VIRTUAL TOUR: BROKEN PLAY - SAMANTHA KANE + REVIEW + EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY!!

***DISCLAIMER: I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Any thoughts and opinions are my own.***

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BROKEN PLAY

Birmingham Rebels #1

Samantha Kane

Releasing Sept 1st, 2015

Perfect for fans of Shayla Black and Lexi Blake, the deeply sensual new Birmingham Rebels series introduces an unforgettable team of chiseled football gods—and the daring, provocative games they play behind closed doors.

Birmingham Rebels offensive linemen Beau Perez and Cass Zielinski are inseparable, on and off the field. Cass, the captain with the cowboy swagger, is a loose cannon. Beau, the veteran tight end, is cool under pressure. And ever since they were caught on tape in a steamy threesome, their exploits have fueled more than a few tabloid headlines—and naughty fantasies.

Marian Treadwell knows all about the video. And now that she’s the Rebels’ new assistant offensive coach, she can’t look at Beau and Cass without picturing their hard, naked bodies—with her pressed in between. Marian would like nothing more than to indulge those impulses, but she knows better than to get too close to her players, a bunch of adrenaline-fueled alpha males who don’t always follow the rules.

Just the thought of sharing the gorgeous yet guarded Marian drives Cass wild. At first, Beau isn’t sure she’s right for them . . . and lately, all he desires is a little alone time with Cass to explore their new intimacy. But it’s only a matter of time before Cass breaks through both of their defenses. Because when seduction is the game plan, he always plays to win.

Broken Play is intended for mature audiences.

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EXCERPT: 

“Get. In. Here.” Marian spoke in that one-word-sentence staccato that had become so popular on television and that she’d sworn she’d never imitate. Now she knew it wasn’t a choice. She was simply so mad she couldn’t get more than one word out at a time. Beau didn’t argue. He simply slid sideways in through her office door, past where she stood holding it. She started to close it, but a hand grabbed it from the hallway and pushed it open again. Cass. Of course. “Can’t I even yell at him without your presence?” she asked coldly.

“Nope. Team captain. Got to be here.” Cass turned and closed the door behind him, then leaned against it, his arms crossed, that damn cowboy hat in one hand.

“Fine,” Marian said. “Since you piss me off, too, you can share the punishment.”

“I don’t take punishment,” Cass said, his usual charming smile gone as he gave her a heated stare that made sweat pop out along her spine. “I give it.”

It took Marian a moment to get past the images that flashed through her head at that outrageous claim. “On the field, not in my office,” she said a little unsteadily.

“Anywhere I choose,” Cass told her calmly.

“Maybe I should go,” Beau said from behind her.

Marian jumped and spun around to face him. She hadn’t been paying attention. She couldn’t believe she’d let him flank her like that.

“Settle,” Cass said quietly but firmly. “There’s no threat here.”

“You just made threats,” she countered, backing up until her back hit the wall a few feet off to Cass’s left.

“No,” he said, the charm back in his voice, a sexy little drawl making it sound like Naw. “Those were promises.”

She actually felt a bead of sweat slip down her cleavage, and she shivered.

“Stop it,” Beau said. “You’re scaring her.” She glanced at him and he looked a little sad, his eyes big and golden brown, and soft with some emotion she couldn’t name. Instinctively she knew he wasn’t the threat here, which threw her into confusion. Wasn’t he the one in charge?

“I’m not scared,” she said. It was a knee-jerk reaction, something she’d said so often in the past few years—to others and to herself—that it was second nature.

Cass sort of rolled himself along the wall toward her until he was leaning over her, not quite pressed against her, his hands on either side of her head, one still holding his hat. “Good,” he said, his voice rough and heavy with wanting. “I don’t want you scared.”

She was breathing too fast. “Move your arms,” she said, and she winced at the panic in her voice.

“Cass,” Beau said. She saw his hand on Cass’s shoulder and her heart nearly beat out of her chest. She had to put her hand up to her chest and press against it to make sure it didn’t.

“You know I’d never hurt you,” Cass said softly. He turned and tossed his hat onto the couch, against the opposite wall. Then he dropped both arms to his sides. He didn’t move back, though. He stayed close enough that she could feel his heat and smell his cologne and a hint of his sweat and deodorant and laundry detergent and shampoo, all the things that combined to be Cass’s scent. She hadn’t realized she knew his smell so well. It was an odd thought and made her frown at him. He frowned back. “Don’t you?” he asked.

It took a moment to remember what he’d said. “Yes.” She did know it. But that didn’t make her heart slow down, because she wasn’t afraid of him. She was afraid of herself, and what she’d let him do if she let go.

“Yell at me.” Beau’s soft words were lost in Cass’s gaze for a second and then they sank in.

“I should,” she said, standing straighter and tugging on the hem of her shirt nervously. “What in the hell do you think you were doing out there?” She pushed on Cass’s chest, but he wouldn’t budge, so she stood on tiptoe and glared at Beau over his shoulder.

“Speaking my mind,” Beau said. He walked over and dropped down on the couch, easily within her sight, making sure not to crush Cass’s hat. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that.”

“So you decide to do it on my watch?” Marian said in a strangled voice. “Gee, thanks.”

“On your watch?” Beau asked, obviously getting angry. “Now you’re my babysitter, too? Jesus, how many do I need?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cass said, turning to glare at Beau, hands on his hips.

“Don’t try to distract me with a lovers’ quarrel,” Marian warned them. “I’m still pissed about Beau’s big mouth.”

Cass slowly swung his head back around and pinned her to the wall with his stare. He had the bluest eyes, and they could go cold and hard as fast as they could turn hot and heavy-lidded. “Lovers’ quarrel?” he asked quietly. Too quietly. Marian tried to slide sideways along the wall, out of his reach.

“That’s right,” she said, full of false bravado. She thought for a second that this must be what the canary felt like before the cat pounced.

Suddenly Beau laughed loudly, a harsh bark that sounded more incredulous than amused. It broke Cass’s stare and Marian quickly moved over to lean against her desk, facing them on more solid ground. “What’s so funny?”

“We”—he gestured between him and Cass—“are not lovers. We’re friends and we fuck women together. That’s it.” He didn’t sound happy about it. Or was he unhappy that people thought they were?

“Beau.” This time it was Cass trying to yank on the leash with a warning in his voice.

“Forget it,” Beau said flatly. “I’ve come out of my shell today. I’m not crawling back in.”

REVIEW: 

I was really excited to have an opportunity to review this book because it takes place near 

my hometown! The beginning of the book started off great and the men in this story are 

oh-so-damn-delicious!!! Their chemistry is amazing and they compliment each other so well that it is very hard to want one without the other. Their personalities played off of each other so that while Cass is gruff, Beau is sweet and together you get a sweet and spicy combo 

that will have you drooling on yourself! 

I really liked Marian too. She was a strong-willed, sexy woman who took no bullshit from the guys on the field. I'm not sure that I related well to how Marian dealt with getting over an 

issue that happened to her but everyone heals differently. 

There are some very steamy scenes in this book. It was all so sexy and steamy but he, um, "dinner" at the end of the book was HOT, HOT, HOT!!! 

Loved the steaminess of this book and I want to read MORE!!! PLEASE!!!

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Samantha Kane lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children, two boys and one girl. With a master’s degree in American history, she spent seven years as a high school history teacher before becoming a full-time writer and mom.

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Author Interview: Zoe Ambler + Excerpt from The Road of Darkness!

The awesome Zoe Ambler is the first author I'v had the privilege to interview. She hails from Small Town, Alabama just like your truly. I enjoy following her on her blog and I've added her book to my never-ending To-Be-Read list. Please be sure to show her lots of love and be sure to check out her book, The Road of Darkness!! 

·         When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

·         About 15 years ago. I was dabbling in Fan-fiction writing, and then I got into Online Role Play Games where the actions were written out between you and your adversaries/friends/lovers etc.. I've always been an artistic type.

·         How many books have you written?

·         In all I have about twenty books on my hard drive and saved drive. I've only published one so far. Many more to come. :)

·         What are you currently working on?

·         Book Two to follow up my published The Road of Darkness. It's entitled The Path of Redemption.

·         Which of your books was the hardest to write?

·         The Path of Redemption. Mostly because I have three different endings, and all are great, so it's hard to put my money on which one I want to use for certain.

·         What do you do when you’re not writing?

·         Role Play Game Writing with other folks, working on novels already written, editing and revising, and I also get sucked into the Netflix Vortex of Doom. And then there is my Zombie Apocalypse Obsession that we won't even get into... >_>

·         What is the strangest writing habit that you have?

·         I talk to my cat. Ask her input, if she has any ideas. I also create custom playlists on Media Player. I have to have a 'Character Score'.

·         What inspires your stories?

·         Oh, wow. That could be anything. I could hear a moving piece of music, or see something while I'm at the coffee shop and wonder 'what if...', and then there is all the stuff with the RPG writing.

·         What advice would you give aspiring writers?

·         Don't quit. We all hit snags and forks in the road. And never let anyone discourage you by telling you your writing isn't 'work'.

·         What book could you read over and over again?

·         I can't pick just one. That's impossible. Area 187: Almost Hell by Eric Lowther, It and The Stand by Stephen King, The Feed Trilogy by Mira Grant...

·         What famous person would you love to have as a fan of your work?

·         Anne Rice... Stephen King... Eric R Lowther... Mira Grant...

·         If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have ONE character from a book on the island with you, who would it be and why?

·         Wow... another toughie. Probably John Heath from Eric R Lowthers Area 187: Almost Hell. He's a survivor and could live and thrive anywhere.

Website:ZoeAmbler.com

Book Summary:

The Road of Darkness is the story of Addison. She’s a young Southern Belle in early 1700 Louisiana with a love for Voodoo. She’s a child of privilege, but never really let it go to her head. She was always a little odd.
On an innocent outing, Addison falls prey to a supernatural predator. A vampire. He attacks and turns her, then leaves her to lost and alone with this new hunger for blood. However, unlike most, she embraces this new ‘life’. She finds delight in it. A darkness grows within her.
Like any young vampire left to fend for themselves, she stumbles in her new existence. She meets others here and there, and the world of the paranormal opens up to her.
Due in part to her thrill of bloodlust, she becomes fascinated with war. Soon she is moving from country to country, war to war. Mans evolution and technology in the art of warfare intrigues her.
Through her time and adventures, she has fleeting bits of both happiness and sorrow. The darkness within her will only allow her so much happiness.
Her link with all things Voodoo brings her into the servitude of the Baron Semedi, demi-god of the Underworld. A deal gone bad. It only serves to deepen that darkness.

Can anyone help her before she does irrevocable damage to both an entire city of innocent people…and herself?

Book Excerpt

Chapter 11

Once in the quiet streets leading out of Kyoto, she moved in closer to her prey. In the shadows between dim street lamps and into the dark the surrounding mountains provided, she made her attack. She brought her broadsword high, though her attack was only half-hearted. The man turned, his eyes flickering red as he withdrew a Katana, countering her attack with ease. Though her sword was bigger, thicker, she wielded the weapon so clumsily. For each strike at him she attempted, he countered, slicing her flesh here and there, and she had yet to make a single mark on the Asian man.

The man sneered at her. "Foolish woman...I'll see you dead..." He hissed out. Addison just smiled ever so sweet, lunging at him once again. Her brute force met with graceful fluid movement, ending with the man disarming her. She leapt back, slinging a dagger at him, catching him in the shoulder. With a growl, he freed it, the wound healing within moments as he advanced on her once again.

She stood her ground and bared her fangs at him. He paused in his steps. "What do you want?" He sneered. "Teach me." She replied.

He straightened himself, clicking his tongue at her. "Teach you what? I'm sure you already know how to be a vampire quite well." He said his Japanese accent thick.

She approached him, her dark locks falling over one shoulder as she picked up her broadsword. She stood near him, reaching out to touch the Katana in his hands. "Teach me to use this."

He rolled his red eyes, running a hand through his hair. "Me? Teach you, a woman? Don't be absurd. Go back to where you came and do not forget that beast of a sword you swing so stupid with you." He turned to leave her, but she wouldn't let go without more of a fight.

She grabbed him by the elbow. "You will release me, woman." He snarled. Addison let go, but blocked his path. "Oh, stop it with your high and mighty attitude. I may be a woman, but I am no weaker than you. Teach me to use a blade of your kind. It's beautiful, graceful and dignified."

He looked down his nose at her. "It will take many years, and I do not think I could tolerate you for such a time. It is more than just knowing how to swing the blade. Look at you; you do not even dress proper!"

"I'm not Japanese. And I don't care about all the trivial details such as Bushido and the likes. I just want to move the way you do, the elegance, the deadly grace." She offered, trying to compliment him, despite his snobbery.

"You cannot have one without the other, stupid woman." He growled out.

"Then teach me." She pressed. "What else do you have to do? Sit in dark bars drinking sake all night, trying to drown out the past with alcohol? Keeping yourself holed up in that little shack of yours?" She smiled. Yes, she'd been studying him for quite some time. She did indeed know a thing or two about stealth.

Her words took him back in surprise. She'd been spying on him! He looked her up and down. She stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of Japan, as she was as obvious American, and had an odd accent on top of that. He contemplated for a few moments.

"Fine, I will teach you. But I expect compensation. You will provide my meals...tend to my house. You will do everything I instruct. And you will dress proper for training." He huffed out, turning from her to head off into the dark trails that led to his home in the mountains just northwest of Kyoto. Addison gave a gleeful smile and followed.

He was reluctant to teach her after she near begged. He was a cold one, like her, though she tried to present herself as upbeat. Addison fought to contain her thrill when Jakusu relented to her. His compliance to teach her how to use a Katana, as well as other fighting styles was something of her dreams. But, he had demands of his own that seemed silly.

Addison agreed to most of his terms. She did his hunting for him. She brought victims back to his secluded little dojo hidden within the forests of the mountains out skirting Kyoto. She cleaned the place from top to bottom nightly before any training or teaching would begin.

When not training, she would badger him with questions. His annoyance with her constant questioning led to bickering, yet they grew to be very close friends. After some time, he told her his story; of his turning in the midst of battle when he was just out of his teens so many centuries ago.

Addison, more often than not, hung on every word Jakusu had to say. He became more comfortable with her, letting his guard down. They fell into a beneficial student/teacher relationship. Her body was easy to mimic the movements and flow of all he taught her; an apt pupil.

Both were stubborn individuals however, and at times, their sparring got a little carried away. They argued as they sparred. Addison refused to call him 'Master,' as he tried to explain it was simple a term associated with 'teacher' in his culture. And he would get frustrated that she would not dress in appropriate attire. She liked wearing men's trousers and the like, rather than a proper kimono. She hated kimonos.

This bickering led to amusing times. Though, at the moment, they weren't funny. Such as the time he cut off her pinky fingers to teach her the value of the little digits when wielding the Katana. He explained the how and why it was an apt punishment for a wayward Samurai. It disabled them, taking away the guiding force behind the rest of the hand on the hilt.

Addison, thanks to her gifts, regenerated any punishments he laid upon her. She seemed to instigate most of the bickering and fussing most of the time, finding humor in frustrating the man.

Every so often, and after the consumption of large amounts of sake, the Asian would even commend her. He commended her abilities and growth under his tutelage. Of course, he was also bragging on his abilities to take a low woman and train her up right. The compliments were nice to Addison, though, those moments were few and far.

In 1961, after three years of teaching, Jakusu announced it was time for her to have her crafted blade. Addison felt honored, and ecstatic. They traveled to the finest sword smith in Japan, the old man crafting a sword perfect for Addison in every way. When it came time to add any personal touches, the old man asked her what she wished to have inscribed on the smooth polished blade.

Author Bio

Zoe Ambler hails from Enterprise, Alabama. She's 44 years old and broke through into writing by way of role-play gaming, which she still loves to this day.

She has traveled the world, being a 'military brat', but always finds her way back home. Her hobbies include sketching, playing violin (badly), collecting oddities and office supplies. Zoe is often found spoiling her fat cat, obsessing over coffee and the coming zombie apocalypse.

Author Links:

o    ZoeAmbler.com

o    Blog: ZoeAmbler.com and ZoeAmbler.blogspot

o    Like Zoe on Facebook!

o    Follow Zoe on Twitter!

o    LinkedIn

o    Amazon Author Page

o    Smashwords

Book Links:

o    Amazon

o    Barnes and Noble

o   Kobo

o    Google Play

o    Scribd

o     Goodreads

o    Also available in the iTunes store.

Stop on by my Official Site...ZoeAmbler.com - I blog daily about mundane things, silly things, books, writing... whatever pops into my purple haired head. :)

BLOG TOUR: House Divided - Jennifer Peel + Excerpt + Review + GIVEAWAY!!

Tour Schedule

House Divided 

 There is a law irrevocably decreed in the state of Alabama that you must choose a team. You're either an Auburn fan or an Alabama Fan. There is no fence sitting or waffling. It’s one or the other. However, it doesn't mean that you can’t fall in love with someone from the opposing side. They even have a name for it ... House Divided. Ellie Eaton and Brady Jackson were just such a couple, but unfortunately they were separated by more than just their loyalty to a university. Against the odds and against the rules, Ellie and Brady dove right into the forbidden current of friendship and then love. Their sweet, innocent romance was one for the storybooks, but old rules and family prejudices ultimately tore them apart, just as they were each ready to depart to their beloved universities, Ellie to Auburn and Brady to Alabama. But years later, when near tragedy strikes, they're brought together again and given a second chance at love, this time with help from some very unlikely sources. House Divided is a sweet romance filled with southern charm, a dash of humor and, for good measure, a pinch of lies and intrigue.

AMAZON

Praise for the Book

"House Divided was one of those books that made me want to ignore my children, my to-do list, my need for food, and pretty much anything else that would keep me from reading. Jennifer Peel has a real gift for depicting first love, heartbreak, and hope." "A tender, soft, story that truly is a gem to read." "Ms. Peel has created a story that stands as a tribute to true southern gentility, it's foibles and strengths. Truly a beautiful read that gives heart and meaning to true devotion. She truly knows how to weave a story that has beauty and true southern charm."  

     

Excerpt: 

"Wait, Ellie."

"What, Brady?"

"Can we please talk?"

"I don’t think there’s anything else left to say, Brady."

"Ok, Ellie, but if you think I’m going to let you walk out of my life again without a fight, then you have another thing coming, so saddle up, Ella Lu Eaton."

"Brady!"

"Goodnight, Ellie." And just like that he hung up.

He was on my ever living last nerve tonight. Well, you have another thing coming, Brady Jackson. "And by the way, I didn’t walk out of your life in the first place. You pushed me!" I don’t know why I said that out loud, it wasn’t like he could hear me.

I stomped up the stairs and took a long, hot bath. As I lay there soaking, I tried not to think of that fool. Who did he think he was, telling me to saddle up? Well, cowboy, you better hold on to your hat because I have no intention of losing this rodeo.

Review: 

This book automatically appealed to me as soon as I saw the title and synopsis. As a born-and-raised Alabama woman who lives less than an hour away from the University of Alabama's campus, I understand the term "House Divided" very well! 

Alabama and Auburn's football rivalry is as much a part of Alabama history as Hank Williams and Helen Keller. People have been fighting over which team is better for as long as anyone can remember. This rivalry has truly divided houses just as the title suggests. 

Ellie and Brady Jackson's story has an all too familiar feel for me. I know several couples whose weddings had to have seating charts that set all of the Alabama folks on one side and all the Auburn folks at the other in order to keep the peace. I felt like I was really a part of this book because my Tiny Tyrant was born at St. Vincent's and I've done my own Christmas shopping at the Summit as well! 

This book isn't just for Alabama natives, though. I think anyone who has ever felt obligated to do things to make their family happy or to keep the peace can relate to this book and Ellie and Brady's story. You can tell these two people love each other so much but they also love their families and are fiercely loyal to them; almost to the point that they are willing to be miserable in order to make their families happy. 

The characters in this book are so wonderful and felt so REAL. Ellie's Aunt Lu was my favorite character. She reminded me of a lot of older southern women that I know, including my own "Aunt Lu". Her love and devotion to Ellie really warmed my heart and I just LOVED seeing her give Brady a hard time. Brady Jackson is the perfect southern gentleman and it is easy to see why Ellie fell so hard for him. Brady's determination to once and for all have Ellie in his life forever flows so well in this story, especially when he has help sending her his way from a very unexpected source. 

I give this book five stars for such a clean, endearing story. (They even wait to have sex! Shocker, right? Because who does that anymore, hmm?) I highly recommend this book and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, let me know if you read it!!! 

Oh yeah, and just in case you're wondering.... 

Author Jennifer Peel 

 I'm a Colorado native who currently calls Alabama home. I'm the mother of three amazing children who have grown up way too fast. I enjoy the mountains, vacations at the beach, date night with my husband, late night talks with my kiddos, touring model homes, and pink bubblegum ice cream. I grew up on the Western Slope in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. I learned to love the beauty of the outdoors, but not camping--unless staying overnight at the Marriott counts. I met my husband while living in Denver and then several years later we traded the beauty and majesty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for the art and culture of Chicago, Illinois. My family and I enjoyed living near this world class city, despite the crazy cold winters, but new adventures awaited in Northern Alabama--just six hours away from Orange Beach, Alabama. These three magical places (the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Chicago, and Orange Beach) are the inspired locations used in several of my books.

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$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash 

 Ends 4/12/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

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SPOTLIGHT: Feeding the Fire - Andrea Laurence + GIVEAWAY!!!

Book Information

Title: Feeding the Fire

Author: Andrea Laurence

Release Date: March 16, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Summary

Pepper has no interest in Grant Chamberlain…until she accidentally wins him at a school auction and finds the mega-hot firefighter impossible to ignore. Find out what happens next in the second playful and sexy ebook romance in the Rosewood series!

Living in the small town of Rosewood, Alabama, hairdresser Pepper Anthony has one rule—never date a Chamberlain. She’s always said, “the only thing worse than being ignored by a Chamberlain is being dumped by one.” But Grant Chamberlain, town fireman, isn’t used to rejection, and Pepper has consistently turned him down since high school. She isn’t intimidated by his family; she’s one of the few who refuses to take their crap.

When Grant volunteers at the charity bachelor auction, to his surprise, Pepper buys him. She hadn’t meant to, but Adelia Chamberlain dropped a cold drink in her lap, sending her leaping into the air at precisely the wrong moment. Suddenly she had a massive bill to the town and Grant at her disposal. Since the money has to come from her “restore the house” fund, she decides to use Grant for manual labor instead of romantic dinners. Grant is happy to help, sweaty and shirtless, because one way or another, he’s going to get Pepper to admit she’s attracted to him. All it takes is a small spark, and soon they’ll be fanning the flames.

Excerpt

Grant stepped out from behind the curtain to a roar of applause. The minute the lights hit him, Pepper felt her heart skip a beat in her chest like she’d been hit with paddles of a defibrillator. He was wearing a black, slim-fit suit with a black shirt and tie. Even though he was indoors and it was nighttime, he was wearing his trademark Ray-Ban sunglasses. The glasses always seemed to accent the square line of his jaw and the sharp angle of his nose.

His full lips curled into his charming smile, with the slightest hint of a dimple visible on his cheek. It reminded her of him looking at her, just like that, from between her trembling thighs.

Damn him for being so sexy. His confidence made him that much more attractive. And frustrating. And irritating. Her fingers itched to reach for her paddle, but she resisted. She wasn’t going to pay for his time, even when he smiled at her that way.

“The lucky lady with the winning bid will go with Grant to a romantic dinner at Brio’s in Birmingham and if she likes, he’ll take her on an exhilarating ride down a windy country road on the back of his motorcycle.”

Pepper could almost see all the wild fantasies rushing through the heads of every woman in the room. It was a nice thought—hair blowing in the wind, thighs clamped around Grant’s narrow hips, arms wrapped around his waist. Even she could imagine the hard feel of his abs beneath the thin cotton of his T-shirt and the vibration of the engine against her most sensitive parts. There was a rumble of approval as they readied their paddles and sized up their competition.

Good luck to them, Pepper thought.

Like a beach ball bouncing around the room, the bids flew fast and furious. Before long, they’d topped three thousand.

Suddenly Pepper felt awkward. Even though she and Grant weren’t dating, she didn’t exactly want to sit around and watch other women battle for him. Looking around the room, she spied Adelia Chamberlain coming back to her table with a glass of ice water. Maybe another drink would help. Or perhaps it was the right time for a restroom break. She could beat all the other women that would rush the ladies’ room when the auction ended.

Pepper slipped her purse onto her shoulder and picked up her paddle so she could dump it in the bathroom trash can. “I’m going to get some air,” she whispered to Ivy, then started to get up.

The ambush was sudden and unexpected. When they first came in Pepper had noticed the cable that the A/V people had taped to the floor, but the room was much darker now. Adelia didn’t see it and caught the toe of her shoe on it. She didn’t fall, thank goodness, but she did stumble, slinging her full glass of ice water into Pepper’s lap.

With a cry of surprise and alarm, Pepper leapt out of her chair, holding her arms high to avoid the water that practically covered her from neck to knees.

“Four thousand!” Allison Price announced from the stage.

The MC’s words were an even larger shock to Pepper than the water. She turned her head toward Grant and the action onstage. He was looking straight at her with a wide smile of confidence across his face. He winked at her, and Pepper felt her stomach sink into her boot. Allison was pointing in Pepper’s direction, trying to coax a higher bid out of the audience.

Yes, please, she screamed in her head. Make it forty-five hundred. Hell, make it four thousand and one penny. Just outbid her. She was answered with deafening silence. The only one in the room making a sound was Allison up on stage. It seemed that suddenly, all the battling women seemed to give up. Even Grant wasn’t worth that much, it seemed, and she agreed.

“No!” Pepper shouted, but there was no stopping it.

“Going once . . . going twice . . .”

“I didn’t mean to—”

“Sold! To the lady in the blue sweaterdress, paddle twenty-two!”

Pepper looked down at her dark blue sweater, suddenly made even darker by the spreading water mark. Her damned paddle, the one she never wanted to begin with, was still in her hand. She watched as it slipped from her fingers, clattering to the ground in slow motion as the gravity of the situation caught up with her. Four thousand dollars. She’d just bid four thousand dollars. Because of well-aimed ice water.

“Oh, Pepper,” Miss Adelia fussed, dabbing her with an inadequate cocktail napkin and shaking off the well-meaning hands of the folks that were more concerned about the older woman nearly falling. “I am so sorry. I didn’t even see that silly cord,” she said. “Is your dress okay?”

She couldn’t respond. All Pepper could do was close her eyes and try to keep the tears of frustration and aggravation from rushing down her cheeks.

She had just paid four thousand dollars for a date with Grant Chamberlain.

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Author Biography

Andrea Laurence has been a lover of reading and writing stories since she learned to read at a young age. She always dreamed of seeing her work in print and is thrilled to finally be able to share her special blend of sensuality and dry, sarcastic humor with the world. A dedicated West Coast girl transplanted into the Deep South, she's working on her own "happily ever after" with her boyfriend and their collection of animals including a Siberian Husky that sheds like nobody's business.

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