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Kissed by a Carrington
Linda Hudson-Smith
Pro-basketball star Houston Carrington likes his life just the way it is: fame, fortune and freedom.But Kelly Charleston tempts the footloose playboy to break his number-one rule—flings without strings. The time he spent in the sexy sports doctor's company is forever seared in his memory. . . and now she's just signed with his team! Wary of love, Kelly has managed to steer clear of romantic entanglements.But how could she forget the passionate encounter she shared with this seductive, irresistible Carrington brother? And now that she's under contract with the Texas Cyclones, she's in danger of losing something she swore she'd never give up—her heart.Especially when Houston awakens her fantasy of a fabulous future together. Because once you've been kissed by a Carrington, no other man will do. . . .
His passionate kisses and tender caresses put Kelly nearly out of her mind with need.
He let go of her long enough to pull his sweater over his head. It was hot, even though the air conditioner softly hummed on and off at timely intervals. The prickly heat he felt had more to do with his body temperature than anything else.
Kelly had a hard time sitting still on Houston’s lap. His sex was hard as stone and every time she moved a muscle a part of her lower anatomy rubbed against it. The strong desire to see and touch what felt larger than life had her thinking all sorts of naughty girl stuff. If it were Christmastime, she’d get only coal in her stocking. And Saint Nick would give her a good scolding!
Houston had no idea how much of a bad, bad girl Kelly could be. Under the right circumstances, she could absolutely give him something he could feel.
His next fiery kisses had Kelly fidgeting. She hadn’t thought she’d ever be the aggressor, but she was ready to become just that. She slowly got up from Houston’s lap. “Excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Very wrong! But I’m about to make it right.”
LINDA HUDSON-SMITH
was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and raised in Washington, Pennsylvania. After illness forced her to leave a successful marketing and public relations career, she turned to writing as a healing and creative outlet.
Linda has won several awards, including a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews. She was also voted Best New Writer by the Black Writers Alliance, named Best New Christian Fiction Author by Shades of Romance magazine and a Rising Star by Romance in Color in 2002. She is a recipient of the 2000 Golden Pew Award and the 2004 winner in the romance category for the African American Literary Awards Show.
For the past seven years Linda has served as the National Spokesperson for the Lupus Foundation of America.
The mother of two sons, Linda lives with her husband, Rudy, in League City, Texas. To find out more go to her Web site, www.lindahudsonsmith.com.
Books by Linda Hudson-Smith
Kimani Romance
Forsaking All Others
Indiscriminate Attraction
Romancing the Runway
Destiny Calls
Kissed by a Carrington
Kissed by a Carrington
Linda Hudson-Smith
ESSENCE BESTSELLING AUTHOR
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/)
This book is dedicated to my loving sister, Donna Jean Brinson. Your staunch support in my personal life and writing career means the world to me. Thank you for the loyalty! Thank you for the love!
Table of Contents
Cover Page (#uc3880b9f-8d8c-522e-a555-80f255229e4e)
Excerpt (#u6819e4e5-1181-53f5-aacd-59d450cd2310)
About the Author (#u94edaeee-a0bc-59fb-9a72-8dff678bf7c3)
Other Books By (#u4e669acc-4337-5ea9-8ad0-83363f6d0d48)
Title Page (#ua476caa2-4ce2-510e-9b70-28d2aa25ef26)
Dedication (#u035b22de-b6ae-560d-a92c-21d342600ee4)
Dear Reader (#u659fdb05-ba97-5bc8-bd05-82df4761497c)
Chapter 1 (#u0aa4dc66-f0d1-58f2-af43-cb8f88470b79)
Chapter 2 (#u0127fd1f-2595-56a3-b7da-bf494f43843e)
Chapter 3 (#u1923c661-2aeb-5b9a-90af-36190b5f9f30)
Chapter 4 (#u679f8694-d760-5738-b8e5-b2e82fad2e04)
Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Dear Reader,
I sincerely hope that you enjoy reading Kissed by a Carrington from cover to cover. The Carrington triplets are back by popular demand from the countless readers who desired more of the Texas dead ringers!
I am very interested in hearing your comments and thoughts on the romantic liaison between the NBA’s Houston Carrington and the Texas Cyclones’ sports medicine physician, Kelly Charleston. These beautiful people will once again touch your hearts and quench your thirst for exciting and sizzling romance.
Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with all your correspondence and mail to Linda Hudson-Smith, 16516 El Camino Real, Box 174, Houston, TX 77062. Or you can e-mail your comments to lindahudsonsmith@yahoo.com. Please visit my Web site and sign my guest book at www.lindahudsonsmith.com. You may also read my newsletters and meet other published authors, aspiring authors and other creative spirits at thewritersworld.ning.com.
Linda
Chapter 1
On a lovely day in early June, wild screams, overzealous whistling and hand clapping thundered through the cavernous restaurant. There didn’t appear to be a single woman—young, middle-aged or elderly—who didn’t find handsome, toffee-complexioned Houston Carrington sinfully sexy. The NBA’s Texas Cyclones’ power forward, a confirmed bachelor, couldn’t help but smile at the wild reactions as he made his way to a reserved table inside the popular restaurant All About Appetites, an upscale eatery in downtown Houston, Texas. He was used to this.
The ladies’ instant recognition of the hometown sports hero made Houston feel good. He was a man who enjoyed women of all types, shapes and sizes.
The moment the hostess seated Houston, a male waiter approached him with caution and obvious reverence. “Good afternoon, Mr. Carrington. Welcome back to All About Appetites. It’s a pleasure to serve you. Interested in starting with a drink, sir?”
Recognizing the waiter’s nervousness, Houston extended his hand to the young guy while reading his name tag. “Thanks, Alex. Please bring me a bottle of mineral water. I’m expecting another party, so we’ll order appetizers and meals once my companion arrives.”
“Right away, Mr. Carrington,” Alex said, quickly backing away from the table.
Houston drummed his fingers on the table, looking back and forth between his watch and the entryway. His date wasn’t late; he was early by fifteen minutes.
A bad case of nerves could knock a man off his normal course, he thought.
As Houston thought about his beautiful luncheon companion and how the date had come about, his drop-dead-gorgeous smile came easy. The first time he’d met her was nothing more than a brief introduction by a friend at a Christmas party six months ago. The second time he saw her was at a charity auction to raise money for Haven House, a foster-care home. Both sightings had remained crystal clear in his mind.
Looking like she belonged on the front cover of a fashion magazine, a stunning female, with rich, dark sienna skin, had stood to make a bid. Thick, glossy, reddish-brown hair swept her shoulders. She was clearly intent on winning the auction entry when she’d lifted her hand as high as her bid of twenty-five hundred dollars.
The fabulous-looking male being auctioned off for a celebrity lunch date was Houston’s brother Austin, who was the Texas Wranglers’ quarterback. The toffee-complexioned dead ringers were only two members of the Carrington triplets, who played different professional sports in front of their hometown Houston fans. The other brother, Dallas, played shortstop for the National Baseball League’s Texas Hurricanes.
Houston recalled the audible gasps that had swept through the room over the amount bid. The smug look on Austin’s ex-fiancée’s face had quickly changed to an expression matching her evil, hateful ways. Clearly, Sabrina Beaudreaux was not a happy participant. Determined to win, Sabrina had tried topping the last bid by another five hundred dollars, but to no avail. Kelly Charleston, the stunning beauty, was not to be denied.
For the next few minutes, Sabrina and the model-type, five-foot-seven Kelly held a private bidding war. The numbers had gotten so high no else dared to bid on Austin, though the ladies thought he was priceless. Since other gorgeous bachelors were to be showcased on the auction block, some women figured they’d save their bids for then.
The next time Houston saw Kelly after the auction was at a Karamu feast held at Haven House on the last day of Kwanzaa. Each encounter was crystal clear in his mind.
Houston glanced at the entry again. With no Kelly in sight, he sat back and recalled how this luncheon had been arranged. The details were ingrained in his mind.
Austin had approached Houston. “I need a big favor.”
Houston had been skeptical. “What’s on your mind?”
Austin grinned. “I need you to swap places with me for the celebrity luncheon date. I don’t want to hurt Ashleigh. Sabrina knew I wasn’t among the celebrity auction participants when she pulled this fast one.”
Houston wasn’t too thrilled. “And you went along with it because the cause is too important. Haven House needs all the money we can raise, right?”
“What would you say if I told you the lady requested the swap? She says she met you at a Christmas party.”
Houston nodded. “We were merely introduced. No conversation occurred between us. As for us swapping places, we haven’t done that since high school.”
“The beautiful lady bid on me but I think she’d like lunch with you, Houston. Please accept it. I don’t want to risk losing the funds. It’s all for Haven House.”
Houston had agreed to take the date in his brother’s stead. He could hear Austin’s plea as though it was happening right now. Due to home games and the hectic away schedule, this was the first chance he’d gotten to make good on his promise.
Houston turned his thoughts from the past to the present. It was now Kelly time.
Lovely Kelly Charleston slid out of her sand-colored Porsche sportscar and handed over her keys to the valet parking attendant. She had the top up even though the June day was warm and pleasant. She didn’t want to mess up her just-been-to-the-salon waves and curls. Dressed in a hip-hugging heather-gray dress, showing off all her eye-catching curves, she was a delightful and marvelous vision. The shiny gray-and-black patent stilettos added a couple inches more to her already graceful height. She was vivacious, beautiful and sexy—a total knockout.
Kelly didn’t want to be late for her date with Houston Carrington, the sexy power forward for the NBA’s Texas Cyclones. A pretty hostess immediately escorted Kelly to the table where Houston awaited her arrival. His breath caught, causing him to swallow hard. She looked sensational. The kind of reaction he had to her wasn’t so unusual, but remaining his normal cool and aloof self in her presence might be difficult. It was the first time any woman impacted him so profoundly, and they’d only known each other a short time. Wrenching his eyes from her sexy figure wasn’t easy. Ladies didn’t come any more beautiful than this one.
As Kelly arrived, Houston practically leaped to his feet. Lifting her hand, he gently kissed the back of it. “We have to stop meeting like this,” he teased. “You look stunning!” Pulling out a chair, he waited for her to sit before reclaiming his chair.
“Thanks for the compliment. You’re quite handsome yourself,” she said flirtily. Kelly wasn’t worried about coming off as too forward. She smiled, revealing sparkling white teeth. “Hope I haven’t kept you waiting long.” Her voice was soft and smooth as silk, yet the rich, slightly husky intonation sounded seductive to him.
Houston glanced at his watch. “You’re actually on time. I was a bit early.”
Kelly nodded. “I like punctuality. It’s a great quality to possess.”
He liked her candor and self-confidence. “I agree. I’m also a stickler for punctuality. Yet I hang around with a group of guys who habitually run late.”
“Good friends of yours?” Kelly asked, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.
“My teammates. I can’t tell you how often our travel plans are delayed because of tardiness. Good thing we travel on the franchise’s private jet.”
“Most professional sports teams do travel that way,” Kelly asserted. “My friend is an air traffic controller. He only handles corporate jets and privately owned aircraft.”
“Interesting gig,” Houston remarked, wondering if Kelly was romantically involved with the man she’d just spoken of. His quiet thought had him annoyed. This was a first date—and by all accounts of his past history, a final one.
If Austin hadn’t said Haven House might not get the bid monies unless he accepted the date in his stead, Houston wasn’t so sure he’d be here.
Houston picked up two menus and handed one to Kelly. He opened his despite his knowledge of what food and dessert items were offered. “Hope you brought along a decent appetite. This place is appropriately named. My teammates refer to it as Triple A.”
“All About Appetites,” Kelly said on a laugh. “Cute! I like it. I was here once, but not for dinner. I came around the same time they started offering live music.”
“Surprised I didn’t run in to you. I love the music entertainment they bring in. My teammates and I frequent this place.”
The couple quietly began discussing the menu. Kelly asked Houston questions about the entrées and he recommended several items he’d ordered before.
“The tender, juicy mesquite grilled steak and jumbo shrimp is one of the best combination entrées,” Houston praised.
“I love steak and shrimp.”
Once Houston and Kelly selected their meal choices, he summoned the waiter and wasted no time in making their preferences known.
As if Houston had suddenly recalled something, he snapped his fingers. “Please bring the lady a glass of white zinfandel.” Austin had overheard Kelly’s wine order at the auction and had passed the information on to Houston.
Kelly looked at Houston with skepticism. “How in the world did you know?”
