Excerpt Entice Me
STORY EXCERPT
She
had gotten home late, and Ariel and Andrew were already in bed. After
knocking on their doors, she quickly told them goodnight, offering the
excuse that she was tired and going to bed. The truth of the matter was
she didn’t want her teenage children to see her hair a mess with the
look of having had sex still plastered on her face.
Her
night with Jace had been incredible. So much so that the entire rest of
the evening she lingered between a daze induced by their lovemaking and
the intense joy she felt from finally connecting to someone. All of her
years of being a loyal and loving wife, she had no idea what she was
missing.
She
had loved Jonathon and was thankful for the two beautiful children
they’d had together. Still she couldn’t help but feel a bit of remorse
for all the years she had stayed in a marriage so blindly thinking she
knew what love was when she never felt an ounce for him as what she was
beginning to feel for Jace.
The
phone rang, and she got up from her place at the kitchen table. Her
body was sore in places that she had forgotten had muscles, causing her
to walk a little slower than she normally would.
“Hello?”
“Morning, beautiful. How’d you sleep last night?”
A smile spread across her face. “Jace.”
“Got it on the first try. Whew, and here I was worried you might have forgotten about me,” he teased.
“Right. Yeah, it took me a second, but the voice did sound familiar.”
He chuckled. “Good to know I leave such a strong impression.”
All
she could do was smile. He was so charming and such a delight to be
around that she couldn’t help but just get lost in the moment with him.
“Umm…You still there?”
“Sorry. I was just thinking.”
“Ahh…good thoughts, I hope.”
She laughed. “Very good thoughts.”
“Nice. Score one for Jace.”
She laughed. “So, what can I do for you?”
“Well,
it is Friday. I was thinking maybe you and I could go away for a couple
of days. You know, spend time with one another without me having to get
you home before you turn into a pumpkin.”
“For
anything to turn into a pumpkin, this would have to be a fairy tale,”
she teased, thoroughly enjoying the easy banter that came so natural
with him.
“Who says it’s not?”
“Oh, really? So, if this was a fairy tale, which princess would I be?”
“Well,
that all depends on you, beautiful. Just pick your fairy tale, and I
will become that Prince Charming and make all your dreams come true.”
She
giggled and shook her head. “You are something else, Jace. Do you have a
book of the sweetest things to say to sweep a woman off of her feet?”
“A book? Surely you jest. Would it be so hard to believe that I’m just that sweet?”
“Hmm…I suppose not. After all, you did sweep me off my feet last night. Literally.”
They
both laughed at her innuendo. It was so easy to be herself with him.
There was no pressure of trying to act a certain way or say the right
things. It was just…right.
“In
that case, I’m not leaving it up for debate. I’ll pick you up at seven.
Pack light. Where we’re going you won’t be needing a lot of clothes.”
“Is
that right? Well, maybe I’ll bring flannel pajamas and turtlenecks just
to prove that you shouldn’t be too sure of yourself.”
“Okay, but then I’ll be forced to burn your suitcase.”
“Oh my goodness.” She laughed. “You are relentless.”
His
voice became serious. “When it comes to getting what I want, I am very
relentless. Listen, I gotta go, baby. I’ll see you tonight. Can’t wait
to see you again.”
She
heard the click of the phone but still just stood there for a moment
allowing his words to sink in. Aside from his charm and wit, he was at
times so sincere that it gave her reason to just slow down and listen to
him intently. She turned to hang up the phone and wondered if it was
even possible.
To
believe in fairy tales meant she would have to believe in happily ever
after. She long since gave up on those the moment she caught her husband
with another woman. During the divorce and the time since then, she had
resigned herself to the fact she would grow old alone. She had her
children, and she had managed to convince herself that was all she
needed.
Somehow
though, in a matter of only a couple of days, Jace Walker had taken her
potential for a life of solitude and all but thrown it out the window.
She could analyze it and think of a list of reasons as to why she should
just walk away before she got hurt. She just didn’t have it in her.
Dating
Jace was fun and exciting. She was experiencing new things. For all
intents and purposes, she was finally living. It hit her then that being
a mother had its rewards, but for far too long she had lived for only
her children. Now it was for her.
“Well,
Alexis. It looks like you better take a long hot bath and get packed.
Your Prince Charming will be here at seven with the carriage.”
Nicole - this sounds like an excellent Christmas romance - happy endings are my thing:) AND, I love Prince Charmings;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway opportunity.
kaydeeroyal at msn dot com
Happy Holidays!!
Emma Holly is all I remember right now I love her Books
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