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The Beautician and the Billionaire Episodes 1-4

The Beautician and the Billionaire Episodes 1-4

By: Evelyn Aster | Other books by Evelyn Aster
Published By: Hot Java LLC
ISBN # e000000000806
Word Count: 53000
Heat Index   

Available in: Mobipocket (.mobi), Epub, Adobe Acrobat

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About the book

Charisse is still reeling from a miscarriage that tore her relationship apart last year. Her only focus is making her beauty salon a hit in Manhattan.

Conor is still recovering from the death of his wife three years ago. He spends his days orchestrating corporate takeovers.

Charisse and Conor want nothing more than to be left alone.

But when Charisse’s dad loses three of Conor’s ships at sea, negotiations begin that land Charisse under contract to Conor.

This is a serialized story like the old pulp magazines. Episodes 1-4 are the first half of the series. Please look for the second half in January!

 

An excerpt from the book

Charisse withdrew her shaking hand, making a fist in the hopes he wouldn’t see it. She’d been prepared for his cold business mask—the one she was sure he used when taking over companies. Instead he’d arrived with sincerity and honesty. She’d almost leaned in and kissed him when he told her why he’d been such a rat bastard after the shampoo yesterday.

She should’ve kept her restraint instead of practically offering to undress him. Jeez Louise, she was getting in way over her head.
He watched her as he slowly slid his tie out from beneath his collar and undid the top buttons of his shirt. To keep herself from undoing the rest, she turned away and pulled out a towel from a shelf behind the sink.

Steady girl. You’re not ready for a relationship, especially with a tycoon like Conor Grishin.

But the words in her mind echoed hollowly throughout her head as she concentrated more on the way his body eased into the chair. Fantastic butt and broad shoulders just as she liked them. She tucked the towel around his collar and pressed on his shoulders to indicate he should lean back. She didn’t speak for fear her voice would shake like her hands.

But he understood and leaned back with his eyes closed. She drew her hands away slowly as he’d done when he touched her arm early. Turning on the water, she sprayed it over her hands until it was hotter than she’d had it get yesterday. She guessed by the way he drank his coffee fast while it was scalding, he wouldn’t want the water lukewarm.

The water cascaded over his head. “Is that too hot?”

“Not at all,” he said. His voice already sounded drowsy. He must not take much down time. She combed her fingers through his hair and raised the bottom of his head up to make sure the back got wet too. When she began massaging the shampoo into his head, she relaxed the muscles in her arms and allowed her connection to him to guide her fingertips.

He exhaled a long breath. His face appeared serene. The Mozart music made her recall her fantasy of walking through the gardens of Versailles. But France was so far away. They should start with dinner. No, he’d just asked her to shampoo his hair, not go on a date.
Her gaze trailed down his chest, broad like his shoulders, over his slim torso and right to a large bulge in his pants.

Her hands froze for just one moment. Then she drew back and turned the water on. So maybe dinner was an option. Or maybe he was hoping to get down and dirty at the sink. She stifled a nervous giggle. He was probably just hoping she hadn’t noticed. But how could she not? He was huge.

It was good to be a woman. Her panties had been wet since he’d touched her arm at the couch, but she wasn’t advertising it.

After she finished rinsing his hair, she took out a fresh towel and dried his hair, sneaking peeks at his lap—still bold and big. Her face burned with embarrassment or desire, she wasn’t sure which. She dropped the towel into the sink and styled his hair with her fingertips. She should just tell him she could style his hair at her chair. And ignore what was going on in his pants.
He still had his eyes closed and appeared at peace. He hadn’t fallen asleep again had he?

She stepped to his side and put her hand on his shoulder. “Conor?”
He gave a sigh, but didn’t open his eyes and didn’t say anything. She tugged at the towel around his neck. He finally lifted his head up and opened his eyes.

“I thought you’d fallen asleep again,” she said with a smile as she removed the towel around his neck and also dropped it into the sink.

His hand caught hers and his other hand wrapped around her waist. A second later, she was sitting on his lap with her legs hanging over the armrest of his chair. Her whole body tingled. She blocked off her rational mind telling her she wasn’t ready for any sort of intimacy and allowed the emotions and lust to flow freely.

He searched her face and gazed at her lips before pressing his own gently against hers.

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B&B Episode 3 The Third Ship: The Finale

Thanks for joining me to the end of Episode 3. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. If all goes well, Episode 4 will be available for purchase tomorrow along with episodes 1-3 in a bundle. We’ve made it to the half-way point!

They spent the rest of lunch discussing all the places they’d traveled to. Charisse was shocked at all of the off road places Conor had been. She finally said, “I never pegged you as someone who’d like to camp.”

“It wasn’t really my thing. But my wife was a bit of an adrenaline junkie—Park Avenue to the Himalayas.”

He’d been animated while they talked and ate, but now he seemed to withdraw into himself. She didn’t know what had happened to his wife, but it was obvious to her that he missed her. She’d also wager he didn’t talk about her much and maybe needed to. She decided to press him about it. “Wow, did you guys climb the Himalayas?”

He stared at his plate. It had a few strips of meat, but he’d mostly finished the sandwich. “Not me. She went on her own. I was terrified the whole time she was gone. Not everyone comes back from those trips.”

Charisse held her breath, worried that might be how his wife had died.

Conor continued, “But she came back safely with a big ‘I told you so’ grin to greet me.”

Charisse relaxed and took the last bite of her sandwich.

Conor asked, “But what about you? You’ve been all over Europe.”

“Mostly for training. I tried not to roll my eyes the day I met you when you started going on about the extensive training your hairstylist had. I’ve probably been to the same places she’s been.”

Conor groaned and reached across the table to grab her hands. “I’m so sorry for being a rat bastard, as you said. You gave me the best haircut I’ve ever had, and I swear I haven’t been washing it every day per your instruction.”

She grinned. “I can tell. It looks better too.” She glanced at the watch on her wrist. “Shoot. I need to get back.”

He tightened his grip on her hands. “Have dinner with me tonight.”

She gazed into his blue eyes and lost track of time. She imagined if she said yes it might be the best date she’d ever had. But that damn contract. She knew now that Conor wasn’t trying to take advantage of her through it, but the thought of it made her squeamish.

Finally, she shook her head. “I just can’t yet. Please understand, I need to settle the business between us before I can move forward.”

“But it’s not even your fault. It’s Roy’s…”

“It’s my fault. I should’ve read the contract.”

His thumbs caressed the backs of her hands. In a softened voice that caused goosebumps to erupt on the back of her neck, he said, “You shouldn’t be punished for trusting your own father. There’s no way I’m selling the salon back to him. I want you to be the sole owner.”

She should just give in, but that way always brought her trouble. She had to be strong and sort the business out before the pleasure. “Thank you for not selling it back to him. Hopefully by Friday I’ll know one way or the other if I get the loan.”

Conor stared into her eyes, breaking down her crumbling resistance. Fortunately, he released her hands, and she gathered her wits together again.

They stood up and walked through the sandwich shop and out the door. The sun broke through the smog above and warmed her skin that had grown cold from the air conditioner.

She slipped her hand into his and said, “I’d really like to have lunch with you again.”

“How about tomorrow?”

She almost said yes right away, but decided two days in a row with Conor would be too much temptation. “No, that’s my official chore day with Marie. If we skip it, there’s mass chaos. How about Monday?”

“Done. I’ll clear my afternoon and maybe we can walk through the park after.”

“Conor–”

“Just a walk in the park. I’ll only ask you a dozen or so times to dinner.”

She laughed and noticed his car was in front of her salon. Before they got closer, she stopped walking. What was she doing? She’d just turned him down to spending the weekend with him. She should not do what she so desperately desired—she shouldn’t kiss him again.

He turned, looking puzzled and sexy with his blue eyes staring out beneath dark bangs. Passion shot through her core and tore away her resistance. She stood on her toes to brush her lips across his, planning to keep it tame like earlier. But this time, he wrapped his arms around her back and held her tightly against his body. She slid her hands up his chest and locked her fingers together behind his neck.

Their lips pressed against each other and then released, only to meet again for another kiss and then another. He teased her lips apart with his and slid his tongue gently along hers.

Her whole body responded by leaning against him even more until she could feel his erection hardening against her belly. She needed this man soon. He was so unexpected—starting out as someone she should hate and turning into someone she trusted more than her family.

Her mind whirled with desire charging through her. What if the loan didn’t come through at all? The worry and lust caused heat to flare in her belly. Scared by her reaction to the kiss, she tried to draw away. He loosened his grip but finished the kiss properly.

He nuzzled below her ear and whispered, “You started it. I didn’t even ask this time.”

“I know. It was wrong.”

“No, it was oh so right. Call the bank first thing Monday. I can’t wait all week to kiss you like this again.”

He pressed his lips against hers one more time and then released her.

Shaken by pleasure and confusion, she turned and walked towards her salon.

His driver stepped out and walked around to open the door for Conor. As they approached, she peered closer at the driver. She knew him. How did she know him?

He was a little shorter than Conor and much older with gray and black hair. He was probably her father’s age or older.

She stopped short in shock.

The driver nodded his head and said, “Hello, Miss Larouche. How long has it been?”

Charisse gaped. Twenty years. But she didn’t say it out loud. Twenty years since her mother disappeared. Raul had been the last one to see her.

Coming Soon:

BBE1to4

BB Episode 3 The Third Ship: Scene 5c

We’re nearing the end of Episode 3. Tomorrow will be the finale followed by the release of Episode 4 and the box set on Thursday. I won’t be blogging Episode 4 until after Jan. 1 because I’m working on a box set for The Holiday Cafe series. Please enjoy:

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Charisse’s lips tingled from the contact with Conor. She placed her fingertips on her lips to calm them while she unconsciously tightened her other hand in his. Passion flooded through her just like the day they’d made out in the back of her salon. She wanted to run and kick all her customers and lady luvs out so that she and Conor could resume where they’d left off before Marie had showed up. Her body didn’t want to wait for the loan to come through. Continue reading

Surprise!

Sorry I didn’t get the next part of Episode Three posted, but look at what I’ve been working on:

BBE1to4

Yes, you’re seeing that right: Episodes 1-4! It’ll be published this week! Episode four will come out individually as well, but I won’t be blogging it until January. And, I won’t be posting all of Episode 4. This blog has an R rating, and I’ve been reluctant to change it to X. It’s been a tough decision, but some of the scenes are going to be available in the for sale editions only.

Tomorrow I’ll be back with more from Episode 3. I’ll also have a more definitive release date. My Hot Java Team is scattered right now. Some went to New York, others went to Hawaii, and they left me here in NM chained to my computer!

I can’t really complain, though, because I love the work. See you tomorrow!

BB Episode 3: The Third Ship Scene 5b

Happy Friday!

If you’d like to finish up the third episode over the weekend, you can get it at Amazon, All Romance and Smashwords. Enjoy!

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Raul, his driver, rolled the window down, and Conor leaned over to let him know to be back in an hour. When he stepped next to Charisse, he couldn’t stand not touching her anymore. He slipped his hand into hers and relished the warmth of someone new—the warmth of Charisse. He’d been imagining their clasped hands for so long that the moment was surreal. Until she tugged her hand out. Continue reading

BB Episode 3 The Third Ship Scene 5

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Saturday, Conor slid out of the back of his sedan, thanking his driver and asking him to wait a few minutes. He stood on the sidewalk in jeans and a short-sleeved button-up shirt, staring at Ma Charisse. He would’ve brought the papers with him, but he knew she wouldn’t sign them. While he admired her independence and will to set things straight, he didn’t want to wait however long it took her to get a loan before he saw her again. Continue reading

BB Episode 3: The Third Ship Scene 4

Sorry I’m late, but I have exciting news! All of Episode 3: The Third Ship has just been released at All Romance!! So if you’re anxious to read to the end of it, buy it before I blog it!

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Charisse opened shop with an optimistic heart on Tuesday. She’d researched a few loans to buy back her salon and decided to pursue one: she’d borrow against her trust fund. In a way, it still felt like a handout by using the trust fund money, but she wasn’t really using it. It would only be collateral if she defaulted. The problem was carving out enough time to go to a bank. Continue reading

BB Episode 3: The Third Ship Scene 3b

Holy Cannoli! Sales continued to surprise me over the Thanksgiving Weekend. I didn’t even do a special Black Friday deal because I was so busy. But if you haven’t bought my Holiday Cafe Series, or my other books, my whole catalogue is rebated at All Romance for Cyber Monday!

For a quick behind the scenes glance, Thankful Hearts is my Best Seller this month. Veteran Hearts has the most total free downloads even over The Beautician and the Billionaire. Veteran Hearts is no longer free and continues to surprise me with how many people are now buying it! Masked Hearts is my highest rated book with seven 5 star ratings on Amazon.

Here’s to hoping December is even better!

And now, on with the story!

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Charisse bowed her head and clenched her fists. She didn’t deserve the bitchiness. She’d been able to tell Conor off the first time she’d met him. It was time she asserted herself to her family too. She looked up and said, “I’ve always made room for you, even when I had a full schedule. And you never even so much as thanked me. So if you’re gonna be rude about it, go back to giving me the silent treatment.” Continue reading

BB Episode 3: The Third Ship Scene 3

Happy Thanksgiving!

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There’s a Starbucks in my Hotel, but it does not have free wi-fi 😦 So I’m going to hopefully pipe this post through the hotspot on my phone. I really didn’t want to skip today because:

  1. I have a lot of international readers and
  2. I neglected BB while I released Thankful Hearts and Veteran Hearts.

So if this actually works (my connection is very slow) and if you read this Thanksgiving Day post and leave a comment below, I will put the names of the commentors in a hat and draw one out to receive a $5 Amazon Gift Card. The Flash Giveaway will last until November 27 at noon Pacific Standard time. That’s a little less than 24 hours. Please comment on the story and Good Luck!

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Charisse spent the next few days as a hollow husk. Outwardly she kept up appearances at work, speaking nothing of Conor owning the salon. She wore designer jeans with her favorite Manolo Blahnik pumps and sheer blouses with cami’s underneath. Her make-up was perfect and her curly hair pulled up. But inside she felt nothing but the chill of abandonment. Continue reading