Author, single mother and slave to chaos…still searching for that ever ellusive clone.
A promise worth dying for…a woman determined to save him. All that stands between them and success is ten thousand feet and a mile of ice.
Ex-Federal agent Kyle Sullivan can’t afford any distractions. He’s in the middle of a highly volatile mission and the last thing he needs is to fall for the woman he’s entrusted his life to. But his heart has other plans.
Taylor Austin isn’t sure what to think of her new client, the not so bookish “professor” Kyle Sullivan. Everything about him screams sexy, and she can’t help but wonder if he’s hiding something. But just her luck, all he seems interested in is trekking his ass half-way across a glacier to a deserted cave. And in October, the Rocky Mountains couldn’t be more treacherous. If they can just make it across the ice sheet, perhaps she can convince him that she’s more interesting than his ancient artifacts.
Taylor is everything Kyle ever wanted in a woman…smart, strong and a whole lot of trouble. But he needs her, and not just to fill the emptiness inside him. She’s the only guide capable of getting him to a remote hideout alive, and that’s worth risking everything…even his heart.
Ripley quickened her pace, squinting at the bar’s silhouette as the sun rose behind it like a halo of gold. But there was nothing holy about the building, and she couldn’t shake the ripple of fear that rolled through her stomach as she stared at the dull brick. She hadn’t told her dad the real reason she didn’t want to venture to the bar today—he’d only laugh and tell her to stop living in a world of make-believe. But even as she tried to convince herself there wasn’t anything to be afraid of, a stark chill wove down her spine. It was as if the shadows were darker here, and the air just a few degrees colder.
She’d heard stories, though she was positive they were just that—elaborate stories. There were no such things as vampires or werewolves and standing there freezing her ass off as she decided whether it was safe to dash down the alley and slip in the rear entrance, was only delaying her task. If she didn’t hurry, Sirus might venture out from his suite to play in one of his fantasy rooms with one of the maids.
Ripley’s nipples tightened, and her pussy clenched at the image that formed in her mind. Though she’d never admitted it, more than a few of the rooms had tempted her imagination. While she’d had her share of sexual experiences, they’d all been ordinary, like vanilla-flavoured ice cream. She’d often considered sneaking into one of Sirus’ pleasure areas and experiencing something far more wicked. But she’d never had the nerve…or a partner she’d trusted enough. And she wasn’t about to put her faith in a stranger.
Or two…
She smiled at the lingering thought. Of all the rooms in Sirus’ place, the doubles area was by far the most intriguing. She’d witnessed a few of the ladies from the bar indulge in multiple partners, but had never accepted any of the offers to try the pleasure for herself. To feel twin tongues caressing her body or have one man lick her while another rode her to completion. Since she’d stopped being Sirus’ accountant two years ago, she’d been lucky to score a date, let alone a night of wild passion.
A sharp gust of cold air startled her from her thoughts. She pulled her collar tighter as she neared the door, avoiding the collection of trashcans piled beside the small set of stairs. She grabbed for the railing and stepped up when one of the lids from the cans clattered to the ground, sending a harsh tone echoing down the alley. Ripley screamed and jumped, clutching her chest as a black cat jumped out of the wreckage and scooted down the street, its claws making faint scratching sounds along the cement. She closed her eyes, trying to calm the pounding in her chest as she forced her legs forward, promising herself she wouldn’t be bullied again. This was it…her last favour.
The keys jingled as she shuffled through them, looking for the small brass oval. The fact she’d kept her set told her more than she wanted to know. A depressing gloom settled over her as she slipped the key into the hole, the familiar sound of the lock tumbling inside the door lighting the cold air. She gave a shove, cringing when a loud creak filled the silence. God help her if Sirus decided to investigate the sound. The man had a way of breaking through her defences until his wish seemed to have been her idea.
Ripley took a deep breath, the cold air tingling the inside of her nose. She held her head high and pushed open the door, stepping into the scattering of shadows laced along the hallway. She’d half expected Sirus to be leaning against the wall, his usual cocky smile curving his lips, and was relieved to be greeted by nothing more than an empty hallway. She headed off to her right, taking the basement steps two at a time. The quicker she found the files, the quicker she got back to her mundane life.
She stopped at a large door, and slipped the key into the lock, smiling as it clicked open, swinging the heavy wood across the floor. A wedge of light opened up across the room, illuminating a stack of boxes off to her right. Apparently Sirus was using the place as a storage room, which meant finding the files would be more challenging.
She cursed her dumb luck and tossed the keys back in her purse as she stepped farther inside, casting more light along the left section of the room. An antique, oak desk shimmered into sight as the door swung away, casting a harsh glare along the back wall.
Ripley turned to flick on the lights when her gaze landed on the dim outline of a half-naked man on the couch, his large form splayed across the cushions. Her breath caught in her chest, the audible rasp whispering through the room. She sensed the air ripple around her a moment before a set of fangs appeared in front of her.
A strong gust of wind buffeted the aircraft, dropping it a hundred feet. Faith tensed, dragging her thoughts back into the cabin. She looked at the horizon, cursing the band of clouds building ahead of her. Pockets of visible rain loomed over the flatlands periodically illuminated by flashes of bright lightning. She glanced at the map, gauging the distance to the small drilling station. It’d be tight, but she might be able to get back in the air before the storm reached the clearing.
Faith pulled more pitch and pushed the nose forward, gaining speed. It would only buy her a few minutes, but that might be all she’d need. The helicopter shimmied in the gusting wind, making her grateful she’d missed dinner. As strong as her stomach was, the constant turbulence grated on her nerves.
She cursed and lowered the machine, skimming across the treetops. An opening in the landscape blossomed into view, marking the cabin’s location. She lowered the power, broadcasting her intentions out across the radio as she readied the chopper for landing. Large drops of rain splattered on the bubble, distorting her view as she bled off the remaining airspeed and settled the machine across the small log pad. A flash of light flickered across the sky, followed by a low rumble.
“Bloody hell.”
She shut the machine down, not willing to chance the gusting winds. The men hadn’t so much as glanced out of the cabin windows, adding to her growing tension. If they didn’t get airborne before the edge of the storm passed over, they’d all be stuck for the night.
Faith jumped out of the helicopter, secured one of the blades as it slowed to a stop and grabbed the rifle out of the baggage compartment. While it was only sixty feet to the cabin, she never left the machine without it. Grizzlies were unpredictable this time of year, and she wasn’t in the mood for any more delays. She shielded her face against the onslaught of wind and rain, and ran for the door. How the guys hadn’t heard the chopper land was a mystery to her, but she’d tan their hides if they weren’t ready. They had five minutes—ten tops—to beat the weather before they were trapped. And as nice as it’d be to spend a night away from the camp, holing up in a drilling rig with two silver-spoon mama’s boys wasn’t her idea of fun.
She yanked open the door and stomped her feet on the rough, burlap mat as she stepped into the cabin, slamming the door shut behind her. “Why the hell aren’t you boys geared up and ready?” she snapped, leaning the rifle against the wall as she rounded the small corner that led into the main area. “I swear. I’ve already had to extend my duty time—if you guys strand me out here all night, I don’t care who your daddy is, I’ll…”
Her voice faded into a stunned silence as she stopped dead, staring at the dimly lit room. Dozens of candles wavered in the growing darkness, their tiny flames creating pockets of warm light, bathing the room with a cosy glow that made the shadows on the walls flicker and dance. A large blanket had been wrapped around the rig, hiding the dull metal and keeping the draughty air from swirling about the room. A small table and three chairs had been squeezed into one corner, while an oversized bed dominated the other. Pillows spilled across the duvet adding depth to the already thick mattress.
A flash of movement caught her eye and she turned as a shadowy figure stepped out from behind the rig, his brown hair flecked with red from the muted light. The tight feeling in her chest increased, and she blinked, not sure how she stayed on her feet as a wide smile broke across his face.
“Hello, Faith.”
I'm sooo bad. Photo Finish came out two weeks ago and I haven't even blogged about it. I just have no time these days. Between squeezing out the last of summer with the kids, trying to get ready for school to start, the day job... and yeah, let's not talk about how long it's been since I wrote... well, blogging has gone by the way side. Maybe soon I'll be able to get back into it.Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, but this time, they all spell betrayal.
Photo Journalist, Paige Sommers, is out to get digital proof to put longtime arms dealer, Jason Tate, away for good. After losing her fiancé, Brogan Johnson, during an undercover operation with the same dealer six months ago, she’s finally ready to rejoin the world, and put an end to Jason’s rule. But when her zoom lens brings a familiar face into view, she’s not sure what to believe.
Special Agent Brogan Johnson is just a night away from bringing down the largest weapon’s dealer on the west coast. Having given up all connections from his previous life to go deep undercover, he’s willing to do anything to see Jason Tate brought to justice.... That’s until his ex-fiancé enters the picture, literally. With photographic evidence of the deal, she’s just placed her name at the top of Jason’s hit list. If Brogan can just get her to trust him one last time, they might have a chance at their elusive happily ever after.
I've also made a book trailer for it. I hope you enjoy the quick visual peek into the story.
