Monday, May 28, 2018

Blog Tour: Bar Bites (Man of the Month Series) by J. Kenner & Suzanne M. Johnson

   
Join Man of the Month creator, New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner, and USA Today bestselling Southern food expert Suzanne Johnson as they guide you through their favorite bar bite and drink recipes served at The Fix on Sixth. And don’t forget to spend some time learning a little bit more about the private lives of your favorite characters in all new snippets and short stories! Brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights, BAR BITES is now available! Grab your copy today!



Title: Bar Bites
Series: Man of the Month Series
Author: J. Kenner & Suzanne M. Johnson
Release Date: May 15th, 2018

Synopsis:

Before Austin’s hotspot, The Fix on Sixth, became known for its sexy and fun Man of the Month calendar contest, the fictional downtown bar had already developed a reputation for fabulous drinks and mouthwatering bar bites—exactly the kind of venue to take a date and strike up a romance. Now it’s your chance to see exactly what’s on the menu … and to get a peek at the private lives of the men and women who not only work at The Fix, but who’ve made it the place to be in Austin, Texas.

Join Man of the Month creator, New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner, and USA Today bestselling Southern food expert Suzanne Johnson as they guide you through their favorite bar bite and drink recipes served at The Fix on Sixth. Learn how to make the delicious bar bites that Tyree’s bar has become famous for. Whip up your favorite cocktail with the same flare as Cameron or Eric. And don’t forget to spend some time learning a little bit more about the private lives of your favorite characters in all new snippets and short stories!

Most of all, come share a drink, a bite, and a laugh with us! We’re so glad you’re here.

So pull up a chair, raise a glass, and dig in with your favorite Man of the Month characters, and meet a few new ones, too!

Cheers!


Purchase Links:


Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon AUiBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | GooglePlay

Excerpt:
Spencer Dean knew her better than anyone in the world, and in that moment, she knew that she didn’t have to explain. He got it. More important, he got her.

He reached down and she put her hands in his, relishing the comfort of their connection as he tugged her gently to her feet. “They’re gone,” he repeated. “At least for now. And I’m so, so sorry.”

It was that apology that finally got her mind humming again. That, and the simple fact that having him beside her had sent relief coursing through her with so much power that she didn’t have any room left inside her for the irritation and frustration.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for,” she said. “I’m the one who lost it.” She released his hands and dragged her fingers through her long, blond hair. “I tripped over my own damn feet and everything inside me just exploded, but it’s not your fault.”

“Isn’t it?” He cocked his head toward the den, then pressed his palm gently against her back and steered her off the sunporch and into the house proper. She sat on the sofa they’d picked out two episodes ago. This was the first room to be fully finished, and as she settled back against the thick, comfortable cushions, she looked up at the high, tiled ceiling and the restored period molding. Not a detail had been ignored, and the room was a showplace now. And she and Spencer owed that to the television program as much to their own hard work and planning.

She drew in a long breath, then released it again. “No,” she said firmly. “It’s not your fault.”

“I’m the one who pushed for Mansion Makeover. I’m the one who made this show happen.” He sat down next to her, his thigh hard against hers. Then took her hand and twined their fingers together. She squeezed, relishing this connection to him. The man she loved. The man she’d lost once, but had miraculously regained.

“I want it, too,” she said. “I love this place.” The historic mansion had been stunning even in its dilapidated state, and slowly but surely they were bringing it back to life. It was work she loved with a man she loved. There was just that one little hitch. “It’s only…it’s just…I mean, I guess I finally reached my limit of being under the microscope. I don’t normally mind—I really don’t. I knew what I signed on for when I agreed to do the show with you. But they’re here all the time. And tomorrow—our engagement party? Except it isn’t even really our party because it was their idea. Molly and Adam’s.”

She sucked in another breath and leaned against him. “I know I sound whiney and ungrateful considering that once it’s over we’re going to have this incredible home. It’s just that every time I turn around it feels like someone from the production is behind me.”

“I get it,” he said, brushing his thumb along the curve of her jaw, the contact sending shivers through her. “I really do.”

Slowly, he kissed her. His mouth firm against hers. Tender at first, then with rising heat, until the ache inside her consumed her, so that she gasped with love and longing when he pulled away, his eyes shining with need.

“And Angel,” he said, “they’re not here now.”

       

About the Authors:   


J. Kenner

Julie Kenner (aka J. Kenner and J.K. Beck) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres. Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” J.K. writes a range of stories including super sexy romances, paranormal romance, chick lit suspense and paranormal mommy lit. Her foray into the latter, Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner, is in development as a feature film with 1492 Pictures. Her most recent trilogy of erotic romances, The Stark Trilogy (as J. Kenner), reached as high as #2 on the New York Times list and is published in over twenty countries. J.K. lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and several cats.

Website | Facebook | Twitter



Suzanne M. Johnson

USA Today bestselling author Suzanne Johnson is family trained, a south Georgia native who's been cooking all of her life, creating not only some really unique food, but precious memories that re-occur every time she smells something simmering in the oven. In all of her books, Suzanne shows that making a delicious meal doesn't have to be complicated--it just has to be made with love. So go ahead, don't be bashful, dive right in. Who knows? You might just make a few memories of your own.        

Website | Facebook

My Review:

Cooking is one of my favorite past times. Coming close only to reading. So combining great recipes with short stories by one of my favorite authors, is a winning combination in my book. If you are a fan of the Man of the Month series, you will definitely love the short stories that give you a little glimpses in the lives of some of your favorite couples: Reece and Jenna, Nolan and Shelby, Brooke and Spencer. And as a cherry on top, you will get one extra. The story of Tiffany and Eric. All these short stories are sweet, romantic, a little bit funny and just the right amount of sexy :) So be sure to check them out.


And if you love good food and great cocktails, then you should definitely explore the recipes in the book. I already tried a couple and I am definitely a fan of everything The Fix on Sixth has to offer :D And just so I don't leave you in the dark, I figured I will share with you the two recipes I tried. They are fast and easy and just sinfully good. So let's start with the salty one :)

Butternut Squash Soup

Products:
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cups chicken stock
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

I started by pre-heating the oven to 400°F (200° C). After I diced all the ingredients, with the exception of the garlic. I like using a garlic press instead of mincing it because it saves me a bunch of time :) And it also makes the garlic into really small pieces. Not that it really matters when you are going to blend everything in the end but it is much easier to mix the ingredients.

Once everything was prepared, I mixed the vegetables with the olive oil and garlic. Once everything was well coated with oil and garlic, I put the vegetables in a single lair on a cookie sheet and seasoned with salt and pepper. I baked the vegetables for around 40 min but that will pretty much depend on your oven. Basically, you need to bake them until the squash is tender :)

According to the recipe, the roasted vegetables are put into a pot, together with the chicken stock and brought to a boil. So that's exactly what I did :) When the soup started boiling, I reduced the heat and left to simmer for another 10 min or so (the soup needs to thicken slightly). To be honest, I didn't wait for the soup to really thicken as I use my Vitamix to blend soups. The blender creates additional heat and thickens the soups additionally :) As it is, I actually needed to add some additional hot water because it became too thick. 

I served the soup with crumbled bacon and Parmesan cheese as the recipe instructed and it was so, so good. I just might reduce the garlic next time and see how that works. And I know this is a winter soup but as I live in the UK, half of our May was practically winter :D So I thoroughly enjoyed warming up in the evening while reading Tiffany and Eric's story :) 


Now it's time for the desert <3 As I was looking for something else fast and easy and most importantly a recipe in which I don't have to make substitutes (it's really a pain when you can't find the ingredients you need), I decided to make chocolate chip cookies :)

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

Products:
1 stick (113g) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries

Chocolate chip cookies are a pretty straight forward affair. But finding a recipe with the right ingredients and proportions that will give you that crispy outside and chewy inside is definitely not the easiest task in the world. But this recipe creates exactly that elusive masterpiece of a chocolate chip cookie :) Yum!!!

So let's do the basics. Using a hand mixer, I creamed together the butter and sugar until smooth, then added the eggs and vanilla. Once everything was mixed well, I spooned in the flour, baking soda and baking powder and continued mixing until blended. In the end I added the white chocolate chips and cranberries and folded them into the batter with a spoon. I probably could've used the mixer but I didn't want to break the chocolate chips or tear the cranberries.

The recipe calls to place 1 tablespoon at a time on a greased cookie sheet but I prefer to use an ice-cream scooper. It helps make the cookies more uniform and for me it is definitely much easier than using a normal spoon. Just make sure you leave enough space between the cookies so you don't get one giant cookie in the end :D

The cookies need to be baked for 12-14 minuets (I baked them for around 13) at a preheated oven on 300°F (175° C). Once baked, I left them to cool down on a wire rack for around 30 min :) After that, I thoroughly enjoyed them with my morning coffee. Even brought some to work and now I have requests for more :D The only thing I might change in this delicious recipe, is exchange the white chocolate chips with a dark one but in the end, no matter how you make it, I am sure you will love these cookies <3


I so loved these two recipes that I can't wait to try few more as soon as I can, I have my eye on a dirty Martini with Blue Cheese olives ;)



 

Friday, May 18, 2018

Blog Tour, Excerpt & Review: Another One (Lighter Ones #2) by Aleatha Romig




Title: Another One
Series: Lighter Ones #2
Author: Aleatha Romig
Release Date: May 15th, 2018

Synopsis:
Get ready to laugh out loud, swoon, and fall in love with this new, fun, and sexy stand-alone novel from New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig. Demonstrating her versatility in writing, Aleatha revisits her lighter side that you loved in PLUS ONE.

A complete stand-alone, ANOTHER ONE is the next big summer hit.

  *Shana*

Trevor Willis is sexy, sweet, and oh so fun. He’s also my best friend’s brother-in-law. That should mean he’s off-limits, or that I should be off-limits to him.

Someone probably should have told us that before my best friend married his brother, before the morning of the wedding when we woke in each other’s arms with gaping holes in my memory.

They didn’t.

We did.

The hilarious truth behind our crazy, secret adventure secured this handsome, off-limits man in my heart. But alas, life goes on. After our one secret night, we went back to our lives—our hardworking, solitary lives.

And then it happened.

My phone began to buzz. Each night with thousands of miles between us, we laughed, talked, and shared. And then, the phone stopped ringing.

Before it did, I knew one thing...

Our secret one had bloomed and blossomed, and now that our circumstances have changed I want another one!

  *Trevor*

Shana Price is that one woman. You know, the one who suddenly makes the world more than a place to work, but also a place to live. Usually shy and awkward, in her presence I want to be more—I am more. I don’t even have to try.

She’s my one. I knew it the moment I first met her. What followed simply confirmed it.

The problem is the little hassle of the thousands of miles between us.

I tried to make it work, but each phone call made it harder. (Yes, that is a pun) I couldn’t take it any more—and she became the one who got away.

Now, everything has changed.

Shana is back in the United States—all I have to do is make her see that her job isn’t the only reason to stay.

That shouldn’t be a problem, right?

From a secret one to another one!

Try Aleatha’s lighter side for a guaranteed smile - the perfect getaway.

Have you been Aleatha’d?  

Purchase Links:


 

Excerpt:
      
  Trevor 

Sweet and tangy.

Shana Price tastes like sugar with a twist of lemon.

My mind tells me to go slow, reminding me that I don’t have any right to this beautiful woman. My mind is saying to stop, yet her soft moan is all I hear.

My body has its own GPS with the destination close. Listening to my mind is out of the question.

Her petite body shivers as I tease her sweet lips. They willingly part as my tongue delves inside, wrestling with hers.

Not giving up its fight, my thoughts remind me how forward this behavior is and how it isn’t like me. Trevor Willis is not a man who chases a woman down, pins her against the wall, and kisses her until neither of us can breathe or cares.

It’s not me.

But, it should be.

I like it.

I won’t blame the alcohol. I’ll blame my need to know it’s really Shana and to claim her for my own. I didn’t do it last time, and I’ve regretted it every day since.

When her hands come to my chest, I seize them, lifting them above her head and pinning them to the wall. Shana doesn’t fight; instead, her hips move against mine and our kiss grows more passionate. In the dark, crowded hallway, with my body pressed against hers, I swallow the soft moans coming from her throat.

At that moment, I want to be anywhere but a crowded bar in the middle of Manhattan. I no longer care about Eric’s bachelor party or my friends. I don’t even care about Kimbra back out in the bar. All I want is to whisk Shana away and do what we didn’t do before, what her body and mine are ready and aching to do.



About the Author:


Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!


Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha's twisted style with an increase in heat.

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.

Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. 

I love Aleatha's lighter novels. They are always sweet, romantic and definitely fun :D Don't get me wrong. I love also Aleatha's darker side with the suspense, intrigue, heartbreak but every now and then, I just need something to lift my spirits up :D And Another One is exactly that. Don't get me wrong, there are some heartbreaking moments but ultimately, it will leave you with that warm, gooey felling and will just make you feel good :)

I loved the two main characters. Shana and Trevor are quite intriguing and in my opinion they are as different as night and day. But at the same time, they balance each other quite well. Where Shana is impulsive, Trevor is more cautious. Where Shana is a little bit crazy, Trevor is relaxed. The chemistry between them is scorching and they can definitely burn the sheets together. But I also liked that their relationship was build on spending time together and talking and not on a one-night stand. Their relationship is not easy with all the obstacles in their way but in the end, they still find the way to each other and their HEA :)

One more thing I really enjoyed about this story was the appearance of Kimbra and Duncan. I really loved those two so it was great to read a little bit more of what happens after their HEA ;)

In a few words, this is a great lighthearted read and I definitely recommend it for your summer vacation :) So don't waste any time and pick up your copy asap ;)

Cover Reveal: Unconscious Hearts (Hearts of Vegas #1) by Harper Sloan




Title: Unconscious Hearts
Series: Hearts of Vegas #1
Author: Harper Sloan
Release Date: June 12th, 2018

Synopsis:

Ari Daniels didn’t count on her whole world tumbling down around her in a mess of shredded promises, broken love, and unbelievable heartbreak. Alone and stricken with grief, she shouldered the blame and eventually closed her heart off, refusing to open it for another. After all, anytime she tried, guilt and regret were waiting in the wings to remind her how painful it was.

A bet and one steamy night with a stranger force Ari to confront all she’s been hiding behind. She tries to move on, but he refuses to stand down, wanting what she is terrified to give—herself. This man may very well destroy her in the end, especially when it’s clear he has his own demons.

What happens when two broken souls come together, finally allowing themselves to believe in the beauty of love … only to have to fight harder than ever to keep it.

Pre-order Links:
  Preorder now before the price goes up to regular pricing (4.99) after release!
     

About the Author:

harper1
Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand. 


Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Release Blitz & Excerpt: Another One (Lighter Ones #2) by Aleatha Romig




Title: Another One
Series: Lighter Ones #2
Author: Aleatha Romig
Release Date: May 15th, 2018

Synopsis:
Get ready to laugh out loud, swoon, and fall in love with this new, fun, and sexy stand-alone novel from New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig. Demonstrating her versatility in writing, Aleatha revisits her lighter side that you loved in PLUS ONE.

A complete stand-alone, ANOTHER ONE is the next big summer hit.

  *Shana*

Trevor Willis is sexy, sweet, and oh so fun. He’s also my best friend’s brother-in-law. That should mean he’s off-limits, or that I should be off-limits to him.

Someone probably should have told us that before my best friend married his brother, before the morning of the wedding when we woke in each other’s arms with gaping holes in my memory.

They didn’t.

We did.

The hilarious truth behind our crazy, secret adventure secured this handsome, off-limits man in my heart. But alas, life goes on. After our one secret night, we went back to our lives—our hardworking, solitary lives.

And then it happened.

My phone began to buzz. Each night with thousands of miles between us, we laughed, talked, and shared. And then, the phone stopped ringing.

Before it did, I knew one thing...

Our secret one had bloomed and blossomed, and now that our circumstances have changed I want another one!

  *Trevor*

Shana Price is that one woman. You know, the one who suddenly makes the world more than a place to work, but also a place to live. Usually shy and awkward, in her presence I want to be more—I am more. I don’t even have to try.

She’s my one. I knew it the moment I first met her. What followed simply confirmed it.

The problem is the little hassle of the thousands of miles between us.

I tried to make it work, but each phone call made it harder. (Yes, that is a pun) I couldn’t take it any more—and she became the one who got away.

Now, everything has changed.

Shana is back in the United States—all I have to do is make her see that her job isn’t the only reason to stay.

That shouldn’t be a problem, right?

From a secret one to another one!

Try Aleatha’s lighter side for a guaranteed smile - the perfect getaway.

Have you been Aleatha’d?  

Purchase Links:


 

Excerpt:
      
  Trevor 

Sweet and tangy.

Shana Price tastes like sugar with a twist of lemon.

My mind tells me to go slow, reminding me that I don’t have any right to this beautiful woman. My mind is saying to stop, yet her soft moan is all I hear.

My body has its own GPS with the destination close. Listening to my mind is out of the question.

Her petite body shivers as I tease her sweet lips. They willingly part as my tongue delves inside, wrestling with hers.

Not giving up its fight, my thoughts remind me how forward this behavior is and how it isn’t like me. Trevor Willis is not a man who chases a woman down, pins her against the wall, and kisses her until neither of us can breathe or cares.

It’s not me.

But, it should be.

I like it.

I won’t blame the alcohol. I’ll blame my need to know it’s really Shana and to claim her for my own. I didn’t do it last time, and I’ve regretted it every day since.

When her hands come to my chest, I seize them, lifting them above her head and pinning them to the wall. Shana doesn’t fight; instead, her hips move against mine and our kiss grows more passionate. In the dark, crowded hallway, with my body pressed against hers, I swallow the soft moans coming from her throat.

At that moment, I want to be anywhere but a crowded bar in the middle of Manhattan. I no longer care about Eric’s bachelor party or my friends. I don’t even care about Kimbra back out in the bar. All I want is to whisk Shana away and do what we didn’t do before, what her body and mine are ready and aching to do.



About the Author:



Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time a with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams and bring your imagination to life!


Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These stand alone thrillers continue Aleatha's twisted style with an increase in heat.

In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romantic suspense with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series that has taken the reading world by storm. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.

In the spring of 2017, Aleatha released her first stand-alone, fun, and sexy romantic comedy with PLUS ONE, followed by the sweet stand-alone, ONE NIGHT.

Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. 

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Excerpt Reveal: One Baby Daddy (Dating By Numbers #3) by Meghan Quinn




Title: One Baby Daddy
Series: Dating by Numbers #3
Author: Meghan Quinn
Release Date: May 17th, 2018

Synopsis:

"What are you doing now that your team is out of the running for the Stanley Cup?"

Forget.

I need to forget. I need an escape.

Only one person isn't falling for my reputation as the NHL's Golden Boy; she captured my attention the minute she called me out for snooping through my best friend's house. She didn't want to hear my reason--she only wanted to playfully give me a hard time.

Adalyn is bold, sassy--and the perfect escape.

She's everywhere. In town and in my dreams, and suddenly I need to spend every waking moment with her.

And I do, making this summer the best off-season I've ever had.

But in the midst of getting lost in Adalyn, what I don't expect is to get her pregnant.

And what I definitely don't expect is having to fight for her affection.

 
 

Excerpt:

Tentative at first, we explore, our lips light, our mouths not quite nipping, but not fusing together either.

We probe, we search, we delve into each other.

Her hands to my face.

My fingers tangling in her wavy brown curls.

Mouths open.

A gasp.

A moan.

A tightened grip.

The lightest touch of tongues.

Scooting closer, she wraps her legs around the back of mine, linking them together.

Tangling, molding, becoming one, the sweet taste of her mouth on mine . . . I’m lost.

Falling and falling fast, our kiss so deep, so intense with each thrust of our tongues, with each mingling of our lips, with every intake of desperate breath.

Tender, the way she moves her lips across mine.

Shaky, the way her hands tentatively explore the crevasses and divots of my broad and built chest.

Fearful . . . of the unknown, of what this means.

But so goddamn electrifying because the craving I’ve harbored for this woman is finally being sated.

Eyes closed, hands lingering, I slowly pull away and rest my forehead on Adalyn’s trying to catch my breath, taking a second to steady the jittery, wobbly feeling in my legs.

“Wow,” I mumble. “That was—”

“Unforgettable,” she finishes for me, her nose rubbing against mine.

Exhaling, I say, “Yeah, it was.”

My hands venture to her sides, memorizing every contour of her body in their path. “Where’s your bedroom?”

Her eyes light up and she hops down from the counter, taking my hand in hers in the process. “This way.” She practically skips down the hallway, light and giddy.

The dark hallway leads to another white, clean, and crisp bedroom. Smooth lines, monotone colors of whites and creams, with one light blue throw pillow on her plush white bed that looks like a cloud floating in the middle of heaven.

Angling in my direction, she reaches for the hem of her dress, but I stop her, gripping her shoulders and standing her upright. Confusion laces her eyes and I take no time in easing that confusion.

“I want to take this slow, Adalyn.” I let out an unsteady breath. “That kiss back there, fuck . . .” I press a hand through my hair. “That rocked my goddamn world.”

Shyly, she peeks up at me through her eyelashes. “It rocked my world too.”

Unable to keep my hands off her for too long, I tip her chin up and press my lips against hers, my mouth smoothing along hers, lush and delicious, just as I expected. She sighs into me, holding on to my waist. I press my tongue against hers again, loving how she gives as much as I take.

Slowing down, my lips brush hers, the fiery passion we have for each other simmering like a pot ready to boil, but never getting hot enough.

I don’t want it to get too hot. Not right now.

I need to know more about her. I want more time with her. I don’t want to jump into this—into a physical relationship—when I know there is so much more I can share with this woman.

There is time for this connection to go beyond the physical, but for now, I need to not get wrapped up in the sensation of her being so close to me and rather seduce her mind instead. I. Want. Her. I want what Calder and Rachel have. I want the depth of trust and friendship I’ve seen in my parents’ marriage . . . How is that possible so soon? God, I want inside her, but I think I need inside her heart more than in her body.

Yes, I’m certifiable.

Completely.

“Can we agree on something?”

“Depends on what it is.” Her fingers trace up and down my spine.

Tracing her pattern, matching it with my fingers, I say, “Can we both acknowledge this unimaginable pull between us? Can we admit to ourselves that the physical is there, that we both would have no problem taking this relationship to the bed?”

“Easily,” she breathes out heavily, her fingers playing with the hem of my shirt.

“Can we also agree to wait?”

Sighing heavily, she rests her head against my chest, knocking it a few times with her forehead. “You’re killing me, Hayden.”

“I know but there have been too many times where the physical has taken the lead in developing a relationship and the communication has lacked. I don’t want that with you.”

“I can understand that.” She bites her bottom lip, her thoughts running a mile a minute in that pretty head of hers. “But what about . . . you know . . . when you have to leave, go back to Philly?”

I nod. “This is for then. So when I do go back, we’ll be okay. Because I can see a future with you, Adalyn, and that’s why I want to build something solid with you, something that can last. I want that chance. With you.”

“So when you return to Philly, you want to stay in contact with me?”

“Fuck yes, I do. And I’m going to have you sitting front and center at as many games as you can get to, especially since I’m trying to make hockey your favorite sport.”

“I don’t know.” She smiles. “That’s going to be one hell of a task to accomplish. Think you can handle it?”

“I know I can.” I press a quick kiss against her lips and then slap her ass, making her squeal. With a wink, I say, “Go get changed for bed, we have some making out to do.”

“Making out?” she asks, adding in a lift of that well-defined eyebrow of hers.

Acting stern and pointing my finger at her, I say, “Just making out. If you start with your wandering hands, I’m going to jet out of here, taking my body warmth with me.”

“That’s just cruel.”

“Then keep it in your pants, Adalyn.” Smiling wickedly, I go to the living room to grab my overnight bag, reprimanding myself with the same warning.

Keep it in your pants, Holmes.

For the love of God, keep it in your pants.
   
About the Author:


Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

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