Double the Pleasure (Wild Hart) - Softcover

Foster, Lori; Martin, Deirdre; D'Alessandro, Jacquie; McCall, Penny

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0425224066 ISBN 13: 9780425224069

Publisher: Berkley, 2008

Synopsis

Get a double dose of sexy fun with this contemporary romance collection—featuring a Winston novella from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster.

Think of the man you’d give anything to be with. Think of what you’d like to do to him...and what you’d like him to do to you. Think of the fun you could have. Now, double it!

New York Times bestselling sensations Lori Foster, Deirdre Martin, Jacquie D'Alessandro, and Penny McCall come together to deliver four playful stories of games between friends and lovers in this tantalizing anthology, including a novella featuring Foster's Winston cousins—sexy twins who use their knock-out mirror-image good looks to switch places and tantalize the girls of their dreams.

About this title

About the Author:

Lori Foster is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many contemporary romances.

Deirdre Martin has written scripts for the daytime drama One Life to Live. She lives with her husband and her dog, Molly, in Ithaca, New York.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

 

Deuces Wild - Lori Foster

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

 

The Luck of the Irish - Deirdre Martin

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Epilogue

 

Your Room or Mine ? - Jacquie D’Alessandro

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Epilogue

 

Double the Danger - Penny McCall

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Praise for the authors of Double the Pleasure

Lori Foster

 

“Lori Foster writes about real people you’ll fall in love with.”

—Stella Cameron

 

 

“You can pick up any Lori Foster book and know you’re in for a good time.”

—Linda Howard

 

 

Deirdre Martin

 

“[Martin] can touch the heart and funny bone.”

—Romance Junkies

 

 

“Ms. Martin always delivers heat and romance.”

—Contemporary Romance Reviews

 

 

Jacquie D’Alessandro

 

“Romance at its enchanting best.”

—Teresa Medeiros

 

“A prediction: In the years to come, Jacquie D’Alessandro will become a household name for lovers of the romance genre.”

—Midwest Book Review

 

 

Penny McCall

 

“McCall is quickly making a mark on the romantic suspense landscape.”

—Romantic Times

 

“Sure to get your pulse racing.”

—Romance Reviews Today

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

 

Copyright © 2008 by Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

“Deuces Wild” copyright © 2008 by Lori Foster.

“The Luck of the Irish” copyright © 2008 by Deirdre Martin.

“Your Room or Mine?” copyright © 2008 by Jacquie D’Alessandro.

“Double the Danger” copyright © 2008 by Penny McCusker.

 

All rights reserved.

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 author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

BERKLEY SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

PRINTING HISTORY Berkley Sensation trade paperback edition / December 2008

 

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

 

Double the pleasure / Lori Foster . . . [et al.].—Berkley Sensation trade pbk. ed. p. cm.

eISBN : 978-1-101-02472-0

1. Erotic stories, American. I. Foster, Lori, 1958-

PS648.E7D’.01083538—dc22 2008037184

 

 

Deuces Wild

Lori Foster

To Kathy Andrico, photographer, reader, and friend. I appreciate all you do and all that you contribute, not only to me personally but to the entire romance community.

You’re the best!

One

Dexter Winston paced across the floor, but Hart, his twin, didn’t let him go far. When he turned, Hart was right there, black eye flinching, a purpling bruise on his forehead, and determination in every line of his body.

He wanted an answer.

Blocking Dex’s restless pacing, Hart said, “Quit trying to think of reasons to refuse, will you? It’s not like we haven’t fooled people before.”

“Our family, as a joke.”

“And girls, to see if we could.”

Knowing those youthful antics weren’t among his finer moments, Dex scowled.

“Oh gawd, don a hair shirt, why don’t you?” Hart laughed at his reaction. “It’s not like we switched beds or anything.”

No. They’d fooled girls to see if any of them could tell them apart. Unfortunately, they couldn’t.

Ever.

You’d think the inherent intimacy of dating a person would enable a woman to know the difference, but . . . “We haven’t duped neighbors,” Dex pointed out. “We haven’t duped”—he gestured—“everyone.”

“Think of it as a challenge.” Hart plopped down on Dex’s sofa and spread his arms out along the back. These days, he was more muscular than Dex. Harder edged. And he had those very distinguishing bruises.

It all seemed so obvious to Dex. “It’ll never work.”

“All you need to do is hang out at my place, reply to my e-mails, and go through the snail mail, let me know about anything important . . .”

“And if you get a commission?” Dex asked. “Am I supposed to paint it for you, too?”

“Hell no.” Hart snorted. “Not that you couldn’t, but your work is too damn morbid. Folks would either catch on that it wasn’t me, or they’d think I went off the deep end.”

Cursing low, Dex strode into his kitchen and grabbed a soda. Automatically, he got one for Hart, too.

As twins, they shared not only looks, but tastes and talents, too. Either of them could have chosen a career in writing, or art. But Hart was right—Dex was far more somber, bordering on pessimistic. Hart enjoyed life more. He played harder and took greater risks just for the joy of it.

The total opposite, Dex stayed holed away in his office, glued to his computer while he created his stories. As a published novelist, he relished his privacy.

As soon as Dex seated himself beside his brother, Hart started in on him again.

“I have to do my training out of town. Not only is this an opportunity to get in with an excellent camp, but SBC promoters will be visiting.”

“To hand out contracts?” Hart was a great fighter, but he wanted to be great in the Supreme Battle Challenge.

“Possibly. I don’t know for sure. But if I stuck around here to train, the family would show up and start badgering me for details. Joe especially.”

“Or Cole, or Chase. Somehow they always know when family stuff goes down.” Dex shook his head. “Nothing ever stays secret with the Winstons.”

“Even if they don’t catch on that I’m training, there’d be questions about my bruises.”

Dex lifted his drink. “Nah. Most would figure a woman popped you for being a jerk.”

Rather than dispute that, Hart shrugged at the possibility. “If I’m going to give my all to the big opportunity, then, Dex, I need your help.”

Dex didn’t know enough about the professional side of mixed martial arts fighting to be sure, but he assumed the training would take months. “I am not you.”

Hart looked him over. “Close enough. I’m a little more bulked up now, but thanks to our sparring matches, you’re still plenty fit.”

They were both runners, both natural athletes, and both blessed with the Winston physique—or so their cousins always claimed. Joe especially seemed to gather attention for his physical presence. But then, Joe worked at it.

If you looked around the family, it appeared to be an inherent trait. The men were tall and naturally strong. Even into their advanced years—a description Hart liked to apply to Joe, just to see him riled—they retained their muscular forms.

“I’ve only lived in my apartment for six weeks now, and I’ve been so swamped, I haven’t really made friends with anyone yet. Thanks to your last deadline, you haven’t visited me there, so no one knows I have a twin brother.”

All true, but still . . .

“We look enough alike,” Hart continued, “that as long as you’re in the right place and cop the right attitude, no one will question it.” He chugged back half the soda, belched, and then, with an annoying, cocky grin, said, “The fact that we’re both currently unattached makes it easier. Just think if I had a steady girlfriend you had to appease.”

Appease? Dex rolled his eyes. “I’d definitely tell you no.” Hart’s preferences in female company were not his own.

His brother laughed. “You could use a hot date, man. It’d do you good.”

“News flash, brother: I don’t need your leftovers. I can get my own dates.”

“Yeah, I know.” Hart gave him a look. “But you won’t.”

Exasperation prompted Dex to a verbal challenge. “How do you know? You think I keep you informed of my every move?”

That got Hart’s interest in a big way. “You sly dog, have you been holding back on me? C’mon, brother, spill it. Who is she?”

Knowing Hart wouldn’t relent, Dex slumped into his seat. “No one.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Disappointed, Hart settled back. “Know what your trouble is?”

“I have an annoying twin brother?”

“Yeah, but other than that.” With a friendly punch to Dex’s shoulder, Hart said, “You’re too damn particular. Every date doesn’t have to lead toward a serious relationship.”

“Yeah, well, tell that to the women. One date usually gives them all kinds of ideas.” And that did pose a problem, because Dex had an aversion to theatrics. Why couldn’t he meet an upfront, honest, independent woman who wanted him, enjoyed his company, and shared his likes and dislikes—but didn’t act like she needed him? “It can get insufferable.”

Watching him, Hart said, “But that’s not what bothers you, is it?”

Cradling the soda can against this abdomen, Dex shrugged. The biggest problem was his own disappointment, but he saw no reason to get into it with Hart.

As usual, ignoring Hart didn’t slow him down.

“I know, and I understand, because I want the same thing.”

“Yeah?” Dex took the bait. “And that is?”

“A real connection. Not just perfect sex—though I have to admit, really great sex makes it almost worthwhile.” He winked before turning serious again. “I’d like to think if I ever find the right woman, she’ll know the difference between you and me right off.”

Dex gave him a bemused stare. Hart was such a die-hard bachelor that the idea of him settling down seemed ludicrous. Many ladies had tried to get him to commit, but they’d all failed.

Dex, on the other hand, wanted hearth and home—with the right woman. Like Hart, he needed her to separate him from his brother, to see him as an individual. He had a very specific idea of the woman he wanted, and so far, no one even close had shown up.

And that’s what she’d have to do: show up.

Other than family gatherings, he didn’t expend much effort socializing. There were so many plots and characters in his head that he couldn’t seem to drag himself away from his computer long enough to dedicate the time necessary to finding that perfect significant other.

Disgusted with his own thoughts, Dex shook his head. “You were the one just saying we’re enough alike that we should fool everyone.”

“Sure,” Hart said. “Everyone other than the one. When I find her, that’s how I’ll know she’s right.”

Sounded like a good plan to Dex—if the right one ever presented herself.

Done with that topic, Dex got the subject back on track. “So why don’t you just tell everyone you’re fighting? I think it’s cool. And the sport suits you, anyone can see that.” It took an extreme sport to satisfy his extreme brother.

“It’d suit you, too, if you’d shake off the fictional world long enough to do more than fill in as a sparring partner for me.”

“No thanks. It’s hard enough for me to type with bruised knuckles. I don’t want to try it with anything else damaged.” Dex enjoyed watching mixed martial arts, MMA, competitions, and he especially enjoyed sparring with his brother; the physical exertion left him feeling alive.

But not in the same way that writing did. He took real satisfaction in typing “the end” to a world of his own creation.

Grinning, Hart flexed his bruised knuckles. “It’s addictive. I love everything about it.”

Dex shrugged. “You’ve always been more competitive than me.”

“Ha!” Hart gave him the look. “That’s bullshit and you know it. You’re competitive.”

“I let you win when we spar, don’t I?”

“You let me?” Laughing, Hart grabbed him and put him in a headlock. For a few minutes, they scuffled as they’d done when they were young. They almost knocked over the coffee table and a chair.

Dex laughed so hard, he couldn’t get many insults out, but he did manage to say, “That’s the best you’ve got?”

“I’m trying not to maim you, idiot.”

“Wuss.” Dex tried to free himself and couldn’t, and finally said, “Uncle!”

“Oh yeah!” Hart lunged to his feet. “Victory is mine.”

Sprawling onto his back on the floor, Dex said, “We haven’t done that in ages.”

“Five years ago, on our twenty-first birthday.” Hart plopped onto the couch, reminiscing with a smile. “We knocked over a lamp and Mom had a fit.”

“Then Joe grabbed us both and threw us in the pond.”

Together they laughed some more. “God, that water was freezing.”

Dex sat up, elbows on his knees, and pressed his brother again. “We have a tight family, Hart. When are you going to tell them you’re fighting?”

“I’m not.”

“What do you mean, you’re not?” Dex couldn’t believe his brother expected to keep something so monumental a secret. Not from their family. “Everyone will be majorly pissed when they find out.”

“The fights are preliminary. And if I fuck it up and get an old-fashioned ass whooping, I’ll never hear the end of it and you know it.”

“No way will that happen.”

“Besting a book geek doesn’t mean I’m invincible.”

“Book geek?” Dex feigned a renewed attack.

Hart held up his hands. “A joke, that’s all. I’ll take it back if you let me rest in peace.”

“Wuss,” Dex ...

About this edition

• Publisher: Berkley
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0425224066
• ISBN 13: 9780425224069
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368