Breathtaking: Seven Bestselling Novels of Love and Suspense
Boxed set is only $.99 March 24th through March 29th.
Excerpts from the clean romantic suspense novels of the Breathtaking Boxed Set
Excerpt from Cassie's Cowboy Crave by Kimberly Krey
Cassie's words dangled in the air like an invitation, warm and welcome. He couldn't likely bring her home without a simple kiss, now, could he? When their eyes met, Shane tilted his head, asking for permission with the lift of his brow. She nodded slightly - a silent response - yet the best thing he'd heard in weeks - Yes.
Excerpt from Baggage Claim by Amanda Tru
Rachel got out of the car, and the cabbie popped the trunk for her to get her suitcase. She lifted it out and stepped to the curb as the cab pulled away.
"Rachel!"
Surprised, Rachel looked up from battling to get her suitcase set on its wheels. Before she could even move, a dark-haired man ran up, grabbed her close, and kissed her passionately on the mouth. Rachel went completely numb, too shocked to even think. He finally pulled away, continuing to hold her close and grin at her like she was the absolute best thing in his life.
"Sweetheart! I'm so glad you're here!" he said joyfully.
Recognition hit. This wasn't a complete stranger. She knew this man! He was 'The Rudest Man' from the airport, only now, he obviously wasn't acting so disagreeable. Indignation rose in her. How dare he! Her hand itched to slap him full in the face. As if he realized her intention, he blocked her hand and held it firmly in his continued embrace.
Bending close and smiling, he whispered in her ear. "I'm an agent with Homeland Security. If you want both of us to survive the next ten seconds, you'll play along and do exactly as I say."
Excerpt from A Perfect Fit by Heather Tullis
Vince watched the women pull up in three cars and file into the hotel. He rubbed his forearm across his sweaty head and paused in his movements after maneuvering the front loader to set the boulder where it belonged on the landscape.
They were some incredible women, an interesting mix of hair colors and clothing styles from business formal on Lana and Cami to more casual chic attire on Rosemary and Delphi. Sage wore a billowy, eccentric skirt, and Jonquil’s sleek pantsuit seemed somehow tomboyish, even while it reeked of professionalism. A tall, muscular, bald guy pulled in right behind them, following them into the building.
Vince had managed to meet all of the women the previous day, intentionally putting off work in their yard until the day they were to arrive, if only to catch a glimpse of them. Or rather, because he was highly curious about one woman in particular.
George had mentioned all of his daughters at one time or another, but spoke particularly of Camellia. Vince had gone out of his way to track down pictures of her on the Internet when George had made it clear he felt Vince would be a nice match for her. Vince wasn’t one to let others guide him when it came to women, but he’d been curious.
And then he’d seen her picture and thought if she was half as nice on the inside as the outside, he might be willing to get to know her after all. Yesterday he’d learned she was far better looking in person than in the grainy newsprint pictures. And those long legs—they could make a grown man weep in appreciation.
Now she flicked the sunglasses off her face, shook out the mop of red curls, and put on an expression of determination before stepping into the building. She had seemed so confident the previous day, he was surprised to see the signs of nerves.
Turning his mind back to his work, Vince backed up the front loader to get the next boulder.
~*~
There must have been nerves all around, because after the women’s various morning routines, they settled down to breakfasts of eggs, cold cereal, or in Rosemary’s case, three cups of espresso, black. They car pooled to the hotel, which was only a couple of blocks away, a nice convenience on mornings when a walk would be a welcome change. Checking out the blue skies as she got out of the car, Cami thought she might indulge in the activity often. Juniper Ridge might be the back of beyond, but it was lovely.
Half a dozen men worked in the yard, putting in landscaping. Dozens of construction vehicles created a maze the ladies had to pick their way through to reach the front door. When the women walked from the finished exterior to the inside, the sound of hammers and drills was apparent, though the entrance was mostly finished, if lacking furniture.
Alex greeted them as they crossed into the building. “Hey, ladies, I’m glad to see you all came together. Welcome to DiCarlo Resort and Spa of Juniper Ridge, Colorado. As you’ll notice, there’s still a great deal of work to be done before you open September first. We’ll do a full tour with the regional director after the meeting. Over the next few days, each of you will have a chance to discuss your departments and goals.”
“Me first, right? I have to get back to Boston for a wedding in two days,” Delphi reminded him. “This meeting is causing me a major headache.”
“Yes, you first. How are things coming with that, anyway?” He turned and walked beside her as he led them to the meeting.
“Good, great. If this bride hadn’t called me at three a.m. in tears and terror that something was going to go wrong, it would be better.”
Alex stopped at an open door and gestured for the women to go on through. “Every job has its perks.” His smile was wry.
“Don’t they just,” Lana said as she breezed into the room ahead of Cami, then stopped two steps in, causing Cami to run into her, and nearly knock her down. “What are you doing here?”
Cami righted herself and took a step back to find Lana staring at Blake Bahlmann, formerly hotel manager at the Chicago resort. Only a couple of seconds passed before she regained her self-possession and continued into the room.
Excerpt from Blog This by Cami Checketts
Jace trudged to the top of the hill and dug the board into the snow. “Your turn, Mom. Don’t biff it.” He opened his hands for his sister. “C’mere, Lils. Mommy’s going to fall off the snowboard.”
Natasha handed him Lily. “After weeks of painful crashes, I am now the expert snowboarder.” She rubbed at the latest bruise on her backside.
Jace laughed. Setting Lily on her feet, he steadied her with both hands under her armpits. “One good slide don’t prove nothin’.” Jace sat on the snow and tugged Lily down next to him. He leaned toward his sister’s ear and said in a stage whisper, “Help me make snowballs. We’ll throw them at Mommy when she crashes.”
Lily giggled as if she understood and followed her brother’s example. Together, they dug into the crusty snow to assemble their arsenal.
“If I crash.” Natasha pried open the plastic bindings of the cheap snowboard Jace had received from Santa last month and slid her flowered Bogs into position. The descent shouldn’t even be classified as a hill, but she still managed to gain new sore spots on most runs. She leaned forward. The tip plunged off the edge and she flew toward the bottom. Her stomach hopped. Cool air brushed her cheeks. This is great. When I don’t crash.
Without warning, the glossy surface gained the advantage. The board slid out from under her feet. Natasha’s rear banged onto the ice and scooted to a stop. “Oomph,” she grunted, pain radiating up through her back. A new bruise would appear tomorrow. She watched the snowboard finish its journey across the yard, minus its rider.
“You suck,” Jace yelled.
“Watch it. I raised you with a better vocabulary than that.”
He laughed. “Your awful crashes are amazing.”
It wasn’t poetic, but he was only nine. “If you weren’t making fun of me, I’d be impressed.” Natasha laid back in the snow, resting her eyes and smiling to herself. She did suck, but she didn’t care—this was quality time they didn’t often get. She relaxed, enjoying the contrast of warm sweat rolling down her back and the cold seeping through her sweatshirt.
Jace’s laughter stopped suddenly. An unnatural quiet descended upon the yard. Natasha forced her eyelids open, squinting against the brilliance of the sun.
“Mom!”
Natasha sat up. The world swam for a second. Jace and Lily were still perched on the hill above her. Lily happily patted the snow, but Jace’s face was pinched. He pointed toward the barren lilacs extending from the north end of the house to the neighbor’s fence. Natasha focused on the source of his distress. A tall figure studied them through the bushes.
Who is that? Natasha scrambled to her feet. Her heartbeat escalated.
The man strode toward her, stopping less than ten feet away. He glared down, towering over her 5’4”. Dark bristles covered the lower half of his face. His pale features were model perfect, long lashes showcasing black licorice eyes. His face gave no hint as to why he’d invaded their privacy.
Tearing her eyes from him, Natasha glanced at her children. Jace didn’t speak or move. Lily screamed her version of hello. The man didn’t answer. Natasha pivoted back to face him, unsure why she felt such a strong urge to scream for help and run to protect her children.
His gaze locked on hers. His eyes were so cold. A chill wind swept over her, but the branches on the trees didn’t move.
“Can I help you?” She clutched her gloved fingers to stop the trembling.
His eyes darkened. His lips stayed in a tight line.
“Did you, um, get lost?” Natasha forced an unsteady laugh and arched her eyebrows. “Easy to do in a town of less than three thousand people.” He didn’t crack a smile so she released her own, pointed toward the front yard, and stiffly recited driving directions. “Highway 89 is less than a mile east of here. The fastest route is to drive straight out of the neighborhood and then take two-hundred s-s…”
His right arm rose—a black pistol molded to his palm. Heart thudding, Natasha’s voice sputtered and died.
CHECK back tomorrow for more excerpts!!
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