By: Angi Morgan
Congratulations to "Lynn B.", the winner in Angi's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
But Josh had to hold
on. If he let her go, he might not ever get the courage again. “You’re lying.
You were miserable. I should have invited your friends.”
~ ~ ~
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations to "Lynn B.", the winner in Angi's giveaway. Thank you to all who participated!
HE'D BREAK THE LAW TO GET HIS KIDS BACK
The twins were all Josh Parker had in th0is world. So when they were kidnapped, he couldn't rely on his Texas Rangers star to get them back safely. Or involve Tracey Cassidy, the only person he trusted to care for his children. A family of criminals was asking him to break the law if he ever wanted to see his children again. But when Tracey caught wind of his plan, she knew no matter how big Josh's heart was, he had a future with his twins to look forward to. They needed their father. And this was one burden he wouldn't have to shoulder alone.
Excerpt:
Josh should be ashamed of
himself for letting Tracey clean up while he faked sleep. Should be.
He wasn’t drunk. Far from it. He was hyperaware of every one of Tracey’s
movements.
“Tonight didn’t go
exactly like I planned.”
“Oh, shoot. I don’t
know why you scared me, but I thought you were asleep. It was fun. A total
surprise.” She placed her hand on top of his, patting it as if she was ready to
be let loose. She also didn’t have a mean bone in her body. She’d never
intentionally hurt his feelings.

“It was great. Really.”
She patted his hand again. “I better head out.”
“No.” He stood, letting
her hand go but trapping her shoulders under his grip. He lightened up. “I
mean. Can you stay a couple of minutes? I didn’t give you your present.”
“But you threw the
party and everything.”
Was it his hopeful
imagination that her words were a little breathier when he touched her? Touching
was a rare occurrence now that the twins walked themselves up to bed and didn’t
need to be carried. Not his imagination. Her chest under the sleeveless summer
shirt was rising and falling faster.
One wayward strand of
dark red hair that she tried so hard to keep in place was curled in the middle
of her forehead. Most of the time she shoved it back in with the rest, but he
practically had her hands pinned at her sides. This time, he followed through
on a simple pleasure. He took the curl between his fingers and gently tucked it
away.
Josh allowed the side
of his hand to caress the soft skin of Tracey’s cheek. His fingertips whispered
across her lips and her eyes closed. It was time. Now. A conscious decision. No
spur-of-the-moment accident.
He leaned down as he
tilted her chin up. Their lips connected and his hands wrapped around her,
smashing her body into his. They molded together and all the dormant parts of
his soul ignited.
Four years since he’d
really held a woman in his arms. The last lips he’d tasted had been a sweet
goodbye. It had been a long time since he’d thought about passion.
Tracey’s eyes opened
when he hesitated for a split second. He didn’t see fear or surprise—only
passion waiting for him. He kissed her again, not allowing them time to think
or reconsider.
Her lips tasted like
the coconut-flavored lip balm she recently began using. But her mouth tasted of
the butter-flavored icing from her birthday cake. Lips soft and rich. Her body
was toned, yet pliant against him.
Yes, he analyzed it
all. Every part of her. He wanted to remember just in case he never got another
chance.
Intimacy hadn’t been
his since… Since… He couldn’t allow himself to go in that direction. Tracey was
in his arms. Tracey’s body was responding to his caresses.
Their lips parted. He
wanted to race forward, but they needed a beginning first. He’d worked it all
out a hundred times in his head. This was logical. Start with a kiss, let her
know he wanted more.
“Okay, that
was…surprising for a birthday present.”
No doubt about it, her
voice was shaking with breathlessness.
“Sorry, that wasn’t it.
I kept the box at the office so the kids couldn’t say anything. It’s in the
truck.” He slipped his hands into his jeans pockets to stop them from pointing
to one more thing. One step away from her and he wondered if she was breathless
or so surprised she didn’t know how to react.
“Josh?”
No.
“It’ll just take a sec.”
Tracey caught up with
him and followed him onto the porch. “Maybe I should go home?” She smiled and
rubbed his arm like a pal.
“Right.” He slipped his
thumbs inside his front pockets. He lifted his chin when he realized it was
tucked to his chest.
“It’s just… Well, you’ve
been drinking and I don’t want…” Her voice trailed off the same way it did when
she was sharing something negative about the twins’ behavior. She didn’t want
to disappoint him. Ever.
“Got it.” He marched to
her car and forced himself not to yank the door off the hinges.
“Don’t be mad. It’s not
that I didn’t–”
“Tracey. I got it.”
And he did. All he knew
about Tracey was that she’d been there for him and the kids. Assuming she felt
the same when— Dammit, he didn’t know anything about her life outside their
small world here.
“I’m going to head out.”
Purse over her shoulder, she waved from the front door of her car. “`Night.”
She waved and gently shut the door behind her.
Change is a mistake.
Nah, he’d had this debate with himself for weeks. It was time to move on. He
couldn’t be afraid of what might or might not happen.
Tracey’s tires spun a
little in the gravel as she pulled away. He hoped like hell that he hadn’t
scared her away. From him, maybe. But she wouldn’t leave the twins, right? She
was the only mother they’d ever had in their lives.
For a while, he’d
thought he admired her for that. But this wasn’t all about the kids. He needed
her to say that she felt something for him. Because four years was long enough.
He was ready to love
again.
~ ~ ~
~
~ ~
ANGI MORGAN writes
Intrigues where honor and danger collide with love. Her work is a multiple
contest finalist and Publisher’s Weekly best seller. She drags her dogs –and
husband– around Texas for research road trips so she can write off her camera.
They now have a map with highlighted roads they’ve traveled. Every detour somehow
makes it into a book.
Twitter @AngiMorganAuthr
~ ~ ~
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Josh is a by-the-rules Texas
Ranger…
Would you break the law to save
someone you love?
It's been since my last Harlequin's read and this seems like one to break the dry-spell!! XD
ReplyDeleteAack!! How could I blind-type *a while* in that comment above!! Me and mobile typing - too clumsy and big-thumbs!
DeleteGreat post- this book sounds amazing
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz !
DeleteCongratulations on your RWA award! I have HARD CORE LAW at the top of my wish list. jmvarner50@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks, JoAn. The award was wonderful and everyone made me feel awesome last week. Good luck with the giveaways.
DeleteTo save someone I love... I think I could go all out... hope I would be brave enough! Thanks for sharing Angi!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hanging with me Colleen !
DeleteIt depends on how bad of a break and of which law ... but probably! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat book Angi ... my fav of the series!! <3
THANKS LYNN !!
DeleteI love Josh's story.
Story sound so great. Looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Joyce !
DeleteThere is everything marvellous about a white-hat-hero.
ReplyDeleteI think the same thing !
Deletenothing illegal
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
I get that !
DeleteLove Angis books yenastone@aol dotcom
ReplyDeleteThank you Tammy. It's much appreciated.
DeleteLove it. Looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME !!!
DeleteWhat an exciting story--thanks for the peek at Angi's latest!
ReplyDeleteThank you Fedora !
DeleteYes I would.
ReplyDeleteLovely.
DeleteLoved the excerpt. Your books are always on my wish list. Congratulations on your award.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Linda! That means a lot.
DeleteLooks like a fantastic read!
ReplyDeleteThank you Liz !
DeleteI will do everything in power even though I will trust God more.
ReplyDeleteI love this series and I can't wait to read this one.
ReplyDelete