Exclusive Excerpt: How To Get Lucky (Sexy in NYC Book 3) by Erin McCarthy

Hi friends! Remember “back in the day” (oh gosh, ten years ago!) when series would or could get orphaned? I was so sad when that happened with this series – I love Erin McCarthy’s contemporary romances! Well, imagine my surprise and joy when I heard we were getting the rest! Hurrah! And here’s to many other series being completed! Now, we have an exclusive excerpt from Ms. McCarthy on her upcoming addition to the “A Sexy in NYC” series!

Over ten years ago- and what feels like a million- I wrote The Pregnancy Test and You Don’t Know Jack. In those days, when a publisher was done with a series they were done and that was that and it sucked. I had always intended there to be four books in the series and there were four friends introduced in those first two books. It was awful for me to have to let down my readers and I fielded questions about Allison and Caroline and where was their HEA for years. But fast forward to today and self-publishing and boom, I bring you the story of Allison Parker, girl interrupted. She was always the snarkiest of the four friends and it wasn’t easy to conceive a hero who would be a good foil for her, but I think Marco Lucky is exactly that. Later this year, the fourth and final book will be out, titled Finn Again, and I can finally feel accomplished in finishing what I started. I hope readers will enjoy!

Cheers,
Erin

How to Get LuckySometimes there is more than one way to get lucky…

Allison Parker knows winning the New York state lottery is impossible for a retail slave and fashion designer wanna-be who doesn’t, uh, play the lottery. But after a particularly bad day at work and a random prediction from a quirky psychic, she does just that, and wins. Money. Lots of it.

Marco Lucky is exhausted over his bandmates and their diva antics and is looking for an escape. Yet finding a quiet spot in New York City is damn near impossible and he’s already tired of the women hitting on him strictly because he’s famous. But then the crazy brunette with the winning lottery ticket tells him exactly what she thinks of him and it isn’t flattering. He finds himself determined to get to know her better… a whole lot better and prove he is worth her time.

Allison figures it’s only fitting that she be the first woman in the history of ever to hit the lottery and score a smoking hot rock star all in one night, only to wake up with her entire life destroyed a mere eighteen hours later when her lottery ticket is missing. Marco’s offer of help makes her feel like the biggest lame ass loser ever, and while she can’t take his money, she can take a weekend in LA and some smoking hot sex. But that’s all it can be with him rich and hitting the road and her hitting the unemployment line.

From two different cities, and two different worlds, can Marco and Allison put the issue of money to bed? Because being lucky in love just might be hitting the jackpot after all…

HOW TO GET LUCKY is book three in the “Sexy in NYC” series. The first two books, The Pregnancy Test and You Don’t Know Jack, are also currently available by USA Today and NY Times bestselling author Erin McCarthy. After ten years of waiting to conclude the series, follow these girlfriends as they all find love, laughter, and labels in Manhattan.

Marco knew the minute Allison spotted him. Her smile fell off her face. Her eyes raked over him. For a second, there was wild, unadulterated lust and admiration in her eyes before she masked it. Then a chilly demeanor replaced it, and when he approached the table she put the champagne bottle down on the table with a thunk.

“Oh. Hi.”

Not exactly a warm reception. “I hear you won the lottery. That’s amazing. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” She looked at him expectantly.

Marco found himself at a loss for words. My God, fame had well and truly insulated him from social awkwardness. How many years had it been since someone had made it clear they didn’t want him around? Allison clearly wanted him to go away, and it galled him. The one woman he found himself attracted to in a year and she wanted nothing to do with him?

So he stubbornly stood his ground. “Are you planning trips to Mexico and mentally shopping for Louis Vuitton bags?”

Her expression revealed that was exactly what she’d been doing. That made him grin. So she wasn’t so different from other women he knew. She still had a weak spot for travel and shopping. It made him feel more on even keel.

“Maybe I’m going to save the dolphins,” she said.

“Then the dolphins thank you.” He glanced over to see that her friends were all staring at him with wide eyes. “Hi, I’m Marco. Sorry to interrupt your party. I just wanted to tell Allison congrats.”

“How do you know my name?” she asked, her voice sharp.

“The waitress told me.”

“Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but do you mind? I just want to have fun tonight and celebrate, and I don’t want this place overrun by women who want selfies with you.”

That pissed him off. “How is that not meaning to be rude? I did buy you a drink for your alleged inconvenience last night and now I’m just saying congrats. I can be in this bar if I want.”

“Allison…” the redhead said in a pained whisper. “Please.”

But Allison wasn’t backing down. It was obvious in the way she narrowed her eyes. “You get to be a star every day. I never get to be the center of attention. Just once, I want tonight to be about me. I don’t want you to steal the spotlight from my win. Call me selfish, call me vain, call me whatever you want, but I can’t help it. It’s the way I feel. I don’t want this to be about you, I want it to be about me. Just tonight. Is that so hard to understand?”

He had to respect her honesty. He wasn’t sure he could stand in front of a bunch of people and admit that he wanted to be the center of attention. He found that totally refreshing and seriously sexy. He did understand, and so he found himself nodding. “I get it. I really do. So I’ll leave you to your celebration as long as you give me your number.”

Her jaw dropped. “What? No. Are you nuts? I’ve been a complete bitch to you.”

Marco put his hands in his pockets, more at ease now, amused. “Maybe I’m tired of the dick-sucking harem. Maybe I’m intrigued by someone who isn’t afraid to say exactly what she’s thinking.”

The man or woman or the man becoming a woman, Marco wasn’t exactly what what pronoun to use to refer to him/her, nodded emphatically. “Honey, that is most definitely Allison. This girl has no filter. None.”

“Shut up, Beckwith,” she said, though it was without heat or rancor. Her cheeks were pink.

“See?” he added. “Honest to a fault, this one.”

Marco had shifted so that he was closer to Allison. He liked that with the heels, she was his height. She exuded confidence and a strong sense of who she was. Not to mention she had the most lush and full mouth that practically was begging for him to kiss.

“I don’t think I’m your type,” she said.

“How do you know?”

For the first time, she was starting to get flustered. She looked around the table for help but there was none forthcoming. Her friends were just staring, watching, waiting. “I…”

It seemed she was finally at a loss for words.

Her friend she had called Beckwith spoke, rattling off a phone number. “That’s Allison’s number. Call her, Marco, honey. But I can tell you right now I can lead the horse to water but I can’t make her drink.”

“Could you repeat that number?” Marco asked, pulling out his phone.

“Don’t repeat that!” Allison glared at Beckwith. “You can’t give my number out to strange men.”

“He’s not a strange man, he’s Marco Lucky.” Beckwith smiled at him. “Ready?”

“Yes.”

He gave him the number again.

“Don’t call me,” Allison said. “It’s not a good idea.”

“Why not?” And why was he still standing there when she was making it so clear she wasn’t interested in him? But it was a pattern of his, to bang his head against walls. He knew that. He should let this go. But it was just too intriguing, the concept of rejection. It might be good for his soul. Not that he was prepared to accept rejection. “Do you find me unattractive?”

She snorted. Her eyes looked everywhere but at him.

That was all he needed to know. He saved her number and gave her a smile. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Enjoy your evening, Allison.”

As he left, he heard one of her female friends ask, “Would you rather win the lottery or a night with a rock star?”

Allison laughed. “Please, no contest. The lottery, of course.”

“Well, you’re a dumbass,” Beckwith said, loud and clear. “Because you could have just had both.”

“Anyone can fuck a rock star,” she said. “It’s nothing to my credit. All you have to do is show up and spread your legs. Not much of an accomplishment.”

“Most people will never get the opportunity to leg-spread. You have the most ass-backwards way of thinking of things.”

She did. Marco really liked it.

So what’d you think? Did you ever read The Pregnancy Test or You Don’t Know Jack? I think I’m going to have to re-read to brush up … 😀 Remember this cover? 😀

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