Friday, October 27, 2017

First Kiss Friday – An Excerpt from “Saving Cassie” by L.A. Remenicky

Today on First Kiss Friday, we welcome romance author, L.A. Remenicky, and an excerpt from her Contemporary Romance with Paranormal Elements, “Saving Cassie, Fairfield Corners Book 1.”

Everyone has secrets. Sometimes secrets can get you killed.

After ten years in the big city, Cassie Holt is moving back to her hometown to take over the bookstore left to her by her beloved Gram, vowing to live her life alone. To her best friend, Sheriff James Marsten, Cassie seems to be the same girl that left Fairfield Corners to go to college but Cassie has secrets and one of those secrets could get her killed. When one of her secrets becomes a threat to her life, James turns to his new deputy to help him keep Cassie safe.

Deputy Logan Miller has been burned by love and is not looking to get involved with anyone anytime soon. When he is thrown into close quarters with Cassie, the sparks begin to fly and he begins to see through the walls Cassie has built around her heart. As the threat gets closer, can Logan protect Cassie and protect his heart?

First Kiss Excerpt
She had settled in at the office desk to go over plans for the coffee bar she wanted to install when she heard the ringing of the bell over the door. Who could that be at this time of day? Rounding the last bookshelf, she almost ran into the deputy, who grabbed her arms to steady her when she stumbled over a chair while backing away.
“Slow down there, Miss Cassie; don’t want you to re-injure that ankle.”
“My ankle is fine,” she snapped. “No thanks to you,” she muttered before looking up at him, “What can I do for you today?”
“I’m looking for a book on plumbing. Need to replace a pipe and don’t want to call a plumber.”
“I believe those are back in the last row,” she answered as she walked in that direction. “We have some really good, basic, how-to books.” She reached the section and turned around, and he stopped, right there behind her, in her space. “Hey, no tailgating,” she smirked, trying to make light of it.
He chuckled, and blocked the aisle. She dodged to slip around him, but he spread his arms to keep her there. Suddenly, his hands were holding both of her arms, and she couldn’t move.
“What are you doing, deputy?” she demanded, confused and staring him square in the eyes.
His blue eyes held her gaze as he murmured, “Trying to get you out of my head.” Taking her by surprise, he lowered his head and touched his mouth to hers, nipping at her bottom lip. She gasped at the unexpected development, and he took advantage of the opportunity to deepen the kiss, while moving his hands to her back and pulling her closer. Seeming to go on forever, the touch of his lips sent shock waves through her entire body. She could feel how the kiss affected him, and the hard lump of him pressed against her leg.
Somewhere in the back of her brain, the sound of the bell over the door registered, but she couldn’t move; didn’t want to pull away. “Hey Reggie, where are you?” The spell broken by the voice, she  stepped back and out of Logan’s embrace.
“Shit,” she muttered under her breath. “How in hell did I let that happen?” she gazed up at Logan in wonderment. “That is never going to happen again,” she whispered, not wanting James to hear. “Here’s your damn book.” She managed to maneuver her way around Logan and over to the counter.
“Hi, James,” she said brightly, hoping she didn’t look like someone had just kissed her thoroughly. “I was helping Logan find a plumbing book.”
Logan stepped out from behind the bookshelves, looking as calm as always, the rat. “Hey, boss.”
Cassie moved to the register and rang up Logan’s sale. “That’ll be fifteen dollars and eighty-four cents, Logan. Will that be cash or charge?”
He handed her a credit card, and waited for her to swipe it. She returned it to him with the receipt. “Sign here.”
Hoping she didn’t really appear the way she felt, as if her face were on fire. She avoided eye contact with James, and  he studied her face, knowing that something seemed off about her. “What happened, Reggie? Do I need to take Logan out back and beat the crap out of him?”
Logan smirked, “Nothing happened that she didn’t ask for. See you later, darlin’.” He exited the store, whistling, the smug bastard.
“What the hell was that all about? Did he take advantage of you, Reg?”
“God, James, just butt out,” she yelled, trying to process what had taken place and trying to calm down. “I’m fine, nothing happened. Now, are you here for a reason or did you just decide that today was a good day to make my life hell?”
James held up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m sorry, Reg. I stopped by to see if you wanted to go to lunch.”
“No thanks.” She forced a smile at him, thankful that he was still her best friend. “Mel’s bringing me back a burger and onion rings from the drive-in. How about tomorrow instead?”
James again studied her face, not completely satisfied. “You’d tell me if something was wrong, wouldn’t you, Reg?”
“You know I would,” she said with fingers crossed behind her back. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. “I tell you everything.”
“Okay, just so we’re clear on that. I should get back to work. See you tomorrow.”
Finally. I thought he’d never leave. Cassie locked the front door, flipping the sign to ‘closed’ and returning to her office to finish the paperwork. Only, she couldn’t concentrate, and kept replaying the kiss in her mind.
Bang. Bang. Someone was pounding on the door.
“Now what? Can’t I get any peace and quiet today?” She stomped over to the door. Logan. Again. She unlocked it and let him in, relocking it behind him. “What now? You didn’t humiliate me enough already today?”
“I think we need to talk about what happened Saturday night, and what happened here today.”
“There isn’t anything to talk about. We shared a kiss, big deal. It’s not going to happen again. If that’s all, you can leave now.”
“Don’t think this is over so easy. We’re just getting started, darlin’.” He made his way over to the door and unlocked it.
“What makes you think this isn’t over? Nothing happened and nothing will happen. Now, get out of my store. And don’t call me darlin’.”
He turned on his heel and left. She locked up behind him again, then leaned against the door, frustrated. Great, what am I supposed to do now?

Saving Cassie” is available through:



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