Carolyn LaRoche is BACK ON THE BLOG for the next release in her Defenders of Love series. Remember when I covered her print release, Witness Protection? Well, Book #2 of the series is called Homeland Security and releases only on Amazon on September 1st, 2015. Sounds like a mighty fine way to ring in a new month! Take a peek at the book below…
Fool me once… shame on me. Fool me twice?
Well, Katie has no plans to let that old saying play out in her love life. After being duped by a man who only used her to further his political agenda, Katie has no place in her life for love, for men. She can live with the broken heart, with knowing Nathan slept with her best friend. But when she’s accused of domestic terrorism, thanks to Nathan, she’s forced to accept the help of Homeland Security Agent Kaiden James. Once he gets her off the hook she’ll send him on his way and pick up the pieces of her broken life—no matter how kind, intelligent, or sinfully sexy he is.
When duty called him away from his cousin’s wedding to deal with a high profile case, Kaiden James could hardly believe his eyes. The last person he’d expected to see handcuffed to a table was the lovely nurse that had taken care of his gunshot wound last year. Memories of the sponge bath she’d given him had kept him awake more than a few nights since. Working with Katie will put his professionalism to the test.
Will Kaiden once again let duty come before love?
EXCERPT:
In another place, under other circumstances, silk, satin and lace rubbing up on him would have been a turn on. At one in the morning, in a building that smelled of dust and must, nothing got turned on except his allergy response. He needed an antihistamine and a cup of coffee in the worst way. And maybe a sandwich. Or some fried chicken. His stomach rumbled at the thought of hot, moist fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits. He had missed dinner, after all.
He caught Katie’s eye over a display of animal print push up bras. His blood warmed pleasantly as she smiled at him. A hunger of a different sort clenched in his gut.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know it’s late but I can’t stomach the thought of anything that man touched on my skin. I want to grab a couple of things to hold me until I can get to the mall.”
“Take your time. You might not be able to go home for a few days so grab what you need,” Kaiden responded with more conviction than he felt. He nodded at a leopard print push-up in front of him. “That looks nice.” It would look real nice on Katie. Forget about his allergy response, everything started to warm up.
“Agent James! I had no idea you had such a wild side to you!”
“I’m not all business all the time you know. And please, call me Kaiden already. I am pretty sure we have gone beyond formal. Not every woman I meet gives me a sponge bath.” He winked at her as a blush formed on her cheeks.
“We probably shouldn’t discuss that. Nurse-patient privilege or something.” She reached for a deep emerald satin and lace set that would look like the jewel of the same tone against her creamy skin and bring out the green in her hazel eyes.
“I don’t think there is any such thing. Besides, it’s something I certainly enjoy thinking about.”
He watched as the flush in her cheeks darkened by at least three shades. Kaiden couldn’t help but wonder if Nurse Katie had ever thought about him. Of course not, you idiot, she was engaged! Still, during his stay in the hospital they had definitely shared a flirtation. Apparently it ended at flirting since she had a boyfriend the entire time. The pain meds had probably colored the experience, making it something more in his mind than it had actually been.
“All right then it must be off-limits for a secret agent to discuss such things with a suspect.”
Kaiden laughed. “There is nothing secret about this agent. You know who I am and what I do and I’m fairly certain the only thing you are guilty of is bad judgment in men.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Carolyn LaRoche grew up in snow country but fled the cold and ice several years ago. She now lives near the beach with her husband, their two boys, two finicky cats and one old dog. When she is not at the baseball field cheering on big hits and home runs, she is busy teaching science to unwilling teenagers.
Blog: http://carolynlarocheauthor.blogspot.com/
Find her on Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon & Twitter (@CarolynLaRoche).
