Jessica Lemmon - The Man She Loves to Hate review

Oooh, this was a fun, fast-paced read that I was completely lost in! Rylee and Trick appear to be polar opposites from afar. But once they meet in person, they find out maybe they aren't as different as they first thought. And they are drawn to one another. I enjoyed seeing their relationship bloom. Trick really sees Rylee and wants to be there for her! I enjoyed their chemistry and wanted their romance to go beyond the wedding! Be sure not to let this book pass you by! 

It’s an upscale wedding planner versus a social media wedding crasher—Jessica Lemmon proves that even the most heated rivals can attract in the final installment of Texas Cattleman's Club: The Wedding.

She’s planned the wedding of the season…

Is she falling for the man determined to crash it?

Wedding planner Rylee Meadows will not let professional wedding crasher Patrick “Trick” MacArthur ruin her latest celebrity nuptials. They strike a bargain—he’ll film the prewedding events and her reputation will remain intact. As they work together, Trick encourages Rylee to let loose, and she soon discovers the infamous social media bad boy is really charming…and oh-so tempting. But that doesn’t change the fact he simply can’t be trusted! Not as a wedding guest…nor with her heart—no matter the promises he’s made…

From Harlequin Desire: Passionate and provocative stories featuring rich, powerful heroes and scandalous family sagas.

You’ll be swept away by this bold, sizzling romance, part of the Texas Cattleman's Club: The Wedding series:

Book 1: A Cowboy Kind of Thing by Reese Ryan
Book 2: Designs on a Rancher by LaQuette
Book 3: Four Weeks to Forever by Karen Booth
Book 4: Make Believe Match by Joanne Rock
Book 5: Oh So Wrong with Mr. Right by Nadine Gonzalez
Book 6: The Man She Loves to Hate by Jessica Lemmon

Jessica Lemmon - America’s Sweetheart review

 

A disgraced starlet returns home to lick her wounds, and discovers her high school sweetheart is as tempting as ever... 

America's Sweetheart by Jessica Lemmon is now live! 

 

Old flames burn bright. 

 

A disgraced starlet returns home to lick her wounds, and discovers her high school sweetheart is as tempting as ever… 

 

When Allison Murphy left for California, she gave herself a new name and never looked back. Now her carefully crafted good-girl image is getting torn to shreds in the press thanks to her Oscar-winning A-hole of an ex-boyfriend. She escapes to the only safe haven she knows and trusts—her hometown—to take a breather while she plots her triumphant Hollywood comeback. However, when Allie arrives at her parents’ house, Jackson Burke answers the door instead. And suddenly the past comes rushing back…

 

First kiss. First time. First love. Jackson Burke shared a lot of firsts with Allie back in the day. And when she left, she took half his heart with her. Except she’s back, and even though he swore he’d keep his distance, he finds himself directly in her path now that her parents have hired him to remodel their house. His plan? Finish the job. Ignore his ex. Until one hot kiss goes viral, and suddenly, they’re the next big celebrity couple. Jackson agrees to play the part for Allie's sake, but there’s zero chance he’ll allow her close enough to break his heart all over again.

 

 
"True love and steamy seduction, with a healthy dose of destiny, make this latest entry a success." -Library Journal, starred review

 

   Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Audible, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo!

 

Amazon: amzn.to/3Ym7z6n

Apple Books: bit.ly/40MKsCV

Nook: bit.ly/3GlaCEP

Kobo: bit.ly/3Ug9VlC

 

Audible: bit.ly/3KBYWji

Narrated by: Kathryn Lynhurst & Jason Clarke

 

Goodreads: bit.ly/40KMl34

 

 

Read the completed Real Love series now!

www.jessicalemmon.com/real-love

 

My Review

I adore Jessica Lemmon's books and this one was no exception! I was very quickly lost in Jackson and Allison's story. This was a book I found I couldn't put down. Ohhhh the feels! Jessica Lemmon is one who does a great job bringing her characters to life and gets the reader to feel for them. This second chance love story was captivating, endearing and I didn't want Jackson and Allison's story to end. She is a young, Hollywood star who trusted the wrong people and she finds herself back home while the dust settles. Allison is the last person Jackson expects to see again, yet the pull between them is still there. While they don't know each other anymore, the past is in front of them and they work on being friendly. Jackson has never forgotten his first love. He has tried to move on and he wasn't holding out hope for her, but when he unexpectedly sees her again, all bets are off. I enjoyed the way this story moves from each of their perspectives and the way the past intertwines with the now. I love a good second chance romance and this book didn't disappoint! This read was fantastic and if you're looking for a feel good, HEA, this is your book! Be sure to grab your copy! 

Meet Jessica

Jessica Lemmon is a former job-hopper who resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dogs. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she's not writing emotionally-charged stories, she spends her time drawing, drinking coffee, and laughing with friends. Her motto is Read for fun, and she believes we all should do more of what makes us happy.
 

Connect with Jessica

Website: www.jessicalemmon.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6551749.Jessica_Lemmon

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/jessicalemmon

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessicalemmonbooks

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/lemmondrops

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jlemmony/

Twitter: twitter.com/lemmony

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@jesslemmon

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/profile/jessica-lemmon

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/lemmony/

Jessica Lemmon - Rumor Has It review

If you have read Man Candy, Barrett is Dax's friend. (Don't worry, you can read this one without reading the other, but reading the connected books is fun!) So I was looking forward to seeing how life was treating him.  I love a good forced proximity and this book did not disappoint! Catarina is out there, doing what she loves and does best and Barrett is trying to get back to a job he does love. Barrett and Catarina are an unlikely duo. But their boss says otherwise! I loved the banter and interactions between them. There is definite chemistry between them and the "dates" they have to go on cause them to get a little closer, even if they don't want to. This was a delicious read and I didn't want it to end! I can't recommend this book enough! Do yourself a favor and get it!

This is one bad boy who’s fit to print. A notorious jock tackles life—and love—after football with a type-A journalist in this sexy bad-boy romcom.

As a former pro football star, Barrett Fox is used to playing the field. After injuries cut his NFL career short, his second act as a broadcaster ended when a hot mic moment got him cancelled. But this latest publicity stunt might just land him back on top—much to the chagrin of Catarina Everhart, the uptight, beautiful journalist who’s been assigned to date a “bad boy” and tell the tale. She swears he’ll never touch her, let alone kiss her, which is exactly the kind of challenge Barrett is up for…

The cocky egomaniac assigned to partner with Catarina on this project seems to be doing everything in his power to make her hate him. Barrett is infamous for his bad behavior, and now, thanks to her boss’s harebrained schemes, he’s apparently Catarina’s problem. But as one fake date leads to another, she starts to see a different side of Barrett that the public doesn’t know about. He’s close with his family. He does volunteer work. He kisses like a dream. Risking her hard-won reputation is one thing, but risking her heart is a whole other ballgame…

Jessica Lemmon - Man Candy review

Dax and Becca are a fun couple. I love a good forced proximity read and this one hit all the right spots!  I ADORED this read and couldn't put it down. I loved the opening of this book. Becca is working for her brother, Tad, and he's all bark and no bite with her. She takes him with a grain of salt and it's amusing. Becca is working for family while she figures out what she wants to do with her life. She's not looking for a guy when Dax shows up. She can't ignore his presence. Their chemistry was palpable and stronger than anything they had ever experienced. I was lost in their journey and wanted things to work out between them. Their push/pull was delicious and Dax was quite the charmer. I loved the way he was with Becca. Man candy, indeed! He, too, is struggling with things in his past and Becca understood him. I loved getting lost in their story and think you will too!

Is there room for two in that sleeping bag? When it comes to love, a chiseled loner takes the scenic route in this irresistibly charming romcom.

After spending months buried up to his eyeballs in his family’s affairs, Dax Vaughn is ready for a break. The kind of break where he can spend two solid weeks camping and fishing in the company of absolutely no one. Then he finds himself directly in the path of a drop-dead gorgeous tornado by the name of Becca Stone. When she offers a no-strings night, he can’t say yes fast enough. The last thing he expects is for her to show up on his cabin doorstep the next evening, shivering in the rain and asking if she can stay.

One minute Becca is admiring the rock-hard jaw of the sexy stranger who walks into her bar, and the next she’s being fired by her own brother. Loudly. And in front of everyone. Luckily, Dax Vaughn aims his white-hot smile at her. Oh, it’s on. When a torrential storm washes out the main road and causes a massive power outage, Dax and Becca decide to spend two weeks in each other’s company before parting ways permanently. At least that was the plan… up until their hearts became involved…

“Explosive chemistry, real characters, and a lot of heart!” —USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy

Jessica Lemmon - Eye Candy review

I was so excited to dive into this book from Jessica Lemmon. If it has her name on it, I know it's going to be good! This book was so fun and easy to get lost in. It hooked me right away and I was taken by Jacqueline and Vince. They had built up an easy friendship and because of their dating/marriage situations upon first meeting, that's all it ever was. So they had a solid foundation behind them when things started to shift. And it was one that was so delicious and utterly sweet that I found myself swooning many times through this read. THE FEELS were real, ya'll! This book moved (too) quickly for me as I wanted to stay immersed in their world. If you need a fun, sweet and sassy friends to lovers read, GRAB THIS BOOK! It's soooo good! 

Don't trust lust at first sight. A “bubbly and sizzling rom-com” with a light love triangle and an absolutely swoon-worthy hero.

Every morning, a gorgeous mystery man jogs by Jacqueline Butler’s office window, tempting her to break her “no dating” rule. She’s good with ogling him from afar, but her best friend-slash-colleague Vince Carson suggests she do more than stare—he wants her to ask the runner out.

Vince knows his best friend Jackie better than she knows herself, and the last thing she needs is a date with a pompous, swole jackass. But after being friend-zoned big-time, Vince can’t exactly ask her out himself. Encouraging her to pursue a guy who is all muscle and no substance will not only get Jackie off the bench, but will also open her eyes to the fact that Vince is the right man for her.

Vince takes Jackie on practice dates, promising to help her hone her skills, but can’t resist edging the fake romance into reality. After a ridiculously epic kiss, Jackie sees a sexier side of Vince, and suddenly anything is possible…

“Truly the perfect romantic comedy—the banter made me grin, the sexual tension had me breathless, and the perfect happy ending left me smiling long after the book was done.”—New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne

Jessica Lemmon - Bad Boy Crush review

I just loved this book! It was sweet, lighthearted and easy to get lost in! Ant and Lou go way back. And their friendship fell apart when he didn't communicate something important to her. But life has brought them back together and the chemistry between them was palpable through the pages. I enjoyed the friendship and watching as that evolved. I liked how Ant supported Lou and was there for her when she needed it. And Lou was his biggest supporter as well. This was a book I hated when it was over! 

A stormy past leads to an unexpected reunion.

Lourdes Daniels’s divorce came with a fallout: losing close friend Anthony Renaldo. Now she’s ready to heal their rift under one condition…this time, she’s protecting her heart at all costs. But when a surprise and very public kiss fast tracks them to the bedroom, Lourdes is suddenly seeing Anthony in an entirely new way…

After spending five years at arm’s length from Lourdes, chainsaw artist Anthony Renaldo isn’t about to miss his second chance. Proving his prowess in bed is easy, but getting Lourdes onboard for more is practically impossible. He has a choice to make: settle for less with Lourdes once again, or convince her that he’s worth the risk.

Jessica Lemmon - An Ex to Remember review

Vic had always loved Aubrey but he was hard-headed and made a mistake when he was younger. Their lives drifted apart but she was the one who got away from him. Aubrey was a teacher, well-respected and had no desire to speak to Vic. One day changed everything. I really enjoyed this read! I was here for the fact that Aubrey thought one thing, but Vic knew what was at stake. The amnesia gave her time to get to know him again and he was learning a new version of her as well. Their romance was a bit sweet, spicy and palpable through the pages! Having Aubrey back in his life, Vic found her to be a big supporter of his. She is there for him when others haven't been. While their second chance start may have started out of the ordinary, their romance was real. I loved this book and couldn't put it down! Jessica Lemmon romances are my favorite!

What happens when you wake up with amnesia, believing your ex-boyfriend is your current boyfriend? Find out in this fun and flirty Texas Cattleman's Club: Ranchers and Rivals novel from Jessica Lemmon!

He always wanted a second chance with her…

All it took was a little amnesia.

Temptation. That’s what made rancher Vic Grandin ask his former flame Aubrey Collins to go home with him. But when Aubrey loses her memory the very next day, she thinks Vic is her current boyfriend—not her ex—complete with the same explosive chemistry they've always shared. Not ready to confess the truth of their breakup, he plays along. But will Aubrey go her own way again once she remembers the truth?

From Harlequin Desire: A luxurious world of bold encounters and sizzling chemistry.

You’ll be swept away by this bold, sizzling romance, part of the Texas Cattleman's Club: Ranchers and Rivals series:

Book 1: Staking a Claim by Janice Maynard
Book 2: Boyfriend Lessons by Sophia Singh Sasson
Book 3: On Opposite Sides by Cat Schield
Book 4: Rivalry at Play by Nadine Gonzalez
Book 5: Vacation Crush by Yahrah St. John
Book 6: An Ex to Remember by Jessica Lemmon
Book 7: Cinderella Masquerade by LaQuette
Book 8: One Christmas Night by Jules Bennett
Book 9: Rancher After Midnight by Karen Booth

Jessica Lemmon - Million-Dollar Consequences review

I just adore Jessica Lemmon books and this one didn't disappoint! Isaac has found himself in a predicament. But upon meeting Meghan he realizes he has a way out. I mean, if it worked for his brother, it could work for him, right?! These two are thrown together and the chemistry between them was off the charts! They went into things knowing it wasn't real, but the chemistry couldn't be faked. This was a fun story to get lost in and I didn't want to put this book down. Be sure to grab this great read!

They're faking it for his fans—and now there’s a baby on the way! Only in this Dunn Brothers novel by Jessica Lemmon.

From pretense to pregnancy…

things just got real!

Scoring an interview with actor Isaac Dunn is a dream come true for podcaster Meghan Squire. But when he asks her to be his pretend girlfriend, she has to pinch herself to see if she’s dreaming! The arrangement is just for a while. Just to keep the press at bay. Easy enough. At least until their attraction proves anything but fake and results in a pregnancy. Suddenly the million-dollar question is if they’re ready to make a real commitment…

From Harlequin Desire: A luxurious world of bold encounters and sizzling chemistry.

Love triumphs in these uplifting romances, part of The Dunn Brothers series:

Book 1: Million-Dollar Mix-Up
Book 2: Million-Dollar Consequences

Jessica Lemmon - Million-Dollar Mix-Up review

I don't know about you, but I love a good twin swap! This book was fun and easy to get lost in! I was completely immersed in Kendall and Max's story and I didn't want to put it down. Kendall is determined to get her job done and Max is just determined. He has stepped away from Hollywood, but he can't leave a woman stranded. Soon Kendall gets Max to thaw a bit and the chemistry between them was SMOKING HOT! This story had the right amount of heat and heart. Do yourself a favor and go grab this read today!

The ultimate twin switch leads to snowbound mischief in this Dunn Brothers novel by Jessica Lemmon.

This twin switch will save her business—
as long as it doesn't get personal…

Talent agent Kendall Squire desperately needs actor Max Dunn to leave his self-imposed retirement. As the agent for his identical twin brother, Kendall may have signed up her client to do a commercial without finalizing one tiny detail: his availability. Max would be the perfect stand-in, but when she goes to his mountaintop cabin to pitch the idea, they end up trapped by a blizzard. Soon, convincing Max to pose as his twin gives way to a much more intimate negotiation…

From Harlequin Desire: A luxurious world of bold encounters and sizzling chemistry.

Love triumphs in this uplifting romance, part of The Dunn Brothers series:

Book 1: Million-Dollar Mix-Up

Jessica Lemmon - Billionaire Ever After review

OMG! I loooooooooooooved this book! I couldn't read it fast enough. I loved the chemistry between Talia and Archer. They had it in spades and things quickly heated up between them. I adored the way Archer appreciated Talia for her brains. He knew she had a lot to offer in the business world and she made him work for it! Their banter was fun and playful and their relationship felt realistic. This book put a smile on my face and I simply loved everything about it. It was a great, feel good read! Don't let this book pass you by!                                       

From bestselling author Jessica Lemmon, comes a tale of a woman refusing to be tied down, and the man who isn’t willing to give up forever with her…

“If that’s bourbon, I’m going to have to ask you to marry me.”

Once upon a time, I met Talia Richards at a charity fundraiser, and my world stopped on a dime. When she proposed I work with her on a project, I leapt at the chance. Months later, I’ve only seen her twice since that fateful night. Twice. I’m dying.

The day I cave in and fly out to visit her, I watch as she is unfairly fired by a pair of dimwits—one of which is quickly acquainted with my fist. I sweep in and offer Talia a contract to work for me, as long as she doesn’t mind moving into the townhouse next door…

A balcony away, she’s driving me crazy in the best way imaginable. She’s in my bed, her long dark hair tangled around my limbs as well as my heart. She keeps reminding me she’s going home soon. Now to convince her that what we have is as rare and wild as she is… Here goes nothin’.

. . .

The Blue Collar Billionaires series

Book 1: Once Upon a Billionaire

Book 2: Charmed by the Billionaire

Book 3: Billionaire Ever After

Jessica Lemmon - Good Twin Gone Country review

Oh this book was so cute and fun to get lost in! Gavin is the bad boy, the brother with the reputation. Hallie is the overlooked sister and doesn't take chances. Until now. She feels safe with Gavin and wants him to show her how to have fun. I liked how she let him lead her and he never pressured her to do anything she didn't want to do. Soon, she was able to just be herself around him. And oh the chemistry between them! *fans self* Gavin saw her for who she was, and not her sister. She was given more than she ever thought she would all because she was willing to break a few rules! I can't recommend this book enough!

What happens when a good girl asks a bad boy to help her break all the rules? Find out in this Dynasties: Beaumont Bay novel by Jessica Lemmon.

“Please show me how to break a few rules…”

Hallie Banks is done being “the good twin,” living in her superstar sister’s shadow. But what does she know about letting loose and having fun? She needs a teacher, and fortunately, gorgeous bachelor bad boy Gavin Sutherland is up for the job. Soon Hallie bursts out of her comfort zone and loses herself to Gavin's sizzling touch. But living on the edge always comes with a cost…and now the moment of reckoning is nine months away!

From Harlequin Desire: Luxury, scandal, desire—welcome to the lives of the American elite.

Love triumphs in these uplifting romances, part of the Dynasties: Beaumont Bay series:

Book 1: Twin Games in Music City by Jules Bennett
Book 2: Second Chance Love Song by Jessica Lemmon
Book 3: Fake Engagement, Nashville Style by Jules Bennett
Book 4: Good Twin Gone Country by Jessica Lemmon

Jessica Lemmon - Second Chance Love Song review

This book was so cute and such a fun and delicious read! I was here for Cash and Presley! She was the one he let get away. Presley has moved on from Cash, but they've been circling each other for years. She's friends with his brothers but they haven't been around each other in awhile. Who doesn't love a good second chance?! Work has thrown them together and the chemistry is STILL there! *fans self* There's an ease between them. I enjoyed seeing them spend time together and get to know each other again. This story gave me ALL. THE. FEELS. and I didn't want their story to end! I was completely lost in this sweet read and I can't recommend it enough! 

There’s no place like Nashville for discovering all the secrets your ex has been keeping—a Dynasties: Beaumont Bay novel by Jessica Lemmon.

He chose country music over the one who got away.  

Well, now she’s back…

Country music star Cash Sutherland is too successful for his own good. Seen as a bad boy in need of redeeming, he and his label are doing all they can to revamp his reputation. They’ve even hired eager journalist Presley Cole, who’s ready and willing to print the cover story that will make both their careers. The only problem? She’s the woman he left behind, and she’s not ready to forgive him for breaking her heart…

From Harlequin Desire: Luxury, scandal, desire—welcome to the lives of the American elite.

Love triumphs in these uplifting romances, part of the Dynasties: Beaumont Bay series:

Book 1: Twin Games in Music City by Jules Bennett
Book 2: Second Chance Love Song by Jessica Lemmon
Book 3: Fake Engagement, Nashville Style by Jules Bennett
Book 4: Good Twin Gone Country by Jessica Lemmon

Jessica Lemmon - One Last Kiss

Ooh this was a fun and delicious read! I haven't read the other books in the series, but I didn't feel lost. Also, I look forward to going back and reading those missed books! I was very quickly lost in Gia and Jayson's story. They were really good together, until they weren't. Communication was lost between them, but even after the divorce, they weren't out of each others lives. I enjoyed the pull and the banter between them. And while they said one thing, they still loved each other. Everyone could see it, but them! I loved watching this couple reconnect and try not to fall in love again but Jessica made them work for it! I couldn't put this book down and I can't recommend it enough. 

A temptation these exes can’t resist!

Their second chance starts with an explosive kiss.

And that’s just the beginning.

Gia Knox-Cooper and Jayson Cooper have the “perfect” divorce—they work well together and Jayson remains close with Gia’s billionaire family. But this weekend, an intimate family wedding will reveal the secret truth. Because underneath the surface, something else is simmering. And all it takes is one searing-hot kiss to unleash a passion that could incinerate their entire world…

Jessica Lemmon - America's Sweetheart review and excerpt

AMERICA’S SWEETHEART

By Jessica Lemmon

On Sale October 2^nd | Ballantine/Loveswept

   ISBN: 9781101969489 | Pages 210 | Price: $4.99

              

Old flames burn bright. When a disgraced starlet returns home to lick her wounds, she discovers that her high school sweetheart is just as tempting as ever.

Allison: When I left for California, I gave myself a new name and never looked back. Now my carefully crafted good-girl image is getting torn to shreds in the press thanks to my Oscar-winning A-hole of an ex-boyfriend. So I escape to the only safe haven I know and trust—my hometown—to take a breather while I plot my triumphant Hollywood comeback. However, when I arrive at my parents’ house, Jackson Burke answers the door instead. And suddenly the past comes rushing back . . .

Jackson: First kiss. First time. First love. Yep, Allison Murphy and I shared a lot of firsts back in the day. When she left, she took half my heart with her. Now she’s back in town, and even though I swore I’d keep my distance, her parents hired me to remodel their house, and I’m going to finish the job. But one hot kiss later, suddenly the press is calling us the next big celebrity couple. Sure, I’ll play the part, for Allison’s sake—but I refuse to let her close enough to break my heart all over again . . . 

My Review

I adore Jessica Lemmon's books and this one was no exception! I was very quickly lost in Jackson and Allison's story.  This was a book I found I couldn't put down.  Ohhhh the feels! Jessica Lemmon is one who does a great job bringing her characters to life and gets the reader to feel for them. This second chance love story was captivating, endearing and I didn't want Jackson and Allison's story to end.  She is a young, Hollywood star who trusted the wrong people and she finds herself back home while the dust settles.  Allison is the last person Jackson expects to see again, yet the pull between them is still there.  While they don't know each other anymore, the past is in front of them and they work on being friendly.  I enjoyed the way this story moves from each of their perspectives and the way the past intertwines with the now.  The reader gets snippets of their history as memories and displays their young love. This read was fantastic and if you're looking for a feel good, HEA, this is your book! Be sure to grab your copy! 

Excerpt

After a quick trip downtown, I arrive at the Murphy household Monday afternoon. I’m carrying two milkshakes, one strawberry for Allie and one chocolate–peanut butter for myself. I’m not sure if she wants one or if she’s on some weird Hollywood diet that prohibits her from drinking it, but I want to apologize and flowers seem . . . wrong.

I hesitate at the door before knocking. Tommy and Daryl are on another site today, since we’re still waiting on lumber for the deck here. We need to paint the closet, too, but I wanted to check with Allie’s schedule before filling the house with paint fumes.

The door swings aside, revealing the future receiver of a milkshake. Allie is wearing a short, short miniskirt, her legs temptingly bare. She’s given a few inches of height thanks to a pair of tall sandals, and I absolutely do not linger on the hot pink toenail polish. I jerk my eyes north, encountering several thin gold bracelets and necklaces on the way. Her hair is swept up on top of her head, a pencil jutting out of the sloppy bun.

Wide brown eyes take inventory of me—but I can’t tell if she approves of my uniform of well-worn Levi’s and a white T-shirt or not.

“Milkshake?” I offer awkwardly. We’re not what we used to be to each other and we’re not interested in being anything else. It’s an odd limbo.

“What flavor?” Her eyebrows arch with interest.

“Strawberry. It’s from UDF. Your favorite.” I frown in thought. “Or it used to be, anyway. There’s a smoothie shack in town, but I wasn’t sure if you were a shot-of-wheatgrass kind of girl or if you liked fruit.”

Yep. Definitely not getting any less awkward.

“So you bought me a milkshake,” she states.

“Yeah.”

“It’s not like I’m preparing for a part anyway.” She holds out her hand and I place the cold cup in it. Our fingers brush and that subtle touch stirs some unnamed thing between us. For me, anyway.

She shuffles aside and invites me in. “I didn’t think you were working today.”

I step into the foyer. The A/C is cranked and it feels fantastic.

“My guys aren’t, but there are things I can do. We’ll need to paint here in the next week or so. If you can arrange to be away for a day, it’d probably be better than breathing fumes.”

She puts the straw to her lips and sucks the pink milkshake into her mouth. Her eyes close and she lets out an Mmm that borders on orgasmic.

“It’s been forever since I’ve had a milkshake. Like, a real one.” Her gaze softens on mine, her smile easy. She used to look at me like that all the time. And when she did, I never was able to resist pulling her close, bending low, and kissing her mouth.

“Live a little. Or a lot. It’s your vacation.” I clear my throat to dislodge the lust clogging it. “Or whatever this is.”

“Hiatus.” She quirks one eyebrow.

“What’s with the pencil?”

She reaches up and plucks it from her hair. “Oh, right. I forgot about that. I was having trouble typing out my ideas, so I found a pencil in the junk drawer and went on a search for paper. I thought maybe changing my medium might help the ideas flow better.”

“Writing?”

“Yeah.” Shyly, she looks away. “I had this idea for a screenplay. I don’t know. It’s probably stupid, but I need something to do besides sit around and read articles about myself.”

A shrill beep, beep, beep comes from the kitchen.

“My oven fries are done. Want some?”

“With my milkshake? Hell, yeah.” We share a smile and I wonder if she’s remembering the many, many fries she’d dipped into one Wendy’s Frosty or another during the summers when we went out.

Positioned at the stove, she scoops the fries from pan to plate and serves them on the island with a bottle of ketchup riding sidecar. We dig in, each pulling the lids off our shakes and dunking a hot fry into the ice cream, reserving the ketchup for later. Or maybe not at all.

“Strawberry’s still my favorite.” She smiles up at me.

“Good.”

We both reach for another fry.

“I’m not sure where I stand with you,” she says. “We used to be great friends, and then . . . you know, boyfriend and girlfriend, and then we broke up. Now we’re something else. Not strangers but not friends.”

I don’t comment since there’s nothing to say. She’s right. We’re not strangers and we’re not friends.

“Do you think we could be? If not friends, then friendly?”

“Friendly.” I grunt the word. It’s unflattering and makes me sound like a golden retriever.

“We’re capable of amicability if the milkshakes and fries are any indicator.” She gestures with a fry. “And I’m going to see you on and off with this project you have going on for Mom and Dad. It would be nice if we could coexist.”

“Have you talked to them yet?” I ask rather than weigh in on the are-we-or-aren’t-we conversation she spearheaded. It’s too loaded. There are a lot of variables.

“I texted my dad to tell him to have fun and tell Mom I love her. I asked her if she was worried and he said yes, but he assured her that I was a big girl and everything would turn out fine. I hope he’s right about everything turning out fine.” She presses her lips together as if turning over how much more to share. Finally, she says, “I mentioned I was staying here. He said they felt better that you were around so that I wouldn’t be alone.”

Basically what my Mom had hinted at. Allie was home and upset and she needed a friend. All eyes are on me. Evidently I am a golden retriever.

“It’s bigger than I realized,” I admit. “The media attention on you.”

Her eyebrows jump.

“Did you do it?”

“Are you asking if I stole the Oscar from Millie?”

“Yeah.”

“You want to know if I showed up at her party, at her house where I’ve never been before, and snatched an Academy Award off her shelf? Haven’t you heard the news? Seen the photos? I’m carrying it under a coat on the way to the valet at Millie’s house. It was Nina in the den with the Oscar!”

I could do without the smart-ass comments.

“It doesn’t matter what happened,” she continues, somber, “only how it’s being perceived. In Hollywood you’re guilty until proven innocent, and if you’re proven innocent later the damage to your reputation is already done. There’s a reason the saying ‘You’ll never work in this town again’ exists.”

I’m beginning to think that my mom was right. Maybe Allie didn’t do it.

“Friendly,” I say, looping back to our earlier conversation. It seems safer than this one. “Surely we can manage that.”

About the Author

A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing about super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.