Sep 13, 2015

Sunday Smooch with Stefanie London

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!


Today we have a smooch from  PRETEND IT’S LOVE but first


... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Laney4!

Can you please contact Michelle at michelle (at) michelle - douglas (dot) com to receive your copy of REUNITED BY A BABY SECRET.


And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Stefanie London

Bar manager Paul Chapman is sick of his family’s traditional ideals. Marriage, babies, and a white picket fence? Not his gig. But now that his ‘golden child’ big brother is tying the knot, Paul’s screwed. His ex will be there...and she’s having his cousin’s baby. Unless he wants to show up to the wedding alone and face his family’s scrutiny, he needs a girl on his arm. Now.

Cocktail specialist Libby Harris has spent her life earning the nickname Little Miss Perfect, all to win the love of her wealthy, controlling father. But she deviated from his plan, and now her business is on shaky ground. If it fails, she might as well kiss his respect—and her dream—good-bye. Her only hope? Convince the hottest bar in town to take on her product.

Luckily for her, the owner’s brother is sexy as sin and in need of a perfect girlfriend...

Setup: Paul and Libby are at his parent’s house for dinner. They’ve agreed to engage in a fake relationship for mutual gain, and now they’re acting the part of his family. They’ve gone into the kitchen to put the dishes away and Paul works out that the family are watching the, very closely. So, being the cheeky guy that he is, he decides to take advantage of the situation.


She looked behind her to make sure they were alone. “This is a business arrangement, nothing more. I don’t want things to get messy.”

Messy was an understatement. She didn’t want to get used and discarded for a newer model the way she had back in university. The way her father had done to her mother years before that.

History would repeat itself if she wasn’t careful, and Paul would only be able to use her if she let him. But she wouldn’t. Their arrangement gave her something precious—an opportunity, a chance—and she would otherwise keep him at a distance.

“But getting messy is so much fun.” He reached out to her and pulled her to him, his hips flat against her belly as he wedged her against the kitchen bench. “Besides, they’re spying on us.”

“Who?”

“My family.” He inclined his head back toward the kitchen door with a movement so subtle she felt as though they were spies communicating undercover. “We should sell it; we don’t want them thinking this is just business.

His hands touched her hips, his fingers tracing the line at the top of her jeans just under her shirt. The throbbing started up again, insistent. Demanding.

“They don’t think that,” she protested, but her hands came up to his chest as if controlled by a puppet master tugging her strings.

His muscles were hard beneath her palms, and she had to stop herself from rubbing against him. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw a flash of red. Gracie.

“Okay, maybe they are watching us.”

“Ready to play the part?” One hand came up to cup the angle of her jaw. “Let’s see what kind of actress you are.”

“This is purely for show,” she said, the breath rushing out of her lungs as his face hovered close to hers.

“Of course.” His lips brushed the space next to the corner of her mouth, so close and yet the distance felt like pure, unadulterated torture. “You won’t enjoy this at all.”

“I won’t.”

Liar, liar, pants on fire.

He angled her head, coming down over her in a way that was completely possessive and in control. 

As his lips parted hers, she sighed against him, her body losing the ability to hold itself upright. Every nerve ending in her body sparkled like New Year’s fireworks, and her fists curled into his T-shirt.

The moment his tongue touched hers her mind went blank, the taste of wine on his lips and the scent of his skin driving her to a point of desperation. His fingers thrust into her hair, pulling her head back so he could take more, demand more. Taste more.

Unable to stop herself, Libby pressed her hips against him, gently rubbing up and down until a wonderfully guttural sound came from the back of his throat. He was hard beneath her hands, the muscles in his chest perfectly shaped. The press of his thighs against hers enough to spark wild images in her mind.


“You seem fairly invested,” he murmured against her lips, pulling away from the kiss with a dark fire in his eyes, “for someone who’s not enjoying herself.”


Find Stefanie's books on:

Amazon US | Aus | UK | CA

PRETEND IT'S LOVE is Book 2 in the Behind the Bar series and is set in Melbourne, Australia. 

To go into the draw to win an ebook copy of the book, answer this question: What's your favourite drink? It can be a cocktail or something non-alcoholic :)

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a smooch from Rachel Bailey will be posted!

33 comments:

  1. Just sent my email. Thank you so much!

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    1. Yay! Congrats again, Laney and happy reading :)

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  2. WOW Stefanie

    I am just fanning myself here at the moment :) I am really looking forward to reading this one it won't be long I loved the first one in this series and I know I am going to love this one

    As for drinks I do love a chocolate mudslide as a cocktail all that chocolate and creamy goodness not to mention the alcohol :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. You'll get to see Gracie and Des from the first book quite a bit in this one ;)

      Hmmmm mudslide, it's kind of like a cross between a drink and dessert!

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  3. Just pre-ordered this, Stefanie. Combination of that scene and the cover = winner!
    One-click, one-click,one-click!

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  4. Pina Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri are my two favorites....(what do you expect from a puerto rican?!! LMAO)

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    1. Good choices! I have to admit I had a few Pina Coladas on my honeymoon a few years back, nothing like laying by the pool and drinking something delicious :)

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  5. Super Smooch, Stefanie! Fabulous chemistry between Paul and Libby!

    I'm not a big cocktail drinker but I do have a favourite drink - clove cordial with soda water. Very very refreshing!

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    1. Clove cordial? I don't think I've ever tried that before - must check it out :)

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  6. Strawberry Lemonade is my favorite and wonderful smooch this week.

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    1. Thanks Tammy! Strawberry lemonade sounds delicious :)

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  7. Fab excerpt, Stef!

    I have so many favourite drinks we'd be here too long if I recounted them all. But my favourite cocktail is a mojito. My editor introduced them to me over lunch a few years back. Yum!

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    1. Mojito is such a classic and definitely a nice refreshing option for a hot day!!

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  8. Oh wow, what a smooch. And a great lead in.
    Favourite drink - Bubbles.

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    1. Thanks Sue :) Ahh yes, I can't resist a nice glass of champagne. Beautiful!

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  9. Oh my... impatiently waiting for this being released. Yay for Paul's story.
    Hmm... it's tough to settle on one favourite drink, but if it's alcoholic then mojitos (when they are made well) are good. Aside from that it's too hard to choose a favourite drink since it changes with mood and day and even time of day.

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    1. I've been excited for Paul's story to get out in the world too - so happy I could give him his HEA :)

      I agree, my drink preferences change particularly with the weather!

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  10. Great smooch, Stef. Paul and Libby's story sounds great.

    I never made it out of the eighties when it comes to drinks. Still a woody Chardonnay girl.

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  11. Stef, what a terrific excerpt. This sounds fun and flirty and just the book to unwind with.

    As for fave drinks - too hard. It depends when and where. I'm a sucker for a nice bubbly, and I discovered Kir Royales are fun, but on a winter's night a nice red with a meal hits the spot. Or for something non-alcoholic, how about elderflower cordial with sparkling water?

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    1. Thanks Annie! It's definitely flirty ;)

      Kir Royales are definitely up there for me too, I had a girlfriend introduce me to them a few years back. So tasty! And they usually look gorgeous as well.

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  12. I just ordered too. Irresistible :) PS: My favourite cocktail is Kir Royale

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    1. Yay! Thanks Laura :) Another vote for Kir Royale, it's such a lovely cocktail. Very underrated I think :)

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  13. Stefanie, I loved The Rules According to Gracie, so I'm really looking forward to diving into this one!

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    1. Thanks Rach!! I was so happy to be able to do another book in this series and also to give Gracie and Des a little more screen time ;)

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  14. looking to reading this book---LynW

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    1. Thanks Lyn! I hope you enjoy Paul and Libby's story :)

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  15. Whew! That is a hot excerpt! Can't wait to read this book!

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  16. I don't drink any alcohol. But I love freshly pressed lime juice whenever I want to battle the heat of Sri Lanka.
    Wonderful Sunday Smooch, it has me all hot and bothered (and ready for a lime juice with ice). ;-)

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    1. Lime is such a quenching flavor, isn't it? So refreshing and light!

      Thanks for your comment, I'm glad you enjoyed the smooch ;)

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    He cast spells for different purposes

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