Coming 06/09/2010 from The Wild Rose Press

 

Staking His Claim

Kyle Morgan’s in love with his best friend. Unfortunately, he’s honor bound to keep a secret from her that not only prevents him from confessing his feelings, but also has the power to destroy their relationship.

Cecelia Anton has only ever wanted one thing—to find the answers to her mysterious past. But the search leads her into the arms of her best friend. While the attraction frightens her, she can’t deny the way he makes her feel.

The deep connection they share as friends only heightens the passion, forcing them to reevaluate their relationship. Are they willing to risk their lifelong friendship for the promise of love?

 

 

 

 

Excerpt:

 

His hand came up slowly, almost hesitantly, and caressed her cheek. The simple stroke stole the breath from her lungs. Like this morning, he’d never touched her quite like this before, so light and tender. The way a man might touch a woman. Every instinct screamed at her to step away from him.

 

Except she couldn’t move, for the intensity in his eyes held her captive. Rendered speechless, she could do little more than gape at him. Now she knew what a deer felt like, faced with the bright lights of an oncoming car—bewildered, wanting to dash away to safety, yet mesmerized all the same.

 

When he cupped her cheek, she found herself closing her eyes and leaning her face into his palm. She told herself she intended the contact only to help ease the tension between them, to regain the connection she’d always felt with him.

 

But his warm breath brushed her lips like a whisper-soft breeze and the moment changed to something else entirely. Tingles of awareness swept down her spine as her heart slammed against her ribcage.

 

She froze, afraid to breathe, waiting on the edge of a precipice that threatened to turn her world upside down. Allowing this to continue would alter everything between them, and she could end up losing him entirely.

 

She braced her hands against his chest, but hesitated as her attention riveted to the warm body and solid muscle beneath her palms. Had he always been in such good shape? She had the sudden urge to run her hands over him to find out, but quickly squelched it.

 

Before she could think to push him away, his mouth finally touched hers. A fleeting, tentative kiss, the mere brush of his lips over hers, but she knew right then she’d lost the battle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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