Cynda and the City Doctor - Theodora Taylor Page 0,64

determined he is to marry me even though I don’t remotely deserve his dedication. I love the life we’re planning together even more, especially since we’ll be living here in Missouri, far, far away from his disapproving royal relatives.

This request, unfortunately, will open up the door, to the little bubble of reality we’ve made here in Guadalajara. However, finding Gina is more important than my comfort.

“Yes, do it,” I start to say.

Only to be interrupted when my phone starts buzzing with a call from an unknown number. I frown, not recognizing the state code. Could be a scammer….

But just in case, I pick up. “Hello?”

“Hi, who is this?” The voice on the other end is gruff and irritated. Like I called him in the middle of an important conversation and not the other way around.

I frown and sit all the way up in bed. “Why don’t you tell me who this is first.”

“How do you know Goldie?” he demands.

“Goldie?” I ask.

“Yeah, I know that’s not her real name. But that’s what we called her. Real cute Black woman. Long blonde hair. Smile like sunshine?”

The only person I know who would even remotely fit that description is “Gina? Are you talking about Gina?”

“Yeah, I think I might be. She never told us her real name. And she’s gone now, and we just…we just want to make sure that was her choice.”

“Who’s we?” I ask, not remotely keeping up.

The man on the other end clears his throat, then seems to decide to answer. “This is Jeb, calling on behalf of the men who love Goldie with all our hearts. The men who want her back.”

It takes me a moment to process what I just heard. Then I answer, “Wait a minute. Did you say men.”

Oh boy, thank you for reading the first book in the Quarantales series. Wondering who Billie’s mysterious Russian is? Wondering who—or should I say who all Gina has been quarantining with? And why is Cynda’s mom happy but heartbroken?

Make sure to read the entire Quarantales series. These stories go from steamy to blazing hot with the sweet tale of Cynda’s biological mother on top.

CYNDA AND THE CITY DOCTOR

BILLIE AND THE RUSSIAN BEAST

GINA AND THE THREE WISCONSIN BEARS

And the newsletter exclusive

REINA AND THE HEAVY METAL PRINCE

And keep on reading for a sneak peek at Billie and the Russian Beast!

After a henchman shows up at Billie’s condo, demanding that she come with him to pay her brother’s debt, Billie finds out she’s in trouble…very, very sexy trouble.

I step out of an elevator into a sleek black and grey hallway. The thug who introduced himself as Vlad while directing me which way to drive from the passenger seat of my own car escorts me down the short corridor into a gorgeous penthouse apartment.

I find my brother sitting on one of the couches in the sunken den living room.

“I’m sorry, baby sis. I’m so sorry!” he says, jumping to his feet as soon as we come through the door.

Vlad tuts and crosses the room to shove Clem back down on the couch. “Yes, you should be sorry, causing your poor sister so much unnecessary distress. But right now, we will wait here quietly for Mr. Rustanov to finish the rest of his game.”

“Mr. Rustanov?” I repeat, looking at Clem. “Who’s that?”

Clemson doesn’t answer. Just sits on the couch with his eyes lowered in a way that puts me in mind of a little boy, even though he’s large and dressed in a t-shirt, baggy jeans, and a gold chain. He’s much larger than me and an offensive lineman for the Carolina Leopards. But it doesn’t matter how big or strong he is, there’s always something about Clem that reminds me of a little kid. Maybe that’s because our mom’s dying wish on her deathbed was for me to take care of him no matter what.

No matter what…

The words echo in my ears as I wait for Clem to answer my question.

But instead of replying, he looks to Vlad, like a child requesting permission to speak.

“All will be made clear soon, Princess South Carolina,” Vlad answers in Clem’s stead. “Please sit.”

I sit on the couch directly across from my brother. But I don’t feel much like a former beauty queen, dressed in my loose tank top, shorts, and house slippers with my sisterlocks in the two loose braids I put them in last night. I also really don’t feel like I belong here. This apartment, it’s too nice. I’m an Ikea and replace