What
is he willing to sacrifice to protect the woman he loves? Everything.
Ex-Army
Ranger, Cam Rodriguez, lost a leg in Afghanistan. Broken, he returns home to
his small Texas town to figure out what to do with his life. What he finds is
more frightening than the battlefield he left behind. The life of his childhood
friend – and secret childhood crush – is threatened. He’s not the warrior he
once was but is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if that’s what it takes
to save Crystal.
Crystal
Kincaid likes her quiet life and wishes, more than anything, it could stay that
way. But life has other ideas. A man she dated a few times has become obsessed
with her and she now lives in fear. Her natural instinct has been to avoid
danger at all costs. She turns to Cam to keep her safe. Lured to a remote
location by her stalker, she has to fight for her life and test the new-found
confidence Cam gave her.
This
powerful and emotional FRIENDS to LOVERS contemporary romance will keep you
turning the pages and breathe a happy sigh at the end.
First Kiss Excerpt
“I’m
glad to see you’ve got a garage and park your car in it. Do you keep the door
into the house locked?” he asked. He must have seen her scowl because he added,
“People with garage door openers often figure that’s enough protection.” Arms
crossed and stance wide, he surveyed the area.
“Yes, I
keep the inner door locked. Josh insisted. He also added a deadbolt, as well as
the regular lock.” She captured her bottom lip between her teeth. “Do you want
to come in and look around?”
His face
softened, and he smiled. “Still worried about little green monsters under your
bed?”
“No.”
He
raised one brow and she sighed.
“Okay.
Maybe.”
“I don’t
see any exterior security cameras or lights. Do you plan to get some?”
“I’ve
been meaning too. The landlord said I could, as long as I don’t make any
structural or wiring changes.” Cam must think she was a complete incompetent
and maybe he was right. “Josh said he’d help me figure out what I need.” She
shrugged. “It’s been over three weeks since I moved and last heard from
Jonathan. I guess I hoped this would all go away.” She pushed the button to
lower the garage door—with it open, she felt too exposed.
“You’re
in luck. Security systems are my specialty.” He paused, and she didn’t like the
set of his mouth. “You had to know he would find you. It’s not like you moved
three thousand miles away and cut off all ties to your family and friends.” He
reached for her hand and squeezed it. “You can’t ignore this.”
“I know.”
With her hand in his, she let his warmth and strength seep into her. “It’s all
so overwhelming.”
His big
hands framed her face, his fingers tangled in her hair, and his lips meeting
hers promised tenderness and safety. Everything tingled where he touched—the
most delightful, arousing sensation she’d ever felt, and his taste…
intoxicating. His fingers worked magic on her scalp and a blinding light filled
her vision. Even after her eyelids fluttered shut, it was there. She was drifting
out to sea on a riptide, lost, yet buoyed by a life jacket that let her know
she was secure.
This was
exactly where she was meant to be.
Slipping
her arms around him, her fingers ranged over his back, testing the contours and
ridges of his corded muscles. Power and restraint greeted her touch. She was
tired of him holding back. She wanted to be the kind of woman who inspired his
wildness. By the time the tip of his tongue traced her lips, her knees had
grown weak, and her heart beat to a hypnotic, sensuous rhythm. She’d waited so
long for him to respond to her as a woman—not Josh’s younger cousin.
When he
raised his head, he stepped back, all business, but the color in his cheeks
indicated he wasn’t unaffected. “Let’s go inside so I can get a count of
windows and doors. Then I’ll walk your perimeter to identify any bushes we
might want to trim and how many cameras and motion-sensor lights you should
have.”
