Trapped in Lace

By Amber Kuhlman

He's everything I ever wanted, but the one person I cannot have.
We made a bet. A deal. One month of celibacy, and I'd be his plus one to his brother's wedding. I know my best friend. He won't be able to do it. For him, sex is the one thing he can't possibly live without.
Until he does, proving me wrong.
Now, I'm stuck with the very man I'm secretly in love with at a romantic resort in Hawaii. I can't tell him my true feelings, because I refuse to lose him …
That is, until we wind up in bed together after a night of partying. It's everything I ever dreamed of and more, but it doesn't matter. It won't work between us. So we agree …
No strings.
No attachments.
Just a free card while we're in Hawaii.
Either way, I'm not falling for him.
Not my best friend. Not unless he falls for me, too.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amber Kuhlman
• Release date: Sep 21, 2021

Amber Kuhlman

Amber Kuhlman is a Five-Time Amazon #1 Bestselling Author in Contemporary Romance under the pen name Amber Thielman. A witchy woman with an undying love for pumpkin-flavored anything, traveling, autumn, and boozy concoctions, Amber has written everything from spicy contemporary romance to upper YA, and sexy paranormal. There’s something for everyone!Despite her adoration for a HEA, Amber grew up reading too much Stephen King and spent endless lake-front summers devouring every Fear Street novel R. L. Stine ever wrote. She lives in Idaho with her husband and their two beautiful boys.You can find Amber on social media when she's not writing the pretty words. Come say hi, and stay up to date on new releases, teasers, and special giveaways. Amber loves getting to know her readers!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authoramberkuhlman/Twitter: https://twitter.com/kuhlambeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramberkuhlmanReader’s Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authoramberkuhlmanTikTok: @authoramberkuhlmanIf you'd like to reach out to me personally, drop me a line. I answer everyone and I love speaking to my readers: [e-mail]

Book preview

Trapped in Lace

A Sizzling Billionaire Romance Novella

Amber Kuhlman

Copyright © 2022 by Amber Kuhlman

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

1. Ezra

2. Lacey

3. Ezra

4. Lacey

5. Ezra

6. Lacey

7. Ezra

8. Lacey

9. Ezra

10. Lacey

11. Lacey

12. Ezra

13. Lacey

14. Ezra

15. Lacey

16. Ezra

17. Lacey

18. Ezra

19. Lacey

20. Ezra

21. Lacey

22. Ezra

23. Lacey

24. Ezra

25. Lacey

26. Ezra

27. Lacey

28. Ezra

29. Lacey

30. Ezra

31. Lacey

32. Ezra

Also By Amber Kuhlman

About the Author

1

Ezra

E z! Can you please stop flirting for fifteen seconds and come help me with this box? My best friend Lacey’s voice rang across the bar, sharp and annoyed, and the woman I’d been talking to in front of me stopped speaking abruptly to peer over my shoulder as Lacey approached me from behind, hands on her hips in the no-bullshit stance she had perfected over the years. I glanced at Lacey, then shot an apologetic smile at the woman on the other side of the bar.

Excuse me, I told her with a wink. Duty calls.

Looking disappointed, the sexy blonde nodded, took her drink, and turned away to chat up whatever guy happened to be physically closest to her.

Lacey, baby, give me a break, I muttered to my best friend, turning around to give her my full attention. I was simply getting to know the customers.

False, she said, shaking her head in annoyance. Her pink lips pursed in disappointment. You were hitting on another dumb blonde hoping to get laid tonight.

Fine, I said. So, what’s the problem?

"This is the problem, Ez. Lacey signaled at the floor where three new boxes of expensive liquor were sitting, ready to be unpacked and put away. None of this is in my job description. If you want them put away, you’ll have to do it yourself."

What do you mean? Where’s our bartender? Didn’t I just hire someone?

Yeah, she snapped. Sandy Something. A week ago. And then you slept with her, and she didn’t show up to work tonight.

Seriously?

Seriously.

With a mumbled curse, I looked down at the boxes on the floor and sighed. What about James? Can he come in and cover?

I already called him, and he’s on his way, said Lacey, running a hand through her hair in frustration. Her vivid blue eyes flashed fire, and I longed to reach out and run my fingers over her plump, pink lips. But seriously, Ezra, this isn’t my job. You really need to stop sleeping with the staff. You’re scaring them all away.

I sidled up to my best friend and bumped her playfully on the shoulder with a wink. You know you love me, Lace. Even when you want to hit me.

She sighed, but the annoyed expression on her face began to melt into the familiar one of mock annoyance blended with adoration. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth to chew on it—a habit she’d had since childhood, driving me absolutely wild for her—and shook her head at me.

What am I going to do with you? she asked softly, chocolate brown hair falling in tendrils around her shoulders. I wanted to tangle my fingers in that hair and hold her captive against me. I wanted to kiss her until we were hot, wet, and ready to fuck.

But I didn’t. Because Lacey had no idea that I felt the way I did about her. And if I had my way, she never would know.

Just love me, I teased. That’s all I need.

Before she could respond to this, James arrived. He grunted a hello at us, always a man of very few words, then went to work at once on the boxes, tossing a dish towel over one shoulder as he unpacked the liquor.

Thanks for coming in on such short notice, my man, I said, clapping him on the shoulder. James grunted again before speaking, exchanging a look with Lacey.

Did you sleep with the employee again, Mr. Trevino? he asked. From where she stood beside me, Lacey giggled, and I groaned.

That’s neither here nor there. Don’t worry. I’ll find someone else to take Kelly’s place.

Sandy, said Lacey. Her name was Sandy.

That’s what I said.

With a huff that could have won a reality TV show audition, Lacey spun on her heel and headed back to her office. You’d better find someone fast, she said. Because I’m not dealing with this anymore, Ezra. Take some responsibility.

Don’t be like that, Lace. I nodded once more at James and followed my friend through the club, side-stepping the writhing, dancing bodies on the dance floor as we picked our way through the crowd and headed upstairs to the second level, where Lacey’s office and my second-story apartment were. A few buzzed female patrons were upstairs waiting for me, drinks in their hands, hovering around the balcony, giggling as they whispered to each other. Lacey ignored them as she passed, and they did the same to her, but their eyes lit up when they spotted me coming in close behind her.

You’re Ezra Trevino, a cute redhead said, stepping out to block the path in front of me as she tossed her hair back over her shoulder. She was bombshell sexy, this one, a beauty with puckered red lips and legs for days.

Yes, I am, I said, slowing down to say hello. The redhead’s friend stepped up next to her, batting dark eyelashes in my direction.

You own this club, she said, looking impressed. I heard you were cute, but the talk didn’t do you justice.

I grinned and winked, hearing Lacey’s office door shut loudly behind her, but I was no longer paying much attention. Since I couldn’t have Lacey, I’d done everything I could over the years to distract myself from the heartache. That meant that every sexy blonde, brunette, redheaded woman was fair game. It was a good distraction. It’s what I craved.

I’m Sadie, the redhead said, offering her hand. She nodded at her friend, a cute blonde. And this is Julie.

Nice to meet you both, I said, leaning up against the glass balcony gate. Are you enjoying your night out?

We always do, said Sadie. "This is our favorite place to come." She drew out the last word as she ran her tongue over her lips, effectively seducing me with her expression alone. I chuckled. Heat rose against my skin, yearning for a woman’s touch.

I’m flattered. Can I order you both another drink? They’re on me.

Sure, giggled Julie. Sadie and I were, well, we were hoping that we might be able to check out your apartment.

Oh yeah? I said, and both girls nodded, batting their eyelashes. I glanced over my shoulder at Lacey’s office door, debating briefly whether I should finish up my conversation with her or take full advantage of the offer. When Sadie reached out, resting her manicured hand on my arm, that was all the push I needed.

What do you think? she purred softly, and I felt my prick harden in my pants.

Let me escort you to my room, I said with a grin. Follow me this way, ladies.

2

Lacey

Iwatched Ezra flirt with the two scantily clad women outside my office window, the ones now running their hands over his chest, sidling up to him as though attached at the hip, whispering sweet nothings in his ear as they trailed fingernails up and down his muscled arms.

It was sickening.

I got to my feet with a disgusted groan and shut the blinds to my inside office window, wishing I could just throw something at them instead. Of course, my best friend was allowed to flirt and fuck whoever he wanted to, but was it necessary to do it everywhere he went? I sometimes swore that another woman was lined up with every step he took, just waiting to hop into bed with the notorious Ezra Trevino, rich, handsome, successful, and a womanizer. Somehow, they didn’t seem to mind the womanizer part.

I sat back down behind my desk and booted up my laptop to run the numbers for the club. I was the official bookkeeper for Club Phoenix but often felt like so much more than that. Bartender, manager, supervisor, wait staff, dancer—I did what needed to be done and when, mostly because I had watched and even helped Ezra build this club from the ground up. It was my baby as much as his, and it was a great job to have; that is when everything was working and running the way it was supposed to. Most of the time, Ezra seemed to just wing it; his job, social life, career, everything. I guess you could say that I was there to help him manage it … manage him, even, because that’s what best friends did.

Or at least, that’s what I did.

I got up and opened the curtains to my office window to peer out into the city sprawled out in front of us, admiring the twinkle of the lights against the huge windowpane. The view here never got old; it was something I could look forward to every day, and its ambiance put me at ease and calmed my nerves. Ezra often liked to point out what a basket case I was and that sometimes I just needed to relax, but that was easier said than done. Maybe that’s why we were such good friends, opposites, and all that.

I sat back down at my desk and checked my phone, noticing that I had a text from a guy I’d been loosely seeing. And by loosely, I mean we’d gone out on two dates, and now he wouldn’t stop harassing me. I was convinced he just wanted to get close to me so he could get close to Ezra, too, because every time we spoke, the dude happened to bring up some stupid business opportunity he wanted to try, and that was something I couldn’t care less about. The guy, Carl, was charming enough. And handsome. But he wasn’t my type, and he didn’t seem to grasp that very well. Besides, I did better on my own. A recluse, as Ezra would say, but the truth was … I didn’t like being alone. I definitely preferred it more than the average person, sure, but who didn’t dream of finding their soulmate? I think everyone gets lonely sometimes. It’s human nature.

A hard knock on the door shook me out of my trance, and before I could get over to open it, my good friend and server extraordinaire Tilly poked her head in, eyes landing immediately on me.

Whaddup, pretty lady? she said, welcoming herself into the office before I could speak. She shut the door behind her and went at once to the liquor cabinet behind the desk (Ezra made it a habit to make sure each room in the damn club was well stocked with booze, even though I didn’t need it and rarely used it).

Oh, you know, I said, sitting back down in my chair. Just working. Or trying to.

Missing the point entirely, Tilly poured herself a vodka tonic before falling dramatically into the seat across the desk from me, swinging her long, slender legs over the side of the chair as she sipped on her drink.

Where’s Ezra? she asked, and I shrugged, feeling annoyed suddenly at the sound of his name.

Last I saw, he was with two hookers outside the door. Probably took them to the apartment.

Hmmm, said Tilly, furrowing her brow at me. Do I sense some—jealousy?

Jealous? Of them? I tried to play it off, but I knew she could see right through me. I just think it’s irresponsible of him, is all. Like, doesn’t he worry about STDs? Or pregnancy?

You’ve met Ezra, right? she teased. He doesn’t worry about anything.

Yeah, I guess that’s part of the problem.

Tilly watched me longer as I typed notes into the computer, simply reading me like an open book. On the outside, my friend looked like the cliched, possibly air-headed dancer you might see in a strip club with her long, thick blonde hair that she ratted up for the show, fake lashes, red lipstick, and high heels, but the truth of it was, Tilly was one of the smartest and most observant people I knew. It’s what made her so damn intimidating. She could spot a lie before it even came out of your mouth.

How’s Carl? Tilly asked, running a perfectly manicured hand through her hair. Are you guys going to go out again? Just thinking about the guy again made me groan, and Tilly laughed. Things are that good, huh?

I mean, they’re not horrible, I admitted. But the guy is just—I don’t know. Not my type, I guess.

Honey, rich and handsome is everyone’s type, insisted Tilly. And he obviously likes you. Why not give it a try?

I did give it a try. Twice.

That’s not long enough to gauge whether or not someone is relationship material, she said. You’re barely dipping your toe in the sand. Have you two even had sex?

Tilly! I snapped, feeling the heat rise up my neck and cheeks. No, we haven’t had sex. I don’t make it a habit to sleep with a guy on the first date.

Or the second, apparently, she said with a laugh. How can you determine if a relationship will be any good if you don’t fuck the guy?

I turned my head away from her, mostly to try and hide the humiliation that I knew was burning bright on my face. Tilly, much like Ezra, was not a stranger to her sexual adventures. One of the many things I envied about her was how openly she embraced it. On the other hand, I was what Ezra would call a prude.

I just don’t think he’s the one, I said finally, pouring myself a drink. I rarely drank on the job, but sometimes these conversations made it difficult not to. Why would I sleep with him if I don’t see a future with him?

Uh, because he’s cute, duh. Tilly finished her drink and set the empty glass down on my desk, eying me. Sex can be for fun, you know, she continued. It doesn’t always have to be about whether or not the guy you’re fucking is marriage material. You’re young, Lacey. You’re allowed to let loose.

I know I’m allowed to, I insisted. I just don’t see the point.

Is it that you don’t see the point, or is it that you’re in love with someone else?

Her words hit me hard, just as they always did, and I glared at her as I mixed my martini and sat back down, wishing I wasn’t so damn easy for her to read.

Ezra is my best friend, I said steadily. Just because we’re close doesn’t mean I’m in love with him.

Keep telling yourself that, and you might actually believe it someday. Tilly stood from her seat with a shrug, then came around the desk to wrap her arms around me, squeezing me tight. I couldn’t be angry at her; she simply spoke the words I couldn’t say aloud. As she walked to the door to get back to her shift, she stopped once more and turned to me. Maybe you should tell him how you feel, she said softly. If you don’t, you might never know if he feels the same way.

Have you met Ezra? I said, forcing a laugh. We all know how he feels, and it has nothing to do with me.

Shaking her head, Tilly left me alone to mope about it by