Title: Keep
Me
Author: Faith Andrews
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Day: January 28th 2014
Synopsis:
Sexy,
tatted up, underwear model Marcus Grayson is every girl’s dream—or more likely
worst nightmare. He’s a player, a self-proclaimed bachelor for life, and he’s
got no problem living up to his man-whore status. But when his older sister’s
friend comes back from the past, he may just have the chance to turn some of his
adolescent fantasies into reality.
Tessa Bradley is a self-sufficient, take-no-bull, single mother—well, now she
is. Finally rid of her abusive, alcoholic ex, she’s making a new life for
herself and catching up with old friends; the ones she was forced to break ties
with because of her controlling husband. When she runs into Marcus, her friend
Riley’s once-adorable turned smoking-hot little brother, she has no idea how
he’s about to rock her world.
You wanted me then, now you can have me. Just promise you’ll Keep Me…
Excerpt:
The bright morning sun crept its
way through the tiny cracks in the blinds. I sprawled out across the bed,
stretching and yawning and enjoying that I’d woken up on my own accord and not
to the wailing of…
“Luca!” I jumped up out of the bed
and ran to Luca’s nursery. When I found his crib empty, the room absent of his
yummy morning smell and the sound of his pleasant after-slumber cooing my heart
sank to my toes. Tears pricked my eyes and a strangling lump formed in my
throat. My thoughts were rampant and illogical as I tossed stuffed animals and
blankets and pillows as if he were hiding from me.
“LUCA!” I shrieked, screaming like
it would make him appear. My worst nightmare was coming true. My baby boy was gone.
Zack took him from me! It was the only explanation. My heart thudded so
violently that the blood that kept it pumping was deafening. The panic that
took over my body was so powerful that it hindered every one of my senses. I
was incoherent to the sound of the voice coming from the man trying to shake me
out of my paralysis.
When I noticed he was holding my
son—my happy, laughing, here-in-the-flesh son—I came to, relieved. “Give him to
me, please!” I snatched Luca out of the strong, tattooed arms that cradled him,
kissing his chubby cheeks, his wiggly arms and the entire length of him until I
felt he was covered in my affection. Tears dampened my face, plastering long
strands of hair to my skin. I squeezed Luca so tight he started to cry, too.
“Jesus, Tessa, you okay?”
I gulped back a sob and tried to
compose myself. “I thought he was taken.” Saying the words aloud made the
situation that much more grave. I resumed my kiss attack on my son, inhaling
him as if it was some kind of reunion.
“Taken? Who would. . .” Marcus
trailed off, scratching his head. His eyes wore a heartwarming mixture of
concern, fear and bewilderment. “I’m sorry, Tess. I heard him get up and you
were still sleeping and I thought…”
Heart rate finally back to normal,
I answered him calmly. “It’s okay, Marcus. Really. It’s not your fault. I
overreacted and overslept and…” And must’ve completely forgotten that Marcus
spent the night on my couch.
“I would’ve never. . .I mean, if I
knew…”
I’d scared him half to death and
made a fool out of myself in the meantime. And suddenly his glowing morning
appearance was the reason for my shortness of breath. His chest was bare, the
muscular ridges of his perfect physique accented by incredible artwork of all
different colors, sizes and shapes. He wore the same jeans from the night
before, hanging on his hips and revealing the most defined—and
delectable—v-shaped abdomen I’d ever had the pleasure of witnessing. The terror
that ripped through me moments ago was replaced by something that scared me
still. Wanting. Craving. Longing.
“Mama. Mama.”
My attention no longer cemented on
Marcus, I squealed, “What? What did you just say, Luca man?”
Luca was focused on the stuffed
bear in his hands, sucking on its nose and then shaking it in the air.
“He said something?” Mr. Shirtless
and Gorgeous stood there confused.
“Yes! Didn’t you hear him? He just
said mama. Didn’t you, buddy? Didn’t you?” I couldn’t control the baby talk
now. I was elated.
“So he mumbled a sound that most
babies use to describe everything from the poop in their diaper to the booger
in their nose. What’s the big deal?”
I shook my head, sneering at the
gorgeous dimwit in front of me. “The big deal is that’s the first time he’s
said it and he isn’t talking about a booger, wiseass. He was talking to me.”
“If you say so. And just so you
know, there is definitely shit. . .I mean, poop, in that diaper of his.”
Laughing at Marcus and his failed
attempt at domestication I walked over to the changing table and laid Luca down
to clean him up. “I’m sorry about before. I didn’t mean to sound like a
nutcase.”
Marcus kept his distance as I
lifted Luca’s legs in the air and used a baby wipe to erase his mess. “No need
to explain. I shouldn’t have taken him out of his room without asking you, but
you looked so peaceful and I was up. I just…”
“It was sweet. Really. I appreciate
it.” He was sweet. The gesture was
endearing and I should be thanking him for it.
“Not as much as I appreciate your
lack of pants right now.”
What?
Oh shit! “Oh my God. My pants. Get out…I mean, go downstairs.
Damn it, Marcus!” In my panic
stricken state I’d run straight into Luca’s room without pulling on my pajama
bottoms. I was standing in front of Tall, Dark and Shirtless in nothing but a
skimpy t-shirt and a thong!
“Nothing to be embarrassed about,
you look hot!” he called from downstairs.
Yeah, right. Nothing to be
embarrassed about. First I make out with him all night, then I cop a feel, then
I have a panic attack, and now my whole ass was hanging out for him to see.
“Luca, Mommy is a mess.”
Jenn's Review:
Holy shizz ladies! Keep Me was an adventure. You’ve already
read the synopsis, so you know what it’s about. What you don’t know, yet, is
how incredibly awesome Marcus really is.
Tess is finally going back to work after having her baby and
escaping the wrath of her horrible ex-husband. It’s time for her to get her
life back and find herself again. Zack was controlling, belittling and abusive
but, that doesn’t even begin to cover what he did to Tess while they were
married. With that finally behind her, she can reacquaint herself with old
friends that were pushed away because of Zack. Namely Riley, her childhood best
friend.
Riley has a hard time keeping friends. Her man-whore of a
brother, Marcus, always sleeps with them and it ruins everything. She’s had it
and isn’t afraid to say something. So what happens when Marcus and Tess run
into each other one morning? Well, nothing really, at first. Simple flirting
won’t hurt anyone. But, they quickly get to the point where they are thinking
of each other constantly. Tess’s little boy, Luca, is her number one priority.
And in just a little bit of time, Marcus and Luca have formed a bond.
Tess is afraid to trust Marcus, since she was hurt so badly
in the past. What will it take for Marcus to prove to her that he is not her
ex, that his feelings are real – even though he’s never been in a relationship.
It doesn’t take long before Marcus is begging Tess to give them a chance. But,
Riley is proving to be a big problem. She has no faith in her brother and is
certain that he’s going to screw it all up. So they do what any couple in that
situation would do…keep it a secret of course! Things are going really well for
them. Each admitting to themselves of the love that has grown between them. All
of Marcus’ hard work comes to a head at a party when a former bed mate shows up
and can’t take a hint.
I loved this story and I’ve really grown to love the writing
of Faith Andrews! There was so much packed into this story. There were several
times I was trying to figure out when the rug was going to be pulled out from
under me. And, when it did, well, I don’t have any fingernails left. I’ll leave
it at that. I hope you enjoy Marcus and Tess as much as I did!!
Buy the Book:
About the Author:
Faith Andrews lives in New York where she is
happily married to her high school sweetheart. They have two beautiful
daughters and a furry Yorkie son, Rocco. If she isn’t listening to Mumford and
Sons or busy being a Dance Mom, her nose is in a book or her laptop. She’s a
sucker for a happily ever after and believes her characters are out there
living one somewhere . . .
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