EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Shopping for a Billionaire's Wife
(Shopping for a Billionaire Book 8)
(Shopping for a Billionaire Book 8)
by Julia Kent
Shopping for a Billionaire's Wife is the eighth book in Julia Kent's Shopping for a Billionaire series. Also available: Shopping for a Billionaire 1 (FREE), Shopping for a Billionaire 2, Shopping for a Billionaire 3, Shopping for a Billionaire 4, Christmas Shopping for a Billionaire, Shopping for a Billionaire Boxed Set (Parts 1-5) (read my blog post), Shopping for a Billionaire's Fiancée (read my blog post), and Shopping for a CEO (read my blog post).
Description
Who needs a SWAT team to escape from their own wedding? Me.
My Momzilla turned us into hostages at our own ceremony, so Declan and I are getting married the good old-fashioned way, just like everybody else.
By calling in his private security team, stealing away before the ceremony by helicopter, connecting to his corporate jet and heading for Las Vegas.
The Boston wedding of the year is about to become a trashy Elvis drive-thru ceremony.
Until the best man spills the beans and Mom, Dad, my sisters, his brothers, my maid of honor, my friend Josh, and even my cat, Chuckles, all come along for the ride.
I can’t win, can I?
Oh. Yeah. I already did.
Love conquers all.
Even my crazy family.
Shopping for a Billionaire’s Wife is the 8th book in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shopping for a Billionaire series. After Declan convinces Shannon to escape from their own wedding minutes before the ceremony begins, the madcap adventures are just getting started. When the mother of the bride pries their location out of the tortured best man, the whole crazy crew follows the bride and groom to Las Vegas in this romantic comedy from Julia Kent.
Excerpt
There is genuine hurt in his voice.
This is a side of Declan I’ve never seen.
“That’s not what I – I never meant to compare in a – it’s just that the coffee at Grind It Fresh! is so good over there!”
He closes his eyes and groans, like I sucker-punched him in the throat.
Sitting at the end of the bed, Declan drops his head into his hands and takes deep breaths. Do I need to get him a paper bag? Is he hyperventilating? I drop to my knees in front of him and put my hands on his thighs.
Sitting at the end of the bed, Declan drops his head into his hands and takes deep breaths. Do I need to get him a paper bag? Is he hyperventilating? I drop to my knees in front of him and put my hands on his thighs.
“Your coffee here at Litraeon is good. Really. It’s great.”
“Stop lying to me.”
“No, I’m – I’m not lying.”
I’m totally lying.
“You can’t get the coffee just right every time. Everyone has moments where they don’t perform. It’s okay. It happens,” I soothe.
“You’re acting like my resort’s failure to live up to next door is akin to erectile dysfunction.”
“I am not!”
I totally am, though. Oops.
But a great cup of coffee is like great sex. Once you’ve had it, going back to mediocre feels like a punishment.
And it goes down smooth.
“Promise me one thing,” he says, grasping my hands. Our eyes meet.
Are those tears in his eyes? Actual tears? Is Declan crying because I like the resort next door better than the Anterdec property? I can’t really confess that right now, but....
Are those tears in his eyes? Actual tears? Is Declan crying because I like the resort next door better than the Anterdec property? I can’t really confess that right now, but....
“Anything,” I swear.
“Don’t go next door again.”
My heart seizes. I can’t help but look at the cup of coffee. The thought of no more Grind It Fresh! makes me reel.
Noooooooo. Anything but that.
When I look at him, though, I realize I have no choice. I have to be faithful. I can’t stray.
Plastering on a fake smile, I nod. “Of course I won’t.”
“We can make this place better!” he insists, standing up so fast I fall backwards on my butt. Thank God I’m not clutching my coffee, though, because it would have spilled.
Eyes lingering over the white cup with the beautiful black logo, I realize this is it. My final latte from Grind It Fresh! I won’t get another chance like this.
I have to make it last.
A lifetime. This latte is my Bridges of Madison County. I’m Meryl Streep and those perfect shots of espresso are Clint Eastwood, never to be seen again after experiencing the throes of ecstasy. Hold on, though. Clint Eastwood? Nooooo. Too old.
Er, Scott Eastwood? Mmmmm, Scott Eastwood in the shower scene in The Longest Ride.
Hey. Wait a minute. Someone always dies in a Nicholas Sparks story. I’d better stop there. Then again, if I have to give up Grind It Fresh! forever, it’s a kind of death.
The death of caffeine love.
Declan is the Nicholas Sparks of coffee.
“I’ll find out who their supplier is and we’ll start buying their coffee. And I can have our human resources recruiters snipe their baristas!” The green gill look is gone, replaced by a man with a mission.
A tendril of hope springs up from the dark, scorched earth of my coffee-loving soul.
“You will?” I peep.
“Yes. Anything for you, Shannon.”
Anything but letting me walk five hundred feet to buy a twelve-dollar coffee nirvana from the competition, that is.
He smacks his palms on his upper thighs. “There. That’s settled. Litraeon will improve. In fact, I am going to give you a new project at Anterdec.”
“What’s that?”
“Mystery shopping this property. Not you, of course. But let’s get a team going. Hire Greg or that competitor, you know. What’s their name?”
“Fokused Shoprite.”
“Right. Fokused Shoprite.”
“Don’t you dare hire Foked!” I say sharply.
He looks stunned. “What? Did you just say – what?”
I giggle. Can’t help it. Our stupid nickname for our nemesis is about as mature as a twelve-year-old boy, but whatever.
“Why not hire them?” Declan pries.
“Because, because -- they’re our competitor!”
“Greg’s competitor,” he reminds me. “And besides, we hire the best. Our loyalty is to the product or service that excels. Nothing less.”
I stare at my coffee and start to say something.
This is one of those moments, right? A juncture. A fork in the road. I can be right, or we can have harmony. I can speak up, or we can have peace. Whatever I do now doesn’t have to set the course for our entire relationship.
But if I point out Declan’s hypocrisy, I’m pretty sure it’ll trigger a fight I don’t really want to deal with right now.
Can I live without great coffee and a better resort experience? Sure.
Marriage involves sacrifice, right? Relationships are built on compromise. Negotiation. Agreement.
Marriage involves sacrifice, right? Relationships are built on compromise. Negotiation. Agreement.
I can totally do this.
This will be a breeze.
Praise for the Book
"I am still LMAO on this one!!! This is the continuation of the wedding from Hell that Marie unleashed on Shannon and Declan as Mary, Jason, Amanda and Andrew party follows our happy couple to Vegas! [...] I had tears running down my face with laughter. What's next for this crazy bunch of people? I must warn you, there is a cliffhanger at the end of this one!!!" ~ Jo-Ann Forrest
"We get that classic Julia Kent humor with all kinds of shenanigans. I really could not understand why Jessica Coffin was invited to the wedding, but it all made sense when it was explained. Also, the way that everything was wrapped up in this story was THE BOMB! It was just really great - from the arrival in Vegas, media frenzy, and of course the steamy stuff - and I really liked it." ~ Caroline
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge, and new adult books that push contemporary boundaries. From billionaires to BBWs to rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every book she writes, but unlike Trevor from Random Acts of Crazy, she has never kissed a chicken.
Giveaway
Enter the blitz-wide giveaway for a chance to win $50 iTunes gift card plus a signed copy of Shopping for a Billionaire's Wife (open internationally).
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