The Prequel to Ethan: Chapter 1

I’m writing a prequel to Ethan, which takes place seven years before the novel so you can see how Ethan and Skye met. I’ll drop a chapter every morning until the release on Friday. Enjoy!

Ethan exited the office building he owned in the middle of Atlanta and took the elevator to the first floor. Normally, he used a driver, but tonight he was driving himself. He climbed into his luxury sedan and pulled out of the covered parking lot. The drive to The Rose Hotel was not far, and the moment he saw the twenty-story building rise up from the roadway like a beacon in the night, a sense of satisfaction filled his chest.

The Rose Hotel had been his first major project and was named for his mother. He still remembered her teary-eyed smile during the grand opening, and occasional visits grounded him and reminded him of how far he’d come.

“Good evening, Mr. Connor,” the valet said as Ethan stepped out of the vehicle.

“Good evening, Tiffany.” He handed the young woman a few bills and strolled into the lobby with his silver briefcase in hand. One of the hosts took the case and went to the elevator, on their way to drop it off in his private suite where he’d be spending the night.

When he built this place, he had the foresight to include several livable suites that could accommodate long-term residents willing to pay for the privilege. One of them remained empty, which he personally used. It was convenient if he didn’t want to drive all the way out to his property, but also because it allowed him to have the pleasure of female company overnight without them intruding into the more personal space of his home.

Ethan went to the small bar and his usual pre-dinner drink. Narrow and long, the bar was tucked into the hotel just off the lobby, cloaked in darkness offset by glowing blue lights in the ceiling. Leather barstools lined the front of the black bar like militia—the soft leather of the armrests and back supports adding to the comfort of the seats. A local artist’s colorful prints filled the dark wood walls across from the bar and looked down on the tables where a few guests whispered together and enjoyed after-work drinks.

“Good evening, Mr. Connor,” the male bartender said in a subdued tone, setting a glass of Cognac in front of Ethan as he settled onto one of the stools. Ethan nodded a greeting and took a sip. Excellent.

Only minutes later, a flash of gold caught the corner of his right eye, and he twisted his head to see a stunning woman enter the bar. As she passed behind him, his eyes lifted to the mirrored wall so he could continue watching her progress.

The gold dress she wore fastened over one shoulder and lay snug on her thick curves, the provocative attire broadcasting it was perfectly designed to be removed. The back dipped enticingly low above her generous backside, the soft-looking material ending at her knees and complimenting a pair of sexy heels whose straps crisscrossed up her calves.

With two stools between them, she stepped up to the bar and turned toward Ethan with an arched eyebrow. That’s when he was hit with the full frontal view. Definitely no bra, and not even those pasty things women wore over their nipples, because hers prominently poked at the gold material.

Her tawny-gold skin brightened the room, and so did the large gold earrings adorning her ears. She wore her hair piled on top of her head and red lipstick that highlighted a pair lips designed to be kissed often and thoroughly.

“Can I help you?” she asked, voice filled with antagonism.

Despite the confrontational tone, the sound of her voice was intriguing—low, with a husky undertone that hinted at sensuality.

“Why so angry? Dressed like that, surely you know men are going to pay attention to you.”

Her lips tightened. “I don’t care what men think. I dressed like this for a specific reason.”

“And that reason is…” Ethan prompted, curious despite himself. He wasn’t in the habit of picking up women at his hotel, but this one definitely held his attention.

“White wine spritzer,” she said to the bartender.

“I’ll pay for your drink if you answer my question,” Ethan said.

“I can pay for my own drinks.” She pulled a credit card from her wristlet and set it on the bar top.

“I’ll take care of her drink,” Ethan said to the bartender, who nodded his understanding.

She tilted her head at him and frowned. “Excuse me, but who the hell are you?”

“Ethan Connor.”

She sat on a barstool and crossed her legs. “Well, Mr. Connor, as I explained a few minutes ago, I don’t need you to buy my drink,” she said in a saccharine voice that conveyed anything but sweetness.

“I understand, but I’d like to. Seems to me you might be having a bad night, and maybe having a stranger buy your drink could make the night a little bit better for you. Enjoy.” He lifted his glass in a silent toast and turned away.

They were both silent for a while, and then the bartender brought over her wine spritzer, and she took a sip. Ethan was still very much aware of her, and though he was interested, he wasn’t going to push. There were plenty of women willing to do much more than have a conversation with him. Women wanted security, and money meant security. He’d learned that lesson a long time ago, in the bitterest of ways. Looks and personality couldn’t compete. The man with the money always got the girl.

“I was stood up.”

Ethan turned in her direction. “Excuse me?” he said, though he heard exactly what she said.

She took a deep breath and let it out, staring into her glass. “You wanted to know why I was upset, so I’m letting you know why. I was stood up.”

“He must be a damn fool.”

That brought a smile to her lips, and she shot him a sidelong glance. “We were supposed to have drinks in the bar, chat for a bit, and then go to dinner, but he’s a no-show.” She shrugged.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Are you married?”

“No.”

She turned further in his direction, so he had a good view of her lovely face again. “No? A man like you?”

“What do you mean, a man like me?”

She eyed him up and down. “Well, you dress well. Nice suit. Expensive watch. And you’re what… late twenties?”

“Good guess. I’m twenty-nine.” Ethan twisted in her direction, letting his right arm rest on the bar top.

“You should definitely be married, which means you’re like all these other men out here. You don’t want anything serious.”

“You’re quick to judge.”

“But I’m not wrong. Honestly, as a woman, I don’t know why we bother. No one wants to date anymore or sit down to a nice meal and have good conversation and get to know each other. Instead, I end up at a bar talking to a stranger because my date stood me up.”

Ethan felt himself smiling. “I promise you, not all men are like that.”

“You’re different, right?” she asked, but there was a teasing tone to her voice.

“No. I’m exactly the kind of man you want to avoid.”

Her eyebrows jerked up for a fraction of a second. “That’s quite an admission.”

“I don’t play games. I prefer to be open and honest.”

She lowered her gaze and tapped a painted nail on the stem of her glass.

“The right man for you is out there, somewhere,” Ethan added.

“I guess I’ll have to keep looking.” She drained her glass of wine and slipped off the stool. “Thank you for the drink. Have a good evening.”

She headed toward the exit, and once again his gaze followed her progress behind him, and then he turned his head to watch her walk out the door at the end.

The bartender let out a low whistle as he wiped down the bar. “I would never stand up a woman who looked like her.”

Ethan silently agreed.

___________

Ethan arrives on January 28, 2022.

Buy links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | BN | Apple | Kobo | Google Play

Join my Readers Lounge to participate in the release party on January 28 and the book chat on February 10.

The Prequel to Ethan: Chapter 2

The Prequel to Ethan: Chapter 3

The Prequel to Ethan: Chapter 4