From first kiss to last
Nicole Carter just landed her dream job working for fashion legend Alexander James in Paris. Sparks fly when they meet. But her buttoned-up alpha boss is determined to ignore the heat building between them, and Nicole knows crossing the line is taboo. Though that doesnât stop her from fantasizing about them sharing a steamy night together in the most romantic city in the world.â¦
The once-burned-by-love designer doesnât trust womenâor the powerful desire his alluring new hire is bringing to the forefront. Giving in to temptation will put everything Alexanderâs worked for at risk. Is he willing to fight for the woman he thinks he could spend forever with?
âMmm.â She sighed as his thumbs circled the base of her neck. âRight there.â
âThere?â At her positive nod, his hands made their way under the sweetheart neckline of her blouse, sliding his fingers up and down her neck and shoulders.
The touch of his flesh against hers almost sent him over the edge into madness, but he maintained his sanity somehow; however, when she purred deep in her throat and softly spoke his name on a serrated sigh of desireâthat was his undoing.
Swiveling her chair around, he pulled her up out of her seat until her soft body was pressed against his solid one, and without giving her or himself time to think, he fused his lips to hers. Her mouth was opened in a half gasp of surprise, which he took full advantage of, slipping his seeking tongue past the barrier of her white teeth in search of her own.
Oh, my Lord! Kissing her, thoroughly and properly, was even better than he had dreamed. Stopping wasnât an option. Tasting more of her incredible mouth was his only objective, and he carried out that mission with a vengeance.
JUDY LYNN HUBBARD
is a Texas native who has always been an avid readerâparticularly of romance. Judy loves well-written, engaging stories with characters she can identify with, empathize with and root for. When writing, she honestly canât wait to see what happens next; she knows if she feels that way, sheâs created characters and a story that readers will thoroughly enjoy, and thatâs her ultimate goal.
Dear Reader,
Our First Embrace was a story that simply took me away, and I hope it does the same for you. There was so much I wanted to tell, but so few pages I had to tell it in. More than once, I bemoaned my word count limitations.
This book was supposed to be the third and final installment in the Carter sibling trilogy. However, as I wrote Our First Embrace, the character of Victor James (Alexanderâs brother) really stood out for me. I think heâs worthy of his own book. Is Monique (Nicoleâs friend and coworker) the woman for Victor, or is there someone else waiting in the wings? Stay tuned to find out.
In the meantime, cuddle up with Nicole and Alexander as they search for their happily ever after. I hope you enjoy Our First Embrace.
As always, thank you for your continued support, and happy reading!
Judy
www.JudyLynnHubbard.com
Chapter 1
Paris in the springtime! Native New Yorker, twenty-five-year-old Nicole Carter, couldnât believe she was finally in France.
It was a beautiful Monday morning with plenty of sunshine. The temperature was a cool forty-two degrees, and she didnât bother to fasten her light jacket as she walked along the sidewalk, passing various brightly colored cafés that beckoned her to stop; however, she resisted. The last thing she needed was to be late for her first day.
She was in enough trouble alreadyâarriving a week later than scheduled so she could attend her brotherâs wedding in New York. Alexander James, her new boss, hadnât been too happy about her requested delay, and she prayed he wouldnât hold it against her.
Nicole halted in front of a six-story stone building that housed Alexanderâs Fashion House. She stood outside for a few seconds smiling at the edifice before opening the glass door and walking inside. Opulent surroundings greeted herâblack-and-white marble floors, tapestry chairs and expensive artwork. Everything about Alexanderâs screamed class.
She approached the security booth, and after receiving her badge was directed to the sixth floor. Upon exiting the elevator, Nicole checked in with the receptionist, who showed her to Alexander Jamesâs office. She paused long enough to take several calming breaths before rapping lightly on the closed wooden door and plastering a smile on her face. Then she opened the door and went inside.
The first thing she noticed was how large and spacious the office was. With its heavy wood-and-leather furniture, it had definitely been decorated for a man by a man. The hardwood floor shone. Huge windows occupied the entire back wall, allowing a multitude of light to stream in and soften the dark decor.