Make Me Lose by Ember Leigh
Series: Bayshore #1
Publication date: July 23rd, 2019
Synopsis (according to Goodreads):
Grayson Daly and I aren't just rivals. We're enemies.
Born minutes apart on the same day in the same hospital, our parents thought this meant we were somehow destined to be together. We knew were we just destined to beat each other.
Competition boiled over until junior year, when the cold war turned into an unexpected peace offering. Maybe my hormones allowed me to notice his broad shoulders, stormy gray-blue eyes, and soccer star's chiseled frame. But after I fell for him... he stomped all over my heart.
Ten years later, I'm at the top of the realty game in Bayshore and Grayson is just a distant memory. Until he shows up from NYC, his ego bigger than a skyscraper, and asks me to sell the house he recently inherited.
It's easy to say no. Even though I want to climb him like the jungle gyms we used to dangle from in strong arm battles.
But I forgot that Gray doesn't take no for an answer. And that he isn't content unless he's defeating me.
He butts into my evenings on the boat. Ropes me into water skiing battles. Even shows up at the bar and creates a scene when I'm scouting a date to the upcoming Bicentennial Ball.
It's almost like he's gunning to win me.
But if he wins, that means I lose.
And I'm not ready to cede victory just yet.
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Grayson is bent down by the dock cleat, roping off the Jet Ski. His calves flex, legs sprinkled with dark hair. My belly clenches into an iron fist as I tell myself that I am not sexually attracted to him anymore. Nope. Definitely do not care about the biceps bulging as he waves at us, or the sexy gruffness in his voice as he hollers back at his old high school buddies.
Grayson and Luke ran in the same group. Anthony was in a different circle but was friendly with everyone. Luke idles the boat closer, his smile ear to ear.
"Get the hell out of here," he says. "What are you doing in these parts?"
Grayson rests his hands on his hips, looking every inch and lakeside hottie. His life vest is sleek black, somehow chic, and matches his black and white swim trunks. "Back in town for a little bit. My grandma just passed."
Luke swears, and Anthony shakes his head. "I'm sorry to hear that, man."
"Trying to enjoy the lake while I can though, you know?" Grayson flashes a winning smile, one that nearly cripples me.
"For sure. Dude, you gotta come out with us. What're you doing right now?"
I shrink lower in my seat. Please don't see me. If he sees me here, he might back out. Even though I want that. I definitely would rather he stay away. Like all the way back in New York.
"Nothing, bro. I'm all yours."
Luke whoops, and Anthony pumps his fist. Bryce lifts a brow, waiting for the introduction. Callie twirls her index finger limply through the air.
"Great," I hiss in Callie's direction. "Way to ruin our Saturday."
She laughs weakly. "Oh, that's right! You hate Gray!"
Luke sends me a confused look as he clambers back into the driver's seat to steer the boat closer to the dock. "What's that?"
"Remember?" Callie sits up, color returning to her face. "Hazel versus Gray. May the best color win!" She's reciting the stupid phone phrase our friends used to taunt me with. Nobody really ever understood the rivalry. They thought it was fun and games, which it wasn't--it was life or death.
Luke snorts as he maneuvers closer to the dock. By this time, we're probably within hearing range, and I hate it. "That's right. Twins separated at birth."
"We're not twins," I mutter.
Thankfully, I'm wearing dark sunglasses so I can spy on Gray as we pull up to the dockside. His gaze is on me--sizzling there, breaking skin--and I'm embarrassed. This is stupid. It's been ten years since high school and we're still known for this stupid rivalry. Haven't we grown up yet? Can't we move on?
Callie perks up a bit as we idle closer. She leans in. "Damn, Grayson got hot."
That's the truth. Water is dripping from his life jacket down his legs, swim trunks plastered to rock hard thighs, dribbling down the granite curve of his calf. I jerk my gaze away before I can see his feet. I always loved his feet. There was something sturdy and manly about them, which is stupid, so I'm not going to look.
He comes onto the boat. Anthony hops up and they give each other a bro hug, followed by Luke. I hear them introduce Bryce, who offers his hand. Grayson is the tallest of the four of them. Also the hottest. And definitely the biggest ego. Then his gaze swings our way.
Callie sits up a little. "Hey, Gray! Long time no see."
"How's it going, Cal?" He heads our way, and I freeze. I don't know how to be in this context with him. As if the angry outburst from two days ago hadn't happened. I look everywhere but at him.
"Callie, we should let him sit here so he can talk with Luke," I say quietly, sending a forced smile toward Gray. This is the adult Hazel shining now. The one who knows how to confront her childhood rival and take the higher path. I stand, scooping up my purse and towel. I head toward the small staircase leading to the bench seats on the bow. "Callie?"
"Oh, yeah." She hops to life, following me. Grayson sits in the seat we evacuated, at the driver's left side. I make the mistake of looking behind me as I climb up the stairs, and Gray's gaze is waiting for me. He wets his bottom lip, scruff on his jawline that wasn't there when he showed up at my office two days ago. My pussy clenches.
Yeah. This is awkward.
Grayson and Luke ran in the same group. Anthony was in a different circle but was friendly with everyone. Luke idles the boat closer, his smile ear to ear.
"Get the hell out of here," he says. "What are you doing in these parts?"
Grayson rests his hands on his hips, looking every inch and lakeside hottie. His life vest is sleek black, somehow chic, and matches his black and white swim trunks. "Back in town for a little bit. My grandma just passed."
Luke swears, and Anthony shakes his head. "I'm sorry to hear that, man."
"Trying to enjoy the lake while I can though, you know?" Grayson flashes a winning smile, one that nearly cripples me.
"For sure. Dude, you gotta come out with us. What're you doing right now?"
I shrink lower in my seat. Please don't see me. If he sees me here, he might back out. Even though I want that. I definitely would rather he stay away. Like all the way back in New York.
"Nothing, bro. I'm all yours."
Luke whoops, and Anthony pumps his fist. Bryce lifts a brow, waiting for the introduction. Callie twirls her index finger limply through the air.
"Great," I hiss in Callie's direction. "Way to ruin our Saturday."
She laughs weakly. "Oh, that's right! You hate Gray!"
Luke sends me a confused look as he clambers back into the driver's seat to steer the boat closer to the dock. "What's that?"
"Remember?" Callie sits up, color returning to her face. "Hazel versus Gray. May the best color win!" She's reciting the stupid phone phrase our friends used to taunt me with. Nobody really ever understood the rivalry. They thought it was fun and games, which it wasn't--it was life or death.
Luke snorts as he maneuvers closer to the dock. By this time, we're probably within hearing range, and I hate it. "That's right. Twins separated at birth."
"We're not twins," I mutter.
Thankfully, I'm wearing dark sunglasses so I can spy on Gray as we pull up to the dockside. His gaze is on me--sizzling there, breaking skin--and I'm embarrassed. This is stupid. It's been ten years since high school and we're still known for this stupid rivalry. Haven't we grown up yet? Can't we move on?
Callie perks up a bit as we idle closer. She leans in. "Damn, Grayson got hot."
That's the truth. Water is dripping from his life jacket down his legs, swim trunks plastered to rock hard thighs, dribbling down the granite curve of his calf. I jerk my gaze away before I can see his feet. I always loved his feet. There was something sturdy and manly about them, which is stupid, so I'm not going to look.
He comes onto the boat. Anthony hops up and they give each other a bro hug, followed by Luke. I hear them introduce Bryce, who offers his hand. Grayson is the tallest of the four of them. Also the hottest. And definitely the biggest ego. Then his gaze swings our way.
Callie sits up a little. "Hey, Gray! Long time no see."
"How's it going, Cal?" He heads our way, and I freeze. I don't know how to be in this context with him. As if the angry outburst from two days ago hadn't happened. I look everywhere but at him.
"Callie, we should let him sit here so he can talk with Luke," I say quietly, sending a forced smile toward Gray. This is the adult Hazel shining now. The one who knows how to confront her childhood rival and take the higher path. I stand, scooping up my purse and towel. I head toward the small staircase leading to the bench seats on the bow. "Callie?"
"Oh, yeah." She hops to life, following me. Grayson sits in the seat we evacuated, at the driver's left side. I make the mistake of looking behind me as I climb up the stairs, and Gray's gaze is waiting for me. He wets his bottom lip, scruff on his jawline that wasn't there when he showed up at my office two days ago. My pussy clenches.
Yeah. This is awkward.
About the Author:
Ember Leigh has been writing erotic romance novels since she was far too young. A native of northern Ohio, she currently resides near Lake Erie with her Argentinean husband, where they run an Argentinian-American food truck. In addition to romance novels, Ember also writes travel memoirs and occasionally updates a couple of blogs. In her free time, she practices Ashtanga yoga, hops around the world, and eats lots of vegetables.
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