Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume IX: The Equalizer

Blazing Bedtime Stories, Volume IX: The Equalizer
Rhonda Nelson

Karen Foley

Stay up late with two delightfully naughty fairy tales from bestselling authors Rhonda Nelson and Karen Foley…The Equalizer by Rhonda NelsonFormer Army Ranger Robin Sherwood is a modern day Robin Hood, determined to make the wealthy who have promised funds to a local free clinic pay up when they don't keep their word. He'll use any means possible, and if this makes him look good to his childhood friend and former lover Marion Cross, then all the better…God's Gift to Women by Karen FoleySculptor Lexi Adams decides there is no such thing as the perfect man, until she catches sight of Nikos Christakos, the sexy builder next door. She convinces herself that she only wants to sculpt him, but soon finds a cold stone statue is a poor substitute for the real deal…

Look what people are saying about these talented authors!

Of Rhonda Nelson …

“I loved The Keeper. Jack and Mariette strike sparks off one another from their very first meeting and there is an emotional intensity to the mystery that will bring a few tears to your eyes.” —Fresh Fiction

“This highly romantic tale is filled with emotion and wonderful characters. It’s a heart-melting romance.”

—RT Book Reviews on Letters From Home

“Wonderfully written and heart-stirring, the story flies by to the deeply satisfying ending.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Soldier

Of Karen Foley …

“[G]uaranteed to keep you turning the pages!”

—RT Book Reviews on Devil in Dress Blues

“[T]he romance is intense and sure to please.”

—RT Book Reviews on Hot-Blooded

“With its blaze of heat, this is one very captivating tale!”

—Cataromance Reviews on Able-Bodied

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

A Waldenbooks bestselling author, two-time RITA

Award nominee, RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice nominee and National Readers’ Choice Award winner, RHONDA NELSON writes hot romantic comedy for the Mills & Boon

Blaze

line. With more than thirty-five published books to her credit, she’s thrilled with her career and enjoys dreaming up her characters and manipulating the worlds they live in. She and her family make their chaotic but happy home in a small town in northern Alabama. She loves to hear from her readers, so be sure and check her out at www.readRhondaNelson.com, follow her on Twitter @ RhondaRNelson and like her on Facebook.

KAREN FOLEY is an incurable romantic. When she’s not working for the Department of Defense, she’s writing sexy romances with strong heroes and happy endings. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters, an overgrown puppy and two very spoiled cats. Karen enjoys hearing from her readers. You can find out more about her by visiting www.karenefoley.com.

Blazing Bedtime

Stories,

Volume IX

The Equalizer

Rhonda Nelson

God’s Gift to Women

Karen Foley

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

The Equalizer

Rhonda Nelson

For Cara Summers, a wonderful storyteller, intrepid white-water kayaker—

I’m sure you remember Reno :-)—and all around sweetheart. You’re an inspiration, truly.

1

WITH A NAME SIMILAR TO A fabled outlaw, a passion for archery and a best friend named John Little, former Ranger Robin Sherwood had been the butt of many jokes, the bulk of which he’d accepted good-naturedly.

This, however, was different, because the situation he presently found himself in was a hell of his own making.

The maître d’s eyes rounded in alarm, presumably because Robin was in every possible violation of the dress code and, while it was October, it wasn’t yet quite Halloween. The conundrum had clearly flummoxed him.

“My usual table, please, Branson,” Robin instructed briskly, sparing the man their usual chit-chat.

“Certainly, sir.” His gaze slid over him once again—further confirmation that his eyes hadn’t deceived him, Robin imagined—and, with a small gulp, Branson turned and led the way. “If you’ll follow me.”

“It’s like Christmas has come early,” John crowed behind him through fits of smothered, wheezing laughter. “And this is the best present ever.”

Determined to see this humiliation through to the end, Robin released a long suffering sigh and soldiered on.

A series of gasps, snickers and the clatter of fumbled cutlery followed him through the five-star restaurant. Though he was generally shameless and couldn’t be bothered to care what people thought, he came as close to blushing as he ever hoped to and knew a small measure of relief when they finally arrived at their table.

“Paybacks are hell,” Robin told him, his tone mild. He casually placed his napkin over his lap. “Just remember that.”

John, irritatingly, continued to beam. He was in custom Armani, naturally—nothing off the rack would fit his Hercules-like frame—and every blond hair had been gelled meticulously into place. “You shouldn’t have accepted the bet if you weren’t certain of the outcome. Isn’t that what you’ve always told me? A glass of Cristal,” he happily told the waiter. “I’m celebrating.”

Robin ordered a nice red wine and pretended not to notice that almost every eye in the exclusive restaurant was trained on him. He glanced out the window and admired the view instead. Downtown Atlanta lay spread out in a sea of night, punctuated with glittering lights and the occasional flash of neon. Though many of the storefronts were decorated with pretty mums, hay bales and gourds, fall seemed reluctant to make an official appearance thus far. It was unseasonably warm in Hotlanta for this time of year, which made his current outfit all the more uncomfortable. He grimaced.

That would teach him to bet when drunk.

“You look positively miserable,” John said, smiling.

Robin smothered a curse and glared at his friend. “I’m hot.”