I'm so happy the Making Scandal manuscript is now with my editor. Finally. I can have a breather. So I'm going to share one final teaser before the book comes out.
This scene describes itself. It is the unedited version so pardon any errors. Enjoy.
***
Stepping into the cool, dark interior, her eyes took a few
seconds to adjust to the gloom as the driver shut the door. The shadows gave Mark an air of danger, like a lion in his den. A shiver ran down her spine. Male spice
scented the air, triggering the instinct to sink into his strong arms. He
always had that effect on her. Enough.
She shook off the sensation and stiffened her back.
"Hi, sweetheart."
Opening his arms, he reached for her shoulders. She tilted
to the left, dodged his questing fingers and swung her arm. The slap connected
with his bristly jaw.
"Aww."
One hand clutched his left cheek, the other pressed a button. The tinted driver partition slid
upwards, returning the back interior into shadows with minimal sunlight
filtering through the darkened windows. Gentle vibrations beneath the soft
luxurious dark leather seat indicated the car was moving.
"You lying sonofabitch."
Her right palm stung but she swung it a second time. Firm
fingers grasped her wrist mid-air in a vicelike grip.
"Perhaps I deserved the first one, Faith. But you don't
get to slap me again unless you want one in return."
Her head ached. She grunted and tugged her arm. His grip
didn't loosen.
"Let me go, Mark." Her body vibrated, anger
popping in her veins in mini-explosions.
The whoosh of a ragged breath drawn in and out filled the
air. He let her hand go. Pushing back in her seat, she sought as much distance
as possible between them. Averting her gaze, she stared at the traffic lights
at the junction as it counted down to green. Except at the moment, red mist tinted
her vision.
"Faith, what is going on?" His demand had an edge
of concern.
She whipped around, facing him. A spotlight highlighted his striking
profile. He must have turned it on. Dark eyes bore into hers, scrutinising, yet
alluring. The urge to let go and get lost in them—in him—flared, heat flushing
her body.
She shook her head, dismissing her body's response to him. "Are
you really going to ask me that after the stunt you just pulled in the
boardroom?"
Horizontal lines marred his forehead, his eyes narrowed into
slits.
"I didn't do anything I haven't been doing since I
started running Apex Financials. It was a business decision and we agreed to
keep business separate from our personal relationship."
"Well, you made it personal when you decided to buy
City Investments. For goodness sake, you know how much this job means to
me."
"I told you I wanted you to work for me." His
voice gentled, soft as honey, enticing, matching the lazy smile on his face.
His warm palm covered her bare lower arm, fingers caressing.
Her skin tingled, nipples beaded, and a slow ache built
between her thighs, adding to her already choppy breathing. She lowered her
eyelids, took a slow, deep breath and shook his hand off.
"And I said no. I haven't changed my mind." She
met his gaze again.
His eyes marbled, glinting cold and hard. The line of his
jaw stiffened, the hard-nosed business man replacing the charming playboy.
"Then that's a big shame because I'm not going to give
up a great opportunity like City."
She flinched, hearing the unspoken words "not even for you." The pain
in her chest announced her shattered heart.
She shut her eyes tight, fighting the tears behind her
eyeballs waiting to spill. Why did she ever think their relationship was
special? That she was more than just a notch on his bedpost? Foolish woman.
She should've known
that he would remain ruthless as far as business was concerned. Was that partly
why he'd started dating her? Had she inadvertently given him the ammunition to
take over her firm?
"How long have you wanted to buy City? Is that why you
asked me out, so you could get information from me?"
Her stomach clenched and nausea rose as she asked the
question. But she had to know if she'd been a pawn in her own downfall.
"Stop this nonsense." Frustration laced his words.
"Our relationship is the nonsense." Opening her
eyes, she glared at him.
"Do not belittle what we have."
"You did that already when you decided that acquiring
City was more important than what we have."
"I never said that." His fingers gripping the seat
side-rest showed taut knuckles.
"You didn't have to," she replied, her throat dry.
His loud growl reverberated inside the car. It should've
been her cue to back off. She didn't. "How long have you wanted
City?"
The space between them disappeared as he loomed over her, her
back pressed into the corner of the seat.
"Mark, what are you doing?" Her heart thudded
loudly, her breath caught in her throat.
"There one sure way of shutting you up." The
huskiness in his voice melted her outrage, arousal taking over.
Lean, hard, masculine muscles pressed against her soft
flesh, the fabrics separating them inconsequential. The hard points of her
nipples chaffed against the lace of her bra. Her body trembled, her hands
moistened as her lips parted. But no words came out.
Long fingers curled around the back of her neck, pressing
her head forward. "I'm going to kiss you now."
Copyright Kiru Taye 2014
Here's the blurb
Sassy, successful Faith
Brown has earned her place in the boardroom through hard work and sheer
ambition. Making family is not on her agenda when there are businesses
to develop and competitors to outdo. So when a casual affair with smooth
and irresistible tycoon Mark Essien leads to an unplanned pregnancy,
she’s determined not to make the mistakes her mother made by living with
a man just for the sake of her child.
For Mark, personal matters have no place in the boardroom. Spotting the perfect opportunity, he ruthlessly launches a takeover bid for Faith’s Investment Brokerage firm. Finding out he’ll soon be a father, he knows he can’t let the indomitable and sexy Faith go through with her plans of single parenthood. All gloves are off. He’ll seduce her by any tactic necessary if it means his child doesn’t suffer the same stigma he did as a child.
With the media dogging their affairs in the boardroom and the bedroom, they find that making family is harder than making scandal.
For Mark, personal matters have no place in the boardroom. Spotting the perfect opportunity, he ruthlessly launches a takeover bid for Faith’s Investment Brokerage firm. Finding out he’ll soon be a father, he knows he can’t let the indomitable and sexy Faith go through with her plans of single parenthood. All gloves are off. He’ll seduce her by any tactic necessary if it means his child doesn’t suffer the same stigma he did as a child.
With the media dogging their affairs in the boardroom and the bedroom, they find that making family is harder than making scandal.
Release date: ebook - 29 August 2014 / paperback - 18 September 2014
***
I hope you enjoyed it. What do you think? Leave me a comment.
Remember to check out the other fabulous mid-week teasers too.
Happy hump day!
Kiru xx
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to read your comments. Please share your thoughts.
If you're having problems using blogger to comment, please use the Facebook comment box at the bottom. Thank you.