SWEET SURRENDER: THE EPILOGUE
The Bitter Rival #2
by LM Fox
Cover & Excerpt Reveal
Release Date: March 9, 2023
Cover Design: Hang Le
Photographer: Wander Aguiar Photography
Model: David Turner
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trope: Angsty medical romance, reformed enemies to lovers, single mom
Synopsis
Sebastian Lee may still be cocky,
but he’s no longer a playboy.
While he’s utterly devoted to Isabella and her son Austin,
relationships are alien to him. He’s about to learn
his arrogant days with women are over.
Life’s challenges have caused this ex-surgeon to reassess his future,
but one thing is certain. He can’t live without either of them.
Sebastian
How things have changed. No longer am I the shark looking to claim his next mate.
There’s no successful surgical career. I’ve given up my well controlled life,
preferring instead to let Bella steer this ship.
Yet I’m also no longer watching the world go by without being a part of it.
I’m surrounded by a dog that sheds, a child who paints on walls,
and a woman who tells me how things are going to be.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Now I just need to convince this strong-willed minx to marry me.
Add to your TBR List!
Excerpt
“You’re home.”
Shutting the front door behind me, I gaze up to find Sebastian standing in the kitchen, reaching for a bottle of wine. His sweet smile and bright blue eyes practically light up the room. “I only ran a few errands. You miss me that much?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.” He’s wearing black suit pants, a black button-up that clings to his chest in all the right places, and a dimple that’s making me all tingly down below. He strolls over, extending a glass to me. “I’m going to run you a bath, and then we’re going out.”
“Wait!” I blurt.
“What?” Sebastian suddenly looks concerned.
“Is it my birthday?” How much have I been working lately? Have I forgotten an important occasion?
“No.” He chuckles, placing a chaste kiss on my lips. Okay, now that’s odd. He’s usually all in for the kiss. The chaste ones he reserves for when he’s comforting me.
“Is something wrong? Is Austin hurt?”
“For fuck’s sake, GG. Can’t I simply want to take you out?”
He’s right. I think I’m losing it. But running me a bath? Who is this man? “Is Austin staying here with Charlie?”
“Yeah. Is that okay?” Kiss. “I think the museum trip and hanging out with Gene yesterday got his creative juices flowing.” Sebastian turns and walks away, and I instinctively follow him like a puppy.
Arriving at our bedroom, he heads for the bathroom and begins running the water. Almost too stunned to move, I sip my malbec and just stare at his rock-hard ass as he bends over the tub. Man, those workouts with his trainer are really paying off. I can’t say I understand them any more than I do his fascination with the warehouse he wants to buy. I mean, I get the need to stay healthy, but his workouts are like someone bound for the Olympics. But I’m starting to learn everything with Sebastian Lee is ‘go big or go home.’
Bas looks over his shoulder, still crouched over the tub. “Get your curvy little ass over here so I can get a peep show before you sink into the suds.”
“Where are we going?” I ask, putting down my wine so I can strip off my shoes, socks, and pants. “After the tub, I mean.”
“Only you’re getting in the tub, GG. Afterward, we’re going to have dinner at Saude Creek.”
“Your vineyard?”
“Well, it’s not really mine anymore. I inherited a portion from my grandfather, but for all intents and purposes, it belongs to Sam. He’s been trying to turn that place around, and I’m pretty proud of him for sticking with it.”
Sebastian stands and turns to me after shutting off the water and gives me a devilish grin. “Did I have that entire conversation with you standing behind me naked? What a waste.” He bends to lift me, his hands cupping my ass, and my breasts heave against his muscular pecs. As he drops my feet into the warm, sudsy water, he places another chaste kiss on my lips. I’d start to question who has inhabited his body if he didn’t immediately bend to put one on each nipple as well.
I can feel my muscles loosen as I sink into the fragrant water. I close my eyes and inhale, trying to enjoy the soothing warmth. This past week has been tougher than I gave myself credit for. Suddenly, I have the sensation someone’s watching me. My eyes spring open to find Sebastian standing by the tub, looking down at me hungrily.
“Perv,” I tease.
“I get brownie points for keeping my dick in my pants when you look like that.”
Looking down, I notice the suds have parted, allowing only my nipples to poke through. It probably does look like something from a porn shoot. The plumber walks in to find a girl soaking in the tub with all of her most tantalizing parts peeking out of the bubbles. I snicker to myself.
“I came to bring you these.” Sebastian hands me my wine glass and my phone. “In case you need something. Just text me. Plus. I know you have a stash of dirty books on your Kindle app.”
“One. They are romance novels, not dirty books.” Okay, they’re spicy as hell, but I’m a sucker for a tear-jerker with a side of kink. “Two. How would you know what I have on there? Hmm?” I raise a curious brow.
Shaking his head, he starts toward the door. “I’ll check on you in about thirty minutes. Text if you need me to bring you something.” The room grows quiet as I take a sip of my wine until I hear him from the other side of the door. “And next time you’re reading a book from your phone while I’m watching a movie, maybe don’t wriggle around practically leaving a wet spot, then jump me once the lights are off if you don’t want me to put two and two together.”
Sliding down into the water in sheer embarrassment, I have to admit he’s probably right. I’ve grown used to book boyfriends after years of being a single mom. They got me through many a lonely night. But now I have the hottest boyfriend on the planet. They’re merely foreplay.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
I nearly spill my wine into the bath, startled by the sound of my phone vibrating against the tile. Looking at the screen, I see my sweet little sister Bailey’s face. “Hey, Bailes.”
“Hey, B. Whatcha doin’?”
“You want the truth?”
“No. Lie to me. Ha, of course, I want the truth, crazy.”
“I think I’m having a bit of a panic attack.”
“What? Why?”
“I came in the door from running errands, and Sebastian has been doting on me left and right. He even ran a bath.”
“Why is that causing a panic attack?”
“Have you met Sebastian? He’s usually not the romantic type. I’m wondering if there’s something he wants. Like he’s buttering me up.”
“Like what?”
I bite my lip, trying to consider his angle. Then I gasp.
“What?” Bailey blurts, alarmed.
“What if he’s doing this because he wants me to have anal?” I’m jolted back to reality when the shrieks of laughter hit my eardrum.
“You’ve lost it, B. Besides, I assumed that was already on the table with the chemistry you two have.”
“Uh, no.” I don’t need to share all the nitty gritty with my sister, but Sebastian would rip me in two. No way is that happening. Now I need to find a way to let him down gently when the time comes.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
I pull the phone away from my ear to read a text that says:
Five minutes (kissing emoji)
“Oh, god.”
“What?”
“Bas is laying it on thick. I’m worried, Bailes.”
“Oh, for gosh sakes, Bella. You’re a nut. Do you two have plans or something?”
“He’s taking me to the family vineyard for dinner. He’s probably planning to get me drunk.”
Bailey giggles into the phone. “Oh, B. He loves you. Just enjoy your evening.”
She’s probably right. I don’t know why I’m being so suspicious. “Okay. You’re right. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Oh, and Bella.”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t forget to stop for lube on the way home.”
Pre-order Link
Amazon Universal ~ https://geni.us/4ESALE
Giveaway
One of Five eARC's Sweet Surrender: The Epilogue
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THE BITTER RIVAL
The Bitter Rival #1
Available Now
Purchase Link
Amazon Universal ~ https://geni.us/7rP7VrA
About the Author
Born and raised in Virginia, LM Fox currently lives in a suburb of Richmond with her husband, three kids, and a chocolate lab.
Her pastimes are traveling to new and favorite places, trying new foods, a swoony book with either a good cup of tea or coffee, margaritas on special occasions, and watching her kids participate in a variety of sports.
She has spent the majority of her adult life working in emergency medicine and her books are written in this setting. Her main characters are typically in the medical field, EMS, fire, and/or law enforcement. She enjoys writing angsty, contemporary romance starring headstrong, independent heroines you can’t help but love and the hot alpha men who fall hard for them.
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