“I’ve always been able to see the auras. But I knew you couldn’t because you refuse to see the darkness in people and I didn’t want you to ever change. So I didn’t tell you.”
Fate thought the prophecy was over. She graduated high school, made big plans with her family and her boyfriend to travel the world, and got a full-ride scholarship for college in the fall.
Despite blowing up the chemistry lab twice.
But all that changes when the witches show up, because the war they thought they won is just beginning and without Fate and Destiny leading the way, it’s a war they will all lose. Unfortunately, the coven wants them to lead separate teams. Like they somehow don’t realize Fate works better with her sister by her side.
Oh, and Damien.
Damien isn’t going to let the girl he loves face these odds alone. In fact, he’ll risk everything, even her, to help win this battle and keep her alive. Damien makes an impossible choice, one that will change them all.
Damien grinned down at Fate, holding her hands, and even after all their time together, his heart still raced in his chest and his blood roared in his ears. Crazy that she could affect him like that. She swayed toward him, rose on her tiptoes, and her lips danced across his. His hands slid up to cup the back of her head, and he deepened their kiss, hoping if he kissed her hard enough or long enough, she would forget about leaving.
Snippet #2
Fate didn’t know if he would kill her or if she could make him her Damien again. But she had to try.
“Of course you do.”
Fate blinked, turning her head slowly to the other side. It took so, so much energy.
Destiny sat next to her, not rocking and keening like Ancient, but awake and sad, legs tucked underneath her. Fate hadn’t realized the pillow she’d been using rested on Destiny’s lap. Her sister had never left her.
“How did you come after us? I thought the bars—”
Destiny raised her chin. “I make my own path.”
Fate almost smiled. If it didn’t take so much energy. “You’re a tough cookie.”
Destiny brushed Fate’s hair off her temple. “Only when you need me. All the other times I was just stuck. Nearly got us killed a few times. Actually, we were in the area. Just couldn’t break the bars to come help.”
“Until I decided to fall off a cliff?”
Destiny nodded.
“That was nice of you.”
Snippet#3
To go near him would be suicide. The giant warlock would see her and she couldn’t move fast enough to avoid those attacks.
But her broom could.
She grabbed it, wished it was her real broom and not a loaner, and swung astride.
“I can’t, Fate! I’m not fast enough!” Destiny cried.
Fate nodded. “I know. But I am.” Those words seemed to change everything. Fate felt it, but couldn’t understand it. “Get ready,” she told Destiny. She slid into the air, swinging wide and hoping to get behind him before he saw her. Destiny, ever the crazy one, decided to distract the monster.
Because that was safe.
Alina, of course, joined Destiny.
Fate couldn’t hesitate to scream at them. She refrained from calling Destiny stupid in her head and just flew, as fast and as low as she could. It was dangerous to move that quickly; one false breath and she’d crash into the non-padded rock and die. But she couldn’t exactly take her time. Destiny and her mother could only cast spells at the warlock from out of range for so long while it lumbered closer.
Wendy Knight is the award-winning, bestselling author of the young adult series Fate on Fire and Riders of Paradesos. She was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call, no touching the knives…you get the idea). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big—her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S.
You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing.
Sparks fly between a misunderstood New York socialite and a cynical divorce lawyer in
this lively standalone rom-com from the USA Today bestselling
author of Blurred Lines and Love Story.
Pampered heiress Georgianna Watkins has a party-girl image to maintain, but all the
shopping and clubbing is starting to feel a little bit hollow—and a whole lot
lonely. Though Georgie would never admit it, the highlights of her week are the
mornings when she comes home at the same time as her uptight, workaholic
neighbor is leaving to hit the gym and put in a long day at the office. Teasing
him is the most fun Georgie’s had in years—and the fuel for all her naughtiest
daydreams.
Celebrity divorce attorney Andrew Mulroney doesn’t have much time for women, especially spoiled tabloid princesses who spend more time on Page Six than at an actual
job. Although Georgie’s drop-dead gorgeous, she’s also everything Andrew
resents: the type of girl who inherited her penthouse instead of earning it.
But after Andrew caps one of their predawn sparring sessions with a surprise
kiss—a kiss that’s caught on camera—all of Manhattan is gossiping about whether
they’re a real couple. And nobody’s more surprised than Andrew to find that the
answer just might be yes.
Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen
romantic comedies.
A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career.
She lives in midtown Manhattan with her high-school sweetheart, where she writes smart
romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush. In
LL’s ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry
a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.
Charlie Williams’ view on relationships is simple—one night, no strings, move on.
But when the opportunity to see a girl from his past comes up, Charlie finds himself breaking all his own rules. Ever since the night he’d turned her away, Charlie hasn’t been able to get Charlotte off his mind. A break from his pub for a vacation across the pond should be enough to cure him of his curiosity and get her out of his system. At least, he hopes…
Charlotte Mackay channels love through coffee.
Running her fandom-themed store and specialty coffee bar keeps her nerdy heart busy after one too many relationship disappointments. Until the man she can’t manage to forget calls.
Charlie’s coming to The Hamptons for a two-week vacation. She’s going to be his host—nothing more. She’d fallen under the spell of his bedroom eyes and roguish charm once before, and it nearly wrecked her. Charlotte can’t risk the same mistake twice.
But love knows no boundaries when two hearts collide.
I wasn’t one to much stock into fate. Nor was I one for reading into signs. All of it was pure and complete hooey to me. There was no impactful moment when a person looked into someone’s eyes and, BAM, that was it. That they were the one because something in the way they connected told a person they’d found it. Love. Or whatever it was that made two people decided to align themselves together, infuriating habits and all, for the rest of their lives.
-Charlie
Snippet 2:
Charlie was otherworldly.
Kind. Funny. Smart. Witty.
He was exactly what I’d been looking for. Yet, entirely complicated.
That was my luck though.
Of course I’d find myself a man I thought I could really see a future with, knowing that future wasn’t as easily attainable as the chemistry between us was. Even with the amazing sex and small moments of true connection, I still didn’t think I could pick up and leave. Not my shop. The Raven’s Den was everything to me.
“If I fall asleep, luv, my apologies,” he said as he moved closer to me, wrapping an arm around my waist. “I don’t think I can keep my eyes open much longer. Ye’ve worn me out.”
I snuggled against him, trying not to think about the future. Tried to enjoy the small moment of perfection. A marked day that was as rare as finding a living unicorn. Because those moments were quickly approaching their end, and I had a heart to prepare for when it came time for one of us to make a choice.
-Charlotte
Candace Knoebel is the award-winning author of Born in Flames—book one in a young adult fantasy trilogy. She discovered in 2009 through lunch breaks and late nights after putting her kids to bed, a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. And an outlet for all the voices residing in her head.
Published by 48fourteen in 2012, Born in Flames went on to win Turning the Pages Book of the Year award in February of 2013. In January of 2014, the last book in the trilogy, From the Embers, was released, thusly completing the trilogy. She now works on the Night Watchmen Series, while guzzling Red Bulls and pretending to be a ninja on Heelys.
Find a listing of Candace’s books on her Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Candace-Knoebel/e/B009CW4K30/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1486531045&sr=1-2-ent
Sonya Loveday is a full time author. Mother of two teenagers. Wife to an amazing man for 18 years. Dog lover. Cat lover. COFFEE addict. Night Owl. She’s a sucker for a good book. Loves the quiet life. Has the bestest best friend in the whole world. Her imagination never shuts off which makes it hard to sleep. The worst cook. Seriously.
Find a listing of Sonya’s books on her Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Sonya-Loveday/e/B00LXD4252/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Social Media Links:
James Caldo needs to control everything in his life, even his wife, Izzy Gallo. But she’s headstrong and has a need to test her husband’s limits as much as he pushes hers.
When a case at ALFA Private Investigation takes a dark turn, James is forced to get Izzy involved in an undercover sting, and the assignment will test her sexual boundaries as well as the very foundation of their relationship.
Can Izzy hold her tongue long enough to keep them both safe? Or will her unwillingness to fully submit draw the eye of the very man they’re after?
Chelle Bliss is the USA Today bestselling author of the Men of Inked and ALFA P.I. series. She hails from the Midwest but currently lives near the beach even though she hates sand. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, coffee fiend, and ex-high school history teacher. She loves spending time with her two cats, alpha boyfriend, and chatting with readers. To learn more about Chelle, please visit her website.
A mix-and-match mock engagement? Ballerina Sofia Koslov’s career is on the line when she’s accosted at the
airport by a rich, reckless playboy who thinks she’s his mail-order bride! But
the playboy’s levelheaded brother, Quinn McNeill, solves the media snafu with a
switcheroo. He’ll pretend to be her legitimate fiancé to protect her
reputation—and to protect his family’s business deals from her father’s wrath.
Sofia’s one condition: they’ll share the spotlight as a loving couple but won’t
share a bed. But soon Quinn’s gentlemanly ways strike a chord, and Sofia’s dying
to renege on that condition and have a real fling…
Four-time RITA nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn’t
like. The author of over seventy books enjoys writing a wide range of stories,
most recently focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An
optimist by nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance
fits her life outlook perfectly–love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker
at regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the
writing community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters
degree in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction
writing skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine
Mann. When she’s not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her
favorite sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three
athletic-minded sons.
She’s waiting for her prince to come … but was he right beside her all the time?
Kristina Rose Maher wants to know why fairytales never happen for fat girls. Certain that diner cook Jeff, handsome and fit, will never want her as more than a friend, she stuffs down her attraction to him. But when she finds herself facing a life-altering weight loss surgery, she discovers she’s willing to do whatever it takes to embrace life—and love—to the fullest.
Jeffrey Berkley can’t bear the thought of losing the friend he’s only just beginning to realize matters so much to him… no matter what size she is. But he is also terrified that helping her reach for her dreams will also mean finally reaching for his own—and letting down his family’s legacy in the process.
Both Kristina Rose and Jeffrey must learn to love themselves before they can find a way to make a promise to each other. Will they finally be able to lay their heavy burdens at the Lord’s feet, and trust him to bring the happily-ever-after they both crave?
Don’t miss this sweet tale of faith, love, and gastric bypass–get your copy of Love’s Promise today!
Melissa Storm is a mother first, and everything else second. She used to write under a pseudonym, but finally had the confidence to come out as herself to the world. Her fiction is highly personal and often based on true stories. Writing is Melissa’s way of showing her daughter just how beautiful life can be, when you pay attention to the everyday wonders that surround us.
Melissa loves books so much, she married fellow author Falcon Storm. Between the two of them, there are always plenty of imaginative, awe-inspiring stories to share. Melissa and Falcon also run the business Novel Publicity together, where she works as publisher, marketer, web designer, and all-around business mogul. When she’s not reading, writing, or child-rearing, Melissa spends time relaxing at home in the company of her four dogs, four parrots, and rescue cat. She never misses an episode of The Bachelor, because priorities.
Kristie comes to the Royal Adelaide Show every year with the sheep. This year will she return with more than just prizes? Or will she steal the heart of a man as well, and snag the love of her life?
Kristie Johnsonplans to run the family farm one day. As the only child, she lives with her parents and struggles to get them to see that she can make her own decisions and that she is a grown woman. Then, she meets Tully Row, a dancer performing at the show and she turns to him for a few days of fun. Instead she finds herself falling for him, especially when she finds out he’s a country boy himself.
The youngest of three sons, Tully was forced away from the farm he loved to the city to make his own living. He started dancing and was given a gig at the Royal Show. His family are at the show with the milking cattle and they spend more time arguing. He feels unsupported by them, and can’t get them see his performances. Kristie is a distraction, an enjoyable distraction at first, but then she steals his heart. Their shared lust turns into something deeper and more special between them.
Can both of them stand up to their families and follow their hearts to begin a relationship and their lives together?
“I’m in a rush. Meet me here after the show and I’ll get you another coffee.” His blue eyes soft and intense seemed to speak at a soul level to her.
Kristie paused. About half the coffee was on the ground or down the front of her blue striped shirt, and some on her blue jeans. But there was enough in the paper cup. “It’ll be all right. It was an accident.” “No, promise me you’ll be here.” He put his hand on her arm. Mother of god. The heat from his palm burned through the material of her shirt, causing her knees to weaken. “Please.”Bloody hell. “I’ll be here.”
“Good.” He smiled, then hurried away.
Kristie stood there, staring at him, his tight arse in particular until he disappeared in the crowd. She sighed. Took a sip of her coffee. Can I really meet him here after the show?
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Snippet2:
“It’s about to start. Get your phone out.” Ellie patted her excitedly on the arm, dark brown eyes glowing with excitement. Kristie rolled her eyes. She couldn’t get her phone out because she was clutching her coffee like it was something to settle herself from what she’d just experienced with that guy. It was nothing. The way her body still reacted, she knew it was something more, which was the main reason she didn’t tell Ellie. Her friend would have a field day over Kristie’s reaction, then would want to meet him, and suddenly this would be bigger than she could handle. “Mother nature, earth, fire, water, air…” The voice over the music blurred as she tried to get the image of the guy from her mind. Especially those gorgeous blue eyes. A few dancers came on stage. Kristie watched intently to help distract herself. “Bloody hell.” Her mouth fell open. “This isn’t what I was talking about. It gets better.” Kristie was glad she hadn’t said anything about the guy. Right now, she was staring straight into those same gentle blue eyes.
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Snippet3:
She stopped walking. All the time they’d been talking she’d tried to think of how to suggest they meet up tomorrow. The talk of rides and her fear of heights pushed those thoughts well away along with any sexual desires that brewed while they were together. “I should go.” “Really?” She saw the disappointment in his eyes. “Yes.” She only partly lied. He stood very close to her. Close enough to kiss her. The thought filled her mind. What would his lips feel like? What would he taste like? He tilted his head toward hers. Kristie’s mouth dried. Is he going to kiss me?
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Bio:
Lilliana is a creative writer and poet. She grew up on a farm in Australia but has swapped her work boots for heels and now lives a city lifestyle. She enjoys using her memories of life on the farm as an inspiration for her stories. Check out more of Lilliana’s work on her website: www.lillianarose.com
~ Five brothers, one family tragedy, untold heartache. ~
A stray bullet ended my Army career, forcing me to follow in my father’s prison guard footsteps.
My sister’s disappearance ten years ago annihilated my family, forcing each of us to find a way to cope.
But I’ve survived. Adapted.
At least until Genevieve Stone showed up, digging into the truth in the name of journalism and finding her way deep under my skin. I’m determined to do whatever it takes to find my sister, but when the case is blown wide open by the sexy reporter, I’m left with the ultimate question . . . can I trust her?
***Reader note: This is the first of a 6-part emotional family saga series. Each story is 100% male first-person point-of-view, and while each full-length novel is guaranteed to have a complete HEA romance, their family mystery remains unsolved until the end of the series.
***Due to profanity, mild violence and very strong sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. Also, please note the title. The hero is, in fact, an executioner on death row. While there is no intent to make any social or political statements, please do not read if this will be offensive to you.
Catch the rest of the Creed boys (and girl) very, very soon!
The Rainmaker
The Gunman
The Prodigal
The Silencer
The Dove (Novella)
“Are you part of the execution team?”
I swallowed, the thought of lying to her heavy in my throat. There was a reason we never divulged who was on the team. The stigma and attacks on our humanity would come from all angles, and in the end, it would change nothing. I am an executioner. It’s a job. Someone has to step up and do it. I was simply one of the few who were willing to swallow the emotional baggage that comes with putting another human being to death. I’m willing because maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally be able to bury the beast in me that snarls and snaps, thrashes and rages, thirsty for vengeance against the unknown monster that took my sister away.
“You know I can’t talk about that, Genevieve. I’m sorry.”
Her gold-green eyes sparked. “I thought so.”
I frowned, not answering.
“Okay. Let’s try this . . . hypothetically speaking, if someone were a part of the execution team at the prison, would they take part in every execution?”
“Theoretically, barring some certain circumstances, yes. Most likely. The warden has assembled a team he trusts and that rarely changes.”
She nodded and forked up a bite of meat. “How do you think those people feel? About killing another human being?” Her gaze was direct and unwavering.
I set my fork down and thought carefully about my reply. “I think they don’t think about it like that.”
“Does it make you sad?”
A beat passed heavily between us. Two. “No.”
She said nothing, returning to her meal, and I followed suit. Eventually, the cloud that filled the room seemed to dissipate as she digested my answers. “Tell me about your brothers. I’m dying to know about them.”
“Why?”
She shrugged one shoulder and sipped her wine. “I just am. Are they like you? Big and sexy and moody?”
“I’m not moody.”
She laughed. “Not denying the big and sexy, huh?”
I fought the grin that wanted to bust loose and forked my salad. “We’re all big and sexy, I won’t lie.”
“I’m sure. What else?”
I thought of my brothers and our time together yesterday. Even as distant and strained as we’d become, I knew we all still loved each other fiercely. “Well, I’m the oldest. Levi is next. He’s a businessman in Austin, divorced, no kids. Jamison is a SWAT sniper in Dallas, goofy and single. Joshua works as a criminal profiler for the FBI in Virginia. He’s brainy and quiet and single, as far as I know anyway. And the baby is Silas. He’s an up and coming MMA fighter and he lives in Houston.”
“So none of you have girlfriends or wives? Really?”
I shrugged. It sounded weird when you put it that way. “Other than Levi, we’ve all managed to avoid it.”
One brow lifted in challenge. “Avoid it?”
“Yeah.” I scooped up the last of my food.
“Are any of you gay?”
I nearly choked. “No.” I grabbed my water and sipped. “Why would you ask that?”
“Well, no women. Maybe there are men.”
“No. Only careers.” And grief, but I didn’t admit that out loud.
Her foot suddenly found my leg under the table. “I’m glad to hear it.”
I ran a hand under her jeans and up her calf. “Interested in my brothers?”
“No.”
“Glad to hear it.” I caressed down her leg and massaged her instep.
Her eyes fluttered closed as I continued rubbing her foot. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed by the need to taste her again. “Are we done here?” My voice was gruff, even to my own ears.
Her eyes slid open and met mine. “I’m not sure.”
“I am.” Keeping our gazes locked, I stood and rounded the table to stand beside her. “Get up.”
Why didn’t you tell me about your sister?” she countered, somehow sassy and serious at the same time.
Heat balled in my chest like a lava rock, burning me from the inside out. Though Claire was never far from my thoughts, she wasn’t something I talked about. Ever.
“Did more research, huh?” My voice was thin and brittle, emotional.
“It wasn’t like that, Asher.” She sounded apologetic. “When I let my senior editor read my story over to see if the new angle was okay, he recognized your name and showed me an old article about your sister’s disappearance. I can’t believe you didn’t mention it.”
“One has nothing to do with the other.”
“Maybe you’re right, but it’s a huge part of who you are.”
“I wasn’t your story.”
Silence hung on the line so long, I would’ve thought she’d hung up except for the gentle rhythm of her breathing. Her voice quavered when she finally spoke. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t do so good at keeping my personal and professional feelings separate.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means I have feelings for you, Asher. Big, sexy feelings with a nice helping of like.”
I smiled. I couldn’t help it. “You like me?”
“Are you laughing at me?”
“Never.”
“Uh huh. Well, yes, I like you.”
“Huh. I’m curious, do you just like me, or do you like, like me?”
“You’re a jerk, you know that?”
“Am not.”
“A big, sexy jerk.”
“Seriously?”
“A big, sexy jerk with a great ass.”
SERIES TRAILER:
Author Bio:
Shauna grew up an only child with two open and loving parents in Central Texas. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and is the mother to three awesome kids, including one she just sent off to the Air Force. She is the award-winning author of the Cupid Chronicles series, the new Jack ‘Em Up series, and the upcoming Family Creed series. Shauna also writes emotional Contemporary YA novels as SC Montgomery and works as a freelance editor. She loves all things sexy, sassy, and Gerard Butler.
As the daughter of two immortals, Sapphira was born with incredible power. Mastering it nearly cost her life, but with the help of her brothers, she was able to start a new life in Chicago, helping them police the supernatural community.
While tracking down a missing person, an unexpected accident unlocks a terrifying new power—the ability to experience the last few moments of a victim’s life. Following what she sees leads Sapphira, Nico, and Alek to more missing girls with special powers, and a growing realization that they’re running out of time. Will Sapphira prove to be the girls’ savior, or will a risky plan doom her to a similar fate…
KILL SWITCH, the next installment in the Blue-Eyed Bomb series by bestselling author Amber Lynn Natusch.
About the Book
Kill Switch
by Amber Lynn Natusch
Series
Blue-Eyed Bomb #2
Genre
Adult
Urban Fantasy
Paranormal Romance
Publisher
Independent
Publication Date
February 2017
Kill Switch Excerpt
The Blue-Eyed Bomb Series
About Amber Lynn Natusch
Amber Lynn Natusch is the author of the bestselling Caged, as well as the Light and Shadow series with Shannon Morton. She was born and raised in Winnipeg, and speaks sarcasm fluently because of her Canadian roots. She loves to dance and sing in her kitchen—much to the detriment of those near her—but spends most of her time running a practice with her husband, raising two small children, and attempting to write when she can lock herself in the bathroom for ten minutes of peace and quiet. She has many hidden talents, most of which should not be mentioned but include putting her foot in her mouth, acting inappropriately when nervous, swearing like a sailor when provoked, and not listening when she should. She’s obsessed with home renovation shows, should never be caffeinated, and loves snow. Amber has a deep-seated fear of clowns and deep water…especially clowns swimming in deep water.
Dr. Samantha Love says it’s all about the chemistry. A brainy psychology professor
and researcher, Sam has based her entire academic career on the theory that
what we call love is simply a chemical reaction. She is currently running a
study to prove that her compatibility blood test reveals perfect matches—sort
of like an organ donor, but for relationships. No romance required.
Along comes sexy literature professor, Dr. Ethan Quinn, who says it’s all about the
romance. He thinks the pretty psychology professor has taken love and all its
mysteries and reduced it to something as romantic as a cholesterol test, and he
sets out to prove her theory wrong.
When Ethan signs up for her study, Sam discovers to her horror, that according to her
compatibility test, they are a perfect match. Sam faces an existential crisis
over her career and her research. If she believes in her science, shouldn’t it
follow that she believes Ethan is her perfect mate? And if she doesn’t believe
he’s her perfect mate, doesn’t that bring into question her research? Her
compatibility test? Her reputation? And her very career?
As Sam struggles with her dilemma, Ethan pursues her with all the romantic
tactics in his arsenal. Will Sam’s theories succumb to his challenge? Or will
Ethan lose the battle for Sam’s heart?
Excerpt
“No, no, no. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening,” Samantha Love muttered as she gently banged her head against the steering wheel.
She turned the key again. Nothing. Not even a wheeze. This was the icing on the cake of her otherwise craptastic day.
A bead of sweat trickled down her back. And another one between her girls. God, she hated boob sweat.
When she’d taken the research and teaching position at Sterling University in North Georgia last fall, she’d never have guessed the summer would be so hot.
Throwing open the door of her car to let in even more stifling heat, she searched for the lever to pop the hood. Finally locating it, she pulled it, then walked around to the front of the car. As if she knew what to do.
Just as she leaned under the hood to jiggle some wire thingies, she heard, “Dr. Love? Do you need some help?”
She let out a startled squeak hitting her head on the underside of the hood. “Ow!” Rubbing the offended spot, she turned and saw Ethan Quinn standing there looking all adorable. Not to mention manly.
Dammit. Why did it have to be him? “No. I’m fine.” Yeah, right. For all her parents’ preaching on women and self-sufficiency, she didn’t know a dipstick from a spark plug when it came to cars. She turned back to the mystery parts under the hood.
“You need a jump.”
“I beg your pardon?” She spun, hand on her hip.
“Your battery.” He pointed in the direction of her open hood. “It probably needs a jump.”
“Oh. Right.” Of course he meant her battery. What else would he be talking about?
“I have jumper cables in my car. I’ll have you going in a few minutes.”
“He’ll have me going in a few minutes,” she mumbled under her breath as she watched him walk to the far corner of the parking lot. Tall, athletic build, dark-wash jeans, white button-down shirt. And that hair. Tousled espresso-brown waves just brushing the top of his collar. “He’s already got me going,” she said to herself.
He tossed his messenger bag in the car and climbed in. And, of course, his car started. Because that’s what cars did. They started when you turned the key. Then they blew cold air, so you didn’t have to stand in the mid-July Georgia heat. Unless they dated back to the Stone Age like hers. Another bead of sweat trickled between her breasts.
She released a wistful sigh. Bet the AC felt good.
He pulled his recent model American-made car around to face hers and then got out to pop the hood. Walking around to the trunk, he opened it and grabbed a set of jumper cables, looking like he knew what he was doing.
Good thing somebody around here did.
“It’s a hot one today,” Ethan commented, as he connected one of the clamp doohickeys to what she assumed was the car battery. His sleeves were rolled up over his forearms, displaying muscles with a light dusting of hair.
Clamping the other end of the cables to his own battery, he then returned to her car. When he walked past her, his cologne wafted to her nose, temporarily erasing her angst at being in his presence.
Then he touched his hand to her back. And the anxiety returned tenfold. “Stand clear.” He leaned into the gaping mouth of the car and attached the remaining clamp, throwing a spark.
“All right. Let’s see if we can get this baby going.” He climbed into the driver’s seat of his car and turned it on.
“Give her a try,” he hollered over the din of his car’s running motor.
Sam dropped into the front seat and turned the key. The older-than-dirt engine tried but couldn’t work up enough energy to turn over.
“Hold on,” Ethan called, then revved his car. “Okay, try her again.”
Her car wheezed then reluctantly cranked a couple of times before coming to life.
Ethan was at her door, leaning over, hands braced on the roof. “Great. Let her run a bit, then I’ll disconnect the cables.” A bead of sweat trickled down his temple. “My AC’s on full blast. Why don’t you sit in my car until yours is ready to go.” He stepped aside to give her room to get out.
Sam felt as wilted as week-old lettuce, so against her better judgment she took him up on the offer.
He opened the front passenger door of his shiny black Lincoln MKS—such a gentleman—and she sank into the leather seats and stuck her face in front of the vent. God, it felt good. The door closed with a solid thunk. Resisting the urge to wipe away the boob sweat, she settled for drying the perspiration on her face and neck.
The car dipped as Ethan took a seat on the driver’s side before shutting the door and closing out the rest of the world. Music played softly in the background—something popular. The intimacy of being alone in the car with Ethan washed over her.
“I’d offer you something cool to drink, but I don’t have anything.”
She realized she hadn’t said a word in the last five minutes. “Thank you.”
“No thanks necessary. You’d do the same for me.”
“No, I wouldn’t.” She smiled. “I don’t know a thing about cars.”
He nodded as a grin split his face. “Well, from the looks of your battery, you’re going to need a new one. I can follow you to Burt’s Automotive. He can have a replacement installed in fifteen minutes.”
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I don’t want to put you out in any further.”
“It’s no trouble. Besides, if you go straight home, I don’t think she’s going to start for you in the morning.”
“Oh.” That would not be good.
“She should be juiced up enough to get you to Burt’s. Stay here until I unhook the cables.” Ethan got out of the car and set to work.
She’d steered clear of Ethan Quinn since the day she was introduced to the rest of the college faculty. The moment they shook hands she’d felt a connection. And from the look on his face, he’d felt it too. That flood of adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin one feels when there is a strong physical attraction.
Relationships were complicated, but getting situated at a new university was already complicated enough.
No. Being in close proximity to Ethan Quinn was a bad idea. So as much as she hated to leave the cool comfort of his car, she jumped out and got in her rolling oven before he could say otherwise.
Rebecca Heflin is
an award-winning author who has dreamed of writing romantic fiction since she
was fifteen and her older sister snuck a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss’ Shanna to
her and told her to read it. Rebecca writes women’s fiction and contemporary
romance. When not passionately pursuing her dream, Rebecca is busy with her
day-job as a practicing attorney.Rebecca is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Florida Romance
Writers, RWA Contemporary Romance, and Florida Writers Association. She and her
mountain-climbing husband live at sea level in sunny Florida.