Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!
Today we have a smooch from Rachel Bailey but first...
... we have two winners! The winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Sarah Lehman! Can you please contact Kandy Shepherd to receive your copy of Stranded with her Greek Tycoon. And the winner of Clare Connelly's Sunday Smooch from the end of last year is Michelle Cunliffe. Can you contact Clare to receive your copy of Innocent in the Billionaire's Bed!
And now for today's Sunday Smooch from His 24-Hour Wife. This volume is a shiny new release of three favourites: The Nanny Proposition, Bidding on Her Boss, and His 24-Hour Wife. The heroes of these three books are brothers: Liam, Dylan and Adam Hawke, and between them they run a huge florist company. The books were originally released as Harlequin Desires, and now they're together in one volume for the very first time! Today's smooch is from the third brother, Adam's book.
What happened in Vegas didn’t stay there for CEO Adam Hawke and go-getter Callie Mitchell. And their drunken lark of a wedding is coming back to haunt them. Because Adam and Callie are now working together, and she’s being blackmailed over their very personal connection by a coworker. To deflect the threat, Callie and Adam make their sham marriage look real. But the passion that ensues is no sham. Could their wedding lark have real wings after all?
Scene set-up: Adam and Callie have arranged a magazine photo-shoot to announce their marriage to the world, but they're still struggling to find the line between pretend and oh, so real...
Two days later, Callie found herself with a journalist, walking through the Hawke Brothers’ flower markets. She was wearing a pale gold dress and kitten heels, her hair and makeup photo-ready.
Adam was striding a few steps ahead with the photographer, who wore ripped jeans and a faded T-shirt. Adam, in contrast, was in a tuxedo, parting the crowd like Moses at the Red Sea. No one walked the way Adam Hawke did—powerfully, and always with a purpose. The jacket fit his shoulders perfectly, highlighting their breadth and strength. It was mesmerizing.
“You sure lucked out in husbands,” Anna Wilson said as she walked in step beside Callie. Anna was the first journalist she’d called when looking for a place to launch the story. She was already a friend, and she had a reputation for writing good, solid stories on famous people that neither simpered over the subject nor made snarky digs.
“Yep, Lady Luck was kind to me that night.” Memories of twisted white sheets and Adam’s naked physique rolled through her mind, causing her mouth to suddenly go dry.
“Maybe I should try Vegas,” Anna said. “If I’m going to try my luck anywhere, then surely luck’s hometown will work as well for me as it did for you.”
A stab of unease hit Callie squarely in the belly. Luck hadn’t smiled on her in Vegas. It had given her a night in heaven, sure, but the price had been high. Spending this time with Adam now might just drive her insane.
“You’re not wearing rings,” Anna said suddenly.
“Rings?” Callie repeated.
“You know,” Anna teased, “those little bands we traditionally exchange when we get engaged and married.”
Callie frowned, surprised at herself for missing this detail. When they’d originally exchanged vows, they’d paid for cheap rings that had come from a tray kept under the counter at the chapel. She and Adam had both taken them off the next morning. Hers was in her makeup case where she’d tucked it after sobering up, and she assumed Adam had thrown his away.
“We’re getting new rings for the new ceremony,” she said, thinking on her feet. “It’s symbolic of us starting fresh.”
Anna smiled dreamily. “I love that idea.”
Adam stopped in front of a large flower stall with shelves covered in buckets of bright blooms in every color. He said a few words to the photographer, and then turned to Callie. “How about we take some of the photos here?”
She surveyed the scene. The backdrop would provide color and evoke happiness, and the light was good. “This would be great,” she said, moving to take Adam’s hand.
He leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on her lips, and her pulse went into overdrive. It wasn’t difficult to find the blissed-out expression that she was supposed to be faking—in fact, she knew it was on her face, whether she wanted it there or not.
Anna glanced around and conferred with Ralph, the photographer, and then said, “This is good. How about we start with you replaying that kiss for us?”
Callie glanced up at Adam and he looked for all the world as if he could think of nothing better than kissing her again. He clearly had the acting thing down pat. Of course, he probably did still desire her—chemistry as strong as what they’d shared wouldn’t likely disappear overnight, but she was well aware he didn’t want to give in to it again. And one thing she’d learned about Adam Hawke in the short time she’d known him was that he had iron willpower.
“It would be my pleasure,” he said, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him as he lowered his head. This time it was no peck on the lips, it was more. So much more. Tempting, sensual and knowing. It was everything. She slid her hands along his wrists, past his elbows to grip his biceps through his shirt, partly to keep him in place and partly to hold herself up.
He trailed his lips to the corner of her mouth and then across to her ear. Whispering her name, he sent a shiver across her skin and bit gently on her earlobe. She turned her face, searching for and finding his kiss, feeling as if she’d found her home as well.
They eased apart and Callie held onto his arms for an extra beat, her knees too wobbly to hold herself upright, her mind too dazed to think clearly.
“Adam,” she whispered, and in response a lazy smile spread across his face.
“That’s great,” Ralph said. “Just hang on a sec while I adjust some settings.”
The three books in The Brothers Hawke feature lots of flowers - which makes sense since the three Hawke brothers run a florist company: Liam is in charge of growing the flowers and developing new and unusual flowers; Dylan is in charge of the retail arm, Hawke's Blooms; and Adam is the CEO of the company and also responsible for the flower markets. So to celebrate the re-release of the Hawke Brothers, tell me what your favourite flower is and I'll choose one commenter to send them a copy of the shiny new volume!
Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver
Today we have a smooch from Rachel Bailey but first...
... we have two winners! The winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Sarah Lehman! Can you please contact Kandy Shepherd to receive your copy of Stranded with her Greek Tycoon. And the winner of Clare Connelly's Sunday Smooch from the end of last year is Michelle Cunliffe. Can you contact Clare to receive your copy of Innocent in the Billionaire's Bed!And now for today's Sunday Smooch from His 24-Hour Wife. This volume is a shiny new release of three favourites: The Nanny Proposition, Bidding on Her Boss, and His 24-Hour Wife. The heroes of these three books are brothers: Liam, Dylan and Adam Hawke, and between them they run a huge florist company. The books were originally released as Harlequin Desires, and now they're together in one volume for the very first time! Today's smooch is from the third brother, Adam's book.
Scene set-up: Adam and Callie have arranged a magazine photo-shoot to announce their marriage to the world, but they're still struggling to find the line between pretend and oh, so real...
Two days later, Callie found herself with a journalist, walking through the Hawke Brothers’ flower markets. She was wearing a pale gold dress and kitten heels, her hair and makeup photo-ready.
Adam was striding a few steps ahead with the photographer, who wore ripped jeans and a faded T-shirt. Adam, in contrast, was in a tuxedo, parting the crowd like Moses at the Red Sea. No one walked the way Adam Hawke did—powerfully, and always with a purpose. The jacket fit his shoulders perfectly, highlighting their breadth and strength. It was mesmerizing.
“You sure lucked out in husbands,” Anna Wilson said as she walked in step beside Callie. Anna was the first journalist she’d called when looking for a place to launch the story. She was already a friend, and she had a reputation for writing good, solid stories on famous people that neither simpered over the subject nor made snarky digs.
“Yep, Lady Luck was kind to me that night.” Memories of twisted white sheets and Adam’s naked physique rolled through her mind, causing her mouth to suddenly go dry.
“Maybe I should try Vegas,” Anna said. “If I’m going to try my luck anywhere, then surely luck’s hometown will work as well for me as it did for you.”
A stab of unease hit Callie squarely in the belly. Luck hadn’t smiled on her in Vegas. It had given her a night in heaven, sure, but the price had been high. Spending this time with Adam now might just drive her insane.
“You’re not wearing rings,” Anna said suddenly.
“Rings?” Callie repeated.
“You know,” Anna teased, “those little bands we traditionally exchange when we get engaged and married.”
Callie frowned, surprised at herself for missing this detail. When they’d originally exchanged vows, they’d paid for cheap rings that had come from a tray kept under the counter at the chapel. She and Adam had both taken them off the next morning. Hers was in her makeup case where she’d tucked it after sobering up, and she assumed Adam had thrown his away.
“We’re getting new rings for the new ceremony,” she said, thinking on her feet. “It’s symbolic of us starting fresh.”
Anna smiled dreamily. “I love that idea.”
Adam stopped in front of a large flower stall with shelves covered in buckets of bright blooms in every color. He said a few words to the photographer, and then turned to Callie. “How about we take some of the photos here?”
She surveyed the scene. The backdrop would provide color and evoke happiness, and the light was good. “This would be great,” she said, moving to take Adam’s hand.
He leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on her lips, and her pulse went into overdrive. It wasn’t difficult to find the blissed-out expression that she was supposed to be faking—in fact, she knew it was on her face, whether she wanted it there or not.
Anna glanced around and conferred with Ralph, the photographer, and then said, “This is good. How about we start with you replaying that kiss for us?”
Callie glanced up at Adam and he looked for all the world as if he could think of nothing better than kissing her again. He clearly had the acting thing down pat. Of course, he probably did still desire her—chemistry as strong as what they’d shared wouldn’t likely disappear overnight, but she was well aware he didn’t want to give in to it again. And one thing she’d learned about Adam Hawke in the short time she’d known him was that he had iron willpower.
“It would be my pleasure,” he said, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him as he lowered his head. This time it was no peck on the lips, it was more. So much more. Tempting, sensual and knowing. It was everything. She slid her hands along his wrists, past his elbows to grip his biceps through his shirt, partly to keep him in place and partly to hold herself up.
He trailed his lips to the corner of her mouth and then across to her ear. Whispering her name, he sent a shiver across her skin and bit gently on her earlobe. She turned her face, searching for and finding his kiss, feeling as if she’d found her home as well.
They eased apart and Callie held onto his arms for an extra beat, her knees too wobbly to hold herself upright, her mind too dazed to think clearly.
“Adam,” she whispered, and in response a lazy smile spread across his face.
“That’s great,” Ralph said. “Just hang on a sec while I adjust some settings.”
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
Wowsers. I think MY knees are buckling too!
ReplyDeleteI love yellow carnations and how they last close to a month....
Laney, carnations don't get mentioned very often in lists of prettiest flowers, do they? But I'm with you - I love them!
DeleteHi Rachel
ReplyDeleteI do love this cover and I loved all three of these stories they are fabulous, my favourite flower is probably carnation they were the flowers I had on the day I married but I also love roses :)
Have Fun
Helen
A carnation wedding bouquet, Helen? How cool! I've seen your wedding photos on Facebook but I don't remember the flowers. Next time they come up in my feed I'll pay more attention!
DeleteGorgeous smooch, Rach! How lovely to see your three hunky brothers all in one volume. Happy sighs. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think my favourite flowers are those with a scent -- so gardenias, freesias and jasmine are high on my list. Oh, my, but peonies are unbelievably beautiful. So many beauties to choose from. :-)
Michelle, I don't have many flowers in my yard because I'm surrounded by native bush, but you've listed the ones I have - gardenias and jasmine. And, yes, it's for the scent, so we're on the same page. :)
DeleteLove the floral aspect of these stories, Rachel. and the stories themselves! Favourite flow is the Iris.
ReplyDeleteThe iris! Yes! I used to have some when I lived in Brisbane. I haven't thought about them in ages - thanks for the memory!
DeleteLoving this!!!
ReplyDeleteI love flowers, but not sure I have an absolute favourite. (I have been known to think flowering weeds are pretty.)
Oh, yes! My mother was always keen for us to give her wildflowers and weed flowers for mother's day instead of bought flowers, so they've always had a special place in my heart too, Mary.
DeleteWhen I finished reading your post I thought, I don't have a favourite flower, I can appreciate all flowers for their own individual beauty and uniqueness. This was quickly followed by an image of a poppy.
ReplyDeleteI do have a bit of a thing for poppies; shh don't tell the other flowers.
I'll always remember seeing a poppy, in the flesh, for the first time.
It was one afternoon when I was in late primary school.
I recall not feeling so happy on the walk from school to my grandparent's home. It'd been a particularly challenging day in class and I'd also had a falling out with my best friend so my heart was heavy. On top of that I had homework to do and my sisters and cousins didn't, so they'd been excitedly discussing the game they'd be playing once they'd had a cup of tea. Tea drinking at my grandparents was an institution - but that's another story.
Anyway, I was dragging behind the cheery group and arrived some minutes after them and there they were in the front garden. It was a bit like love at first sight. They were fascinating, like no flower it'd ever seen in my grandmother's lovingly tended garden. They seemed so papery thin and almost fragile yet so strangely contradictory in the strength, beauty and confidence they displayed - standing tall and bright red with the black centre, above the somewhat dull green foliage. They were like a beacon, or maybe the sun busting through clouds. They seemed to smile at me and say everything will be okay. I immediately associated them with my grandmother, and still do. The way she interacted with us wasn't dissimilar to the way she tended her garden - with such love, kindness and patience. She always looked so happy and peaceful working away, creating something beautiful - the poppies in particular - for everyone to enjoy.
Thanks for the memory, and congratulations, Rachel, and all the best with your re-release. I'm certainly looking forward to stepping into a world filled with flowers and the Hawke brothers xo.
Jillian, what a beautiful memory to have! I've never thought of poppies that way, but I will think of your comments next time I see one. Thank you for sharing that with us.
DeleteI love the cover. It's hard to pick just one favorite flower because I love so many of them but daisies, daffodils and tulips are at the top of my list.
ReplyDeleteOh, they're great choices, Deanna! Tulips don't do well in Qld's heat, but I've grown daffodils in winter before. There's something so exquisite about them and jonquils! And daisies have always been one of my favourites. They're just SO happy!
DeleteI love pink carnations because of their spicy, long lasting scent, and lily of the valley, which doesn't grow in Florida. I loved the Hawke brothers series when they first came out, glad they are being re-released!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, you're another vote for carnations! It's funny that they're not very fashionable, but they're the flower that's had the most votes on this post. Lily of the valley are so pretty, but you've made me realise I've never seen one in real life. I must do something about that... :)
DeleteI love lilacs because purple is my favorite color but I also love daisies because they are such happy flowers.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I've only had bunches of lilacs a couple of times but I totally fell in love with them - their scent is divine!
DeleteIf I have to choose, then I would love white roses amongst a whole bunch of green stuff. To be honest, I'm not that fond of flowers, I think it's nice when I receive them, but I put them in a vase and don't look at them anymore. Luckily, my hubs never gives me flowers, he knows I prefer chocolates, lol/
ReplyDeleteRiet, your husband is a very wise man - chocolates are always a winner! :)
Delete