by: Reese Ryan
Series: The Bourbon Brothers
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Multicultural/Family Sagas
Release Date: April 1, 2019
Publisher: Harlequin Desire
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“That’s the deal, Abbott. Take it…or leave it.”
How far will an ambitious heir go to secure his future?
Parker Abbott will do whatever it takes to be the next CEO of King’s Finest Distillery, even play fake fiancé to his childhood nemesis, Kayleigh Jemison. Yet as he and the fiery redhead get reacquainted, sparks fly and real passion emerges. But when her ex wants a second chance, who will Kayleigh choose?
Age: 36
Physical Description: Just under six feet tall. Toned, lean body. Handsome with dark, penetrating eyes. Usually wears glasses. Prefers a suit.
Occupation: I’m the Chief Financial Officer of Kings Finest Distillery.
3 likes in no particular order: High-end watches, which I purchase at confiscated property auctions, being right and being in charge
3 dislikes in no particular order: Being wrong, making small talk with strangers, and dancing.
Drink of choice: Muddle brown and white sugar cubes, both orange and Angostura bitters and a splash of water in a rock glass. Stir in two ounces of King’s Finest bourbon, then add two large ice cubes. Finish it off with lemon and orange peel. You have the perfect Old-fashioned Cocktail.
Favorite food: I tried my first Hawaiian pizza to prove to Kayleigh that ham and pineapple on a pizza was disgusting. I was wrong. It was the best damn pizza I’ve ever eaten.
Favorite song: “I Want You” by Marvin Gaye. After that day at the cabin, I don’t think I’ll ever get this song out of my head. Nor do I want to.
Choice of transportation: I keep my BMW M550i xDrive in Mediterranean Blue Metallic pristine.
Favorite way to spend an evening: A quiet night at home reading a steampunk novel or spending Sunday evening hanging out with the people who mean the most to me and who actually understand me.
If you could have a do over, what would you do differently? Protect my friendship with Kayleigh at all costs back in middle school.
Words to live by: Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
“So, where were we?” Kayleigh seemed distracted and her hair looked even wilder than it had when she’d disappeared behind the curtain. As if she’d just tumbled out of bed and she hadn’t been alone.
He swallowed hard, fighting off the image of Kayleigh in bed that immediately filled his brain.
Focus, Parker. Focus.
“I’d offered you fifty percent more than the assessed value.”
She froze for a moment, cocking her head before a smirk curled one corner of her mouth. “I remember now. You asked what figure would make me happy, and I said—”
“I know what you said, Kayleigh, and it’s unacceptable.”
“Then buy someone else’s building instead.” She stared at him defiantly.
The number-one rule of negotiating was be prepared to walk away. Every salesperson understood that. But his family hadn’t given him that option. This building had once belonged to his mother’s family. They’d run a tiny café here, and now his father wanted to help his mother reclaim a portion of her family’s history by creating a flagship restaurant here, branded with the King’s Finest name.
It was going to be a surprise. His mother didn’t know, but his father had already purchased the two other buildings on the block and made the sellers sign confidentiality agreements. But without Kayleigh’s building—the cornerstone of the entire project—it simply wouldn’t work.
Closing this deal was the leverage he needed to make his father realize that naming his older brother, Blake, as his successor at King’s Finest, simply because he’d had the good fortune to be born first, would be a grave mistake.
Blake was a good person, a great brother and an excellent operations manager. But neither Blake nor their brother Max possessed the killer instinct the CEO position called for. His sister, Zora, did have that killer instinct. More so than he, perhaps. But what she lacked was the ability to control her emotions. With Zora, everything was personal. She was much like Kayleigh in that way.
He had to have this building, but Kayleigh didn’t know that. So maybe if he showed her that he was willing to walk away, she’d come to her senses.
Parker stooped to pick up his attaché. “Sorry we couldn’t come to an agreement. Maybe it would be better if we went with new construction in that shopping center. I’m sure my brother will give us a good deal.”
Parker crossed the room under Kayleigh’s cold stare, waiting for her to stop him.
She didn’t.
He turned the doorknob and stepped one foot onto the sidewalk, the bell jingling above him.
Still nothing.
“You really don’t have anything else to say?” Parker turned back to her.
“Don’t let the doorknob hit you where the good Lord split you.” She grinned, her eyes shimmering with amusement.
He swallowed hard, fighting off the image of Kayleigh in bed that immediately filled his brain.
Focus, Parker. Focus.
“I’d offered you fifty percent more than the assessed value.”
She froze for a moment, cocking her head before a smirk curled one corner of her mouth. “I remember now. You asked what figure would make me happy, and I said—”
“I know what you said, Kayleigh, and it’s unacceptable.”
“Then buy someone else’s building instead.” She stared at him defiantly.
The number-one rule of negotiating was be prepared to walk away. Every salesperson understood that. But his family hadn’t given him that option. This building had once belonged to his mother’s family. They’d run a tiny café here, and now his father wanted to help his mother reclaim a portion of her family’s history by creating a flagship restaurant here, branded with the King’s Finest name.
It was going to be a surprise. His mother didn’t know, but his father had already purchased the two other buildings on the block and made the sellers sign confidentiality agreements. But without Kayleigh’s building—the cornerstone of the entire project—it simply wouldn’t work.
Closing this deal was the leverage he needed to make his father realize that naming his older brother, Blake, as his successor at King’s Finest, simply because he’d had the good fortune to be born first, would be a grave mistake.
Blake was a good person, a great brother and an excellent operations manager. But neither Blake nor their brother Max possessed the killer instinct the CEO position called for. His sister, Zora, did have that killer instinct. More so than he, perhaps. But what she lacked was the ability to control her emotions. With Zora, everything was personal. She was much like Kayleigh in that way.
He had to have this building, but Kayleigh didn’t know that. So maybe if he showed her that he was willing to walk away, she’d come to her senses.
Parker stooped to pick up his attaché. “Sorry we couldn’t come to an agreement. Maybe it would be better if we went with new construction in that shopping center. I’m sure my brother will give us a good deal.”
Parker crossed the room under Kayleigh’s cold stare, waiting for her to stop him.
She didn’t.
He turned the doorknob and stepped one foot onto the sidewalk, the bell jingling above him.
Still nothing.
“You really don’t have anything else to say?” Parker turned back to her.
“Don’t let the doorknob hit you where the good Lord split you.” She grinned, her eyes shimmering with amusement.
Purchase Engaging the Enemy from:
The Bourbon Brothers Series:
Savannah’s Secret ~ Review
The Billionaire’s Legacy ~ Review
Engaging the Enemy ~ Review
A native of The Land (Cleveland, OH), Reese resides in North Carolina. She adores brilliant singer/songwriters and has an incurable addiction to musicals and movie soundtracks.
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The story was another great read for this author. The couple was so much fun. Friends to enemies to lovers is a great trope. Parker and Kayleigh's story was fun, a page-turner and a magical mixture of goodness. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteC. Jackson, The Booklady
Hi Carolyn. It definitely was. I was very much surprised that I immediately liked Parker in this book. Before, I thought he was a jerk. But he has this sweet side to him.
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