by Eden Connor
Robert cut me a look, but offered Dale a smile. “We’ve been dating since last spring. I think I scared her by proposing out of the blue, but rest assured, Mr. Hannah, I won’t stop till I get that ring on her finger. I plan to make an honest woman out of her, sir.”
Colt slammed the refrigerator door. The items inside rattled loudly in the quiet room. Spinning he stalked out of the kitchen. I knew he’d gone to peer through the living room windows when he returned in half a minute. “Beamer, huh? That model comes with an optional five-speed, don’t it?”
“It’s uh, automatic.”
Colt raked his hand down his bare abs and took the wide stance I’d grown to know all too well. “Why the fuck would you cough up the extra bucks for German engineering and then get an automatic tranny?”
Caine fastened his eyes on my face. I couldn’t stop the sweep of heat over my cheeks, but I studied the lines of grey grout, feeling like slime.
While Robert stammered, Caine slammed the front legs of his chair onto the tile. “Let me grab that bag for you, little sister.” I winced at the ear-piercing shriek the chair legs made, grating against the ceramic tile. He vaulted to his feet. The chair slammed into the new wallpaper. “I know how bad you always wanna get on the road.” He crossed to the case in two long strides, hefting the bag off the floor.
Robert reached for the suitcase, but Caine’s flashing eyes made him drop his hand.
Dale gave me a hug, backed by a puzzled look. Colt crossed his arms over his chest and raised his chin. “Later.”
I slid my hand into Robert’s.
“I uh, wanted to leave Dad’s card for y’all. I know your job’s a dangerous one, Mr. Hannah. If you ever—God forbid—have need of his services, there’d be a family discount.” Dale took the card Robert produced from his shirt pocket and scanned the small print. I died a little inside. “Or, maybe one of your friends might need him, so feel free to pass it along.”
Tugging his hand, I interrupted. “We better get going. See y’all later.” Letting Robert’s hand go, I flung myself at Dale, wrapping my good arm around his neck. “I love you.”
“Love you, too, kiddo.” He squeezed me so tight, tears ran down my cheeks.
In the driveway, Caine punched the button and raised the trunk lid. He hurled my suitcase into the void. Slamming the lid, he leaned on it for a moment, eying me as Robert led me to the passenger side.
I wanted to look away from his intent stare, but his eyes drew mine anyway. His jaw worked as if he held a mouthful of tacks. Just the way his father’s did.
Blinking back tears, I slid inside the BMW and fumbled for the safety belt. Caine didn’t wave or wait for us to back out of the drive. He sauntered down the walkway. I watched until the front door slammed behind him.
The lump in my throat refused to go down, no matter how many times I swallowed.
Leaning back, I closed my eyes, listening to the directions given by Robert’s GPS system. I responded to direct questions, but mostly held my breath until I opened my eyes to see the green and white roadside sign.
Leaving Cabarrus County. Home of nine-time NASCAR champion Jesse Hancock.
THE END...FOR NOW
About the Author
Eden Connor graduated from Converse College with a degree in Psychology so long ago, her sheepskin is chiseled in stone. She's been a graphic artist, a bridal photographer and an antique restorer. Since the death of her true love, she raised two children to adulthood and now has the time to return to writing. She writes primarily contemporary erotic romances, along with the odd bit of erotica. Most of her writing is set where she lives, in South Carolina, so expect the handsome stranger to come equipped with a slow drawl. Addicted to hazelnut creamer, baseball and cranberry glass, she likes the music of Motown and when not writing about adults behaving badly, she takes a stab at the occasional needlepoint canvas.
Social media links for Eden Connor:
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5762239.Eden_Connor
Also by Eden Connor:
From the Files of Banger and Lever
Come, They Told Me ~ Book 1 (Free on iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Amazon)
January (Book 2)
Those Devilish De Marco Men
Soft Sounds of Pleasure ~Book One (Free on iTunes, Barnes & Noble, Amazon)
Wildly Inappropriate ~ Book 2
Incidental Contact ~ Book 3
The Carmine Club Chronicles
Breaking Glass
Forceful Negotiations
Rain on Me
TuDawgs
The ‘Cuda Confessions
Gas or Ass
Turn & Burn
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Should you choose to leave a review for any of my titles, please know that, no matter if you tell the world that you loved or hated the tale, I’m grateful for your time and consideration.
Deleted scenes:
My editor’s job is to tell it like it is.
So, when she got her hands on the draft of Turn & Burn, she encouraged me to axe what was then Chapter One completely. I did that. She’s my editor because I trust her judgment. But, if you’re one of those incredible people who relates to this series in an intimate way, and just can’t get enough, you may read that original chapter here on my blog.
Many thanks,
~E
Did you love Turn and Burn? Then you should read Rain On Me by Eden Connor!
If every heart’s a package someone else has tied in knots, how did bondage unravel mine?
I’d sleep with the devil to nail the source of illegal poker machines pouring into my district. It’s personal between me and those one-armed bandits, but when my captain asked me to go undercover as a sexual submissive to catch our suspect, my gut said “Hell, no, even I can’t tell a lie that big.”
Enter Ray Casey, shibari master, who spent two weeks showing me the world of erotic bondage. I fell hard for Ray, but the outcome of our affair was preordained; duty above all.
When the unthinkable happened, where could I turn when I couldn’t trust my brothers in blue? My instincts lead me back to Ray, but he wants me to submit to something harder than a little BDS&M….
~Zinnia J. Jackson, Det. 1st Grade, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division