4.5/5 🌟
3.5/5 🌶️
I so much needed this book. I sometimes like to binge read certain authors and I’m trying very hard not to do that with Tessa Bailey books!! I love her writing style, and her comedy and wit, as well as the small dramas that are in there. The spice is always tastefully done in my honest opinion with making you feel like you’re straight up reading porn or erotica.
Roxy Cumberland is a Jersey girl that has moved to NYC to pursue an acting career. She’s a struggling actress trying to pay bills and rent and is therefore working as a singing telegram performer. Her roommate has just kicked her out for being late one too many times in paying her half.
Louis McNally (should be spelled Lewis based on pronunciation) has family money but is also a successful attorney. He is home hungover in the middle of the day on a Thursday after celebrating the night before after winning his most recent courtroom battle.
Roxy shows up at Louis’s door to deliver a telegram sent by who Roxy assumes is his significant other? Girlfriend? One night stand? Roxy feels humiliated wearing a pink bunny costume and high heels not to mention what she’s about to sing.
After hearing a groan, Louis answers the door. Roxy is stunned by how good looking Louis is after having pictured someone middle aged. She decides his treasure trail should be called a rapture path when he answers the door wearing nothing but an unbuttoned pair of jeans. She considers his abs approachable abs. The kind you can either lick or snuggle up against based on your mood. She tries to get control of herself when she moves her eyes to his face and realizes those and are child’s play compared to his stubbles jaw, bed head and big Hershey colored eyes that are outlined by long dark lashes.
Louis is stunned as well and asks, “Am I still drunk or are you dressed like a rabbit?” His voice rough from sleep, probably, made Roxy’s tummy do a backflip.
Roxy very frankly states that she is dressed like a rabbit. Louis says okay and asks if he should be drunk for this. Again, Roxy frankly states that if anyone should be drunk for this, it should be her. Louis says “good point” he thinks there’s still some tequila left.
Roxy says, “Ya know what? I think I’m all set”. Louis nods and says, “So what now?” Roxy asks, “Are you Louis McNally?” Louis answers that he is while leaning against the door jam and considers her and states that he’s named after his grandfather and technically Louis McNally the Second and asks, “How’s that for fancy?” Roxy asks him, why he’s telling her that and Louis claims he’s just making small talk. Roxy then asks if this is a typical Thursday for him and if he gets a lot of forest creatures on his doorstep. He informs her that she is the first. She retorts, “Well then, call me Pink Bunny the First. How’s that for fancy?” Louis laughs and tells her that she sounds cute. Then asks, “You cute under there Bunny?” Roxy answers with, “Being that your one night stand sent me here to sing for you, I don’t know if that matters.” she answered sweetly. Louis states that cute girls trump all. He then asks, “What was that about singing?” Roxy clears her throat and assumes a pose then starts singing, “To my hot shot honey bunny, last night we went places and had some funny. You brought me home and we skipped the small talk, now I’m daydreaming about your perfect” as Louis interrupts with a “stooop! Jesus, please make it stop”.
Roxy tells him he better be complaining about the lyrics and not her singing. He answers sure then asks her who it was that sent her. Roxy stares at him dumbfounded, not that he can tell since she has on the bunny mask. She then asks him if he had sex with more than one girl last night. He defensively says that he was celebrating and to not be a judgmental rabbit cause they’re the worst. Roxy being more than a little disgusted says, “Okaay, my work is done here as she turns tail and starts walking away. Over her shoulder calling, “Zoe sent me. You might wanna right that down” Louis asks if she was the redhead. When Roxy stops dead in her tracks he smiles to let her know he was joking. He says, “Hold up. Can you just wait here a second? I should give you a tip”. While he’s fumbling in jeans pocket Roxy asks with a smirk, “Which tip are we referring to here? I did just sing an ode to your penis”. Louis asks her to please not remind him and drew a $20 out of his wallet and says, “Just one request though, I wanna see your face first”.
This irritates Roxy especially after her boss this morning had told her she had a strippers body. Roxy asks Louis, “Why? If you like what you see will you invite me inside? You haven’t even showered off the last girl yet”. Louis looks a little ashamed. Without giving him a chance to answer Roxy continues, “Would you expect me to be flattered?” She clutches her chest dramatically, “Please o keeper of the golden penis, let me worship at your flawless phallus”. Louis says as his shame morphs to irritation, “Careful. You’re starting to sound a little jealous to me”. Roxy incredulously says, “Jealous!” while thinking all she wants to do is wipe the smug superiority off the Penis Prince’s face, as she reached up and removed the mask. Feeling satisfied when his jaw went slack. “Jealous?” she repeats As she strolls towards him shoving him into his apartment and up against the wall by his door. “Sweetheart, I’d rock your world”. Not giving him a chance to respond, she goes up on her toes a melds her mouth to his. Louis doesn’t even hesitate. He was affecting her with that kiss. In a way she’d never felt before. He made a noise like he was starving for her and she repeated it louder while asking herself what exactly was going on. She was losing control of the situation and reminded herself to get it back. She ended the kiss and inhaled a long breath. Louis trying to breathe as well asks her, “Who the hell are you?” Feeling satisfied she plucks the $20 from his fingers and says, “I’m gone”. Then blows into the hall, bypassing the elevator and takes them 2 at a time leaving Louis staring after her.
That friends is only chapter 1!!! I love snarky Roxy and how she really makes poor Louis work for it!