Hard Sell (21 Wall Street #2)(72)
Another surprise addition to our friendship circle? Jarod Lanham. He gave Matt his business after all. Turns out his whole plan to take me to the gala was a test of sorts, to assess Matt’s character. At least that’s his claim. Matt insists he’s just trying to save his pride, but I’m not so sure. Jarod’s taken to calling himself our rich, manly matchmaker, and I think he just might be right. For that matter, the whole group played the matchmaker role of sorts.
I’m grateful. I’m grateful for everyone and everything that led me to this moment. That’s led me to Matt.
He’s everything I need that I didn’t know I wanted.
Well, almost.
I pull back from the kiss and smile up at him. “Two babies. Final offer. And I want to be married for at least a year.”
He grins. “I’ll take that offer on one condition.”
I sip my drink. “What’s that?”
He waggles his eyebrows and takes my drink from my hand, setting it aside. “We get lots of practice before the year is up.”
“Deal,” I say with a laugh, letting him scoop me up and carry me to the bedroom.
I’ll be honest, I sort of want three or four babies myself. But no need to concede the game just yet.
Matt and I may be wildly in love, but we’re also still us.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Dear friends,
Thanks so much for reading Hard Sell! I hope you enjoyed Matt and Sabrina’s book! Theirs was a special sort of love story. When I first conceived of the 21 Wall Street series, I knew that I wanted to include a “longtime enemies turned lovers” type of story. All through Book One (Hot Asset), I thought Matt and Sabrina were that story. And they were, in a way, but when I started writing the book, something different developed than what I’d originally intended.
They’re enemies, yes, in that they bicker. And they have some messy history. But as I got to know Matt and Sabrina a bit better during the first draft, I discovered something delightful: they were also friends. Friends and enemies. So I let them evolve on the page their way, and when I finished, I realized that I didn’t quite have the enemies-to-lovers story I’d originally envisioned. It was more of a frenemies-to-lovers story, which I think made it all the more special because their relationship was so unique and layered. I so hope you agree!
If you’re new to the 21 Wall Street series, be sure to check out Hot Asset, which is Ian and Lara’s story. (A female SEC agent falling for the playboy suspect in a career-making insider-trading case? Heck yes!)
As for Kennedy and Kate’s story . . . I can’t say. I don’t know yet. But I assure you, my fingers are crossed.
In the meantime, be sure to check out my website (www.laurenlayne.com) for a full list of my books!
Happy reading,
Lauren Layne
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you so much to my agent, Nicole Resciniti, who immediately, and without hesitation, got behind my vision of writing “hot Wall Street guys” and found the perfect home for it at Montlake Romance.
I couldn’t be more grateful for the Montlake team, especially Maria Gomez, my fabulous editor, who’s an absolute delight to work with. To the cover design and marketing team, who blow me away with their vision and enthusiasm. To the production team and operation teams, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to turn a messy document into a flawless final product.
And most especially, thank you to Kristi Yanta, my developmental editor, who I so often refer to as my “brain twin,” because she always understands what I’m trying to do, and quite often knows how to do it better than I ever imagine. I’m forever honored to have a place on your client list. I’m grateful to call you a friend as well as my editor and so appreciate that you’re always there for me whenever I need you (which, let’s face it . . . is often).
Lastly, thank you to Lisa Filipe, my friends, family, and all my lovely readers. I don’t thank you all nearly enough for the quiet support that’s so very much appreciated.