Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy!
| | | Alexander Knights Confident and bossy, Alex is playboy turned lover who is torn by guilt of a secret past. He has striking blue eyes that leaves women swooning but all that he wants is Lyla. Noone can resist his charm once you meet him. This is especially true for Lyla who knows him more intimately than others. But the more she wants to resist him, the closer Alex gets. He never backs down from what he knows is rightfully his. But first, he needs her forgiveness.
| EXCERPT:The moment she saw him in the room, she froze. The walls seemed to press in closer and the pain in her chest hit her strong enough to feel giddy. There he was in all glory, looking as handsome as ever, only a bit more deadly with his slight stubble. Alexander Knights in his cool blue shirt with rolled up sleeves, slightly loosened tie and crease-free black trousers looked every bit the same as he did five years ago.
His eyes widened in surprise as their eyes met. He shot up to his feet, a tad too quickly as if he realized it was indeed her.
Lyla had no idea how long she had been standing there gaping at him. She almost jumped in surprise when one of the other members of the group spoke up, introducing himself. Alex’s presence meant the others didn’t matter anymore. As usual.
Just take a slow and deep breath. She smiled at Matt, then Carl, and then Stella who all seemed oblivious to the fact that her heart was racing a hundred and fifty per minute.
Matt, the smiling, round faced chubby man who looked like he was in his late twenties, called out to Lyla and said, “And oh Lyla, we forgot to mention that you would also have to deal with our boss who is going to be breathing heavily down your for the next one month – Alexander Knights.” Lyla smiled and now that the initial shock was gone, looked straight in to his bright blue eyes.
“Hi. How are you?” said Alex and to her utter horror, he extended his hand towards her for a handshake.
She swallowed hard, trying to shove down the mixture of panic and anger rising within her, and slowly extended her hand towards him to meet his. The moment his hand touched her skin, Lyla felt seared with heat. Confused, she quickly withdrew her still tingling hand. There was a pressure building inside her and she thought herself crazy to feel it. This was the man who was responsible for her lonely life. Then a new worry crawled into her heart that she would once again be caught up with him.
However, that was a different time and she was all grown up now, and vowed to avoid him at all costs. It was not as if she was in love with him. In fact, she hated him with all her heart. That is why it surprised her to have reacted to him this way. Perhaps it was the fact that it was Alexander Knights – every woman’s dream - tall, dark, handsome, rich and extremely romantic. He could floor any woman with just a simple smile. She was one of his victims and today, after so many years, she was still in the danger of it. Why the hell did he have to smile? How to survive one month with him, travelling across continents, being in his company for long days and God only knows how many nights! Will my determination be strong enough? Lyla flipped the pages of the document angrily. No matter how good-looking he was, Alex had one flaw and it would be good to remember it.
Alex was a Casanova who loved changing his women like his shoes. He had used numerous women before Lyla came into his life and probably continued after they broke up. Even if the women threw themselves at him, he didn’t have to use them. And sadly sometimes, there were some fools like her who thought everything that Alex said or did for them was true and then fell hopelessly in love with him. She had been convinced that Alex, the Casanova was indeed in love with her, but when she knew the truth, she was devastated. She had to run away from him else she would have insulted the memory of her first love – Andrew who died in a car accident. And Alex had everything to do with his death.
But now she couldn’t believe a word he said out of that lying mouth.
Lyla stopped looking at the document anymore. She knew why she had to do this project and not let Alex win.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~You can buy Always You at Amazon, B&N, ARE, or the Inkspell Store and see if you fall for Alexander Knights too.
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy!
| | | Liese Hansfeld
Her usual disposition when not haunted by her past is cheery, a fun girl and easy going and impulsive to a fault. Liese and Frey show that sometimes friends can become the best lovers.
| EXCERPT:
“You all right, Li?”
She nodded as her eyes swept the room, then back at him. “Really, Frey, you didn’t have to do all that. I was going to clean after the four days.”
He shrugged. “No worries, sweetheart. What are friends for?” He smiled and beckoned her to him with his free hand. She followed the delicious smell of food more than she obeyed him, and stood beside him. He smiled at her, and pulled her into one arm hug and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Feeling better?”
She nodded, peeking inside the pot. “Yes, I am,” she said, hoping her voice came out cheerful. She didn’t want to have him worried. “Smells good. What’s this?”
“Healthy food.” He turned his attention to the pot of whatever delicious concoction he was cooking and continued stirring.
Liese glanced around for something to do while he went about preparing the meal. She frowned, as her gaze zeroed in on the sofa.
“Er, Frey, what’s that?”
He glanced up from the pot, and followed her pointing finger. “Oh, that. My overnight bag,” he said nonchalantly. “Didn’t I tell you I’m staying here for those four days? No? Well, I am.” He turned, unconcerned, and continued stirring, dipped two fingers inside the array of bottles of spices in front of him, pinched small amounts and sprinkled dashes into the pot. He repeated the action a few more times before he grunted in satisfaction.
She glared at his back, watching the rise and fall of the muscles there. “No, you’re not.” She glanced up, then poked his arm with her finger to make her point. “You can’t do this to me, Frey. Another time, but not these four precious days. I need to be alone.”
Frey tilted his head slightly, his midnight blue eyes gentle and kind as they’d always been. “Sorry, I’m not leaving. Get used to the idea, Li. Besides, I have five votes from your mom and dad. We voted who should come over and stay with you. I won.” He grinned, and turned away to stir what she now saw was red sauce. The scent of mint filled the air, and her stomach grumbled.
She ignored it and twisted out from under his arm. He snatched her back and held her snug and tight against the length of his body. She leaned into his soothing touch, savouring the comfort of his fingers as they caressed up and down her arm. Her body began to relax. “If I needed you, I’d have called you and asked—”
“Eat, and then if you want to talk later, we’ll talk.” Frey pecked her on the forehead once again, then brought his hand to her face and tucked a few strands of her wayward curls behind her ear. He let her go. “Now sit over there like a good girl.”
She grunted in frustration and stalked away, well, as much as her weakened body would allow her to stalk without losing her pride. She plopped down on the sofa. “You’re no better than my parents.”
He chuckled. “You bet I’m not. I’m worse.”Will Liese and Frey find a way to become more than just friends or will it ruin their friendship? Find out in Truly, Madly, Deeply You by Cecilia Robert. http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/store.html
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a new blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you an excerpt to show you a tease of the character. We hope you enjoy taking a second look at these hotties!
| | | Isaac Laroche
Isaac is a cold, mercurial musician with a giant chip on his shoulder. He's also revered in the classical music community, extremely talented and intensely passionate. He likes keeping secrets and loves his mama. Once you get him to loosen up, he may reward you with a heart-stopping smile.
| EXCERPT:The band tonight is the Cotton City Rollers. Although he also plays trombone, Lenny plays piano during the off-season, and he’s on a kick tonight. Everyone taps their toes, drums fingers on the tables, or waves invisible handkerchiefs in the air.
That includes Isaac Laroche, who beats the drum line on the brown bottle in his hand.
I’m so busted.
I slink down in my chair and cross my arms. I know it won’t help, but I do it anyway. Nothing to see here, folks. Just an underage girl on the wrong side of town.
No such luck. He spots me and heads over. He’s got on a gingham button-down shirt and bizarre surfer shorts with flip-flops. He’s accessorized by clutching a beer. This is certainly a different side of him.
“Isn’t this a school night, little girl?” He smirks. My first instinct is to beg him not to tell my parents. And cry. Instead, I try a different tactic.
“Aren’t you too old to talk to ‘little girls’ in a bar?” For effect, I twirl my hair around a finger. “Besides, it’s June, remember? No school?”
“Touché. Just didn’t expect to see you here, Miss Casquette. You sure you’re only seventeen?”
“I didn’t expect to see you here either, Mr. Laroche.” I uncross and cross my legs.
“Please, it’s Isaac. I’m not that old, and it sounds creepy coming from you. Especially in a place like this.” Amusement flickers in his eyes as he locks them on mine.
I hold my breath. He turns his head to watch the band. Even in the dim light, I see the muscles in his square jaw clench and relax. I follow the line down to his broad shoulders and that little curve that connects his shoulder to his chest. I can’t help but compare him to the boys at school. He’s even bigger than R.J., and older. He doesn’t look a thing like a stereotypical pianist. In fact, he looks like he could be the bouncer.
“Okay, Isaac, here’s a little secret.” I smile up at him, despite the unease that flops around in my stomach. “I come here to listen to Lenny, the guy on piano tonight. His band always plays at the Mystics’ balls.”
“I know.”
“Oh, right. Well, I love this stuff.” It’s the kind of music that’s best heard live because it changes every time it’s performed. It’s so different from what I play. I admire the musicians’ abandon and ability to improvise—two things I can’t do. “Most people—you know who I mean—don’t know about this place. So how come you’re here?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he lifts his chin toward the seat next to me. I give him my good-girl smile. He takes that as a green light and sits down, careful to leave a modest amount of space between us. I lick my lips, which have suddenly gone dry. This new tactic could get me in trouble.
He leans in close. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Oh, this is bad. This is very bad.
“I’ll keep yours if you keep mine.”
Wait, did I just say that out loud?
“Fair enough.” He stares off again, listening to Lenny’s solo.
I can almost hear the little angel on my left shoulder do battle with the devil on my right. If I keep this up, I’ll be schizophrenic. Which, when you consider my family, is a definite possibility.
Go ahead and flirt. You’re in a bar. The rules don’t apply here. And he stared at you. Stared! You could totally score an older guy.
Oh, shut up. He’s not into you. Just look at yourself. How could he be? He’s just buzzed. Plus, he’s Mr. Cline’s nephew. It’d be like making out with Mr. Cline.
I choke on my drink.
He still stares at the band, thank goodness, caught up in the bluesy riffs that float on the smoky air. His eyes are darker tonight, almost charcoal in the dim light from the stage. There are lines just forming at the corners of his eyes and deep concentration grooves between his brows, like he scowls too often.
He takes a sudden swig of his beer, and I’m jolted out of my reverie as though I’ve gotten caught red-handed. As though he felt me studying his profile. I’m surprised at his next words.
“My secret is that I used to come here when I was your age, too. Got tired of the canon stuff and wanted to see how the other half played, so to speak. That’s why I minored in Jazz Studies.” He snickers. “Although I did sneak a few beers now and then, unlike you and your…” He waves toward my drink.
“Coke.” Gulp.
“Ah. Can I get you another?”
“Thanks, but no. I have to get back before Mama comes home.”
“Aw, leaving so soon? Mean to tell me your mama doesn’t let you sneak out to bars and talk to older men? Can’t imagine why.” He winks.
I seriously forget to breathe. Relax, it’s the beer talking.
I punch him in the shoulder.
“Hey, you promised to keep that a secret. I know you’ve been in Boston for a while, but you’re back in ’Bama now.” I channel Vivien Leigh and give him my best Southern belle. “You’re bound by a code of honor to keep your word.”
No matter where you end up in life or how long you’re gone, if you’re from south of the Mason-Dixon Line, the code of the Southern Gentleman is in effect. And the minute you violate it, your mama will know by some Southern sixth sense.
“Yes, ma’am. Nothing short of a voodoo curse could get me to spill it.” He places his hand over his heart. “Hey, did you drive here?”
Do not get in his car. Do not get in his car. Do not--
“No, I took the bus. There’s a stop a few blocks down from the back door of the studio. Mama checks the hood of my car to see if it’s warm.”
“Jeez. Doesn’t she trust you?” His question is like a bucket of cold water.
I look away. No, she doesn’t trust me. She--
The waitress comes by to collect my empty glass. I dig into my purse to find my wallet but hesitate, distracted by the other contents. They’ve been rearranged. Again. I push that realization aside and flick open my wallet to get a couple of dollars. By then, Isaac’s beat me to it.
“Said it yourself, I’m back in ’Bama now. It’d be rude not to pay for your Coke since I invited myself over to your table.” When I protest, he puts up a hand. “Besides, your daddy pays me enough to teach you. I can spare a couple of dollars.”
“Fair enough. That’s kind of you, Isaac.”
He puts down a tip for the waitress and stands, stretching his large frame. “Think I’ll go now, too. Have to meet with the maestro tomorrow morning.” He rolls his eyes.
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy!
The Life and Death of Lily Drake features two hot guys each trying to capture Lily's heart. Mathias Sutton is the vampire who first lays eyes on Lily and has been watching her for a long time. Will he be the one who wins her heart? | | | Mathias Sutton Mathias is no nonsense. He’s very important, and he’s worked his way to the top. He's determined to get what he wants. Lily is who he wants, and nothing will stand in his way.
| EXCERPT:Mathias Sutton became hopeful as Lily smiled at him. His plan was turning out much better than he had anticipated, but only because she thought he was someone named Terry. Struggling with the decision to correct her or to go along with the charade of being mistaken for someone else, Mathias concluded that this pleasant interaction might make his job for the night easier. He wouldn’t lie, but a simple omission of his true identity couldn’t hurt anything for the moment. “Are you ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes, just let me lock up.”
Mathias walked Lily to his car and opened the door for her. She gave him a warm smile as she sat and smoothed out her skirt. The woman was even more beautiful up close. He had admired her for years, but he’d never experienced this side of her. That exquisite smile of hers was meant for him, not someone else. He hoped this time things would be different, that he could finally have everything that had eluded him for more than five hundred years. She would choose to stay with him, and all his long-standing dreams would come to fruition.
“So where are we headed?” Lily inquired.
“If you don’t mind, I really need to stop by my house first.” Mathias had already begun driving in that direction. Everyone would be waiting for their arrival, and most likely would be surprised to see Lily walk in of her own volition. This whole mistaken-identity thing would work well after all.
“Well, actually, I do mind. I was under the impression we were going out on a date. I’ll admit the suit, the car, it’s all very impressive, but you’ve got the wrong gal if you’re looking for some one-night stand.”
Taken aback by her assumption, Mathias pulled the car over to the side of the road. He didn’t want to upset her, and his goal was certainly not to use her and throw her away. She had been correct, however, in assuming he had an ulterior motive for going to his house. The others could wait; he might never have this chance again to be so close to her and enjoy her company. What could it hurt? He’d take her out. “I’m so sorry I gave you that impression. A one-night stand certainly isn’t my intention. You’re right, let’s go to dinner.”
The Cove, Mount Vernon’s most celebrated restaurant, would be the obvious choice for a romantic dinner date. Not that Mount Vernon had tons of choices for fine dining, but The Cove could hold its own against any haute cuisine establishment in a much larger city. Nestled downtown in the historic district, the elegant century-old building towered above the quaint little town. She was clearly pleased as they pulled up to the parking valet.
“Is this good?” Mathias asked.
“My favorite, thanks.”
“Shall we?” As the valet drove off with the car, he extended his arm to her.
“We don’t have a reservation, do we?” Lily would have no idea that Mathias needed no reservation for a private table upstairs in the banquet room typically reserved for weddings and dinner theatre. Being a bachelor for five hundred years had done nothing for his cooking skills, so he frequented The Cove often. The special table upstairs, kept reserved for him alone, gave Mathias the respite he often needed.
He flashed her his best grin. “I don’t think it will be a problem.”
Two other couples were waiting for a table when Lily and Mathias walked into the foyer of the restaurant. Megan, the weeknight reservation girl, interrupted the man at her podium, who was inquiring about the wait time. Before she could properly greet Mathias, and subsequently call him by a last name that wasn’t Terry’s, he asked, “Do you have room for us upstairs this evening, Megan?”
“Of course, if you’ll follow me.”
Relieved she hadn’t blown his cover, Mathias turned to smile at Lily and catch a glimpse of what appeared to be surprise. He knew she wouldn’t be terribly impressed with the restaurant alone. She brought her son here to eat from time to time. Every week they went out on a special mother-son date night. She loved her boy dearly and took pride in being a wonderful mother. Mathias had always prized that trait in her.
“Would you like a menu?”
“Oh no, I have a favorite. My son loves it here. We try to come every few months.”
“Would you like some wine?”
“Sure, but I only drink red.”
He already knew that about her. When she seemed to have a hard day at work, she’d sit outside on her deck and have a glass. He knew almost everything about the woman, and yet she thought him to be someone named Terry.
“Good. That will go well with the big steak I’m ordering.”
After a couple of glasses of wine as they waited for their entrees, Mathias began to wonder if he had made a mistake by not taking her directly to the house. She asked entirely too many questions regarding this Terry person, and he had no answers. Obviously, she had never met the man or she would have known what he looked like, and she didn’t seem to know very much about him. Mathias suspected it to be a blind date perpetrated by her friend, Angie Travis. The Travis woman was the only person he’d ever seen Lily hang around with outside of work, and he’d overheard a few conversations between the two. Angie pushed relentlessly when it came to finding someone for her friend.
“Enough about me, Lily. Tell me about you.”
“Well, not much to say. I’m a graphic designer, a single mom, divorced. That’s about it. I’m really boring. I’d rather hear about you. Tell me about your business, Terry.”
Mathias paused. He was many things, at times even a killer, but he would not let himself become a liar to the woman he’d adored for so long. As Lily had grown, his job had become so much more. He’d begun admiring her and eventually caring for her. He’d selfishly wanted to spend time with Lily, but not if it meant he couldn’t be himself. He did the only thing he could think of: he abruptly excused himself from the table.
Mathias knew the others wouldn’t be happy with his spur-of-the-moment decision to take Lily out to dinner. The plan had been to gently knock her out with his otherworldly powers, return with her to his mansion, and explain her birthright. They would all be upset, except possibly Val. His cousin, a habitual rule-breaker especially where the ladies were concerned, would likely understand. That trait, which normally annoyed Mathias, would lend him an ally this evening.
Don't you love a man who is determined to get what he wants? Mathias has had his heart set on Lily for years. Can he be the man she wants and needs? Read The Life and Death of Lily Drake to find out!
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy!
 Character Name: Diana Keller
Age: 15
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
Height: 5’5"
Distinguishing features: Big blue eyes
Most resembles: young Claire Danes
Teaser: Despite her growing problems, Diana's unable to resist Jesse, even when he threatens all her plans.
 Character Name: Jesse
Age: 16
Hair: Short,light brown
Eyes: Dark brown
Height: 6' 0"
Distinguishing features: Strong hands, deep-set eyes
Most resembles: young Heath Ledger
Teaser: Jesse's the new kid at Snowden High running from his past by dedicating himself to wrestling ... and Diana.
Will Diana find a way to resist Jessie or will he be her forever love?
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy!
| | | Beckett
Beckett is Tall, dark, and handsome with an icy façade. He wants to save Cressenda, from the Affinity, from the blizzard, and from herself, but he isn’t exactly forthcoming with why her survival means so much to him.
| EXCERPT:
Beckett pretended not to watch me, peeking up from his holo-tab from time to time. I hadn’t done anything interesting in the hours that passed and I took great satisfaction in knowing he needed to occupy himself with the electronic tethers of technology while I sat content with the freedom of the day.
In the afternoon, music filled the uncomfortable space between us. I scanned through hundreds of songs on his holo-tab, eventually selecting a list of amazing tunes from times gone by. We found common ground in our love for Green Age sounds made with instruments as opposed to the digital contortion known as music in the modern world.
“How did you find this music? I thought only eccentric old citizens longing for the Green Age still listened to this,” I teased him, his preference for the Green Age clear in everything in his home from the pillows to the color on the walls. Actually, the fact that he had any color on the walls at all was unusual for a home in the Collective. Citizens preferred modern, industrial materials and utilitarian design. No stylization, no personality, and certainly no fluffy green pillows and golden-hued walls.
“Everything is available in digi-file; you just have to know where to look for it.” He smirked, hinting at some secret digital knowledge.
“You also need one of these special issue tablets from the Affinity, but, you know, no big deal.” I laughed at my own sarcasm and stuck my tongue out at him. Beckett tried to look annoyed but his face resembled that of an adult trying not to entertain the smart remarks of a petulant child.
I lounged on the sofa while he fitted himself into the far corner where his mattress met the wall. Music floated all around us, bouncing off the walls and making the air heavy with beautiful color and emotion. One of the songs on the list featured a gorgeous falsetto male voice layered on top of thunderous drums and a driving bass guitar. I closed my eyes and let the music completely sweep me away.
Beckett noticed my abandon and increased the volume so loud I couldn’t hear myself think. Music came blaring through the speakers expertly placed throughout the cabin. I’d never been immersed in sound like that before. Even in my youth, I hadn’t experienced the consumption of my mind and body within melody. Everything outside of this room, these four walls, everything waiting for me over the mountain and deep in the forest, it all disappeared. All that I could think or feel was the rhythm in the music. My heart followed the sultry pace of the bass and my chest constricted with the painful lyrics bleeding out of the soulful singer.
The song ended and I shot up from my prone position, finding Beckett smiling at me from across the room as the beginning notes of the same decadent music filled the cabin again. I returned a grateful smile and sank back into the overstuffed cushions beneath me. As I lay, swept away in the power of the song, I felt Beckett watching me. I opened my eyes and met his in a gratuitous appraisal of my body, stretched out as if it were on display for him. Our exchange felt right, not dirty or salacious at all, just one person enjoying the vision of another person in complete physical and emotional rapture. We were happy there together, in that moment.
As the last note sounded, I immediately wished I could hear it again. If I could have bottled the feeling of that song, of our shared experience of pure bliss, I would have in a second. The remainder of the day, Beckett and I let the bleat of the horns, the sigh of the strings, and the pounding of the percussion fill up all the empty space around us.
Will Cassie and Beckett give into the smoldering passion that is sizzling between them? Can they afford to since they are on different sides of the battle over personal rights? If you love a thought-provoking, passionate science fiction story, you are going to love Frozen Heart!
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy!
| | | Ben “Gunner” Foster
Gunner Foster is fresh out of the Marines and on the way to see his family for Christmas. He’s a what you see is what you get kind of guy. He has a great sense of humor, an honest and gentle soul, and is very easy on the eyes.
| EXCERPT:I stared at the seats. The empty one was the window seat. The other seat was occupied. By a seriously good looking guy sleeping peacefully. He filled the seat to capacity. His broad chest was hugged by an olive green shirt that said MARINES in all caps.
I chewed my lip. “Can I sit somewhere else?” I asked, hating to wake him up. And hating that my seat was by the window.
“I’m up,” he said suddenly, rubbing a hand across his face.
I jumped. “Holy crap. I thought you were sleeping.”
He grinned and I stared. Good looking didn’t cut it. He was seriously hot. And he had a dimple. A really adorable dimple.
“Nah.” He smiled. “Just resting my eyes.”
“Oh,” I said.
The attendant cleared her throat; there were a few people waiting behind me. Great, no pressure. It’s not like everyone, Hot Guy included, needed to know I was freaking out. The words spilled out: “I have a weakness for guys with a military haircut.” Smooth, Jen, really smooth. I tried to smile, but I’m not sure it worked.
Sparkly blue eyes met mine. And for a few seconds the cabin of this first class airplane didn’t feel like an upscale coffin. His eyes were amazing…distracting…
But then he turned, shifting his long legs so that I could squeeze by.
“It’s okay,” I offered. “You can take the window seat.”
I had no desire to look out the window. Actually, I’d prefer not to look out the window. If I had it my way, I’d take a sedative and have them wake me when we arrived in Los Angeles. But sedatives weren’t an option, not anymore—not for me.
He glanced at the flight attendant who was hovering behind me. “I don’t think that’s allowed.”
I looked at the attendant, a little thing with a tired face and swelling ankles. “Sorry, Miss Smith.” I had to admit, she looked sorry. “If we’re not full, you might be able to move around once we take off. We’ll have to wait and see.”
I didn’t miss what she was saying. No guarantees, and right now I was stuck here…by the hot guy. I took a deep breath, shoved my ponytail off my shoulder, and forced a smile onto my lips. “Alrighty, then.”
Clutching my leather bag to my chest, I forced myself into the row of seats. I focused on breathing in and out. Not the low ceiling or the cramped seating or the soft hissing of the cabin air. No, I wouldn’t think about that. All that mattered was climbing into my seat without falling on Mr. Hotness.
I guess he was a plus. He was totally a step up from some nosy old woman or, God forbid, a lady with a crying baby.
I sat, sucked in another deep breath, and buckled my seatbelt. My hands were shaking as I pulled the belt tight.
“You okay?” Hot Guy asked.
I hugged my bag to my chest and pressed myself into the seat. Was I okay? Yes, I was so okay. Way okay. I would stare at my lovely designer bag for the next couple of hours and not worry about the plane falling from the sky and sending us all to our deaths.
“Ma’am?”
I turned quickly, surprising him. “Me? Oh, I’m fine. Really. Great. Good. Peachy-keen.”
“Fine?”
“Yep.” I nodded. “Fine.”
I tried again to smile at him. You’re acting like a total nutjob. He was probably worried about having to sit beside me for the next few hours. I would be. I looked at him, saw his smile, and felt strangely calm.
So I repeated, trying to sound a little less frazzled, “Fine.” I had to look up at him to meet his gaze. Even hunched into my seat, his shoulder almost touched mine.
He wore a strange expression, one that looked less than convinced. One brown eyebrow rose, the corner of his mouth turned up. There was the dimple again. He shook his head.
And then I heard the words coming out of my mouth: “Could you be any cuter?”
He blinked, his half smile growing. He didn’t have just one dimple; he had two dimples. So apparently he could be cuter. Holy crap.
Aren't you excited to see more of Gunner? Hollywood Holiday is the sequel to Hollywood Ever After with some of your favorite characters showing up! Pick up your copy today!
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy!
| | | Claire Collins:The heroine for Hollywood Ever After is a very relatable woman. She’s celebrating her 35th birthday on a trip – the first she’s taken on her own since her messy divorce. But she’s looking forward to a low key break, with lots of rest and relaxation. Claire’s vacation is full of surprises. Meeting Josh changes everything. Yes, she’s still a single mom to two great kids. But he makes her feel like a woman – one who might be worthy of love.
| Excerpt:“Mr. Wiley. He’s been totally checking you out.” She poked me in the side when I went rigid. “Told you you looked hot!”
“Where did that come from?” I blushed fiercely. “He’s so…” I paused as I ran through a mental checklist of all the things Josh Wiley was: handsome, thoughtful, talented, and intense. “Young,” I finished.
“He’s twenty-eight, hardly a kid and totally legal. He’s not a big ladies’ man around town, but he’s been seriously eyeing you.” She arched an eyebrow. “Not that I’m saying insanely gratuitous sex with an energetic and virile young man with no strings is what you should do. I’d never say that.”
My entire face and every inch of exposed skin grew hot. “You’re shameless.”
“Maybe.” She smiled, then changed the topic. “Are you cold?”
I shook my head, my mind racing to keep up with her.
“So what have you been thinking?” She regarded me over the rim of her drink. “About life? Your plans?”
“Well…” I considered. “Continuing as I have for now. The school would like me to teach full time next year.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “But that’s not what you said you wanted. And an elementary teacher’s salary can’t go far with two kids.” She regarded me with slightly narrowed eyes. “You could come to work here. I happen to know people. That helps. There’s also the possibility of getting published or optioning a manuscript. You’d get paid, pretty well, too.”
“Getting paid to do something you really enjoy? Seems almost criminal.”
Victor’s voice interrupted our conversation. “So I’m a criminal?”
He was followed by a few others, and Josh.
I tried, without much success, to keep from eyeing Josh, who sat gracefully on a chaise across from me and Shannon. Directly in my line of sight.
I smiled, shaking my head. “No, I—”
“She was trying to convince me not to pay her to do a job that she’s perfectly suited for.” Shannon shrugged.
“Never say no to money.” Victor added, “Unless it’s for something illegal.”
Shannon quipped playfully, “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe not illegal, but there are some things that are just so wrong.”
“So illegal activities, or things that are so wrong they should be illegal?” I raised an eyebrow in question, sipping my drink.
“Sounds like a solid foundation for career development,” Josh said, looking slightly horrified by the line of conversation.
Victor handed Shannon a drink. “Have you heard the sequel buzz?”
Shannon winked at me. “Uh, no, I’m working hard to pitch this project I’m psyched about.”
“Really?” Victor leaned forward.
“Just in the outline stages for film right now, but it’s a character piece. A severely broken woman escapes her prison, becoming empowered in her circumstances and taking control. No butt-kicking or anything, just an awakening to self-worth.”
“Could be fascinating,” Josh countered, his eyes coming to rest on me now and again.
I stared into my glass and tried not to have a panic attack. I listened to her take on my life. “It’s been done before. Sounds boring to me,” I mumbled, more loudly than I’d intended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We hope this story gets you ready for the release of Hollywood Holiday on December 7th!
All she wants for Christmas is for Hollywood to love her again. But once she meets him, her Christmas list changes.
Jen’s only Christmas wish: Hollywood falling back in love with her. Meeting ex-Marine Gunner was a bonus. She likes that he isn’t impressed by celebrities or the movie biz. She likes that he’s funny and sweet … and drop-dead gorgeous. And she loves that he has no idea who her alter-ego is: Jen Fleming, Hollywood bad-girl and paparazzi target number one. Why ruin an amazing affair when he’s leaving after the new year?
But the closer they get, the harder she falls, and the more she wants to tell Gunner everything. Especially once he shares his secret with her.
Her new Christmas wish: Gunner accepts and loves her for who she really is.
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy!
| | | Wolfaert Dircksen Van Ness
Wolf was born in the Netherlands in the year 1601 and left it, in a manner of speaking, in the year 1632. He knows what happens when you go through a storm in the Bermuda Triangle. Wolf is willing to do anything to protect the woman he loves including taking on a drug cartel!
| EXCERPT:“Who are you?” she asked in a voice just audible to his ears. “Better yet, what are you?”
“I’m a man, Aliyana, born of this earth, though not of your time,” he said.
“You are a ghost then.” Although she stated the words matter-of-factly, he could hear a bit of disappointment in the tone of her voice. He had no time to ponder the regret now.
“Only part time,” he replied.
“Part time? Part time! Just what do you mean by that ridiculous statement?” she huffed.
Wolf looked upward for a moment and then sighed in resignation. “I didn’t want to have this discussion until you fully recovered. But come on, let’s go ahead, and get it done.”
As he turned and stepped toward the door she said, “Where are we going?”
“Upstairs to the top of the lighthouse,” he replied.
“I need to stop at the bathroom first, if you don’t mind,” she said as a blush stole across her cheeks.
He didn’t mind at all. The small delay gave him a moment to form an explanation acceptable to a woman like Aliyana. Once finished, she opened the door and extended a hand toward him. In response, he raised an arm in silent invitation. She shook her head.
“Please, I would like to try to walk up the stairs myself,” she said. “Just hang on to me and keep me stable. You can do that, right?”
Wolf gave her a single nod, and placed a firm hand about her waist. He allowed her to set the pace as they ascended the metal steps of the spiral staircase. About half way up, her legs gave way. He caught hold of her body, swept her up, and cradled her in his arms. She didn’t make a peep of protest. Once they arrived at the observation deck, he looked down at her face. She had her eyes closed, head tucked inward, and her lips tight together. “Are you all right?” he asked. “You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine really—just a little dizzy and a bit nauseous from the small turns is all,” she replied. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to throw up on you, I promise.”
“Do you want me to take you back to your bed?”
“No, I’m fine, really.”
He set her down on the old wooden rocking chair, grabbed hold of the two-seater bench next to it, and turned it around to face her. After he settled himself into the rickety thing, he leaned toward her and took hold of her hands. At last, she opened her eyes and then caught and held his gaze. She waited for him to speak.
“Take a good look around you, Aliyana. Tell me exactly what you see,” he said, gesturing to the view behind him.
She took a deep breath and turned toward the panoramic scene. Her eyes grew wider by degrees. She raised her body a little higher, lifted her chin, and looked all around.
A hand covered a gasp of delighted surprise. “I see—the sky is a brilliant shade of turquoise blue, and I—I see a wide lavender band across the horizon. The beauty of the atmosphere is breathtaking. What happened to make it look like this? Do the colors have something to do with the anomalous storm we passed through?”
“In a way, yes, but no, not really,” Wolf replied and then hastened to clarify. “That particular storm merely transported you here. You see, here in this place, the sky is quite normal.”
“What do you mean, here in this place?” she asked as her gaze remained fastened on the view. He could tell she saw more than just the sky, now. The colors in the surrounding vegetation also looked far different from anything she had ever seen before and her expression said the beauty of it amazed her, just as it had once amazed him. He rubbed his thumbs gently across the top of her hands.
“Please look into my eyes now, Aliyana.” Once she complied with his request he said, “I want you to see for yourself that I speak nothing but truth in what I’m about to tell you. A lie has no value, nor would it serve any purpose. Would you agree?”
“You’re not trying to tell me I’m dead, are you?” she asked as a look of horror filled her eyes.
“No, nothing like that.” He raised a hand to his chin and shook his head.
“Then what are you trying to tell me?”
“I’ll start off by telling you I entered this world in the year 1601 and left it, in a manner of speaking, in the year 1632.”
“What do you mean, in a manner of speaking? You keep talking in riddles.”
“I didn’t die, Aliyana.” He held up a hand to halt the words she opened her mouth to say. “I know the questions you have, because once I had them myself. Just let me finish my explanation and then you can ask me anything you want. Fair enough?” he asked.
Now that you've gotten a chance to see Wolf, isn't he yummy? A man out of time, yet a perfect hunk. He has the skills to make you wish for your own Bermuda Triangle accident. Pick up Shadow of the Witte Wieven today!
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. We want to revisit some of our favorite hotties from our favorite stories! As we revisit our eyecandy, we are sharing with you an excerpt to wet your appetite about the character and the story. After all, you can't get enough of book eyecandy!
| | | Josh Wiley:
Josh is this mix of sincere, funny, sexy, and direct guy who goes after what he wants –no holds barred.He has a fantastic sense of humor and a real zest for life and… as Claire would say, “He’s really beautiful.”
A musician and actor, Josh is finding his way in Hollywood (he’s British) – on his way to becoming a Hollywood star. But he’s a little lost, a little lonely… until he meets Claire.
| EXCERPT:
“It’s a bit of a madhouse,” Josh’s voice startled me. He leaned forward so I could hear him.
I nodded, determined to keep my eyes off him. “It can’t be good for your hearing.” I winced a bit as a chorus of “We love you, Josh!” came from the crowds.
He smiled at me, a really beautiful blinding smile that set the girls off with more gusto. I felt a little weak-kneed myself so I turned my attention back to Shannon, hoping Amy would be there to lead me away…quickly. Amy was there, but she snagged Shannon and moved on, leaving me stranded without a backward glance.
“Keep me company?” He watched and waited. I was trying desperately not to stare back.
“Umm…” Please don’t look like an idiot. “Sure.” That was sweet of him, rather gallant, actually.
“First premiere?” He was smiling at the flashing cameras. His eyes flickered over the crowd quickly. He waved slightly, eliciting more shrieks from the fans. His eyes were sparkling when he turned back to me.
“That’s a rhetorical question, right?” I sounded nervous. I wasn’t sure, but my attempt to not stare at him didn’t seem to be working the way I would’ve liked.
He moved closer, taking my arm to help steer me forward. The instant his hand closed on my arm, my skin tingled. I drew in a quick breath, aware my heart was racing. Our eyes met and he smiled another unbelievable smile. He leaned in closer, his mouth by my ear. “Your accent.”
“I have an accent?” I cocked an eyebrow, surprised. “Really?”
He laughed, his eyes crinkling in the most devastating manner. I was distracted by his mouth, which seemed very close. “Somewhere in the South?” He raised an eyebrow expectantly.
“I have a Texas accent?” I knew I sounded mortified. I was mortified.
“Not Texas necessarily,” he drawled, his attempt at a Texas twang totally surprising and comically horrid.
I laughed before I could catch myself, covering my mouth.
His smile changed. I don’t know if I’d offended him, but he was staring at me. Not rudely, just intently. It was as if he was really seeing me for the first time, and that maybe he was intrigued by what he saw.
A knot twisted in my stomach; an unsteady hitch echoed in my breath. My hand dropped from my mouth and I smiled apologetically. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” His expression grew thoughtful as his eyes burned into mine expectantly. The knot tightened; warmth spread through my stomach and into my chest. Heat flooded my cheeks. After feeling nothing but apprehension in the presence of men, my reaction to Josh caught me completely off guard. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but decided not to analyze it. I doubted I’d ever see him again.
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