"Sure, but I have to warn you: I know diddly squat about cars."
"That's okay. I know diddly squat about cooking."
Melanie followed him to the front of the car then watched him open a package of what she assumed were spark plugs. She wasn't sure what fascinated her more-- the ease with which he selected foreign-looking items from his toolbox, or the way his muscles bunched and flexed while he worked. Whatever it was, she was soon thoroughly engrossed, and surprisingly curious.
She leaned over the engine with him. “How do you know so much about cars?”
“My dad and grandfather taught me. Grandpa was a mechanic.”
She pointed. “What's that little do-flickit?"
"The air filter," he said, screwing a spark plug into place.
"How about that thingamabob there?"
"The carburetor."
"I've heard of that. What's it do?"
"It vaporizes liquid fuel and controls its mixing with air for combustion in the engine."
"Uh-huh. And the English translation of that is… ?"
"It makes the car go vroooomm."
"Ah."
She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. "Whew. It sure is hot out here."
Chris snuck a glance at her and nodded in mental agreement. Hot as hell. And every time he looked at her, in those cutoffs that showcased her longs, slim legs and curvy butt-- which was currently hoisted in the air as she leaned over-- it got a little hotter.
Her skin was the color of warm honey, and his fingers itched to touch its soft smoothness. Her reddish-brown hair was a riotous cap of untamed curls that begged to be messed with. Her eyes reminded him of sweet, gooey, yummy chocolate, and her mouth… whoa! Those plump pink lips had carnal thoughts racing through his mind, making it nearly impossible to concentrate on what he was doing.
Her finger bounced back and forth, pointing at this and that, asking what everything was. He answered all her questions, falling more and more in lust with each passing minute. His mind tried to convince his hormones that this was not the woman they were looking for-- this woman was more than a one-nighter and represented a serious threat to his bachelor freedom-- but his hormones were having none of it.
This is the one we want, his hormones informed him. This one right here, who doesn't know an oilfiller from a brake pad. The one who smells like fresh-baked brownies and stares at you with those big chocolatey-brown eyes. Now do something about it before we get nasty.
She pointed to something else, asking what it was. When he turned his head to explain the intricacies of the wiper-fluid dispenser, they bumped noses. Chris froze and stared into her startled eyes.
She was so close. And she smelled so good. And looked so good. God, so good.
Before she could back away, and before he could change his mind, he did what he'd wanted to do since almost the first moment he saw her. He angled his head and brushed his mouth over hers.
He’d expected to feel a tingle, but he wasn’t prepared for the electric sizzle that crackled through him. All thoughts of spark plugs, do-flickits, and thingamabobs drained from his head. He reached for her, pulling them both upright. Their heads smacked into the raised hood at the same time.
"Ouch!" Melanie yelped, leaning back and rubbing the top of her head. "Wow. I feel dizzy. I bet I have a concussion."
Chris wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her close, and ran gentle fingers over the small lump forming on her head. "Me, too."
She gazed up at him. "You think you have a concussion?"
"No. I feel dizzy. And it has nothing to do with hitting my head."
"The heat getting to you?"
His gaze settled on her mouth. "You could say that."
Her eyes widened. "Oh, my. You're going to kiss me again."
"That okay?"
"I'm not sure. The first one almost knocked me unconscious."
He lowered his head. "Yeah," he breathed against her mouth. "I know exactly what you mean."
End of Kiss the Cook excerpt.
Buy Kiss the Cook now.
WHEN EMILY KISSED LOGAN
bonus chapter excerpt
At the end of Seduced at Midnight (Book 3 of the Mayhem in Mayfair quartet), Lady Emily Stapleford and mysterious American Logan Jennsen found themselves alone in the library. What happened between them? We find out in Tempted at Midnight (Book 4 of the Mayhem in Mayfair quartet), but because Tempted at Midnight begins three months later, the library scene doesn't actually appear in the book. Here's an excerpt from the bonus “on screen” scene-- available FREE on my website-- of exactly what happened in the library. (http:/www.jacquied.com/WEKLChapter.htm)
London, 1820
Curiosity was killing Lady Emily Stapleford. Could it possibly be true that the mysterious, obscenely wealthy American Logan Jennsen, a man she considered nothing more than an uncouth colonial, was an excellent kisser?
Surely not. Surely her friend Carolyn had exaggerated. Still, the claim had piqued Emily’s curiosity and she found herself stealing but yet another glance at the tall, dark-haired, broad shouldered man standing across the drawing room, hating the fact that her gaze continually sought him out. It was as if Logan Jennsen was a powerful magnet and her errant eyeballs were made of metal.
He stood alone, glass of champagne dangling from his long fingers, observing the guests who’d attended the small wedding ceremony between Lady Julianne Bradley and Gideon Mayne. She watched his gaze pan over the small group, telling herself that she’d shift her attention before he looked at her. But just then his eyes locked with hers and she found herself unable to look away, an irritating turn of events as she didn’t like the man. Not one bit. Every time she found herself in his presence, she felt vexed and annoyed, a situation made even more grating because her three closest friends all liked Mr. Jennsen and didn’t understand her antipathy toward him.
Of course Carolyn, Julianne, and Sarah weren’t aware that Emily’s father owed Mr. Jennsen a great deal of money. Had Mr. Jennsen lured her father into an unwise investment? Emily didn’t know, but she wouldn’t put anything past the American. After all, in spite of the fact that he’d been in London for months, what did anyone really know about him? Rumor had it he’d been born into poverty and amassed his fortune through his business acumen and the non-gentlemanly pursuit of hard work. Rumor also had it he’d left America under mysterious circumstances.
And, if Carolyn was to be believed, that he was an excellent kisser.
Could it be true? Since the moment Carolyn had made the claim, Emily hadn’t been able to erase the words from her mind, nor the unsettling images they evoked-- of Logan Jennsen’s mouth touching hers. Curiosity had frequently proven too strong a temptation for Emily to resist, and she simply had to find out. Once her curiosity was satisfied, she’d be able to put the matter, and the man, out of her mind. She didn’t doubt for a moment that she’d find his kiss the exact opposite of excellent, something she’d delight in knowing. And there was no time like the present.
End of When Emily Kissed Logan bonus chapter excerpt.
Read When Emily Kissed Logan bonus chapter now for free!
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Heart's Desire Page 7
