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Category: Erotica/Erotic Science Fiction/Science Fiction
Description: Nothing in Sophie's life matters as much as caring for the woman who'd taken her in as a child. She'd do anything for Mrs. Grinnich, a fact the older woman puts to good use when she sends Sophie on a vacation. But not just any vacation. Sophie is to spend one night with an escort from Executive Decisions. When that "escort" turns out to be two escorts, and not just any escorts, but Mrs. Grinnich's sexy as sin twin grandsons, Sophie must face the attraction she's always felt for the two men. Raven and Hawk are wary of the job their grandmother assigned them, but they'd never refused her. But when the door to the cozy cabin in the woods opens to reveal Sophie, the woman they both want, the two wizards resolve to win her heart. Unfortunately, there are more powerful wizards and witches out there, and the twins have one night only to prove how much they love her.
eBook Publisher: Changeling Press LLC, 2008 2008
eBookwise Release Date: May 2009

118 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [79 KB]
Words: 15740
Reading time: 44-62 min.

"Marteeka Karland has a way of writing fantastic characters that leap off the page and you instantaneously either love them to pieces or hate them with a passion. The plot and setting were perfect and the book read like a horse's even canter. If you love stories about witches, twins, and scheming grandmothers, you will love One Night Only." -- NeNe, Fallen Angels Reviews "One Night Only has very entertaining characters and a really fun storyline. I really enjoyed it!" -- Vivian, Joyfully Reviewed " Ms. Karland does a great job of creating characters you can feel and share in their emotions... the mix of emotions the young woman and the men hide from each other...well, this brought back some bittersweet memories that I thought were long gone. If you are anything like me, ONE NIGHT ONLY will have to be extended for a longer stay." -- Gardenia, Whipped Cream Reviews

"Bring the morning paper with my breakfast, would you, dear? And I'd like the window open just a bit. I always love the morning breeze." Mrs. Grinnich smiled gently at Sophie as the younger woman entered the sunroom.

Birds chirped in the warm sunlight and the trees rustled softly while Sophie raised the window as Mrs. Grinnich had asked. It was warm enough in the room, even with the slight wind, so Sophie didn't see any harm in it. She would have done almost anything Mrs. Grinnich asked, no matter what. Those small tasks were nothing as far as Sophie was concerned. The old woman was like a mother to her, and had been for the past twenty years.

"Of course. Do you want Sylvester? I think he's needing a warm lap to sit in," Sophe said, referring to the cat. Mrs. Grinnich had been particularly neglectful in giving the cantankerous cat attention of late, and the evil little poop monster was becoming even crankier than usual.

"Goodness gracious me!" Mrs. Grinnich's hands flew to her cheeks, and for a moment Sophie regretted bringing up the subject of the cat for fear her employer might put unnecessary strain on her heart. "I completely forgot about poor Sylvester. Yes. Please. Let the poor dear in."

Sophie opened the door to Mrs. Grinnich's sunroom, and the very old, very opinionated black and white tuxedo entered regally. He didn't even acknowledge Sophie's presence until he was well past her. Even then, he only turned and hissed at her. God, she really hated that cat.

"Come here, my darling. I'm so sorry," Mrs. Grinnich crooned. "I completely forgot you were still here." She gave Sophie a tearful look. "I'm so forgetful these days."

"Nonsense." Sophie crossed the room and fluffed Mrs. Grinnich's pillows on the divan. She straightened the older woman's blankets to better accommodate her couch mate. "You just have more important things to do than worry after that old cat." Sophie winked at Mrs. Grinnich, and the old woman returned it with a mock horrified expression.

"More important than Sylvester? Why, whatever do you mean?"

Both women laughed.

"I need you to do one more thing for me, dear." Mrs. Grinnich stroked Sylvester absently.

"You know you don't have to ask. What do you need?"

"Before I tell you, I want you to promise me you'll do it. This means more to me than anything in the world right now."

Mrs. Grinnich looked so distressed, Sophie immediately went to her knees beside the old woman's makeshift bed and clasped one hand in both of hers. "You know I'll do anything you ask of me, Mamaw. I only want you to be happy." Sophie rarely called her that. It was the name her grandsons called her and, though Mrs. Grinnich tried her best to get Sophie to think of her as her own grandmother, Sophie felt uncomfortable doing so. It felt too disrespectful to assume the role of granddaughter when she wasn't even related.

"I want you to take a vacation." Sophie blinked and opened her mouth, but Mrs. Grinnich cut her off. "Now, you promised," she said, looking sternly at Sophie. "And it doesn't have to be for long. Maybe just the weekend. I want you to have a good time and not fuss over me for a couple of days." She smiled. "You're smothering me."

Sophie blushed. True, she had been a little overprotective, but Mrs. Grinnich looked so frail lately. Sometimes she didn't even have the strength to get out of bed and make it to the sunroom on her own anymore.

"Who will look after you while I'm gone? You've been so weak, I'm afraid to leave you by yourself."

"Don't worry about me. I've got plenty of friends to help out for the weekend. Besides, I've already made arrangements for you."

"What?"

"Go look on your nightstand. There's a brochure and a business card with the name and number of a man I want you to contact. Just tell him Mariam Grinnich told you to call, and he'll take care of the rest."

"You can't be serious." This was absurd. She couldn't just leave.

"I'm very serious. I've taken care of everything, and I insist. You deserve a break, and I intend to give you one." She waved a hand dismissively. "I won't take 'no' for an answer, my dear. Go. Have a good time. I'll be fine for a couple of days." She smiled and stroked Sylvester, twirling his tail around her finger. The cat hissed and smacked at her hand. Mrs. Grinnich jumped, startled. "Damned cat."

"Just don't let your grandsons know you said that." Sophie laughed and kissed her cheek as she stood. "You know how they think you dote on the creature." As if he understood perfectly, Sylvester growled deep in his throat and hissed at Sophie before turning around in Mrs. Grinnich's lap several times and settling himself more comfortably.

Mrs. Grinnich chuckled. "Oh, I adore him--I always have. And I do dote on him from time to time. I just realize that not everyone feels that way, and I completely understand why. He never was much of a people person." She stroked his head fondly. "He was more into birds, as I recall."

Sophie blinked. "You're joking. Right?"

"Oh, no." Mrs. Grinnich looked completely serious. She looked out the window and pointed to a huge oak tree with dozens of bird feeders hanging from the branches at various heights. "You see that?"

"Of course. I fill the feeders every day."

"Well, I remember a time--not too long ago--when Sylvester would sit and watch the birds playing for hours at a time. They simply fascinated him."

"I don't remember seeing him do that." Sophie wrinkled her brow.

"Well, he did. That was when I knew he was getting old and..." She trailed off, looking at the tree. One tear fell from her eye and Sylvester immediately raised up on two legs, bracing his front paws on her chest, and licked the tear from her cheek. It was silly really, but it seemed like such a private moment, Sophie felt like an intruder.

She quietly left the room and closed the double sliding glass doors. When she turned around, she ran smack into a solid wall of muscle and crisp linen.

"I'm s-sorry!" she stammered. She hated that she stammered. The tall, intimidating man always made her nervous, and it irritated her so much. "I was trying not to disturb your grandmother."

"Has she decided to kick you out yet?" He raised an eyebrow, looking almost hopeful.

The question made Sophie blink and her stomach lurch. Mrs. Grinnich? Kick her out? After twenty years? Ohmigod! "What? No! Why?"

"Never hurts to check." And, just like that, Raven Grinnich dismissed her as if she'd never been there. He glided past her--the man really did glide, walking was too clumsy a term for the way he moved--into the sunroom and shut the door behind him.