Easy for Keeps
Kristen Proby
Easy For Keeps
A Boudreaux Novella
By Kristen Proby
1001 Dark Nights
Easy For Keeps
A Boudreaux Novella
By Kristen Proby
1001 Dark Nights
Copyright 2016 Kristen Proby
ISBN: 978-1-942299-12-7
Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose
Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.
Book Description
Easy For Keeps
Adam Spencer loves women. All women. Every shape and size, regardless of hair or eye color, religion or race, he simply enjoys them all. Meeting more than his fair share as the manager and head bartender of The Odyssey, a hot spot in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, Adam’s comfortable with his lifestyle, and sees no reason to change it. A wife and kids, plus the white picket fence are not in the cards for this confirmed bachelor. Until a beautiful woman, and her sweet princess, literally knock him on his ass.
Sarah Cox has just moved to New Orleans, having accepted a position as a social worker specializing in at-risk women and children. It’s a demanding, sometimes dangerous job, but Sarah is no shy wallflower. She can handle just about anything that comes at her, even the attentions of one sexy Adam Spencer. Just because he’s charmed her daughter, making her think of magical kingdoms with happily ever after, doesn’t mean that Sarah believes in fairy tales. But the more time she spends with the enchanting man, the more he begins to sway her into believing in forever.
Even so, when Sarah’s job becomes more dangerous than any of them bargained for, will she be ripped from Adam’s life forever?
About Kristen Proby
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in Montana. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.
Website
Author Goodreads
Novel Goodreads
Also by Kristen Proby
The Boudreaux Series:
Easy Love
Easy Charm
Easy Melody
Easy For Keeps
The With Me In Seattle Series:
Come Away With Me
Under the Mistletoe With Me
Fight With Me
Play With Me
Rock With Me
Safe With Me
Tied With Me
Breathe With Me
Forever With Me
Easy With You
Fusion Series:
Listen to Me
The Love Under the Big Sky Series (published by Pocket Books):
Loving Cara
Seducing Lauren
Falling for Jillian
Baby, It’s Cold Outside: An Anthology with Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Melody Anne and Kate Meader
Acknowledgments
This book is dedicated to Elizabeth Berry and MJ Rose. Thank you for including me in this wonderful family. I’m forever grateful.
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection One
Click here to explore
FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black
CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham
CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom
DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake
AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione
NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones
SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair
ROPED IN by Lorelei James
TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
THE FLAME by Christopher Rice
CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner
Also from 1001 Dark Nights
TAME ME by J. Kenner
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Two
Click here to explore
WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham
EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby
MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair
CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner
ADORED by Lexi Blake
HADES by Larissa Ione
RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton
DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout
STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James
RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
DRAGON KING by Donna Grant
PURE WICKED by Shayla Black
HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye
STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham
KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice
DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster
TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti
THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
Also from 1001 Dark Nights
THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice
SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair
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1001 Dark Nights story
The First Night
by Lexi Blake & M.J. Rose
Turn the page for a full list of the
1001 Dark Nights fabulous novellas...
One Thousand and One Dark Nights
Once upon a time, in the future…
I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.
I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and
the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast
library at my father’s home and collected thousands
of volumes of fantastic tales.
I learned all about ancient races and bygone
times. About myths and legends and dreams of all
people through the millennium. And the more I read
the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered
that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually
become part of them.
I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher
and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I
would not be telling you this tale now.
But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off
with bravery.
One afternoon, curious about the myth of the
Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to
see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar
(Persian: شهریار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then
sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written
and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,
the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand
women.
Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived
in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged
places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had
never occurred before and that still to this day, I
cannot explain.
Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have
taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can
protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to
protect herself and stay alive.
Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.
And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a
point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.
And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that
he might hear the rest of my dark tale.
As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new
one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before
you now.
Table Of Contents
Book Description
About Kristen Proby
Also by Kristen Proby
Author Acknowledgments
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection One
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Two
Foreword
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Three
Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights
Discover Kristen Proby
Special Thanks
Chapter One
~Adam~
“Hey handsome, why don’t you come over here and fuck me?”
I cock a brow and send a half-smile to the brunette with the huge tits at the end of the bar, who’s officially had one too many. She’s been paying more attention to me than to her group of friends all evening, and while the attention is nice, she’s about to be sorely disappointed.
“Because this is a public place, sweetheart, and the cops tend to frown on that.”
She smirks, looks down to make sure her impressive cleavage is showing through her barely-there top, which it is, and then tosses her hair over one shoulder.
“We could go somewhere a little more private.”
“I’m working.” I wink, softening the refusal. Unfortunately, I’ve found that drunk women don’t recognize a refusal.
“I’ll wait.”
And there it is. She examines her white-tipped nails as I finish pouring one last beer before flashing the lights, letting everyone know that it’s closing time. Many bars in the Quarter stay open 24/7, but Callie, my co-owner, and I decided that 4:00 a.m. is sufficient for us. Most of the crowds die down by then, and it seems the majority of people out past then are looking to cause a little trouble.
Trouble isn’t something we invite into The Odyssey.
Customers are shuffling out, taking their drinks with them, thanks to no open container laws, waving and laughing as they go. I turn to dump some glasses in the sink, and there she is. Miss Brunette.
“You’re still here.” It’s not a question.
“I told you I’d wait,” she replies with a grin, showing off her perfect white teeth. She’s a pretty girl, and in the past I would have scooped her up and fucked her brains out in my office until she couldn’t walk for a week.
But lately, I’ve just been tired.
“Honestly, honey, I’m tired this morning. Do you need me to call you a cab?”
She frowns, as if she doesn’t understand.
“But last time I waited and you fucked me on the bar. Can’t we do that again?”
I blink rapidly and take a closer look at her. I’ve fucked her before?
Jesus, I don’t even remember her.
Which doesn’t surprise me in the least.
“Not tonight.” She sticks her lower lip out in a pout as I press speed dial for a cab. I vaguely remember biting that lip. She hikes her skirt up, showing me more of her thighs, and there is a birthmark in the shape of Texas, and BAM! I remember.
She likes to bite. I had marks from her for a week.
Definitely not doing that again.
“The cab will be here in two minutes,” I inform her and turn to find her glaring at me.
Oh, good. An angry, drunk woman.
“Why don’t you want me?” She starts to sniffle. “I know I’ve gained five pounds since I was here last fall—”
That’s right! She travels for work.
“But I’ll suck your dick like nobody else ever has. Well, except me, because I sucked your dick before and you liked it.”
“I did like it,” I say with a nod, and immediately regret my mistake when she smiles and takes a step toward me. I hold my hands up in surrender. Except the part when you bit my balls. “But I have a girlfriend now,” I lie easily.
“So?” She looks genuinely confused.
So she doesn’t have much for morals. Go figure.
I sigh and scrub my fingers through my hair.
“So that means that I won’t fuck you, Marcy.”
“Darcy,” she spits out. “My fucking name is Darcy.”
“See? You should be with a guy who remembers your name.” Her eyes fill with tears again, but the cab pulls up to the curb and honks twice. “There’s your cab.”
I hurry her outside and pour her into the back seat. “Anywhere she wants to go, man. Just send me the bill.”
“I can pay for my own fucking cab ride,” Darcy growls and flips me off as the car pulls away.
I sigh again and lock the door behind me, then shuffle to the bar. The cleaning crew will arrive in about an hour to sanitize the floors, tables, bar and glassware, but for now it’s nice to be alone. The silence is a welcome change from the noisy, boisterous crowd that usually fills the space. And thank God for them, ’cause they pay the bills.
I love this place. I’ve worked at The Odyssey most of my life. First, for Callie’s dad, and then for her after he passed last year. And now that we’re planning to expand the space, Callie asked me to be her partner. The paperwork was finalized last week, and the expansion is moving forward.
It’s exciting and terrifying at the same time. I don’t just work here, I’m part owner and not able to leave at a moment’s notice if the notion struck me.
Not that I ever have, or would, do that. But it was an option.
Now strings are attached, and I’ve never been a strings kind of guy. In fact, at the first mention of commitment, I’m a run-in-the-other-direction kind of guy.
And I make no apologies for it. The women I’m with know the score. I keep my life simple.
This is work, I remind myself. I’ve had a soft spot for The Odyssey for a long time, so attaching myself permanently is a good move.
It’s not a woman.
“You didn’t go home with her,” Callie says as she comes out of her office, surprising me.
“I thought you went home,” I reply instead of answering her question. “Didn’t I see Declan earlier?”
Declan is a popular New Orleans musician and Callie’s husband.
“You did,” she replies with a soft smile. “But I had some work to do here, and sometimes I just like to stay until closing.”
“We’re bar people,” I reply with a smile and walk behind the bar to pull out a bottle of water.
“So, why didn’t you give that pretty thing a ride on your desk?” Callie asks in the nonjudgmental way that only she can. She’s my best friend for a reason.
“Wasn’t feeling it,” I reply with a shrug, then grin. “Literally.”
“Har har,” she replies, but her smile is bright. “I haven’t heard many women stories lately.”
“You enjoy my conquest stories?” I ask, not believing her. “You always cover your ears and tell me to shut it.”
“Well, some of them are just gross. Like the time you had sex in the back of a cab. That’
s just not sanitary, Adam.”
“Sex isn’t supposed to be sanitary, Cal. If you’re worried about sanitation, you aren’t doing it right.”
She shakes her head and chuckles. “Okay. So what’s up?”
“Nothing’s up,” I reply coolly, drinking from my bottle. “I just didn’t want to tap that twice.”
“You’re a pig.”
“See?” I say with a laugh. “You don’t like to hear the way I talk about women.”
“You may get around the block more than anyone I know, but you don’t disrespect women, Adam. That’s just shock value for me.”
“Guilty,” I reply with a wink. “I like to shock you.”
“You’re the only one who can these days,” she says. “But for real, everything’s okay?”
“I’m good. Just because I don’t fuck every piece of ass that looks my way doesn’t mean that something’s wrong.”
“Right,” she says, sarcasm dripping through every word. “Let’s not talk about the times I’ve covered for you at the bar while you took a break because a hot little thing crooked her finger at you.”
“Hey, I don’t discriminate. They don’t have to be little.”
She snorts. “Touché.”
It’s true. Larger or smaller, or in between, sexiness is attitude. That’s what I’ve always been attracted to, which is probably why the thought of settling down with one woman, when there are so many out there to enjoy, hasn’t interested me.
“I just have a lot on my plate,” I say logically. “I don’t always have time to bone every single woman in the Quarter.”
“You’re so eloquent.”
“I know.”
