Hammered Read online

  Gage winks at me. “Why don’t you take your mom and show her where they will stay, while I give Arun a tour.”

  I realize I haven’t even come close to preparing him for the fact that my parents are so used to finding out as much information about the people they come into contact with in a short amount of time in hopes to build what they consider a relationship based on a thirty-minute treatment. That this...This may feel like a CIA interrogation.

  Gage

  Arun asks a lot of fucking questions, mostly about my line of work and Falcon’s Landing. I get the feeling he thinks I’m undecided about what it is I want to do when I “grow up.” I’m not used to men firing question after question at me. If he was anyone else, I would have ended it really fucking quick. But since Phoenix is his daughter, I allow it.

  Within twenty minutes, he knows I own a construction company that was started by my mother and adoptive father, he knows I have been running it from here for the past month, he’s met Mags, and thankfully, Mags gave him a few sips of shine so he’s not so fucking uptight.

  Sitting on the back deck, we watch the Steel families all playing in the lake, and I decide that since he’s a little bit more chill, there’s no time like the present.

  “Arun, I would like you to know that I have every intention of asking Phoenix to be my—”

  “You wanna marry her.” He nods and looks around. “She’s a hard worker. She can help—”

  “I’m marrying her, not hiring her,” I tell him.

  He looks at me. “Marriage will last if you work side by side. You are never more important than she, and she never more important than you. Partners in everything.”

  I nod. I get what he’s putting down, and from what little Phoenix has told me, it makes perfect sense.

  “She wants to work, she can. She wants to stay home and have a dozen kids—”

  “No.” He shakes his head. “Phoenix must work.”

  The man is pissing me off a tad. I want to tell him it doesn’t matter if she does or doesn’t, but then he leans in.

  “Phoenix must work, just like her mother. If she doesn’t work, she’ll feel less valuable. She doesn’t feel of value to you, then you don’t marry her. My daughter was raised to work and not expect or take a hand out. My grandchildren will be raised the same.”

  I nod. “Agree.” I hold out my hand to shake his. It feels kind of like a business arrangement, but I will take it.

  He leans in. “October is best for us for a wedding. Big wedding.”

  I see Phoenix and her mother coming out of the house and look at my watch.

  Thirty fucking minutes, that’s it?

  I look up, and Phoenix shrugs.

  I give her a holy shit look, and she laughs.

  “Beautiful place, Gage Falcon.” Bopha smiles and gives a slight bow.

  “Thank you.”

  She takes my hands and looks at them, and then looks back at Phoenix. “He’s a hard worker.”

  Phoenix smiles. “Yes, he is.”

  “Marry him,” she says, pinching her cheek.

  “Oh, my God, Mom,” Phoenix gasps, but in her beautiful, almost black eyes, I see happiness, excitement, and acceptance.

  “October, big wedding, already discussed with Gage,” Arun tells his wife.

  “What?” Phoenix gasps.

  I laugh, and when she looks at me, I tell her, “It’s already been discussed.”

  Destroyed

  Available May 29, 2017

  Beaten. Broken. Battered.

  Garrett Falcon's past, present, and future are fragmented pieces of the life he once dreamed of.

  Deceits. Damned. Doomed.

  Raised by a dealer and addict, Juliana Torres was born into a life she desperately dreamed to one day escape.

  Two people who have lost hope. Two people who have been dealt blow by blow in their lives.

  What happens when these two are forced together after years of lies that connected them but also kept them apart?

  Their hearts get...Destroyed.

  Wasted

  Available June 26, 2017 (Grayson’s Story)

  Acknowledgements

  To the reader of this book,

  You are my blessings. Thank you so much for reading my words, my stories, sending messages, emails, being part of my group, commenting on posts, leaving reviews…basically thank you for anything and everything you do for the love of my words.

  To the bloggers involved in this release,

  A Naughty Book Fling, Amazeballs Book Addicts, As You Wish Reviews, Beantown Bitches Book Page, Blazinbear's Book Blog, Book Bangers Blog, Book Lover Promo, Books Laid Bare, Brandy Paige Roberts, Brittany's Book Blog, Cat's Guilty Pleasure, Crazy Daisy Book Whore, Danielle's Domain, DD's Book Room, Debbie Rodrigues Sousa, Dreamers Lover Of Bookblog, Finding Love Between the Covers, G & T's Indie Café, G & T's Indie Café, I'm A Book Shark, Indie Wish List, johnnarc, K&J Book Promotions, kdrbck, Lisa's Bookluscious Blog, Love Romance Books, Mama Fashionista/ Mama Fashionista Reviews/ Sweet Red Reader, Mixed Emotions Book Blog, MJ's Book Blog and Reviews, My Book Filled Life, Naughty Book Love Affair, Nicole's Book Musings, Ramblings From SEKS, Reflections Of A Book Geek, Rochelle's Reviews, SBB Reviews, Shelly's Book Corner, Shirley's Bookshelf, Sinful Swag And Sass, Strike It Lucky Book Blog, The Opening Hook, The Power of Three Readers, Theory of A Dreamer, Two Crazy Bookaholics, We've licked that book blog, Wendy's Book Blog, Diane at Wicked Tales of Racy Reads, Words Turn Me On, TDC Book Reviews, Crystal's Chaotic Confessions, Angela's Opinion, Readers World Book Haven, My Book Filled Life, Alpha Book Club, Real Tasty Pages, TDC Book Reviews, 2 chicks and a book, 2 Friends Pimp Your Books, A Naughty Girl's Novel World Book Blog, A small girl, her man and her books, Abibliophobia Anonymous Book Reviews, Abigail Mead, AC Squared Book Blog, Addicted to Reviews, All my Book finds, All Things Dark & Dirty, Alphas Do It Better Book Blog, Angels of bloggers, Angels with Attitude Book Review, Another Book Hangover, Badass Bloggettes, Bangor Belle Book Besties, Barbara's Book Reviews, Beauty Full of Books, Best Friends Breathe Books, Best-When Read Daily, Between The Bookends, Book 'Em Krafty's Book Review & More, Book Addict, Book Boyfriends Central, Book Cave Btches, Book Club Gone Wrong, Book Flirts, Book lovers down under, Book review Virginia Lee, Book reviews and recommendations, Book Thoughts n Things, Book Worms and Couch Potatoes, BookBistroBlog, Bookhookers book blog, BookJunkyGirls, Books & Bells, Books After Fifty..., Books and Boys Book Club, Books are a Girls Best friend, Books that are a must read, Books to Breathe, Books with Kathy, Books, Wine and Lots of Time, Books Are Everything Blog, Bookworm Belle, Bound By Books Book Review, Buried Under Books, Busy Bumble Bee Book Reviews, Butterfly Dreams Book Blog, Charlotte's Mumbles and Musings, Charlotte's Mumbles and Musings, Cozy Corner Reading Nook, Crazy Beautiful Reads, Crystal's Many Reviewers, Cutting Muse Blog Review, Cyn's Book Review, Dani's Book Review Blog, Delish, Devine and All Mine, Diana's Book Reviews, Dianela's Details, Digital Dirty Girl Book Blog, DMRBB, DomoMin Reader, Ebook Addicts, Ebook Indulgence, Erotic Romance Book Blog with Sandy, Erotica lover, Ever Growing Book Obsession, Fan Girl Book Blog, Floralsndragons, For All the Books I've Loved so far..., Foxylutely Book Reviews, From the Creative Mind of Sai Marie, Gigi Luvs Books, HelCees Bangin Books, Hellmouth's Bookblog & Reviews, Hot Girls Read, Hot Kindle Reads, I am a Book Hoarder, I Don't Get Sundays, InBookEden, Indy Book Fairy, @BOOKWORM_LJ, Itty-Bitty-Books, Jeanette Book Reviews, Jeri's Book Attic, Just One More Page Reviews, Just Love My Books Romance book blog, Kelly's Nerdy Obsession, Kick Back & Review, Kimberly's Hot Reads, Kimberly's Hot Reads, Kindle books and more, Kindle Friends Forever, Kinky Girls Book Obsessions, Kiss N'Tale Blog, La Jersey Chika Reads Indie Books, LBM Book Blog, Leave Me Alone I'm Reading, Library Underground, Lip-smackin Good Books, Lisa-Queen of Random, Little Shop of readers, Live ~ Laugh ~ Ducks, Lock that Door, Love to read romance books, Lucky 13 Book Reviews and News, Maari Loves Her Indies, Maddy's Reading, Madly in love with books...Freaking obsessed with them, Magical Pages Book Blog, Ma
ma of Boys, Marah loves books, Megz LOVES Books, Melissa!s Delicious Books, MillsyLovesBooks, MissRead, Mom Reads to Escape Reality, Mom's Secret Book Blog, Ms C's Diversions, My Time Out Book Blog, Naughty Book Blog, Need Epic Reads, Nerdy Dirty & Flirty, NICOLE'S BOOK BLOG & REVIEW, Night Owl Reviews, Obsessed by books, Obsessive Reading Disorder, Ogitchida Kwe's Book Blog, OMG Reads, Paranormal Trance Promos, Pardon My Blurb, Rabid Readers Book Blog, Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets, Rather be reading, Read Our Thoughts, Read. Review. Repeat., Readers World Book Haven, Reading and Funny, Reading In Sarah's Corner, Reading Is Our Satisfaction Blog, Reading Renee, Reading, Willing & Able, Real Talk Book Talk, Recommend books and blogs, Red's Midnight Readers, Renee Entress, Rockstar Book Muse, Romance Book Nerd, Romance Book Review for You, Romancing the Past, Romantic Words, S-n-M Book Blog, Sandra Loves Reading, Sassy Girl Books, Sassy Southern Book Blog, Shades of reading, Shahla's Book Corner, Simly Kelina, Sinful Swag and Sass, Smut Fanatics, Smut lovers Wonderland, Socially Awkward Book Nerd, Southern Babes Book Blog, Southern Vixens Book Obsessions, Sparkly Girl Blogs, Spunky n Sassy Promotions & Reviews, StarAngels Reviews, Tangents and Tissues Book Blog, Tania's Book Blog, Tara Dawns Books and More, TBR Book Blog, TCC Books and More, Tears of Crimson, The Book Addict's Reviews, The Book Fairy Reviews, The Book Nuts, The Bookworm Chronicles, The Kennedy Connection, The Leatherbound Rose, The Reading Wolf, The Secret Dreams of Books Book Blog, The Silver Dagger Scriptorium, The Sirens Book Reviews, The Voluptuous Book Diva, Those Crazy Book Chicks, Tracies Book Reviews, True Revue Book Blog, Two Darlin Dolls and A Book Review, Under The Covers Book Lovers, Us Girls & a Book, Violin Vixen Reviews, Warrior Woman Winmill, Wopsywoo book blog, Yah Gotta Read This, Bookalicious Babes Blog, and The Rock Stars of Romance. Anyone I missed, I’m so sorry.

  To Ena and Amanda at Enticing Journey,

  Thank you for everything you are doing behind the scenes, to help me spread the word of… my words to everyone. I am super excited to be working with you ladies. Class acts.

  To Ellie McLove,

  Thank you for all your skill, and help. Your edits rock, never a change in my voice. You are an amazing gift to the book world, and your love for the Indie world is amazing.

  To Kim G,

  Hawkeye! Love you girl.

  To C&D,

  You pretty up my words, your feedback and direction makes me smile, you amaze me.

  To Jules,

  One of my besties, my rock, my daily phone call, my beautiful and talented formatter, cover designer, PA, sister, I. LOVE. YOU. You’re kind of everything.

  To Jonny,

  That face, that ink, THOSE EYES… okay enough gushing, you’re a beautiful man inside and out. (Thank your Momma daily, lol)

  To Wander Aguiar,

  Talent in abundance. Love the pictures you take, especially this one.

  To my Little Chick,

  Love you more. You can read this when you’re thirty...five.

  About The Author

  USA Today bestselling author MJ Fields write books that scorch pages and melt hearts. Her style is raw, gritty and authentic. Love an alpha and a strong heroine? She does too.

  Join MJ’s mailing list: http://bit.ly/MJFNews

  Visit her website here: http://www.mjfieldsbooks.com/

  Follow her on Facebook: facebook.com/MJFieldsBooks

  Follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/mjfieldsbooks

  Follow her on Instagram: instagram.com/mjfieldsbooks

  Goodreads: http://bit.ly/MJonGoodreads

  Book Bub: http://bit.ly/MJBookBub

  Readers Group: http://bit.ly/MJReaders

  Other Books By MJ Fields

  The Men of Steel Series

  Forever Steel

  Jase

  Jase and Carly

  Cyrus

  Zandor

  Xavier

  Forever Family

  Family

  Momma Joe

  The Ties of Steel Series

  Abe

  Dominic

  Eroe

  Sabato

  The Rockers of Steel Series

  Memphis Black (Memphis and Tallia)

  Finn Beckett (Finn and Sonia)

  River James (River and Kianna)

  Billy Jeffers (Billy and Madison)

  UnSocial Daters Club: Matched Duet

  Match This!

  ImPerfectly Matched!

  Steel Country Series

  Hammered

  Destroyed (May 29, 2017)

  Wasted (June 26, 2017)

  LRAH Legacy Series (These families’ stories are intertwined starting with The Love series, they move to the Wrapped Series, the Burning Souls series, and end in Love You Anyways.

  Many more series will spin off from these characters already written and each will be a standalone series but for those of us who love a story to continue I recommend reading in this order.

  The Love Series

  (Must Be Read In This Order)

  Blue Love

  New Love

  Sad Love

  True Love

  The Wrapped Series

  Wrapped In Silk

  Wrapped In Armor

  Wrapped In Always and Forever

  Burning Souls Series

  Stained

  Forged

  Merged

  LRAH Legacy Additions

  Love You Anyway

  Love Notes

  The Truth About Love Series

  27 Truths (Ava’s Story)

  27 Lies (Luke’s Story)

  The Norfolk Series

  Irons (Jaxson and Frankie, book 1)

  Shadows (Shadows and Mary, book 2)

  Titan (Coming 2017)

  Published with Loveswept/Penguin Random House

  The Caldwell Brothers Series

  (co-written w/ Chelsea Camaron)

  Hendrix

  Morrison

  Jagger

  Standalones

  Visibly Broken

  (co-written w/ Chelsea Camaron)

  Offensive Rebound