Plot Monkeys

Less than two months before BORN TO BE WILDE hits the bookstore shelves. I’m so excited and can’t wait for you all to read Joel Wilde’s story. Today I’m posting an excerpt from the book, and as the release date draws nearer I will post another HOTTER, SEXIER excerpt for you all. But for today, since it’s scorching hot out anyway, I’ll keep things on the sensual side — a bit of a teaser that will hopefully intrigue you enough to want to read more!

Oh, and I hope you don’t mind, but Joel wanted to stop by today to meet you all. How could I say no? Treat him nicely, ladies, and don’t wear him out too much. (Yes, I’m talking especially to you, Jodie! ) He does need his strength to protect Lora come September!

And now, an excerpt from BORN TO BE WILDE:

“God, he’s so hot, I’m about to melt in a puddle right here and now.”

Lora Marshall smiled in amusement at her co-worker, Monique, as they waited at the end of the bar for their drink orders. Sydney, Lora’s best friend and the owner of The Electric Blue, stood on the other side of the mahogany and brass bar, mixing an array of cocktails and popping the caps off of chilled beer bottles with an ease and rhythm that came with years of experience. Despite how busy Sydney was, that didn’t stop her from joining in on the conversation.

“Who’s hot?” she asked over the loud music. There were dozens of good looking guys in the place, and she gave the crowded bar area a quick glance in search of the mystery man Monique seemed so enthralled with.

“Lora’s guy,” Monique said as she set two beers, a Mai Tai, and a Cosmopolitan on her tray. “Table sixteen. The one dressed all in black.”

Lora rolled her eyes. She didn’t need to look in that direction to know who was sitting at the designated table, especially after hearing Monique’s description. “He’s not my guy.” But she had to agree that he was definitely hot.

“Oh, yum.” This bit of interest came from Sydney, who’d spied the dark haired guy, who was just her type. “Well, I’ll certainly take one of him.”

“Sorry, boss.” Monique added a pineapple wedge to the Mai Tai and pressed a lime into the long neck of the bottle of Corona. “He wants Lora. He always asks for Lora.” With that, she picked up her loaded tray and made her way through the throng of customers to deliver her drinks.

Lora couldn’t deny Monique’s claim. Yes, he did always ask that she take his order. This was the third night he’d come into The Electric Blue, each time with a friend. If the past two evenings were any indication, he’d order one beer, maybe two, and nurse them for the next few hours, until the place closed. Even though he didn’t lack for female interest, he never danced with anyone, though his friends seemed to enjoy the singles scene.

“Well, well, well,” Sydney drawled. With a sly grin curving her lips, she expertly flipped a bottle of Kettle One Vodka in her hand and poured two shots of the liquor into a tumbler for an apple martini. “It appears you have yourself an admirer. He looks like the kind of bad boy who would be perfect to end your two year dry spell.”

It was a familiar conversation between the two of them. While Sydney enjoyed all kinds of male attention, in the bedroom and out, Lora was far more particular and didn’t do one night stands.

“I’ve dated since my break-up with Brent,” she said in defense. Unfortunately, none of those too conservative men had aroused anything more than amicable feelings. There hadn’t been any kind of zing or real attraction to make Lora want anything more than a casual friendship with those guys.

Sydney served the martini to the woman standing at the bar in front of her and rang up the sale before saying over her shoulder to Lora, “Sure, you’ve dated here and there, but I’m talking about sleeping with a guy. You know, mutual physical pleasure, orgasms, and all that fun stuff. It’s just not normal for a woman your age to go that long without sex.”

Lora laughed, grateful for the loud music that helped to drown out her friend’s frank observation. “I’ve done just fine on my own.” Refusing to elaborate on that comment, she went on. “Besides, if you haven’t noticed, between my day job and working here in the evenings for you until closing, it’s not like I have a lot of free time to pursue any guy.”

Sydney cast a quick glance at her watch in between pouring another drink. “You know what? You’re absolutely right. You’re getting off at ten tonight. I’ll keep Monique until closing. Use the time wisely.” She winked at Lora.

Lora shook her head as she placed the Long Island Ice Tea on her tray. “I don’t mind staying.”

“You’re off at ten,” Sydney said adamantly. “I certainly don’t want to be responsible for your lack of social and no sex life.”

“Fine.” Lora added a Mudslide to her orders to deliver. “I could use the extra sleep.” Even over the noise in the bar, Lora heard Sydney’s sound of disgust and had to bite her bottom lip to keep from grinning.

“Please do not waste the extra time on sleep,” her friend said. “Not with a perfectly hot and sexy man eyeing you like he wants to eat you up in one big bite.”

What a delicious, decadent thought. A light shiver coursed through Lora and her Electric Blue t-shirt suddenly felt too tight across her breasts. Instinctively, she glanced toward him. Sure enough, he was watching her, and even from across the crowded room their gazes met.

Always dressed in black — t-shirt, jeans, and shoes — he looked a little dangerous, and a whole lot like a rebel. A daring rule-breaker. A man who thrived on risk and adventure. His too long, tousled black hair and the dark stubble shadowing his lean jaw only added to that tantalizing image. Then there were those stunning, piercing blue eyes of his that had the ability to tempt a woman to sin. With him. In many different, erotic ways.

Lora sighed, and as if he knew exactly where her thoughts had traveled, a slow, disarming smile tipped up the corners of his sensual mouth, bringing to life an instantaneous awareness that coiled low and deep in her belly. Her attraction to this man was undeniable, like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

“Oh, for God’s sake, take him into the storeroom and do him already,” Sydney teased. “I’ll have Monique cover for you.”

Her friend was absolutely outrageous. But then again, Sydney had always been bold and brazen — the exact opposite of Lora’s more cautious, reserved nature. “I’m so not that kind of girl,” she said primly.

“Maybe you ought to be.” Sydney passed a shot of Tequila Lora’s way, which completed her drink order. “Bad girls have more fun. Trust me, I should know.”

Yes, Lora was very aware that Sydney had worked hard to cultivate her wild and unabashed reputation over the years — with much success. It helped that Sydney had a body of a Playboy centerfold, wore tight, revealing outfits to flaunt those curves, and wasn’t afraid to use her sexuality to get exactly what she wanted. Being a “bad girl” had served Sydney well — in business and pleasure.

Lora double checked her order pad against the drinks on her tray to make sure she had everything. Then she went ahead and added one more item. “Can you give me a bottle of Samuel Adams?”

Sydney arched an auburn brow as she uncapped the beer and slid it down the counter to Lora. “His choice of drink?”

“Yes, and his name is Joel.”

“Ahhh, you’re already on a first name basis.” Sydney grinned.

“He introduced himself the first night.” Lora shrugged and added a stack of cocktail napkins to her tray.

“A first name is all you need to do the deed,” Sydney said with a naughty inflection in her voice. “Now go and make those deliveries. The crowd’s getting restless and they’re looking for some action.”

Knowing that meant Sydney was going to ring the loud cow bell behind the bar in the next few minutes, which would announce the employee entertainment that The Electric Blue was known for, Lora picked up her tray and passed out the drinks to her customers, then headed over to Joel’s table.

“Hi there,” she said, and set the chilled bottle of beer on a napkin. “Sam Adams, right?”

Up close, that slow, lazy grin of his was even more potent and disarming. “Am I that predictable?”

There wasn’t anything about the man that struck her as tame or boring. “I’m just going on past drink orders, and you’re becoming a regular.”

He leaned back in his chair, and even that slight movement exuded an abundance of male confidence and sex appeal that should have been deemed illegal. “What can I say? I like the atmosphere here.”

He liked her. The sentiment glimmered in his vibrant blue eyes and infused her with a pleasurable, sensual warmth. There was no ignoring the truth making itself known . . . she really liked him, too. She was very attracted to him, but there was something else about this man beyond the physical that drew her. She supposed it was his easy going charm and affability that made her feel so comfortable around him.

She redirected her attention to the other man sitting at the table, who was obviously a friend of Joel’s. “What can I get you to drink?”

“I’ll take a Sam Adams, too,” he replied easily. “By the way, I’m Jon.”

He was a good looking guy, and his grin was very warm and friendly. “Nice to meet you. I’m Lora.”

“So, what time do you get off work tonight?” Joel cut in smoothly.

Lora was used to the question, since it was one he asked every evening. The past few nights she’d helped close down the bar, but Sydney had just given her strict orders to take off early. “My shift is over at ten.”

“Ahhh, my lucky night,” he said, looking very pleased. “Would you like to go somewhere after work and have a drink with me?”

She automatically shook her head. She might work part-time as a cocktail waitress, but hanging out at a bar other than The Electric Blue on her off hours really wasn’t her thing. “I don’t drink.”

“Anything?” The amusement in his voice was unmistakable.

“No alcohol,” she clarified, certain she’d just effectively pegged herself as too much of a goody-two shoes, as Sydney often called her, for Joel to pursue her further. Which was probably just as well.

“How about coffee?” he asked as he stroked his long fingers down the condensation gathering on his bottle of beer. “I know a great coffee place down the street from here. It’s even within walking distance.”

“I have to be to work early in the morning.” It was an automatic response, one she used on men she had no interest in going out with. But with Joel, she was beginning to wonder why she was resisting when the attraction between them was so strong. So arousing. So tempting.

“I promise not to keep you out late.” He placed his right hand on the left side of his chest and glanced up at her with a hopeful look that transformed his edgy good looks into a more boyish appearance. “Please don’t break my heart by saying no.”

She laughed, certain that he was the heart-breaker in this scenario. That was a good enough reason for her to keep her distance from him since she’d been on the receiving end of that kind of emotional upheaval before. But despite all that, there was something so irresistible and charismatic about him.

Jon leaned forward in his seat and spoke loud in order to be heard over the music. “If it makes you feel any better, I can vouch for the fact that he’s an honorable, trust-worthy guy.” Then he graced her with an engaging grin that had no doubt worked magic on many women.

She believed Jon, and most importantly she trusted her instincts. She thought about everything Sydney had just said to her and came to the conclusion that her friend was right. She did need more of a social life. Besides, just because she had a cup of coffee with Joel didn’t mean they’d end up in bed together.

“So, what do you say?” Joel asked. “One coffee drink of your choice, and we’ll call it a night.”

This time, she didn’t hesitate with an answer. “Sure.”

He blinked, drawing her attention to those long, sooty lashes and his vivid blue eyes. “Excuse me?”

She almost laughed at his startled expression. After all her previous excuses, he obviously thought he’d heard her wrong. “Yes, I’ll go and have a cup of coffee with you.”

“Well I’ll be damned,” he drawled in a deep, satisfied tone of voice. “It is my lucky night.”

AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 2007!

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 12th, 2007 at 6:00 am and is filed under Janelle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.