FREE 11/24-11/25 'The Romance Challenge (Book 1)' by Arlanna Sterling

Blurb:

When Amber is chosen to be Nathan's assistant for a week at a resort hotel he acquired in Key Largo, she jumps at the chance. She desperately needs the bonus money to pay for a private detective, to find the man who brutally attacked her sister and left Michelle an emotional wreck. Amber is all business at Bay Paradise Resort, until she shares an unexpected kiss with Nathan, setting every inch of her curvy body tingling and begging for more.

Nathan has vowed to never date an employee again. He blames himself for a tragic accident involving his ex-fiancé, and refuses to let his billionaire lifestyle ever corrupt another innocent woman. But Amber challenges that vow as he learns more about her. After a night of intense passion, he wants more, and is determined to show her, they belong together.

As Amber pushes away her feelings for Nathan to concentrate on Michelle, he's drawn more deeply to her. When news about Michelle's attacker is revealed, danger threatens Amber, and Nathan must find a way to protect her body and claim her heart.

Read an excerpt:

Standing outside the office he was using for interviews, I gave my hands a quick wipe down the side of my skirt, gripped my notepad tight, and walked in. Nathan was pacing and talking on his phone.  

OMG. Becca hadn't lied. He certainly was fine in person. Tall, slim, wearing a suit that had to be custom made it fit him so well. Don't look at his butt, don't look at his butt. I looked. Yep, that ass had seen one or two workouts.

It took a moment, but he finally noticed I was there and turned to face me. Those eyes; dear Lord. I'd seen his face on a computer screen, but in person, they radiated power and passion. I froze in the middle of the doorway, as though caught in the headlights of a semi-truck.

He stopped in mid-sentence on his phone call and stared at me, with this intense look on his face. Uh-oh. Was something wrong? Did I have a poppy seed stuck in my teeth? Becca would have told me. Or not. My mouth. It hung open like a car door. I closed it and made my lips smile.

Calm down. This is a nice guy who likes to work with me.

"I'll call you back." Nathan put his cell phone on the desk.

"Hello Nathan. It's good to meet you in person. I'm Amber." I moved towards him, smacked my hip into the corner of the desk, and bit back a curse as pain shot through my leg. Do not drop the F bomb. Smile still in place, I stuck out my hand, praying it wasn't damp.

He kept staring for another second, then kind of shook his head and smiled back. "So nice to meet you too, Amber. I've enjoyed working with you long distance." He took my trembling little paw and shook it.

Wow. What the heck was that tingle running up my arm? His grip was firm, but not like he was crushing me. By the way his eyes widened, he felt something too. Maybe I'd picked up static electricity walking across the room. Not real likely, on tile floor, but I couldn't think of any other reason for this surge of energy. We stood there for an awkward moment while he studied me, then he dropped my hand.

I wanted to glance down to see if there were scorch marks, but I grabbed it with my other hand and clasped them both in front of me. Before they did something silly, like reach up and stroke the slight shadow of a beard on his face.

"Sit down, please."

My legs shook as I took a seat in the chair across from the desk. What was I, a love-struck teenager meeting a rock star? Jeez, this was Nathan, the guy who laughed at my corny jokes and liked the pictures of my cat I emailed him. Why did a wave of heat flood my body, particularly in my girl parts?

Because he was hotter than hell in person that's why. I didn't get that energy, that piercing awareness, when I talked to him on the phone. And I sure never smelled him. Kind of woodsy, with a bit of musk layered in. A hint of spice too; bay leaves, or cardamom. From his slightly messed up hair to his shiny Italian loafers, the guy radiated sex appeal. And those laser-beam eyes.

No. I gave myself a mental bonk on the head. I had zero interest in his hotness. I had no time to think about men, with my jobs and my family situation. And anyway, gorgeous billionaires like him didn't look twice at plus-size girls like me.

"So Amber, tell me why you'd be a good candidate for this position."

Right down to business. I'd hoped for a few minutes of small talk to help me loosen up.

"I'm detail oriented, as you know from working with me. On this job at Bay Paradise, you want your assistant to take accurate notes and prepare reports. That's one of my specialties, summing up information and presenting it concisely."

Okay, so far so good, I guess. He had given none of us much information as to what he wanted an assistant to do in Key Largo. We'd all discussed it and the only thing we knew was, Cameron Industries bought the hotel recently and wanted to keep it going.

He nodded at me to continue.

Available on Amazon

Bio

Arlanna started her career writing birthday cards for her friends and family, and still writes the occasional romantic poem for her sweetie. She lives in Florida with her two loves. The human man keeps her laughing and half-way sane, and the furry cat reminds her, there's beauty and magic in the world. She works, writes, cooks yummy meals and cleans the house occasionally. She loves to hear from readers and welcomes comments, and also gifts of chocolate and wine. 

arlannasterling@outlook.com

Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/arlannasterling and join her mailing list to receive updates about new releases, sales and contests http://eepurl.com/bFtW5D