Book Blitz of Let's Not & Sleigh WeDid by J.P. Sterling (#Contests- Win a Gift Card)

Let’s Not and Sleigh We Did
J.P. Sterling
(Christmas Shenanigans)
Publication date: October 25th 2024
Genres: Comedy, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Oh, oh, the mistletoe, hung where I did NOT see.
My brother’s friend waits for me and gets down on one knee—What is happening?

Somebody stop it, please!
Oh, those dreamy blue eyes batting at me, and all the words he dares to say.
This is bad.
Like really, really bad.
We’re now planning a wedding day.
But it’s all for a good reason, not love.
Oh, cough, cough, let’s not bust out the L-word.
It’s purely business.
It is a solid plan until it isn’t.
So maybe I love him, but we agreed not to do that . . . whoops!

Let’s Not and Sleigh We Did is a fake marriage of convenience, brother’s best friend, just-kisses-but-all-the-swoons romcom. Oh, yeah, there’s a fluffy cow too!

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EXCERPT:

A ring.

Not just any ring, a rose gold band.

“What are you doing?” I whisper, a little harshly, the ring pulsating in my peripheral vision.

“We talked about this, remember?” Luke’s voice drops, rasping.

“We talked about marriage.” I tilt my head to one side, as if I’m physically dividing this argument in half., “But not this, and not in front of them.”

“You’re being modest.” He laughs, tossing a look back at his parents. “I thought it would be nice to share this moment with them.”

“You did?” my voice squeaks, as I’m totally blindsided and wishing I had at least a heads- up. The arrangement had sounded so much more business casual than what’s going on right now. A proposal on one knee is not business casual. This is my heart in my throat, and I’m about to throw up. “Where did you get a ring?” I hiss.

“I bought it today.”

“Today?” I grapple for my throat, praying something gives before I pass out.

“Yeah, today when I was thinking about you.”

Doing a hard pause on the word, you, he’s still holding the ring awkwardly in his hand. I frantically search his face for signs of a prank, but he doesn’t have an ounce of humor curved into a smile.

He’s one-hundred-percent serious.

Quakes rumble against my rib cage. This is an act. I’m clearly about to blow our cover as I’m acting so confused, but this whole thing is blowing my mind. “This is happening so fast.”

“It’s okay. Better than okay.” He takes my hand in his, holding it in front of him. “Ten years ago, you kissed me on a dare. You didn’t know it at the time, but I was already falling in love with you. You were my first kiss, but I knew in that moment, I wanted you to be my last.”

I blink. Everything about his proposal sounds genuine.

My gaze floats to his mom; her hands clasp together in front of her, but her gaze is piercing in my direction. Luke’s dad has a that’s-my-boy grin laced on his lips.

And Luke!

Luke’s winning an Oscar for his acting. His gaze dials right into mine, like it’s boring a trail through my eyes right to my heart. I can’t even tell it’s a fake proposal, and I one-thousand- percent know it’s fake.

It is fake . . . right?

Author Bio:

J.P. Sterling grew up watching old reruns of Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore and fell in love with wholesome entertainment and slapstick comedy. She loves leaning into the over-the-top humor and full circle moments, especially if it means the underdog gets to shine.

Aside from writing, she's also a wife and homeschooling mom, a holistic dietitian, a former college professor and lover of all things dark chocolate.

*No swears. Just kisses. No Blasphemies.*

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Book Blitz of Vampires of The Black OAk by Marie-Claude Bourque (#Contests- Win a $25 Amazon gift card + the previous 3 books in a boxset)

Vampires of the Black Oak
Marie-Claude Bourque
(Vampires of the Black Oak, #1-3)
Publication date: October 22nd 2024
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Meet the vampires of the Black Oak: a powerful order of modern-day warrior fighting evil to protect the ones they love.
Three vampire romances now together in this third installment in the Order of the Black Oak – Collection

“… a nanural master of the slow-burn…”

Book 1: A VAMPIRE’S SPELL: A Witch-Vampire Slow-Burn Paranormal Romance

A guilt-ridden legacy vampire teams with a powerful witch to protect their city from a crazed scientist seeking immortality.

Book 2: A VAMPIRE’S SIN: An Enemies to Lovers Slow-Burn Paranormal Romance

An immortal Montreal vampire teams with an ambitious real estate tycoon to rescue her kid sister from a child-trafficking ring run by a pack of daemons.

Book 3: A VAMPIRE’S SOUL: A Friends to Lovers Slow-Burn Paranormal Romance

When a female vampire teams up with a faithful immortal friend to escape a vicious hunter set to kill her, the centuries-old friendship turns into so much more than she’d anticipated.

★★★★★ Fantastic series of action, magic and awesome romance. You will fall in love with the characters and feel you are right with them.

“Marie-Claude has such a marvelous way of making the characters come to life and put the reader smack in the middle sharing it all. These books are binge worthy”. ~ Goodreads Reviewer

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EXCERPT:

INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE – Valerian St-Amand

“So Valerian, tell me more about this witch you met this summer.” I watch him one cold December afternoon, sitting in a booth at the back the Serpent Maudit, his brother’s nightclub in Old-Montreal.

The immortal invited me here for the interview, so I don’t see the cursed vampires he has hidden in the crypt of his sanctuary while they learn to contain their extreme blood hunger so that they can function in the human world without hurting anyone.

Val shoots me a dark look. I see deep emotions raging in his gaze, quickly repressed.

He still wears his heavy outdoor wool-coat, the dark curls of his hair brushing the fox fur collar. Every one of his movement is measured, from the way he levels his chin to look at me casually, to the calm touch that lay on his dog, a hefty chocolate Labrador sleeping with his head on his master’s lap, the animal’s body stretched on the leather bench next to Valerian.

“Maisie Thibodeau,” he finally says, his voice hoarse.

“She’s a real witch?” I ask.

“Of the Coven of the White Holly. In the small town of Berwick Falls in Maine.”

“Your brother Magnovald said you were taken by her,” I pointed. “The first time you saw her.”

Valerian nodded then shrugged. “Maybe. But what does it matter?”

“She’s coming here, to Montreal.”

“Yeah. I know.”

“So, what will you do about that?”

“About her?” He let out a slow breath, his full lips a thin line. “Nothing. She’ll be here for Emmeline.”

“You’re ex-girlfriend?”

“The thorn in my side,” he said, lazily leaning back in his leather bench.

“You don’t love Emmeline anymore.”

He shakes his head, mixed emotions warring on his forehead. “I did once, I think. Over three hundred years ago, now.”

“But you don’t anymore.”

“She lost her soul. My fault.”

“You wanted her to be immortal, like you.”

“Yep.” He stretches his arm wider, pinning me under a smoldering gaze.

His intensity hits me full force, but I persist. I want to know. “So you did love her.”

“Look, Madame l’Auteur,” he shoots at me, as he leaned forcefully forward into the table between us. “Yes, I loved Emme, or at least I thought I did. I was eighteen. I turned her. And then she turned thousands. Vampires. There’s no stopping them. One mistake. And I now have to fix it.”

“For eternity,” I say. “You’ve been atoning for that one mistake for centuries.”

“I have.” He huffs and pats his dog’s flank with a calm and steady hand. The strong fingers dig into the deep brown fur while his dog raises trusty chocolate eyes at him.

“And what about Maisie Thibodeau?”

“I don’t know.” His gaze turns troubled. “I saw her only that one time at the parley between the Warlocks of the Black Oak, the Elders of the White Holly and us, Mont-Royal Immortals. She was on the fringe of the forest’s clearing, with the other witches.”

“You didn’t talk to her?”

“No. Just saw her. Couldn’t take my eyes of her. It’s like there was this strange connection between us. Seigneur! That flimsy summer dress she wore didn’t help either.”

“And now she’s coming here?”

“Yes. Diesel Stanford of the Warlocks wants Maisie to watch over Emme. To make sure she won’t hurt anyone. I have no choice. I don’t want an all-out war between the warlocks, the witches and the vampires.”

“So where does that leave you with Maisie?”

“There is no ‘with her ’happening. I’m not having another relationship. Too risky. And, she’s mortal.”

“I see. So how will you cope with her living at the Sanctuaire? Both of you under the same roof?”

“No idea.” He sneers. “I guess we’ll find out.”

Author Bio:

Marie-Claude Bourque is a Montreal-born Seattle-based author of slow-burn paranormal romance and the winner of the American Title V award with her first novel ANCIENT WHISPERS.

Her writing features modern-day fantasy skillfully weaved into infinitely romantic supernatural stories between smart strong women and complex passionate heroes.

Happily Ever After always absolutely guaranteed!

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Book Blitz of Bowling Bodies at Spare Lane Alley by Laura Hern (#contests- Win a Ecopy of the Book)

Bowling Bodies at Spare Lanes Alley
Laura Hern
(The Lainey Maynard Mystery Series, #5)
Publication date: August 20th 2023
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery

“What a fun and exciting read! Humor and suspense kept me engaged, and it was hard to put down! Looking forward to the next book in this series!!” Bobbi

When planning a murder, practice makes perfect…or does it?

Super sleuth Lainey Maynard and the Whoopee group are preparing for the bowling tournament fundraiser to save Spare Lanes Bowling Alley. Until an envelope arrived during their practice game that caused more excitement than a scored card filled with strikes. Why hadn’t Gerry Hayward been more concerned?

Spare Lanes Alley had been the hot spot where local celebrity bowlers and newbies gathered. Even framed and signed photos of professional bowlers lined the trophy wall. Now, threats of foreclosure loomed over Gerald and Phoebe Hayward, the owners, and the entire bowling community. More than bowling balls are crossing the foul line.

Gerald and Phoebe Hayward purchased the alley to start fresh after the Professional Bowling Association banned him. Past suspicions of murder, accusations of impending revenge, and enormous gambling debts don’t exactly stop the gossip mongers ’embarrassing rumors.

Lainey and the Whoopee Pin-Slayers will need more than gutter bumpers, shoe covers, and shammy rags to solve the unfolding mysteries.

A fun and intriguing cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. You’ll love the delightful characters, and the twists will keep you turning the pages!

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

“What crazy weather! I’ve been running all over town in this icy rain!” Della shivered as she hurried through the door of Babe’s House of Caffeine and toward the Whoopee’s regular table.

“Mother Nature must think it’s March, not October.” Francy grinned and pulled out the chair between her and Lainey. “Sit down and dry out. Mom’s running a bit late, too.”

“Are you still trying to figure out a costume for the bowling fundraiser?” Lainey asked. “I think I’ve decided on mine!”

“Didn’t Francy tell you? We’re going as the Blues Brothers!” I’m Jake and she’s Elwood.” She leaned closer to Lainey and, looking at Francy, pretended to whisper. “She’s jealous of my dancing abilities!”

“Absolutely not!” Francy smirked. “I have dance moves that make Elwood look like a beginner!” She stood up, pushed her chair from the table, and began stomping her feet, shaking, and wiggling her body, waving her hands in the air while shouting ‘Hallelujah’!

Everyone in the cafe laughed. Some clapped and chanted, “Go Francy. Go Francy. Go Francy.” “Okay, okay! You can dance, but I’m still the lead singer,” Della chuckled.

Francy stopped, turned to the cafe patrons, and took a bow while they applauded. She pretended to blow kisses to thank them, then turned to sit down at the table again.

“Whew! That’s hard work. I should have done more of Mom’s ‘Sweating to the Oldies ’workout videos!” she said breathlessly. “I’m going to need a large Caramel Macchiato.”

Author Bio:

Laura Hern is an author who writes Cozy Mysteries and Romance novels.

She loves cats, charred brussel sprouts with bacon, and romantic murder mysteries!

Laura grew up in Texas and lives in Minnesota. She loves to ride motorcycles, and is an avid domino and card player. Music and traveling are her passions.

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Blog Tour of the Nephilim's Fate by Eliza Hampstead(Excerpt-#contests- Win an Amazon Gift Card)

 

 

I want to welcome Eliza Hampstead to Books R Us. She is touring the blogosphere with her fantasy, romance novel The Nephilim's Fate. The author has provided me with an excerpt for your reading pleasure. Enter below to win an Amazon gift card. Thanks for stopping by

 

The Nephilim’s Fate
Eliza Hampstead
(War of the Nephilim Series, #1)
Publication date: August 16th 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

She will find a way, even if it leads to a war between Heaven and Hell.

In the heart of London, Alissia’s ordinary life takes a thrilling turn when she is attacked by bloodthirsty vampires. When Nate, the man she dreamed about for years, swoops in to save her, her reality shatters as she discovers a shocking truth: she’s a witch, and he’s a Nephilim. But their love is cursed, forbidden by ancient laws that threaten to tear their world apart.

As old rivalries resurface and dark secrets come to light, Alissia and Nate must confront their deepest fears and fight for their love, even if it means igniting a war between Heaven and Hell.

With unforgettable characters, steamy romance, and gripping plot twists, this captivating new fantasy series by award-winning author Eliza Hampstead delves into a world of angels and demons, forbidden love, and the inexorable power of fate.

If you crave the intensity of Shadowhunters with an added dose of spice, don’t miss out on this spellbinding series!

*Warning: strong language, steamy scenes, and graphic violence inside. Mention/Description of abduction, blood, death, rape, and torture.*

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Excerpt: 

Nate Meets His Father

“Marmaroth, your son is here. He wishes to speak with you.”

The other angel—my father—stood and walked towards us. He had dark, golden skin, black hair, and brown eyes. His features were like mine. It was like looking into a mirror. The only difference was that he had no beard and a white halo surrounded him. Although he was eternal, he seemed to be in his late twenties. Marmaroth looked me up and down. Then his gaze moved to Alissia, to her belly.

“I see. What is your name, son?”

I was twenty-eight years old, and the man who sired me didn’t even know my name. He knew nothing about me! Rage boiled in my veins, overwhelmed with hatred for the man who had given me life. He didn’t care about the children he thoughtlessly left behind on Earth. The women he had once professed to love were broken beyond repair due to his selfishness. How often had I cried out into the night sky, wishing for a father? Someone to counsel me and guide me through life? But this man, this angel, was an emotionless being whose only commitment was to himself.

“I’m not your son,” I hissed between my teeth. My fists were clenched. I wanted to hurt him badly but withheld myself.

“You clearly are. I have given you my features, so you were after my likeness.”

“You son of a bitch…” I took a step forward to hit him.

Alissia’s hand was on my arm. “Nate…” When I looked at her instead of that bastard, I saw the plea written on her face.

“Nathaniel. Gift of God. A good name. It suits you. What do you desire?”

This arrogant bloke needed a good beating. Although I knew it wouldn’t help our case, I couldn’t ignore all the suffering this being caused many humans and Nephilim.

“What do I desire? That you give a shit!” I yelled at him. “About your children that you left on Earth. Doomed to grow up without a father! Without a mother, because the women you left behind were suffering wrecks. How can one be so selfish?” I growled through my teeth.

“You came all the way to tell me this?” He raised an eyebrow, a move I did very often myself. This added to my rage. I inhaled to give this idiot a much-needed lecture when I sensed Alissia moving next to me.

 

Author Bio:

Award winning author Eliza Hampstead, a scientist by training, lives with her family in the UK. When she’s not writing, she spends her time as a geek. Playing all sorts of games (board games, video games, RPGs) and being a big fan of medieval history are only a few of the many hobbies she has. Passionate about fantasy, she’s always planning her next adventure.

Sign up for Eliza’s newsletter to get exclusive updates on new releases, behind-the-scenes author news, and exciting extras like character interviews, maps, playlists, and bonus chapters that bring the books even more to life!

https://subscribepage.io/Jsj7Dt

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Book Blitz of A Little Getaway by Bonnie Traymore (#contest- Win An Amazon Gift Card)

A Little Getaway
Bonnie Traymore
Publication date: October 9th 2024
Genres: Adult, Suspense, Thriller

“Traymore’s page-turner is a tension-filled psychological thriller, where the line between friend and foe is razor thin.” Tracey Devlin, USA TODAY bestselling author

A little getaway takes a deadly turn for Morgan and Kyle Murphy in this spicy suspense thriller about a marriage filled with passion, dark secrets, and suspicions.

Morgan Murphy has always longed for a romance for the ages. And she’s found it with the love of her life, husband Kyle Murphy—until their spicy marriage suddenly starts to cool off.

Is Kyle preoccupied and distant because of a problem with his development project? Or is it something worse? Could Kyle Murphy be…cheating? He’s hiding something, that’s for sure. And Morgan’s determined to find out what it is.

With the help of gal pal Carla Flores, Morgan tracks her husband’s movements, and the signs increasingly point to infidelity, the ultimate sin in Morgan’s book. When Kyle increases their life insurance and surprises her with a weekend getaway to get their mojo back, she goes on the offensive and hatches a plan to make him come clean about what’s been going on.

But before she can pull it off, Morgan’s attacked and nearly kidnapped, and Kyle vanishes from the resort without a trace. With no clue as to who took Kyle or why, she’s not sure who is the biggest threat: the shady investor he owes money to, the police, or the guys she hired to teach Kyle a lesson. With the clock ticking, she needs to find out soon.

Before they come for her, too.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Morgan

I smell death in the air. A briny scent with an undercurrent of decay, wafting in from the murky sea outside our sliding glass door.

“Kyle?” I call out again.

Nothing.

Maybe he went for a walk on the beach?

But that wasn’t the plan.

Something’s not right.

I close the door and lock it.

Where did he go?

A log pops in the fireplace, and I startle. This was supposed to be a romantic little getaway, but so far, things have been tense.

“I have a surprise for you, Morgan,” he said, about a week ago.

So here I am, in this little cottage on the beach that he picked for us, in the middle of nowhere, a few miles north of Monterey Bay. A chance to rekindle our marriage. Put some spark back into it. The resort, if you could call it that, is a series of separate units on a vast swath of beachfront land, one step up from a trailer park. I suppose it could be romantic under different circumstances, with the rugged beach outside our door and a cozy fire inside.

I have a bad feeling, though. I came out of the shower and saw a few drops of blood in the bathroom sink. I figured he’d cut himself shaving. And now he’s nowhere to be found. A chill runs up my spine. This place is getting creepier by the minute. Do I wait here like a sitting duck?

The office is on the other side of the property, and I’m not sure if anyone’s there at this hour of the night. It’s not that late. Just after nine in the evening. But even when we checked in, around noon, it took a good twenty minutes for the woman to come to the front desk and help us.

I don’t want to overreact, so I decide I’ll take the car and drive to the store.

Better safe than sorry.

We talked about the fact that I needed milk for my morning coffee. It’ll buy me some time, and when I get back, maybe he’ll be here, wondering where I’ve been. And if it turns out to be nothing, I can keep this little freak out to myself.

But we took his car, so I have to find the keys. I rush into the bedroom and look around. I thought I saw them on the dresser, but they’re not there.

His pants are draped over the back of a chair.

I check the pockets.

Nothing.

My heart starts to race.

I rifle through his carry-on bag.

No luck.

His cell is gone, along with his wallet. I wonder if he went out for provisions while I was in the shower? But the car is parked near the office, a few cottages away, so I can’t see if he’s taken it. I pick up the house phone and call the front desk, thinking maybe the attendant could check if the car is there. It rings and rings and nobody answers.

My heart races even faster. Rushing into the kitchen area, I survey the options. I grab the utility knife. With its five-inch blade, it’s the best option. This is a risky move. I’ll look like a psycho walking around with it if someone sees me, and the last thing I want is to call attention to myself. But the place seems deserted, so it’s unlikely I’ll be spotted.

Who comes to a beach resort in the middle of winter?

This was his idea, I remind myself.

And now I’m here.

Alone.

At a deserted resort.

Clenching the knife in my fist, I step out the sliding glass door and start making my way to the front office.

Author Bio:

Bonnie Traymore is the Amazon Bestselling author of seven domestic/psychological thrillers. Her thrillers feature strong but relatable female protagonists who peel back the layers of suburban American life and give readers a peek inside. The plots explore difficult topics such as jealousy, infidelity, murder, and the impact of psychological disorders, but she also includes bits of romance and humor to lighten the mood from time to time. She's an active status member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America.

Bonnie has a doctorate in United States history and has taught at top independent high schools as well as Columbia University and the University of Hawaii. Originally from the NYC area, she resides in Honolulu with her family.

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Book Blitz of #HotAndHandy by Lynne Hancock Pearson (#contest- win a $40 Amazon Gift Card)

#HotAndHandy
Lynne Hancock Pearson
Publication date: October 15th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Everyone in town loves the handsome handyman.
Everyone except his new neighbor.

Out of jail and desperate for work, Vincent scrapes by with odd jobs. He’s hired to help the gray-haired lady move in next door but stumbles when he finds nothing old or feeble about Hilary.

Rejected by her husband after her body rejected implants, the breast cancer survivor shuts out Vincent until a kitchen appliance crisis forces her to accept his help. Convinced that he could do better, she keeps the younger man at a distance, but he persists, building her confidence and coaxing her out of her colorless cocoon.

With the hot handyman by her side and in her bed, Hilary develops a community program bringing at-risk youth into the building trades. But not everyone wants to see the ex-con succeed. An old foe is determined to derail Vincent, and Hilary is caught in the chaos.

She’s ready to retreat. Ready to leave everything behind—including Vincent.
Can he convince her to stay?

#HotAndHandy is a small-town, reverse age-gap romance between two people starting over after being kicked to the curb by life and love.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

It was Friday, and Vincent hadn’t seen Hilary all week, even though they shared the same address. They’d texted, though, and agreed to happy hour on her deck, with him bringing the drinks and her providing the food. Taking the stairs two at a time, he smiled at his own eagerness. Last week was great. Her enthusiasm for setting up the training program was contagious. Tonight, they would work on a proposal to present to Iris and Ali, to get KBS on board. And hopefully, they’d do some more kissing. He stopped himself from thinking beyond that. After all Hilary had been through, he did not want to rush her. His cock argued otherwise; thus Vincent started and ended each day with a cold shower.

He shifted the six-pack of beer and bottle of wine in his arms to rap on the door. No one answered. Glancing over to the driveway, he confirmed Hilary’s car and bicycle were both there. Through the windows of the French doors, he saw her purse and car keys sitting on the counter so he tried the doorknob. Unlocked, he pushed the door open and called, “Hey, you okay?”

“Not really. Can you come back here?”

Dropping the booze on the table, he hustled to the bedroom, expecting more blood. The room was empty. “Hilary?”

Her voice came from the en suite bathroom. “In here.”

He peeked in to find her rooted to the floor, arms crossed over her chest, facing away from the door. Seeking her reflection in the mirror, he caught the disgusted look on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“There was a huge-ass spider. It startled me, and I dropped my glass, which shattered on the floor. I can’t move because I’m afraid I’ll cut myself.”

“I’m thinking you should give up day drinking,” he said, taking in the broken glass and Hilary’s bare feet.

“It was a glass of water.”

“Maybe buy plastic stuff. You and glass don’t seem to get along.” He grinned at her growl of annoyance.

From his examination of the floor, his eyes moved upward and widened. She wore bright pink panties and a matching camisole. Nothing else. He swallowed. With clothes, she was hot. Without, she was dynamite. Long firm legs, tight rounded ass, flat belly, and toned arms. She may not have tits, but Hilary was sexy as hell.

“Are you going to stare, or are you going to help me?” Bright red dots sat high on her cheekbones.

He cleared his throat. “Yeah, umm…give me a second.” He pulled off his T-shirt and placed it on the floor at the base of Hilary’s bed. Then he leaned into the bathroom and grabbed a hand towel from the rack. “I’m going to wipe down the backs of your legs in case there are any pieces of glass on them.” Glass crunched beneath him, and he was thankful to be wearing shoes. He crouched, and carefully ran the towel down the backs of her thighs and calves. She tightened at his touch, and he heard a sharp intake of breath. He spoke gently as he would to a wild animal, “Your legs look fine. I’m going to pick you up and put you on the end of the bed. We’ll do the fronts of your legs, and then your feet.” He glanced up to catch her nod, then tossed the towel over his shoulder as he rose to stand next to her. A pulse beat rapidly in the hollow of her throat. He grinned at her reflection. “I promise not to drop you.” With one arm behind her knees and one arm around her shoulders, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He placed her down so her feet were above his T-shirt on the floor, and knelt in front of her. Her slim foot was silky smooth, and he concentrated on looking at the skin of her legs and feet, trying not to inhale the provocative scent emanating from the juncture of her thighs. “I didn’t know you were afraid of spiders.”

She huffed and crossed her arms again. “I’m not afraid. It startled me. Did I not mention it was a huge-ass spider? It had to be the size of a dinner plate.”

“Really?” He sat back on his heels, trying not to smile. “And what happened to it?”

“I don’t know.” She waved an arm in dismissal. “It probably scuttled back down the drain, laughing at me. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me scream.”

He picked up his T-shirt and wrapped the towel in it, chuckling as he stood. “I didn’t see any glass, but I’m going to shake these out over the garbage can and put them on the washing machine. Then I’ll grab the vacuum cleaner. Don’t move until I get back. There might be bits of glass in the carpet by the door.” Looking up, he caught her gaze on his chest and abs…and lower. He slowly straightened, not bothering to conceal the proof of his arousal.

The red spots were back in her cheeks. “Fine. I’ll be here.”

Author Bio:

Lynne Hancock Pearson writes fun, flirty, feel-good fiction that simmers at low heat. Set in the Pacific Northwest, they are stories of people finding their way, even if it takes a while to get there.

She lives near Seattle with two and a half finicky felines and one long-suffering husband. She is a left-handed middle child who grew up in the Great White North and is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Canada.

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