Side Hustle

COVER REVEAL Title: Side Hustle Series: Jobs From Hell #4 Author: Marika Ray Genre: Romantic Comedy Cover Design: Rachel Connolly Release Date: January 14, 2021 BLURB The side hustling small town girl finds herself the main attraction when it comes to the mayor’s son. Too bad she’s hated him since he dumped her in high school. Hazel Redding is so poor her side hustle has a side hustle, but what she lacks in dollars, she makes up for in enthusiasm. Hazel’s latest gig might a little embarrassing as a deodorant sniffer, but from her perspective, life is one big party. Especially when she finds gold one day in the hills of her small town. The only downside? The brooding rich boy who broke her heart in high school is the owner of that land, and they’ve had a strict policy of hating each other ever since. Rip Bennett has a need to right some wrongs, but that requires coming out of the shadows of his father, the town mayor. Hazel seems like just what he needs to bring some sunshine to his life, but will the lure of riches and pesky criminal family members pull them apart before Rip can fight for her? Rip might have to get his own hustle on to make her stay. GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55845969-side-hustle EXCERPT Hazel came around the table and pulled me from my chair. “Dance with me.” “Oh, I don’t know,” I dragged my feet until she spun on me and clasped her hands below her chin. “Come on, Rip. Live in the moment just this once. Please, please, please?” I scrubbed a hand over my forehead, sure I’d make a fool out of myself trying to dance. But how could I deny her? She looked like that cat in Shrek when Titus and I babysat Roxy a few months ago. Big eyes and a tremble to her nose I couldn’t resist. “Fine…” Hazel squealed and I felt like an ass for not being more excited over something she clearly wanted to do. She grabbed me again and steered us into the living room. I certainly did not mind pulling her into my arms, her short frame fitting against my body like I was made to shelter her through life’s storms. Funny how it was the opposite though. She was getting me through this transition in my life and I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do without her. Wasn’t sure what I’d do when she realized what a weirdo I was and dumped my ass for someone more fun. The song was slow, thank God, and I knew enough to sway back and forth with her. It wasn’t ballroom dancing. I could sway with the best of them despite never going to any dances in high school. Hazel laid her cheek on my chest and I was sure she could hear my heartbeat kicking up a notch. When she shifted left, her thigh brushing mine and her stomach pressed against the front of my pants, I knew she could feel that. “Why are you frowning?” she whispered. I looked down to see her peering up at me, her eyes gone lazy and heated as we danced. A strand of her dark hair stuck to her lips and I wanted to tug it free. No one got to touch those lips but me. Which was the last thought—rational or not—I had before my hands left her waist and thrust into her hair, keeping her right where I wanted her. She didn’t hesitate even a second, just opened to me the moment my lips hit hers. She let me consume her. Her hands traveled up my neck and into my hair where she grabbed a fistful and held on tight. We’d kissed quite a few times before, but this was more. This was a frenzy I’d never felt before with a woman. A belief that if I couldn’t consume her right then and there I might actually break an essential body part. Hazel pulled back to gasp, her eyes as frenzied as I felt. “Rip. Take me to bed right f*cking now.” AUTHOR BIO Marika Ray is a USA Today best selling author, spending her time behind a computer crafting stories, walking the beaches of southern California, and making healthy food for her kids and husband whether they like it or not. Prior to writing novels, Marika held various jobs in the finance industry, with private start-up companies, and then in health & fitness. Cats may have nine lives, but Marika believes everyone should have nine careers to keep things spicy. Marika enjoys writing all types of fiction novels, based on what inspires her. Right now she’s working on a new steamy RomCom series along with sweet romances to make your heart explode. All her books come with a money-back guarantee that you’ll smile at least once with every book. More information can be found at http://www.marikaray.com AUTHOR LINKS Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/marikaray Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marika-ray Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16856659.Marika_Ray Newsletter: http://bit.ly/MarikaRayNews Website: http://www.marikaray.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormarikaray Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MarikaRaysofSunshine Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/authormarikaray Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormarikaray Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marikarayauthor Book+Main: https://bookandmainbites.com/MarikaRay