Mar 24, 2013

Sunday Smooch: What Happens in Charleston...



Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a retro smooch from What Happens in Charleston... but first:

the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is -- Alyssa!


Can you please contact Robyn at robyn-grady (at)
hotmail (dot) com to receive your copy of The Goddess!


And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Rachel Bailey's What Happens in Charleston...  

This book was originally released last year, but is being re-released in Australia and the UK in a special 2-for-1 with Kathie Denosky's Sex, Lies and the Southern Belle. These two books are the first two in a continuity set in Charleston, called Kincaids: A Southern Seduction.

When What Happens in Charleston was originally released, we had a smooch from Matthew and Susannah on the LoveCats, so today we'll share the second smooch from the book.







Money has always given Matthew Kincaid whatever he wanted. Yet now his son needs something even his millions can't buy. The widower's sole recourse is the surrogate who gave birth to his child - for she is also the boy's true biological mother.

Susannah Parrish needs no prodding to offer her assistance - a child's life is at stake. But to their mutual surprise, the minute she's back in Charleston and residing in Matthew's home, passion consumes them. Is this a relationship doomed by deception? Or is it the one chance at a love they both secretly crave?


Scene set-up: [Matthew and Susannah have been trying to keep their attraction under control, but not having much success. After sharing a meal and a decadent dessert, they're starting to wonder why they're staying away from each other at all.]



“New plan.” He leaned fists on the counter either side of her, holding her in place. “You come to my bed now.”


She opened her mouth to protest, but he laid a finger across her lips. “We go into this with no illusions, and no one will be hurt. We’ll keep it separate from Flynn and he’ll never know. You’re leaving soon, so this will be short-term. We’re both adults, we can deal with that. What we can’t deal with is fighting this attraction,” he said fiercely. “It’s too damn strong. At least, it is for me.”



“Doubly so for me,” she said through a dry throat. Yet, a rebel part of her mind protested…she’d never slept with someone knowing it would go no further—purely for the physical pleasure. Could she do it? Indulge her desire for him and not let her heart get involved?



If the choice was between never experiencing Matthew’s lovemaking or trying something new in having a short-term physical relationship, then the decision wasn’t difficult at all.


Original US cover - still available

“All right.” She met his gaze. “Let’s go with your new plan.”

A shudder racked his large frame. “For days, I’ve barely been able to look at you without imagining touching your skin. I’ve wanted to kiss you right here—” his lips touched the place where the column of her throat met her shoulder “—so badly it’s been keeping me awake at night.”

The heat of his tongue on the vulnerable skin was intoxicating, drawing her under his dark spell. She brought her hands up to his shoulders so she didn’t fall…and for the simple pleasure of touching him.

“What’s been keeping you awake at night?” he murmured against her skin.

An image flashed into her mind—the bare skin she’d glimpsed on his neck when his top buttons had been undone that first morning. With fumbling fingers, she undid his shirt buttons to halfway down his torso and splayed her fingers on the warm skin she uncovered.

“This,” she whispered, running her fingertips over the crisp hairs that were scattered across his chest, the heat inside her building.


He drew a sharp breath between his teeth. “Just that?”


“Starting with that.”


In one smooth motion, he grabbed the back of his shirt, pulled it over his head and discarded it. The expanse of muscled chest that stood before her sent sharp anticipation zinging through her veins. His arms slid around her waist, and she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his skin.


“Susannah,” he rasped then pulled her face up to kiss her hungrily. It was as darkly decadent as their first kiss, but this time it was so much more. There was no need to hold back; she could give free rein to all the passion she’d been holding in check, all the primal need that reared up inside her.


Although this kiss wasn’t merely about giving—it was about taking what she wanted. And she wanted Matthew.


 

You can find What Happens in Charleston in Australia and New Zealand here, or in the UK here, or still available in the US with its original cover here.

To be in the draw to win a signed copy of What Happens in Charleston... simply leave a comment. And since this is Matthew and Susannah's second kiss, why don't you let us know about something that you tried twice and liked just as much the second time. :)


Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced -- and a smooch from These Haunted Hearts by Anna Campbell will be posted!

24 comments:

  1. There is a roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, I used to love to ride when I was a teen, Recently, I rode it with my teenage daughter and I still loved it. She did too!

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  2. Ooh, Rachel, what a place to end the excerpt! What a corker!

    Smiling here. I hadn't even finished reading your question when the word 'chocolate' popped into my head. I wonder why?

    Tammy, I love the idea of sharing something with your daughter that you did when you were young. What a great feeling.

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  3. Tammy, I'm so impressed you went on a roller coaster with your teen! I'm far too much of a 'fraidy cat to do it even once. And it's such a lovely thing that you can pass that experience and share it with your daughter.

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  4. Having my daughters? lol, ummm... Tammy's story above reminds me of my visit to Movie World in Australia's Gold Coast. Since my last visit i've had a nasty fall down stairs and have devloped an annoying fear of heights. I was petrified of going on the rollercoaster, now called Arkham Asylum because your feet dangle and it takes so long to be pulled up the top, my heart starts beating, my hands start shaking and them WHOOSH off you go down and around and you get to the end and go Man I need to do that again, and so you line up and experience the heart palpitations all over again at the end still to feel success and thank the gods you didnt die the second time :)

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  5. Annie, I think chocolate is the answer to any good question. I wonder if it's too early for chocolate now...?

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  6. Hey, Tash, did you know you won one of the prize packs from the welcome party the other day? http://lovecatsdownunder.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/welcome-party-winners.html

    Congrats. :)

    Having your daughters is a great answer! And I can't believe you went on that roller coaster after you'd developed a fear of heights - gah! And you still loved it? Even your description above is making me feel slightly queasy...

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  7. It is never too early for chocolate, Rachel

    Tried twice: a water ride called the Black Hole Water Slide at Wet 'n Wild in Orlando, Florida... I did not want to ride it when I was younger but I tried it one year and went on it couple of times that year (I went to a summer camp/daycare that would go to Wet'n Wild a couple of times over the summer)

    Your books!! and chocolate

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  8. Amanda, you are very wise about the ways of chocolate. I like that about you.

    Oh, no - you're another scary ride person? But great that you found your water-slide-feet so to speak.

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  9. Aw, thanks, Ros, you sweetheart. :)

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  10. Oh my - !! What a brilliant excerpt. I love Matthew and Susannah's story. That Aussie cover is magic!
    Something I liked just as much the second time... How about going back into the surf after too many years away from the waves? Now you can't hold me back.

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  11. Hot smooch, Rach! I loved this book. :-) Okay, something I loved just as much the second time? Well, as you introduced me to her, what about reading Jennie Crusie's rom coms -- just fabulous!

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  12. Robyn, I know just what you mean about the surf. I always have too long between visits too, and each time I dive in I think I mustn't wait so long next time. So invigorating!

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  13. Michelle, reading your second Jenny Crusie rom-com definitely counts. In fact, it may be almost time to read another in our bookclub... :)

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  14. Fabulous smooch, Rachel! I love Susannah and Matthew's story! (Happy sigh) And look at those gorgeous covers - I have serious cover-envy!

    A recent "second" try at something for me was on the 4-wheel-drive course we did - I drove around the circuit a second time and it was just as much of a thrill as the first time!

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  15. Smoking hot smooch, Rache!!!

    Hmm, doing something twice?!? I wish I could eat the bacon and egg roll I had for lunch again. I could certainly do that twice and reckon it would be even better the second time.

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  16. Sharon, good for you for doing the 4WD course again! I love learning new skills like that, and if it has thrills as well then that's the icing on the cake. Go, you!

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  17. Jen, lol about your lunch. The good thing is you can make / buy another one. Or tomorrow for lunch. Or have them for dinner for the whole family. :)

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  18. OOOOOHHHHH i have to say it, SQEEEE, no I didn't know, thank you for mentioning it Rachel, I hadn't had time to sit down since then and was just logging in now to have my catch up! Oh my gosh!

    Re the rollercoasters to be honest the first couple of times I did it with my eyes squeezed SO TIGHT that Miss 11 was almost in fits of laughter at me. I did it for them really but the sense of achievement I felt was incredible.

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  19. Tash, how lovely that it came as a surprise today. And I have to say I'm a little jealous - there are a couple of books in that list I haven't read yet. Must do something about that!

    Good for you for doing the rollercoaster even though you had to squeeze your eyes shut. There's nothing quite like that sense of achievement, is there?

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  20. WOW!!! Good plan

    Re-reading a book that grabbed hold and wouldn't let go was my first thought. The anticipation is there when you pick up a much loved story & then YES, it's just as good as I remember.

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  21. Mary, yes! A friend of mine read one of my favourite books over the weekend, and she emailed me today to say she loved it - now I'm thinking I'll have to reread it. That anticipation when you already know how fabulous the book is can't be beaten. Happy sigh. :)

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  22. Nice scene. Like reading a fav book again.

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  23. bn100, seems you're not alone in liking to read a fave book again - and I'm one of those who's totally with you!

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