C.J. Lake
Genre: New Adult Romance
Date of Publication: 10/5/16
Number of pages: 360
Word Count: 86K
Book Description:
**Standalone
novel, NO cliffhanger. Contains explicit/steamy content intended for mature
readers.**
I couldn't believe my luck,
seeing Cady Killoren at the bar and finding out she no longer had a boyfriend.
Then ending up at her place later that night... She had her guard up, but there
was no denying what was happening between us. I wasn't sure how to play this, I
hadn't exactly been honest with her. I only knew I wanted more of her...and
then things got complicated.
It was one impulsive
night--totally unlike me! I can't even blame it on the drinks. That night with
Mick was pure chemistry. I never would've guessed that the next time we met it
would be in a crowded restaurant, being introduced by my dad! And I would find
out that everything I thought I knew about Mick was a lie. There are a lot of
reasons why I need to resist Mick Croft... Easier said than done.
Excerpt 3
With
Linda out of earshot, Cady and Mick were basically alone. Trying not to appear self-conscious, Cady
stayed put and roved her eyes all around—observing a scatter of crispy leaves
blowing off the trees that lined the street, focusing on the sharp sparkle of
sun against the glass of the car windows—when she heard the rough timbre of
Mick's voice. “C'mere.”
Her
eyes snapped up. Mick was still several
feet away, positioned by the rear tire, and he was looking at her. Her lips suddenly felt dry, as her stomach
tightened even more. “What...?”
“C'mere,”
he repeated. There was something so
enticing and inviting in those two syllables, spilling from his lips. It just sounded sexy.
“Why? Do you need help?” she said, figuring sarcasm
was her best way to seem unaffected and in control.
Mick
snorted a laugh. “No. Come over here so I can show you how to do
this—in case you're ever in this situation again.” Reluctantly, Cady came closer to him. “Lower,” he said.
Lower... The word, spoken by Mick's rough voice, put
dirty thoughts in her mind. Acting
neutral, Cady knelt down. Now they were
almost on eye-level.
“You're
still going to need a new tire,” he explained.
“The spare's a short-term solution.”
“Oh,
I know,” Cady told him, averting her eyes slightly, while her pulse raced. Up this close it was impossible not to feel
the pull of her attraction to him.
“The
first thing you need to do is put the jack under the car,” Mick began,
demonstrating as he spoke. “Then you use
this crank,” he continued, grabbing another tool. What followed that was a stimulating tutorial
on changing a tire, after which Cady had only the vaguest idea how to change a
tire.
But
in her defense, it was hard to focus with Mick so close to her. Normally she was a good student, but car
repair was obviously not one of her better subjects. Especially when it involved a hot
“instructor” who made her crazy. First
she was distracted by Mick's aftershave.
Then by watching his strong hands working, using a wrench to unscrew some
nuts and bolts. And after lining up the
spare, he easily put it in place, and, as if that wasn't hot enough, he
hand-tightened the screws. Damn, who
knew changing a tire could be so erotic?
A
buzzing sound interrupted Cady's thoughts.
When Mick pulled his phone out of his pocket and took a quick glance at
the screen, so did Cady. Her adeptness
for speed-reading cell phone screens upside-down didn't fail her. It only took a fleeting second for her to see
the words: Incoming call from Juliana.
Cady's
stomach churned. No, it wasn't
logical. But it was a genuine gut
reaction. Who was Juliana? Instead of answering, Mick ignored the call,
stuck his phone back in his pocket, and focused again on what he was
doing.
Of
course Cady should have held her tongue.
Was she going to advertise that she was being blatantly nosy about
Mick's personal life? That would serve
no purpose whatsoever and also be borderline-embarrassing. Yet, for some reason, she blurted, “Who's
Juliana?”
Mick
halted for a second, slanting a look at her that she couldn't quite
interpret. Then, casually, he said,
“Just a girl in one of my classes.”
“Oh.” Let it drop now. It's none of your effing business! “Is it the girl from the Halloween party?”
she continued prying. When Mick
hesitated, appearing unsure whom Cady was referring to, she clarified, “You
know, the one dressed as Snow White.”
“Oh,”
he said and shook his head. “No. That was Rachel.”
So...that
was it? No further detail offered about
Rachel or Juliana? Well that was
disappointing. In fact, she couldn't
help being disheartened that Mick hadn't expressed his thorough disinterest in
either or both of these girls—about whom Cady knew nothing, and of whom Cady
had no right to feel jealous.
As
he lowered the jack back down, Mick said, “All right, you're all set here. The spare's good.”
“Okay,
great. So the lesson is over?”
“Yep,
that's all there is to it,” Mick said.
“Are you clear on everything?”
“Um...sure.” Actually she was more muddled now than
before, at least when it came to her feelings for him.
~
About the Author:
C.J. Lake is a storyteller who is passionate about art, surfing, and skiing/snowboarding. She is the author of Constructing Us, A Hot Winter, Sky High, and Impulse. Residing near the coast of Massachusetts, C.J. is currently working on a new book.
Readers can get in touch via email writercjlake@gmail.com
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