HelenKay Dimon

This week’s topic is “is this a date?” and while I’m not 100% sure I know what that means, I do have a favorite date scene. It’s actually a date/break-up scene and it’s the very beginning of RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. The poor hero, Reed Larkin, has a long way to go after this:

“This isn’t working.”

There they were. To Gabrielle Pearson the phrase stood second only to “it’s not you, it’s me” as the most lame male excuse on the planet for cutting out of a date before the dessert menus hit the table.

She glanced around the upscale restaurant looking for reinforcements. If anyone heard Reed Larkin’s big kiss off over the rumble of conversation and clanking of silverware, they were not letting on. No one held up a roll ready to lob it at Reed’s fat head. A shame, really, since his over-inflated ego made it the perfect target.

“Gabby? Did you hear me?” Reed asked with his suddenly not-so-kissable mouth turned down in concern.

“I’m not deaf. I was thinking.” Thinking that a woman never had a vial of strychnine when she needed one. “It’s interesting, don’t you agree?”

He switched to squinting. “You lost me.

“Obviously.”

She lowered her fork to the white tablecloth, but not before toying with the idea of stabbing Reed smack in the center of his perfectly angled chin. One hit of the sharp prongs and no woman would ever be lured in by his inviting sexy smile again.

“I’m talking about your timing. You waited until you were done with your meal to make this announcement. You skipped the appetizer course and choked back your undercooked steak without taking a breath.” Now she knew why.

Reed was a man on the run. The big weasel.

Here she thought tonight, formal date number nine, might be the date. The one to capture all the heat pulsing between them with a bedroom ending. Hell, she’d be lucky to get cab fare out of him now.

Reed took a long swallow of water. When he didn’t choke, Gabby cursed life’s unfairness. “I’m assuming I’m the part of the relationship that’s not working.”

“Look, it’s not you. It’s-”

“Don’t finish that sentence.”

If he continued down that road the half of the salmon filet she did manage to swallow would make a repeat performance all over his expensive navy suit. Tempting but not going to happen.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked as if he actually did not know.

“Just don’t.” She pointed a finger in the general direction of Reed’s heart to back up her threat.

Those ice blue eyes that were so attractive up until five minutes ago blinked several times. “Gabby, we should-”

“Stop talking before someone loses a body part.” Her gaze dropped to her fork. “Preferably you.”

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Don’t forget to check out the other snippets!

Jody Wallace
Mari Carr
Vivian Arend
Shelley Munro
Shelli Stevens
TJ Michaels
Taige Crenshaw
McKenna Jeffries
Ashley Ladd

Still writing that book. The deadline – July 15th – is sneaking up fast. I’d just like to know what the heck happened to June…or March, for that matter, since 2010 has been a blur. One of these days I’ll catch up. But not today.

First, I have a monthly blog winner. Congrats to Judy F. (comment #4 on the June 8th blog) for winning the Amazon gift certificate. Email me so I can get it out to you.

Second, Wendy (as in Wendy the Super Librarian) wrote a fabulous review of NIGHT MOVES. Go to The Good, The Bad and the Unread to check it out. Here’s my favorite part:

Night Moves is the kind of book that once you start it, you don’t put it down. The action starts in the first chapter and keeps up a relentless pace until the finish line. The author embraces the short format and essentially delivers a non-stop, fast-paced thriller, with no down time, no filler chapters, like an action movie using the written word instead of film.

Third, you can win a copy of LEAVE ME BREATHLESS over at Tracy Wolff’s website. In fact, fab authors Tracy and Lauren Dane are doing a big giveaway this month. They both have releases this month. Go forth and enter the giveaways and buy their books.