Series: House of Payne World Novella
Author: Stacy Gail
Genre: Contemporary Romance
“Got a name, my princess?”
When Joelle Fielding attends a function for Chicago’s society elites, she’s stunned to find herself swept off her feet by a man who believes that not only is she a princess, but that she’s HIS princess. Falling in love at first sight isn’t a part of her career-oriented life goals, but with the sexy Gus Bloch insisting she’s meant for him, those life goals might be changing.
By fourteen, Gus had been on his own on the Southside’s mean streets. When life had been at its bleakest, he’d dreamed of his future and the kind of woman he would someday share his life with. One look at Joelle, and he knows he’s finally found her. Nothing will stop him from convincing her that he’s the man for her—not even Joelle herself.
Joelle has never wanted anyone like she wants Gus, but all too soon insta-love and the demands of reality find themselves on a collision course. Is Gus really the man for her when he’s forced to see she’s no one’s princess?
36,000 words
***This novella is a standalone prequel to the novel, HOUSE OF PAYNE: LOKI. Because of that, this novella has only a small epilogue (sorry!). There are no love triangles, cheating, or cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. Due to adult language and sexual content, this novella is not intended for people under the age of eighteen.***
“Yep. You’ve got a nice stroke.” She had a nice everything, and damn, when she leaned over the pool table, her off-the-shoulder sweater gapped so he could see those lush breasts cradled in purple lace. Desire thrummed through his veins, until his skin felt too tight for his body. “You’re not thinking of hustling me, are you, my lady?”
“Me?” Keeping her gaze on the layout of the balls, she slowly circled the table. “Don’t be silly, Gus. Whoever heard of a girl who could play pool?”
“Holy shit,” he chuckled as he watched her zero in on a shot he’d already spied. A half second later, she sank another solid. “You’re totally fuckin’ hustling me.”
“It’s impossible to hustle you when we’re not betting on anything.”
“Then let’s bet on something.”
“Sounds fun.” Supremely confident and looking like she loved the whole world, Joelle beamed at him from across the table. “Name it. Seven in the side pocket, by the way.”
Now she was calling her shots. Holy hell. “If I win, you spend the night with me.”
She seemed to pause a half-second before she reached for some chalk. As she chalked up her cue stick, she gave him a long, considering look. “Deal.”
“Me?” Keeping her gaze on the layout of the balls, she slowly circled the table. “Don’t be silly, Gus. Whoever heard of a girl who could play pool?”
“Holy shit,” he chuckled as he watched her zero in on a shot he’d already spied. A half second later, she sank another solid. “You’re totally fuckin’ hustling me.”
“It’s impossible to hustle you when we’re not betting on anything.”
“Then let’s bet on something.”
“Sounds fun.” Supremely confident and looking like she loved the whole world, Joelle beamed at him from across the table. “Name it. Seven in the side pocket, by the way.”
Now she was calling her shots. Holy hell. “If I win, you spend the night with me.”
She seemed to pause a half-second before she reached for some chalk. As she chalked up her cue stick, she gave him a long, considering look. “Deal.”
A competitive figure skater from the age of eight, Stacy Gail began writing stories in between events to pass the time. By fourteen, she told her parents she was either going to be a figure skating coach who was also a published romance author, or a romance author who was also a figure skating pro. Now, with a day job of playing on the ice with her students, and writing everything from steampunk to cyberpunk, contemporary to paranormal at night, both dreams have come true.
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