* * *
Gwen looked across the vehicle's interior at Steve as he drove into the diner's parking lot. He was about to tell her another outrageous practical joke he and his brother had played. Gwen hadn't meant to be enjoying his company quite so much, but his tongue-in-cheek style of storytelling had her dropping her guard. At least for the short ride to Burger Babe's. Maybe his masculine profile, the way his hands curved around the steering wheel, and the scent of his aftershave had a little something to do with her enjoyment too. She frowned at her predicament. He hadn't flirted outright, hadn't given her unnecessary compliments, or even attempted to kiss her since the time they'd spent in the solarium, but his magnetic presence continued to hold her total attention. Nibbling her lip, she reminded herself that she could get through the rest of the evening without a spark of romance entering the picture.
Pulling into a space near the entrance, Steve shifted to park and switched off the ignition. Breaking off at the beginning of his story, he removed the keys and pointed toward the windshield. "I do believe that the sign says 'Good Eats Now.' " He opened his door, and a blast of cold air whipped through the vehicle's interior.
"Wait," she said, reaching out to take his wrist. Once they were in the brightly lit diner going over the lease, those warm, fuzzy feelings he caused inside her would have to end. A few more minutes of them wouldn't wreck the rest of her life. "You can't stop now. You have to finish this story for me."
The blinking neon sign teased her with an on-again, off-again view of Steve's smile as he watched her for a few silent moments. Finally he closed his door then positioned his back against it.
"Well, Sam and I waited behind the sofa for someone to come in and discover what we'd done this time. We expected a commotion, but we weren't prepared for the twenty-eight people piling into my grandfather's library."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he shook with laughter at the next memory.
"Don't tease me, Steve," she said, pushing playfully on his hand and making his keys jingle. She kept her fingers curved around his to urge him on with his story. If she liked the way her white hand looked against his tanned one, or the way his warmth seem to emanate from deep within him to deep within her, that was okay. He'd been making her laugh all the way to the diner.
"Remember, this was Christmas Eve. Our sister, Natalie, was back from college looking for a private corner with her boyfriend. They came in and headed straight for the flokati rug in front of the sofa. Sam and I were trapped. They were at it hot and heavy in about two seconds. Then Natalie sat up to pull off her sweater."
"And?" Gwen asked, trying hard to ignore the sexy images of the two lovers.
"Natalie spotted them immediately."
"Spotted them?" Gwen asked, giving in to laughter when he could no longer contain his. She leaned closer. "Steve, you tease, tell me!"
In the close space she could see the shadow of his lashes against his cheek and the plane of his bottom lip glistening where he'd just dragged his teeth. Suddenly she wasn't sure whether his stories or his compelling masculine presence had caused her to make so bold a move.
"Natalie spotted the two dolls we'd undressed and arranged in a compromising position under the tree. She let out a scream that brought everyone in the house in there."
"And you were caught?"
"Like two rats in a trap. To this day whenever someone mentions G.I. Joe or Barbie, Sam and I have a chuckle," he said, shaking his head as he leaned it back against his side window.
A lock of his hair had fanned out over his forehead. The urge to reach across the vehicle's interior, sink her fingers into his hair, and smooth it was inviting. Strongly inviting. But she was stronger, she reminded herself, and not completely daft. Pressing back into her shadowed side, she watched him with a growing hunger. His casual, masculine sprawl had her aching to wrap herself around him and sigh with pleasure. She swallowed. Watching him would be her only pleasure.
He played one ringless hand against the steering wheel, stroking it lightly as he continued reminiscing. After a moment he stopped. "What are you staring at?"
"Nothing," she said, too embarrassed to look away. "Well... your hair."
"My hair?" he asked, rolling his eyes and making her laugh again. Straining forward, he adjusted the rearview mirror and crooked his neck awkwardly. Without realizing it, she found herself watching for signs of vanity. There weren't any, just a boyish curiosity that delighted her. After tilting his head in several directions, he shrugged.
"Here, let me," she said, bracing herself with one hand as she raked her nails back through his hair to straighten it. "Wait, that made it worse." Feathering the part inch by inch, she managed to make a decent line to his forehead. "There," she said, brushing the rest sideways off his forehead as she looked down past her outstretched arm. Her hand cradled the side of his head, her fingertips buried in his thick, healthy locks. Their gazes collided without warning. The warmth she'd been experiencing suddenly flared to a feverish heat, and it took all her effort not to meet him halfway for a passionate kiss. Shifting her gaze, she tried escaping the mesmerizing moment their closeness had created. Her plan failed when her shifted gaze met the fogged-over windshield. Holding her breath, she withdrew her hand and sat back in her seat. "Maybe you should have another look in the mirror," she murmured, drumming her fingers against her purse.
In the blinking neon light she could see him moving his hand toward her. Closing his fingers over hers, he stopped her drumming with a gentle squeeze. "Why? It's bound to happen again, Gwen."
Without moving her head, she looked up through her lashes to see him moving toward her. As he lifted his hand to touch her face she realized he wasn't talking about his hair. Her lips parted in halfhearted protest as he slid his fingers beneath her jaw to raise her mouth to his. She closed her eyes as he began kissing her. The longer he continued the velvet-soft connection, the more magical it became. The tingling kiss slowly dissolved on her lips, until it was suddenly replaced with a blast of cold air. Her eyes flew open in time to see him smiling as he stepped out of the car.
###
If you enjoyed this excerpt from Rings on her Fingers
and want to read the rest, visit
https://susanconnellbooks.com/site/books
for more information
The Big Beach Book
an ebook bundle from
Susan Connell
About The Big Beach Book Bundle
A compilation of three classic romance novels featuring romantic comedies set in beach vaction destinations.
INCLUDES
A WOMAN TO BLAME, Rick & Bryn’s story, is set in the Florida Keys, and deals with a man having trouble letting go of his past in order to have a future with his new love.
GLORY GIRL, Evan & Holly’s story, is set on the Jersey Shore, and features a generous dose of naughty blackmail and two of the most passionate, playful lovers doing their best to solve that problem.
A MAN LIKE THIS, Drew & Jill’s story, is set on an island on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and has the hero’s head spinning; is the woman of his dreams capable of a felony?!
###
To get this 3-in-1 anthology, visit
https://susanconnellbooks.com/site/books
for more information
Double Trouble in Paradise
an ebook bundle from
Susan Connell
About the Double Trouble in Paradise Bundle
A compilation of two classic romance novels by award winning, best selling author Susan Connell featuring connected romantic comedies set in a Central American country on the brink of revolution with the rainforest at stake and love on the line.
In TROUBLE IN PARADISE Allison Richards must track down a relative while a seemingly shady inn keeper, Reilly Anderson, thwarts her every step of the way. Working under cover he does what he must to save the rainforest, even playing to her Tarzan fantasies. A breast obsessed monkey and a village boy with attitude adds to the fun. Near
the end readers meet the hero of the second featured book.
PAGAN’S PARADISE concerns an ex-pat working under cover to stave off a revolution. Jack Stratford’s job becomes more complicated when photographer Joanna McCall gets in his way and under his skin. A crusty jungle guide and a wacky Elvis impersonator provide comic complications.
###
To get this 2-in-1 anthology, visit
https://susanconnellbooks.com/site/books
for more information
Connect with Susan
website: https://www.susanconnellbooks.com
twitter: @susan_connell
goodreads: https://goodreads.com/susanconnell
email: [email protected]
Susan Connell Ebook List
find these titles at many online retailers
The Big Beach Book Bundle
A Woman to Blame
Glory Girl
A Man Like This
Double Trouble in Paradise Bundle
Trouble in Paradise
Pagan's Paradise
Some Kind of Wonderful
Rings on her Fingers
Credits & Info
COVER DESIGN
Pilcrowphile Productions: A Taste of Love, The Big Beach Book, Double Trouble in Paradise, A Man Like This, Glory Girl
eBook Prep: A Woman to Blame, Trouble in Paradise, Pagan's Paradise, Some Kind of Wonderful, Rings on her Fingers
Pilcrowphile Productions
STOCK PHOTOGRAPY
Fotolia
ORIGINAL PUBLICATION DATES
The titles excerpted in this sampler have been revised for their reissue
The original novels were published by Loveswept.
A Man Like This (original title Looks Like Love) 2/94
Glory Girl 5/92
A Woman to Blame (original title Captain's Orders) 7/94
Trouble in Paradise 9/93
Pagan's Paradise 8/95
Some Kind of Wonderful 4/93
Rings on her Fingers 1/95
Taste of Love: A Romance Sampler Page 38
