Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!
Today we have a smooch from A DEAL TO MEND THEIR MARRIAGE but first
... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Tammy Y
Can you please contact Louise: mail (at) louisecusack (dot) com to receive your copy of HUSBAND SIT
And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Michelle Douglas
Antiques dealer Caroline Fielding is married more to her job than to dashing Jack Pearce. After five years apart their relationship should be over--only when Jack shows up asking for a divorce, the chemistry is as strong as ever...
Caro tries to ignore her heart and sign the papers that will let go of Jack. But now her professional reputation is on the line and only her private investigator husband can help her! Working together 24/7 may be emotionally heart-wrenching, but it could also save her job...and their marriage.
Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver
... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Tammy Y
Can you please contact Louise: mail (at) louisecusack (dot) com to receive your copy of HUSBAND SIT
And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Michelle Douglas
Caro tries to ignore her heart and sign the papers that will let go of Jack. But now her professional reputation is on the line and only her private investigator husband can help her! Working together 24/7 may be emotionally heart-wrenching, but it could also save her job...and their marriage.
Scene set-up: It can be hard to set up a scene without giving too much away... Suffice it to say that Caro and Jack have just had an interesting experience...and the adrenaline is still pumping.
She reached up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. He bit back a groan.
‘I…’
Her voice trailed off at whatever she saw in his face. Her eyes met his and darkened. Her gaze lowered to his lips and her own lips parted ever so slightly—as if she were parched, or as if she couldn’t quite catch her breath. Wind roared in his ears. She wanted him. With the same desperate hunger that ravaged him. He’d promised not to kiss her, but…
He moved in closer, traced a finger down the soft flesh of her cheek. Her breath hitched. Her eyes never left his.
‘You…’ She hiccupped again as his finger moved down the line of her throat. ‘You promised,’ she whispered.
‘I promised not to kiss you,’ he murmured. ‘I don’t recall promising not to touch you. You can tell me to stop any time you want to and I will.’
Her lips parted, but no words emerged.
A surge of something hot and primal pulsed through him. ‘And I don’t recall you promising not to kiss me.’
Her breath hitched again. Maintaining eye contact, he took her hand and raised it to his lips, nibbled on the end of her ring finger and then her middle finger, drawing it ever so slightly into the warmth of his mouth.
‘You didn’t promise you wouldn’t kiss me,’ he whispered again. ‘And I want you to kiss me, Caro. I want that more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.’
A shiver shook through her. He went hard in an instant.
‘I didn’t promise that I wouldn’t put my arms around you…’
Very slowly she shook her head. ‘No, you didn’t promise that.’
He backed up until he was leaning against the car. He drew her towards him to stand between his legs—not quite touching, but their heat swirled and merged and another shiver shook through her.
He kissed the tips of each of the fingers of the hand he still held. ‘I didn’t promise not to place your arm around my neck…’
He put her hand on his shoulder, snaking an arm about her waist and pulling her closer. The feel of her in his arms was familiar and strange both at the same time. Her other hand slid about his neck too.
‘Jack…’ she whispered.
He moved his face to within millimetres of hers. ‘I didn’t promise not to ask you to kiss me…’
‘Oh…’
The word was nothing more than a breath and it whispered across his lips, drawing everything inside of him tight. Her hands tightened about his neck.
‘I’m not asking, Caro,’ he groaned. ‘I’m begging. Please kiss me. I—’
She leant forward and pressed her lips to his.
A Deal To Mend Their Marriage is set in London...because I love London. :-) If you could choose the setting for a romance, what would you pick?
She reached up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. He bit back a groan.
‘I…’
Her voice trailed off at whatever she saw in his face. Her eyes met his and darkened. Her gaze lowered to his lips and her own lips parted ever so slightly—as if she were parched, or as if she couldn’t quite catch her breath. Wind roared in his ears. She wanted him. With the same desperate hunger that ravaged him. He’d promised not to kiss her, but…
He moved in closer, traced a finger down the soft flesh of her cheek. Her breath hitched. Her eyes never left his.
‘You…’ She hiccupped again as his finger moved down the line of her throat. ‘You promised,’ she whispered.
‘I promised not to kiss you,’ he murmured. ‘I don’t recall promising not to touch you. You can tell me to stop any time you want to and I will.’
Her lips parted, but no words emerged.
A surge of something hot and primal pulsed through him. ‘And I don’t recall you promising not to kiss me.’
Her breath hitched again. Maintaining eye contact, he took her hand and raised it to his lips, nibbled on the end of her ring finger and then her middle finger, drawing it ever so slightly into the warmth of his mouth.
‘You didn’t promise you wouldn’t kiss me,’ he whispered again. ‘And I want you to kiss me, Caro. I want that more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.’
A shiver shook through her. He went hard in an instant.
‘I didn’t promise that I wouldn’t put my arms around you…’
Very slowly she shook her head. ‘No, you didn’t promise that.’
He backed up until he was leaning against the car. He drew her towards him to stand between his legs—not quite touching, but their heat swirled and merged and another shiver shook through her.
He kissed the tips of each of the fingers of the hand he still held. ‘I didn’t promise not to place your arm around my neck…’
He put her hand on his shoulder, snaking an arm about her waist and pulling her closer. The feel of her in his arms was familiar and strange both at the same time. Her other hand slid about his neck too.
‘Jack…’ she whispered.
He moved his face to within millimetres of hers. ‘I didn’t promise not to ask you to kiss me…’
‘Oh…’
The word was nothing more than a breath and it whispered across his lips, drawing everything inside of him tight. Her hands tightened about his neck.
‘I’m not asking, Caro,’ he groaned. ‘I’m begging. Please kiss me. I—’
She leant forward and pressed her lips to his.
Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced!
Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver
Hi Michelle
ReplyDeleteI loved this story it is so heart-warming and a joy to read woohoo :) loved that smooch
You as far as settings go I don't do a lot of travelling and have never been to Europe so I do love books set around Europe England Scotland because I feel as if I am visiting them when reading the stories it is always lovely when arm char travelling :)
Have Fun
Helen
I totally agree, Helen! Arm-chair travel is one of the joys of reading. It's so exciting to get a taste of a place (especially if it's a place you know you'll never get to) through the pages of a book.
DeleteAnd I'm over the moon that you loved this story -- I have a big soft spot for Caro and Jack. :-)
have been waiting for the release of this book -- as for settings where ever it happens is a good place----Lyn
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy the book when it reaches you, Lynlinwill. :-) And I have to say, as long as I like the characters, I don't mind where a story is set either.
DeleteNot so patiently waiting for the release of this. Has been on pre-order since last month. At least I believe it's available tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAs for settings, I can't settle on a single place. I have yet to find a story with a setting that just does not work.
LOL. I hope it lives up to expectations, Lyn.
DeleteI think variety in settings is one of the joys of reading category romance -- you're sure to find a book set just about anywhere. :-)
Wicked smooch, Michelle.
ReplyDeleteI love London as well. I lived there for nearly seven years and it is one of my favourite places in the world! A few of my romance feature trips to London.
London is just about my favourite place in the world, Jen! Much envy that you lived there for seven years. What fun. :-)
DeleteHello Michelle, I unfortunately i have to wait before you can read, as it has to be translated into Italian. However setting for a love story for me would be Paris, Venice, and why not even Sydney !!
ReplyDeleteFranca, I think you've picked two of the all-time most romantic cities in Paris and Venice -- such beautiful cities too. Ah, and, yes -- Sydney! That harbour is a sight to behold. Great suggestions. :-)
DeleteVery smooth..Promises, promises...I love London, by the way. It doesn't matter where a story is situated though, by reading the story I travel in my mind to that place. Yay for imagination,internet and pictures!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Riet -- yes, a very smooth way around that particular promise. ;-)
DeleteAnd I agree totally in terms of traveling in one's mind to the setting of a story. Three cheers for the imagination, the internet and pictures. :-)
A great smooch.
ReplyDeleteI always think that any location can be romantic. You just need the right partner.
Truer words were never spoken, Mary! The right person at your side can make anywhere and everywhere romantic. :-)
DeleteMichelle, I can't wait to lose myself in this story. It sounds so terrific, with such a fun set up. I love the idea of them working together and learning to love again!
ReplyDeleteOh, a fave location for a romance...! Too hard. That's one of the joys of writing books, I get to choose so many great locations. Right now my mind is in a luxurious but isolated Middle Eastern fortress...
I love this story, Annie -- for all the reasons you mention. I hope you love it too. :-)
DeleteOoh, an isolated Middle Eastern fortress sounds very intriguing...and in your hands no doubt very romantic. :-)
Hi Michelle - can't wait to purchase this book. You have left me wanting more with that teaser. London just feels right for this book.
ReplyDeleteFavourite location - Greece.
So glad to have whetted your appetite, Vanessa! ;-)
DeleteLondon is the perfect location for this particular book, but now you have me eager to explore Greece...perhaps, in particular, the Greek islands. Thanks for dropping by! :-)
Loved your smooch, Michelle. Such a great build, I was screaming - kiss him, kiss him, kiss him :-)
ReplyDeleteLondon is one of my favourite places in the world - will be back there in 10 weeks! Also anywhere in Italy would work for me!
So glad you enjoyed that build, Amy. It was a lot of fun to write. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely pea green that you'll be in London soon (without me smuggled in your suitcase). Hope you have the BEST time. We'll look forward to your pics. Ah, Italy...although I've never been there, I'm sure it'd work for me too. ;-)
The Provence hills near Grasse in late spring when roses are in full bloom just before the 'perfume' harvest. French food, wine and French accents delicious enough to eat.
ReplyDeleteSounds utterly divine, Pam!
Delete