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    Working On Love
    Working On Love
    Working On Love
    Ebook147 pages2 hours

    Working On Love

    By Crystal Perkins

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    About this ebook

    She gave up on love, and it may cost her everything...

    Alex Griffin had her heart broken when she was younger, and she’s never recovered. Settling for the nice guy she met at a show seemed like a good idea at the time. Until he started blackmailing her with the sex tape he secretly filmed of their first time together. It’s not money he wants, it’s her submission to him in ways that scare her. She’s held him off, but she knows that’s it’s only a matter of time before she’ll have to give in—or embarrass her family. To top it all off, Miles Corrigan has come back into her life, and proves that he hates her just as much now as he did six years ago. At least she has a job she loves, and new friends who care about her, but will they be enough to keep both her body, and her heart, safe?

    He walked away from the girl he loved, and stopped caring about everything...

    Miles Corrigan was in love once, and honestly, he still is. He couldn’t have the girl he wanted then, and after he’s slept his way across the country, she wouldn’t want him now. He’s already given up his dream, and his dream girl, so there’s no point in changing. Until he learns that Alex Griffin is in trouble. He’ll risk everything to keep her safe, even if it means revealing that he’s in love with her. And that he stopped being her friend because he never thought they could be together. He’s done fighting his feelings, and decides to let himself be happy for once in his life. But he didn’t keep his biggest enemy close enough, and he’s not the only one who’s paying for that mistake.

    An enemy neither one of them saw coming will try to destroy them both...

    Finding out just how twisted people can be, Miles shuts Alex out once again. They’ve gotten past her overprotective uncles, and the unsettling presence of his ex-lovers, but he can’t accept the fact that she’s suffered because of him. After the truth is revealed to her, Alex will pull out all the stops in order to show him that he’s more than worthy of the love she feels for him. Will it be enough for Miles to forgive himself, and accept that love, or will he go back to his old ways?

    This is a novella, and not a full length book. You will meet many of the characters from my upcoming series, Corrigan & Co., in this book.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCrystal Perkins
    Release dateNov 23, 2014
    ISBN9781311988539
    Working On Love
    Author

    Crystal Perkins

    Crystal Perkins has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write her own book, until she sat down and did it. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can find her running author events when she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts online or watching the Vegas Gokden Knights. A mac and cheese connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version, while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her research. She writes Romantic Suspense, New Adult, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, and even a little Horror!

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    Book preview

    Working On Love - Crystal Perkins

    Working On Love

    Book #6 of The Griffin Brothers

    by Crystal Perkins

    Smashwords Edition

    Copyright (c) 2014 by Crystal Perkins

    Cover Design by Helen Williams

    http://www.allbookedout.com/

    Ebook formatting by Jesse Gordon

    All trademarks are owned by their respective companies and are denoted by the use of proper capitalization of the company and/or brand.

    All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This contemporary erotic romance is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with, especially if you enjoy sexy, emotional, romance novels with alpha males. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    About Working On Love

    Other Books by Crystal Perkins

    Chapter 1

    Chapter 2

    Chapter 3

    Chapter 4

    Chapter 5

    Chapter 6

    Chapter 7

    Chapter 8

    Chapter 9

    Chapter 10

    Epilogue

    Acknowledgements

    About the Author

    About Working On Love

    She gave up on love,

    and it may cost her everything...

    Alex Griffin had her heart broken when she was younger, and she’s never recovered. Settling for the nice guy she met at a show seemed like a good idea at the time. Until he started blackmailing her with the sex tape he secretly filmed of their first time together. It’s not money he wants, it’s her submission to him in ways that scare her. She’s held him off, but she knows that’s it’s only a matter of time before she’ll have to give in—or embarrass her family. To top it all off, Miles Corrigan has come back into her life, and proves that he hates her just as much now as he did six years ago. At least she has a job she loves, and new friends who care about her, but will they be enough to keep both her body, and her heart, safe?

    He walked away from the girl he loved,

    and stopped caring about everything...

    Miles Corrigan was in love once, and honestly, he still is. He couldn’t have the girl he wanted then, and after he’s slept his way across the country, she wouldn’t want him now. He’s already given up his dream, and his dream girl, so there’s no point in changing. Until he learns that Alex Griffin is in trouble. He’ll risk everything to keep her safe, even if it means revealing that he’s in love with her. And that he stopped being her friend because he never thought they could be together. He’s done fighting his feelings, and decides to let himself be happy for once in his life. But he didn’t keep his biggest enemy close enough, and he’s not the only one who’s paying for that mistake.

    An enemy neither one of them saw

    coming will try to destroy them both...

    Finding out just how twisted people can be, Miles shuts Alex out once again. They’ve gotten past her overprotective uncles, and the unsettling presence of his ex-lovers, but he can’t accept the fact that she’s suffered because of him. After the truth is revealed to her, Alex will pull out all the stops in order to show him that he’s more than worthy of the love she feels for him. Will it be enough for Miles to forgive himself, and accept that love, or will he go back to his old ways?

    Other Books by Crystal Perkins

    Gaming For Love (The Griffin Brothers #1)

    Building Our Love (The Griffin Brothers #2)

    Creating A Love (The Griffin Brothers #3)

    Learning To Love (The Griffin Brothers #4)

    Designing The Love (The Griffin Brothers #5)

    For all the readers who’ve read this series,

    and fallen in love with the Griffins.

    There wouldn’t be a book 6 if it wasn’t for you!

    Chapter 1

    Alex

    I’m excited as I walk into the Corrigan & Co. Las Vegas building for my first day of work. I’ll be working with Jane Corrigan in the foundation part of the company. Well, actually, I guess I’ll be directly reporting to Reina, who is her second-in-command. I’ve seen the foundation on the news quite often, helping women around the world. I want to be part of something like that, even if I might need help myself.

    I’m supposed to be in summer school right now taking extra voice lessons, but I just couldn’t do it. I loved to sing in high school and thought it was what I wanted to do as a career, until that love was taken from me; stolen from me by the man I pretended to love. I say pretended because only one boy has ever truly held my heart. He didn’t want it then, and now, as a man, he’d want it even less. But it’s his.

    I thought Nick would be a good substitute. He’s definitely hot and was very nice when I met him at The Smith Center, where I was watching a performance. It wasn’t until after we slept together, and he told me I wasn’t adventurous enough, that things took a bad turn. Never mind that I’d been a virgin when we got together. He thought I was going to be like that girl in that book. He even built himself a special room. I still haven’t been in that room, but I have let him tie me up and spank me a little. I mean, I was going to keep having sex with him anyway—it’s not like I’ll be virgin again if I don’t. The sex isn’t a big deal— I’m just not interested in doing the things he wants.

    Unfortunately, I may not have much of a choice. The bastard secretly videotaped our first time. He threatened to release it when I told him I was leaving him. I have no doubt that he’s continued to videotape us, but I’m powerless to stop it. My uncles were all a little wild, but my family would seriously freak if I had a sex tape released. They all think I’m so sweet and innocent. I’m not. I mean, I’m not wild, but I’m almost nineteen, not a little girl.

    On top of pressuring me for crazy sex, Nick also likes to tell me how much I suck at singing. I thought our shared love of music is what attracted him to me, but I was wrong. So wrong. He belittles me every chance he gets. Not just about singing, either. I’m confident enough in myself to not let it get me down, but it’s draining to listen to it over and over again.

    I’m hoping that working here, with this group of strong women who help others, will give me an idea of how to extricate myself from this mess. I’ve been doing okay so far, but I have a feeling things are going to escalate in a bad way. His emotional abuse has been ramping up, and I know I’m not going to be able to keep holding out on him when it comes to his kinkier fantasies. Something’s coming, and I think it may happen around my birthday next month.

    I push those thoughts aside as I walk into the Corrigan & Co. Foundation offices. I see my desk. Or what will be my desk once I’m trained. Right now there’s a beautiful woman with red hair manning it. She’s intent on whatever’s on her tablet, so she doesn’t notice me right away. When she does, she surprises me by jumping up and coming around the desk to hug me.

    I’m surprised to see her plaid shirt with jeans tucked into cowboy boots. Especially since when she speaks to me, there’s no southern accent. Hi Alex. I can call you Alex, right?

    I come out of my daze at her question and look up into her smiling face. Yeah. Sure. You can call me that.

    Great. I’m Tegan. Let me tell you, the girls and I are beyond happy that you’re here. We’ve been taking turns manning this desk, but we kind of suck at it.

    It’s that hard? I didn’t think it was that hard.

    "It probably isn’t, but we’re used to doing other things, so it’s hard for us." She laughs, and I join in.

    Okay, good. You scared me a little.

    Don’t be scared of us. We’ve all got your back and absolutely love your grandma and your aunts.

    You’ve met them?

    Yep. And now I’ve said more than I should.

    What? Why?

    Before she can answer, Reina walks into the lobby. I met her when I interviewed with Jane. She is drop-dead gorgeous, and kind of scary, if I’m being honest. She’s about 5’8" tall with long black hair that has some brown mixed in. Her skin is tan, but it looks as flawless as porcelain, although she’s definitely not a fragile doll. She’s in a dress that’s sexy, but makes her look powerful at the same time. I think she’s in her late twenties or early thirties, but although she’s young, you can tell she’s someone you wouldn’t want to mess with. I also know she’s compassionate. She wouldn’t have her job if she wasn’t.

    There you are, Alex. I had a feeling that Tegan might have been detaining you.

    Sorry, Rei. I was just so excited to meet her.

    Everyone else is, too. Lock the door, Teeg, and meet us in the Society conference room.

    You got it, boss.

    Reina and I start to walk away, but she frowns and turns before we get far. And, Tegan? Why is country music playing in here?

    You know it’s my favorite.

    Switch it back, she tells her, sounding stern but smiling at the same time.

    Tegan’s nice.

    Yes she is, Alex. We have a group of wonderful women who work for the foundation. I’m glad you’ll be joining us.

    Me too. Thanks for hiring me.

    You’re welcome, but in all reality, you did us a favor. We weren’t sure who we could get for the job. Olivia was going to try and fill in part-time until we found you.

    Olivia?

    Yes, Olivia, she tells me as she steps in front of some large doors. There are no door handles, and I

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