Her gaze ate up the gorgeous build before her. Oh, this one was hot. Her hands ached to touch, stroke, enjoy. Immerse herself in the dirty, sweaty actions that would fulfill them both.

No.

She paused, pressing a hand to her mouth. What was wrong with her? Why was she always attracted to the ones needing so much damn work? It was like she craved to be the savior, restoring all the broken parts to achieve wholeness and beauty. How many times had she been bitterly disappointed by the result? By her investment in time and energy that never seemed to be enough?

Could she stand to take another risk?

Charlotte Grayson squeezed her eyes shut and struggled with the raw lust shooting through her body, competing with her sensible, overworked brain that screamed for her to walk away.

“Earth to Charlie.”

Her lids flew open. And once again, she succumbed to bad-boy charm and the lure of the challenge. “I want him.”

Her contact lifted a brow. Gage was a bit cutthroat in business but held a soft spot for her. No one ever took him as a serious competitor. His uniform was a backward red baseball cap, jeans with holes in the knees that weren’t fashionable, nerdy white sneakers, and a T-shirt that declared BEER IS GOOD. With his nondescript features, unshaven jaw, and casual attitude, he looked like he’d rather be smoking weed in the garage than flipping dilapidated properties for a profit. Another reason Charlie liked him. People had been misjudging her forever, and it was nice to meet another of her kind. “How come you always call them he?” he asked curiously, scratching his head.

She shrugged. “Probably my warped way of controlling men?” she suggested. “I get to do what

I want, when I want. Give them a makeover. Be their one and only for a while.” She shot him a mischievous grin. “And I also get to be the one to break up with them. Kind of poetic, right?”

“Kind of weird, but you’ve always been a bit quirky.”

Coming July 25th

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

AUTHOR LINKS:

“I’m already working my ass off for you.”

“No, your list. For what you want in a woman. Have you graduated to date four yet?”

Irritation skittered across his features. She tried to tamp down her delight. “Not yet.” She waited him out, learning he liked to space out his responses. “I’m seeing her again this Friday,” he added grudgingly.

“Ooh, exciting. Okay, so tell me what floats your boat, Casanova.”

He shuddered. “God, please don’t call me that. Or talk like that.”

“Sorry, I forget you’re a bit high class.”

“No, I just speak proper English.”

“Stop stalling.”

He looked away but she caught the edge of a grin. He’d be loath to admit it, but she made him laugh. And from what she’d seen, this man desperately needed someone to balance all that seriousness. It must be exhausting.

“Fine. What do you want to know?”

She practically clapped her hands with glee. “The same question I answered. Tell me the traits in your perfect woman.”

His arms flexed as he worked the hammer, and her gaze snagged on the lean, sinewy muscles under gorgeous brown skin. Wood chips and dust clung to his figure but it only added to his attractiveness, giving a sense of ruggedness to his normal poised elegance. Yes, women would definitely seek him out for his appearance alone, but she wondered how many stayed after they got a dose of his attitude. He must be on his best behavior to trick them.

“I don’t know why you’re interested in this,” he muttered.

“Tit for tat.”

“It’s simple, really. I know exactly what I’m looking for. I’m ready to get married and have a family.”

“Right away?”

“Yes. My future wife will have a few core qualities that I won’t compromise on. Loyalty, honesty, and dual respect are at the top.”

She cocked her head, studying him. He’d managed to surprise her. “Very thoughtful. Excellent choices.”

“So glad you approve. I need a certain amount of intellectual stimulation, as I’m sure she will, so she cannot be just a pretty face.”

Huh. Maybe she’d been wrong about him. So far, she wholeheartedly agreed with his choices. “Can’t argue with those.”

“I don’t need laugh-out-loud funny, but a sense of humor helps get you through hard times.”

“Agreed.”

“And then she needs to obey, of course.”

Coming July 25th

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Coming July 25th

Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.