Release Day Blitz & Giveaway
Listen to Me
by
Kristen Proby
Kristen Proby
~ Synopsis ~
In New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author Kristen Proby’s brand new series, five best friends open a hot new
restaurant, but one of them gets much more than she bargained for when a sexy
former rock star walks through the doors—and into her heart.
Seduction is quickly becoming the
hottest new restaurant in Portland, and Addison Wade is proud to claim 1/5 of
the credit. She’s determined to make it a success and can’t think of a better
way to bring in new customers than live music. But when former rock star Jake
Keller swaggers through the doors to apply for the weekend gig, she knows she’s
in trouble. Addie instantly recognizes him—his posters were plastered all over
her bedroom walls in high school—he’s all bad boy...exactly her type and
exactly what she doesn’t need.
Jake Keller walked away from the
limelight five years ago and yearns to return to what’s always driven him: the
music. If he gets to work for a smart-mouthed, funny-as-hell bombshell, all the
better. But talking Addie into giving him the job is far easier than persuading
her that he wants more than a romp in her bed. Just when she begins to drop her
walls, Jake’s past finally catches up with him.
Will Addie be torn apart once again
or will Jake be able to convince her to drown out her doubts and listen to her
heart?
~ Excerpt ~
~ Links to Buy ~
Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo
Addison
“‘In summary,’” Cami, one of my very best friends, and a
business partner, reads from the Portland Tribune, “‘Seduction is a
restaurant unlike any other I’ve experienced. The food is delicious, the wine
bar impressive, and the ambiance so sexy, it will take your breath away. I
highly recommend this restaurant for your next date night.’”
“I want to send that reviewer flowers,” Mia says with a
wide smile. “Who would have thought that just six months after opening this
place, we’d already have a review like this?”
“Well, it’s a no-brainer that they’d love the food,” I
reply, and reach for the paper so I can read it again for the fifteenth time.
“You’re a genius in the kitchen, Mia. We’ve known that since we were in high
school.”
“I still get nervous, especially now that I never know who
the customers are going to be. We didn’t even get a heads-up that this guy was
going to be here.” Mia bites the cuticle on her thumb and frowns. “Maybe I
should add to the menu.”
“The menu is perfect,” Cami replies with a shake of her
blond head.
“He loved us.”
We smile at each other, and finally I do a little happy
dance in my seat. We haven’t opened for the day yet. Kat and Riley, the final
two business partners in our fivesome, haven’t arrived. But Mia, Cami, and I
have read this article over and over again, smiling and dancing.
Rejoicing.
Because damn it, we’ve worked our asses off since we
opened the doors six months ago. All of our eggs are in this basket. We can’t
fail.
And we won’t.
We hear the front door open and close, and I expect to see
either Riley or Kat, but instead Jeremy saunters into the dining room, looking
all rumpled and messy from sleep. His eyelids are still heavy. His chin is
scruffy. His blond hair is standing on end, still in chaos from my fingers last
night.
Jesus, this man makes my hormones work overtime.
He grins and kisses my head, then picks up my coffee and
sits next to me.
“Why are you here?” Cami asks with a frown. “I’m in too
good of a mood to have to pretend to like you.”
I glare at my best friend, but she just shrugs.
“My girlfriend is here,” Jeremy replies and sips my
coffee. “I missed her.”
“Please,” Mia whispers with a roll of the eyes. My friends
used to like Jeremy, in the beginning, but now they make it no secret that they
don’t care for him. But they are just overprotective. They don’t want to see me
get hurt. Sure, he’s a musician. Not a particularly gifted one at that, but he
does well, booking gigs for his band, Hells Roses, regularly.
And, oh my God, what the man can do in the bedroom should
be a felony. He makes me laugh, and despite his arrogant persona around
everyone else, he has moments of real vulnerability and sweetness when we’re
alone.
Is he the one? Probably not, but I’m pretty
much convinced that the one was invented by romance novelists
and Disney. “Be nice,” I snap and continue to read the paper. “We got a
kick-ass review in theTribune,” I inform Jeremy with a grin.
“Of course you did,” he replies and kisses my cheek. “Are
the music reviews in there too?” He snatches the paper and shifts through the
pages, then reads through the reviews of the music and club scene in Portland.
“Not one fucking mention?”
Cami catches my gaze, then crosses her eyes in annoyance.
I simply shrug. He’s not in the restaurant business. He wouldn’t understand
what a big deal this is for us.
“I’ve been thinking,” I begin, and lean my elbows on the
table. “Now that business is picking up, I think we should add live music on
the weekends.”
“Sorry, cupcake,” Jeremy says with a sigh. “We’re booked.”
Thank God. Jeremy’s band isn’t the one I’d want for my place.
But rather than jab at his ego, I simply smile and kiss his shoulder.
“I know, babe. But I’d still like to bring in someone.
Maybe just a one-person act, just a microphone and a
stool, you know?”
“We can afford it,” Cami replies with a thoughtful frown.
Cami is our chief financial officer. She handles all things money, and she’s a
wizard at adding up figures in her head. “Who are you thinking?”
“I don’t know.” I reach for my coffee mug and frown when I
see that Jeremy has sucked down every last drop. “Babe, will you please run
over to Starbucks and get us more coffee?”
“I forgot my wallet,” he replies with a scowl. I reach
into my bag and pass him a twenty. “You got it.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, and one place you might look for a musician,” he adds
as he steps away from the table, “is the open-mic night at Crush this Saturday.
There are usually some good acts there. I’d bet you’d find what you’re looking
for.”
I grin at my sexy boyfriend and blow him a kiss. “Thank
you.”
He winks and saunters out of the restaurant. When the door
closes behind him, Mia shakes her head at me. “Seriously?”
“Open mic night is a brilliant idea,” I inform her.
“That’s not what she’s talking about,” Cami says. “Jeremy is a douche bag.”
“He is not.” I roll my eyes and sit back in my chair.
Okay, maybe he has douchey moments. “He’s sweet. And sexy.”
“And mooching off of you. His wallet was in his back
pocket,” Mia argues. “And I’ll bet all of this month’s chocolate budget that
he’s staying with you too.”
“His roommate moved out, and he couldn’t afford his place
alone.”
“Addie.” Cami reaches for my hand. “You are not a
doormat.”
“He doesn’t treat me like a doormat.”
“Yes. He does.” Mia sighs and takes my other hand. “You
deserve so much better.”
“I love you both,” I begin, my stomach heaving. “I know
you just want to protect me. Jeremy is a good guy. I like him.”
“Okay.” Cami sips her coffee, then shrugs one slim shoulder.
“But when he breaks your heart, we’ll be here.”
“Let’s talk about this open-mic night. Who’s going with
me?”
Mia and Cami exchange glances.
“I’ll be working,” Mia says. “I have some new Saturday night
specials I want to try.”
“I don’t want to,” Cami says honestly. “I trust you to
find exactly what we need.”
“I’ll take Kat.” I chew my lip, ideas already swirling in
my head. “She’s a good judge of these things.”
“Good idea.”
The door opens again.
“Oh good. Mr. Wonderful is back,” Cami mutters.
~ About the Author ~
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the
popular With Me in Seattle
series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who
love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha
type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and
not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in
the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. 
~
Connect with Kristen ~
