Free Cherry Popper (The Reckless Series Book 1) by Jade Sinner

panties with just a smirk. That's why I've avoided him.
    I might fantasize about him, but I don't need that in my life.
    Until...
    Until I catch him—OK, hear him—in a compromising position.
    Yes, it was hot, but that's not the point.
    I need a date for one weekend. He needs me to keep quiet about what I witnessed.
    It's the perfect blackmail...the perfect deal.
    Until...
    Until one weekend of fantasy leaves me wanting more.

    * * *
    R ead this sexy , predictable, short, hot, dirty, and steamy book and learn how fantasy can become reality! Duncan: The Deal, is a standalone with a guaranteed HEA. Don't miss your next bookgasm.

" W hat time do you get in?"
    I press my blue-tooth closer to my ear, drowning out conversations and traffic, as I emerge from the subway tunnel onto the Manhattan street. The morning sunlight causes me to squint or maybe it's my way to concentrate on what my mother just asked. Damn, if she'd only called a few seconds earlier I'd have been underground and missed her call.
    Ugh.
    "Get in?" I ask, trying not to let on that I have no fucking idea what she's talking about.
    "Thursday, dear. Your dad has an appointment and we want to be sure we can pick you up."
    I want to ask again, but if I do, surely she'll figure out that I'm still lost in this conversation. Instead I take it another way. "Dad has an appointment?"
    "With his urologist, dear, you know he has that—"
    OK. That didn't work. "Mom, sorry to interrupt, but I need to get to work. You were saying?"
    "Yes, what time does your flight arrive? You know it's race weekend. I told you not to book a hotel, and if you listened, there's not one available for miles. Besides, we have plenty of room and we want you here with us. I've talked with your father. It's fine for Timothy to stay here, too. I even think...well, if it'll get that man to propose, he can stay in your room."
    Like sleeping with someone in my parents' house is erotic?
    I shake my head. "Timothy? Mom, we're not going to the race."
    We're also not dating anymore, but that's a whole other story.
    "Of course not," she replies. "Kurt wants Timothy at the bachelor party. You know I'm not a big fan of parties the night before the wedding. Remember that incident with cousin Bob..."
    Fuck! The wedding!
    My cousin Scarlet's wedding. My perfect damn cousin.
    How did I forget?
    I know. I blocked it out.
    I don't want to go. I don't want to go back to Indiana and field all the questions about why I'm still not married, why I'm living all the way in New York, why I have a fucking life instead of being pregnant with baby number five at twenty-six years old.
    "Mom," I try to interrupt as I push my way through a crowd of obviously lost tourists. "Mom, um, Timothy..."
    "Kimberly, you're breaking up. What did you say?"
    "We're not..."
    "Kimberly Ann, I RSVPe'd for you plus-one . That was six months ago. Oh my lord! Tell me you're not single again! Why didn't you tell me? You know your aunt and uncle paid for a sit-down dinner. The reception is at the Hyatt. It's very formal, place setting and everything. Oh dear lord in heaven, don't tell me that I have to tell them you don't have a plus one."
    I take a deep breath and tap the microphone of my blue-tooth. "I-I'm...said...see...going...Thursday...rental car..." I say as I disconnect the call.
    Yes, it's a cheap trick. No, we don't have a bad connection. I just don't want to talk anymore. My thoughts are full of dresses and babies, and disapproving looks from my grandmother and mother as I sit at my assigned seat at the reception next to an empty chair.
    Maybe if I call my aunt now, she can move me to the kid table. That will be fun.
    I grimace at the thought as I make my way along the street to the building where I work at a real job. When I enter the building that houses the offices of Buchanan and Willis, a pharmaceutical distributor, my mind is hundreds of miles away. Out of habit, I squeeze my way into the coffee shop.
    "Caffe vanilla light