The Road to Rose Bend by Naima Simone (best book club books of all time txt) 📕

He would’ve charged down the porch steps. Would’ve met her halfway. But once more, he was paralyzed. Only his heart and lungs worked, both pumping to keep him standing.

But when she dashed up the steps and crashed into him, leaping and wrapping him in her arms and legs, his body snapped back online. He locked his arms around her, crushing her. Part of his brain nagged that he might want to ease up his vise grip on her so she could breathe, but he couldn’t. And she didn’t complain. Which was good. Because again, he couldn’t let her go.

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” she chanted, breathless, scattering frantic kisses over his mouth, jaw, cheek, temple. “Jesus, I almost left you. I can’t leave you. I need you. I love you.”

Maddox laughed, joy pouring out of him. Joy and love. So much love for this woman.

“I was scared,” she said, cradling his face between her palms. “Hell, I’m still scared. But I’d rather face that fear here with you, us conquering it together, than be alone without you. I believe in you. I believe in your faith in us. And I’ll get there. I’ll get over my fear. Because God, I love you, Maddox Holt. I want you to be my home base.”

He took her mouth in a kiss, thrusting between her lips and claiming those words off her tongue. She gave him her all, holding back nothing from him. Offering him her honesty, her fears, her trust and most of all, her love.

And he would make sure she never had cause to regret it.

“You’re my heart, so I think it’s only fair that I’m your home.”

“No, Maddox,” she whispered, brushing a kiss over his lips. “You’re everything.”

Keep reading for an excerpt from The Last Little Secret by Zuri Day.

The Last Little Secret

by Zuri Day

One

“Mr. Breedlove, your two o’clock is here.”

“Thanks. Send her in.”

“Will do.”

“Hold my calls, Anita. I don’t want to be interrupted.”

“Got it, boss.”

Nick shut off the intercom and second-guessed his decision for the fifth or sixth time. For a decisive man like Nick Breedlove, that didn’t happen often. Hands down, Samantha Price was one of the best interior designers in the business, the only one he’d put complete confidence in to get him and the company out of an impossible jam. That she had become available was nothing short of a miracle. Hiring her was no doubt a sound business decision but personally, was it wise? He heard a soft knock and braced himself. If seeing her again caused the same reaction as last time, he might lose control of the meeting before it began. It had been more than four years but the memories from that night flooded his mind as though they’d happened just yesterday. The door opened. There she was. In the flesh. More beautiful than he remembered.

He stood, with hand outstretched. “Hello, Sam. It’s been a long time.”

“Hey, Nick,” Sam replied, her smile tight yet polite as she clasped his hand ever so briefly while maintaining a good distance between them.

Was she remembering, too? Was the attraction that threatened to tighten his groin and quicken his breathing a mutual situation?

“I appreciate you coming on such short notice,” he managed, a 007 coolness hiding a set of hormones suddenly raging as if he were fifteen instead of the twenty-seven he’d turned just a few short months ago. He willed his body to relax, behave and not embarrass them both. Get it together, bro!

“CANN International is one of the largest, most successful hotel developers in the world. Plus, with the urgency given to meeting as quickly as possible, I was curious and couldn’t resist.”

“Thank you for coming.”

Once again Nick willed away the untimely musings and forced his thoughts more fully into the present. He motioned for Sam to have a seat in one of two chairs facing his desk, while he returned to his executive chair. A wide, paper-strewn desk created a physical barrier between them. Nick was appreciative of being reminded about this meeting’s intent—all business, nothing personal. His body would do well to get the message, too.

He watched Sam place her briefcase on the floor, then sit back with squared shoulders. Professionalism oozed from her pores. Of course she wasn’t daydreaming about that night long ago. She’d made time for the company and a possible job, not for him. Nick mentally chastised himself for the moment of weakness that had taken him down memory lane, and the discipline it took to rein in his body now. No matter that her hands were softer than he remembered, the designer suit failed to hide those dangerous curves, and the subtle scent that tickled his nose when he’d neared her for that handshake had made him want to pull her into an embrace. If the interview went well and Sam joined his team, they’d be working very closely together. Too close for a casual sexual dalliance. He’d do well to stay focused and remember that.

“Can I get you anything before we begin?”

“No, thank you,” Sam replied. “I’m more than a little curious about what your assistant called an urgent matter but was unable to provide details.”

“As I’d instructed,” Nick said, leaning back in his chair. “I was equally intrigued with the news about you—that you were not only back in the States but here in Vegas and looking for clients.”

Sam crossed her legs in one graceful, fluid motion with no idea, Nick assumed, of how utterly sexy a move it was.

“How did you hear? Probably someone from the function I recently attended,” she continued before he could answer. “I did a great deal of networking to get the word out about the rebirth of Priceless Designs.”

“Possibly.” Nick shrugged. “It’s a small town. News travels fast. Especially when your mother is Victoria Breedlove.”

Sam smiled, this one genuine and relaxed. Her shoulders, tense and squared since entering his office, softened along with her face.

“How is your mother?”

“Still as nosy as she is wonderful.”

“I don’t know