“Please . . . stop,” she whimpered, struggling to break free. But she wasn’t strong enough.
“You ruined everything,” a deep voice growled.
She kept her arms over her head, protecting her face. But through the gap she saw dark brown eyes peering at her through the mask.
His pupils are huge. He sounds . . . familiar.
And he looks crazy.
Of course he was. Sane people didn’t attack strangers in the park. But who was he?
He hit her forearm and she closed her eyes. The pain distracted from trying to place him. Her arms stung as if she’d been covered in paper cuts. It didn’t matter who he was, she just needed him to stop hitting her, stop hurting her . . .
The weight lifted, but the pain remained. She reached for her side. It was wet from his punches.
No, that’s not right.
She lifted her palm and saw the blood. And she screamed, over and over, never stopping to breathe. Panic rushed in and held her captive. Her world was reduced to one word.
Help.
No one came. Fear took over, shifting her cries. Screw help. She didn’t need a white knight. She needed power, strength, and someone who gave a damn about her.
Dominic.
She called his name. Her voice bordered on hoarse. She inhaled and tried again, staring up at the trees. The branches shifted in the light breeze as if mocking her. Sunbeams slipped through the leaves.
He’s not coming.
Her ranger wouldn’t rush to her rescue . . .
But he wasn’t an army ranger anymore. He’d been injured, rehabbed, and released. And he still hadn’t come back to her.
So she’d moved on.
She shouldn’t be calling for Dominic. Her new boyfriend—the man who promised a future filled with gentle kisses, romantic adventures, and children. If she made it out of this park . . .
Ted.
She called his name to the trees. The leaves shook, spilling pockets of sunlight on the path. Ted specialized in teaching elementary school kids to read. He was a good man, a kind person . . .
Her vision blurred and the leaves above her merged together. She needed help now. She rolled to her side and the pain shifted, but it didn’t increase. More wasn’t an option. She’d reached her threshold. There was agony and passing out. Those were her only choices
But before she tried to escape the pain, she needed to crawl into the open. She had to save herself. Dominic, Ted, the woman in the park—they weren’t rushing to her rescue. She needed to pull herself into the open.
Slowly, she maneuvered onto her belly and raised her left arm. If she could crawl . . .
Dragging her bruised, battered, and possibly sliced forearm over the paved path, she pressed down and pulled her body forward. Her legs scrambled for purchase, but she couldn’t find her way onto all fours.
Time distorted like it did when she visited the dentist, and the receptionist insisted on redefining the word “brief.” But she made progress. Two slides forward, she saw something pink lying on the path. Her cell phone. She crawled closer and picked it up. Music still blasted from the headphones. She turned it over and—
No service.
“Stupid woods,” she muttered. “Stupid park.”
Still clutching the phone, she started dragging herself forward again. She reached the edge of the path and spotted her saviors. Two girls raced forward as if they’d eaten an entire pan of brownies last night. Or maybe they’d simply spotted her.
Help.
But the cry died before she could part her lips. Her vision blurred. And then—
Nothing.
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About the Author
After several years on the other side of the publishing industry, SARA JANE STONE bid goodbye to her sales career to pursue her dream—writing romance novels. Sara Jane currently resides in New York, with her very supportive real-life hero, two lively young children, and a lazy Burmese cat. Visit her online at www.sarajanestone.com or find her on Facebook at Sara Jane Stone.
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Also by Sara Jane Stone
SECOND SHOT
Stirring Attraction
Serving Trouble
Running Wild (novella)
INDEPENDENCE FALLS
Wild With You
Hero By Night
Caught in the Act
Full Exposure
Search and Seduce
Command Control
Command Performance
Give in to your Impulses . . .
Continue reading for excerpts from
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THIS EARL IS ON FIRE
THE SEASON’S ORIGINAL SERIES
by Vivienne Lorret
TORCH
THE WILDWOOD SERIES
by Karen Erickson
HERO OF MINE
THE MEN IN UNIFORM SERIES
by Codi Gary
An Excerpt from
THIS EARL IS ON FIRE
The Season’s Original Series
By Vivienne Lorret
Vivienne Lorret’s Season’s Original series continues with an earl whose friends are determined to turn him into a respectable member of society . . . and the one woman who could finally tame him.
Liam Cavanaugh grinned at the corrugated lines marking his cousin’s lifted brows. It wasn’t often that Northcliff Bromley, the Duke of Vale and renowned genius, showed astonishment.
Bending his dark head, Vale peered closer at the marble heads within the crates. “Remarkable. Even seeing them side by side, I hardly notice a difference. The fellows will be fascinated when you present this to the Royal Society at month’s end.”
“It was pure luck that I had the original as well.” Liam shrugged as if he’d merely stumbled upon the differences between a genuine article and an imposter.
Vale turned, and his obsidian eyes sharpened on Liam. “No need to play the simpleton with me. You forget that I know your secret.”
Liam cast a hasty glance around the sconce-lit, cluttered ballroom of Wolford House, ensuring they were alone. Fortunately, the vast space was empty aside from the two of them and a dozen or more large crates filled with artifacts. “By definition, a secret is that of which we do not speak. So lower your voice, if you please.”
No one needed to know that he actually studied each piece of his collection in detail—enough that he’d learned how to spot a forgery in an instant.
“Afraid the servants will tell the ton your collection isn’t merely a frivolous venture? Or that your housekeeper’s complaints of dusty urns and statues crowding each room would suddenly fall silent?” Vale flashed a smile that bracketed his mouth with deep creases.
Liam pretended to consider his answer, pursing his lips. “It would be cruel of me to render Mrs. Brasher mute when she finds such enjoyment in haranguing me.”
“She may have a point,” Vale said, skirting in between two crates when a wayward nail snagged his coat, issuing a sharp rip of rending fabric. He stopped to examine the hole and shook his head. “Your collection has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few months. So much so that you were forced to purchase another property to house it all.”
“The curse of immense wealth and boredom, I’m afraid.”
His cousin’s quick glower revealed that he was not amused by Liam’s insouciant guise. Then, as if to punish him for it, he issued the foulest epithet known to man. “You should marry.”
Not wanting to reveal the discomfort slowly clawing up his spine, Liam chuckled. “As a cure for boredom?”
Vale said nothing. He merely crossed his arms over his chest and waited.
I
t was a standoff now. They were nearly equal in regard to observation skills, but apparently Vale thought he had the upper hand.
Liam knew differently. He crossed his arms as well and smirked.
If anyone were to peer into the room at this moment, they might wonder if they were staring at matching wax figures. The two of them looked enough alike in build and coloring to be brothers, but with subtle differences. Vale’s features were blunter, while Liam’s were angular. And Vale’s dark eyes were full of intellect, while Liam’s green eyes tended to reveal the streak of mischief within.
“Marriage would do you good,” Vale said.
Liam disagreed. “You’re starting to sound like Thayne, always hinting of ways to improve my social standing.”
The Marquess of Thayne was determined to reform Liam into the ton’s favorite pet—the Season’s Original. In fact, Thayne had been so confident in success that he’d wagered on the outcome. What a fool.
“I never hint,” Vale said.
Liam offered his cousin a nod. “True. You are a forthright, scientific gentleman, and I appreciate that about you. Therefore, I will give you the courtesy of answering in kind: No. I should not marry. I like my life just as it is.” He lifted his hands in a gesture to encompass his collection within this room. “Besides, I could never respect a woman who would have me.”
Vale scoffed. “Respect?”
“Very well. I could never trust a woman who desired to marry me. Not with my reputation. Such a woman would either be mad or conniving, and I want neither for a wife.”
He’d nearly succumbed once, falling for the worst of all deceptions. After that narrow escape, he’d vowed never to be tricked again.
“Come now. There are many who care nothing for your reputation.”
That statement only served to cement his belief. If his despoiled reputation were the only thing keeping him far afield of the ton’s conniving matchmakers, then he would make the most of it. And the perfect place to add the crème de la crème to his list of scandalous exploits would be at Lady Forester’s masquerade tonight.
After all, he had a carefully crafted reputation of unrepentant debauchery to uphold.
Liam squared his shoulders and walked with his cousin to the door. “If the Fates have it in mind to see me married before I turn sixty, then they will have to knock me over the head and drag me to the altar.”
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An Excerpt from
TORCH
The Wildwood Series
By Karen Erickson
USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson continues her Wildwood series with a hot firefighter who knows that enemies make the best lovers . . .
Wren Gallagher wasn’t the type to drown her sorrows in alcohol, but tonight seemed as good a time as any to start.
“Another Malibu and pineapple, Russ,” she said to the bartender, who gave her a look before nodding reluctantly.
“That’s your third drink,” Russ said gruffly as he plunked the fresh glass in front of her.
She grabbed it and took a long sip from the skinny red straw. It was her third drink because the first two weren’t potent enough. She didn’t even feel that drunk. But how could she tell Russ that when he was the one mixing her drinks? “And they’re equally delicious,” she replied with a sweet smile.
He scowled at her, his bushy eyebrows threaded with gray hairs seeming to hang low over his eyes. “You all right, Wren?”
“I’m fine.” She smiled but it felt incredibly false, so she let it fade before taking another sip of her drink.
Sighing, she pushed the wimpy straw out of the way and brought the glass to her lips, chugging the drink in a few long swallows. Polishing it off like a pro, she wiped her damp lips with the back of her hand as she set the glass down on the bar.
A low whistle sounded behind her and she went still, her breath trapped in her lungs.
“Trying to get drunk, Dove?”
That too-amused, too-arrogant voice was disappointingly familiar. Her shoulders slumping, she glanced to her right to watch as Tate Warren settled his too-perfect butt onto the barstool next to hers, a giant smile curving his too-sexy mouth as he looked her up and down. Her body heated everywhere his eyes landed and she frowned.
Ugh. She hated him. His new favorite thing was to call her every other bird name besides her own. It drove her crazy and he knew it. It didn’t help that they ran into each other all the time. The town was too small, and their circle of mutual friends—and family members—even smaller.
Tate worked at Cal Fire with her brothers Weston and Holden. He was good friends with West and her oldest brother, Lane, so they all spent a lot of time together when they could. But fire season was in full swing and Tate had been at the station the last time they all got together.
She hadn’t missed him either. Not one bit.
At least, that’s what she told herself.
“What are you doing here?” Her tone was snottier than she intended and he noticed. His brows rose, surprise etching his very fine, very handsome features.
He was seriously too good-looking for words. Like Abercrombie & Fitch type good looking. With that pretty, pretty face and shock of dark hair and the finely muscled body and oh shit, that smile. Although, he wasn’t flashing it at her right now like he usually did. Nope, not at all.
“I’m assuming you’re looking to get drunk alone tonight? I don’t want to get in your way.” He started to stand and she reached out, resting her hand on his forearm to stop him.
And oh wow, his skin was hot. And firm. As in, the boy’s got muscles. Erm, the man. Tate could never be mistaken for a boy. He was all man. One hundred percent, delicious, sexy man . . .
“Don’t go,” she said, her eyes meeting his. His brows went up until they looked like they could reach his hairline and she snatched her hand away, her fingers still tingling where she touched him.
Whoo boy, that wasn’t good. Could she blame it on the alcohol?
Tate settled his big body back on the barstool, ordering a Heineken when Russ asked what he wanted. “You all right, bird?” His voice was low and full of concern and her heart ached to say something. Admit her faults, her fears, and hope for some sympathy.
But she couldn’t do that. Couldn’t make a fool of herself in front of Tate. She’d never hear the end of it.
So she’d let the bird remark go. At least he hadn’t called her Cuckoo or Woodpecker. “Having a bad day,” she offered with a weak smile, lifting her ice-filled glass in a toasting gesture. At that precise moment, Russ delivered Tate’s beer, and he raised it as well, clinking the green bottle against her glass.
“Me too,” Tate murmured before he took a drink, his gaze never leaving hers.
Wren stared at him in a daze. How come she never noticed how green his eyes were before? They matched the beer bottle, which proved he didn’t have the best taste in beer, but she’d forgive him for that.
But, yes. They were pretty eyes. Kind eyes. Amused eyes. Laughing eyes. Sexy eyes.
She tore her gaze away from his, mentally beating herself up. He chuckled under his breath and she wanted to beat him up too. Just before she ripped off his clothes and had her way with him . . .
Oh, jeez. Clearly she was drunker than she thought.
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An Excerpt from
HERO OF MINE
The Men in Uniform Series
By Codi Gary
The men of Codi Gary’s Men in Uniform series work hard and play hard . . . but when it comes to protecting the women they love, nothing stands in their way.
Tyler Best didn’t believe in fate.
Fate was an excuse people who’d experienced really bad shit or really astounding luck used in order to explain how their lives tended to twist and turn. Fate was a
fantasy.
Tyler was a realist. He didn’t rely on some imaginary force to direct him. He’d taken chances and gotten knocked on his ass a few times, but he kept going because that’s what life was. You didn’t give up when it got hard.
Even in the face of devastating loss.
Tyler stared at the picture of Rex, his military dog, and the ache in his heart was raw, even eight months later. Rex had been his for three years before getting killed in combat. While Tyler was overseas, away from his family and friends, the dog had been his best friend, bringing him great comfort. When he’d lost Rex, he’d almost quit working with dogs. It had been difficult to be around them.
Yet, here he was, waiting to be led back to the “last day” dogs at the Paws and Causes Shelter. It was his first time here, as it was relatively new. Most of the time he visited Front Street Animal Shelter or the one off of Bradshaw, but new rescues and shelters were being added to the program every day. Ever since he’d become the head trainer for the Alpha Dog Training Program, a nonprofit created to help strengthen the connection between military personnel and their community, he’d become the last hope for a lot of dogs. If they passed their temperament test, they’d join the program. Not all of them did, and on those days it was hard to remember all the lives the program saved. It was hard to walk away from a dog’s big soulful eyes when Tyler knew the only outcome was a needle filled with pink liquid death, but he couldn’t save them all.
Just like he couldn’t save Rex.
“Sergeant Best?” a woman called from behind the reception desk.
Tyler stood up and slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You can go on through. Our tech, Dani, is waiting in the back to show you around. Just straight back; you’ll see the double doors.”
“Thank you.” Tyler opened the door, assaulted by high-pitched barks of excitement and fear. As he passed by the kennels, he looked through, studying the dogs of all shapes and sizes. He wasn’t sure why he was so melancholy today, but it had been coming on strong.
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