Wednesday, December 17, 2014

#Excerpt ~ Book 6 HTSF Romance boxed set ~ Behind The Altar


Heroes To Swoon For Boxed Set
11 Sizzling Contemporary Romances

Multi-author boxed set
Genre: Contemporary Romance Anthology
Release Date: December 8, 2014
Cover Artist: http://www.bellamediamanagement.com/

New Release Sale Price: $0.99 Limited Time. Purchased separately, the books in this set would cost over $30. Nine Full-Length Novels, 1 Novella, and 1 Short Story from NY Times, USA Today, National and International Bestselling Authors.

~~BOOK #6 - Behind The Altar~~

All seems perfect in Leah's life until tattoo artist Dean rides his Harley into her heart in this story of forbidden love. Dean, who’s been away from his home for ten years, finds himself irresistibly drawn to Leah’s natural beauty and genuine goodness, but Leah’s engagement to Dean’s brother stands in the way. The more they fight the attraction, the harder it is to stay apart.



~~EXCERPT~~


He noticed the lock was off the door as soon as he got off his bike. He was sure he’d locked it when he left there with Leah and Susie. He had given Leah another key. She wouldn’t be here on a Saturday night, he thought as he pushed the doors open. Leah stood in the center of the room holding a sleeping bag under one arm. In the other, she held a cloth grocery bag.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I’m sorry; I can leave,” she said. “I thought since you gave me a key, I could come here. I decided to spend the night to think about things and make plans.”

Dean began to laugh. He held up his bag and pack of beer. “I had the same idea. The motel room was getting to me.”

“I can leave.”

“No, stay. You can help me eat this greasy food. Maybe drink a few beers and talk about what can be done here. I won’t bite.”

Leah didn’t answer, but she put down her bag and started to unroll the sleeping bag. When she finished, she gestured for him to join her.

“I brought a few things for dinner, too,” she said. “Maybe we can combine the two. I guarantee mine’s healthier.”

Dean smiled and sat down next to her on one end of the sleeping bag. “I don’t know. Reggie says he used the best beef around these parts.” He pulled the burger out of the bag and tried to rip it in half. He handed her a ragged piece.

They ate in silence until Dean handed her a beer.

“I don’t drink,” Leah said. “But thank you.”

“Never?”

“I’ve never drank ever or done any drugs,” she said. “I’ve stayed away. My mom was a drug addict; my dad probably was, too. I can’t afford to test it.”

“I get it,” Dean said. “I guess I’m jaded. All anyone does in South Beach is drink and do designer drugs. I didn’t bring anything else to drink.”

“That’s all right. I brought water.” She held up a red stainless steel water container and then took a long sip. “Is that what you do? Drink and do designer drugs?”

“I stay away from the drugs, but I do my share of drinking beer. Occupational hazard as a tat artist.”

“That’s what you do? Give folks tattoos?”

“That’s what I do. Some folks say I’m pretty good,” Dean said. “But enough about me. It sounds like you had a pretty rough childhood. How did you end up here?”

“I actually had a pretty wonderful childhood until I was around ten, and then it all fell apart,” she said. “We lived near St. Pete, and I spent lots of time playing in the sand and surf. And then my mom starting shooting up heroin, and it was a fast slide after that.”

“Where was your dad?”

“Gone by then. Within a year, we were out on the streets, so we camped with the other homeless. The community was similar to the river camp. In fact, a few of them followed me here.”

“And that’s why you want to do everything you can to help them.”

“That’s right,” Leah said. “I know what it’s like to be in their position. On one hand, they have a sort of freedom; but on the other, they’re living life as close to the edge as can be imagined. I don’t want them to ever have to worry about food or shelter.”

“I think maybe I was wrong about you,” Dean said as he turned to the woman sitting next to him. “Maybe you’re the first truly altruistic person I’ve ever met.”

“I guess you could be partly right, though. I’ve thought about it, and I do get pleasure from helping them, so in a way, I am doing it for me.”

“How about Geraldine and Jacob? How did that happen?” Dean asked.

“When I was seventeen, I got a job at a mall,” Leah said. “Geraldine came into the store where I worked, and we started talking. She mentioned she had a son, and then she asked me out for lunch.”

“That’s it? And then she moved you into the house?”

“She said she took a liking to me right away; said she could see something in me.” Leah shrugged. “Then she invited me to Victory and to the Sunshine Church to speak about homelessness and its impact on children. Both Jacob and she liked what I said to the women’s society, and they asked me to stay to help with the church.”

“You and Jacob fell in love?”

“I guess. Big Jim liked me, too, and encouraged us along with Geraldine. I didn’t know anything about relationships.”

“Jacob’s your first boyfriend?” Dean asked.

“Yes.”

“That’s something,” Dean said. “You’re such a beautiful woman, both inside and out. I’m surprised men haven’t been flocking around you for a very long time.”

“I don’t know about that, but Jacob’s the first serious boyfriend.” She lowered her head when she said that, but Dean saw the red blush start at the line of her tank top and rise up her neck to her face.

“But you kissed me the other day. You kissed me back, too. It wasn’t just me, was it?”

“No,” she said so quietly Dean wasn’t sure if he’d heard her or not.

He put his beer down on his other side, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close to him. He removed the bags of food from between them, and she scooted closer. He was overcome with the feelings sweeping through him. He’d never felt anything like it before.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you,” he whispered into her hair that smelled of apples. 

“Me, too,” she managed before he leaned close and caught her lips in his.

~~Author Bio~~


P.C. Zick began her writing career in 1998 as a journalist. She's won various awards for her essays, columns, editorials, articles, and fiction. Today, she writes romance and contemporary literature with her pen drawing plots filled with love, hope, and forgiveness. 




We all need a hero! Preferably a hot, muscled, romantic one who's not afraid to fight for the woman he loves. From firefighters to athletes, and artists to rockers, these swoon-worthy heroes will keep you on your toes and weak in your knees. Slip into a reading adventure that will have you panting for more: fun, steam, and thrills.
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1 comment:

  1. P.C. ZickDecember 23, 2014 at 11:58 PM

    Thanks for posting, Chantel. It's been a wonderful gift to be a part of such a fantastic box set!

    ReplyDelete

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