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Why did you kiss me? ~ An excerpt from 'Mission: Impossible to Surrender'

“Why did you kiss me?”

Finn stepped back a step with Sophie following. It was always like this between them—Sophie pushing, never letting him slide. After the loss of his close SEAL team member, he returned home angry and bitter over another senseless loss. Sophie sensing his pain, wouldn’t allow him to wallow in his misery, drawing him out with her tender, probing concern. This confirmed everything he had been running from for years. Sophie was the only woman for him. Forced him to feel. Made him human.

“I was worried after what went down in Hong Kong that today might have triggered memories.”

“That was a kiss of concern?” Her lips pursed in a knowing half smile—a modern, curly-headed Mona Lisa.

Finn clenched his hands into fists and ground his teeth trying to not grab Sophie and kiss the amusement out of her voice. To finally show her exactly and explicitly how he felt about her.

Sophie circled her finger on his chest, not prodding but playing—playing with burning hell fire. “Sounds about right. Finn Jenkins kissing damsels in distress.”

He grabbed her finger, pressing her hand against his heart. He had a choice to lie, but he was tired of running, hiding, pretending. With CJNG coming after him, today might be his only chance. “No, Soph. Only you. It’s always been only you.”

Get your copy of Mission: Impossible to Surrender to keep reading.

A Kiss in Disguise ~ Excerpt from 'A May Day Code for Love'

Sebastian struggled to remain focused when all he wanted was to kiss this woman. Forget the smugglers and his mission. “You’re right. But smugglers aren’t a group of men that I want you to come in contact with.”

Watching the men’s advance down the beach from his peripheral vision,  he pressed his lips to the top of her head. “They are close.”

Her eyes were dewy when she finally lifted her head. Taken by surprise, Sebastian hesitated for a second until she slid her tongue along the crease of his lips. It was his undoing. Her calm and pragmatic response to the sudden appearance of the men had helped him remain in control until now. But her bright eyes, softened with need, pushed him right to the edge of sanity. He’d wanted to kiss her from the moment he had first seen her blushing in embarrassment in Rathbourne’s study.

He captured her soft lips in a deep, searing kiss. The keening sound of need coming from the back of her throat spurred him on for more wild kisses. He delved deep, sliding his tongue over hers. Blinding need built between them, erasing time and thought.

She intertwined her fingers in his hair as she opened to him. The urgency in the way she responded to him propelled his desire. Scorching white heat exploded between them. She moaned and tightened her hands in his hair to the point of pain.

Surprised and shaken by Ella’s enthusiastic response, he lost all sense of the purpose of  this charade. He was drugged by passion, aroused with desperate need. Only years of working for the Crown helped him regain control of the situation.

Get your copy of A May Day to Remember box set to keep reading A May Day Code for Love.

Weather Delay ~ Excerpt from 'Mission: Impossible to Wed'

The sight of Lauren Harrison walking down the jetway was a sucker punch to his gut, a stunning beauty who had him riveted in place. She looked like a model from the magazine covers on display at the kiosks he’d just passed. She wore a bright-green fitted coat, and her glossy blond hair was twisted in a knot, emphasizing her delicate neck.

With Lauren unaware of his perusal, Gabe had time to take in her long, slim legs and her easy glide in high heels. She exuded sophistication—cool, untouchable—until she laughed. The sound was light and lyrical, and her full red lips lifted, making it impossible for him to look away.

The Wall Street-looking dude walking next to her looked at her as if she’d discovered the cure for cancer. By the way his shoulders and hips were angled toward Lauren, he was trying to get as close as possible. It was unclear if Lauren reciprocated. She was laughing and smiling, but her body language wasn’t open to the man. His training as an operator included CIA analysis of human behavior. Being another male played no part in reading the guy’s intentions as man on the make.

For no clear reason, he already didn’t like this dude, who seemed to feel the same way about Gabe when Lauren introduced them.

Gabe grabbed the bags out of Roger’s hands, wanting to minimize the time Lauren smiled at him.

Gabe gave Roger credit since he read Gabe’s male-speak message of “get lost.” Why he was behaving like an ass was beyond him. He barely knew Lauren. And hell, he was just doing his brother a favor.

“We should get to our gate. With the delay, we’re cutting it close. Is it far?” Lauren started walking.

“Our flight was canceled.”

She twisted fast, pivoting on her heels. “It can’t be. I have to get this dress to Tiffany. I promised.”

“What’s the rush? The wedding isn’t for two days.”

“I have to charter a flight.” She was already walking away, unaware that she was headed in the wrong direction.

He dodged a few distracted cell phone users to catch her. How could she move so fast in those stilts?

“Lauren,” he yelled after her. “The flight is canceled because of weather.”

Get your copy today to keep reading MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TO WED.

More Than Friends? ~ Excerpt from 'Mission: Impossible to Love'

Nick Jenkins climbed the stairwell to Emily’s second floor apartment, playing every scenario in his mind. What if Ben and Emily were in the bedroom? Undressed. He shut down the idea. He would deliver Reeves’ message, he’d get answers to reassure himself that she was safe, and then get the hell out of there.

His heart was ratcheting all over the place. This was never the way he expected to see Emily. He planned to see her at his brother’s wedding months from now as a distant stranger. The one thing he learned from all the losses he endured over the years: Time helped everything. But he wasn’t going to get the bloody time and distance.

He reached the top step. And his eyes couldn’t take in the sight. Emily was in the arms of a tall blond dude in the hallway across from her apartment. Not Ben, the famous singer. Where was her date?

By the way her head rested against the guy’s muscular chest, they were more than friends.

Red flashing lights exploded in front of Nick’s eyes. His finely-tuned control over his body and his delusion that he was over Emily shattered into primitive and possessive rage.

“What the hell?”

Click here to keep reading Mission: Impossible to Forget, releasing April 1, 2020.

Meet Stella the French Bulldog

Although Mission: Impossible to Forget is a contemporary romantic suspense, there are still details I research. I’ve had great fun learning about French bulldogs since this book features one of these adorable canines.

Stella, Emily’s dog in Mission: Impossible to Forget, isn’t based on Stella in the TV show Modern Family but a real dog I “met” during my time performing for the Seattle ballet. Her owner used to bring Stella backstage to help calm the children before their performance.

In Mission: Impossible to Forget, Stella is companion to professional cellist Emily Hewitt. If you aren’t acquainted with this breed of dog, here are a few characteristics that make them one of the most popular breeds.

With large bat ears, French bulldogs are small enough to be suitable for city dwellers. They stand 11-13 inches and weigh under 28 pounds.

The breed has an even disposition, is playful, alert, entertaining, and adaptable.

Frenchies aren’t excessive barkers, but they are territorial, making them good watchdogs.

French bulldogs are “talkative”. They snore, grunt, yip, and make other odd noises.

Watch this video to learn more about French bulldogs.

*****

Mission: Impossible to Forget releases April 1. Preorder your copy today to fall in love with Stella, Emily, and Nick.