Mary E. Thompson's Blog, page 39

Green Beer and Red Wine (Mar 30)

Mac didn’t think he could ever say anything right around her. She flipped faster than a pancake.

But he couldn’t let her go, again, thinking he didn’t enjoy their kiss.

She jumped in her car and started backing out before his head cleared from kissing her. Forcing his feet to move, he ran to his car and hauled ass out of the lot to follow her. She was up ahead of him, a ways ahead, but he darted in and out of traffic to keep her car in his sights. When she turned off the main road into a neighborhood, Mac slowed down but stayed close.

He followed from a bit of a distance but not so far that he didn’t see her pull into a driveway and drive right into the garage, then close the door behind her.

Mac turned around at the end of the street and parked in the street in front of her house. Another car was in the driveway and he half wondered if she had a date, or a boyfriend. But she wouldn’t have kissed him if she did.

Mac took a deep breath and pushed out of his car. He rang her bell and waited. He heard voices inside before the door swung open, revealing a woman who looked similar enough to Christine for him to believe they were related, but older, making him assume she was Christine’s mother.

“May I help you?” she asked politely, clearly unaware of who he was. A noise came from behind her and she bent to scoop up Angela, Christine’s daughter.

“Um, I’m a friend of Christine’s. We, uh, we work together.”

“Oh, well, I’m Phyllis. Her mom. This is Angela, her daughter. Why don’t you come in out of the rain. We’re about to have dinner. Will you join us?”

“Oh, I’m not-”

“Mom, who’s at the door?” Christine said, coming down the stairs. She’d changed from her heels and tight skirt into a pair of shorts that were impossibly short and a t-shirt that hung off her shoulder, revealing that she wore nothing beneath.

Mac wasn’t sure he’d ever breathe again.

Christine stopped on the bottom step when she noticed him in her home. “What are you doing here?”

Phyllis looked between the two of them and raised an eyebrow at her daughter. Mac watched the exchange, noting Christine’s subtle shake of her head. “We’ll go check on dinner,” Phyllis said, carrying Angela away from where the two stood, staring at each other.

“What are you doing here?” Christine asked again. “How did you know where I lived?”

Mac could answer the second question easier than the first, even though he knew she wouldn’t like the answer. “I followed you. I didn’t want you to think… well, exactly what you thought. I’m sorry. God, I wanted to kiss you. And I didn’t want to stop. But I meant what I said before. I would have given up the job if it meant I could have a chance with you. That hasn’t changed. It’s not going to change. I’ll quit tonight, right now, if it will prove to you that I want you more than I want to work for you. It’s your choice, Christine. Tell me now. Is there any way you feel the same?”

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Husky & Hot, first kiss

Husky & Hot is just a week away! I know you’ve been dying to read Drew’s story, and I know Carrie is the perfect one for him. Of course, it’s not simple, especially since they’re strangers when they meet. Not that it stops them!

Excerpt from Husky & Hot

I finally met his eyes and offered a barely perceptible shrug that he interpreted as agreement. I didn’t argue as he gently guided me away from the crowd and down a deserted hallway. He directed me into an office and locked the door as he pressed me against it.

His mouth came down over mine as his hands closed over my ass cheeks. Definitely an ass man. He dragged me tight against him, his erection already raging between us. His kiss was insistent, his tongue wasting no time before plunging into my mouth. I fought him for control but gave up when he nipped my lip. Yeah, I liked that, too.

My heart rate climbed with every nip and suck. His lips drifted from mine and trailed down my neck, nibbling my skin until he reached the edge of my shirt. His hands left my ass to slide under my skirt and where he cupped my bare cheeks, teasing the edge of my thong, and groaned.

“Jesus, you’re hot,” he mumbled against my neck.

He spun us around and backed me up to the large dark wood desk that dominated the room. I hoped it wasn’t Xander’s office for about a second, then he kissed me again and I didn’t care. My head spun just from the way he kissed, the feel of his thick tongue inside my mouth. I wondered what else he had that was thick.

Preorder now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, or Smashwords!

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Green Beer and Red Wine (Mar 28)

Christine tried to absorb what he was saying. He would rather have her than his job. Could he be telling the truth?

“Are you serious?”

He held her gaze and nodded, just once.

“Why didn’t you ever call me?”

He shrugged. “Why didn’t you call me?”

Christine looked at the cashier, who’d stopped scanning items to shamelessly eavesdrop on their conversation. “Um, maybe we should continue this somewhere else.”

Mac tilted his head then looked at the cashier. “Oh, uh, yeah.” He flashed a smile on the panty-melting variety at her, making Christine more jealous than she had any right to be. He chatted with the cashier while they both checked out. When Christine was finished Mac walked by her side to her car.

“Can I help you with your groceries?” he asked cheekily.

“It’s been a long time since then.”

Mac nodded. “I meant what I said, Christine. If I’d realized taking the job meant losing a chance with you I wouldn’t have taken the job.”

“Why? You said you like it.”

“I do. But there are other jobs. I don’t think there’s another you.”

Christine shook her head. “I think you’re fooling yourself. I’m nothing special.”

Mac grinned at her, sidling closer to her until her slid his arm around her back. She looked up at him as he lowered his lips to hers. “That’s where you’re wrong, Christine. You are special.”

He claimed her mouth with his last words. His lips gently brushed over hers, a quick tasting before he went back for more. He sampled her lips, trying her out the way she tested a glass of red wine. She tasted him right back, not caring that they were getting rained on or that cars were driving past and watching them.

Mac pulled her closer and teased her lips with his tongue. She opened to him and sighed into his kiss. Christine pressed her body against his, enjoying the feel of him. He growled and deepened their kiss, bringing his hand up to spear her hair. He tilted her head and pressed her against the side of her car, leaning his body into her.

Christine searched his mouth, dipping her tongue into his cheek, brushing against his tongue, and running her tongue along his teeth. Her temperature heated up with each stroke of her tongue against his until he broke their kiss and drug his lips down her throat. He nipped at her collarbones and rotated his hips against her.

“Jesus,” Mac said, stepping back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. You’re my boss. And I should respect you more than to be pawing at you in a parking lot.”

“Please don’t act like this is wrong just because you work for me. I’m so sick of being treated like I’m not good enough because I’m the boss. You’re no better than all those guys you were telling the cashier about. Except you kissed me. Maybe that means you’re just looking for a story to tell them. You’re right. We shouldn’t have done this. I need to go.”

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Green Beer and Red Wine (Mar 27)

Mac kicked himself for saying something to her. He should have just turned and left when he realized who she was. He saw the beautiful woman looking around as though she was lost and wanted to help. The gentle sway of her hips and the curve of her figure had only a little to do with it.

Then he had to go and insult his boss. No, not his boss. His boss’s boss. The one person who controlled everything. The CEO. He was such an idiot.

He had to go after her and explain, but what could he say? That the other guys he worked with talked about how she was a cold fish and she barely gave anyone the time of day. How she barely even looked at them, let alone had ever been out with any of them. They’d all been shocked when she ended up pregnant, wondering who would ever sleep with her. He kept her confidence, not revealing her daughter’s father’s identity, but he knew some of the things they’d said sunk in.

If it hadn’t he wouldn’t have been so cruel to her. She didn’t deserve it. Just because she’d ignored him since he became her employee didn’t mean she should be treated like shit.

It didn’t mean he should be either though.

Mac finished his shopping and decided he’d send her an email or something next week and apologize for his behavior. Assuming he had a job that long. But for the night, he would just avoid her.

He filed into line and loaded his groceries on the belt. When someone stepped up behind him he didn’t turn to look, just moved his cart forward when it was his turn to check out. He talked to the cashier, a woman he’d gone out with a few times when he worked at the store. She asked about his new job and he told her how much he was enjoying himself, even complimented the CEO on her forward thinking and new ideas.

Then he heard her snort of disbelief.

He spun and saw Christine watching him, absorbing his every word. And obviously not believing him.

He kept his eyes locked on hers as he continued his conversation. “The CEO is an amazing woman. I met her before I started working there but had no idea who she was. It’s hard to believe someone who has so much on her plate had time to date, but I was one of the lucky ones from what I hear. She doesn’t date much, but she’s stunning and smart and kind and a great mother and a very good boss.”

“I’m not your boss.”

He ignored her and kept talking. “I believed some of the stupid shit I heard about her at work, some stupid guys who believed she wasn’t the warm and loving person she is. Guys who were probably jealous that she’d never looked their way twice. I was the dumbest one of them all though. I had her and instead of holding on to her, I jumped for the job. I love the work, but I’d give it up any day for another chance with her.”

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Green Beer and Red Wine (Mar 26)

A month later Christine was still chastising herself. She could have had something good with Mac, but instead she had to put her company first. That was what made her a great CEO, and a shitty girlfriend.

Mac was doing well though. He’d taken their design department by storm and she frequently got emails thanking the department manager for bringing him on. She knew it was for the best, but she also went out of her way to avoid him. The boss couldn’t be tempted by one of her employees.

Late Friday Christine was ready to go. It’d been a long week, a good week, but still long. Her mom was bringing Angela home later so Christine could stop by the grocery store and have a little while to relax before turning into mommy. She loved the title, just like she loved her CEO title, but she was itching to have another one added. One that started with girl and ended with friend, but was anything but friendly.

Being CEO made it hard to date. She saw it as soon as she offered Mac a job. His opinion of her changed once he realized she would be his boss, and she was the CEO of her own company. She was no longer a woman, but someone to fear.

Or someone to manipulate.

Pushing aside thoughts of her failed relationships, Christine packed up her stuff for the weekend and left the office. She drove straight to the grocery store, ready to face the crowds. She parked at the back of the lot, cursing her heels and the long walk in the rain to get inside the store.

Christine worked her way through the other shoppers for almost an hour. She was ready to get home and out of her heels, but she had to find the cooking wine. She was planning a nice dinner with her mom the next night to thank her for helping so much with Angela. If only she could find the Marsala wine.

“Dammit,” she cursed under her breath, going down the same aisle again, knowing she wasn’t going to find what she was looking for.

“Do you need help?” a voice asked from behind her.

Christine ignored him and shook her head. She hated asking for help. It was her biggest weakness. Even though she was slowly losing her mind, and the melting ice cream in her cart. She huffed and accepted defeat, spinning around to face whoever was willing to help her.

“Mac.”

He looked up at her, startled, and a sad smile covered his face. “Hey. Sorry, I didn’t realize that was you. I, uh, I used to work here. Still know my way around pretty easily.”

She smiled at him and nodded slightly, wondering why it had to be so awkward between them. “It’s fine. I just can’t find the cooking wine. I’ll ask someone else.”

“Are you ashamed you went out with one of your underlings?”

“Excuse me?” she blurted. “I think that’s the most insulting thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

He had the decency to look sheepish. He opened his mouth to say something, but she brushed past him, not sticking around to hear whatever shit he could come up with.

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Tina Gayle’s #EggcerptExchange and #99cent sale on Marketing Exec’s Widow

Tina Gayle is here today for our final Eggcerpt Exchange. Please say hi and welcome her!
Tina Gayle is the author of heartwarming romance novels for romance readers.
Marketing Exec’s Widow

Tina Gayle
Four women…

One fatal car wreck…

Everyone’s lives changed…

Letting go and rebuilding a life comes at a price.

Having come to terms with losing her husband, Jennifer is ready to move on with her life, but she faces opposition from her friends, in-laws, and brother-in-law, who see himself as her future husband. None of them know of Jen’s marital problems and she is afraid of their reaction when they learn she has a date for Friday night?

Hagan Chaney is not anything like Craig. He tempts Jen into the future but is she willing to give love another chance after the heartache she faced the 1st time around?

Excerpt from Marketing Exec’s Widow

“God, you must think I’m awful.”

“Not even in the ballpark as to what I think about you. Because I know you would never have said yes to a night out with me if you’d been happy in your marriage.”

His words hit her like a fist to the face and her head snapped backward, striking the wooden partition between the booths. Wow, how could he have guessed the truth when so many people who knew her hadn’t?

She closed her eyes and searched for an answer. For so long, she’d kept her emotions bottled inside, not allowing anyone to see the loneliness or heartache her unhappy marriage had caused. What now? Lie, or admit the truth?

The vinyl cushion squeaked, and a hand touched her shoulder, pulling her from her stupor. Hagan slipped in beside her, his thigh bumped hers and his arm slid along the back of the seat. In the space of a few seconds, his large athletic body blocked her escape from the confining booth.

Nerves pulsed in an agitated rhythm. She couldn’t sit still, and opened her mouth to tell him to back off, but the thin lines of concern marring his brow killed the comment.

“Hey, there’s no reason to get upset.” He cupped a hand over her shoulder and drew her close. “I’m happy you said yes.”

Jolted by his sudden nearness, she exhaled, and then fought to draw air back into her lungs. His crisp, masculine scent acted like a seductive lure, and she had to fight the urge to bury her nose in the curve of his neck.

Read the 1st chapter of any of Tina’s books at www.tinagayle.net.

Order from Amazon now!
Get to know Jen…

Job: Realtor

Significant Other: Craig, but he was killed in a car wreck

Most important goal: to be independent

Worst fear: Spending my life alone

What would you do if you won the lottery? I won the lottery when Craig died. I now have more money than I’ll ever need but sadly it hasn’t made me any happier.

Meet Tina

Tina Gayle loves writing and is currently working on finishing her Family Tree series, a contemporary paranormal suspense series.

When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling around the country. She hasn’t hit every state, but she hopes to someday. You might also catch her on the golf course with her husband of 30 years.

Also, you can read the first chapter of any of her books by visiting her website or download an exclusive story “My Future Step Brother” and join her special friend’s list. All on her website www.tinagayle.net!

Connect with Tina on her website, her blog, Twitter, Goodreads, or Facebook.

Thanks for tagging along with the Eggcerpt Exchange! Don’t forget to check out all the authors on the exchange on social media. You might find your next favorite author!

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Green Beer and Red Wine (Mar 24)

Mac heard the vehemence in her voice and it startled him. He rarely heard anyone display that much anger, and it made him curious about what happened between them. 

“I take it you’re not on the best of terms with him?” 

Christine chugged her glass of wine and glared at him. “That bastard went out with me to try to get information about my company. He played me and when I ended up pregnant the bastard accused me of sleeping around, said he couldn’t be Angela’s father.” 

“Didn’t you do a paternity test?” 

Christine shook her head. “He wasn’t worth my time. If he wanted to believe she isn’t his then I’m fine with that. He doesn’t deserve to know her.” 

Mac admired her for her strength. She’d fought someone he knew first hand to be a royal pain in the ass and she’d come out on top. Sure, she was alone, but Mac knew she was better off for it. “He doesn’t deserve you.” 

She eyed him closely. “He doesn’t deserve you either. Are you happy with what you’re doing now?” 

Mac studied her for a minute then shook his head. “No. Honestly I’m not. I loved that world, but I’m not going back there.” 

“What about coming to work for me? We do basically the same thing, and I could use someone like you. Someone with values and morals.” 

Mac shook his head, confused by what she was offering him. “You don’t even know me.” 

Christine smiled at him. “Anyone willing to walk away from a job at HEO because you know it’s not a good place is someone I can trust, and someone I want to know. What do you say? Wanna give it a shot?” 

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Green Beer and Red Wine (Mar 23)

Christine wasn’t sure what came over her when she challenged him, but she knew he wouldn’t take her up on it. He looked haunted when she suggested it, as though she would hate him if he actually went through with it.

“No,” Mac said adamantly. “I’m not going to do that.”

“Relax, I was kidding. I barely drink since I had my daughter. Challenging anyone to a drinking contest would either lead to my hospitalization or my doing something I would regret. Likely after about two drinks.”

Mac laughed softly, relief evident on his face. Christine hated that she worried him, but she wanted him to loosen up. He was so serious, so tense.

“So, besides drinking people under the table, what do you like to do for fun?”

Mac spared her a glance, likely checking to see if she was still teasing him, before he answered. “I don’t have a whole lot of free time. I work a few different jobs to make ends meet.”

“Why don’t you go back to your old job?”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t. I wouldn’t feel right.”

“What about a new one?” Christine asked, putting her CEO hat on. She wanted to rescue the guy. Someone who was so sweet to her. Someone who should have been doing more than working at a party supply store. She wanted to help him.

“I don’t know if I’m cut out for the corporate world again. It’s so hard to break in there anyway, but I just don’t know if it’s for me. The last CEO I worked for was a complete asshole. I don’t think I’m willing to take the chance again.”

“Where did you work before?” Christine was even more curious once he said that. How could someone be so horrible that you wouldn’t want to ever go back to the company?

Better yet… did she have any employees who felt that way about her?

“It’s a small company. Design engineering firm. You’ve probably never heard of it. It’s called HEO Enterprises.”

Christine didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. She did neither, just confessed, “HEO Enterprises is my biggest competitor. And they’re run by the biggest asshole in the city. My daughter’s biological father.”

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Fluffy & Fabulous Cover Reveal

I loved Charlie the moment Mandy met her way back in Chubby & Charming. I knew her story was going to be a fun one to write. Charlie was such a good friend, but she never had any luck in love. Finding the right guy for her was quite a task, but I think you’ll love Max!

Charlie, owner of thriving bakery, Bite Me!, is thrown for a loop when her home and business are knocked out from under her. With the new owner of her building not willing to renew leases, Charlie has to find a new place for Bite Me! and a new place to live. Crashing with a friend isn’t an option since all her friends are hopelessly in love, so Charlie is on her own.

When Max shows up at her bakery door in the early morning hours, Charlie wants to ignore the knock on the door. After all, she wasn’t open and had no idea who the guy on the other side of the glass was. But she takes a chance and lets Max in, giving him a cup of coffee and muffins that she knows will make him come back for more.

Charlie, ever the romantic, daydreams about when Max will return, how he’ll declare his love for her and they’ll fall madly in love. But things never work out the way we hope they will.

Follow Charlie as she finally gets her own happily ever after, if she can navigate the twists and turns of relocation, competition, and love all at the same time.

Excerpt from Fluffy & Fabulous

He disappeared through the front door and I wondered what the hell had happened. Lost in my confusion I didn’t notice Riley and Mandy watching me until Riley exclaimed, “Holy shit, he’s so into you!”

“Who? Max? No. He’s just a nice guy. He started coming in last week.”

Riley and Mandy exchanged looks, looks that told me they thought I was being dense again.

“If he was any hotter for you he would have left a fire trail,” Mandy added.

“You guys are so full of it. Guys don’t look at me like that. He just likes my cupcakes.”

“Yeah he does,” Riley laughed. Mandy joined in her laughter at my expense and I just rolled my eyes at them. I wiped down the spotless counter to give me something to do. Yeah, I hoped they were right, Max was hot with a capital H, but he was way out of my league. I wanted to read into his continued appreciation of my baking, but I just couldn’t. Guys like him didn’t like women like me.

Well, except the guys who liked my friends.

I pushed aside my friends’ insistence and focused on what I needed to get done the rest of the day. Or at least I tried. My mind kept drifting through scenes of Max, pinning me against the display case, leaning into me to kiss me, feeling his hands on my body.

Nope. That wouldn’t happen. His beautiful hands wouldn’t go over my lumpy business. They’d never come any closer than the brief touches we exchanged when I handed over his chocolate chip muffins, cupcake, coffee, and change each morning.

Connor came back to Riley’s side as his friend walked out the front door. He leaned down and planted a kiss square on her lips. He lingered just a little longer than most men would, making sure she knew he only had eyes for her. Disappointment and jealousy ripped through me, emotions I hated feeling, especially toward one of my best friends.

“Connor, settle a bet for us. Riley and I think that guy who just left had the hots for Charlie but she said we’re nuts. What do you think?” Mandy asked. Her pregnant belly stretched out to the counter in front of her, as plump and perfect as one of my cupcakes.

“What guy?” Connor asked, looking toward the front door of my shop. Triumph and disappointment coursed through me for a second. Then Connor said, “Oh, you mean the guy who left his cock in her back pocket? Yeah, I’m pretty sure snowplow man has the hots for you Charles.”

I stuck my tongue out at him. I hated being wrong, but more than that I hated that my friends had just changed my relationship with Max. We’d had an easy, fun thing going on. There wasn’t ever any pressure, but all of a sudden I couldn’t breathe thinking about what I would say to him the next morning. Shit, why did they do that to me?

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Green Beer and Red Wine (Mar 21)

Mac knew he was busted by the smirk on her lips. He didn’t want to share anymore with her, but he found himself unable to keep his damn mouth shut. What was it about her that made him talk? 

He sighed and opened his mouth to speak when their waiter returned. “How’s the beer?” 

“Horrible, actually. Could I have something else instead? I was thinking a mojito but that’s not very Irish. Maybe an Irish whiskey. Whatever is good.” 

Mac was impressed that she was ordering whiskey. Most women he knew shied away from the stuff, but he admired any woman who could handle it. 

Quirking an eyebrow at him, Mac knew he owed Christine a story. Thankfully he had plenty. He just wasn’t sure which she would want to hear. 

“When I was just out of college I worked for a bank. Started out as a teller but got the attention of one of the managers. I was invited out with a group of them right before St. Patrick’s Day. One of the guys had landed a new account and was celebrating. He said he was going to drink us all under the table.” 

“This is not going to end well,” Christine mumbled. 

I shook my head and continued. “The others took it easy on him, but he goaded me. I didn’t drink much at first but the others started in on me too. Before long I was doing shots and chasing them with beer. By the time it all caught up to me the other guy was beyond drunk. He got a cab home and didn’t make it to work the rest of the week because he was in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. I quit not too long after that.” 

“Why?” Christine asked, apparently baffled why someone would quit a perfectly good job. 

“I hated myself for doing that to him. I knew he couldn’t handle drinking with me, but I did it anyway.”

“I bet I could handle you,” Christine said, a glint in her eye. “We should try it tonight. Break the ice.” 

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