One Night Love Affair (Mirabelle Harbor, #5) (ePub)

ONE NIGHT LOVE AFFAIR is Book 5 in Marilyn Brant's Mirabelle Harbor series, but this book and all of the contemporary romances in this series can be enjoyed as stand-alone stories.

**Note: This is a steamy romantic novella with adult language and situations, and it's intended for mature audiences.**

After her first marriage ended in a divorce that left her heart in tiny shreds, Sharlene Michaelsen Boyd vowed to keep her distance from men, at least emotionally. An occasional one-night stand wasn't out of the question, though, and with her closest friends hooking up with new loves, she finds herself in the mood for a little male company... Being the only sister with four brothers, not to mention the glue holding the Michaelsen family together after the death of their parents, Shar is used to being strong and in control. She's a junior high English teacher who's persuasive, personable, and who knows just about everyone in the center of Mirabelle Harbor society, including her brother Blake's super-sexy buddy, Declan Night.

As a former pro hockey player turned sportswriter and businessman, Dec has had his share of relationships, mostly meaningless, short-term flings. He always thought Blake's little sister was a hottie, but he knew she was off limits-until one Friday night when the stars aligned and the opportunity to hook up presented itself. Shar's intentions couldn't have been clearer: This was for One Night Only. But, for the first time in his life, Dec wonders if, maybe, there isn't something to be said for sticking with just one woman. Especially if that woman knows how to fulfill his every sensual fantasy.

Could one sizzling night turn into a love that has a shot at lasting forever? ONE NIGHT LOVE AFFAIR, a Mirabelle Harbor story.

Story Excerpt:

The only excuse Shar could give for what she said next was that she'd had half a bottle of wine at The Lounge, one jumbo margarita and three whiskey sours here at Max's, and she hadn't gotten laid in more months than she could count. Her ability to think straight was definitely impaired and her willingness to filter her thoughts was even more limited.

"What's stopping us from sleeping together?" she asked him. "I mean, Dec-" She glanced around the room. "Aside from you, there's no one here that I'd want to pick up. You're hotter than anyone else in the bar. It's only because of Blake that I wouldn't flirt with you."

"Same here!" Dec banged the bar counter with his fist for emphasis, making their drink glasses rattle. "I would've hit on you in a heartbeat," he slurred. "Because you're a seriously sexy woman. But Blake would've have my head. He told me, like four or five years ago, that he'd kick my ass if I touched you or even looked at you funny. I believed him. So, I mean-"

"Wait. My brother told you not to go near me? Not to touch me?"

"Damn right he did. Why do you think I never flirted with you? I'd already lost a couple of teeth in hockey games. I didn't wanna lose any more."

Shar sighed. "Well, Blake's interference when it comes to you is ridiculous," she said, feeling the full force of indignation. "We can make out or hook up if we want and not be stupid about it or get overly attached." A statement that seemed to make perfect sense after multiple drinks and very few hours of sleep.

"I know, right? We should show 'em how it's done," Dec suggested.

"Yeah," she said.

"Yeah," he said back. Then, "Do you really mean that?"