Sunday Snippet - A Peek at Debra's "Family Secrets"

Chapter One

“Why didn’t you call me?”

The bold words took Erika Garrett by surprise. But no more so than the man standing on her doorstep who had uttered them. She gazed up at him. An errant lock of dark hair fell over one eyebrow, daring her to reach up and brush it back. His chiseled features bore a dark, even tan, evidence of his outside work in the summer. A hint of stubble shadowed his jaw and made him look sexy as hell. Warm brown eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

Chase Stewart was as gorgeous as ever.

“Hello, Erika.” Once again the deep timbre of his familiar voice washed over her, and she stared, caught up in the penetrating gaze of the man who evoked such powerful memories.

“Chase. What are you doing here?” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him. What was he doing on her doorstep?

Instead of answering the question, he asked one of his own. “It’s hot as blazes out here today. May I come in?”

She hesitated. But then, as if to underscore his words, a blast of hot air hit her like the heat from an open oven. The scorching afternoon sun poured into the house. Nothing like a Midwest summer to make you feel like a fried egg. It had been so hot this year the evening news had done a story on kids literally frying them on the sidewalk. And it was only June.

“Well, I guess there’s no use cooling the outside.” The air conditioning bill would be high enough anyway. She stepped back and opened the door wider.

Chase stood in the foyer of the historic row home and studied her as she closed the door. “You look terrific.”

“Thanks.” She self-consciously touched the curling locks she’d pinned to the top of her head in an effort to control the humidity’s effect on them. She adjusted the slim strap of her tank top, and then smoothed her palms over her shorts.

He looked terrific, too. No surprise there. Had she always been turned on by men in jeans and work boots? Not to mention white T-shirts that drew attention to the muscles beneath. A blush warmed her cheeks and she looked away. Had he noticed her staring?

“So this is your new place.”

She glanced back at him to find his gaze had moved to the living room behind her. Two beige sofas faced each other in the middle of the narrow room. A coffee table sat between them, resting on a colorfully patterned rug. Centered on the side wall, built-in book shelves and stained glass windows framed the fireplace. Past the stairs a narrow hallway led to the kitchen.

What did it look like through his eyes? Professional eyes. What did he see? Would he notice the fading paint and battered woodwork?

She shrugged. “It’s home.”

"It's nice.”

Unable to hold his mesmerizing gaze, hers dropped to her toes. The scuffed hardwood of the floor stared back at her. “It, uh, needs a little work, but it’s getting there.” She planned on doing some of the interior painting during vacation.

“That’s why I’m here.”

Her head jerked up. “What?”

“I heard you need some things done around here.”

“How did you hear that?” Surely Lauren hadn’t said anything. She barely spoke civilly to Chase. Erika couldn’t imagine the topic of home repair—her home repair—coming up.

“Not many people around here do what I do. It’s a small world. A buddy mentioned he gave you a quote.” His dark eyes bored into hers once again. “So, why didn’t you call me?”

“I thought it would be awkward, with my family and all.”

“The family?”

“You know, Mom and Lauren…” Her voice trailed off.

“What about them?”

“Oh come on, Chase.” He couldn’t really be so obtuse, could he? “They would have a fit if they knew you were here. Can you imagine what they would say if I hired you?”

“That’s ridiculous. Why would they care?”

Did she have to spell it out? “You know how Lauren is.” She didn’t want to speak badly about her sister-in-law, but the other woman didn’t have many good things to say about her ex-husband these days. Or
ever. If Lauren found out he’d been at Erika’s place…

“Oh, I know how Lauren is,” Chase said wryly.

All of Debra's books are available from The Wild Rose Press and other major book sellers.

Sunday Snippet - A Peek at Debra's "This Can't Be Love"

This Can't Be Love is the second book in Debra's The Corral Series.

Chapter One

There was a naked man in her grandfather’s bathtub.

At least she assumed he was naked. She didn’t plan on getting any closer to verify the fact. Jessica Hart stood in the doorway and worried her bottom lip with her teeth. The man had one well-defined arm slung lazily over the side of the clawfoot tub, fingers trailing on the floor. His head tilted back against the edge, eyes closed. Dark, damp hair curled over his forehead. A day’s worth of stubble shadowed his strong jaw. Her gaze drifted lower to his chest, visible above the water in the tub.

It definitely wasn’t Pops. So who the hell was he?

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The last thing she’d expected when she walked into the bathroom was to find a strange man in the tub. She’d come to the creek looking for some peace and quiet. After the events of the past year she needed it. Desperately. The cabin at the creek had seemed like the perfect retreat. Spending time with Pops would help her gain some perspective and feel human again.

So where was her grandfather? The door to the cabin had been open, which wasn’t unusual, but Pops was nowhere around. She’d checked his favorite places before heading upstairs. A nice long soak in his antique tub would be the perfect way to while away the time until he returned. Unfortunately the tub was already occupied. Well, that wouldn’t do.

She cleared her throat.

The man opened his eyes and turned toward her. His irises were a rich brown, reminding her of hot, strong coffee with just a touch of cream. His gaze swept over her before returning to her own. He raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” He seemed completely unfazed to see her standing there.

Jessica placed her hands on her hips. “Who the hell are you?”

“Zach Rawlings.” He inclined his head.

“And you are?”

“Jessica.”

“Ah, Ben’s granddaughter.”

“You know me?”

“He talks about you all the time.”

“Oh.” She paused. “What are you doing here?”

His mouth quirked up at the corners. “Taking a bath.”

All of Debra's books are available through The Wild Rose Press and other major book sites.

Sunday Snippet - A Peek into Debra's First Release

This Time for Always was Debra's first release with The Wild Rose Press.


She had once carried this man’s baby.

Sharlie Montgomery fought the urge to cover her abdomen with her hand as she stared across the table at the man who wanted to buy The Corral. Images of him as a teenager raced through her mind, tangling with the image of the self-assured businessman gazing at her. His eyes mirrored the shock she felt deep in the pit of her stomach.

“Sharlie, are you okay?” Pete Sorrenson, The Corral’s aging owner, looked at her with concern.

Mentally shaking her head, Sharlie smiled. “I’m fine,” she lied, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. What had started out as a nightmare of a day was getting worse by the minute. Not only had she found out that Pete was ready to sell the bar, but it looked like Logan Reed, someone she thought she would never see again, wanted to buy the place.

Looking far from reassured, Pete continued, “All right, then. Let’s get started.”

Sharlie studied Logan from under her lashes. The years had turned him into a striking man. Sinfully black hair curled where it brushed the top of his collar. His vivid green eyes were framed by long lashes, and he had the rich, even tan of someone who spent most of his time outdoors.

They had once been inseparable. He had been her whole world, her best friend, her everything, until he’d run away, leaving her when she had needed him most. She remembered the pain and felt the awful emptiness inside her soul. What was he doing here now? Did he know about the baby?

“This is my manager, Sharlie Montgomery.”

She stared in horror as Logan held out his hand to acknowledge an introduction that was unnecessary.His eyes mocked her as she extended her hand and placed it in his. It had been almost twelve years since she’d touched him last. Then their touches had been much more intimate than a mere handshake.

This Time for Always - Book One of The Corral Series
Available from:
The Wild Rose Press
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Snippet Sunday - A Peek at Debra's Caribbean Story

Debra is still is island mode.

We've been back a week, but my heart is still in the Caribbean, so I thought I'd share a snippet of Wild Wedding Weekend today. In this story, Abby and Noah marry because of a game show and head off on a tropical honeymoon cruise.

A festive mood greeted them when they walked out onto the deck later that night. Colorful lanterns dotted the air. A steel-drum band played rhythmic music as dancers gathered around the pool.
“Wow, this is some party,” Abby said.
“I’ll say.” Noah took her hand as a group of passengers jostled by. “How’s the ankle feeling?”
She tested by shifting her weight. Sore, but not too bad. “It’ll hold up as long a I don’t do any of that dancing.” She nodded toward the pool deck, which pulsed with a life of its own. Hundreds of people crowded on it.
“Okay, so no dancing. How about something to eat?” Noah nodded at a waiter who passed by with a tray laden with tropical fruit.
She laughed. “I bet I’ve gained fifty pounds on this cruise already.”
Noah’s eyes swept down her body.
“I don’t think you need to worry about that.” He used his index finger to trace the small strip of bare skin visible on her stomach were her shirt didn’t quite meet the waist of her skirt.
She sucked in her breath.
His eyes sought hers. “Ticklish?”
“Yes,” she lied.
Noah’s lips quirked, but didn’t quite form into a full smile. “Interesting.” He gazed at her a moment longer before breaking eye contact. “C’mon, let’s get a drink.”
She followed as he tugged on her hand. A good stiff drink sounded like just the thing. Or a dip in the pool, providing the water was ice cold. Noah’s touch on her flesh hadn’t tickled at all. It had, however, sent shivery fingers of heat radiating over her skin.
“Rum punch?” He asked as they reached a bar on the far side of the deck.
“Sure.”
She and Noah watched the festivities for the next hour and consumed decadent treats from the food stations set up along the outer edges of the deck. Sometimes they chatted, other times they fell silent.
Women who passed by the table cast covetous glances at Noah, but to Abby’s secret delight, he paid them no heed. He seemed oblivious to the parade of bikini-clad females who sauntered by, swinging their hips suggestively.
For her part, she found it difficult to keep her eyes off him. He’d left the top few buttons of his flamboyant Hawaiian shirt open, affording her tantalizing glimpses of his bare chest every time he moved. He’d been shirtless all afternoon, but somehow, this was sexier.
A warm, salty breeze blew across the Gulf. She rolled the frosty drink glass across her forehead, blaming the humid air for her rising temperature.
Although if she were honest with herself, she’d have to admit the weather wasn’t the reason for the heat permeating her body.
Noah’s eyes tracked the movement of her glass, then caught and held hers. “C’mon.” He rose from his chair and offered his hand. “We can dance to this.”
The band had switched to a slower rhythm, and couples swayed on the make-shift dance floor.
“I don’t think-”
“C’mon.” Noah tugged her from her chair. He led her to the floor, then turned and pulled her into his arms. One strong hand splayed across her back, the other cradled her palm in his. She rested her free hand on his shoulder as they shuffled their feet to the slow beat of the music. Only a few inches separated their bodies. Heat radiated from him. Heat that had nothing to do with the sultry night air.
As more couples joined those already on the deck, it became difficult to move. As they were jostled once again, Noah pulled her tighter against him. The heat flowed from his body into hers. Like a fever, the warmth raced through her, setting her afire. A slow ache spread.
Noah’s hand drifted to the small of her back. His fingers stroked the strip of bare skin there. She shifted closer to the hard contours of his body. Her arm curved around his back. Her head nestled into his shoulder, and she breathed in the crisp scent of his aftershave. She could spend the next million years listening to the steady strum of his pulse.

Snippet Sunday - A Peek into Debra's Current Release

Chapter One

“I want you to be my sex tutor.”
Jason choked on his beer. “What?”
Chloe Harris waited until he met her gaze again. “So, will you do it?” The background noise from the crowded bar filled the charged silence as she held her breath, waiting for his answer. Country music blared from the speakers set around the dance floor. Glasses and bottles clinked. Conversations overlapped, individual words indistinguishable in the cacophony.
“Do what?” he asked, as if he hadn’t heard right the first time.
She sighed. “Be my sex tutor.”
His eyes narrowed. “Why do you need a sex tutor?”
“To make sure I’m doing it right.”
This time Jason’s beer spilled down the front of his shirt. He dabbed at the spot with a napkin. “Dammit, this was a new shirt.” He closed his eyes for a moment. When they opened, his expression was pained. “I can’t believe I’m going to ask this. Hell, I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. But what makes you think you’re doing it wrong?”
She shrugged in what she hoped was a nonchalant manner. “I don’t know. I mean, everyone always talks about how great sex is, but to be honest, I don’t know what the fuss is all about.” Maybe it was her. Maybe she was doing it wrong. “So.” She toyed with the napkin under her drink. “It’s kind of on my bucket list. To have a night of really great sex.”
He closed his eyes again. It almost looked like he was praying. The dark sweep of his lashes curled over the lids. Why did men have such impossibly beautiful eyelashes, while women spent oodles of money on mascara and torturous curling devices? Obviously God had a sense of humor.
Finally he opened his eyes. Even the dim light in the bar couldn’t hide their vibrant blue. “Bucket list? You’re only twenty-six.”
“Twenty-seven. It’s just something I want to do before I’m thirty.”
“That gives you three years.”
“Well, there are other things on my list, too. I want to get this one out of the way.” To silence the ever-present whispers of self-doubt plaguing every relationship she’d ever had. She leaned closer. “C’mon, I hear you’re really good.”
The bottle froze halfway to his mouth. “Where did you hear that?”
“Maureen Brockman and Leslie Granger both said you were fabulous.”
With deliberate care he set the bottle down. “You asked them how good I was in bed?” The words were forced out between clenched teeth.
“I had to do my research. I want someone who knows what he’s doing.” She settled back in the chair. “So, will you do it?”
“You can’t be serious.”
Chloe lifted her chin a notch. “Why not?”
“Because this is totally insane. If you want to do something crazy, get a tattoo.”
“That’s on my list, too.” She looked at him, then down at the table. She traced the pattern of the wood grain with her index finger. “I just want to do this first. And I figured you’d be the perfect guy to help me.”
“What in the world would make you think that?”
“Well, for one, you’re a high school science teacher, so you know all about chemistry and stuff.” She batted her eyelashes in an exaggerated manner.
“Ha ha.”
“All kidding aside.” Her serious tone underscored the words. “I know you. I trust you.” More than she trusted herself.
Something played in his eyes, but he shook his head. “Chloe, take a minute to stop and listen to yourself. You’re asking me to have sex with you.”
“I know.” It had taken months to work up the courage.

One Great Night - available now from The Wild Rose Press.

First Twenty Lines

I was out and about all day yesterday enjoying my last bits of summer vacation and didn't have time to come up with an enlightening post, so I'm taking the easy way out today and posting the first twenty lines of my WIP. It's titled "One Great Night".


“I want you to be my sex tutor.”

Jason choked on his beer. “What?”

Chloe Harris waited until he met her gaze again. “So, will you do it?” The background noise from the crowded bar filled the charged silence as she held her breath, waiting for his answer. Country music blared from the speakers set around the dance floor. Glasses and bottles clinked. Conversations overlapped, individual words indistinguishable in the cacophony.

“Do what?” he asked again as if he hadn’t heard right the first time.

She sighed. “Be my sex tutor.”

He looked at her like she’d grown two heads. His eyes narrowed. “Why do you need a sex tutor?”

“To make sure I’m going it right.”

This time Jason’s beer spilled down the front of his shirt. He dabbed at the spot with a napkin. “Dammit, this was a new shirt.” He closed his eyes for a moment. When they opened, his expression was pained. “I can’t believe I’m going to ask this. Hell, I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. But what makes you think you’re doing it wrong?”

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com