The Making of a Scoundrel

Den of Sin #17

by Renee Luke

Real estate agent Simone Jones doesn’t have time for boyfriends or lovers, not when she has a pay-or-quit notice on her door. She needs money, not distractions. Desperation sends her out to the Louisiana bayou to make a sale to the Beaudelaires—one of New Orleans’s wealthiest families.She had no idea old money could be so young and look so fine. Seductive Sebastian Beaudelaire may have been born with the cold metal of a silver spoon in his mouth, but he’s all warmth and oh so tempting. She doesn’t want to throw away her budding career as payment for his touch, for his kiss, for him. But that’s exactly what she may do if she can’t resist the scoundrel’s trail of seduction. Sebastian has lived a passionless life of privilege. While he loves his wife, it’s been years since she’s shown desire for him. Despite all her encouragements for him to take a lover, he’s never been tempted…until now. Simone’s the heat he’s been missing—the type of love that could make a man risk everything. For her he’s willing to take the risk, but is it fair to ask her to gamble everything, too?

34 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2015

About the author

Renee Luke believes there’s nothing wrong with making him want it, as long she wants it, too. She dreams up her stories amidst the beauty of the Sacramento Valley, where her hero husband wanted it enough to give her four beautiful children. It’s Renee’s belief that there’s nothing better than good books, great friends…oh, forget it…there’s nothing better than steamy nights with the man of your dreams.

Reviews

[KBeautiful1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was less about sex (although it was in here) and more about unrequited love. Simone Jones and Sebastian Beaudelaire were two people who fell for each other, one was unattached and the other was attached in marriage.

Simone was on her way to show property to Mr. Sebastian Beaudelaire when her car broke down on the side of the road. Stranded and listening to her Bobby Brown cassette tape, she had no idea that the sun was even setting until there was a rap on her window startling her out of her reverie. As she eyed the stranger believing he may be a serial killer or a rapist, he introduces himself and coaxes her out of the car so that he can give her a lift to a hotel.

Sebastian Beaudelaire is in a loveless marriage and has been for years. He loves his wife and children but isn't in love with her. His wife even encourages him to have relationships outside of their marriage which he never did until he met Simone and fell in love with her. They make great love to one another and then Simone leaves. Sebastian comes to her again and reveals that he is married but he want to be with Simone and she want to be with him too.

Years later Simone flees with a daughter in tow and moves to California. Sebastian is the love of her life but now as she lay in her bed battling the sickness from the chemotherapy, she learns Sebastian has been in a horrific car accident and is now lying in a medically induced coma. Unable to go and be by his side, she reveals to her daughter Noelle (whom is grown now) that Sebastian is her father and she want her to go to him and explain to him why she left all those years ago. As Noelle prepares to head to New Orleans, Simone wants to go back to dreaming about the only man she has ever loved.

The next story called "Season of the Beaudelaires" will be coming soon. I do hope author Renee Luke will get to finish the story of Simone and Sebastian. Although this was a short story it was full and rich, now you want to know how all of this is going to turn out between Simone, Sebastian and their daughter Noelle.

Well Until My Next Review Ciao Bellas!

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Making of a Scoundrel was short and sweet. Almost, too short. It definitely left me wanting to know more about Simone and Sebastian. Hopefully, Ms Luke will let us learn more about them in the next Den of Sin season.