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Combustible Together ~ Excerpt from 'Mission: Impossible to Wed'
“We’ve got off-the-charts chemistry. But it’s the wrong place and wrong time.” He stared at her lips, stirring a hunger in her to taste him.
How could she feel like this and it not be the right time? It felt like the perfect time to her.
She pressed her lips to his soft full ones. She ran her tongue along his lower lip. She felt the catch in his breath before he pulled her into his arms, wrapping her against his hardness.
Expecting he would be demanding by the tension in his body and his labored breathing, she was surprised by his slow and tender exploration, nibbling on her lower lip and then licking where he bit. Mesmerized by his gentleness, she melted against him. She drifted in the sensation, her hands clenched in his T-shirt, her knees wobbly. Lost in kissing Gabe, she didn’t know how much time passed. By the time Gabe finally pulled back, her legs were buckling, and she wanted to get naked with him.
“I guess that answers all our questions. It’s exactly what I thought. We are damn combustible together.”
Mission: Impossible to Wed is part of the 10-author holiday anthology Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge. You can order a copy for just 99¢.
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Airport Pickup ~ Excerpt from 'Mission: Impossible to Wed'
“Why can’t the half-sister bring the dress? She isn’t an adult?”
Gabe recognized the misdirection. Gabe flashed on a memory of Tiffany’s younger sister, tall, thin, with big green eyes and red hair and very quiet when around Tiffany. But then no one got to talk when Tiffany was holding court.
“It’s more of a courtesy kind of thing. I guess its bulky and she has a lot of luggage. My brother asked since we’re both on the same fight.”
“What are you going to do now that your flight is cancelled? Not drive. You’ll need four-wheel drive to get over the mountain passes. The roads will be treacherous.”
“Man, what have you done with my kick-ass buddy? This wedding stuff is making you soft. Driving in a heated SUV versus horseback over mountain passes without being shot at by the Taliban sounds like a slam dunk.
“But smartass, you’ve never been in charge of a wedding dress.” Aiden chuckled and then in low rumble, said, “Later.”
Gabe stuck his phone back into his jean’s pocket, and he walked toward the main terminal. He searched for a kiosk since he was unfamiliar with Seattle’s airport. He needed a rental car, a haircut, and a shave in that order. And since he had at least two hours, he had time for mission prep. And plenty of time to think of a way to sabotage his brother’s wedding.
Mission: Impossible to Wed coming 10.22.19 as part of the 10-author holiday anthology Christmas at Mistletoe Lodge. You can preorder a copy for just 99¢.
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Lancelot to the Rescue ~ Excerpt from 'A Code of Wonder'
Miss Elizabeth Louise Lyon, Eliza to her friends, needing a horse to escape, scanned the stable. A gigantic black stallion, standing at least sixteen hands, occupied the first stall—the obvious prize, flaunting his proud stance and giving an insolent flick of his magnificent tail.
She opened the gate to his stall and scrambled up the stacked hay bales to reach him. She didn’t have a lot of time to calm him if she were to make her getaway. Now that she had three men after her, her chance of evading capture had lessened.
She whispered to him, sensing his heroic but persnickety personality, before she swung her leg over his enormous back. The handsome fellow didn’t bolt but turned to stare at her. Whispering how beautiful and brave he was, she ran her hand along his silky, sleek neck.
He pawed at the ground, shook his head, and gave a loud snort. She felt his strong muscles ripple in defiance, but it was all for show. “You’re a sensitive and courageous fellow, and you’ll save me. Your name should be ‘Lancelot.'” Eliza swallowed the unexpected sob in her throat. Abbie, her older sister, always teased Eliza about her need to rename horses to suit their personalities.
This wasn’t the time to have a crying fit, despite her harrowing day. She had to warn Abbie of the danger. If she hadn’t worn Abbie’s cape for her imprudent ride this morning, none of this would be happening to her. But then her sister might have been kidnapped. Although, unlike her younger sister, Abbie wasn’t so headstrong or defiant that she’d risk riding alone.
“You have to help me. Evil men are after me. Not me, but my sister Abbie, whom I strongly resemble.” She hadn’t told the Frenchmen that she wasn’t Abbie. The fear that they might kill her and return to kidnap Abbie kept her silent.
“The only explanation must be for ransom from Abbie’s rich husband. Or could it be her secret work? Why else would wicked men want my sweet and studious sister?” She rubbed Lancelot’s thick, muscular neck, needing comfort from the gentle beast.
The family’s Irish stablemaster always said she had the “touch.” A high compliment that she held to her heart since her mother and her father always found her, their third daughter, wanting. As a gently bred lady, she was supposed to prefer the drawing room and sketching and sewing over spending her time in the stables filled with men and horses. She couldn’t think of her mother right now or how worried Abbie would be when she didn’t return.
She gripped Lancelot’s mane and squeezed her thighs and knees into his giant flank to back him out of the stall. “We must be off.”
A Code of Wonder premieres 10.07.19 as part of the multi-author Regency romance holiday anthology, Snowed in with a Rogue.
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Just Pretend ~ Excerpt from 'Mission: Impossible to Resist'
Aiden paused in front of one of her favorite French cafés. “Now we’re close to the Market, we’re going to pretend we’re a couple off the cruise ship. Nothing overly embarrassing, but I’ll get up close and cozy. Are you okay with that? You understand the reason for the PDA, right?”
Jordan refused to be cast into the role of a helpless woman. Not that she wouldn’t follow Aiden’s directions, but she was capable of taking care of herself. Uncle Harry had taught her well. “Sure, as long as you don’t take the role of Iowa farm boy too far. And I guess I’ll be doing some PDA myself. You okay with that?”
He flashed his boyish grin, and for a moment her heart went on a ride of its own, with dips, turns, and curves.
“Okay, Buttercup, let’s go get some lunch. Make your old man happy.”
She giggled, and then immediately felt bad for enjoying their silly game when Sophie was frightened and all alone. She gave herself a mental shake. Compartmentalize. Focus on each move. If she thought about Sophie alone and afraid, she couldn’t function. And Sophie needed her to come to the rescue, like she always did and always would.
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Protecting Abbie ~ Excerpt from 'A Holiday Code for Love'
Rathbourne’s steely gaze seemed to apprehend every frustrating thought whizzing through Jack’s brain. The man also had the ability to wait out any conversation, which was more than Jack could ever do. Jack was always at the ready to jump into any fray. He wasn’t sure if his impulsiveness came from spending too much time with his impetuous younger brothers or if it was a family trait. When he reflected on the escapades of his siblings, there was no doubt about it—it was a family trait.
“I know how important Abbie’s work is.” Jack admired Abbie’s ability to decipher French codes, but her work had also almost gotten her killed. And what had she said earlier about finding a connection to the French spy ring? If she had found a connection, would it put her in more danger? Jack’s heart punched against his chest in aggressive jabs.
How did a husband, a protective, overbearing person like Jack, protect his wife? Jack knew taking responsibility for his family at a young age had forced him to mature in a way that none of his peers understood. Witnessing his father’s despair after his wife’s death had made Jack leery of caring that deeply until he met Abbie. And now, if he lost her, he wasn’t sure he’d survive.
“We share something that no other peer can comprehend. Our wives, unlike all other ladies in society, are doing secret dangerous work for our country. It is not an enviable position.”
Jack guffawed. “That’s describing it mildly.”
“Learn from your mistakes. Believe me, I’ve made them. Like you, I assumed responsibility for a large estate at a young age and then I started working for Intelligence. I was used to having control, having my commands followed. I had to discover the hard way that Henrietta didn’t agree with my assumption that she should always follow my orders. In fact, she was fully capable of making decisions for herself.”
“You’d be roasted alive if any man at our clubs knew.”
“I didn’t see you as man who cared about popular opinions.”
“I don’t. It’s the danger. Abbie is oblivious to the threat.”
“Isn’t that what we want?”
“You want Abbie to not recognize the danger? I wake in a cold sweat remembering that French spy holding a knife to Abbie’s throat.”
“Our job is to protect our wives without ruffling their pride so they can use their prodigious minds to unlock codes. That is why we have so many bloody soldiers on the estate, and why they are heavily guarded when in society. It has been easier with Henrietta’s confinement, however that is soon ending.”
Rathbourne did understand. “Abbie gets mad whenever I try to warn her or instruct her. Is it the same with Hen? She was always game for adventures as a girl.”
“My wife is very good at ignoring orders she doesn’t agree with.”
Rathbourne’s revelations eased Jack’s trepidations.
“I do remind her periodically that I’m the Head of Intelligence, to no effect. Not that I want anyone to know my wife doesn’t always follow my direction. Not good for a man in my position.” Rathbourne chuckled.
“Does it get better with time?”
“Easier?” Rathbourne ran his hand through his hair, a familiar gesture signaling his frustration. “No. What I’ve accepted is that Henrietta is perfect for me. There are many men who couldn’t tolerate Henrietta’s independent mindset and capabilities. Though I can’t imagine not having an accomplished wife who challenges me.”
Keep reading: A Holiday Code for Love
