Suppose the solution to all your problems is the one thing you never
wanted…
It figures the one time Sabrina Cassidy is determined to do
the responsible thing, karma kicks in. After four years on the road chasing her
musical dream, she’s stranded six hours from home with no money, a ruined
credit history—and morning sickness.
Out of options, she swallows her legendary independent
streak and calls the only person who won’t hang up on her. Luke, the man she
left behind.
Marc Sterling’s first instinct is to protect his business
partner and best friend from another broken heart. That means letting her think
she’s talking to Luke, then finding a way to send her in the opposite
direction.
When he shows up at her hotel room, there’s something in the
air beside their customary insults. Sure, her rebellious attitude, smart
mouth—and purple panties—still drive him crazy, but now it’s a different kind
of crazy. The kind that has him driving her home instead of to the nearest
airport.
And when Luke offers to solve all her problems if she’ll
only say “I do”, Marc realizes he’s just crazy enough—about her—to forget whose
heart he wanted to protect.
Warning: Contains
two people who don’t like each other very much, a Toyota that can’t quite
handle the road trip home, and a spontaneous proposal. Or two. Or three. And
foreplay with—what else—pie filling.
Excerpt:
“How about a Long Slow One?”
Sabrina snapped out of her thoughts
as someone ordered a final drink before they closed. It was one of her own
concoctions. She was having fun with that at least. She shoved the letter under
the edge of the blender and reached for a glass.
“A Long Slow One?” The deep voice
tumbled down her spine like a staircase, goose bumps rippling out and down her
limbs. Marc had come behind the bar when she wasn’t looking.
“Want one?” she asked, turning to
face him.
She loved—loved, loved, loved—the
sexual innuendos and teasing between them. It seemed constant. There was a
current between them whenever they were in close proximity and neither of them
shied away from it.
Which was stupid, but apparently
unavoidable.
“I’d be crazy to say no to that
wouldn’t I?”
He gave her the grin that always made
her think Take me now.
“Definitely,” she said with a smile.
“But you should know that the Hard and Fast is another option.”
“Now we’re talking’.” He moved in as
if to simply pass behind her but his chest brushed her upper back and his hand
slid across her hip and right butt cheek as he did. “What’s in it?”
“The most important ingredient is
cinnamon schnapps.”
The next millisecond she realized
what she’d admitted. Marc chewed cinnamon gum. All the time. His kisses were
always cinnamon flavored and yes, that had come to mind as she invented the
drink. And its name.
“I love cinnamon,” he said gruffly. “The
Hard and Fast sounds good to me.”
She turned to face him, wanting to
see his eyes as she said, “I personally like it better than the Long Slow One.”
“Should I say that doesn’t surprise
me or act like I haven’t thought about how you like…your drinks?”
Breathing. That was what she was
forgetting.
She sucked in a long breath. “I’m not
sure what you should say.”
“Doesn’t matter what I say,” he said,
his voice low. “I still wonder about it.”
“Now you know.”
“I won’t forget, either.”
God, what was she doing? She wasn’t
even flirting with the man who’d proposed, but she was basically telling his
best friend exactly how she’d like him to take her.
The urge to kiss him was nearly
overpowering. “You have to stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Being so…all of this.”
“Sexy?” he suggested with a grin.
“Hot? Hard to resist?”
She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t
stop her smile. “Yes. All of it.”
“You think I’m hard to resist?” He
sounded surprised.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
His smile changed from cocky to
something much warmer. Her entire body felt it.
“It’s really, really fun, isn’t it?”
he asked.
It really, really was. But she
couldn’t shake the weirdness of it. This was Marc after all. Marc who had come
to Wyoming to keep her away from Luke…
And that was what was bugging her.
“You’re very attentive for a guy who
doesn’t like me much.”
“Until a couple of weeks ago, I
didn’t like you at all.”
“Thanks for clarifying. And for
making my point.”
“You’re wondering why I’m suddenly
so…”
“Attentive is the word I’m most
comfortable with.”
He chuckled. “Okay, you’re wondering
why I’m suddenly so attentive.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted the answer
to her next question. “Because you don’t want me with Luke?”
He crossed his arms and leaned his
hip against the back counter. “I don’t want you with Luke.”
“Are you trying to make him look
bad?” She regretted it as soon as she’d said it.
He looked very interested in that.
“What does that mean?”
She shook her head. “Never mind.
Forget it.”
She started to move past him, but he
caught her arm and pulled her around to face him.
“I’m making him look bad?”
“You’re not trying?”
“Dammit, Seattle.” He hadn’t let go
of her yet and he pulled her closer. He sounded intent rather than annoyed.
“Tell me how I’m making him look bad.”
“You’re making me want you more than I
want him.”
Available now in print and all e-formats!
2 comments:
Mmmm.... this books sounds awesome. Really.
I love the tension - great excerpt!
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