Wicked and bare matt and.., p.32
Wicked and Bare (Matt & Madison, Part Two),
p.32
What’s inside?
• Alpha hero
• BD$M
• Danger
• Dominant hero
• Enemies to lovers
• Obsessed hero
• Second Chance Romance
• Suspense
• Temporary fling
PREVIEW
“I’ll need more information before I can develop a solid plan to boost your social media image, Mr. Benedict.”
Haisley’s new boss nodded. “Oakfield Mall is one of my most valued—and problematic—properties. Those incidents you’re aware of? Those five missing women? There were three other thwarted attempts that never reached the press. Unfortunately, those girls who got away never saw anyone or anything. All these incidents occurred on the mall’s premises, despite the upgraded tech and security guards I pay for. Somehow, every measure fails. The cameras blipped for twenty minutes on Christmas Eve, just as Kaylee Wright was abducted. It’s like someone knows the property’s weaknesses and can guess my every move. If I can’t stop this, it’s going to ruin me. Two of the missing girls’ families are already threatening to sue.”
A chill skated down Haisley’s spine. To have such sinister crimes happening practically in her own backyard, to young women just starting their lives… It was unthinkable. “I had no idea the situation was so dire. So seemingly…deliberate.”
“Neither did I—at first. Not until the latest victim. But that phone call was a gut punch. It destroyed Christmas. That’s when I knew I had to take more drastic measures.”
“What did you do?”
“What were you going to recommend?” he countered.
“Attacking the problem head-on. We can continue spinning your social media. But your best bet is to hire someone more competent than the local police and mall cops to solve the problem quickly and discreetly.”
“I’m a step ahead of you. I didn’t merely hire ‘someone.’ I hired highly trained operatives from one of the most elite private security firms in the region, if not the country. They’ll get to the bottom of these abductions, utilizing every resource at their disposal.”
At least he was done fucking around. “Good. Once they’ve accomplished their mission, we’ll go wild with the press.”
He nodded his approval. “I’d like you to work with these security experts and stay apprised of what they’re doing so that if anything is press or social media worthy, you can start getting Oakfield—and us—some wins with the public.”
These cases dredged up the worst of today’s world, but Haisley couldn’t deny the sense of purpose that surged through her at the prospect of putting her sleuthing skills to meaningful use. In order to help end this horrible string of crimes and make the world safer—even if it was just her hometown—she’d give it her all.
“You can count on me, Mr. Benedict. I’ll do whatever it takes to assist their investigation and highlight the best of their progress through all our media and public channels.”
He smiled faintly. “I hired you for your spirit and gumption.”
Good to know why he’d selected her and not one of the other qualified candidates he’d interviewed. “When will I meet my counterpart?”
From behind, she heard heavy footfalls approach. Haisley turned as a broad-shouldered silhouette emerged, backlit by the blinding morning light. The world dropped out from beneath her as a painfully familiar figure filled her vision. She didn’t dare breathe.
Nash.
Her heart rattled in her chest as she took in his ruggedly striking features, all chiseled angles and battle-hardened edges. He looked just like he had the night of their wild, heated kiss—powerfully built beneath the snug black tee that clung to the sculpted contours of his chest and hugged his tatted biceps. A woven leather cuff encircled one thick wrist. His inscrutable stare landed on her, scorching her from across the room.
She licked her suddenly parched lips, assailed by memories of the bar, of Nash’s body pressing her into the unforgiving wall, of the slick heat of his mouth trailing a searing path down her throat, of the steel bands of his arms engulfing her in an unforgiving embrace while he drank her in like a man dying of thirst.
Haisley swallowed hard against the sudden, visceral rush of bone-deep attraction.
Recognition and surprise sparked in Nash’s midnight gaze. For an instant, his implacable mask slipped. A flicker of something deeper Haisley couldn’t decipher appeared in those smoldering depths.
The primal dare on his face raised the fine hairs along Haisley’s nape.
Mr. Benedict stared between them with a frown, as if trying to grasp the sudden undercurrent. “Are you Nash Scott? This is Haisley Rowe, our new social media director. Haisley, Nash is the operative who will be leading EM Security Management’s investigation into the…situation at the mall.”
She was supposed to work with her ex?
Several beats of charged silence stretched on, thin and taut before Mr. Benedict frowned. “Have you two have already met?”
Haisley was not about to clue her new boss in about her old flame.
She forced a smile. “Nice to make your acquaintance once again, Mr. Scott. I look forward to assisting your team in any way I can.”
Another heavy pause hung between them, rife with their tangle of unspoken, unresolved history. She couldn’t say more. Not here. Not with witnesses present. Not with the secrets she was keeping.
Nash’s expression looked like an impassive slab of granite. “I’m sure you do, Ms. Rowe. I look forward to working very closely with you. Day and night, if need be.”
Click to preorder Wicked and Ruthless!
Wicked Lovers: Soldiers for Hire
Thank you for joining me in the Wicked Lovers: Soldiers for Hire world. If you didn’t know, this cast of characters started in my Wicked Lovers world, continued into my Devoted Lovers series, and have collided here. During Matt and Madison’s journey, you’ve read about some other characters, and you might be wondering if I’ve told their story. Or if I will tell their story in the future. Below is a guide in case you’d like to read more from this cast, listed in order of release:
WICKED LOVERS
Wicked Ties
Jack Cole (and Morgan O’Malley)
She didn’t know what she wanted…until he made her beg for it.
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Decadent
Deke Trenton (and Kimber Edgington)
The boss’ innocent daughter. A forbidden favor he can’t refuse…
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Surrender to Me
Hunter Edgington (and Katalina Muñoz)
A secret fantasy. An uncontrollable obsession. A forever love?
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Belong to Me
Logan Edgington (and Tara Jacobs)
He’s got everything under control until he falls for his first love…again.
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Ours to Love
Javier and Xander Santiago (and London McLane)
Two estranged brothers. A virgin with a past. A danger that could destroy them all.
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His to Take
Joaquin Muñoz (and Bailey Benson)
Giving in to her dark stranger might be the most delicious danger of all…
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WICKED LOVERS: SOLDIERS FOR HIRE
Wicked as Sin/Wicked Ever After – Pierce “One-Mile” Walker (and Brea Bell)
She begs him to rescue his enemy from death. In exchange, he demands her body…
Wicked as Lies/Wicked and True – Chase “Zyron” Garrett (and Tessa Lawrence)
He'd protect her from the world. But who will protect her from him?
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Wicked as Seduction/Wicked and Forever – Forest “Trees” Scott (and Laila Torres)
He’ll protect her…even if he has to take her captive to save her.
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Wicked and Ruthless/Title TBD – Nash Scott (and Haisley Shaw)
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Bonus Tie-in!
Forbidden Confessions: Protectors
Seduced by the Assassin – Meet younger Ethan Garrison before his EM Security days!
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As the Wicked Lovers: Soldiers for Hire world continues to explode and expand, you’ll see more titles with other characters you know and love, like Ethan, Kane, Trevor, Ghost, and more!
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I have so much in store for you on this wild, Wicked ride!
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Hugs and Happy Reading!
Shayla
Explore all the rest of the Wicked Lovers: Soldiers for Hire series and Shayla’s nearly 100 titles at ShaylaBlack.com!
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About Shayla Black
LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER!
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With over 25 years in publishing, SHAYLA BLACK is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly 100 novels. Known for her ability to craft rich characters and emotionally nuanced stories, she has won awards, sold millions of copies, and been published in a dozen languages. But it's her spicy, steamy romances that have readers breathless for more. After two decades with major New York publishers, she now enjoys the freedom of being independently published.
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As an only child, Shayla occupied herself by daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and started pursuing a publishing career. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America, her heart was with her stories and characters, so she left her pantyhose and power suits behind.
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Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband, her daughter, and two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, gaming, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
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Shayla Black, Wicked and Bare (Matt & Madison, Part Two)
