Delighted, an all-new captivating Masters and Mercenaries novella from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake and 1,001 Dark Nights, is available now!
Brian โBoomerโ Ward believes in sheltering strays. After all, the men and women of McKay-Taggart made him family when he had none. So when the kid next door needs help one night, he thinks nothing of protecting her until her mom gets home. But when he meets Daphne Carlton, the thoughts hit him hard. Sheโs stunning and hardworking and obviously in need of someone to put her first. It doesnโt hurt that sheโs as sweet as the cupcakes she bakes.
Daphne Carltonโs life revolves around two thingsโher kid and her business. Daphneโs Delights is her dreamโto take the recipes of her childhood and share them with the world. Her daughter, Lou, is the best kid she could have hoped for. Louโs got a genius-level intelligence and a heart of gold. But she also has two grandparents who control her access to private school and the fortune her father left behind. Theyโre impossible to please, and Daphne worries that one wrong move on her part could cost her daughter the life she deserves.
As Daphne and Boomer find themselves getting closer, outside forces put pressure on the new couple. But if they make it through the storm, love will just be the icing on the cake because family is the real prize.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, itโs an introduction to an authorโs world. And for fans, itโs a bonus book in the authorโs series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon!
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Keep reading for a look inside Delighted!
โIt was a rough day. I could use a hug, if you donโt mind,โ she said, trying to hold back tears. โThe oven is going to die soon, and I donโt have the money to fix it, and Iโm going to fail.โ
His arms came around her, and she breathed him in. He smelled clean and crisp, like a spring wind. Her brain knew it had to be soap, but she associated the smell with him, and it soothed her.
โItโs okay.โ He rocked her a little. โIโve got a friend who is good with appliances. I can ask her to look at it. Donโt worry, Daph. Itโs going to be all right. Louโs good here. I promise. Louโs good, and youโre going to be okay. I canโt let you go under or Big Tag would get mad at me. He really likes lemon cupcakes.โ
They stood there for a moment, his warmth melting some of the ice that had built up over the last several years.
She tilted her head up, and that gorgeous man was staring down at her like he could eat her up, and warm was no longer the word she would use.
Hot. Desire flooded her system like a flash fire, and she wanted nothing more than to go up on her toes and kiss those magnificent lips of his.
Those lips belonged to another woman, and that woman was in the building. What the hell was she thinking? He was a nice man. He didnโt want to kiss her. He was being kind.
She stepped back, wiping her eyes. โThank you, Boomer. And if you do have someone who can take a look at the oven, I would so appreciate it. You get all the cupcakes. What kind does MaeBe like? Would she be okay with the hugging thing?โ
He frowned, like he was trying to figure something out. โI hug Mae a lot. At least I used to. Sheโs not so huggy these days. She likes anything chocolate.โ
Boomer had looked sad when heโd said Mae didnโt hug him much anymore. She hated the thought of this big cuddly god of a man being in a cold relationship, but she wasnโt going to be the reason they broke up.
โThen I will make her something chocolate, and the lemon ones for your boss,โ Daphne promised. She had to get these crazy urges under control or she would need to find Lou another place to stay, and she got the feeling Lou would object. โSo where is the lounge? Or the gulag. That one kind of scares me.โ
โKala? Oh, that proves you have excellent instincts.โ Boomer turned to walk back down the hall.
Those heads were back up above their cubicle walls, and she also noticed the doors to a whole bunch of offices were open.
โIs there a reason everyone is watching us?โ She hurried down the hall to catch up with him.
โBecause theyโre all nosy bastards, and I canโt even complain,โ Boomer replied. โI was a nosy bastard, too. Weโre a weird family, and everyone is always in everyone elseโs business, but itโs not a bad thing. The kind of people who would take advantage get weeded out very quickly around here. Big Tag takes care of them, and thereโs usually a lawsuit, but thatโs what Mitch is for. Hey, we also have a criminal defense attorney on call. Her name is Lea, and sheโs really scary. Now if she had been working the reception desk when we invaded, we might have had trouble.โ
She loved listening to him talk. His voice was deep, but every word was tinged with the humor he seemed to have for the world around him. The positive light he exuded was always there in his words.
If only the man werenโt attachedโฆ
She shoved aside the thought because he was totally out of her league. They werenโt even playing the same game.
But maybe they could be friends.
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About Lexi Blake
New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband and three kids. Since starting her publishing journey in 2010, sheโs sold over three million copies of her books. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasnโt until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings.
Connect with Lexi
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