Every Kiss Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Legal Page

  Book Description

  Dedication

  Trademark Acknowledgements

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Read more from C.J. Burright

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  About the Author

  A Music, Love and Other Miseries Story

  EVERY KISS

  C.J. BURRIGHT

  Every Kiss

  ISBN # 978-1-913186-92-0

  ©Copyright C.J. Burright 2019

  Cover Art by Erin Dameron-Hill ©Copyright December 2019

  Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

  Totally Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2019 by Totally Bound Publishing, United Kingdom.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors’ rights. Purchase only authorised copies.

  Totally Bound Publishing is an imprint of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

  If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book”.

  Music, Love and Other Miseries: The Prequel

  He’s smooth, charming, arrogant and believes he can get whatever he wants—including her. Denying him is a challenge she can’t resist.

  Six months ago, Gia lost the love of her life—and the spark that earned her the nickname ‘Glitter Girl’. When Christmas rolls near, along with her office-decorating duties and the traditional hiding of mistletoe for the underground holiday kissing bets, she puts on her happy face and pretends she isn’t slowly suffocating. But when cocky lawyer and resident eye-candy Ian bets that she’s the one who will be kissing him beneath the mistletoe, Gia places a bet of her own. No way, no how will she lock lips with Ian.

  Ian O’Connor refuses to lose, whether in the courtroom, the bedroom or a bet concerning mistletoe kisses. From the day Gia walked into his law firm, she has haunted his fantasies with her blood-heating stilettos and sunshine smile. Now that she’s single again, he’ll do anything to eliminate his unhealthy fascination for her—a luxury he can’t afford without exposing his troubled past.

  But as their battle—and their chemistry—grow in intensity, both Gia and Ian may discover there’s an even greater risk than losing a bet when surrendering to a kiss beneath the mistletoe.

  Dedication

  To Brenda, I’m so blessed to have found you in this wild, dark, crazy world.

  Trademark Acknowledgements

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Jingle Bell Rock: Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe

  The Grinch: Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. Geisel-Seuss Enterprises, Inc.

  Batman: DC Comics General Partnership

  Lord of the Rings: J.R.R. Tolkien

  Porsche: Dr ING HCF Porsche AG Corporation

  Winter Wonderland: Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith

  Cinderella: Disney Enterprises Inc.

  Macbeth: William Shakespeare

  Chapter One

  It was raining glitter inside Gia’s office. Red and green glimmered on the file she’d been staring blankly at for the last ten minutes, lost down the misery rabbit hole.

  She leaned back in her chair and tilted her chin up, lifting her gaze to the source of the glitter cloud—Karen, her co-worker, keeper of all office gossip and her closest friend at Hamilton & Associates, the best law firm in Graywood, offering small-town representation, big-city quality and monumental prices.

  “I figured something sparkly would get your attention, Glitter Girl.” Karen grinned down at her and sprinkled the last of the glitter from her palm onto Gia’s head. “Since no one else volunteered this year, I need help with the Christmas decorations.” The words held a teasing accusation, but the scratchy tinsel garland Karen draped around Gia’s neck felt like a threat.

  Since landing her job at Hamilton & Associates two years earlier, when Valentine’s Day had passed without any change in the posh—and yawn-worthy—décor, Gia had appointed herself the interior festivities coordinator and celebrated every season and major holiday with colorful decorations. When she’d skipped Halloween this year, no one had protested. Apparently, her grieving period was no longer being tolerated and Christmas wasn’t going to pass by without her.

  Even though she wished it would.

  Gia pasted on a smile and hoped it looked real. “Only if I get to hang the mistletoe in strategic places.”

  “I was counting on it.” Karen wrapped a shimmering green garland around her slender throat and twirled the end like a bristling boa. “I can’t wait to watch Lisette trap O’Connor by the copy machine and watch how he slithers his way out of a real kiss.”

  For a second, her smile felt less plastic. The entire office took bets every year on how many times Lisette—the secretary who was nearly as old as the firm itself—would trap Ian O’Connor beneath the mistletoe. Since Ian had a one-night-only rule that he applied to women and never broke, it was fun to witness Lisette take up the challenge and beat him…at least as far as kisses went. Gia did her part by planting mistletoe in unexpected, unobtrusive locations and discreetly leaving Lisette a map.

  Maybe watching someone else find a little romance would erase the shadow still clinging to her heart. Gia stood and straightened her black pencil skirt. Her pink cashmere sweater softened the darkness and, as much as she was sick of wearing black, it felt dishonest to give it up completely. She caught the bags of greenery and red ribbons Karen tossed at her. “Operation Mistletoe is underway,” Gia declared.

  “I hope you have some creative ideas this year.” Karen’s green eyes glittered as she grabbed an armful of tinsel. “As soon as decorations are up, O’Connor will be searching for the mistletoe and how to avoid it.”

  “Or how to manipulate it.”

  “I’m totally okay with him manipulating mistletoe with me.” Karen wiggled her auburn eyebrows. “I might even give Lisette some competition this season.”

  Gia shrugged. Ian was physically attractive—no one could deny that—but the only man she’d wanted in the last three years had been Joey.

  Joey had been her everything.

  Her breath caught and she squeezed the plastic bag of ribbons until the threat of tears faded. She cleared her throat. “Is that an inside tip that I should bet on you instead of Lisette?”

  “Lisette has old age and trea
chery on her side. My lust and determination have nothing on her.” Karen pursed her ruby-rouged lips and narrowed her eyes, going into accountant mode. Absently, she pulled the ever-present pencil from behind her ear. “But I’ll give you two to one odds that Lisette corners Ian at least five times and he slides out of a kiss on three of them.”

  “How could you possibly keep track of that?” Gia pulled a velvet ribbon from the bag. “Do you have hidden cameras? Spies? An army of spiders who watch and spin their secrets to you at night?”

  Karen sniffed. “I never reveal my sources. You know that.”

  Gia tied the ribbon around one sprig of mistletoe, grabbed the plastic container of red and green thumbtacks Karen had set on her desk and headed out of the door. “I know the perfect spot.”

  “Hold up, Glitter Girl.” Karen cocked her hip, looking badass classy in her plaid skirt, forest-green V-neck sweater and black leather boots. With her short, spiked auburn hair and impish smile, she’d always reminded Gia of an overgrown fairy bent on mischief. She pointed at the doorway leading into Gia’s office. “You forgot the most obvious location.”

  “I prefer to admire smooches from afar and refuse to be trapped in my office or forced to pay a kissing toll to go in or out.” She arched an eyebrow at Karen. While she could probably play the grief card and escape, there were a couple of staff members who would absolutely take advantage of mistletoe hanging from her lintel.

  “You’re right.” Karen scrunched her freckled nose. “But I was thinking more about me than you. O’Connor is always strolling by your office at random.”

  “He is?”

  Karen cocked her head, her expression one of utter disbelief. “You seriously haven’t noticed? How could you not notice all that male deliciousness? I’m worried about you, G.”

  While she appreciated the humor, all the reasons why she wouldn’t notice another man remained on the tip of her tongue, unsaid. Because I was completely in love with Joey. Because Joey owned my heart. Because I had everything I wanted.

  All her reasons were gone, buried forever.

  But she was still alive and moping wouldn’t change anything. She’d done enough of it in the last few months to know.

  Gia whipped out her smile again. “If it gives you an advantage, my gambling pixie romantic, I’ll take the risk.”

  Jumping up and down, Karen clapped her hands. “I’ll get the ladder.”

  Half a minute later, Gia balanced on the top step of the short ladder. Not even her four-inch heels were enough to reach the upper ledge of the doorframe. She stretched up, a ribbon-laced sprig of mistletoe in one hand, a red tack in the other.

  “I see my premonition of danger wasn’t wrong.” Ian O’Connor’s smooth drawl drifted near, but Gia maintained her focus on pinning the mistletoe. If she looked over her shoulder, she might lose her balance. “I was beginning to suspect the office was skipping Christmas this year.”

  “And miss out on watching Mr. Hamilton dance to Jingle Bell Rock at the annual yuletide party?” The flirt in Karen’s laugh was impossible to miss. “Not even. You’re passing out presents again this year, aren’t you?”

  “Anything to soften my Grinch reputation for a day.”

  “You’re overestimating the power of presents. For you, they only buy an hour of good cheer, at best.” Karen nearly purred, her voice all sultry smoke. “Then you revert back to your two-sizes-too-small, cold-hearted-bastard self.”

  “As it should be.”

  Gia snorted softly and adjusted the mistletoe. He didn’t sound concerned that anyone might consider him heartless, and considering his reputation—all teeth and a hide tough enough to endure any verbal attack—his nonreaction wasn’t surprising. Outside the courtroom, Ian’s fame was equally brutal. He kept to a strict rule of one night only before icing out his romantic partners, no exceptions. And yet he always seemed to have a selection of willing victims. He must have some serious savvy in the bedroom.

  Not that she was interested.

  “Ms. Hellman, I believe the ribbon is crooked.”

  Gia frowned at the perfectly straight decoration. “My ribbon skills are above reproach, Mr. O’Connor. How dare you.”

  “I wasn’t referring to the lovely ribbon tied to any sprig of offensive vegetation.”

  Holding on to the doorjamb for balance, she glanced over her shoulder. He was staring at her legs, and the flames in his blue eyes had nothing to do with merriment or cheer—more like what gifts she might be able to offer him later.

  He slowly lifted his gaze to hers, taking in every curvy inch of her along the way. Even though he’d been caught ogling, his expression held not a glint of shame or remorse. “I am speaking of the delicate pink ribbon on the hem of your skirt, of course.”

  “I knew that.” Her face heated a degree, but she refused to look away. She wasn’t letting him off the hook so easily or admitting any weakness, especially the unexpected wobble in her knees.

  He slid his hands out of his trouser pockets. “If I may?”

  “As long as you keep up the polite act.” She gave him her sweetest smile.

  A draft of air carrying his clean, mildly spicy and ridiculously expensive cologne invaded her lungs as Ian leaned in. After a gentle tug on her skirt hem, he straightened and cocked his head, studying his handiwork. “That’s better.”

  “I apologize that my unruly skirt ribbon offended your delicate sensibilities, Mr. O’Connor.”

  “Apology accepted, Ms. Hellman.”

  A fluttering invaded her stomach and she stepped down from the ladder before she did something inadvisable, such as acknowledge its source. She pivoted to face him. Looking Ian over, she couldn’t deny why a girl might be tempted to waste one night with him. Impeccably dressed in navy trousers, pinstriped button-up shirt and blood-red tie, he could give her some serious competition in a fashion contest. His court appearances must be done for the day, because he’d left his jacket behind and his sleeves were rolled up. His bare forearms made him seem ready to play instead of work.

  “How many of those monstrosities do you intend to plant—pardon me, hang—in inconspicuous places this year?” He flicked a glance at the mistletoe above the ladder.

  “That’s on a need-to-know basis.” She batted her eyelashes, all innocence, the sudden urge to bait him undeniable. “And your name isn’t on that list, so you’ll have to find them all like everyone else, one kiss at a time.”

  “The injustice.” His protest, said in such a benign tone, carried no weight.

  “I may be persuaded to spill a few locations.” Karen grinned at him, all flirty mischief. “For a price.”

  He rubbed his bottom lip for a moment and glanced between them, as if considering the risks and benefits. “I’ll take your generous offer under advisement.”

  “There will be no sabotage of mistletoe secrets, Karen.” Gia lifted her chin and grabbed her decorations, holding them close. “If you can’t handle the surprises, O’Connor, I suggest you hide out in your office until the new year or conduct your business after hours, where you can slink around without fear of being cornered by admirers.”

  “I don’t mind surprises.” One side of his mouth curled up in a lazy, sexy smile, and he unashamedly held her gaze. “And perhaps I was planning to do some cornering of my own.”

  Gia met his smile with one of her own. “I’m sure Lisette will be all a-tingle to hear it.”

  “What are the odds against me this year?” He slipped his hands into his pockets again, his blue eyes sparkling, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he were truly enjoying the banter or if it was all part of his practiced façade.

  “You’re not allowed to bet on yourself, and if I told you, you’d manipulate everyone and everything to ruin the odds.” Karen twirled her pencil between her fingers, her eyes narrowed. As much as she crushed on Ian, she took her office gambler role seriously.

  “True.” He rocked back on his heels. “Very well… What are the bets on Ms. Hellman?”
r />   Gia sniffed. “There aren’t any—”

  “Ten to one Chuck from advertising gets a pity kiss, five to one Hamilton gets a peck and”—Karen flashed Gia a guilty look and turned back to Ian—“two to one that you score with a full-on lip-lock, an extra five points if it lasts longer than thirty seconds.”

  “What the—? Who—? Seriously?” Gia blinked away her shock and cleared her throat. “I thought you couldn’t reveal bet details to the people involved?”

  Karen adjusted the tinsel she still wore around her neck like a scarf. “You never gamble, so I figured it’s safe.”

  “And what about him?” She waved a hand at Ian, refusing to look at him. The fact that her co-workers were betting anything on her made her wonder exactly what she’d missed while fumbling through the fog of the last few months.

  “I believe in you, Glitter Girl.” Karen threw her arm around Gia’s shoulders. “You’d never let O’Connor manipulate the odds in his favor.”

  Gia shook her head. “You’re sick, all of you…and absolutely right that I won’t let O’Connor manipulate me.”

  “I call it persuasion. They’re close enough to the same.” Ian absently smoothed his already-straight tie. “Will you be attending the Christmas party, Ms. Hellman?”

  Honestly, she’d only thought about it briefly, without much enthusiasm, which equated a likely ‘no’. Before Joey, she’d loved parties and social gatherings, whenever, wherever. Now…

  Her stomach twisted. Now she was failing her pledge to him. She’d promised him she’d keep his sister Adara from sinking into her solitude once he was gone by dragging her to social events. She hadn’t been in much of a party mood since.

  “Don’t worry about it if you don’t want to go,” Ian said, his voice gentle. “I understand completely.”

  She held his gaze, too surprised by the unexpected compassion to respond. Not once had he expressed any sympathy for her loss—not a card or even a kind word—and she’d always assumed that death made him too uncomfortable. Despite working in the same office, it wasn’t as if they were friends. He didn’t owe her anything.