The Player Next Door Novels & Stories

"Monster," I smirked to myself as I read the morning paper. If they only knew the truth. I sipped my coffee as I skimmed through the story. They had all the details wrong and the police were idiots. I heard the bell chime on the door to the coffee shop and saw her walk in. Her hair was down just the way I liked it. She was perfect I thought to myself as I eyed her and planned my next move. I think when she finally saw me she made the connection. Her eyes got wide. "Ethan?" Ethan Graves is a well-known man in the community with a dark secret. His darkness is so great that even he can't control it sometimes. He plays his role well during the day but at night he takes on a whole new persona. The newspapers call him a monster and the police are baffled. Then the new detective on the case walks in. The one that he let go. The one he was obsessed with. It was finally time to make her his. The game of cat and mouse had never been something he would ever consider, he usually likes the woman to be weak and defenseless against his charm and good looks. However, for this kill, he would play the game and Josephine Wells would be his trophy.

I never wanted wealth, power, or the responsibility that goes with it. Making a difference by fighting fires was my dream. That and a pretty girl to love at night. But life didn’t ask me. After struggling through the business world, I finally have a chance to return home to chase my dreams. The girl next door, my best friend’s little sister, was there waiting. And she's all grown up. But she’s not too thrilled to see me back. But I’ll change that. I can’t help but fight for what I know we could be, no matter what it costs me. When I finally start to melt her heart, life calls me back to the city, back to the grind thanks to tragedy. It’s her or my future, and I have no choice in the matter. My father’s company is my only legacy, or is it? A little life is growing inside of her, and that changes the game. My self sacrifice doesn't seem so damn important anymore. I might have been forced into becoming a billion dollar man, but I’ll always be a small town guy at heart. And that pretty girl that stole my heart all those years ago? She's gonna be mine. Like she always has been.

I was prepping the ceremonial cloak for our seventh mating anniversary. The front door suddenly banged open. My son rushed inside, tears streaming down his face. "The teacher yelled at me," he sobbed. He shoved the wrinkled drawing into my hands before burying his face in my shirt. I smoothed out the paper to see what the drama was about. It was a sketch of a faceless woman titled: The Substitute Mom. My heart stopped as I read the scribbles underneath. "Daddy said she is the backup." "She does the chores but gets no wages." "The Real Mom is responsible for being beautiful and guarding the treasury." My fingertips turned ice-cold against the paper. My mate, Ethan, had just returned from a patrol. He kissed my forehead. "What did our pup draw?" The next second, his smile froze when he saw the content. His voice tightened, and he reached out to snatch the book. "He watches too many cartoons! He's writing nonsense!" I stared at the man I had shared a den with for seven years. He looked like a stranger now. If I was the substitute. Who was this beautiful real mother? And where had my true son been all these years?

Alena Rossi walked in on her fiance Rayden sleeping with his secretary Stephanie in the house they shared. The chaos around her that unravelled for Rayden was beyond her reach and she hadn't cared enough to stick around and watch the fireworks. Returning to her homeland had given her unexpected surprises that she hadn't anticipated. Devon Tyler is the youngest mogul who took the real estate world by storm and was building an empire for his future. He had dominated a lot in the last five years that made him more elusive until he came face to face with his oldest friend's youngest sister Alena. The young girl who grew up next door to him until he was twenty one. The same little girl that didn't like him one bit as a child and detested his very existence like he was a peasant to her. Came face to face with the adult version, the stunning beauty who still refused to acknowledge him. So he made it his mission to charge at her with everything he has and too see if she dared continue to ignore the untouchable billionaire who refuses to be ignored. The little girl he watched from afar was now within distance and he was up for the challenge as he stared at her silently.

"Quarterback SneakWhen Stacy Halligan is dumped by her boyfriend just before Valentine’s Day, she’s in desperate need of a date of the office party—where her ex will be front and center with his new hot babe. Max, the hot quarterback next door who secretly loves her and sees this as his chance. But he only has until Valentine’s Day to score a touchdown. Unnecessary RoughnessRyan McCabe, sexy football star, is hiding from a media disaster, while Kaitlyn Ross is trying to resurrect her career as a magazine writer. Renting side by side cottages on the Gulf of Mexico, neither is prepared for the electricity that sparks between them…until Ryan discovers Kaitlyn’s profession, and, convinced she’s there to chase him for a story, cuts her out of his life. Getting past this will take the football play of the century. Sideline InfractionSarah York has tried her best to forget her hot one night stand with football star Beau Perini. When she accepts the job as In House counsel for the Tampa Bay Sharks, the last person she expects to see is their newest hot star—none other than Beau. The spark is definitely still there but Beau has a personal life with a host of challenges. Is their love strong enough to overcome them all?Illegal Use of Hands is created by Desiree Holt, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."

Someone @'d me on Nextdoor. "Hey, penthouse girl. You're single. What do you need a whole rooftop garden for? My husband's throwing a party. We'll be needing it starting tomorrow." "Don't worry, we'll give you two hundred bucks a month for upkeep. You'll make a couple hundred for doing jack shit. You should be thrilled." I stared at the screen. It was a joke. I was Don Ricci's heir, groomed to run the South Side. But I traded that life for a paintbrush. This apartment was my sanctuary, my quiet place. That rooftop garden wasn't some building perk. It was mine. I'd paid half a million cash for the deed when I bought the place. I turned it into my sunroom studio. And now someone thinks they can have it for two hundred bucks a month? I replied with two words: "Dream on." I didn't expect the building manager and two security guards at my door the next day. Someone had filed a complaint about me "misusing community resources." And now, for the sake of "neighborly harmony," they were demanding my keys. Fine. They wanted to throw civility out the window? They were about to learn what real power felt like.

It was Emilie's last chance to save her career. She was balancing her folder while knocking the door at the same time. She was supposed to meet Mr. Markov, a single doctor in need of re-furnishing and re-decorating his house. Her boss was itching to date her, saying if Emilie lost the contract she would have to date him to remain as an employee in his company. The folder was heavy, her arms were getting tired. Moments later, the door opened and revealed the handsome single doctor. Emilie was overwhelmed and dropped everything to the floor. ***** He had one appointment before he went to the ER. He needed the meeting to finish early. Max opened the door as soon as he heard the bell. He was not ready for the beauty in front of him. The woman seemed clumsy enough to drop everything to the floor and then cursed colorfully. Well... he was amused by her as he helped the woman with her things. What will happen after their first meeting? And where's the Mafia part in this story?

At the wedding door games, my best friend, Justin Winston, suggests that my fiancee, Tiffany Bastion, feel everyone's abs while blindfolded so that she can guess who the groom actually is. Amid everyone's cheers, Tiffany gives every groomsman a nice feel before shaking her head firmly. "This is too easy! If I can't even recognize my own husband, we might as well call off the wedding!" When Tiffany is about to touch me, Justin suddenly flashes me a mysterious smile. Then, he takes off his shirt and moves to stand in front of her. The next moment, Tiffany shrieks excitedly, "This is my husband! I can't be wrong about this!" Justin lets out a chortle. Then, he grabs Tiffany by the wrist and begins navigating her hand from his abs down to his groin. "Why don't you give this a good feel? Do you still think this is your husband?" Tiffany just smiles bashfully as she roams her hands all over Justin's body. As I look at the pair's overly intimate actions, I sneer at them before stuffing the wedding bouquet into Justin's hands. "Since you two are in sync with each other that much, you might as well host this wedding on your own."

“Lily, I've found my mate.” Adriel, my husband of three years said to me. I froze, trying to process what he actually meant. It seemed like my heart stopped and I was going to fall the next minute. The door was slightly ajar when I heard his footsteps approaching. I was prompted to look ahead of him. My jaw dropped. “Carly?” I gasped, rubbing my eyes to check out if this is actually a dream. It's real! ~Lily's life comes tumbling down when her husband of three years brings back her twin sister as his new mate and introduces her to the pack. He rejects her and asks her to leave his estate and pack with immediate effect. That day, the ruthless Three Alphas of the West, well-known mafias visited the pack estate to get the thirty million dollars Adriel borrowed from them but he was unable to return it, so they took her as compensation. What will her fate be now she's taken to a new pack and is under the control of three hot, charming yet ruthless Alphas? What happens when she realizes she's pregnant with her ex-husband's baby? Will these Alphas turn her away or will her life take an unexpected turn?

For as long as I could remember, a family scorecard hung by our front door like a corporate dashboard. At the end of the semester, my older sister Ava ranked first in her class, and Dad stuck a bright gold star beside her name. I had studied until my eyes burned, but my score still came in exactly three points lower than hers. Dad shook his head in disappointment and drew a huge red mark beside my name. "Mia, do you know how much money you cost this family this month?" He tapped at his calculator and said in a cold, businesslike tone, "Tutoring, supplements, private coaching. Five thousand dollars altogether. Terrible return on investment." "Starting next month, your allowance is in the negative by two thousand. You can work it off by taking over every chore in this house." Ava's eyes curved into a smile. "Mia, according to the performance rules, starting today you have to handle my laundry for a whole year." I clenched my fists, but all I could do was nod. That night, I hid in the bathroom and searched how to raise grades fast. A strange forum link flashed onto my screen. "Do you want to make a trade?" "Give up what is yours. Receive what you desire." "Tap to begin."