It all stops the day she finds out. It all stops when she sheds the good girl vibe that’s been dragging her down like a stone. It all stops when she takes a shot of what she’s been missing, at the hands of a hot bartender named Jax.

Saona’s ready to step out on the ledge and breathe the wild air.

EXCERPT #1

"I'm a federal employee."

I laugh. "Seriously?"

His eyes narrow. "What did you think I do?"

Stripper, nude male model, porn star?

I settle for a pathetic, “I don’t know.”

The blush must color my whole face because he chuckles and hooks a finger in his pocket. "You're funny. What's your name?"

"Saona."

"Sah-OH-nah," he repeats, and I soak my panties when he makes the syllables out like a moan. "What does it mean?"

"It's the island where my parents met."

"Cool. Where is it?

"Off the coast of the Dominican Republic. That’s where we’re from.”

"Oh. I’ve always wanted to go there."

"You should, it's beautiful."

He moves away to check on someone else and something occurs to me. I open my Facebook app and go through the albums of the last time I was in the Dominican Republic. David had gone to his family's town with his brother and I stayed in the capital. There had been those sketchy photos with his “cousin.” I search back and find the album. He'd been tagged in the photo but I hadn’t thought to look. I go to the woman's profile and search around until I find the photo of David with his arm around her.

I open a browser window and try to log into his Hotmail account. It takes me three tries, but I get in with his father's last name and date of birth. I search the folders until I find emails and photos from women back to when we first met.

God, I have been so stupid.

Rage takes over and I switch to my email account, pull the drafted message, and hit send without hesitation. I stare at the subject long after I send it. I want to file for divorce. Then, I forward all the messages to my account and email my coworker, asking if the apartment he was renting on Riverdale is still available.

"It's last call," Jax announces, coming close again. "I'm trying not to take it personal, but you didn't drink anything I mixed for you."

I shake my head. "Don't. It's not you. It’s me—"

"Oh no. You're giving me a break up line. Did I treat you that badly?"

I laugh. "On the contrary, you made me smile tonight. I needed that."

"Then I'm doing better than I thought." His eyes twinkle and there goes that perfect smile again, stoking up every corner of my body.

I want him. The thought hits me like a ton of bricks. I want him to make me feel better. I need his body over mine and his mouth all over me. But big guys like him are never interested in women like me. They want skinny blondes with long legs. I’m all ass and hips and small tits.

"Do you need anything else tonight, Saona?"

He says my name so perfect I could picture it ripping out of his throat as he pounds into me. It does me in. My day can’t get any shittier. I won't die from rejection, but I've been left to wonder so many things. I wonder if David really ever loved me or if he’s just kept me around to pay his bills and bankroll his life. I wonder how I could have been so blind for so many years.

I won't be left to wonder if I could have this man I want so bad right now.

"You. I want you. Come up to room six-twenty."

Holy shit, that came out of my mouth.

He's staring, wide-eyed and mouth-opened, like I sucker punched him.

Oh God.

Someone calls his name and he turns around. I panic, look around and I see the elevator like a beacon calling out to me. I make a run for it.

My heart is pounding in my ears and I rush inside the elevator. I don't breathe again until I lean against the door inside my room.

ABOUT J.L. LORA

J. L. Lora is a Dominican-American author. Her stories explore the dark side of good characters, people living in the gray areas of life while playing the cards life has dealt them. She loves strong heroines and their equally powerful Men. She currently lives in Maryland, pursuing her dream of writing compelling, sexy, can’t-put-down stories about empowered, badass alpha heroines and take-your-breath-away alpha heroes

If you wish to know more information about J. L. Lora, you can visit her website: www.JLLora.com.

You can also sign up for J. L. Lora’s newsletter for news, releases, events, more information, and extras related to Boss, Made, and The Trinity Series. Visit www.JLLora.com/newsletter to sign up and never miss a thing!