Eleanor
Martin is every company's dream employee. She arrives early, stays late and
never misses a day. If it weren't for Eleanor's skill as a private secretary,
her architect boss would never make a deadline. Not only does she keep him on
track, she runs interference between him and his over-bearing mother, his
deadbeat brother, and the half dozen or so women who want to bed him and/or wed
him.
When Jess
Norton acquires a new client who asks him to build a palatial hideaway on Grand
Cayman Island, Jess is certain he'll never be able to complete the multi-million
dollar job without the help of his efficient secretary. Despite her
reservations, he convinces Eleanor to accompany him on the assignment of a
lifetime.
The sun and the sand cast the perfect spell for romance. But will the
tides turn in the opposite direction?
Excerpt:
Jess
sat at the breakfast table the next morning, his back to the wall, his gaze set
on the entrance way to the café. Eight-thirty, their set meeting time and still
Eleanor had not arrived. She’d never, ever been late before and, not for the
first time since last night he cursed himself for his moment of weakness.
He’d
watched her as she’d left the cabin on her way to the beach, startled to
realize that under those stuffy suits she wore, Eleanor possessed a body most
women would envy. Long legs, adequately definable hips, a small waist, and
breasts lush enough to fill a man’s hands. Her charmingly unruly hair had
glistened like a shiny cloud of curls in the dying sun. He’d told himself right
then and there to turn back to his work and away from the window. And he had,
for all of five minutes.
Then,
like the idiot he was, he’d donned his own suit and followed her into the
ocean. He
certainly hadn’t intended to kiss her, at least not consciously. Yet, there
she’d been, wrapped in his arms, her violet gaze locked on his, her body
trembling from fright and he’d taken advantage of the situation, advantage of
her. He’d been, in his own estimation, a Class
A jerk.
Drawn
from his self-deprecation by the sound of voices near the hostess’ desk, Jess
looked up. Eleanor was winding her way through the maze of tables, her expression
almost stoic, her professional armor fully in place. Gone was the flirty
sundress, replaced by a navy skirt, starched white blouse, string of pearls and
her standard-issue, granny tight bun at the back of her head.
Gone
was the beautiful woman he’d kissed in the moonlight, replaced by his
ever-efficient secretary.
“Good
morning,” she said, taking a seat opposite his.
“Good
morning.”
The
waitress came to pour coffee and deliver menus and Jess welcomed the diversion.
He’d not yet decided how to broach his inexcusable behavior, no matter how many
times he’d played the evening over in his head. Unfortunately, in place of an
acceptable excuse, he’d only found the memory of her kiss, the taste of her
lips, and the feel of her body pressed against his own.
“What
time are we due at Mr. MacKenzie’s?” she asked.
“Ten-thirty.”
She
was offering him a way out, he realized, by jumping right into business. Thankfully,
he accepted her unspoken offer. For the time being at least. Eventually, he
realized, they would have to address the issue of the kiss.
****
My Social Links: (I'd love a follow or a like!)
Website: www.nancyfraser.ca
Twitter:
@nfraserauthor
Amazon
Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004AOL61Y
And, more of my favorite holiday songs:
1961: Santa Claus Is Watching You by Ray Stevens (as always, a laugh and a half from Mr. Stevens)
1962: Monster's Holiday by Bobby "Boris" Pickett (a take off on his hilarious Monster's Mash)
1963: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams (while not technically R&R, still an amazingly beautiful song)
1964: The Man With All The Toys by The Beach Boys (and not a surfboard in sight)
Don't
forget to leave a comment (including your email) for a chance to win having
your name used as a character in book 5 of the series, as well as a digital
copy of the book you're named in and a digital copy of the first three books in
the series, 1955's Love Is A Many
Splendored Thing, 1956's Love Me Tender and 1957's Wake Up Little Susie.
This is it for me today. Please drink, drive and read responsibly!
Happy Holidays!
Nancy
4 comments:
I haven't heard of some of those songs, I will have to look for them. Thanks for the excerpt, sounds like a lovely read.
elewkf1 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for coming back for the third installment of the blog. Be sure to come back for my book blast tour on Wednesday when April Love will be up on Amazon for free!
Tell me, how have I never heard of you before? I must live under a rock. I am a huge fan of '50s rock & roll. In fact, I stopped listening to AM radio when the Beatles hit the American shores. They changed the face of R&R forever and I'm not a fan of what followed. That said, I love the sound of your books...especially since they are named after songs and/or films I loved from my teen years! Gotta go get me some!
Ooops...forgot my email! Need more coffee!
kareninnc at gmail dot com
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