Excerpt Wednesday – Twisted Lives

 Hunter Tucker studied himself in his mirror. He knew that he was well above average in the looks department. Wherever he went, women flocked to him like bees to honey. He wondered if it was his black hair and deep-set midnight blue eyes. Or could it be his deep sexy voice? Maybe it was his muscular body and the way he used his raw sexual appeal to tell a woman exactly what she wanted to hear. He smiled as he continued to gaze at his naked body. Years of working out kept him in top physical condition. He lifted weights every other day, and on the even days ran at the track. His body and looks combined to get him what he wanted out of women. 

It never took him long to ease into the graces of some of the wealthiest women in the world. One day he’d marry one of them, and then he’d have the status and prestige he craved. He didn’t care about their money. It was the name he wanted to be connected to. He was new money, but they had old money and the honor and respect that went along with it. It couldn’t be bought, so he was willing to sacrifice his bachelorhood to worm his way into one of the elite families. 

He’d traveled from coast to coast in his quest to find the perfect woman. Most were willing to bed him, but when it came to marriage, they chose to look elsewhere. He knew the real reason was because he didn’t meet the criteria from their hard-nosed families. They would bed him, but would marry only into their own kind…those that came from old money. Love didn’t seem to factor into it. But then he hadn’t loved any of them either.

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Excerpt Wednesday – Maggie Quinn

 Patrick dropped to his knees by the other side of the bed and took his mother's hands, while Maggie set the bowl on the table and then sat quietly looking at Catherine's drawn face. Every breath she took was an effort as she struggled to speak.   

"We're here, Ma," Maggie whispered. "Paddy and I are here."

"Where's Paddy?" Her faded eyes struggled to focus. "Paddy?"

"I'm here, Ma." His eyes welled with tears and he swallowed hard.

Catherine slightly turned her head and focused her eyes on Patrick. Maggie leaned closer and Catherine, with great effort, slightly turned her head as her lips tried to form a smile. "My beautiful children." Her voice was growing weaker, and Patrick and Maggie had to strain to hear her. She paused and drew a ragged breath after each word, struggling to make herself heard. 

Every breath she took was labored as though it would be her last, and Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat as she listened. Her eyes misted, but she knew her mother couldn't see. "Don't try to talk, Ma," Maggie said quietly. "Keep your strength."

"No. I need to talk."

Maggie glanced at Paddy. His eyes revealed that he was as frightened as she was at their mother's worsening health. She didn't know how to help her mother and did the only thing she could do, which was to offer up another silent prayer for her healing. But she had to face the truth. The Lord would soon take her beloved mother the same as He’d taken Da and her brothers and sisters. She wanted to scream and pound her fists. What had they done to deserve this? She drew a deep breath. No, her faith was being tested. She had to hold on. She had to accept whatever burdens the Lord had placed on their family. She couldn't forsake everything Ma had taught her.

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Excerpt Wednesday – Murder In The Pinelands

 "I don't care about any of that!" Jensyn screamed. "I only remember walking to the car. Everything is a blank after that." She charged at him again. "What did you do, Evan?"

He grabbed her wrists again. "Stop it, Jensyn! You need to listen to me. I took you two home. That's what I did!" he spat at her. "Now both of you better shut up and listen to me." He drew several deep breaths to calm himself. "Don't tell the police you don't remember anything about last night. And especially don't tell them we were drinking. Do you know what they'd do to us?"

"I doubt underage drinking is a top priority when a kid is dead, Evan," Kennedy said, dabbing at her eyes with a paper napkin.

"Do you want the police to think that we had something to do with it?" Evan hissed.

"Why would they think that?" Jensyn sniffed.

Evan's jaw tightened. "They'll want to know why he didn't leave with us," he explained. "You know how they twist everything." He stared at Jensyn. "Don't forget, Jensyn, you did argue with him. They'll try to twist that into a motive."

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Excerpt Wednesday - Shattered Vows

Robert walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down across from her. "So, what do you write about, anyway?" 

Farrel set her pen down. "You’ve never seemed interested before," she said, surprised. 

"I didn’t say I was interested. Just curious." 

She sighed. Why did he have to try to ruin everything that meant something to her? She wanted so much to be able to have the kind of normal relationship where they could share their individual passions with one another. She looked at him. He was dressed in an old paint stained shirt and faded jeans. His feet were bare. His attire was unusual, but she didn’t dare question it. "Mostly, I write about my feelings. Sometimes what I’m feeling pours out on paper and releases all of my frustrations. The difference is that I can control my characters so they can have the most wonderful lives with all of their dreams fulfilled." 

Robert’s eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that your life isn’t satisfying to you?" 

Farrel noticed the disapproval in his eyes as he swept over her makeup-less face and uncombed hair. Self-consciously she swept a strand of hair from her brow as she pondered his question. "No, I don’t mean to imply that. It’s just that everyone always wishes certain aspects of their lives were different. In my writing, I can fulfill all of my dreams through my characters’ actions and emotions." 

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Excerpt Wednesday - All I Want Is You

 Rachel’s eyes clouded. She couldn’t tell her friend that Caleb had stirred something in her, something she’d never felt before. She had to brush those feelings aside. "I know what you’re trying to do, Kate. I told you last night that I’m perfectly happy with my life just the way it is. I don’t have the time or energy to focus on a relationship. My job and Ethan are about all I can handle right now." 

Kate lifted a suspicious eyebrow. "What do you think I’m trying to do, Rachel?" 

Rachel pursed her lips. "You’re trying to set me up with Caleb. Admit it, Kate. I can see right through it." 

Kate held up a hand. "I swear I’m not, but you have to admit he’s not only gorgeous, but nice. You said so yourself, and Ethan likes him." She drew a deep breath. "Okay, I admit it. I thought if you two met each other you might be able to help one another. You’re both too young to shut yourselves away from the world. You already have something in common." 

"I know your intentions are good, but did it ever occur to you that some people never get over their grief?" 

"It has, and I personally don’t think it’s healthy." She shrugged. "You have to admit, he’s gorgeous." 

"Okay, I admit he’s good looking, kind, and Ethan is enjoying his company." She sighed heavily. "If things were different—" 

"Just what does that mean, Rachel?" Kate demanded, cutting her off.

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Excerpt Wednesday – Sparks and Cabin Fever

 Sparks

Before Stefani could answer, Harper came out of nowhere and sashayed up to the bar. She was dressed in a short denim skirt, a low-cut light blue blouse which showed ample cleavage, and navy heels. Deacon's eyes were immediately drawn to her like a magnet. 

Stefani's heart fell. She hadn't been enough to keep Deacon interested once Harper entered the picture. Even though Deacon claimed he loved the outdoors, when he was indoors, Harper would be his preferred partner.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she said throwing her arms around Stefani's neck. "Forgive me?" She turned her head and noticed Deacon sitting next to Stefani. She immediately stepped back from Stefani and with hands on hips beamed at Deacon. "I'm surprised to see you here," she said with a phony accent.

Stefani's eyes narrowed. What a liar! She shot Harper a steely look. Harper lifted an eyebrow slightly. The only reason Harper asked her out tonight was to pretend they were having a girls' night out and then act surprised if she ran into Deacon. She'd obviously planned to come in late then feign surprise at seeing him. Stefani fumed, but she had no one to blame but herself for allowing Harper to use her to serve her own purposes. What did it matter? Deacon hadn't shown anything more than a friendly interest in her. She'd made it out to be more than it clearly was only because that was what she so badly wanted. Deacon had shared some friendly chitchat, nothing more. She couldn't even blame him for leading her on because he hadn't.

Cabin Fever

He was even more gorgeous in the flickering candlelight. It took all of her willpower not to leap over the table and throw herself at him. Her heart beat erratically as she imagined his hands gliding over her naked flesh and teasing her nipples until she thought she would explode.

"Are you okay?"

She felt the wetness between her legs. Her face reddened. "I'm…I'm fine." She hoped he couldn't see her flushed face in the flickering candlelight. From the expression on his face she knew he had. She picked up her spoon with a trembling hand and continued eating.

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Excerpt Wednesday – Torrid Teasers 53 – Christmas Dreams & The Fix-It Man

 Christmas Dreams

Morgan's eyes popped open. She patted the spot next to her. It was empty. She knew it would be, but a part of her had hoped it wouldn't be. It was only a dream. Davis? Why had she dreamed such an erotic dream about her best friend? It unsettled her. She climbed off the bed, grabbed a robe, pushed her feet into a pair of slippers, and padded to the kitchen. She fixed a cup of tea then brought it back into the living room and settled into her easy chair. Her hands shook as she set her cup of tea on the table next to her chair. The dream stayed fresh in her mind; it had seemed so real. Why had she dreamed about Davis? Her face reddened at the memory. She sucked in her breath unable to get his hauntingly gorgeous naked image out of her mind.

The Fix-It Man

"I'd love a cup, but aren't you forgetting about your bath?"

She laughed. "I can take it later. Let me throw some clothes on." She ran into her bedroom and hurriedly threw on a pair of jeans and a pullover then returned to the kitchen. Nathan was leaning against the counter. "Have a seat," she said as she prepared the coffee. She tried to focus on what she was doing instead of his rippling biceps. She wanted him and she would seduce him if she had to, even if she wasn't primed in the art of seduction. She wondered what Lucy would do in this situation. Of course, Lucy would let him know in no uncertain terms that she wanted him. What about afterwards? Could she just walk away without any expectations like Lucy did, or would she want something more? No, she'd listened to Lucy talk about not making it personal. That's what she would do. She'd fuck him and then they would go their separate ways with no obligation to one another.

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