Joys of Home

Click the cover for a larger image

Cover artist: Jinger Heaston

ISBN: 1-59374-379-3
Release date: December 2005
Whiskey Creek Press

Hannah Martinson knows that marriage is not for her. Linc Adams is barely recovering from his daughter's death, but when their boss assigns them to a high-profile project, Hannah and Linc face more than an aggressive deadline. Can they work together to achieve their personal dreams as well as professional goals?

Read the excerpt:

          "I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. I want to get to know you better. Much better."
          Hannah swallowed hard. "Oh."
          "Are you going to give me a pretty little speech about how we hardly know each other? Or are you going to admit you feel something, too?"
          His directness stunned her. All the men she'd ever seen socially had tried to flatter her into seduction. Linc's no-nonsense approach stripped her defenses. "I'm not going to answer that."
          "No?" he questioned, one dark eyebrow lifting. "Don't you feel whatever it is between us? This thing that says I have to touch you before I go crazy."
          She shuddered.
          Without a word, he closed the gap between them and stood so close to her, she could feel his body heat. She swayed toward him.
          He put his arms around her, pulling her against his chest. "Thank God."
          Eyes closed, she stood quietly in his arms, amazed the way her body fit into his. Astounded at her unexpected behavior, she stiffened and made to move away.
          "Not yet," he whispered. "Let me hold you."
          His warmth relaxed her restraint, melting it away as though they'd stood like this many times before. Giving in to it, she nestled into him, saying nothing, but savoring each new sensation that rippled through her body. She traced the line of his shoulders under his suit jacket.
          "Don't stop," he urged when her fingers tightened against his lapel.
          She relaxed her grip and smoothed her palms over his chest. Where she expected to feel skin and bones, she found firm, hard muscle. She let her open palms linger over his tensed biceps, then slid them up to join behind his neck. She relished the feel of his hair, unexpected softness against the tautness of his neck.
          He made a sound, deep in his throat. Dizzy with sensory pleasure, she mimicked his earlier action and drew one finger down the length of his jaw. A muscle jumped under her exploration. He grinned, a slow, masculine smile just as he lowered his head to hers.
          She watched his face come closer, focusing on his mouth, wondering if he'd kiss her the way she longed to be kissed, slow and wet and deep.
          Linc brushed his mouth against hers, back and forth, learning the velvet of her lips.
          He'd seen other women after Gail, even satisfied his body's cravings once or twice, but no woman had provoked this kind of reaction in him. None had appealed to him the way Hannah did. For all her old-fashioned name, she was as fresh and new as tomorrow. This was insane. He was crazy to be kissing her like this, but he couldn't stop.
          "Ah, Hannah." Again and again, he tasted her sweetness and somehow restrained himself from kissing her the way he wanted to… until Hannah kissed him back.
          Linc deepened their kiss. His body hardened; his groin pulsed with need. He had every intention of making love to her, and by the way she curled into his body and made soft little noises deep in her throat, she wanted that lovemaking, too. But not like this, frantic and furtive in an empty building. He wanted their first time together to be perfect-slow and shattering.
          "Easy, easy," he murmured, hating to let her go. He slackened the pace, withdrawing until her cheek rested against his neck. Inhaling deeply, he loosened his arms and allowed the air between their bodies to cool them.
          He looked down to see Hannah biting her lip, still swollen and tender from their kisses. She breathed in shallow gulps as she stepped back and looked down at her feet.
          "Hannah."
          She fidgeted with her suit, brushing away non-existent wrinkles. He caught her trembling fingers.
          "That was a mistake." She tugged her hand away. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
          "What won't?"
          "That," her hand fluttered in explanation. "Now that we've kissed, it's all over. We won't have to wonder anymore."
          She wouldn't look at him. Linc wasn't sure, but she sounded upset. Had he hurt her? Disappointed her? "What are you talking about, sweetheart?"
          She reeled. "Don't call me that!"
          "Okay, maybe it's a bit early." Hadn't she understood? He was no Lothario, but he knew when things were right with a woman. Didn't she feel the same way?
          He watched her swallow hard. "I have to get back to my office."
          "Not yet." He stared at the pulse beating at her throat.
          "It's a busy afternoon. This project is only one of-"
          "In a moment. We've got unsettled business between us."
          "No." She took a stumbling step back, then another before she whirled and made for the door.
          "I don't know what's running through your mind right now, Hannah," he called after her. "But I'm thinking about kissing you again."
          "What?" She stopped and darted a look over her shoulder.
          Warmth stole through him. He spoke softly, afraid she'd bolt for cover. "Did you think once would be enough?"

Like it? Don't miss the rest of Linc and Hannah's story.

My thanks to Jinger Heaston, whose creativity produced this fabulous cover!

New reviews when they come in. If you'd like to see the older ones, read this Review!

Back to this Page for more books, reviews and excerpts.