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In The Red Zone
The Kelly Brothers # 6
The Kelly Brothers # 6
By: Crista McHugh
Releasing March 25th, 2015
Self-Published
All-Star
linebacker Frank Kelly is as well-known for his off-the-field hits as he is for
his on-field ones. When a dance club brawl ends with him in handcuffs again,
he’s rescued by a well-connected woman who can get the charges dropped in
exchange for a small favor. If he’ll agree to play the part of a doting
boyfriend for two months, she’ll keep him out of the slammer and help restore
his reputation.
Kiana Dyer may be
the daughter of a Hall of Fame football player, but the charity organization
she set up in his honor isn’t getting the media attention she’d hoped for. A
staged romance with Frank Kelly is just the ticket she needs to get it in the
spotlight. As the lines between fake and real start to blur, she begins to
wonder if bailing him out was the best call she’s ever made. Just when
everything seems to be falling perfectly in place, scandal surrounds her
charity, and she’s the one left scrambling to clear her name.
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“Fine.” The terse manner in which he said the word,
though, showed he was anything but fine with ending the conversation that way,
along with the way his car wove in and out of traffic as though the Downtown
Connector was a NASCAR speedway. “Let’s talk about the fundraiser. I saw there
was going to be a silent auction of some sports memorabilia.”
Finally, something she could talk to him about that didn’t
make her horny or scared. “We have a few things of my dad’s.”
“I’ll gladly donate a couple of things, too, but I was
wondering if you’re willing to open it up to sports other than football.”
“What do you mean?”
The car slowed back down to the flow of traffic, and his
grip loosened on the steering wheel. “Well, football’s not the only sport where
kids can get hurt.”
“We focus primarily on football, but we can supply gear to
all youth sports programs.”
“Exactly, so why don’t I ask around and see if I can get
some other local athletes involved in the fundraiser. Dougie, for example.”
Her heart stuttered for a few beats. “You mean you could
get Doug Boutry to donate something to the auction?”
“Of course I can.” He gave her a charming grin. “You’ll
find I can be pretty convincing. And it wouldn’t be limited to just Doug. I can
ask my teammates to provide a few things, maybe even get the team’s owners to
provide a couple of seats in the suite for a game. Just tell me what I need to
do, and I’ll do it.”
She wiped her damp palms on her jeans as she considered
his offer. “You’d be willing to do that for me?”
“Anything to stay on your good side.” He took the Midtown
exit near her office. “I’m just surprised you didn’t think of it before.”
A dozen excuses sat poised on the tip of her tongue, but
it was the most honest one that came out. “I have a hard time asking people for
help.”
“And yet, you asked me,” he said softly.
“Yeah, but I had some leverage over you.”
“I would’ve done it even if you hadn’t bailed me out.”
She chuckled, and the last of the cold dread fled her
soul, leaving behind an odd sensation she couldn’t quite pinpoint. There was a
sincerity to Frank’s words that made her wonder how much of it was the truth.
“For the record, I never bailed you out.”
“You got me out of the slammer, and that’s what counts.”
His grin widened. “Can you imagine what someone as good looking as me would’ve
had to endure if I’d stayed in there?”
His good-natured conceit lightened the mood, and she
laughed wholeheartedly. Leave it to Frank to take her from one end of the
emotional spectrum to the other in a matter of minutes. But it felt good, being
with him. Even after she’d revealed her shortcomings, he’d managed to make her
feel better. And he showed no evidence of losing interest in her, judging by
the way his gaze kept flickering her way as he zoomed through the streets.
He drove into the parking garage of her building and
parked next to her car. Before she could even grab the handle of her door, he
was out of his seat and jogging around the car to open it for her. “Allow me,
lovely lady.”
“Still trying to get on my good side?” she quipped while
smothering a grin.
“You can say that.” He took her hand to help her out, but
didn’t release it right away. His eyes darkened, and his face grew
uncharacteristically serious. “Kiana, if I’m going too far, please tell me.”
Her breath hitched, allowing his scent to linger in her
nose long enough for her to recognize the masculine notes of leather and cedar
in his cologne. “Depends on what you’re planning to do.”
“Can we try that kiss again?” He held up his hands in
surrender. “I promise not to lay a finger on you.”
That kiss had been nice. At least, until he touched the
back of her neck. But maybe, just maybe, she could enjoy one more. She leaned
into him and pressed her lips to his.
If the earlier kiss had been raw and unrestrained, this
one was gentle and cautious. And frustratingly tame. Frank allowed her to
control the tempo and the heat of the kiss, responding to the demands of her
tongue, but obviously holding back. She opened one eye to see his hands shaking
at his sides. A whimper rose from his throat, forming a silent plea that
convinced her to tear down the wall he was trying to stay behind.
She grabbed his hands and placed them on her bottom.
A muffled gasp followed, and the chains that had been
holding Frank at bay vanished. He grabbed her ass with vigor and pressed her
against him while he deepened the kiss. A moan rose into the still night air,
but she couldn’t tell if it was from him or her. All she knew was the rising
desire building between them that made her want to forget everything but him.
She allowed herself this one moment of bliss, to fall into
the arms of a man who knew how to kiss her in a way that made her toes curl. A
man who caressed her generous curves like she was the most desirable woman on
earth. A man who made her feel safe and secure in his arms even while he
tempted her to engage in the most reckless behavior she’d embraced in over two
years.
But she couldn’t be reckless anymore. She was a mother,
and she didn’t want to make the same mistakes her mother had. The thought of
her daughter tempered her lust long enough for her to end the kiss before it
got out of hand.
“Damn, Kiana,” Frank said with shuddering breaths. “You
have the most luscious ass I’ve ever held.”
Sexy and charming, Frank will not let you put the book down once you start. Under the womanizing facade is a slightly insecure man with a heart of gold. He slowly gets past Kiana's walls and sweeps her of her feet. Kiana has been through some tough time and that has made her very cautious about who she lets into her personal circle. She didn't stand a chance against the Frank, or at least the real him. I enjoyed the progress of their relationship from business associates to lovers, and seeing both Kiana and Frank adapt to their new circumstances. I haven't read the previous books in the series, but I will have to carve out some time to start them from the beginning.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Crista
McHugh is an award-winning author of fantasy and romance who writes heroines
who are smart, sexy and anything but ordinary. She currently lives in the
Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining
her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue
writing on nights and weekends.
She
is an active member of the Romance Writers of America (including the Greater
Seattle Chapter and the Seattle Eastside Chapters), and Romance Divas.
Just
for laughs, here are some of the jobs she’s had in the past to pay the bills:
barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and
autopsy assistant.
And
she’s also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her crazy college days)
Thank you for hosting IN THE RED ZONE!
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