The Winner of The Last First Date and Lisa Fox’s fabulous One Kiss is:
Lindsay Cross!
Congratulations, Lindsay and thank you all for stopping by to check out my new blog. I hope to have more fun and giveaways for you all in 2015!
It’s release day!
HOT NIGHTS IN ST. BLAISE by Maggie Wells
The Complete Calendar Collection – January – December
Welcome to St. Blaise
Home of the Men and Women of St. Blaise Regional Medical Center
When the St. Blaise Regional Medical Center Board of Directors hired hometown girl, Beth Watkins, to jump-start their public relations, they never imagined she’d be stripping their most prominent doctors, nurses, and support staff down to their birthday suits in order to beef up the hospital’s bank account.
Six men and six women were chosen to represent the best and brightest of this little town nestled in the heart of the Mark Twain National Forest. They also happened to be the hottest tickets in town. Soon the fundraising calendar is spiking temperatures throughout the Show Me state, and the men and women of St. Blaise are setting their small-town nights on fire.
Limited time price only $0.99!
IBOOKS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | KOBO | SMASHWORDS | ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS
Guest Author – Parker Kincaid!
An Amazon exclusive bonus short from Shadow Maverick Ranch
Only $0.99!
The wedding you’ve all been waiting for…
You’ve been cordially invited to the wedding of Gavin Mathis and Lauren Delgado…
Gavin has waited long enough to make Lauren his. He is counting the days until he will stand before his family and friends and pledge his life to hers. For better or worse. Forever.
Lauren is more than ready to say her vows, but with the construction of their new home far behind deadline, she knows there’s only one thing she can do … cancel the honeymoon so she and Gavin can supervise the completion themselves.
Gavin knows arguing with Lauren will get him nowhere. But missed deadlines aren’t worth missing a pleasure-filled week alone with his bride-to-be.
It’s time to take matters into his own hands…
White Collar Wedding
By Parker Kincade
Publication Date: November 18, 2014
PREORDER TODAY! ONLY $0.99
Available exclusively at Amazon for Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
http://www.amazon.com/White-Collar-Wedding-Shadow-Maverick-ebook/dp/B00P0HH0LA/
EXCERPT:
Chapter One
Three weeks before the wedding…
“We’re going to have to cancel.”
Gavin held onto his patience by a thread. “Lauren. Be reasonable.”
His bride-to-be spread her arms and twirled in the middle of what should’ve been their new kitchen, if the fucking contractor had done what Gavin paid him a fortune to do.
Lauren laughed with a manic tone Gavin could go the rest of his life without ever hearing again.
“I am being reasonable. How can we leave for our honeymoon when…” She waved her hand to encompass the area. Her beautiful eyes turned glassy with tears.
Son of a…
Gavin wanted to hit something. Lauren wasn’t prone to shed tears over messes and missed deadlines. She shared his no-nonsense approach to business. More than once he’d been in awe of her strength, the steel in her spine as she’d out-maneuvered countless boardrooms of men.
Every woman had her limits. It seemed the business of building their home had caused Lauren to hit hers.
What was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives had turned into a complete nightmare.
He glanced around the room, which was nothing more than a construction zone. The custom cabinets had been installed, leaving gaping holes where the appliances should be. There were no countertops. No trim. No. Goddamn. Sink.
And that was just the kitchen. The master bathroom didn’t have a shower. The guest bedrooms didn’t have flooring. The walls throughout had yet to be painted.
Anger fired his blood. Oh, he was definitely going to hit something—the chubby jaw of the bastard who’d left this shit undone.
“We aren’t canceling our honeymoon.” He’d waited more than twelve years to make this woman his. They were less than a month from making it official. Lauren deserved the wedding of her dreams, which included their honeymoon in Hawaii. He’d be damned if she wouldn’t get it.
Seemed Lauren had other ideas.
“Let me rephrase. It’s done. I called the travel agent this morning.”
“Damn it, Lauren. You should’ve talked to me before you made that decision for both of us.”
“Talking about it wouldn’t have changed the situation, Gavin, and you know it. Look around. Our home is in shambles. We’re scheduled to move in a month. You really think that’s going to happen if we aren’t here every single day to make sure things are getting done?”
Gavin couldn’t help but take her comment personally. He didn’t believe in micro-management. He paid good money to others so he wouldn’t have to. But the fact remained: the ranch kept him so busy these days that he hadn’t done his job to make sure their house was completed on time.
“So we postpone our move-in date. We’ll stay at the cabin a little longer. It’s not the end of the world, and certainly not worth missing out— ”
“No. We need to stay and deal with this mess. We can go on our honeymoon later.”
“With calving season right around the corner? You know I can’t leave my brothers to handle all the work.”
“They handled it themselves all the years you lived in London. You think they couldn’t handle one more?”
Gavin stared at the woman he loved, wondering at what point she’d decided to turn on him.
“That’s not what I meant,” he said slowly. “Clay has his hands full with the new stock coming in over at Ainsley’s. Even with Jared’s help, it’s all Pax and I can do to keep up without Clay. You know we’re hiring more help, but until then, it’s all hands on deck, baby. We’ve talked about this.”
He reached for her and muttered a curse when she stepped away.
“Lauren.” Gavin folded his arms to avoid the urge to reach for her again. “When I came back to Texas, I made a promise—to myself and to my family. I have a responsibility to be here for them.”
Lauren shoved both hands through her hair, leaving behind a mess of shining waves Gavin longed to bury his own fingers in.
She sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I didn’t mean … of course we can’t go away during calving season. But we can’t go away now either. I wouldn’t be able to relax knowing things are such a mess here.”
Gavin was on her before she could retreat. He pulled her into his arms and breathed a sigh of relief when she melted against him. “I can think of a few ways to help you relax.”
“I have no doubt.” She nuzzled his chest. “I know it’s not ideal, but we could spend our wedding night at the beach house. Maybe spend a day or two there?”
He loved his—their—place on Galveston Island. However— “November isn’t the greatest time for swimming in the Gulf.”
“Who said anything about swimming?”
Gavin stroked a hand over her silky hair, struggling for the words to express how precious she was to him. He settled for, “All right, baby. If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”
He’d find a way to give this woman the moon if she asked for it, but spending what should be their honeymoon fighting with housing contractors was not his idea of a good time.
He had to make this right.
It was time to call in reinforcements.
* * * * *
Author Bio and Links
National Bestselling Author, Parker Kincade, writes edge-of-your-seat-sexy romantic suspense, hot and steamy sports romance, and erotic western romance. Her first novel, One Night Stand, won the 2013 Reader’s Crown Award for Best First Book, the category of Best Erotic Romance in the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Golden Claddagh contest, and was named finalist in the Romance Writers of America/Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest.
Parker lives in the southern United States. She loves to read, play golf, spend time with her family and friends, snuggle with her beloved boxer, ice cream from the ice cream truck, and watching old musicals.
Links:
Website: www.parkerkincade.com
Blog: www.parkerkincade.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/parkerkincade
Twitter: www.twitter.com/parkerkincade
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6475101.Parker_Kincade
Boxed Set Bonanza!
Check out these fabulous boxed sets from Turquoise Morning Press – available now for only $0.99 each!
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Eight award-winning and bestselling authors share their favorite contemporary romance heroes—all boxed up for you in one sexy and irresistible package! From a sexy carpenter to magnetic CEO, a rough-and-ready cowboy to a homeless man, a classic car buff, a starving artist, a Latin-style dancer, and an FBI agent—each unique hero has his own story to tell, and a heroine who just can’t forget him. Ever.
True love may not run smooth, but Love Finds A Way!Four critically-acclaimed, unconventional love stories from popular and bestselling romance authors. Each of these books has a sequel available from Turquoise Morning Press. A great set for fans of series!
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Turquoise Morning Press presents eight sweet contemporary romance stories that will convince you that sweet, can still be sexy! We’ve selected sweet and “sweeter” stories from some of our most popular romance authors to showcase in this set—stories that will take you from the beach to Christmas, from small town to big city, from keeping secrets to building dreams. After all, sweet and sexy romance, comes in all shapes and sizes, right?
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Four top-selling authors create a perfect escape as they take love to the edge of suspense and back, risking life, death, and emotional warfare. Sexy, edgy, and gritty, these four romantic suspense novels will keep you turning the pages, as plots rarely go according to plan, and dangerous situations delay the stories’ coming to climax.
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Everyone knows small towns have their own unique charm, that’s why they make fabulous settings for stories! Turquoise Morning Press presents the best of their small town settings—all in one volume, and for one very small town price!
Special Guest: Tina Donahue
Today I’m happy to share a bit from the fabulous Tina Donahue’s new release, Taking Eve!
A willing slave to possession, punishment, pleasure…
Dreams of a manor where submission and dominance once ruled draws Faith to hypnotherapist Colin Danes. Potently virile, he looks remarkably like her most cherished master from a past life. Desire smolders in his eyes, proving he’s never forgotten her.
Their carnal dance continues in the present and leads to their past when she was known as Eve. Through hypnotherapy, Colin brings her back to the Victorian era, a hidden estate where she eagerly submits to whatever he and her other noble masters crave. The exquisite discipline of the strap. Being bid on and mounted each night. Displayed and used for the enjoyment of all.
Most will take her. One will try to imprison her. Only he will be her true master in that life and this.
Excerpt:
The advertisement challenged, Are your dreams so real they seem to have come from another time?
Faith Montgomery gripped the mail circular. Its paper made a sharp, crackling noise, no different from ice snapping.
Frigid wind swept past, delivering more snow. Feverish and unsettled, Faith stood in front of the medical arts building that catered to doctors, nutritionists, shrinks and hypnotherapists. Unlike Seattle’s typical brick or glass structures, this place had a granite façade and steepled ceilings. Similar to a castle where dominance, submission and punishment played out. Where men wore dated clothing, while women were nude, defenseless, sighing then crying out their arousal and pleasure.
Her mouth went dry.
From behind, a car’s horn blared, sending her pulse into a faster sprint. Traffic continued to crawl along the slick streets, headlights brushed past, illuminating the building’s directory. Faith didn’t bother to search it. According to the circular, his office was on the second floor. Her appointment in a few minutes, made earlier in the week by phone. The first time she’d heard his voice and yet not the first time.
“Why do you want an appointment?” he’d asked.
Something inside her had fluttered at his smooth baritone, enticing and strangely familiar, reducing her to silence.
“You’ve seen things,” he’d coaxed. “Felt things.”
God, yeah.
While he’d waited for her response, she’d stared at his picture on the glossy flyer.
Several locks of his hair—thick, wavy, the color of espresso—grazed his forehead. His strong, masculine features were handsome as hell, nearly aristocratic. In her mind, Faith saw him dressed in eveningwear, the kind worn during the early Victorian era. A coat with tails, snug at the waist to accentuate his impressive shoulders. Dark trousers and a shockingly white cravat. Identical to heroes in romance novels that she’d read in high school.
He definitely had those guys beat.
His long-lashed eyes were a striking blue. Even from the picture, they stripped Faith of all privacy, reaching into her soul, the same as the promise of his full, rich mouth. A hint of stubble graced his upper lip, chin and cheeks, virile and tempting. Young, possibly early thirties, he was the kind of man a woman wouldn’t forget.
Faith certainly hadn’t.
“Yeah,” she’d murmured during the call, at last answering him. “I’ve had recurring dreams, flashes of another time.”
Rather than questioning her further, he’d given her the last appointment of the day, well past the time other professionals did business. His office windows were the only ones lit on the second floor, the lights’ golden glow spilling onto the street. Waves of snow, carried by the wind, twinkled like stars within the brightness.
Faith half-expected—and fully hoped—he’d be at the window, looking down at her. Watching. Waiting. Anticipating as she was.
He wasn’t.
His absence only stoked her stark need. Clearly, he had no doubt she’d keep their appointment. Now, as before, he commanded and figured she’d obey.
On an edgy sigh, she entered the building. Heated air and the scents of polished wood, leather, wool washed over her. In the absolute quiet, she heard each click of her heels across the floor, a dark-green marble veined with white.
Faith avoided slick spots made by others who’d come and gone, tracking in the snow. She should have worn more practical shoes in this weather, pants instead of a skirt, but hadn’t, sensing he wouldn’t have approved.
Like one possessed—or commanded by a Master—Faith climbed the stairs, reaching the second floor. The walls were paneled in polished walnut, which gave them the air of a private club where men called the shots. Their decisions law. Their desires the only rule that counted, no matter what they demanded. A woman’s full surrender to their needs. Having her down on her knees before them, her lips parted for the taste of a thickened cock or to release her whimper of delight at the strap one of them held, eager for him to discipline her.
Lightheaded and breathless, she stared at the hall. His office was at the end, the door open, a wedge of amber light demanding she go inside.
No receptionist greeted her in the snug waiting room. Faith hadn’t expected one, figuring he’d want them to be alone. Exactly what she craved.
She inhaled as deeply as she could. Leather from the burgundy chairs perfumed the small space, claiming it for a man. Beyond the reception area was his office, the door open. He stood at his desk, his attention on a book he read.
Her legs went watery. With indecent curiosity, she drank him in, the charcoal sweater and dark trousers that matched the color of his silky hair and fit his powerful frame so well. Broad shoulders. Muscular thighs. She forced down a swallow, knowing there was raw power in his strong hands. She’d dreamed of it, had seen glimpses in her mind.
And would do anything to experience it again.
As though he’d heard her thoughts, he closed his book with a faint snap and looked up.
Time shifted, the past bleeding into the present. Faith forgot to breathe or to step closer, trapped within his potent gaze, overwhelmed with a sense of recognition, irresistible and welcoming.
I know you…you know me.
Unmistakable longing flared in his eyes, the same yearning she felt. Beneath it was a flash of lust.
CONTEST
Please leave a comment. Tina will be choosing one winner randomly from the comments section. The winner gets her choice of one of Tina’s backlist ebooks – FIFTEEN IN ALL – contemporary, paranormal, suspense, ménage. From this list:
1. Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT
2. Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Holt Medallion Award of Merit
3. Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award
4. In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT
5. Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT
6. The Yearning – Top Ten Bestseller
7. Take Me Away – #1 Pick, Miz Love Loves Books
8. Unending Desire – Best Book Rating LASR
9. SiNN – Nominated for Book of the Week LASR
10. Sinfully Wicked – Magnificent – Romancing the Book
11. Claiming Magique – Top Pick – NOR
12. Illicit Desire – Four Stars Romantic Times
13. Come Fill Me – Five Stars – Guilty Pleasures
14. Losing Control – Four and a Half Stars – Sensual Reads
15. Shameless Desire – Four and Half Stars – The Jeep Diva
Get to know Tina!
FB Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TinaDonahueBooks
Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/
Blog: http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog/
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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tina.donahue.75
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Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tinadonahue
My page at TRR: http://erotic.theromancereviews.com/mypageprofile.php?location=tinadonahue
EC Author Page: https://www.ellorascave.com/index.php/authors/index/author/slug/tina-donahue/
Samhain Author Page: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/Tina-Donahue-pa-1630.html
THE ART LOVER IS FREE IN THE KINDLE STORE!
THE ART LOVER IS FREE IN THE KINDLE STORE!
Blurb
Starving artist Kelsey Tecato takes being The Templeton Museum’s artist in residence a little too literally. By day, she puts on a show of painting for the crowds that shuffle through the galleries, but at night, her muse runs wild.
Mitch Jameson is a guy’s guy. A cop moonlighting as a security guard, he has little use for the artsy-fartsy stuff, but the mysterious Ms. Tecato’s sexy portraits call to him.
So does an interior alarm.
When Officer Jameson goes to investigate, he finds a paint-splattered goddess working on a self-portrait–in the nude.
A couple tubes of paint and a roll in the drop cloths later, free-spirited Kelsey helps Officer Jameson discover his passion for art.
Excerpt
His gaze traveled over the discreet placard affixed to the wall, but he’d already memorized the pertinent facts. The paintings were created by someone named Kelsey Tecato, the museum’s ‘Artist in Residence’.
Coming on shift as the museum closed for the day, he’d searched the faces of museum patrons and employees as they straggled past the security station, but he’d yet to spot the one that matched the headshot of a studious-looking brunette featured in the museum brochure. When he oh-so-casually posed the question to Bert, he learned that meant Ms. Tecato’s art was being subsidized in exchange for her participation in demonstrations and exhibitions sponsored by the museum board. The knowing twinkle in the older man’s eyes when he clarified that the ‘in residence’ part didn’t refer to the artist’s living situation was enough to make him drop the subject. Bert was too damn nosy for a guy who never managed to pass the detective’s exam.
Forcing himself to put one foot in front of the other, he left the provocative portraits behind and turned toward the west end of the building. The Templeton rambled for nearly a city block but most of the space went unused. Exhibits occupied the open center space of the two-story building joined by a pair of sweeping marble staircases. The east side had been converted to classroom space decades before, but the warren of tiny rooms on the west end were primarily administrative offices and storage.
His heart started to pound when he picked up the murmur of a deep voice. Shifting the flashlight to his left hand, Mitch reached for his sidearm and came up empty. He was a guard tonight, not a cop. His service weapon was locked up safe in his apartment. At the end of the corridor he pulled up short, pressing his back against the wall and tightening his grip on the flashlight. He wore a panic button clipped to his belt but his instincts told him he wasn’t at the panic stage yet. Breathing soft and slow, he closed his eyes and focused his energy on catching a few words. Perhaps he could figure out what the intruders were after before making his presence known.
Thirty seconds passed. His eyes popped open then rolled heavenward as the droning voice segued into a bouncy pop song. The radio. Someone had left a radio playing in one of the offices. Shaking off the rush of adrenaline, Mitch pushed away from the wall and rounded the corner, only to come to a dead stop when he saw the fan of light spilling from the office at the very end of the hall.
Two things he knew for certain: the radio hadn’t been playing when he’d made his post-closing rounds, and that door on the end of the corridor hadn’t been open. He let the barrel of the flashlight slip through his fingers until he gripped the lamp. Wielding his only weapon like a club, he crept toward the door as silently as a guy who clocked in at six-four and two-ten could. Just outside the office, he caught a flash of movement inside the room and quickly pressed his back to the wall.
“About time you showed up.”
A woman. The intruder was a woman and she’d been expecting him. Irked by the presumptuous amusement in her tone, he stepped into the open doorway, prepared to let her have it, and almost swallowed his tongue.
Screw the flashing red lights. Alarm bells clamored in his head the moment recognition clicked. Kelsey Tecato. Artist in Residence. Painter of hard-on-inducing nudes. Live and in person, standing in the Templeton Museum after hours.
And naked as the day she was born.
Buy Link
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Lover-Maggie-Wells-ebook/dp/B00HM9SDO2/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_d_10
Retail Price: $0.99 Promotional Price: FREE March 3-7, 2014
Author Info
Multi-published author, Maggie Wells, is a deep-down dirty girl with a weakness for hot heroes and happy endings. By day she is buried in spreadsheets, but at night she pens tales of people tangling up the sheets. The product of a charming rogue and a shameless flirt, this mild-mannered married lady has a naughty streak a mile wide.
Fueled by supertankers of Diet Coke, Maggie juggles fictional romance and the real deal by keeping her slow-talking Southern gentleman constantly amused and their two children mildly embarrassed. They are the food purveyors to three dogs, a passel of fish, and one impertinent house rabbit she claims is the love of her life. Shh. Don’t tell her husband.
Twitter @maggiewells1, or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMaggieWells
Contest!
Want to win a Nook Simple Touch? Check out my giveaway!
And don’t forget to check out my latest release, The Art Lover. Available now for only $0.99!
Starving artist Kelsey Tecato takes being The Templeton Museum’s artist in residence a little too literally. By day, she puts on a show of painting for the crowds that shuffle through the galleries, but at night, her muse runs wild.
Mitch Jameson is a guy’s guy. A cop moonlighting as a security guard, he has little use for the artsy-fartsy stuff, but the mysterious Ms. Tecato’s sexy portraits call to him.
So does an interior alarm.
When Officer Jameson goes to investigate, he finds a paint-splattered goddess working on a self-portrait–in the nude.
A couple tubes of paint and a roll in the drop cloths later, free-spirited Kelsey helps Officer Jameson discover his passion for art.
New release!
The final installment in the Hot Nights in St. Blaise series is now available!
Download Daring Miss December today and complete the set!
New release!
Hot Nights in St. Blaise book #11 – Nabbing Mr. November is now available!
Here’s the scoop on Luke and Elena:
There’s nothing like a butt full of birdshot to help a girl nab an elusive man.
The doctor becomes the patient when Luke Langston lands in St. Blaise’s overrun emergency room with a keister full of birdshot. Worse than the obvious Dick Cheney jokes, he has to endure the abject humiliation of having the one woman he wanted but never quite got round to calling pluck bits of shrapnel from his ass.
The minute Intern Elena Mendes pulls the last shard of shot from Luke Langston’s magnificent tuchas, she strips off her gloves and plants a big, wet kiss square on his assailant’s lips.
It was about time someone took Dr. Iceman down a notch. Or twenty.
Luke’s cockiness makes Elena crazy, but she can’t resist the sparks that fly each time she they butt heads. Every time he’s near, she’s compelled to turn it up a notch, curious to see how much heat it will take to melt the ice-man’s heart.
She doesn’t know Luke has been on a slow simmer since the day he first saw her. A tease, a taunt, a whispered confession and a heated kiss are all it takes to make their attraction boil over into something too hot to handle.
Be sure to check out all of the Hot Nights in St. Blaise books!
Special guest star…Emily Cale!
I’m so excited to welcome my Love Letters pal, Emily Cale to my blog! She has a steamy new story to talk about, and WOWZA did you see that cover???? Tell us more, Em!
You might not know this, but Maggie Wells is a very straight-laced individual. I tried to come up with a blog post that would fit her squeaky clean image, but I couldn’t manage. My apologies to both her and her readers. *snickers* Funny girl.
Have you ever noticed how dirty the hardware store is? I don’t mean the floor either. For once, I want you to get your mind in the gutter instead of out of it.
Do they really expect us to walk up and down those aisles without giggling? First, all the parts come with male and female halves that fit together perfectly. So what if I feel like it is necessary to try putting them together in the store, you know, just to make sure everything works and is the right size. I’ve even posted some reasons why I shouldn’t be allowed to shop at these sorts of places before.
On one occasion, I found myself at the local Home Depot purchasing duct tape, rope and knee pads. I swear it was for the house, but the cashier gave me a very strange look while she was wringing me up. What? I can’t imagine what else one would possibly do with those items. (Y’all read that as sarcasm, right?)
Anyway, you don’t have to have a dirty mind to read about my hunky handyman hero, but it won’t hurt either.
Mr. Fix It by Emily Cale
Jenni’s home improvement plans have turned into a disaster. The only bright spot in her day is watching her handyman neighbor Rick as he helps out around the neighborhood. Jenni has need of his capable hands in more ways than one, but she refuses to become just another notch on his toolbox.
Rick is entranced by his standoffish neighbor. He has no time for the neighborhood women who throw themselves at him, but he intends to get into Jenni’s house, bed and heart if it’s the last thing he does.
Available from Ellora’s Cave * Amazon
An Excerpt from MR FIX IT
Copyright ©EMILY CALE, 2013
All Rights Reserved, Ellora’s Cave Publishing. Inc.
Bracing against the wind, Jenni took a few steps forward, sat down on the stairs and watched as her dog barked at the tree. “Keep it up. You’ll probably have better luck than I have today.” She hung her head. Now she needed to decide whether to keep trying to make her project work or cut her losses and put the doors she’d gotten off back on. At the moment, neither option sounded particularly appealing. The only thing she absolutely had to do was clean the floor. The rest could wait until she’d had time to drink a few glasses of pinot grigio and enjoy some trashy reality television. Nothing like a few hours focused on someone else’s life to make her forget about the troubles in her own.
“Problems?”
Jenni didn’t need to look up to recognize the deep voice of her neighbor, but popped her head up to confirm her suspicions. It’d be rude not to at least look at the person talking to her. At least that was what she told herself. It certainly couldn’t be because she liked gazing at his tanned skin and sun-bleached hair.
Rick Maas leaned over the fence between their properties. Her cheeks felt hot as she tried to think of a witty reply. “Nothing that can’t be fixed.” Maybe not by me, but by someone. She’d kept an eye on him from the day he’d moved in three months ago. Scratch that. She’d had both eyes glued to his gorgeous body whenever she got the chance. He was a perfect specimen of the male form. Wavy hair, a strong chin and a smile that could turn her knees to jelly. A few times he’d caught her staring at him while he worked on his motorcycle in the driveway. She’d tried to pretend she was studying the garden or checking out a bird in a tree, but she doubted he’d been fooled by her ruse. She couldn’t help it though. The minute he took off his shirt, her brain turned to mush and her libido took over.
“Anything I can help you with?” That was a loaded question. Jenni could think of a hundred things she’d like his help with, but not a single one was home improvement related. Though a few of them risked damaging her bed frame. She supposed he could put that back together if they broke it. After they were done, of course.
She bit her tongue. His offer was completely innocent and she knew it. Rick helped many of the neighbors with little tasks around their homes. For the most part, his assistance went to older individuals struggling to keep up with seasonal maintenance, but many of the single women—and a few of the married ones—took him up on his offers as well. A little too often for Jenni’s taste. How many things could possibly go wrong in one house? She almost laughed at the thought. Maybe she should take a better look around her kitchen before she judged too harshly. Still, she swore a few of the ladies broke things for the sole purpose of having Rick over. They probably made him pitchers of lemonade and homemade chocolate chip cookies too. How clichéd. She hated them for it. Partly because she couldn’t even make chocolate chip cookies, let alone serve them hot out of the oven for the hunk-next-door.
About Emily Cale
Emily Cale spent the majority of her childhood as a visitor to the worlds of her favorite authors. With encouragement from her English teachers, she put pen to paper and began imagining her own stories. Preferring the fascinating lives of her characters, she majored in creative writing. When not lost in a manuscript or a good book, she enjoys crocheting, rock climbing, and playing board games. She currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
You can connect with her via her website, Twitter or Facebook.