And then, there's Valentine's Day. Who wouldn't love a day celebrated with candlelight dinners, chocolate and heartfelt gifts? A couple of years ago, I participated in the RED STILETTO multi-author series about a pair of legendary stiletto's that were shared by four friends who bought them at an estate sale during their annual New Year's celebration. My contribution, HEAD OVER HEELS included a Valentine's Day charity ball given by hero, Rhys Vincent's foundation.
Head
Over Heels—Book One—Red Stilettos
By
Paris Brandon
Copyright
2010
Ellora’s
Cave
Excerpt: PG13
Rhys Vincent ground his back teeth and took Veronica Smith–Hathaway’s
elbow as they crossed the street. It was snowing and not for the first time did
he wish he were wearing boots instead of dress shoes with his tux. Ronnie didn’t
seem to notice the puddle that soaked her designer heels or the frigid wind
that tore at the edges of her flimsy black evening coat. Neither had been
designed for January in Kansas City.
Veronica—Ronnie—was his best friend Brian’s estranged wife. She
had insisted she knew a shop that had the fedora they needed to complete the
scavenger-hunt list—right after he’d politely refused her offer to give him the
best sex of his life. Was it too much to ask for a woman who didn’t have an
agenda to want to have sex with him? He’d been down the revenge-sex path years
ago and it was one he didn’t want to take with a woman he’d known for twenty
years.
He’d promised Brian that he’d keep an eye on her and that
meant he couldn’t very well let her walk around alone in the Crossroads art
district after dark.
As CEO of the Vincent Foundation, he’d put Veronica in
charge of the annual event as a favor. One he was coming to regret. He was
still trying to figure out why Brian was so worried about a wife he’d clearly
been neglecting for the past year when Ronnie leaned over and peered into a
dimly lit shop.
“There it is,” she hissed, pointing at a weathered brown
fedora, jauntily perched on a torso mannequin’s head. Before he could figure
out why she was hissing, he glanced through the window, started to shout and
everything went into slow motion.
He saw a pair of curvy legs that ended in sexy red spike
heels leaning forward and overbalancing a rickety ladder. The bell over the
door jangled as he pushed it open and sprinted three full strides. He reached
her before she finished screaming.
“Her” was an armful of black and white fluff he grabbed and
swept out of the way as the ladder fell.
Maybe he couldn’t breathe because she’d smacked him square
in the chest but he didn’t think so. Although it could have been because her
arms were wrapped solidly around his neck, as if she didn’t intend to let go
anytime soon. Fine by him.
He didn’t know if she was shocked that he’d caught her or
because she knew the shudder that rippled through her like a faint orgasm had
telegraphed its way into his fingertips. She looked like a naughty fairy-tale
princess with big blue eyes. A fall of silky dark hair brushed the top of her
black turtleneck and her creamy cheeks were flushed as bright as an apple. She
knew.
She blinked while he was trying to catch his breath and
still his body’s clamoring need to explore all the soft, warm flesh under her
skirt. He was trying very hard not be too obvious that he was instantly aroused
by the fact that his right hand was wrapped around her naked thigh. And then he
thought, What the hell, and slid his
thumb beneath the top of her stocking where it hooked into her garter.
She put her very plump red lips together…and blew. Nothing
came out and she looked as surprised as he felt. The chuckle built in his
chest, the low rumble originating from someplace distinctly lower.
“Excuse me,” Veronica ground waspishly from behind him
before coming into his line of vision. “Are you whistling at him?”
His surprise package turned her head slowly, her eyes
widening as if just realizing that someone else was in the tiny, dimly lit
shop. A smile quirked the corner of her lips and she shrugged.
“No, I was trying to whistle for him.” She turned her attention back to him and smiled warmly. “I
do apologize for that,” she said, with a wistful sigh that caught him hard in
the solar plexus. “You startled me.”
He did laugh then because it seemed rude not to acknowledge
a heartfelt apology while he was still holding on to her satiny-smooth, very
naked thigh, which was covered by yards and yards of hideous checked material
he wished would just fall away. He lowered her to her feet while Ronnie
seethed.
"I’m Bella—owner, operator, sometimes janitor,” she said,
holding up a light bulb, “of Bella’s Treasures. Is there something I can do for
you?” she asked as if she hadn’t noticed how much he’d been enjoying her naked
skin. There was no mistaking the twinkle in her very blue eyes. She’d noticed.
How about you? Do you have a favorite holiday-centered romance that you've written or read?
Until next month,
Happy Valentine's Day!
Paris Brandon
Loved your excerpt, Paris. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tina!
ReplyDeleteI love the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies. Like you, I watch the movies over and over. I like the Valentine's Day ones too, especially the one with Betty White. I cry every time I watch it.
ReplyDeleteYour excerpt is great!
Thanks, Cara,
ReplyDeleteI still have not seen the movie with Betty White. I love her and watch everything she does so I'll have to watch for it!
What a teaser...loved it. I love any holiday..lots of good ones. Valentine's Day is coming up!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the excerpt, Paris. Best luck!
ReplyDeleteHi Jean,
ReplyDeleteThanks! Valentine's Day is always fun:)
Thanks, Rose!
ReplyDeleteFantastic excerpt, Paris.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful excerpt. I love the cover and idea behind the series too. But man if someone wore the shoes and ruined them...grrr.. :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best!