Today on
First Kiss Friday I’m featuring my new release with an excerpt from my Contemporary
Romance, “My Texas Heart: The Texas Kincaids Book 3.”
5 Stars: This author has a way of painting beautiful
word pictures and creating realistic, endearing characters. You won’t be
disappointed with her work. Amazon Reviewer
Divorced from one woman who put her career ahead of
everything – including their young son, Chad – Josh Kincaid isn’t about to make
that same mistake twice. If he ever falls in love again, it’s going to be with
a woman who puts family first. Chad is the most important thing in Josh’s life
and he’ll do whatever it takes to be an active part of his life. But his ex has
other plans and painfully shy Josh has to step up and fight for his son.
Feisty and driven, Fiona Reilly has plans. She left
home to break away from the expectations that she marry and stay home to raise
a passel of children. Nothing wrong with that life – it’s just not for her.
Instead, she’s going to make something of herself and build a business to be
reckoned with. In no hurry to fall in love, Josh and his adorable son capture
her heart, forcing her to choose between her dreams and building the home she
didn’t know she wanted.
Love has a way of messing up even the best of
intentions…
First Kiss Excerpt
She nodded and they
both stood. He lifted her coat from the back of her chair and helped her into
it. The creamy length of neck tempted him to place his lips there, and he
wanted to bury his nose in the fresh, fruity scent of her hair.
Instead he shoved
his hands in his pockets, but she twined her arm through his as they walked
back to the company parking lot. His motorcycle was parked along the edge of
the lot and a piece of paper taped to his handlebar caught his eye. He pulled
it off and held it up to the streetlight to read. “What the hell?”
“Josh, what’s
wrong?” Fiona placed a hand on his arm and peered around him to see the note.
“Cindy’s accusing
me of forgetting to pick up Chad today.” He rubbed a hand across his forehead
to work out the pressure building there. He may not be the best dad in the
world, but he’d been making a concerted effort to do better. He hadn’t been
late picking Chad up in months. “That’s not true.” He paused and looked at her.
“Today’s Thursday, right?”
“All day.”
“Our agreement is
that I pick him up on Mondays, Wednesdays, and the Fridays when it’s my weekend
to have him—unless she asks me to fill in for her. Didn’t hear a word from her
today. No call. No email. No text.” He shoved the note at Fiona. “Can you
believe this?” He couldn’t stand still while she read it. He had to move.
“Asshole. You were
supposed to pick up Chad. I got a call from daycare and had to leave an
important meeting to go get him. Cindy.”
Fiona handed the
note back to him, and he started to crumple it.
“No, wait,” she
said. “You might need that in court.” She took it from him and smoothed it
between her hands. “You should date it, and I’ll witness it.”
“Good idea.” The
thought of saying something bad about his wife in court clawed at his gut, but
he’d do whatever he had to for Chad’s sake. He believed that staying in Texas
where he would be surrounded by family was in his son’s best interest. After
Fiona signed it, he folded the note and put it in his pocket. He took her hand.
“Which way to your car?”
“This way.” She
walked him over to a fairly new, ruby-red subcompact.
“Red and very
tiny.” His knees would be up around his ears. “Aren’t you afraid some trucker
will turn you into a crushed mass of metal in that thing?”
“No more than you
riding that.” She motioned toward his motorcycle then shrugged and smiled. “It
was affordable, kind of cute, and gets good gas mileage. If I had tons of
money, it wouldn’t be my dream car, but it’ll do.”
He leaned against
the fender. “What is your dream car?”
He expected her to name some luxury brand like Cindy had lusted after.
“Honest?” She held
up two fingers in a scout pledge. “I’ve always wanted a Mustang convertible.
Power under the hood and the breeze rushing past my face. I’d wear a scarf and
sunglasses like a movie star.”
“I can picture
that.” He turned her toward him hands on her arms. Kissing her hadn’t been part
of his plan, but one sweet kiss couldn’t hurt. With other women, this first
date parting was always an awkward moment. Kissing Fiona felt natural.
Cupping her
upturned face in his palms, he lowered his lips to hers. Her hands rested on
his chest and her hair floated softly against his neck. This simple kiss held
the promise of lazy summer days and a lifetime of hot, sexy nights. He wanted
to draw her in and devour her. Take everything he sensed she had to offer.
Swallow her gregariousness until it became a part of him as well.
Her mouth opened,
welcoming him and he swept his tongue along hers tasting the remnants of the
light, sweet rum she’d sipped. He angled his head, deepening the kiss and
diving into the lush pool of heaven that was Fiona. In her embrace, he wasn’t
shy—he could conquer the world. Slowly he pulled away, running his tongue over
his lips to taste her once more. He gazed into her eyes and felt her sigh brush
his cheek.
“Thank you for
being with me tonight. You saved me from going home and stewing and worrying
and beating myself up.” His knuckles trailed down her cheek.
“You’re welcome.
I’ll text you my address and see you tomorrow night.”
Seeing her again
might not be smart. He’d need to protect his heart until he knew whether Fiona
put business success above all else. No way would he make the same mistake
twice. One woman he hadn’t been good enough for was plenty for one lifetime.
“My Texas Heart” is available through:
FREE on Kindle Unlimited
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