Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!
Today we have a retro smooch from Michelle Douglas to celebrate her new The Best Of... anthology, but first...
... the winners (there were 5!) of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway were Jessica Lawson, laurie, Laney4, kimeleon and Jan Vanengen!
Can you please contact Clare: clare (at) clareconnelly (dot) co (dot) uk to receive your copy of Burn Me Once.
And now for today's Sunday Smooch from The Redemption of Rico D'Angelo.
Gorgeous Rico D’Angelo is single-handedly saving the world, one disadvantaged teen at a time. The opening of his charity café should be enough for him to finally put the regrets of his childhood behind him…but even as the ribbon is cut on opening day it’s not enough.
Until new hire Neen Cuthbert walks through the door and offers an unexpected blast of sunshine. She’s had her fill of misguided do-gooders, but something tells her Rico is different. Neen won’t let him push her away—especially now she’s discovering that Rico might just need her most of all…
Scene set-up: You know...I'm not sure we need one. ;-)
Rico stared at her, his jaw slack. Then a light blazed in his eyes. It stole her breath. Before she could gather her wits he reached across, took her face in his hands and kissed her.
If Neen had thought Rico’s lips would be cool—like him—she’d have been seriously mistaken. They were hot. Searingly hot. Heat jolted through her all the way down to the soles of her feet, electrifying her. Telling her what she needed and how.
She gasped, but she didn’t pull away.
His grip tightened. And then his tongue stroked her inner lips, teasing and tempting, creating an aching space of need and desire inside her that grew and grew and threatened every shred of her composure until she thought she might die if she didn’t respond.
Her tongue touched his. She felt rather than heard his moan. He smelled of cologne, but tasted smooth, like a buttery Chardonnay. She pressed herself as close as she could and drank him in.
Beyond the sheer unexpected magic of the kiss the table bit into her ribs and the clatter of cups and saucers tried to break her concentration. She did what she could to block it out, wanting to savour this one unexpected moment. A moment filled with energy and hope, and a lightness of being that was utterly foreign to her but utterly right at the same time.
More china rattled and clinked.
Rico.
Chatter. Laughter.
Kissing her.
The sound of a coffee machine.
So right…
Wrong!
The word screamed through her and Neen planted a hand in his chest and shoved him away. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, trying to rid herself of the taste of him in an effort to settle the clamouring need that hurtled through her. Her body’s betraying hum and thrum, its pounding and pulsing, made her grip the wooden tabletop in an effort to stay upright.
Rico stared at her, his chest rising and falling, his eyes dark and dazed.
This scene is set in a cafe (after all, Neen and Rico are in the process of setting up their own charity cafe). Do you have a favourite place to sneak out for coffee and cake? What's your very favourite thing about your local cafe?
Rico stared at her, his jaw slack. Then a light blazed in his eyes. It stole her breath. Before she could gather her wits he reached across, took her face in his hands and kissed her.
If Neen had thought Rico’s lips would be cool—like him—she’d have been seriously mistaken. They were hot. Searingly hot. Heat jolted through her all the way down to the soles of her feet, electrifying her. Telling her what she needed and how.
She gasped, but she didn’t pull away.
His grip tightened. And then his tongue stroked her inner lips, teasing and tempting, creating an aching space of need and desire inside her that grew and grew and threatened every shred of her composure until she thought she might die if she didn’t respond.
Her tongue touched his. She felt rather than heard his moan. He smelled of cologne, but tasted smooth, like a buttery Chardonnay. She pressed herself as close as she could and drank him in.
Beyond the sheer unexpected magic of the kiss the table bit into her ribs and the clatter of cups and saucers tried to break her concentration. She did what she could to block it out, wanting to savour this one unexpected moment. A moment filled with energy and hope, and a lightness of being that was utterly foreign to her but utterly right at the same time.
More china rattled and clinked.
Rico.
Chatter. Laughter.
Kissing her.
The sound of a coffee machine.
So right…
Wrong!
The word screamed through her and Neen planted a hand in his chest and shoved him away. She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, trying to rid herself of the taste of him in an effort to settle the clamouring need that hurtled through her. Her body’s betraying hum and thrum, its pounding and pulsing, made her grip the wooden tabletop in an effort to stay upright.
Rico stared at her, his chest rising and falling, his eyes dark and dazed.
This scene is set in a cafe (after all, Neen and Rico are in the process of setting up their own charity cafe). Do you have a favourite place to sneak out for coffee and cake? What's your very favourite thing about your local cafe?
Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a new smooch will be posted!
Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver
Morning Michelle
ReplyDeleteOh I did love this book it is so good and loved reading that smooch, I don't have a favourite local café, it depends where I am and who I am with as to where I go, we are very lucky in that at our local shopping centre has a lot of cafes and the ones that I have had coffee at I have really enjoyed, there is nothing like a good cup of coffee and some great company :)
Have Fun
Helen
It was such fun to revisit Rico and Neen, Helen.
DeleteI have lots of favourite cafes -- some for the coffee, some for the cake, some for the peace and quiet, and some for the company. Great company with a little serve of coffee and cake on the side is one of life's pleasures. :-)
A fabulous smooch.
ReplyDeleteI tend to head off to visit my mother when I want great cake and coffee. It's the personal touch.
Oh, I love that particular personal touch, Mary! An excellent excuse for visiting your mum. A coffee shop just can't compete with that. :-)
DeleteHi Michelle. Beautiful and interesting this extract. I don't have a favorite place to sneak out for coffee and cake. Any place is fine if you are in good company.
ReplyDeleteYou're right! Good company is the very, very best, Franca. :-)
DeleteI am one of those folks who love the smell of coffee, all things coffee flavored but I cannot drink it . Yuck!!!! There are tons of coffee shops in Orlando, but not near me. We do have a Dunkin Donuts if my hubby decides he wants a coffee treat.. This book sounds like it will be good. Love a bit Italian!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, Laurie! The scent of coffee is delicious, right? Even when you're not in the mood to drink it. :-) Also, I'm rather glad I don't have a Dunkin' Donuts nearby because donuts are my weakness (and my waistline doesn't need all of those extra inches!). ;-)
Delete