EKKK! I have been waiting for the broody Nate to make an appearance since forever and boy, he does not disappoint. We met Nate from the previous Brooklyn Bruiser book – he is a professional hockey team owner. Obviously major wealthy, handsome and sexy but he is a bit brooding and commanding … at least to his players. Rebecca has been working for Nate since she dropped out of college 7 years prior. Nate was just a nerdy tech guy back then but he was smart and always dreamed of better and bigger things. So, when the opportunity came up, Nate bought the Bruisers, gave it a face lift and made it into a very successful team. Rebecca had a crush on Nate from the start but he was engaged at that time so she settled for a strictly boss/employee relationship … until now … Nate is no longer engaged and lately he has been giving Rebecca dopey eyes. The sexual chemistry is simmering between them but neither wants to act on it. Rebecca suffered a concussion from falling on the ice and Nate came to the rescue in a form of commanding Rebecca to move in with him so she could rest and be cared for What happens after one wild night together? Will Nate and Rebecca risk their friendship to explore more?

I love Rebecca – she is witty, sweet and fun. I understand her reluctance to date Nate. She does not want to be the gossip at the rink – the assistant who sacked her boss to get ahead. Nate does not think that way – he adores Rebecca but she is stubborn, so it will take some patience (which Nate has an abundance of). I love the slowly burning romance between Nate and Rebecca. You can really feel the steamy chemistry and attraction between them. The flirty banters is one of my favorite parts of this book. Overall, Brooklynaire is a cute, sweet, sexy, swoony, entertaining, and feel good story. This can be read as a standalone. LOVED IT!!!!

PURCHASE LINKS:

✦Amazon (global link): http://geni.us/AmazonBkln
✦iBooks: http://geni.us/iBooksBkln
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✦Nook: http://geni.us/NookBkln
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EXCERPT:

I grab a towel off a waiting stack of them and toss it onto the edge. “You can sit and put your feet in.”

She’s wearing a short little knit dress that’s been making me crazy all evening, so it would be easy enough for her to strip off those stockings, sit on the towel, and drop both feet in.

And that’s what she does. She eases one stocking down over a smooth knee and tugs it off.

I don’t want to stand there staring like a middle-school boy. Okay, I do want to. But I don’t want to make her uncomfortable. So I go over to the sound system instead, and I set my phone on the speaker and cue up a really old playlist. One she’ll recognize.

When I turn around again, she’s seated on the towel, both legs hanging down into the churning water. “Ah. Wow.” She looks up at me, her eyes sparkling. “Nice place you got here.”

“Isn’t it?” I toe off my shoes and kick them to the side.

The first song comes on, and it’s a Macklemore tune that we used to play far too often in our first office. Rebecca laughs immediately. “You didn’t! I haven’t heard this playlist in forever. But I’ll bet I still know every transition. Lady Gaga is next.”

“She sure is.”

Rebecca kicks her feet, making a splash. “I have a little confession to make.”

“What’s that?” I loosen my tie and slide the knot out.

“Well…” She grins up at me. “I used to have a crush on you. Back in the early days.”

My hands freeze on the tie silk. “Get out of town. You did not.”

“No, I really did.” Her cheeks are pink. “That first year especially. But you were taken, and you were my boss. Those two things made it pretty easy to tamp down, when you’re a practical girl like me.”

I walk over and drop down beside her, my back to the water, though, because I’m still wearing trousers and socks. “So how does that work, exactly?”

“What?” She gives me a sidelong glance, but then looks away again and won’t meet my eyes.

“How do you stop wanting someone? I’m a practical person, but I don’t see how that makes it any easier. Nothing seems to mute the raging attraction I have for you.”

Her chin turns quickly toward me, and I seize the opportunity to kiss her. And it only takes one kiss—one slide of my lips over hers, and I’m on fire again.

We’re facing opposite directions, so it’s awkward as hell. But I don’t even care. I take greedy sip after greedy sip of her mouth, until she pulls back to stare at me. Her color is high and her eyes are bright and happy. “This is like Twister.”

“It’s better,” I correct. Lady Gaga comes on, just as Becca said she would. “Are we getting into this pool or what?”

Becca kicks a foot in the water. “I’m tempted. But I don’t have a bathing suit.”

“Oh, snap.”

She smiles and shakes her head. “Are you really getting in?”

“We don’t have to.” I’m never going to pressure her.

Her fingers trail across the surface of the bubbling water. “But this is an adventure, right?”

“Right.” I stand up and remove my socks. She’s watching me. And I can’t read her expression. “What?”

“Just wondering what else you’re going to take off.” She smiles.

“Come here.” The order rolls off my tongue.

But Rebecca doesn’t blink. She gets up and turns toward me, curiosity in her eyes.

“You tell me. What am I taking off?”

She puts two hands tentatively on my chest, and I make myself be patient. Everything I ever wanted is on the other side of this moment. I just need us to break through this awkwardness—the “will we or won’t we” tension.

Her fingers find the top button of my shirt. “I’m not getting in the water unless you are.”

That’s a compromise I can live with. I find my lower shirt buttons and work upwards, until we meet in the middle. She pushes the two halves of my shirt apart and runs a hand down my bare chest.

My inner caveman stands up and cheers.