by Joan Reeves
"First, we've got some old business from high school that we need to get straight once and for all."
"Dr. Penrose, I've given the matter a lot of thought and have decided that we're both old enough to put high school in the past where it belongs."
His teasing smile disappeared. "I didn't wrong you, Jenny, not back then and not last weekend. I'm afraid you misconstrued something I said. Something about not wondering any more, I believe was the incendiary comment." He began to unbutton his shirt.
"Perhaps I now believe that you weren't at fault all those years ago. And maybe I don't need an interpretation of the alleged incendiary remark. Maybe you should know that I realized exactly what you had been wondering about."
"Oh, and what would that be?"
Mesmerized, she watched, button by button, as he worked his way down the blue placket. She whispered, "Wondering how your body would feel next to mine. Wondering how it would feel when we were joined together."
"Wondering if you care for me," he said, his voice rough with desire. "Wondering if making love, for the first time, under such adverse conditions meant you loved me."
When he had the shirt open, he removed it, twirled it around and let it drop. It landed on top of his tie. "So, doctor," he said, unbuckling his belt and his trousers, "I'm glad we've got that cleared up. Now we can move on to the other unfinished business."
Jennifer removed her suit jacket and draped it over her chair back. She walked over to Matt. "And what might that be?"
"I promised to make love with you for hours on end."
"I don't recall hearing that promise."
"I didn't speak it. I promised it with my body. I plan to love every inch of you. Until neither of us can walk straight. Until you agree to marry me."
"Are you going to talk all day or get to it?" She asked, reaching for his zipper and sliding it down.
"I'm going to do both." Matt kicked off his shoes. "I figure we've lost so much time that we can't afford to waste another minute." He began to unbutton her red blouse. "I'm going to tell you over and over how much I love you. And I'm going to make love to you and kiss and lick every part of you until I have you so besotted that you'll agree to marry me."
"Hmm. That might take some doing," Jennifer said, fitting her body to his. "What if we get hungry?"
"We can always eat the carrot," Matt said, as he pushed her blouse from her shoulders. "How's next week look for you?"
He had her bra removed so fast it made her dizzy. "Next week?" She echoed breathlessly. "I can't think when you touch me this way." Her hands covered his and forced him to stop teasing her aching nipples. "What's next week?"
"We're getting married next week."
He freed his hands and continued his sensual torment.
Jennifer smiled. "I don't think so." Her hands reached inside his pants and found him. Now he was the one groaning.
"What's wrong with next week?" He gasped against her neck where he was stringing seductive kisses.
"My mother would kill me." She stroked him. "I need you inside me."
Matt lifted her in his arms and hurried to the couch. "Next week," Matt growled, letting her slide down his body.
Jennifer smiled and helped him remove the rest of their clothes. She tossed an afghan over the couch and lay down, holding her arms out to him. He joined her, pressing her into the cushions as he covered her. "Next week we'll set a date."
Matt kissed her and then murmured, "A week is an awfully long time to wait."
Jennifer felt his heart beating in sync with hers. "I may be open to negotiation."
"I'll see what I can do," Matt said, slowly sliding into her heat.
Jennifer gasped and held him tighter. "Why, Dr. Penrose, I'd say you've mastered the fine art of negotiation."
"Does that mean I win?" Matt teased.
Jennifer smiled. "That, my dear doctor, means we both win."
THE END
Meet Joan Reeves
Hello! I'm Joan Reeves. I write funny, sexy, romance novels because I think the world needs more love and laughter, and let's not forget passion and committed relationships! If you want to read about two people who have yet to discover that they are made for each other, you've come to the right place.
If you haven't met me before, I guess you want to know a little about me. I can never figure out the best way to write a biography for readers. Should I use third person, as if some unknown assistant were writing it? (I should be so lucky!)
Ms. Reeves is a multi-published novelist who has seen her books published in North America, the United Kingdom, and in many countries of the world. She is known all over the Internet for her freelance writing published under her name, various pseudonyms, and as a ghost. Once she purchased her first ebook reader, she became an ebook fan and set a personal goal of publishing her backlist and original fiction as ebooks.
Now, doesn't that seem a bit pretentious in third person? Trust me on this. I'm the least pretentious person you'll ever meet. I'm just a small-town girl who ended up in a big city in Texas. Yes, I do have that distinctive Texas drawl in case you're wondering.
I lucked into writing as a profession. I say "lucked into" because when I started, way back about the time they invented sliced bread, I knew nothing about writing as a career. I only knew that I loved to read, and I loved to write stories.
When you buy my books, I promise you that I'll always do my best to make sure you feel your money was well-spent. I want to give you delightful tales that will make you feel good and leave you with a smile. I try to make sure that there are no typos or errors in my books though I know even big print publishers release books with typos and content errors.
When errors or typos are brought to my attention, I'll always go back and make corrections. Most digital publishers email buyers to alert them to revised editions of books they have purchased so the new version can be downloaded free of charge.
It's important to me to publish a quality book even though I know imperfect print books hit the shelves too. Therefore, if you find an error or a typo in one of my books, feel free to email me at Joan at JoanReeves dot com. Put Real Live Person in the subject box to make it past the spam filters. Write the sentence in which the typo appeared. I'll make corrections and upload a revised manuscript.
If you'd like to read more about me, or read more of my writing, please visit my blog SlingWords.blogspot.com and my website JoanReeves.com. I'll post information there about my ebooks: what's selling, what's coming up, and what I'm learning from the process.
I'd like to leave you with a witty closing, but all I can come up with is what I laughingly tell everyone is my motto. It's my Vision Statement. Maybe you'd like to adopt these wise words as your motto too.
"It's never too late to live happily ever after."
Joan's Ebooks
Unless otherwise indicated, all books are available now.
The Lingerie Covers
Most women love beautiful lingerie. That idea is what inspired the covers of these sassy, sexy romantic comedies. All of these books were previously published and were well-received by critics and readers. I think they're fun books and provide the perfect escape from the daily grind. Treat yourself to one today!
Just One Look
Still The One
Jane (I'm Still Single) Jones
Beauty and The Geek, March 2012
Texas One Night Stands
You may be surprised by the one night stands that kick off these stories. They're not exactly what you might expect. What you can expect is lots of sparks, sensuality, and bubbling desire. In other words, these Texas women are headed for all kinds of trouble.
Book 1: The Trouble With Love
Book 2: Romeo and Judy Anne
Book 3: Forever Starts Tonight, 2012
Book 4: Crazy On Love, 2012
The Good, The Bad, & The Girly
Every woman makes mistakes in life. Meet Stormy Clarkson and her three daughters. Stormy made three whoppers of mi
stakes that changed her and changed the lives of her three daughters. Love never fails though. Stormy discovers that sometimes you get another chance to live the life you want, not the one with which you're stuck, and that's a lesson she intends to pass on to her daughters.
This Novella Series begins with Stormy's story in Book 1: Old Enough To Know Better, Haley's story in Book 2: Good Girl Conspiracy, Courtney's story in Book 3: Bad Girl Complex, and Austen's story in Book 4: Girly-Girl Conquest.
Book 1: Old Enough To Know Better, September 2011
Book 2: Good Girl Conspiracy, Fall 2011
Book 3: Bad Girl Complex, Spring 2012
Book 4: Girly-Girl Conquest, Summer 2012
San Antone Two-Step
San Antonio, Texas, is the home of the Alamo, the Riverwalk, and a delightful blend of Anglo and Hispanic cultures. Two-stepping is a way of life on Saturday nights, and celebrations often feature luminarias, small paper bags filled with sand, with a lit candle placed in the middle of the sand. That tiny flame can illumine or burn out of control if one isn't careful. So can repressed desire when enkindled by love.
With love, sometimes it's two steps forward, two steps back, and, sometimes, dancing around love is like playing with fire. You risk getting burned.
Book 1: Wish on a Texas Star, Nov. 2011
Book 2: San Antone Blue, Summer 2012
Nonfiction
Book 1: Written Wisdom, A Best of SlingWords Collection, 2005-2010
Book 2: Ebook Success: Everything You Need To Know About Selling Ebooks, Fall 2011
Excerpt from Old Enough To Know Better
You know what they say about the best-laid plans of mice and men going astray? Well, Stormy Clarkson decided, the best-laid plans of women old enough to know better didn't just go astray. They went into some kind of hyperspace wormhole, and, when they came out the other end, they landed on your unsuspecting head like Dorothy's house crushing the wicked witch.
What was she going to do? She was in over her head, and she knew it.
Her hands shook as she pulled the shimmering red silk dress from the hanger. She stepped into the dress and pulled it up, slipping her arms through the straps. A lot of women her age avoided showing their arms, but sagging triceps were the least of her problems tonight.
Besides, she'd made exercise her addiction of choice years ago. Not only was it a way to deal with stress but also it helped fill the empty hours of the life she'd chosen.
Chosen?
No. Stop it!
With fierce determination, Stormy reminded herself of certain truths. Now was not the time to fall into that old mental debate. Not tonight. She owned her decisions. She'd moved on. She liked the person she'd become when she'd finally grown up.
You're just scared.
When she got scared, the temptation to brand an L for loser on her forehead was overpowering. Put a sock in it, she scolded herself.
Stormy zipped her dress then studied her reflection in the full-length mirror. She was lucky. Sure, she had some tiny lines around the corners of her eyes, but her throat was still firm, as were her legs, and the aforementioned arms. Her boobs didn't droop. Yet. And her stomach was still flat. Not bad for a woman who turned fifty today. But was it good enough to be naked later with a man younger than she?
No, she couldn't do it. She was insane to even be thinking about it.
Her hands shook as she pulled the pins from her hair. If only she hadn't let Libby talk her into this Wine Country Weekend. If only she was at home, alone. Like all the other nights for as long as she could remember. If only she could stop thinking about sex.
Sex with him.
With his large hands touching her.
Everywhere.
If only she hadn't kissed him. But the heat in his eyes had drawn her. She felt like a moth that had already made the acquaintance of the flame and was over-heated from the encounter.
Stormy groaned. Heaven help her, but she wanted to be naked in his arms.
What was she going to do? If she had a brain in her head, she'd pack up and leave. Or at least stay in her bungalow and not answer the door.
Run away or stay?
The mirror reflected her indecision. Stormy sighed and smoothed the red silk over her breasts and down her body. A body that seemed to have grown a few million more, ultra-sensitive, nerve endings since she'd met Jack Butler, the owner of the winery.
What would it feel like if Jack touched her like this? A shiver of sexual awareness raced up her spine. The dress made her look as blatantly sexual as she felt.
A knock on the door made Stormy jump. A heavy pulse beat between her legs. Decision time.
Hide or open the door?
Old Enough To Know Better by Joan Reeves
Book 1: The Good, The Bad, and The Girly Novella Series
Available September 2011
Excerpt from The Trouble With Love
Book 1 of Texas One Night Stands
Every woman makes mistakes.
Susannah Quinn glared at the door to the Sheriff's private office. Yep, every woman makes mistakes, but most women didn't have to put up with a constant reminder of their not so brilliant actions. And most women didn't have their mistake showing up at their office, flaunting tanned muscles and polluting the environment with clouds of testosterone and male arrogance.
Of course, mistake didn't quite describe what she'd done. No tiny lapse in judgment for old Susannah Quinn. When she decided to throw common sense out the window, she didn't mess around. Her fair skin flamed at the memory.
Temporary insanity was the only explanation for her behavior. If temporary insanity was a legal defense in criminal court, shouldn't she also be able to escape punishment for her lapse in judgment? Instead, she had her mistake aka D. E. Hogan show up, right on her doorstep. That was cruel and unusual punishment if she'd ever heard of any. That kind of redress might be banned by the U. S. Constitution, but, apparently, in the grand cosmic scheme of things, it was still being dished out. What was even worse was that Hogan turned out to be the new consultant for the Murphy's Cove Police Department down on the coast. To make matters worse, he just had to drop by the Sheriff's office every blasted day.
Susannah picked up her coffee cup, an oversized white mug emblazoned with red letters: Deputies do it in mirrored sunglasses! She drained the lukewarm black coffee. Muttering beneath her breath at the injustice of it all, she slammed the heavy ceramic mug down.
"What's wrong with you this morning?" asked Grace Collier.
"Nothing." Susannah didn't look over at the dispatcher for fear of encouraging her. She'd known Grace, her best friend's mom, all her life and loved the outspoken woman, but she wasn't interested in being on the receiving end of one of Grace's well-meaning lectures.
The ringing phone saved her. Grace punched a button. "Dispatch. This is Grace."
Susannah ignored the conversation, knowing it was Grace's friend Eunice who ran the Courthouse Cafe across the street. The woman called every morning so she and Grace could discuss yesterday's episode of their favorite soap opera. Soap news ranked at the top of the list of excitement here in Vance.
There was never any criminal activity in Alton County. Other than high school seniors climbing the spindly old water tower to spray paint Class of whatever on the rusty tank. Sometimes, a few years passed before a kid got an itch and a can of spray paint along with the desire to immortalize his graduation from the consolidated high school that served most of the small towns in the county. Nothing ever happened in this narrow slice of coastal prairie far west of Houston. That was the way her uncle Barney Drummond, the Sheriff of Alton County ever since Susannah could remember, liked it. Life here moved as fast as a crawling turtle.
Not much occurred even down in Murphy's Cove, the county's richest town. Besides, the resort town had its own overpaid police department to deal with the few year-round residents as well as the many rich divorcees who mobbed the coastal enclave for the rich and perpetually bored.
The only hotbed of activity was over on the four-lane highway that sliced through part of Alton County. That's where the real action was. Susannah sighed. If catching speeders could be considered action. Disgruntled at her lot in life, she tried to return her attention to the report she was typing. Unfortunately, that reminded her of her temporary insanity.
"Just Hogan," he'd said when her uncle the Sheriff had introduced him. Susannah had shaken his hand as if she'd never laid eyes on him before.
Until Hogan, she'd had only one secret in her life. It had caused her humiliation and anger. Now, she had something else to hide. Ironically, Hogan was the only person on earth who knew anything about her first painful secret. One thing about being hurt, humiliated, and angry. Those emotions sure helped squash the warm tinglies that assaulted certain parts of her anatomy every time Hogan walked through the door. If only those painful emotions had changed her body's instinctive reaction to him.
Another sigh escaped her. There was just something about Hogan. If she'd been a woman given to flights of fancy, she'd have called it love at first sight. But she didn't believe in love. Much less love at first sight. She knew enough about human sexuality to know love at first sight was nothing but pheromones. Calling it smell at first sight would be more accurate. It was just basic primitive sexual response.
Whatever you called it, Susannah would do anything to keep Hogan from learning how susceptible she was to him. Her delicate chin squared in resolve. She might not be able to run away now that he was in her county, but she could stand and fight. Or take cover behind cynicism and sarcasm. Whatever worked.
"Just try to be agreeable, and the day will pass easier," Grace advised.
