Excerpt!
Her lethal weapon: two strappy high-heeled shoes. Seriously? He deflected another blow. Ow. Is she trying to use them like nunchucks? Jesus.
“What the hell is your problem? Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“You want me to leave you alone with an armed miscreant? I could go call him back here.”
“What are you—wait. Huh?”
“I told you to be careful. To stay alert. This place isn’t princess-fairytale land. You need to think, be on your guard.”
“Wh-what miscreant?”
“Did you completely miss that you’d been followed home?”
She stared at him, still a bit unsteady on her feet, her eyes glazed over. He ran a hand over his face. This one. I don’t know how much of her I can take. “Just—”
“There was s-someone following me?”
“Yeah. Recognized his photo. He’d been seen with a knife.” Callan placed the thing on his counter. “I assume it was this one.”
She stood with her back against his kitchen counter, arms crossed, face pale; the heavy makeup around the eyes gave her an older, smoky look.
“Is he—” She trembled as she grabbed his arm. “Is he gone? Did he see—?” Prissy Neighbor Meridian must have lost her balance, or something else. She collapsed against him—her head on his shoulder, her body pinning one arm against his side. He touched the back of her head in an awkward attempt to hold her.
Her breath on his collarbone. The warm softness of her chest. The scent of raspberries in her hair.
She should definitely sleep in my bed. But not when she’s drunk. And scared. Callan sighed. “Take my room. I’ll stay on the couch.” He brushed a tear from her cheek. “You’re safe here.”
She smiled, and she was beautiful. “Thank you.”
A Marine never says die.
Neither does his princess.
Battle lines are drawn when sheltered debutante Meridian Daly moves across the hall from grumpy former special forces Marine Callan Brand. Situated a bit closer than advertised to 'crime alley', Meridian’s neighbor finds himself grudgingly guarding the pampered princess out of habit. But with her sharp wit and killer curves, he can’t help but surrender to temptation…
When their relationship evolves from casual courtship to something more, Callan finds that Meridian's already discovered his closely-guarded secret. But can he let go of his pride, and tell her the whole truth of who he is and what he’s done—in the name of honor and country?
As Callan’s scars start to reveal themselves, his life spirals beyond the careful control that's helped him survive—and kept those he cares about safe.
From him.
But this tough-in-a-tiara princess won't back down, even in Callan’s darkest hours. And Meridian just might prove to be more tenacious than a never-say-die Marine!
Author bio:
J. Rose Black weaves stories about obsession, redemption, and the transcendental power of love. From her early days writing fanfiction for a passionate following of international readers, to crafting novels with her own characters, Rose has always been drawn to broody protectors and plucky, nononsense women ready to fight for what they believe in.
When Rose isn’t deeply immersed in her latest manuscript, she’s working in cyber security and thwarting the next generation of internet bad guys. Out of the office, she’s #Shipping with friends over her favorite, swoon-worthy couples, heading to the gym to battle the great evil that is Unmovable Baby Weight, or complaining about her husband’s addiction to 3D printing. Also: nagging her children to eat something other than cheese.
To learn more about Rose’s stories and the characters and worlds visited in this book, check out her website: jroseblack.com
Giveaway!
I would enjoy this story. The blurb sounds great.
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