Then You Kissed Me: prelude to Tequila Rose.

  Then You Kissed Me

  prelude to Tequila Rose.

  Willow Winters

  Contents

  Also by W Winters

  Then You Kissed Me

  1. Brody

  2. Brody

  3. Brody

  4. Tequila Rose

  Also by W Winters

  About Willow Winters

  Copyright © 2020 by Willow Winters

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  * * *

  Cover Designer: Lori Jackson Design

  Also by W Winters

  Read Willow’s sexiest and most talked about romances in the Merciless World

  * * *

  This Love Hurts Trilogy

  This Love Hurts

  But I Need You

  And I Love You the Most

  * * *

  An epic tale of both betrayal and all-consuming love...

  Marcus, the villain.

  Cody Walsh, the FBI agent who knows too much.

  And Delilah, the lawyer caught in between.

  * * *

  A Kiss to Tell (a standalone novel)

  They lived on the same street and went to the same school, although he was a year ahead. Even so close, he was untouchable.

  Sebastian was bad news and Chloe was the sad girl who didn’t belong.

  Then one night changed everything.

  * * *

  Possessive (a standalone novel)

  It was never love with Daniel Cross and she never thought it would be. It was only lust from a distance. Unrequited love maybe.

  He’s a man Addison could never have, for so many reasons.

  * * *

  Merciless Saga

  Merciless

  Heartless

  Breathless

  Endless

  Ruthless, crime family leader Carter Cross should’ve known Aria would ruin him the moment he saw her. Given to Carter to start a war; he was too eager to accept. But what he didn’t know was what Aria would do to him. He didn’t know that she would change everything.

  * * *

  All He’ll Ever Be (Merciless Series Collection of all 4 novels)

  * * *

  Irresistible Attraction Trilogy

  A Single Glance

  A Single Kiss

  A Single Touch

  Bethany is looking for answers and to find them she needs one of the brothers of an infamous crime family, Jase Cross.

  Even a sizzling love affair won’t stop her from getting what she needs.

  But Bethany soon comes to realize Jase will be her downfall, and she’s determined to be his just the same.

  * * *

  Irresistible Attraction ( A Single Glance Trilogy Collection)

  * * *

  Hard to Love Series

  Hard to Love

  Desperate to Touch

  Tempted to Kiss

  Easy to Fall

  Eight years ago she ran from him.

  Laura should have known he'd come for her. Men like Seth King always get what they want.

  Laura knows what Seth wants from her, and she knows it comes with a steep price.

  However it’s a risk both of them will take.

  * * *

  Not My Heart to Break (Hard to Love Series Collection)

  * * *

  Extended epilogues to the Merciless World Novels

  A Kiss To Keep (more of Sebastian and Chloe)

  Seductive (more of Daniel and Addison)

  Effortless (more of Carter and Aria)

  Never to End (more of Seth and Laura)

  * * *

  Sexy, thrilling with a touch of dark Standalone Novels

  * * *

  Broken (Standalone)

  Kade is ruthless and cold hearted in the criminal world.

  They gave Olivia to him. To break. To do as he’d like.

  All because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But there are secrets that change everything. And once he has her, he’s never letting her go.

  * * *

  Forget Me Not (Standalone novel)

  She loved a boy a long time ago. He helped her escape and she left him behind. Regret followed her every day after.

  Jay, the boy she used to know, came back, a man. With a grip strong enough to keep her close and a look in his eyes that warned her to never dare leave him again.

  It’s dark and twisted.

  But that doesn’t make it any less of what it is.

  A love story. Our love story.

  * * *

  It’s Our Secret (Standalone novel)

  It was only a little lie. That’s how stories like these get started.

  But with every lie Allison tells, Dean sees through it.

  She didn't know what would happen. But with all the secrets and lies, she never thought she’d fall for him.

  * * *

  Sins and Secrets

  * * *

  Imperfect (Imperfect Duet book 1)

  Unforgiven (Imperfect Duet book 2)

  Mason and Jules emotionally gripping romantic suspense duet.

  One look and Jules was tempted; one taste, addicted.

  No one is perfect, but that’s how it felt to be in Mason’s arms.

  But will the sins of his past tear them apart?

  * * *

  Damaged (Damaged Duet book 1)

  Scarred (Damaged Duet book 2)

  Kat says goodbye to the one man she ever loved even though Evan begs her to trust him.

  With secrets she couldn’t have possibly imagined, Kat is torn between what’s right and what was right for them.

  * * *

  Valetti Crime Family Series:

  A HOT mafia series to sink your teeth into.

  * * *

  Dirty Dom

  Becca came to pay off a debt, but Dominic Valetti wanted more.

  So he did what he’s always done, and took what he wanted.

  * * *

  His Hostage

  Elle finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. The mafia doesn’t let witnesses simply walk away.

  Regret has a name, and it’s Vincent Valetti.

  * * *

  Rough Touch

  Ava is looking for revenge at any cost so long as she can remember the girl she used to be.

  But she doesn’t expect Kane to show up and show her kindness that will break her.

  * * *

  Cuffed Kiss

  Tommy Valetti is a thug, a mistake, and everything Tonya needs; the answers to numb the pain of her past.

  * * *

  Bad Boy

  Anthony is the hitman for the Valetti familia, and damn good at what he does. They want men to talk, he makes them talk. They want men gone, bang - it’s done. It’s as simple as that.

  Until Catherine.

  * * *

  Those Boys Are Trouble (Valetti Crime Family Collection)

  * * *

  Contemporary Romance Standalones

  * * *

  Knocking Boots (A Novel)

  They were never meant to be together.

  Charlie is a bartender with noncommittal tendencies.

  Grace is looking for the opposite. Commitment. Marriage. A baby.

  * * *

  Promise Me (A Novel)

  She gave him her heart. Back when she thought they’d always be together.

  Now Hunter is home and he wants Violet back.

  * * *
>
  Tell Me To Stay (A Novella)

  He devoured her, and she did the same to him.

  Until it all fell apart and Sophie ran as far away from Madox as she could.

  After all, the two of them were never meant to be together?

  * * *

  Second Chance (A Novella)

  No one knows what happened the night that forced them apart. No one can ever know.

  But the moment Nathan locks his light blue eyes on Harlow again, she is ruined.

  She never stood a chance.

  * * *

  Burned Promises (A Novella)

  Derek made her a promise. And then he broke it. That’s what happens with your first love.

  But Emma didn’t expect for Derek to fall back into her life and for her to fall back into his bed.

  * * *

  Collections of shorts and novellas

  * * *

  Don’t Let Go

  A collection of stories including:

  Infatuation

  Desires in the Night and Keeping Secrets

  Bad Boy Next Door

  * * *

  Kisses and Wishes

  A collection of holiday stories including:

  One Holiday Wish

  Collared for Christmas

  Stolen Mistletoe Kisses

  * * *

  All I Want is a Kiss (A Holiday short)

  Olivia thought fleeting weekends would be enough and it always was, until the distance threatened to tear her and Nicholas apart for good.

  * * *

  Highest Bidder Series:

  * * *

  Bought

  Sold

  Owned

  Given

  From USA Today best selling authors, Willow Winters and Lauren Landish, comes a sexy and forbidden series of standalone romances.

  * * *

  Bad Boy Standalones, cowritten with Lauren Landish:

  * * *

  Inked

  Tempted

  Mr. CEO

  Three novels featuring sexy powerful heroes.

  Three romances that are just as swoon-worthy as they are tempting.

  * * *

  Forsaken, (A Dark Romance cowritten with B. B. Hamel)

  Grace is stolen and gifted to him; Geo a dominating, brutal and a cold hearted killer.

  However, with each gentle touch and act of kindness that lures her closer to him, Grace is finding it impossible to remember why she should fight him.

  * * *

  View Willow’s entire collection and full reading order at willowwinterswrites.com/reading-order

  * * *

  Happy reading and best wishes,

  W Winters xx

  Then You Kissed Me

  By Willow Winters

  I thought I had life all figured out… and then you kissed me.

  Then You Kissed Me is a prelude to Tequila Rose.

  Brody

  I’m not supposed to be here, in this bar, to flirt with a girl I don’t even know... it’s all I can think when I notice her.

  Her curves are not why I’m here, although they’re exactly why I’m standing in the middle of the bar, stopped in my tracks before I can even sit down. She’s not on my to-do list tonight.

  Even with the internal voice scolding every thought I have, I know the second I lay eyes on her, perched on a stool with a faraway look in her striking hazel eyes, that there’s something about this girl that makes it harder to keep walking than it should be.

  “You can seat yourself,” a hostess, with a tight but kind smile and three tall menus for the Blue Room wrapped in stamped black leather, tells me as she walks past at the pace of a woman who’s busy as all hell in this crowded bar. “Thanks,” I answer the back of her white dress as she heads off.

  This place is made to look like a modern day speakeasy with the clean décor but darkened corners. And packed at that. Makes sense, I guess, since it’s a college town. It’s amazing there’s even a seat open at the bar. Especially one next to a woman like the one in that tight red dress.

  My good friend Griffin told me about this bar. He said it was a good place to think since it’s always busy and the chatter and ambiance makes for decent white noise. He knows the shit I’m going through and a beer and good atmosphere will do wonders to take your mind off things you’d rather not deal with. Well according to him.

  Taking a glance at the far end of the bar that separates the large space into two halves, I’m sure Griffin didn’t have that blonde at the bar in mind when he said I should go clear my head. Sit down. Have a beer. Watch the game. Those were my marching orders.

  Getting lost in her is exactly what I’d rather do than spend the night drinking alone, waiting on Griffin to be done his … whatever the hell he had to do. Of all the people in here, she’s the only one I really notice. Although it’s obvious she did that by design.

  She’s alone at the bar, even though her short, red dress is a show piece. The way the silky fabric rides up her thigh and she blushes when she notices… it does something to me. The mix of sultry and innocence. Like she’s not sure how much she should give away. She’s not used to doing this. This young girl on the hunt for a good time charade.

  If nothing else, I know if I don’t sit next to her, someone else will. If I don’t take her home tonight some other asshole in this place damn sure will. The moment that realization hits me, I know there’s no way in hell I’m going to let that happen.

  Smirking, I watch her throw back the pink cocktail and make my way to her as she watches the crowd. I’m no knight in shining armor, but I know how to buy a girl a drink.

  I’ve decided, after less than a minute of watching her, that she’s on the prowl, but too damn cute and innocent to know what she’s doing. Telling myself that’s all this is, I drag out the bar stool and ask her if she needs another drink.

  Her eyes hit me first then the blush in her cheeks rises all the way up to her temple. My blood simmers and travels lower. I was right, she’s a shy little thing to be sitting alone, wearing a dress that’s meant for a good time.

  She keeps looking at me, her fingers fiddling with the rim of her empty glass. Even that small movement is sexy as hell. The smile is sweet and the fact that she’s too busy eying me up to realize she hasn’t answered makes me laugh.

  That gruff sound that comes deep from my chest turns her cheeks to an even hotter shade of red. I might be man candy to some girls, but damn she doesn’t hide it at all.

  “Yes please, if you’re offering,” she finally answers, twirling the ends of her wavy hair around the tips of her fingers flirtatiously. Her voice is soft, and gentle, but with a playfulness that’s undeniable. And her lips… fuck, my cock is already hardening.

  Better than that, she can barely keep her gaze on me without smiling even harder.

  She’s fucking adorable. The perfect mix of sweet and sexy. Just knowing I get to her makes the black tee shirt that’s already tight on my broad shoulders even tighter. I know I look blue collar; I can’t hide that rough side of me. Dark jeans and a black tee shirt are about as dressed up as I ever get.

  This girl looks like anything but that.

  But the way she fidgets and keeps glancing at me like I’m man candy she hasn’t tasted, lets me know she’s as interested in me as I am in her.

  Thank fuck. I’m not from around here, never went to college, and it’s been a while since I’ve dated anyone.

  She’s not eye fucking me, she’s eye glancing me because she’s too bashful to outright stare at me. Everything about her makes me smile. She’s too damn cute to be here alone.

  Small talk is easy with her. This girl named Rose. It suits her with the red dress and delicate features of her slender neck. Throughout the night, all I can think about is kissing her there. Every time her hand slips down to my thigh. Playful and seemingly innocent but I know she knows what she’s doing.

  Every hour that passes, the place empties out more and more. She doesn’t seem to notice or care.
She’s too busy asking me questions that are far too sweet and demure to elicit anything more than a laugh and more of those stolen touches. What’s my favorite color? What’s my best friend’s name? What’s a joke I’d never tell my parents?

  Until she asks what brought me here since I’m not in college. Saying I came to visit a friend worked the first time, but she pries deeper so I hit her back with the same kind of question. The kind of question where there’s a piece of it you don’t want to exist.