll be right back.” Jackson kissed her soundly and then slid off the bed. His cell phone was out of his pocket and to his ear before he even hit the door. Nick answered on the first ring. “Hey man, what’s up?” “I need a huge favor. And I will totally owe you big. Ridley and I need some alone time like you wouldn’t believe so I hope you and Raina don’t mind babysitting. Again.” “Bro, you know I’ve always got you covered. I’ll be over to pick them up in ten minutes.” Jackson didn’t bother to stop and explain things to Ridley, just went into his sons’

room and threw clothes into a duffel bag. By the time Nick showed up ten minutes later, Chris and Jase were ready to go and happy to spend more time with their Uncle and Aunt. While Jackson was happy to have the entire night to spend showing his wife all the things he’d been dreaming about doing to her for the past few months. When he entered their bedroom again, they stood staring at each other uncertainly for a few moments before they met in the center of the room. He let out a sudden breath when Riley pushed him back on the bed roughly. His heartbeat sped up at the evidence that she was just as anxious as he was. With a few quick motions, they got rid of their clothes and then were finally, gloriously, naked. She climbed over him, their skin heating with every touch. Jackson almost came right then and there as the heat between her legs cradled his hard-as-granite length. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers tracing a slow path over his shoulders to trail over his hair. “I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered. He kissed her right below her ear in the spot that always drove her crazy. “I’ve been going crazy, sleeping next to you every night and waiting until you fell asleep to take care of the problem.”

Ridley covered her mouth with her hand but couldn’t hide her wide smile. “You deserve a hairy palm, you know? It’s your own fault we’ve both been suffering.” Jackson kissed down her neck until he was right between her breasts. The full mounds cushioned his head like a magnificent pillow. Why had he denied himself this, again? “You’re right. Show me the error of my ways, my love.” Ridley sighed. “I love how you grovel. But I don’t want to talk anymore.” Then she reached between them and grasped his dick firmly, sending a shock of desire to his brain so strong it felt like his head was about to blow off. “Oh, shit.” She kept a firm grip on him, just the way he liked but her thumb wandered lazily over the head of his shaft until he was seeing double. Jackson couldn’t control his neck anymore and allowed his head to fall to her shoulder. “Ridley,” he warned and then groaned when she guided him into her. It took all his willpower not to thrust like a madman but she took that decision out of his hands too when she dropped down. “I love you,” she sobbed as he sank deep. Her words swirled around him, fueling his urgency to touch, taste, kiss and hold every inch of

her. Jackson gasped as his hips took over, thrusting upward, his body having an agenda of its own. His mind was screaming go slow, be careful, while his body was saying my woman, my love, my everything. “Don’t ever think that when I look at you, I see anything other than how damn lucky I am that you came into my life.” Her hands clamped onto his shoulder, hanging on as the rhythm of their bodies crashing together increased and Jackson knew that he couldn’t hold out much longer. “You are perfect,” he whispered right before his eyes closed and his world splintered into a million pieces.

chapter five

♥ Ri had almost forgotten how amazing it was with her husband and how dirty he could be. She loved it and she loved him. She especially loved his stamina. After the first time, Jackson had put her on her side so she could recline as he kissed her all over. She’d come crying out his name as soon as his lips connected with her core. Now she was on her back but propped up with a mound of pillows for support. As he clutched her close, her hands didn’t know where to land. She caressed his shoulders, his back, trying to connect skin to skin everywhere possible. Due to her belly, he couldn’t get as close as she wanted but he made up for it by kissing her face, her neck,

everything his lips could reach. And he hadn’t been joking about his obsession with her breasts. The entire time, his eyes kept coming back to her full cleavage. Ridley shuddered, the carnal look in his eyes making her feel completely feminine and desired. Jackson didn’t appear to mind doing most of the work either. He looked like a kid in a candy store. “Oh my god,” she cried. Her hands came up and tangled in her own hair as his thrusts got wilder. His hands left her hips to stroke between her legs, following her rhythm until she cried out again. The sound seemed to make Jackson want to please her more, and he eagerly strummed until her tight, clenching muscles pushed him over the edge, too. “Yes,” she mumbled, shuddering with him as he growled his own release in her ear. He rested his head on her breasts, letting out a satisfied sigh. An unmistakable sense of warmth stole through her as she looked down at him. Too soon, he sat up. “Come on. You need to be on your side.” Ridley moved slowly, smiling at the burn of thigh muscles that hadn’t gotten such a workout in a long time. Jackson caught her grinning to herself and chuckled.

“I guess I don’t have to ask if I hurt you this time, huh?” Ridley settled beneath the covers with a happy sigh. “Mmm. I feel all warm and gooey.” Jackson scooted behind her, spooning her in the cradle of his body. “I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you sooner. There shouldn’t be anything we can’t talk about.” Ridley nodded then paused. Her eyes went to her nightstand drawer. Did she really want to go there? “What’s wrong? You just tensed up again.” Jackson’s soft question pulled her out of her thoughts. Before she could change her mind, Ri leaned forward and pulled the drawer open. The crumpled white business card was in the back right corner. She handed it to Jackson without meeting his eyes. “Oh Ridley. How long have you had this?” Jackson kissed her shoulder. “Look at me baby.” She rolled over to face him, immediately stung by the look of disappointment on his face. Now that some time had passed and especially after the way they’d just reconnected, she was completely sure Jackson wouldn’t cheat on her. There had to be a reasonable explanation and she was ashamed she hadn’t trusted him from the

start. “I missed you so much and then I saw that card.” She sniffled and wiped away a tear that slipped from her eye. “But I know that’s no excuse for going through your coat.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I want to explain something to you but I might mess it up, so bear with me.” Rolling the other way, Jackson put the mangled up business card on his own night table. “Alana’s manager reached out to ask if I’d consider producing a song for her. I said no initially but after a little thought, I decided to offer the job to Mac. He’s been trying to grow and branch out and this is a good opportunity for him. I only had the business card because I wouldn’t know how to contact her otherwise. Because I don’t keep tabs on her or stay in touch at all. I’m not interested in what she’s doing or where she is normally. Quite frankly, I don’t think of her at all.” Ridley bit her lip, ashamed at how pleased that made her. “I know you don’t. I trust you.” “Good. Now lets get ready for bed. I’ll bring you some tea and give you a foot rub.” She watched him climb out of bed, her eyes fixed on his perfectly toned ass as he left the room. Then let out a giggle. Life seriously didn’t get much better

than this.

♥ Ridley finally found the energy to get up. If she didn’t wash the makeup off her face, she’d end up with a break out. It didn’t seem fair that she now had problematic skin on top of all the weight gain that came with pregnancy but now that she knew her husband loved her curvy figure, maybe it wasn’t so bad. It was definitely fun to have enough cleavage for several people. She washed her face and then started the process of toning, moisturizing and then applying an entire cabinet full of skin care products. When she was almost done, her eyes went over her shoulder in the mirror to see Jackson watching her from their bed. “Hey, you’re back. Sorry it’s taking me so long.” Jackson just continued to watch her with a curious little smile on his face. “What?” she asked. “It’s one of my favorite things, watching you get ready for bed.” “It is?” Ridley found that a little hard to believe. She didn’t even like going through the long process so she could only imagine how boring it was for someone else to observe.

But Jackson nodded. “I love watching how serious you get selecting just which bottle to use next. Although I guess it doesn’t even matter which one you choose. I just love watching you exist. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Ri. Never forget that.” Ridley’s hand slowly lowered from her face. “You are just the sweetest thing. How could I have ever doubted you?” She flicked off the light in the bathroom and then climbed in bed next to him, cuddling up under his arm. He propped his head on his hand. “You’re going to occasionally have doubts. Everyone does. You don’t think I have them?” Ridley glanced at him in surprise. Jackson had doubts? Did he seriously think that she would cheat on him? “Don’t look so surprised.” He shrugged. “I don’t think you have any idea how amazing you are, Ri. Sometimes I want to hulk smash other men for even looking at you. Because I know that every one of them is wishing for a shot with a woman like you. Not just because you’re beautiful, even though you’re absolutely breathtaking. But because you’re kind. And loving. Before I met you, I was determined to live a good life because the boys needed me but I was just going through the motions. Then I met you and you brought joy back in my life. You made me want to

be here. I feel lucky every day to wake up and spend my days with you. I can’t even imagine wanting anyone else.” Ridley had no words. His words had humbled her, thrilled her and also expressed exactly how she felt about him. So she leaned forward and pulled him down for a kiss. “Jackson, I feel the same way. I’m not sure what I ever did to deserve being an Alexander but I’m so glad I fainted in Raina’s yard that day. What if I’d just turned around and gone back to the bus station? I’d have never met you. I’d probably still be hiding out from a crazy stalker, watching my back every two seconds.” Just the thought that she could have missed meeting him, loving him, was terrifying. “Fate isn’t that cruel. It wouldn’t bring you so close to me only to let you get away. This was meant to be. Even if I’m a bonehead and sometimes forget to show you I worship the ground you walk on, know that you are the very best thing in my life. In all of our lives. The boys absolutely adore you. It wasn’t just my life you saved when you chose to hide out here.” Suddenly Ridley felt a strong thump right under her ribs. “Oh wow, I guess we woke the baby up!” A slow smile spread across his face. “I think he agrees with me that you’re the best

mommy ever.” Ridley finally gave up trying to hold back tears and just let them flow freely as she pressed her hand on top of his. They’d decided not to find out the sex of the baby, wanting it to be a surprise. But Jackson was sure it was a boy, saying that since Raina had given birth to a girl, the universe wouldn’t task them with another who’d grow up as gorgeous as her mother and aunt. “I think SHE agrees that mommy and daddy belong together. Forever,” Ridley added. Jackson leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her stomach. A few moments later, another thump pressed right below his lips. “Of that, I have no doubt.” * * I hope you enjoyed reading One More Chance and catching up with the Alexanders again. Flip the page for an excerpt of Bennett’s book Just One Thing and find out how many ways a brilliant man can mess up dating! Bonus Material: Want more Alexanders? There is another very special bonus epilogue available to my VIP list!

Everyone’s favorite anti-social brother, Bennett Alexander, has been invited to the bachelor party of family friend Tank Marshall. If you think Ben's awkward now, imagine how he'll react in a strip club. LOL :)> Also Tank isn’t doing so well because all he wants is to sneak home to the bride. To get your bonus material: Just click HERE. REVIEWS WANTED Also, if you’ve enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review. Not only do they help us spread the word about our books but they also influence how vendors choose which books to promote. Reviews are the best gift you can give an author!

Just One Thing (Bennett + Katie) is available now!

Bennett Alexander is a bonafide genius. He runs his family’s farming cooperative, speaks four languages and is about to apply for his tenth patent. But the one thing he never mastered is how to be cool. His childhood friend Olivia is the only one who “gets” him. Taking care of her own two kids and her aging mother’s affairs back in Barbados leaves Katie Mason exhausted every day. By the time she realizes her ex-husband left her with a mountain of bills, she has to do something. Fast. When Bennett hires her, the task is simple: teach him to act normal so he can win the heart of his first love. There’s just one thing: after spending so much time with him, the only thing Katie wants

is to teach Bennett how to love her.

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EXCERPT of Just One Thing © March 2017 M. Malone

Katie pulled out her keys and opened the door. Neither of them said anything. It suddenly struck her as funny. Normally this was when she’d be worried about whether the guy would kiss her or whether she wanted to rush in and slam the door in his face. “This is usually make it or break it time,” she joked. “What does that mean?” “Oh, you know. It's the end of the night and usually you're a little tipsy at this point. So in high school you'd park the car somewhere and make out but as an adult, normally you just kiss goodnight before going inside.” “Well, that doesn't sound that difficult.” “Oh, you'd think it would be easy. Just lean in and smooch but you have to be smooth with it. You have to read the signals.” Bennett sighed. “And you lost me again. Why can't the signal be when she says I'd really

like it if you'd kiss me now? That would be so much easier.” Katie put her hand over her mouth to smother her laughter. Looking at things from his perspective, it was kind of odd that there were all these unspoken rules about something that should be instinctive but it was impossible to ignore that the rules existed, whether they were official or not. She remembered the first time Don had kissed her. It was a little bittersweet to remember it now, being so young and naive that she'd required so little to feel cherished. But all she'd wanted was to feel like someone saw her as special. "The rules seem annoying, I know, but it all comes back to one thing. You want to make sure that she's as into it as you are. And everyone isn't good at articulating what they're feeling. So you have to be able to read the signs. Body language." "So, if I can learn to read body language then I'll know what to do?" "Most of the time, yes." "Well, if I could learn German then I should be able to learn this." Katie laughed softly. "I still can’t believe you know all those languages. Is there anything you can’t do?" His face fell. "I think we've established that there are quite a few things that I can't do." In that moment, Katie suddenly understood

what a monumental mistake she’d made. This whole thing was so wrong and she was swamped with shame for her part in it. “I made a mistake agreeing to this.” “To what? This date? Why?” Bennett looked slightly hurt so she grabbed his hand before he could pull away. “Because by agreeing to teach you, I'm participating in the idea that you need to change somehow. That you need to be different for a woman to like you. And that's not true. Bennett, you have everything you need already. You already have the most important thing. This, right here." She pressed her hand into the center of his chest, relishing the strong, steady beat thumping beneath her palm. "You have the biggest heart. The way you love your family and care about everyone around you, even your former employees, proves that. You don't need to change a thing. I think you're perfect the way you are." Without her knowledge, her hand had roamed over his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath. “I think you’re perfect, too.” Bennett’s eyes were intense on hers before he looked down. He seemed mesmerized by the motion of her hand. Katie knew she should stop; she was practically pawing him but he felt so good.

“This is the most fun I’ve had in a really long time. I think you are beautiful and fun and I wake up every day excited now because I know you’ll be there.” “Bennett,” she whispered, completely stunned by his heartfelt words. “I’m trying really hard to be a gentleman but since you don’t seem to mind honesty, it’s been hard to concentrate on anything tonight when all I wanted to do was peel this dress off and show you just how much I’ve learned about multiple orgasms over the years.” Katie’s mouth fell open. Of all the things she’d expected him to say, that didn’t even rate. Now she had the image of Bennett studying the Kama Sutra in order to learn the best way to please a woman. Considering how seriously he took education, she had no doubt that he’d been as diligent studying the mystery of the female body as he was with anything else. And she wanted nothing more than to experience everything he’d learned firsthand. The hand she’d placed on his chest stopped moving. She clenched his shirt between her fingers, feeling his muscles flex beneath her touch. Then she took a deep breath and made her decision. “Bennett, I'd really like it if you'd kiss me now.”

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THE ALEXANDERS One More Day / The Things I Do for You He's the Man /Christmas w/The Alexanders All I Need is You / Say You Will Just One Thing / BAD KING

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BLUE-COLLAR BILLIONAIRES TANK / FINN / GABE / ZACK / LUKE

the SHAMEless Trilogy & the FORCE Duet Shameless / Shameful / Unashamed Force / Enforce

* * Paranormal Romance * * BROTHERHOOD OF BANDITS Nathan's Heart / Ian's Fall / Gavin's Curse

NYT & USA Today Bestselling author M. Malone resides in the picturesque Virginian countryside with her three favorite guys, her husband and their two sons. She holds a Master's degree in Business from a prestigious college that would no doubt be scandalized at how she's using her expensive education. Half a million ebook sales later, she’s appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists more than a dozen times. She's now a full-time writer and spends 99.8% of her time in her pajamas.

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ONE MORE CHANCE © September 2017 M. Malone CrushStar Romance An Imprint of CrushStar Multimedia LLC This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address CrushStar Romance, 340 S Lemon Ave #9016, Walnut , CA 91789

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