Ella Frank - Entice

To someone who refused to be acknowledged for all the hard work she did on making this book pretty.

You are truly amazing at what you do, and I am extremely lucky that you put your hand up in the nick of time.

To my husband, as always, because every time I sat down to write, edit, or work on my blog, you never once asked me not to. You were just happy to be in the same room.

I love you and us for that.

I cant believe you just asked me that, Shelly fumed, hands on hips, mouth open.

Why? Come on, Shel. Its not like you dont have the money. Three-thousand dollars is nothing, Adam pointed out as he sat on the couch looking at her.

Shelly took a deep breath and turned around to walk into the kitchen. When she got there, she spotted the knife block, thinking better not tempt myself, and made her way to the window instead.

After two years of bailing out her wanna-be-entrepreneur-slash-inventor boyfriend, shed finally snapped at his latest idiotic idea.

Up until now, most of his inventions had been semi-plausible, and shed been able to convince herself that hed make enough money one day to pay her back. However, several thousands of dollars later, she was still out the cash, and he was still sitting at home on her couch, cooking up the next million-dollar idea. According to Adam, the latest and greatest was The Auto-Toss, a moronic invention with Want your salad tossed for you? as the catchy slogan.

Really? Is he serious? Did he even realize the double entendre there?

Shelly raised her hand, squeezing the bridge of her nose.

Honestly, who needs an automatic salad tosser? Okay, even thinking about that made her want to laugh at him. More to the point, she thought, Is this who I possibly want to share DNA with and raise my children? Is this who I want to support for the rest of my life? The immediate and very obvious answer was hell no!

I cant do this anymore, she told him, shaking her head.

Do what? Adam demanded.

Shelly turned to face him, noticing he was now standing and glaring at her.

This, she motioned back and forward between them.

Adam arched a brow and crossed his arms over his chest.

She tried to look at him objectively, from top to bottom, as though shed never met him before. He was standing in her living room dressed in Doc Martens that were unlaced. He had on his scruffy blue jeans that had a rip across his left butt cheek, which she knew from staring at his ass one too many times, and a blue flannel shirt.

She wanted to like what she was looking at. She wanted to remember why entering into this relationship had been a good idea, but as he stood there glaring at her, she just couldnt see itand didnt that just piss her off.

You dont like the new idea? I mean, come on! Its great

Stop. Please, God, just stop, she interrupted. Im done with this, Adamas in us. Its just not working anymore. Ive been thinking about it for weeks. And now this, well, this whole salad-tosser thing? Its a ridiculous idea! Im not even remotely interested in giving you more money.

His face contorted in anger the exact moment he realized what she was saying. In all honesty, she couldnt tell if he was more pissed off about her breaking up with him or for telling him his idea essentially, well, sucked.

Youre such a snob, Shelly! He yelled, pointing his finger as if to punctuate his point.

Excuse me? Im not a snob.

Yeah, you are. The whole time weve been together youve looked down your nose at me.

Shelly blinked slowly, feeling her temperature rise quickly. In fact, if she had to guess, shed venture out and wager her fair skin was probably turning a nice fuming shade of pissed off, and steam was probably starting to leak out of her ears.

This fight wasnt a new one. Throughout their whole relationship, Adam always accused her of being a snob, and up until this moment, shed never even entertained the thought.

Up until this exact moment.

You know what? For once, youre right, Adam. Im sick and tired of giving you money to sit at homemy homeand come up with these stupid dead-end ideas that you never follow through with. Ive got to admit, up until now, most have had an inkling of making it. But this one? Wow, this one really blows. So, yeah, I guess you can call me a snob because I want a man wholl go out and get a job. Oh, and heres a novel ideakeep it! Shelly paused for a moment, thinking about the main example of a man in her lifeher father.

All of a sudden, she saw her mother sitting at home in their kitchen, waiting for him to come home, only to find he had been held up for some reason or another.

Yeah, some reason in a skirt.

Nope, Shelly swore she wouldnt be that woman either.

But Ill tell you one thing. The man that I end up with will be honest, hell be hard working, and he will not sit on his ass while Im out busting mine.

Adam came around the table and stopped right in front of her. Looking down, he sneered. Youve always been such a fucking princess.

Shelly felt like hed slapped her. Her father called her that, and honestly, he hadnt meant it in an endearing manner either.

I think you need to leave, she told him through clenched teeth.

What about all my stuff?

Shelly glared up at him, not one to be intimidated. You can come and pick up your one suitcase tomorrow.

Well, Dr. Monroe, Id love to say its been a pleasure, but hey, even the sex these last few months hasnt been. With that, he turned, grabbing his cell phone from the table.

Shelly glared holes in his back as he walked to the door. Asshole! Like the five minutes he spent on top of me was the highlight of my week!

Without a backward glance, he walked out, slamming the door behind him. It crashed shut with a resonating boom.

As Shelly stood in her empty living room, she made a promise to herself. No man will ever use me again. She vowed to only date a man who could give her what she needed and did not look to her to be the sole provider.

It was a promise she intended to keep.

Present

February

Shelly knocked on the back door of Exquisite, and waited in the chilly February air. Coming from a hectic Monday at the hospital, she thought shed be late but she still managed to arrive by 7:30.

Ever since Lena and Mason had gotten engaged, theyd moved the traditional Langley dinner down to the restaurant. It just hadnt felt right to any of them to go back to the cottage without Catherine there.

So, theyd switched to the restaurant, which had worked out well since Exquisite was closed on Mondays. Somehow, ever since Lena had been welcomed back into the Langley family unit, Shelly, too, had found herself adopted by them.

Hearing the click of the lock, Shelly turned to see Mason pushing open the door.

Shelly, Mason greeted her as he reached out and pulled her into a tight hug.

Shelly gladly returned his embrace. After all, it was Mason Langley, and she wasnt going to pass up a chance to get her hands on his sexy body, even if he was engaged to her best friend.

Mason. How are you tonight?

Great, just great. Get in here. The foods cooking, the wines open, and Lenas at the bar making margaritas.

Shelly smirked as he tugged her through the door.

Making her way inside, she walked down the main kitchen aisle that led them out to the dining area. Shelly looked to her left and saw her friend standing behind the huge mahogany bar that ran down the side of the restaurant. Lena raised a hand, waving at her.