What caught your attention? Bargain? Romance? Wine? Either way, it's a win-win-win, right? With book two almost ready for your pretty little hands, I figured why mark down At First Blush?
For those of you knew to my writing, or to this series, here's a little tease...
Oh, and you can one-click here.
For those of you knew to my writing, or to this series, here's a little tease...
Oh, and you can one-click here.
At First Blush
“You want brutal honesty?”
“That would be nice. For once.”
Ben grabbed the collar of her jacket and jerked her toward him, their faces inches apart. “I want you. In my bed. Underneath me. On top of me. But I also don’t want to hurt you. I’m letting you go because I don’t want to be a selfish bastard. There are things you don’t know…”
“I seem to go for selfish bastards so…” She licked her lips, hoping for one more kiss. Hoping he’d ask her to stay. Hoping he’d let her go.
“You’re too…special.”
“I’m not special.” Alexis lowered her eyes and shook her head. More lies to get her into bed. Only he didn’t want her in his bed. Her mind raced searching for answers, yet she didn’t even know the questions. It was all too much.
The way her heart raced when he was near. The way her legs trembled when his dimple appeared as if just for her. The way her mind went dizzy with longing when his stunning eyes were so intently focused on her.
“See, and then you do that vulnerable thing and I just want to…”
A spark ignited inside. She was not weak. “I’m not vulnerable.” She lifted her gaze to his and studied the intensity in his eyes, the seriousness in his jaw.
“I like that you are, and that you think you aren’t.”
“I think I should go.” She was smart enough and strong enough to walk away before she’d get emotionally attached and have her heart broken.
“I’ll follow you home.”
“When was the last time you drove in the snow?” Ben didn’t reply, his gaze still on her lips. “I didn’t think so. I don’t want to have to haul your ass out of a ditch so stay here. Play on your laptop. Style your hair. Go be sexy. Whatever it is you do at night.”
Alexis frowned when she pulled away from him so easily, and let herself out, driving home in silence and confusion.
Leaving her hot and horny and alone on a cold night, Ben was right about one thing. He was a total selfish bastard.
“You want brutal honesty?”
“That would be nice. For once.”
Ben grabbed the collar of her jacket and jerked her toward him, their faces inches apart. “I want you. In my bed. Underneath me. On top of me. But I also don’t want to hurt you. I’m letting you go because I don’t want to be a selfish bastard. There are things you don’t know…”
“I seem to go for selfish bastards so…” She licked her lips, hoping for one more kiss. Hoping he’d ask her to stay. Hoping he’d let her go.
“You’re too…special.”
“I’m not special.” Alexis lowered her eyes and shook her head. More lies to get her into bed. Only he didn’t want her in his bed. Her mind raced searching for answers, yet she didn’t even know the questions. It was all too much.
The way her heart raced when he was near. The way her legs trembled when his dimple appeared as if just for her. The way her mind went dizzy with longing when his stunning eyes were so intently focused on her.
“See, and then you do that vulnerable thing and I just want to…”
A spark ignited inside. She was not weak. “I’m not vulnerable.” She lifted her gaze to his and studied the intensity in his eyes, the seriousness in his jaw.
“I like that you are, and that you think you aren’t.”
“I think I should go.” She was smart enough and strong enough to walk away before she’d get emotionally attached and have her heart broken.
“I’ll follow you home.”
“When was the last time you drove in the snow?” Ben didn’t reply, his gaze still on her lips. “I didn’t think so. I don’t want to have to haul your ass out of a ditch so stay here. Play on your laptop. Style your hair. Go be sexy. Whatever it is you do at night.”
Alexis frowned when she pulled away from him so easily, and let herself out, driving home in silence and confusion.
Leaving her hot and horny and alone on a cold night, Ben was right about one thing. He was a total selfish bastard.
Hear what reviewers have said about At First Blush:
"At First Blush is sweet, endearing and down to earth. From the first page to the last I was drawn into the story. Not only was it “real” but it was sexy and romantic and just gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels.”—Chasing the Words Book Blog
"There are no words to convey how much I loved this story, the authors keen eye for details and how incredible her descriptions of everything was.” -One-Click Romance
"This beautiful story of two realistic people with real life problems is sweet, frustrating, emotional and funny at times but is ultimately satisfying in the end."
"Her characters held so much depth. They were so easy to relate to. They were perfectly imperfect and I couldn't have loved them more."
"I’m always excited with I fall in love with a book and the author is one I’ve never read before. Now I’m sitting here thinking about how did I not know who she was! This was a beautifully written love story with a happily ever after."
"At First Blush is sweet, endearing and down to earth. From the first page to the last I was drawn into the story. Not only was it “real” but it was sexy and romantic and just gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels.”—Chasing the Words Book Blog
"There are no words to convey how much I loved this story, the authors keen eye for details and how incredible her descriptions of everything was.” -One-Click Romance
"This beautiful story of two realistic people with real life problems is sweet, frustrating, emotional and funny at times but is ultimately satisfying in the end."
"Her characters held so much depth. They were so easy to relate to. They were perfectly imperfect and I couldn't have loved them more."
"I’m always excited with I fall in love with a book and the author is one I’ve never read before. Now I’m sitting here thinking about how did I not know who she was! This was a beautifully written love story with a happily ever after."
Want to learn more about Marianne Rice? Join her fabulous reader group, The Ricecakes!
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