Author: Traci Hall
Publisher/Expected Publication Date: Entangled Bliss; February 11, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
About
IN THE DOG HOUSE
Ten
years ago, Jackson Hardy joined the Marines, leaving behind a woman he still
dreams about. When he's called home to care for his ten-year-old nephew, no one
is more shocked than he to run into Emma again. Or to still have those same
feelings. But Jackson isn't looking for love, and neither is Emma,
especially not with him. His precocious nephew, though, and a retriever named
Bandit, are about to change that.
So what if Emma Mercer is an overachiever? She has plans to get her doctorate in psychology and create a no-kill shelter for the EST dogs she trains. Which leaves absolutely no time for romance. She's fine with a furry family—dogs don't teach you to love and then rip your heart to shreds. But young Matty's situation tugs at her heartstrings and there's no way she can't help him…and Jackson.
She
may have hotter-than-ever chemistry with the soldier, but forgetting the
past isn't easy.
Excerpt
from In the Dog House by Traci Hall
She’d
said she was proud of him—did she mean it? Her forearm brushed his leg, and her
throat turned a deep shade of rose as she held his gaze. Sweet. She wouldn’t say what she didn’t mean.
He
tilted to the right, wanting to touch her mouth with his. Sample a quick taste
of Emma to add to his memories. Her lips slightly parted, the pulse at the
hollow of her throat sped, her eyes dilated. They were so close to a kiss that
all he had to do was move his head forward…
She
stood abruptly, smoothing the yellow fabric down over her hip with an eye toward
Matty, racing around the fountain. “I’ll get dessert.”
Jackson
snapped back. Was she inviting him inside?
“I’ll
help.”
She
held the door open for him, and he followed her. The instant they were out of
sight she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him to hold him
tight—he couldn’t have broken free if he’d wanted to.
And he
didn’t.
He
buried his hands in her soft, soft hair and cupped her head so that he could
study Emma and memorize each new line and freckle. He gently brought the pads
of his thumbs to her smooth jaw and plump pink lower lip. Her eyes, swiped with
copper, glittered sensually as she absorbed his touch. Auburn lashes at
half-mast as she relaxed into him.
He
dropped one arm to her hip to balance her, the other still cradling her head as
he lowered his mouth. She lifted to him, their lips whispering across each
other’s mouths before crashing together like surf against the sand.
She
tasted different but the same. It was meeting his other half, something he’d
been missing and suddenly needed more than his next breath.
“Em.”
“Jackson.”
Her words were hot against his lips and brought the embers of desire flaming
bright.
She
entwined her fingers behind his neck and pressed in to him.
He
clasped her tight, feeling the warmth of her feminine curves, the temptation
she offered.
The
smack of sneakers up the porch steps made them break away like guilty
teenagers.
Jackson’s
chest heaved. They weren’t that anymore.
Em’s
eyes flashed, the pulse at her neck fast as a hummingbird’s.
“Emma,”
Matty asked, innocently entering the kitchen. “Can I have some lemonade?”
“Sure,
hon. I was just getting the cannoli out. Are you ready for dessert?” Emma
turned her back to him, and Jackson detected a tremor in her voice.
Jackson knew then that he’d never be over Emma
Mercer, not if he lived to be a thousand.
This sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteCarrie @ The Butterfly Reader