Book Tour; Deep Fried Sweethearts
Deep Fried Sweethearts (Holidays in Lake-Point #2) by Sarah Cass is Live!
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BLURB
Tag has had a crush on his new boss since his youth, but
he’s determined to prove he can do the job. Still, he can’t resist the urge to
make her blush down to her toes as often as possible. He knows her rough past
in life and love makes it hard to trust, and he’s wary of crossing the line he
so desperately wants to.
Just when they manage to figure out how to work and play
together, Michaela’s ex does all he can to destroy their budding love. When
push comes to shove Michaela’s inability to give Tag the benefit of the doubt
might destroy everything.
Learning to trust herself again is the hardest lesson
Michaela will ever have to learn – and by the time she does, it may be too late
for love.
Tag pulled her closer and caught her other elbow so she had
to face him. “I am not about to quit on you. I like my job, and I like you.
Probably more than I should.”
“I…What?” Whether she meant to or not, her hands wrapped
around his forearms and held tight like she feared falling over.
“It’s terrible. You’re my boss. Kayla, I know that. And I
had a crush on you for years before you ever hired me. But getting to know you,
the real you, when you let me in, changed that. I don’t think it’s a crush any
longer.”
“This isn’t nice,” she whispered. Tears glimmered at the
edge of her eyes. When she blinked, several shimmered on her long lashes.
“Don’t tease me like that.”
“I’m not teasing.” He released one of her elbows to brush
aside a tear with his thumb. “That ‘Hot for Teacher’ line was crass and stupid.
It also wasn’t entirely true. Yeah, I’m hot for teacher, but I’m more impressed
with who you are.”
“You don’t—you can’t—I…” She took several deep breaths and her
eyes fluttered closed. After a moment she let out a choked laugh. “I can’t even
form a sentence.”
“You just did.” The breath he’d been holding released when
she laughed in reply. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have—”
“Eve and I used to call you jail bait.” In a good sign, she
still hadn’t released her grip on his arm, and she hadn’t moved away. “I knew
it was dangerous hiring you. I just didn’t realize that it was dangerous
because of more than your looks. I think you’re a good guy. I honestly didn’t
believe those existed.”
“I’m glad you see me that way. Is there a ‘but’ to that
statement?”
“Let me count the ways.” She took a deep breath, and started
talking fast. “I’m ten years older; I’m seriously messed up; I don’t trust
anyone, not even my friends. I’m also not very good at relationships. Never
was. Just because I was married means nothing. In fact, it might have made me
worse. And last, but not least, I am your boss and I can’t get sued for sexual
harassment. I have no money.”
“Breathe, Kayla.” He released her other elbow and wrapped
his arms fully around her. “First off, I told you age doesn’t matter. Second, I
know you don’t trust easy, and I know you’re messed up. Third, no relationship
is the same. Lastly, I am not going to sue you. If anything I was harassing you
a little bit.”
“So you were flirting with me? All this time?”
“You bet your sweet little ass I was.”
“This could be a really huge mistake, Owen. I don’t know
that I can handle any more of those in my life.” Her lips drew together in a
small ‘O’ and she blew out a long breath.
“It could be, but how about this? It’s not a relationship.
We’ll just take it a day at a time and see where it goes. If it doesn’t work,
it doesn’t.”
“I’m really messed up. So much more than you know. You’ve
got so much ahead of you. You shouldn’t be thinking about trying anything with
someone so jaded.”
“Maybe I like that you’re jaded.”
Her forehead puckered. “Then you’re messed up.”
“So we’ll be messed up together.” He was rewarded with the
sweet sound of her laugh. With one finger hooked under her chin, he tilted her
head up. “We’ll try. All I ask is if you have a problem, tell me—and give me
the benefit of the doubt.”
“I’ll promise to try.”
“I’ll take it for now.” He bent toward her, close enough to
hear her sharp intake of breath when he got close to her lips. A smile took
over in the instant before he pulled her into a slow, soft kiss.
Her lips were soft and inviting, drawing him after only a
moment’s hesitation. The sweet taste of cotton candy lingered, and he brushed
his tongue across the seam of her lips. Her small gasp granted him the chance
he wanted and he swept his tongue through her warm mouth.
The cold chill of the evening was replaced with growing
warmth as her arms wrapped around him and she relaxed against his body. Her
every response to his kiss was tentative, and he tried to keep himself in
check, even as each simple brush of her tongue against his drove him crazy with
need.
He retreated slowly from the sweet taste of cotton candy and
strawberries that was her kiss and pressed his forehead to hers. “I’ve wanted
to do that for a long time.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
“What else have you wanted to do?” Once again he was
rewarded with the deep hues of a blush. “God, you’re gorgeous when you blush.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. Why do you think I try to make it happen so
much?”
She bit her lips and shook her head.
“At least now I know I’m not the only one with fantasies.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Cass' world is regularly turned upside down by her
three special needs kids and loving mate, so she breaks genre barriers;
dabbling in horror, straight fiction and urban fantasy. She loves historicals
and romance, and characters who are real and flawed, so she writes to
understand what makes her fictional people tick. And she lives for a happy
ending - eventually. And enough twists to make it look like she enjoys her
title of Queen of Trauma Drama a little too much.
An ADD tendency leaves her with a variety of interests that
include singing, dancing, crafting, cooking, and being a photographer. She
fights through the struggles of the day, knowing the battles are her crucible;
she may emerge scarred, but always stronger. The rhythms to her activities
drive her words forward, pushing her through the labyrinths of the heart and
the nightmares of the mind, driving her to find resolutions to her characters'
problems.
While busy creating worlds and characters as real to her as
her own family, she leads an active online life with her blog, Redefining
Perfect, which gives a real and sometimes raw glimpse into her life and art.
You can most often find her popping out her 140 characters in Twitter speak,
and on Facebook.
~ Deeps
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