Exclusive Excerpt: Unexpectedly Hers by Jamie Beck
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Release Date: February 21, 2017
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
By day, bashful wallflower Emma Duffy works at her family’s bed-and-breakfast. By night, she secretly pens erotic romance hot enough to melt the snow in their cozy Rockies town.
But Emma’s real life is about to heat up when her mother books the entire inn to a professional snowboarder, hoping the publicity will put them on the map. In a karmic twist of fate, that guest is Wyatt Lawson, the man with whom Emma had shared the secret one-night stand that became the inspiration for her novel and its dreamy hero. Worse, a film crew is documenting his comeback just as her debut is about to hit the shelves. Emma’s only saving grace is that Wyatt doesn’t remember her—and hopefully he never will.
When Wyatt arrives in Sterling Canyon for several weeks of intense training, the last tumble he expects to take is falling for a girl, especially one as shy as Emma. Unlike groupies with their hidden agendas, she isn’t using him—or so he believes…until the film crew uncovers Emma’s pen name and steamy novel.
Wyatt’s comeback run can withstand a fall or two, but can his heart recover from this crash and burn?
Exclusive Excerpt
Wyatt had chosen Sterling Canyon as the training location for his return to competition because its off-the-beaten-path location would likely make it more private. He needed a distraction-free environment. The enormity of his task left no room for complications—or women, which tended to be the same thing.
Normally he wouldn’t notice a girl like Emma. Buried beneath such boxy clothes, he could barely make out her figure. At least, not until he followed her up the stairs and got a perfect view of her heart-shaped ass.
He’d always liked red hair, too, although she’d pulled hers into some kind of knot, so he couldn’t tell if it was straight or wavy, shoulder-or waist-length. Not that it mattered.
Yet it did. Why’d she stiffen whenever he caught her eye? Unlike other women who threw themselves at him, this one seemed almost determined to repel him. He should let her keep her distance so he could maintain his priorities.
Nothing like the pressure of a film crew documenting his every move—and potential mistakes—to keep him focused. He needed to stay focused if he wanted to achieve his goals without ending up in a hospital bed like his brother had.
The very thought sent a shiver down his spine.
“Is it too cold in here?” Emma asked, apparently having noticed his reaction. For a second, he caught a glimpse of something warmer shining through.
“Maybe a touch,” he lied. Glancing around, he noticed a bunch of Native American artifacts. Although clean, everything about the place looked old and run-down. At first glance, he’d have said Emma, with her absence of makeup and oversize clothing, perfectly matched the surroundings. But on closer inspection, a little spark of something glimmered from her lively green eyes. And Wyatt had never been one to discriminate against older chicks.
Out of nowhere, Emma let loose a whopper of a sneeze, then promptly flushed. “Excuse me.”
“Bless you.” He grinned as a piece of trivia popped into place, as usual. “Did you know that people exhale at up to one hundred miles per hour when they sneeze? It’s why they can’t keep their eyes open.”
Oddly, she smiled with a faraway look in her eyes and murmured something about his trivia quirk. Intent on chipping away at her armor, he asked, “I suppose you live here?”
Just like that, her starchy demeanor returned. “You mean here, at the inn?”
He grinned, wanting another peek beneath the surface, and if possible, beneath her ugly sweater. “Mmm hmmm.”
“Yes, on the third floor.” She cocked her head. “Why?”
“Making sure you’ll be nearby twenty-four seven. You never know if I might need you for something.” He’d purposely lowered his voice and leaned closer to see how she’d respond to subtle flirtation.
Her shoulders pulled back, her eyes avoided his gaze. “I’m at your beck and call.” She blushed again, clearly having not considered the innuendo in her words until they’d tumbled out.
Her bashful manner surprised Wyatt, who hadn’t met a shy woman in years. He found her attitude refreshing . . . and challenging. He’d always had a hard time backing down from a challenge.
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About the Author
Jamie Beck is a former attorney with a passion for inventing stories about love and redemption. In addition to writing novels, she also pens articles on behalf of a local nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and strengthening families. Fortunately, when she isn’t tapping away at the keyboard, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.
