The moment Dario sees Tessa in his bar, he knows he’s found his fated mate – age difference be damned. Learning she wants nothing to do with shifters – especially romantically – is another matter altogether. But nobody said he wasn't determined.
Can Dario’s persistence convince Tessa he’s not hiding dark secrets that would reinforce her opinion of shifters, or will she deny them their primal destiny?
“And saving the best for last,” Fabrizio said, brows waggling, “Models Grace Mills and Amy Gray, and actress Paulina Brzezinski have agreed to be featured.”
Tessa rolled her eyes and continued taking notes, not saying a word.
“Problem, mate? Or rather, Tessa?”
Tessa’s irritation with Dario reignited. If she was smart, she’d keep her opinions to herself and her mouth shut. The challenge and arrogance in Dario’s gleaming blue eyes spurred Tessa on.
“Yes actually, since you asked. I have to wonder why the company hasn’t created a women’s edition. It’s the 21st century. Sophisticated, contemporary women are interested in similar topics the men’s edition features. From a different perspective, but still. And women consider men’s bodies beautiful. Who among the ladies in this room wouldn’t mind admiring someone like Eric Nelson at least shirtless?”
Maya and a few other women in the room, including Legra all smiled in agreement, nodding enthusiastically.
Tessa couldn’t discern what Dario might have been thinking, but she wasn’t through. “It seems rather sexist to me considering women are over fifty percent of the population and seventy percent of the electorate in the U.S. Why not parlay the success and expand the brand of The Fundamental Gentleman to The Fundamental Woman?”
Tessa knew she was out of line, but Dario got on her nerves and played havoc with her emotions. It could be a “mate thing” or a “man thing” or a “Dario’s a cocky jerk thing” – she wasn’t sure which, but there it was. And there they were.
No one said a word, presumably waiting on Dario’s response to Tessa’s outburst.
He was going to fire her for sure.
How was Tessa going to explain that to Emelia?
Damn Dario and her big mouth.
Dario’s gaze turned fierce and possessive. “Tell me. Do you find my body beautiful?”
Tessa felt a flush slowly creep across her cheeks and squirmed in her chair. Of course she did. She’d dreamed about him and his beautiful body since Halloween night. The most sexy, erotic dreams she’d ever had. Not that she would admit it to him, especially in a room full of virtual strangers.
“God, they’re so cute.” Tessa heard Fabrizio whisper a little too loudly.
“You’re hopeless. Out of everything I just said – your takeaway is fishing for a compliment about your body?”
“Question answered. In the affirmative.” Dario’s chuckle served to piss Tessa off even more.
A favorite with romance readers, her debut novel “On the Ropes,” the first in her Windy City Nights series, became an international bestseller. Dania’s books have won multiple awards, and her work has been highlighted on NBC, ABC, CBS, and FOX. She has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Southern Writers Magazine, and Chicago Entrepreneurs Magazine (selected as the #8 Top Chicago Author in 2021).
When she’s not writing, you can find Dania at a sporting event, a rock concert, or the movies (preferably a comedy).
She was headed to college. He was an up and coming pitcher in the majors. Life had other plans and threw them a curve ball...Click Here for the list!
















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I liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteAwesome title
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