Mari Carr's Blog, page 110
January 1, 2011
Saturday Snippet
Given it's the first day of 2011, today's theme of New Beginnings seems very appropriate. I decided to share an excerpt from Happy Hour. In the story, Grace is facing an empty nest and looks for her own fresh, red-hot start…by embarking on a fantasy evening complete with not just one, but two younger men.
Excerpt:
"Take off your clothes," Jamie murmured against her flushed skin. "I want to see you."
She reached for the buttons on her blouse, noticing that neither man seemed inclined to give her much room to move. Trey's hands covered hers as he tried to hurry her up. Jamie's hands only left her for a moment as she removed the material, then he quickly returned to exploring the bare skin of her waist. As soon as her blouse hit the floor, Jamie's hands moved up to unhook her bra. In mere seconds, she was bare to the waist as well. She waited for some response, some hesitation when they realized what they were asking for by inviting an older woman to bed. It never came.
Neither stopped their assault on her senses and her sensitive flesh. Trey's hands returned to her breasts, his fingers plucking at her nipples until she was squirming against Jamie's covered cock. She was on fire and nothing short of being completely consumed by the flames would suffice. She pulled her lips away from Trey's kiss, sucking in some much-needed air.
"Please," she said, not sure what the hell she was pleading for—air, sex, more touching, more kissing, more everything. Her legs threatened to give way and Jamie's hands grasped her more firmly, pulling her back against his chest.
"Just relax," Jamie whispered.
"Relax?" Her voice betrayed her and she knew relaxing was the last thing she was going to be able to do. They both chuckled.
"Let us take care of you tonight, Gracie. We know what you need," Trey assured her.
"Well, that's comforting, considering I don't have a clue." She wanted far too much.
Trey's hands drifted from her breasts to the clasp of her jeans she'd quickly changed into before heading to Tully's and she sucked in a nervous breath. Moment of truth.
"You're so beautiful," Jamie said. "I can't wait to see you naked. I'm going to lick every inch of this soft skin."
She trembled, but felt relief at his words. She and Jamie helped Trey—six hands working her jeans and panties over her hips. She toed off her sandals, kicked off the denim and held her breath.
Trey's gaze raked her from head to toe while Jamie started to make good on his licking promise, his tongue and teeth toying with her earlobe as he reached around her chest to grip her breasts in his large hands.
"Jesus," Trey muttered. He licked his lips as his attention remained riveted to her chest and Jamie's hands. Before she could wonder whether his response was good or bad, he bent down and captured one of her hard nipples in his mouth. Her hands flew to his head and she ran her fingers over it, marveling at the rough texture of his short hair.
As Trey sucked, bit, devoured her breasts, Jamie's hands found their way to her ass. He cupped the cheeks, squeezing firmly before dragging one finger along the slit. She turned her head, anxious to see Jamie's face. She needed to know, to reassure herself that he was okay with this.
He smiled when he caught her looking, and then placed a quick kiss on her lips. "You're incredible, Grace. Perfect. I knew you would be."
She blinked back the happy tears his words provoked. "Jamie—" She paused, uncertain what to say, how to express to him what this night truly meant to her. She knew for them it was a one-night stand, a one-time deal and she was okay with that. A threesome was a fantasy, but definitely not something she wanted more than once. Jamie's hand touched her face gently and she fought back the realization of what she did want.
Him.
She wanted Jamie, alone, for way more than one night. The answer seemed so obvious, she wondered how she could have missed it.
"Stop worrying," he murmured against her lips. "Everything will be fine."
She nodded, wondering if he could somehow read her thoughts. She dismissed that thought. No, he clearly thought she was worried about the sex. Sex with two virile, healthy, young men.
Well, that thought certainly washed away every other worry. What was she doing here? How could she possibly satisfy both of them?
Jamie grinned. "Trey. I think we better move this show to the bed. Grace's head is starting to catch up with her body. We must not be doing something right."
She laughed at his jest. "Believe me, you're doing everything right."
Trey rose as Jamie took her hand and led her to his bed. He gently pushed on her shoulders, urging her to sit. She watched both men glance at each other and she giggled, suddenly sensing there were parts of this night that were just as uncomfortable for them.
"You guys okay?" She lifted her eyebrows to prove she knew what was holding them back. While they'd removed their shirts, she wondered how they felt about shucking their jeans and standing side by side with matching erections. "It's not a contest, you know."
She hoped her words would put them at ease. Jokes and teasing were second nature to their relationship.
Jamie shrugged. "I'm not gonna pretend I'm not worried about that myth surrounding black guys." His words were spoken lightly and she watched Trey grin at the joke.
"Who says it's a myth?" Trey challenged.
She laughed, her concerns about the evening drifting away. These guys were her friends and they always would be. The rest would just have to be sorted out come morning.
Happy Hour is available at Samhain, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Fictionwise, and All Romance Ebooks.
New beginnings, new authors? Check out these snippets too.
December 27, 2010
Where do you find new authors?
I will be participating on a panel at the Romantic Times Convention in April that discusses ebook marketing. To help me prepare, I'll be conducting a few very quick, one question surveys. The link to the first is below. It's completely anonymous and I appreciate your willingness to help!
December 25, 2010
Saturday Snippet
This week's theme (obviously) is HOLIDAYS! Since it's Christmas day, I thought I'd share a snippet from Come Monday, the first book in the Wild Irish series, where Keira tells Will about the Christmases of her childhood.
"Close your eyes, Keira."
Her voice seized up as she considered his request. When she was able, she muttered one question. "Why?" Her heart raced at the idea of leaving herself even a tiny bit vulnerable in his presence.
"I want to do an experiment." He waited and she realized that refusal would be futile. Professor Wallace was a man who didn't take no for an answer. That thought sent a fresh round of juices to her already-drenched panties and she squeezed her legs together to fight the onslaught.
He quirked his eyebrow and she slowly closed her eyes.
"Describe this room." She started to open her eyes but he halted her. "With your eyes closed."
She struggled to remember what any part of the room looked like. She'd been so preoccupied with the office's lone inhabitant that she'd failed to truly look around. The only piece of furniture that seemed vaguely familiar was the desk, and even then, only from her rather raunchy fantasies.
"There's a desk in the middle of the room," she said at last.
His light chuckle sent her hackles up and she forced herself to try to think of more. "There are bookshelves on the wall." Which wall, she couldn't recall.
"Stop relying on what you can see, Keira."
She considered his suggestion and realized she could sense many things about the room. "It smells of leather in here. Leather and old books and," she paused, sniffing the delicate odors, "your cologne."
"Very good. What else?"
She turned her head slightly and was immediately struck by the silence. "I can't hear anything. It's remarkably quiet in here."
He seemed to agree. "One of the reasons I hold my office hours so early. I relish the peacefulness. By this afternoon, the noise of all the students out in the hallway and on the campus outside my window will fill this room. You mentioned the desk. It's right in front of you. Touch it."
She bent forward, thankful her eyes were closed, praying he couldn't detect the slight shaking of her hand.
"How does it feel?"
"Smooth," she replied, running her hand along the surface. "And cooler than I would have imagined. It would feel cold against my cheek." Her eyes flew open when she realized the strangeness of her remark.
Professor Wallace's eyes were studying her intently.
She cleared her throat, anxious to fill the uncomfortable silence with noise. "I, um, I see what you mean."
He nodded slowly and she wondered if he'd question her comment.
"Close your eyes again," he instructed. She complied, aware that the previous silence of the room was now filled with the unbearable loudness of her pounding heart. "Describe your family's restaurant. Don't tell me what you see, Keira. That's already in the paper. Tell me the rest. Tell me why this place is so special."
Thankful he hadn't questioned her observation about his desk, she envisioned the pub. "My family lives above the restaurant. I'm one of seven children so I suppose you can imagine it's pretty crowded. My mother was the cook before she died and on special holidays, when the restaurant was closed, she'd go downstairs to the big kitchen to prepare our meals and we'd eat at the tables in the big dining room. Even though the restaurant was basically home, my mother always made it feel like we'd gone out somewhere special to eat."
She paused for a moment, smiling as she recalled the extra effort her mother expended to ensure the holidays were always perfect for her children. The tablecloths, the candlelight, the grape juice served in fancy wineglasses that they all used to make toasts and laugh and pretend they were grown-ups.
Professor Wallace's next question brought her back to the present. "I imagine the restaurant must have smelled lovely."
She started to open her eyes to respond to his question but she realized that, without sight, there was a security, a safety in speaking her mind that didn't exist when she could see his face. If she was looking at him, she would fail to concentrate on her subject and instead spend too much time trying to figure out what he was thinking of her recollections. She kept her eyes firmly shut.
"The smells were incredible, warm and sweet. I know Christmas can't really have a smell, but in my mind, it does. Cinnamon, pine, fresh-baked bread."
"And your mother?" he asked.
Keira smiled. "She had a smell too. Sugar cookies. My mother smelled like sugar cookies." The memory, the brief burst of happiness at recalling her mother's scent, turned quickly to the piercing sadness that had resided in her heart for nine years.
"What about the sounds in the restaurant?" he asked.
She sensed he hoped to return her to the joy of the scene, but it was gone. She opened her eyes and looked at him as she spoke.
"My mother sang as she cooked. She had the most beautiful voice I'd ever heard. Well, except for Teagan, my sister—she has my mother's talent for singing."
"Look at your paper, Keira."
She glanced down at the page and briefly read her staid descriptions of the tables, chairs, bar. She'd spent nearly an entire paragraph describing the color and texture of the walls.
He tapped his finger on the paper. "The place on that paper doesn't seem very special to me. The place you just described sounds like one of the nicest places on earth. Write about that place."
She looked up and nodded. "I understand."
Come Monday is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Sony.
Why not celebrate the holidays with these authors as well?
December 23, 2010
Free Holiday Reads
As the holidays approach, I wanted to remind you that I have two free holiday reads available at the Samhellion. Unfortunately, there isn't a direct link, so once you click on the Samhellion link, you'll need to type the title of the story in the search box.
Naughty is Nice is a companion to Tequila Truth. Kylie, Colt, and Heath all make an appearance.
In the Running is connected to Erotic Research as Ross's little sister, Noelle, finds love with a very famous person.
Happy Holidays!
December 22, 2010
Star of Christmas
Not gonna lie. I know you all have heard me talk about this series before. I still stand by what I say with Star of Christmas. These are some of the best stories Jayne has ever written. Star and Rick have captured my heart. Jayne has taken two unlikely characters and created a classic love story. They are beautifully told. READ THEM!!!
Star has seen it all as a sex worker in Amsterdam. She harnesses her intense sexuality to bring her clients satisfaction—or whatever else they desire. When one of her favorites, Rick, makes an unusual proposition, she accepts the rare opportunity.
She finds herself onstage, the lead in a naughty Christmas pageant indulging in electrophilia where anyone can witness her client-turned-costar give her a present she'll never forget. The sparks between them grow into something more, forcing them to decide if they're strong enough to seek more than simple pleasure together.
Overture
Through my window, snow is falling. Unique flakes dazzle me as they swarm and crash then disperse, earthbound, in the glow from my red light. Gorgeous and yet a pain in the ass—like so many things in life.
Let me count the ways.
Customers stay indoors to avoid the chill or romp through the rare weather, making for slow nights in Amsterdam's infamous district. Unless you factor in the men who seek alternative methods to keep toasty and stranded passengers from Schipol taking advantage their airline delays.
Slut shoes plus treacherous icy cobblestones equal a terrifying combination. I'm not the sort of woman who wears rubbers to work—at least not the kind that protect my investment in my Louboutins—only to slip on sumptuous six-inch stilettos at the last instant. My pride rebels. The mystique generated by my stacked heels is part of who I am.
Which is why I cringe when Rick, a frequent customer, fills me in on the news.
"Damn it, Star." He pants as his orgasm weakens him. My liquefied bones leave me unable to protest as he withdraws his softening cock from my pussy and crashes to the mattress in my booth's loft. The hint of frustration in his tone has me squinting.
"You're not satisfied?" A complaint would be a first for me. Not that whores have the equivalent to a corporate comment box system, but my popularity and the abundance of my repeat clients reassure me of my skill.
I sit up, crossing my legs, lifting his head to rest on my thigh as I play with his hair. Dozens of shared sessions with him have taught me I don't have to hesitate to explore in the aftermath of our pleasure. I figure he craves the interaction. After all, he purchased a full hour tonight when he never requires more than a quarter of that to reach satisfaction in my body, usually dragging me along with him.
Something about his honest craving for me—not just an easy lay—affects me. The chemistry between us makes serving him a pleasure. Sure, he hires other girls in the district from time to time. Then again, I sometimes try a new ice cream flavor before indulging in Rocky Road for my standard Saturday night treat.
"No. I mean, yes. I'm satisfied. More than."
I massage Rick's scalp until he rewards me with his content relaxation. Before I can gloat to myself, he shakes his head, caressing me with his thick mane. When he tilts his face to meet my curious stare, his nostrils flare in response to the scent of the arousal he's inspired.
He laughs. "I can't think straight when I'm near you. What I meant is, I didn't come here for this."
"You didn't?" What else would he seek from me? I'm providing his essentials.
Rapture.
Friendship.
Intimacy without responsibility.
"Not tonight." He levers upright, granting me the opportunity to admire his toned torso as he rests his shoulders on the wall beside me.
A far cry from baby's-butt smooth or steroid-strong. A natural ideal. Nice.
"Star, I have a proposition."
December 20, 2010
Wishing Star
Jambrea Jo Jones is ringing in this holiday with style in this new book from Total E-bound.
Wishing on a Star might just bring you love.
Patric Mitchell wanted true love.
On Christmas Eve he wished on a star to find that special someone. If that someone happened to be his neighbour, Gabriel Vega he'd be even happier.
When his wish might come true will he take the chance at happiness?
December 18, 2010
Saturday Snippet
Oooo…today's theme is my favorite–Romance. I knew immediately which scene I wanted to feature. It's a little scene from Friday I'm in Love. In the story, Ewan is teaching Natalie seven lessons–one a day to help her improve her life. In this chapter of the book, he's teaching her about romance.
"Tonight's lesson," she whispered. "It's romance?"
"It does exist, Nat. And if any woman ever deserved to be romanced, it's you."
She swallowed against the lump his words had provoked. He was wooing her, romancing her. Giving her the most precious moment of her life.
"Ewan," she said, but the rest of her words failed. Nothing she could say would tell him what this moment meant to her.
"Are you sure you want this, Nat? Sure you want me?"
"You know I do."
He gave her a crooked grin. "Then I'm yours. Come here."
She walked into his arms as if she were returning home after years away. There was no question in her mind that in this moment in time, she was exactly where she wanted to be.
He kissed her softly and when she tried to deepen the embrace, he pulled away with a sexy grin. He walked over to the table by the window and pressed play on a CD player she hadn't noticed. She gave him a quizzical look.
"I came over this afternoon to pick up the key, drop off a few things." He reached out for her hand as a slow song began to play. "Dance with me, Nat."
She bit her lips to stop the slight quiver his sensual gaze provoked. She took his hand, let him pull her close, let the music take over as they gently swayed and turned. She rested her head against his chest, felt the strong, steady beat beneath her cheek as he placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.
She'd never danced with anyone like this, though she'd photographed it, captured this moment a million times in the past. Always the observer, never the dancer. "I like this song. What is it?"
"Falling Slowly. It's from a movie I saw once."
"It's nice."
They didn't say anything else as the song continued, simply held each other and moved. As the music drifted away into another song, Ewan grasped her head in his hands, smiled as he bent down to steal the perfect kiss. His lips rubbed lightly against hers, enticing her to open her mouth. She sucked in a deep breath of his air, reaching out to taste him as well. Their tongues met, touched, played. If there was ever a moment in her life she'd want to freeze, this was it. She wanted to stop time, wrap up the occasion in tissue paper and tuck it in her pocket, so she could always pull it out and come right back here.
He kissed her cheek before turning her away from him. He draped her hair over her shoulder so he could lower the zipper on her dress. Then he slid the silky cloth over her shoulders and she kicked it off when it hit her ankles.
"Oh damn," he whispered, and she didn't bother to hold back her wicked smile.
She looked at him over her shoulder. "Like what you see?"
His gaze was locked on her back. No, she thought, definitely lower, as he studied her garter, her stockings, the bare skin her thong didn't even begin to cover.
"You take my breath away, Nat."
Friday I'm in Love is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance Ebooks, and Sony.
Let these authors romance you as well…
December 14, 2010
What She Craves
Anne Rainey is back with another book in the Cape May series. It releases at Samhain today. If you haven't caught this red-hot series, it's not too late! Check it out!
Unwrapping these gifts could get a girl in a world of trouble.
Cape May, Book 2
Tory Jeffries likes things simple. A modest home, a web design business, easygoing men. Except there's never one around when she needs one—and she needs a date for the event of the year, her friend Con Walker's annual Christmas party. Not that she couldn't go alone, but spending the evening as a third wheel doesn't appeal.
When her old friend Devon Mason turns up dateless as well, she anticipates a fun evening with her flirty, bad-boy buddy. Then Devon and Con offer her a Christmas treat that her inner slut begs her not to refuse. A night with both delicious, muscular men. In Con's bed. Naked.
After growing up together with an up-close-and-personal view of life's ugly side, it doesn't surprise Devon and Con that they've fallen for the same woman. They've watched her date men who aren't nearly good enough for her, and now it's time to show the fiery blonde just how perfectly she fits in their sinful fantasy sandwich. When they take their first long, slow taste, something extraordinary happens. They fall in love.
Now all they have to do is convince their suddenly skittish princess that fairy tales can come true…
Warning: This book contains one sassy heroine getting two tasty alpha heroes for Christmas. Expect some crazy hot m/f/m sex and a Christmas Eve party that'll blow your stockings clean off.
December 11, 2010
Saturday Snippet
This week's theme is Vacation…All I Ever Wanted. Friday I'm in Love begins with my heroine falling into a bit of a depression. She decides to get out of town and ends up staying with some friends. Little does she know Ewan Collins has plans for her seven-day vacation that are going to heat up her bed and change her life.
"Okay, I give. What the hell is up with you?"
Natalie looked up and found Ewan Collins standing beside her table. "Was there a two-for-one deal on that line somewhere and I missed it? I'm gonna tell you what I just told Sky. Nothing's wrong with me. Now get lost."
He smiled and ignored her request, claiming the seat Sky had vacated. She steadfastly ignored the heat suddenly permeating her skin at his proximity. It was always the same any time he was within five feet of her. Her body went into serious overdrive. She resisted the urge to fan herself and blamed it on a hot flash. Early onset menopause. Sure. That could be it.
"You've been moping around all day. It's a party, and you've done nothing but sit and nurse the same glass of wine. So I'll repeat my question. What the hell is up with you?"
Natalie scowled. Ewan had been a thorn in her side since the night they'd met—the night of Sky's final concert with his previous group, The Universe. Though they'd spent less than a month's worth of days together in the past three years, she typically spent weeks thinking about him and their conversations after each visit. His pursuit of her had been relentless, but she had to give him points for persistence.
"You know," she said, deciding evasion was her best bet. "I just don't get you."
He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. "That's because I'm an enigma. Even my own family doesn't know what to make of me."
She ignored his jest. "I'm fairly certain I've made my feelings for you clear. Have I not?" She had him age-wise by nearly a decade and to say she was typically a total bitch whenever they were together was probably putting it lightly.
Ewan nodded. "If you mean telling me get lost, go fuck myself and you are the most annoying man I've ever met, then yes, I think all of that was pretty straightforward."
"And yet here you sit." She gestured at him, letting her irritation show.
"That's because I know you don't mean any of that."
She raised one eyebrow. "I don't?"
He shook his head. "Your words say go away, but your eyes say come closer." He punctuated that inane comment by leaning toward her. She tried to force her body to move away or, at the very least, shove his ass out of the booth, but found herself trying to covertly sneak a sniff of his scent. She wasn't sure what it was about his smell that attracted her so. She could detect the slight odor of the beer he'd been drinking on his breath. And damn, if she didn't feel her mouth watering for a taste.
"This is insane," she muttered to herself, surprised when his grin grew.
"Nope. It's chemistry."
"I'm too old for you." It was her standard fallback line. The one she'd used time after time to push him away.
He rested his forehead against hers intimately and again she wondered why she never tore into him for his inappropriate familiarity. They didn't know each other well enough for him to crowd her personal space like this, and yet, she never resisted when he grabbed her hand to hold, never shrugged him off when he wrapped a friendly arm around her shoulder.
"I'm twenty-six to your thirty-four. Eight years, Nat. That's all. That excuse is lame. Why don't you try to find a new one?"
"How about I'm not interested?"
He smiled. "Well, now you're just lying."
She scowled and moved her face away from his, frustration growing in her chest. "It is taking every ounce of strength in my body not to throw you through a wall right now."
He laughed and put his arm against the back of the booth, caging her in. "Oh babydoll. I'd love to see that."
She knew her threat was empty. While she was nearly five foot nine, the top of her head barely cleared his shoulders when they were standing. Unlike his brothers—who were built like goliath football players, Ewan was lankier, his build reminding her more of a basketball player. A basketball player with rock-hard abs and muscular arms that could hold a woman against a wall and—
She closed her eyes and forced the naughty fantasy away. Damn man was starring in more of her wet dreams lately than Gerard Butler. She cleared her throat and gave him a narrow-eyed scowl. "Babydoll is a sexist term and I find it highly offensive."
"No you don't."
She clenched her fists and fought the urge to strike him. "Stop telling me what I think!"
"You finished dodging the subject at hand?"
She threw in the towel. She didn't have the energy for this. "I'm just tired." Her answer was weak, but it wasn't entirely untrue. She was averaging five hours of restless sleep a night, if she was lucky.
"Why are you tired?"
She closed her eyes and prayed for patience. This was how conversations with Ewan went. He asked a question, she answered, and then he asked more.
"I was reading a really sexy book last night and spent half the night masturbating with my vibrator. All those amazing orgasms can really take it out of you, you know?" She hoped her smartass comment would embarrass him, shut him up.
She should have known better.
"Shit, Nat. I wish you would have waited. I'm going to be downstairs from you tonight. I can fuck you a helluva lot better than a lousy piece of plastic."
She'd been given Tristan's old room on the third floor to sleep in while she was staying with the family, but sleep didn't seem to be something she was going to be doing much of, especially not after the sexy seed Ewan had just planted.
"In your dreams, kiddo. I don't play with children," she said, although she wasn't all that concerned that he was younger.
For one thing, he didn't act young, but she supposed that was because he'd been responsible—along with his sister, Keira—for running the restaurant side of his family's business since graduating from college. Teagan raved about his management abilities and smooth administration. The fun, sexually explicit banter he engaged in with Natalie seemed to be the exception, rather than the norm, and she got the feeling the rest of his family saw him as serious, responsible, staid.
"Thought you weren't gonna play the age card again?"
"Old habits die hard."
"You're quiet today, distant. Why do I get the feeling it's more than fatigue?"
"I would think you'd be glad I'm quiet. I mean, it's not as if there's ever been any love lost between us. You and I are like—"
He looked so genuinely shocked she stopped midsentence, the words oil and water dying on her tongue.
"No love lost? I'm crazy about you, Nat. You must know that?"
She laughed. "You really are going to have to give up this schoolboy crush. I've been nothing but a bitch to you since day one."
He grasped her hand and she looked at him in surprise. "I haven't been a boy in a long time, babydoll. And I'm more than man enough to deal with you and your so-called bitchiness."
She wished her body hadn't heard those words. The second he uttered more than man enough, her nipples went on red alert and she was a bit worried about the sudden dampness in her panties. She tried to tug her hand out of his grip, but he refused to relinquish it. "Listen, hotshot—"
"Save it, Nat. Why are you depressed?"
She panicked at his words. "I'm not depressed. I don't get depressed. Ever." Her words came out far too loud and she watched him study her face intently. She bit her lower lip, realizing Ewan Collins was far too observant when it came to her. He was also cutting too close to the core. Honesty seemed her best bet. "I'm thirty-four years old and I have fuck-all to show for my life."
Ewan frowned. "That's not true. You own and operate an incredibly successful photography studio in Palm Springs. You're one of the most talented photographers I've ever met. Your pictures are beautiful."
She was taken aback by his praise, surprised he'd seen enough of her work to judge. "How do you know that?"
"I check out your website on occasion, plus Teagan is always emailing us pictures you've taken of her and Sky. You have an amazing eye."
"Yeah, that's me. The queen of composition, lighting, shading. Sometimes I feel like I've spent my entire life behind the lens of a camera."
Ewan lightly caressed the skin on the back of her neck and she marveled at how comforting the simple gesture was. "You sound like you're questioning your career choice."
"Do I?" she asked. "That's not my intention. I love my job. But sometimes I feel like that's all there is to me. I'm defined by a freaking camera."
"That's not true. I know Sky and Teagan consider you their friend, not their photographer."
"I know that. It's just…" She paused, trying to find a way to express the dark thoughts that had been plaguing her since her birthday. "It's just…I'm never in any of the pictures."
His eyebrows creased and she knew he was confused by her comment. She tried to clarify. "I'm not really sure what I have to show for my life. Hell, I'm not sure I've lived a life. I stand on the sidelines of every event, snapping picture after picture of other people living, celebrating, doing something. God, doing anything." Her voice betrayed her frustration and she took a breath, tried to calm down when she noticed Tris Collins glance up at her from the bar.
Ewan rubbed her hand, his other arm still draped around her, and she felt wholly surrounded by his presence. "What did you hope to have achieved by now that you haven't?"
His question caught her off-guard. She'd spent months commiserating over her lost youth, never once thinking about what it was she was grieving. And with one simple question, Ewan had thrown her for a loop…again. "Well, I don't know exactly. I've been to hundreds of weddings, birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, anniversaries. I've seen thousands of people celebrating events with loved ones. I've never done anything worth celebrating and even if I did, I wouldn't have anybody to commemorate it with. I know this may come as a surprise to you, but I don't generally have one of those personalities people flock to."
"Prickly?" he asked, though she knew his comment wasn't a question.
"No, not prickly. Strong-willed, self-assured, independent." She struggled to find those three words.
"Opinionated, arrogant, bitchy. Got it."
She opened her mouth to lambaste him and then closed it again. He was right. There was no debating the truth.
"Damn," he muttered. "You are down and out. No snappy comeback, Nat?"
She shook her head.
"I sort of got the impression you were happy on your own. You always say people are an annoyance you don't have time for."
She looked around the room briefly, wondering how she always got into these conversations with Ewan. He always made her say too much, tell too many secrets she never intended to reveal. "That's true. I guess maybe sometimes I think it might be nice to have a friend. Someone normal and not obnoxious. Someone who doesn't get their feelings easily hurt when I tell them they suck."
He laughed and she realized her requirements for a friend did sound pretty pathetic. "Isn't that Sky?" he asked.
"It was—I mean, is. It's just, he's got Teagan now and, well…things are different."
Ewan smiled and she felt a flash of anger spark. Here she was unloading all her misery, confessing things she'd never told another living soul, and he was giving her that stupid, annoying, lopsided grin.
She scowled. "Glad you find this all so funny. Get away from my table."
He moved closer and she fought to hold on to her annoyance. God, men as handsome as Ewan Collins should be illegal.
"I'm not laughing at you, babydoll. I'm just glad your problem is so easily solved."
She looked at him, confused. She'd spent months feeling sorry for herself, trying to find a way out of her funk, and nothing had presented itself. Even leaving town for a change of scenery, a change of company hadn't helped.
She studied Ewan's confident face and realized that if anyone could solve her problem, it was probably him. Why she felt that way, she couldn't say. There was simply something deep inside her that said trust him.
"Show me the way." Her request was softly spoken, but Ewan heard it.
"How long are you staying here?" he asked.
"A week." It was Saturday afternoon and she had a flight booked to return to Palm Springs early in the morning the following Saturday.
Ewan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Seven days. It's a little tight, but we can manage."
"Manage what?"
"I'm going to teach you a lesson a day. Seven lessons you can live by so you never feel this way again. You, Natalie Miller, are about to get a life."
Friday I'm in Love is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance Ebooks, and Sony.
Why don't you take a vacation with these authors as well?
December 10, 2010
Countdown to Christmas story
For the next couple of weeks, the International Heat authors have decided to write a Countdown to Christmas story. Each day one of us will add the next installment.
Then, on December 23, we hand the reins over to you. We're asking the readers to create The End to our story. On Dec. 30, the IHers will choose the best ending and that reader will win the grand prize. What's the grand prize? A ton of ebooks from us!
You can find the story here. It started yesterday with Rhian Cahill and today Lexxie Couper adds to the fun.
