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The daisy, the flower of April, is a lovely, sweet, delicate flower, simplifying the innocence of youth and simplicity. Daisy Kerr is still youthful and enjoys the simplicities of life. Until her trusting nature blows her life apart.
The daisy, the flower of April, is a lovely, sweet, delicate flower, simplifying the innocence of youth and simplicity. Daisy Kerr is still youthful and enjoys the simplicities of life. Until her trusting nature blows her life apart.
Daisy Kerr’s life has reached the edge of the cliff and fallen off. Her so-called fiancé Craig Myers has embezzled millions from the investment firm where they both work and left her holding the bag. The FBI thinks she’s somehow involved, she’s been fired from her job and the condo she lives in belongs to Craig. Heartsick and depressed, she decides to use the tickets Craig had bought for their trip to Mardi Gras and see if she can “Let eh good times roll” in New Orleans. For a few days she can party and forget about her troubles. Maybe even meet a sexy Cajun man to take her mind of her troubles. A fling sounds really good to her right about now
Leaving the airport she meets Marc Doucet, a Louisiana native now living in New York. He tells her he’s in town on business but he’d love to show her the ropes of Mardi Gras. And a whole lot more. It’s not long before he’s really putting some Cajun spice in her life and then some. Sex had never been so good or made her feel so special. Maybe they might even see each other back in New York if she can straighten out the mess her life is.
But what Daisy doesn’t know is Marc is an FBI agent sent to ferret out any knowledge she might have of Craig’s scheme. His plan was to romance her, until romance landed in their laps for real. When Daisy overhears him in a phone conversation with his boss she feels betrayed once again and can’t get out of town fast enough. It will take a grand gesture on Marc’s part to get past the new walls around her heart and convince her what they have is real.
Excerpt:
First order of business, however, was to cab to the hotel, change into something comfortable and wander through the French Quarter. The curb was jammed with people there to celebrate Mardi Gras. Daisy managed to squeeze herself into a space and waited for the next taxi in line to roll up to her.
“Royal Orleans Hotel,” she told the driver as he got out to grab her suitcase.
“Mind if we share the ride, chere?” The voice behind her was deep and hot, rolling over her like warm melted chocolate.
Daisy turned to see who it was and there he was, as if she’d conjured him up. Her spicy Cajun male. Sexy for sure, he was tall and lean, with a thick shock of black hair and startling blue eyes. She couldn’t stop staring at him.
“Uh, excuse me, chere. Do you still want the cab?”
“What? Oh!” She realized she was standing there like an idiot. “Oh, yes.”
“Well, I heard you say you were goin’ to the Montmartre Hotel. So happens I’m goin’ there myself. Think we can share a ride?”
Maybe this was just what she needed, a ride with a man who oozed sex appeal and could take her mind off her troubles for a while. She wished for him, right? No sensed letting Craig ruin any more of her life, at least as far as this trip went.
She gave herself a mental shake. “I’d love to share a cab with you.”
“Great. Great.” He held the cab door for her, waited for her to slide in and settled himself beside her.
God, he smelled so good. She took a surreptitious sniff. Pachouli! Wow. She hadn’t smelled that in a very long time. Nerve endings blunted by the shock of her situation suddenly snapped and sizzled to life. She took a deep breath, the fragrance of Pachouli teasing her senses even more, and did her best to compose herself.
“Don’t usually see beautiful ladies heading for Mardi Gras alone.” The smooth-as-bourbon voice slid over her and snagged her attention.
She glanced over at him, which was nearly her undoing. The look in those deep blue eyes nearly melted her panties.
“Excuse me?”
He grinned, a twist of his lips that was almost lethal. “I was just remarkin’ I’m surprised that someone as gorgeous as you is hitting Mardi Gras by yourself.”
Should she tell him? Why not? She’d never seen him again. And she didn’t have to give him Craig’s name. It was already in all the media but thankfully, without hers being linked to it.
“I, um, had a fiancé who was supposed to go with me but he’s in the wind.” She lifted her shoulders in what she hoped was a casual shrug.
He cocked an eyebrow. “I can hardly believe any man in his right man would walk out on you.”
“Yeah, well, it happened. That and a lot more.” She forced a smile. “Anyway, hasn’t anyone ever told you that pickup line is pretty outdated?”
He laughed, a deep. Sensual sound. “I guess it is, but in this case I mean it.” She could feel his gaze raking over her. “Did he run off with another woman?” Marc shook his head. “I find that even harder to believe.”
“Worse than that. I discovered—Never mind. I really don’t want to talk about it. I decided to enjoy the holiday anyway. I’m sure I can find plenty of people to celebrate with.”
Pretty bold there, Daisy girl.
Maybe it was time for some bold on her part. She’d allowed herself to be Craig’s shadow for too long and look where that had gotten her.
“I’m sure you won’t have any trouble. This your first Mardi Gras?”
“It is, and I’m going to do my best to enjoy every minute of it.”
“Well, then, let me give you a little rundown on what to expect and how to enjoy it the most.”
His voice was musical and soothing, rubbing smooth the raw edges of her anger. She was startled by the instant connection that zapped between them and wondered if he felt it, too. She kept glancing over at his very sexy face, rewarded each time with a smile that jumped her thermostat. At thirty-five she’d meet a lot of very interesting men, been involved with a few, but none of them had ever zapped her this way. Was it just a reaction of Craig’s betrayal, or—
No. She wouldn’t go there. Anyway, maybe he was just being polite. Still, a girl could hope. As they chatted he shifted slightly on the seat and his thigh came into contact with hers. Blazing heat surged through her body from the point of contact, making her more acutely aware of the man sitting next to her.
“By the way,” he went on, “my name’s Marc. Marc Doucet.” He held out his hand.
When Daisy took it she felt the same surge of heat as when his thigh touched hers. The way Marc’s eyes widened just a bit she could tell he felt it, too.
Ohmigod!
“Daisy Karr,” she told him, moistening her lips. “Um, is Doucet Cajun? Are you from here?”
He winked at her. “Guar-on-tee it. Born and bred.”
“But you don’t live around here now?” she asked.
“No, sorry to say. I had to relocate for work.”
“Oh.” She paused. “What kind of work to do you?”
“Nothing that would interest you. I promise. Dull business stuff.”
Okay, then. She didn’t want to hear about it. She didn’t want to think about the business world at all for the next few days.
“Are you meeting someone here for Mardi Gras?” Damn! Did that just come out of her mouth? It was none of her business. Except, lordy, he was so freakin’ hot.
“Not really. I have a little bit of business to attend to so I thought I’d combine it with some celebratin’.”
“Oh. That’s nice.” He probably had some hot sexy woman waiting for him. Men like him never lacked for female companionship. Daisy had seen enough of them in her life.
I love being the world’s oldest living active erotic romance author and excited that
USA Today referred to me as “the Nora Roberts of erotic romance.” I have more than 160 titles released in multiple subgenres, everything from paranormal to action/adventure to contemporary romance. But they all have one thing in common: five-alarm heat.
I have drawn on my background in the music industry for such stories as Downstroke, Having It All, Joy Ride and Aftershock. My BDSM research has produced books such as Beyond Addiction, Schooled By a Master and Double Entry. But they almost all have one thing in common—the hot cowboys for which I’m known.
I was a three-time finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award (and a winner in 2014 for Collision Course), a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance Studio as well as twice a CAPA Award for best BDSM book of the year, winner of the Holt Medallion, multiple winner of the Whipped Cream Book of the Week Award, the Love Romances Café Readers choice Award and is published by five different houses.
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I love the sound of this story, Desiree - great excerpt. What a dynamite cover. This looks like another winner for you!
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt, Desiree. The story caught my interest. Cute cover.
ReplyDeleteBet I'm older than you, Desiree, but let's not go there. Anyway I've given up writing erotica, like the sentimental stuff better. See. that' proves I'm older....
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun excerpt. I love the idea of a Cajun FBI agent. If you find one, can I keep him?
ReplyDelete<3 Melissa