Love to Hate You (Hope Valley #9) - Jessica Prince Page 0,97

answer, Hayden has a decision to make. She can either take a leap and put her trust in him, or she can let the secrets destroy them.

Enjoy and excerpt from Seducing Lola

If you totally dug the whole enemies-to-lovers vibe that Hayden and Micah had going on before that passion finally exploded, then I’ve got another book you won’t want to miss! Check out Seducing Lola below.

Chapter 1

Lola

“And you won’t believe what that asshole you call a father did this time!” My mother’s voice echoed through the receiver, drowning out the honking cars and the clicking of my five-inch Gucci heels on the pavement as I crossed 7th Avenue. The typical bustling city sounds were lost as Elise Abbatelli ranted and raved through my cell phone.

“No telling, Ma,” I answered with a roll of my eyes.

“Well I’ll tell you!” she continued. “He showed up at The Met with that… that… woman! It was like he wasn’t the slightest bit embarrassed to have a call girl on his arm during the mayor’s birthday celebration! I tell you, Lola, that man has no shame whatsoever. It’s humiliating to know we run in the same circles.”

I let out a deep sigh as I shoved open the glass door of the Starbucks near my building and joined the line of customers, all of us in desperate need of a morning pick-me-up. I inhaled the rich scent of brewing coffee and the sweetness of the pastries as I searched for my calm. Talking to my mother had a tendency to drive me a little batshit. Then again, I came by it honestly, seeing as my own mother was more than just a little crazy.

“For the last time, Ma, Chelsea isn’t a call girl. She’s a gold digger. Contrary to popular belief, there really is a difference. And you wouldn’t run in the same circles if you’d just stop attending all the events you know Dad’s going to be at. The only one you’re torturing is yourself. Hell, no one would even know you two had been married once if you’d quit going around and announcing it to all of Manhattan.”

“Don’t you sass me, Lola Arianna Abbatelli!”

The irony that my father’s surname stood for “little priest” in Italian wasn’t lost on me. The last thing Roberto Abbatelli could ever be compared to was a priest. The man was toeing the line of sixty and still couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. But then again, why would he? He built his investment firm from the ground up, eventually earning so much success he’d been listed in Forbes more times than I could count. With money and power like his, fidelity and commitment were a joke.

“I’m not sassing you, Ma.” I sighed again, moving up another step as the long line shuffled forward. “I’m just stating facts. You’ve been divorced for over two decades. With the money you got from that settlement, you could go anywhere, yet you insist on staying in Manhattan where you know you’ll run into Dad constantly. What’s the point? Move to the Caribbean or something! Find a smokin’ hot cabana boy to fill your free time.” I heard a masculine snort of laughter come from behind me but was too entrenched in my mother’s rantings to give it any thought.

“I have a life,” she insisted haughtily. If I’d been standing in front of her, I had no doubt her chin would have been tilted up, nose in the air. “I have friends—”

“You have acquaintances. And I’ve met most of them, Ma. Believe me, you wouldn’t be missing out by shirking them off first chance you get.”

She didn’t argue with that, knowing good and well most of those so-called friends were nothing but bloodsucking leeches. “I have my work.”

I let out an indelicate snort. “You don’t work!”

“I’ll have you know I’m on the boards of many very influential charities.”

Another eye roll. “You can write a check from the beaches of Barbados.”

“Well… I have your brother!”

There was no way I could suppress my eye roll just then. “That’s just sad, Ma. Dom’s a grown man. You should’ve cut the cord a long time ago. You’re making excuses.”

“I am not!”

I lowered my voice, making sure to keep my tone soft as I said, “I get it, Ma. I do. Dad was the love of your life and it sucks having to let him go, but you’re never going to move on if you’re constantly bumping into each other. And I’m tired of seeing you get your