Thank you for reading # Cougarlicious. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review on the site where you purchased it, and recommend it to a friend!
Get news about my new and upcoming releases as well as special offers by signing up for Lily’s Email Newsletter.
Continue reading for an excerpt of Loving Lucas
Lucas is as dysfunctional as he is beautiful.
Olivia is as cynical as she is sweet.
Together they are beautifully broken
Lucas –
Broken. Shattered into tiny shards of glass. That’s how love left me.
I’m done with love.
I have no place for it in my life.
Sex- now that’s a different story.
There’s always room for sex and a willing participant nearby.
Until I find myself in the middle of the street with egg yolk dripping off me.
In this moment, everything changes.
All I want is to spend every minute of every day with the woman who came crashing into me.
Olivia-
I’m a romantic at heart.
I read romance novels, and watch the epic movies.
Too bad it’s all make believe.
I know better than to trust in fairy tales or believe in happily ever after.
Lucas scares me. He smashes through my defenses and forces his way into my life. Once he’s there, it’s only a matter of time before he takes possession of my heart.
He’s been hurt and betrayed.
He doesn’t trust me and I’m scared to death of him.
When love has so much against it, can it find a way to survive?
Chapter 1
Olivia
Trying to do the impossible, I transform myself into a female version of Speed Racer. The pursuit: finding a place to park. I fight through the heavy traffic, cutting off before being cut off. Head first I duck my car into a tight spot a block away from the all-night grocery store.
I begin my short walk with a deep breath. The rank smell of dead fish brings to mind all the things I miss most about Brooklyn. Bouts of home sickness had me longing to blanket myself in the haze of exhaust fumes and the deafening noise of the city for the weekend.
I enjoy coming home. Especially since graduation. It’s lonely in my apartment. Just me, myself and I. I didn’t make the long lasting friendships in college some of my friends back home made. I chose a different route.
Sometimes I give serious consideration to living with a roommate. But I don’t want to move, and there’s only one bedroom in my apartment. Instead I make a point of visiting my parents and sister at least once every two weeks.
Loud, thumping music I feel in my throat blares out of car windows. A red light turns green, bringing with it the sound of screeching tires; that, I don't miss: the immature guys cruising down the avenue trying to impress girls with their way-too-loud-base-heavy-music.
Last night was the first time in months I stayed overnight in Brooklyn. I haven't partied like that in ages. Tired and hung over from a night of club hopping with my high school friends, I hoped to get home and in bed early. I didn’t plan on reminiscing with my family. But nostalgia took over.
Once my mother pulled out the old photo albums I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. The truth is, I didn't want to. Even my sister, Ava, put her social life on hold for the evening. The four of us poured over old photographs of life before our digital cameras.
Only now, I’m not sure I can make it back to my apartment. I’m fighting to keep my tired, burning eyes open. I need to grab a snack packed with enough sugar and caffeine to keep me awake for the drive.
I look around at the stores and shops, most are closed. Metal grates cover the windows. A stark contrast to my current neighborhood. That and the sheer amount of stores.
Here, they are packed close together. In Jersey, the stores and restaurants on the main streets tend to be close, but only for a few blocks. All of Brooklyn has this tight squeezed-in feel.
I’ve reached my limit of city life. At least for the time being. Right now I want to escape the beeping cars, screeching buses and blaring music. I want to climb into bed and feel my cool, crisp, sheets cradle my bare skin. I walk faster, check my watch, and yawn.
“Son of a bitch!” a male voice barks, as I bounce off what feels like a brick wall.
I look up, stunned. He’s beautiful. Sexy. Solid.
“Sorry.”
The striking man shakes his head at me. He looks down at his chest to assess the damage. I follow his gaze, and gasp as I make out the egg carton oozing gook all over his chest.
I reach into my pocket, pull a tissue out and dab the wet spot on his suit jacket. I stop suddenly. Embarrassed at the liberty I’ve taken. My hand is still touching him. Heat fills my face as I look up, and meet his eyes for the first time.
I don’t just meet his eyes, I’m lost in them. My stomach tumbles in nervous anticipation as I stand frozen, mesmerized, by his steely grey eyes.
“Forget it,” the stranger says.
I don’t want to forget it. Or him.
“The yolks on you,” I recover.
“Very funny,” he snaps.
“I didn’t mean . . .” I look away, disappointed he didn’t get my humor. Why should he be any different than the rest of the guys I've come into contact with?
“Yes, you did.” After a moment he continues. “Good thing I like my eggs scrambled,” the corners of his lips turn up ever so slightly.
Time stops. Captivated by the gleam in his eyes, I try to speak. My mouth opens, but no sound leaves it. I pull my eyes from his, once again self-conscious.
It takes an instant for me to realize how close we are. Close enough that I feel him block the cool breeze blowing behind him. We’re inches away. Much too close for strangers on a Brooklyn street corner.
I step back, retreat. If I can create space between us I can catch my breath and regain my composure. The distance helps. But he still unnerves me. Just a quick glance at him through the corner of my eye has me floating six feet off the ground.
I open my purse and reach inside, “The least I can do is pay for the dry cleaning.”
With a light touch he places his hand on my wrist. My whole arm tingles. I never felt anything like this before. I've read about it in romance novels, but I don't believe anything like this happens in real life. Until I look up and meet his eyes.
“I don’t want your money. How about a cup of coffee instead?”
“You want me to buy you coffee?”
He smiles, showing off a set of deep dimples. “I want you to join me for a cup of coffee in the café across the street.”
I look away and shake my head, “I shouldn't. I have a long drive.”
“You do owe me,” he reminds me, with a raised brow.
I press my lips into a thin line contemplating the offer. A nervous rumbling in my belly makes it clear that I want to go. I really want to go with him.
But I don’t know if I should because he has me off balance. My heart flutters like mad with every glance, and he’s so easy on the eyes, all I want to do is stare at him.
Besides, it’s late. And I am tired. Aren’t I?
My nerve endings have been leaping and swirling since we touched. Not only my nerve endings, my entire body. What better than a cup of Joe to wear off some of the surging adrenaline? Given enough time and motivation, I can justify anything.
Seeing my hesitation he coaxes me. “Just a cup of coffee.”
I’m unable to resist. What harm could come of one cup of coffee? I need caffeine. Caffeine is my friend. That’s why I bumped into him in the first place.
“Sure,” I say with a smile, “I’d love to.”
Other books by Lily Ryan
His Condition
Stark Me
Friends are for Sharing
Loving Lucas
Stalk me sights. I love interacting with my readers, oops, I mean stalkers!
Acknowledgements
I’d like to once again thank my husband for being my wall of strength, and you the reader, who gave me the opportunity to enter your life. There are so many other people that have been helping me out and supporting me along the way. Thank you Taylor Sullivan for yet another amazing cover. I have so much fun going through the process with you. We’re at a point where I feel like you could see into my mind. Thank you Lainey Da Silva for picking up Stark Me and sticking with me ever since. I seriously don’t know what I’d do without you. Because of all that you do, I get to spend more time writing and playing with my characters. Thank you Serena Worker and Carol Evans. The Three Book Eaters, Hopelessly addicted to romance, Unnofficial girls night in, Inbetween the Pages book blog, Its all about the happy ever after blog, Magical words of a book, Lety's Book Blog, The Lawless land of books, The Three Bookeaters, Jaqueline and Nikki’s book corner, The Club Blogs Books, Escape Reality Book Blog, Fictional Book Fantasies, The Club Blogs Books & Book Boyfriends, AB Fab Book Blog, Inbetween the Pages Book Blog, and to anyone who has read, posted, tweeted, reviewed or recommended me or any of my books. I am eternally grateful. If I left you out, I am sorry. I have been truly humbled by the wonderful people in this community.
About The Author
I spend my days playing house with my husband and kids, and my nights lost in a fictional world with the sexy alphas of my imagination.