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Hot Bayou Nights
Hot Bayou Nights

Hot Bayou Nights

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When corporate consultant Carla Saunders' work takes her from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to a research facility in Louisiana filled with king cobra snakes, she sees her dreams of a job in Paris sinking into the swamp. But unexpected desire burns hotter than a sultry bayou night. The snakes terrify her, but lust for the scorching hot research scientist has her dreaming less about the Champs Élysées and more about being coiled in his arms. Obsessed with finding a cure for multiple sclerosis, Jackson Rivard’s got zero time for relationships. But when a lush, efficient business advisor sweeps into his lab, zero spikes to a hundred before he can shut off the engine. In theory, no-strings-attached sex is scientifically feasible, but having an ex whose fangs make a cobra’s seem modest brings new meaning to the phrase “once bitten, twice shy.” How can he protect his heart when Carla’s charming it out of hiding?

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Chapter 1

Feb 4, 2022

Carla Saunders gripped the steering wheel tight as she shot a glance out the window to check her surroundings. Trees, bayou, and empty road. No signs, no buildings, not even another vehicle. The screen on her rental car’s GPS still read No Matches Found. Her heartbeat shifted up a few gears as her nerves began humming like a live wire. She let out a shaky sigh and finally accepted the truth. She was lost. Damn it. Not a good way to begin her assignment.

A bead of sweat trickled down the side her face; hair stuck to her forehead like wet confetti. Inside the car was hotter than dog’s breath. She’d purposely kept the A/C off and the windows down, wanting a full sensory experience of her first trip to the Louisiana bayou—sights, sounds, smells, everything. But with the temperature north of a hundred degrees and thick, humid air streaming into her car, she felt like she was sitting in a pot of warm stew. She needed cool air, and she needed it now. She brushed sweat from her eyes and flicked on the A/C switch.

Nothing.

She frowned; flicked it off and on again. Still dead. What the hell? A rare trace of unease slithered down her spine as she mentally ticked off the latest events. No signal on her GPS. Air conditioner busted. Not another car in sight. No clue of her location. She was made of sturdy stuff, but this was starting to creep her out. Could it all be some weird part of the assignment? She grabbed a handful of chips from the open bag on the passenger’s seat, stuffing them in her mouth. Think, Carla. Think.

She whipped her head around, looking for a sign or marker, anything to indicate her whereabouts, but came up empty. Green bayou and giant cypress trees as far as the eye could see. She had to have missed the turn. Yeah, definitely. All she had to do was get this car going the other way and then—

Shit, monster!

She drove her foot to the floor and slammed on the brakes. Her car fishtailed, back-end flailing as the tires screeched across the road. Sprays of gravel pelted the doors. She grabbed the steering wheel hard, fighting for control. The car careened toward an enormous cypress and she screamed, certain of a head-on collision with the tree. But suddenly her front tires hit the soft dirt by the roadside and her seatbelt snapped tight. The car lurched to a stop.

She rested her head against the steering wheel, gulping air. Her whole body trembled. She sent a prayer of thanks upstairs before turning to look out the back window at what had so scared her. In an instant, every hair on her arm rocketed straight up and she shrieked. Perched by the side of the road, like a horror movie prop, a giant alligator stared her down.

Revulsion and fear stopped her heart. She looked away, steeling herself, before looking back again. The alligator hadn’t moved. At least it wasn’t walking forward to sniff out her car, wondering if lunch had arrived.

Carla, what in the hell are you doing here? You’re a city girl. Honking horns and rude people she could deal with. Alligators and swampy bayous? Not so much. But as she thought back to her boss’s final instructions before she’d left for this assignment, she knew she’d have to deal with alligators and more. Or else.

You know what’s on the line here, Carla. We expect nothing less than total success. You do this right and get this client signed on with us, Paris and the V.P. title await. If not…well…

He hadn’t needed to finish the sentence, and they both knew it. Her ass was on the line if she didn’t pull this off. No promotion, no Paris assignment. No job. Period.

She sighed and checked on the alligator. Still in the same spot. Refocusing her attention back on the road, she decided there was no way she’d passed the exit. She’d been paying attention and it had to be up ahead. She grabbed her soda from the cup holder, took a long, cooling swig, and stepped on the gas.

At last, after twenty more minutes, a small hand written sign stuck in the ground indicated the exit for Rivard Research. Her shoulders sagged with relief. Finally.

The turn-off was more a stretch of dirt than an actual road. Every bump and ditch bounced her around in her seat, and she started to regret stuffing herself full of chips. They were settling in her stomach like a bucket of pig slop.

Her surroundings became darker and more wooded as an enormous canopy of live oaks, dripping with silvery Spanish moss, transformed into a roof above her head. Pea green bayou bordered the left-hand side of the road, and the dense, earthy smell of vegetation hung thick in the air.

She slowed her speed to little more than twenty miles an hour and noticed several small outbuildings as she drove past. Probably part of the research facility. At last she saw another sign directing her to turn right, and spotted what appeared to be the main building at the end of a long driveway. With no obvious area to park, she stopped where her car seemed the least intrusive and shut off the ignition. Home sweet home.

A number of people, mostly men, were walking around the area, not the least bit concerned about a visitor in their midst. Maybe they’d been told to expect her. Carla emerged from the car stiff, sweaty, and coated with a light dusting of potato chip crumbs. She brushed the crumbs from her skirt, instantly aware that her corporate suit and heels wouldn’t be seeing the light of day again until she was safely away from this swampy setting. A glance at her watch showed it was just before five. Right on time. Whew. Her fist clenched in a quick, victorious pump.

She waited beside her car, assuming whoever the research facility had assigned to meet her would be coming along any minute. But as several people went by without a word to her, she began to wonder if she’d misread the sign. Or that the main research building was located somewhere else on the grounds.

She’d just considered getting back into her car and driving farther along the road when she caught sight of a man approaching her, the slim but strong type who’d probably been a champion swimmer or runner in high school. His six-foot two height gave him a long, loping gait that reminded Carla of a wolf on the hunt. As he neared she could see his disheveled hair was dark brown and on the long side, locks of it brushing across his forehead that he swept back with a gesture both impatient and automatic.

In the same movement he used a finger to push up round, frameless glasses that had slipped down his nose. Behind the glasses were blue, piercing eyes that took in her wind-blown hair, travel-wrinkled suit, and heels sinking into inch-high mud with a single, somewhat disapproving glance.

Carla straightened when she noticed his look and gave him a hard stare right back. So she was a little rumpled, so what? She’d traveled over eight hours to get here and ought to be cut some slack. Maybe she wasn’t at her corporate best when it came to appearances, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t cut out for this assignment. Whatever it was.

“Excuse me, could you tell me where I can find Mr. Jackson’s office? I’m supposed to be meeting him today.” She punctuated her question with a high wattage corporate smile and assumed the man would flash one right back.

Instead he looked at her as if she’d spoken ancient Sanskrit, at first giving her nothing more than a grunt and a frown. Then he said, “You must be the new intern.”

“That’s right.”

He grunted again and started walking away, apparently assuming she’d follow him. “Thought you’d be here an hour ago.”

“I—” She took a couple of running steps to catch up with him. “I had difficulty finding the place.”

Apprehension jerked her nerves tight. Was she starting off on the wrong foot? She knew she was on time, so what’s with the attitude?

“Wait just a minute.”

He stopped walking and swung his glance back over his shoulder, cool eyes assessing her once more. “Could you let me know where we’re going? I’m supposed to be at Mr. Jackson’s office by five and I don’t want to be late.” Despite her anger it did occur to her, as she stared right back at him, that he was actually somewhat good looking. In fact, very good looking, despite his lack of manners. He possessed an alarming sensuality, all the more potent because he wasn’t even trying. It was just his natural aura, like the way he walked, or spoke, or filled out those jeans she’d been trotting behind. Nice.

She wondered if she’d be working with him on this assignment, and a curl of desire clenched in her belly. Shit, Carla. Calm down. But damn, he was easy on the eyes, to put it mildly. Downright hot, in fact. Still, she couldn’t let her focus stray. Not now. She’d only be reminded it had been a really long time since she’d last had sex, and with that grim thought came a whole host of other things to ponder. Like relationships, or men in general, or—

She blinked to clear her head and returned to the matter at hand. “I’ll ask you again,” she said, her voice remaining firm, “to tell me where we’re going.”

“You said you needed to get to Jackson’s office.”

“Yes.”

“Well.” He turned away and resumed walking, expelling an audible sigh. “That’s where we’re going.” With a couple of quick strides, she caught up.

“Thank you.”

He gave her another grunt that she interpreted as “you’re welcome” as they wove through a path littered with rocks, leaves, and sticks. Eventually the path gave way to a clearing, and in the distance Carla spotted some sort of rustic yet curiously cozy house. The place was good-sized considering its location in the middle of deep bayou country. The wooden clapboard siding was gray and faded, and a small porch lined with vertical columns jutted out front. Old wooden stairs led up to the door, looking like they wouldn’t object to a new coat of paint.

Without hesitation Mr. Grunter, as she’d secretly deemed him, climbed the stairs and opened the front door. As she entered, her gaze fell on a plaque mounted to the wall just inside. Welcome to The Snake Pit!

The hairs on the back of her neck shot up and she nearly tripped over her own feet. Snake pit?! Where exactly was he taking her? She let loose a slow, steadying breath and followed him to the end of a long hallway near a staircase. A door leading to an office stood open.

Grunter stopped just shy of entering and actually held out an arm, indicating Carla should step inside first. She would have noted that small miracle of manners were she not so intent upon making a good first impression on Mr. Jackson who, she presumed, awaited inside. But when she entered the room, it was empty.

Grunter walked in behind her and rounded a modest desk. “Have a seat,” he said, nodding toward a chair in front of the desk.

Carla stepped over to it but stopped short of sitting. “Will Mr. Jackson be joining us soon?”

“There’s no Mr. Jackson.” Grunter took a seat behind the desk as he repeated his instructions for her to do the same, this time with a clear touch of impatience in his voice. Carla sat, confusion wrinkling her face.

“I don’t understand.” She pulled the assignment sheet from her purse and glanced over it once more. “My instructions clearly state I’m to meet Mr. Jackson upon my arrival. But you’re telling me he’s not here?” She sat back in her chair, considering. “This is Rivard Research, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, then what—”

“I’m Jackson.”

You’re…” She stole a glance at her paper and then looked back at him. “…Mr. Jackson?”

Hot Bayou Nights

Hot Bayou Nights

45 Chapters

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Contents

Passion Exclusive

Love, Lies and Redemption

Vincent Austin's perfect life crumbles after a drunken mistake leaves his fiancee, Abigail Jones, betrayed and heartbroken. When another woman one day confronts him claiming to be carrying his child, Vincent is forced into a marriage of obligation, sacrificing the love of his life. Abigail finds solace in the arms of Nate, a kind and supportive doctor offering her the happiness she deserves. But Vincent, consumed by guilt and longing, refuses to let go, determined to win her back. As lies are exposed and shocking truths come to light, Abigail must navigate a whirlwind of emotions and choices. Will she trust the man who shattered her heart or embrace a future with someone new?

Romance

Love, Lies and Redemption

I Wanna Ruin Our Friendship

I've always been "the quiet, nerdy girl." The girl with her nose buried in a book, the girl people barely notice. But my world is a lot more complicated than it seems. You see, I'm absolutely, hopelessly in love with my best friend, Logan Reyes-the bad boy everyone wants but nobody can quite hold onto. And he has no idea. Logan and I have been friends forever. We banter, we laugh, and we're close. But to him, I'm just Emma, the girl he'll confide in about everything-except his new flings, like Vanessa, the school's reigning queen bee. She's got her sights on Logan and everyone knows it. Meanwhile, Logan and I share this strange, unspoken chemistry that I can't ignore, even if we act like it's no big deal. But everything changes the night I get roped into a game of spin the bottle at Vanessa's party. When the bottle lands on Logan, he kisses me in front of everyone-and suddenly, it's like I'm seeing Logan in a whole new light, and he's seeing me differently, too. Now he's paying me attention in a way that's unsettling, thrilling, and absolutely forbidden. And just when I think I can ignore it, Logan begins pursuing me-unabashedly, against all the rules he's lived by and despite his so-called girlfriend's wishes. Now, I'm caught in a whirlwind of gossip, jealousy, and emotions I can barely handle. Logan's breaking his own rules for me, and the harder I try to resist him, the more I find myself pulled back. But when we're toeing the line between friendship and something much more dangerous, my heart-and his-are on the line.

New Adult

I Wanna Ruin Our Friendship

Hiding My Twin Pups From their Alpha Dad

Felicia finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage to the cold and domineering Alpha Damien.  Despite her hopes that a child might soften his heart, her world shatters when she discovers his passionate affection for another woman.  Heartbroken yet determined, Felicia demands a divorce. Five years after leaving her powerful Alpha husband, Felicia is living a quiet life with her twin sons, hiding from the past.  But when the Full Moon Festival brings her face-to-face with Damien, the father of her children, everything changes.

Romance

Hiding My Twin Pups From their Alpha Dad

The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife

Carmen Venetti thought she had everything: a powerful husband, a thriving empire, and the strength to hold it all together. But when Arianna De Luca, Marco's cunning and beautiful ex-lover, reappears, their once-unshakable marriage begins to fracture. Arianna claims she's here to help the Venetti family crush their enemies, but her true motives are as dangerous as they are secretive.As Marco grows increasingly entangled in Arianna's web of manipulations, Carmen is forced to make an impossible choice. Pregnant and heartbroken, she leaves the life she's fought so hard to protect, vowing to shield her unborn child from the venomous chaos threatening to consume them.But Carmen's absence only deepens Marco's descent into Arianna's trap. Blinded by ambition and haunted by whispers of betrayal, Marco dismisses the warning signs and lets Arianna tighten her grip on his empire. All the while, Arianna plays a dangerous double game, secretly aligning herself with the De Luca family and plotting to take the Venetti throne for herself. As trust crumbles and alliances shift, Carmen and Marco are thrust into a high-stakes battle of loyalty, love, and survival. Will Marco uncover Arianna's true intentions before it's too late, or will her schemes destroy everything the Venettis have built-including their chance at a family? In a world where power is deadly and betrayal is the ultimate weapon, the question isn't just who will survive-but who will come out on top.

Romance

The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife

Her Husband's Secret Affair

Sophie's suspicions about her husband Adam's infidelity grow when she learns he's been taking his secretary to the family doctor.  After hearing the doctor confirm that his secretary lost the baby, Sophie confronts him and demands a divorce. Adam desperately tries to convince her to stay, but Sophie's mind is made up, and she packs her bags to leave.  In a heated argument, passion takes over, leading to a night of unexpected intimacy.  The next day, Adam leaves work early to make things right, only to return home to find Sophie gone without a trace.

Romance

Her Husband's Secret Affair

The Pharaoh's Favorite

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The Pharaoh's Favorite

The Barren Ex-Wife Gave Birth to Twins

When Amelia discovered she was pregnant with her billionaire husband Ryan's child, after three long years of longing and heartbreak, she was happy. She couldn't wait to share the joyous news with him and finally bring a piece of their love into the world.  When she got home, her excitement turned to icy dread when she saw the divorce papers Ryan had prepared for her to sign, unaware of the miracle blossoming inside her. Five years later, the past haunted both of them. Ryan's world shatters when he learned the son he had dutifully raised with Brenda, for the last five years, wasn't his flesh and blood and that Amelia was with twins five years ago.  Ryan unexpectedly shows up at Amelia's door, driven by desperation and a tormented desire to reclaim his lost family. Will Amelia allow the man who shattered her world back into their lives? And how will their children react to the father they barely know?

Romance

The Barren Ex-Wife Gave Birth to Twins

The President's Secret Daughter

Zorina thought marrying Kael Veridan, heir to the powerful Veridan family, would bring her love and respect. Instead, it turned her into an invisible servant in her own home. When Kael announces his engagement to the glamorous governor's daughter, Liora, Zorina's world crumbles. Betrayed and humiliated, she demands a divorce, ready to reveal her true identity-the secret daughter of the president and the hidden force behind the Veridan family's success. But as Kael realizes the powerful, independent woman he's underestimated, will his love for Liora hold, or will he come running back to the wife who was always his greatest ally?

New Adult

The President's Secret Daughter

Luna Vengeance

"I, Tyler Xander, the future leader of the silver moon pack, hereby reject you, Aurora Watson, as my mate and Luna of the Silver moon pack," The guy whom I've loved since the first year in school, said with a smirk as his beta pinned me against the wall. My already weak heart shattered into a thousand pieces, and I felt a physical ache in my body as pain penetrated through me. My legs wobbled under me, as I held on to them to keep my body in place. "There is no competition here, girl. You should leave, Tyler is mine!" Debbie piped up as she wrapped herself around my fated mate. That's me - Aurora. And welcome to my life...

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Luna Vengeance

Never Just Friends

Seventeen-year-old Hanna is navigating her first year of high school while still grieving the loss of her parents. With her brother Jacob and best friends Emily and Elordi by her side, she's determined to survive the pressures of fitting in and finding her place. But things get complicated when Ciara, the queen bee of the school, targets Hanna out of jealousy-especially over Finn, Jacob's best friend, who's caught Hanna's eye. As high school drama unfolds, Hanna must learn to stand up for herself while holding onto the people who matter most.

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Never Just Friends

The Rebirth of My Dead Billionaire Wife

When Tori Kane awakens in the hospital after a suspicious accident, she discovers she's been given a second chance at life - with all her memories intact. A several weeks ago, she was betrayed and almost killed by her husband, billionaire CEO Damian Blackwood and his mistress - her adopted sister Selena, who orchestrated her downfall and seized control of her family's company. Now, with new allies and shocking information left by her late grandmother, Tori crafts an intricate plan for revenge. But as she infiltrates her old life under a new identity, she uncovers darker secrets that challenge everything she thought she knew about her family's legacy and her own past.

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Love by the Contract

A pragmatic executive assistant agrees to a temporary marriage with her billionaire boss to help him secure his inheritance. Two years into their convenient arrangement, she discovers she's pregnant - just as his former flame returns to reclaim him. Now she must navigate office politics, pregnancy, and her own heart while dealing with a husband who's ready to end their marriage for his first love.

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The Chosen Luna: Alpha’s Unwanted Daughter

Isla Thorne has always been the outcast of her pack, a disappointment to her Alpha parents and a mystery to everyone else. As the daughter of powerful leaders in the Midnight Crest pack, she should have had a promising life-but her twin sister, Seraphine, made sure that never happened. By spreading rumors that Isla lacks a wolf, Seraphine has kept her confined to the shadows, practically a prisoner in her own home. Despite her family's scorn and her sister's cruelty, Isla hides one precious secret: a fierce wolf named Lira, who came to her in a moment of desperation on her eighteenth birthday. Every day, Isla waits for her mate-the one person she believes could love her unconditionally and maybe even break her free from this life of shame. But as the months pass, hope fades, and Seraphine's torment escalates. When a dangerous betrayal by her sister forces Isla into exile, she discovers just how far her family is willing to go to keep her hidden, a truth that shakes her to her core. Driven to survive, Isla escapes, finding herself alone and uncertain in the rogue lands beyond her pack's territory. But as her bond with Lira strengthens, she realizes that survival may be her only choice. Facing dangers from both rogues and hunters, Isla sets out on a journey that will test her in ways she never expected. With every step, she uncovers secrets about her family, her powers, and her destiny. But will she find the life she always dreamed of, or will her past catch up with her in the harshest of ways? As Isla ventures into the unknown, fate will reveal that perhaps she was meant for more than even she ever imagined.

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The Queen of Hearts

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New Adult

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Dear Diary, The Cross Brothers are After Me

"Dear Diary...The Cross Brothers Are After Me" is about Lila, a girl who moves to a new town and becomes the focus of the Cross brothers-Aiden, Asher, and Grayson. They start by bullying her, but their behavior turns obsessive and manipulative, dragging her into their twisted games. Through her diary, Lila reveals her struggle to endure their torment, navigate their dangerous intentions, and figure out how to take control of her own life.

New Adult

Dear Diary, The Cross Brothers are After Me

Luna Aurora

Aurora, the devoted Luna of the Shadow Pack, has spent years by Alpha Fenrir's side, supporting him and nurturing their pack as his fated mate. But when his first love, Arianna, returns, Fenrir's heart falters. In a moment of weakness, he dismisses Aurora and demands a divorce, shattering her world. Unknown to him, Aurora carries his child-a secret she vows to protect as she retreats to her family, heartbroken but resilient. As Fenrir embraces his rekindled relationship with Arianna, he soon realizes that she's not the woman he once loved. Her cruelty toward the pack and unfaithful ways become impossible to ignore, while memories of Aurora's warmth haunt him. When Fenrir discovers the truth about Aurora's pregnancy, it's almost too late. Determined to reunite his family, Fenrir sets out on a journey to find Aurora, hoping she will forgive him and let him back into her life. But can he mend the wounds he caused? Or will he lose his fated mate and child forever?

Paranormal urban

Luna Aurora

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