I Wish You Were Mine (Oxford #2)(86)
He groaned. “Christmas with Madison?”
“My only sister,” she said, holding up a warning finger.
“My ex-wife,” he said, holding up a finger to match.
Mollie pursed her lips. “Flip for it?”
“I’ve got a better idea,” he said, his gaze turning dark as he pulled her in again. “How about we invite Madison to Christmas if…”
“If…?” she prompted.
He reached behind him to close his office door. “Afternoon delight?”
Mollie burst out laughing. “You’re trading sex for Christmas?”
Jackson waggled his eyebrows and grinned. “You in?”
She grinned back, her heart happy. “I’m so in.”
To my assistant, Lisa Filipe, for the long, sometimes thankless hours you put into “the stuff” so that I can live in my imagination, writing the books. I’m so grateful.
Acknowledgments
For a gal who’s never watched a Super Bowl and has no idea when football season starts, I was a little surprised to find that my creative muse was dead set on telling a story about a former football player. I was even more surprised when the muse informed me that this hero fell for his horrible ex-wife’s little sister.
Tricky, much?
The end result, though, is a love story equal parts sexy and sweet, about two people who are absolutely meant for each other in spite of their tricky beginnings.
This, of course, leads me right to the number one person who helped me craft the story from its jumble of words into a cohesive love story: the one and only Sue Grimshaw, who’s become so in tune with my voice over the past couple years that she seems to literally read my mind and nudge me in the right direction.
Thanks as always to the copyediting team, especially Janet Wygal, who should be nominated for sainthood for her patience with the tiniest of details.
And how about a shout-out to Ashleigh Heaton and Erika Seyfried, who are legit wizards at creating buzz on a book.
For the rest of the Loveswept team, I’ll confess to not knowing exactly what you do, but that makes it all the more magical. And appreciated.
Next on my list of shout-outs is my agent, Nicole Resciniti, who never complains when I send her panicked late-night texts about writer’s block, deadline freak-outs, or some manic new story idea that I want to write immediately.
Lisa, my darling assistant, whose excitement for this book inspired me so much.
My parents, who were supremely tolerant about me locking myself in their guest room while finishing edits on this very story.
And lastly, Anth, who no longer bats an eye when the first words out of my mouth in the morning are about fictional men.
To everyone else for your support of me, and for this story, my gratitude.
XOXO,
LL
BY LAUREN LAYNE
Sex, Love & Stiletto
After the Kiss
Love the One You’re With
Just One Night
The Trouble with Love
Redemption Series
Isn’t She Lovely
Broken
Crushed
Oxford Series
Irresistibly Yours
I Wish You Were Mine
Someone Like You (coming soon)
Standalones
Blurred Lines
Blank Space (coming soon)
PHOTO: ANTHONY LEDONNE
LAUREN LAYNE is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance novels. Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and Web marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months for her to get her first book deal (despite Lauren’s ardent assurances to her husband that it would take only three). Since then, Lauren’s gone on to produce several books with multiple publishers. Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.
laurenlayne.com
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The Editor’s Corner
It’s another cold month of winter, but never fear, we have a few special somethings to warm your heart.
USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy launches a new series, Dirty Little Secrets, with Bound Beneath His Pain—ladies, meet Micah, a man who takes what he wants. New York Times bestselling author Missy Johnson introduces a young journalist who goes undercover for a hot lead, and gets seduced by the billionaire bachelor she’s supposed to be chasing, in Resist. New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff tells a story about a damaged actress who bares her soul, and falls for the one man who cares enough to listen, in LOVEGAME. Book two in the Recovered Innocence series from Beth Yarnall, Atone, is guaranteed to tug on your heartstrings, as will Charlotte Stein’s Never Sweeter, where a self-reliant college girl falls for a reformed bully. Then USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne’s Oxford series heats up in this story of forbidden desire as a brooding jock hoping for a comeback falls for a woman who’s strictly off-limits in I Wish You Were Mine. Jill Sorenson releases a reunited love story with Against the Wall. And a popular song makes for a popular story in Ellie Cahill’s Call Me, Maybe. Then plan to rev it up with Hidden Heat from Carla Swafford, an MC story that’s almost real.