The One That I Want

The One That I Want

The One That I Want

The One That I Want

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Overview

Heat up the winter nights with this trio of sexy, festive stories.

A Promise For The Holiday Donna Hill

Devastated by her divorce, Cara Holiday vowed never to be vulnerable again. Now she's a wildly successful real estate broker, and wildly lonely. Restaurateur Mitch Davis has had his eye on her, but can't break the ice--until he cooks up a scheme to hire her. Soon Cara is enjoying his company--and secretly drawing out the process of selling his house. When their deceptions collide, will their blossoming relationship make it to the holidays?

A Sexy Christmas Carol Zuri Day

After years of travel working for a pop diva, Carol Robbins has moved back to Detroit in time for the holidays. She's bought a home and bonded with her family. As for romance, she's got no prospects--until she attends a VIP party and makes a surprising love connection. Soon she's torn between her old "big life," her hopes for the future--and one man who may give her the greatest gift of all. . .

Christmas Surprise Cheris Hodges

Tired of coming second to her wealthy husband's career, Lola Yvonne Joseph is sending him a very special gift this year: divorce papers. Then she's leaving Miami for the kind of wintery white Christmas she's always wanted. She definitely does not expect Jonathan to track her down, whisk her away, and do everything possible to win her back. If he succeeds, Lola has one more surprise in store for him. . .

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780758275240
Publisher: Kensington
Publication date: 09/30/2014
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 384
Sales rank: 815,744
File size: 841 KB

About the Author

DONNA HILL has more than seventy published titles to her credit since her first novel was released in 1990, and is considered one of the early pioneers of the African American romance genre. Three of her novels have been adapted for television. She has been featured in Essence®, New York Daily News, USA Today, Today’s Black Woman, and Black Enterprise among many others, and her work has appeared on several bestseller lists, including Essence®, Emerge, and The Dallas Morning News. Donna currently lives in Brooklyn with her family. Visit her online at DonnaOHill.com.

ZURI DAY has been enthralled with the wonder of words since mouthing her first one—Tuffy, the name of the family dog—at less than a year old. When this bestselling, award-winning author is not penning novels, she’s a voracious reader and world traveler, always ready to search out the next exciting locale for a juicy story. Besides her beloved Caribbean islands and Southern California’s wine country, Zuri enjoys theatre, sports, working out, and whipping up vegetarian meals for her family and friends. Visit her online at ZuriDay.com.
CHERIS HODGES was bitten by the writing bug at an early age and always knew she wanted to be a writer. She wrote her first romance novel, Revelations, after having a vivid dream about the characters. She hopped out of bed at 2 A.M. and started writing. A graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and a winner of the NC Press Association’s community journalism award, Cheris lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she is a freelance journalist. She loves hearing from her readers. Follow Cheris on Twitter @cherishodges, friend her on Facebook at Cheris Hodges, or email her at cheris87@bellsouth.net.

Read an Excerpt

The One That I Want


By Donna Hill, Zuri Day, CHERIS HODGES

KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

Copyright © 2014 Kensington Publishing
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7582-7524-0



CHAPTER 1

Cara pointed her car fob in the direction of her white Infiniti and listened for the telltale beep. Satisfied, she turned and the ground-floor glass-front building that bore her name reflected back at her. Cara Holiday Real Estate. Each day that she walked through the doors she was reminded of where she'd been and how far she'd come. Those days were behind her but never far away from her thoughts. The fear kept her focused and determined never to be in that place again.

She pulled the heavy glass and wood door open and greeted her receptionist, Tricia, who, although she had two small children, was always the first to arrive.

"Morning," Tricia greeted with her usual cheer. "How was your weekend?"

"Quiet." Cara offered a slight smile. "How about you?"

"Laundry, cleaning, shopping, and school projects." She chuckled. "Exciting. But I did get a date night in—well, a date few hours—with Ron. We got a bottle of wine, snacks, and gorged ourselves on DVDs while the girls slept."

"How is Ron? I haven't seen him in a while."

"My hardworking hubby is hardworking. The new hours at the law office are grueling, but he wants to be ready to take the bar exam in the fall."

"Good for him. Make sure he sticks with it. I know what it's like to have the satisfaction of your dreams coming true."

Tricia rested her chin on her palm. "Every time he wants to throw in the towel I remind him about you and everything that you accomplished."

Cara lowered her gaze at the compliment. Tricia knew a little bit about Cara's struggle, but no one other than Cara's best friend, Stella, knew how deeply losing Jeff had affected her, altered her life in ways that she still reeled from.

"Thanks, Tricia, and on that note I'd better get to work. Busy day." She tapped Tricia's desk and walked down the short hallway to her small but well-appointed office.

Cara had several new listings to investigate, calls to make, and a midday meeting. She tucked away her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk and got to work. When her phone rang to break in to her working streak, she'd been at it for three hours straight. It was a welcome pleasure to chat with Stella, who wanted to arrange a night out.

"Friday sounds good to me, Stella," Cara said. "It's been a minute since we hung out." She studied the images of the newest rental on her computer screen while she listened to her best friend tell her about the restaurant she wanted them to go to.

"It's that new place Downtown 2 under the Brooklyn Bridge. I've been hearing good things about it."

"Hmm, I think I read something about it. It's kind of new, right?" She hit some keys on the keyboard and a magnificent image of Downtown 2, lit up against the night skyline, filled her screen. Nice.

"Yeah, a few months. Anyway, what time works for you?"

"Hmm, hang on a sec, let me check my calendar." She switched to her Outlook calendar on her computer. "I have a showing of a condo in Clinton Hill at six. Hopefully that won't take more than an hour."

"So let's do seven-thirty. Mind if Vivian comes?"

"Of course not. I haven't seen her in ages. We'll have a real girls' night."

Stella laughed. "And we could sure use it. At least I know I could."

"Everything okay at work?"

"It's been a little crazier than usual. With the election season in full swing, everyone in the studio has been working overtime. I've been working on getting footage and interviews for all of the candidates, juggling schedules, and two of my cameramen are out sick." She groaned.

"Wow. You have your hands full. But it's not the first time. You'll pull it off, you always do."

"From your lips ... Anyway, girl, I have to get my team over to Borough Hall. They're setting up a press conference with the City Council members in an hour. See you Friday."

"Will do. Hugs," she added before hanging up. Cara switched the screen back to view her rental listings. Yes, a night out would do her good. Most of her time she devoted to building her business and her reputation in the real-estate game. It wasn't easy, but she promised herself she would never again find herself in the position she was in after Jeff.

Five years ago, she had no idea how she was going to make it. She'd had to literally rebuild her life from the ground up. She'd been broke, depressed, and couldn't find a job in the design industry—that she'd spent thousands of dollars getting a degree in. Her self-worth was at an all-time low, and she had serious trust issues. She'd always frowned at those men and women who'd had to turn to the government for help, until she became one of them. The humiliation of losing her home was yet another weight that she'd felt incapable of bearing. She'd had to move out of the house that she'd shared with her husband and find something smaller, something that she could afford on a temp salary. It was during her search and working with a real-estate agent that she became intrigued with the idea of becoming a broker. She started taking some courses and took the test for her license while working part-time with a local real-estate office. Once she passed the test for her broker's license, she came on full-time with Century 21 for a year before saving up enough money to venture out on her own. She did well, had a small three-person staff, a comfy storefront office in a prime location, and had developed a reputation for finding the ideal spot for all of her clients. Positive referrals were the heart and soul of her business. There had been some tight moments in the past year and a half with the upheaval in the economy and investors not willing to sink money into new buildings and commercial spaces, and the housing market had all but bottomed out.

Fortunately, things were turning around, and CH Realty was back on solid footing. In the past six months she'd closed on three brownstones totaling more than four million dollars, a commercial space in Downtown Brooklyn, and four condos. Her commission was substantial, enough for her to take a breath for a little while and make some "Cara" time. She could barely remember the last time she'd been out that wasn't business related.

She glanced away from her computer screen and her gaze drifted toward the wide plate-glass window that faced busy Fulton Street. It was only late October, but already the holiday season was shifting into gear. Pedestrians hustled along the shopping alley already weighted down with bags that sported the logos of the myriad of designer stores that had opened in Downtown Brooklyn in the past year. A swift pang pinged in her chest. The holidays should be a happy time. Well, at least they were for everyone else. For Cara, they were a reminder of one of the most difficult periods of her life.

It was on Christmas Eve that she'd received the call, and she'd never felt the same about the holiday season again.

Stella consistently tried to get her to spend the holidays with her and her family, and whoever her current beau might be, but Cara always opted out, preferring to spend the time alone, knowing that being around all the loving couples would only serve as a stark reminder of what she no longer had.

Cara turned away from the parade of packages and smiling faces that moved like a filmstrip in front of her and returned her attention to the work at hand. The last thing she wanted on her mind was the impending holidays when she had a business to run and buildings to sell.


An early chill blanketed the city and Cara was thankful for the comforting warmth of the restaurant. She'd opted to walk over from her appointment rather than drive and spend half of the evening looking for parking.

Downtown 2 was busy. The bar was lined from end to end, and from her vantage point it looked as if all the tables were taken. She checked her watch: 7:30. She hoped that Stella and Vivian had beat her there and snagged a table.

A young hostess walked up to her. "Welcome to Downtown 2. Are you here for dinner or drinks?"

"Dinner. Actually, I'm meeting some friends."

"Do they have a reservation?"

"To be honest, I don't know."

"Hmmm, well, the wait without a reservation is at least an hour."

"Could you check?"

"Sure. What's the last name?"

"Freeman. Stella Freeman."

She flipped a page on her clipboard and scanned the list of names. "I don't see a Freeman," she said, and looked up with an apologetic expression. "You're more than welcome to wait at the bar. I can put your name on the list."

Cara blew out a breath of minor frustration. Friday nights were notorious for long waits for dinner. She was sure that Stella would have known that. Then again, with her crazy schedule she probably didn't think about it. It didn't make sense to leave. Wherever they wound up at this point would be the same.

"Okay, I'll wait. The name is Holiday. Cara Holiday. We'll need a table for three."

"As soon as something opens up, you'll be called."

"Thanks." Now, where was ... but before she could get the thought out of her head, her cell phone rang. "Girl, where are you? This place is packed. Here? Okay." She turned and Stella was walking through the door. She disconnected the call.

"I am so sorry," she began, and gave a little shiver. "Filming ran late. Today has been crazy. I need a drink."

"That's all we'll be able to get for at least an hour.

"An hour?"

"Yep, no reservation."

"Agggg." Stella slapped the heel of her palm against her forehead. "Totally didn't think about it. You want to leave and try someplace else?"

"I certainly hope that you ladies will decide to stay."

They turned in unison toward the warm baritone. Something jumped in Cara's chest when her gaze connected with the sweet chocolate of his eyes.

"Not if we have to wait for an hour to get a table," Stella said with a rise in her brow as she spoke.

Cara, on the other hand, couldn't find a thing to say—at all. Instead, she had to concentrate on making her heart slow down.

"Why don't I see if I can work something out," he said to Stella, but his attention was zeroed in on Cara.

Stella's camera-ready gaze jumped from one face to another. Inwardly, she smiled. "We'd really appreciate that, wouldn't we, Cara?"

Cara blinked. "Yes, that would be fine."

He smiled and the remnants of the chill she'd had from her walk evaporated like morning dew.

"Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back."

"Did you see the way he was looking at you?" Stella said in a pseudo-whisper.

"Girl, please. He was trying to be important." At least her heart had slowed down.

"Right, important to you."

Cara simply shook her head in dismissal while a part of her hoped that her friend knew what she was talking about.

The door swished open behind them and in burst Vivian. "Sorry I'm late." She looked from one to the other. "What did I miss and why are we standing here?"

"You missed Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome making a move on Cara, and we're standing here because I didn't think to make a reservation."

"Don't listen to her, Vivian, except the part about the reservations."

"Did you scare him off?"

"No!"

"He said he was going to find us a table," Stella chimed in and winked at Cara.

Cara adjusted the weight of her shoulder bag. She desperately wanted to look around and see if she spotted him, but didn't dare.

"Ladies...." The hostess approached them with three menus in her hand. "If you'll follow me."

The trio wide-eyed each other and followed the hostess through the interior of the restaurant, passing dozens of waiting diners.

She guided them up to the mezzanine level of the restaurant and to a table that was set off from the rest. "This is the chef's table."

"Chef's table?" Cara asked.

"Yes, it's like sitting at the captain's table on a cruise ship. You will have your meal prepared personally by the chef." She placed the menus in front of three place settings.

"Oh, I like the sound of that," Vivian said. "Is this typical?"

"Not at all. It is generally reserved for special guests."

"We must be special," Stella joked.

"Chef Davis will be with you shortly." She poured them each a glass of Pellegrino. "Enjoy your meal."

"Looks like Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome did pull a few strings," Stella said as she reached for her glass of water and gave Cara the side-eye.

Cara pretended to ignore her, but whatever façade she had tried to erect slowly began to crumble when Mr. TDH strolled toward her donned in a white jacket. Her body flushed with heat and her heart started racing again. She reached for her glass but changed her mind.

"Ladies"—he looked from one to the other—"I hope you like the accommodations." His smile rested on Cara.

"You're the chef?" Stella asked, her voice lifting an octave.

"Guilty as charged." He gave a short bow of his head. "And I'm at your service."

Stella titled her head to the side. "What would you suggest?"

He leveled his gaze on Stella. "I would start you off with a delicate glass of white wine or something stronger if you prefer. Then for your entrée I would suggest a baked brie en croute. For your main course, red pistou salmon with grilled asparagus with my special sauce."

"Yum," Vivian murmured.

"Sounds delicious," Stella added.

Cara studied her menu.

"And would you agree?" He directed his question to Cara. She dared to look up and her stomach jumped again.

"Umm, majority rules." She offered a half smile and returned to her menu—whatever it took not to stare at him.

"Very good. I'll have the waitress bring you your drinks." He gave a short bow of his head and walked away.

Cara was finally able to breathe.

"Told you," Stella said to Vivian. "He's got his eye on Cara."

"For real." Vivian nudged Cara with her elbow. "Girl, you better go for it. The brother is fine, and apparently he can cook, too."

"The two of you need to stop. Clearly he's trying to be important."

"Um, he is if he's the damned chef," Stella said with a laugh.

Cara shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I've told you both a zillion times I'm not interested in hooking up with anyone. End of story."

"Girl, your stuff is gonna dry up and grow cobwebs if you don't shake it out." Stella took a sip of her water and ignored Cara's playful glare.

"My 'stuff' is just fine, thank you very much."

"I know you must have stock in double A batteries," Vivian chimed in.

Vivian and Stella burst into laughter and Cara couldn't help but join in. Her vibrator did get a regular workout—which was just fine with her. At least that's what she told herself.

The waitress arrived with two bottles of white wine for them to choose from—sauvignon blanc and a Chardonnay. She gave a brief description and year of both. They decided on the sauvignon blanc. She poured the wine into their glasses and left the bottle on the table.

Stella lifted her glass. "To the sexiest, most successful, smartest women in the borough. My girls."

They touched glasses.

"And to Cara finding a man to shake the cobwebs," Vivian added.

Cara nearly choked. "Very funny." She sipped her wine. She hummed with pleasure. "This is good." She lifted the bottle and noted the brand.

"Speaking of good," Stella said, "how is the realty business going?"

Cara relaxed a bit in her seat. "I can't complain. Things were pretty tight for a while, but the market is coming back. Business is excellent."

"I'll be curious to see how the city continues to develop when the new mayor comes in," Vivian said. "Prices are running folks out of Brooklyn. And with a professor's salary like mine, there are not a lot of options if you want to move."

"Hmm, true. The last mayor was all about the moneymakers, which made it very hard for the average worker to find and maintain decent housing. Affordable housing is an oxymoron. Brooklyn is quickly becoming the new Manhattan." Cara finished off her glass of wine. "It's getting more difficult to find apartment rentals that fit a working-class budget."

"That's true, but it's good for your bottom line," Stella said.


(Continues...)

Excerpted from The One That I Want by Donna Hill, Zuri Day, CHERIS HODGES. Copyright © 2014 Kensington Publishing. Excerpted by permission of KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

Contents

A Promise for the Holiday Donna Hill, 1,
Sexy Christmas Carol Zuri Day, 121,
Christmas Surprise Cheris Hodges, 259,

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