Steamy Contemporary Romance
Date Published: May 30, 2015
Kim is a former Broadway dancer, who feels trapped in a loveless marriage to a jealous wealthy older man. He blames her for crippling him in an auto accident that he himself caused.
Kim strives to make the marriage work, despite her husband’s blame, verbal abuse and bitterness.
When she meets a wickedly handsome man on the beach, she fights not to want him, not to want a new life and not to fall in love. But Derek is seductive and irresistible—a former soldier who recently comes to town to start a landscaping business. Kim falls hard for him, and he becomes addicted to her.
Although Kim wants a divorce, her husband finds out about their affair, and devises a plot to destroy them both. They must struggle to survive a web of lies, deceit and dangerous passion.
Kim strives to make the marriage work, despite her husband’s blame, verbal abuse and bitterness.
When she meets a wickedly handsome man on the beach, she fights not to want him, not to want a new life and not to fall in love. But Derek is seductive and irresistible—a former soldier who recently comes to town to start a landscaping business. Kim falls hard for him, and he becomes addicted to her.
Although Kim wants a divorce, her husband finds out about their affair, and devises a plot to destroy them both. They must struggle to survive a web of lies, deceit and dangerous passion.
(Due to adult themes and sexual content, this book is recommended for mature readers.)
Excerpt One
Kim stood in front of the dining room windows, staring out at the distant, turgid sea. The morning mist was cool and refreshing as it washed across her face, tasting salty on her lips. She lifted her nose and inhaled a good breath, hoping it would help ease the agitation of her mind. Fog was clinging to the ocean, crawling along the dunes and faraway cliffs, obscuring the sprawling beach houses on the bluffs, creating a lonely, pensive seclusion.
She peered down. Scorpio Beach was mostly fogged in, but she could see a single dog-walker and his black Labrador emerge, disappear and reappear, as if they were shadowy players in some ghostly dream.
Kim narrowed her eyes, focusing. Even from the high beach house, as the dog-walker materialized from the smoky fog, she could tell he was tall and in good shape. He was barefoot, wearing khaki shorts and a blue T-shirt, his long black hair combed back smoothly from his forehead. He strolled along the edge of the tide, slinging a stick high in the air, up onto the beach. The playful Labrador sprinted for it, barking, leaping, snagging the stick between his teeth. The dog pivoted and brought the stick back to his master for another round of play.
Kim had seen this guy and his dog on the beach a couple of times during the past two weeks. Had he just moved to town? You noticed new people and new things when you’re a prisoner. And that’s what she felt like, a prisoner.
Excerpt Two
Kim didn’t stop. She marched on, heading for the path, her bare feet kicking up sand. As she crested the dunes near the house, she stopped, paused, then glanced back. The beach fire was out, the smoke rising, being shredded by the wind. Derek was already walking away, a shadow drifting along the edge of the tide, slowly retreating from her. She felt a catch in her throat. God, how she wanted him.
She turned her cold eyes on the house, a dark and foreboding prison cell. With her jaw set in defiant determination, she turned, aiming her eyes on Derek’s dark receding shadow.
Derek wasn’t aware he was being followed until he’d nearly reached his cottage. Colin barked from his stylish doghouse shed.
Kim advanced slowly, having been to this part of the beach only once. It was unpretentious, far from the main road, in a low-slung neighborhood of quaint, private beach bungalows, with a good view of the dunes and ocean.
Derek twisted around and saw her coming toward him, a dark figure with blonde hair glistening in the moonlight. He stood there watching her, in an aching desire, as she slowly closed the distance between them.
Kim approached, her breathing coming fast, her body ripe, her mind turbulent, like the sea that thundered in. She was going to have him now. She was going to take him—own him for a few hours—and the world be damned.
They stood close, the moonlight drenching them. He leaned a little and kissed her full lips. It was electric. She shut her eyes, trembling.
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Excerpt Three
As Derek held the second mug to his lips, he saw her. Kim. She entered from the back outside patio and sashayed toward the Ladies Room. She passed the crowded bar but didn’t see Derek. Derek’s eyes locked on her and Anita followed his eyes.
The bathroom was occupied, so Kim stood waiting, glancing about. That’s when she saw Derek and she stiffened in surprise.
Derek smiled and winked.
Kim lowered her eyes for a moment as if in thought. A moment later, while Derek was still watching, she turned her shining eyes on him and gave him a coy smile. She wore red Keds sneakers, deep red lipstick, tight shorts and a yellow clinging T-shirt. Her hair was neatly rolled up and pinned, revealing that perfect dancer’s neck. Men at the bar turned and whispered lusty wishes.
After Kim disappeared into the Ladies Room, Natalie hurried by and deposited Anita’s and Derek’s lunches. Anita dove in, famished, while Derek sat silently waiting for Kim. She emerged a few minutes later, and drifted over to Derek’s table. She paused, ignoring Derek, her full focus on Anita.
“Hi, Anita. It’s good to see you again.”
Kim felt Derek’s eyes moving up and down her body. She allowed her smoldering eyes to drift toward him.
“Hello, Derek.”
He nodded. “Are you here with a friend?” Derek asked.
Kim’s eyes lingered on his lips. “Not a friend… my husband. He seldom goes out, but he’d heard about this place and wanted to give it a try.”
“How does he like it?”
“Fine… He ordered the fish and chips, just like Anita.”
Derek stared at the shiny luster of her hair, and he fought an irrational impulse to reach for her hand and pull her down into his lap.
“Well, got to go,” Kim said. “My husband’s waiting. Good to see you both.”
After she’d gone, Derek ate quietly. Anita studied him.
“You’re distracted by her. I’ve never seen that in you. Be careful, Derek. Very careful.”
I love to read and write novels. I'm also a loner, who loves to drink copious amounts of coffee--and I won't turn down a good bourbon if it's offered by a handsome man... or indeed, by any kind and generous man.
I'm a Scorpio, and I love the beach. I have a background in graphic design and creative writing. My mother kept diaries and wrote short stories about Christmas, old lovers and travel.
My cat, Count Elvis, loves cognac and Pop Tarts.
Reading on the beach is one of the great delights of life. Sun, sea and sand. Ahhh... and then I pick up a book and dive into a story. I love everything gold: golden tans, golden hair, golden sunsets and golden earrings.
My husband, Dane, is a diver and sun worshiper.
I'm a Scorpio, and I love the beach. I have a background in graphic design and creative writing. My mother kept diaries and wrote short stories about Christmas, old lovers and travel.
My cat, Count Elvis, loves cognac and Pop Tarts.
Reading on the beach is one of the great delights of life. Sun, sea and sand. Ahhh... and then I pick up a book and dive into a story. I love everything gold: golden tans, golden hair, golden sunsets and golden earrings.
My husband, Dane, is a diver and sun worshiper.
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