Sweet Obsession (Men of Whiskey Row Book 1) by D. A. Young

lot of noise if he felt threatened. Your pics would come out either way, and this could have lasting negative effects on your father’s career,” Jack finished bluntly, watching as the realization of how big a scandal they were trying to contain dawned on Noelle. Her hands were gripping her shirt tightly, and she was struggling to take calming breaths.   
    When problem-solving in his business, Jack always let the client see the enormity of the potential damage that could be done. He gave them a moment to feel the fear, and then he alleviated it with a rescue plan. It was what he called “Tough Love”, and it enabled him to do his job smoothly.  
    “So what can we do to fix this?” Noelle asked determinedly. “If it was just me, I wouldn’t give that asshole one fucking penny. But it’s my family…” she shuddered. “Oh my God, Jack! My mother!!” 
     Jumping up, she started to pace the room, and Jack took in the alluring view she made; hair whipping, hips switching, and ass swaying. Focus Sullivan, he reminded himself and willed his growing erection to stay down. No such luck.   
    “Alicia would not be happy with pics of her baby girl in her birthday suit floating around, that’s for sure,” Jack murmured and winced for good measure. That was the understatement of the year. Although he’d put a considerable dent in her armor and she’d reluctantly agreed to back off, the Kramer matriarch was still no one to fuck with. Heads would certainly roll, starting with the beauty’s in front of him, if the pics were made public. Fortunately for Noelle, Jack liked her head attached to that delectable body. “Now I’m going to do what’s best for my clients in a way that allows them to focus on their priorities as I make their problems disappear. Lucky for you I have an easy solution to your problem.”  
    Noelle whirled to face him hope lighting up her pretty face. “Well don’t keep me in suspense. What’s the plan?”  
    He watched her carefully before dropping his bomb. “We get married.”
     
    ***
     
     Past…
     Noelle’s heart was pounding furiously as Ian escorted her across the ballroom to where Tall, Dark, and Fine as Hell stood watching their approach. His hazel eyes gleamed with masculine appreciation as they thoroughly inspected her. Goosebumps appeared on her skin; she was short of breath and unable to look away from him.  
    “Are you okay, my dear?” Ian asked again. Noelle reluctantly dragged her gaze away from the specimen of male perfection ahead of them to look into her godfather’s amused eyes.   
    “I don’t blame you for staring my dear; he really is quite dazzling. Hell, you should see his brothers, and he’s considered ‘the ugly one’. Their parents were quite the lookers,” Ian said with a tinge of bitterness.  
    “He has brothers? That are better looking? Good Lord, there should be a crime against that much attractiveness in one concentrated area.” Ian laughed as they reached the beautiful man; and Noelle realized he was even better looking up close as he gave them a slow devastating smile. His skin was smooth and supple looking with a faint hint of a five o’clock shadow.  
    “Jack, good to see you,” Ian greeted warmly and released Noelle’s arm to give the other man an affectionate hug. Turning back to Noelle, he explained, “Jackson here is one my business partners in our public relations firm. Jack Sullivan, this is the birthday girl Noelle Kramer. She’s also my goddaughter,” Ian added with a warning look at the younger man. Noelle blushed as Jack winked at her. Be still her beating heart…
     “Ms. Noelle, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Happy Birthday, and I hope you don’t mind me attending your party; Ian invited me. Are you enjoying yourself?” His voice was deep and velvety with a southern drawl. Noelle wanted to throw her panties at him right then and there. With a voice like that she didn’t care if he described his bowel