She releases the big guy and puts her arm around my shoulder, pressing her head to mine. “This is so beautiful. Thank you for everything.”

  Inside the little players are running around eating cupcakes and batting balloons at each other. The music is a mix of dance music and DJ bangers, and after ten minutes, Hana runs back to the house to get her camera.

  We’re all drinking champagne, watching the kids play, and Hana takes pictures of her guests in an array of poses–with the flowers, with the cake, with the balloons, outside and inside. Hutch grabs my hand when a Buddy Holly song comes on, and he leads me through my beginner shag moves.

  “You’re getting it!” Carmen cries, and I grab her in a laugh.

  “I would never have expected you could do that.” She laughs up at Hutch, who only shrugs.

  “My mom loved that dance. She expected Dirk and me to dance with her on Saturday nights in the kitchen.”

  The thought of it warms my heart, and I think about dancing in the kitchen with him. “Where is Dirk?”

  I look around, and Scar answers. “He asked me to tell Hana happy birthday for him. He’s sorry he couldn’t make it. He’s following a lead, and I’m actually going back to help him.”

  My sister’s pale brow furrows, and she goes to where he’s standing. “You’re leaving?”

  He touches her chin with his thumb. “You look really pretty tonight.”

  “Can’t you stay a little while longer?” her voice is soft, and he shakes his head.

  “I have to keep my promise to you. I’ll see you soon.” His eyes flicker to her lips, and her tongue touches her bottom one.

  One more moment of hesitation, and he turns, leaving us all to start breathing again.

  “Phew, happy birthday to you,” Carmen mutters, taking Hana’s arm. “Let’s get another champagne. I’m all heated up.”

  Another hour, and we cut the cake. It’s time for the little girls to go home, but the party’s only getting started. Hutch and I use Pepper as an excuse to get away, and I grab a few bunches of pale pink roses, slipping them into my bag on the way out.

  With Pepper tucked in her bed and Hutch and me down the stairs and on the other side of the house, I change quickly out of the beige party dress I was wearing and into that white cheerleader skirt I keep at his place now.

  Arranging the roses while he brushes his teeth, I’m completely topless when he emerges from the bathroom in those gray sweats I love that leave nothing to the imagination. For example, I can see how much he likes what he sees right away.

  “Hang on.” He takes out his phone and snaps a picture of me lying on my stomach with my back arched to show cleavage and my feet bent behind me.

  “How about this?” I roll onto my back, lifting two of the roses and holding them over my breasts so they just cover the areolas.

  “Damn.” He walks closer, taking another photo, and I roll onto my stomach again, reaching down to slide the hem of my skirt higher, revealing my lack of underwear.

  “Your favorite.”

  “Hell, yeah.” He tosses the phone aside, grabbing my calf and pulling me down to the side of the bed.

  My shriek turns to a moan when he buries his face in the back of my legs, dragging his tongue from my clit to my core. Just as fast, he flips me over and spreads my thighs, running his eyes slowly from my pussy up to my breasts then to my eyes, where he gives me a little grin and shakes his head.

  “I’m about to make you feel so good.”

  A bubble bursts in my stomach, making me laugh and I squirm in anticipation. “I know you will.”

  His mouth covers me, and my back arches as my eyes close in a loud moan. We’re just getting started, and it is so good. He takes me from the front and from behind, against the wall and over the bathroom sink in front of the mirror, which by the way, is so damn hot. I love watching his muscles flex and his tattoos ripple as the sweat traces down his face, and when he comes, he takes me to the moon.

  Lying in his oversized bed with his muscled arm around my waist and his lips at my temple, I think about the future and the beautiful things that lie ahead for us.

  Hutch likes to remind me I’m not alone anymore. Together, we’re forming a big, new family where we all look out for each other.

  My uncle said Hutch has always been like a son to him, and now he’s becoming his nephew. Our families truly are joined.

  It’s a new experience to be surrounded by so much love. It’s a new experience not to have to be afraid or to look over my shoulder. I spent the first part of my life having to be fearless, because I was alone. Now I have someone, and he’s such an amazing someone to have.

  I’m still strong, but with my gorgeous knight at my side and my new family, I feel powerful enough to face any obstacles. We still have bad guys to find and questions to answer, but I’m confident in the end, we’re going to win.

  Thank you so much for reading Hutch and Blake’s sexy, thrilling romance! I loved them so much, I hated to let them go, but good news–there’s MORE!

  CLICK HERE (link) to read their wedding and what happens when Blake plans to give Hutch a special pre-wedding surprise–only it goes a little wrong. Then it goes a lot sexy…

  Get your FREE DOWNLOAD Now (link)!

  FILTHY IS COMING JULY 9…

  Scar is determined to get the man stalking Hana

  Hana’s determined to get Scar.

  They both get what they want, and it’s a wild, dangerously sexy, thrilling ride.

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  What To Read Now?

  He's an arrogant billionaire with a troubled past; She's a feisty redhead who melts right through his walls…

  TROUBLE (link) is a super-hot, super-sexy, enemies-to-lovers, romantic suspense novel you can read NOW in Kindle Unlimited and on Audio!

  Keep clicking for a short sneak peek…

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  *Also available on Audio (link).

  NEED More Sisters + Romantic Suspense?

  Start my thrilling contemporary romance series with PRINCE, Book #1 of my “Dirty Players” series.

  It’s a sexy story of two con-artist sisters doing whatever it takes to survive… until they’re given an offer they can’t refuse, and things get even MORE dangerous. (eek!)

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  TROUBLE

  BY TIA LOUISE

  Legend has it, the man you kiss at a wedding is the man you’ll marry. In my case, it’s nothing but trouble.

  Spencer Carrollton is a dark-haired, hazel-eyed beast.

  When I collided with him at my cousin’s wedding, I wasn’t looking for love.

  But his naughty eyes flashed, his full lips curled into a knowing smile, and I should have run.

  I didn’t.

  I kissed him instead.

  Then he gave me a job when I needed it the most.

  I never get involved with clients, but Spencer Carrollton is wickedly handsome in a bespoke suit.

  He’s devastatingly sexy out of it.

  He’s possessive, demanding, and the best sex I’ve ever had.

  He’s an arrogant billionaire, who thinks I’ll fall at his feet, but I’m not going down that road again.

  Until he pulls me out of danger and insists I move in with him to be safe.

  As the nights pass and we grow closer, I know I’m losing this fight.

  Spencer Carrollton always gets what he wants.

  The trouble is, he wants me.

  (TROUBLE is a STAND-ALONE enemies-to-lovers, billionaire boss romance. No cheating. No cliffhanger.)

  PROLOGUE

  Spencer

  “I have ice. Ice makes the pain go away.” My mom crouches beside me, her entire body shaking as she presses a cloth to my shoulder.

  Her face is so white. I want to say her name, but my throat constricts as searing pain burns through my upper body. My eyes squeeze shut, causing tears to stream down my face.

  All around us is chaos.

  The kitchen table is against the wall, and a chair is broken in two. Beside me on the floor, a splintered piece of wood lies in what looks like a growing puddle of red paint. Only, it’s not paint, and I’m afraid.

  “Look what you made me do!” My father yells at us, pacing back and forth. He jerks my mother off of me by her hair. “You made me do this.”

  Fear squeezes my lungs so hard, I can’t breathe, and lights flash in the room through the windows like a rainbow. People in white rush into our house, and a woman with orange-blonde hair and sky-blue eyes leans over me.

  She puts her hand on my forehead and smiles gently while another person in white lifts me off the floor. She speaks softly, but I can’t understand her.

  Is she an angel? Did I die?

  It’s my last thought before the darkness closes my eyes…

  “This is your room now.” The old man opens a door and gestures me into a space the size of a small house.

  My eyes are wide as I step carefully on the highly polished wood floor. It’s made of small pieces of wood arranged in a diamond pattern, and a thin rug with a large, oval-shaped design covers the floor.

  Driving up to this place, I gazed up at the soaring white columns topped with curling leaves and scrolls. Above them, so high I could barely see from the car, the roof had a railing, like you could walk around up there.

  I’ve never seen a house like this outside of a movie or a storybook.

  It’s a castle.

  It’s also dark and empty.

  “I hope you find it comfortable here.”

  I look up at him, unsure what to say.

  He’s tall with lots of gray hair that swooshes around his head like that scientist in the picture at my school. He’s wearing a scratchy brown jacket and dark pants, and he has a beard. His dark eyes are intense like a bird or a reptile, watching me.

  “Are you a king?” My voice is small.

  “I’m your new father. You may call me Drake.” His voice is low and measured, like he carefully chooses the exact word to say before he speaks.

  “Where’s my mom?” Sadness pinches my chest when I remember the last time I saw her.

  His eyes blink away, into the hall. “She can’t take care of you anymore. You’re going to live with me now.”

  I’m not sure what he means. “Did she die?”

  “Not as far as I know.” His tone is grave like he doesn’t want to dwell on this subject. “If you’re all settled, I’ll leave you to your thoughts.”

  I follow him quickly into the massive hallway covered in paintings bigger than me. It’s as wide as a dining room, and long rugs cover the floors that go on for miles.

  My footsteps echo off the polished wood as I scuffle after him. “Are we the only ones here?”

  He pauses and turns, looking down at me slowly as if I’m an insect he’s considering gobbling up. I shrink back, wishing I hadn’t asked.

  “Are you afraid of being alone, Spencer?”

  My eyes are wide, and I want my mom. The expression on his face tells me that would be the wrong answer.

  “No, sir.”

  “Good. Only a weak man is bothered by being alone. Are you weak?”

  I’m not sure if I’m weak or if I’m even a man yet, but I know how to survive.

  “No, sir.”

  His eyes flinch almost like he would smile if that were possible. “Never fall for the lie that you need other people. Only when you are completely independent are you truly strong.”

  He starts to go, but I hold out my hand. “But… Why do you need me?”

  The spark of approval evaporates like smoke. “I don’t.”

  His gaze travels up and around the hall, pausing at a window twice as tall as he is. “When I am gone, I will leave my estate to you, then you will be like me.” Cold eyes return to mine. “Now get some rest. I’ll begin your education tomorrow.”

  Dread filters through my stomach, but I don’t dare argue. My shoulder hurts, and I’m sleepy. I don’t know why I’m here, but I remember my mom saying it would be okay.

  Returning quietly to my room, I notice a sweaty glass of ice water on my bedside table. Going to it, I lift a cube from the top and put it in my mouth, sliding to sit on the scratchy wool rug covering my floor.

  My eyes close, and I focus on the cold as it slowly melts away.

  Then I do it again.

  Get TROUBLE today (link), and fall in love with this wounded billionaire and the fiery redhead who saves him (reminiscent of Beauty & the Beast)!

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  PRINCE

  DIRTY PLAYERS #1

  BY TIA LOUISE

  Rowan

  I’ve only ever cared about two things: Racing cars and being king.

  Despite what my younger brother says, there’s more to life than chasing skirts.

  Until she walks into the room.

  Dark hair, luscious lips, gorgeous curves…

  Ava has every part of my body standing at attention.

  She consumes my thoughts, my desires… I will possess her.

  I’m the future king, dammit.

  If only her sister would get out of the way.

  Zelda

  It was a simple job, in and out.

  Seduce a crown prince, humiliate him in front of his people, get out of jail free.

  Finally, I would keep my promise to my sister: Ava would be safe.

  I never saw the tables turn.

  I never saw him coming.

  Cal was only looking for a party… Until he found me.

  He’s the “playboy prince,” the brother of my target, the object of my lust.

  Ripped, lean body, talented fingers, talented tongue. He’s wickedly smart and completely irresistible.

  He’s ruining my job… he’s ruining everything.

  Now I’m staring down the barrel of a gun, and I have only one choice… RUN.

  (PRINCE is a thrilling action-adventure romance full of twists and turns and smokin’ hot sexy times. It is Book 1 of the “Dirty Players” series, formerly titled THE PRINCE & THE PLAYER. No cheating, but you do have to keep reading! Let the games begin…)

  PROLOGUE

  Zelda Wilder

  My legs are wet. Thunder rolls low in a steel-grey sky, and the hiss of warm rain grows louder. I lean further sideways into the culvert, closer against my little sister Ava’s body, and grit my teeth against the hunger pain twisting my stomach. There’s no way in hell I’m sleeping tonight.

  Reaching up, I rub my palm against the back of my neck, under the thick curtain of my blonde hair. A shudder moves at my side, and I realize Ava’s crying. We’re packed tight in this concrete ditch, but I twist my body around to face her.

  Clearing my throat, I force my brows to unclench. I force my voice to be soothing instead of angry. “Hey,” I whisper softly. “What’s the matter, Ava-bug?”

  Silence greets me. She’s small enough to be somewhat comfortable in our hideout. Her knees are bent, but unlike me, they’re not shoved up into her nose. Still, she leans forward to press her eyes against the backs of her hands. Her glossy brown hair is short around her ears and falls onto her cheeks.

  Our parents were classic movie buffs, naming her after Ava Gardner and me after Scott Fitzgerald’s crazy wife Zelda. We pretty much lived up to our monikers, since my little sister wound up having emerald green cat eyes and wavy dark hair. She’s a showstopper whereas I’m pretty average—flat blue eyes and dishwater blonde. So far no signs of schizophrenia (har har), but you can bet your ass I can keep up with the boys in everything, which brings us to this lowly state.

  “Come on, now,” I urge. “It can’t be as bad as all that.”

  Her dark head moves back and forth. “I’m sorry.” Her soft whisper finally answers my question. “This is all my fault.”

  “What?” Reaching for her skinny shoulder, I pull her up. She’s the only person I’ve ever known who looks pretty even when she’s crying. “Why would you say something like that?”

  “I tried cutting my hair off. I tried not brushing my teeth—”

  “Don’t be doing shit like that!” I snap, turning to face front. The rain keeps splashing on my side getting me even wetter. “We can’t afford a dentist.”

  “I don’t know what to do, Zee.”

  Pressing my lips together, I clench my fists on top of my knees. “We ain’t going back into no foster home. I’ll take care of us.”

  “But how?” Her voice breaks as it goes high in a whisper.

  “Hell, I don’t know, but I got all night to figure it out.” I press my front teeth together and think. We’re not that far from being legal. I’m seventeen, but Ava’s only fifteen. Looking at the sand on my shoes, I get an idea. “We got one thing going for us.”