《Love & Murder: An Eliza Winter Mystery》The Club
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The confrontation never came. As soon as Eliza went to ask about Andrew, her heart stopped her. If what Andrew said was true and Colin was just out to abuse Eliza's kindness, then she'd have to leave the Ritz before finishing her divine roast brusse duck. And Colin promised her apple mousseline, so she knew she had to stay through dessert. If this was all a ruse, she never would have toasted Colin to their date night and she would never see the opera. Her gown would be wasted on a somber cab ride home. She couldn't bring herself to possibly ruin the evening. There was too much to enjoy to fret over Andrew Tennyson.
So, as she was whisked away from the table, feeling slightly sloshed, she clutched onto Colin's arm and promised to enjoy herself. To not overthink. He led her out of the restaurant and on to the busy street.
"We have enough time if you'd like to walk to the opera house," Colin suggests and the slight sway in Eliza's stance tells her she needs to walk a bit.
"Jolly good," Eliza says with a smile. Colin can tell she's a bit squiffy, so he smiles to her before pulling her away from the Ritz. She leans into him as they saunter down the pavement and even if it weren't for all the merlot, she'd still feel comfortable. He had a way of making her feel relaxed and safe. And once again, she shoved away Andrew's warning.
"This is the last I'll ask about Penelope," Eliza suddenly says. "And then she's off topic for the rest of the evening."
"Alright then," Colin says, urging her to continue.
"Do you think she was stabbed intentionally where she would have been carrying the child? Does that show anger over the revelation that she was pregnant? Or do you think it's wrong to assume her lover was also her murderer?" Eliza asks. Her mind wanders to Colin holding her tightly. She couldn't imagine him just turning, stabbing her in the torso and dumping her off in the Thames.
"My darling Eliza, that is one thing I like about you." Colin says with a smile. "You can say something like that and not grasp for smelling salts."
"I don't carry smelling salts," she says with an eyeroll. And then coyly adds, "And you only like one thing about me?" She can see the wine is making her brave.
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"Hardly. Would you like me to go down the entire list of things that I like about you?" Colin replies with a smirk. Eliza stops on the pavement and then looks to him, "You have an entire list? Blimey..."
"Shall I reveal it to you?" He asks her again while pulling her at the elbows to face him. She smiles, "I'm afraid my head would swell from flattery. I wouldn't fit in the opera house."
"Oh, we can't chance that. It'd be a shame you looking like that and I was unable to show you off," Colin says while pulling her a step closer.
"And here I was thinking I was showing you off," Eliza boldly admits and Colin finally pulls her into him. Public displays of affection in the middle of crowded pavements must be a crime by the way people reacted. Women scoffed while passing and men cheered them on. Eliza realized she didn't care. She liked his lips on hers and she wasn't about to pull away because society expected her to. Colin's hand found its way to her flushed face and when he pulls back, he says, "That just moved to the top of my list." Eliza grins and then turns away from him, leading him further down the street.
They were arm in arm when they strolled up to the magnificent limestone structure. The protruding columns alluded to its grandeur and Eliza couldn't wait to get inside. They pushed their way into the stream of fellow audience members and the wealth surrounding them matched the opulence inside.
Eliza's eyes widen as she tries to take in the extravagance. Massive marble columns lead up to high arched ceilings and she's stunned at the detailed woodworking that made up the balconies and stairways. Her hand slides along the smooth banister as Colin leads her up to the balcony and as soon as they find the corridor that leads them to their box, Bridgette rounds the corner, hanging onto an older man's arm. She spots Colin first, but her eyes widen when she realizes it's Eliza holding onto his arm. She awkwardly stutters out, "Lord Bradshaw, Ladyyy Eliizaa."
"Miss Walscott." Colin replies coolly and she looks to her date as he extends his hand, "This is The Honorable James Nidget."
"Lord Colin Bradshaw," Colin says as he extends his hand and he then looks to Eliza, "This is Lady Eliza Winter."
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"How do you do?" Eliza politely replies. She notes that the man is almost her father's age and has a large well-groomed mustache. She can tell he's wealthy from his attire and she knows deep pockets are the only thing Bridgette finds attractive about James. Eliza then looks to Bridgette and says, "It's odd to see someone other than Miss Greensbury on your arm. Is she here?"
Bridgette flits her eyes to Colin and then says, "She...had an event in...Liverpool." Eliza doesn't believe her lie for a second and simply replies, "Oh...too bad."
"Well enjoy the show," Colin says to the couple and then pulls Eliza further down the hall. Once they are out of earshot, Colin leans in to her, "You enjoyed that didn't you." Eliza catches the twinkle in his eye and mutters, "You won't think less of me if I say yes?" Colin grins and then kisses the top of Eliza's hand. He drops it as they see the attendant and he leads them to their seats.
Eliza tries to reign in her excitement as they enter the theater, but a squeal almost escapes her when she's bombarded with gold paint and plush red velvet curtains. Her jaw slightly drops as she takes in the massive theater and she realizes there is a gold balcony below her and above her with red velvet seating in the middle.
"This is what walking into Buckingham must feel like," Eliza whispers in awe. Colin looks to her as she scans the stage and replies, "It's something isn't it?" He leads her to her own red velvet chair, framed in gold wood and she drops her silk behind it. She sits into her seat and then looks to the balcony across from her. A man is helping a fussy woman into a chair and she waves him off as soon as she's seated. Eliza looks to Colin, "How am I not going to be distracted by everyone across from us. I feel like God sitting up here, watching everyone below." She quickly scans the seats, but doesn't see Bridgette. She hopes she is up in the nosebleeds with an obstructed view.
"You know what I just thought of?" Eliza says while turning to Colin again. He raises an eyebrow and she continues, "If Bridgette marries James she'll be Mrs. Bridgette Nidget." She stifles a laugh by raising a gloved hand to her lips and Colin can't help but smirk.
"I've seen Nidget at the gentleman's clubs. If Bridgette marries him, she'll need to worry about more than his last name," Colin admits and Eliza, wide eyed turns to him.
"I'm intrigued Lord Bradshaw," she says. "I had no idea you were a member at a gentleman's club."
He gives a slight nod of his head, "You find out a lot about people in a relaxed atmosphere. I pop in when I'm working a case to gather information."
"Gather information? Is that what they are calling it these days," Eliza says boldly and she can tell her candor catches Colin off guard. He lets out a surprised laugh and replies, "What kind of clubs do you think I am a member of?" Eliza shrugs and he quickly adds, "I stick around St. James. White's and Boodle's. It's gambling and socializing darling. Not...anything you're thinking of."
"You say that, but I remember Penelope mentioning her meeting up with gentleman callers in St. James. Clearly, she wasn't playing card games," Eliza says flatly. Something she said sparked Colin's interest as his brow furrows for a second. He then says, "Which club in St. James? Do you know who she was meeting?"
Eliza shakes her head, "I would have already told you if I had a name of anyone she was meeting. All I know is she would sneak off there because it was within walking distance to my house." Suddenly her eyes widen and her and Colin say the same thing, "St. James!"
"That could have been where she was going when she was dropped off. A gentleman's club!" Eliza says excitedly but Colin is unable to answer as the lights dim. The first act begins and all of Eliza's excitement turns to the glorious music coming from the orchestra. She gives Colin one last eager smile and then they both turn to the stage.
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The Tyrant's Wife
The harder I try to hate you, the deeper I fall for you.
8 801Sweet Bastard
Lisa and her boss, Alessandro, agree to spite their exes by pretending to date, but things begin to backfire when fake feelings become real along the way. *****For two years, Lisa Brooks worked as a secretary to the powerful self-made billionaire, Alessandro Russo. He hardly noticed her, and to him, she was nothing more than a co-worker who wore conservative clothes, a tight bun, and followed his orders. But when Lisa's heart gets broken by her first love and Alessandro starts to lose his willpower to avoid Gretchen (his ex-girlfriend and now-client's wife), they decide to help each other out by fake dating. I mean, how hard can it be to not fall in love? [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]Cover designed by Ashley Santoro
8 208Fighting for Rose
-Blake-Rose stands not too far in front of the ring looking at me, her face is pale and my gut twists in ways it never has.She shouldn't be here, why the hell is she here? My hands drop to my side, the victorious feeling once flowing through me is replaced with one of dread. She saw me fighting.--------Rose-"Alright. Time for you to go." He says. I feel the pull on my arm as he tries to take me away but my feet feel like they are glued to the ground as I continue to look at Blake. He has a little smirk on his face as he looks over the crowd. A look so completely different than any of the ones I saw the other day.Then our eyes meet, and his smirk drops.He drops his hands that were just held high in victory and looks at me like he's seeing a ghost. The guard pulls harder on my arm and I go flying back into his chest. "Listen here, I don't want to manhandle you, so do as I fucking say. Move." He growls as he pushes me into the crowd of celebrating people.I do what he says and start walking towards the exit, but I look over my shoulder one last time before I'm too far in the crowd to see anything. Blake's hands are fisted by his side and his face is red with anger, his eyes are focused on the hands that are on me pushing me away from him.----- I am the original owner of this book, please do not copy. Strong language and themes of abuse, mental disorders and violence.I don't own any of the pictures used in this story.#1 in alone 11/23/21#1 in strong 11/30/21#2 in boxing 4/19/22#1 in goodgirl 5/8/22#1 in fighting 5/19/22
8 201A Blank Tale
I only hope to be with him for this life. For he's the one who fills in the blank in my life. Yet, my mind only draws a blank as to who he is. (NOTE: Story under same author (Fluffypie) on different site with same progress)
8 147The Unwanted Mate
"I expect you to bow in front of your Alpha.""You are not my Alpha.""You will show me respect!""Fuck you."He grabs my arm, and drags me inside. The other guard is waiting in the doorway."Leave us now!"He bows and leaves the room. He lets me go, and pushes me onto the couch. He pins me down, and is nose to nose with me. "You listen to me very carefully. Just because I recognize you as my mate, does not mean you get to order me around. There is only one woman I fuck, and it is not you.""Your mistress. I get it.""Are you mad little mate? Did you think it would be a fairy tale ending? We'd fall in love and have lots of little babies running around?""If you don't want me, just reject me so I can find a new mate.""You belong to me, and will do as I say.""Why?""I still need an heir little mate. Only my mate can provide that.""Never will I procreate with you.""Oh...you will. You'll beg me to. But not until I say so.""Go to hell.""Oh sweetheart...I'm already there."*Arianna just wanted to fullfill her dream of becoming a doctor, that was until, she found out the visiting lecturer turned out to be her mate. Not just any mate, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. There's only one problem...he doesn't want a mate. Or does he? *
8 110If It Never Happened ⚣
True is a fifteen-year-old suicidal teenager, and he's done with his life. With shitty parents who would rather punch him than show him affection and a set of siblings out to make his life hell, oh wait, did I forget to mention he's devastating bullied at school? With all that on his plate and worse things coming into play, True's done. He's seen the pills in the cabinet, it's time to use them. Alister Clenevence is the biggest mafia boss in New York, but that brought upon a lonely life. Watching after his younger brother, and his little brothers boyfriend, Alister wants that, he wants someone to love, but no one is catching his eye. Well, until he sees a platinum blonde teenage boy with a fake smile. Did I fail to mention True's fathers in the mafia?With romance, bullying, self-hate, attempted-suicide, abuse, and a lot of smartass comments, welcome to If It Never Happened.Book One in the Happened SeriesHighest Rankings18th in #Gay~ June 25th, 201814th in #Gay~ August 2nd, 201810th in #Gay~ August 3rd, 20185th in #Gay~ August 11th, 2018
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