Waiting in line at the bank, Nick and Dee are thrown together during a bank robbery. Instantly attracted Dee can’t resist family-oriented Nick. Dee has secrets – deadly secrets which private eye Nick stirs up. He must know all her secrets. To survive Dee must run but can’t leave Nick. Nick escapes with her. Nick has to earn her trust as Dee realizes she is strong enough to face her Secret Past.
Targeted Age Group:: adult
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I’ve read romance novels for forty years. When I took on the challenge of a first book, I thought this would be the kind of book I would write. I wanted it to be more than just a romance novel though. I wanted there to be danger, adventure, excitement. I wanted my reader to gasp in surprise, cry with sorrow, and fall in love with the two characters.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
Dee is broken and flawed. Women are so often expected to be flawless, I wanted my main female lead to be different. She has a horrid past filled with nightmares and abuse. Nick is a good boy grown into a good man who wants to love, protect, and keep safe the woman he loves.
Book Sample
“Don’t look so disappointed.” David teased, “Trust me, he’ll be back.”
Dee laughed, “Do you always tease?”
“Yep. It keeps people off guard.” David was a good dancer, he held her lightly.
Taken aback Dee said, “Do you need to keep people off guard?”
“Some more than others.”
“Why is that?”
“Hazard of the job.” David informed. Dee was silent, unsure how to take David.
“Tell me about yourself, Dee.” David asked innocently.
The question was asked light enough but it put Dee on edge. “What would you like to know?”
“Oh. I don’t know. Whatever you want to tell me?”
Dee knew in an instant David was fishing for information about her past. “I’m an editor. I work closely with a publisher here in town.”
David smelled evasion, his private detective instincts took over. “Where are you from originally?”
“I’ve traveled a lot but I like here the best.” Dee evaded.
“Nice evasion – but I meant, where were you born, grew up. You know that kind of stuff.” David asked lightly in his teasing tone but Dee could sense there was a purpose behind this line of questioning.
“Why David? Are you doing a background check on me to see if I meet family standards?” she asked with a touch of sarcasm.
David laughed, “No… not yet anyway. Do I need to?”
Dee was very serious, “I don’t know. What are your family standards?”
“Let’s see. Maybe I’ll have to get back to you on that, you know, in letter form, you know there are so many of them it’s hard to list them all. Why don’t you just tell me all about yourself and I’ll be the judge of whether you meet the criteria?” David was only half teasing by this time.
“And if I don’t meet your criteria? What then?”
“I don’t know. I guess we’ll decide that after I have all the information I need to make the judgment.”
Annoyed, Dee started to pull away from him.
David pulled her closer, “Now don’t go getting all upset. I’m just teasing.” David was holding her closely, too closely. Dee felt threatened.
“I thought the older brother was supposed to be the protective one?” Dee questioned angrily.
“We all look out for each other in the Carson family. You ought to know we are a package deal. Take one of us, take us all. Hurt one of us, hurt us all.”
“Are you warning me off? Because let me tell you something,” Dee was really angry, “I care for Nick. Whether you or anyone else approves I intend to continue to see him as often as I can. If you don’t like it, too bad. What Nick and I decide to do is between us. You can just butt out.” She informed him vehemently.
“Do you really mean that?” David asked quietly.
“Absolutely.”
“Good. You’ll do.”
“What?!”
“I hate wimpy women. Nick would never do well with a wimp. The stronger you are the better as far as I’m concerned.” David told her.
“This was a test?” Dee asked incredulously. This did nothing to alleviate Dee’s anger, “You are unbelievable. What do I have to do, pass your inspection first? Get your approval? What’s the next step? How many tests does your family require? Do you want to do a DNA test to see if I meet your standards?” Dee stopped dancing pulling forcefully out of David’s arms. Angry and hurt she didn’t care what people thought.
Nick saw Dee pull away from David and went immediately to them. “What’s the matter?” he demanded, “What did you do?”
Without a second look at the other two she said to David, “Your approval may be important to Nick but it’s not to me. You have no right to test me in any way. As for whether I’m good enough for your family or brother – that is up to Nick to decide, not you. Is that clear?” Dee was really furious. “As for any more tests, don’t bother with them. I guarantee you won’t like the response you get.”
Dee turned to Nick, “I’m sorry.” She was close to tears, “Call me if you can get permission from your family.”
Dee left quickly controlling her tears until she was on the street. She headed for home winding her way through the streets.
“What the hell!” exploded Nick at his brother, “David what did you say?”
“Let’s discuss this in the car,” suggested Amelia.
Nick sighed frustrated but headed for the door. David took the front seat next to Nick. “Just drive to her place and I’ll apologize for being a jerk.” David told his brother.
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