Publication date: February 13th 2025

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Growing up with three brothers, Charlie Jackson had to be tough. Some might call her the B word, but she simply defends those who need it. Unfortunately, not everyone sees her protection as defense. Like the judge who ordered her to take anger management classes after she messed up her jerk ex’s car. Not a problem, a few months pretending to listen to a bunch of people talk about accessing feelings should go down as smooth as the vodka her family makes at their distillery.

Luc Woolf knows all about harboring anger at the world. Growing up with a father who liked the bottle more than his family, he suffered his fair share of rage. But he gave up that emotion long ago when he realized anger did nothing but make a person miserable. These days, he keeps a cool head and helps others process their emotions as a therapist. However, when he volunteers to moderate an anger management course, he meets the one person who tests his careful control, Charlie Jackson.

The two couldn’t be more at odds, but they can’t deny the scorching heat between them. This bad girl wants to show this good boy how much fun breaking the rules can be. After all, opposites attract. But when the struggles of real life interrupt their fun times, will their differences pull them apart or bond them together?

Excerpt

Luc Woolf sat at the table, a smart-ass grin ticking up the corner of his mouth. “We have to stop meeting like this.”

The smooth, deep voice washed over her like silk. She would not laugh at his ridiculous attempt at humor. But damn it all, she felt the curve of her lips as a smile she couldn’t seem to stop, turned them up.

“Damn small towns.”

He chuckled. “I thought you owned a bar?”

“I do.”

“But you’re a server on the side?” He tilted his head. “There a large abolition following in Kismet I’m not aware of?”

“No. The distillery does great. So great in fact that we expanded into a restaurant. One of the servers had an emergency and needed her shift covered.”

Dark brows rose. “And the boss filled in?”

“We’re a family run establishment.” She shrugged. “It’s what you do when your family needs help. You help.”

Something passed through his eyes. Respect. She had no idea why, but it made a warm fuzzy feeling rise in her stomach. Luc seemed to understand and even applaud her actions of the evening. Stupid. She didn’t give a rat’s ass what he thought.

Then why was her heart suddenly racing?

“So,” he grabbed his menu again, breaking the moment. “What’s good here?”

“Everything. And I don’t just say that because I co-own the joint. Our chef is amazing. What do you like?”

“I’m not picky.”

He said that, but they were half an hour away from Denver. Hipster central. Trends took off like wildfire in the city and spread like the plague to the small tourists’ towns like Kismet. Currently they’d had to accommodate for everything from Paleo to gluten free patrons. She had no problem catering to a customer who had a food allergy, but she really hated the bandwagon eaters who fussed and complained because they were strictly gluten free and then ordered a piece of cheesecake with graham cracker crust.

“No allergies? No weird fad diets?”

“Do I look like I do fad diets?” He arched one eyebrow.

No, he did not. In fact, the man looked like he ate steel for breakfast and iron for dinner. A dark V-neck sweater clung tight to his chest revealing just a hint of chest hair. The sleeves were pushed up past his elbows, revealing tightly muscled forearms. Damn, had she ever found forearms sexy before? She did tonight.

“A meat and potatoes kind of guy?” Her mouth felt too dry. She swallowed, trying for the life of her to find some saliva. “Our steak is amazing, but if you prefer fish, we have a great salmon with dill sauce.”

He held the menu in his fingers, but his gaze focused on her. “It all sounds amazing.”

Her breath caught in her throat, brain blanking. How did this guy render her speechless with just a look? It wasn’t fair. No one should be that sexy.

“Um, yeah. It is.” Clever Charlie. “What can I bring you?”

He placed the menu at the edge of the table, eyes never leaving hers. “You pick.”

“What?”

“You own the place. You know what’s best. You pick something for me.”

Shaking herself out of whatever weird fog she’d been in, she laughed. “You want me to pick your meal.” He nodded. Licking her lips, she placed her hand on the table and leaned down. “How do you know I won’t poison you?”

He wasn’t exactly her favorite person, and she’d made no bones about it. He leaned toward her until they were inches apart. She could smell the sharp mint of his breath, feel its warmth on her lips and cheeks. Her blood began to heat, heart racing in her chest. This was ridiculous! She should not react this way to a man who’d done nothing but annoy the crap out of her since the moment she ran into him.

“You do need me to sign off on your anger management course. If I suddenly die after eating at an establishment you own it might look pretty sketchy to the judge,” he said the words in a teasing tone, the dimple in his cheek catching her eye at his wide grin.

Laughter bubbled out of her. “True. Plus, it’d be a shame to poison all that sexy.”

The moment the words left her mouth she wanted to shove them back in.

Surprise lifted his brow. “You think I’m sexy?”

Embarrassment flooded her, so she did what she always did when she felt insecure. She pushed away from the table, crossing her arms over her chest, and brought out her trademark sarcasm. “Don’t fish for compliments. You own a damn mirror.”

He grinned, leaning back in his chair. “You’re not so bad yourself, Charlie.”

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About the Author

Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexia gets the best of her.

Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books. To learn more about Mariah and her books visit her website www.mariahankenman.com

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(Jackson Family Distillery, #2)
Publication date: September 19th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Penny Williams is a lot of things; intelligent, shy, socially awkward, but the one thing she wants to be most is a mother. Unfortunately, she’s never been very lucky in the dating world. Men rarely go for quiet nerds, but that won’t stop her. Being an independent woman of the 21st century, she decides to forgo traditional methods of baby making and try for a medical option. Only, she doesn’t want a random donation. She knows the perfect candidate. The only problem? It’s her best friend.

Bravo “BJ” Jackson would do anything for his best friend, but her latest request has him stumped. He knows Penny would make a great mom. Problem is, he never imagined himself as a dad. She says she wants nothing from him except his little swimmers. The real question is can he step away from a child who would technically be a part of him?

She promises nothing between them will change. But life gets complicated when they discover hidden feelings for each other that go beyond friendship. This deal could destroy what they have. Or it could reveal that what they really want has been in front of them the whole time.

Excerpt

“Then the entire male population are idiots. Any guy would be lucky to have you.” His temper had gone from slow flame to hot burn. “You are smart, funny, and beautiful, Penny. And if guys can’t see that, it’s their loss.”

Giving him a humorless laugh, she patted his thigh. “You have to say that because you’re my friend. But I know what I am, BJ.”

No. She didn’t. That was the problem. Penny didn’t see herself clearly. She didn’t see the bright, kind soul he knew her to be. He hated she would think she had a problem when it was every other loser who ever teased her or turned her down for a second date who really had issues. Penny was a great catch, and damn anyone who didn’t think so. Her ex was a fool. BJ wanted to kill the guy for hurting her.

No. That wasn’t true.

His feelings of anger had started long before Lance dumped her. In fact, thinking back, they’d started the moment she’d told him she was dating the douche. Because BJ didn’t like it when any guy dated his best friend. None of them were good enough for her. Hell, no one was.

“I’m not the type of woman guys lose their head over.”

“Bullshit.”

Maybe it was her vehement denial of her own worth, or the strange situation they’d found themselves in lately, or maybe because BJ was finally seeing his feelings for his best friend might not be so friendly, but in that moment, he needed to prove to Penny how much of a sexy, desirable woman she really was.

Whatever the reason he blamed it on, didn’t matter. In the next moment, he cupped the back of her neck and pulling her toward him. His lips crashing down on her mouth. She gasped, and he took full advantage, plunging his tongue into her mouth to taste the surprisingly sweet nectar of Penny.

For one moment he worried he’d gone too far, but then her delicate hands came up to fist in his hair. He’d left it down today. Her fingers tangled in the strands, pulling just enough to give his scalp a pleasant tingle, but not hard enough to cause any actual pain.

She moaned, or maybe he did. Damn, he couldn’t tell. All he knew was, holy shit, his best friend could kiss! Her lips were soft and warm. He could taste the warm burn of the vodka she’d drunk earlier on her tongue. An appendage currently trying to memorize every inch of his mouth by feel alone.

With one hand still cupping her neck, he brought the other to rest on her hip, slowly stroking his way up her rib cage until it rested against the edge of her left breast. His thumb swept out, stroking her nipple, which had hardened to a sharp peak, poking through her thin shirt. She gasped, thrusting her breast fully into his palm. Inside he roared with delight, but then she pulled away and he was holding nothing but air.

Large hazel eyes, grown impossibly larger by her wide-eyed expression, stared back at him. Her face was flush, lips full and wet from his kisses. Her breathing was harsh, matching his own.

“What the hell was that?”

At a loss to explain, all he could do was shrug. “I have no idea.”

Something passed across her face. Something he recognized. Panic.

Jumping up from the couch, she rushed to the door. “I have to go.”

“Penny, wait.”

But she didn’t. She flung open his office door and rushed out faster than he could blink. He started to run after her and explain…hell if he knew what. But he stopped when he realized he was sporting major wood. The night was already outrageous enough. No need to add running through a bar full of people—including his siblings—with a very obvious erection.

Damn it all to hell!

He turned, heading back into his office instead, slamming the door. Pacing over to his desk, he placed his palms on the top and tried to figure out what in the world had just gone on. He had no idea. The mix of emotions rolling through his body right now did nothing to help. He was worried, upset, and horny all at once. And he had no idea what to do about it or Penny.

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