Gentleman Nine

Gentleman Nine

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new, sexy standalone novel.<br /><br />Growing up, the three of us were friends.<br />He was the nerd.<br />I was the playboy.<br />She was the beauty.<br /><br />Deep down, I only ever wanted her. I kept it inside because Rory and I made a pact that our friend, Amber, was off-limits.<br /><br />He lied.<br /><br />I went off to college, and he got the girl.<br />Amber never knew how I felt.<br />They were together for years—before he broke her heart.<br /><br />Through it all and across the miles, she and I casually stayed in touch.<br />When my job sent me to Boston for a three-month contract position, Amber let me stay in her spare room.<br /><br />Still reeling from her breakup, she’d sworn off men.<br />One night, I opened her computer to find the shock of my life. She’d hesitantly contacted a male escort company. Afraid to date and get her heart broken again, she was looking for sex with no strings.<br />Every emotion imaginable ran through me: protectiveness, jealousy—curiosity.<br />Amber had chosen Gentleman Number Nine and sent him a message.<br />She opened up to him, confessing, among other things, her physical attraction to her friend—me. But she considered me off-limits—and she thought I was a manwhore. (Ironic, considering the circumstances.)<br /><br />Eventually, she set up a date to meet Gentleman Nine at a hotel. <br />When she showed up several nights later to meet him, she was stunned to see me standing there—with an offer I hoped she wouldn’t refuse.<br />