I know I haven't posted for a while. I bought and am renovating a house along with moving to said house and attended a convention in Savannah. Whew! I've been much too busy.
Anyway, here is snippet for you that I hope will help.
Joe could feel her questioning gaze. He must have been staring at her for much longer than was appropriate. He had to say something so he blurted the first thing that came to mind. “So, do you have a boyfriend back in Minnesota?” Why the heck did he ask that? He hadn’t even been thinking that.
Carol narrowed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. She didn’t answer, simply brought the teacup to her lips and sipped. Damn, she had a beautiful mouth. Full, soft lips just begging to be kissed. What the heck was wrong with him? He felt the weight of her gaze and wanted to make a run for the door before he said anything else. But before he could push his chair from the table she spoke.
“What has Kensie told you?” There was no emotion in her voice, it was flat and lacked the musical quality from earlier. “Did she tell you to come by tonight and turn on the charm?”
He raked both hands through his hair and shook his head. "Kensie hasn’t said a word to me about you. Although I’m sorry for asking such a personal question, your reaction makes me wonder if someone hurt you. And she never told me to turn on the charm. There’s something about you that makes me feel things I haven’t felt in a very long time. I apologize for being out of line.” Then he raised an eyebrow and asked. “Would you like me to kick his ass?”
His question must have shocked her out of her mood. He watched her dark expression evaporate into a full smile as she shook her head and laughed. His heart leapt in his chest. Was that hope he was feeling? No, it couldn’t be. His heart didn’t work like that anymore. But there was no denying, the glint in her eyes robbed him of breath. The realization that he hadn’t had reactions this intense when he had been with Janice was like a punch to his gut. He’d loved Janice. There was no refuting that. But for the first time since she died, he questioned whether he could find love again. Oddly, he didn’t feel the wave of guilt that normally squeezed chest when he thought of his wife.
The touch of Carol’s hand on his startled him from his thoughts. “Thank you for the offer, but no, I don’t need you to kick his ass. Even if I knew where he and my sister disappeared too.”
Joe couldn't help smiling even as he wondered about what she’d said. There was something contagious about Carol’s joy. “Him and your sister?”
Carol’s smile faded. “It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll tell you about it sometime.”
“All right, I’ll hold you to that because it seems to be an important story.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “It’s getting late, and I have an early morning ahead of me. Thank you for the tea and charming company.”
Carol picked up the cups and saucers, put them in the sink, and followed him to the door. “You’re welcome. Come by for a nightcap anytime you have trouble sleeping.”
Joe grinned up from her bottom step and tipped his hat. “I’ll do that. Good night, Carol.”
“Good night, Joe.”
Carol closed the door, sagged against it, and left out a long breath. Her hand went to her fluttering heart. That cowboy was potent. And confusing. A war waged between her heart and mind. Her heart said Hell yeah, but her mind said hell no! Joe made her feel alive. She didn’t want to feel alive or be affected by a man. That was a dangerous road, and she had no intention of traveling down it. Her mind insisted existing was safer and enough for her. Her dang heart has its own ideas.
“Carol, get a grip. You don’t need a handsome cowboy messing up your new life. Men are nothing but trouble, and you know it.” Her eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth. What if he was still outside and close enough to hear? She lifted a corner of the lacy curtain covering the small window in her door. Thank God! Her porch and yard were a cowboy free zone.
Anyway, here is snippet for you that I hope will help.
Joe could feel her questioning gaze. He must have been staring at her for much longer than was appropriate. He had to say something so he blurted the first thing that came to mind. “So, do you have a boyfriend back in Minnesota?” Why the heck did he ask that? He hadn’t even been thinking that.
Carol narrowed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. She didn’t answer, simply brought the teacup to her lips and sipped. Damn, she had a beautiful mouth. Full, soft lips just begging to be kissed. What the heck was wrong with him? He felt the weight of her gaze and wanted to make a run for the door before he said anything else. But before he could push his chair from the table she spoke.
“What has Kensie told you?” There was no emotion in her voice, it was flat and lacked the musical quality from earlier. “Did she tell you to come by tonight and turn on the charm?”
He raked both hands through his hair and shook his head. "Kensie hasn’t said a word to me about you. Although I’m sorry for asking such a personal question, your reaction makes me wonder if someone hurt you. And she never told me to turn on the charm. There’s something about you that makes me feel things I haven’t felt in a very long time. I apologize for being out of line.” Then he raised an eyebrow and asked. “Would you like me to kick his ass?”
His question must have shocked her out of her mood. He watched her dark expression evaporate into a full smile as she shook her head and laughed. His heart leapt in his chest. Was that hope he was feeling? No, it couldn’t be. His heart didn’t work like that anymore. But there was no denying, the glint in her eyes robbed him of breath. The realization that he hadn’t had reactions this intense when he had been with Janice was like a punch to his gut. He’d loved Janice. There was no refuting that. But for the first time since she died, he questioned whether he could find love again. Oddly, he didn’t feel the wave of guilt that normally squeezed chest when he thought of his wife.
The touch of Carol’s hand on his startled him from his thoughts. “Thank you for the offer, but no, I don’t need you to kick his ass. Even if I knew where he and my sister disappeared too.”
Joe couldn't help smiling even as he wondered about what she’d said. There was something contagious about Carol’s joy. “Him and your sister?”
Carol’s smile faded. “It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll tell you about it sometime.”
“All right, I’ll hold you to that because it seems to be an important story.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “It’s getting late, and I have an early morning ahead of me. Thank you for the tea and charming company.”
Carol picked up the cups and saucers, put them in the sink, and followed him to the door. “You’re welcome. Come by for a nightcap anytime you have trouble sleeping.”
Joe grinned up from her bottom step and tipped his hat. “I’ll do that. Good night, Carol.”
“Good night, Joe.”
Carol closed the door, sagged against it, and left out a long breath. Her hand went to her fluttering heart. That cowboy was potent. And confusing. A war waged between her heart and mind. Her heart said Hell yeah, but her mind said hell no! Joe made her feel alive. She didn’t want to feel alive or be affected by a man. That was a dangerous road, and she had no intention of traveling down it. Her mind insisted existing was safer and enough for her. Her dang heart has its own ideas.
“Carol, get a grip. You don’t need a handsome cowboy messing up your new life. Men are nothing but trouble, and you know it.” Her eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth. What if he was still outside and close enough to hear? She lifted a corner of the lacy curtain covering the small window in her door. Thank God! Her porch and yard were a cowboy free zone.
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