Reese Ryan - Playing With Temptation

A love for all time

North Carolina pro footballer Nate Johnston built his reputation on talent, drive and good sportsmanship. But a devastating recent loss derails his team’s shot at winning the championship...and Nate’s career when a compromising video goes viral. In need of a miracle, the star wide receiver feels ambushed when his brother enlists media consultant Kendra Williams to do damage control. The reignited desire for the woman he once wanted to spend forever with can only cause Nate deeper heartache.

Walking away from the man she loved seven years ago is the biggest regret of Kendra’s life. Now her son needs a closer relationship with his father...and Kendra needs to win back Nate’s trust. After breaking his heart, repairing his career is the least she can do to help save his dream. Powerful passion still smolders between them, tempting the former lovers to move beyond their painful past. Will the emergence of a jealous ex with a vicious revenge scheme sabotage their second chance at a future and a family that’s almost within reach?

“Let me take you to lunch, if you don’t have any plans.”

Kendra’s heart beat faster. Her mouth felt dry as she stared into his warm eyes. “Sure. Why? Did you want to go over the appearances scheduled for next week?”

“No, I’d like to talk about us. I know you asked me not to.” He countered her objection before she could make it. “And while I respect your feelings, I don’t believe you’re being honest about how you feel or what you want.”

Nate cupped her face in his strong hand, lifting her chin so her eyes met his.

Kendra backed up until her back pressed against the wall. Her heart beat so quickly she was sure he could hear it. She stared at him, unable to speak. Her chest was heavy with all the things she wanted to say, and her head was spinning, reminding her of all the reasons she shouldn’t say them.

He captured her mouth in a kiss. Slow and sweet. Filled with warmth, affection and desire. Her hands slipped beneath his jacket, pressing into his back. Her body softened against his.

Dear Reader,

Reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen as a young girl changed my life. It ignited a desire to weave stories that make readers laugh, cry and swoon.

Elements of that story subconsciously weave themselves into the fabric of every story I write. Unconventional heroines, family drama, crises of self-identity, the revealing of devastating secrets—all are present in my Pleasure Cove series.

The Johnstons and Williamses—two polar-opposite families—lie at the heart of the series.

In Playing with Temptation, we become intimately acquainted with both families. Passionate and driven—on and off the football field—Nate Johnston’s propensity for unfiltered honesty jeopardizes his future, forcing him to entrust that future to the woman who destroyed it seven years ago—his ex, Kendra Williams.

Enjoy your visit to Pleasure Cove. Then, for series news, reader giveaways and more, visit reeseryan.com.

Happy reading,

Reese Ryan

Playing with Temptation

Reese Ryan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

REESE RYAN writes sexy, contemporary romance featuring colorful characters and sinfully sweet romances. She challenges her heroines with family and career drama, reformed bad boys, revealed secrets and the occasional identity crisis, but always rewards them with a well-earned happy ending.

A native of The Land (Cleveland, Ohio), Reese resides in North Carolina, where she carefully treads the line between being a Southerner and a Yankee, despite her insistence on calling soda “pop.” She gauges her progress by the number of “bless your lil’ hearts” she receives each week. She is currently down to two.

Reese is an avid reader with a to-be-read stack that resembles a small skyscraper, and a music lover with a serious thing for brilliant singer/songwriters and an incurable addiction to Broadway soundtracks and film scores. Connect with Reese via Instagram, Facebook or reeseryan.com.

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

Dedicated to self-sacrificing single mothers

like my mother and paternal grandmother.

And to devoted fathers like my husband.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to author Michele Summers for driving out to the boonies for an into-the-wee-hours brainstorming session for this story.

Thank you to my good friend and beta reader Lani Bennett for allowing me to bounce ideas off you for this story and others.

To Shannon Criss, Keyla Hernandez and the rest of the Kimani editorial team, thank you for providing insight and feedback that made the story stronger while also allowing me to remain true to my vision.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

Nate Johnston entered the private dining room at his favorite seafood restaurant and froze, his expensive Italian loafers rooted to the floor.

The ghost of relationships past.

Kendra didn’t need to turn around for him to recognize the woman he’d once shared his bed with; the mother of his six-year-old son. He sensed her presence—like something warm wiggling beneath his skin—the instant he stepped into the room.

Nate was in the midst of the biggest crisis of his eight-year-long professional football career. Why would his brother invite him to dinner with the woman who shattered his heart seven years ago?

“Glad you’re here, Nate. Have a seat.” His brother Marcus indicated the seat next to Kendra.

Nate narrowed his gaze at his brother and took the seat beside him instead. “You asked me to meet you for dinner to discuss the situation.”

As if Kendra and every other sports network viewer hadn’t seen the grainy cell phone footage of him in a club, after a few drinks, ripping his teammates to shreds following the ass-whipping they’d endured at the hands of their division rivals. A devastating loss that put the brakes on the Memphis Marauders play-off run for the third year in a row.

The video had been edited to make him look like the villain. It didn’t include him detailing how his own mistakes—a dropped pass and a costly fumble—had contributed to the loss.

“That’s why she’s here.” Marcus’s response was terse. As Nate’s sports agent, Marcus’s job had become ten times harder since the tape hit the airwaves that morning.

“Hello, Nate.” Kendra’s apologetic smile indicated she knew something he didn’t.

Nate’s attention was drawn to her expressive face. How did she manage to get more beautiful every time he saw her?