PERFECTLY SKEPTICAL by @LindaOConnor98
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Cover Copy:
Dr. Brianna Scott looked forward to sleeping away her staycation,
until a lucky windfall meant an upgrade to palm trees, an ocean view . . . and
the sexy Dr. Matt Gaelen. She’ll play and have fun, but can a holiday fling
really turn into a soul mate for life? Doubtful.
Matt has no radar for sniffing out gold-diggers and protecting his
heart. Until now. Brianna is more turned off than turned on by his wealth. What
are his chances of getting her to overlook it? Dubious at best.
Improbable and uncertain, iffy and unlikely – the typical path to
love.
Perfectly
Skeptical . . . love when you least expect it.
Excerpt:
She stopped in her tracks and
squealed, almost bumping into a man standing on her porch. He put out his hand
to steady her.
“Oh my god, you scared me,” she
said, taking a deep breath.
Laughing blue eyes looked back at
her. “Sorry about that. I was just about to knock, but you beat me to it.” His
eyes swept the length of her. “I was sent to see how you’re doing.”
Brianna stiffened. “I’m fine.
Why?” She hadn’t advertised she was going away. Her parents and Maisy were the
only ones who knew where she was.
“You haven’t been out and about.”
Who’s keeping tabs? And who would
send this dark-haired, all muscle, all-male hunk with the relaxed island smile
and disarming blue eyes? Not her parents, that’s for sure. Maisy? It was
entirely possible. Maisy’s reach was surprisingly long.
Don’t live a little. Live a lot. Maisy, you’re a cheeky devil,
sending a male escort. He looked at her with a patient
smile, waiting for her to catch up. Something about a tropical paradise and his
sexy bod made her consider. Brianna narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you
married?”
“Nope.”
“Do you have nail fungus?”
He blinked and his smile faltered.
“No. Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m feeling great.” She stepped
closer to him. His eyes darkened. He didn’t step away. What the hell – she
could play this game. Be cool. Fake nonchalance. Cultivate some of that swagger
that came so easily to Maisy. Her heart pounded, but he didn’t need to know.
She went on her toes and brushed
her lips against his. When he responded and took control, Brianna felt a tingle
from her head to her toes. She pressed closer and felt the hard muscle of his
chest through the thin shirt he wore. He caressed the bare skin of her back and
skimmed her waist. She opened her mouth to take him deeper and their tongues
danced. This wasn’t the kiss of a boy. This was the kiss of experience. Maybe
Maisy had it right – if you were going to play, you might as well play with
top-of-the-line equipment.
He ran his hands down her arms and
then gripped them gently and pushed her away, breaking off the kiss. Brianna
raised startled eyes to his and made a noise in protest.
“I’m sorry.” He stepped back,
putting more distance between them, and cleared his throat. “I think you have
the wrong idea. I’m Matt Gaelen. Dr.
Matt Gaelen.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Jerome and Maria were worried
because you hadn’t shown up at the restaurant, so they asked me to come and
check on you.”
“Jerome and Maria. Owners of the
villas?”
“Yes.”
Uh-oh. “You weren’t sent by Maisy?”
“No, I don’t know a Maisy.” He
grinned. “Though I wish I did.”
She felt a flush rise on her
cheeks. So much for living it up. “I’m very sorry,” she said stiffly. “That was
a misunderstanding.” She grimaced. “It won’t happen again.” She’d stay well and
truly hidden under a rock of mortification.
He raised an eyebrow. “Well, I’m
happy to see you’re fine. Better than fine.” He smiled. “I’ll let them know.”
He turned and jogged down the steps. And then he stopped and looked back. “But
it does seem a shame that it won’t happen again.”
Brianna blew out a breath and
watched him go. That wasn’t embarrassing.
She cringed. This was precisely why she wanted solitude and privacy. She shook
her head at herself and picked up her towel. The light was fading, but she
still had time for a quick dip to cool off.
Let that be a lesson learned – well two, really: don’t jump to
conclusions, and Dr. Matt Gaelen is an excellent kisser.
Buy
Links:
Perfectly
Skeptical, a Perfectly Series novella, is one of 25 brand new, exclusive
romances in the Tropical Tryst boxed set. Escape to the tropics with award
winning, USA Today and NYT best-selling authors.
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tropical-tryst-nicole-morgan/1126270355?ean=9781508076988
Bio:
Linda O’Connor started writing a few years ago when she needed a
creative outlet other than subtly rearranging the displays at the local home
décor store. It turns out she loves writing romantic comedies and has a few
more stories to tell. When not writing, she’s a physician at an Urgent Care
Clinic (well, even when she is writing she’s a physician, and it shows up in
her stories :D ). She hangs out at www.lindaoconnor.net.
Laugh every day. Love every minute.
Social
Media:
Website/Blog/Newsletter: http://www.lindaoconnor.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaOConnor98
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Linda-OConnor/e/B00S7CNLEA
Ruth, thank you so much for sharing some #AuthorLove with me!!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure!
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