A woman hoping to get control of her father's business makes a tempting proposition to her ex-husband with a marriage of convenience that soon has business mixing with pleasure. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Handsome Devil by Delaney Diamond, then add this contemporary second chance romance to your bookshelf. In honor of this seventh installment in the Quicksand series, fill out the form below for the chance to win a $25 Amazon GC too!
They might both get what they want in this marriage of convenience—if they don’t kill each other first.
Annabelle Buchanan waltzes into Dante Escarra’s office with a singular goal—to persuade him to accept her audacious one-year marriage proposal. Her objective? Taking control of her father’s real estate empire. But Dante is her ex-husband, and their past is littered with hurt and anger.Dante never once contemplated reuniting with Annabelle, because she broke his heart and left him devastated years ago. But her offer is a tantalizing chance to add an iconic Houston building to his real estate portfolio—a prize he covets more than he’s willing to admit.
As they pursue their respective goals, the lines between business and heart blur. Can they make their marriage work the second time around, or will they both end up with broken hearts—again?
EXCERPT:
Setting down her food, Annabelle joined Dante to the right of her father.
“I won’t take too much time, but before everyone leaves, I wanted to say a few words.” Clifton clasped his hands together. “I’m so happy to have you all here tonight to celebrate the upcoming marriage of my lovely daughter, Annabelle, and her future husband, Dante Escarra. As many of you know, they were married a long time ago, much younger and in my opinion, perhaps not ready for all that marriage entailed at the time. When they separated, I was heartbroken. I had lost another son.”
Empathetic murmurs filled the room.
“But they’re back together again, and I must say I’m a very happy man. I believe this time their marriage will last because they’ve both grown and experienced life. Dante, welcome back to the family. I hope you stay for good this time.”
Laughter filled the space, and so did a chorus of “Here, here!”
A twinge of guilt filled Annabelle’s chest. She didn’t like deceiving her father, but there was no better way to accomplish her goals.
“I would like to say a few words.”
Her head snapped up at the sound of Dante’s voice.
He extended a hand. Widening her smile, Annabelle placed her hand in his warm clasp.
“What are you doing?” she asked from the corner of her mouth.
Instead of answering, he gazed at her with loving eyes that assuredly fooled everyone there except her.
“This is completely unplanned, but I feel as if it’s necessary. I arrived in this country fifteen years ago at the age of seventeen, searching for the American dream. Years later, I met this beautiful woman and was welcomed into her family. As Clifton said, perhaps Anna and I were too young at the time. I consider myself a very lucky man to have won her heart again. This time, I plan to keep it.”
Without warning, he dipped her over his arm—like a scene out of a 1950s romantic film—and stunned her with a kiss. Camera flashes went off, and cheers and whistles erupted in the night.
His warm hand splayed across her back in support, and his tongue eased apart her lips. The fiery heat of passion and desire rushed through her veins, and liquid heat pooled between her thighs.
Her heart raced. Her knees softened. With a faint whimper, Annabelle curled both arms around the back of Dante’s neck and devoured him in kind, reveling in the firm texture of chest muscles.
Finally, Dante released her lips, and straightened, and Annabelle’s heart pounded in her chest. She couldn’t believe he had done that. She couldn’t believe she had reacted with such unfettered enthusiasm.
She smiled at the assembled crowd, her head swimming and her breathing coming in short, sharp spurts. She never denied Dante was still very attractive, but she hadn’t expected to react to him in that way.
Oh sh*t. She was in trouble.
“I won’t take too much time, but before everyone leaves, I wanted to say a few words.” Clifton clasped his hands together. “I’m so happy to have you all here tonight to celebrate the upcoming marriage of my lovely daughter, Annabelle, and her future husband, Dante Escarra. As many of you know, they were married a long time ago, much younger and in my opinion, perhaps not ready for all that marriage entailed at the time. When they separated, I was heartbroken. I had lost another son.”
Empathetic murmurs filled the room.
“But they’re back together again, and I must say I’m a very happy man. I believe this time their marriage will last because they’ve both grown and experienced life. Dante, welcome back to the family. I hope you stay for good this time.”
Laughter filled the space, and so did a chorus of “Here, here!”
A twinge of guilt filled Annabelle’s chest. She didn’t like deceiving her father, but there was no better way to accomplish her goals.
“I would like to say a few words.”
Her head snapped up at the sound of Dante’s voice.
He extended a hand. Widening her smile, Annabelle placed her hand in his warm clasp.
“What are you doing?” she asked from the corner of her mouth.
Instead of answering, he gazed at her with loving eyes that assuredly fooled everyone there except her.
“This is completely unplanned, but I feel as if it’s necessary. I arrived in this country fifteen years ago at the age of seventeen, searching for the American dream. Years later, I met this beautiful woman and was welcomed into her family. As Clifton said, perhaps Anna and I were too young at the time. I consider myself a very lucky man to have won her heart again. This time, I plan to keep it.”
Without warning, he dipped her over his arm—like a scene out of a 1950s romantic film—and stunned her with a kiss. Camera flashes went off, and cheers and whistles erupted in the night.
His warm hand splayed across her back in support, and his tongue eased apart her lips. The fiery heat of passion and desire rushed through her veins, and liquid heat pooled between her thighs.
Her heart raced. Her knees softened. With a faint whimper, Annabelle curled both arms around the back of Dante’s neck and devoured him in kind, reveling in the firm texture of chest muscles.
Finally, Dante released her lips, and straightened, and Annabelle’s heart pounded in her chest. She couldn’t believe he had done that. She couldn’t believe she had reacted with such unfettered enthusiasm.
She smiled at the assembled crowd, her head swimming and her breathing coming in short, sharp spurts. She never denied Dante was still very attractive, but she hadn’t expected to react to him in that way.
Oh sh*t. She was in trouble.
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AUTHOR INFO:
Delaney Diamond is the USA Today Bestselling Author of more than 50 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, and dozens of romance short stories. She reads romance novels, mysteries, thrillers, and a fair amount of nonfiction. When she’s not busy reading or writing, she’s in the kitchen trying out new recipes, dining at one of her favorite restaurants, or traveling to an interesting locale. To get sneak peeks, notices of sale prices, and find out about new releases, join her MAILING LIST. And enjoy FREE STORIES on her WEBSITE.
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