Contemporary Romantic Suspense Excerpts
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New Excerpt from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO SURRENDER!
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![Mission: Impossible to Surrender (Impossible Mission Romantic Suspense Series Book 2) by [Delecki, Jacki]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41pPXAINSUL.jpg)
Finn Jenkins punched numbers into his cell phone as he walked away. Unlike the men Sophie hung with, Finn paid little attention to his appearance as evident by his disheveled hair, frayed jeans, faded black t-shirt, and scuffed boots. No designer jeans calculated to look worn and torn or expensive wind-blown tussled haircuts held in place by product. Why should Finn go to fashionable lengths when he had the confident, male swagger nailed down? He was a walking version of sex on a stick, and didn’t everyone woman know it? And Sophie had years of watching women pant and beg for that overloaded testosterone.
Familiar with the way he held himself, knowing every gesture of the wild boy she grew up with from the tilt of his head when he was concentrating, to the way his pale eyes lit up when he grinned after one of his practical jokes, or the way he ground his teeth when frustrated—she detected a change.
Something was off in his usual sexy saunter. He was leaning heavily to his left side. His alpha-assertive stride was gone. Had he been injured on his last mission? Knowing the pig-headed man, he’d never admit to being injured or anything that might resemble a weakness, never even admit to being human.
“You look upset, Sophie, what did he say to you?” Alex Hardy, a rock star who wasn’t used to being ignored, startled her out of her absorption with Finn. “I don’t take that kind of shit from my security. Remember, he works for your father. You don’t have to do what he says.”
By the way Finn clenched his phone and his jaw thrust forward, he was giving the IT guy a hard time. This was her fault. She wanted to make Finn laugh, find a way back to their close teasing relationship before her kidnapping, before Finn became tense, on the edge around her. “He didn’t say anything to upset me. He’s just doing his job. And he’s an old friend, so it’s different than your guys.”
“Friend? Are you kidding? The guy’s got the hots for you.”
Sophie jerked back. No way! Finn never showed interest in her. Sophie grew up watching the parade of women pursue Finn and had seen how he let the really blatant ones catch him.
Finn was the reason she went through her bad-boy phase. She always wanted to know what she was missing by the sensual promises in Finn’s seductive smile, the way his body angled toward the woman in his possessive, domineering way. She wanted to be the focus of all that hot male attention.
“No. Never.” Sophie shook her head. “If anything, Finn’s always been in love with my sister.” Finn had to be hurting with the loss of Jordan to another man, not just any other man, but a friend Finn had served with.
“Sophie, trust me. The territorial vibes were strong and clear. Finn doesn’t want me dating you.”
“No, he’s protective. Always been that way.” It had been tense between them after the abduction, but she thought it was her and her hyper-awareness of every little thing around her. Knowing how protective and how committed Finn was, he was trying to come to grips that he
somehow failed her. And since Finn blamed himself for her abduction, he’s gone off the charts to Attila the Hun protector mode. Like the abduction was his fault. Like it was anyone’s fault but evil men.
Sophie looked back at Finn who was watching her and Hardy. She smiled, not sure what had just happened. Always ready for a quick comeback, all she could do was stare when Finn had told her in that low warm rumble that she didn’t know everything about him. His look, his eyes had been filled with promise, sensual promise of long nights…
She was making the whole episode weird. This was Finn, her childhood best friend.
Mission: Impossible to Surrender coming 2.21.19
Coming Soon! MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO SURRENDER
Last week was Thanksgiving, the perfect occasion to pause and reflect on the good things in life, big and small. What are you grateful for this year? I’m thankful for friends, family, good healthy, the opportunity to travel and my occasional participation in the performing arts.
I’m also grateful for my writing life ~ the ability to tell stories and the readers who enjoy them. Thanks to each of you who has purchased, reviewed and read my books this year. It’s heartwarming to know readers connected with my characters and that my stories provide a pleasurable interlude from the daily grind of life.
Special thanks to everyone who made the launch of my new military romantic suspense series, Impossible Mission, a success. It’s always daunting to launch a new series, but readers responded positively and enthusiastically to the release of Mission: Impossible to Resist.
I’m currently working on the next book in the Impossible Mission series so keep reading for a cover reveal and excerpt.
Wishing you a bountiful feast with those you love most,
Jacki
And now…the cover for Mission: Impossible to Surrender! Coming February 7, 2019
Navy SEAL Finn Jenkins will do whatever it takes to protect beautiful Sophie Dean, no matter the risk to his own life…or heart.
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Continue on below for an excerpt from Mission: Impossible to Surrender! Want to read this as a PDF? Click here: MITS Excerpt
Finn Jenkins stepped out of the sleek supersonic Gulf Stream jet and concentrated on masking the pain of his abdominal wound with each step down to the tarmac. Traveling 7000 miles to Nepal might be a bit extreme but nothing new as SEALS were trained to do extreme and the chance to have Sophie alone over the next eight hours back to Seattle was worth the trip.
Finn scoured the area, hyper-vigilant for anyone or anything out of place for this trade off of Sophie in the private section of Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. The visceral memory of Sophie’s capture just months ago by 14K was worse than any stab wound. All because he had left her to check on the hired security in Hong Kong.
Never going to happen again, not on his watch. Not that Sophie would like hearing that her arrivals and departures were planned as if she were a package, highly valued, compliments of her father’s billions, but also a very loved package.
Finn heard the alert of a new text and saw that Reeves, the family’s security IT genius, had sent a message. What did Reeve’s mean that Sophie had a surprise that Finn wasn’t going to like? Was her surprise that she was with Alex Hardy, the damn famous rock star? He had heard that Hardy had followed her to Nepal. Finn’s plan of giving Sophia space might have blown like a M67, shattering his dreams into unrecognizable fragments.
Finn ground his teeth, a habit he thought he had left behind. He was going to kick Reeve’s ass for taunting Finn. Panic, an unknown and unacknowledged feeling for a highly trained operator, twisted in his gut.
A black SUV pulled up at the gate. Finn checked his watch—right on time. Nick, his older brother, climbed out of the SUV, scanning the entire area, reinforcing to Finn that everyone was vigilant about Sophie’s safety.
Nick had taken over coordinating Sophie’s months in Nepal while Finn was on his last mission. A joint military training to assist the Batallones de Comandos, Mexico’s counterpart to SEALS, who were trying to stop the deadly cartel in the Baja California Sur. Training mission, my ass. More like a set-up. Finn had finished off the cartel shooter who had killed the Mexican Comando, but not before the guy had sliced and diced Finn’s abdomen.
A familiar warmth spread through him watching Sophie climb out of the SUV, baring her shapely legs. She smiled and waved when she saw Finn. He nodded, trying to act like he had his shit together.
“Finn, I’ve a surprise for you.” She chirped from ten feet away, her light voice taking on the familiar teasing lilt, triggering his need for this woman, and only this woman. He had blown a possible future with her by caring too much to burden her with his feelings when she was shaken and vulnerable from the abduction.
He walked toward Sophie, wanting to sweep her into his arms and swing in a circle but knowing that his carved up abdomen wouldn’t allow it. Dread blocked out the pleasure of seeing Sophie, with her blond curls swinging around her shoulders, her violet-baby blues, and her childhood habit of worrying her lower lip between her teeth when she was nervous or excited.
He kept his steps even and unrushed as he tried to hide his feelings. He was an expert of hiding his love for Sophie.
#BlackFriday Freebie - Women Under Fire
Treat yourself to this romantic suspense freebie. Women Under Fire, book 2 in my Grayce Walters series, is FREE for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shoppers. Read the excerpt and then one-click!
A hot summer night—perfect for Mariners baseball. Davis gazed over at the empty seat and swallowed against the feelings tightening his throat. These were the same seats he and his dad had shared for years of cold, rainy baseball seasons. His dad should have been here, awaiting Felix Hernandez’s first pitch.
Davis kept scanning the crowd for Grayce as the stadium filled. She had been detained in her veterinarian office to take care of a yellow lab that had indulged in an overdose of chocolate.
He watched Hernandez go through his warm up. Armed with his wicked split finger fastball, Hernandez had the mojo to go up against tonight’s strong Red Sox batting order. The pitcher’s predictable ritual of rubbing down the ball with both hands, smoothing the mound with his right foot, didn’t bring the usual comfort. For Davis, the familiar rituals of baseball were fused with loss.
“Davis, what great seats.” Grayce scrambled over the men in the aisle to get to the center.
What the hell was she wearing? His dad’s cronies, the old lechers, were watching her sashay toward the middle seat in her short shorts and a tight top showcasing her snug yoga body.
He was suddenly hot and irritated. What was she thinking wearing that outfit? Where were her usual blue jeans? And her ponytail? She had pinned her dazzling blonde hair on top of her head and little wisps of hair clung to her graceful neck. Davis took a deep breath. He was in shorts and a t-shirt, but hell, he looked nothing like luscious Grayce.
“Davis, what’s the matter?” Grayce slipped into the seat next to him. She had no clue that she had just heated the entire male fan section.
He pulled her close and pressed a hard, possessive kiss to her lips.
Shouts came from behind. “Davis, you’re killin’ us man.”
There were more hoots and loud laughs. He knew what was on the men’s minds; the same thing that rampaged through his body. Grayce’s face turned red, either from the heat or his demanding kiss.
Her green eyes were rounded in surprise. “I’m glad to see you, too.”
“How’s your patient?” His voice was gruff.
“Recovering. Gus ate half of a Martha Stewart chocolate ganache cake. He had a few tremors, nothing like Mitzi.”
“Mitzi was poisoned.” He still couldn’t believe that bastard had come after his dog during his last investigation.
He looked down at Grayce. His height gave him full view of Grayce’s cleavage. His mind drifted away from criminals.
“Davis, your face is bright red. Is this heat bothering you?”
It took all his control not to comment that it was her exposed body causing the blood to flow in hot rushes through his body. He had learned early from his sisters never to criticize what a woman wore. Never. He was struggling to find a happy balance, somewhere between frustration and lust.
“Do you like my new shoes?” Grayce stretched out her toned leg. “They’re called espadrilles. James talked me into them.”
Davis admired her finely shaped leg. Her shoes tied with a ribbon that wrapped around her delicate ankle. He wanted to untie that ribbon. He took a deep breath, trying not to betray his rapid breathing. How could a woman’s shoe affect him this much? Damn James. It was just like Grayce’s best friend, a cross-dresser, to find the sexiest shoes.
The blood thundered in his head. Oblivious to his friends and the game, Davis stood, pretending interest in Felix’s position at home plate to give himself time to control his need to ravish Grayce. Grayce stood when he did. She pressed her warm woman’s body against his side. He was in trouble.
“Man, Davis, down!”
Davis and Grayce both sat.
“Do you know everyone in this section?” Grayce asked.
“Just the ones you’re driving crazy.”
“What?”
“Your outfit…men like that kind of outfit. And your shoes are…”
Grayce looked at him. “My outfit? I’m in shorts and tank top…just like every other woman here.”
Davis ran his hand along her toned thigh. “But you don’t look like every woman here. You look…you look so damn perfect.” He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. “You make me forget I’m at a baseball game. You make me want to go home.”
ABOUT THE BOOK
Life has heated up for Grayce Walters: thrust into the public eye and hounded by the media after solving an arson case with a critical clue from a French Poodle. When Ewan Davis, the sexy arson investigator Grayce has been steaming things up with, starts talking commitment, she definitely feels the burn.
Then a desperate mother begs Grayce to help find her missing daughter—an Afghanistan war veteran suffering from PTSD, and Grayce reluctantly takes on the case, following a disturbing clue provided by the missing young woman’s cat. Calling once again on the aid of her cross-dressing best friend and her shrewd assistant, Grayce uncovers a terrorist plot with chilling international implications.
Grayce races to rescue the young veteran before the escalating danger explodes. But if she manages to escape the threat, will she find the courage to commit to the fiery passion that awaits her wrapped in Davis’s arms?
Hot under the collar ~ Excerpt from 'Marriage Under Fire'
“Maddy, wait up.” Hunter took two big steps toward her. His hands were full with the bags, so he couldn’t touch her with his bogus PDA.
He had his usual scowl back in place. She should remember her first impression of him—a tighty-whities dude—before he started all the nice, husbandly gestures. She twisted the ring on her finger, wanting to take it off and throw it at him, but something held her back.
“Maddy, we need to talk about that woman, but not here.”
With her brisk pace and her combusting emotions, perspiration beaded up on her face, and her long-sleeve blouse stuck to her skin. All she wanted was a shower and to get away from Hunter. Surprisingly, the giant man showed no signs of the heat or the stress of a public meeting with his sweetie.
Relieved to be at the house and out of the sun, she hurried down the brick walkway to the front porch. How quickly perspectives could change. This morning she had found the little farmhouse enchanting, and now? A brief stopover in her history of endless wandering.
Hunter dropped the bags on one of the Adirondack chairs and unlocked the front door. He held the door so Maddy could enter first. Maddy felt his stare on her back as she walked into the living room. The overstuffed chintz couch and wicker furniture now seemed sickeningly saccharine. “I’m going to jump in the shower. I need to get into something cooler.” And I need time away from you and your bullshit ways.
“Go ahead and shower. But you can’t run away. We have to talk about what happened.”
Did he see her as someone who ran away from her problems? Maybe when she was sixteen and had no other choice, but not anymore. She turned quickly and stepped back into the living room. “Okay, let’s talk.”
“You sure you don’t want that shower? You look pretty hot.”
She was hot—hot under the collar and ready to take down a certain womanizing jerk.
Undercover Danger ~ Excerpt from 'Women Under Fire'
Angie stood motionless in the shadow of a misshapen cypress tree. The setting summer sun of Seattle didn’t relieve the cold frisson of danger or the press of her revolver’s cold metal against her skin. Although it had been months since her last reconnaissance mission, her body recognized the drill and tightened into high alert.
Splatters of fading sunlight danced across the sagging house. Official yellow tape was wrapped around the turn of the century beauty like a Christmas bow on a crushed, forgotten present. A “condemned” sign was nailed to the warped door. The crumbling front steps looked like their weight bearing days were a distant memory.
Not sure how to proceed, she waited and watched the abandoned house in the residential Ravenna neighborhood until it got dark. Should she take the squatters unaware? Surprise Maddy before she could run?
She moved from her hiding place to investigate the back of the house. The yard was littered with broken glass, smashed Styrofoam carryout containers, and plastic bags mired in mud from the wet Northwest summer. She stepped over the yellow tape that was haphazardly hung around the back steps, turned the handle, and then pulled open the back door. It was unlocked. The rusting hinges screeched.
“Maddy, it’s Angie from your VA group.” She reverted to her forceful military command voice. “I’m coming in.”
When the door was thrown wide open, small dark bodies—rats—scurried away. Dread raced down her spine into the tips of her toes. God, she hated rats. This rat hole was worse than anything she had seen during her tours of duty in Afghanistan.
She stepped gingerly over the bags of garbage strewn on the uneven linoleum floor. The smell of the years of neglect and black mold hit her sensitive nose. She tried not to breathe. All of her senses heightened in the darkness, an internal radar honed from door-to-door urban combat. She took another two steps, listening for sounds other than the resident rodents.
“It’s Angie from your VA group.” She wasn’t too worried about handling a high Maddy, but handling her companions might get tricky. After eight years as a Marine, she was used to tricky. And after everything Maddy had gone through in Afghanistan, Angie wasn’t about to let her friend descend into another hell.
She reached in the pocket of her jeans for her tiny penlight as she walked into the dark dining room. The light of her flashlight reflected back at her from a cracked mirror hanging over the fireplace, then a sudden, shiny motion. Before she could react, a bright burst of pain exploded in her head. She fought against overpowering blackness.