More about Hard Lovin'

But it at Ellora's Cave

www.jasminejade.com

Release date: May 11

Maybe going off with a stranger was a stupid thing to do but she as finally learning to trust her own instincts. And they told her she’d be safe with Grady Sinclair.

 “Not tonight.” She smiled at him. “Let’s go.”

He held out his hand to her and linked his fingers with hers. An incredible sense of rightness flowed over her, wrapping around her like a blanket. A peace she hadn’t felt since, well, just since. When they reached his pickup—dark grey and definitely well used—Grady leaned her against the passenger door. He stood there for a moment, one warm hand on her knee.

“You sure about this, darlin’?”

“I am.” Oh, yes. Inexplicably, unbelievably sure.

Grady cupped her face and kissed her. He kept it gentle at first but then passion, that wily beast, gripped them both and he sent his tongue deep, drinking her sexy sigh, loving the feel of her breath on his face. They were alone in the night, so he drew her against him loving the way her breasts settled against the worn cotton of his tee shirt.

Raw edgy lust was etched on his face. “Your name. Tell me your name.”

Tell him her name? But that made this so personal.

Well, dummy, this is personal! He’s taking you home to his bed where he’ll probably fuck your brains out. How can you be so stupid? Don’t you ever learn?

But she didn’t feel the risk. Not like there had been with Cal. She felt almost…protected. And what was that all about?

She wet her lips. “It’s Erin. Erin Braddock.”

Damn. Should I have told him my last name? What if he’s heard of my Daddy and calls him? Everyone kisses Rance Braddock’s ass. No. That’s not who he is. I just know that.

“Erin.” It sounded musical on his lips. “Beautiful. Like you. Maybe I’ll write a song about Erin. You’re so damn sweet. I just have to kiss you.”

He cupped her head, his hands gentle, as his mouth lightly touched hers. He seemed to be kissing her by degrees, waiting at each step to see if she’d bolt and run. To see if she could fall into this.  Muted sounds from the crowd filtered outside joining the song of crickets and passing traffic. None of it mattered. Just her and this man, a total stranger but yet not a stranger. Someone who seemed to have been waiting in her heart to come out at the right time.

At last, when they were both gasping, he opened the door of the truck and handed her up into the seat as if she were a piece of precious cargo. He grinned, swept a kiss over her mouth then checked her seat belt and closed the door.

They rode in silence, neither of them seeming to need conversation, comfortable with the quietness. Grady’s room was in a huge old-fashioned house in an older neighborhood in San Antonio.

“I was lucky,” he told her, leading her quietly up an outside flight of stairs. “I got the room with its own entrance. And the only one with its own bathroom. I think it belonged to her son once, or something.”

He unlocked the door, reached inside to flick on a light switch for the bedside lamp and ushered her into a large bedroom furnished with sturdy, time-worn furniture. The only modern touch was a small television on the dresser.

Erin pointed to it. “Is that yours?”

He shook his head. “The landlady provides one for every room. She’s great.” He leaned his guitar case carefully in one corner, then turned to face her, his hands gentle on her shoulders. “Are you sure about this, Erin?”

Mutely she nodded.

“I can still take you back to your truck. Just say the word.”

So different from Cal, who’d never seemed to give her a choice. Or T.J., who tiptoed around her as if she’d shatter any minutes. Grady was making it plain he wanted her but the choice was hers.

“I don’t want to go back,” she told him.

“Good.” He let out a long, slow breath. “Because I have to tell you, I can’t wait to get you in that bed.”