Sneak Peeks of Breaking Out and Marliss Melton's Never Forget
I've started edits on my book Breaking Out (Book 6 of the SEAL Team Heartbreakers) and thought I'd post another excerpt for my readers. The book will be out October 10th but it's available for preorder now.
Below is also an excerpt from Marliss Melton's Never Forget. An Echo Platoon Novella. Enjoy!
Blurb and links:
Thank you so much for reading my blog. I hope you enjoyed the excerpts. I always enjoy comments so if you have anything to say, don't be shy!
Read on,
Below is also an excerpt from Marliss Melton's Never Forget. An Echo Platoon Novella. Enjoy!
An Excerpt:
Zach
looked away to hide his amusement. “Why don’t you bring him to work with you?
He’s probably lonely and needs company.”
“You
may be right, but there’s no guarantee he wouldn’t get bored and chew something
important here.”
“You
know your dog.” He didn’t have to have a map drawn for him to see the distance
she was putting between them. It was in her body language and her tone. Was it
because of his comment about calling their clients? Or was it because she’d decided getting to know him wasn’t
worth the effort when he’d be shipping out soon. For the second time in ten
minutes, disappointment lay heavy in the pit of his stomach. “I’ll call
tomorrow to check on Gracie. I need to stay off the leg more.”
“I
think so too.”
He
reached for his seat belt and exited the car to limp around the back of the
vehicle to the driver’s door.
She
stood next to the SUV, her brown eyes searching his face. “Take care of
yourself, Zach.”
“I
will. You do the same.”
She
turned away and regret even deeper than his disappointment took root.
He
adjusted the car seat and gritted his teeth while he hauled himself up into the
vehicle. He reached for the door only to find her standing in the way.
“It
isn’t because I don’t want to do the right thing, Zach.”
He
drew a relieved breath. “I work for one of the largest bureaucracies in the
world, Piper. I know all about how things can get skewed when more than one
person has a say. I’m not sitting in judgment of you.”
“You
don’t know my situation.”
“No,
I don’t. Are you going to give me a shot at understanding what it is, or are
you going to end things here?”
He
was grateful to see uncertainty flicker across her features. Her lips parted as
though she meant to tell him something.
“I
don’t know.” She ran her fingers through the long tail of hair that hung over
her shoulder. “Come to dinner on Sunday and you can pick Gracie up. I’ll have
dealt with other things by then.”
The
curve of her cheek and the full pout of her lips was driving him crazy. He bit
his lip to keep from saying something. If she was on the fence, he needed to
figure out a way to ease her off and in his direction. Pouncing on her in the
parking lot didn’t seem like the right way. He wasn’t in pouncing condition
anyway.
“If
I’m going to come to dinner, I need the address.”
She
took out her phone and typed it in, and he heard the ding when the text arrived.
“What
time?” he asked and slid back off the seat.
“Six
o’clock.”
He
settled his feet on the ground with only a little pain. “Red or white?”
“Call
me on Sunday and I’ll tell you then.”
“Will
do. Hey! You’re not going to send me away without a good-bye kiss, are you?”
Not a pounce but a nudge. As wary as she was, it was a better strategy. “If
you’re trying to make up your mind, you might as well try things out to see if
I’m worth your time.”
She
looked away and bit her lip but he caught a glimpse of a smile. “I’ve already
kissed you.” She brushed a hand across her forehead, as though trying to hide
the quick color in her cheeks.
“Darlin’,
that wasn’t a kiss, that was just an appetizer.” His arms went around her and pulled
her against him until her breasts pressed against his ribs. Everything south
responded with stubborn enthusiasm, like she was naked and he could feel every
inch of her skin against his. His mouth covered hers, and she tasted of sweet
ice tea and smelled like jasmine. When her mouth parted, inviting him to take
the kiss further, his tongue searched for hers.
Blurb and Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2apD6jx
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/656198
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-out-teresa-j-reasor/1124327225?ean=2940153664323
Navy SEAL Zach
O’Connor was dumped while he was deployed on a high-risk mission, and the
fallout from the breakup nearly cost him his career. Never again will Zach
allow his feelings to make him lose sight of what really matters. Not even when
his attraction to Piper Bertinelli makes him long for the very thing he’s vowed
to avoid.
Violence and
heartache have nearly shattered Dr. Piper Bertinelli’s life, and the last thing
she needs is to be attracted to a military man scheduled to deploy. Though all
Zach wants is a distraction instead of a commitment, Piper is unable to resist
the charismatic Naval officer. He makes her feel safe, something more seductive
to her than him being a SEAL.
When an
overzealous policeman from Piper’s past comes after her, Zach has to make a
decision: walk away from the woman who's cracked the shell he built around
his heart, or stick by her and possibly risk his career.
And there are
other hurdles to face: the family who drove Piper away, but whose
secrets may hold the key to understanding why her father was killed. And someone
who’s a greater danger to Piper’s life than an angry cop. The man responsible
for it all.
Marliss Melton's Never Forget (An Echo Platoon Novella)
An Excerpt:
Maya stared at the array of wall plaster in Home Depot,
wondering if any one brand was better than the others. Grabbing the tub that
looked the most familiar, she glanced behind her at the distinct sound of
panting. The sight of a dog standing two feet away and staring
at her rocked her back on her heels. On the other end of his leash stood Rusty
Kuzinsky, whose dark gaze hit her like a mainlined methamphetamine.
Oh, my God. Had she conjured him by
thinking of him so much?
“Hello,” he said. He sent her a suggestion of a smile that
crinkled the corners of his eyes and made him look ten years younger. And so
damn attractive that her insides seemed to melt.
“Hi.” Her heart started to bounce against her breastbone.
Could he tell?
“Need some help?” He glanced at the tub of putty in her
hands and then back into her eyes.
“Oh. Um.” And now she was stammering. “Actually, I think I’m
okay.”
The dog stretched out his neck in an attempt to sniff at her
shorts.
“Zit,” Rusty said, and the dog
immediately sat.
Maya blinked and looked up, wondering what language that
was.
“Filling in holes in your walls?” he asked, glancing back at
the tub.
“A dent,” she admitted. She looked back at the dog. “Who’s
this?” Maybe if they focused on the dog, her pulse would stop racing.
“My newest problem,” Rusty said on a note of irony. “Years
ago, I volunteered to adopt him when he was retired from service.”
She regarded the dog with fresh eyes. “A military dog. That
explains why he’s so well-behaved.”
He issued a laugh that made her think of sandpaper. “He’s
not that well behaved,” he assured her.
“No?”
“No.” His ruddy lips twitched toward a smile that made her
wonder what kissing him would feel like.
“I guess he could be,” he qualified. “But like any warrior
just off the field of battle, he’s still pretty keyed up. I spent the whole
morning running him when I have better things to do.” He glanced at the
display. “In fact, I’m going to need a tub of that to patch the damage he did
last night.”
“Oh dear.” She moved over so he could make his selection.
“So, what’s your boy doing with himself this summer?” he
asked as he stepped alongside her.
She caught a whiff of lemon and sage and…dog.
“Oh, Curtis is just hanging around the house,” she admitted.
At her cool tone, Rusty turned his head to regard her
inquiringly.
“School’s out.” She heard her add, “And he’s fourteen
now—too young to work and too old for the camp he attended last year. His
school friends all live pretty far away, so he’s been hanging out with some bad
elements in our neighborhood.” She shrugged. “I’m just not sure what to do with
him.”
Rusty’s onyx gaze plumbed her own. She wet her lips wishing
she had put on makeup that morning.
“Did he put that dent in the wall?”
The quiet question turned her mouth dry. Was he psychic or
something?
“With his fist?” he added.
She found she couldn’t lie with him watching her reaction.
“Well, yes, but it’s the first time he’s ever done anything like that,” she
assured him.
His gaze slid down and to the right. “Bet you tell yourself
things would be different if your husband were still alive.”
The words stopped her heart momentarily. He had to be
psychic. How could he know that?
As he looked up again, she closed her mouth, which had
fallen open.
“Tell you what.” His lips firmed and his freckled forehead furrowed
as he mulled over whatever it was he was about to say.
She realized she was holding her breath.
“What if I gave your son a job?”
Her thoughts went to the big old house he’d renovated as a
retreat for active-duty SEALs. “What kind of job?” It was probably her fault,
but her son was as unskilled at fixing things as she was.
He gestured to the dog, which had stood up restlessly,
apparently recalled he was supposed to be sitting, and sat down again. “Playing
with my dog.”
Maya regarded the animal with reservation. Between his dark
coloring and his fierce, military aspect, he looked dangerous. “Isn’t that a
bit risky? Military dogs are notoriously aggressive—they have to be.”
“True,” he conceded. He thought for a second, averting his
gaze. “But he’s used to being with a handler 24/7, and his was killed a short
while back.”
His tone of voice also conveyed that he’d known the handler.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. She regarded the orphaned dog with sympathy.
“I could use Curtis to take Draco for long walks, throw the
ball, and generally hang out with him while doing stuff for me like clearing
paths in the woods.”
A vision of Curtis spending time outdoors teased her
imagination. “Aren’t you expecting company soon?” she asked.
Rusty just looked at her. “Bronco tell you that?”
“He told me about the retreat, yes. I think it’s a wonderful
project.” She let her admiration warm her tone.
“Then you can see why I don’t have time to work with this
dog.”
“Yes, but my boy’s only fourteen. And we’ve never had a
dog.” Curtis had always wanted one, though.
“Let’s try it on a trial basis,” he proposed. “I can pick up
Curtis in the morning before you go to work. He’ll stay with me until you come
get him when your workday’s over.”
“Are you sure?” He was willing to put up with a teenager for
hours on end? “You’ve never had children, have you?”
That same sandpaper laugh escaped him, causing her stomach
to flip at how attractive it sounded. “I’ve had nieces and nephews and a few
SEALs who were still teenagers, but no. No kids of my own.”
“You might not realize what you’re getting into,” she
warned.
“That’s the reason for the trial basis.”
She blew out a breath, deliberating. “Okay.” She spread her
hands and shrugged. “Let’s try it.”
“Great.” His ruddy lips twitched toward a smile. He handed
her a pen and index card which he produced from his thigh pocket. “What time
and where?”
Amazon: http://ow.ly/jpco303NHVk
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Master
Chief Rusty Kuzinsky has thrown his heart and his savings into preparing a warrior’s
retreat. Never Forget is a special place for SEALs to find solace and to heal after
grueling operations like those he endured his entire career. Just as his first
guests are due to arrive, a military war dog suffering from PTSD lands in
Rusty’s lap, requiring attention he simply can’t spare.
NCIS
Special Agent Maya Schultz has her hands full raising a teenage son while
investigating crimes taking place within the military. When Rusty offers her
son a summer job caring for his new dog, practical Maya can’t tell what’s more
dangerous—the crazy dog or her attraction to a man who witnessed her husband’s
death ten years ago…and claims to see him, still.
But
when danger threatens Maya’s remaining family, Rusty’s special gift and his
unhinged dog become her only defense against a suspect who’ll do anything to
avoid going to prison. With time running out and life or death at stake, Maya has
to choose whether to follow her head as she has always done or to trust her
heart this time.
Teresa Reasor
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