Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 16066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 80(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 80(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
I swear this is the last time I will ever let my friends get me into trouble. When we made a pact to conquer our greatest fears, I never thought it would land me on a stage, in a real live, honest to goodness Las Vegas strip club, wearing a freaking teeny tiny scrap of material. Oh, this is so bad. I have all the grace and elegance of a drunken wildebeest when I attempt to dance, and I’m about to do a striptease in front of a room full of drunk men. Make that mobsters.
Leave it to me to stumble into the middle of an organized crime convention. Oh my. My vacation has definitely taken a turn for the unimaginable. I’m definitely in trouble here.
Marco
One look at the curvy little angel on stage and I immediately know two things. Make that three things. One, she’s never removed her clothes in front of a room full of men. Two, there’s no way I’m letting her strip tonight. And most importantly, after I spank my little soulmate, I’m going to lay down the law—No stripping, no other men, and no running in around in little slips of nothing, letting other men see my property.
Marco Dean has his work cut out for him when he decides to make Tabitha his. The stubborn little miss is going to give the big bad mob boss a run for his money.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
CHAPTER
ONE
TABITHA
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I carefully pull it out. Once I manage to free the dang device, I hold it below the edge of my desk and glance around to make sure Mr. Winston is none the wiser. I’ve perfected this trick. I hold the phone close to my side and read the message while pretending to peruse the data on my computer screen.
I’m not surprised to see the group message pop up from my book club friends. Even though we’re scattered throughout the country, we chat often and meet up whenever we can.
Gem
Valentine's Day sucks.
Cordy
Nope. No way! We are not moping on Valentine's Day this year!
We always mope on Valentine's Day.
I manage to type my response while my nosy boss answers a telephone call. Once I finish my message, I notice Mr. Winston’s beady eyes following my every movement and decide not to push my luck. I slip my phone back into my pocket and return to my computer screen.
For the next several minutes, I feel my phone doing a dance in my pocket, and although I’m dying to know what my friends are discussing, I don’t want to risk getting caught goofing off, as my old-fashioned, stuffy boss calls it.
When Mr. Winston finally leaves for lunch, I pull out my phone and quickly scan the chat, knowing my friends weren’t surprised that I suddenly went quiet. I tend to do it a whole lot.
Cleary
It’s our thing.
Devyn
It's why we have wine.
Gem
You have wine. I’ll stick to my chocolate liqueurs. Booze and chocolate without the hangover.
Mandy
And cake! Cake is a must!
Peyton
Don’t forget book boyfriends. They help ease the ache, lol.
Cleary
Especially when paired with “the rose”
Cordy
I have an idea.
Peyton
Wait up. I just need to grab a flak jacket.
Gem
Oh, lord! Last time you had an idea, we almost got arrested. And I never did find my inflatable dolphin.
Devyn
That was the night I came home with one shoe. Your dolphin’s probably with my lost sparkly stiletto.
Mandy
Rum and I broke up after the last time we all got together. I can’t see a bottle without feeling a little nauseous.
Peyton
See? That’s why I keep my nose buried in a book. You girls are dangerous.
Cordy
I'm not that bad.
Cleary
YES, YOU ARE!
Peyton
Cordy, I love you, but you are on a whole other level.
Cleary
Peyton’s not wrong, sweets. You should come with a special kind of warning label.
Cordy
ANYWAY. I think we should make a pact.
Mandy
What kind of pact?
Gem
This better not require a blood sacrifice.
Cordy
We're all spending Valentine's Day doing something we'd never do.
Devyn
Like what?
Cordy
Whatever you want. I saw an ad in the paper this morning for a mountain man looking for an assistant for two weeks. Maybe I'll call.
Cleary
You aren't serious.
Cordy
I'm completely serious.
Gem
I like the idea. Maybe I’ll take the plunge with that jewelry exhibition in town next week. Show off a few of my creations.
Peyton
It's insane, but I like it.
Mandy
Something we would never do? It's a terrible idea! We don’t do things for a reason.
Devyn
Fine. I’m in. One of the volunteers at the rescue keeps wanting to fix me up with her nephew. Next time she offers, I promise I’ll say yes.
Cleary
But do you know the statistics of how many women go off to do something on their own and get targeted by a predator? I have statistics. So many statistics!
Gem
You know what they say–you don’t grow if you stay in your comfort zone.
Mandy
Gem, that's an amazing idea! Your pieces are beautiful! Maybe you’re right. I can’t believe I am saying this, but I’m in! I’m going to book that boudoir shoot I've been thinking about.
Peyton
Well, if you girls are game, I’m doing it, too. I was going to send the latest conservation report to the property developer, but I’m going to confront him in person!
Cordy
So, we’re doing it then?
Cleary
I have a work conference in Vegas during Valentine’s. But I suppose I could dip my toe out of my comfort zone.
Peyton
I’m standing up for what I believe in, and I’m not backing down.
Gem
Yay!
Cleary
Maybe I’ll quit the Sheriff’s office and become a showgirl.
Mandy
I hate wine chats.
Devyn
Aw, Mandy, don’t blame the wine. Whatever happens, it will all be Cordy’s fault! I’m already regretting this.
Cordy
I’m actually looking forward to Valentine’s Day now. Yay! This is going to be so much fun!
Swallowing, I stare down at my phone screen, knowing this whole scheme is such a bad idea. Epically bad. On a scale of one to ten, this idea is a three thousand and forty. But I’ll do it because I love my friends and tend to jump in feet first when it comes to them.
Oh, man. According to past experience, there’s no escaping once Cordy comes up with an idea. I usually just fade into the background and pray we don’t end up behind bars. Our little book club is made up of a whole slew of personalities that range from quirky and outgoing to quirky and shy. We all have our quirkiness and our love of books in common.