Summary:
Publicist Shaunna Noble is no stranger to the ego-filled dysfunction of Hollywood's elite, but is she ready for her two biggest clients to turn into her worst nightmare?
Kyle Petersen and Michelle Cooper are Hollywood royalty, everyone's favorite celebrity couple, but while on location filming their new summer blockbuster, Kyle ambushes his wife with divorce papers and orders Shaunna to destroy Michelle in the media. Unwilling to comply, Shaunna spectacularly and publicly quits her job, humiliating Kyle in the process.
David Quinn, a struggling actor cast alongside the A-listers, is caught in the crossfire. When pictures surface of David and Michelle out on the town, media and fans rush to crown them Hollywood's new hot couple. Kyle explodes, tensions boil over, and everyone's lives and careers are thrown into jeopardy.
So what's a publicist to do? Especially when Shaunna finds herself falling in love with the sexy and talented David. Can she put out fires on the set while keeping the flames burning in the bedroom?
Love, lies and passion. What happens when the naked truth is exposed?
Shaunna was staying at a Radisson along with Nathan and the rest of the cast and crew. She saw David from time to time but they’d never spoken.
She’d first spotted him exercising one morning. She was about to wander into the hotel's gym herself, but reconsidered when she saw that even at six a.m., she would not be alone. It wasn’t specifically David’s presence that changed her mind. She was simply uncomfortable working out in front of strangers.
However, she was not uncomfortable about pausing to admire one. She was certain her pony tail did nothing to hide her face should he happen to look up and make eye contact, so she went ahead and got herself a good eye full.
David hadn’t seen her and was turned completely around. He was bending over to heft some free weights and he was wearing shorts. Very short shorts. In any other context, they would have looked like something Olivia Newton John might have worn with roller skates, but on him they were just a sexy, cruel barrier between her hands and his tight cheeks. These particular shorts were white with dark blue piping. Later on, it would be all too easy for her to accidentally remember them as underwear.
As she intently studied David's movements, Shaunna lost her sense of self and squeezed her water bottle hard enough to make it crackle. The noise was loud in the quiet hallway and she quickly bolted down the corridor, suddenly determined to enjoy a bowl of Cheerios courtesy of the well-appointed continental breakfast.
Over the next hour, Shaunna convinced herself David would not show up in the breakfast lounge, but she also opted for a second bowl of cereal and a banana, something she normally never did. And then she found herself hanging around to read the morning paper, which she also never did. As soon as she admitted to herself that she was stalling her departure, Shaunna laughed at her reflection in the napkin holder and returned to her room.
When his eyes settled on Shaunna again, she was completely nude. Her pert nipples were beacons to the gentle valley between her round breasts. David's stare followed the path of least resistance to the tiny and tidy garden of brown curls that split the river of skin.
He suddenly realized how very, very overdressed he was and fidgeted slightly as he dragged his heavy eyes back up to hers. "Allow me to reciprocate," he murmured as he began to loosen his necktie.
"Let me," Shaunna offered as she stepped toward him.
David obediently dropped his arms to his sides, allowing the naked woman to undress him.
"This is a nice tie," she commented as she slid it from his neck. "You had it with you in Texas?"
David nodded his head. "I brought all my clothes with me."
“Of course you did,” Shaunna said as she walked around behind him and removed his jacket.
She especially liked the way men looked in vests when their jackets were off. She admired how David’s fit figure was accented by the corset nature of his pinstriped, three-buttoned special. Shaunna appreciated him as she completed her circle.
She then backed up to get, and give, a better view.
"Have a seat." Shaunna gestured to a custom rock bench near the edge of the black tiled pond. David sat and she began removing his shoes.
He looked down at the nude beauty working the laces and willed himself not to be ticklish for the next thirty seconds of his life. Her touch, however, was too delicate and he was just too tender-footed. David chortled and twitched, giving himself away. To her credit, Shaunna did not take advantage of her newfound knowledge until she had removed his other shoe and both his socks. She feathered the balls of his feet with her fingers before she allowed him to stand again.
"Don't worry," she assured him as she began unbuttoning his vest. "I'm ticklish too." She opened it and then pressed her firm body up against his while she claimed another kiss.
As a boy in Chicago, David always imagined there was something sinister about midnight. Now, he associated midnight with sensuality, and felt nothing but joy. He'd found the friend he wanted to see the world with. He held the lover whom he would never let go. She was a living passion, a comfort for his weary soul.
"I've missed you so much," David whispered as he rested his head on her chest.
She wrapped her arms around his damp head. "I've missed you too. Do you have to be anywhere tomorrow morning?"
"Nope. The whole day is mine. Ours."
"Good," Shaunna breathed.
She pulled his face to hers and kissed him in a desperate, craving way that got him revved up all over again. When he pressed his body to hers, she opened her legs immediately. With an adjustment of his hips, David slowly entered her and closed his eyes with pleasure. Shaunna's eyes were wide open. She stared up at his strong chest as he became a part of her for the first time in weeks.
They moved slowly at first, savoring the contact, but it had been a very long day. Soon they evolved into voracious lovers bucking against one another. They slid up and down each other's bodies, kissing and licking anything that was exposed. They flitted from position to position, each one causing Shaunna to climax faster than the one before.
David was strong but getting tired, so she pushed him down on his back and straddled him with a determined expression.
"Are you ready?" she purred. "I want you to come for me."
"Yes," David confirmed breathlessly.
Shaunna moved with purpose. David, jealous of the moon's fingers caressing his lover’s skin, reached up and cupped her slick breasts. She leaned into his hands and wiggled hard with him inside her. She climaxed twice more before she heard his soft blissful whimper and felt his hands squeeze her thighs.
"Rest," she told him as she settled back onto the mattress and pulled him into her arms. Her intentions were to look after him, to stroke his hair, but soon she fell into a doze. He was relaxed but also excited for the time when he would finally be able to publicly declare their love. He fell asleep with a peace in his heart that all the money in the world could never have given him.
They didn't wake to make love again until the room was completely dark. Outside, the sky showed thin strips of purple on the undersides of low clouds passing each other like great puffy whales.
Their dawn lovemaking was silent and slow, and they didn't stir again until the house's air conditioning kicked in and the smell of Michelle's coffee snuck up the stairs to tempt them into the day.
Review:
I found this to be a most appealing read, from page 1 to the last page. The characters are well written and likeable, even when you really don't like the character's behavior too much, they still have your heart invested.
If you're looking for a great summer read, than this is one you should check out. I don't belong to a book club but I think this would definitely make a perfect choice for a book club.
This make a perfect debut novel for the Locklears and I look forward to reading future stories from them.
Rating: 4 Stars
Author Bio:
Morgan and Jennifer Locklear met in 1989 as teenagers and became high school sweethearts. They have been married since 1995 and live in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States with their two children, a son and daughter.
Although both enjoyed creative writing in their youth, they have only been working as a writing team since 2010. Since then they have created a dozen full-length and short stories together.
Jennifer has been employed in fundraising and development for a non-profit organization since 2000. She also enjoys participating in charitable activities, both locally and online. In her (limited) free time she is an avid reader.
Morgan has been employed in the hospitality industry since 1998. He has been active in the local performing arts community since childhood with many acting and directing credits to his name. He is also a musician and songwriter and has recorded 6 albums.
Author Links:
Goodreads
Blog
Purchase Link:
Amazon
