Synopsis

At the age of forty-four, Blaise Blankenship believes her own opportunity for romance has long since passed until she accidentally lands in the lap of a sexy stranger. She and the handsome Latino connect over an afternoon at a local bookstore, sharing their love of erotica. Blaise is swept away by an impetuous, hot, "no last names" night together. But the morning after reveals a truth she can't ignore—or avoid.

Excerpt

A waitress appeared at their table. "What can I get you?"

"Do you have any Krupnik?" Blaise asked.

The young server's brow crinkled. "I don't…"

"It's a honey flavored drink," Guy told her.

She shook her head. "I don't think we have that." Then a smile stole across her face. "But maybe I can come up with something."

She left, and the two of them sat without speaking. The silence was a comfortable cocoon enveloping them, connecting them. There was no need for speech.

A bit later, the waitress returned with two rocks glasses half-filled with an amber liquid. "Honey flavored Kentucky bourbon," she explained as she served them.

Guy paid the woman then lifted his glass in a toast.

Blaise followed suit. "What shall we toast?"

"To happy accidents," he proposed.

"That works for me." They clinked their glasses, and Blaise took a sip. Though unusually sweet, the drink had the familiar burn of whiskey. Heat spread down her throat to her belly and below.

He touched the book. "Shall we continue?"

She nodded, and Guy opened to the page and began to read. People around them chatted and laughed, going about their business, but she and Guy were in a bubble. No one looked their way. No one paid them any mind. They were in a tiny universe all their own.

Blaise sipped her drink, sliding closer to him in the circular booth. He was so big, so warm. Just being near him made her body heat rise. Perspiration bloomed, and her blouse clung to her skin. Her nipples, hard and achy, poked against her bra. A few words penetrated the haze—something about the Hummingbird's Kiss—but it wasn't the story line or the whiskey making her woozy. She was getting drunk on the low, sensual timbre of Guy's voice.

Soon the words blurred into an incomprehensible buzz in her ears. Her breath slowed as she watched his lips move. She pictured herself kissing them, licking the sweetness from them. Lowering her gaze to his hands, she imagined them touching her. He'd skim the pads of his fingers along her torso, fasten those succulent lips of his on her nipple and pull…

Her pussy responded to the fantasy with an answering pull. She shifted slightly to ease the throb between her thighs. Her movement must have distracted him. His gaze flickered from the page to light on her face and his voice trailed off.

Guy nodded to her empty glass. "Another?"

She'd finished it? When had that happened? "No." Her tongue felt thick.

"Would you like something else, then?" he asked.

She knew what exactly she wanted. The question was, did she have the guts to ask?

It's your last chance. Your last adventure before you become the boring old mother of the bride. Take it. Take it!

Gathering her courage, she took the leap. "Yes." She placed her hand on his thigh. Underneath her fingers, his muscles tensed. His eyebrows lowered and his gaze sharpened.

"Yes." She squeezed his thigh. "I want to get a room. Let's go upstairs."

Author Bio

Nona Raines became hooked on romances when she first picked up "The Flame and the Flower" by Kathleen Woodiwiss (and she's not telling how long ago that was). Romances may have changed since then, but her love for a good love story has not. She's been writing off and on for years, but it was only when she joined the Central New York Romance Writers Association that she finally gained the support and confidence she needed to complete a manuscript.

Nona lives in upstate New York with her many pets and is currently working on her next novel. A former librarian, she enjoys reading books of all genres and discussing them with others. Her books include The Man Series (One Good Man, Take This Man and Her Perfect Man) from The Wild Rose Press and Uncollared from Loose Id. Her transgender romance His Kind of Woman was a GLBT finalist in the 2014 DABWAHA competition sponsored by the Dear Author and Smart Bitches, Trashy Books review blogs.