What if
the one time you didn't want love was when you truly needed it?
Forced
to flee her abusive ex, alone with no support, Elle is determined to rebuild
her life and protect her five-year-old son. Not one to take the easy road, she
opens a bookshop café, but opening day almost ends in disaster. In the midst of
this chaos, the last thing she needs is a man as charming as George Jones
getting in her way.
George
has always been a sucker for a damsel in distress, and Elle ticks all the
boxes. But Elle's not interested in being rescued by anyone, especially not
him. She knows her taste in men can't be trusted, but fighting George's
charisma is harder than she expected. And George, who is not one to ignore an
itch, has found there's something about Elle that's got under his skin.
When
Elle's ex turns up to cause trouble, George must overcome his boyish
flirtatiousness if he's to convince Elle to trust herself and let him into her
life. But can Elle put her past behind her before it overwhelms her present?
This is their first kiss. They’ve
just come from an altercation with Elle’s ex and she’s angry that George
stepped in because it made matters worse. George is trying to explain why he
did what he did.
“I said we were friends, didn’t
I? I wouldn’t let any of my friends – Piper, Imogen, Libby, Adrian, Chris –
face what you’ve had to face alone. It’s not who I am.”
“But I asked you not to.”
He nodded. “I know and I’m sorry
I made it worse. I couldn’t stand by and watch you face that bully by yourself.
I care for you.” He brushed away the tear that had escaped her eye. “I should
have trusted you had everything under control.”
Her anger deflated.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She
didn’t want this, this kindness, this caring, these warm and contented feelings
that were being stirred up inside her. She couldn’t trust those. She’d felt
those with Dean and she’d been oh so wrong about them.
But, damn, she was tempted.
George stepped closer, gathering
her into his arms, and she didn’t resist. How could she? She wanted to be able
to lean on someone, even if only for a minute.
Giving in to the temptation, Elle
wrapped her arms around his waist and felt him relax.
He was as uncertain as she was.
That made her smile.
George stroked her back, sending
lovely, shimmery warmth everywhere. She gave herself a minute to enjoy it and
then stepped back.
His eyes captured her; something
in them said he would protect her, that he cared for her.
After five years of having no one
she could turn to for help, the invitation was beyond enticing. She wanted
someone she could rely on, someone she could talk her worries over with,
someone to just be there.
But was she wanting too much?
George watched her, waiting. He
was letting her make the choice. He was giving the power to her.
That was what made her decision
for her.
She leaned forward and kissed
him.
Claire
Boston is the best-selling author of The Texan Quartet. In 2014 she was
nominated for an Australian Romance Readers Award as Favourite New Romance
Author.
Her
debut contemporary romance novel, What Goes on Tour caught the attention of
Momentum’s Joel Naoum when her first scene was read aloud at the Romance
Writers’ of Australia (RWA) conference in 2013. This led to a four book
contract for The Texan Quartet series.
Claire
is proactive in organising social gatherings and educational opportunities for
local authors. She is an active volunteer for RWA, as a mentor for aspiring
authors and the reader judge coordinator.
When
Claire’s not writing she can be found in the garden attempting to grow
vegetables, or racing around a vintage motocross track. If she can convince
anyone to play with her, she also enjoys cards and board games.
Claire
lives in Western Australia, just south of Perth, with her husband, who loves
even her most annoying quirks, and her grubby, but adorable Australian bulldog.
Please
email Claire with any questions claire@claireboston.com
Thanks so much for having me Jen!
ReplyDeleteClaire B
My pleasure - the books sounds great!
DeleteThanks for hosting!
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