Age is Just a Number. Rebecca Martin has achieved most things one might hope to by thirty. She is a successful business owner, drives a nice car and is wrapping up the details on a custom built home on the lake. The only thing she is missing is someone to share her accomplishments with. One man has never been far from her thoughts – Kade McMillian, but his return to town after far too many years of chasing his dreams couldn't be more poorly timed. With a younger man demanding Rebecca attention at the office, she has to decide between reconstructing a relationship from her past or diving in deep to something new and seemingly forbidden.
Rebecca
"Is there really any point?" Rebecca huffed as her best friend Trisha stared her down from across the small table. Rebecca glanced around the bar, which was filled with people and buzzing with excitement.
"You're not going to be a killjoy tonight. We're going out this weekend if it kills us. I'm stuck at home with four kids all day, not living the glamorous life of an entrepreneur."
"I'm not sure who sold you that lie, but I've got some oceanfront property in Arizona ..." Rebecca smiled.
The bar was busy, but the restaurant was dead around them, which always seemed to be the case on Thursday nights. Their ritual beer at five was a must-not-miss event and neither of them did, unless death or some other large-scale occurrence called them from it. They'd been friends for as long as Rebecca could remember, and yet she'd never grown tired of sharing life with Trisha.
"What are you thinking? You have that look in your eye."
"What look?" Rebecca held up her empty beer mug, the waiter walking over to pick it up, smiling flirtatiously at them.
"The look that says you're wishing for marriage and babies." Trisha laughed, her eyes moving to follow the server as he left in his tip-collecting jeans.
"Stop staring at him. We could be his mother's age."
Trisha looked back at her and laughed loudly. "That's funny. He's like mid-twenties. What the hell? We'd have to have birthed him when we were ten, for crying out loud." She sat back in her chair, her short blond hair a perfect bob, complementing her cute pixie-like face.
"I was a goodie-goodie in school, but you were a hooker, so you could be his mother. I'm still waiting for Mr. Right."
Rebecca shrugged, smirking as her friend's face changed colors and she started to lay out her opinion for all to hear. The server walked up just in time for Trisha to open her mouth. "You were not a goodie-goodie. Not at all." She looked over at the handsome boy who was holding two beers out for them and reached for one of them, a smile on her face. "Besides, I got married right out of school, but you schlepped it up, remember?"
Rebecca reached for the other beer, shrugging her shoulders, her gaze on the handsome boy before them, who seemed to be quite interested in their conversation. "That's true. I just dropped my last boyfriend because he couldn't keep up with my appetites."
The server visibly swallowed and pulled out a pad of paper, scribbling something before ripping the page off and laying it before her. "Call me."
He walked off and Rebecca bent over in laughter, Trisha following suit.
"Things really never do change, do they?" Trisha asked, finally catching her breath and reaching for her beer.
"When it's still this fun after all these years, why should they?"
They drank their last drink and talked through the events of the week. Trisha focused mostly on family and the house, leaving Rebecca with nothing to add there, but she did pipe up about work and Jason, their rising-star intern, who'd been with the company for about a year now. That conversation left her frustrated and uneasy when Trisha made a few pointed innuendos.
"What's the big deal?" Trisha asked as they walked out to their respective cars, Rebecca's blue Audi parked next to Trisha's beat up red Honda.
"The big deal is that he's twenty-two, Trisha. That's honestly gross."
"The guy at the bar was at least twenty-six. Is there a set age that's okay?"
"Yes, and it's honestly thirty. I'm in my mid-thirties, so the guys I date should be in their thirties too." Rebecca pulled her keys out and hit the fob, the lights coming to life as the car made a sound of awareness.
"I don't think age should matter."
"Well, for me, it does. If I was graduating high school while he was still eating boogers and scraping his knee on the playground, it's not happening."
Trisha shook her head. "Jimmy still scrapes his knee and eats his boogers."
Rebecca laughed and opened the door to her car. "Yes, well, your husband is a special case scenario, obviously."
"I think you should reconsider. Women are in their prime in their thirties and men are asleep on the couch at that age." Trisha shrugged and got into her car, waving and then closing the door.
Rebecca stood there for a minute, thinking through Trisha's words. She looked around and realized that she was asking for trouble standing outside her car at eleven o'clock at night in the middle of a bar parking lot in downtown Houston. She slid in and locked the doors, shivering slightly at the late effects of winter.
"Dating a twenty-two year old. How ridiculous. He probably can't even hold a conversation," she growled, starting the car and cranking up the heater. Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" played from the radio and she laughed. "Of course ... perfect."
The windows defrosted slowly as she moved through the city streets, her apartment sitting in the heart of mid-town, a lively area for young working people, with tons of restaurants and nightlife nestled into the community. Her thoughts moved quickly from her time with Trisha to Jason, her newest and best associate. He was far too young, in her opinion, to be thinking about, and honestly, he wasn't her type at all.
"And what is your type? I mean really ... when was the last time you dated anyone long enough to know your type?"
Kade.
She cringed internally at the thought of his name. Sixteen years had passed since high school, and yet if she had to think back to her type-it was Kade. It always would be. She almost felt sorry for her future husband. She would be comparing him and everyone else to Kade. Kade, the strong football type. The asshole that left her standing alone as he headed for the big life. Hollywood had been so much more important to him than figuring out what was between them. Not that she'd expected him to give up his dreams, but he could have kept in touch-or at least talked to her about it before he left her out in the cold.
"Screw him," she whispered, the pain of rejection still just as ever-present in this moment as it had been all those years ago. Would she ever move past him?
She reached up and pulled the rearview mirror down, looking at herself with a stern glare. "Yes, you will. You need to start dating again, like tomorrow."
She smiled and readjusted the mirror. She wouldn't start dating tomorrow or the next day. Men her age and older were married, and the ones that weren't were single for a damn good reason. It was like hoping to get picked for the kickball team and coming in dead last. It wasn't because the rest of the kids were saving the best for last, it was because you couldn't play the game. So those guys who were still single in their mid-thirties were either duds or were more than happy to forever be playing the game, neither of which appealed to her. That left her looking toward someone in his late twenties or late thirties.
Her mother had married someone eleven years younger when Rebecca's father passed away, leaving Rebecca to call a man only nine years older than her Daddy. He was a great guy and definitely looked older than her mother did, so growing up with him as her father was okay, but marrying someone who went to school the same time as Dad? No thanks.
This guy could offer me the moon, and I’d hand it right back. Never in a million years did I expect to run into the biggest crush of my childhood. But, of course, I have. And I’m reporting to him at the new company I landed a big-time job at. Arrogant. Hot as hell. Total jackass. Why he’s still single is no mystery to me. He’s not willing to settle down. He’s always been that way, and as far as I’m concerned, he always will be. But, boy, is he beautiful to look at. Every part of me screams "run" as my insides turn to mush. No. Not me too… Not again. I should be immune by now. I know him far too well to fall into this hopeless pit of adoration again. But maybe there’s a way around it. It’s his power that drives me over the edge of insanity. If I were the boss instead of him, I’d hold all the cards. Good thing I’m always up for a challenge. Funnily enough, this guy thinks he’s going to score. He might have to redefine what getting lucky looks like after me. At least, that’s the plan.
Ethan Lewis has been in the bright lights for as long as he can remember. He’s just turned the cusp of celebrating his twenty-fourth birthday, and yet he feels more like eighty. Living the life of a celebrity isn’t all it is chalked up to be, and dealing with the unruly number of women who are more interested in his billions than who he is as a person is getting old. He has resigned himself to giving up on love and focusing on the only thing that truly gives back – his career. Riley Phillips has always dreamed of being on a big stage with the warmth of the spotlight baring down on her, but she just couldn’t seem to catch the right agent’s attention. After giving a quick commencement speech as Valedictorian of her graduating class at Billmore High, she’s offered something she can’t refuse... The chance to work in Hollywood. It’s not all it’s chalked up to be, but she works hard and finally gets her big break four years down the line. There is a new movie that her agent wants her to audition for, and her co-star? The dreamy Ethan Lewis. She scores the part, but soon regrets it due to his callous, overbearing persona. He’s nothing like the public touts, and she for one isn’t impressed. Funny enough, he is - immensely. This is book 1 in a continued series. All books are available
He said I couldn’t do it, but he was wrong. An old professor at UCLA promised me that I would make nothing of myself, so I made sure I did. To the tune of billions. I’m only a little cocky about it. Yachts, parties, and one-night events pretty much spell out my life. And all of it works well until I run into a beauty I can’t get out of my head. But we’re keeping it friendly and casual until we aren’t. There’s just one problem. Her old man hates me. And for good reason. He was my UCLA professor. He’s dead set against me becoming anything important to his little girl, but the old man’s got it all backward. I’m not looking to make an example out of our passion or prove a point. This isn’t about hit it and quit it. His daughter is mine, and he might kick me out, but she’s letting me all the way in.
My Needs. My Demands. Your Pleasure. You're Welcome. She had one year left of college when our parents got married. And thanks to being raised in poverty, she needed help with her expenses. My dad, being the benevolent billionaire, stepped up without question. But there was a catch. She had to intern at the firm for a year. With me. As her boss. Poor sweet little thing. She has no clue what she’s up against, but she’ll figure it out soon. I don’t play typical games, but the ones I do play, I always win. And regardless of how taboo our relationship might become, I’m all in. The reward is worth the risk. I just hope she can keep up with my many demands.
He’s going to make me break my number one rule. And possibly lose my job. How dare he? It’s pretty simple, though. Don’t date students. Which is normally easy to stick to. Who wants to date an eighteen-year-old boy? Not me. I much prefer an older man with rough hands that knows what he’s doing. Enter Mr. Evans. A single father billionaire with more time on his plate than he knows what to do with. And the man is brilliant and wickedly delicious. Much to my surprise, he’s quickly becoming my star pupil, which means he gets more of my time than necessary. But I can’t help myself. He’s exactly what I need in my life, in my bed, kissing me at the stroke of midnight… And the best is even though he’s older than me, he’s more than willing to let me teach him a few new tricks. Let's just hope we don't get caught.
I need a wife. Now. It doesn’t have to do with love and living the good life. This is all about getting the money my billionaire father left to me. And I’m running out of time. But who proposes to a stranger after the first date? Me. That’s who. As if I have another choice. Luck is on my side though, and a beautiful model shows up in my office. Single? Gorgeous? Funny? All of the above. Our first date goes so well that I feel unsure about my decision to do this thing with her—you know, fake it. I put it off and decide to do it later, to ask for her help after we get to know each other better. But I like her more and more each time we meet, and eventually, offering her a ring isn’t for my dad’s money—it’s because I want her more than anything else in the world. Besides, who’s going to know if it’s fake or real? And does it really matter? Yeah. It does.
"It's getting hot in here, don't you think?" I shudder as my clit becomes wet with his smooth voice. I melt away in his arms. He kisses me with a passion I've never felt before, and I moan into his mouth, lost in the moment until I sense him kicking open a door. I realize we're in a room. He continues the kiss as I wrap my leg around him, pulling him closer, his erection pressing into me. I feel my panties dripping wet from arousal. He releases me, resting his back on the headboard, and grabs my thigh, pulling me closer. His hand goes to my hair, releasing it to let my curls fall freely. He guides his fingers from my scalp to the ends of the curls, muttering in a husky voice, "Fucking beautiful. ****** Jasmine found herself trapped in a loveless marriage. Her world shattered when she uncovered her husband's betrayal on his birthday. Heartbroken and betrayed, she made the difficult decision to leave him and start anew in Illinois, with her friend Ava by her side. As Jasmine tried to go through her new life, a one-night stand left her pregnant, uncertain about the father's identity. But complications arose as Maxwell, Jasmine's ex-husband, refused to let go. Jasmine discovered shocking truths about Ava's betrayal. As secrets unraveled and loyalties were tested, Would she find the strength to overcome the obstacles in her way? Could she trust her heart, or would the shadows of the past forever haunt her?
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."