Published by Self Published Publication Date: August 11th 2017
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Jorinda Pearce thought she did everything right β graduated from college, married her long-time sweetheart, established a career. But what does she have to show for it now? A degree she doesnβt use, a job she hates, and an ex-husband that broke her heart.
Looking for a long overdue adventure, Jorie takes a walk on the wild side and attends a masquerade event at The Wicked Horse Vegas. Itβs exactly the escape sheβs looking for, and even better, she can explore anonymously. Drawn to the man masked in black leather with the body of a god, Jorie finds the greatest pleasures of her life at the hands of a stranger.
Walsh Brooks is the most sought after man in The Wicked Horse. Sex is nothing but a game to him and heβs the type that will always leave at the end of the night without looking back. Unfortunately for Walsh, thereβs no way he can walk away from the mysterious green-eyed beauty behind the mask of sapphire feathers, because he knows exactly who she is.
Jorie is his best friendβs little sister and thereβs not another woman in the world thatβs more off limits.
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
When Jorie, who followed the rules and still ended up with a broken heart, enters the Wicked Horse Vegas she was hoping to find out if she was what her husband said she was…boring in bed. Β But what she found instead was she needed the right man to make her inner vixen come out.
Walsh may have been Jorie’s brother’s best friend, may have sworn he’d never have her, but he couldn’t deny what he felt with Jorie when he was with her. Β The chemistry these two had was off the charts and proved to Jorie that what her husband, Vince, had claimed was absolutely not true. Β Walsh struggled with what he was feeling for Jorie and his friendship with Micah, but I loved how he wasn’t willing to give up Jorie and that he was willing to give up the lifestyle he’d been leading to have just her.
Jorie had a lot of self-discovery to do. Β She learned things about herself that she could never imagine she would enjoy. Β Sure, she probably wouldn’t have thought to try them without Walsh, but he was able to show her what she liked, made her a little adventurous and understand exactly what she wanted.
I liked Jorie and Walsh together. Β It was obvious their shared history connected them at a much deeper level than either of them was truly aware. Β And when they were finally able to admit what they had, it made it that much harder to let it go.
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Squaring my shoulders, I march into The Royale and head straight for the concierge desk. I havenβt been in this casino before. Hell, I havenβt been in hardly any of them. Sure, Iβd only grown up about forty-five minutes away, but gambling and all-you-can-eat buffets held no interest to me.
From Micah bragging about his best friend over the years, I knew Walsh orchestrated the purchase of the land, then pulled together financing with two other partners to build this casino. Itβs one of the most popular on the strip, boasting five-star dining, old-world elegance, and superior customer service. Again, all this from Micah, but honestlyβ¦ Iβm so proud of Walsh, too. We may have lost touch over the years, but Iβll never forget all the ways in which he acted as a big brother to me.
Ick.
Okayβ¦ thatβs gross. Thinking of Walsh like a brother.
I scrub my mind clean of that thought and demand myself never to do that again.
Rather, Iβll never forget all the ways in which Walsh provided me friendship and support in my formative years.
Yes⦠much better.
βCan I help you?β a man behind the concierge desk asks with a genuine and friendly smile. Not snooty as I would expect in a fancy hotel, and I guess that goes to the superior customer service The Royale strives for.
βYesβ¦ hi,β I say as I nervously tuck my hair behind my ears on both sides. βI need to see Mr. Brooks. How do I go about getting access to his apartment?β
Micah told me some time ago that Walsh lives here.
The concierge never loses his friendly smile, but a single eyebrow arches high at my temerity.
βOh, gosh,β I stammer. βThat came out stalkerish. Mr. Brooksβ¦ I mean, Walshβ¦ and I are longtime friends. He used to babysit me.β
βYour name?β the man asks as he pulls up something on his computer.
βJorie Pearce.β
After a moment of scanning, he looks up at me. βYour name isnβt on the approved list.β
βWell, heβs not exactly expecting me.β
βIβm sorry, Miss Pearce,β he says with true regret in his voice. βBut our policy is strict. No one gets up to the private penthouse without their name on the list.β
I lean on the desk with one elbow and lower my voice. βJust out of curiosityβ¦ are there any women on that list?β
The eyebrow shoots up again.
βNo, wait,β I say hastily as I hold my palms toward him in a silent plea to not process my last request either mentally or on the computer. βThatβs totally stalkerish, and I didnβt mean that.β
βMiss Pearce,β the concierge says, now with a hint of annoyance. βPerhaps youβd like to leave a message? I can get it up to Mr. Brooks today and he can call you.β
βNo, I need to see him now,β I tell him firmly. βAnd I swear itβs not to cook a rabbit in a pot on his stove. Can you please just call up to his apartment?β
βThatβs not our policyββ
βLook,β I snap as I lean across the desk slightly. βIβm a lifelong friend of Walshβs. My brother is his best friend. We lost touch for a few years, but we ran into each other last night. I really need to talk to him about something that happened last night, and Iβm not leaving this hotel until you call up to his apartment.β
The eyebrow doesnβt arch but it does draw inward to meet its match on the other side as he considers what I just said.
βI swear to you,β and here I pause to look at his name tag, βBentley. Please just call him. He wonβt be mad.β
With a sigh, he relents and picks up the phone receiver, punching in a five-digit number. After a pause, he says, βMr. Brooksβ¦ Iβm very sorry to disturb you, sir, but thereβs a Miss Jorie Pearce here to see you. She says sheβs a longtime friend.β
I watch as Bentley listens, but I canβt gauge whatβs being said as his face remains blank. Finally, he says, βVery good, sir.β
I take this to mean Iβll be getting an escort to the penthouse suite, but Bentley replaces the receiver and says, βIβm sorry, Miss Pearce. But Mr. Walsh told me to tell you heβs busy and canβt receive you right now.β
My eyes narrow at Bentley. βI donβt believe you. Call back and let me talk to him.β
βI assure you, I just talked to him and thatβs what he said.β
βCall him back,β I order as I point to the phone.
βI canβt,β he says almost with a wail. βIf I do, heβll fire me.β
Okay, that hits home. I donβt want to get anyone in trouble, so I say, βFine. Give me just a moment.β
I take a few steps away from the concierge desk and pull my iPhone out. I shoot off a quick text to Micah. Whatβs Walshβs phone number?
I wait a few moments, but I know Micah is awake in San Francisco at this hour. His phone is always on, and he never ignores a text from me.
He responds with the number before I can even start to tap my foot with impatience, adding on, Why?
I hate the lie, but I write back, Came to Vegas for the day. Thought Iβd see if he could meet up for lunch. Havenβt seen him in years.
Cool, he writes back. Tell him I said, βwhatβs up, douche?β
I roll my eyes as I text back, Real mature. Love ya. Later.
After I save the number to my contacts, I open a new text to Walsh. Let me up to see you or Iβm going straight back to The Wicked Horse to satisfy some further curiosities I have.
I hit send and then walk back to the concierge desk. I merely lean one elbow on it and watch Bentley with a silent smile. The phone rings about ten seconds after that.
Bentleyβs eyes fly to mine as he listens, and then says, βYes, sir. Right away.β
When he replaces the receiver, he says, βIβm to show you to the penthouse elevator.β
βThank you, Bentley,β I say brightly.
Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released more than 30 books and has been featured on both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists on multiple occasions.
A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active toddler, as well as full-time servant to two adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great work-out, cake, or a combination of the two.
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Shannon
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