“[An] exceptional tale of forbidden love.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Forbidden Promises
Careless Whispers Excerpt 2
“Thank you for coming down here to help and volunteering. I
know you were told to be here.”
Alex chuckled and walked back over to the box next to her.
“I didn’t realize being active at the country club was a part of the job
description.”
“It usually isn’t. We recently lost the person who helped
last year. You were promoted at an opportune time.”
“Tonight wasn’t too bad,” he said.
“I suspect not.” She watched him for a few seconds as he
read over the list in the box he’d opened. “Sade was very friendly. I was
surprised you chose to help me instead of going off with her.”
He didn’t look up from the paper. “I wasn’t interested in
going off with her.”
“I couldn’t tell.”
“Was there a reason you paid so much attention to my
interaction with Sade?” This time he did look up and nailed her with that
I-can-see-through-your-bullshit stare.
Elaina glanced away quickly. “I just noticed, that’s all.
She’s a nice person. I even tried hooking her up with Byron once. You could do
worse.”
“Why would I want to do worse?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Sometimes worse is more fun.”
“In what way?” he asked.
“The person you know you shouldn’t be with always holds the
bigger appeal,” she stated matter-of-factly. “It’s the entire off-limits aspect
that makes everything much more addictive.”
“Are you speaking from experience?”
She turned to face him, her heart pounding again and a dozen
warning bells going off in her head. She should shut down the flirting, but the
look in Alex’s eyes said he was willing to go with her down this path. “I’ve
got some experience with wanting the wrong man.”
“But that’s all in your past now.” He took a half step
closer.
She shook her head. She’d never been good at not going for
what she wanted. Her ego needed stroking, and Alex with his quiet understanding
and empathy had shown her more care than anyone had in a long while. She’d be
smarter this time. This was just to quell her curiosity. People said there was
a thin line between love and hate. Maybe all their bickering had just been
leading to this.
“Not quite,” she said, choosing her next words carefully. She
pretended to check the list in her box. “I find myself thinking about someone
who I once despised. I miss clashing with him daily. I enjoy the verbal
sparring. Not to mention he recently wrapped his arms around me, and for some
reason I can’t get that out of my head.” She glanced at him. “He’s stronger
than I imagined. His embrace is comforting in a way I didn’t realize I’d like.
It makes me want more even though I know I shouldn’t.”
Alex stilled next to her. “What are you going to do about
this ill-advised craving?”
“It kind of depends on him,” she said. “I think he’s
interested, but I can’t be sure. And you know I could never offer myself to a
man who didn’t want me.” She said the last part with a slight shrug though her
heart imitated a hummingbird against her ribs, and a mixture of excitement and
adrenaline flowed with each beat.
Alex slid closer, closing the distance between them, and
filling her senses with him. He pulled the paper out of her hands. “What if he
wants you too?”
His deep voice slid over her like warm satin. Elaina’s
nipples tightened as heat flooded her sex. She faced him and met his dark eyes.
“Then I’m in trouble, because I’m no good at saying no to the things I want but
shouldn’t have.”
Alex watched her for several heartbeats. The pulse beat
quickly at the base of his neck. A question hovered in his eye. Was she being
genuine, or was she playing with him? She wasn’t about to back down now. Not
after she’d worked up the courage to acknowledge the attraction humming between
them.
Before he could let common sense kill the moment she lifted
on her toes and brushed her lips across his. “Tell me, Alex, am I in trouble?”
Alex’s strong arm wrapped around her waist. He pulled her
carefully against his body as if she were precious. Emotion squeezed her chest
while a jolt of desire rushed through her. She never could resist a man willing
to accept her challenge.
1 comment:
Thanks so much for spotlighting Careless Whispers!
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