June 5th
Books Dreams Life
Spotlight
June 6th
CD Yess Writes
June 7th
Romance Novel Giveaways
June 8th
Reading to Unwind
June 9th
CBY Book Club
June
12th
BBs
Book Reviews
June 13th
Lola White
June 14th
Romantic Reads and Such
June 15th
Lovely Paranormal Books
June 16th
Hollow Unrest
Description:
Excerpt:
“Mind if
I join you?”
She
jumped, startled at the familiar voice. Twisting around, she saw Thorn a few
feet away, a bag from Evie’s in his hand. Pushing aside the lump in her throat,
she gestured to the other side of the table. “Go ahead.” Picking up her drink,
Grace did her best to ignore him and the butterflies now lodged in her stomach.
Unwrapping
his sandwich, Thorn couldn’t seem to move his gaze away from Grace, studying
her features for signs of the girl he once loved. Taking a bite, he chewed
slowly, making her squirm under his intense gaze.
“Did you
follow me?” She took another bite, but the sandwich now tasted more like
cardboard than chicken salad.
“Nope.”
She
looked around, expecting to see Josh and Tony walk up any minute. Grabbing her
drink, she took a long sip, deciding the best way to deal with him being so
close was to talk.
“I eat
here all the time. Two or three times a week, in fact. Sometimes there are
families with children, but most days, it’s quiet, like today. I’ve even
brought my fishing rod a few times, although I’ve yet to catch anything. Seems
the older I get, the less luck I have. I…” Her voice faded when she saw Thorn
raise his hand.
“Do I
make you nervous?” He wadded up the sandwich paper, easily tossing it into a
can several feet away.
Grace
crossed her arms, scowling at him. “Of course you don’t make me nervous.”
He
mimicked her behavior, crossing his arms, although his lips turned up at the
corners. “Then why are you babbling? I don’t remember you being so chatty.”
Some perverse pleasure washed over him when he saw her face redden, her eyes
going wide.
“It’s
called small talk, Thorn. It’s what people do when they’re trying to break the
ice, be sociable. You should try it sometime.”
He studied
her a moment, his gaze hooded. “I’ve seen you naked, Grace. Several times. Do
you really think small talk is necessary?”
Without
an inkling of warning, she picked up her cup and threw the contents at him.
Shock came in an instant, followed by disbelief, then a sputtering laugh as he
stood, letting the liquid sluice off him.
Grabbing
her trash, she tossed it into the can, then picked up her purse. “You’re such a
jerk, Thorn. I don’t know how I ever loved you. Leaving here was the best
decision I ever made.” Her stomach twisted when his smile disappeared, replaced
with something she couldn’t quite define.
Standing,
Thorn stepped beside her, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “You’re right. My
love would never have been enough for you. I’m all the things your father
thought—and worse.” Straightening, he adjusted his sunglasses and strode away,
not bothering to check her reaction. If he had, he’d have seen the indignation
of a moment before replaced with grief and regret, tears welling in her eyes at
the love they’d lost and the pain that replaced it.
Bio:
Shirleen
Davies writes romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew
up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees
from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day
she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her
real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find
redemption through love and acceptance.
She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.
Author Links
Thanks so much, AJ, for hosting and celebrating the release of my new contemporary romance, Thorn’s Journey, on your blog.
ReplyDeleteI welcome comments or questions from your readers on any of my books. They may reach me at shirleen@shirleendavies.com.
Enjoy your week and your reading!
Shirleen