Archive for March 23rd, 2009

Fellow RDers Mel and Bria came up with the fab idea of posting a small excerpt of our writing on our blogs, and since I’ve been sorely lacking in blogging skills lately, I thought I’d go ahead and join in the fun.

Here’s a small teaser from my romantic suspense INTRUSION:

What was wrong with her? Cam had stood there—open, vulnerable—hers for the taking and she’d turned him down. Audra leaned over the dining room table, the morning sun streaming across a copy of Coburn Industries’ blueprints.

She’d gone to bed last night, her heart pounding in her chest, and tried to forget about the solemn look on his face that had almost torn her in two.  But in the harsh light of day, his expression still wouldn’t fade from her mind.

Didn’t he realize that the last thing she needed was someone who tried to get into her head?  Into her heart. If she let him make himself at home there he’d only redecorate the place before he left.  The price for emotional intimacy was far too high.

Better to make that clear now.  Before irreparable damage was done.

She bowed her head and tried to focus on the straight lines and symbols stamped into the print, but they blurred in her brain.

Why had she volunteered for this crazy scheme?

Cam would have forged on without her and no doubt succeeded. Had she refused, she’d have found herself locked away in another safe house for the duration.  Far away from Cam.  Far away from his disarming stares and captivating touches.

Yeah, okay.  So that’s why she’d volunteered.

She gripped the edge of the blueprint and tugged it towards her.  Warm breath caressed her neck and Cam’s arms came around her to point at a two-inch square in the left-hand corner of the paper.  She hadn’t even heard his approach.

“As far as I can tell, Coburn’s lab is probably right about here.  But we’re going to need a much closer look.”

She nodded, holding herself rigid in his arms to avoid contact with his body.  Fat chance.  He leaned in further and her eyes slid closed, his distinct sandalwood scent wrapping around her like a cloak.  The air died in her lungs.

God, she had a definite love-hate war spinning a hurricane inside her.  She loved being with Cam, simply enjoying his company and his sharp wit. She loved the feel of his strong body, the way he touched her and caressed her with his eyes.  But she hated how he pushed her; never content to let her draw the boundaries between them.

She opened her eyes and shoved back, drawing a figurative line in the sand.  Her fingers tapped the edge of the blueprints.  “How did you get these so quickly?”

He shrugged.  “The Goddesses of Information always smile down on me.”

“Goddesses, huh?”  She shook her head, unable to hide her smile at the Cam-ism.  “Of course they’d have to be Goddesses.”

“Information is sexy.  Sensual.  Don’t tell me you’ve never felt it.”  His voice washed over her like warm rain.  “Come on, you’re one of the smartest women I’ve ever met.  You must understand the orgasmic power of knowledge.”

His lips brushed at the sensitive spot behind her left ear and sent a shudder through her.  “Ah, is that line supposed to reduce me to a writhing puddle at your feet?”

“You mean it’s not working?”

Yes, damn him, it was.  But she’d douse herself in sulfuric acid before she admitted it.

His hands cupped her waist and turned her in his embrace.  “Then I guess I’ll have to try the truth.”  He dipped his head to meet her eyes.  “I have a lot of friends in low places who don’t mind doing favors for someone whose done them a good turn in the past.”

She loved the way he studied her.  It unsettled her, and yet she understood that at his core he was every bit as analytical as she was.  When he looked at her, it wasn’t to explore her features but her heart.

And right now, her heart leapt at the sight of his casual grin.

“So there you go.  The truth.”  He caught a strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear.  “Was it good for you?  Because I’ll tell you, it didn’t do a hell of a lot for me.  I like a little bit of fantasy in my life to keep from stagnating.”

“I could never imagine you stagnating.”

“No?  Then maybe I’ll try another truth.  Just to keep you on your toes.”  He rubbed at one of her curls.  “I like your hair much better down around shoulders.  You don’t look quite so…repressed.”

“Repressed, huh?”

She had to put some distance between them before she crumbled in his arms.  Why did she have to like everything about him?  The men she usually dated had at least one trait she disliked enough to justify holding a part of herself back.  With Cam…every single one of his quirks somehow endeared her to him even further.

Not good when she was trying to keep her distance.

She walked out of his embrace and slid her fingers across the top of the table until they connected with the band that had secured the rolled up blueprints.  Then she plucked it between her thumb and forefinger and wound it around her hair, securing it in a tight twist.

“So, what’s the plan here?”

Behind her, Cam chuckled.  “I don’t know yet.  I’m too busy contemplating how I’m going to get that damn tie out of your hair.”