Official Kissing Day Blogfest


Sherrinda had a great idea to salute mistletoe this time of year, so I've joined in the Great Kissing Day Blogfest with a scene from Beneath the Surface, my September 2009 Samhain release.

Blurb: In retrospect, perhaps archaeologist Mallory Reeves shouldn’t have delivered the divorce papers to her estranged husband mere weeks before her marriage to another man. She knew seeing Adrian again would stir up memories, but she didn’t expect so many of them to be good, not after the mess they both made three years ago.

She also didn’t expect to want to stay at the dig site on the Yucatan Peninsula. But the lure of the ancient ship and, yes, her sexy ex provide more of a draw than the white picket fence she thought she wanted.

Marine archaeologist Adrian Reeves has good reason to trust no one. His former partner—and former best friend—made off with his last archaeological find. And his wife left him, frustrated by his obsession for professional revenge.

Now both Mallory and his nemesis have returned, and it can’t be an accident that they’ve turned up in the middle of the most important excavation of his career. Seeing her again unearths old pain—and rekindles never-forgotten desire. Now he has to decide if he can trust Mallory again. More importantly, if he can trust himself with her.

SET UP: Adrian has just unearthed a medallion that will prove his shipwreck is not from the Caribbean, when he spots Mallory on the dock. She'd left weeks ago with her former fiancee, looking for another job in archaeology, to see if she missed the job or she missed Adrian. She tells herself his discovery has drawn her back, but she knows it's a lie.

EXCERPT:

Adrian didn’t wait for Toney and Jacob to tie the boat off before he leaped to the dock. He barely registered the vibration of the dock beneath his feet as he strode toward her.

“Adrian, I—”

He didn’t let her finish. Damn, she was so pretty, even windblown, even with the flash of uncertainty he saw in her eyes. He took her face in his hands, stroked his thumb over her cheek and kissed her. Surprise had her tensing for a second, and he feared she might pull away. Instead, she relaxed, just a bit, and he came home.

She was as soft, as sexy as he remembered. Her taste hadn’t changed, her mouth moved beneath his the same way, as if those three years had never passed.

He rubbed her hair, regretting the calluses on his fingers that snagged on her hair, her skin. Her fingers closed on his bare shoulders, her nails digging in briefly before sliding under the straps of his shirt, and he was lost. Dropping his hands to her hips, he drew her against him.

Slowly, it came to him where they were, why they were standing here, and he lifted his head to smile. “You came back.”

She looked a little dazed, her mouth swollen, her eyes dark. She blinked, lowering her hands from his shoulders. “Adrian, I—”

“Come see what we found.” He slid his hand down her arm to take her hand and guide her to the Miss M. She resisted at first, then followed him, trying to ignore how everyone else was watching them with interest.

What the hell had she done, coming here? Mallory swayed on the dock and watched Adrian beckon her. Once she’d reached home, she’d put her feelers out. The offers had come in fast and furious, but all she could think of was getting here to help Adrian. She waffled for a long time about how much help she’d give him. The cashier’s check in her bag was the least she could do. Staying to help excavate was the most.

After that greeting, she didn’t know how wise it was to stay, even as everything female inside her proclaimed they were ready to set up camp. Had he been so glad to see her? No, something in his eyes told her there was more. Something out there had gotten his juices flowing.

Something out there always did.


Gerard Butler Pictures, Images and Photos

6 comments:

Jennifer Shirk said...

I LOVE how for him the scene was all about her coming back and the way it was (and how he still wants it to be). :) *sigh*
Great stuff!

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT said...

this was a great scene. remembering how it was....and still is....good stuff!

jeannie
Where Romance Meets Therapy

Sherrinda Ketchersid said...

Ooooo, yes! GREAT stuff here! I loved his callous hands catching her hair! And ooo-la-la...that picture of Gerard...sigh...swoon. :) Thanks so much for participating and making my day!

Karen Denise said...

Such a nice scene. Such a nice kiss. Great job!

BK Mattingly said...

Jennifer Shirk took the words from my thoughts! I agree with her, Great Stuff!

MJFredrick said...

Thanks for coming by and commenting! I love Adrian so much ;) And in case you're wondering, he was inspired by Gerard ;)

Goodreads

M.J. Fredrick's books on Goodreads
Breaking DaylightBreaking Daylight
ratings: 11 (avg rating 3.33)

Beneath the SurfaceBeneath the Surface
ratings: 11 (avg rating 4.00)

Hot ShotHot Shot (Samhain)
reviews: 2
ratings: 10 (avg rating 4.00)

Where There's SmokeWhere There's Smoke
ratings: 6 (avg rating 4.00)

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MJFredrick
I'm a mom, a wife, a teacher and a writer. I have five cats and a dog to keep me company. I love bookstores and libraries and Netflix - movies are my greatest weakness.
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