Indecent Proposal
Manwhore. That's what the board of directors-and the tabloids-thinks of billionaire bachelor Reese Crane. Ordinarily he couldn't care less, but his playboy past is preventing the board from naming him CEO of Crane Hotels. Nothing-and no one-will keep him from his life's legacy. They want a settled man to lead the company? Then that's exactly what he'll give them.
Merina Van Heusen will do anything to get her parents' funky boutique hotel back-even marry cold-as-ice-but-sexy-as-hell Reese Crane. It's a simple business contract-six months of marriage, absolute secrecy, and the Van Heusen is all hers again. But when sparks fly between them, their passion quickly moves from the boardroom to the bedroom. And soon Merina is living her worst nightmare: falling in love with her husband . . .
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The plot of this book seems simple enough. Reese needs a wife and Merina is the perfect woman to play that wife. Merina doesn't like Reese. He's cranky. Cold. Arrogant. And way too handsome for his own good. Sure, the marriage would be for his benefit, but when he offers her something in return, she agrees.
As Merina and Reese play up their relationship for the press, they start to realize that being married isn't so bad. They even start to enjoy each other's company. Imagine that! They both have these moments of clarity where they feel like their relationship is very real and things between them could actually work. For Merina it gives her hope, but for Reese, it just scares the crap out of him. He ran so hot and cold with her and I wanted to give him a good smack across the head.
One of my favorite moments in the book is when Reese shows up to Merina's wedding dress fitting. He tells himself that he is going because the shop only because it was on the way to his appointment.
Without thinking, he stepped closer to her. She lifted her face to his and the sadness deepened into hurt. He felt it like a punch to the kidney.
He was a fucking idiot. She was a strong woman but she was also a vulnerable woman. For years, his responsibility to the women he was with never extended past one night. He was out of practice for anything deeper.
What he wanted to ask her was if she was having second thoughts. But even if she was, he knew he wouldn’t give her an out. Crane Hotels was his legacy. He needed Merina.
So instead, he said, “The only thing you’re missing is the ring.”
He pulled the felt box from his pocket, the moment weirdly intimate and definitely backward, considering she was already in the dress. “I wasn’t sure what you liked…”
He swallowed past a lump in his throat and cracked the lid on the white gold ring with a princess-cut two-carat diamond.
Merina gasped, touching her chest with one hand, her mouth dropping open. “It’s…oh my God, Reese. It’s beautiful.”
Pride flooded his chest along with that same tight, hot feeling about being responsible for Merina through this ordeal.
“Glad you approve,” he said, pulling the ring from the box. “Matching wedding band will be at the ceremony.”
There was an awkward moment when she reached for the diamond ring at the same time he reached for her hand. “Oh, did you want to…?”
“Let me.”
“Okay.” She let out what sounded like a cautious laugh.
“This makes it official.” Reese plucked the ring from the satin, took her left hand, and slid the band home. “You were right,” he said. “Perfect size six.”
He released her hand and she smiled down at the ring. Her honey-blond hair was tucked behind her ears, her shapely figure accentuated by the dress, arms bare.
“Wow.” She turned toward the mirror to look at the dress again giving him a view of her smooth back. The line of her spine shadowed gently into the low cut of the dress where it then flared out, cupping her ass in a ridiculously sexy way.
He’d lost the strength in his knees once in his life—the moment he’d learned his mother died—but now that familiar weakness returned, threatening to drop him.
But you know, this is all for show. Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
As the two of them grow closer, their relationship becomes so much more than just a fake marriage. But both Reese and Merina have been deeply hurt in past relationships and while Merina is trying her hardest to not let that affect her feelings for Reese, he is letting his past pretty much take over his feelings. Not cool Reese. Not cool.
This book was sweet, sexy (the chemistry between them is HOT HOT HOT), emotional, and quite funny (#ReesesRocket anyone?). Reese's brother Tag helped a lot with the humorous parts and I can't wait to read his book! He knew just what to say to Reese to get through his thick skull and I really appreciate that. And brother Eli? We haven't met him yet I can't wait for his book....I mean he's a sensitive marine! SOLD! ;-)
Oh and if you've never been to Jessica's website, you need to go. She posts lots of extra goodies that gives some great insight into her books! Check it out!
