Mesmerized
BAD BOYS OVER EASY
by Erin McCarthy, Jen Nicholas and Jordan Summers
They’re Not Just For Breakfast Anymore…
Hot. Delicious. So satisfying. Who wouldn’t want to start the day with a little bad boy breakfast in bed…or anywhere else?
Mesmerized by Jordan Summers
Amanda Dillon is used to gorgeous men falling at her feet, wooing her, obeying her every command, even if that means clucking like a chicken. Of course, it helps that they’re hypnotized at the time. She’d give her left big toenail to find a man who’d tell the truth without having to be put in a trance.
Just once this hypnotist would like to be mesmerized.
Derek Armstrong knows a juicy story when he sees it. And Amanda Dillon is it. He’s not going to let the fact that she doesn’t grant interviews stand in his way. So what’s a star journalist to do? Why, allow her to hypnotize him, of course. A simple plan that should work like a charm, if only he can avoid falling under her hypnotic spell.
When the truth is revealed and the spell is broken, will the connection remain?
Praise
“MESMERIZED is very clever, with an unusual and captivating premise. I didn’t waste any time making room for BAD BOYS OVER EASY on my keeper shelf!”
“With an original storyline, Ms. Summers wrote an enthralling tale that a reader can truly enjoy.”
Read an Excerpt
Cluck, Cluck, Cluck. Quack, Quack, Quack. Oink, Oink, Oink. Hee-haw, Hee-haw, Hee-haw.
Amanda Dillon’s eyes widened and her head snapped around as the last hee-haw faded. She glanced at the five gorgeous men crawling around at her feet like barnyard animals, each one more delicious-looking than the last.
Someone was certainly getting into it tonight.
A smile played at the corners of her mouth as she snapped her fingers twice. “Woo me!” She shouted. “Win me over with your professions of love.” The men instantly transformed from helpless critters to wannabe Romeos all vying for her attention.
If only it were that easy in real life.
One recited poetry, while another blond Adonis crouched on bended knee, attempting to sing a love ballad. It was a good thing he was gorgeous, because cats fighting in a garbage can maintained better pitch. Amanda turned from the crooner long enough to look at the audience, which consisted mainly of women, who broke into giggles at the sight before them.
Amanda pinched her nose and waved her hand in front of her face. The crowd roared. She’d earned the reputation as the ‘Man Tamer of Manhattan’ after two years of sold out shows. Amanda looked around the small hardwood floor stage half expecting to see a stool and a whip appear.
‘Man Tamer of Manhattan’. She snorted under her breath. If they only knew the truth.
A nickname she wasn’t particularly proud of, but it did pay the bills—and keep men at bay. A rather disappointing repercussion of achieving success that, willing or not, she’d grown accustomed to. Not that she had the time or inclination to date. Her jaundiced gaze scanned the men. These same types of men validated her career-imposed celibacy every night.
Amanda smiled wistfully, and then turned back to the Lotharios. The men groveled and begged as she rolled her eyes. Every woman’s fantasy. Hardly.
Each performance was the same. Amanda was bored with the act and it showed. If only she could find something to liven it up. Then again, was it her act—or her life that needed livening as of late? Amanda wasn’t sure and decided not to delve too deeply into her thoughts.
Heck, she’d settle for finding a man who would be into a no-strings kind of relationship, who didn’t require induction in order to tell the truth.
Come back to planet Earth, Amanda. It isn’t going to happen.
One bold man on stage took that moment to snatch her hand in his, shaking Amanda from her thoughts. Not you sweetheart, she mused, as the man began placing Gomez-style kisses along the length of her arm. Amanda chortled and fought to keep from laughing louder, before extracting her hand.
Ah, well…time for the big finale.
She pasted a smile on her face and raised her arms. “When I count to five you will awake feeling refreshed and rested, as if you’ve had an hour-long nap filled with pleasurable dreams. One, two, you’re feeling more awake and aware of your surroundings, three, four, sounds in the room are growing louder, five, open your eyes.” Amanda snapped her fingers twice.
The men blinked, looking around, brows knitted in confusion. They took in their surroundings as if for the first time. One particularly cocky participant stood, stretching his limbs before resting his massive arms across his wide muscular chest.
At another time in her life, Amanda would’ve found the man attractive and desirable, but not now. To her jaded eyes, he looked like a Neanderthal ready to beat his chest for attention. No thanks.
“See I told you I couldn’t be hypnotized,” he said, his head bobbing, as a mocking grin spread over his chiseled face.
As tempting as it was to knock the smile from his mouth, Amanda didn’t have to. The audience burst out laughing at his bravado as Amanda went to the side of the stage and retrieved the complimentary video tape the men received for their participation. She smiled at the man who’d made the outburst, this time for real, as she handed him his copy. His cheeks flushed red and his eyes flashed, promising her retribution.
Amanda had seen it all before. A week from now he’d laugh about the whole event. “Enjoy the show,” she said, winking at him, a moment before she turned to the audience to bid them goodnight.
by Erin McCarthy, Jen Nicholas and Jordan Summers
They’re Not Just For Breakfast Anymore…
Hot. Delicious. So satisfying. Who wouldn’t want to start the day with a little bad boy breakfast in bed…or anywhere else?
Amanda Dillon is used to gorgeous men falling at her feet, wooing her, obeying her every command, even if that means clucking like a chicken. Of course, it helps that they’re hypnotized at the time. She’d give her left big toenail to find a man who’d tell the truth without having to be put in a trance.
Just once this hypnotist would like to be mesmerized.
Derek Armstrong knows a juicy story when he sees it. And Amanda Dillon is it. He’s not going to let the fact that she doesn’t grant interviews stand in his way. So what’s a star journalist to do? Why, allow her to hypnotize him, of course. A simple plan that should work like a charm, if only he can avoid falling under her hypnotic spell.
When the truth is revealed and the spell is broken, will the connection remain?
Praise
Read an Excerpt
Cluck, Cluck, Cluck. Quack, Quack, Quack. Oink, Oink, Oink. Hee-haw, Hee-haw, Hee-haw.
Amanda Dillon’s eyes widened and her head snapped around as the last hee-haw faded. She glanced at the five gorgeous men crawling around at her feet like barnyard animals, each one more delicious-looking than the last.
Someone was certainly getting into it tonight.
A smile played at the corners of her mouth as she snapped her fingers twice. “Woo me!” She shouted. “Win me over with your professions of love.” The men instantly transformed from helpless critters to wannabe Romeos all vying for her attention.
If only it were that easy in real life.
One recited poetry, while another blond Adonis crouched on bended knee, attempting to sing a love ballad. It was a good thing he was gorgeous, because cats fighting in a garbage can maintained better pitch. Amanda turned from the crooner long enough to look at the audience, which consisted mainly of women, who broke into giggles at the sight before them.
Amanda pinched her nose and waved her hand in front of her face. The crowd roared. She’d earned the reputation as the ‘Man Tamer of Manhattan’ after two years of sold out shows. Amanda looked around the small hardwood floor stage half expecting to see a stool and a whip appear.
‘Man Tamer of Manhattan’. She snorted under her breath. If they only knew the truth.
A nickname she wasn’t particularly proud of, but it did pay the bills—and keep men at bay. A rather disappointing repercussion of achieving success that, willing or not, she’d grown accustomed to. Not that she had the time or inclination to date. Her jaundiced gaze scanned the men. These same types of men validated her career-imposed celibacy every night.
Amanda smiled wistfully, and then turned back to the Lotharios. The men groveled and begged as she rolled her eyes. Every woman’s fantasy. Hardly.
Each performance was the same. Amanda was bored with the act and it showed. If only she could find something to liven it up. Then again, was it her act—or her life that needed livening as of late? Amanda wasn’t sure and decided not to delve too deeply into her thoughts.
Heck, she’d settle for finding a man who would be into a no-strings kind of relationship, who didn’t require induction in order to tell the truth.
Come back to planet Earth, Amanda. It isn’t going to happen.
One bold man on stage took that moment to snatch her hand in his, shaking Amanda from her thoughts. Not you sweetheart, she mused, as the man began placing Gomez-style kisses along the length of her arm. Amanda chortled and fought to keep from laughing louder, before extracting her hand.
Ah, well…time for the big finale.
She pasted a smile on her face and raised her arms. “When I count to five you will awake feeling refreshed and rested, as if you’ve had an hour-long nap filled with pleasurable dreams. One, two, you’re feeling more awake and aware of your surroundings, three, four, sounds in the room are growing louder, five, open your eyes.” Amanda snapped her fingers twice.
The men blinked, looking around, brows knitted in confusion. They took in their surroundings as if for the first time. One particularly cocky participant stood, stretching his limbs before resting his massive arms across his wide muscular chest.
At another time in her life, Amanda would’ve found the man attractive and desirable, but not now. To her jaded eyes, he looked like a Neanderthal ready to beat his chest for attention. No thanks.
“See I told you I couldn’t be hypnotized,” he said, his head bobbing, as a mocking grin spread over his chiseled face.
As tempting as it was to knock the smile from his mouth, Amanda didn’t have to. The audience burst out laughing at his bravado as Amanda went to the side of the stage and retrieved the complimentary video tape the men received for their participation. She smiled at the man who’d made the outburst, this time for real, as she handed him his copy. His cheeks flushed red and his eyes flashed, promising her retribution.
Amanda had seen it all before. A week from now he’d laugh about the whole event. “Enjoy the show,” she said, winking at him, a moment before she turned to the audience to bid them goodnight.