Once
Perfect
Shattered
Past # 1
By: Cecy Robson
Releasing October 7th, 2014
Loveswept: Flirt
His life
was never easy. Hers wasn’t supposed to be this hard. They come from different
worlds, but fate lures them together in a way neither expected in Cecy Robson’s
raw, steamy series debut—perfect for fans of Monica Murphy and J. Lynn.
Evelyn
Preston’s future once looked perfect—until her wealthy father was caught in an
embezzlement scandal and took his own life. Alone and struggling to pay her
college tuition and bills, Evelyn finds a job as a waitress at the ultra-hip
nightclub Excess, where she used to have more in common with the privileged
private-school clientele than her fellow staff members. But something attracts
her to the sexy six-foot-four bouncer and underground MMA fighter Mateo Tres
Santos. Although they’ve led different lives, their troubled pasts bonds them
in both survival and love.
Mateo is
ex-army who wound up in prison for assaulting the man who harmed his sister.
Now he’s feeling the same protective impulse for this petite blond waitress.
When Evelyn experiences a panic attack at the club, Mateo comes to her rescue.
And when Mateo is wounded shielding her from a brawl, Evelyn returns the favor
and comes to his aid.
As their
attraction intensifies, Mateo is determined to find out what nightmares are
lurking in Evelyn’s past—even if that means tackling his own to save her.
“Malibu Barbie. We need more
cocktail napkins!”
I stopped wiping the bar
booth, torn between throwing my bucket at Sam or at the cluster of bouncers
chuckling at his Barbie dig. I still had two more booths to clean before the
doors to the Main Line’s infamous Club Excess opened and the real work began. A
crowd of spoiled brats―offspring of Philly’s wealthiest families―with too much
money and too much attitude already crowded the doors. I should know. I used to
be one of them. Except they still had the money.
I had a screaming boss.
“Malibu!”
“Jesus, Sam, I’m going.” I
tossed my towel on the table and stomped across the dance floor in my black,
thigh-high boots. If it weren’t for the crazy tips the drunk idiots dropped
like bowling balls, no way would I work at a place where I had to accessorize
tiny black shorts and a skimpy tank with these hooker boots. The white dress
shirt tied at my belly was Sam’s way of compromising when me and a few of the other waitresses complained
about our new “uniforms.” The more desperate among us tied it closer to their
cleavage. I didn’t. Even if it meant less money, I wanted to hang on to what
little pride I had left.
My steps slowed as I neared
the group of bouncers huddled around Mateo. He was young, younger than at least
half of them, and still they looked up to him. ’’Considering Mateo was an
ex-con who fought in fight clubs, you’d think the staff would avoid him’’. I
sure did. Hell, I’d barely spoken to him in the six months I’d worked at
Excess, using any excuse to keep my distance. That said, there was something
about him that made people take notice. His burly arms crossed his chest. Power
was inked on one forearm in bold Gothic lettering, Wrath on the other, and
black flames crawled up both, disappearing beneath the sleeves of his tight
black T-shirt.
My puny shoulders tensed as I
drew closer. Mateo had served time for beating some poor guy so brutally the
guy had spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from the bashes to his face
and body. I watched Mateo, a lot. Every now and then, I’d catch him glancing my
way, too. He’d offer me a brief nod or a small smile, but I never offered
anything in return. His size, the depth of his voice, and his aptitude for
violence scared me, despite his captivating looks. He moved like a panther
staking out his turf, ready for anything, his steely hazel eyes taking
everything in.
He spoke low and rough as the
last of his crew arrived. “Listen up. Keep the drugs and the dealers out. They
come in with that shit, you see anyone selling―send their asses out the door.
Sam doesn’t want another OD in his place. If those rich pricks want to die,
they can do it somewhere else.”
The others answered Mateo with
stiff nods, except for Dale, who whistled as I walked by. “Nice ass, Evelyn . .
.”
His voice trailed off. I
turned to shoot him a dirty look over my shoulder only to catch the death glare
Mateo was firing his way. “Leave Evie the fuck alone and pay attention, Dale,”
Mateo told him. Dale immediately dropped his gaze, allowing Mateo to return his
attention to the rest of the group. “With the first week of classes over, these
fools are looking to party hard, and the dealers are ready to assist. ““Don’t
go it alone. Call for backup if you need it, when you need it. I’ll take point
near the bar. Ant’s my second. He’ll take point left of the floor. If I’m mixed
up in some other shit, you call him. Got me?”
The bouncers collectively
muttered in agreement. Even Dale.
My heart was thumping against
my sternum and I lost my footing. I reached for my ponytail and tightened it
fast, trying to pretend that was the reason I’d tripped and not, absolutely
not, because ’Mateo had stuck up for me and shut Dale up on my behalf. Or
because he’d called me “Evie.” Again. No one else had ever called me that.
This is one of the best NA books I’ve ever read! Mateo’s and Evie’s story is not defined by their ages, but by their experiences. Perhaps it’s because I’m in my late 30’s, but I usually have issues with most of the NA books I read. Cecy Robson has done a wonderful job making Mateo, Evie and all their friends relatable to everyone, no matter their age. At times, I almost forgot that they were in early 20’s.
Can't wait to read the next book in the series - you have a new fan Cecy!
Can't wait to read the next book in the series - you have a new fan Cecy!
Cecy Robson is the New
Adult author of Once Perfect, Once Loved, and Once Pure and the
award-winning author of the Weird Girls urban fantasy romance series. A
self-proclaimed professional napper, Cecy counts among her talents a
jaw-dropping knowledge of useless trivia, the ability to make her hair big, and
a knack for breaking into song despite her family’s vehement protests. A
full-time writer, registered nurse, wife, and mother living in the Great
Northwest, Cecy enjoys spending time with her family and silencing the yappy
characters in her head by telling their stories.
Author Links
Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm deeply flattered and touche that you connected so well to Mateo and Evie. Many thanks also for the wonderful feature and for being part of my blog tour!
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