New Release: Love Through a Lens #romance #contemporary #maytodecember

by | Mar 8, 2016 | | 0 Comments

Hi everyone,

I’m delighted to announce the release of Love Through a Lens as a standalone novella. It was originally released (and is still available) as part of the Sweet Sensations boxed set, but if you’d prefer to grab a copy of it by itself, now’s your chance! It’s a M/F erotic romance, set in the Peak District in Derbyshire, and is an older man/younger woman story.

The cover was designed by the amazing Lola Divine Design, who is currently taking on more clients. You can check out her website here. I would definitely recommend her.

Here’s the book blurb:

Celine Patterson is a recent graduate eager to begin her career as a camerawoman—with the fashion world and all its glitz and glamour calling to her. Things aren’t that simple, however, and she’s forced to take a job making a documentary in the Peak District countryside with a mid-list British actor.

In spite of her initial disappointment—not only is the job not what she wanted, the pay is appalling, too—Celine warms to the project. The actor she’s working with, Edward Robson, is kind, considerate, funny and a consummate professional. She realizes she can learn a great deal from him, and resolves to do so.

As the days of the shoot pass by, Celine grows increasingly fond of Edward, and that fondness quickly goes beyond the platonic. Convinced her crush is completely one-sided—he’s over three decades her senior, for starters—she tries hard to ignore it, hoping the feelings will go away.

But then something happens to change Celine’s opinion, and flip her world upside-down. How will she react? And can she emerge from this project with both her career and her heart intact?

Sound like your thing? All the buy links are here.

Happy Reading,

Lucy x

One… and Done by Allyson Young

by | Mar 7, 2016 | | 0 Comments

and-and-done-evernightpublishing-JayAheer2016-banner1

Blurb:

When I met Drew at that damn wedding our chemistry was off the charts. All he could offer was the weekend, but uncharacteristically, I jumped at it. When he slipped away like a thief in the night I was blindsided by loss, even knowing people don’t fall in love at first sight! He left me a lifelong reminder though, one to make its appearance in about seven months. Too bad he’d never know…

She was always on my mind, and I couldn’t afford the distraction in this forsaken country where one false move could mean my death. My sniper training dissolved when I thought about Katie and our time together. I was a one and done kind of guy, but this time it was different. I’d be stateside in a few months and offer the apology she deserved. Maybe she’d forgive me, if there wasn’t another man in her life…

*****

One... and DoneExcerpt: 

I woke on Sunday, feeling rode hard and put away wet. I hurt—pleasantly—in mysterious places, and ached pretty much all over, but especially between my legs. The room smelled satisfyingly of our mutual lust and I drank it in, flopping my hand to the side in search of Drew. The linens were cool to the touch and I frowned, then smiled. Probably making breakfast again. He made a hearty breakfast, a good thing, considering we’d spent most of yesterday fucking.

Padding into the bathroom, I took care of business, then turned the shower on. Drew had bathed me twice during our sexathon, but I needed another. As the water heated I brushed my teeth, studying myself in the mirror. I looked much the same, tall and slender, blonde hair tousled from bed and adventurous sex, pale skin now marked with scruff burns and purple stars from teeth and suction, tiny bruises from strong fingers. I traced over one on my hip and smiled with satisfaction, then hustled into the shower. Drew was insatiable and likely had carnal plans for after breakfast.

The apartment was dead quiet. No television, no sounds of activity in the kitchen, nothing. The heavenly smell of coffee embraced me as I neared, the carafe full and a mug beside it. No sign of Drew and I spun in a circle, seeking him out even as I accepted the truth. He was gone. Wow. He’d left without a word, left me used up and yet wanting more in the bed we’d romped in for hours. As well as on the couch, the floor, the innocuous wing chair in the corner and the shower. Rather than focus on the bereft feeling blossoming in my belly, I thought about the fact we hadn’t christened the countertop… Maybe he’d gone out to get a paper or something. An ingredient for breakfast.

I crossed to the front door, expectant as a pup awaiting its master, before catching myself. What in hell was I doing? If he came back, we’d pick up where we left off. There was no need for worshipful anticipation. And if he didn’t… I was seized with a terrible anxiety that I might wait forever, not knowing…

I poured the coffee—one mug—and gingerly lowered myself to a stool. The cushioned chairs at the table were more comfortable, but a part of me needed the penance. My lady parts were really sore, something I’d denied in the shower, and would serve as a reminder of sex I’d never forget, and a warning of never indulging my libido again. Because I had a really bad feeling. There were consequences to every not-well-thought-out action.

*****

Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Allyson-Young/e/B00A9WPAYK

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/allyson-young/

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Allyson+Young

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Allyson%20Young%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall

http://www.bookstrand.com/allyson-young

https://play.google.com/store/books/author?id=Allyson+Young

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/search?query=Allyson%20Young&fcsearchfield=Author

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/allysonyoung1

*****

About the author:

Allyson Young lives in cottage country in Manitoba, Canada with her husband and numerous pets. She worked in the human services all across Canada and has seen the best and worst of what people bring to the table. Allyson has written for years, mostly short stories and poetry, published in small newspapers and the like, although her work appeared in her high school yearbooks too! After reading an erotic romance, quite by accident, she decided to try her hand at penning erotica.

Allyson will write until whatever she has inside her is satisfied- when all the heroes man up and all the heroines get what they deserve. Love isn’t always sweet, and Allyson favours the darker side of romance.

http://www.allysonyoung.com

allysonyoung45@gmail.com

#NewRelease ~ Awakenings by @KaceyHammell #Kindle #Romance #Suspense #IntheArmsoftheLaw #99cents

by | Feb 29, 2016 | | 1 Comment

AwakeningsAuthor’s Note: Awakenings was previously released with another publisher. It has received minor revisions for reissue.

Also includes a bonus short story, Wild Thunder.

Blurb:

Protection. Adventure. Love.

It’s all found within The Arms of the Law…

Detective Alicia Knowles once believed good existed in everyone. But a traumatic experience changed her entire world. Now dangerous and cynical, she moves through the darkness of her once sunny world, unsure how to handle her pent up feelings of fear and anger.

Even her new boss, Cole Douglass, spins her out of control. One night, years ago, he made her feel things she’d never felt with any other man. Business comes first, however, a child is missing and a murderer is on the run.

But old flames never die out as Alicia quickly discovers when temperatures and passion flare. On the trail of a killer, she is forced to deal with her past as she tries to make decisions about her future.

Order your copy!

All Amazon Stores ~~ http://authl.it/B01C2WGGFG

All Romance eBooks ~~ https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-awakeningsinthearmsofthelawbook2-1989913-149.html

Smashwords ~~ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/617202

iBooks ~~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/awakenings-in-arms-law-book/id1087209163?mt=11

More buy links on the Awakenings Book Page ~~

http://kaceyhammell.com/bookshelf-2/inthearmsofthelawseries/awakenings

for Kobo & Nook links as they become available.

*****

Excerpt, Kacey Hammell, © 2016

“I’m sorry about Hannah. If we’d just made it to the Fuller’s faster, maybe….”

Cole’s hand clasped hers on the table and stopped her mid-sentence. Bolts of lightning shot up her arm and a ringing began in her head. She hadn’t felt like this, or allowed herself to since he came to town, since she’d thrown caution to the wind and just lived during her time with him years ago.

That night, his hands were rough yet gentle as they swept over her body from head to toe. No inch had been left unexplored. His attentions made her feel like she was the only woman in the world. For the first time in her life, it had been as if she were whole. But that was long ago. She wasn’t about to repeat the mistake.

There was no happily-ever-after for her. Least of all one with Cole.

“You and Ethan did what you could. Don’t blame yourself for what happened to Hannah. She wouldn’t want you to.”

Hearing her own words thrown back at her, she pulled her hand from his, stood, and moved to the sink to gaze out the window into the darkened backyard. Rows of outdoor lights lit a path leading from the back door into the garden, illuminating small areas. Under an apple tree, a porch swing rocked back and forth from the cool breeze. She was transfixed by the lush garden and rows of tulips, their blossoms like colorful heads bowed in sleep.

Again, Alicia was shocked by the domesticity of this man. She’d thought she knew him to a certain extent, but his home showed who he was, inside and out. He wanted a happily-ever-after. He’d already made a home. The only thing missing was a wife, and the kids.

She closed her eyes and gripped the edge of the counter. Longing and gut- wrenching pain swept through her. What she wouldn’t give to turn the clock back two years and have the chance to start over with this multi-faceted man.

If only she’d never left him the next morning…. Had never decided not to leave her number…. Things might be different. For them both.

But at the time, she hadn’t been ready to grab onto forever yet. Deep down, she understood that he’d want absolutely everything. But they’d lived in different cities then. And she hadn’t been ready.

She’d been a woman who wanted everything he had to offer—home, garden, passion, and family. Within Cole’s arms, she’d found an endless supply of heated moments every day. But he’d scared her with how much he made her feel. And how quickly the desire to be with him forever had risen within her.

And now, she was tainted. Life had intervened and shown her exactly how evil it could be. She couldn’t risk the dangers that came with her job, of not knowing if one day it would all end.

At the touch of his hands on her shoulders, Alicia opened her eyes to see their reflection in the glass. She committed the image to memory. She’d hold onto it for the rest of her life and remember it in the years to come, when she was alone and aching, that she’d held a piece of bliss for just a few moments.

She turned around. Their chests brushed, and she gave him a half-smile. “I know Hannah might not blame me, but I do. A few more moments, it’s all we would have needed. I’d change it if I could.” When Cole opened his mouth, she placed her fingers on his lips to silence him. “I can’t, but I vow to do whatever it takes to catch this son-of-a-bitch.”

Alicia tried to convey the sincerity of her promise as she stared into his eyes. For Hannah, and this man, she’d do whatever she could to bring peace to their family once more.

“I know you would. But you can’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. We’ll get him.” He raised his hand to her cheek and pushed back a strand of hair that had fallen over her face. Her breath quickened at the light touch. Her body stilled.

The air crackled with electricity. She was sure he could feel it, too; the tension rolled off his body like waves in the ocean. To walk away would be the best thing to do, but for the life of her, Alicia couldn’t get her feet to move.

“You know what, Ali?” His voice was soft and powerfully seductive. “You know what I remember most about our night together?”

Alicia clasped his wrist, below where his fingers rested lightly on her cheek. She wanted to fall into his arms, burn beneath his touch again. They’d never talked about it, and she was curious to know what he remembered.

She remembered it all.

Every touch and sigh. She basked in the memory of every kiss and every pleasure.

Through many a cold and lonely night, she cherished the memories of Cole’s hard body pressed against hers, pushing her against the mattress—and the wall and the bathroom counter. She marveled at how he’d made her feel like more of a woman in one night than she’d felt in all her adult years.

Her voice hoarse and scratchy, she whispered, “What do you remember?”

“Our fire.”

When his mouth claimed hers, her body ignited with long-repressed emotions.

Hunger, mind-blowing hunger, rattled through her. It was so hard to breathe.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and opened her mouth wider to the onslaught of his tongue. He awakened her refined senses. Every erotic image she ever had about him flared to life.

She only prayed she’d be able to keep him from awakening the loneliness in her heart. She couldn’t allow him to reach it and make her hunger for more than what she could have.

For the time being, though, she wasn’t going to let go of this man. Alicia lifted her lips from his, drew in a deep breath, and gave him everything she could for now.

“This fire?” She clasped his head between her hands, drew him into a kiss, savoring the taste of him once more.

*****

Until March 15th, ILLUSIONS (Book 1) is on sale for $0.99!!

99centssale

*****

BIO:

Avid Reader. Romance Author. Redhead…

Canadian-born author Kacey Hammell is definitely a book-a-holic. A romance reader from a young age, she fell in love with happily ever afters.  These days, as a multi- published erotic romance author, she enjoys adding a lot of heat, sass, and emotion to the many genres she writes.

Mom of three, Kacey lives her own happily ever after with her perfect hero in Ontario, Canada.

Connect with Kacey…

Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Facebook Reader Group / Twitter / Amazon / Goodreads / Pinterest / Instagram

Upcoming Books Available for Pre-Order #erotica #romance #kindle #ebooks

by | Feb 28, 2016 | | 0 Comments

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note to let you know that a couple of my upcoming book releases are now up for pre-order. Here’s the skinny:

Love Through a Lens – releasing 8th March – M/F erotic romance novella

Celine Patterson is a recent graduate eager to begin her career as a camerawoman—with the fashion world and all its glitz and glamour calling to her. Things aren’t that simple, however, and she’s forced to take a job making a documentary in the Peak District countryside with a mid-list British actor.

In spite of her initial disappointment—not only is the job not what she wanted, the pay is appalling, too—Celine warms to the project. The actor she’s working with, Edward Robson, is kind, considerate, funny and a consummate professional. She realizes she can learn a great deal from him, and resolves to do so.

As the days of the shoot pass by, Celine grows increasingly fond of Edward, and that fondness quickly goes beyond the platonic. Convinced her crush is completely one-sided—he’s over three decades her senior, for starters—she tries hard to ignore it, hoping the feelings will go away.

But then something happens to change Celine’s opinion, and flip her world upside-down. How will she react? And can she emerge from this project with both her career and her heart intact?

Note: Love Through a Lens has been previously released as part of the Sweet Sensations boxed set.

Click here for an excerpt and pre-order links.

Click to add it to your Goodreads shelves.

City Nights: One Night in Budapest – releasing 30th March – M/F erotic romance novella

Hermione’s in Budapest on a romantic weekend break. Or at least it should have been romantic—an unexpected break-up means she’s visiting the Hungarian capital alone. Determined to make the most of it, she goes on a night-time river cruise, the perfect opportunity to see some of the city’s beautiful sights after dark.

On the boat, cute Budapest native Emil serves her cocktails. They chat a little on the journey, engage in some banter, and when Emil asks Hermione out for dinner, she’s seriously tempted. But she’s a long way from home, by herself—is dinner with a complete stranger a good idea? Hermione decides to take a chance, and what follows is an unforgettable night which will transform her life forever.

Click here for an excerpt and pre-order links. Plus, if you grab this particular book on Amazon pre-order, you’ll get it for just 99c/99p. This is a pre-order only price from the publisher.

Happy Reading!
Lucy x

Out Now – Moondancing by Celia J Anderson (@celiaanderson1) #romance #contemporary #ebook

by | Jan 25, 2016 | | 0 Comments

**Note to readers – this book is a NON-erotic romance. I’ve read it and it’s fab!**

MoondancingBlurb:

Together since their teens, Molly and Jake have four children, a house in a sleepy village and jobs that bore them to distraction. Their marriage is an accident waiting to happen. When Nick arrives in Mayfield, young, disturbed and in desperate need of mother-love, Molly doesn’t realise that he will be the catalyst that blows everything apart. Add a headmaster whose wife doesn’t understand him and Molly’s unpredictable, frustrated best friend to the mix, and the blue touch paper has been well and truly lit.

Buy links: http://celiajanderson.co.uk/books/moondancing/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27841152-moondancing

 

Excerpt:

‘But who’s going to do our lunch if Mum’s staying in bed?’ asks Max.

‘If people need things putting in boxes, they’ll have to find them and put them in themselves for once,’ says Jake through gritted teeth, as he tries to make toast, unload the dishwasher, find clean socks for Hattie’s netball match and avoid the small pile of cat-sick by the table leg. He sighs and mops up the squelchy mess on the floor before Theo spreads it around the kitchen with her big boots.

It’s only the third day of term so the foolproof system for school mornings hasn’t kicked in yet. Even the two kittens look offended, meowing around Theo’s feet as she rifles through her schoolbag for her lost homework.

Jake feels as if he’s dropped into some alien, much less relaxing world. His early morning routine usually involves sitting at the kitchen table drinking strong coffee and keeping some kind of order while Molly dashes around serving up milky tea, bacon sandwiches, and muesli. As she cling-films sandwiches, throws yogurts and chocolate biscuits into plastic bags and sorts out last-minute crises, she talks him through the day ahead. She likes him to know what’s going on.

Theo still hasn’t found her homework. Jake and Molly’s eldest daughter is reasonably chilled, as a rule, but today she’s in a filthy mood. Her form tutor has given a final warning that if anyone else comes to school with purple streaks in their hair, he’ll make them wear his grey woolly hat to lessons. Theo’s managed to cover the offending bit of her fringe with black poster paint, having run out of dye, but she knows if it rains things could go badly wrong.

Jake can hear Theo muttering as she abandons the homework search and opens a tin of food for the yowling kittens, gashing her finger in the process, and bleeding all over Sam’s newly-made tuna sandwiches. She spits out all the rudest words she knows, and so does Sam, which makes Hattie run round the table screaming, ‘He said the “F” word, Dad, and she said “bugger”.’

Jake’s patience, never his strong point, runs out. ‘At your age,’ he thunders, ‘me and my little brother did all the chores for our mum before breakfast, went to school without moaning, and then came back and did our paper rounds. We weren’t spoiled like you lot – you’re all an absolute disgrace.’

Theo pulls herself up to her full five feet four inches. She hasn’t been allowed to have a paper round due to Molly’s fear of possible rapists and muggers on the loose. It’s a peaceful village normally, but there’s a first for everything.

Moondancing_by_CeliaJ_Anderson-FB_banner

Author Bio:

Celia J Anderson loves cake, champagne and her family, although not in that order. Moondancing is the first book she ever completed but it needed a couple of years relaxing in the cupboard before it was ready to be revamped to follow Sweet Proposal, Little Boxes and Living the Dream out into the world.

One eighth of the Romaniacs, to be found at  https://theromaniacgroup.wordpress.com, Celia regularly blogs with this sparkling group of writers who support each other through the journey to publishing and beyond. Her ultimate aims are to spend less time on Facebook, have a few less chins and to walk five miles a day – she feels the three may be connected…

http://celiajanderson.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/CeliaJAndersonAuthor

http://www.twitter.com/celiaanderson1

releaseblitzbutton_moondancing

An Interview with Kacey Hammell (@kaceyhammell)

by | Jan 21, 2016 | | 0 Comments

Thank you for sharing my newest release, ILLUSIONS! Good morning everyone!

Tell us a bit about yourself.  Who is Kacey?

It’s an interesting question since everyone has so many layers. The most important ones to me are wife, mom of three, farmer, dutiful daughter, school volunteer, sports momma and writer. I run a farm with my Mom, moved back on the homestead after my father’s death years ago and into one of the two houses on the property. My husband and I, as well as the kids, enjoy the life of cows, pigs and chickens – plus a dog, cat and hedgehogs. *g*  I’m a simple country girl at heart who likes to socialize and dress up once in a while.

What would we find you doing on a quiet Friday night at home (aside from writing)?

Usually a cuddlefest with the hubby and/or movie and game night with the family. We’re homebodies who would rather not fight crowds or traffic and can reconnect after a long work/school week with a lot of laughter, popcorn fights and someone yelling about a bad movie or a cheater who took too many rolls of the dice. LOL

What books/authors have most influenced your life?

I love everything Cherry Adair, Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Suzanne Brockmann, Sandra Brown, Sara Brookes, Lucy Felthouse, SJ Maylee, Cindy Gerard, Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, Cynthia Sax, to name a few. Growing up it was Francine Pascal, Laura Wilder, Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning to name a few of my childhood heroes.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I worked for a lawyer all through high school and really loved sitting in on court cases. Being her assistant was an awesome experience. However, I met a guy, had my first child, and found being a mother was more rewarding than anything. I also had an interest in forensic sciences and toyed with the idea of being a cop. But motherhood won in the end. Still does, but I found a great passion for writing that I couldn’t ignore. And now that my kids are getting older and starting to follow their own paths, it gives me more hours to write full time.

Now, about your story, ILLUSIONS. What can you tell us about it?

Illusions is the first of a detective/cop suspense series that I absolutely enjoyed writing. Isabella is a top cop in her precinct, she followed the legacy of her father, doesn’t do commitments, takes now shit from anyone and loves living life on her terms.

Brady is a P.I. who loves the ladies but there is only one woman for him. He and Isabella keep their relationship a secret from their friends and family, both sinking further and further into their need for one another, while also fighting it every step of the way.

There’s murder, kidnapping, a bomb, hurt feelings, complicated relationships, pasts that have a way of altering the future, a Seer whose visions are all too real every time, and a lot of heat between the sheets. Illusions is jam-packed with action, adventure and romance.

What influenced the idea for this story?

Illusions is the first book I ever wrote many years ago, has been revised and this is the third time it’s been released (due to contracts ending or publishing houses closing). The series was inspired by my love of cop shows, wanting to be a detective/lawyer when I was younger – dreams that since changed, and a vast interest in forensic sciences.

What was the most difficult to thing/scene to write in this story?

A lot of the writing was difficult. Isabella was a very difficult heroine to write. I guess she is a lot like me, the pain of the past haunts us both, but overall we’re stronger because of it. Her emotions run deep and it was tough to get beyond that and find what really drove her, peel her back layer by layer to the real woman inside. The heart to heart with her father probably affected me the most.

What makes this couple perfect for one another?

Isabella & Brady balance one another. He’s really laid back and takes things as they come. With his visions he becomes another man and they drive him in a way that nothing else can. Isabella is the opposite – laid back is hardly a part of her vocabulary – and is driven by the need to survive, take down criminals and keep her world safe. Opposites attract!! *g*  But they balance one another perfectly.

What do you hope readers take with them after they’ve read this story?

I hope they enjoy the story for the love story, the rough edges of all the characters and the world built. Each character is driven by something heavy and tragic for the most part that needs to be peeled back like an onion. I hope the readers fall in love with the characters as much as I have.

If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?

Book 2, AWAKENINGS, releases late February 2016. In it, is Alicia Knowles (Isabella’s cousin), who suffers traumatically in ILLUSIONS so we’ll discover more about Alicia and her recovery in her own story. Plus she has a new boss whom she isn’t too keen on working with.

 

Fun stuff…

Dean or Sam Winchester?  Dean preferably, but both if possible! *g*

Wolf or cat shifters? Both.

The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones? GOT! I hate zombies!

Wine or beer? Wine

Coffee or Tea? Tea these days.

What place to travel is on your Bucket List? Ireland is #1 on my list.

Was it love at first sight for you when you met your spouse? Yes. Kind of – see next question. LOL

What did you notice first when you met your spouse? His tush – he was on a ladder. *g* Yes, there’s a story there! *g*

***** 

IllusionsILLUSIONS

By Kacey Hammell

Book 1: In the Arms of the Law

(also includes bonus short story, TIED DOWN)

Genres: Contemporary, Suspense, Paranormal (Seer), Erotic, Romance

ISBN: 978-0-9877993-3-3

Word Count: 50,000

Release Date: January 20th, 2016

Author’s Note: Illusions was previously released with another publisher. It has received minor revisions for reissue.

Also includes a bonus short story

Protection. Adventure. Love.

It’s all found within The Arms of the Law…

Detective Isabella Knowles, a tough-as-nails cop, lives by the law, and knows what she wants out of life. And it doesn’t include marriage or all that comes with it. Everything Isabella has ever known seems like an illusion when a new relationship makes her feel more alive than ever before.  She isn’t happy about it and fights it every step of the way.

Burned by his fiancée years ago, seer and P.I., Brady Jacobs never wants another commitment in his life.  But his bachelorhood and heart are threatened when he has one of his visions and see a killer striking too close to the woman he has recently come to love.

Danger lurks close to home and neither Brady nor Isabella like that they can’t control every situation…especially matters of the heart.

Order your copy!

All Amazon Stores ~~ http://authl.it/B01AMVXXDC

Smashwords ~~ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/607702

Kobo Store ~~ https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/illusions-in-the-arms-of-the-law-book-1

B&N (Nook) ~~ http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/illusions-kacey-hammell/1109677332

iTunes ~~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/illusions-in-arms-law-book/id1075278656

All Romance eBooks ~~ https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-illusionsinthearmsofthelawbook1-1969737-149.html

*****

Illusions_Brady

Excerpt, Kacey Hammell, © 2016

Replacing the receiver, she sighed, resigned to leave the comfort of her bed. “Got to go to work, Izzy?”

Brady’s voice came from behind her and not for the first time, Isabella wondered if he realized he used so many variants of her name. She had noticed it a lot in the last few weeks but didn’t think he did. Tonight, for some reason, it bothered her more than ever.

When he was driving into her or when they were warm and cozy, sharing a few quiet moments, he called her Bella. She found herself coming to enjoy every time the name rolled off his tongue. It was special to her but she didn’t want to dwell on why at the moment. Instead, she counted off in her head his use of Isabella.

When they were around others, coworkers or just talking in general, he used her full name. At times like this, when interrupted by her job, he used Izzy in a distant, unaffected tone. The tag was starting to grate on her nerves.

She twisted on an angle toward him, unable to keep from caressing his body with her gaze. The sheet only covered his hips and navel, leaving his abs and biceps exposed to her hungry eyes.

What I wouldn’t give for ten more minutes with him tonight.

“Umm, yeah. It was Connor. I have to go. A woman who’s been missing for thirty-six hours was found dead down by the docks.” She headed to her closet as Brady got off the bed.

“Damn. Connor suspects foul play?”

Pulling a denim shirt from her closet and a pair of jeans, Isabella turned to look at him as he grabbed his clothes. Her breath hitched as he covered his tight ass with his Jockeys and jeans. It was a shame to see such perfection hidden.

With a small shake of her head, Isabella pulled herself from her musings and reached into her top dresser drawer for panties and a bra. “Yeah. The woman’s been missing for over a day and from what he said, she’s naked.” Her hands shook as she put on her panties and willed herself to calm down and think it all through.

“Connor didn’t say much else.” Turning her back to Brady, she shook out her jeans, put both legs in and pulled them up. So lost in her thoughts and trying to get a grip on her emotions, she didn’t hear him come up behind her, until he placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Do you want me to go with you, Izzy? I’ll assist in any way I can.”

Touched beyond means by his offer, she turned in his arms. “Thanks, but no.

You know I’ve been through it all before. Don’t make it a bigger deal than it has to be. I’ve seen this kind of thing many times, over and over.”

She sounded like a bitch but couldn’t let the fact they were having sex get in the way of her job. They had an unspoken agreement, no commitments, and let one another do what they had to do, never coddling each other or making bigger issues of anything.

“I know you have, Izzy, but sometimes…. Hell, never mind. It’s cool.” She could tell by the look in his eyes he was frustrated but didn’t want to show it.

Good, let him be pissed, irritated or anything other than caring. She understood he was a man used to taking care of others, but she’d be damned before she leaned on him.

After taking her gun from where it was locked up, she clipped the holster to the waistband of her slacks and adjusted it to where she liked it. Pulling her hair back into a scrunchie, she turned to face her lover, certain she had her emotions in check. “Thanks for coming over tonight. It was, as always, the exact thing I needed.”

For just a moment, she saw an emotion—maybe anger—cross his face, but it was gone so quickly she might have imagined it.

With what looked like a forced smile to her, Brady shrugged. “Always here for you, babe, whenever you have an itch.” His voice held the cold, detachment she was coming to dislike. He grabbed up his leather jacket near the door, but stopped before crossing the threshold. He turned to her, staring at her in a way she had never seen before. “I know you won’t—seriously know you won’t—but if you happen to need me, I’m only a phone call away.”

She couldn’t even ascertain what sensations spread through her body at his words. As she watched him walk out of her bedroom, she could identify only one emotion.

Loss.

Feeling like she was on a tightrope easily broken at any moment, she shook herself of her musings as she heard the front door close. She patted her pockets and sides. Keys, badge, gun. She was ready to face the night ahead. Detective Isabella Knowles, one of Trenton’s finest, was ready to catch the bad guys.

Too bad she couldn’t allow herself to be caught. Love and the badge didn’t mix. For a few short hours she could let her hair down, let her lover drive himself into her body and fill her thoughts.

But she’d never let a man drive himself into her heart. Never.

*****

Avid Reader. Romance Author. Redhead…

Canadian-born author Kacey Hammell is definitely a book-a-holic. A romance reader from a young age, she fell in love with happily ever afters.  These days, as a multi- published erotic romance author, she enjoys adding a lot of heat, sass, and emotion to the many genres she writes.

Mom of three, Kacey lives her own happily ever after with her perfect hero in Ontario, Canada.

Connect with Kacey…

Website / Newsletter / Facebook / Facebook Reader Group / Twitter / Amazon / Goodreads / Pinterest / Instagram

Important info: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This applies to any Amazon links you click from this site.

Blog Tours