THE HOT ONE is another romcom winner from the incredible Lauren Blakely. Check out the excerpt below and don't forget to enter the amazing giveaway of a Coach bag and a Victoria's Secret gift card!
The Hot One, by Lauren Blakely
Publish Date: February 27, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rating: 5 STARS
(Synopsis) Ever notice that sometimes a guy will do something really stupid, like let the love of his life slip through his fingers?
Yeah. I'm that guy. But the moment I run into the woman I once loved madly, I’ve got one goal and one goal only—a second chance. The plan? Go big or go home.
Fine, at first glance, stripping naked at my ex-girlfriend's place of work might not seem like the brightest way to win her heart again. But trust me on this count—she always liked me best without any clothes on. And you've got to play to your strengths when you're fighting an uphill battle. As a lawyer, I know how to fight, and I'm prepared to fight hard for her. Because sometimes you need a second chance at first love.
He's the one who got away . . .
The nerve of Tyler Nichols to reappear like that at my job, showing off his rock-hard body that drove me wild far too many nights. That man with his knowing grin and mischievous eyes is nothing but a cocky jerk to saunter back into my life. Except, what if he's not . . .? I've tried like hell to forget him, but maybe I'm cursed to remember the guy I fell madly in love with eight years ago. Lord knows I’m not over him, so what's the harm in giving him a week to prove he's changed in the ways that matter?
After all, how do you resist the hot one…
It's time for another Nichols man to fall, and there really is nothing like bearing witness to that. The Hot One is one awesome second-chance love story with all the trademark Lauren Blakely humor, sexiness and romance.
Tyler Nichols is living the good life. He's a wildly successful entertainment lawyer (his firm represents Nick Hammer, aka Mister Orgasm), a doting uncle and a ladies man. But, we know from his appearance in previous books that he's not tied down to one woman because he gave his heart away years ago, and he foolishly let her go. After running into his former flame in Central Park one day, Tyler takes it as a sign that he's getting a second chance with Delaney, and he's not going to waste it.
I love this small world that Lauren Blakely has woven. Each new book that she adds to this not-quite-a-series features characters we've seen before and includes cameos from characters we already know and love. Tyler's business partner and cousin is Clay, which is the Blakely Book Boyfriend who started it all for me. Delaney's BFF is Penny, who got her own second chance HEA with Gabriel in The Only One. It was really only a matter of time before these two realized they've been in the same city for awhile now.
Tyler really was a jerk when they were in college, dumping Delaney without an explanation and cutting off all contact with her immediately. It was particularly damaging to Delaney since her track record with men wasn't the best anyway. Then, Tyler's extremely hurtful dumping happened, and her life was turned upside down.
At least he recognizes his transgressions, and when he sees Delaney, he puts his wooing skills into overdrive. GAH, but I love a man who knows how to grovel. And Tyler gives new meaning to the word. At first I was feeling like Delaney should've made it harder for him to get back into her good graces, but that feeling passed quickly. Because, Tyler was REALLY good at the wooing. And he didn't give up after his first and second attempts to just go out for drinks were rebuffed. Tyler learned quickly that he had a lot to make up for, and that trust takes a long time to rebuild after it's been broken once.
Luckily, these two have some wicked chemistry to help grease the wheels. Because of Delaney's distrust of Tyler and his desire to convince her that he is in it for the long haul and not just instant gratification, it takes them a little while to give into their sexual tension, but I did love the slow burn and the build up.
There's still a few characters in this small world that need their happy yet, and I'm looking forward to reading those and watching some more couples integrate into the orbit of all the couples that I've come to adore.
She turns her head.
And waves.
And smiles.
That smile makes me feel like I can do this. Like I can win her heart again. Mine pounds faster as I near her, and it’s not just because I happen to think she’s the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen, but because of who she is.
I arrive at her side, and she straightens. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
There’s that awkwardness again, and I want no part of it today. Like the bungee jumper I am, I lean in and dust a quick kiss on her lips. At first, she freezes. That won’t fucking do at all. My tongue darts out, flicking her top lip. A soft breath escapes her, and she gives in. Her sweet lips linger on mine, sending a charge down my spine. My brain leapfrogs ahead, and I picture scooping her up in my arms, carrying her to a quiet little patch of trees, and kissing her till she begs me to take her home.
I want that badly—I want her to beg for it because she’s at her happiest when she’s overcome—but I suspect it’s too soon for her.
Not to mention, screwing in Central Park usually results in a public citation. Public fornicators are never as clandestine as they think they are.
I nibble lightly on her bottom lip for a few seconds, drawing out a throaty murmur from her. Then I somehow find the will to separate.
She blinks. Several times. She sways the slightest bit, like her feet barely touch the ground. Good. I want her to be affected.
She furrows her brow. “I’m sorry, but do we kiss now when we see each other in the park?”
“Evidently we do.”
“Weird. Because I didn’t get that memo.”
I rock on my heels. “Want me to take it back?”
“The kiss or the memo?”
“The memo,” I say matter-of-factly, like this is all so obvious. “You can’t take a kiss back.”
“You sure on that, Nichols?”
“I can try to take back the kiss. Want me to, sweet girl?” I use the term of endearment I once called her. She doesn’t blanch, and that’s a damn good sign.
She smirks. “Be my guest.”
I kiss her once more, like I’m reversing the lip lock, doing it all in rewind, pulling away ever so slowly, ever so softly, leaving her dazed once more.
Perfect.
If she can drive me this crazy, make me this hard, send the temperature in my blood to beyond incendiary, the least I can do is return the favor.
Judging from her reaction, I’m doing it right.
I gesture from her to me. “Like that. I think that’s how you take back a kiss.”
Chuckling, she nods to the running path. “Ready for me to kick your ass?”
Every competitive bone in my body snaps to attention. “We’ll see about that,” I say, then I smack her pink nylon covered behind.
Her eyes widen, saying oh-no-you-didn’t.
But there’s a twinkle in those baby browns that says the lady might like spanking.
That’s new, and it’s most interesting.
I pencil in a new item on my mental to-do list. Find out how much she likes spanking. I never spanked her in college—just wasn’t part of the repertoire. But judging from her response now, I’m more determined than ever to find out everything she likes in and out of bed.
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