Taming the Vip Playboy
Katherine Garbera
Promoted to Wife?
Paula Roe
“I really do want to know the man behind the flash.”
“Good. I hope you find him to your liking,” Nate said.
“You’re impressing me so far.”
He took another sip of his drink. The February breeze blew around them, stirring a tendril at the side of Jen’s face. Each time the wind blew, the strand of hair brushed over her high cheekbones and caught on her lips.
He reached up and brushed it back, tucking it behind her ear.
“Thanks,” she said, but her voice was softer, huskier than it had been moments earlier.
He couldn’t stop touching her skin. He stroked his finger over her lower lip until she pulled back. Her lips were parted and her breath brushed across his finger.
“I can’t think when you do that,” she said. “Then don’t think,” he replied.
Dear Reader,
I’m addicted to the reality TV show Dancing with the Stars. I don’t know what it is I love about it, but I can’t resist watching it every week while it is on and using everyone’s phone to text in votes! That show is where the seeds of this story started.
I was thinking about the couples on the show and what if a romance developed between them. From there the story morphed and changed into what it is today. Nate Stern is a former baseball player who has returned to his home in Miami to help his brothers make their club in Little Havana, Luna Azul, the hottest, most desired ticket in town.
Nate has done his part. He loves the playboy lifestyle he has and the fact that he always has the most beautiful women on his arm. Life is good and a lot of fun for Nate, who hasn’t been serious about anything since he stopped playing ball. But then he meets Jen Miller, the dance instructor at Luna Azul, and everything changes.
He thinks she’s a lot of fun and that they will have a good time together, but things turn a bit more serious than either of them expected.
I hope you enjoy meeting Nate and the other Stern brothers.
Happy reading!
Katherine
About the Author
KATHERINE GARBERA is the USA TODAY bestselling author of more than forty books. She’s always believed in happy endings and lives in Southern California with her husband, children and their pampered pet, Godiva. Visit Katherine on the web at www.katherinegarbera.com, or catch up with her on Facebook and Twitter.
This book is dedicated to my wonderful daughter who has started her life as an adult. I’m so very proud of everything she’s accomplished and look forward to watching her continue to grow and make a good life for herself.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to my editor, Charles Griemsman, for
his insight in making this book really shine!
One
The rhythm of Little Havana pulsed through Jen Miller as she parked her car on one of the side streets of Calle Ocho and made her way to Luna Azul. Blue Moon … they were rare in real life, almost as rare as second chances, and she was glad for the one that the Stern brothers had offered her by hiring her to be the salsa teacher at their Miami-based nightclub.
The club itself was a rarity. The Stern brothers had created a scandal when they’d purchased the old cigar factory in the heart of Little Havana and turned it into one of Miami’s hottest clubs ten years ago. Something that still outraged certain members of the Cuban-American community today.
She pulled the strap of her large Coach bag higher on her shoulder as she walked through the grand entrance of Luna Azul. She stopped as she always did to catch her breath. Nothing said glamour the way the club’s Chihuly chandelier and ceiling installation did. It was a depiction of the night sky filled with a large blue moon. It was also the basis for the club’s logo and the colors of the uniform of the entire staff.
Walking through the door each night made her feel as if she was a part of something lasting, and she was very happy to be working here.
The fact that she got to dance again made her even happier. Three years earlier, when she’d made a bad decision based on her heart instead of her head, she’d been banned from competitive dancing.
But now she was back at the barre so to speak and teaching her favorite of all the dances she knew. The salsa.
The dance was created by Spanish-speaking people from the Caribbean and even though she was about as white-bread-American as one could be, the dance felt as if it had been created for her.
As she headed into the club, she saw that the main stage was being set up for tonight’s performance of XSU—the British rock band that had taken the American pop charts by storm the year before. Her sister and her best friend had both begged Jen to get them tickets for tonight’s event and she’d managed to.
She was hoping for a glimpse of the rockers as well but she’d be working during their first set.
The club was divided into several different areas. The main floor in front of the stage was a huge dance area surrounded by high-stooled tables and cozy booths set in darkened alcoves. On the second floor, where she spent most of her time, was a rehearsal room with a small bar and then a mezzanine that overlooked the main club. But the real gem of the second floor was the balcony that opened off to the left and the stage set in the back.
It was there that every night Luna Azul re-created the famous last Friday celebrations held on Calle Ocho. Up there every night was like a feast day for Latin music and dancing. The hottest Latin groups performed there. Regulars and celebrities mingled to the sexy salsa beats of the Latin music.
And she was at the heart of it, Jen thought. She taught the customers how to do the salsa, giving them a little knowledge to help them enjoy the music that much more.
As Jen walked into the rehearsal room, her assistant greeted her with, “You’re late.”
“I am not, Alison. I’m right on time.”
Alison lifted one eyebrow at her. She was funny most of the time but she had a thing for punctuality that Jen simply didn’t.
“You’re lucky no one has stopped by to check on the classroom.”
“Alison, chill. The classroom is ready and we are ready. I brought a new CD with me.” “Which one?”
“Just a compilation of some of my old favorites. I want to have something different for tonight’s class.”
“What’s special about tonight’s class?” Alison asked.
“We have T. J. Martinez signed up.”
“The third-base player for the Yankees?”
“Yes. And since he’s good friends with Nate Stern, I thought we needed to make a good impression.” Keeping the club owners and their friends happy was the name of the game.
“Maybe you should have arrived earlier.”
“Alison, I don’t mind a little ribbing, but you have to drop that. We have thirty minutes before class starts.”
“I know. Sorry,