A Texas lawman finds more than fall foliage during a drive in an antique convertible Cadillac to his new home.

Newly-hired Texas cop Shade Gruber agrees to drive his grandmother’s prize car from Chicago to his new home in Big Branch. He expects some car issues. He doesn’t expect to pick up a runaway bride.

On the run from her mobster fiancé, Victoria Vaught dashes from the church thirty minutes before the I Do’s. Stranded in her bridal attire by an unreliable car, she starts walking, needing as far from Chicago as possible.

Their road to love is filled with twists, turns and bumps. Hanging on to the one you love can be roller coaster ride with surprising results.

  

Excerpt

The elevator doors closed and he pushed her against the wall. He caught her mouth in a wet, hard kiss. His tongue traced along her lower lip and she opened, ready for him. He slipped in his tongue, deepening the kiss and skirted his hands down her hips until he grasped her rear and squeezed.

Vivi’s insides melted and flowed toward her center. Her breasts grew heavy. She needed more.

The elevator dinged, signaling arrival on their floor. He broke the kiss and stared into her eyes. His were dark and dilated with a driving passion. She touched her lips with her fingers but only for a moment. He grabbed her hand and pulled her from the elevator car. As they hurried toward their suite, he dug the magnetic key from his pocket. It took a couple of tries to get the door to release, all the while she was getting more and more frantic to touch him.

The door finally swung open, and Shade pulled her through, slamming and locking it behind her. He pushed her against the door and took her mouth in a bruising kiss. His hands slid down her arms until he laced his fingers with hers. Never breaking the kiss, he jerked her arms above her head and held both of her wrists with one hand.

Vivi twisted in his hold, trying to get closer. He kicked her feet apart until he could stand between her thighs. She wrapped one leg around him, widening the space. He pressed the hard bulge behind his zipper against her aching center. She moaned and arched, rubbing herself on his hard cock.

He released her wrists so he could use both hands to tug her shirt over her head. He dipped his tongue in the valley between her breasts before nuzzling the flesh above the lace of her bra.

“I will never make fun of Walmart again,” he said, gliding his lips along her skin. “But it’s time for this to go.” He popped the bra’s clasp. She let the straps slide down her arms and drop to the floor.

“Beautiful,” he whispered and took one breast into his mouth. He sucked hard, pulling and tugging her into his mouth. She groaned.

“That feels wonderful,” she said. “More.”

He pulled back and caught the nipple between his teeth. He bit down. She gasped from the gentle pain. Then he licked where he’d bit and she mewed her pleasure.

“Like that, did you?” he said. “Let’s try the other side.”

He took her other breast into his mouth and drew it deep. His cheeks sunk in from the suction. The sight sent shock waves of lust rolling through her veins.

Her head dropped back to the door. She was beyond aroused. The need to touch him overwhelmed her, so she jerked his shirt from his jeans and allowed her fingers to glide along the hills and valleys of his abdomen. He was incredible but she craved skin-to-skin contact. Her mouth was desperate for a taste of Shade.

“Shirt. Off,” she said with a groan.

He broke off sucking long enough to yank his shirt up and off without unbuttoning it. He tossed it on the sofa with hers.

“Oh, yum,” she said and leaned over to run her tongue over the area her fingers had just explored. “My turn.”

She grabbed his shoulders and he let her reverse their position. She rubbed her nose along his chest. His scent filled her senses and sent shivers down her spine. She flicked out her tongue and skimmed it across his nipple. He threaded his fingers through her hair.

“Oh, princess,” he growled. “What am I going to do with you?”

She pressed a kiss to his chest, then left a line of wet ones up his throat to his mouth. “Kiss me,” she said against his lips. “Make love to me.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Cynthia D’Alba started writing on a challenge from her husband in 2006 and discovered having imaginary sex with lots of hunky men was fun.

She was born and raised in a small Arkansas town. After being gone for a number of years, she’s thrilled to be making her home back in Arkansas living in a vine-covered cottage on the banks of an eight-thousand acre lake.

When she’s not reading or writing or plotting, she’s doorman for her two dogs, cook, housekeeper and chief bottle washer for her husband and slave to a noisy, messy parrot. She loves to chat online with friends and fans.

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