"Falling in love with him was easy. Staying in love? Well, that's proving to be a challenge . . .
When my husband invited me to an evening gala, I was elated. We hadn't spent time together in ages. Finally, I thought he heard my complaints. But when he—the great Caspian Yearwood—was chosen to lead the Charlotte chapter of the Mr. Black Organization at this event, my heart sank. Don't get me wrong . . . I was excited he'd get to showcase Black History and further the movement of 'our' stories. But two years into this marriage, I'm struggling. I didn't marry to be lonely, but Caspian is always unavailable where I am concerned. What's a woman to do to get her man's attention?
In the Baes of Juneteenth multi-author series, we invite you to journey to different cities to celebrate Juneteenth with the men of Mr. Black, an organization honoring Black love, Black culture, and Black history."
"Secrets…they can tear a family apart.
They can tear a person apart. When that person is Livia Halifax, that’s a problem for me. She’s my air. She’s all I have and I need her to be okay.
Besides…I’ve kept enough from her, but little did I know I wasn’t the only one with secrets. Her family, her life and everything she knows is one big lie.
And she has no clue.
What do I do about it? I do my job – I love her. I love her from the highest peaks to the lowest valleys. I flood her with attention, cater to her, and keep her the center of my world. I give her my all – all the while knowing a secret that’s sure to ruin her."
"I fell…now she’s mine.
I’ve never known love like this. It’s potent. Life-changing. It changed mine and now I can’t live without her.
The problem is, I don’t necessarily get along with her family – not because I don’t like them. It’s the other way around. She brushes it off, but I’m against anything and anyone who threatens my relationship. My marriage. My happiness. My obsession.
So, I pour love into her. I overwhelm her. I want her to understand that we’re us for life. That’s why I need constant reassurance that she loves me.
Tell Me You Love Me is book 2 of the Tell Me Series. Book one, Tell Me: The Prelude is the introduction. You must read that book before reading book 2."
"I never wanted to fall in love.
At thirty-seven years of age, I haven’t taken the plunge, nor do I plan to. I’ve seen the damage love can do. It pretends to care, but then it tears a person down. It’s manipulative. Damaging. It lies. It hurts. It makes one weak. I know that all too well after seeing what it did to my dear mother. That’s why when women – beautiful, successful women – try to get my attention, I easily shun them. All of them. They see the exceptionally fine, black man with money. They know nothing of the dark secrets I carry – secrets I can never share with anyone.
And then SHE happened – just appeared in my life out of nowhere.
Her gaze left me speechless while igniting a fire in my soul, stirring emotions I swore never to embrace. Something awakens inside me for the first time in decades, and I can’t control it. I’m not supposed to have these feelings. I was dead inside. Where did these desires come from? Why do I have this potent yearning to be close to her? To touch her? To kiss her lips?
his can’t happen.
So, I fight it. I can’t fall for her. Love was never a part of my plan. But these feelings coursing through my body are real, and I don’t know if avoiding her is something my heart will allow me to do."
"His eyes would always follow her signature strut with her tall heels and fitted dresses. He always had something witty to say with her because he just HAD to say something. But the small talk was no longer cutting it. He wanted to know the real Felicity James.
Regal St. Claire isn’t single because someone broke his heart. He never desired marriage because he didn’t think it fit him. He was okay with being himself and not tied down to a woman. But when he met Felicity, he knew he wouldn’t mind being forever joined to a woman like her. She’s feisty. Smart. She’s the kind of woman who could keep him on his toes. The only problem is, she can’t stand him.
Felicity has been going out of her way to avoid Regal, but she can’t avoid him when he comes into her place of business, Wedded Bliss, Inc., ready to sign up for her marriage matchmaking service. He figured the best way to get to know the woman of his dreams is to pretend like he’s searching for someone else. All the while, he’s learning her mannerisms and hoping that she’ll eventually see that she’s really the woman he wants"
"Romulus St. Claire operates under the guise that he’ll never marry. In the back of his mind, he knows it’s a lie. He would marry if the woman was special enough – someone like his best friend, Siderra Monroe. He’s in no hurry to make her his. He’s still in limbo with his feelings and he doesn’t believe he’s ready for a woman like her, even though he has a feeling she’s in love with him. Siderra has been in love with Romulus for years now and has grown tired of playing the friend role while watching him date other women. Figuring it’s time to move on, she limits her time with Romulus to start dating, but how can she really date when her heart belongs to her best friend? Romulus can’t handle another man stealing her attention. He wants her, but he doesn’t want to hurt her by his history of being carefree and nonchalant when it comes to women. He’s a man conflicted. Confused. Tortured by his own emotions. He’s a man who’s on the verge of losing the only woman he’s ever loved."
"Ramsey St. Claire juggles his new role as husband to Gianna while at the same time running a million-dollar empire – St. Claire Architects. While work is important, everyone who knows Ramsey knows Gianna is his number one priority. She’s his second chance at happiness, a chance he wasn’t expecting but one he’s grateful for.
He loves her.
More than life.
More than anything.
That’s why he hangs on so tight. Analyzes her movements. Loves her hard. Watches her closely.
Expecting their first child and still working at the bakery, Gianna is a woman who wears many hats. One thing she can always count on is the support of her loving husband. But does running the bakery, preparing for her little cupcake’s arrival and an unforeseen request from her estranged mother bring more challenges than she can handle all at once?"
"Royal St. Claire was drawn to Gemma Jacobsen from the start. It was an instant connection – one he’d never had with another woman. But he has it with her. With Gemma.
When Gemma was on her sickbed, he stayed by her side, helped to nurse her back to health and the two became the best of friends. That friendship grew into something deeper. Something Royal, the picky bachelor, couldn’t deny. Something he didn’t want to deny. It evolved into…
Love.
But no matter how Royal sees her, Gemma knows their friendship can’t be anything more. In her eyes, he’s the picture of male perfection while she’s just – well – the lighthearted sick girl. She’s no good for him – no matter how much he wants her and no matter how much she wants him. The push-pull force of their attraction to each other proves to be more powerful than they both can bear.
Still, doubts linger. Gemma doesn’t have much experience with men, but she knows love is loving someone more than you love yourself. It’s how she feels for Royal, and that’s why she knows in her heart that he deserves better."
"I need a job, but...
I should’ve listened to everyone who warned me about Essex DePaul, the millionaire CEO of his own tax firm. He’s one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen. He has eyes that make you forget to swallow, a dazzling smile guaranteed to make your heart race, and a face you’d surely never forget. Everything about him is perfect—everything except his attitude.
He’s one of the rudest, most callous men I’ve ever met. He takes rude to an unprecedented level. At work, they call him ‘The Dictator’. Look at him the wrong way and you’re fired. Say something out-of-line and you’re out on your tail.
So, why do I work here? The money. I’m broke with no hope, living with my best friend in a cramped two-bedroom apartment. I need my own place and for some unfathomable reason, Mr. DePaul has agreed to pay me double the salary for an accounting position. With that much money, I should be able to put up with his attitude, shouldn’t I?"
"I wanted to keep Quintessa close to me because she’s special. She’s a girl from my past that grew up into an amazing, beautiful brilliant woman. I want to make her mine, but she doesn’t trust me fully because she doesn’t know who I am.
Therefore, the time has come to reveal my true identity before she finds out on her own, but things don’t always go as planned, does it? I know that firsthand. If life went by a plan, Quintessa would’ve been mine years ago. We would’ve been together. We would’ve been living our happily ever after.
But we’re not. We’re lagging behind. Playing catchup. Reminiscing…
I can’t risk losing her again after putting forth all this effort to ensure we found each other again. But who’s to say that won’t happen anyway, especially when I struggle with my own identity? When I fear that the person I’ve become is not a man she could love?
This is the conclusion to the DePaul & Company Series!"
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