Carly Phillips – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Carly Phillips – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:01:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.books2020.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Carly Phillips – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.books2020.com 32 32 Always Sexy Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/always-sexy-read-online-carly-phillips Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:01:09 +0000 https://www.books2020.com/always-sexy-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Carly Phillips Advertisement

Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)

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She’s a single mom chasing a better life.
I’m a professor trying to rebuild mine.
One kiss could destroy us both.

After a false accusation nearly ended my career, I’ve spent years clawing my way back. Tenure is finally within reach—proof that my reputation is clean and my past is behind me.

Then she walks into my classroom.

A gorgeous blonde with endless legs, sharp eyes, and a smile that makes it impossible to think straight.

Amber Davis is smart, determined… and completely off-limits.

Because she’s my student.

As a single mom working toward a better future, she can’t afford scandal. And after everything I’ve been through, one rumor could end my career for good.

But the pull between us is impossible to ignore.

One stolen kiss becomes another.
One secret becomes something deeper.

We both know the risk.

If anyone finds out, it will ruin us.

But the most dangerous truth?

The rumors are real.

Perfect for readers who love forbidden professor/student romance, single mom heroines, reformed billionaire heroes, workplace and campus romance, high-stakes secret relationships, sizzling tension, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

* Formerly titled Sexy Love, previously released as a 1001 Dark Nights novella. This title has been re-edited into first person point of view and has a new cover, but the story is the same as the original

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Amber

I insert the key into the lock and open the door to my new home, a simple one-story ranch that represents a whole new life in a brand-new state.

“Surprise!”

I jerk back, startled, as I realize the most important people in my life are here to greet me.

“Uncle Landon!” My ten-year-old son, L.J., dashes past me and runs into his uncle’s arms. Landon’s twin, Levi, who passed away before I knew I was pregnant, was L.J.’s father.

Standing beside Landon are Tanner Grayson and Jason Dare, my son’s other godparents, the men who made it possible for me to purchase this house with their generosity. When I look at these three men, who I’ve known for the last ten years, I see three handsome, accomplished guys who worked hard to get where they are in life. Who overcame pain and hardship and stuck together through it all, including me in their long-term, deep friendship. They are like brothers to me and uncles to my son. With their brown hair in varying shades and muscular forms, at a glance they could be brothers, although on inspection, each has their own distinctive look. They only recently found their own happily ever afters, and I am so thrilled for them all.

“Welcome home,” Jason says, pulling me into a hug, then passing me to Tanner and then to Landon, who still has his arm around his nephew.

“Can I go check out the rest of the house?” L.J. asks.

I nod, looking around the still-empty space. The movers will be here later this afternoon. “Go for it.”

He dashes off, the echo of his footsteps and shrieks of excitement bouncing off the walls and making me smile.

“What are you guys doing here? You’re supposed to be in Manhattan.” And in a little while, Landon’s parents, L.J.’s grandparents, are due to arrive and take him to the city for his summer adventure, leaving me ready to start one of my own.

“We decided to surprise you. Help you unpack and move in,” Landon says with a grin. He’s always been easygoing, even after the tragedy that befell all of us.

They never fail to do right by me, and I smile. “You didn’t have to drop everything for me. You already helped enough, lending me the money to buy this place.” Something I feel guilty about already.

“Giving you the money,” they all say at the same time.

I shoot them a glare. They all know how important it is for me to be independent just like I understand why they feel obligated to help me. Not just because Levi was Landon’s twin but because all three men were there the night he died in a tragic college hazing incident when the guys were freshmen, and I was a sophomore, and they feel guilty for not being able to prevent his death.

I discovered I was pregnant while I was grieving, but the guys were always there for me. As have Landon’s mom and dad, Carrie and Samuel Bennett, as well as my own parents, Lydia and John, in Florida. When I quit college, packed up, and moved home, they stepped in to help me raise my son.

“Mom, look at the size of my room!” L.J. calls to me.

Laughing, I shoot the guys a warning look and head toward the hallway leading to the two bedrooms in the house, hearing their footsteps behind me.

“Do you like it?” I ask from the doorway of the room across from my own.

“It’s going to be cool. You said we could paint it blue, right?”

“Light blue,” I remind him. I don’t want a dark-looking tomb for my son’s bedroom.

“Can I get a Spiderman Fathead?” he asks of the life-size removable wall decal he’s been asking for … for what feels like forever.

“Of course—oomph.”

I shove my elbow into Tanner’s side as he answers without asking me.

I’ve been saving to buy it and have already decided the superhero will be on L.J.’s wall when he returns from his trip in a few weeks.

“We’ll see,” I say, ruffling his hair. I want the gift to be a surprise.

“Stop spoiling him,” I mutter under my breath to the guys.

Just because they own a hugely successful nightclub in Manhattan and can afford whatever they want doesn’t mean I will take advantage. I already feel guilty for how much they are doing for me now, paying for this house and my classes. But I desire to make a better, more secure life for L.J., and borrowing money allows me to get my degree in education and hopefully a minor in business.

I’ve already been taking classes part-time at home in Florida, and I need the ability to complete my studies more quickly and obtain a job that gives me summers off for my son. The guys have offered their financial help for a while. I’ve just been too proud, reluctant, and scared to accept.

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Advertisement Falling for Trouble (Dare to Fall #1) Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/falling-for-trouble-dare-to-fall-1-read-online-carly-phillips Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:21:23 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/falling-for-trouble-dare-to-fall-1-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Forbidden, Suspense Authors: Carly Phillips Series: Dare to Fall Series by Carly Phillips
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Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)

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Brother’s Best Friend • Forbidden Romance • Billionaire Protector • Miami Heat • A Dare Family Series Story

He’s the bad boy my family warned me about—and the one man I can’t have.

I just landed the job of my dreams—planning the Miami Thunder football team’s anniversary celebration—and I can’t afford distractions. Especially not tattooed billionaire and reformed troublemaker Lucas Carras. He exudes alpha-hero intensity, but he’s been off limits for as long as I’ve known him.

But the kickoff party is happening at the nightclub he co-owns with my brother… and with my sibling out of town, I’m stuck working with Lucas.

Forced proximity ignites the desire we’ve both been pretending doesn’t exist. From bedrooms to storage rooms, the scorching tension causes us to cross every line we swore we wouldn’t. On paper, we’re complete opposites. In reality, the chemistry is undeniable.

This party is everything I’ve worked for—my moment to prove myself. Until the sabotage starts.

Orders vanish. Vendors back out. Someone is determined to ruin the anniversary… and my reputation along with it.

Suddenly Lucas isn’t just a distraction. He’s my protector, my anchor, and the only man I trust to stand by my side.

But when my brother finds out about us, family drama explodes. And I’m torn between being the good girl who plays by the rules... and falling for trouble.

Perfect for fans of Carly Phillips and high-heat sports romance, Falling for Trouble features a possessive hero, high-stakes suspense, and a guaranteed HEA

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Rainey

It’s past eight p.m. and I stare at my phone, willing the damn thing to ring, but it remains silent.

Calm down, I tell myself.

Either Golden Palm Events, the company I co-own with my best friend, Kaylee Martin, will win the bid for the Miami Thunder football team’s 50th anniversary celebration or we won’t. But I need the stress of not knowing to end. We were assured an answer tonight, so we wait. Even Ashlynn, our receptionist, has gone home for the day.

“You do realize watching your phone won’t make it ring faster?” Kaylee asks, as she sits at her desk, calmly drinking from her water bottle.

My stomach isn’t just swirling in anticipation, it’s rumbling with hunger, yet I’m too nervous to eat. “Winning this bid could put us on the map,” I remind her. Not to mention give us badly needed positive press so we can finally put the past behind us.

My partner runs a hand through her blonde, highlighted hair and tucks a few strands behind her ear. “We’re doing very well as it is. Do I want this job? More than anything, but it isn’t worth the stress you’re putting on yourself. Besides, did you forget your father owns the team?”

I shake my head because nepotism is the last reason I want this job. “That is exactly why I told him I want us to earn this opportunity on merit, or I don’t want it at all. Besides, it’s not just up to my dad, it’s a group decision. And even if we legitimately get the opportunity to handle the Thunder’s anniversary events, there are those who will scream preferential treatment anyway.” I’ll just have to work extra hard to prove myself.

Something I’ve been doing ever since being publicly accused of acting unprofessionally by a disappointed client who’d destroyed our reputation on social media and in the business circles where we want to work. In truth, the gentleman—and I use that term loosely—had been impossible to please and nothing I did for his event satisfied him.

Kaylee sighs. “People suck. Especially Gregory Atwater. But forget about the past. You must admit we nailed the Thunder presentation.”

In front of my father, the general manager, the coach, and the head of PR, we gave a demonstration of our ideas for the season-long campaign. Even I can admit it was our best presentation to date. “We did an amazing job and no matter what happens, I’m proud of us.”

“Me too,” Kaylee says with a smile. “And don’t worry about anyone claiming nepotism because we’ll do such a great job, they’ll forget your father is Ian Dare.”

Unable to help myself, I snort. “Nobody will ever forget I’m Ian Dare’s daughter.” Don’t get me wrong, I love both of my parents. My mom and I are super close, and I’ve always been a daddy’s girl. Until it came to building my business.

Golden Palm Events is my pride and joy, and Kaylee and I have always been determined to make it in the corporate event planning world on our own and not thanks to my family name. The Dares are huge in football circles and not only because my father owns the team. My uncle Alex used to be the star quarterback for the Tampa Breakers, the Thunder’s biggest rivals. Alex and my dad now work together on concussion protocol, CTE, and preparing young rookies for post-football life. Not to mention most of my family has worked or still works for the Thunder in some capacity. Every one of my relatives has offered to refer our business to their friends.

I politely refused. I’m lucky enough to have a trust fund that gave me the start-up money but everything else came from hard work and dedication, not family connections. Even after the initial social media hit that nearly destroyed us, we’re accomplishing our goal. We already have a stellar list of clients, but there is no denying this party would put us at the top.

“Who else pitched?” Kaylee asks. “Do you know?”

I have inside connections and information thanks to Aunt Olivia and Uncle Dylan, who both work in the front office. I think about the names she gave me. “Angela Gunn pitched ideas, but she’s a force in wedding and social party planning, not corporate events. Maybe she’s looking to expand, but she doesn’t have the résumé or the experience we do.”

Kaylee nods. “I agree. I assume Blaire Reynolds put in a bid?”

I groan as I reply. “She did.” Blaire owns what I can only call our biggest rival company.

No matter the opportunity, Sun Coast Events, Blaire’s business, is always up against us. More often than not, we win based on our talent. I can only hope it’s the same with the Thunder account.

I pace the room while Kaylee texts on her phone and the minutes drag by. Finally, I turn to her. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. I’ll be right—”

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Advertisement Just One Wish (The Kingston Family #6) Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/just-one-wish-the-kingston-family-6-read-online-carly-phillips Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:20:28 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/just-one-wish-the-kingston-family-6-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Carly Phillips Series: The Kingston Family Series by Carly Phillips
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Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)

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Second Chance Romance • Rockstar Hero • First Love • Small-Town Reunion • Forced Proximity • He Falls First

Tara Stillman was my first love.
And I was hers.
We broke up to chase our dreams—hers steady and close to home, mine loud and far away.

I became a world-famous drummer.
She became a veterinarian.
Years later, I’m scrolling social media and realize we’re both in the Hamptons. Same town. Same summer. That’s not coincidence—it’s fate daring me to try again.
So I borrow my friend’s dog and walk into Tara’s office like I never left.
Seeing her brings everything rushing back—the history, the longing, the way she still feels like home.
I lost her once chasing the wrong dream. I’m not making that mistake again.
I want a second chance with the woman who got away.
And this time, I’m not letting her go.

Just One Wish is a sexy, emotional romance featuring a devoted hero, a second chance, and the kind of first love that never really dies.
Originally published as part of 1001 Dark Nights. Same story, new cover

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Axel

I adjust my sunglasses and lean back against a lounge chair, grateful for the first warm, summerlike day in June in the Hamptons. Xander Kingston’s dog, Bella, sits by my side.

An extra pair of glasses lies on the table beside me. I pick them up and prop them over the golden retriever’s eyes. “There you go, girl. That’s better, isn’t it?” I pat her on the head, and she stretches out on the ground, leaving the glasses in place.

I tip my head up to the sky and close my eyes, enjoying the heat on my face. As a California kid, my first winter in New York was a huge adjustment. I moved here last summer when I became the drummer for the Original Kings and spent the first couple of months bunking at the lead singer Dash Kingston’s house.

I learned fast that the band is a tight-knit bunch, all living in Dash’s home. Until a baby scare with a groupie put Dash in need of a fake girlfriend to fix his reputation, and my sister, Cassidy, played the role.

Now Cassidy and Dash are married, having wed in front of family and friends this past winter. I rented a house nearby, as did Jagger, the guitar player, and Mac, the bassist. But all of us guys spend more time at Dash’s home studio or here at Xander’s than at our own places.

Xander complains about the fact that the band followed Dash’s lead, making his house our home away from home, but nobody believes Xander really considers us unwanted company. And Sasha, the famous actress Xander married this past spring, welcomes us, as long as we knock first.

Given the Kingston family’s dysfunctional background, courtesy of their now deceased father, the fact that four of the five siblings are settled and happy gives a guy like me hope that I’ll meet the right woman. I’m sick of the rock-star lifestyle, the parties after the shows, the groupies, and the drinking. At thirty years old, I want a partner for life.

And if I can’t find the right woman?

I open my eyes and glance down at the dog that doesn’t belong to me, giving her a long rub down her spine. “We all know the truth. You’re my girl, Bella, right?”

She lifts her head at the sound of her name.

“Quit trying to steal my dog’s loyalty.” Xander walks out of his house and joins me on the lounge chair beside me. “Why is she wearing my sunglasses?” he asks.

I figure the answer is obvious. “Because it’s sunny out, and I’m protecting her eyes.”

“Know where she wouldn’t be squinting? Inside. Because when I’m not home, that’s where she belongs.”

Xander gestures toward the house, and I shrug. “Sasha let me in and said I could relax by the pool, and you know Bella loves being with me.”

Xander rolls his eyes. “When you finally buy a house, make sure you have your own pool, okay?”

I ignore him much as Xander’s brother, Dash, would do and pick up my phone. Out of habit, I begin scrolling through my social media. I have fan pages on both Instagram and Facebook that I pay someone to run and post fan-engaging photos. But if a comment strikes me, occasionally I’ll answer. Otherwise, I leave it to the professionals.

I also have a private page from my teenage days that only friends, family, and old acquaintances can see. I don’t often check out what the people I knew in the past are up to, and I don’t need social media to tell me what my sister and friends are doing. But I’m feeling nostalgic, so I begin to scroll through the friend page for the first time in ages.

Familiar faces are displayed in my timeline. Men I knew now have wives and kids, have just gotten engaged or married, or show off newborns in their arms. It stands out how different my life is from theirs.

One other thing stands out to me. “Jesus, these guys haven’t aged well.”

“What the hell are you looking at?” Xander asks.

I glance at my friend. “Facebook. Guys I went to high school with. Half of them are bald, and the other half have huge stomachs.” I shake my head and continue to scroll through the page. “The women look good,” I say more to myself than to Xander. “Do you ever go through yours? It’s like a blast from the past.”

Xander shakes his head. “No. Not a people person,” he pointedly says.

I chuckle and don’t take offence. Annoying Xander is like the band’s favorite pastime.

Another swipe of my thumb, and a familiar brunette catches my gaze. I pause. Gorgeous chocolate-brown eyes stare at me, eyes I remember looking into mine as I eased myself inside her. She wasn’t my first, but once I asked her out, she was my only.

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Advertisement Just One Summer – The Dirty Dares Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/just-one-summer-the-dirty-dares-read-online-carly-phillips Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:20:24 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/just-one-summer-the-dirty-dares-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Authors: Carly Phillips Advertisement

Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)

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Grumpy Sunshine Romance • Age Gap • Virgin Heroine • Good Girl / Bad Boy • Opposites Attract • Close Proximity

One summer. One forbidden temptation. One man who changes everything.
I’m a sheltered twenty-two-year-old virgin with a trust fund—and a future my family already decided for me.
So I run to the Hamptons for the summer to escape.
Then I meet Maddox James.
He’s ten years older. Rough-edged. A bar manager who walked away from the money and privilege I was born into. He doesn’t trust wealthy women… and he makes sure I know it.
We shouldn’t work. But we’re thrown together night after night, and the sexual tension between us is impossible to ignore.
I’m completely inexperienced.
Maddox knows precisely what he’s doing.
And he’s the one man who makes me want to learn.
Just One Summer is a sexy, emotional romance featuring a grumpy hero, a sheltered heroine, a tempting age gap, and one unforgettable summer that changes everything.

Originally published as part of 1001 Dark Nights. Same story, new cover

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Gaby

I sit in the library of my parents’ summer house, hiding out from all the stuffy guests they invited to their annual dinner party in the Hamptons. These events reek of superiority, something exhibited by my mother, Madeline, my father, Aaron, and everyone else at this event. I’m not like my friends in my social circles. Oh, I learned early on how to play the game well enough, not wanting to stand out or be lonely growing up. But I’ve never been one of them.

I escaped the party and pulled up the reading app on my phone. I’m in the middle of a steamy romance about a blue-collar guy and a runaway heiress bride who found herself stuck in a small town with a broken-down vehicle.

The author is one of my favorites, her love scenes catnip to a virgin like myself. At twenty-two, I should have given it up long before now, as did most of the girls at the private Manhattan high school I attended. I’ve been privy to many locker room conversations I wish I could unhear.

The same talks occurred between my friends at Columbia University. I graduated a few weeks earlier and wonder if I’ll keep any of those friendships, either. The men I met in college weren’t any better than the adults in the other room. In other words, full of themselves, entitled, and utterly unappealing.

I’m saving myself for the one. If that makes me a romantic, so be it, I think, turning my attention back to my book, where the sexy hero has pinned the heroine against the wall. He’s about to take her hard when the creaking sound of the library door opening interrupts my reading.

Annoyed, I look up to find Preston Barrett III standing in the entry. “There you are. Your mother sent me to see where you’d disappeared to.”

Of course, she did, since my parents are actively trying to pair me off with Preston in an attempt to cement their status with his family, and to curb my more common tendencies. Because for some reason, me enjoying painting and wanting to work instead of giving parties and playing the socialite wife is an embarrassment to them. My parents act like they’re the Vanderbilts instead of second-generation wealth.

Preston runs a hand over his perfectly styled blond hair. “You’re missing the party.”

He picks a nonexistent piece of lint off his light blue Brioni jacket that he matched with navy dress pants and a pale-blue button-down shirt. Navy drivers are on his feet. He is a mini-version of his father, Preston Barrett, Jr. And if I just happen to be name-dropping when taking in his outfit, it’s because he does it when bragging, which is often.

I lift one shoulder. “That’s the point. It was stuffy with all those people milling around and I was looking for a little privacy.” Why beat around the bush when the truth would do?

“I like the idea of privacy.” He closes the door behind him and walks across the room. When he reaches me, he braces his hands on the arms of the chair, his face too close to mine. “You’re always playing hard to get with me, Gabriella. How can we get to know one another if you’re always pushing me away?”

I breathe in and do my best not to gag or scrunch my nose in disgust. I can’t place the type of alcohol on his breath. Mixed with his expensive cologne, it’s a tear-inducing smell.

“Come on,” he says. “One kiss. You’ll see how much you like it.”

I haven’t kissed him and never will. “I need you to step away from me,” I say, my heart pounding in my chest because we’re completely alone. I doubt my mother will come looking for me when she’d be only too happy I was making time for Preston.

“Stop playing coy,” he says, annoyance in his tone. “You know we’re a done deal, right? Your parents want an intimate connection to my family bank. They won’t take no for an answer, so let’s test our compatibility,” he says and smashes his lips against mine.

“Ugh, no.” I shove his shoulders, attempting to push him off, but he’s stronger and won’t budge. Instead he thrusts his tongue in my mouth. I immediately bend my knee and jam it into his groin.

“Dammit!” He steps back, grabbing his nuts and glaring at me. “You didn’t have to do that!”

“You didn’t hear the word no!” I jump up from my seat and brush past him, rushing for the door while he, hopefully, is taking his time, rubbing his balls before returning to the party.

I run down the hall, bypassing the living area full of guests. Then, not wanting to call attention to myself, I slow as I approach the front door.

“Gabriella?”

Only one person could stop me from fleeing. I turn toward my widowed grandmother Annabelle, who is my father’s mother. Due to her debilitating arthritis, she lives with us and has her own wing in each of the family homes, where she stays with her full-time caregiver. My grandmother has been my main source of affection growing up and understands me in uncanny ways.

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Advertisement Just a Little Desire (Sterling Family Crossover #2) Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/just-a-little-desire-sterling-family-crossover-2-read-online-carly-phillips Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:40:29 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/just-a-little-desire-sterling-family-crossover-2-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Erotic Authors: Carly Phillips Series: Sterling Family Crossover Series by Carly Phillips
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Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 67973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)

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I wasn’t the type of woman who indulged in one night stands, but the irresistible Liam Powers managed to charm me right into his bed. By morning, he was gone, leaving me to wonder if our night together had been nothing more than a dream. . . until he showed up at my office a few weeks later, a wealthy investor interested in infusing cash into our struggling family business.

Liam Powers might be the man I needed to save our company, but I wasn’t about to fall for his flirtatious charm a second time. Not when I had so much to lose . . . including my heart to a man who had no intentions of settling down

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Liam

The clink of a fork against a champagne flute rang out across the ballroom, catching everyone’s attention. Conversations faded, laughter dimmed, and two hundred heads turned toward the front of the room where the maid of honor stood beaming beside Fallon, the bride, who was also my new sister-in-law.

“Hello, everyone,” the maid of honor said with cheerful enthusiasm. “For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Brooke, Fallon’s best friend. I’ve known her for a long time, and I can honestly say I’ve never seen her as happy as she’s been since she met Noah.”

I glanced down the table where I was seated as one of the groomsmen, my gaze shifting to my brother, Noah, as I absently swirled the champagne in my glass. His usually composed, uptight expression had softened. His eyes were on Fallon like she was the only thing in the room worth seeing. To him, she probably was. The free-spirited painter had cracked open something in my older brother that none of us knew was there. She’d been good for him. Anyone could see that, even a cynic like me.

That didn’t mean I bought into the whole happily ever after narrative.

Brooke’s speech went on, her voice growing more sentimental by the minute as she started waxing poetic about soulmates and true love and finding your other half. All the things I no longer believed in.

“Fallon and Noah might seem like opposites,” Brooke said, her voice filled with affection, “but anyone who knows them can see they fit together perfectly. So, I’d like to raise a glass to my best friend and the one person in the world who completes her. To Fallon and Noah.”

We all sipped our champagne, and I smirked at my other brother, Simon, in a way that communicated my skepticism. He shook his head, his mouth twitching as if he wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. Smart man.

We were both groomsmen, but Noah had appointed his friend, Michael, as the best man because he hadn’t wanted to choose between brothers. Whatever his reasons, I was grateful. Simon wasn’t the sentimental speech type, and I certainly didn’t believe in the forever kind of love that Brooke had talked about.

Still, I was genuinely happy for Noah. He adored Fallon, and while romantic love might not be for everyone, it brought out a side of him that was worth celebrating.

The best man’s speech came next, mercifully shorter and far less emotional. He cracked a few well-aimed jokes about Fallon being the only person capable of removing the stick that Noah used to have up his ass, drawing laughter from everyone, then wished the couple well with a sincere smile.

Dinner resumed, which was gourmet and delicious. The whole wedding was a sophisticated affair. A jazz band set up in the corner of the room started playing soft, sultry notes that filled the space without overwhelming conversation.

“Lighten up,” Simon said from beside me, nudging my arm. “You look like you’re calculating the ROI on their marriage.”

His comment was comical, because if there was anyone in the world that needed to lighten up, it was him. Simon was a grump most of the time, and I would know. He wasn’t just my brother; he was my business partner in our investment firm—strategic, ruthless, brilliant, and a complete pain in the ass. I knew how controlling and cantankerous he could be, both in his personal life and in business. But our dynamic worked because we balanced each other out; his control-freak tendencies versus my easygoing pragmatism.

“You know weddings bring out the worst in me,” I said, swirling the last of the champagne in my glass.

Understanding flashed in Simon’s eyes. We didn’t discuss what happened with Ivy. It was an unspoken rule in our family. My brother might have believed I was over it, but I doubted I ever would be. I hated how much power that one incident still had over me and my ability to commit again to any woman.

“It’s been three years,” Simon said quietly, his tone careful. Not pushing…just observing.

I stiffened. “I know how long it’s been.”

He was silent for a moment, then leaned back in his chair. “You don’t have to stay for the whole reception, you know. Noah won’t hold it against you.”

I glanced at him, surprised. Simon wasn’t usually one to give me an out. “Really? Mr. ‘By the Book’ is telling me I can bail?”

He shrugged. “I’m saying you’ve done your duty. Stood up for Noah at the ceremony, smiled for the photos, sat through dinner and the toasts.” He paused, his voice dropping lower. “No one expects you to stay and torture yourself.”

The understanding in his tone—rare for Simon—made my chest tighten. “I’m happy for him,” I said and meant it. “I am. It’s just…”

“Hard to watch,” Simon finished when I didn’t.

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Advertisement Just One More Date (The Sterling Family #7) Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/just-one-more-date-the-sterling-family-7-read-online-carly-phillips Sun, 07 Dec 2025 21:06:50 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/just-one-more-date-the-sterling-family-7-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Insta-Love, Novella Authors: Carly Phillips Series: The Sterling Family Series by Carly Phillips
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Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >30

Leo Watson needs a pretend wife for a business Christmas party.

Could the cute barista who serves his favorite coffee drink play the part?

Camille Hendricks is willing… for a price—an interview at his sister’s PR company.

The game seems easy but their attraction is all too real.

When sexy lines are crossed, both Leo and Cammie stand to lose something more important than business.

They risk losing each other

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Snowflakes fell on Leo Watson’s wool coat as he stepped out of his car, his cell phone pressed to his ear. “Come on, Ruby. You’ll have a good time. You know I always deliver on that promise,” he said in his most seductive voice.

He usually made those kind of promises to a woman after he called them for an occasional hookup, but he was talking to Ruby for an entirely different reason this time.

“It’s not about whether I’ll have fun at your company Christmas party, Leo. It’s Christmas Eve and I’ll be having dinner with my father that night.”

He groaned as he ran a hand through his hair, his warm breath a visible cloud in the cold December air. Ruby was the third woman to turn him down for similar reasons. Apparently, all the women he casually slept with were spending the holiday with their families. Of course, his family got together too, but if a work obligation came up, they understood.

He usually had no idea how the women that warmed his bed would spend their Christmases. He rarely got to know them beyond surface-level flirtation and whispered words in the heat of the moment. He knew nothing about their lives outside of the bedroom. That might sound cold, but it worked for him. Until today, when they were all unavailable to attend his company’s party on Christmas Eve.

“I really need a date for this party. I’m so close to getting a promotion, and I know that if I can secure this last big client, it’ll be mine.”

She paused. “And what does a promotion have to do with bringing a date to a Christmas party?”

Since she didn’t understand, he decided to explain. “There’s an important potential client named Spencer McClain. He’ll be at the party, and he’s a big fan of family values. He’s made it clear he likes to work with people who feel the same way. I can’t show up to the party alone, like some carefree bachelor or he won’t take me seriously.”

“But isn’t that what you are?” Ruby asked with amusement in her voice.

He rolled his eyes. “That’s beside the point. I need a woman on my arm that I can pretend to be in love with.”

She laughed. “Sounds like you need a fake wife.”

Leo cringed at her comment. “A fake girlfriend will do, as long as I can sell the story that we’re in a serious relationship.”

“It sounds like fun, but I’m afraid I can’t help you. If it was any other night, I’d come, but like I said, I have plans.”

He glanced up at the overcast sky. “Is there anything I can do to talk you out of it?” he asked.

On the other end of the line, Ruby laughed. “Talk me out of attending my family’s Christmas Eve dinner? No, I’m afraid not. But if you want to get together sometime between Christmas and the New Year, I’d be happy to meet up for some holiday fun.” Her voice dropped an octave.

Leo made a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat, said he’d get back to her and ended the call. He was too focused on his current predicament to even think about a post-Christmas hookup.

Frustrated, he walked toward the door of Froth and Grind, the independent coffee shop he visited a couple of times a week. He was already looking forward to enjoying one of their seasonal specialties, the peppermint mocha latte. Maybe the tingle of peppermint would do something for the mood he was in.

He pulled open the door and was greeted by the sight of red and green Christmas decorations. Tinsel draped along the front of the counter and star shaped lights hung from the ceiling along with the Edison bulbs that usually illuminated the small shop. A thin Christmas tree stood in front of one of the exposed brick walls, complete with fake presents underneath.

Froth and Grind had been transformed for the holiday season, along with most of Manhattan. Something Leo could not relate to. With the hours he worked and his focus on a promotion, he had no time for Christmas frivolity or cheer.

The rich scent of roasted coffee beans filled the air, along with the sweeter aromas of vanilla, caramel, and of course, peppermint. It was mid-afternoon, and half the tables were full of customers sipping coffee and eating pastries. Luckily, there was no line at the counter.

The usual barista stood behind the register, her bright smile lighting up her blue eyes. He looked forward to seeing her whenever he came in. She wore a black polo shirt with the coffee shop’s logo on the left breast, and a Santa hat covered her long, blonde hair.

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Advertisement Just One More Time (The Sterling Family #6) Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/just-one-more-time-the-sterling-family-6-read-online-carly-phillips Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:04:09 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/just-one-more-time-the-sterling-family-6-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Suspense Authors: Carly Phillips Series: The Sterling Family Series by Carly Phillips
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Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >56

One night. One heartbreak. One man she could never forget.

Years ago, Brooke Snyder gave her heart — and her innocence — to Aiden Sterling, her best friend’s older brother. For one perfect night, he was hers. Then he walked away without looking back.

Heartbroken, she focused on her career, and tried to move on, while he was half a world away. But no man ever measured up to Aiden, and the one time she tried, ended in disaster.

Now, he’s back to help his ailing father, and avoiding him isn’t an option— not when they’re forced to work together and definitely not when she’s sleeping in the bedroom next to his.

The past crackles between them, charged with everything they never said and everything they still feel. Every look dares her to remember. Every touch reminds her exactly what she spent years trying to forget.

Giving him her body is easy. But how can she protect her heart… when the man who broke it is the only one who can put it back together?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Brooklyn Snyder assumed the downward dog pose, her hands on the front of the mat, ass in the air. She stretched her feet out behind her, and blew out a long breath that sounded more like a pained sigh.

“Are you okay?” her friend, Amy, asked in between yoga stretches.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Brooklyn played dumb, stalling the inevitable conversation about her ex as long as possible.

From her own upside-down pose, Amy frowned. “We are going to discuss this after class.”

Brooke had known Amy Jenkins since middle school where they’d sat together at lunch and had become inseparable ever since. If Amy said they were going to talk, she wouldn’t be deterred, but Brooklyn was grateful for the end-of-class reprieve anyway.

Listening to the instructor, they stretched, then lay on their backs for Savasana, the resting pose. Was it bad that this was her favorite part of yoga? she mused.

Once the instructor released them, they rolled their mats, put other accessories away in the back, and walked out of the room together.

“Brooke, do you want to get a shake?” Amy pointed to the small café inside the gym with a few tables and a counter where the person working behind it made the most delicious chocolate and peanut butter protein shakes.

“Definitely.” Her stomach rumbled in agreement.

They waited for the icy drinks to be created and luckily found a table where they could sit and talk. Or should she say unluckily, as Brooke didn’t want to discuss anything related to Aiden Sterling, and that was definitely where this conversation was headed.

“Okay, so are you prepared to see Aiden at work next week?”

It was just like Amy to get right to the point, Brooke thought and groaned. “Couldn’t you wait for me to at least enjoy my first sip before you started grilling me?”

“I’m not grilling you, I’m asking as a concerned friend. It’s one thing to see Aiden on his occasional trips home, another to know he’s back for a prolonged time, and yet another to have to work with him.” Amy gave her a pointed stare.

Stalling, Brooke took a long pull from the straw and allowed herself to enjoy the chocolatey sweetness before meeting her friend’s gaze. “With a little luck, we’ll be working in the same office but not together.”

During college, Brooke had interned for Sterling Investments, and she’d been employed by them ever since. Yes, she’d known the family for years. When she was fourteen, the Sterling patriarch, Alex, had bought the estate where Brooke and her mother lived in the gatehouse. Alex had five children, and Brooke became close with each. Her mother remained the housekeeper and Brooke grew up with the family. Fallon, the only girl, was Brooke’s other best friend and Brooke’s mom was now dating Alex Sterling.

Brooke had earned her Chief Operating Officer position at the firm by working hard and dedicating long hours to proving herself. It helped that Aiden, who’d broken her heart, had been gone for five long years, and only returned for big events and when he could take time from his roving journalist job.

“Okay, but you still have to face him and talk to him. Or are you going to continue keeping him at arm’s length?”

Brooke’s heart skipped a beat at her friend’s question. “Keeping Aiden at arm’s length is for my sanity. I’m afraid if I get close to him, I’ll slap him for all the pain he put me through.”

“And he’d deserve it.”

Brooke nodded. She’d given him her virginity and her heart, and he’d tossed her away the next day in favor of his career. He hadn’t even allowed them the chance to make a long-distance relationship work. He’d never taken her feelings and her needs into consideration. What she wanted hadn’t mattered.

But that was in the past, even if the anger she felt was current and real. “I can handle seeing him,” she said. “I’ve already done it at family get-togethers. I’ll be fine.” She wrapped her hands around the icy drink, the condensation seeping into her skin.

“And are you still keeping what happened from the family? You still won’t tell Fallon?”

She shook her head. “Nobody knows. I don’t want Fallon to feel like she has to take sides.” Which was why she’d never told anyone but Amy what had happened with Aiden. Oh, they knew something had changed. Especially Brooke’s mom. It was obvious she and Aiden were no longer close, but Brooke never spoke of why.

Holding her pain inside hadn’t been easy but she’d done it once before, when her dad died, keeping things in so her mother wouldn’t worry about Brooke while she dealt with her own grief. Continuing to pretend things with Aiden were fine but distant should be easy. She’d been doing it long enough.

She and Amy finished their drinks. Together, they walked out, parting ways at Brooke’s PT Cruiser and Amy’s SUV parked side by side.

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Advertisement Just One More Affair (The Sterling Family #5) Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/just-one-more-affair-the-sterling-family-5-read-online-carly-phillips Wed, 04 Jun 2025 21:18:53 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/just-one-more-affair-the-sterling-family-5-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary Authors: Carly Phillips Series: The Sterling Family Series by Carly Phillips
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Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >57

Oops, she did it again…

A one-night stand with a billionaire.
A surprise pregnancy.
Can she trust his love?
Or is it the baby tying them together?

Charlotte Kendall never expected history to repeat itself after a one-night stand at a wedding. Especially since a past encounter left her co-parenting twin daughters she adores. Except this time, her baby daddy is a man she can’t resist.

Billionaire Jared Sterling always gets what he wants—and he wants Charlotte Kendall. When he learns she’s pregnant, he’s all in. But Charlotte’s past has taught this independent, single mom to guard her heart. She doubts Jared’s motives and believes he’s only invested for the baby.

Their chemistry is undeniable and Jared will do anything to convince Charlotte she’s his endgame. But her life is complicated and when her brother’s recklessness puts Charlotte in danger, Jared takes over, proving he’s offering the love and stability she has always craved.

Now Charlotte must decide—will she keep running from the man who’s offering her everything, or take a chance on love?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Even a small Sterling family wedding was a lavish affair, Charlotte Kendall thought, looking around at the hotel ballroom where the reception was taking place.

Pink and white flowers twined around the ceiling with lilies dangling for effect. Each table had a luxurious burst of the same blush-colored flowers, a mix of roses, and other blooms surrounded by tea candles. The damask tablecloths were elegant. And the cocktail hour had four stations of different hot food choices along with servers walking around with various hors d’oeuvres.

The bride, Fallon Sterling, was Charlotte’s daughters’ new stepmother. Fallon had just married Noah Powers, the girls’ dad. A man Charlotte had had a one-night stand with that resulted in a surprise pregnancy and a healthy co-parenting situation with their ten-year-old twins. She’d truly gotten lucky with Noah. They’d enjoyed one another once, but there had never been feelings between them and she was thrilled he’d found his soulmate in his younger wife.

As if he knew she’d been thinking of him, Noah strode over and kissed her cheek. “Charlie, I can’t tell you how much it means to Fallon and me that you came home for the wedding,” he said, calling her by her nickname most people used.

“I wouldn’t have missed it.” But she appreciated him saying so. “Thank you for inviting me. Not everyone would understand our relationship.”

“Fallon does, and that’s what matters. We do a good job together with the girls.”

She nodded. “And you’ve had the patience of a saint putting up with me following my dreams.”

“I understand and if this is something you want to continue to do, I want you to know I’m okay with it.”

She wrinkled her nose, having given her situation a lot of thought as the current dig was coming to an end. “As much as I loved the experience, I’m glad it’s almost over. I miss the girls and having them full-time this week shows me how much I don’t see on a day-to-day basis. They’re changing and growing up and I want to be there.”

He nodded. “Well, we’ll work out a new arrangement and schedule when you’re home for good.”

“Hello, you two!” Fallon, who appeared to be floating with happiness, joined them and hooked her arm into Noah’s. “Hi, Charlie. Thank you for flying in.”

“Of course. And I need to thank you for all you do for the girls.”

Early on, Charlie had been worried about all the time Fallon had with the kids while she was away, but Fallon had proven herself wise for her years. She knew how to handle the twins and their precocious personalities, never tried to play mother, and deferred important decisions to Noah and Charlie. When Charlie moved back, she could see herself being Fallon’s friend.

“I adore them and I’m glad we’re making things work between us,” Fallon said.

Charlie smiled. “Me too.”

“Oh, this song!” Fallon exclaimed.

Charlie hadn’t been paying attention to the music but when she focused, she heard the band had shifted to a slow song.

“I want to dance,” Fallon said.

Noah laughed. “Guess that’s my cue. Talk to you later, Charlie.”

With a wave goodbye, Fallon led her new husband to the dance floor.

Given the choice between going to get a drink at the bar and watching the newlyweds dance, Charlie chose the former. She walked over to the luckily empty bar and picked up a glass of Champagne from several pre-poured flutes waiting on a tray.

She glanced around the room, her gaze falling on Fallon’s best friend, Brooke, who she’d met during one of her trips home. She was talking to her mother but she kept looking at Aiden Sterling, the journalist who wandered the world for stories. Charlie had often caught Aiden staring at Brooke, their gazes never meeting, and Charlie wondered what their story was.

“You look lost in thought. Is everything all right?” another of Fallon’s brothers asked as he joined her.

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Advertisement Just a Little Crush (Sterling Family Crossover #1) Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/just-a-little-crush-sterling-family-crossover-1-read-online-carly-phillips Mon, 21 Apr 2025 22:20:20 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/just-a-little-crush-sterling-family-crossover-1-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Contemporary, Erotic Authors: Carly Phillips Series: Sterling Family Crossover Series by Carly Phillips
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Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >72

It’s just a little crush. What could possibly go wrong?

I’ve had more than enough relationship drama to last a lifetime, so romance with Stevie Palmer, the gorgeous server I had a hot one-night stand with, isn’t in the cards. However, she would make the perfect fake girlfriend to help me win my custody battle.

When I offer her an obscene amount of money to play along, she agrees. I insist this arrangement is strictly business. No feelings. No complications.

Easy, right?

Except nothing about Stevie is easy. She’s unexpected softness, stubborn as hell, and impossible to ignore. I tell myself I can keep my hands off of her. That I can ignore the way she makes me feel. Then one kiss turns into another. One night into more. And suddenly, our perfect little arrangement is anything but simple or straightforward.

With so much at stake, can I turn our fake relationship into a real happily ever after?

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER ONE

Stevie

“Come on, Val,” I called out to my sister, who was still in the bathroom getting ready, or maybe even stalling. “I don’t want to be late, considering this is a surprise birthday party for Raven.” I’d met Raven, who was one of my closest friends in the city, through my waitressing job at The Back Door in Manhattan.

A few minutes later, Valerie finally emerged. While she looked beautiful in a modest black dress, and her makeup and blonde bobbed hair were on point for the occasion, her face showed the emotional toll the past weeks had taken. The depression she’d fallen into after leaving her abusive ex wasn’t hard for me to miss, and I hated that my sister’s normal vibrant personality had been dimmed by Mark Branson, aka the entitled asshole.

My sister was all I had in the world and I wasn’t about to lose her the same way we’d lost our mother when our father had choked her to death during one of his drunken rages. Which was why, when Mark had been out golfing the Saturday after I’d seen a bruise on Val’s cheek, I’d packed up her things and had moved her into my place.

It didn’t matter that I lived in a very miniscule one-bedroom apartment in Elmhurst, Queens, which was all I could afford on my earnings as a waitress and intern at Dare PR two days a week. There was no denying it was cramped having Valerie live here with me, but I didn’t care. The only thing that mattered to me was knowing she was safe and out of Mark’s clutches.

Not that Mark hadn’t continued harassing Valerie after the breakup. He’d basically stalked her, physically and through texts, and even though I’d convinced Valerie to get a restraining order against him, the whole situation had caused my sister to become more withdrawn and she’d isolated herself in my apartment.

Which was the main reason why I’d insisted Valerie accompany me to tonight’s party. To give her some normalcy and get her out in public again so she didn’t become a complete shut-in. I wanted to see that spark back in her eyes, along with the confidence she’d had before Mark had systematically broken her down.

“You look amazing,” I told her, trying to boost her morale. “And you’re going to have a great time tonight. Knowing Remy, he went all out with the food, and the entertainment will be top-notch. The guy doesn’t do things halfway, not when it comes to Raven.”

Valerie didn’t look convinced about joining me. “I’m sure you’d have a much better time at the party without me tagging along.”

“Not true,” I argued with a smile as I slipped into a pair of heels. “I need a dance partner, and you’ll do just fine.”

She scoffed. “I’m so not in the mood to dance and party.”

“Too bad. I’ve already told Remy that you’re my plus-one,” I said, not allowing her any excuses to try and get out of tonight’s festivities. “And I want to introduce you to Samantha Dare, my boss at Dare PR, who you haven’t met yet.” With any luck, I’d be able to help Valerie land herself a job at the marketing firm I worked at.

“Why would she be there?” Valerie asked curiously.

“She’s engaged to Remy’s brother, Dex.” With over fifty invited guests, I was certain the entire Sterling family was going to be there, along with close friends and coworkers from the bar.

“I hate that you’re going to be essentially babysitting me,” she said, then a glimmer of a smile touched her lips. “What you should be doing is putting the moves on Caleb,” she said of Raven’s brother, who Valerie had met in passing at The Back Door. “You look gorgeous in that sexy little pink dress.”

“What, this old thing?” I spun around playfully, causing the ruffled skirt to flare out around my knees. But truthfully, the dress really was a few years old and bought at a secondhand store, where I did most of my shopping to save money.

“You make old look very new and chic,” Valerie complimented, then tipped her head inquisitively. “I’m assuming Caleb is going to be there tonight?”

I shrugged as if I didn’t care one way or another, which was a lie. The thought of seeing Caleb outside of him stopping into the bar to see Raven, or being at a get-together because of our mutual connection to Raven, did make butterflies flutter in my stomach. “Probably, since I doubt he’d miss his sister’s surprise birthday party.”

“Well, he’s going to take one look at you and his jaw is going to drop.” That familiar humor of Valerie’s was apparent in her tone. “He might even drool.”

I grinned at the image she’d created as I pulled up my rideshare app and summoned a car for the drive into the city. Since I didn’t live in the greatest neighborhood, and I still didn’t trust that Mark wasn’t lurking about, Valerie and I would wait until the car arrived before heading downstairs to the curb.

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Advertisement Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family #4) Read Online Carly Phillips http://www.books2020.com/just-one-more-temptation-the-sterling-family-4-read-online-carly-phillips Wed, 12 Feb 2025 07:22:37 +0000 http://www.books2020.com/just-one-more-temptation-the-sterling-family-4-read-online-carly-phillips Genre: Alpha Male, Chick Lit, Contemporary Authors: Carly Phillips Series: The Sterling Family Series by Carly Phillips
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Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56799 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >60

He’s a grumpy single dad who's serious and uptight.
She’s a younger free spirit who's sunshine and light.

Fallon Sterling’s one experience with a rich, older man ended in heartbreak. So when twin nine-year-old girls wind up in her gallery, followed by their oh-so-hot dad, she refuses to notice how sexy he is. And she will not let herself fall for his broody charms. Or his adorable daughters. That was her plan. Unfortunately, planning hasn't always been her strong suit…

Noah Powers needs a reliable nanny, not a romance with a much younger artist who his girls adore. The fact that he desires Fallon and the sunshine she brings into his drab world doesn't matter. His focus needs to be on his work and his daughters. Trouble is, he can never remember that when Fallon is in his arms.

Somewhere between a matchmaking family (his) and dangerous workplace drama (hers), Fallon and Noah realize they might have more in common than they thought. But is it enough for happily ever after?

Just One More Temptation, book 3 in the stand-alone Sterling Family series, is a spicy, fun, hot, age-gap, single-dad, contemporary romance. Order today, and welcome to romantic escapism at its steamiest.

💖 Single Dad
💖 Grumpy Sunshine
💖 Age Gap
💖 He Falls First
💖 Matchmaking Family
💖 Workplace Drama and Suspense
💖 Spicy hot fun

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

Chapter One

Noah Powers frantically searched the New York City park for his twin nine-year-old girls, calling their names, ignoring the looks from the mothers with their younger children playing in the sandbox. He turned to Hazel, the sixty-year-old woman he’d hired when their last nanny had been too young and flighty to keep an eye on his girls. They’d been acting out lately but they’d never run away. Hadn’t he lectured them enough about stranger danger and staying with an adult?

“Dammit!” he yelled, pulling his hand through his hair.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Powers. I was watching them, I swear. They asked if they could go to the pretzel truck on the corner and I had an eye on them. I blinked and they disappeared.”

He ground his teeth together. “Because you didn’t go with them.”

She looked down, not answering since he was right.

“You stay here in case they come back.” He strode toward the cart and questioned the man selling food who said he’d sold them a pretzel and soda but didn’t see the direction they went after.

Panicked, Noah rushed down the sidewalk, scanning inside each shop and walking into the larger ones. Heart in his throat, he looked in each window, not seeing their brown-haired heads.

He swallowed hard and a horrific thought ran through his head. What if someone had taken them? No. They were just being difficult because they hadn’t liked Hazel from the moment he’d hired her. Then again, it was the same story with every nanny no matter their age. They missed their mother and there was nothing he could do to change the fact that Charlie, an archaeologist, had been invited on the dig of her dreams.

They’d shared custody until six months ago. For all their lives, she’d had the girls during the week and he’d taken them one night a weekday and every other weekend. Despite the explanation, they’d hoped their mom would be home by now but the dig was long. Even with Charlie coming home to see them often, it wasn’t the same as their mom being here. Noah was doing the best he could on his own but his kids were disappointed and too damn smart for their own good.

One thing he knew, when he found them, they’d be grounded for life. And he would find them. There was no acceptable alternative.

* * *

Fallon Sterling walked to the front of the paint and sip side of the art gallery where she worked, two glass cups of frothy cappuccino in hand. She passed the rectangular table she’d set up for tonight’s class, including the easels, paints, brushes, and other materials. Her best friend, Brooklyn Snyder, who she called Brooke for short, had stopped by to say hello and helped her arrange the items since Fallon’s usual assistant, Sylvie, was out with a bad cold.

Fallon handed her friend a cappuccino and gestured to two stools by the bar where they usually sold wine and snacks. “Let’s sit.”

They strode across the room and Fallon took the seat facing inside, a habit so she could look around and make sure she hadn’t missed anything that her students would need later.

“Let me run to the ladies’ room,” Brooke said, grabbing her purse. “Be right back.”

Fallon glanced around, her gaze landing on two of her modern, pop art paintings hanging on the walls. The feeling of pride swirling inside her never grew old. Even as a child, she’d loved to work with bright colors. In college, she’d dual majored in art history and fine arts, minoring in business at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Then she’d moved back to New York and worked first at a museum and for the last year and a half, here at the gallery. Her dream was to own a place like this one day but for now, she enjoyed her career and the opportunity to combine the painting she loved with helping the owner with the business.

Brooke returned and settled into the seat beside her. “So? When are you going to get your family in for a session?” She gestured to the easels.

“Do you really think any of my brothers would paint and sip?” Fallon asked, shaking her head, smiling at the thought. She took a taste of the hot froth and savored the cinnamon sprinkled on top, licking her lips to remove any remnants.

Brooke chuckled. “I guess you’re right but the image is amusing.” And she would know.

Of all Fallon’s friends, Brooke knew Fallon’s family best since she’d grown up in the gatehouse on the property Fallon’s father had purchased. Brooke’s mother had been their housekeeper and her father the groundskeeper before he’d passed away. These days, her mom, Lizzie, insisted on keeping her job but she was also seeing Fallon’s father and Fallon suspected things were serious between them.

“Only you got your mother’s talent,” Brooke mused.

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