Page 23 of Euphoria

Ink shrugged, “I guess so, yeah,” he said. “But you just told me that you weren’t going to date anyone for six months.”

“Yeah, but I don’t actually have to go out with a real guy. I’ll just start a rumor that I’m seeing someone, and I’ll make sureto tell the right people, so it gets back to him. It’s a perfect plan, really.”

“Seriously, a fake boyfriend is the perfect plan?” he asked.

She smiled back at him and nodded. “It is,” she said, “you’ll see.” She just needed to get a few of the details sorted about how she and her fake boyfriend got together, but she actually believed that she could do this. A fake boyfriend would get Spade off her tail and would give her the time she needed for herself. What could go wrong besides everything?

Spade (Road Reapers Book 3) Universal Link->https://books2read.com/u/4jO8VZ

You also won’t want to miss the new release of The Last First Kiss Series in stand-alone books! Book 3, Theirs to Have, releases on March 13, 2025! Here’s a sneak peek!

Cash

Prologue

Six Months Earlier

Cash Harrington watched as the sexy little brunette made her way into his bar, Manholes. She came in with his friends, Jack and Travis, and the woman that he guessed they were now sharing. Which meant that the woman who was taking up space at the bar was there alone. Cash shook his head not liking the fact that he was letting his dick do the thinking for him again. He needed to get his head back in the game, otherwise, he was going to end up taking what he needed from the hot little piece of ass that was flagging him down, trying to get his attention to place her order.

He knew that he was done for when she opened her sweet lips, and her southern twang asked him if she could have whatever he had on tap. He had a weakness for brunettes with long pullable hair and pouty lips that would look so pretty wrapped around his cock. She smiled up at him and his dick strained against the zipper of his jeans, telling him that he had no fucking chance in hell of regaining any control of the situation. And fuck, he needed that control. Without it, liveswould get fucked up just like last time and he didn’t know if he could handle that again.

Cash handed the little vixen her beer and she smiled back at him, “I’m Mercy,” she shouted over the music. He gave a curt nod, not sure if he should get involved in a conversation with the flirtatious bombshell. If she knew what she was inviting into her life she’d go in search of a good time somewhere else. Cash walked to the other end of the bar to wait on other customers who were signaling for another drink, not missing the look of disappointment on sexy Mercy’s face.

“Great band,” she shouted when he returned to get the guy next to her another beer. Cash nodded again, this time giving her a little smile.

“What’s your name honey?” the guy next to her slurred and Mercy sweetly smiled and gave her name again. “How about you come on over to my place and I make you scream for Mercy, Mercy?” Her smile turned polite as she declined his invitation.

“Thanks, but I’m here with some friends.” Mercy looked over her shoulder to where Jackson and Travis were dancing with their girl. The drunk didn’t take the hint, pushing up on her and invading her space. Cash couldn’t stand to see him put his hands on her body and Mercy didn’t seem to care much for it either.

He leaned over the bar, trying to be as intimidating as humanly possible. At 6’5”, he knew that he could scare the shit out of most guys, but this guy should be terrified of him. “You need to leave my fucking bar,” Cash growled. The drunken customer didn’t seem to have the common sense to even look at him. He was too busy pawing at Mercy and dipping dangerously close to where her cleavage appeared under her low-cut shirt. Cash had enough. He tried to play nice, but he was finished with that. He reached across the bar and grabbed the guy's hand with his own, twisting it painfully until the drunk had the good sense to take his hands off Mercy.

“The lady said that she is here with some friends. What she wants to tell you is to leave her the fuck alone and keep your fucking hands to yourself.” Cash looked at Mercy, her stunned expression made his gut twist. Was she shocked by his behavior or that he had stuck up for her? “Does that about cover it, honey?” He waited her out hoping that she would tell her handsy new admirer to take a hike.

“Yep, that just about does it.” Mercy’s smile was mean as she nodded in the drunk’s direction. Cash released his hand, and he couldn’t seem to scurry off fast enough.

“Sorry about that. Sometimes I don’t cut people off fast enough and they end up being assholes to nice girls. Your beer is on me for the trouble.” Cash nodded to her glass letting his eyes rise to meet hers, which was a huge mistake. She had the most beautiful brown eyes he’d ever seen and the way that she was smiling at him right now made his body react in ways that he forgot it could. Damn it, he needed to stop looking at her and get back to work.

“Thanks,” Mercy swallowed down the last of her beer and he watched her throat work, thinking about how much he wanted to kiss down her pretty, long milky skin to find all her sensitive spots.

“Not a problem,” he barked. He looked around the bar suddenly aware that the music had stopped which meant that Callan was on a break.

“You never told me your name,” Mercy smiled up at him and he almost wanted to smile back at her but that would be considered flirting, and he didn’t flirt anymore.

“Cash,” he almost whispered.

She nodded and pushed her glass to the back of the bar, “Well Cash, can I get another?” He took her glass and got her a clean one, refilling it with another beer.

“Hey man, great crowd tonight.” Cash knew that Callan had taken up residence on the barstool next to Mercy before he even turned back around from filling her glass. He handed the beer to Mercy and nodded at Callan.

“Hi, I’m Callan McAllister.” His friend held out his hand to introduce himself to Mercy and she seemed to hesitate. Cash had to admit that her hesitancy gave him some pleasure. Callan was his friend and accountant. Hell, he even let Callan’s band play on busy bar nights, but Callan was trouble. He was also a Dom and had quite a reputation for being a lady’s man. Cash knew all too well where that reputation would land his friend if he wasn’t careful about who he let in, but he had to learn the hard way.

She reached over to take his hand and Cash wondered what her skin would feel like pressed up against him. He wanted to groan at the thought of having her tight little body sliding over his, but he grabbed a few glasses to dry as a distraction. Callan watched Mercy like she was his next meal and Cash wanted to tell his friend to get lost, although he had no right to. Mercy was nothing to him, just a hot chick who wandered into his bar and started talking to him. But if that was truly the case why was it pissing him off to watch Callan put his hands on her?

“I’m Mercy, Mercy Parks,” she said seeming to feel a little more comfortable with Callan’s flirtations. Cash knew that women around the bar couldn’t seem to get enough of Callan’s all-American boy next door looks with his short blond hair and blue eyes. He didn’t leave the bar alone most nights and the thought of him leaving with Mercy tonight was starting to rub Cash the wrong way.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mercy, Mercy Parks,” Callan chuckled. “My band sings here a few nights a week and I’m an accountant by day. I do Cash’s books for the bar.” Cash shot Callan a glare to let him know that he didn’t like him sharing his personal information with strange women. He was always doing thatshit, even had women coming into the bar and telling Cash that Callan promised them drinks on the house. Cash wasn’t about to give away booze for free just to further Callan’s sex life. He sat his friend down and told him to cut that shit out, but he still occasionally had women come through hoping to throw Callan’s name around to get free drinks.

“Sorry man, I forgot that you like your privacy,” Callan said, rolling his blue eyes. Mercy laughed at his theatrics and this time Cash didn’t stifle his groan.

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