Brian Cox is an alpha male reality show producer, ladies man, and Kim Wilder's secret love.

When Kim was just eight, Brian's father had married her mother.

 

Their parents had a rocky marriage, and it finally culminated in a dramatic event that tore them asunder.

 

Brian's father was a man fighting many inner demons.

 

One night, in a drunken rage, he forcefully ejected Brian from their home.

 

What happened to them the next day meant that Brian and Kim would be apart for the next twelve years.

 

Kim became a successful journalist, with a video blog she started called "The Wilder Thing".

 

One day, she gets an invite to be on the top-rated reality television show, "Haunted".

Brian Cox is now the notorious bad boy producer of the show, which has become hugely successful and made him famous.

 

Kim can't wait to see him again, but isn't sure of her feelings because of how things ended between them.

 

Brian's escapades are plastered across the tabloids - he always has a beautiful glamour gal on his arm whenever he's caught out on the town.

 

Kim hopes that seeing Brian again help her let go of the painful memories of the night they parted.

 

Of course, nothing ever goes as planned!

 

During a meeting of sponsors for the show, an unexpected event causes both of them to reevaluate their old relationship.

 

A romantic turn takes both of them by surprise with its intensity.

 

Toss in a hint of mystery and danger, and suddenly the game is afoot!

 

Can they discover the hidden secrets behind Indian Wells State Park?

 

How will their long-buried feelings for each other affect their professional relationship?

 

Kim is determined not to risk her heart on Brian...but she is finding that being close to him is mesmerizing and intoxicating.

 

A man used to always getting what he wants, Brian finds that he is becoming infatuated with Kim. What he gets is more than he ever expected!

 

 

is a stepbrother romance novella with no cliffhangers, and a very satisfying happy ending.

 

No cliffhangers.

HEA guaranteed.

 

 

Book 2 of the Mandarin Connection series by Stephanie Brother

 

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KIM

 

I really can't believe that after all these years I'm finally going to see my stepbrother again.

 

Brian is a really lucky bastard, that's for sure.

 

He’s the head of his own production company; internationally famous; producer of one of the highest rated faux-documentary shows in the world.

 

Brian Cox is also enormously handsome, rich and a prick.

 

Oh, that’s not just MY opinion.

 

He’s legendary about how much a perfectionist he is.

 

More than one actor or crew have left in tears, including some pretty burly men.

 

Oh, and Brian is a real hard ass.

 

He’s got the way with the ladies, as well.

 

That bastard.

 

That smug, arrogant, cocky, magnificent bastard.

 

I’d love a chance to take him down a peg.

 

And to go down on his peg, but that’s just naughty talk.

 

After all, he’s my fucking stepbrother. Emphasis on stepbrother, not fucking…unfortunately.

 

God! Just listen to me!

 

You think I was some lovesick schoolgirl, after the Captain of the football team, for Chrissakes!

 

Once, a long time ago, I might have had a chance – but not anymore.

 

Not after what happened that night.

 

I remember that last fateful day, when he fought his father about the way I was being treated.

 

He got a black eye for me from the old bastard.

 

Brian fought him because he called me a slut. The old shit pushed me into a door, and knocked the wind out of me.

 

Brian, barely eighteen at the time, slugged that creep so hard the breath whooshed out of him.

 

But, the old son of a bitch was used to getting into fights.

 

He sucker-punched Brian, nearly knocking him out, and then threw him through the front door. Thankfully, it was open.

 

Brian got up, took a look at all of us staring at him, and then turned and walked away. I think he might have been crying.

 

He left, and I haven’t seen him in twelve long years.

 

Mom and I moved out shortly after.

 

I have no idea or interest in what happened to my step-dad.

 

I hope he’s rotting in a jail cell somewhere.

 

Or rotting in Hell.

 

—————

 

Over the years, one tabloid or another would give a glimpse of Brian.

 

Some scurrilous piece about whom he just dumped, or what lovely woman had the pleasure of hanging on his muscled arm at the Awards shows.

 

I’ve followed most of the women whom Brian has had.

 

(And, who hasn’t? They are constantly plastered all over the gossip rags and trades!)

 

He’s bedded some of the most famous and beautiful women in the world - and dumped them.

 

Later, they’ll always confide in the talk-show hosts or gossip rags that it was they who had caused the breakup.

 

Brian was just too good for them, or they had been too hard to handle, or whatever the contrived reason would be.

 

But I know the truth.

 

Brian is an alpha.

 

He just takes what he wants, and gives you as much as you can handle.

 

Nothing more, nothing less.

 

He’s at least honest about it.

 

Not one of his lovers ever has a bad word about him, but you can see the hurt in their eyes.

 

Stupid bitches.

 

They thought THEY were the one, this time.

 

The one who would ‘fix’ him and make him theirs forever.

 

Only, Brian doesn’t need fixed.

 

He’s perfect.

 

To hear him tell it, he’s God’s gift to women, with a bullet.

 

And, sad to say, the fucker is apparently right about that, too!

 

He’s every woman’s fantasy man.

 

Handsome.

 

Talented.

 

Rich.

 

And, of course, awesome in bed.

 

He really is.

 

Perfect.

 

I know.

 

—————

 

We’ve got a meeting in ten minutes, and here I am, still worrying I’ll look fat, or ugly, or that there’s spinach in my teeth.

 

You’d think I was on a date with Adonis, or at least George Clooney, the way I am acting.

 

And, how did I get so wet so fast?

 

I’d better jump in the ladies and take care of that, fast!

 

This is just exactly what I didn’t want to happen today.

 

Fuck.

 

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