Description:
Years in the cutthroat L.A. music industry have Kit Maggio yearning for love and acceptance in her hometown, Audubon Springs. Her position as a Theater Arts professor doesn't erase years of being shoved aside by her family. Her baby sister is getting married, and her high school sweetheart doesn't recognize her. Will she ever find what she needs?
Vince Iuliano never imagined he'd be a single dad. Vowing no woman will ever again break his daughter's heart, he focuses on providing a happy and stable home. But when the love of his life rents the house next door, can he take a chance on happiness?
Vince never forgot Kit. Setting out to earn her forgiveness, they fall back into the rhythm of love and heat, much like the songs they wrote as teens. When L.A. calls, will Kit go, or stay and write her greatest love song?
Over 185 4 and 5 star Amazon reviews for the BROTHERS of AUDUBON SPRINGS Series!!
EXCERPT
Kit turned to see what caused the stir. Vince Iuliano
walked in followed closely by his brother Rafe. Her throat went dry. In what
felt like slow motion, she tipped her glass to her lips and drained what
remained of her beer. “I’m gonna need a re-fill.”
“I’ll have whatever one you’re not having,” someone
said.
“One is married, and the other one is mine.” She
slammed her empty beer glass on the table and licked her lips. “This is for
you, little sister. Watch and learn.”
Vince had just approached the bar when she wobbled,
with Natalie’s help, to her full height which was roughly 5’10” in the black
stiletto boots. After a few unsteady steps, the crowd seemed to part for her
approach, fueling her sense of purpose. Rafe tapped Vince on the shoulder, and
motioned in her direction. Vince smiled, his eyebrows raised in greeting. She
looked over every inch of his delicious face and imagined the rest of him
soaking wet like it had been in his fireman’s photo. He was a feast for the eyes
with those sweet, boyish looks that somehow managed to ooze a manly, adult sex
appeal at the same time. He frowned when she licked her lips then glanced down
at the condom necklace then over to the cheering group of women. Through the
thick filter of alcohol she reached out, hooked one finger into his t-shirt and
pulled him close.
“I need to make this look good.” She pressed her mouth
against his and he responded quickly. Her arms snaked around his neck, and her
fingers wound their way through his thick, silky black hair. She grabbed on to
it and pulled him closer. Vince pressed his large hands against her back until
her chest crashed into his. Seconds later she felt his tongue against her lips.
She opened her mouth, greedy to taste him, and shivered when his tongue met
hers. The bar erupted in cat calls and cheers. She took her fill then dropped
her head back and laughed. It was all too familiar, a memory really, and it
felt so damn good.
“Look at me.” He shook her shoulders.
It took an effort, but she managed to open one eye,
then the other. Sure enough, Vince, and not a figment of her imagination, held
her in his arms.
“Jesus, you’re wasted.”
“It was a dare,” she responded with a shrug. “Lucky
dare.” She kissed her fingertip and tried to press it against his lips but
missed and grazed his cheek instead.
“Prepared to party,” he said, reading her necklace.
“You aren’t even going to remember this in the morning.”
“I remember everything. You are the one who can’t
remember shit.” She walked backwards a few steps before turning around to
rejoin her group where she was met with massive cheers and high fives all
around.
*****
Kit rubbed her eyes and swung the door open to find a
bright-eyed Vince Iuliano holding a box of doughnuts.
“What are you doing ringing my doorbell?” She hissed
and stepped through the door, pushing him out onto the porch in the process.
“I thought you ladies might need these.” He held up the
box of doughnuts.
“Is it Advil?” Katelyn appeared at the door. “Isn’t
that the guy you kissed last night?”
“No, it is not.” She shooed her away and shut the door.
“I think you forgot something at the bar,” Vince said.
“What’s that?”
“Your dignity?”
“Look, it was a dare! I had to kiss the next guy who
walked through the door. I took one for the team.”
He stared for a long moment then reached out and
touched her sticky hair. “The party continue here last night?”
“You have a lot of nerve ringing my doorbell when you
know what kind of shape I’m in right now.” Vince smiled. “Jerk. Are those for
me?” She nodded to the doughnuts.
“They might be.”
“If you’re here for an apology, forget it. I’m not
going to apologize.”
“Good. Did it seem like I was complaining?”
A rush of heat on her skin against the brisk morning
air caused goose bumps to rise on her skin. Dear God in heaven, he was
flirting. “I’m not sure. I can’t remember.” It was a lie. Even through her
drunken haze and fuzzy memory, she recalled with startling clarity the sizzling
chemistry of that kiss. It was an experience she wanted to repeat over and over
again but wouldn’t. “So, what, you tracked me down to bring me hangover doughnuts?”
“No, consider them a welcome to the neighborhood present.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m your landlord, and
your soon to be neighbor.” He motioned to the house next door where several
guys unloaded windows from a truck.
“You’re joking.”
“No, it needs some work before we move in, but it
shouldn’t take too long.”
“I dealt with a woman for the lease to this house.
Annie O’Malley.”
“Annie O’Malley Iuliano, my sister-in-law.”
She stared, mouth gaping. “Here you go.” He handed her
the doughnuts. “I don’t know how many women are passed out inside, so if it’s
not enough, just let us know and we’ll get you more. Oh, and the carpet is new
so if there’s any damage, please take care of it right away. Management frowns
on that stuff.”
“Anything else?”
“Yeah. I’ll see you at the wedding.” He flashed a
smile, his dimples winking wickedly managed to make her throat grow dry.
“Figured that out, did you?”
“Just, make sure to save a dance for me.”
“In your dreams.”
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About the author:
RoseAnn DeFranco grew up in upstate NY with her nose in a book and a song in her heart. Following the pursuit of a musical theatre career in NYC, she turned her creative energy to writing funny, steamy romance with heart. A NJ shore transplant, she enjoys time spent at the beach with her family and would love to one day live in a quaint shore town like the fictional town from her BROTHERS OF AUDUBON SPRINGS series. More information about these Contemporary Romantic Comedies can be found at:
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