Baby Be Mine (Spinsters & Casanovas Series Book 1) (35 page)

“Oh. So she’s a beauty
and
a brain,”
Clinton said as he continued to watch as the little drama in front
of him unfolded. “Take note, Winton. If my son shows any interest
in that lass, I want a full investigation of her background.”

“Yes, sir,” Winton said.

“Good,” Clinton said and then turned back to
his son with a fat grin on his face. Could this young lass be the
one that could change his son’s way of life? He hoped so.

“Will you stop it? I said I’m uncomfortable.
How many times do I have to tell you? And when will the song
finish? I want to go back to my seat,” Clarice grumbled to herself
when Hunter wouldn’t stop making the small circular shapes on her
back.

“Missing Anton already?” Hunter asked
playfully, his eyes twinkling as he watched his avocado making that
sour face.

“Yes. At least he’s a better dancer than
you,” she retorted.

“You…” Hunter couldn’t take it. His anger
came back full swing. Why must she compare him to Anton all the
time? What was so good about his cousin anyway? Apart from their
age gap, he didn’t see how he could be any different. “I’ll have
you know I can capture any woman and make her swoon if I want,
unlike my cousin.”

“I doubt it. Some other woman maybe, but not
this one,” Clarice said, challenging him.

“Is that a challenge?” Hunter eyed her.

“I’m always up for a challenge,” Clarice
answered, looking up into Hunter’s azure eyes.

“Just be warned that once I attempt to make
you swoon, don’t go blaming me.” Hunter warned Clarice.

“I won’t blame you,” Clarice said, smiling.
What was Hunter going to do anyway? They were in a room full of
people. But to her surprise, she almost went into shock because in
the next second, she felt her neck captured by long, gentle
fingers, imprisoning her in their embrace and then hot breath
fanned the nape of her neck. Clarice sucked in her breath when she
felt teeth, lips, and tongue, sucking, biting, and licking her soft
skin. Clarice couldn’t do anything but stand still like a tree
stump.

“What… what are you doing?” Clarice asked
breathlessly.

I’m seducing you
. “Not a word,
Avocado. Didn’t you say you wanted to challenge me? Keep up the
pretense and stay like this until Bublé finishes his song.”

A hundred, a thousand, no, a million bees
were stinging her at that moment, all centered around that spot
Hunter was busy sucking. He was seducing her… on the dance floor?
How could he do this? Her knees felt weak. She felt like she was
about to faint again.
Dear heavens, please.
When would the
song finish? She really needed to get out of here. Her body was
acting all out of sorts. She really needed to get out of here right
now.

Dear God, please don’t let the song end
just yet,
Hunter prayed. He was enjoying his time immensely. He
wanted to stay like this with Clarice in his arms throughout the
night, just the two of them, dancing, embracing, and kissing each
other while everyone else faded away in the background.

But sadly, the song ended all too soon, and
before he could blink an eye, Clarice disappeared from his arms and
was already across to the other side of the hall, then was lost in
the large crowd.

Hunter went into the swallowing crowd too
and was lost in the midst of chaos on all sides, his eyes
flickering in all directions, trying to locate that white gown, but
to no avail.

Hunter growled and made his way to sulk by
himself. He found a nice spot where no one could interrupt him. A
nice spot near the side of the stage where there was a curtain
hanging obscuring him from anyone who would want to annoy him.
Grabbing a glass of red wine from the waiter, he made his way to
his destination.

He thought he could stay in peace, but it
was only an illusion because not three seconds passed before
someone came to stand beside him.

“Hello, Hunter.”

Hunter turned to see Caroline and gave out
an annoyed huff.

“What are you doing here, Caroline?” Hunter
asked, not so nicely.

“That’s not a nice way to talk to the heir
of Bass Enterprises. My father does have a large share of the
current business with your father. He might not like it when his
daughter is spoken to like that.”

“I don’t give a damn what your father
thinks,” Hunter said, gripping his wine glass in anger.

“Dance with me, Hunter.” Caroline changed
the subject when she realized Hunter was in no mood to play.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not interested,” Hunter said, his eyes
like radar, still searching for that white gown. “Go ask
Anton.”

“But I want to dance with you.”

“But I
don’t
want to dance with you,”
Hunter spit. “So go.”

How dare Hunter speak to her like that?
Caroline fumed. “Are you interested in that old fruit?” she
asked.

“Huh?” Hunter turned to Caroline then,
giving her his full attention. “Who are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about that girl you called
Avocado.”

“Clarice?”

“Yes, Clarice.”

“What about her?”

“You like her, don’t you?”

“Psh! None of your business,” Hunter said,
turning back to the crowd, his eyes still scanning.

“You should give up already,” Caroline said,
pretending to be kind by offering her advice. “She already likes
Anton. I can tell.”

Hunter jerked his head to Caroline again and
fire burst from his azure eyes. “Why would you say that?”

“Because she’s walking towards him right now
with a determined look on her face.”

Hunter’s head snapped back to the crowd and
sure enough, he saw Clarice walking towards Anton with a fierce
determined look on her face.

Oh shit.
She’s going to
confess.
And this time, there was no backing down. Hunter still
held his wine glass in his hand. He had to do something. Shit, he
had to think of something fast. Otherwise, everything would turn
into custard. From this distance, it was too far to stop them.

Hunter scanned around the hall quickly,
trying to find anything at all to distract Clarice from confessing
to Anton. Then he saw the microphone standing on the stand on stage
and an idea brewed inside his head. Handing Caroline his wine
glass, he told her to stay put and climbed up on stage. Caroline
was so surprised by Hunter’s action that she just stared blankly at
him in confusion.

Up on stage, Hunter could see Clarice was
just a few meters from Anton. Any minute now and she would confess.
He hadn’t enough time to stop them. He needed to do something fast.
Then he picked up the microphone.

Clarice walked towards Anton with a
determined stride and only one purpose: to confess and then go
home. She’d had enough of today. If she didn’t escape, she could
guarantee she would faint into Hunter’s arms. Yes, she must get
away from him, stop him from distracting her so she could make her
confession and then leave. Except she didn’t know Hunter was
standing right behind her onstage, holding on to the microphone
awkwardly, staring at her making her way towards his cousin.

As Clarice neared Anton, she saw him talking
to Fern. She really didn’t want to interrupt them. She had a strong
feeling Anton liked Fern, but she had to tell him, just to get the
guilt out of her system. So she tapped him on the shoulder, making
Anton and Fern turn around. Without allowing Anton and Fern to
greet her, she spoke, “Anton, I have—”

“You can’t, Clarice!”

Clarice froze, hearing Hunter’s shout, the
sound of his voice through the microphone echoing around the main
hall.

Shit, what have I done?
Hunter
thought. He’d just literally shouted out without thinking when he
saw Clarice was about to confess to Anton. And now he’d alerted the
entire audience who were now standing still, staring at the heir of
Silverton Enterprises, who was standing up on stage, holding the
microphone like he had a special announcement to make.

Hunter was sweating. The eyes of everyone
down below gazed up at him. But his only focus was on Clarice as
she turned to him, staring with a confused expression on her face.
He felt his forehead dotted with perspiration and his hands felt
like they’d been dipped in a jar of water. The microphone kept
slipping from his hands.

“You can’t, Clarice,” Hunter repeated, his
eyes still zoomed onto Clarice, not caring and not seeing the sea
of faces that continued to stare in his direction, waiting and
watching for the event to unfold before them. The many faces that
included Anton, who was thinking at that moment just what was his
young cousin was up to now. Fern was smiling because she knew what
was about to happen, Clinton was in shock, as he had never seen his
son act like this before, and Caroline fisted her hands so tightly
by her sides, afraid of what Hunter was about to say.

“Don’t,” Hunter spoke again. God help him.
He felt awkward standing onstage like this, but there was no way
around it. He needed to stop Clarice’s confession; otherwise, Anton
would get her.

Clarice was confused. She turned away from
Anton and started advancing towards the stage until she stood just
at the edge, staring up at him from below.

“Don’t confess to Anton,” he said, looking
down at her, only seeing her.

“Why?” Clarice asked.

“Because… because…” His hands trembled and
his voice shook.

“Because?” Clarice worded silently, her
heart pounding in her ribcage. And then it hit her.
Oh God! Oh
God!
Hunter knew.

“Because…”

Hunter could feel his throat going dry and
the microphone slipping from his grasp again. But he had to
confess. He had to do it now. He had to say it now.

“Because I want to sleep with you
again
.”

THE END

Hunter and Clarice’s love story continues
in

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Dear my awesome readers,

Thank you so much for purchasing this book.
I hope you like reading about Hunter and Clarice, just as much as I
enjoy writing about them. Don’t forget to read Baby I’m Yours and
Baby Love Me for their full story.

If you love this book, please take a little
time to write a review on Amazon. Even better, subscribe to my list
on my website and like me on facebook and twitter. I’ll keep you up
to date on new books that are coming out. Of course, you’ll get the
first sneak preview.

Just a little something about me. I’m a
dental hygienist by day (hence, you get where Clarice’s occupation
came from) and a writer by night. My brain conjures up scenes at
random times. Take this for example. When I scale my patient’s
teeth, Hunter and Clarice’s scene popped up in my head. How weird
was that?

You might also recognize my last name. Yep,
I’m related to that famous author named Alexia Praks. Yep, she’s my
older sister. She’s the one who inspired me to start writing. So
all thanks to her, my new goal now is to make people around the
world laugh when reading my books. Of cause I do want to make you
cry too but that can be for another story.

See you all in the next book,

Wanitta Praks

PS. And also here’s a sneak peek into my new
series Twisted Love book 1: Captivated By You. The story is for
mature audience only.

Webpage:
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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wanitta-Praks/331200290384280?ref=hl

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From the author of the comedic series,
Spinsters and Casanovas, comes a sizzling and intense new series
full of deceit, fierce love, and betrayal. Twisted Love features
the story of Julian Devereux, a broken billionaire whose thirst to
reclaim his rightful place as heir to the Devereux Legacy leads him
to the one woman who can heal his dark past.

“
I want to be scorched by your flame. I
want to be enticed by your touch. Let me in. Open the door to your
heart so I can save you.”

What is it about the enigmatic and taciturn
Julian Devereux that captivates me so? His kind and selfless acts
towards others ignite my compassionate nature to protect him from
the bitter onslaught of his brother, Joshua Devereux.

But is it merely my nature to help the weak,
or is it simply to indulge myself in pleasure, watching in delight
as two brothers battle for my attention and their family
inheritance?

Maybe deep down, I already know I love him
and am willing to sacrifice and back him up in every ordeal. But I
didn’t anticipate the path I chose would eventually spiral out of
my control, tearing at my heart and tossing me into a labyrinth of
illusion.

PROLOGUE

“Girls, girls, all this talking about summer
work is really boring me. Let’s talk about boys,” I announced while
sipping my wine. And when three pairs of eyes stared back at me
blankly, I could only shrug my shoulder. “What? Can’t a girl have
some fun?”

“Kimmy, your idea of fun is to seduce a guy,
then leave him high and dry. Am I right?” Joanna accused me.

“Hey, hey, a girl can flirt, but that
doesn’t mean any guy can get under her skirt,” I retorted.