Bet the Farm
Bet the Farm
Synopsis
Lauren Calloway can’t get a date, her newly lovestruck bestie is never around, and she just blew a major deal at her luxury real estate job. So, a one-night stand with an attractive stranger seems like the perfect distraction and the immediate gratification she’s lusting for.
Thea Boudreaux left her family’s dairy farm to escape the painful memories of her father’s tragic death, but when her mother tells her they’re going to lose the farm to debt, Thea is devastated. Can she live with her father’s legacy being torn down for luxury condos? Or can she still save it and honor her father’s memory?
When Lauren’s boss tells her about a lucrative land sale that could help her get back on track, she jumps at the opportunity. Never would she have bet her unforgettable one-night stand would be the person stopping her from making the deal of the century.
Praise for Fiona Riley
Bet Against Me
“Riley writes with purpose and ease, which makes for a compelling reading experience. She adds enough details to the settings to make them come to life without getting lost in the details. Her use of humor brings another dimension to the story, adding bonus points for sharp dialogue…This is a super sexy and fun read that hits all the right notes.”—Lesbian Review
A Christmas Miracle (in All I Want for Christmas)
“I enjoyed all three stories and I love how they fit together. They’re very different, both in tone and level of heat (Fiona Riley has not been dubbed Queen of Steam by accident) and balance each other really well…A Christmas Miracle is light and sexy and the perfect way to conclude this anthology.”— Lez Review Books
“Fiona Riley knows how to get me every damn time! Talk about sexy, and honestly, she writes the best dialogue without a doubt. I weirdly get her characters and feel like between the sass and the sarcastic sexy banter, I’d get on with them exceptionally well. What a book to finish on!”—Les Rêveur
Not Since You
“Riley strikes an impressive balance between steamy sex scenes and sweeping romance in this tender second-chance-at-love story…Riley endearingly captures the growth of Charlotte and Lexi’s relationship from when they were in high school to when they are reunited as adults. Readers will root for this well-matched couple.”—Publishers Weekly
Not Since You “is well written and hot. So hot.”—Jude in the Stars
“This book has all the elements of a perfect romance—beautiful characters seeking to rekindle a lost love with heat and passion under sunny skies and starry nights on a cruise ship traveling to a tropical paradise.”—The Lesbian Book Blog
“[A]n entertaining story with a lot of sexy scenes. Not surprisingly, this would be a good beach vacation read. I recommend to those who are interested in romance, second chances, vacationing, cruises, bartending, friends who collude, dirty talk, sexual tension, and packing (not luggage).”—Bookvark
“This book is exceptional lesbian fiction, and the characters (especially Charlotte) were swoon-worthy…honestly, I think I hugged my Kindle at one point…This is to date the sexiest book Fiona Riley has ever written and let me tell you, she has written some of the sexiest lesbian fiction scenes to date.”—Les Rêveur
Media Darling
“A great mix of characters, some great laughs, and a good romance. A great well written read that was emotional and fun.”—Kat Adams, Bookseller (QBD Books, Australia)
“[A] sweet romance with the addition of a critique of the media role in their portrayal of celebrities. Both main characters are multi-layered with their personalities well defined. Their chemistry is absolutely off the charts…an entertaining, poignant and romantic story with a side of social critique to celebrity culture and the media. Five stars.”—Lez Review Books
“I really dig the way Fiona Riley writes contemporary romances because they’re sexy and flirty with a whole lot of feelings, and Media Darling is no exception.”—The Lesbian Review
Media Darling “was well-executed and the sex was well-written. I liked both of the characters and the plot held my interest.”—Katie Pierce, Librarian, Hennepin County Library (Minnesota)
Room Service
“The sexual tension between Olivia and Savannah is combustible and I was hoping with every flirtious moment they would jump each other…[A] sexy summer read.”—Les Rêveur
“Room Service by Fiona Riley is a steamy workplace romance that is all kinds of fabulous…Fiona Riley is so good at writing characters who are extremely likeable, even as they have issues to work through. I was happy to see that the leading ladies in Room Service are no exception! They’re both fun, sweet, funny, and smart, which is a brilliant combo. They also have chemistry that sizzles almost from the get-go, making it especially fun to watch them grow in ways that are good for them as individuals and as a couple.”—The Lesbian Review
“Room Service is a slow-burn romance written from the point of view of both main characters. Ms. Riley excels at building their chemistry that slowly grows to sizzling hot.”—Lez Review Books
“Riley is a natural when it comes to delivering the heat between characters and undeniable chemistry.”—Book-A-Mania
Strike a Match
“Riley balances romance, wit, and story complexity in this contemporary charmer…Readers of all stripes will enjoy this lyrically phrased, deftly plotted work about opposites attracting.”—Publishers Weekly
“[A] quick-burning romance, with plenty of sex scenes hot enough to set off the alarms.”—RT Book Reviews
“Strike a Match is probably one of the hottest and sexiest books I’ve read this year…Fiona Riley is one to watch and I will continue to get extremely excited every time I get one of her books to read.”—Les Rêveur
“While I recommend all of the books in the Perfect Match series, I especially recommend Strike a Match, and definitely in audio if you’re at all inclined towards listening to books. Fans of the other two installments will be happy to see their leads again, but you don’t have to have read them to pick this one up. It’s sweet, hot, and funny, making it a great way to spend a day when you just want to hide away from the world and immerse yourself in a lovely story.”—Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
“Strike a Match is Fiona Riley’s best book yet. Whether you’re a fan of the other books in the series or you’ve never read anything by her before, I recommend checking this one out. It’s the perfect remedy to a bad day and a great way to relax on a weekend!”—The Lesbian Review
“I love this series and Sasha is by far my favourite character yet. I absolutely loved the gritty firefighter details. The romance between Abby and Sasha is perfectly paced and full of wonderful grand gestures, magical dates, and tender, intimate moments.”—Wicked Reads
“Fiona Riley does a nice job of creating thorny internal and external conflicts for each heroine…I was rooting for Abby and Sasha, not only to be together, but also that both of them would grow and change enough to find a true HEA. The supporting cast of family members, friends, and colleagues is charming and well-portrayed. I’m looking forward to more from Fiona Riley.”—TBQ’s Book Palace
Unlikely Match
“The leads have great chemistry and the author’s writing style is very engaging.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (UK)
“Two strong women that make their way towards each other with a tiny little nudge from some friends, what’s not to like?”—The Reading Penguin’s Reviews
“Unlikely Match is super easy to read with its great pacing, character work, and dialogue that’s fun and engaging…Whether you’ve read Miss Match or not, Unlikely Match is worth picking up. It was the perfect romance to balance out a tough week at work and I’m looking forward to seeing what Fiona Riley has in store for us next.
”—The Lesbian Review
Miss Match
“In this sweet, sensual debut, Riley brings together likable characters, setting them against a colorful supporting cast and exploring their relationship through charming interactions and red-hot erotic scenes…Rich in characterization and emotional appeal, this one is sure to please.”—Publishers Weekly
“Miss Match by Fiona Riley is an adorable romance with a lot of amazing chemistry, steamy sex scenes, and fun dialogue. I can’t believe it’s the author’s first book, even though she assured me on Twitter that it is.”—The Lesbian Review
“This was a beautiful love story, chock full of love and emotion, and I felt I had a big grin on my face the whole time I was reading it. I adored both main characters as they were strong, independent women with good hearts and were just waiting for the right person to come along and make them whole. I felt I smiled for days after reading this wonderful book.”—Inked Rainbow Reads
Bet the Farm
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Bet the Farm
© 2021 By Fiona Riley. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-732-9
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: May 2021
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Ruth Sternglantz
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design by Tammy Seidick
eBook Design by Toni Whitaker
By the Author
Miss Match
Unlikely Match
Strike a Match
Room Service
Media Darling
Not Since You
A Christmas Miracle (In All I Want for Christmas)
High Stakes Romances
Bet Against Me
Bet the Farm
Acknowledgments
Thank you to all the readers and the BSB family out there who supported my decision to venture into this new series. I’m having a blast writing these stories, and if not for your encouragement (and enablement), I’m not sure I would have successfully completed this book during a pandemic. It’s been rough for everyone, but I’ve had the gift of escaping into a HEA or two. Writing relationships and worlds full of love has never felt more important than now. I hope you enjoy this brief escape.
To Ruth Sternglantz: You have the patience of a saint, the gentleness of an angel, and the brain of RBG and Maya Angelou combined. You are strong and sincere and resilient, and you share freely and without expectation of anything in return. You have been a light during these difficult months, and you made writing this book far too easy considering the challenges around us at all times. You are one of my closest friends and greatest confidantes and I know that will never change. You’re my favorite (don’t tell the others). ; )
To Kris Bryant: I could write all about the ways you help me storyboard or meet my writing goals for the day, but I’ll save that for the next book when I can’t come up with something more creative to say. For now, I’ll say this: Meeting you during this journey has been one of the greatest and most cherished gifts of my life. You’re a gift, wrapped in rainbows and unicorn paper. And probably full of donuts.
To Georgia Beers: Thank you for your Polos, your surprise treats, and listening to me vent when life gets so heavy. I’m grateful for you.
To my littles: You bring me so much joy. You’re both so magical and lovely and hysterical and beyond sweet. My brilliant, fierce little gingers, I love you so. Thank you for napping midday so I could finish this book.
For Jenn.
There’s nothing like writing a series and raising two littles while living through a pandemic to remind me that marrying you was still the best decision I ever made.
Thank you for this wonderful family and for always having my back.
You are my whole world.
Chapter One
Lauren Calloway cheered as another round of champagne bottles emerged, each one opening with a satisfying pop.
“To finally winning Realtor of the Year,” her best friend Trina Lee said with a raised glass. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you.”
Lauren looked around The Mirage, the hottest bar in town, at all her closest friends and felt the most at home she’d felt in a long time.
She watched Trina kiss her girlfriend and ex-rival Realtor, Kendall Yates, and she sighed a happy sigh. She was glad her friend had found love in the most unlikely of places. And success in finally achieving her Realtor of the Year title. Trina had worked damn hard for everything she had, and Lauren was happy for her. Even if she was a little jealous she had a girlfriend while Lauren remained woefully single. But they were a fantastic match, and she was excited things were working out between them. Even if that meant she had less alone time with her bestie. Having Kendall join their girls’ nights on the couch never felt weird. It was just a little different, that’s all. But this week she could really have used some of those old one-on-one times with Trina. She missed that.
“Uh-oh. That’s a very serious look, Miss Calloway. Do you have serious things on the mind? Because this is a celebration, and there is no serious allowed at this party. I know because I made the guest list.” Trina placed a delicate kiss on her cheek.
“Hmm?” Lauren was still grappling with the major misstep she’d made earlier in the week that cost her what would have been the largest solo deal of her career. Trina had been busy with her own clients and was nervous about the awards ceremony tonight, so Lauren hadn’t mentioned her own setback. She didn’t want to bring her friend down then, and especially not now on her big night. She’d shelve it for later. Tonight was Trina’s night. “Nothing serious, just thinking about what a wild ride this year has been.”
“You’re telling me. Never in a million years did I think I’d be here one year ago today.” Trina shook her head. “That feels like a lifetime ago.”
“I’ll say,” Lauren agreed. This time last year she was consoling Trina after she lost out on the coveted Realtor of the Year title to no one other than Kendall. That night their boss Ellison Gamble made a bet with Kendall’s boss that Trina could outsell Kendall in a high-stakes sales challenge. The sales race had been intense, and somewhere along the way Trina and Kendall had fallen into bed and in love in the process. But not without plenty of drama and tears.
“I know I’ve told you this a thousand times before, but I would be nowhere without you,” Trina said, her expression sincere. “I never would have survived that bet or sorting through my feelings for Kendall without our dish sessions on the couch and your incredible way with curse words.”
“Damn right,” Lauren said with a smile.
“And that amazing brain of yours.” Trina tapped her forehead. “You are so incredible in so many ways, Lau. I never would have sold that penthouse if it wasn’t for your fast thinking and outside-of-the-box approach. That country club idea was genius, and I owe that to you.”
“Perhaps”—Lauren shrugged—“but you sold that other one all on your own.”
Trina grinned. “I did, didn’t I?”
“And to Hollywood’s new lesbian royalty, no less.” Lauren pretended to bow down to her.
Trina laughed, pulling her up into a tight embrace. “Who would have thought this incredible adventure
would have ended with us casually meeting newlywed Hollywood supernova Emerson Sterling and her award-winning screenwriter wife, Hayley Carpenter, on Newbury Street when we begged out of a staff meeting—”
“Only to end up with you convincing her to see the still unsold Harborside super unit.” Lauren laughed as they swayed side to side. They’d had no idea at the time that Emerson was opening her own production company, one she’d hoped would be based in New England. It had been a serendipitous meeting in every way imaginable. But Trina’s never-absent boldness was what got the ball rolling. “The ovaries on you, T. I mean, huge.”
“Huge.” Trina leaned back and gave her a high five. “You gotta seize the day, bitches.”
“What’s all this cheering without Jax?” Jax Pearson, her other best friend and coworker asked as they strolled over. Jax had a particularly contagious twinkle in their eye tonight, and Lauren was sure it was because this bar held an important place in all their hearts. They’d hosted Jax’s very successful top surgery fundraiser here last year. Jax seemed to glow in this moment, so many months post-surgery later. They were finally living their best life as their true self. Lauren was so glad to be a part of that life.
“We were just talking about how much of a boss Trina is,” Lauren said as she accepted one of the full champagne flutes Jax was handing out.
“Such a boss.” Jax raised their glass in agreement.
“Who’s a boss?” Ellison Gamble—their actual boss—asked as she walked over.
“You are,” Lauren said as she saluted her, and everyone laughed. Ellison had that effortless grace that Lauren never quite understood. She seemed to glide into every space, almost like she was floating. Her boss was a smooth operator in every sense of the word. Nothing rattled her. Not a hair was ever out of place. But she was honest and compassionate and supportive in a way that people wouldn’t expect. And she was the best employer Lauren had ever had.