Cowboy Marvin thinks my last interviews on other blogs were sweet and kisses are fine, but my goat wants more action on his Fridays here.
His proposal is a feature where authors stop by and post the first fight out of their latest book. I'm offering up my own work to kick it off.
Here's
First Fight Friday
from The Lawman of Silver Creek by Lori Connelly
“Come back to bed.”
His drowsy voice startled Claire. Her head jerked in his direction. She had a clear view through the open door to where a few rays of light fought with shadows. Although Matt hadn’t moved, hadn’t even opened his eyes, tension filled her.
“The rain stopped. I have to go.”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“I’m glad.” His simple declaration warmed her heart.
His eyes opened. Matt turned on his side and patted the bed beside him. “Then stay.”
His naked glory birthed a whisper of temptation within her that she found hard to ignore. Claire fastened her last button, smoothed down her skirt then walked back to him. She leaned down, brushed a kiss over his lips but then stepped back, out of reach, before his arms could close around her.
“I have chores that can’t wait.”
“Fine,” the word sounded more like a sigh, “I’ll help you.”
If he were with her when her family returned, Claire knew her parents would think they’d settled their differences. She didn’t want to deal with others’ expectations when hers were so fragile. She wanted to savor the first peace she’d felt since breaking off their engagement.
“No,” she shook her head, softened her tone, “Thank you. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Matt sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. He studied her for a second. Her skin tingled, heating as if he’d touched her. He reached down for his pants.
“I know you will, but two pairs of hands make quick work.”
“It wouldn’t be a good idea Matt,” With her flat tone and averted gaze, she made her rejection clear.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Claire finger brushed her hair and with brisk efficient movements wove it into a single thick braid. Her heart beat quickly as she struggled to keep her expression neutral.
“Okay,” disbelief colored his voice but he didn’t challenge her on it further. “I’ll just escort you home then.”
“There’s no need.” She walked back into the main room, swung her cloak over her shoulders and fastened it.
“Yes there is,” Matt followed her, “You know that.”
Irritation ate away at the contentment she’d found in his arms. She’d known seducing him wouldn’t solve anything. Still, Claire had hoped, if only for short time, the argument that had torn them apart wouldn’t rear its ugly head.
“I can protect myself now.”
His eyes narrowed. “One gun won’t-”
“That’s all you carry.” Annoyed, she grabbed her gun belt, pushed her cloak out of the way and put it on.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because it is,” He snapped.
“I don’t see how.”
“Claire-”
“I’ll be fine. Trust me.”
“I won’t have you taking that risk,” His patronizing tone put her teeth on edge.
Her temper blazed. She fought to hold it in check. Her lips flattened into a thin white line, only parting enough to allow words to escape.
“It’s not a risk, it’s a walk home.”
“Humor me.”
Why couldn’t he let it go? “Trust me.”
“It’s not a matter of trust.”
“Yes it is.”
“I have a right-”
“Not anymore you don’t.”
“After what just happened-?”
“That changed nothing.”
Pants tugged up over his hips but unfastened, he stomped over to her. His stocking feet made almost no sound while his expression screamed frustration. Matt didn’t stop until they stood toe to toe.
“It changed everything.”
“Obviously not,” she shook her head for emphasis. “We’re arguing about your overprotectiveness again.”
“So our lovemaking meant nothing to you?”
The hurt in his stiff voice pierced her annoyance. She reached out to rest her hand on his bare chest, felt his heart beating strong and fast beneath her palm. “It means the world to me, more than I dreamed possible.”
His arms closed around her. She rose on her toes, placed a soft lingering kiss on his mouth. However, when he started to deepen the kiss, Claire pulled back.
“I really need to leave.”
Matt let her go with obvious reluctance. Fingertips slid one last time over bare skin as she turned from him. Without another word, Claire walked away. He didn’t follow her, didn’t even speak until her hand touched the doorknob.
“I’ll be over in the morning to speak to your father.”
Claire looked back at him, puzzled. “Why?”
“Why?” A stunned expression on his face, Matt stared at her for a full second, “to ask for your hand again of course.”
“No.”
“No?” Startled Matt repeated her answer.
“I told you nothing has changed,” Claire opened the door and stepped into the opening. “I can’t marry you.”
Before Matt could protest, worn wood swung back into place behind her. He stared in disbelief at the barrier. The woman who had always loved to debate each point of a disagreement had simply left him again. Wind moaned against log walls, its lonely sound finding an echo in his heart.
Impossible woman.
Copyright © Lori Connelly
firstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfri
The Lawman of Silver Creek by Lori Connelly
As sheriff of Silver Creek County, Matthew Marson’s job is to look after his town. But when he fails to protect the most important person in his life, Claire, from an attack, Matt feels as though he will never be able to forgive himself.
Her husband-to-be’s newly found overprotectiveness drives the headstrong Claire from his arms. She can’t see a future with a man who won’t allow her to follow her dreams.
In a small town where everybody knows your name and your business, it’s impossible for the pair to stay apart, especially as Claire finds that she can’t completely turn her back on the lawman that she loves.
“Okay,” disbelief colored his voice but he didn’t challenge her on it further. “I’ll just escort you home then.”
“There’s no need.” She walked back into the main room, swung her cloak over her shoulders and fastened it.
“Yes there is,” Matt followed her, “You know that.”
Irritation ate away at the contentment she’d found in his arms. She’d known seducing him wouldn’t solve anything. Still, Claire had hoped, if only for short time, the argument that had torn them apart wouldn’t rear its ugly head.
“I can protect myself now.”
His eyes narrowed. “One gun won’t-”
“That’s all you carry.” Annoyed, she grabbed her gun belt, pushed her cloak out of the way and put it on.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because it is,” He snapped.
“I don’t see how.”
“Claire-”
“I’ll be fine. Trust me.”
“I won’t have you taking that risk,” His patronizing tone put her teeth on edge.
Her temper blazed. She fought to hold it in check. Her lips flattened into a thin white line, only parting enough to allow words to escape.
“It’s not a risk, it’s a walk home.”
“Humor me.”
Why couldn’t he let it go? “Trust me.”
“It’s not a matter of trust.”
“Yes it is.”
“I have a right-”
“Not anymore you don’t.”
“After what just happened-?”
“That changed nothing.”
Pants tugged up over his hips but unfastened, he stomped over to her. His stocking feet made almost no sound while his expression screamed frustration. Matt didn’t stop until they stood toe to toe.
“It changed everything.”
“Obviously not,” she shook her head for emphasis. “We’re arguing about your overprotectiveness again.”
“So our lovemaking meant nothing to you?”
The hurt in his stiff voice pierced her annoyance. She reached out to rest her hand on his bare chest, felt his heart beating strong and fast beneath her palm. “It means the world to me, more than I dreamed possible.”
His arms closed around her. She rose on her toes, placed a soft lingering kiss on his mouth. However, when he started to deepen the kiss, Claire pulled back.
“I really need to leave.”
Matt let her go with obvious reluctance. Fingertips slid one last time over bare skin as she turned from him. Without another word, Claire walked away. He didn’t follow her, didn’t even speak until her hand touched the doorknob.
“I’ll be over in the morning to speak to your father.”
Claire looked back at him, puzzled. “Why?”
“Why?” A stunned expression on his face, Matt stared at her for a full second, “to ask for your hand again of course.”
“No.”
“No?” Startled Matt repeated her answer.
“I told you nothing has changed,” Claire opened the door and stepped into the opening. “I can’t marry you.”
Before Matt could protest, worn wood swung back into place behind her. He stared in disbelief at the barrier. The woman who had always loved to debate each point of a disagreement had simply left him again. Wind moaned against log walls, its lonely sound finding an echo in his heart.
Impossible woman.
Copyright © Lori Connelly
firstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfridayfirstfightfri
The Lawman of Silver Creek by Lori Connelly
As sheriff of Silver Creek County, Matthew Marson’s job is to look after his town. But when he fails to protect the most important person in his life, Claire, from an attack, Matt feels as though he will never be able to forgive himself.
Her husband-to-be’s newly found overprotectiveness drives the headstrong Claire from his arms. She can’t see a future with a man who won’t allow her to follow her dreams.
In a small town where everybody knows your name and your business, it’s impossible for the pair to stay apart, especially as Claire finds that she can’t completely turn her back on the lawman that she loves.
The Lawman of Silver Creek is available to buy at these places: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo | All Romance eBooks
Follow Lori online:
No comments:
Post a Comment