A kill squad is closing inβ¦now this team leader must risk everything for answers. Barely escaping CIA mercenaries, ex-agent Hunter Wright is after the person he thinks targeted his ops team, Topaz, for treason. Deputy director Kelly Russell is still the one woman he can’t resist, but she believes Hunter went rogue. Now she’s his only shot at getting the answers they need. Can they trust each other enough to save Topazβand each other?
She looked up at him and smiled, her eyes a deep cobalt blue, dark fire-red hair, her skin pale and creamy, those angular features, her full pink mouth, the effortless sensuality. It all hit him like a gut punch. God, she was breathtaking.
βA drink? No.β Amusement rang in her voice, and something inside him sank.
βAll right,β he said nonchalantly. He forced a smile, swallowing his disappointment, and stepped across the hall. Of course. Some things werenβt meant to be. This was for the best anyway. Everything came at a price. To be with Kelly Russell might cost him his soul. βIβll let you get some sleep. Itβs been a long week, and weβve got an early flight.β
βHunter,β she said, and he glanced back at her. βWho said anything about sleeping? I am interested in the euphemism behind your offer of a nightcap.β Another smile, this time flirty, sexy. Full of promise. βAnd to answer the second part to your question, my room.β
Every muscle in his body tightened with need, making it difficult for him to think of anything else, least of all playing it cool.
βWe need to establish the rules of engagement first,β she said.
All business. Always in control. Even now. For some inexplicable reason, it only added to her allure.
He strolled back across the hall. βIβm listening.β
βThis has to be a one-night-only situation. It can never happen again.β
He reached out and tucked a fiery strand that had escaped her twist behind her ear. Her skin was warm and soft, with a perfect porcelain texture. βMy mother always told me, never say never.β
βIβm serious, Hunter.β She slipped her key card in the slot, unlocked the door and opened it. βOne night to assuage our mutual curiosity.β
Curiosity. Chemistry. Semantics. βIf we enjoy ourselves, why only one night?β
*****
Author Info:
Juno Rushdan draws from real-life inspiration as a former U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer to craft sizzling romantic thrillers. However, you wonβt find any classified leaks here. Her stories are pure fiction about kick-ass heroes and strong heroines fighting for their lives as well as their happily-ever-after.
Heβs always strong, always faithfulβ¦but will he be always hers?
Pregnant, alone and temporarily staying at her familyβs cabin in northern Minnesota, Clara Olafson is determined to overcome the hurt of her recent past and build a good life for herself and her child. The last thing she expects to find on her morning walk through the state forest nearby is an unconscious and injured former Marine.
Colin βFitzβ Fitzhugh might have initially joined the Corps to prove that he was more than just a wealthy playboy, but he grew to love the brotherhood and purpose he found thereβuntil his last mission in Afghanistan cost the life of one of his men and left him badly scarred in body and mind. Hoping to shed some of his pain and guilt alone in the wilderness, instead he finds a feisty, pregnant angel.
Sparks fly as sassy Clara nurses the gruff and mysterious Fitz back to health, but the happiness and peace they both begin to find in the little cabin is shattered when Clara faces a health emergency. When Fitz reluctantly chooses to return to the wealth and privilege of his family in order to save her and the baby, he plunges them all into a glittering society that Clara doesnβt know if she likes. But Fitz might just prove to her that, whether heβs being a billionaire philanthropist or a sudden stand-in dad, heβs always hers.
Reader advisory: This book contains a mention of attempted murder.
Clara Olafson hummed a little to herself as she walked heavily down the overgrown trail. This far out into the forest, the trails werenβt maintained as regularly as the ones closer to the visitor center. The morning air was crispβnorthern Minnesota in late August could feel like October or November in the rest of the countryβbut she liked it that way. The cool air buffeting her felt like a familiar, albeit chilly, blanket. Like home. Plus, it quickened her steps, which was good for her and the baby. A couple of times lately, sheβd had the oddest sensation, almost like a trickle of ice-water down her spine, that she was being watched or followed, but she blamed the crazy pregnancy hormonal imbalance. This morning, though, she felt nothing but the fresh breeze behind her.
Sheβd started the habit of an early-morning walk when sheβd moved out to the cabin two months earlier, and she intended to keep it up until the day she went into laborβwhich actually could be pretty soon. The OB sheβd been seeing in St. Paulβbeforeβhad said to stay active, and she wanted to do everything she could to make sure that the little life she carried had the best possible start. Sheβd read several books, along with what felt like a couple of thousand websites, and she was avoiding lunchmeat, green tea, fake sweeteners, caffeineβeven chocolate. Goodness, chocolate had been the hardest to give up, with coffee a close second. She now had a recurring dream where she walked into a dimly lit coffee house and ordered a massive frozen-mocha-latte-smoothie with curls of dark chocolate and mounds of whipped cream on top, but she always woke up before she could take a sip. Her mouth watered just thinking about it.
βNo,β she chided, half speaking to herself and also to the baby. βNo chocolate for the baby, no matter how much Mama wants it.β She reached down to rub her swollen belly, as she did so often these days, and smiled at the firm kick she got in response, right under her palm. A rush of affection and protectiveness so intense that it almost frightened her swept through, taking her by surprise. It was amazing to hold a tiny, growing human inside her, but also terrifying to be so totally and solely responsible for someone else.
Even in the midst of her awe, the craving persisted, so intense that she could almost taste the chocolate melting on her tongue. Maybe Iβm just longing for something sweet? She wasnβt supposed to have too much sugar, but fruit was definitely still okay. The berries on the blackberry and raspberry bushes a little farther down the path were just starting to ripen again. They would be tart and juicy. She licked her lips at the thought and smiled at her own eagerness. Anyone who gets between a pregnant woman and her desired food deserves whatever happens to him. She quickened her pace, thankful sheβd worn long pants and sleeves to avoid the prickly bushes. If there were enough berries, maybe sheβd even come back later with a pail and pick enough for a pie. Oh, good Lord, the idea of a piece of pie, even just a tiny sliver, warm from the oven with a flaky crust, was so wonderful that she almost groaned aloud.
Practically trotting and out of breath by the time she reached the bushes, she was thrilled to see a few ripe berries straight away, which she snapped off their thin branches and popped into her mouth. Cold juice exploded on her tongue, and she sighed with pleasure. The ripe berries were few and far between, though. Most of them were still hard and green. Even so, there were enough on each bush to take her deep into the thicket as she sought out every last berry that was ready to eat, crunching them with gusto. It could have been some crazy sensory thing, but she didnβt know if sheβd ever tasted anything more delicious.
At first, she thought the moaning might be coming from her stomach. Heaven knew it made all sorts of noises these daysβgurgles, churns and growls so loud they woke her up at night. But this sound was too loud and too deep. She froze and tilted her head, listening. When the low moan came again, her heart seemed to jump right up into her throat. What the heck? Taking a slow, calming breath and narrowing her eyes, she scanned the thicket. Probably a deer in distress, she reassured herself. At least she hoped it was a deer, because if it were a moose or a bear, she could be in real trouble. She couldnβt make out much of anything through the thick leaf-cover at first, but finally a slight shaking in the bushes ahead and to her right signaled the location of whatever injured creature was there.
She hesitated. A prudent woman would go back to the cabin and call for help. She knew this. She should be careful and not her usual impulsive self. But then the noise came again, so sad and filled with pain that it made her throat tighten and her eyes fill with tears. Pure, uncontrollable sympathy made her step one foot forward, and her distinctly un-prudent decision was made. If the animal can make a noise like that, she reasoned, itβs unlikely to be able to move enough to hurt me if I stay back. And I wonβt get too close.
The stand of bushes was situated in a small valley with steep inclines that were blanketed with pine trees rising high on either side. As she got nearer to the wounded creature, she could see a faint trail of crushed and broken foliage leading to it from the opposite direction, and she guessed that the poor animal had probably fallen from the higher ground. Her heart squeezed with compassion. It must be in so much pain. She slowed her steps, carefully placing her weight on the balls of her feet instead of the heels and trying to breathe silently to avoid startling the mystery animal.
She braced herself for a very ugly scene, but what she found instead made her suck in a surprised breath. Two huge, black boots stood out dark against the green undergrowth, and her eyes followed their forms to two blue-jeans-clad legs, one of which looked somewhat twisted. Her gaze trailed up farther, to where the form was more obscured by leaves, but she could still make out an enormous hand and the weave of a thick green sweater, shifting slightly with the manβs breathing. She hurried forward.
βOh, my goodness, you poor man! Whereβs the worst pain?β she asked, trying to keep her voice quiet so as not to startle him. There was no answer, apart from another piteous groan, and when his face finally came into full view, she saw why. His eyes were closed, and an ugly lump had formed at his temple, already dark with a hint of the bad bruising to come. The blow must have also knocked him unconscious.
She lowered herself to the ground awkwardly, her movements hampered by the clumsiness of late-pregnancy and the ever-present swelling that made her fingers and toes feel like little sausages stuffed into casings that were too small. She wanted to assess where his injuries might be, though, and to do that, she needed to get closer. Sheβd taken several first-aid classes as a young teenager, practically a requirement as a doctorβs daughter in a rural area, so she felt reasonably optimistic she could stabilize the worst of whatever his injuries were before she ran back to the cabin to call 9-1-1. Why in the world did I choose today of all days not to bring my cell phone? She cursed under her breath, immediately murmuring an apology to her baby.
As her movements brought her closer to him, she couldnβt help but notice that, apart from his injuries, the man appeared to be in extremely good shape. His leg muscles bulged, even through the thick denim of his jeans, and his broad shoulders and chest looked solid and strong. She glanced at his face, noticing that his hair was cropped close to his skullβthe length a lot of military and ex-military men keep it, she thought absently. Even if she couldnβt see his eyes, he was undeniably handsome with high cheekbones, dark brows and eyelashes, a strong chin and nose, and soft-looking lips. He was younger than sheβd initially thought, too. Maybe in his early thirties.
Running carefully light hands over his legs, she felt the spot where one of his knees was twisted and swollen, but she was relieved that she didnβt feel anything else that seemed out of place on his lower extremities. There were a few areas that were uneven, but she guessed it could be fabric bunching or debris from the fall. She skimmed her fingers over his hips to his chest, which were just as hard and muscular as sheβd guessed, to his bulky arms. To her dismay, one of his wrists also felt slightly enlarged. Finally, she moved a tentative hand to his head. She rose onto her knees, leaning over for a better view to see how large and swollen the area was, which should be pretty visible through his ultra-short hair. Head wounds could be tricky, bleeding internally as well as externally. The swelling there was almost certainly what was causing his unconsciousness.
Just as the tips of her fingers made contact with the most swollen spot, without a breath of warning one of the manβs mammoth hands clamped around her wrist, stopping her from moving. She squeaked and tried to take her arm away, but his grip held her firm. When her gaze flashed to his face, he was staring back at her with bright blue eyes that were filled with a mix of suspicion and confusion.
*****
Review:
Clara is a kind person who fell for the wrong man and is now spending some time on her own, regrouping and waiting for her baby to arrive. A few days spent with Fitz while he recovers finds her growing attached to the strong, troubled, caring former marine.
Fitz is struggling with his guilt, pain, and feelings of unworthiness. Being rescued by Clara, with all her spunk and goodness, makes him dream of something more. But he’s not sure that he can be the man she deserves.
While there was a bit of insta-love, I really enjoyed watching the two of them fall in love. It’s well-paced, with enjoyable characters, and smoothly leads from their first meeting, thru their potential issues, and straight to a satisfying HEA. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Russell has in store for the rest of the Fitzhugh family.
(I’m giving this one 4+ stars because I really enjoyed the characters and their journey but I wasn’t all that happy with the intrigue side of things. I didn’t feel like it was needed and it left me with more questions than answers. Just a warning in case that kind of thing might be a deal breaker.)
*****
Author Info:
Aurora is originally from the frozen tundra of the upper-Midwest (ok, not frozen all the time!) but now loves living in New England with her real-life hero/husband, two wonderfully silly sons, and one of the most extraordinary cats she has ever had the pleasure to meet. But she still goes back to the Midwest to visit, just never in January.
She doesnβt remember a time that she didnβt love to read, and has been writing stories since she learned how to hold a pencil. She has always liked the romantic scenes best in every book, story, and movie, so one day she decided to try her hand at writing her own romantic fiction, which changed her life in all the best ways.You can find out more about Aurora at her website here – https://aurorarussellauthor.wordpress.com/
Michelle Smart unravels the mysteries of a Greek marriage in this emotional reunion romance.
Keren fled the island of Agon heartbroken, convinced her marriage was over. Now she must return to face her gloriously handsome estranged husband, Yannis, and end things for good. Instead, she finds herself marooned on Agon, and Yannis insists she spends three final days with him first! With nowhere to run from the fierce longing he reawakens, Keren must open her eyes to the whole truth. Not just the tragedy that broke them, but the joy and passion sheβs triedβand failedβto forgetβ¦
She couldnβt stop her stare darting to him. βIβm staying for three days not three weeks, Yannis.β
To her surprise, a grin spread over his face. It was a heartbreaker of a smile, all lopsided andβ¦sexy.
She quickly looked away.
Keren didnβt want to see his smile and remember how it had once been part of the Yannis Filipidis package that had seduced and charmed her from the moment she set eyes on him.
Their first meeting had been at the opening of a new contemporary art gallery at Agonβs palace that Yannis and his brother had helped curate as a favour to the King. The palace had artwork and antiquities dating back millennia, but the modern King wanted to bring it more fully into the twenty-first century. Knowing their King wanted to attract a younger, hipper clientele, the PR people behind the launch reached out to Keren and invited her to attend and review. That she was no art critic and had only visited and reviewed two art galleries in all her travelsβreviewing offbeat bars and restaurants and activities like elephant trekking were more her thingβdidnβt matter to them. It was her audience they wanted to connect with. Theyβd offered to pay for her flights and accommodation and promised no interference with what she published on her blog. As Agon had been on her wish list of countries to visit, sheβd been thrilled to accept.
But mostly she remembered the incredibly tall, incredibly gorgeous man dressed in a dapper pinstriped suit propped against the wall with a bottle of lager in his hand, oblivious to the lusty stares being thrown his way because his entire focus had been on her.Keren had come to Agon intending to stay for a long weekend. It had ended up being her home for two years.
The man whose attention sheβd caught that night and married six months later was still grinning. βBut you are staying,β he pointed out smugly.
βUnder duress. And only for three days.β
βThree days is long enough to convince you to stay.β Then the smile fell. He tilted his head. βWould you believe any apology?β
βNo.β
βThen I shall save my breath for when you do believe it.β
βSave it but donβt hold it,β she advised.
The smile returned. βYou would give me the kiss of life, surely?β
Before she could respond, he swept past her, his arm brushing hers, and engulfed her in a cloud of the cologne she hadnβt even realised sheβd been avoiding inhaling until it was too late.
Grinding her toes into her sandals, Keren closed her eyes and tried her hardest to ride out the wave of longing ripping through her.
They were just echoes of the past. Memories.
Memories sheβd locked away on her flight out of Agon.
*****
Author Info:
Michelle Smart is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author with a slight-to-severe coffee addiction. A book worm since birth, Michelle can usually be found hiding behind a paperback, or if itβs an author she really loves, a hardback. Michelle lives in rural Northamptonshire in England with her husband and two young Smarties. When not reading or pretending to do the housework she loves nothing more than creating worlds of her own. Preferably with lots of coffee on tap. www.michelle-smart.com.
A steamy fling with an old crush who doesnβt do commitment? What was she thinking! Find out in the conclusion to Reese Ryanβs Bourbon Brothers series.
Renee turned and started down the stairs. Suddenly, the door swung open, taking her by surprise. She missed a step, tripping but catching herself on the banister before she face-planted in the gravel.
Graceful, Renee. Youβre a regular Misty Copeland.
βRen?β Cole hurried down the stairs. βAre you okay?β
βYeah, Iβm fine. I thought maybe youβdβ¦ I donβt know.β She shrugged. βChanged your mind.β
She was flustered and rambling like a fool. Yep, this was definitely a bad idea.
Stop talking and make a graceful exit, if thatβs even possible at this point.
βNot a chance, sweetheart.β Cole extended a hand. βCβmon inside.β
Renee swallowed hard, her hand trembling as she placed it inside his.
Donβt chicken out now.
Cole led her into the kitchen. Like hers, it was outdated. It reminded her of her Aunt Bea standing at the old stove making fried corn or her famous chicken and dumplingsβthe first thing Ren had ever learned to cook.
βStill feels weird being here, huh?β Coleβs voice shook her from her temporary daze.
βVery.β
They entered the living room where an exercise mat and weights were on the floor.
βYou were working out. Iβm sorry. I shouldnβt have disturbed you.β Ren glanced at the equipment. βI know itβs really late andββ
βReneeβ¦β Cole drew her closer, pulling her attention back to him. His gaze was soft and warm as he stroked her cheek. βItβs okay. We both know why you came here.β He managed to say the words without sounding cocky. βBut I need to hear it from you. Tell me exactly what you want from me.β
Renβs head was spinning. No one had ever asked her that. Not in a relationship or her career. And now that he had, she wasnβt quite sure what to say.
So instead, she clutched Coleβs white Abbott Construction & Development T-shirt, pulled him closer and pressed her lips to his.
*****
Author Info:
Reese Ryan writes sexy, contemporary romance featuring a diverse cast of complex characters. She presents her characters with family and career drama, challenging love interests and life-changing secrets while treating readers to emotional love stories with unexpected twists. Past president of her local RWA chapter and a panelist at the 2017 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Reese is an advocate of the romance genre and diversity in fiction. Visit her online at ReeseRyan.com.
His job is to protect his best friendβs sisterβ¦not seduce her! Donβt miss the conclusion of the Men of Maddox Hill series by New York Times bestselling author Shannon McKenna.
When it comes to his best friendβs sister, heβs tempted to be much more than her protector. Assigned to keep an eye on social media darling Ava Maddox, security expert Zack Austin is more than up to the task. After all, sheβs like family. But dealing with the dynamic beauty requires every ounce of patienceβ¦and sexual control. Theyβve been denying their forbidden feelings for way too long and soon professionalism gives way to passion. Zackβs willing to face her overprotective familyβs wrath, but is Avaβs talent for finding trouble about to explode in his face?
βNo wine,β Zack told the waiter brusquely, realizing too late how stuffy and uptight that sounded. βFor me, of course,β he said to Ava. βFeel free to have some. I never drink when Iβm working.β
βGood for you.β She smiled up at the waiter, whose name was Martin, according to the tag on his shirt. βIβll have a glass of red wine, please.β
βSounds lovely.β She gave the waiter that trademarked blinding smile that brought men to their knees. Martin stumbled off, probably to walk into walls and tables.
And Zack just sat there, tongue-tied. When Ava Maddox was around, his foot always ended up stuck so far into his mouth, he needed surgical intervention to get it out. She was giving him that look. Big, sharp blue eyes that missed nothing. So on to him.
The restaurant had low light and a hushed ambience, and they were in the back, tucked in a wood-paneled corner booth. Now the challenge was to kick-start his brain into operation, instead of just staring at how beautiful she was in the flickering candlelight.
She just waited, patiently. Like she was all too used to men losing their train of thought as soon as they made eye contact with her. Like she was accustomed to cutting the poor stammering chumps some slack while they pulled themselves together.
Her cell rang, and she gave him an apologetic glance when she saw the display. βGotta take this. One sec.β She tapped the screen and held it to her ear. βErnest? Thanks for getting back to me. Are you still in the office?β¦ Yeah? Could you get a cab to swing by the Mathesson Pub and Grill on your way home?β¦ Yeah, I need my laptop, the pink one with the collage cover. Iβm talking to the Maddox Hill CSO about the online harassmentβ¦yeah, I know, but stillβ¦uh-huh. Okay, thanks. Youβre my hero. Later, then.β
She laid the phone down. βErnest is my assistant. Heβll bring my computer here so I can show you the master list of the last few of yearsβ worth of Blazonβs projects.β
βIβm surprised you donβt have your laptop with you at all times,β he said.
βI usually do,β she said. βBut I had every intention of going back to Gilchrist House tonight. I have a crazy weekend coming up. Ernest and I are flying down to the Future Innovation trade show in Los Angeles tomorrow. Itβs a very big deal.β
Zack couldnβt hide his disapproval. βTraveling to Los Angeles? Going back to a deserted office late in the evening? Leaving by yourself, going home by yourself? With all this going on?β
Ava sighed. βZack, Gilchrist House has a twenty-four-hour doorman. And I would call a car to take me from doorstep to doorstep. Iβm not an idiot.β
βI never suggested that you were.β
βIβm not in physical danger,β Ava assured him. βReally. This is just, you know, the new normal. The incivility of our modern electronic age. Itβs ugly and unsavory, but Iβve got to get used to it and learn to roll with it.β
βThe hell you do,β he said. βNew normal, my ass. Iβll tell you whatβs normal. When I find that bottom-feeding son of a bitch and grind him into paste.β
Ava gave him that narrow, nervous look, which by now he recognized. It was a signal that he wasnβt behaving professionally. He was too intense. Making it personal.
In a word, scaring her.
βAh, wow, Zack,β she murmured. βIβm surprised at your reaction.β
βWhy? This situation is a disgrace. Why should you be surprised that Iβm horrified?β
Her eyes slid away. βWell, I donβt know. Itβs just that youβve never taken me seriously before, so why would you suddenly take me seriously now?β
βIβm sorry I gave you that impression,β he said stiffly. βIt wasnβt intentional.β
βOh, donβt be that way.β Her tone was light. βIβm used to it. I rub a lot of people the wrong way. Iβm just too much for people sometimes. Drewβs always on my case about it, telling me to tone it down. And I try, I really do. But it never works. Boom, out it comes. The real Ava, right in your face.β
βHe shouldnβt do that,β Zack said forcefully.
βShouldnβt what? Sorry, but Iβm not following you.β
βDrew. He shouldnβt be on your case. He shouldnβt tell you to tone it down.β
Her eyes were big. βAhβ¦ I didnβt mean to get you all wound up.β
*****
Author Info:
Shannon McKenna is the NYT bestselling author of seventeen action packed, turbocharged romantic thrillers, among which are the stories of the wildly popular McCloud series and the brand new romantic suspense series, The Obsidian Files. She loves tough and heroic alpha males, heroines with the brains and guts to match them, villains who challenge them to their utmost, adventure, scorching sensuality, and most of all, the redemptive power of true love. Since she was small she has loved abandoning herself to the magic of a good book, and her fond childhood fantasy was that writing would be just like that, but with the added benefit of being able to take credit for the story at the end. Alas, the alchemy of writing turned out to be messier than she’d ever dreamed. But what the hell, she loves it anyway, and hopes that readers enjoy the results of her alchemical experiments.
When Dr. Carter shares a New Year’s kiss with a captivating stranger, he doesn’t expect a reunion. Then he walks into Saint Doloresβs ER the very next dayβ¦and discovers sheβs his new colleague! Awkwardly, their smoking-hot attraction hasnβt gone away! But for Carter, life has meant staying mobile, and he canβt simply lay down roots. Yet thereβs something about Nurse Avery and Nashville thatβs starting to really feel like home.
βYouβre that confident, are you?β she asked, her tongue dipping out for a quick swipe along her lips.
She was warming to him. Good.
The guy whoβd climbed on the bull after her had been thrown off and someone else was climbing on. Carter would glue himself to the bull if thatβs what it took to stay on the longest. But it wouldnβt take that. Back in Texas, heβd called his riding paying the bills. His sister had called it sheer stupidity. Theyβd both been right.
βNever met a bull who didnβt take to my winning personality.β He tipped the brim of his hat to her.
Her eyes didnβt leave his. βIf you win my money, Iβm not taking it.β
βAnd Iβm not letting you walk away empty-handed.β
She frowned. βI guess youβd better come up with something else, then. I donβt steal prizes that arenβt mine.β
He held his hands out, then ran them alongside his body. βApart from my guitar, this is the only other thing Iβve got on offer.β
He wasnβt actually broke. He wasnβt a thief, either. That role in the family was already taken.
A loud roar from the crowd filled the air as another contender climbed aboard the longhorn.
She tilted her head to the side, and he took the few moments she was assessing him to do the same. Skin that looked so soft there probably wasnβt a thread count high enough for it. A body that rocked the hell out of her double-denim getup. A pair of cowboy boots that definitely werenβt just for show. Goddamn she was sexy.
βWell, then,β she said. βI guess youβd better get on up there and show me what you got.β When she met his gaze, he was pretty sure he wasnβt only seeing neon lights flaring in her eyes.
She put out her mittened hand. They were going to shake on it, apparently.
Carter smiled. Progress. She liked him, too. Enough to want to see him show his stuff atop a mechanical bull anyway. Maybe she merely wanted a good laugh. Either way, he could work with that. Not that heβd be seeing her again, butβ¦it was New Yearβs Eve. The bit of him that believed in destiny, that hoped that fate wasnβt something only poets spoke of, wanted her appearance in his life to signify something more than a chance meeting. Yet another moment in time that would slip through his fingers when reality reared its head and cut things short. Again.
It surprised him how much he wanted her to be a sign of good things to come. Needed it, even. Perhaps if he won that kissβ¦
He put his thumb and index finger on the tip of her thumb. βMay I?β
She didnβt say anything, but she didnβt refuse. Just watched, mesmerized, as he tugged off her mitten, slowly, so that when their hands finally met, it would be flesh on flesh.
The atmosphere changed. The sounds of the crowd dulled and somehow, the way the world can sometimes, everything stilled so that it seemed like it was just the two of them out here in the middle of Nashville with nothing but a few flakes of snow between them.
*****
Author Info:
Annie spent most of her childhood with a leg draped over the family rocking chair and a book in her hand. Novels, baking and writing too much teenage angst poetry ate up most of her youth. Now, Annie splits her time between corralling her husband into helping her with their cows, listening to audio books whilst weeding and spending some very happy hours at her computer writing.
Recovering her missing memories could be the key to solving a murder.
Searching for her best friendβs remains could help forensic anthropologist Melanie Hutton regain her memories of when they were both kidnappedβunless the killer gets to Melanie first. For her safety, Melanie must rely on Detective Jason Cooper, who still blames her for his sisterβs death. Can Jason set the past aside to solve the cold-case murderβ¦and shield Melanie from the same fate?
βDidnβt mean to startle you. Guess I have a habit of doing that.β Jason rested against the neighboring tree.
Several deep breaths later, she forced a smile. βItβs okay.β
He narrowed his gaze and studied her a moment. βWell? Does it?β
βA little.β Truthfully, a lot, but Jason didnβt need to know that. βI, uh, wanted to thank you for watching out for me today.β
βJust doing my job.β The muscles in his neck and shoulders tensed.
βWe both know itβs more than that.β She wiped her hand down her face. βJason. Weβre going to be working together for the foreseeable future. Do you think we can call a truce, at least while we do our jobs?β
His jaw twitched, and he remained silent.
Sheβd asked a lot, but the strain between them had to stop. She watched him for a few minutes then shook her head.
βNever mind.β She pushed from the trunk and limped to the hole in the ground. Her lead-filled heart threatened to drop to her feet. To think that fifteen years ago, sheβd had a crush on him. Heβd teased her and Allison, but heβd never allowed others to speak unkind words to them. If only she could return to those carefree days. The days before she had died on the inside and her friend had died for real.
Someday, Allison, Iβll find your body. I promise.
She swiped the wetness from her cheeks and lowered herself into the grave. The movement mimicked her mood. She picked up her trowel and searched for more bones.
An hour later, Melanieβs headache had become unbearable, causing her stomach to roil. Just what she needed, to lose her lunch in front of Jason. Scanning the grave, she spotted the paintbrush she used for delicate work. She grasped the handle, but dropped it. She tried again, but her fingers refused to cooperate. Her eyelids grew heavy. Something was off. She sat on the edge of the hole.
βJason, help.β Her words were slurred. She struggled to stay upright. The trees in front of her blurred and swayed.
He kneeled down and came face-to-face with her. βWhatβs wrong?β
βI donβt know.β
βHelp me out here. Whatβs the last thing you did?β
βIβIβ¦β She struggled against the gray cloud jumbling her thoughts. βTook a break a while ago. Only digging since.β
His gaze flew to a spot behind her.
She wilted into him. Her vision tunneled, and darkness closed in.
βKeith! Grab the cooler and her bag!β
Jasonβs frantic voice registered, but her body had shut down.
His warm arms lifted her. Her head bobbed and landed on his shoulder.
Her cheek bounced against his chest in cadence with the pounding of his feet on the path.
His rhythmic breathing was the last thing she heard before the world went dark.
*****
Author Info:
Two-time Genesis winner Sami A. Abrams and her husband live in Northern California, but sheβll always be a Kansas girl at heart. She enjoys visiting her two grown children and spoiling their sweet fur babies. Most evenings, if Samiβs not watching sports, youβll find her engrossed in a romantic suspense novel. She thinks a crime plus a little romance is the recipe for a great story. Visit her at http://www.samiaabrams.com.
Amina Kelly broke Sergeant Maxwell Layton’s heart when she married his best friend. But the detective never forgot herβ¦or the sizzling attraction they never acted on. Years later, while Maxwell and Amina work together to find her ex’s killer, Maxwell finds his desire for the nurse stronger than ever. As he puts his life on the line to keep Amina safe, Maxwell realizes that the greatest risk of all might be to his heart.
*****
Excerpt:
βDo you think the break-in is connected to the mugging?β Amina asked.
Maxwellβs eyebrows shot up. If he didnβt know better, he wouldβve thought she was a mind reader. Earlier, when he considered the two incidences mightβve been connected, he hadnβt planned to say anything to her just yet. But in case they were, he needed to do some digging. What he didnβt want to do was scare her, but he also wanted her to be on alert.
βYes,β he said honestly. βItβs too much of a coincidence. Iβm even wondering if that botched mugging wasnβt an attempted kidnapping.β
Her hand went to her chest. βIf youβre trying to scare me, itβs working.β
βSweetheart, the last thing I want to do is scare you, but something is going on. Until we figure out what, I think you should stay here. In the meantime, can you think of anything you have that someone might want? A family heirloom? Gold? Bonds? A limited-edition book? Anything?β
βNo, nothing like that. I have a pair of diamond earrings that my parents gave me when I graduated from high school.β
βI might be way off with this next question, but I have to ask. Do you have anything of Jeremyβs?β
She frowned. βNot that I can think ofβwhy?β
βI donβt know. I might be way off, but I wonder if any of this has to do with his murder?β Maxwell wiped his hands and grabbed his cell phone off the counter. About a half an hour ago, Danny had texted him a still shot of the suspect.
Maxwell held up his phone to her. βDo you recognize this guy?β
Amina stared at the photo for a few minutes. The quality wasnβt great, and much of the manβs face was hard to make out, but she might know him.
She eventually shook her head. βHe doesnβt look familiar. Should I know him? Who is he?β
Nothing matters more to her when a child’s life is at stake.
Special agent Thea Lamb returns to her hometown to search for a child whose disappearance echoes a twenty-eight-year-old cold caseβher twin sister’s abduction. Working with her former partner, Jake Stillwell, Thea must overcome the pain, doubt and guilt that have tormented her for years and denied her a meaningful relationship. For both Thea and Jake, the job always came firstβ¦until now.
βWhile I was trying to fish the doll out of the pool, someone came from behind and hit me over the head hard enough to daze me. Next thing I know, Iβm caught in a whirlpool several feet below the surface. I lost my flashlight, so I was spun around underwater in complete darkness. No up, no down.β He paused. βFor a while there, I wasnβt sure how Iβd get out.β
Thea watched his expression as he spoke. He still seemed shaken from the experience. Sheβd never seen him like that. βI knew something bad must have happened.β
He summoned a brief smile. βI know what youβre thinking. I even thought so myself at the time. So much for my keen instincts. Someone came up behind me and I never sensed a thing.β
βThatβs not what Iβm thinking.β
βNo?β
βIβm thinking you could have died down there and I would never have known what happened to you.β
βThea.β He said her name so softly she might have thought the tender missive was nothing more than a breeze sighing through the treetops.
The sun bearing down on them was hot and relentless, but Thea felt a little shiver go through her. It hit her anew how much sheβd missed that tender glint in his eyes as their gazes locked. How much sheβd missed his husky whispers in the dark. The glide of his hand along her bare skin, the tease of his lips and tongue against her mouth. The way he had held her afterward, as if he never wanted to let her go. But he had let her go and sheβd done nothing to stop him.
She drew a shaky breath. βDonβt ever do that to me again.β
βGet caught in a whirlpool? Iβll do my best.β
She scowled at him. βDonβt make light. You know what I mean.β
βIβm fine, Thea.β He seemed on the verge of saying something else, but he held back. Maybe he thought she wanted his restraint. She did, didnβt she? They were in a precarious situation. Adrenaline and attraction could be a dangerous combination. Throw in unresolved issues and they were asking for trouble.
*****
Author Info:
Amanda Stevens is an award-winning author of over fifty novels. Born and raised in the rural south, she now resides in Houston, Texas.
Wounded marine Trey Rothchild has returned to Polk Island. People call him a hero, but will he ever feel that way after losing his team? Reuniting with high school crush Gia Harris buoys his spirits. Though sheβs focused on making her physical therapy clinic a successβand avoiding romance with patientsβGia canβt bear watching the former athlete sit on the sidelines of life. Could helping Trey recover include loving him fearlessly?
Trey hadnβt felt this relaxed in months. He closed his eyes, allowing his body to become one with the water. Regaining this small sense of movement was a defining moment for himβhe felt a sense of freedom heβd thought was long gone.
βYouβre doing fantastic,β Gia murmured.
At every encouraging word and smile from her and Giaβs obvious faith in him, Treyβs heart turned over in response. There was no fighting it any longer. He wanted something more than friendship from her. Heβd been crushing on her at first like before, but what he felt now defied words.
However, reality sank in. What could he offer Gia?
Yetβ¦the way she looked at him motivated him to take a chance with her. After all, she was his biggest cheerleader and she often reminded him that he could continue to improve his quality of life, including having a family.
At the end of the aquatic therapy session, Gia assisted him back into his wheelchair.
He decided to take the leap. He didnβt just want to be her friend. He wanted more. He wanted Gia.
βHow do you feel about mixing business with pleasure?β
She dried herself off. βIβm not sure what you mean by that.β
His eyes traveled over her face, studying her expression. βWill you have dinner with me? As in a date.β
Gia gave a slight nod. βIβd love it.β She handed him a towel. βBut I canβt unless you fire me, or I quit. Itβs not ethical for me to date my patients.β
βThen youβre fired.β
Grinning, she responded, βIn that case, I have a replacement in mind for you.β
He was surprised. βWere you planning to quit on me?β
Gia laughed. βNo, I simply wanted to be prepared in case something happened to me, or if we decided to be more than friends.β
βWe have gotten pretty close,β Trey said. βIβve tried to keep it professional, but I really care for you.β
βI feel the same way,β Gia responded.
Her words thrilled him. Clearing his throat, he stated, βIf you donβt mind coming to the
βHow about I cook something?β she suggested. βIβll have to check your refrigerator to see what I have to work with.β
He chuckled.
*****
Author Info:
Jacquelin Thomas’ books have garnered several awards, including two EMMA awards, the Romance In Color Reviewers Award, Readers Choice Award, and the Atlanta Choice Award in the Religious & Spiritual category. She was nominated for a 2008 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Fiction in the Young Adult category. Jacquelin has published in the romance, inspirational fiction and young adult genres.
Romantic Reads and Such 