Sunday Smooch With Susanne Bellamy.....

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a smooch from  Engaging The Enemy by Susanne Bellamy. 


The winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Cindy Hamilton ..... Congratulations Cindy! 

Please contact Rachel Bailey on rachel (at) rachelbailey (dot) com to receive your copy of The Nanny Proposition....




And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Susanne Bellamy........

One building, two would-be owners and a family feud that spans several generations: all relationships have their problems. 

 Andrea de Villiers can’t lie to save herself. But when developer, Matt Mahoney, buys the building she and a friend have established as a safe house in the Melbourne CBD, she decides that protecting The Shelter is more important than her aching heart. She will confront Mr Mahoney, and she will emerge victorious. There are no other options.

 But Matt has other plans for Andie, and she soon finds herself ensnared in a web of well-meaning lies and benevolent deceit. To protect the building and the families that depend on her, Andie agrees to play the part of Matt’s fiancée, and play it convincingly.

 But lies soon bleed into truth, and what was once a deception starts to feel all too real. Can Andie accomplish her goals and protect The Shelter, without losing her heart to the charming Irish developer? 

Scene set-up [Andie and Matt are both emotionally invested in the same rundown building in Melbourne’s CBD. Matt has legitimately bought the building currently housing The Shelter which he wants to restore as a gift to his ill mother. Wanting to do the right thing by the women and children living there, he offers Andie an alternative property but their attraction diverts them.] 

“What does this building mean to you?”

When had he moved so close to her? Heat radiated all the way from the tips of her toes to her head. Trapped between his body and the chair, she fought the urge to press into him. She edged away until she backed into the wall.

“A promise is a promise. We were assured the building was ours to create The Shelter but money is more powerful than promises, it seems.”

“So you’re saying your father broke his promise to you by selling me the building when he did?”

She nodded, the betrayal a huge lump in her throat. What was the point in denying it? With an effort, she searched for her voice. “Yes.”

“You’ve done a fine job. And you can get your accreditation on time. It doesn’t have to be in this building. Andie, look at me.”

Reluctantly, she met his gaze.

“Take the Williamstown property. There’s no weakness in accepting a better offer.”

Mesmerised by his voice, her resolve weakened. It would be so easy to accept, so easy to let him have his way.

But is it best for The Shelter?

“Why is it so important that you can’t give us that little extra window of time? Does it really matter if you knock it down next month rather than this month?”

“Knock it down? Now why would you be thinking I’d be knocking it down? Who put that fairy story in your head?”

“You’re not? Then what’s so all fired important?”

“It’s personal.”

“That’s it? You drag my reasons out of me but leave me with it’s personal? That doesn’t cut it with me, Mahoney. Tell me.”

He sighed softly and reached out and ran a knuckle gently down her cheek. “Take my word and take the Williamstown property, Trouble, and leave it be.”

“But—”

“And then maybe we can explore other more interesting things; like why you blush when you’re near me.”

 “Mr Mahoney—”

He stepped right into her personal space. “Matt. Unless you want me to keep calling you ‘Trouble’?”

She put a hand on his chest. Too close, way too close. Her hand curled around his lapel. Not close enough.

With concentrated effort, she uncurled her fingers and flattened her hand, took a deep breath and pushed him back. “Mr…Matt. I—uh—I, I think you should go now.”

“But we’re having so much fun. Or we will, if you stop over thinking everything.”

“I don’t. I’m not. It’s just—”

His hold on her shoulders tightened and he closed the last inch of space separating them. Warm breath fanned her cheek. Subtle spice and an indefinable scent that she associated only with Mahoney wrapped around her.

               “Just nothing. Why don’t we see where things take us, hey, Trouble?” His mouth descended. Warm lips kissed the corner of her mouth, brushed lightly across hers. Deep in her womb, an unfamiliar longing throbbed. Mahoney’s full and undivided attention shattered the last of her resistance and she leaned into the kiss. Her lips parted beneath his. Nothing was more important than Mahoney’s mouth on hers, his hands on her bare shoulders. She slid her hands up his shoulders, up the column of his neck and into his hair. She rose onto tip-toe and pushed her hips forward. More.

To go into the draw to win a Kindle copy of either Susanne's novella, One Night in Sorrento, or  novel, White Ginger, leave a comment to the following question......

Where would you like to be while sipping your favourite cocktail? 

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a smooch from Amy Andrews will be posted!

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver