Sandy M’s review of 10 Ways to Steal Your Lover (Love by Numbers, Book 1) by Dee Tenorio
Contemporary Erotic Romance short story published by Dee Tenorio 15 Dec 11

Well, I just have to read Dee Tenorio more often. That’s all there is to it. She intrigues me with her characters and storylines, makes me laugh, her heroes make me sizzle and burn, and she packs so much into a shorter length book. But you know what’s almost better than all that?

I like the fact she can put two characters together in a room or any other small, enclosed space for pages and even chapters and never once do those scenes get boring. She did that quite successfully in Shaken, which I really enjoyed. (If you haven’t read that book, you should!) And she does it here just as successfully, starting the book off with our hero and heroine, Kane and Delilah, waking up together, naked, and with very hazy, nearly non-existent memories of the night before – Delilah’s wedding night – to Craig. Not Kane. Oh, boy.

So between touches and kisses and lots of steaminess in their Las Vegas hotel room, they try to figure out how the hell they ended up together like this. Each remembers a different portion of the previous evening. First order of business is to start investigating to see what they can find out about the happenings of last night, along with figuring out where the bag of money in the hotel closet came from. Did they rob a casino? Not once are these scenes mundane in any way. Kane and Delilah go from bewilderment to hot and bothered to guilt and a few other emotions, all wrapped in a sensuousness in those very close quarters.

And thus begins their trek of talking to whoever they can to discover how their world woke up feeling so right in and among the guilt – not the feeling of settling for something less. They get a lot of discovering done before they have to face Delilah’s parents – and Craig. Kane, Jesse, and Craig have been best friends for years, the unlikeliest of friends you’ll find, but the friendship works and is quite special to each of them. You can imagine then how Kane must feel to face Craig, knowing what he’s done to this man who’s also like a brother. The same goes for Delilah, but she has the added stress of also facing her military father – the booming drill sergeant type man who expects to be obeyed, no matter what.

I have to tell you, the way the story unfolds, bit by bit, the haziness clearing away, the sacrifices and pure friendship that are revealed are just wonderful. Dee Tenorio always gives readers these little romantic jewels that never disappoint. Try one of her books and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Grade: B+

Summary:

His best friend’s wedding just turned into the craziest hangover ever…

Kane Wilkensen’s buddy was about to marry the girl of Kane’s dreams. Which would have been fine—heartbreaking but fine—if Kane hadn’t woken up in a Las Vegas honeymoon suite with her, a giant sack of money and a great big blank spot in both their memories first.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

5 Secrets You Never Tell – 2012

First, we’d like to thank Dee Tenorio for guest blogging with us a few weeks ago. It was a fun day and if you didn’t stop by, well, you missed out!

We have a winner for any book in Dee’s backlist – reader’s choice! How cool is that?

And our winner is commenter #4, Evanne.

Congrats, Evanne! Send your email addy and your choice of book from Dee’s site to Lighthousetagger at gmail dot com and we’ll forward your info on to Dee!

Had to give you one last look at Dee Tenorio’s Shaken.

It’s been a fun day. Thank you, Dee, for being with us.

And thank you for a terrific story. Hopefully our readers today will take our word for it that they need to read this book. Soon.

Julia leaned against the wall of the elevator car, watching her husband come ever closer, each step a slow, stalking movement. She could still taste him on her lips, knew what he planned to do if she let him close enough. The question was whether or not she wanted to.

No, that wasn’t even a question.

Whether she should.

Her body shook, not in fear—she could never be afraid of Grant—but with need. That kiss ignited too many feelings, awakening something in her that had been blessedly numb since she’d left their home. Desire.

He stood almost over her now, their bodies nearly touching. His warmth called to her, his breath. If she wanted him, all she had to do was reach out and touch. Undo the buttons on that gray shirt, find the muscled flesh beneath. Then she’d be able to press her face to his skin, taste it with wet, sucking kisses that made him groan deep in his chest. Her fingers itched, ready to seek out the muscled ripples along his ribs.

She tightened them on the metal handrail instead.

This was why she’d left. Because Grant turned every quiet moment, every opportunity to talk, into sex. He disappeared from her emotionally, verbally, physically in every way except for the moments he was stripping her. Pleasuring her. Filling her until she screamed from the raw pleasure of it. And then he’d always leave her afterward. Leave her more alone with each experience, until she felt as if there were nothing left of her. She couldn’t face it again.

“This is hardly the place for what you’re thinking,” she said, but the argument lacked the strength she knew it needed.

“This is the only place we have left, don’t you think?” His fingertip touched her jaw, soft as a feather, tilting her face up to his. “Haven’t you missed this, Julia?”

So much her body, her soul, ached day and night.

His lips grazed hers. “I feel like I’m breathing again for the first time in months.” Firmer pressure…or had she lifted onto her toes to press closer? She wasn’t sure. “Like my heart’s beating again, just touching you.”

Hers, too. Beating so fast it felt like a flutter.

His fingers left her jaw, the backs of them trailing down her neck to the collar of her blouse, which felt like it was strangling her. He tugged on the tie, gently. Asking permission. God, how she wanted to give it to him.

She stared up, his face so close to hers, but his gaze was on the tie at her neck. His black lashes spread like thick fans just above his stark cheekbones. So haggard, so…lost. She lifted her hand to his cheek, his heavy stubble tickling her palm. If she gave in, though, he’d be gone in a heartbeat…

It hit her then. Gone where? They were trapped. He couldn’t walk away this time. Couldn’t leave her behind. Couldn’t hide from her questions. Her love.

Against all her better judgment, hope flared in her heart.

“Let me touch you, Jules,” he whispered roughly, lowering his mouth to the corner of hers. Slowly he made his way down her body, touching but not taking. Almost as if he couldn’t help himself. Until he knelt before her, hands on her thighs, waiting. Watching her. “Let me make it better.”

God, did she have the strength? Could she take one more risk, after everything she’d already lost? Her daughter, her marriage… Could she bear it if she tried to reach for her husband and everything she feared about their relationship was true?

Could she bear it if she was wrong and never took the opportunity to find out for sure?

Closing her eyes, she finally let go of the rail. She reached blindly for his hands, guiding them to the hem of her skirt…and underneath. Her breath slipped out in a rush when he began lifting the fabric, sliding the skirt higher and higher up her thighs.

Her breath disappeared altogether when she felt the first hot lick of his tongue.

While their world may be shaken up in more ways than one, Julia and Grant are also very explosive together, even despite their distance as of late and the tragedy that led to to their current situation. Amid the anguish, the anger, the sorrow is a burning need, tremendous desire for each other that will never die, no matter what they tell themselves.

I started reading this book late one night, thinking I’d read a chapter before bed and get back to it the next day. I didn’t stop reading until I’d finished it. It’s a short story, but that makes it so much more awesome that Ms. Tenorio can bring out such emotion in so few pages.

Thirteen stories up. Two broken hearts. One last chance…

Surgeon Grant Sullivan’s once-perfect life lies in ruins. His daughter is gone—lost in a tragic accident he dare not allow himself to remember—and his beautiful wife now stares at him from across a legal table, insisting she wants nothing from him.

Julia Sullivan lost everything, especially her illusions about her marriage, after the accident. Her grief only seemed to drive Grant farther into his emotional shell—except for the nights he turned to her in silent, furious passion. Unable to live like a ghost in her old life, she’s packed up what’s left of her broken heart and is ready to move on. Alone.

Determined to break their stalemate, Grant follows Julia onto the elevator just in time for an earthquake. Trapped for hours in a building pressure cooker of unspoken pain, he’ll do anything to remind her what she’s leaving behind, as deliciously as he can. But giving her what she needs to save their marriage is the one thing that could destroy his soul.

The doors whisked shut just as he cleared his shoe heel. Julia stared up at her husband with a mix of horror and relief. Seemed to be the story of her life these days. Nothing but mixed emotions, misery and confusion and a desperate need to shut them out. Grant panted, catching his breath from the short sprint. Julia tightened her arms around herself, hating how much she wanted to wrap them around him instead.

Don’t turn to him. He’ll hold you, but it won’t be real. It wasn’t ever real.

Not that the pep talk did her any good. How could one man look so good and so horrible at the same time? He’d lost weight since the accident, but even more since she’d left him. His thick black hair fell over his forehead, overgrown by a full three inches. Unbelievably, streaks of silver had grown in at his temples, something that had never been there before. He hadn’t shaved in days, his stubble darkening the strong line of his jaw and somehow making his gray eyes seem to glow.

Another couple of days and it would be a full beard. She liked that look on him best, discovering it only after Autumn was born. The baby had seen to it that they’d had neither time to sleep nor the ability to take more than passing care of themselves, and Grant hadn’t shaved until he’d gone back to work. He never seemed to notice what a day’s stubble did for his appearance. Made him rakish. Sexy, in that rumpled, never-left-the-bed kind of way. Given his lack of a tie, the neck of his gray shirt not even fully buttoned, and his black jacket seeming more of an afterthought than a planned choice, she rather thought Grant hadn’t been leaving his bed much at all lately.

Against her will, she remembered being there, snuggled against him in the blankets. Saturday morning sleep-ins, when she’d try to read a book and he’d pretend to read a newspaper. It always ended the same. Grant’s hand sneaking up the hem of her camisole skirt, easing the silk up over her backside with a tickle and a tease. Caressing the fold where her thigh met her bottom and following it with his fingertip. With his mouth. A nibble…a kiss…a lick. Eight years together and she had never finished a book when he was around.

She’d read twelve in the last two months.

And she didn’t remember a word of any of them.

“What are you doing?”

“Following you,” he replied, his graveled voice more rumbly than ever. His fingertips grazed her cheek, smoothing a loose lock of her hair back. Her skin warmed with just that tiny touch. A rough thumb traced the wet track of her tears. “Making sure you’re all right.”

Hurt lanced her, startling a brittle laugh out of her. She hadn’t been all right for almost a year. Not since that rainy night last January. Not since the second the wheels of the car lost contact with the road, lurching them sickeningly sideways and into the metal girder that should have kept them on the road. Should have…

She jerked out of his loose hold. Another twenty seconds and they’d be at the lobby. She’d be free. Alone. Until then… “I’m not. But that’s not your concern.”

“You’ll always be my concern. You know that. Anything you need, I’ll give.”

“Not anything.” He’d support her, take care of her, tell her he loved her. But he would never give her what she needed from him. A partner in mourning. The sense that she wasn’t alone in this agony. Every time she cried, she could feel him bracing himself against it. Could feel his impatience with her for not letting it go, month after month. Until she couldn’t bear that flinch. The flinch that told her the last eight years were a complete and total lie.

“No,” he agreed, his voice little more than a breath at her nape as he stood behind her. She could feel the heat of him through her clothes. All she had to do was lean back and he’d wrap his arms around her. He’d take her pain on his broad shoulders and give her nothing in return. “Anything in my power, though, is yours.”

She nodded, but only because she needed to. If she didn’t, she’d say things she’d regret. She had to swallow the words back down. The ache, the accusations that he’d left her all alone in this, that he’d lied. Lied to her, lied to Autumn.

She could still see those pudgy baby hands, dimpled at the knuckles, clasping his whole head while he blew raspberries on her round baby belly. She’d looked so much like him, except for her auburn colored hair. When she was born, it had been his idea to name her Autumn, because her hair was the very first shade of fall. A perfect middle between his dark ebony and her own too-pale gold. Julia had fooled herself, had wanted to fool herself, that his avid interest in their surprise daughter had been love. She hadn’t wanted to feel that she’d trapped him.

Honesty was a bitter pill.

“I miss you,” he murmured, his hands settling on her arms. His head nuzzled against hers, almost as if he were breathing her in. “I miss you so damn much, Jules.”

She shook, tears already blinding her. “Grant, no—”

“I know, I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” But he didn’t move away. If anything, he was closer.

A sob tore through, though she tried to stifle it with her hand.

“Don’t end us, Julia. Not like this. Not—” His head lifted at the same time that she realized it was happening again. That sickening swirl of the whole world suddenly spinning, lights flickering before going out altogether.

“Grant!” Her urgent whisper turned into a scream just as the elevator lurched to a screeching stop, knocking them both to the floor in an awkward sprawl. But the swaying movement didn’t stop. If anything it grew stronger…as if the elevator car were suddenly swinging like a pendulum.

No, not the elevator.

The building.

“It’s only an earthquake,” Grant rumbled from the darkness beneath her. The sway continued, a giant groan of metal against metal sounding around them.

Her breath came in pants that rasped in her ears until the rolling finally stopped. Opening her eyes slowly, she realized she didn’t have to worry about suppressing her need to touch him anymore. She was squeezing him so tight, her face pressed to his chest, it was a wonder he was breathing, much less talking. Only an earthquake. Leave it to Grant to marginalize an act of God. But then she knew what he was really telling her. They weren’t in the car. This wasn’t the accident.

A metallic clicking began overhead, until soft bluish lights came on, illuminating the small space. Emergency lights.

“A five-six, five-seven, I’d say. What do you think?” Practical question. Grounding, even.

But it didn’t really work. Julia still couldn’t unclamp her fingers from his shirt. “That didn’t feel like a five-seven. More like an eight.”

“That’s because we’re in a skyscraper. Extra sway so the building doesn’t fall.”

“Sure, because you learned that in medical school.” She closed her eyes again, guiltily relaxing against his body. She was already here, after all. And he felt so reassuring. Strong, familiar. Part of her heart sagged with relief to be back here, where for so long she’d thought she belonged.

“Can’t remember where I picked that up, actually. Thought it was common knowledge here in Cali.” He didn’t seem in any rush to get up. One of his hands lay on the small of her back, a heated weight she’d missed these last months.

“I grew up here, too. I always thought tall buildings would feel it less.” His shoulder hitched beneath her. Under her ear, his heartbeat pounded out an even rhythm. That was Grant. Never shaken.

That realization was enough to get her to sit up. Better not to think about it. She sighed, looking around, wishing there were more than polished metal panels and golden rails to talk about. All around them, there were only reflections of the last thing they should talk about—each other.

Grant sat up next to her, running his hand through his black hair and brushing it out of his eyes. “You all right? Nothing bruised? Nothing broken?”

Just her heart. She took stock, just in case, but there was nothing. Eventually, she had to meet his gaze again. It was a mistake. She realized that as soon as he dipped his head and claimed her lips. She should have pulled away. Should have pushed him off.

But she didn’t. She placed both hands on the sides of his bristly cheeks and let herself have one more taste of heaven. One more moment to feel his firm mouth beneath hers, his flavor when his tongue swept into her mouth. Passion, sweet and drugging, flooded her senses. Only Grant could do that to her, reduce her to simple sensation with a single kiss. But this was so much more than a kiss. This was demand. Desperation. Need. He devoured her, drank her in and held her as if he were trying to take her inside. How could she stop that, when she wanted the exact same thing? One more moment. Just one last taste…

I love a good erotic romance.

It’s okay, I admit it pretty openly—which comes in handy since I’ve written several of them.

What I find most interesting about the genre is how everyone has a different view of what makes a book an erotic.

Some people feel it’s a book with a lot of nookie. Or a book with graphically described nookie. Others still just think it’s a bunch of fluffy girl porn. My current editor, though, gave me the best definition ever.

“It’s a a book where the sexuality is intrinsic to the plotline. If you can take the sex out of the book and still have a complete story and plot…it’s not an erotic.”

Yes, my editor is full of awesome.

Now the good news is, sex goes with most things, thematically. Chocolate. Competition. Danger. Relationship difficulties. Friendship. Disaster. Comedy. Grief…

Weeeeeeell…there’s kind of a question on that last one.

Erotic romances are supposed to be uplifting, putting you on that “hawt” track with fantastic sexxoring. Grief would kind of…bring on a the bummer, wouldn’t it?

Well, that’s what I kind of wondered too.

See, people handle grief in different ways. Some folks take the pain inward where they either work it out or it eats them up. Others deal with their losses outwardly, being physical as a means of coping or as a means of destroying themselves. Grief is complicated and one adult way of coping is to turn to others as a salve—hoping to feel…or not feel. It simply begs the question: Is there sexiness in the darker aspects of sexuality?

I really wanted to know. And so I worked on my project, a short novella now called Shaken, about a couple torn apart by grief, trapped together in an elevator after an earthquake. This is their last chance to make right what they’ve lost. Their connection—their physical need—is still there…but so is the pain. Will they work it out? The bigger question is, will you, the reader, be there to find out?

Tell me, do you think there’s a place in romance for Erotic Angst? Or should mixed themes like sexuality and heartbreak stay far, far apart?

Share your thoughts in the comments and be entered into a drawing for a free ebook from my backlist—reader’s choice!

Hope to hear from you!

Sandy M’s review of Shaken by Dee Tenorio
Contemporary Romance short story published by Samhain 19 Oct 10

What a powerful story this is. And the fact it’s a short story makes it that much more poignant and emotional. Shaken is such an appropriate title for this book. Not only do the main characters have the foundation shaken from underneath them, but their belief in everything they shared together is shaken as well by the most unimaginable tragedy.

Grant doesn’t want a divorce. He still loves Julia, has loved her since the day his medical treatment of her mother ended and he asked her to dinner. But if she’s determined to go through with ending their marriage, he’s determined to make sure she’s taken care of, despite her refusal to accept his support. His guilt won’t let him do any less.

All she’s wanted from her husband was for him to share in her grief, her sorrow, her turmoil over losing their daughter. But Julia now realizes he never really cared. He couldn’t have if he’s never shed tear, never mourned their loss, never once helped her through her grief. So getting out is the only thing she can do to survive. She’s taken a position with the Dallas Orchestra, going back to her first love before giving it up for Grant.

We get to know these two in a few pages. You can already feel the anguish they each feel, the despair, the fear. And then you’re thrown into the maelstrom of their passion. Julia has entered the elevator to begin her forlorn trip home when Grant spies her and makes a dash into the compartment before the doors close. His intent is to make her see reason, make her see they can’t lose the one last good thing between them, the one way they still communicate, the one way for them to survive together. Her intent is still to get away so she can heal as much as possible, but she’s not even close to immune to Grant. Her mind tells her one thing, but her body tells her another.

And the world begins to shake. An earthquake tumbles the elevator and them around a bit, coming to a stop along with their passion. Though Grant doesn’t let that deter him. He’s of a mind to have Julia here and now, to have what he’s been missing for the past couple of months she’s been gone. Amid some intense and exquisite lovemaking, Grant and Julia eventually get to the core of what’s between them for too long now.

They both realize that need to come totally clean with one another, and once that happens, my heavens, the fear, the heartache, the guilt, the tears just drop off the pages. I thought my tears would begin with Grant going over the accident and how he tried to save their daughter, but that was more heart-pounding and intense, and though I found myself getting misty-eyed, my tears didn’t come until a tad after that as he describes his daughter, the very same one Julia thought he didn’t love. Grant also finally lets his guilt out at the same time, his need for Julia to forgive him, and when she realizes how he’s hurt all this time without sharing it it all, she then knows how selfish she’s been in her own grief.

The reliving of the crash is palpable from Grant’s point of view. And his grief, his remorse, his sorrow is just as palpable. It’s always said that mothers feel the loss of a child more than a father, but Ms. Tenorio pulls no punches in the pain that Grant goes through as a result of his loss. After such an emotional upheaval in a five by five space, you can only hope this kind of therapy has done its job for this couple.

I didn’t mean to write so much on a short story like this, but I can’t help myself. This is a story you have to read. It pulls at you, it tears you into pieces, it pounds at you, it moves you, and it gives you hope in love and forgiveness.

Read this book.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Thirteen stories up. Two broken hearts. One last chance…

Surgeon Grant Sullivan’s once-perfect life lies in ruins. His daughter is gone—lost in a tragic accident he dare not allow himself to remember—and his beautiful wife now stares at him from across a legal table, insisting she wants nothing from him.

Julia Sullivan lost everything, especially her illusions about her marriage, after the accident. Her grief only seemed to drive Grant farther into his emotional shell—except for the nights he turned to her in silent, furious passion. Unable to live like a ghost in her old life, she’s packed up what’s left of her broken heart and is ready to move on. Alone.

Determined to break their stalemate, Grant follows Julia onto the elevator just in time for an earthquake. Trapped for hours in a building pressure cooker of unspoken pain, he’ll do anything to remind her what she’s leaving behind, as deliciously as he can. But giving her what she needs to save their marriage is the one thing that could destroy his soul.

Read an excerpt.

Sandy M’s review of All or Nothing (The Lonnigans, Book 2) by Dee Tenorio
Contemporary Romance ebook published by Samhain
27 Jul 10

I’ve had a couple of second books of a series outshining the first lately. All or Nothing is in that category for me. And it surprises me, because I wasn’t that thrilled with Lucas in All of You, but Ms. Tenorio turned that around on me and I ended up loving him quite a bit.

In All of You, Kyle and Lucas switch dates and Kyle finds the love of his life.  We pick up in this book as Lucas realizes the woman his brother was to meet is none other than Belinda, who he’s traded barbs and insults with forever and who he’s actually in love with but who wants nothing to do with him.

It’s not that Belinda doesn’t want Lucas. She’s afraid of what a relationship with him will be like, more than likely a copy of her parents’, domestic violence and all. So she’d rather keep him at arm’s length than give her heart to him, only to have it pulverized. Love to her means being battered down in every way imaginable.

But after a mind-blowing night together, Lucas is not going to allow Belinda to push him away anymore. He tosses a wager her way, knowing she won’t be able to resist — all or nothing between them. This is his chance to show her how being together can be for them, and the man does it up right, even if he stumbles a time or two, which is that much more endearing.

Belinda does her best to discourage him, returning his gifts (even the puppy! — which was difficult for her to do), keeping the insults at an all-time high, but Lucas has stamina. I really enjoyed it when Lucas’ bet included her dressing as she used to instead of in her standard goth get-up. Terrific scenes from a friend helping her get ready for their date to Lucas’ reaction to the Belinda he used to know. And there’s a lot of nicely done gems just like that throughout the book.

I’m surprised I didn’t get a little annoyed with Belinda’s poor me attitude, but Ms. Tenorio makes her so likable from the beginning, I felt for her and cheered for her more than being annoyed with her. For what she’d been through, she deserves some happiness, and the only thing I wish is it wouldn’t have taken her so long to see Lucas is that happiness. But she has to do it in her own time.

This is a fun sequel. The banter between Lucas and Belinda is entertaining, while their doubts, vulnerabilities, and Belinda’s past keep you centered on what’s at stake for them. It’s definitely all or nothing.

Grade: B+

Summary:

In this game of love, winning is not an option.

Lucas Lonnigan thinks he’s finally gotten the best of his twin brother, until he discovers his half of a date-swap is none other than metal artist Belinda Riggs. A leather-dipped Goth queen who considers him a cross between a pin cushion and a science project—and the woman he’s loved forever.

Belinda isn’t exactly overjoyed to see him, either. In her opinion, love means becoming a punching bag, and she won’t be anyone’s doormat. Lucas is too dangerously tempting to allow within striking distance of her heart, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting.

After one blazing night of passion, Lucas finds himself locked out of Belle’s life with seemingly no chance to get back in. With nothing left to lose, Lucas makes a final play and appeals to the one thing Belle can’t say no to—a dare. Winner take all.

Lucas may think this crazy game will decide their relationship, but she sees it as her chance to finally set him free—and maybe indulge in the sexiest goodbye of her life…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of All of You (The Lonnigans, Book 1) by Dee Tenorio
Contemporary Romance ebook published by Samhain 6 Apr 10

I found Ms. Tenorio and her books last year when I was mistakenly given her book Kiss Me Again to review. I’m glad that happened because that book turned out to be a terrific little read. So much so, when the chance came to read her again, I jumped at it.

Jessica is meeting her on-again/off-again boyfriend Lucas Lonnigan for one of their semi-routine relatively boring but companionable dinner dates. This time is going to be different, however, because Jessica has decided to break up with the man. No point in continuing a relationship that isn’t going anywhere. But tonight, there’s something different about Lucas. It’s like he’s become more optimistic, is starting a brand new lease on life.

What she finds out too late is that Lucas really is a different man. His twin brother Kyle has shown up instead, and Kyle is just as affected by Jessica. He’s been thinking lately it’s time to settle down, find a wife, have a family. He’s lived the playboy life long enough and now it’s time for more substance. And now irony is having its way with him. When he finds the one woman he knows is for him, she thinks he’s someone else.

Of course, the proverbial shit hits the fan when Jessica finds out she’s been duped. She wants nothing to do with either brother, re-enforces to herself she’s been right all along love has no place in her life. But Kyle won’t give up. He even latches onto the advice given by Jess’ secretary, Dory — who is a hoot and a half and a very enjoyable character — to finagle his way back into Jessica’s good graces. He does anything and everything to try to make her see how good  they’d be together.

While I really liked the majority of this book, there are a couple of issues that didn’t work for me personally. First is the relationship between Kyle and Lucas. I never got the feeling they share that twin “thing” you always hear about. When they had scenes together, we get arguing and snapping at one another more than anything else, until late in the book when Lucas has cause to really worry about Kyle, as Jessica does. I know this is an issue for me only because I love reading about brothers and I’m just a little disappointed in the way the relationship is portrayed initially. It does get better later, but I just wanted more early on.

Also, though I realize Jessica has her reasons for keeping love at bay, not trusting to let it into her life, her refusal to give in to Kyle went on just a tad too long for me. Even more than three-quarters of the way into the book, she’s balking at Kyle’s efforts to win her over. Even when they enjoy one another intimately. Even when his touches and kisses turn her into jelly. Even somewhat after unforeseen danger comes along, making her look at herself and her/their life differently. I actually got irritated with Jessica because her attitude went on so long.

But other than those two little things, this book is fun, has some action, mystery, and danger thrown in, and all the characters are quite likable, especially Dory’s son, Daniel, and the trouble he brings to town. A nice story of looks can be deceiving, it’s what you have/see on the inside that counts.

Grade: B-

Summary:

He found the right girl…too bad he’s the wrong date.

Kyle Lonnigan can’t say he hasn’t enjoyed the bachelor life. Good times and good money have always come easily to him. But now he wants something more, maybe even—gulp—a wife and family. Always the man with the plan, he consults the expert in boring, his identical twin Lucas, who suggests secretly switching dates for a night. Kyle never expected to meet his dream woman…and now she thinks he’s someone else.

Career-minded Jessica Saunders fully intends to break up with Lucas, but the man who meets her for dinner is soooo delicious, she can’t resist seducing him first. When she learns she’s been duped—worse, that Kyle wants more than a part-time lover— she sends him packing. Jessica doesn’t believe in happily ever after. If her early life taught her anything, it’s to trust no one but herself.

Yet for a man who’s done everything wrong, wants everything she’s not and drives her absolutely insane, Kyle is getting under her skin. And into her bed. And, if she’s not careful…into the heart she thought no longer existed.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Can you stand a little bit more fun today? Hope so, because we have a brand new excerpt from Dee Tenorio’s next release, Tempting the Enemy, due out in June.

You’re the first to get a look at it, this special excerpt Dee sent for us today.

The man of her dreams or her worst nightmare, only one will claim her soul…

[Ed: There isn't a cover yet for TtE, therefore the accompanying pic is my own interpretation of our tempting topic for this excerpt.]

Now get ready for some more tempting…

“They’ve called in the Sibile.”

The words silenced what had been a bustling roomful of homicide detectives for a full second. Someone at the back of the squad room swore amidst the sudden rush of groans and whispered objections. The crashing sound of a heavy folder being tossed haphazardly to the desk scraped Pale Rysen’s ears almost as much as the news.

If there was one thing he didn’t need right now, it was one of those damn witches underfoot.

He shook his head and sighed, closing the file he’d already read countless times. Complaining wouldn’t do any good. The higher-ups resorting to the Sibile—basically robbing him and the rest of the Violent Crimes Unit of their case—wasn’t much of a surprise. A Sibile with the right kinds of “gifts”—sometimes psychic, sometimes just fucking creepy—could crack a case in seconds flat. With the killer’s sudden acceleration, part of him had expected it. Dreaded it, but it was only a matter of time before the city’s political leaders became desperate. He couldn’t even blame them.

But he could sure as hell resent them.

“When?” he asked, attempting to sound unconcerned but his gruff voice still cut through the increasingly pissed protests. No one had seen a real bed in three days. Just parts of dead bodies, countless people in the area of the body dumps, and rivers of shitty coffee. Jake Kennison, the captain Pale liked about as much as an itch on his ass, had been on duty just as long, getting by with naps in his office chair every twenty hours or so.

“Sometime tonight. Any minute, really. But don’t give me any shit about it, they didn’t ask my opinion. I just work here.” At least Kennison didn’t seem to be looking forward to it either. But Pale figured at least one part of the man’s unease was the knowledge that the woman existed at all. In that respect, they were on the same page. “The chief offered to let her come in the morning, but apparently she prefers to work nights. Whatever the hell that means.”

“Maybe she’s too ugly for daylight,” Jorgensen called out from the back of the room, refilling his coffee by the sounds of it.

“Like that ever stopped you.”

Laughter drowned out any response Jorgensen could have made, not that Pale paid more than cursory attention. His mind stayed on the incoming Sibile.

Why would she prefer nights? Unless she was stronger at night, which didn’t make a whole hell of a lot of sense. Phases of strength meant phases of weakness, and the Sibile didn’t admit to having those. Rumor had it the weak didn’t live long in the enclaves.

Kennison’s gaze darted in Pale’s direction. The captain didn’t like him much as a rule. His near-smile didn’t bode well. “Since you’re already on point for this case, Rysen, you’ll be her liaison, reporting to me directly. Understood?”

Well, fuck. Not that he gave the captain more than a lazy shrug.

Kennison’s eyes narrowed. He hated it when Pale pulled that shit. Of course, he’d hate it a hell of a lot more if Pale gave in to the urge to show him which of them was truly the dominant, so Pale didn’t bother with guilt.

“This is the Woodsman’s third victim,” Kennison continued to the room at large, still bristling. “We’ve got nothing but three unidentifiable bodies, and the bastard knows it. We need help if we’re going to stop there from being more. The Sibile might be our only chance so I don’t want to hear a goddamn word out of anyone in this unit but please and thank you when she gets here.”

Only an idiot would put being rude to the Sibile high on their to-do list. Not even shifters liked to mess with mercenaries trained to be powerful, vengeful and remorseless. Still, the guys in the VCU weren’t exactly on good terms with the formality the Sibile were so dedicated to. They could accidentally offend her just by offering to shake her hand with sticky fingers.

That alone could get Old Carter killed. Jorgensen would probably hit on her at least twice because the man was a compulsive womanizer. Graves and Henlen would probably be okay. They were married so at least had a clue how not to talk to women. The kid, Tallson, could be a tossup. For himself, Pale knew right away he’d be offensive as hell. He didn’t have it in him to kiss a Sibile’s ass.

“Anything she wants or needs, you do and you give with a smile. Pissing off the Sibile in any way is an automatic suspension, without pay. Am I clear?”

More grumbling filled the room, but the captain took it for the agreement it was and headed back into his office. Not for the first time, Pale wished he could head into a room with walls and a door too. It wouldn’t do, though.

“Hey, Rysen!”

Pale rotated his chair so he could eye the new kid silently. Victor Tallson had only been on the squad for four months. Young, fairly smart, if a little too interested in women to concentrate hard enough on his cases. He’d grow up. At least, Pale hoped he would. One could never say for sure in a place like Moonridge.

“You ever worked a case with one of the Sibile before?” the kid asked conspiratorially.

“No.” Proof that luck failed everyone eventually.

Victor made a disappointed noise.

Belatedly Pale realized the kid was probably more interested in the fact that any Sibile outside the enclave had to be female. Would it even help to warn the kid that pretty faces and red robes generally hid nothing but treacherous souls and selfish intentions?

Not likely.

After a few seconds, Victor was back. “You think she can really help?”

Probably. Pale could hate them, hate every last one of them, but even he couldn’t claim they were ineffective. “Depends on what she can do.”

“They’re a bunch of fuckin’ gypsies,” Carter, the oldest of the squad, offered just as Pale felt a strange tingle down the back of his neck.

Not the bad kind, where his hair stood on end, but some kind of warning all the same. He turned his head toward the open double doors across from his desk, inhaling a deep breath. A new scent drifted to him, distinct from the usual grime and wear inside the department. Warm honey. Cloves. Citrus soap under the light salt of sweat. Female.

He narrowed his eyes, forcing himself to remain still. That scent. It grew stronger, more intoxicating. Drugging. His body went rigid in response, a hunger he didn’t allow himself to feed roaring to life.

No, not just female. Shifter. Wolf.

A female without imprint.

The scent was causing the warning and not just because she wasn’t imprinted. The driving surge streaking down his spine came from something else on her scent, the musky tang so faint but hypnotizing to any male Wolf who came within a mile of her.

Good God, she was in season.

He almost preferred the thought of the Sibile. At least with one of them, he had a minute chance to avoid detection. But with Heat filling his senses, hiding his Wolf nature was practically impossible. Much longer and it would hit rock bottom on his list of priorities—everything would come second to claiming her.

He reached for the cell phone clipped to his belt. She needed transport. Now. He stabbed the autodial. It only rang once before his brother picked up. “I’ve got a stray,” he said quietly, knowing Aaron would hear it far easier than anyone in the squad room.

“I’m due in court in ten minutes.”

Shit, Pale knew that. In his haste, he’d hit the code, dialing Tate instead. Or his hands were shaking, an effect of the female moving closer. “In season.”

“I’ll call Aaron. Try not to breathe.” Tate rang off, his ridiculous advice as useless as it was sobering. A stray female without imprint should be celebrated. Protected. It was what they’d all been working toward for fifteen long years. Someplace safe, where shifters could be free, where a female had a chance. A choice.

What they hadn’t worked toward was the idea that one would find him in the Moonridge police station, threatening all they’d built by being a walking, talking, shape-shifting grenade. How the hell had a stray even found him here?

Reason finally cleared his mind, gave him room to breathe again. No way a stray was there looking for him. She couldn’t even be searching for the Alpha. She might just be in custody. Or simply looking for help. In either case, she had to be young. Fourteen or fifteen at most to still be unmarked. Even inebriated by Heat, he was a better Wolf than to forget that.

Still, the scent beckoned, growing stronger. Richer. He shuddered in his seat, fighting to keep his mind moving. She had to be coming closer. Up the stairs, maybe. All the way to the third floor. But the scent wasn’t right. Muddied. Covered by something else. Something…other.

Instinct rode Pale to find her. Taste her scent right from the source and claim her as quickly as possible. As thoroughly as possible. Until neither of them could move. His vision blurred at the thought, imagination superseding reason. Pressing deep into wet depths, losing himself in the sweat and the scent of her, silken thighs and womanly groans…

He kept his seat—and control—by the skin of his teeth, reminding himself this would be no passionate adult, eager for his touch. This would be a terrified child, fleeing from rape, who would most likely be horrified by the sight of him.

The growl from his throat escaped before he realized he’d even meant to make a sound.

Carter, far enough back, didn’t hear it over his own tirade. “A Sibile ain’t no guarantee we’re gonna catch this guy. For all we know, the city just paid out the ass for some ugly bitch who has to touch the guy to tell if he’s guilty. What’s she gonna do, give a hand job to every unlucky bastard she meets?”

“Well, there goes my surprise for the night,” came a feminine dose of disgusted sarcasm from just outside the doors, tamping down the male chuckles like a fire extinguisher. She walked out of the shadows from the hall, dressed head to toe in black, no humor at all in her stunning face.

Pale’s senses began to ring, zeroing in on her.

That is no child. He sucked in a breath, the tightness of his body turning painful at the sound of her husky voice. A woman, fully grown, untainted by the scent of a male embedded in her skin. A beautiful woman, ripe and incensed, the room all but vibrating with her presence. Her Heat…

In this day and age, he’d have said it wasn’t possible. But there was no mistake on the scent. Honey, cloves and Heat. Sweet, mind-numbing Heat. But even as he separated the flavors of her, he knew there was something more. Something he hadn’t scented in years… Confusion warred with Instinct.

She smelled like a Sibile, he realized, recoiling inwardly.

His stomach clenched with irrational anger. How could she be the stray? Her hair, bound up in those strange braids and that weird bowl-shaped thing at the back of her neck, should have been a giveaway. But it hadn’t. Because he’d been getting drunk on her scent. Because he’d been so busy looking for a child, expecting a flowing red cape to only interrupt his search.

How the hell was he supposed to deal with a stray who happened to be Sibile?

“Which is really unfortunate,” she continued, oblivious to how closely she courted danger by moving any closer to him, “because I was just thinking how much I’ve been looking forward to sexually servicing an overweight, over-aged, loudmouthed fool.” Her golden gaze swept over Carter—noting his lined face, receding hairline and widely expanded middle—and clearly found him lacking. “I suppose I’ll learn to live with the disappointment.”

Someone dropped a pencil, someone else brought his dropped jaw back into place with a clap of his teeth and, unwisely, Victor Tallson began to snicker. The solid slap sound Pale attributed to Carter smacking the back of Tallson’s head in retribution. Voices started again, meaning the squad had shifted to business as usual rather than deal with the newcomer.

Her gaze darted from man to man, a frown drawing her fine brows together. She was searching for something. Him, most likely, given the tension in her stance. Or any male Wolf she deemed worthy. He drew a deep breath, no longer concerned about the drugging effect. He’d need a hell of a lot more than Heat to consider imprinting a Sibile.

Pale eyed his phone briefly. Aaron would need to be called and rerouted. But this wasn’t the place for those instructions.

She wiped her brow with her sleeve, bringing his attention to her flushed cheeks and the fine sheen of sweat on her face. She tugged at the high-necked collar of her knit sweater, nearly panting. Despite the snow outside, she looked as if she were burning alive. Was it the effect of the Heat? Or had she come from a fight to defend herself? His revulsion gave way to unwilling concern. She didn’t look damaged, no scratches or bruises. Could she have traveled here on foot? Unprotected, in this state?

Instincts he was more familiar with demanded he check the perimeter and see that she hadn’t been followed, hadn’t attracted one of the few other Wolves in the precinct. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect an ambush in place as she left, even if another male picked up on the Sibile flavor to her scent. Hell, in a Heat situation, another male might not even notice it.

This just got worse and worse.

She scanned the room as he scanned her, taking advantage of his advance knowledge. Thinking clearer now, he had no question in his mind that she was a Sibile. Power radiated off her like a solid force. Ten feet away and he could feel it pushing against him almost as hard as the scent pulled. A scarlet in Wolf’s clothing. What would be the point? Did her precious Order even appreciate the danger she was in?

Probably not. The Sibile were too damn arrogant. They’d learned nothing from the Cataclysm.

This one, though, tempted him to teach her a lesson she’d never forget. Snug black pants and a turtleneck hugged a small but compact frame. Lushly curved with strong lines from head to toe, including the sleek calf-length black boots. Black hair, thick as his own, slicked back into intricate braids from either side of her head, disappearing into that large bowl-shaped clamp at the back of her neck. Fair skin, light as the moon, a heart-shaped face with a pert chin and a slim nose. Brown eyes, so light they could only be called golden, glittered with intelligence. Anger.

And they’d settled on him. “Hoping for a strip search?”

Damn. Caught and he hadn’t even noticed. Pale met her gaze, arrested in a completely new way. She didn’t startle. Women always started around him, even his own kind. Especially his own kind, though they’d come to him for help. All she did was cross her arms and give him a mutinous lift of her chin in challenge. Interest flared brighter in his gut.

She definitely had no idea how precarious an edge she stood on.

Her red lips trembled as she glared at him, her eyes narrowing and her power pushing harder against his skin. No, not a tremble. One side lifted in a feminine snarl he had to focus over the din of his heartbeat to hear. She was growling at him.

She probably meant to be threatening, but the effort only struck him as…cute.

Tate would never let him live it down if he found out Pale had even thought such a word, but there it was. The supposedly frightening and deadly Sibile was about as menacing as a newborn pup. He leaned his head to the side, trying to decide what to think of her beyond the instinctive desire to drop her to the ground and mark her.

Her beauty was a given, the Sibile’s stock in trade, but there was something hotblooded to her fine features that appealed far more than the perfect symmetry. Her lack of prissy decorum set her apart the way nothing else could. The color in her cheeks, the faint parting of her lush lips, the flash in her eyes. Every aspect of her face expressed frustration and defiance. She’d never pull off that haughty façade the Sibile were known for.

Too much temper, he decided, surprised to note his own appreciation. Next to the tilted, glittering eyes, he liked her upper lip best, just the tiniest bit fuller than the bottom. He noticed something peculiar then. Tips of her teeth were peeking out near the corners.

“You can’t be talking to Saint Palentine.” Jorgensen’s oh-so-appealing remark interrupted their mutual stare, leading to a loud laugh that grated on Pale’s eardrums. It also reminded him there were others in the room, something the female seemed to remember as well, because she blinked suddenly and glanced around.

Her gaze returned to him, though, with a questioning squint as she looked him over again.

A chair wheeled backward with a squeak, which meant Jorgensen was on the move. A little older than Pale, a lot friendlier and apparently everything women found attractive, Jorgensen rarely had to work to grab a woman’s grateful attention, so Pale knew it wouldn’t take long for this Sibile to become equally captivated. He waited to be relieved. All he felt was a decidedly strong desire to tear out the other detective’s throat and lay it at her feet for a gift.

“Lady, you’re barking up the wrong tree. No one around here is even sure this guy’s human.” Jorgensen winked at Pale as he passed in front of him to get closer to their visitor.

Pale gave him the finger.

The other man stumbled, surprised, but he quickly turned from the gesture, regaining his composure in the blink of an eye. “He’s on the clock, which means you’re not registering anywhere on his radar as anything other than animal, mineral or vegetable.”

The oversize blond man circled the desks, hand extended toward the Sibile. There were better reasons to hate a man than disliking his success rate with women, but in that moment, it was a good enough excuse. Damn Heat.

“On the other hand,” Jorgensen added, deepening his baritone, “my radar sees you just fine.”

The Sibile stared, taking Jorgensen’s measure as he came closer, pointedly ignoring his hand. Eventually, he got the clue and put his palm back in his pocket. Pale felt something in him thrill at the rejection. Not a good sign.

“I’m Detective Chris Jorgensen.” The introduction rang hollow without the oozing charm. “You must be our Sibile.”

Her gaze flickered with dislike, whether for the idiot or his casual reference to her race, Pale couldn’t be sure. She edged away from him like a bad smell. “I’ve been instructed to report to Detective Palen Rysen.” Her gaze sought Pale again, this time from the corner of her eye.

A muscle ticked in Jorgensen’s jaw, but the man admitted defeat easily enough, with a casual sweep of his hand in Pale’s direction. “Looks like you’ve got your man then.”

Her hot eyes locked on Pale, her scent seeming to bloom around her in a burst, pulling at the leash he kept around himself with a near-vicious tug. If he didn’t know better, he’d even swear the whole room took on a fine red haze, spiking his need. Just like that, his defenses to the pheromone pull cracked.

This had to be some kind of game the Order was pulling. A trap.

For a heartbeat, he couldn’t dredge up the ability to care.

She moved like silk in water. Smooth, rippling with possibilities. She’d be strong enough for him, he could tell. She wasn’t fragile, wouldn’t break. Those long legs were made for wrapping around his waist, holding on tight while he feasted.

The Instinct all but roared, pounding in his ears like a chant. Take her.

His blood thickened, his body already hard and heavy with need. He could almost taste her, and his teeth ached to test her nubile flesh. The ways he would bend her, drive her to satisfaction, flashed in his mind.

Claim her, it demanded without mercy, each thought textured with sensation until he almost swore he could feel her wrapped around him in every way a woman could.

The Instinct had no care for the pains he took in public to build his life or the people he protected with it. For the vow he’d made long ago to never take a female’s choice from her. It saw a fresh young woman, ripe and ready to take his seed.

Make her yours.

He strained to keep his hands spread on his desk as she came closer, each step measured, each breath heightening his senses until they arrowed to a point set firmly on her. Then she stood there, in front of his desk, her amber irises taking in more than his expression. He could practically feel her tasting the air around him, scenting him for suitability.

Choose, he willed, not sure if he wanted to be found worthy or not. Sane thinking said no. But he wasn’t exactly sane right now, not by human standards and, many would say, not by Wolf. A strong male in his prime should be stalking her. Taking her and any challenger fool enough to interfere. Pale only sat in his chair, perfectly still, waiting to be judged.

A long second later, she put out her gloved hand carefully, purposefully. “Jade-Scarlet.” Her red lips parted to reveal even white teeth.

Except for the slightly lengthened ones, top and bottom, that he’d mistaken for slightly longer-than-usual incisors. Definitely not, he realized as her eyes turned sleepy. Inviting. Hungry.

Canines.

Her voice softened until only he could hear. “In case you were wondering, you can classify me as…animal.”

Ready for some more fun with Dee? Well, you’re still in the right place then.

Dee’s latest book is All of You, the first book in her Lonnigan brothers series, so we’re giving you a sneak peek today of the entire first chapter. Told you earlier you should sit back and enjoy the fun!

Here’s a little teaser for you:

He found the right girl…too bad he’s the wrong date.

Kyle Lonnigan can’t say he hasn’t enjoyed the bachelor life. Good times and good money have always come easily to him. But now he wants something more, maybe even—gulp—a wife and family. Always the man with the plan, he consults the expert in boring, his identical twin Lucas, who suggests secretly switching dates for a night. Kyle never expected to meet his dream woman…and now she thinks he’s someone else.

Career-minded Jessica Saunders fully intends to break up with Lucas, but the man who meets her for dinner is soooo delicious, she can’t resist seducing him first. When she learns she’s been duped—worse, that Kyle wants more than a part-time lover— she sends him packing. Jessica doesn’t believe in happily ever after. If her early life taught her anything, it’s to trust no one but herself.

Yet for a man who’s done everything wrong, wants everything she’s not and drives her absolutely insane, Kyle is getting under her skin. And into her bed. And, if she’s not careful…into the heart she thought no longer existed.

Now here’s the real fun…

Chapter One

Well, there’s four months of my life I’ll never get back.

Jessica sat in the same booth she and Lucas always met for their dinner dates with a decided lack of excitement. Then again, who looked forward to a breakup? The sense of being free, yes. She always looked forward to that. The frown of confused rejection from the man she was cutting loose? That never got easier.

Still, she doubted tonight’s news would be any kind of surprise. They’d both known upfront they weren’t looking for anything serious. As it was, their casual dates could barely be described as dating. More like dinner and business. Well, business and dinner, if she were honest. They hadn’t even gotten around to a decent makeout session—and apart from her growling, deprived sex drive, she hadn’t really cared too much.

But God, she could use a little interest these days. Something fast and hot, wet and delicious. Something with stamina, so she could have him again, slow and deep. So very, very deep. She shivered, languishing for a few long seconds in the sensory fantasy. If she gave herself permission, she could almost feel strong male hands coursing over her skin, rolling her nipples into hard nubs before stroking over her quivering belly to the moist folds waiting below…

Jessica shook herself out of her imagination before something embarrassing happened. Like Lucas walking up and asking her in his direct, tactless way why she was so flushed. And really, she shouldn’t have to tell him. Four months was a long time to go without being pinned by a hard body that knew how to turn hers into a satisfied puddle.

The only problem was, Lucas never seemed interested in pinning her. Or maybe she just wasn’t interested in getting pinned after getting to know him better.

Which left her between a rock and a not hard enough place.

Frowning to herself, she nearly missed Lucas walking in.

At least, it looked like Lucas.

But it…didn’t.

Same midnight hair, if somewhat longer. Expertly cut too, which wasn’t like him at all. Truth be told, it looked a lot better than her own brown tresses ever did. He was wearing a suit as well. A nice one. Dove gray with a jewel-toned blue shirt that made his eyes glow from across the room. She couldn’t remember anything about Lucas glowing before.

He spoke to the waitress for a moment, smiling so casually that Jessica was glad to be sitting. As it was, her chin fell off her hand, making her jar the table and rock the water glasses. Lucas had dimples? If she hadn’t seen him eat, she would never have been sure he had teeth. Since when did he have dimples?

His easy grin might as well have set off a seismic shift through the restaurant, especially given the drunken response of the teen hostess he was talking to. Jessica’s hands suddenly didn’t know what to do with themselves, one pressing itself to her suddenly tightening thighs and the other automatically smoothing her hair. That couldn’t be Lucas. It just couldn’t be.

Even across the distance, Jessica could see countless differences, far more drastic than the eye-catching suit and the stunning smile. His hands were in his pockets, casually dipped in place while he chatted. Chatted! His broad shoulders looked somehow wider. And he wasn’t standing with his usual rigid posture, instead swaying a bit as if hearing some kind of music in his head that kept him perpetually upbeat. Lucas Lonnigan didn’t have an upbeat bone in his body.

In short…he looked like someone had finally flipped his switch and lit him up. Jessica stopped wondering who when Lucas’s eyes met hers and he walked across the room to her, smile still intact and growing warmer by the second.

Somewhere in her head—faint and from a nearly forgotten warning system—a Chastity Alarm started sounding.

“Hello Jessica,” he said softly, bending down to kiss her cheek—did his lips give her a caress?—sending shivers from her now-flaming cheekbone through her neck to her spine and on down to regions that did not need the tingling buzz of pleasure.

The pitch on the alarm warped in speed and scale, starting from its mild do and shifting to a breakneck, warbled la.

He slid into the booth across from her, not bumping her feet even once, though he always had before. A new equation to calculate better body positioning in average booth confines?

“Hi,” she said, and she felt flames rise higher on her cheeks when her voice sounded breathless. Good lord, she was here to break up with the man! She had no business getting all flustered because he’d found some way to embody candy-apple sex when he walked. At least that much was pure Lucas—the timing was completely off.

Somehow, acknowledging that fact was not reassuring.

“Did I keep you waiting long?” He caught her gaze and leaned forward as if her answer was important to him. Had his eyes always been this blue? And God, was that cologne his? It hinted at sophistication, a cool but inviting scent teasing her senses. Masculine, but light. Fresh.

She forced her eyes to open, hoping he hadn’t noticed how she’d leaned closer and inhaled deeply. “No, only a few minutes.” She hastened to correct herself when his smile turned sheepish. “I’m always early, you know that.”

He nodded and reached for his water. Oh, to drop her head in her hands right now. But no, she had to remain poised. She could not watch his jaw tip up slightly, or stare at his Adam’s apple as it moved up and down while he swallowed. When had that become sexy? The man was drinking water, for Pete’s sake. And yet, her awareness of him—of the lips that had gone from merely sensual to hypnotizing, the cleanly shaven jaw with the slight shadow of dark beard waiting to escape, the tanned throat leading to the hollow where his shirt parted, revealing a secret curling chest hair or two—refused to tamp down.

So he was wearing a suit. So he’d smiled. He was still Lucas Lonnigan, boringly bored financial analyst.

See, she told herself as she sighed in relief, he’s playing with his tableware. Who other than Lucas does that? She’d noticed his quirk for keeping everything at right angles at about their second meeting. He lined up his pencils and his papers like a religious fanatic. Whenever they ate together, he rearranged his place setting automatically, pushing the dish and bowl into a precisely straight stack on the linen placemat and squaring it to the table. The process would be repeated on the napkin and utensils. By the time he finished, he’d have ignored most of what she’d said and she’d be debating using her own fork to get his attention.

Good old Lucas. He hadn’t really changed, she was just looking for things to notice because she apparently needed a hard body more than she’d realized. He was as completely uninteresting as ever. A man uninspired by her and she was equally uninspired by him. All they really did was work together and she needed that to become the recognized focus of their relationship.

Breaking up now would keep things even between them. No harm, no foul. He wasn’t her last chance for sex in the world, but he was her best chance at winning her cases for a long time to come. Nothing mattered to her more, raging hormones or no. His body might be fabulous, but his brain was priceless.

And until she replaced him, she had an amazing vibrator at home.

She smiled, her center returned. This is the best course. I’m not sleeping with you. I’m not thinking about sleeping with you. I’m thinking only about reaffirming our mutually beneficial professional connection before kicking you to the curb and finding the hottest, most forgettable man for the one night stand of his dreams.

Then he looked up and grinned sheepishly when he realized she was watching him, stopped what he was doing and blew all her reassurances to hell.

“So how’ve you been, Jess? Had a busy week?”

She frowned at the diminutive of her name, but figured it was just a slip on his part. She was already breaking up with him, she didn’t have to browbeat him. “I’m sure the average superhero still has me beat, but I’m gaining on them.”

He blinked at her. Surprised? It wasn’t like he didn’t know what her workload was like. There was a reason they only met on occasional Saturday nights. He recovered in a flash by clasping his hands together in front of him and offering her his entire attention. The sensation was enough to stagger her.

“Anything particularly interesting or just your run of the mill?” Those eyes that had never seemed so bright blinked at her, patiently waiting for her to pick up the discussion, but his tone set off other kinds of alarms in her ear. Run of the mill what? He’d trailed it off faintly. Waiting for her to fill in the blank?

“You know, same old, same old.” She frowned. Something strange was going on, she could feel it. If she could only get the desirous fog out of her brain, she might be able to put her finger on what. “Writing wills, helping tax dodgers, saving stodgy old men from accounting software. I might have a few references for you in that department, actually.”

“Uh—great.” The light in his eyes dimmed at the sound of work.

Okay, this was getting weird.

“Lucas, are you okay?” she finally had to ask. “You look…different.”

“Really?” That seemed to perk him back up. “I’m trying a few new things.”

“Like the suit?” And the personality?

“You like it?”

“It’s certainly…different.” There had to be another word to describe him, but she couldn’t think of one. He looked so disappointed that she smiled and went for honesty. “Yes, I like it. It’s very professional.”

He almost seemed to preen. “It’s my favorite.”

“And you wore it for me? I should be touched.” She would be, but she had the strongest sense that he wore it for himself. She just couldn’t be sure if that was good or bad.

“But you’re not.” No offense showed. If anything, he looked amused. “Hmmm, guess I’ll have to find something else to satisfy you.”

Banter. Interesting. She risked propping her chin on her hand again. “So how about you? What have you been doing in the last three weeks?”

“Three weeks?” His eyes widened with what could almost pass as genuine shock. “I’m not dumb enough to have left you alone for three weeks, am I?”

She couldn’t resist it. “I guess you are.”

Again, no offense. Instead, the corner of his mouth turned up, slow, as if pleased to be challenged. Oy vey. “You must be reading your calendar wrong, I’d never be that stupid.”

“Come on now, Lucas,” she chided, wondering when he’d learned to play games. And with who? “I refuse to believe you of all people can’t count to three.”

That made him laugh. Startled, Jessica’s elbow fell off the edge of the table. She looked around the room to see if anyone else was noticing the miracle, but no one was particularly interested.

“I know it probably doesn’t mean much now, but I’m really sorry. I should have called to explain. I guess time got away from me, is all.”

“Along with a few other things,” she murmured. Like his mind. First a laugh, then an apology. She was tempted to pinch herself.

“I’m trying to better myself. What do you think?”

Jessica eyed him suspiciously. He’d sounded startlingly close to requesting a compliment. Odd considering Lucas once told her that compliments were an unusable commodity. “I think the body snatchers got a hold of you.” She leaned forward again, but this time, he leaned back. “Are you on medication?”

His expression darkened, looking a little grim and a lot more like himself.

“Okay, maybe not the body snatchers, but something is definitely off about you.” More like everything.

“I’m sure I’ll be back to my old self in no time,” he groused, going back to rearranging his napkin.

Wouldn’t that be a shame? But how could she say that to him?

Thankfully, she didn’t have to because the waitress came and took their orders. She requested a small steak and potato plate, he ordered the seafood platter. A platter…from a man she generally had to push into ordering more than lightly flavored pasta. She raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.

“So tell me what else I’ve been an ass about.”

She blinked. “I wouldn’t say—”

“I would,” he interrupted, almost cheerily. “There’s no reason to beat around the bush. I’m a pain in the neck most of the time. Always calculating things that I should just accept. My idea of scintillating conversation is arguing over how far into infinity prime numbers actually go.” He shrugged, his mouth once again stealing her attention as it quirked into a self-mocking grimace. “Believe me, it’s a boring conversation.”

“Not if you love numbers,” she felt compelled to argue.

His bright eyes widened. “You love numbers that much?”

“Well, no—”

His commiserating nod was softened by an effacing grin. “See? Ass.”

She shook her head. “You’re being too hard on yourself.”

“Okay, then, let’s be hard on you. Did I ever ask you why you decided to become a lawyer?”

Her enjoyment in the conversation froze. “No, but it’s not a very interesting story.”

“Sure it is.” He dive-bombed her with a full-fledged smile, his even teeth, dual dimples and mischievous eyes setting the chastity alarm squealing until it died a loud, overworked demise. Beneath her blouse, a flush rose up her chest while she shifted in her seat to offset the sudden fluttering of her sex. Dear God, one look and she was wet. She hadn’t known that was actually possible.

Why? Why did he have to suddenly be sexy? Was this his revenge? Some pesky man-pride trick designed to make her regret what she was about to do? Well, she wouldn’t regret breaking up with him and she certainly wouldn’t regret not sleeping with him just because of a grin.

She watched him take another quick drink of water and bit back a gurgled groan when he licked his lips afterwards.

Stop it. I am not going to sleep with you. I already made up my mind.

“So, come on, spill. What made you want to be a rebel with a cause?”

“I’d hardly call finance law a cause.” It was a means to an end.

“So I guess that means young Jessie wasn’t a lawbreaker? No heinous juvenile records or handmade shiv collections?”

She made a face. “Please, don’t call me Jessie. It makes me feel like a five-year-old. Or a man.” Which, in her experience, was often the same thing.

His gaze coursed over her, leaving tingling trails of awareness everywhere it touched—her hands, her breasts, her throat. Damn the table for being in the way of everything below the waist. “Believe me, honey, no one could confuse you with a man.”

I am absolutely not going to sleep with you.

“Or are you trying to sidetrack me from the shivs? Got a little Sharon Stone in you I don’t know about?”

She was a lot of things he didn’t know about, a fact that finally gave her a dash of sobriety. Things no one would ever find out about. “I swear. I don’t even own an ice pick.”

“Oh good. So tell me about being a lawyer.”

“I’m starting to think you’re the lawyer,” she grumbled. Lucas had never been this tenacious before. If she didn’t want to discuss something, he never bothered asking again. And he never pouted the way he was doing now, giving her a nearly hangdog expression she couldn’t help chuckling at. “I’m not being difficult, there’s nothing to tell. I wanted a long-term career. It was either be a lawyer or be a cop. Since I have the upper body strength of a gnat, I went for law school. Too bad I underestimated how heavy the books were going to be.”

He laughed, the sound another sensual stroke she could almost swear she felt slide down the side of her throat before heating the flesh between her breasts. “You should try carting around some of the SEC regulation manuals.”

She frowned, losing the seductive sensation at a stray thought. “I didn’t know you did any trading.”

For a second, his smile faltered. “Hobby.”

“Uh-huh.” Okay, this was getting beyond weird. “Lucas—”

“So what do you think about kids? Do you like them?”

The subject change threw her. “I—what?”

“Nothing. Tell me more about you. What do you do when you’re not working out with law books?”

She was about to dig into him for answers but the waitress arrived with their food and he looked so deliriously happy to see it she had trouble holding on to her irritation.

What followed then was only slightly less disturbing than their conversation. Poking at her own baked potato, she could only stare and feel slightly voyeuristic while Lucas began making love to his food. First came the expressions of ecstasy when he inhaled the aroma of the lobster bisque. He actually licked his lips at the mere sight of a calamari and crab salad and, unless she was wrong, he mumbled a brief, altogether too lustful prayer over the baked whitefish and oysters on the half-shell.

Good Lord, she’d had entire sexual relationships with less foreplay.

He made quick work of the two oysters, managing to make them look delicious while the slimy little puddles slipped out of the shell and into his mouth with a quick sip.

“I hope those things don’t give you any ideas,” she murmured. She already disliked the ideas watching him drink them had given her. Images of him sipping at her breasts exactly the same way, licking all the way down between her thighs where he would suck at the pearl he found there, drinking down every drop she’d give him…

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry,” he replied so casually she wondered if she should be insulted. “I started having ideas the second I saw you sitting here.”

Her fork clattered to her plate when he gave her a quick wink before spearing a piece of coconut shrimp.

“But you have to promise not to ask me what they are, because I won’t tell you,” he continued, his cheek full on one side, giving him an endearing chipmunk look. “I know it’s going to take all your willpower to control yourself, but I’m a man with ethics. I’d never allow a woman to take advantage of me until at least the third date.”

She sputtered with unexpected laughter. “This is our eighth date.”

“Oh, then by all means,” he said, the invitation in his eyes nearly as compelling as the slight husky tone of his voice. “Take advantage of me.”

Her hand shook as she took hold of her fork again, determined to eat without making a fool of herself. “Maybe next time.” With a start, she realized there wasn’t supposed to be a next time. “I mean…oh, can’t you be quiet and let a woman enjoy her meat?”

His grin spread wider and she realized what she’d said.

Poise, Jessica, her mind ordered when she felt her eyes begin to bulge.

“Far be it from me to come between a woman and a little hot beef.”

She bit her lip and decided maybe poise was slipping out of her reach. She just had to hope self-control didn’t disappear along with it.

As they ate, Lucas kept up an easy flow of conversation, thankfully letting her off the meat hook, as it were, but not any of the others. Finally, she gave in and started answering, just to make him stop.

“I like plants,” she finally admitted, stirring sugar into her coffee after their plates were cleared.

“What kind?”

She blinked at him. “The plant kind.”

Did he have to look so adorable when he was trying not to say something to hurt her feelings? Usually, it never seemed to occur to him whether she had any to worry about.

“There’s all kinds of different plants. Ones with flowers, ones with colored leaves, miniature kinds, there’s even one that’s a carnivore. I don’t recommend that one for you though. They bite.”

She shrugged off the corny joke. “I don’t care about botany. I just collect them because they’re pretty.” And without legs, they at least could be trusted to stay where you put them. “I’m a girl, I like pretty things.”

“What other pretty things do you collect?” He set his elbow on the tabletop, leaning his temple on his knuckles. She stared at him, wishing she could feel as comfortable in her skin as he seemed to. Nothing deterred him. Veiled insults spilled off his back. Sarcasm only encouraged him. And yet, despite all the dodging, she couldn’t remember the last time she had a conversation last so long when it wasn’t a deposition.

What would it be like to get dressed in the morning, knowing people would see what you wore and like it? To enter a room, be noticed and be absolutely comfortable about it? There were few things she craved in the world, but confidence was one of them and Lucas Lonnigan’s radiated off him in sensual waves, wrapping around her like a lover’s arms. It lured her to lower her guard, to give him anything he wanted, because he’d return it ten times over with indescribable pleasure.

If she hadn’t decided to break up with him, she might just be tempted.

“Stamps,” she nearly barked, the lie jolting her back to reality with the mental screech of car wreck. She stifled the urge to shake herself at her own obviousness. What the hell was so pretty about stamps.

But if he noticed she’d slipped out of his spell, he didn’t show it. “Do you have many?”

She shook her head. “But I seem to be starting a lot of new things lately.” Like lying. And lusting to the point that she might actually have an orgasm all by herself…

His eyebrows rose faintly. “Turning a new leaf?”

Ha. As if anyone would believe that. “No, nothing so drastic. I have goals, important goals. Things I want to see and do and be.” Things no amount of lectures from her well-meaning but…eccentric secretary would derail her from achieving. Though she could steal an oft-given quote of Dory’s, before he started asking questions about her goals. “But I don’t want to be just my goal when I get there. A new hobby from time to time helps round me out.”

His head picked up, his eyes taking on a gleam of something she was tempted to call recognition.

“Everyone should try new things every once in a while. Experiment.” Eying his interested expression nervously, she added, “Eat some of those gourmet foods that sound scary when you hear what they’re made of but taste amazing once you give them a try. Go on a trip somewhere you’ve never been before.” That would be just about anywhere for her. Her one hidden fantasy slipped through her lips before she could stop it. “Shop like money is no object.”

He laughed and she blushed at her own vehemence. “You could combine all those things into one trip, if you wanted. They say the shopping in Hong Kong is the most amazing in the world. You could go there, get some stamps, try the food and buy anything you want.”

She smiled. “Well, we don’t usually get what we want just because we ask for it.” She knew that better than most. “That’s why I said every once in a while.”

“How do you get what you want, then, if not by asking?”

“You earn it,” she replied simply. He was old enough to know the truth about life. No one handed you anything for free. If they did, it usually meant they were going to take more from you than you would have agreed to pay.

He nodded, seeming to understand her. But why did she get the feeling he was about to disagree? “So, if I said, ‘Run away with me to Hong Kong tonight’, what would you do?”

“Turn you down.” Obviously.

“Because?”

Her amusement melted away. “Are you serious?”

“About the invitation or the question?”

“Both?” God help her if he meant that haphazard invitation.

He watched her for a few pregnant moments before sighing in resignation. “Much as I’d love to take you to Hong Kong, my boss would probably have a fit.”

“You’re self-employed.”

He rolled his eyes. “Fine, I would probably have a fit.”

“I think you’re having one right now.”

Finally, she got him to frown. It looked wrong on his face and she felt a curious dismay at putting it there. “Why would you turn me down, Jess? Truthfully.”

“It’s Jessica. And I’d turn you down—truthfully—because flying off to Hong Kong at the drop of a hat is a ridiculous idea. Rational people do not drop everything just to go have fun. They have responsibilities and duties and…and…”

He leaned his head to the side, as if measuring her features.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she finally said.

“Like what?”

Like you want to kiss me. Or maybe she just wanted to be kissed. Wanted an excuse to keep her thoughts to herself. An excuse to touch his mouth with her own, just for a second. Just to know how he felt. How he tasted. Was he as playful a kisser as he had been a person tonight? Or was he intense, the way she’d known him to be over the last several months?

She’d never know because she was there to break up with him.

“Like you think you’re getting the better of me. I don’t lose arguments.”

“I’m starting to see that.” He straightened in his seat. “There’s a right answer, you know.”

“To running off to Hong Kong with you?”

Nodding, his gaze grew hot again when she inadvertently pulled the edge of her bottom lip between her teeth. “Do you want to know what it is?”

Yes. She held in a gasp as the impulse nearly made it to her lips. “I think I’ll claim the Fifth on that one.”

With a disappointed tsk, his grin slipped back in place where it belonged. “Maybe next time.” He gestured to the waitress for the check.

This was it. Her cue to tell him she wanted to end the “romantic” aspect of their relationship. Assure him they could remain friends and professional acquaintances. She even opened her mouth to do it.

But she couldn’t get the words out.

Why? Why did he choose tonight to be the most interesting man she’d ever met? The most attractive and interesting? She stared at his mouth as he spoke to the waitress in a kind undertone. From the moment she met him, she’d had an appreciation for his mouth. Tonight appreciation had become temptation. Possibly obsession. Would it soften the way it had when he’d kissed her cheek? Could she still turn him away if she found out? Where else would she want those lips if one kiss led to another?

She shifted in her seat, the flutter in her sex a full-on clench of desire now. It would be so good…to feel his skin, hot and slick against hers while his mouth suckled and nibbled and fed on her one inch at a time. To finally touch his chest, to taste every muscle of that perfect body. To have him pounding into her with all that latent power she sensed, driving all thought and tension away with orgasm after orgasm. She panted as silently as she could, her head down so he wouldn’t see what her own imagination was doing to her.

She had to get off this sexual kick. She wasn’t going to sleep with him. It wasn’t right to drop him—and she was going to drop him—after she’d gotten her rocks off. If she went with him now, he’d think there was something more to their relationship but there wasn’t. Apart from this one dinner, they’d barely had conversations. Of course, that didn’t stop her rocks from clamoring for some offing.

Could women even use the term “rocks”?

The slight mental digression had her considering Lucas’s rocks and it all went downhill again from there.

With a struggle, Jessica finally dragged her mind from the gutter.

“I’m not going to sleep with you,” she whispered, eyes closed, belly tightening in rejection, because saying it mentally was not working anymore.

It didn’t help. She might say she wouldn’t sleep with him, but she definitely wanted to. The tingling sensation Lucas’s gaze evoked, the prospect of being ridden to bonelessness and coming so many times she lost her voice was sounding more and more like a rational thing to do. But it was wrong to use him. To encourage him. When he was uncaring and in need of the nearest flat surface in the worst way, she might have been able to do it and leave without much conscience. Lord knew he had needed the de-stressing as much as she did. But this warmer, charming Lucas that attracted her mind as well as her body?

“Not a chance in Hell. I don’t care if you beg, I’m not going to sleep with you,” she repeated.

“Jess?”

She looked up, horrified to find him standing closer than she expected, waiting for her to rise, hand out and an eyebrow raised. As she reached to take his hand, she felt the flush that had never quite left her chest rise to the embarrassing heights of her face

Lucas helped her to her feet then reached down for the check she hadn’t even seen arrive, so he could study it intently.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking to see if I’d ordered kneepads with dinner. Nope, no begging planned tonight, but I’m always open to changing things up a little. What did you have in mind?”

She pulled it from his hand and set it back on the table with the crisp bills he’d already placed there, checking around briefly to make sure no one else had heard. Her cheeks were already burning, she didn’t want utter humiliation to cause spontaneous combustion. “I’m sorry, that just slipped out.”

His dimples made another appearance. She almost whimpered. “So were you trying to convince yourself or me?”

Placing a cool hand to the side of her face, she blew out a shaky breath. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”

“Any particular reason you need convincing?” He led her out of the café, nodding at the waitress smiling after them. Once they cleared the front doors, he looked around, as if trying to decide which direction to go. Which was just ridiculous. Lucas always knew exactly where he was and where he was headed. Usually so did she.

For the first time in years, she didn’t.

All she knew for sure was that she wanted him. Not plastic. Warmth. Laughter. Passion. Seduction. Yes, that was it. He’d been working a slow seduction all night, as if he’d come to her with the express purpose of sliding into her bed, into her body and into every fantasy she could think of. The only thing holding her back was her conscience.

She could admit when she was ready to be had. She couldn’t begin to explain how ready she was.

She stared at him until he met her gaze again, his friendly smile slowly fading. Judging by the expression on his face, he could see it without her saying a word. So why didn’t he act on it? Why not push his advantage? Why did he look both interested and cautious?

And yet, his uncertainty sent a slight thrill through her. After all his flirting, he was the one pulling back? Oh no, not after all that flirting and stimulating and promising, however unspoken. Something predatory twined inside her at the thought of going home without him.

“Jess?”

Deliciously predatory.

“I want you to come home with me,” she said, smoothing a tendril of her hair back behind her ear. The wind and the air from the traffic beside them kept the rest of her hair whipping at her back, but she ignored it. She kept every ounce of her attention on him.

His eyes remained clouded. “What happened to your determination not to sleep with me?”

She shrugged, hoping to cover the shivers…and the fears that he would turn her down. As if his rejection had the power to hurt when she’d set herself up ages ago never to be hurt again. “When you’re getting to the point of talking yourself out of something, it’s because you’ve already decided to do it.” And she had. Probably the second he’d walked in the door of the restaurant.

She wanted this man, this Lucas, in her bed more than she’d wanted anyone, ever. She’d settle for the floor of her foyer if she had to, but eventually, she wanted him on any bed she could find. As many beds. Her mind quickly went wild with possibilities while her panties grew damn near soaked.

She tugged on his hand, leading west, toward her apartment. “Come on.”

“Aperitifs?”

“I was thinking sex, but if you’d like a drink first, sure.”

Again that laugh of his. He didn’t pull away, as she half-expected, but he didn’t exactly keep pace. With those long legs he’d have no trouble outdistancing her. Which probably meant…

“Um, Jess?”

She should have known being brazen was a mistake with Lucas. The man had prudence in his DNA. New clothes or not, he wasn’t the type to rush. She spun around, looking into his eyes and seeing a definite response to her. She wasn’t bad looking, really, and there wasn’t anyone she trusted of the male persuasion the way she did Lucas, even if she did mean to break up with him. He probably needed reassurance.

“I know we haven’t had this kind of relationship, but don’t worry. I won’t expect anything from you afterwards.” She smiled up at him, hoping he’d understand everything she implied in that one sentence. “I promise.”

He didn’t appear to be as soothed as she expected. Good lord…was it possible he hadn’t done this before? It would certainly explain a lot about his usual grumpy personality, not to mention his sudden uncertainty.

“I’ll be gentle,” she added, smiling at his obvious misgivings.

He smiled back, wryly. “It’s not that. I’m kind of liking your aggressive side.”

“But?” A man didn’t slow a woman intent on sex unless there was a but somewhere.

“There’s something I haven’t told you.”

That he was going to break up with her? No, no, no, not yet. Once he got those words out, he’d go all noble on her and she’d go home frustrated.

“Tell me later.” She rose up on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him.

She’d never kissed Lucas before, not apart from the occasional cheek kiss. She’d never even held his hand. It was different than she’d imagined. Softer. Gentler. Perfect. Unwilling to think about why, she closed her eyes and licked his lips, craving a deeper taste.

He’d been too surprised at first to respond, but he warmed up quickly, meeting her kiss with his own, flirting with her, stroking and soothing her before tilting in a different direction and daring her to follow.

His lips took over, commanding, rewarding her when she did by rolling their hips together, leaving no question in her mind as to his interest now. The thick length of his cock teased with every swivel, causing an almost painful throbbing in her own moistening folds. Never enough to let her know exactly what he was offering, instead it hinted at the satisfaction he could give and she pressed closer, aching for relief.

Oxygen became a thing of the past and she couldn’t have cared less. She slipped her fingers into his hair, sampled the silkiness at his nape. He slid his hands fully over her ass, just resting there a second before caressing it in a way that made her whole body leap. Strong fingers slipped over the bottom curve, pulling her apart enough to make her wish he could slip them between her thighs right then, but he retreated and she groaned against his lips.

“Say you’re coming home with me,” she whispered when she finally pulled away.

He looked down at her, looking dazed and hungry, shocked and awed. That might have had something to do with the grip she had on his lapels, but she didn’t think so. For the first time ever, Lucas was seeing a woman when he looked at her, and he wanted her.

“Honey, I think I might just follow you anywhere you lead.”

She smiled, letting go of his coat and smoothing her hands over his chest. She didn’t say another word, just turned around and let him do exactly that.

Hello and welcome once again to Duck Chat!

Today Dee Tenorio is spending the day with us.

I personally had never read any of Dee’s books, and a few months or so ago I received her book Kiss Me Again in error when requesting a book with a similar title to review. That ended up being one of those times I was so very glad a mistake was made, once I read and reviewed the book. KMA is a lovely story, and I know there have to be other readers out there who haven’t read Dee’s books and would be glad to find a new author to revel in. So I invited her to join us for some fun today.

So sit back and relax as you visit with Dee, and if you have a question or comment for her, by all means, post away and we’ll put you in the drawing for one of Dee’s books. She’ll let us know sometime today which title is in the running.

Now let’s chat!

DC: Dee, welcome to the Pond! Would you tell our readers a little about yourself, something perhaps even your most fervent fans may not know?

DT: Hi Sandy! So glad to be here! Hmmm, a little about myself. Well, let’s see. I’m a wife and a mom and a reader and an absolute fan girl of romantic stories. (And in case anyone was wondering, I only consider books with happy endings where the couple are together and plan to stay that way a romance, lol. I fully admit to being uppity when it comes to romance. )

DC: If you could retire any interview question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

DT: Probably, “Which of your books do you love the most?” Books are like kids, you love them equally, and usually for different reasons. That said, it’s usually the book I’m working on when I get asked it, lol. You have to fall in love with it while you write and make your peace with it when it’s time to move on. (Wow, putting it that way I feel like a serial monogamist!)

DC: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

DT: Oh, absolutely. In fact, I know I’ve made a wrong turn when the characters stop talking. Almost like I’m following their voices. It takes some back tracking and replanning, but in the end, it’s always worth it.

DC: You have a new series, The Lonnigans, and the first book, All of You, was released just yesterday. First would you tell us about the series as a whole, and then we’ll talk about the books themselves.

DT: I’d love to. The Lonnigans are twin brothers, one of whom has decided he wants to settle down. Playboy Kyle–the hero of All Of You–has had a “Come To Jesus” moment of sorts and his pragmatic twin, Lucas, doesn’t take it at all serious. Always happy to help Kyle back to the world of reality, Lucas offers to let him trade places with him for a night. See how it feels to date like a regular guy. Never one to walk into a trap alone, Kyle offers to make it a blind date swap and just like that, the two of them begin adventures they never bargained on.

The real fun about this series is that both books run concurrently, so there are scenes that overlap in both books, meaning you get to find out what each brother was thinking at that pivotal moment. (Which, let me tell you, was SO much fun to do!)

DC: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

DT: Oh, I’ve definitely argued with them. In fact, I’ve been arguing with my upcoming hero to all new levels the last few weeks. He wants to be all commanding and powerful and I keep telling him, Dude, you are. But you’re going to be commanding and powerful the way I tell you to be commanding and powerful. (He’s brooding at the moment)

DC: There’s a switcheroo going on in All of You. Can you give us the lowdown on Kyle and Jessica, please.

DT: Sure thing. See, when Kyle heads off to date what he anticipates to be a boring woman who would like nothing better than to settle down and pop out kids, he has no idea that she’s really his brother’s business connection. Jessica, a finance lawyer, is about as interested in his brother Lucas–and settling down–as she is in contracting poison ivy. In fact, she’s there to break things off with Lucas, but Jessica’s plans go awry when the Lucas who sits at her table might as well be a whole other man. A tempting, delicious and thoroughly charming man…

DC: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

DT: Oh, that would be my children. I have twin toddlers and an eleven-year-old son as well as a nearly eighteen-year-old niece. There’s always something going on, someone yelling for Mommy, someone needing food. It’s really more a case of which story is going to distract me enough to make me sit down and write, lol.

DC: What has been your favorite book cover from all of your releases and why?

DT: Oh, that’s a hard one. I’d say All Of You gives me a great big “WOW” moment, but the one lodged at the bottom of my heart has to be Kiss Me Again. It’s just so beautiful and really shows the love between the hero and the heroine–the longing, the joy…and the sense that they’re drowning in everything they’ve let get in the way. It was just a perfect fit.

DC: How about your least favorite cover?  Why?

DT: Well, lol, that would have to be Betting Hearts. It was my first book and when I asked for the cards, I was thinking about tying in the name and I was absolutely TERRIFIED of having a Poser cover, lol. Samhain hadn’t put a book out yet either, when I requested it. I’ve learned quite a bit since then, so I still love the story, but ohhhh, what I wouldn’t give to have another crack at that cover.

DC: How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over your career? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started?

DT: Oh, they’ve totally come a long way. When I first started, my heroines were a little more reactive than proactive. Cass (Betting Hearts) was really a foreshadow of what I’d eventually find as heroines who fit for me. Spirited, determined, strong. I still love my other heroines, but the truth is that I’m hero-centric as a writer. I’m a tomboy at heart and had to learn to be girlish (not unlike Cass, actually) and so I tend to understand the heroes long before I do the heroines. I’m getting better, though. I just had to learn to find heroines I could relate to and be proud of.

DC: Is there a genre you haven’t tackled but would like to try?

DT: Well, sort of. I’ve had a long-standing love affair with paranormals and a deep respect for folks who write suspense, because I didn’t think I could ever write either. Then one day, I had this story idea and a shifter hero I couldn’t say no to. The heroine came along and I was toast. Tempting The Enemy was born and Carina Press snapped it up for later this year and I’m already working on the sequel. So, I don’t know that I’ve tackled it, but I’m loving giving it a try!

DC: The second book, All or Nothing, in the series is due out in July. Sounds like Lucas gets a big surprise when he least expects it. Please tell us about him and his love, Belinda.

DT: LOL, oh, Lucas. Bear with him, folks. He only seems like a robot. He’s really a robot with a heart of gold, lol. Okay, here’s the deal with Lucas. He’s taken, always has been, but the woman he loves has some really deep scars and the last thing she wants is a man who loves her all the way down to her soul. Belinda is tough, like weathered wire, something she’s had to become to survive her life. Lucas gets her all the way down to the soft parts and that’s something she can’t handle. So what happens when all that tension between them explodes? Well, let’s put it this way. Mount Vesuvius has nothing on these two…

DC: What advice would you give to your younger self?

DT: Pay attention in Grammar class. Oh, and I’d have made me read “Self-Editing For Fiction Writers” waaaaay earlier. It’s never to early to get started learning craft.

DC: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

DT: LOL! I’ve never been asked that! Let’s see…

Dee Tenorio always figured a quick smile and a pithy joke could get her out of any situation, but when she met the man of her dreams, it became very clear that laughing was only going to make her fall deeper in love–and in trouble–than ever before. Through job-changes, child-rearing, heartbreaking loss and the triumph of finding her dreams, Dee’s life is a roller coaster filled with love, laughter and surprises you don’t want to miss.

DC: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

DT: Sensual honey, uproarious fun.

DC: Tempting the Enemy is slated to be out in June. May we get a sneak peek for our readers?

Sure! How about the blurb?

Unedited Blurb: Detective Pale Rysen, an Alpha, is determined to secretly rebuild the Wolf packs from the ashes of genocide. So when a killer starts picking off young females looking for sanctuary, it’s his job to protect them. Forced to work with a hated enemy, he fears his cover is about to be blown.

Jade-Scarlet’s membership in the powerful Order of the Sibile has always been controversial. A half-wolf, Jade’s unstable psychic powers are a constant disappointment to her mercenary handlers. When her oracle commands her to work with Pale, Jade sets out to prove herself, even if it means challenging the enigmatic shifter.

Yet Pale triggers more than her curiosity. He sends her into Heat, which could mean losing control of her gifts — something she can’t allow. As the number of victims rise, so does the danger. A murderous darkness wants them both dead. But even if they stop the killer, how long can they fight each other?

Hope you like it!

DC: What romance book would you recommend our readers pick up during their next bookstore run?

DT: Well, Lord knows I’m clawing my couch waiting to get Lora Leigh’s Lion’s Heat. (Grumbling about Agency model that keeps me from getting it in eBook). Honestly, I can’t think about much else, lol.

DC: For a romance reader who hasn’t read your books yet, which title would you suggest they start with to become addicted to Dee Tenorio’s books and want more?

DT: Honestly, I’d say start with Burn For Me. I’m really proud of how it balances romance, humor, sensuality and plot. It’s actually third in the Rancho Del Cielo books, but I think really defines where my writing is headed from this point on. If you’d rather sample something smaller, just to try me out, look for Love Me Knots–it’s a novella. Both are hopefully a lot of fun.

DC: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

DT: Well, apart from writing I’m also a web designer and a site host, so, if I wasn’t writing, I’d still be doing those and hanging out with my kids. I’d probably be a better cook, but that might be just wishful thinking.

DC: Let’s talk about some of your older books. The Midnight series sounds interesting. Would you tell us about it and give us a brief look into each of the books?

DT: Ah, those Remingtons. Sigh. Well, the series is about what secrets can do to a family, and how healing might hurt, but usually, you end up with more than you ever thought possible.

The first book, Midnight Sonata, is about a billionaire who’s heart is broken in every way. That is, until he moves in next door to a widow and her son and discovers that while he had a life with money and ease, he was missing something only she could teach him. Love.

Midnight Temptation involves Raven, twin to the hero of Sonata, and a man whom everyone has spent years thinking the worst of. Until he encounters his assistant, Vanessa, who could teach him a thing or two about keeping secrets. But can these two wounded hearts find a way to each other?

Finally, there’s Midnight Legacy. Orphan Tara Sellers’ rough life in no way prepared her for discovering that she’s really the illegitimate heir of one of the richest families in the world. Thrust completely out of her element, she has no choice but to lean on a man she has no reason to trust. A man who wades in guilt because he knows he’s betraying that trust, no matter how he does his best to protect her. What neither of them realizes is that the real danger comes from a source neither of them could ever expect…

If you head to my website, you can read excerpts for each of them.

DC: What’s on the horizon for Dee Tenorio?

DT: Well, this fall, I have another novella coming out from Samhain called Shaken, about a couple on the precipice of divorce, trapped in an elevator after an earthquake. (Which, incidentally, happened the other day to a poor woman after the earthquake we just had in Cali, lol, so I kind of cheered that no one can complain about the validity, lol) After that, I’m working on a sequel to Tempting The Enemy and I’m hoping to have a few more releases out in 2011 as well.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate?    – Sadly, neither, I’m allergic, but I used to eat Dark by the pound.
- smooth or chunky peanut butter?      – Depends on the jelly.
- heels or flats?    – Heels. I feel short and dumpy in flats.
- coffee or tea?   – Tea. Chamomile. With honey.
- summer or winter?     – Winter. I love bundling up and grey weather is best for writing.
- mountains or beach?     – I have to pick? I hate sand and I hate climbing, but I love the view in both. Luckily, I live in Southern California, meaning I have both every day.
- mustard or mayonnaise?     – Mayo. Tho good mustard has it’s place.
- flowers or candy?     – I love candy, but flowers melt me. Sadly, I kill them–black thumb–so most folks go with candy.
- pockets or purse?      – Diaper bag–that thing is a bottomless pit.
- Pepsi or Coke?      – Sprite. LOL.
- ebook or print?      – Oh, that’s mean. There’s nothing like having your book in your hands, to touch and smell and rub on your cheek…but eBook is just more readily available, efficient, better for the environment and the royalty system is really quite a bit more rewarding for the authors. So, I suppose I’d say ebook. (But if my pubs want to print me, I won’t say no, lol)

And because we still enjoy the answers we get:

1. What is your favorite word?     – ebullient
2. What is your least favorite word?     – pain
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?    – Clouds
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?     – Abuse
5. What sound or noise do you love?     – My kids’ laughter
6. What sound or noise do you hate?    – metal grinding
7. What is your favorite curse word?     – It’s a tie between “clusterfuck” and “fuckwit”. (They’re both just so much fun to say and both sound like cookies! LOL, can’t you see Girl Scouts selling those? Or am I just twisted?)
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?     – Painting
9. What profession would you not like to do?    – sewer work
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?     – “Well, now, you sure took your time…”

DC: Dee, what fun we had with you today! Thanks so much for dropping by!

Limecello’s review of Burn For Me by Dee Tenorio
Contemporary romance published by Samhain Publishing on 3 Nov 2009

I’ve only read a few of Dee Tenorio’s stories, but I think she’s an author to keep an eye on. (I said the same about Jess Dee.) I’ve read Burn For Me a few times now, and find it very enjoyable. I love stories where the hero and heroine knew each other. There are qualities and factors that make this story different from others, although some things are very familiar. For example, the secret baby. Evil potential in-laws, and so on. However, the small town and large family dynamic give Burn For Me something more. I believe there are more books set in this city, and I intend to look into that. Also, cliche, but I have to say it. Did you look at the cover? Love it. I want  Scott Carpenter skills when I grow up.

Dr. Penelope Gibson is an interesting character. I think that she’s well rounded, and very human. She’s emotional, determined to be strong, makes mistakes, knows she isn’t perfect, worries a lot, but will do anything to protect her daughter. In short, she’s a mother. But that’s good. Her friends call her “Pen” – and I’m not sure if it was another book I was reading at the same time, but I found that distracting. I like how cautious Penelope is. Finally there’s a heroine who sticks to her guns, and really has to be sure about the hero before she’s all in. I thought it was realistic that Pen would be willing to be with Raul physically, but not certain they’d have a lasting relationship. (With good reason.)

Raul Montenga is a hero that you like now, but wouldn’t have if you had known him in the past. I think his flaws  and colorful history really help his relationship (or the lack thereof) with Pen. He was a jerk, but now that he’s home, he’s all grown up. Raul needed that time to become a man. That sounds so cliche, but its true. I think Raul needed some time to play and figure out what he wanted from life. Once he does, Raul goes after it with single minded determination. Not only do I think that is admirable, I absolutely adore it when the hero is head over heels for the heroine, and doing his best to convince her to take a chance on him.

Perhaps its because I’m over thinking as I write this review – but the secret baby aspect. Raul’s mother knew immediately knew that Chloe is her granddaughter. That I can believe – sometimes with family you can just know. However, with the town being so small and everyone in each other’s business, one would have thought it’d be a bigger deal that Chloe is Raul’s daughter.  Even before he knew. (Nobody knows who Chloe’s father is for years.) Although, I suppose that isn’t the focus. In a way, I liked that Penelope and Raul already having a daughter together is something of a collateral benefit, and not why Raul wants to be with Penelope.

The really interesting twist is the family aspect. Both Penelope and Raul’s families are well described and extremely different, but the disparities are enjoyable. There’s a twist, with almost reverse racism, for a lack of a better term. I liked that Ms. Tenorio addressed such an interesting and difficult subject, and that she made it integral to the story, rather than it being simply some personal agenda to “educate the world.”

While I really enjoyed this book, there was just something about it -not that it was off – its hard to describe, but maybe not complete, or that mysterious quality that made me want to hug the book after finishing it. The elusive squee, I suppose. Nevertheless, its great. Chloe is a likable character (I have to say I’m not a fan of children in romances. I guess kids freak me out. Anyway.) But she’s well written, and quite the kid. Raoul and Penelope’s relationship is real, and occurs naturally. They’re sweet, and their interaction is very sexy. While there are a number of secondary characters, most of the focus is on Raoul and Penelope… and their parents. Another interesting twist. I recommend this book if you enjoy Ms. Tenorio’s writing, or if you’re looking for a quick enjoyable contemporary.

[And... brace yourselves. Longest. Book blurb. Ever!]
Grade: B

Once burned is all it takes…

A Rancho Del Cielo Romance.

Twelve years ago, Raul Montenga left home to live life on his own terms. Yet for just as long, his nights have sizzled with erotic dreams of Penelope, the girl he left behind. Enough is enough. It’s time to find out if the sparks are real, or all in his head.

Not that he expected a warm welcome, but her cold shoulder and icy rejection sting more than he cares to admit. So he’s more than a little surprised to find her tomboy daughter standing nervously on his porch…claiming to be his child.

Dr. Penelope Gibson’s worst nightmare isn’t that her daughter wants to know her daddy. It’s facing—and keeping at arm’s length—her biggest youthful mistake. Now he’s back and the feelings she’d thought frozen solid are melting fast. Along with her inhibitions, her clothes and her better judgment.

Problem is, Raul’s not content to stop at getting acquainted with her daughter. He wants it all—Penelope’s love, her body and her soul. After twelve years building a life without him, though, she’s not sure she trusts him—or herself—enough to try.

Read an excerpt here.

Sandy M’s review of Kiss Me Again by Dee Tenorio
Contemporary Romance published by Samhain 1 Jul 09

I actually got this book by mistake. But you know how sometimes when life is on the right track, mistakes can be good? This is one of those cases. I’ve not read Ms. Tenorio before. But after reading this story, I’m definitely going to be adding her books to the old wishlist.

Besides the lead characters in this book, what I liked best is the fact that their relationship, when they were together, is like the everyday, average relationship that has its ups and downs, and sometimes nothing can be done by either party to make things right enough for the affair to go on, breakup is imminent, and they eventually go their separate ways.

This couple is the typical you and me with a significant other. Ethan is the classic male who doesn’t talk to his woman about feelings or his past, especially his past. He doesn’t need to rehash the ugly stuff to head into the future. He’s always working, married to the job, and never there for Kira when she needs him. Kira is the classic female who wants to know all those mushy feelings, talk things out, and wants to spend as much time as possible with her mate. Of course, things are terrific in the bedroom, which is fine with Ethan but not enough for Kira.

So Kira, after three years, decides this relationship is at a dead end, packs up and leaves Ethan on the very night he’d planned to propose. They both have their own way of dealing with the loss, but do go on as best they can. Six months pass and Kira gets the phone call she’d always hoped for from Ethan since she left, but after the initial surprise and hope, she realizes it’s not the right phone call from him.

Ethan is having a difficult time getting his immediate superior to pay attention to his saying no to her advances. His bright idea of calling Kira, asking her to pretend they’re still an item to help the boss lady’s lights come on seems the right thing at the time. Kira even agrees to help. She has her own agenda, though, and Ethan walks into a renewed relationship with one set of goals while Kira has another.

They do eventually learn how to communicate during this time after a couple of bad starts, they both grow and face their issues that kept them apart during their first go-round. Ethan and Kira are very likable characters and you’ll find yourself cheering for them when rough seas churn up again. The secondary characters are all very well written. I enjoyed Ethan’s best friend, Peter, who shares his perception of relationships at the beginning of every chapter. I totally hated Kira’s best friend Betsy. Kira put up with her much longer than I ever would have. Boss lady gets what’s coming to her, thank goodness.

For a mistake, I had a really fun time with this book and found a new author whose books I will try again in the near future. Sure wish other mistakes in life would turn out this well.

Grade: B

Summary:

An unforgettable man. Irresistible temptation. One last chance to get it right.

Magazine layout artist Kira Weston knows all about frustration. She wasted three years loving Ethan Roarke, a man who played her body like a fine instrument—but wouldn’t let her anywhere near his heart.

She doesn’t believe for a second that Ethan needs her to pretend they’ve reunited in order to deflect his boss’s carnal advances. Once Kira realizes he thinks she’s dating a gigolo, however, the urge to teach him a lesson is more than she can resist.

She only meant to torment him with seduction without fruition, but suddenly revenge is the last thing on her mind. This could the one chance she long dreamed of when they were together—to finally break down Ethan’s emotional walls.

Or get over him once and for all.

Read an excerpt.

LauraJ’s review of Kiss Me Again by Dee Tenorio
Contemporary Romance released by Samhain 16 Sep 08

Well Sybil did it again. I’ve been down in dumps about my youngest kid heading off to school all day and she said, read this and cheer up. Sybil has a good track record for introducing me to books and authors I most likely never would have tried without her recommendation, so I loaded this book up to my eReader and started reading. Let’s just say not much housework got done while I was reading this one.

Ethan and Kira broke up six months prior to the start of the story after a three year relationship. Kira felt that the relationship was going nowhere and Ethan might love her but he would never make a full commitment. He’s a workaholic and Kira was tired of getting so little of Ethan’s time. What Kira didn’t know was that Ethan had planned to ask her to marry him that very night she walked out.

When a co-worker starts making unwanted advances, Ethan reaches out to Kira for her help hoping that if the co-worker realizes he and Kira are a couple again she will back off. Ethan realizes he will do anything to win Kira back including telling her that he is finally going to go for his dream of starting his own company, which he really has no plans of doing. With the encouragement of his best friend Peter and with Kira’s offer of help, Ethan starts to wonder if he can have his dream and Kira back in his life for good.

Ms. Tenorio did such a good job pulling me into the lives of the characters and really caring about what happened to them. Both Kira and Ethan’s back stories are told slowly over the course of the book, which I found to be a refreshing change rather than having everything up front. Their biggest problem seems to be communicating with each other their needs and desires, which led to the breakup in the first place and continues to cause tension in their renewed relationship.

The secondary characters play heavily into the storyline with both helping and causing the tension. Kira’s roommate Betsy, who sets her up on dates, many without Kira’s knowledge and including one who is a gigolo. The gigolo that keeps pursuing Kira to heal his ego and reputation after she refuses him. Rita, Ethan’s co-worker, who makes life very difficult for him at work. Then there’s Peter, Ethan’s neighbor, best friend, and another co-worker, who was is my favorite. Despite the “McNaulty’s on commitment” that appear at the beginning of each chapter and his “never gonna commit” attitude you see in him, he is really the voice of reason for Kira and Ethan. It was a real surprise to me that I liked him so much.

After reading this book and liking it so much, I decided I needed to go check out some of Ms. Tenorio’s other books and immediately purchased and read one of her older books Betting Hearts. I absolutely loved and will be reading her other older titles while anxiously awaiting more from her.

Grade: A

Summary:

An unforgettable man. Irresistible temptation. One last chance to get it right.

Magazine layout artist Kira Weston knows all about frustration. She wasted three years loving Ethan Roarke, a man who played her body like a fine instrument—but wouldn’t let her anywhere near his heart.

She doesn’t believe for a second that Ethan needs her to pretend they’ve reunited in order to deflect his boss’s carnal advances. Once Kira realizes he thinks she’s dating a gigolo, however, the urge to teach him a lesson is more than she can resist.

She only meant to torment him with seduction without fruition, but suddenly revenge is the last thing on her mind. This could the one chance she long dreamed of when they were together—to finally break down Ethan’s emotional walls.

Or get over him once and for all.

 Warning: Includes sensuous torture of a guy who seriously has it coming…or would like to!

Read an excerpt here.