Hanging by a Moment (1Night Stand)

By Bella Juarez

Widower and Air Force reservist, Tom Ryan fills the empty spaces in his life by building dream homes for others. When he’s invited to a client’s party, he meets the owner’s sister-in-law, a tempestuous artist, and discovers that maybe there is a wrong time to meet the right person...

Free-spirited Emily Sanchez is known for pushing the envelope in art, but meeting dependable, and down-to-earth Tom challenges her. The man has submissive written all over him, and she thinks she might be just the woman to peel back the layers and release the brilliant passion inside.

But when they are paired by Madame Eve, Tom turns the tables on Emily, because he’s always been curious about the lifestyle and if the chaotic artist is willing to surrender, they may discover their deepest desire...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: Nov 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9781613336199

Book preview

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Hanging by a Moment

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 by Bella Juarez

ISBN: 978-1-61333-619-9

Cover art by Tibbs Designs

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

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www.decadentpublishing.com

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~DEDICATION~

Thank you to all my new friends at Decadent for the opportunity to do something a little different.

Hanging by a Moment

Knights of RED HORSE – Book 1

A 1Night Stand Story

By

Bella Juarez

Chapter One

Tom Ryan approached the large inviting doors to one of the most beautiful houses in Fair Oaks. The owners, Phil and Beth Rodriguez, had asked every effort be made to make it fit in with the beautiful Texas Hill Country. So much had changed in the last five years.

A home builder getting started in the South Texas area, Phil’s budding business venture included creating a showplace in Fair Oaks, a small community nestled in between Boerne and San Antonio. Tom’s work in the months it took to complete the venture had kept him sane and from falling into despair after watching his beloved wife die.

When he finished the Rodriguez house, Tom headed out on deployment to Afghanistan. On his return, he contracted Phil to build him a custom home in Fair Oaks as well. Its design had been another labor of love. Such personal projects let his artistic side run free.

The door swung open.

Tom! You decided to come after all! Beth threw her arms around him and greeted him like family. I’m so glad you changed your mind.

Her warm welcome shoved aside his doubts about coming to a ten year old’s birthday party. He’d been politely declining invitations to Rodriguez family events since he met the couple. Today was different because after seven long months he’d received a response from 1Night Stand. The reclusive Madame Eve assured him she’d found a match and would be in touch with more information.

So many of the women he asked out on his own were either psychotic or neurotic, and at forty-six years old he couldn’t deal with the drama. So, he’d all but given up on connecting with anyone as he once had with his Karen. The dating service idea had been his daughter’s, and she’d given him the gift certificate at Christmas. Reluctant to disappoint her, he’d made a halfhearted effort to see if the magical Madame Eve could send him a second soul mate, even for one night. The email he’d received this morning eased a tension he hadn’t realized he had. He felt a lighter, more positive general outlook on life.

My man! Phil slapped him on the back.

Tom fell into conversation with a group of men gathered around Phil. Most of them he knew from the neighborhood. He joked and laughed as kids played in the natural rock pool. When he designed the pool, he’d wanted to create the illusion a natural spring had appeared in the Rodriguez’s back yard and they’d built around it. The details he’d labored over had paid off. The treated limestone from a nearby Texas Hill Country quarry, the native plants surrounding the pool, and the waterfall running down the tiered flagstones fit the semi-arid landscape.

So, I understand you’re a reservist? Jim Bando asked.

He took a swallow of his cold beer before answering. "Yes, I am. I’m with the RED HORSE combat engineering outfit