They say you form your first impression of someone within
thirty seconds of meeting them. Or, in Mira Parrish\'s case, within thirty
minutes of not meeting them, when said person is supposed to pick you up from
the airport and never shows. This is not a perfect start to her new life. Her
friend Ivy is depending on her to run a new romance store, and Mira can\'t
afford to let her down.
Sam Lyons should probably apologize. But every time he sees Mira—which is often, since his family owns the bakery next to her shop—he can\'t resist antagonizing her. There\'s something about the sexy, straitlaced woman that drives him crazy. He can\'t get involved, though. He has too much baggage to be any good in a serious relationship.
Despite his teasing attitude, Mira finds Sam too sweet to resist. (His hot body may be a factor.) But if there\'s going to be anything permanent between them, they\'ll need to let go of their pasts and look to the future…
Sam Lyons should probably apologize. But every time he sees Mira—which is often, since his family owns the bakery next to her shop—he can\'t resist antagonizing her. There\'s something about the sexy, straitlaced woman that drives him crazy. He can\'t get involved, though. He has too much baggage to be any good in a serious relationship.
Despite his teasing attitude, Mira finds Sam too sweet to resist. (His hot body may be a factor.) But if there\'s going to be anything permanent between them, they\'ll need to let go of their pasts and look to the future…
And here's an excerpt, to really get you going!
She wore an air of mystery, almost
like she knew something Sam didn’t about tonight. Funny, since he was the one
surprising her. Or was it that Mira thought she was the one pulling his
strings? Well, he’d put a stop to that. Sam didn’t need to be in charge, but he
did need them to be on even footing. Might have to step it up a notch already.
He faced her and rested his hands loosely on her waist. And tried not to think
how fantastic it would be to cup her rounded hips and rock her back and forth
on top of him.
“I’m sure I want another date with
you, Mira. Want to know why?”
She nodded.
“You’re like a cannoli. They aren’t
chocolate, so I assume you’ve had one?”
She nodded again, with a mystified
smile.
“Their outer layer seems both
indestructible and brittle. Once you break through, the center is sweet and
creamy, yet still studded with interesting surprises of nuts and dried fruit.
One bite is never enough. Oh, and that dusting of powdered sugar makes them
delicately beautiful. And you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Mira’s eyelids drooped heavily—the
personification of bedroom eyes. A faint blush that matched the nearest
rosebush pinked her cheeks. Then her tongue slipped out to moisten her lips. It
did him in. Sam tightened his grip, pulling her so close he felt the rapid rise
and fall of her chest.
“Don’t look at me like that. Like
you could gobble me up whole,” Mira said. Her cheeks grew darker. “I might have
to take action.”
Sam wondered if she was one of those
ultra-feminists who got offended by an honest compliment. Damn it, was she mad
or aroused? Why couldn’t he figure her out? “I chose this location carefully.
We’re surrounded by nature, not knickknacks. There’s nothing here you can use
to assault me.”
“Not true. There’s one thing.” Mira
launched herself at him, throwing both arms around his neck. Instinct lowered
his hands to her tight, curvy ass for a better grip. Sam barely managed to keep
both of them from toppling into the fountain. He did stagger backward a few
steps until the spray misted them lightly.
The heat of the late-afternoon sun
on his back didn’t come close to matching the heat she kindled between them.
Eagerly, Sam sank into those luscious lips. She took quick nibbles, even
nipping. A zing shot straight down to his dick. Yeah, if this was her taking
charge, sign him up for more of that!
With a final lick around the outline
of his lips, she slid her tongue inside. And Mira didn’t stay still. No, she
wriggled against him. He wouldn’t be able to hold on to her much longer. The
heavy scent of roses twined around them like something out of a fairy tale.
From now on, whenever Sam smelled roses, he’d feel Mira’s breasts tautly
pushing against his chest. He’d remember the perfection of her kisses, and the
silken glide of her legs against his. No doubt he’d go from zero to titanium-hard
in two seconds.
She broke away first. “You were
right. Another date is inevitable.”
