Loving the Secret Billionaire by Adriana Anders
Series: Love at Last #1
Publication date: April 19th, 2018
Synopsis (according to Goodreads):
Mystery man, recluse, finance guru... Virgin.
I was a shut-in for a reason. With too many secrets, too much to hide, and way too much at stake, I spent years in my mansion in the woods, never trusting a soul.
So, when a stranger showed up at my door, with her plans to save the world, I should have sent her away, like I'd always done.
From the second she arrived, I couldn't resist Veronica Cruz. She was everything I'd been missing--passionate, generous, and so damned sexy.
I let her into my life, gave her everything--including my heart.
Now the one thing she wants is the truth. The question is, will she still love me when she knows my secret?
Loving the Secret Billionaire is a sexy standalone novella in the Love at Last series, featuring a virgin hero and a slightly older woman.
Originally published in the Rogue Desire anthology, this edition has been expanded with new material.
Available at:
Praise for Loving the Secret Billionaire
"Sweet and steamy romance with thought provoking topics." -- Julie, Goodreads Review
"I absolutely loved this story about feisty Veronica Cruz."
"Sweet, spicy story." -- Terri, Goodreads Review
"I'm giving this five stars for Adriana Anders work. Her style is beautiful, sexy, and the characters and story were interesting." -- Goodreads Review
"Oh how I loved Zach and Veronica. This story is unique, unexpected and so freaking sexy I absolutely loved it." -- The Book Hammock
"I adored this unique story." -- Chasing Away Reality Book Blog
"Their love story was so sweet and hot. The only problem was that I wanted more of them!" -- Jodi, Goodreads Review
"I don't remember the last time a story made me want to immediately one click everything from an author." -- Michelle Claypot, Goodreads Review
"Heartwarming and sweet." -- Jennifer, Goodreads Review
"Loved this story." -- Ea Reader
"An absolutely beautiful romance." -- Rosado, Goodreads Review
Excerpt
"Why are you helping me?"
I shook my head for a few beats--deny, deny, deny... Which was what I always did. But if I denied it, then she'd leave. And I wouldn't get another chance.
Now I had to put it in a way that wouldn't piss her off.
"Seemed unfair."
"What did?"
"You going it alone against that family." I didn't add that I'd gone over their financials--hers and theirs--and those three extra zeros in their campaign coffers seemed like an unfair advantage. I doubted she'd seen my donation yet, or she'd have said something... Although no way could she follow the paper trail back to me on that one.
"That's so pathetic." I hated the defeat in her voice.
"What is?"
"You felt sorry for me, so you--"
"Hell, no. That's not what it is."
"Well then, what?"
You smell good and your passion gets me hard wasn't exactly something I could say, so I went with, "You believe in your mission. That worked for me."
"It's still pitiful."
"Is it? You mean the part about being alone or the part where you truly believe in what you're doing?"
"I don't... I'm not sure."
"Because, if you mean being alone." I waved a hand toward the empty house behind me. "It's kind of my thing."
"I'm sorry, I didn't--"
"I know." I half laughed. None of this was going how I'd pictured it. Then again, I hadn't exactly planned this thing out. I'd just gone against all of my own rules and helped a stranger. "I'm not great at joking. In person, at least."
"In person?"
Crap. Wrong thing to say.
"I uh... spend a lot of time online."
"Oh. Right." Her feet shuffled on the porch boards. Was she about to leave?
"Would you..." I cleared my throat and ignored the voice of reason screaming at me to shut up.
"Would you like a coffee?"
"Oh no, I couldn't interrupt your work." She took a step back.
"You're not. I mostly work at night."
"What is it you d--" If she didn't ask, I wouldn't have to lie, so I stopped her.
"You want something stronger than coffee? I've got beer. Not much else." I lifted the bottom hem of my shirt and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"Oh, no, I should--" She exhaled with a strange whistling sound. I dropped the shirt and waited for her to finish. "I'd love to."
"Come on in." I said the words, she slid inside, and now it was too late to kick her out, even if I wanted to.
Which I didn't, though it was clear this was a very bad idea.
I shook my head for a few beats--deny, deny, deny... Which was what I always did. But if I denied it, then she'd leave. And I wouldn't get another chance.
Now I had to put it in a way that wouldn't piss her off.
"Seemed unfair."
"What did?"
"You going it alone against that family." I didn't add that I'd gone over their financials--hers and theirs--and those three extra zeros in their campaign coffers seemed like an unfair advantage. I doubted she'd seen my donation yet, or she'd have said something... Although no way could she follow the paper trail back to me on that one.
"That's so pathetic." I hated the defeat in her voice.
"What is?"
"You felt sorry for me, so you--"
"Hell, no. That's not what it is."
"Well then, what?"
You smell good and your passion gets me hard wasn't exactly something I could say, so I went with, "You believe in your mission. That worked for me."
"It's still pitiful."
"Is it? You mean the part about being alone or the part where you truly believe in what you're doing?"
"I don't... I'm not sure."
"Because, if you mean being alone." I waved a hand toward the empty house behind me. "It's kind of my thing."
"I'm sorry, I didn't--"
"I know." I half laughed. None of this was going how I'd pictured it. Then again, I hadn't exactly planned this thing out. I'd just gone against all of my own rules and helped a stranger. "I'm not great at joking. In person, at least."
"In person?"
Crap. Wrong thing to say.
"I uh... spend a lot of time online."
"Oh. Right." Her feet shuffled on the porch boards. Was she about to leave?
"Would you..." I cleared my throat and ignored the voice of reason screaming at me to shut up.
"Would you like a coffee?"
"Oh no, I couldn't interrupt your work." She took a step back.
"You're not. I mostly work at night."
"What is it you d--" If she didn't ask, I wouldn't have to lie, so I stopped her.
"You want something stronger than coffee? I've got beer. Not much else." I lifted the bottom hem of my shirt and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"Oh, no, I should--" She exhaled with a strange whistling sound. I dropped the shirt and waited for her to finish. "I'd love to."
"Come on in." I said the words, she slid inside, and now it was too late to kick her out, even if I wanted to.
Which I didn't, though it was clear this was a very bad idea.
About the Author:
Adriana Anders is the award-winning author of the Blank Canvas series. Under Her Skin, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2017, has been featured in Bustle, USA Today Happy Ever After, and Book Riot. Today, she resides with her tall French husband and two small children in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she writes the gritty, emotional love stories of her heart.
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