Congratulations to my fellow author Jewel Quinlan on her new audio release!

Part of Decadent Publishing’s Beyond Fairytales line

*Based on the Grimm fairytale Fundevogel

When Linda and her adopted brother, Falk, return home from school to visit their critically ill father they never expect that someone is plotting against them. But shortly after coming to terms with their feelings for each other they find themselves running through the forest for their lives. Servants in the household have turned against them but they don’t know who is leading them or why. Could the strange visions Linda has been having hold the answers?

Where you can buy it:

eBook: Amazon | iTunes | All Romance eBooks | Barnes and Noble

Paperback: Amazon

Audiobook: Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Listening Time: 4 hours 26 minutes

Narrated By: Sabrina Schloss

Listen to a sample:

Enjoy this excerpt from Eternal Oath:

This time when the colors reformed she saw herself, as though a spotlight shone down on her. She was much younger than she was now, about ten, and wrapped in a woolen blanket. Her hair hung in two long braids which looked frazzled and had loose strands coming out of them. Dirt and twigs clung to her and she was looking into a mirror over a bowl of something from which steam rose. Because of the steam the image wasn’t super clear but Linda could see her younger self’s lips moving…she was saying something.

Even though Linda knew the girl was her, she also knew it was not her. It was as though she were the girl looking into the mirror and at the same time an observer standing in the corner and watching. Instinctively she knew she had to hear what the girl was saying. She stilled and focused her eyes and hearing, harnessing a tranquility that cleared and sharpened her mind. Her breaths came even and deep. And then, as if the volume button had been pressed, she could hear what her dream self was saying.
“You must remember. You must remember. You must remember,” chanted the girl.

But that was all she said with her eyes so large and charcoal-gray as she looked into the mirror. She seemed to be concentrating with all her being on those three words. But those were all she said. After a few more moments Linda became frustrated. Remember what? This girl knew something. She was the key to these horrible dreams she was having, Linda could feel it in her gut. But if she was, why wasn’t she saying more? She waited a few more moments hoping the girl would continue. When she didn’t Linda cried out, “Remember what? Tell me!”

The little girl sucked in a surprised breath and then her dark gaze shifted in the mirror from her own reflection to Linda’s. She seemed amazed to see Linda there but she paused no longer, her words came out in a rush. “You are both in grave danger. Tonight.”

And then the rest of the girl’s words were lost as Linda was pulled to consciousness again, unwillingly this time. As she was swept away she could see the girl’s lips moving but the sound had been turned off again. The image shattered like glass and she woke to Falk gently shaking her by the shoulders.

About the author, Jewel Quinlan:

Restless by nature, Jewel Quinlan is an avid traveler and has visited 16 countries so far. Lover of ice cream, beer and red wine she tries to stay fit when she’s not typing madly on her computer concocting another tale. In her spare time she likes to do yoga, hike, learn German and play with her spoiled Chihuahua; Penny. It is Penny’s mission in life to keep Jewel from the keyboard. But, with the help of dog-chew-making-companies, Jewel has been able to distract her canine companion and continues to get thousands of words on the page for your enjoyment.

For more information about Jewel Quinlan
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | Pinterest

Or subscribe to Jewel’s newsletter if you just want to get the most important updates

Congratulations to my fellow Evernight author Libby Bishop on her new release!

Congratulations to my fellow Decadent author Thea Landen on her new release!

For his entire life, Caleb has always been more comfortable surrounded by books and games than other people. When 1Night Stand is recommended to him, he contacts Madame Eve but is too shy to actually meet any of the women she finds for him. Together, they reach a workable solution: a simulated dating experience in a setting reminiscent of his favorite stories.

After following Madame Eve’s instructions, Caleb finds himself in a vivid fantasy world, complete with a damsel in distress who needs rescuing. His objective is clear, but he must find a way around the many obstacles standing between him and Alizeira, the mysterious woman imprisoned in an underground cell.

While working on his plans to save her, Caleb spends time getting to know Alizeira beyond her role as prisoner, and a mutual attraction develops between them. He is unsure whether she’s a real person playing a part like him, or if she’s simply one piece of the elaborate simulation that’s been programmed for his date. Setting her free is the first step to discovering the truth, but how many secrets is Alizeira hiding?

Buy Links:

Amazon / Kobo / iTunes / Google Play / Barnes & Noble / All Romance / BookStrand / Smashwords

Excerpt:

After racing through a narrow alleyway, we emerged at the edge of the manor grounds, facing the meadow I’d first landed in. Spectre slowed down, and I stared out over the sprawling fields. “Which way from here?” I asked.

Alizeira leaned over my shoulder. “We need to get to the river.”

I searched the horizon for some clue. Mountains stretched above the wide panorama in every direction, but I had no idea where to find the water. “Do you know where it is?”

“I think it’s that way.” She gestured ahead of us and to the left. “But I don’t know for sure.”

I pulled on the reins until Spectre faced where she’d pointed. The discussion about how to proceed, though brief, had cost us precious time. Beneath the horse’s feet, the ground rumbled, the vibrations reverberating up through his legs to where I sat. Angry shouts and hurried hoof beats traveled to my ears. Our pursuers had found our trail.

Clamping both knees around the saddle, I gave his ribs another nudge with my boots. “Come on, boy,” I whispered in his ear. “Let’s see what you can do.”

He followed my commands, and we set out across the open grasslands. Without the hazards of overhanging roofs or gnarled tree roots poking up from dirt paths, Spectre galloped even faster than he had before. Wind mussed my hair and stung at my eyes, and so much adrenaline coursed through me I could barely breathe. Despite any minimal discomfort, the rapid pace and the woman riding with me awakened something deep inside. We embarked on the thrilling adventure I’d dreamed of.

Speeding through the tall, yellowing reeds with the sun blazing overhead, I could push aside the dangers we fled. Alizeira reminded me we’d yet to arrive at a safe location. “The guards are still following us.”

“We’ll be okay.” I yanked on the reins and gritted my teeth against the wind.

The flat landscape of the fields we traversed seemed never ending. I squinted into the distance, but discerned no landmarks or signs. What happened to this river, anyway?

“Hurry!” Her fingertips dug into me. “They’re getting closer!”

Though tempted to turn around and see for myself, I didn’t want to risk losing my balance and falling off the horse. Spectre wouldn’t be able to maintain his lightning-fast speed forever. I’d almost given up hope, but then I spotted the first glints of silvery rushing water up ahead. “There,” I shouted.

The roar of the river crashing over the rocks mingled with the thunder of the hoof beats behind us. Before I could say anything else, the arms circling me loosened. Cool air flowed over my back, and I realized I rode the stallion alone. “Alizeira?”

Spectre skidded to a stop at the edge of the riverbank mere seconds before we would have fallen into the current. I saw no way to cross to the other side, nor did I see any sign of the woman I’d promised to save. Without dismounting, I scanned the area behind me in case she had fallen. She’d disappeared without a trace. “Alizeira!”

The army of soldiers on horseback stampeded toward me, their mounts kicking up clouds of dust and dirt as they closed the distance between us. Captain Sampson led the pack, straddling a steed that, while fast enough, paled in comparison to the stallion I’d stolen from him. As he gained ground, he used one hand to unsheathe his sword and raise it in the air. I pulled on Spectre’s reins and looked around for an escape route, but I was trapped with no way out.

Author Bio:

Thea Landen lives in New York with her husband and two children. A former educator, she strives to encourage creativity and passion in all those around her, and uses writing to help inspire. Though she reads and writes in nearly all genres, she has a special fondness for science fiction, fantasy, and adventure and anything that pushes the imagination beyond its usual limits. When she’s not writing, or thinking about writing, her hands and mind are occupied by either yarn crafts or role-playing games.

Contact Details:

Email: thealanden@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thealanden.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thealanden

Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheaLanden

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782229.Thea_Landen

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00948YAXW

Google+: https://plus.google.com/110059409754775712023/posts

Congratulations to my fellow Evernight author Amber Morgan on her new release!

I’m a werewolf girl first and foremost, but my second-favourite shifter is definitely the werecat. Although the term “werecat” only really came about in the 1970s, there’s been myths and legends about humans turning into cats forever. In European folklore there are stories of witches turning into domestic cats. In Africa, leopard gods and goddesses would take human form and mate with mortals, and their offspring would be shapeshifters (hmm, now there’s a story idea…). In Asia, the ghosts of people killed by tigers could become evil beings called Chang, who made sure that tigers killed even more people!

And in America, where WAKING THE LIONESS is set, we have were-jaguars. In Mesoamerican cultures, priests and shamans would wear jaguar skins to become jaguars themselves. There are also stories of bipedal felines – kind of like Bigfoot, but, you know, cats. There doesn’t seem to be much about shapeshifting mountain lions, but that’s the beauty of being a writer – I can make it up! I’m hoping that WAKING THE LIONESS will be the first in a series of werecat stories, because there’s just so much to explore! In the mean time, I’m looking forward to you meeting, Lara, Zane, and Tate, and getting to know my werecats very, very intimately.

Convinced she could never give her fiance what he truly wanted, cat-shifter Lara Carey walked away from her home and her engagement, and started fresh in New Orleans. One year on, she’s never stopped missing Zane Walker…but it’s too late to do anything about it, isn’t it?

Zane Walker hasn’t come to New Orleans to find Lara, but when chance throws them together, his passion for her is reignited. There’s just one problem. Zane’s new lover is missing somewhere in New Orleans, and even if Zane and Lara find him, can Lara accept him and Zane?

Excerpt

She smiled, hoping she didn’t look as nervous as she felt. “Is Tate the jealous type?” she asked, flexing her fingers. Zane let out a long sigh.

“Lara, this isn’t—”

She moved in front of him, sliding her hand down his torso until she cupped his balls. Another ragged sigh. Lara licked her lips and kissed his throat, nipping lightly. The smell of male arousal mingled with her own musk. She kept her eyes on Tate as she teased Zane, raking her nails over his balls and rubbing her thumb across that soft, sensitive stretch of flesh beneath, just the way he loved. If Tate was the jealous type, she could be making a major mistake here, one she’d never recover from.

But Tate didn’t look angry or jealous as the dull glaze faded from his eyes. He looked…curious.

Zane groaned as she encircled his hardening cock. He pulled her hard against him, crushing her breasts to him with just the right balance of pleasure-pain. She whimpered as he dug his fingers into her hips, silently urging her on.

She worked her hand slowly up and down his shaft, her other hand making lazy trails up and down his chest. It had been so long since she’d been with anyone. The slightest contact burned like wildfire, and this was Zane, the only man she’d ever loved. Breathless with desire, wound tight with need, it was impossible to pretend she did this only to force Tate into a shift. She was doing this all for her own selfish pleasure and she wasn’t going to stop. And if Zane’s reaction to her touch was anything to go by, he didn’t want her to.

On the bed, Tate raised his head and chirped at Zane. Zane raised his head, a little growl escaping his lips. “You know the rules. You want in, you shift,” he said in a voice thick and throaty with desire.

The words caught Lara off-guard. They implied so much with so little. So much history, past threesomes maybe. Her heart skipped. Did Zane think… Would she even…?

Her stomach filled with butterflies as she realized she would. Dammit, she was so starved for skin contact, so – yes, still so in love with Zane, that she would. She’d take both men. Excitement raced through her. She’d take them both and savor the thrill of it.

Tate shook his head and pushed himself up, his wounded back leg clearly hampering him. Lara’s hand faltered for a second, worried he’d hurt himself worse, but then Zane’s hand closed over hers. “Finish what you started,” he growled.

Buy Links

Evernight / All Romance Ebooks / Amazon US / Amazon UK

Author Bio and Links

Amber is the secret identity of a writer who normally pens urban fantasy, but feels like stretching her wings. Amber loves darker romance, anti-heroes, good red wine, and expensive chocolate (sometimes all at once). She’s based in the UK and lives in an adorable cottage with her dream man and two stupid snakes.

Facebook / Twitter / Blog 

Congratulations to my co-author and friend Cait Jarrod on her new release!

Title: Desire

Series: Montana Dreams #3 (can be read as a stand-alone)

Author: Cait Jarrod

Release Date: January 18, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cadence Duvall has a heartbreaking secret. Rather than risk rejection, she pushes away the man who taught her the true meaning of desire. Two years later, her heart still hurts and the guilt remains. She heads to Bluebird Valley, Montana, and her best friend, to bury the memories of a tragedy caused by her careless actions.

After Cadence breaks his heart, Bradley Lovett severs ties with his overbearing parents and takes a position in Florida as a horse trainer at a thoroughbred stable. An urgent phone call from his sister, begging him to help the woman he only wants to forget, sends him to Montana. When Bradley tries to help Cadence face her secrets, he finds forgiveness may be the key to their happiness.

EXCERPT

For several long beats, they stared at each other. His internal battles showed in his etched expression, no different from what she believed hers looked like—sadness, hurt, regret. She longed to reach out to him, to touch his skin and relive the tingles that would no doubt cover her skin.

His rock hard body stiffened and all thoughts of closing the gap for physical contact vanished. Thoughts of doing or saying anything evaporated as if an industrial-size vacuum made a pass through the open barn, taking the energy and the air. She had to get out of there, get away from him and his air-sucking presence. She spun on her heels fast, too fast, and stumbled backwards.

His warm hands, strong arms, and firm body engulfed her. Lord help her. She moaned and relished in the body contact, his heat easing her rattled nerves. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, next to her ear. “That was out of line.”

“It’s the truth,” she managed to say, though the intensity in her voice dwindled. “No need for an apology.”

He didn’t reply, didn’t move, just held her close. A soothing feeling sparked her insides, stimulating her libido and exciting her. She relaxed more fully against him, giving him her full weight. With an arm under her legs and one around her waist, he carried her to the front of a large, round hay bale where he lowered to the ground and rested her in his lap. He didn’t speak, didn’t try to kiss her, just held her close and tight. His compassion, his toasty body, and his security oozed a welcoming invitation, and she burrowed into him. Her libido would have to wait; she needed this, wanted his solidness. Inhaling his yummy, outdoorsy scent, she released a slow shaky breath.

“I gotcha,” he said. “I always have.” His words faded as her body gave into the fatigue of not one stressful day, but over seven hundred.

BOOK LINKS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28435550

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ROaQX2

Series Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MontanaDreamsSeriesbyCaitJarrod2015/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author of award-winning romantic suspense Band of Friends series, Cait Jarrod won Reader Choice Awards for best HEA (Happily Ever After), suspense, and Editor’s Choice.

Her heroes have been described as “every girl’s dreams,” the heroines as “strong, down-to-earth, and likable,” the secondary characters “hysterical.” The plots are “fast-paced, unpredictable and clever.”

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://caitjarrod.com/

LinkedIn: http://lnkd.in/dV2sY2T

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cait-Jarrod-Author/500705936640529?ref=hl

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/cait.jarrod

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaitJarrod

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/caitjarrod/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6966274.Cait_Jarrod

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Caitjarrodauthor/posts

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cait-Jarrod/e/B00BHKVP4M/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_4

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Click here to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway!

Congratulations to my fellow author LeTeisha Newton on her new release!

One Hour Girl, The Lost Series Book #1

Genre: Comtemporary Romance

From International Bestselling Author, LeTeisha Newton, February 29th, 2016!

Celeste Askew isn’t perfect. Not by far. Her childhood was dark and destructive, her family torn apart by greed and secrets.

So she learned to cope.

During her days she’s a paralegal in a prestigious firm. But by night, she’s an escort, addicted to dangerous situations, rough sex, and money. This is what she knows, what she craves, and what keeps her stable.

Ms. Perfection is kept happy because Ms. Whore keeps the darkness at bay.

Until she meets Royce Mattherson, L.A.’s most eligible bachelor, and billionaire. No that his life was much better. His past was just as dark, just as twisted, and they find that they can give each other those dirty moments. Love wasn’t supposed to be a part of it.

It never was.

Her heart is off limits, and he doesn’t have one to give. The found a way to break the rules anyway.

He thinks I’m his forever girl, I saw it in his eyes. I wished I could have slapped the look off his face and hit him with the same jarring finality I’d learned I didn’t mean shit.

I’m not a forever sort of girl.

I’m not even his for the night.

He’ll be lucky if I’m his for the next hour if he doesn’t pay me for it.

And then Royce Mattherson stormed my defenses. Took all the poison inside of me and pushed it out through my pores. He tasted the taint on my skin and still decided to love me. He terrifies me. Exhilarates me. Frustrates me.

And he always gets what he wants.

Always…

I watched Celeste’s eyes widen and she tried to shift from under me, coming out of the daze as she looked over at the hustling waiter. I gripped her hips, pinning her beneath me.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” I assured her. “You seemed to have ruined my dinner, and I’m famished.”

I licked my lips, feeling desire and pride swell within me as her gaze tracked my movement and a warm flush appeared under her skin. I pressed my hips between her legs, hissing at the heat of her pussy against my cloth covered cock.

“I think I’ve found something to eat…right…here,” I told her, letting go of her hip to push my hand between us and cup her sex.

She moaned, head tossed back. I waited long enough for the waiter to run behind the counter and away before I claimed her mouth again. This was my place, my money, my rules. No one would disturb us, and I wanted to see how wild she could get. I wanted to control her.

I rubbed my fingers against her in a circular motion as I devoured her mouth. She gripped at my jacket, pushing it off my shoulders. It couldn’t fall to the floor because I wouldn’t stop caressing her, but it was out of her way enough that she went for my shirt next. Buttons popped as she ripped my shirt open and ran her nails down my chest.

Ground zero.

My cock was hard and pulsing in my pants. I moved my hand from between us and ground against her. She cried out, rolling her hips against me. I liked that. I fucking loved how she gave into her passion. She didn’t fight it, she didn’t apologize for it. The way she responded to me made me feel like a god.

I sucked my way down the side of her neck, paying attention to any hitch of breath, and shift of her body. I noticed that her nails dug when I nipped over her pulse. She sucked in a breath when I traced her cleavage with my tongue. Her breath rushed out in a whoosh when I pulled the neck of her dress down far enough to suck her nipple into my mouth, bra and all.

I noted it all, and logged it to memory. She was mine. So what if it didn’t make sense? So what if I was fighting an uphill battle against a woman who didn’t believe in giving herself. We weren’t talking about love. We were talking about enjoying a spark with another person that we’d never feel again.

I could give her everything she needed, but the emotions. She just needed to learn that people like us? That’s all we needed. I let her nipple go long enough to pull her into my arms and force the dress up and over her head. I tossed the dress over my shoulder as I used my other hand to pop her bra. By the time she lay back on the table she only had her delicate black thong and heels on.

Beautiful.

Her breasts were slightly rosy with desire. It was such a pretty color against her bronze flesh. I captured her slightly darker nipple in my mouth, grinding my hips against her. Her fingers tunneled through my hair as she held me to her. Rolling her nipple with my tongue just to hear her cry out again, I traced the inside of her thighs.

“So pretty. How good will you taste?” I asked her. I kissed my way down over her stomach, stopping long enough to dip my tongue in her navel. Her body shook under my hands. Or maybe it was my hands. I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. The most important thing for me was to drink her down. To hear her scream my name.

I nuzzled her groin. It was bare, and the skin there was smooth. I nipped the sensitive flesh and then licked away the sting. Her skin was like spun honey, sticky and moist, and so fucking amazing. The crease on the inside of her thigh where it met her groin demanded attention and I followed the line down with my tongue.

I took a moment to sit back and grab my chair. I sat back down and looked at her pussy. My breath came out hard and raspy as I admired the tight lips and nub peeking out from its hood. Moisture leaked out of her, making her shine. All for me. I’d done that. Gripping the backs of her thighs, I pushed her legs up and out.

“Royce—” she started by I popped her ass to shut her up.

“You chose this, and it’s what I want. Has anyone, ever, just pleased you? Have you ever had someone who couldn’t think of their own pleasure because it was intrinsically combined with yours?”

She stared at me, so I popped her ass again.

“Answer me.”

“No,” she said finally. “Never.”

“You won’t be able to say that after tonight,” I promised her.

Add the book to your TBR Pile on Goodreads HERE!

Writing professionally since 2008, LeTeisha has spanned from Fantasy to Interracial Romance on her road to getting the jumping characters out of her head. Most days she’s pretty color blind, unless it’s a great shade of red (then she can’t ignore it). Other times she’s plotting her next twenty books and then remembering that the computer can’t read her thoughts and doesn’t type at lightning speed. Either way, she just can’t seem to get enough of quill to paper…or eh…keyboard strokes, apparently.

Twitter l Facebook l Google+ l YouTube l Website

Continue reading →

Congratulations to my fellow Evernight author Ravenna Tate on her new release!

BLURB

When Rissa Kerry overhears harmful gossip about the CEO of the company she works for, she makes a phone call to Barclay Hampton. What follows is the adventure of a lifetime for Rissa as she becomes Barclay’s assistant in data recovery from a laptop that might reveal the hackers of The Madeline Project.

But she never counted on falling in love with the CEO along the way. Will she become his next flavor of the month, or this is the real thing for Rissa and Barclay?

Barclay is part of a group of friends financing the efforts to put a stop to The Madeline Project. The program now has a mind of its own, thanks to a virus called Tommy Twister. These men have power, resources, and money, but they’re as ruthless and possessive as the storms ravaging Earth.

They call themselves the Weathermen…

ADULT EXCERPT

He stroked her palm, and when she didn’t pull her hand away, hope began to build. He wanted to push the emotion away and stop this, but he couldn’t. This girl had captivated him, and he was powerless in her presence.

“Why do you say that? Why do you think you need to?”

She gazed at him with dry eyes now, filled with clarify and purpose. “Because I’m ready to move on. I’m ready to start living again. I don’t want to dishonor his memory, but he’d want me to be happy and I’m not. I don’t mean in my work. I love my work. I mean…”

He sighed because he knew exactly what she meant. “You mean you’re lonely, right? Your days are filled with meaningful things to do, but then at night, when the fake sun goes down, the dark creeps in and you wish you could change everything about your life, but you don’t know how or where to start.”

She stared at him as if he had lobsters crawling on his face. “How did you do that?” she whispered. “How did you reach into my head and nail it, just like that?”

“Because I feel the same way, Rissa.”

“But … forgive me, but you’re in the tabloids constantly. You’re never without a date.”

“It’s a ruse. I don’t want to be that person any longer.”

She looked really uncomfortable, glanced at the pitcher, which was nearly empty, and pulled her hand out of his grasp. Then she pushed her margarita glass away. “Guess we’ve both had enough to drink.”

“I’m not drunk. And I’m sorry if you feel I’ve said too much. You’re very easy to be with and talk to.”

“You talk to people all the time, Barclay.”

He took her hand again, unable to stop himself. He wanted this woman, and he knew she wanted him, too. He could feel it in the air, hanging between them, and it wasn’t the tequila talking. “Yes, I do, but there’s something about you that has me spellbound, Rissa.”

She definitely wasn’t drunk, but then neither was he, and as she pulled her hand away again and rose, he realized he needed to tell her that.

“Barclay, don’t misunderstand me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work on this project with you, but I have no intentions of becoming your next conquest. I think we need to make some coffee or drink some water, or something. Then we should get back to work.”

She picked up the pitcher and their glasses, and he followed her into the kitchen. “I’m not drunk.”

“Good to know.”

“Rissa, you want me as much as I want you.”

He saw her back stiffen, and then watched her place the pitcher and glasses on the counter, but she didn’t turn to face him.

“You do, don’t you?” He spoke softly now, not wanting to frighten her.

“Not the point.”

“It’s exactly the point.”

“I’m not going to do this.” Her voice shook, but not from fear. She was as aroused as he was.

“Why not?”

“I told you.”

“I don’t want to conquer you. I just want to make love to you.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“You’re worked for me almost a year. I do know you.”

She finally turned to face him, and his damn dick was so hard now it was painful. The look on her face made him want to hold her for the rest of his life.

“The last man I had sex with was Harry. That was over seven years ago.”

He hadn’t expected that. Barclay’s feet finally worked, and he moved toward her slowly. When he reached where she stood, he resisted the urge to simply pull her into his arms. Instead he placed a hand on each shoulder, and the shaky intake of her breath tugged at his heart. She blinked against wet eyes again, and he hoped like hell it wasn’t because she suddenly wished she was anywhere but here.

“Then I will be very, very careful.”