Hot as Hale (Hale Series Book 3) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Hot as Hale

  Copyright

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  More From Marie James

  Hot as Hale

  By

  Marie James

  Hale Series Book Three

  Copyright

  Hot as Hale

  Copyright © 2015 Marie James

  Editing by Jody Lynn and Mr. Marie James ;)

  Cover design by Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs

  EBooks are not transferable. All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Acknowledgments

  This is always the hardest part…not because it is difficult to thank and appreciate people, but because there are so many people that help to make any one book come to fruition.

  First and foremost, I want to thank my husband. Not only is he one of my editors but he also sits down with me and helps me work through my storyline and come with plausible ideas for the books. He’s my rock, and I couldn’t ask for a better man to support my dreams as an author and to help raise the two boys I love dearly but don’t always understand that even though I’m here some days, I’m actually not.

  My bestie Jody Lynn is always supportive and around to help work out plots and twists. She edits and reedits, providing recommendations as to where I can add more or when things don’t make sense.

  I’m forever grateful to my beta team who help me any chance I ask and who pimp me without provocation. Tammy, Brenda, Jessica, and Diane….these books wouldn’t be a success if it wasn’t for you ladies.

  I want to thank Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs for the incredible book cover. You are always on point, and I love your creativity. Huge thanks to Enticing Journey Book promotions, Bare Naked Words, and Give Me Books for their promotional expertise and help getting the words out about Hot as Hale.

  Last but not least I want to thank all my fans and readers who have been on this ride with me. The gals at One Click Addicts have been instrumental in making sure people know about the Hale Series. Also, a huge appreciation for the ladies in the Fictional Ho’s room for their continued support.

  Of course, I can’t end this without giving a huge shout-out to my fellow Smuffins. You ladies keep me sane with the pictures of hot men and have fed my new (not so appropriate) appetite for all things Tumblr.

  Thanks! As always, it’s been One Hale of a Ride!!!

  ~Marie James

  Prologue

  Kaleb

  “I can’t get enough of the way you smell,” I whisper into Josie’s neck.

  Rolling over and finding her asleep in my bed makes this the best day of my life so far. I hope it gets even better, I think, as I nip the bottom of her earlobe and picture in my mind all of the things I’ve been fantasizing about doing to her.

  Somehow, I’ve managed to help her overcome her shyness because nothing says ‘take me’ like her stark nakedness and the low moans coming from her throat. I lick her pulse point below her jaw as my empty hands fill themselves with her ample breasts. I pull my hands free as I bend my head down to watch my thumbs persuade her soft pink nipples to hardened peaks.

  “Josie,” I whisper reverently as her beautiful body responds to mine in all the right ways.

  My eyes meet hers, and I swear I’ve died and gone to heaven. I know how cliché that is but seeing her beneath me, sprawled out on my bed, with her innocent eyes looking back at me is absolute nirvana.

  I slowly replace my hands with my hot, eager mouth and moan at the feel of her pebbled flesh against my tongue. After nipping at her right breast, I shift my mouth and pay equal attention to its twin. I kiss down her slender, flat stomach and smile against her flesh as it jumps and trembles at my touch.

  I spend half a second dipping my tongue into her bellybutton. That’s all the restraint I can manage because even now I can sense the tantalizing smell of her arousal. I run my nose and release a hot breath against the soft golden curls at the apex of her thighs before slipping my tongue into her folds. I hear her whimper deliciously and buck her hips forcing more of herself into my open mouth. Heaven.

  Placing my hands on the inside of her thighs, I push her legs further apart and place them on my shoulders.

  “Mmm,” I murmur against her entrance just as my tongue makes its inaugural dip inside of her quivering depths. Short of sinking into her I don’t see how this moment can get any better.

  I have to wrap my hands around her stomach to keep her from rotating her hips, so I can continue to feast on her. The excessive churning on my mouth tells me she’s hungry for more. Locking my mouth on her clit, I release her hip with one hand and slide two thick fingers into her core.

  A long moan and the tight clenching of tiny muscles in her core tell me I’ve just taken her over the edge. I lick, nip, and bite her clit until she stops squirming and releases a sated moan from her lips.

  Wiping my drenched mouth on the inside of her thigh, I kiss up her body, her amazing breasts garnering the most of my attention as I make my way back to her mouth.

  I sit back on my knees, so I can see as well as feel the very second my now painfully throbbing cock slips inside of her. Just before I breach her, I hear my phone ring, but there is nothing in this world short of this bed catching on fire that is going to keep me from sinking inside of Joselyne Bennett.

  The ringing stops and I look up to Josie’s eyes, deciding that the look on her face when I take her is more important than the sight of the act itself. And she’s…on the phone?

  Are you fucking kidding me?

  Not only is she on the phone but it’s like I’m not even in the room. Although she has a phone to her ear, the ringing begins again. I close my eyes in absolute frustration at this entire fucked up situation, and when I open them again, I’m sprawled on my bed in my dark bedroom, rock hard cock in my hand.

  Fuck. The dream. Again.

  Chapter 1

  Josie

  The only possible thing that could make a left over bad weather day better is an impromptu visit from the sexiest man
that I have ever laid my eyes on.

  Denver Police Department Narcotics Detective Kaleb Perez didn’t show up on my doorstep to see me, but that didn’t stop me from getting an eyeful while he was here. Ogling him every time I see him has become one of my most treasured pastimes.

  Alexa was shot in the back during a liquor store robbery three weeks ago. The shooter ended up being a former informant of Kaleb’s, and that’s how he was involved now. I feel like a horrible friend for not comforting Alexa when she was just handed the subpoena, but Garrett was wrapped around her, and I felt like an outsider.

  They just got back together yesterday after a horrendous three weeks apart, and I didn’t want to step on any toes. She seemed to be in a great mood before he showed up and if the giggling and the deep timbre of Garrett’s voice coming from her bedroom was any indication, she, in true Alexa form, was taking this in stride.

  I smile down at the business cards in my hand as I make my way into my bedroom. I tug open the small drawer in my bedside table and place both Alexa’s card and mine with the other four I have collected over the past couple of months.

  My roommate Alexa and my older sister Lorali insist that Kaleb likes me and I’m sure he does, if the way he smiles and winks at me is any indication, but I refuse to call him. He’s the man, and I’ll never be caught chasing after him.

  People would classify me as quiet and timid, and I would agree. My heart races uncontrollably when I even think about him. When I see him, I can’t even speak. The one time I did dial his number to place the first call to him made my hands shake so much I couldn’t even manage to hit the green circle on my phone.

  I’m hopeless. I can admit that. I would say I have no shame about it, and I’d love nothing more than to spend some time with him, but if he doesn’t make the first move, I guess I’ll be stuck in limbo.

  My ringing phone makes my heart race, and my face drops when I see it is my sister Lorali calling.

  I clear my throat before answering. “Hey, Lorali.”

  “Josie?” Lorali questions.

  “Yes,” I answer.

  “Why does your voice sound funny? Are you getting sick?” If only I were.

  “Nope,” I reply, sitting back on my bed with my back against the massive pile of pillows at the headboard.

  “What’s going on?” she prods further.

  “Kaleb just left,” I smile wide when I hear her sharp intake of breath.

  “You called him?” she shrieks in my ear so loudly I have to pull it away from my face.

  “No!” I huff indignantly. “I didn’t call him! He came by to give Alexa some papers for a court hearing.”

  “Oh no. Having to do with the shooting?” I can hear the background noise surrounding Lorali fade out like she’s heading to an area with more privacy.

  “Where are you?” I look at my watch. Ten in the morning. What in the world is she doing?

  “Meeting with the wedding planner.” I hear her pull the phone away from her ear and inform Ian she will be right back.

  I huff loudly in the phone.

  “I called to ask if you and Alexa want to come down.” She replies clearly sensing my frustration.

  “I’d love to, but I think Alexa will decline.” I smile, knowing if I opened the door to my room I’d be able to hear her ‘other plans.’”

  “Josie, we’ve got to get her out of that apartment. She’s going to waste away!” I laugh. “It’s not funny Josie! She’s been holed up for weeks!”

  “Lorali! I’d be more concerned about dehydration at this point!” My entire body is shaking with laughter.

  “What are you talking about? Have you been experimenting with weird chemicals again? You’re not making any sense.” She sounds indignant and slightly pissed at my reaction.

  I have to consider for a brief second that she doesn’t know about Garrett and her getting back together. “Well…” I reply, waiting for her to calm down. “Garrett came over last night…”

  I pause, loving the feeling of knowing something she doesn’t since it doesn’t happen very often.

  “And…” She prompts.

  “They made up!” She’s shrieking in my ear again, causing another round of holding the phone away from my ear.

  She eventually calms after I hear her call out to Ian and tell him. “About fucking time,” he grumbles on the other end of the line.

  “Okay,” she’s calmer now. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

  “He showed up about nine last night. I don’t know much because I answered the door and left them alone. But when I got up last night to get a bottle of water from the fridge,” I lower my voice before continuing. “I heard moaning coming from her room.” I know my whispering voice is barely audible and she better have caught it the first time because I won’t repeat it.

  “So they had sex, what else?”

  “He was still here this morning, and both of them had huge smiles on their faces,” I explain.

  “What else?” She presses.

  “Nothing, Kaleb came, and they went back to her room before I had the chance to talk to her.”

  “So, what did you say to Kaleb?” Lorali knows better.

  “Seriously?” I huff into the phone. “I didn’t say a word to him.”

  She laughs in the phone. “Did he give you another card?” The smile I can hear in her voice brings one to my face.

  “Of course,” I answer.

  “Are you going to call him?” She’s goading me, and I’m almost tempted to pull the card from my bedside table and call him just to get her and Alexa off my back. Almost.

  “Probably not.” I shrug my shoulders like she can see me.

  “Josie,” she whines into the phone. “That man is smitten with you!”

  “If he wants to go out with me so bad, he knows where I live! He can come over here and ask me!” I’m near screaming, and it’s unintentional.

  “Why would he, Josie? You’ve never said a word to him!”

  “I’ve spoken to him!” I exclaim back at her.

  “When?” She pleads. “Tell me one time you spoke a word to him.”

  I slouch further in the bed when I realize I can’t remember a single time I’ve actually opened my mouth to speak to him.

  “Damn it. I bet he thinks I’m a mute.” I sigh loudly.

  Lorali laughs. “Well, even if he doesn’t, I’m almost certain he thinks you’re the cutest damn mute he’s ever seen!” I laugh with her. The situation is beyond ridiculous.

  “Shut up,” I mutter eventually.

  “I’m serious, Josie. When I met with him at his office, he was all business. Every time I’ve seen him, he’s always looking around, taking in his environment. When you’re around, you’re all he sees. Like everything else just falls away.”

  I close my eyes and think back to all three of our encounters, biting my lip to stifle a moan at the memory of his tanned face and super sexy, vibrant green eyes. I’d thought I’d just imagined the looks he was giving me. Showing me attention as no other man has done before.

  “Really?” I manage.

  “Yeah really, Josie. You should call him.” I laugh at the idea.

  “Maybe tomorrow,” I promise.

  “Yeah, yeah. Okay.” She knows me too well. There is no way I’ll call him first, and I have no idea how I’ll survive if I answer the phone or door one day and he is here for me rather than something business related. The prospect sends chills all over my body.

  “Did you want me to meet you?” I change the subject quickly before Fantasy Kaleb takes over my brain again.

  “Yes! I’ll text you the address. I want to show you ideas I have for the bridesmaid dresses!” Her excitement is contagious.

  “I’ll refuse puffy sleeves and anything in mint!” I inform her.

  “The wedding colors will be silver and shades of purple. Not an ounce of mint in sight!” We say our goodbyes, and I get the ding of the address of the wedding planner on my phone almost immediately afte
r hanging up.

  I Google the address and realize she’s at Elisabel Elite Events, the most sought-after wedding planning organization in the tri-state area. Of course. She is marrying Ian Hale after all.

  Chapter 2

  Kaleb

  If Joselyne Bennett wasn’t so fucking cute, I’d hate that she’s driving me crazy. Three times now I’ve seen her. Three times I’ve given her my business card with my personal cell phone number on it. The first two times it went unused; I’m certain nothing will change with this last time either.

  The first time I met her was under less than perfect conditions when I had to speak with her sister about a local drug dealer, but I got the vibe that she was interested. Yet, I never heard from her.

  The second time I was able to look into her dark blue eyes was…fuck, was under another set of horrific circumstances when one of her friends, Alexa Garner was shot in the back. She grinned at me at the hospital when I once again handed her a business card. Radio silence.

  Just now I was at her apartment, being the asshole cop having to hand over a subpoena to Alexa. I didn’t have to be the one to take it a constable could have done that. I volunteered anyway knowing that she lived there, but never expected her to be in since she’s a teacher and it’s a school day.

  I was pleasantly surprised when I saw her trying to hide behind the door. Once again, her face held a beautiful smile when she looked at me. Once again, she took the business card I handed to her. Once again, she never said a word.

  I’m an excellent judge of character. You have to be, to be worth your weight as a cop. My cop work and research told me she’s twenty-two, from Fort Collins, a recent University of Colorado graduate, and a first-year, fourth-grade science teacher at a local elementary school. My cop instincts, on the other hand, keep sending me mixed signals.

  Maybe she smiles at me because she’s super polite and not really interested, but courtesy and manners have her continuing to collect my business cards as I throw myself at her each time I see her. Never, never have I been shot down three times…really is a crushing blow to the ego.