Men of 3X CONStruction Series by Erosa Knowles

He released her hand and placed both his palms on the counter behind her, caging her in. “Tell me when’s the right moment to tell another person your past bullshit, your damn secrets that you don’t wanna face, your skeletons?” His eyes skewered hers. Everyone claimed to want to know shit, but there was a price to the telling. “I know people who marry and never share some of their secrets,” he said, inching closer. “A lot of shit dies with them... moreHe released her hand and placed both his palms on the counter behind her, caging her in. “Tell me when’s the right moment to tell another person your past bullshit, your damn secrets that you don’t wanna face, your skeletons?” His eyes skewered hers. Everyone claimed to want to know shit, but there was a price to the telling. “I know people who marry and never share some of their secrets,” he said, inching closer. “A lot of shit dies with them. How do you know when it’s right to share? Because I’ve no idea how to ride that train.” The pink tip of her tongue leisurely moistened her lips. “I think when you care about someone, you build to a level of trust and you take them into your confidence.” A level of trust, female bullshit. “Yeah, but that’s the problem. It’s easier to give your body, than your deep personal shit.” She ducked her head. He continued speaking in a low whisper. “I mean the real stuff that’s close to your heart. The fucked up shit everybody keeps locked up. Most folk don’t get close enough to ever see the dark places inside.” He watched her swallow hard. “So I ask again, how do you know when’s the right time.” He leaned next to her ear and whispered. “After how many dinners, or dates? Before or after we fuck? What’s the magic number that opens the door to my personal shit, ‘cause I damn sure ain’t telling everybody my personal business.” His voice remained conversationally low, calm, while nerves jumped and pulsed at the thought of sharing some of the things he’d done in the past. He’d rather buy anything she demanded, or take her anywhere in the world, than fully open up and let her see some of the dark places in him. Shit, he didn’t like to look inside and rarely did. She narrowed her eyes. “This isn’t about everybody. It’s about you and me.” She pushed his chest. He stepped closer. “Okay, what signals do I get to let me know I should trust you with my shit? You ready for that?” They looked at each other. Her eyes slid to his chest. “I don’t know.” “And therein lies the root of our problem.” He dropped his arms. She shivered. “You want me to tell you everything without securing my trust. Why should I bare my soul to you? What would you do with the knowledge? Trust me? Or judge me?” He pulled back and stared into chocolate pools of light. Whatever this was between them marked him. He’d never considered telling a woman he dated about his past. The price of admission, Red called it. “It’s like leaving pieces of your soul around and that’s too damn dangerous to do on a small tip.” less

Second book in Men of ThreeX CONStruction series. Red and Denise have been together eight years when she breaks it off. It couldn't have come at a worst time. His company is under attack and he's being targeted. He has to filter through all the mess to come up with a plan to both trap the crooks and save their relationship. Excerpt: Red sat in the driveway of the two-story brick home contemplating his next move... moreSecond book in Men of ThreeX CONStruction series. Red and Denise have been together eight years when she breaks it off. It couldn't have come at a worst time. His company is under attack and he's being targeted. He has to filter through all the mess to come up with a plan to both trap the crooks and save their relationship. Excerpt: Red sat in the driveway of the two-story brick home contemplating his next move. His partners in Three X Construction, Ross and Smoke, refused to allow him to quit over what they termed bullshit. He’d finally hopped in his Hummer and drove around to clear his head. At least that’s the shit he’d told his boys. The look on both their faces called him a liar. Hitting the steering wheel, he yelled out his frustration. Why’d he always have to be the fuck-up? All his brothers had strong careers working for themselves. As the youngest, he’d had less responsibility and stayed in the most trouble. Smoke had called him out days before for straddling the fence in his non-relationship with his babies’ mama and ex-girl, Denise. She’d been right. He needed to grow up. Ever since the fundraiser a few weeks ago, she’d been on his mind more than usual. That was hard to understand since she was buried so deep inside him, she was never far from his thoughts. The red sparkly dress she’d worn that night had his balls tensing and his cock straight hard. He lost his mind for a second when he saw her looking up at that asshole. Smoke had tried to stop him, but he was on autopilot. Nobody touched his woman. Fuck that they’d had a disagreement. She was still his. It was all he could do to keep from throwing her over his shoulder and taking her to a dark corner. He’d make her remember why they’d been so good together. When he heard her complaining to Ms. Connie, the construction company’s office manager, and Cherise, something snapped. She’d broken up with him on a bullshit tip and wouldn’t talk to him. Lord knows he’d tried. That was probably why he sat, like a lump of coal, in her driveway at nine pm. He had a shitload of mess on his mind and didn’t want to be alone. He’d bypassed his townhouse, as well as Smoke’s offer to crash at his beachfront condo. Now, like a jackass, he sat on the outside wanting in. Pathetic. That’s what this insatiable need to be around her was fast becoming. He inhaled and glanced at his watch for the tenth time in the past twenty minutes, hoping to clear his head in preparation for a titillating exchange with Denise. She wasn’t easy, but matched him perfectly. You’d never know she was a preacher’s kid the way her mouth went off. Thinking of her mouth, led to visions of her full lips, which made him hard. He swallowed, pushing away his desire and righting his pants. Unlocking his door, he stepped out of his black Hummer and pocketed the keys as he moved slowly toward the door. A car sounded in the distance, the hum of a neighborhood settling for the night calmed his jangled nerves. The mat proclaimed ‘welcome.’ Somehow, he doubted it extended to him. After ringing the doorbell, he stepped back so she could see him. He suspected she knew he’d been outside the moment he arrived. It probably tickled her that he took this long to knock on her door. Probably thought he’d been scared. He wasn’t sure how far off she was on that. Not of her, but the whole situation with someone sabotaging the company, his role in it and since he was being honest, their relationship or lack thereof, worked his nerves. His hands stroked the cotton lining in his pockets searching for additional warmth as he ducked his chin into the collar of his heavy Burma jacket against the night chill. Light footsteps neared the door. less

Smoke was missing. The men at Three X Construction are searching everywhere for a clue to his whereabouts. The body count is rising each day he’s absent. Red and Ross try to keep the men from taking the law into their hands. It’s a hard battle considering Red and Ross want blood for the offense. Days have passed and Smoke hasn’t returned. They pray for the best and hope for a miracle. The case Vianca Marino worked seemed simple enough. Tail the female and report her whereabouts to the client... moreSmoke was missing. The men at Three X Construction are searching everywhere for a clue to his whereabouts. The body count is rising each day he’s absent. Red and Ross try to keep the men from taking the law into their hands. It’s a hard battle considering Red and Ross want blood for the offense. Days have passed and Smoke hasn’t returned. They pray for the best and hope for a miracle. The case Vianca Marino worked seemed simple enough. Tail the female and report her whereabouts to the client. Boring. She could have done this one blind folded. Except for the night the female left with a friend. That wasn’t the norm. Later, when Vianca searched for the female, she found a corpse, and a battered, and bruised live body. She never expected the outcome from helping the man escape, what it’d cost her professionally and personally. She never expected to get burned, thought she had the fire of her attraction under control. But, Where there’s Smoke… Excerpt Chap 1 “Hey!” Smoke yelled while being lifted in the air. A foul smelling bag was crammed over his head. The next moment, with the ferocity of an out of control Mack truck, his back slammed into a wooden barrier. “Shit,” he moaned into the darkness. Nerve endings tingled as they raced to his brain, transmitting a litany of body damage. His breath surged from his mouth, as pressure of a well-placed fist to his stomach created a vacuum. The ringing he heard — not from bells, but his ears, as his abdominals took punch after punch. His swollen eyelids attempted to open and close, to brush away the thick, sticky fluid streaking his beat-up face. Someone dragged and pinned him to the floor. His mind registered the harsh breaths of his attackers, but little else. The orchestrated sounds of a brutal whipping were indelibly printed on his mind. “Ahhhh,” he yelled, as shards of pain shot up his arm, stabbing his mind. A hand shoved a cloth into his mouth, blanketing the sound. One thought ricocheted through his mind, prison ass whupings had been less brutal. “Uh,” Smoke groaned, doubling over in the dark. Excruciating pain radiated through his abdominals to his back. His arms were stretched wide and attached to the wall. Red-hot fire slammed through his face as it whipped to the side. He tried to spit and couldn’t. That’s right, they’d gagged him. “Stop,” a voice said. “No more hitting his visible areas.” “Oomph,” A sickening sound permeated the air. This time darkness swallowed him, he didn’t feel the next kick, the next, or the next. less

Veronique had done the monogamous relationship thing before and got her heart stomped in the process. She no longer allowed her emotions to join her liaisons and kept her heart locked away. Frank O'Connor was no exception, or so she thought.This is a short story in the men of 3X CONStruction series hightlighting a romance between two favorite characters from earlier books. Frank is Red's brother and Veronique, is Cherise's mother... moreVeronique had done the monogamous relationship thing before and got her heart stomped in the process. She no longer allowed her emotions to join her liaisons and kept her heart locked away. Frank O'Connor was no exception, or so she thought.This is a short story in the men of 3X CONStruction series hightlighting a romance between two favorite characters from earlier books. Frank is Red's brother and Veronique, is Cherise's mother. Enjoy!Excerpt:“Are you okay?”The deep sexy-as-sin voice shot straight to her core. Damn. Now visions of tangled sheets and long nights ran through her mind with the voice. And she hadn't even seen the body it came from. Sitting back up in her chair, she eyed him while she rubbed the side of her face. Damn, he's fine.“I'll live.”“Can I get you another drink?” The dark eyes pinned her to her chair. A flutter of interest rose in her breast.She nodded, her pussy tingled at his look of interest. “What're you drinking?” He smiled. And Veronique, defense attorney extraordinaire, swore the sun had just come from behind a dark cloud, making her world seem brighter. Sappy, but true.“Oh, a glass of zinfandel will be fine.” Any buzz she'd had earlier evaporated under the heavy dose of lust that'd swamped her. Although he wore jeans, his shirt was professional grade. Could he be in the gray area? A professional with blue-collar tendencies. Hmmm, watching him weave through the crowd, she marveled at his size. Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair and eyes. All-around nice package. Her lips puckered and smacked, wanting a taste.God, please let him be capable of a halfway decent conversation. No matter how hot and horny he made her, she'd long passed the stage where she screwed dumb men. Even brief flings had to bring more than solid meat to the table. Placing her shoes into her large Coach bag, she watched him maneuver the crowd while holding her wine and a beer.He handed her the glass as he sat next to her.“Thanks, I appreciate it. I'm Veronique by the way.” She looked at him from beneath her lids as she took a sip of the cool liquid.“I'm Frank. Your name's different. Are you from Philly?” He took a pull from his bottle. The weight of his gaze warmed her.“No, I'm here for a conference. Two more days to go.” She gazed at his dark eyes, and the heat singed her core. His eyes blazed as he watched her lips on the glass. Yep, he was he interested. “Is this home for you?”“I live an hour away, but I had some business in town, and came in here to unwind before heading out.” He looked at her and winked. “Glad I did.”Me, too. “How about that? I was on my way out when you bumped into me. Must be kismet, huh?” She smiled as he placed his bottle on the table, and leaned toward her.“Yeah, kismet works for me. Let me buy you dinner before you leave. You seem like an interesting person, Veronique. I'd like to know you better.”Tingles shot down her spine when he said her name. “I am.” She stood, and picked up her purse.He followed. “Is there anything you prefer?”“Lean meats.” She smirked as her eyes roved slowly over his muscular frame. Did she say he was fine? Regardless, his body demanded another bravo for finess.He placed his hands in his pocket and walked behind her. “Lean meats? Hmmm, lean and juicy, I hope.”“Juicy works. Nobody likes dry meat.” She stopped and looked around the hotel lobby for the entrance to the in-house restaurant. Spotting it, she headed in that direction. “We can eat here.”“Sounds good. less

Brenda and Roark lived the “Happily Ever After” part of the fairy tale. He’d rescued her from the bad guys, swept her off to his home, and loved her like a madman. Brenda was in heaven, until she went to visit her dying aunt and disappeared. Roark, his brothers and the men of 3X Construction race against time to find the woman Roark refuses to live without. This book is a part of the Men of 3X CONStruction series... moreBrenda and Roark lived the “Happily Ever After” part of the fairy tale. He’d rescued her from the bad guys, swept her off to his home, and loved her like a madman. Brenda was in heaven, until she went to visit her dying aunt and disappeared. Roark, his brothers and the men of 3X Construction race against time to find the woman Roark refuses to live without. This book is a part of the Men of 3X CONStruction series. Although it can be read as a stand- alone book, the reading is more enjoyable when the other books in the series are read first. less

Julio Cardenas didn’t want to be a member of the Cartel, he’d rather make wood cabinets or work construction. But through a series of events he was next in line for the head position. Pam Burrows loved caring for the sick, and as a hospice care nurse she made sure her patients last days were comfortable and dignified. It never occurred to her that she had been denied her most important patient.On the best days, you’d never put these two together. They had contradicting points of view on life... moreJulio Cardenas didn’t want to be a member of the Cartel, he’d rather make wood cabinets or work construction. But through a series of events he was next in line for the head position. Pam Burrows loved caring for the sick, and as a hospice care nurse she made sure her patients last days were comfortable and dignified. It never occurred to her that she had been denied her most important patient.On the best days, you’d never put these two together. They had contradicting points of view on life. One believed in saving life at all costs, the other – not so much. One valued honesty, the other believed truth should be couched in shades of gray. One believes in love, the other refuses to think long term. Nevertheless, they become the breath the other needs to survive, proving once again, everyone needs love. Even Bad Boys. less