**Caught in the Crosshairs spoilers aheadChapter 1
Summer Hill hit the elevator button for the third time as she huffed. Any other day she would’ve been perfectly fine walking up five flights of stairs, but not today. Finally, she heard the ding of the elevator a second before the doors slid open. She rushed onto the elevator and hit her floor when she heard a deep voice yell, “Hold the elevator!” She barely caught the doors in time to stop them from closing. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the gorgeous man that sexy voice belonged to. Holy cow, was she dreaming? This building was full of old people, not muscled hunks with dreamy eyes. He rushed by her holding a small box labeled books. And he reads? She could only assume her eyes were popping out of their sockets. She must’ve passed out in front of the elevator, and this was her brain's way of coping with the complete exhaustion. “Thanks,” he said, obviously not noticing her current inability to speak. She cleared her throat and nodded back with an awkward smile. Her hands unconsciously messed with her short auburn hair, smoothing the sides while she tried to look casual. She kept looking at him from the corner of her eye. When she realized he hadn’t hit the number for his floor yet, she finally found her voice. “What floor?” she croaked out, barely able to form the words. “I’m on five.” Her floor? How had she not run into him before? “Are you friends with one of the guests? I thought I knew everyone on my floor.” She cleared her throat again and tried to remember what proper conversation etiquette was. It probably didn’t include drooling over the man she was talking to. “No, I’m moving in. This was my last box.” “Well, if you need a cup of sugar, I’m in apartment 511.” She took a breath before she continued to fill the silence, “Helpful tip, steer clear of Mr. Jones or he will try to get you to meet his bird. And if you’re not looking to get hitched, I’d steer clear of Ms. Farmer, or she’ll have you engaged to her granddaughter within the month.” Her eyes widened, and she wondered why she felt compelled to say any of that. She didn’t know him and suddenly she was verbally spewing all over him. Nerves. That was it, just nerves. He laughed, and she saw the full force of his smile. Crap, his megawatt grin really packed a punch. Her knees felt the immediate hit. She wasn’t usually into blonds, but his sandy hair worked for him. It was long enough to run her fingers through, but not shaggy. She bit her lip, wondering what it would feel like to have him against her as she ran her fingers through his hair. “Thanks for the tips. I will keep my distance.” His deep timbre knocked her out of her fantasy. “So, you’re already attached?” Where the hell did that come from? “I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that. I’m just a naturally curious person and sometimes I blurt out questions when I can’t think of anything else to say.” His infectious laugh bounced off the walls of the elevator again, putting her at ease. “Ask me whatever question you want. I’m not scared of talking. My sister is the same way.” She smiled up at him, grateful for his kindness. “And for the record, no. I’m not attached.” He winked at her and she was pretty sure her cheeks turned a dark shade of red. Then the elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. She followed him out of the elevator, but not before catching a glimpse of his perfectly rounded backside. She stepped away and said, “Welcome to the building. If you ever need that cup of sugar, you know where to find me.” “Thanks, uh—” “Summer. Summer Hill. And you are?” she asked, trying really hard not to mess with her hair while she flaunted the flirty tone. “Jason. Jason Evans. And I might just have to take you up on your offer of sugar.” Then he winked at her again before he disappeared down the hallway. She took a moment to appreciate the way his muscles flexed under his tight t-shirt and that magnificent butt. She could bounce a quarter off it. Okay, her mind was taking a weird turn tonight. She couldn’t think straight, and she was exhausted. “Was” being the operative word because that hunk of a man revved her engine up and now, she couldn’t get her mind out of the gutter. She groaned as she opened the door. Replaying the entire ordeal. She felt foolish thinking about her strange conversation. And why, when he said the thing about her offer of sugar, did she feel the heat of his stare? It’s just sugar, not an invitation to her bed. Yet, when he said it, it felt like the latter. *** Jason threw the box onto the couch and plopped down next to it. Devon Sweets, his friend and business partner, walked out of the guest bedroom with his hands on his hips. Jason didn’t want to take this case, but he hadn’t had a choice. Devon wasn’t available for full-time work. Their other friend and business partner, Nate Walker, was off guard duty while his wife was pregnant. And Savannah Weston was still a little green to be doing such a high-profile case. “What took you so long? It’s one box.” Devon walked over and opened the so-called box of books and pulled out surveillance equipment. “I took the stairs down and came back up in the elevator. It was only two minutes longer. You’re just impatient,” Jason said as Devon huffed at him and took the equipment to the guest room. He’d set it up to look like a normal workstation in case someone stumbled into the room. This operation had to stay quiet. It was a stipulation of their contract. She couldn’t know about their true purpose for being in the building. No one could know. “Did you see her yet?” Devon asked. “Yeah. We rode the elevator up together. She’s definitely different than I expected.” He thought he’d be dealing with a spoiled, high-society socialite, but she actually seemed down to earth. And he couldn’t contain the chuckle when she blatantly asked him about his dating life. She could barely spit two words out when he first got in the elevator and then immediately switched over to diving right into his personal life. He thought it was endearing and adorable. Then she ogled him, and he couldn’t stop thinking about how nice it would be to back her up against the wall and give her something to blush about. Her eyes had spent their time undressing him and when she bit her lip, he wished he could try a taste of her full pink lips. Would they taste the way she smelled, of peaches? “Give me a few more minutes and I will be ready to go. Since it’s the weekend, we won’t know for sure if she will leave the apartment. So do you have a plan to get her out of the place tomorrow so I can set up?” He had more than a few ideas, but whether she’d go for them was another story. Then again, if the way she eye-fucked him in the elevator was any indication, he wouldn’t have a problem getting her to agree. “Yeah, I’ve got it covered. I’ll let you know when she’s out so you can do what you do best.” Devon finished up the last of the setup, then took his leave. Once again, Jason was sitting alone in an empty space, trying not to think about how much his life had changed. A year ago, he’d joined a covert group of ghosts which required him to fake his death and take down major security threats within top government agencies. It ended up being a year long assignment. One year of seeing his family from a distance. He had to watch his sister grieve yet another loss as their father continued to lose himself. Jason hated that he couldn’t tell them he was okay. That he was alive. There was no good way to explain why he made the choice he made, but luckily for him, his family understood. They helped him get acclimated back into normal life. Whatever that was. His mind wandered back to his assignment. Summer Hill, hotel heiress who liked to live under the radar. The case he had refused to take. Nate, his other business partner and brother-in-law, talked him into it because this case was high profile and could lead to more business. But Jason had a problem with the semantics of this case. Summer’s father, and owner of a popular hotel chain, hired their security agency to keep her safe and find out who was threatening her life. Jason’s problem, she doesn’t know about the threats or their involvement. He spent far too much time deceiving people, and he hated to do it again, but he also knew how important this contract was to the success of their business. He looked down at her picture and couldn’t take his eyes away. He hadn’t expected someone so normal. Her short auburn hair barely touched the top of her shoulders and her honey-colored eyes seemed to look straight into his soul. She didn’t dress in the latest fashion trend or have a purse that cost more than rent. She flew under the radar. And if anyone knew what that was like, it was Jason. *** Summer was tempted to knock on Jason’s door. Maybe invite him to dinner. Then she realized she didn’t know which apartment was his. Nor did she actually have any dinner to offer him. She’d planned to do her grocery shopping today, but after work she’d been far too exhausted for anything extra. As she ordered a pizza, she stood on her fire escape looking around, enjoying the setting sun as it turned into an orange horizon dipping down. Crest Cove, Washington was her favorite place to be. It was the best of both worlds. Rural small town surrounded by trees but close enough to Seattle to take advantage of the big city amenities. She hung up the phone and took in a few deep breaths, inhaling the cool air and trying to calm her nerves that had hit a new level of hot and bothered in the elevator. That’s when she noticed someone staring at her across the street. He wore a gray hoodie with a black jacket. It was eerie. She couldn’t see his face, but it felt like he was staring directly at her. A breeze had her shivering, and she immediately turned back to her apartment. She hated the reporters and their underhanded skulking. Anything for a picture of her at her worst. Trying to stem the chill that refused to leave, she changed into her sweats. Then she cozied up on the couch and tried to get her mind off the supremely gorgeous man that just moved in. She broke into her chocolate ice cream and waited for her pizza to arrive while she flipped through her newest cooking magazine. She jumped when the loud knock interrupted the quiet of her apartment. Someone must have let the pizza guy in since she hadn’t buzzed him up. Her tummy rumbled as if it knew that delicious pepperoni and cheese were waiting on the other side. Swinging the door open, she came face to face with Jason. Her eyes widened, and she slammed the door shut in his face. Closing her eyes and wincing against the door, she tried to figure out what to do. She pulled the ponytail from her hair and ditched the sweatshirt so she was wearing her tank top and sweatpants. Then she took a deep breath and opened the door again, trying to appear normal. He smiled down at her and she forgot how to be a person. Forgot how to talk. Forgot her own name. “Do you always slam the door on people, or am I just special?” She laughed awkwardly and wanted to smack herself for acting like a complete fool. “Sorry. I was expecting the pizza guy, and you just shocked me when you weren’t him.” Why couldn’t she take her eyes off him? “I kinda figured you ordered pizza.” When she scrunched her brows in confusion, he added, “They delivered it to my apartment by mistake.” It was then that she saw the pizza box in his hands. The intoxicating smell of pizza finally registered in her mind, and her belly rumbled with hunger. “Weird. I’ve been ordering pizzas from that place ever since I moved in. You think they’d know by now where I lived.” “I think the kid delivering was new.” He held the box out for her to grab. “Have a great night.” She watched him turn to leave and before she could stop herself, she said, “You should join me.” He paused and looked back at her over his shoulder. The roguish grin on his face made her feel like that was his plan all along. He brought her pizza, hoping for an invitation, but he couldn’t have known. “I wouldn’t want to intrude on your night.” She figured he was just being polite because he seemed like he wanted to stay. Or was that her lust-riddled mind making her see things that weren’t there? “No intrusion. You just moved in and probably need to eat and there’s plenty for the two of us.” She held the box against her side, waiting for an answer. “Pizza sounds great.” She stepped aside and opened the door wider for him to enter. Suddenly feeling self-conscience, she fussed with grabbing plates and glasses. She hadn’t thought this through. She’d blurted out the invite and didn’t think about him being in her space, seeing her home, or what they would talk about. After grabbing drinks, she went to the living room and placed everything on the coffee table. “I hope water’s okay. It’s all I have at the moment.” He was looking at the artwork on her walls, some of which had come from the kids of families she had helped through her organization. A few pieces were from young kids who could barely draw a circle and other works were simply breathtaking, but she cherished every single one. To make a difference in someone’s life was the greatest gift. She couldn’t put them all up, but she held onto every single one. “Water’s great, thanks. You have a nice place here.” He came over and sat by her on the couch and she wondered what cologne he wore because it was intoxicating. She wanted to lean in and inhale the full force of the scent, but she refrained. “Thanks. If it was up to my dad, I’d be living somewhere else, probably behind tall fences with guard dogs.” She hated that about her dad. Jason laughed. “Protective dad, huh?” he asked. “You could say that. He’s always been a little over the top, but to be fair, he’s in the spotlight a lot, so I can see why he worries.” Her eyes widened. She hadn’t meant for that to slip. If he asked, then she would have to admit her father owned one of the biggest hotel chains. And then he would treat her differently. “My dad used to work for the Department of Homeland Security. He’s not exactly the laid-back type either, so I understand.” She breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t asked her who her father was. He just comforted her and moved on. Could it be this guy was one of the few who didn’t want an in with her father? Or did he already know? Her last boyfriend only dated her because he wanted to run the marketing campaign for her father’s hotels. He was working his way up the ladder and was desperate to make a good impression on his boss. She didn’t know when he asked her out that was the only reason he’d started dating her. If that wasn’t bad enough, she was pretty sure her father’s right-hand man was currently trying to woo her to gain brownie points with her father, too. “So, you mentioned a sister. Is she your only sibling, or do you have others?” She wanted to know more about him. He put her nerves at ease while simultaneously ramping up her libido. There was something about him that differed from the rest, and she was curious to figure him out. “Yeah, Daisy. She’s pregnant and a handful but I’m lucky to have her. She married my best friend Nate in a small private ceremony, so now I have a brother-in-law too. Though I consider my friend Devon to be like a brother as well. When you’re in the military together, you have a family-like bond.” He relaxed back on her couch, and she turned toward him and curled her legs under herself. “Military, huh? So, what do you do for a living now? Still in the service, or have you changed paths?” she asked, leaning her head against the back of the couch. Her knee was leaning against his leg, and she felt the connection buzz through her. “I run a security business with Nate and Devon.” It was the first time he answered a question where he seemed less sure of himself. His voice came out stiffer than before and his muscles tightened under his shirt. It was then that she realized she was badgering him with questions. The very thing she didn’t want him doing to her. “Sorry. I’m naturally nosy. I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable.” He smiled back at her and his hand naturally rested on her knee. She tried not to squirm under his warm touch, that seemed to burn through the thick material of her sweatpants. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable. My past isn’t the rosiest, so it’s hard to think about sometimes. Maybe one day I will entertain you with the many stories I’ve got locked away. But it’s getting late, and I should be going.” He squeezed her leg before he stood to leave. She followed him to the door, fussing with her hair and clothes along the way. As he was walking through the threshold, he paused and turned to her, grabbing the door jamb like she wished he would grab her. “Would you like to grab some ice cream tomorrow afternoon? Or coffee?” This gorgeous man who had seemed overly confident only moments before now seemed like he was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for the inevitable doom of falling. She quickly put him out of his misery and agreed to meet him at the ice cream shop on the corner around one in the afternoon. “Thanks for the pizza.” He smiled down at her and she felt a shiver run through her body. “Thanks for the company.” She leaned toward the door and for a moment, she thought he would lean in for a kiss. He hovered close for a beat before he pulled back. Then he left. As soon as she shut the door, she did a happy dance. She had a date with a nice guy who didn’t know who her father was and still wanted to spend time with her. Make sure to get your preorder in now so you can be one of the first to read Caught with the Heiress September 6th!!!
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Hunter and Casey had one beautiful night together and then she fled his hotel room. He’s tried ever since to get another date with her even though they live two hours apart. He plans these elaborate dates hoping one day she will say yes. With each text she’s more tempted to let go of her fears and inhibitions and just live in the moment. Here is one of those conversations between the two of them. Enjoy!
Are you going to leave me stranded on the rooftop to picnic all alone or have you finally agreed to a date? She rolled her eyes as she read Hunter’s message. The man never gave up. He’d been trying for weeks now to get a date with Casey. Every Friday he detailed a new date idea and every Friday she refused to go out with him. What they had together was only meant to last one night. Yet, she felt compelled to reply. You are relentless. She shook her head. Almost immediately she heard the ding of her phone. That’s not a no. His message had her insides in a knot. She so badly wanted to say yes. What sane woman wouldn’t want dinner under the stars with a good-looking man who was an expert under the sheets and offered to cook for her? Her finger hovered over the ‘y’ key on the verge of saying yes, she’d be there but alas she couldn’t do it. She wanted to agree to a date but at the same time it was the last thing she wanted to do. He was dangerous and looking for commitment and that wasn’t for her. She set her phone down hoping to ignore the problem. Hoping it would go away. After ten minutes passed, she again heard the ding of her phone. She sat in her bakery kitchen staring at the screen wondering if she should even bother to look at his message. Being too damn curious for her own good she picked her phone up off the counter and read the message. See you at seven on the rooftop. There was no way he would actually expect her to be there. They’d been doing this long enough for him to realize she was a lost cause and there was absolutely no chance of her coming to his rooftop for any kind of date. Though this date was tempting. He was tempting. She threw her phone down and ignored his message. She had bread to prepare and cakes to decorate. That same evening… Of all the dates I planned I thought this would be the winner. Have no fear, I’m nothing if not persistent. Hunter’s message came in only minutes after seven so she thought she’d have a little fun with him tonight. It’s only 7:10pm. I could be on my way there. Are you? She had half a mind to ignore the message like before but she didn’t want him to do something stupid like drive all the way to Rocky Falls if she didn’t show up. I’m in my pajamas on the couch eating ice cream…what do you think? It’s a shame because I have filet mignon with roasted potatoes and a cheesecake for dessert. She slammed her ice cream carton down on the coffee table and cursed the watering in her mouth at the mere mention of steak and potatoes. I’m a vegetarian. She smiled at herself for her clever mind. That is until he replied. Sweetheart, I hate to break it to you but I saw you devour a bacon cheeseburger two nights before the wedding…you can’t be a vegetarian if you eat meat. Okay so she wasn’t a vegetarian but she didn’t think the date was a good idea. It’s too cold outside for dinner under the stars. I much prefer my cozy couch with the heated blanket. It took him a little longer to reply this time. She heard the ding of her phone and opened to see what he’d sent her. Pictures? Oh God, what could he be sending pictures of? The first picture was a candlelit dinner on the rooftop with a blazing outdoor fireplace right next to it. The second picture was a view of Lake Washington just before sunset. And the last picture was a selfie of Hunter making a boo-boo face with the cheesecake on the table behind him. She gripped her phone tightly and wished things could be different. Why did he persist? Why did he want to date her? They lived two hours apart, had nothing in common—well, ok, that’s not entirely true but she still lived too far away. And there was the small thing about never wanting a commitment. She didn’t know what to say back to him. She didn’t want to lead him on but isn’t that exactly what she was doing by replying? It started off with her not wanting to be rude and now she was too far in to stop. Before she could reply another ding came in. I can keep you warm. She could almost hear his seductive words through the phone. The heat immediately flared in her face as she remembered how very capable he was of warming her up. He certainly knew his way around pleasure. A lick here, a suck there, and a whole lot of kissing. The man knew how to use his tongue. And his hands. Well, he was capable in ALL areas of using his body to—wait, why was she thinking about this? She looked back at her phone and her fingers hovered over the keys trying to figure out how to respond. Before she could respond he sent another message. Or was that an invitation to snuggle under your heated blanket because I’m down for that too? She threw the blanket off her lap as the temperature in the room rose. She felt her body vibrate with need for him. The phone was gripped in her hand as she paced the living room floor. What was it about this man that had her questioning everything? As she continued to pace the room to release the built-up energy that suddenly hit her, her eye caught the picture of her parents. A reminder that they weren’t around anymore. More than that it was a reminder of loss and heart ache. It was just the cold shower she needed to think with a level head. Her hands shook as she typed her message to him. This is the closest she’d come to agreeing to a date. The closest she’d come to hopping in her car and driving all the way to Seattle for another night with him. Goodnight Hunter. Sweet dreams. She heard the ding of her phone and was terrified of what he wrote back. She debated on whether she should even look at all but the curiosity in her was too strong to fight. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he’d only sent two words back. Goodnight, Princess. She flopped back onto the couch and held her phone close to her chest. Thankful that he hadn’t pushed further. Just as she was about to turn a movie on to get her mind off of the sexy man she wanted another night with, her phone dinged again. She hesitated to look as she pulled in a deep breath. Then she glanced down and gasped at the message before her. One night with you will never be enough. I’ll be dreaming about you…ALL. NIGHT. LONG. Night, Sweetheart. Prologue
First off, I feel like it's necessary to apologize for my absence from this blog. Between school ending, my book release, and writing my newest standalone, I have found little free time. And, if that's not enough, I have a few side projects going as well. Since it's been so long, I decided to update you on where this year will hopefully take my writing.
I have book three of the Rocky Falls series written and ready for editing, which I plan to start this week. You'll finally get to hear what happened to Hunter and Casey after their heated dance from Falls on Fire. I also have a new standalone book written and ready for editing that centers around a feisty detective who finds love in the most unusual of circumstances. If all goes as planned, these two books will be released by the end of this year. However, that is very ambitious and depends on how quickly I can schedule an editor, but I've certainly never shied away from a challenge. For those of you wondering about my newest release, Caught in the Crosshairs, I am happy to announce book two will come in 2022. I will give more details when I can, but I assure you another book is in the works. I'm looking forward to also adding a few standalone books to my list and hopefully expanding my readership. If you don't follow me on Facebook or Instagram, then head over and give me a follow to stay up to date on the latest and greatest. Also, if you haven't put in a bid yet for the charity auction, go to bit.ly/brereadsbooks and start bidding. Have a great week and as always thanks for stopping by. Here is a sneak peek into my summer release Caught in the Crosshairs. I usually have a prologue to share with you but this book just dives right into the good stuff so in the interest of giving you a look inside the newest book I decided to share the 1st four pages. Keep reading to get a look into Daisy and Nate's first meeting. Enjoy and happy reading!
Daisy Evans expertly wrestled the grocery bags in her arms as she fumbled to open the door. Despite the early evening hour, darkness cloaked her usually cozy apartment. She thought she'd left the curtains open for light but instead walked into the darkened front area. She dropped her keys in search of the lamp and shrugged off the jittery feeling that someone was watching her, waiting in the shadows to pounce. The feeling had lurked in the back of her mind for two weeks now, but nothing was ever there. No one was ever there, not anymore. The angel that watched over her was gone now. And the only thing left of his presence was an irreparable hole in her heart. The bags in her arms tilted too far as the oranges tumbled over the rim and to the floor. She flipped on the lamp, bathing the hallway in dim light, and cursed herself for having blackout curtains. Then she made her way to the kitchen without another mishap. With a huff, she set the bags on the counter and let her purse fall from her shoulder. When she turned to retrieve the discarded oranges, a hard whip of an arm wrapped around her waist and a large, calloused hand clamped over her mouth, muffling the scream that begged for release. She froze for only a moment before survival instincts kicked in, and she whipped her body and head around, pushing for the intruder to let her go. She plunged her elbow backward as Jason had taught her, but the dark figure managed to dodge each of her incoming blows. Her head cracked back in an attempt to hit his nose but slammed into a solid chest instead. Her body bucked against the unyielding strength as she tried to force his arm to fall away. Even the clawing at his hands didn't make him budge. Then she felt the whisper of his warm breath over her ear and froze. His voice broke through her panic-riddled brain and gave her pause. "I'm not here to hurt you, but if you keep swinging at me, I’ll have to subdue you." She believed it. The man had muscles for days and reflexes that would rival any predator in the wild. That, mixed with the deep, sexy voice that tried to lull her into a false sense of security, was a lethal combination. Why did she think his voice was sexy? He was anything but sexy. He was dangerous, and she needed to find a way out. At this point, she figured she had two options. One, keep fighting in hopes of getting out safely. Or two, let the intruder say his peace, gain his trust, and hope for a better opportunity of escape. She tried to respond, but his hand muffled her words. "If I remove my hand, will you promise not to scream? It wouldn't be good for either of us if someone found out I was here." What did he mean by that? She would only benefit from people knowing she was in danger. But no one would make it to her before this guy could 'subdue' her as he so elegantly put it. Nevertheless, she nodded so that he would remove his hand. Maybe she could reason with him. He dropped his hand from her mouth but kept his arm tight around her waist, preventing any possible running. "What do you want with me? I don't have any money here." She tried to convey confidence but feared the shaking in her limbs and the tremor in her voice gave her away. "Oh, love, if only it were that simple. I'm afraid our problem is much bigger than a few dollars you may have tucked away in your sexy underwear drawer. I'm talking life and death level shit here. The problem is I don't have a lot of time to help you understand. So, this is how things are going to go. I ask a question, and you answer it. Don't bother lying because I'll know. And lying would be a waste of our precious time together." She shuddered when his fingertips gently grazed her cheek to brush a few blonde strands out of the way. He probably needed to see her face to determine whether she was lying. "Questions about what? I'm just a middle school teacher. I'm nobody. This intrusion is ridiculous." She couldn't wrap her mind around this whole situation. She kept hoping that she would wake up from this nightmare, but she wasn't asleep. There was no waking up from this hell. It bothered her even more that she felt a zing when he touched her. The gentle stroke of his finger was a far cry from the tight arm and demanding tone. It betrayed the tough guy exterior, and she wondered if she could appeal to his kindness. It didn't help that his voice slid over her like sweet honey, and he smelled faintly of cologne, which lured her in even further. She was trying hard not to be lulled by this stranger who invaded her home—her sanctuary. He was the intruder who manhandled her, not a date who was seducing her. "Questions about why someone would want you dead, love." She almost choked as the rapid inhale of breath was met with a dry throat. Did he just say someone wanted her dead? "Stop calling me love. You don't even know me." She huffed, getting her fight back even though she tingled at the sound of the sweet endearment. Or maybe it was more akin to displaced anger from liking his touch too much. She'd gone far too long without a man's touch if she was this hard up. "Now that's not true. You're Daisy Evans. Daughter of Agent William Evans, Assistant Director in the Cybersecurity division of Homeland security. Sister of esteemed war hero, Jason Evans." She jerked at the mention of her brother, who had lost his life fighting overseas. "You work at Cedarcrest Middle School in Crest Cove, Washington. You spend your free time volunteering at the St. Helens Children's hospital. You are five foot four inches and weigh, well, I won't say because I know women don't like that but let's say you keep yourself plenty fit with just the right amount of curve." As if to drive his point home, he slid his free hand over the curve of her waist. Why did he act like he had a right to touch her? She jerked away from his touch in hopes he would get the hint. "How do you know all of that? Have you been stalking me?" She felt the dread settle over her and wondered if he was the reason for that uneasy feeling the last two weeks. Someone was following her, but she never saw anything, which to her was even more disturbing. "No, No. You answer my questions first, love. Who would want you dead?" She gasped at the abrasive tone and direct question. She felt herself tighten as she wondered if someone might have wanted her dead. She thought hard about who could be doing this but came up empty. This guy has to be mistaken. That's the only explanation. "No one wants me dead. You're wrong. I'm a nobody." She needed to call for help, needed to find a way out. If she could contact her dad, he would help. "Yes, actually, someone does. I know for a fact that someone hired an assassin to take you out, and I need to know why." "I can't imagine why. I never do anything wrong. I pay my taxes. I work hard. I volunteer. I don't know when I would have the time or means to upset someone enough to want me dead." She didn't like the turn of this conversation. How did he know someone was after her, and why did he care? Nothing made sense. She could feel the acid rising in her throat, threatening to surface. Her nerves were on edge, and her mind was starting to jumble her thoughts. What if he was right? What would she do? And who the hell was he? She wished Jason was still around. He'd know what to do... Caught in the Crosshairs comes out June 27th! And in good news this book has wider distribution so you can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and Kobo. And don't forget to follow me on social media for weekly teasers. There will also be a special advanced copy giveaway posted tomorrow and you don't want to miss out. Thanks for stopping by! At the beginning of April I participated in a readers ask writers challenge where 20 readers asked 20 authors 20 questions. So each day for 20 days I answered one question from the list. If you missed my Instagram posts or just don’t have Instagram I didn’t want you to miss out on the scoop so here are all the questions and my answers. If you’re curious about my writing or just want to know more about the process read on. There are a few tips for aspiring writers and some insight into what it takes to world build and create characters. Enjoy and happy reading! If you’re curious about the other authors that participated look up #Readersaskwriters on instagram and see many great answers from some fun authors.
Question 1: "What is the publishing world like, and what are some tips for aspiring authors?" Answer: This is a tough question. I'm still pretty new and I'm certainly no expert but I do have two pieces of advice I hope aspiring authors will take from my experience so far. Tip 1: Do your research. Research is important for everything. Research your genre, covers, dos and don'ts, and blurbs, etc. Research is your best friend! Tip 2. Find your support group. Whether it's family, close friends, or fellow authors you find on social media you need a group that will help inspire you on those dark days. The struggle is real and you will benefit from having a group that will help you get through those turbulent times. Question 2: "Did you read a lot as a child? What are your fondest childhood reading memories?" Answer: The short answer, yes! I loved reading as a child. It was a fun way to experience different adventures that I wouldn't otherwise do. My fondest childhood reading memory is going to library. My eyes would widen at the number of possibilities. Oh, the adventures I could have. The many shelves covered in books I had yet to discover. I was of course limited to five books but if I could've I probably would've taken much more. Question 3: "What was your first story about and did it push you to become a writer?" Answer: Wow, the first story I ever wrote was a children's book about peanut butter and jelly falling in love. I was about 8 years old and it certainly inspired me to keep creating stories. It was fun and silly and made me happy so naturally I wanted to keep telling stories. Maybe one day I'll even publish it and share it with the world. Question 4: “Have you got any interesting writing quirks? If so, what are they?" Answer: I don't know if these two things are writing quirks but the first, I usually have a pen wrapped in my hair even if I'm writing on my laptop. You never know when you need a pen Second, I will be in the middle of writing when I suddenly stop. Then I'll ask my husband if I should add something to a scene or if that character name works like he's in my head and knows what I just wrote (by the way, he usually has no idea what I'm talking about). I mean by now he should be able to read my mind, right?! Sometimes he'll ask for more and sometimes he'll just look at me like I'm crazy and I'll go back to writing. Question 5: “Do you have any advice for upcoming writers that struggle with world building?" Answer: Buckle in people because I have a bit of a long response here. For me it depends. If you're building a world similar to a real life place then I would suggest doing as much research as you can. Immerse yourself in the place you're writing about. Visit it, if possible. For Rocky Falls I took a hike in terrain similar to what I wanted to write. If you can't travel search pictures on the internet. If you're still struggling do a writing exercise where you look at a landscape photo or sit at the park and spend like 5 minutes just writing what you see. Hopefully that will get the creative juices flowing. However, if you're writing a fantasy land then I'd suggest looking up fantasy pictures and try reading books with similar environments to help you get in the right mood to write what you want. And it's important to remember that world building won't be completely done with the first draft. You will add descriptive sentences and extra elements in after the first draft to enhance your world. Question 6: ”Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?" Answer: I tend to call them inside jokes more than secrets but I added a reference to a bear in two of my Rocky Falls novels as a nod to my husband's insistence that I add bear attacks to my books. It's his suggestion with every book despite it's storyline and environment. There's also things that only people who know me will catch like Andy Grammer music playing in the background or my love of pepperoni & olive pizza Question 7: ”What drew you to genre of books you write?" Answer: Well, I was a reader before I became a writer and my favorite authors write romantic suspense. I love the main love story intertwined with a mystery plot that keeps you guessing and thinking as the chapters pass. So naturally when I thought about what I would write I gravitated toward what I enjoy most! Question 8: "How did you get your first book published? Did you do it by yourself or get an agent? If you got an agent, how did you go about it?" Answer: I’m totally self published. I make my covers and promos (Thank you canva & stock photos). I send my book to beta readers and use their feedback to put finishing touches on my story. When it's as polished as I can get it I send it to my amazing editor. When all is said and done I upload to Amazon and become a self published author. I did initially start off by sending queries to agents and there was one who read my first book. She was interested but ultimately it wasn't a fit but her advice helped me mold the story into what it is today and instead of continuing to query I jumped into the world of self publishing. And by jump I mean I did many months of research before I actually took the final step and contacted a proofreader and uploaded a manuscript. Question 9: ”While writing a story there are many possibilities. How do you decide what way the scene or the story will go amongst all of these possibilities?" Answer: Yes, so many fun possibilities! So I have two ways I decided what to write. The first method I use is I know how I want the scene to end and what characters I want in the scene. Then I ask myself what would this character do if they were presented with this scenario and suddenly I have my answer. My second method is a little more free. I start writing a scene and let me characters take over the page. I don't plan or know where my scene will go I just write what pops into my head as my fingers type. In a few cases the scene ended up going a completely different direction than I thought it would but it's always fun to see how things change when you plot versus free write. Question 10: “How do you come up with character names and a book title?" Answer: My methods vary depending on what I'm writing but I can tell you I've spent my fair share of time on baby naming websites. My Rocky Falls series was named after its location and I try to make all the books follow that form with Falls in the title. (Rocky Falls, Falls on Fire, and Outside the falls) but my upcoming books are named to try and give a hint to the plot. As far as characters, sometimes I hear a name I like on TV, books, or in real life. I also do brainstorming with my husband where we say names back and forth until I hear one I like. Question 11: "How do you use social media to market your books?" Answer: Poorly. I don't use social media for marketing as much as I should. When I do use social media to market my books I stick to simple canva made posts with the blurb and needed info. It's my weak spot and eventually I'm hoping to get better. I also do teasers as the release date gets closer which tends to be more popular than my typical posts. Question 12: "How do you get started? Especially when it comes to works of fiction. What's the first part of the process?" Answer: It always depends on the story I'm working but it typically starts with an idea. Sometimes that idea molds into an outline. Sometimes the idea turns into a list of characters which then helps form the plot. And sometimes the idea comes out as a fun scene that starts to help the story unfold. Either way it starts with an idea and adapts into a full book. Question 13: ”How do you come up with your characters?" Answer: You think this would be an easy question to answer but for me my inspiration is everywhere. Some of my characters are VERY loosely based on people in my life. Some characters are people I adapted to the environment I wanted to write in. Some characters come from the people I read about in psychology classes. Some characters are written into the story as comic relief. Some are there to push the main character. And of course there is always the bad guy/girl. If I'm ever struggling to write a character I ask myself why he/she is here and what they need to do to push the story. But really it all depends on the story I'm writing and how I want the story to flow. Question 14: "How do your characters speak to you?" Answer: So I know most authors hear their characters speak to them but for me it plays out more like a movie or a picture. I get an image of a character which morphs into a full blown movie scene in my head where the characters talk to each other and body language needs to be interpreted because you don't know exactly what they're thinking. I know, it probably sounds strange but it works for me. Question 15: "Where does your inspiration come from? Does the author try to base things on some aspects of real experiences from their life?" Answer: To answer your first question, inspiration is everywhere. Just driving to the store I come up with ideas. Or reading a book, watching a movie, going to the park, etc...ideas are everywhere Second question, yes, I absolutely use real experiences to write my stories. I think it brings more to the story if you can pull from real life. It makes the story feel real and helps you immerse yourself in the characters as well as the world you're building. Question 16: "What's your motivation for writing, even when you don't feel like it or have writers block?" Answer: That is a tough question. First let me say that my ultimate motivation is to get the stories in my head down on paper. My second motivation is to share those stories with readers who might really enjoy them. Does this always help me when I'm unmotivated or have writers block, no. It's probably an unpopular opinion but when I don't feel like writing I typically won't write (for that day anyway). If I do write it's a small scene or writing exercises to try and trigger the writing bug. If that doesn't work I take a break. For me, writers block or not feeling up to writing is usually a signal I've been doing too much and I need to switch gears before going back to it. Question 17: "Writing within a set time frame is notorious for inhibiting creativity and inducing writers block. What are your strategies for overcoming this?" Answer: Well, if we are talking about a set time frame in day to day writing I don't actually participate in that I usually write at night when my kiddos are asleep but it doesn't happen everyday. I've had two unusual writing days since I started where I spent the whole day writing but I don't necessarily set a specific time aside so there's no constraints. However, if we are talking about the specific time line from start to release then the constraint has its exasperating moments. When I start feeling a deadline approach I do get a little anxiety and can feel the creativity drain a bit. At this point I try taking a beat and reading a book or painting. For me personally anytime I feel writers block it means I need a refresh and so far, hiking has proved quite effective for me. It's whatever that one thing is that helps your brain unwind. It doesn't mean the worry goes away or the deadlines change but it helps give you new perspective which fosters creativity. Question 18: "When you're building your world for your story do you envision it and build it as you go, or do you have a location in mind beforehand and build around it...or does your writing build its world organically?" Answer: All of the above. For Rocky Falls I knew the kind of world I wanted which was small town next to miles and miles of woods that housed hiking trails and tons of summer fun which would bring in a lot of tourists. I had a clear vision of what the place and people would be like so the writing flowed. My newest series I knew the story I wanted but the world building wasn't as clear so I adapted my world to the characters and story I was trying to write. Question 19: "What is the first story you remember reading? Do you think it played a part in your journey to becoming an author?" Answer: I can't say I remember exactly what book I first read. So many books came to mind. Like any young kid I started with children's books and fairy tales. Initially I wanted to say they didn't influence my journey to author but when I really reflected I think every book I've read in some way contributed to my adventure from reader to writer to author. I'm sure most authors started as readers first and everything they've read changed the way they thought about stories and how they should be told. They found what they liked and didn't. Maybe they even realized they would like a book like this one but with the scenery of this one. Ideas form and you can't deny the fact that reading brought you around to being an author. Question 20: "Have you ever drawn upon your own experiences when writing? If so, what was the toughest experience to write about?" Answer: Yes, definitely. I totally draw on my own experiences because I strongly believe it brings a sense of realism and life to your story. One example is that I love hiking and incorporated some of that in my first novel, Rocky Falls but I've been known to add little tidbits here and there. As far as the toughest experience to write about...that's easy, grief. When writing about grief or loss I think it's a bit of a struggle because you experience it all again. You want people to feel the emotions right alongside your characters so it's real and that means the process needs to be real too. By doing that you feel these emotions all over again and it can be a bit of a struggle. First I'd like to apologize for my absence on here but I promise it was a sign of good things to come. I have been working like mad to get Caught in the Crosshairs ready for its June release. I've been emailing reviewers, creating promos, and talking up Caught in the Crosshairs any chance I can. I can't wait to share some fun teasers with you all leading up to the release.
Now for some really good news. Caught in the Crosshairs is currently at the proofreaders so we are one step closer. I would also like to announce that I have a large number of bloggers/reviewers on board to advance read and review my summer release. For those of you who don't know this is a very necessary step to getting your book out there. If you've been following me on social media you are treated to some inside looks into my writing process for #ReadersAskWriters. It's 20 questions from 20 readers to 20 authors and it has been a fun way to meet some new people and get to know more about their writing process as well as my own. If you haven't been following have no fear I will try to do a special blog post at the end giving you all the scoop. On to news about the next release. I've changed things up a bit and I'm working feverishly to get book 3 of the Rocky Falls series edited so beta readers can get started. My change is that I've started writing a new standalone book about a cop and a contractor and I'm hoping to bring that to you during the Christmas season. If not, I promise there will still be a new adventure coming to your kindles. And my last piece of news. If you haven't seen it already my book Caught in the Crosshairs now has wider distribution. So if you aren't an amazon fan there are three new outlets for you to shop on. Paperbacks will still be available only through Amazon but hopefully in the future I can change that. My book will be available on Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble. I will make sure to put up all the buy links soon for your purchasing ease. I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and enjoy the beautiful weather. Unless your weather is terrible then stay inside and maybe read a book! Jules looked down at her new flip phone and saw the single word message from Mason “Dock?”
She chuckled but replied, “Are you kidding me? It’s like 45 degrees out.” “Come on, Jules. I’ll make it worth your while…there’s pizza here!” Oh man, he knew she couldn’t resist pizza. “Be there in ten.” She dressed as warm as she could without looking like some crazy lady in puffy coats and made her way down to the dock. Mason and she spent most of their summer days at the dock, but today was too cold for her. Then again, she never could deny Mason anything. She’d been crushing on him since she met him, but they never went past friends. She was almost to the lake when she got a message from one of her friends. Apparently, her boyfriend did some new thing called a promposal. He asked her to their senior prom by coming to her house with a few of his buddies and sang her a song before he dropped down on one knee with a corsage. Needless to say, she said yes. Jules would never have anything like that happen. This was her senior year, and the closest thing she had was Mason, but he probably planned on asking out one of the many women begging for his attention. When she saw Mason sitting at the end of the dock, she wondered why in the world he wanted to meet here so badly. Maybe he was going to break it to her easy that he was going with that blonde she couldn’t stand, and she’d be rocking the dance as a third wheel or solo. Or maybe she’d skip it altogether and binge watch Gilmore girls at home. Her approaching footsteps must’ve alerted him because he turned and, with that damn dashing smile of his, said, “Hey beautiful, what took you so long?” She pretended to be offended, but she just wanted to sit down, devour the pizza, and get somewhere warm. “You give me little notice, make me come out into the cold weather, and have the nerve to say I took too long.” He laughed as she fake scoffed at him, but all was forgiven when he held up the cheesy slice of pepperoni and olive pizza. She sat down next to him, shoulder to shoulder, and munched on the warm, gooey mess of pure bliss. After two slices, she finally asked, “So what are we doing here, Mason? Is everything okay?” She tried to brace herself for what awful news he might be here to tell her, but nothing bad came. He smiled at her and put his arm around her shoulders, surrounding her with his warmth. How did the man generate so much heat in this cold air? At least it wasn’t windy, or this whole thing would be unbearable. “I just wanted to spend some time with you.” “And we couldn’t have done that somewhere warmer?” He laughed at her again, probably knowing that she was mostly serious because she didn’t fair well in the cold weather. “I have something I want to do. Then we can go inside somewhere and get warm.” “What did you want to do?” He had that devious smile on that he usually flashed right before he found a sneaky way to knock her into the water. If that was his plan, she was going to be so pissed. “You see that flower right there?” She turned to her left, where a single tulip sat with a string attached to it. She nodded. “Can you grab it for me?” She looked back at him, confused about this whole scene. Was this some ploy to catch her off guard? “If this is a trick to push me into the freezing cold water, I will never forgive you.” He snickered. “Just grab it.” Then he leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Trust me.” Oh man, did the guy know how much his voice affected her? No, because she was too chicken to tell him she wanted more than friendship. She turned back to the flower and picked it up. A barely visible string was hanging from the flower, and she didn’t know if it was caught on some fishing line or if the string was meant to be there. She looked back at Mason, and he leaned over to help her with the string. After a few pulls, something white popped out of the water. It looked like a bag with something white in it. She set the flower in her lap as Mason grabbed the thing on the end of the string. She was beyond confused about what the heck he was doing. “Mason, what’s going on?” She tried to look at whatever was in the bag and noticed Mason’s hands were shaking. Then he handed her the bag, and she saw the words written across the paper tucked safely in the plastic bag “Will you go to prom with me?” When she looked up at his eyes, he seemed to be full of nervous energy. He was never nervous with her—none of this made sense. “Is this—Are you—?” She couldn’t finish her thought or, more specifically, didn’t know how to finish her thought. Was he asking her to prom? “So whaddya say?” “I don’t know. Who’s your date going to be because I’m not going if it’s Jess—” Before she could finish, his head dropped, and his lips brushed across hers. Everything was forgotten. She couldn’t think about anything other than the warmth of his lips on hers. His hand came up and slid over her cheek, and she melted further into him. When he pulled back, it took a moment for her eyes to spring open. She was lost in the haze of happiness. She’d longed for this moment since they met. “I’m asking you to be my date for prom. In case that kiss wasn’t clear enough for you.” He smiled down at her, his hand still holding her cheek, and she tried to find her voice. “Of course, I will go to prom with you.” His smile got wider, if that was possible, before he kissed her again. Then he pulled her close and whispered in her ear. “Now that we got that all worked out, how about we get you somewhere warm. I’ll even make you some hot chocolate.” “Deal.” Chapter 1
Dan Styles stood by the burning warehouse, yelling for the fire crew to back up. The first explosion rocked the back of the building, and they knew another was coming. They had already moved in to extinguish the flames before they found out about the combustibles inside. Now that they knew about the threat, Dan tried to pull the firemen out of the blast radius. He turned to assess the scene and was satisfied when he saw no one near the flames. Then it happened all at once. Dan heard a loud boom as a powerful, hot force pushed into his chest, knocking the breath from his lungs and slamming him into the brick wall of another warehouse. The heat across his body was the last thing he remembered as darkness settled over him. *** The paramedics flew by Grace Copeland with a firefighter on the gurney. When she saw him, she knew there was no way she could leave. Sure, her shift was technically over, but she wasn't going until she knew he would make it. Some out-of-town firemen were in the area doing training and helping the Lakeland Fire Department as they worked to fill their open positions. What if he was one of them and didn't have any family close? What if he needed someone to call his wife or parents? She couldn't very well leave now. That's what she told herself anyway. It wasn't that she'd seen him the other day in the café and thought he was too good looking to give her the time of day. She was just a Good Samaritan doing her job, plus it never hurt to clock in for a few extra hours of overtime. The doctors reported that the fireman suffered a minor head injury when he collided with a brick wall. The scans came back normal, and they were all shocked that he hadn't opened his eyes yet. She figured it was a sign that he was overworked and needed rest but wondered if something more serious was going on. Head injuries were always a tricky thing, especially when the patient was unconscious and they couldn't ask him any questions to assess the damage. For now, the only thing she could do was make him comfortable and let the doctors know when he finally rouses. "Grace? Shouldn't you be off by now?" Dr. Howard always seemed to pay close attention to her schedule. Then again, it was easy to do because she was always here. "I was supposed to be, but I figured with the warehouse fire burning out of control that you might need extra hands." He smiled back like he would expect nothing less from her. The staff here teased her relentlessly because she lived at the hospital. They all knew she didn't have much of a personal life. Then he turned to face her fully, and his face turned serious. "You know, Grace, there's more to life than this hospital. Maybe you should think about going out." She couldn't stop the short laugh from slipping past her lips. She didn't mean to laugh at him, but this hospital was all she needed to fill her days. Her parents were retired and traveling the world. She never had any siblings, and the few friends she made in school scattered to various hospitals worldwide. This place was her whole life. And as far as dating, she took a break after her last boyfriend had turned stalker when they split. "Thanks, Dr. Howard. I will try to loosen up a bit. Just not tonight. Not with an injured fireman." "How many times have we been over this? You can call me Jack. It doesn't have to be so formal with us. And hey, when you do decide to get out, I'm always here. As friends, of course." His mouth said they were friends, but his body language and tone told a different story. He brushed his hand from her shoulder down her arm as he spoke. She suppressed the shudder that wanted to push to the surface. She kept things professional at work, especially around Dr. Howard, but he didn't hold himself to the same standards. It was as if he was trying to be her friend, hoping she would eventually want to date him, but that wasn't going to happen, let alone with someone from work. It's not that he wasn't good looking. He had a manicured, pampered look, but he was still attractive. She knew from the tight button-ups he wore that he had toned muscles, but they probably came from hours at the gym instead of manual labor. His hands were too soft for someone who worked in his yard. He didn't seem like the rugged, outdoor type. He was not the type of guy who would be okay getting dirty in the woods, and he would avoid scuffing his shoes on the manicured golf course. "Thanks, Dr. Howard. I'll keep that in mind. Now don't worry about this patient. I will take good care of him and let you know when he wakes up." He frowned at her proper behavior, but she didn't want it any other way. When he finally left the room, it was just her and the fireman she'd longed to talk to since she'd seen him in the café the other day. She grabbed his chart, searching for his name, Dan Styles. Then she looked over at him, examining the lines of his face. He didn't look as relaxed as he should for someone sleeping. She wondered if he was fighting to wake up. That's when she heard the moan rumble deep in his chest. She leaned in and tried to comfort him with her words. He was most likely disoriented and in need of more rest. "Dan, my name is Grace. I'm your nurse, and I'm here to take care of you. Don't stress yourself trying to wake up. Just relax. I'm here when you feel ready to open your eyes. Your family is on the way so take some time to rest." Then of its own volition, her hand lifted and cupped his face resting it in the palm of her hand. She never expected to feel anything when she made contact. Though, to be fair, she never expected to break her cardinal rule and get close to him either. When she felt his body relax, she slid her hand over his cheek before pulling it back. She took a moment to appreciate the lines of his face like artwork in a museum. The stubble over his face from a couple of days without shaving gave him a rougher but sexier look. It took every bit of willpower not to run her fingers through his thick dark blonde hair. The relaxed features of his face gave a softness to the rough edges. A softness she wouldn't expect from him on a regular day. Then she took one last look at him before she ran back to the nurse's station, scolding herself the whole way for being unprofessional. She was berating herself for wanting to see the color of his eyes. When she'd seen him in the café, it was only a glimpse, and she'd been too far to see the details. At this point, she'd typically call the patient's family, but the paramedics told her one of the firemen on-site called his father. Dan's father was a fire chief in another district, so they were in contact as soon as he was on his way to the hospital. Her knowing that small tidbit about his dad intrigued her to learn more about Dan – like did he get into the same career because he felt he had to, or did it interest him? How was his relationship with his father? What's his family like, and how would they react? Did he have a wife or girlfriend waiting for him? What was wrong with her that she couldn't get this man out of her head? Maybe she should've gone home instead of staying the extra couple of hours. She shouldn't be thinking about a patient in this manner—shouldn’t be wondering if he's attached or not. Her only concern should be his health. As she tried to distract herself with charts and paperwork, her eyes continued to drift over to the screens showing his vitals before shifting to his door. No matter how badly she wanted to stay professional, she feared her heart had other thoughts with this guy. There was something different about him that was drawing her in. *** He cringed at the throbbing pain in his temples and the crushing weight on his chest. The soreness radiated through his limbs, and he felt like he'd slammed into a brick wall like one of those crash-test dummies. Then it all came flooding back—the warehouse fire, the explosion, the darkness that came after he had slammed into a brick wall. Then he remembered the sweet sound of an angel. Her voice had lulled him into a relaxed state, helped him fall asleep. He'd tried hard to push for consciousness until her siren's song calmed him and forced his body to relent to the rest it so badly needed, but he rested enough. Now he wanted to meet the woman whose beautiful voice calmed him enough to sleep. He pried his eyes open and blinked the fog away as he felt the dryness lurking in his throat. The light was far too bright as his heavy lids lifted. He scanned the hospital room only to find emptiness, no angel in sight. Remembering the melodic sound he'd heard from before, he wanted desperately to know the owner of the soft voice. Grace. Yes, that was it. He needed to find Grace. He tried to sit up and look for the call button, but the pain in his head demanded he stayed put. His arms felt stuck in the mud as he attempted to lift them and grasp for the remote. He was satisfied when he found success on his right side. He was oddly excited to see the face of the woman who got through to him. He tried to imagine her features and the lines of her face, but the only thing he saw was a bright light. So, naturally, it shocked him when a man walked through the door. Definitely, not the owner of that beautiful sound. Had he been so far gone that he'd imagined the melodic voice. "Mr. Styles. I see you're finally awake. I'm Dr. Howard and I'll be doing your examination." Doctor, not nurse. Maybe there was still a chance he wasn't crazy and hallucinating. The doctor moved the bed, so Dan was sitting up just a bit. Then pulled his stethoscope out and went to work. Dan couldn't explain it, but there was something off about this guy. Perhaps it was the pale, manicured hands of a guy who probably didn't know what it meant to work on a car or chop wood. Or maybe it was displaced disappointment because he'd been expecting the nurse—either way, he didn't like this guy's bedside manner. Dan wanted to ask where Grace was, but he feared that she was a figment of his imagination, and the doctor would think he was nuts. Maybe his nurse would come in soon. Then he would find out for sure if he's crazy or not. "Could I maybe get some water? My throat's a little dry." He croaked. His mind started to swirl with various thoughts, and he wondered how long he'd been out. Or if someone called his family. His dad was certainly not going to be happy with him. He didn't want Dan to come to Lakeland in the first place. It was supposed to be a week to help prepare the incoming firemen and fill in until they were ready to go on calls, but it stretched into two weeks. His dad didn't like the idea of him working with a minimal crew, and now he'd never live this injury down. "Of course. Your vitals are good, and you got some good rest, but I'm still going to keep you for observation. Whenever you're unconscious for a long time, it's best to keep an eye on things. Keep on this path, and you'll be home by tomorrow afternoon." The doctor seemed like a nice guy, but he had douche written all over him. He didn't necessarily do anything that made Dan feel that way. It was just the pampered rich boy vibe he got from the doctor: the slicked-back look or the expensive, gold watch on his wrist. "Thanks, doc." After Dr. Douche left, he relaxed into the bed and wondered where his cell phone ended up. He should give his folks a call. If they were on their way, he could tell them to turn back around and go home. There was no need to worry, and he'd be back at the hotel by tomorrow, but he didn't see any of his stuff. Rooms usually had a landline in them, but he didn't spot one of those either. Admitting defeat and waiting for the water he desperately needed, he laid back on the pillow and closed his eyes, hoping to tame the massive headache. The bright light in the room didn't mix well with the pounding in his head. After what felt like ten minutes, he heard the door squeak open, and someone quietly entered the small space. Before he opened his eyes to see who it was, he felt the same warmth from before brush over his face. He wondered if he imagined things or if the angel was back. His hand came up and connected with a soft, delicate hand that became enveloped in his. The audible gasp had him opening his eyes, and the warmth he longed for jerked away. “I'm sorry. I was just checking on you. I know the doctor was just in here, but I was coming to see if you need anything other than the water." She spoke so fast he almost didn't catch everything she said. Her voice was a little rougher than before, which was probably due to the apparent nervousness she was feeling. Her beautiful auburn hair was bright around her slightly pale face. Her skin looked soft as silk-making him want to reach out and test his theory, but he held himself back. "It's you." He was happy to see the face that belonged to the beautiful voice. He knew it was her from her touch, her voice. The physical contact that awakened things in him he couldn't even begin to describe. That made him long for her hand on his face again. That made him want to pull her down on top of him and steal a taste of her pink lips. "Excuse me?" The confusion on her face was easy to read. This woman certainly didn't hide her emotions. He liked that. While a mystery was intriguing, it was always nice to know how a woman was feeling. It helped a guy know what he should do next. "You're Grace, right?" He didn't need her to answer. The look of shock on her face confirmed what his heart already knew. She wasn't part of his imagination. She was a living, breathing fantasy, and she was currently standing at his bedside. “Yeah, that's me. How do you know that?" She looked almost scared, but he didn't know why. What an unusual reaction. She was the one who told him her name after all, but she was treating him like he was some weird stalker who just recited her coffee order. "You told me. When I started to wake up earlier, you told me your name and to rest. Then you put your hand on my face." The red crept into her cheeks, quickly spreading as she turned away. "You must be mistaken. I did tell you my name, but I didn't touch you. It was probably a reaction from getting your head slammed." She wouldn't make eye contact with him, and she busied herself with the beeping machines. He, however, couldn't take his eyes off her. She moved effortlessly through the room as if she'd done this all a hundred times before, which she probably had. He longed to reach out and run his hand down her arm, to caress her tantalizing skin. "Well, that explains why I feel like I was hit by a ton of bricks." Her gaze jerked toward him. "You don't remember what happened?" The panicked look on her face had him feeling bad about making her worry. "No, I remember. I was just trying to lighten the mood." She looked down at her hands as she walked to stand by his bedside again. It was almost as if she was making an effort to keep her hands to herself. He knew how she felt because he was doing the same. He'd never met this woman until today, and yet he felt like he'd known her forever, which in itself was mind-boggling. "You were too close to the origin of the blast. The force knocked you back into the wall of the neighboring warehouse. You didn't have your helmet on, and your head hit pretty hard. The men on the scene got you here quickly and called your family. They're on their way here now. I know you said you remembered, but I ramble when I'm nervous." Her eyes widened as if she spilled states secrets or something. He chose to throw her a bone and pretend like she hadn't told him something personal. "Did I, by chance, have a cell phone on me when the paramedics brought me in?" She shook her head, and he cursed his bad luck. "How long was I out?" He wanted to know precisely how long he had with his sexy nurse before his impossibly large family came barreling through the door. "Two hours, but you were trying to wake up almost immediately when you came through the doors. I'm glad you rested because you needed it." She rested her hands on the bedrail, and he had the strongest urge to grab one of them and bring it to his lips. He didn't know what that was about or why this woman had captivated him so thoroughly. He wasn't a one-woman kind of man. He didn't like the idea of being tied down, and now here he was, wanted to hold onto a stranger. "Can I ask you something personal?" The nervousness washed over her again, but she agreed. "Why are you so scared to admit that you touched my cheek?" He wasn't one to shy away from the tough questions, but he could see her gearing up for another excuse. That was until she was saved by his loud, obnoxious family storming the room and interrupting the moment. She jumped and scooted back when his parents ran up to the bed, followed quickly by Sienna and Mark. He was sure Travis and Lance were probably not far behind. They talked one right after the other so that he couldn't catch a single, decipherable word, but he did see the pretty nurse make her quiet getaway. The disappointment settled over him before he turned back to his family and quieted their incoherent speech. He told them everything he knew, but his mind was elsewhere. He wanted to learn more about the quiet nurse with the auburn hair and chocolate eyes that somehow stole his focus. First, he needed to calm his family and work on getting them to go back home. He could then focus his attention on figuring out how to get that nurse to give him the time of day. *** She'd been grateful Dan's family interrupted, or she might've confessed more than she was willing to admit. Like the fact that she was attracted to the sexy man lying in the hospital bed. His piercing blue eyes had a brown streak that went from his pupil to the outer iris edge. She'd never seen that before, but it made her want to get closer and look deeper. The thought of getting closer made her want to run her fingers through his hair. It made her long for things she didn't have time for, something she thought she didn't want. She retreated to the nurse's station and found Susan sitting at the desk. "Hey honey, you look a little shaken. Is everything okay? More trouble with your ex?" She had forgotten entirely about Frank. However, he is the reason for all of her insecurities. "No, it's just late. I think I'll head home. Everything seems to be under control, and it looks like the fireman is going to be fine. His family is in there now." When Susan nodded, she grabbed her purse and jacket and headed out before someone stopped her. The parking garage always creeped her out, but it was the best place for her to park during the day. Tonight she hadn't anticipated that she would be here this late. It was her own doing but still unsettling. She pulled her door open and slipped inside when she reached her car, quickly locking the door. Just as she was getting ready to back out, she saw the white note stuck inside her windshield wiper. There was no way she was going to fall for that and get out. She heard horror stories about women getting abducted by doing that exact thing. Not her, not today. She pulled out of the spot and drove home, hoping that she would be safe. It might seem a tad paranoid, but she kept looking back to ensure no one followed her home. Her ex-boyfriend had been obsessed, and it took over a year for him to finally let go and leave her alone. Now she had some residual fear from his stalking habits. The note on her window and the late hour didn't help. The jittery feeling didn't subside until she was safely in her tiny one-car garage, and the door was closed. Though it didn't go away entirely as she stared at the note that clung to the window the whole way home, part of her wanted to toss it in the trash and forget about it. But the other part of her was too curious to let it go. She pulled it from the wiper blade and slowly opened it. She laughed at herself when she saw a flyer for the book reading she planned on attending. The hobby she had outside of the hospital was to read, and a famous local author was doing a reading in February. The month of love, as she put it. Then Grace saw letters scrawled across the bottom of the sheet, and her hands started shaking again. The red letters said, "See you there, brown eyes." The nickname that Frank always used for her. Was this him messing with her again? |