We are delighted to share an excerpt from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley’s Fighting the Pull, which is the new book in her River Rain Series and releases on September 12th!
SYNOPSIS
Hale Wheeler inherited billions from his father. He’s decided to take those resources and change the world for the better. He’s married to his mission, so he doesn’t have time for love.
There’s more lurking behind this decision. He hasn’t faced the tragic loss of his father, or the bitterness of his parents’ divorce. He doesn’t intend to follow in his father’s footsteps, breaking a woman’s heart in a way it will never mend. So he vows he’ll never marry.
But Hale is intrigued when he meets Elsa Cohen, the ambitious celebrity news journalist who has been reporting on his famous family. He warns her off, but she makes him a deal. She’ll pull back in exchange for an exclusive interview.
Elsa Cohen is married to her career, but she wants love, marriage, children. She also wants the impossibly handsome, fiercely loyal, tenderhearted Hale Wheeler.
They go head-to-head, both denying why there are fireworks every time they meet. But once they understand their undeniable attraction, Elsa can’t help but fall for the dynamic do-gooder.
As for Hale, he knows he needs to fight the pull of the beautiful, bold, loving Elsa Cohen, because breaking her would crush him.
EXCERPT
My phone kept going, in fact, both of them did, and I ignored them, walking the streets of Manhattan, feeling like I’d felt all my life when I was there.
This was where I was meant to be.
Make no mistake, I was a proud Brooklyn girl.
I was also an ambitious one.
I dressed the part in a camel, sleeveless, mock-turtleneck sweater dress, a brown statement belt cinching my waist, camel trench hanging from my shoulders (not with my arms in), and chocolate-brown suede high-heeled boots. Gold accents, not many (one didn’t over-accessorize when they were riding the subway). Last, a slouchy, suede tote.
I had my Celine Triomphe sunglasses on my nose and the pep in my step that always seemed to happen when I hit Manhattan.
And I was determined to be in a good mood.
I had a number of reasons to be so.
I’d told my agent about the upcoming exclusive with Hale, and she was over the moon. Further, she confirmed my thoughts about how this would positively affect negotiations, and we both knew after I nailed Hale (in an interview that was…ahem), more opportunities would come.
And it might be a pain in the neck to get there, considering I could walk to my current studio from home, but it wouldn’t stink to go into Manhattan every day to work, even if it was only for a week.
No, it wouldn’t.
It’d be awesome.
I hadn’t yet told Mom or Dad about the interview. I wanted to throw that tidbit out at dinner, when Oskar was bragging about some big case he was on, his wife Anoushka was manifestly avoiding carbs while explaining her complicated schedule of leaving their children to their nanny and going to yoga classes, and my sister was doing everything in worship save going down on her surgeon boyfriend whose god complex made Kanye West look humble.
Oh, by the way, I’d say, I just completed a one-on-one, exclusive interview with Hale Wheeler.
I could see it now.
Dad would be proud.
Oskar would be derisive, but this would hide his fury that I’d managed to one-up him for once.
Anoushka would ask if I could introduce her to Hale.
Mom would inquire if Hale asked me out on a date.
Emilie would be green with envy.
A mixed bag.
I’d take it.
It was on this thought I was closing in on the address Brandi gave me, which was near 30 Rock, when a shiny black Escalade came to a stop and Hale exited the backseat.
He instantly caused a stir, partly because he was famous, mostly because he was glorious. Even if he didn’t have piles of money, people would gawk, that was how gorgeous he was, how confident, how magnetic.
I stopped dead on the sidewalk.
“Watch it, lady,” some man groused as he sidestepped me. “Newsflash, the world doesn’t revolve around you.”
Ah, New York.
How I loved thee.
I got out of the way and Hale looked right at me, like I had a homing beacon.
He then came right to me.
