Excerpt: Wreck by Stacey Brandon & Karen Bell
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Kyle can have almost any woman he wants… except the one he wants most. If he falls for his boss’s daughter, it could be the biggest mistake of his life. He’s made more than his fair share. It would ruin his relationship with the man he considers almost a father, and besides, she deserves someone better than him anyway.
Kinleigh knows the minute she sees the bartender in her dad’s bar that they are meant to be together. She’s heard all about his good business head, how trustworthy he is, and how much potential he has… but learning he is also the hottest man she’s ever laid eyes on had cinched the deal. She might look sweet and innocent, but looks can be deceiving. She’ll do whatever it takes to show him they belong together.
Can they learn that trusting each other is the only way to find happiness?
Or will they let prejudices destroy their lives?
Excerpt
I am fucking ridiculous. I need to grow a pair and quit hiding in the damn pantry!
Just as I’ve finally convinced myself, it’s time to man up and rejoin the party, the door to the large, walk-in pantry opens and the bright light of the kitchen shows me a silhouette I instantly recognize.
“What are you doing in here?” Kinleigh demands with a raised eyebrow and knowing smirk.
“Uh…I was looking for the extra paper towels. Charli said Ben spilled his drink and I… Ummm…I just…”
We both know it’s a lie.
“You were looking for paper towels in the dark?” she asks with a small laugh.
Shit. Can’t she just let me off the hook and leave?
“What are you doing here?” I throw back in order to avoid answering her question.
“Wondering why you snuck off.”
Shit.
“I didn’t sneak off,” I insist feebly.
“Uh huh,” she laughs again and I feel a familiar tightening run through my body. She does this to me. When she’s around it feels like the oxygen is being sucked out of the room and the badass cool I usually cultivate totally deserts me. I know I need to stay away from her, but it’s so damn hard.
“What do you want, Kinleigh?” I groan.
“You, Kyle. I want you.” She steps all the way into the pantry and closes the door behind her.
Standing together in the darkness, unable to see her, my other senses kick into overdrive. I smell her sugary sweetness that must have become part of her from the hours she spends baking. I can feel the warmth of her body only a few inches away from mine. I hear the soft pattern of her breathing increasing in rhythm with every second. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything.
“Kinleigh… This is a bad idea,” I whisper in desperation.
“No, Kyle, this is a very, very good idea.” She closes the little bit of distance remaining between us and wraps her arms around me.
Without my brain’s consent, my hands bury themselves in her long, silky hair and she sighs. Her delicate fingers run over my back and shoulders and eventually land on either side of my face. She increases the pressure of her grasp and pulls my head down to her. Trying to resist her is impossible. I give in and sink into the pleasure of her kiss. Her soft lips and exploring tongue are enough to make me forget every good excuse I’d concocted to stay away from her.
Pushing her back against the pantry shelves, I slide my thigh between her legs and nudge them apart. I bite gently on her bottom lip and she laughs before reaching around and slipping her hands into the back pockets of my jeans and pulling me in tighter. I groan and throw my right arm out to grasp the edge of the shelf behind her, hoping for support, and knock several canned goods down. A few roll away, but one must have landed on Kinleigh’s foot.
“Owww!” she yells, jerking back away from me.
Then we both hear a voice coming into the kitchen and go silent. “I swear she came in here, Liv,” Ronan says, and the sound of his heavy boots on the tiled floor say he’s coming closer.
About Stacey Brandon & Karen Bell
Once upon a time, these two hookers became best friends…
Stacey Brandon and Karen Bell both live in the same small Texas town on the Gulf Coast, are happily married and the proud Moms of awesome kids. Stacey owns and runs a photography studio and Karen designs and sews her own children’s clothing line. They met over fifteen years ago when they decided to turn one large professional space into a single home for both businesses.
Well, that’s all the boring facts expected to be included in an “about the author” page, right? The reality is so much more fun. Stacey and Karen and their families spend holidays together, travel together… and generally turn every situation into something crazy and chaotic. They are both fluent in English, Sarcasm and Profanity and have decided the irrefutable proof of their best friend status is how often people assume they are “together” when in public. The poor husbands are good sports about it… and might even encourage this misconception at times for sheer entertainment value.
When Karen battled cancer… and kicked its ass… in 2014, they learned to value every day and quit worrying about what others think. Do what you love! Karen is happy to take advantage of the situation though. She loves to remind everyone she “had the CANCER, dammit!” and now she can always and forever claim the last brownie ;)
