Some men are meant to sin...
Pride made him what he is.
But desire might change him forever...
Millionaire CEO Joshua Lowell earned his icy reserve and arrogant pride through painful experience. He refuses to allow gorgeous but determined reporter Sophie Armstrong to dredge up his family’s dark past—or circulate rumors of his secret child. But Joshua’s fierce pride is at war with his heated desire for Sophie, the only woman who could ruin him...or save him from himself.
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Naima Simone
Seven Sins
One man’s betrayal can destroy generations.
Fifteen years ago, a hedge-fund hotshot vanished
with billions, leaving the high-powered families
of Falling Brook changed forever.
Now seven heirs, shaped by his betrayal,
must reckon with the sins of the past.
Passion may be their only path to redemption.
Experience all Seven Sins!
* * *
Ruthless Pride by Naima Simone
This CEO’s pride led him to give up his dreams
for his family. Now he’s drawn to the woman
who threatens everything...
Forbidden Lust by Karen Booth
He’s always resisted his lust for his best friend’s sister—until they’re stranded together in paradise...
Insatiable Hunger by Yahrah St. John
His unbridled appetite for his closest friend is unleashed when he believes she’s fallen for the wrong man...
Hidden Ambition by Jules Bennett
Ambition has taken him far, but revenge could
cost him his one chance at love...
Reckless Envy by Joss Wood
When this shark in the boardroom meets the one
woman he can’t have, envy takes over...
Untamed Passion by Cat Schield
Will this black sheep’s self-destructive wrath flame
out when he’s expecting an heir of his own?
Slow Burn by Janice Maynard
If he’s really the idle playboy his family claims,
will his inaction threaten a reunion with
the woman who got away?
“I would’ve noticed you...”
A liquid slide of lust prowled through Joshua like a hungry—so goddamn hungry—beast. The air simmered around them.
“Do you want me to prove that I’m not some kind of stalker?” Sophie tilted her head to the side. “I’m dedicated to my job, but I refuse to cross the line into creepy...or criminal.”
He ground his teeth against the apology that shoved at his throat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.” And then he added, “That predilection seems to be in the air.”
A tiny muscle ticked along her delicate but stubborn jaw. “And what is that supposed to mean?”
Moments earlier, Joshua had wondered if fury or desire had heated Sophie’s gaze.
God help him, because masochistic fool that he’d suddenly become, he craved them both.
He wanted her rage, her passion...wanted both to beat at him, heat his skin, touch him.
To make him feel.
* * *
Ruthless Pride by Naima Simone is part of the Dynasties: Seven Sins series.
Naima Simone
Ruthless Pride
USA TODAY bestselling author Naima Simone’s love of romance was first stirred by Harlequin books pilfered from her grandmother. Now she spends her days writing sizzling romances with a touch of humor and snark.
She is wife to her own real-life superhero and mother to two awesome kids. They live in perfect, domestically challenged bliss in the southern United States.
Books by Naima Simone
Harlequin Desire
Blackout Billionaires
The Billionaire’s Bargain
Black Tie Billionaire
Blame It on the Billionaire
Dynasties: Seven Sins
Ruthless Pride
Visit her Author Profile page at Harlequin.com, or naimasimone.com, for more titles.
You can also find Naima Simone on Facebook, along with other Harlequin Desire authors, at Facebook.com/harlequindesireauthors!
Dear Reader,
I’m a PK—a pastor’s kid. So I know a little something about sins. LOL! When I found out my very first continuity would be based on the seven sins? Kismet, right? We were totally made for each other!
In Ruthless Pride, Joshua Lowell is the oldest son of the infamous Vernon Lowell. When Vernon disappeared with millions of his clients’ money, he left his family—specifically, Joshua—to pick up the pieces. For fifteen years, Joshua has tried to repair the damage his father caused. Pride has kept him in the town of Falling Brook when he could’ve left like his brothers. And pride has him going head-to-head with the journalist of the local newspaper. She wants to resurrect the old history that he wants everyone to forget. He should resent stubborn, ambitious and beautiful Sophie Armstrong. And he does. But only if he could stop wanting her, too...
Oh, yes. They’re adversaries, but these two can’t stay away from each other. I hope you enjoy all the steam and drama they generate! And I hope you love the Seven Sins series!
Happy reading!
Naima Simone
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Excerpt from Scandalous Reunion by Jules Bennett
One
“If your success was earned through hard work and honesty never apologize for it.”
Joshua Lowell silently repeated the Frank Sonnenberg quote that had been a favorite of his father’s. He pinched the bridge of his nose, a low, dark growl rumbling in the back of his throat. Too bad Vernon Lowell hadn’t believed in the “practice what you preach” school of thought. According to that quote, his father had a ton of apologizing to do. Wherever he was—hell or a bungalow in some country without extradition policies.
Dropping his head, he refocused his attention to the spreadsheets displaying the previous month’s profit-and-loss numbers for Black Crescent Hedge Fund’s investment in stock of a telecommunication company. Compared with this time last year, the investment was doing very well. Their clients would earn more than a modest return, and Black Crescent would receive a substantial management and performance fee...
Unlike his father, Joshua had stuck to the more traditional investments such as stocks, bonds, commodities and real estate. Vernon had been a daredevil in business, which initially had made him one of the richest men in the tristate area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. That fearless and adventurous spirit had also increased the millions his very select clients had invested with him into high-yielding portfolios, and grew his boutique business into one of most successful in the area.
It’d also cost those select clients millions. It’d devastated them.
So no, while some might call Joshua’s business decisions rigid and even too conservative, he refused to do
