Carolyn Hector - Tempting The Beauty Queen

From beauty queen...to bride?

A Once Upon a Tiara story

If Kenzie Swayne didn’t require a date for a string of upcoming weddings, she’d turn Ramon Torres’s offer down flat. The gorgeous entrepreneur stood her up once, unwilling to let emotion interfere with his ambition. Ramon needs Kenzie’s expertise for a new business venture, so he agrees to escort her. But when secrets from their pasts are revealed, can Ramon make Kenzie his—forever?

Having your story read out loud as a teen by your brother in Julia Child’s voice might scare some folks from ever sharing their work. But CAROLYN HECTOR rose above her fear. She currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where there is never a dull moment. School functions, politics, football, Southern charm and sizzling heat help fuel her knack for putting a romantic spin on everything she comes across. Find out what she’s up to on Twitter, @Carolyn32303.

Also By Carolyn Hector Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Dedication Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Extract About the Publisher

The Magic of Mistletoe

The Bachelor and the Beauty Queen

His Southern Sweetheart

The Beauty and the CEO

A Tiara Under the Tree

Tempting the Beauty Queen

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Tempting the Beauty Queen

Carolyn Hector

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08483-3

TEMPTING THE BEAUTY QUEEN

© 2018 Carolyn Hall

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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“Why are you doing this?” Kenzie asked.

“What?” He had the nerve to sound innocent. “I’m trying to be chivalrous. Haven’t we moved beyond the hostility between us?”

“There’s nothing between us,” Kenzie lied.

The smirk on his face proved he didn’t believe her. “We need to get some things out of the way before we work together on this post office proposal and Felicia’s wedding. All this tension between us is going to make Auntie Bren wonder.”

“Stop calling her that,” Kenzie started to squawk. Before she knew it, Ramon lowered his head and captured her lips with his.

Any sense of irritation or anger fell to the wayside. Kenzie pressed her hands against Ramon’s broad chest. Her thumbs brushed against the buttons of his oxford shirt, tempting her to rip the material open. The familiar dance of their tongues excited her. Ramon broke the kiss and straightened to his full height. Kenzie wanted to smack him and kiss him at the same time.

“Good,” he breathed. “I needed to get that out of the way.”

Maybe they needed to kiss—get those confusing feelings out of her system. The problem: she wanted more.

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Dedication Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Extract About the Publisher ,

Grab your church fans, ladies and gentlemen, it’s summertime in Southwood, Georgia. Wedding season is upon us—three weddings, a gala and a beauty pageant to be exact—and Kenzie Swayne doesn’t have a date to a single event!

This small Southern town is celebrating its one hundred and fiftieth year—which is about the length of time Kenzie would prefer to have before dealing with Ramon Torres ever again. But being dateless has Kenzie sorely tempted to turn to the man who abruptly ended things with her last summer without a word.

You may have picked up on the behind-the-scenes chemistry between Ramon and Kenzie in The Beauty and the CEO. Their story needed to be told! In Tempting the Beauty Queen, Kenzie mentions her group of friends, the Tiara Squad, and I’ve got the rest of their stories for you, as well. Stay tuned!

Carolyn

I would like to dedicate this to Dr. Henry J. Hector III, aka my dad—The World’s Best Father.

Acknowledgments Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Dedication Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Extract About the Publisher

I would like to acknowledge all those in the pageant circuits—those on stage, in front of the stage and behind the curtains who come together to make their own Tiara Squad. They remind me of all the fabulous people at Harlequin Kimani Romance—the folks who can take someone like myself and make me sparkle. Thanks!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text From beauty queen...to bride? A Once Upon a Tiara story If Kenzie Swayne didn’t require a date for a string of upcoming weddings, she’d turn Ramon Torres’s offer down flat. The gorgeous entrepreneur stood her up once, unwilling to let emotion interfere with his ambition. Ramon needs Kenzie’s expertise for a new business venture, so he agrees to escort her. But when secrets from their pasts are revealed, can Ramon make Kenzie his—forever?

About the Author Having your story read out loud as a teen by your brother in Julia Child’s voice might scare some folks from ever sharing their work. But CAROLYN HECTOR rose above her fear. She currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where there is never a dull moment. School functions, politics, football, Southern charm and sizzling heat help fuel her knack for putting a romantic spin on everything she comes across. Find out what she’s up to on Twitter, @Carolyn32303 .