Delighted to have Jennifer Simpkins (fellow Secret Cravings Author) join me today. And for the record, I do remember that first email exchange, Jennifer 😉

Before anything, I have to thank Sarah for hosting me today. She probably doesn’t remember this, but after I signed my first contract with Secret Cravings Publishing she came to my rescue a time or two when I was trying to set up my Facebook page. Now we both participate in Hump Day Hook. It’s been fun getting to know her through her writing.

I noticed that besides on my publisher’s website, I have not posted a story excerpt for Forgiving Patience. I hope you don’t mind if I do that today. Here is a blurb, followed by an excerpt:

Anna Kelly had no intention of returning to her hometown of Patience, Tennessee. At eighteen, feeling powerless from an abusive childhood and heartbroken from her high school sweetheart, she needed to put distance between her and the small town. Now, eleven years later she’s invited to her best friend’s wedding and has no other choice but to return. Though she feels much stronger the second time around, nothing can prepare her for when she sees her ex again.

After a baseball injury, Jake limped back into Patience, damaged and angry. Throwing himself into remodeling Anna’s childhood home has given him purpose again. He is just getting his life back together. He can’t risk sending it all back to hell again, but the woman who broke his heart has whipped back into town…and she wants her house back. In hopes of reminding Anna of what she ran away from all those years ago he makes her an offer she can’t refuse—three dates, that have Anna rethinking Patience…and the life she was supposed to have with Jake.

I love scenes that involve a jealous man. To me there is so much raw emotion shown to the reader. In this particular scene Jake is jealous because he has been watching Anna from across the bar while she is having a good time with another guy. When he finally approaches her he has only one thing on his mind. I hope you enjoy!

Excerpt

“I see your pansy team won again. You must feel pretty damn good.”

Anna recognized the male voice coming from behind her without having to even turn around. She could feel his breath on her neck and smell the cologne that had become familiar to her. Just the sound of his deep, manly voice sent a chill through her entire body, making her stomach do a freefall. And she wondered if it would land anytime soon. She didn’t want to turn around to look into those deep blue eyes—most likely shaded with a ball cap—and wonder what he had just done with Carly.

Quit feeling sorry for yourself and turn your ass around.

“You can’t call them a pansy team when they have the best record in baseball right now.”

Between the dim lighting and low cap, his eyes were unreadable. But she could feel something coming off him. Electricity or something crazy. She couldn’t move. The only thing she could do was stand there and torture herself by looking at a man she would never have.

“You have a good night?” he asked, pointing to the straw hat that still sat on her head.

He said it in a way that told her several things—one, he’d been watching her for some time, and two, it was a slim chance that he’d spent any time with Carly. If he had, he wasn’t as good as everyone said…and she highly doubted that. The thoughts made her feel giddy, or maybe that was because of the two drinks she had consumed earlier in the night. He must have seen Tex with her. Hmmmm…now that explains why he just up and left, but not without laying a kiss on me…right in front of Jake. Interesting.

“Actually, I did. You just missed Tex. It was fun to have someone to watch the game with.”

With a clenched jaw, he said, “Yeah. I saw him. You know he was only interested in getting down your pants? He could care less about your precious ballteam.”

“Jealous, Jake?” She gave her head a playful tilt.

“I’m not jealous of that asshole,” he retorted with little conviction. “I just wouldn’t let any woman who had been drinking walk out the door with him.”

“I wasn’t leaving with him. I was simply watching a baseball game with the guy. Plus, I thought you two were friends?”

“We are. How do you think I know all this?”

Both fists were clinched at his sides. He looked like he could take down a Mack truck. What was the deal? She hadn’t expected this—after all, he was the one who had left with some Barbie doll tonight. He was the one who accused her of wanting his brother. And he was the one who had smashed a plate against the kitchen wall. When she took a minute to let all three of those things sink in, she was mad all over again.

“Well, thanks for….whatever, but I’m going home now.” She did a half wave and grabbed her purse, making her way past him, but not before brushing up against him. Everything in her body became aware of the feelings she’d been having for the past week. There was tingling in places he hadn’t even touched, and the feeling only intensified when he reached out and grabbed her arm before she could step away.

She was forced to look up at his face. Their bodies were pushed against each other’s, and he wasn’t letting go. She wasn’t sure how long she looked into his eyes, trying to read what he was thinking.

“Listen, Anna, the guy is a jerk when it comes to women. I was only looking out for you. Why can’t you understand that?” His voice was more tender, but stern. He eased his grip just a bit, but not enough that she could pull her arm out. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted him to let her go.

With a shaky voice, she replied, “I do understand that, but I’m a big girl. I know when a guy is only interested in what’s under my panties.”

His gaze fell to said panties. Well, actually, he could only see her jeans, but the intensity in his stare made her aware of what he was actually envisioning. She kept her eyes on his face, because she wanted to appear strong and not rattled by their closeness. With his hands on her, she couldn’t think logically.

“Will you let me drive you home?” His voice was low, just above a whisper that blew through her ear. It was sexy and intoxicating. She could have melted in a puddle right there at his feet.

Stuttering, she asked, “W-why?” Did he really have plans to take her home and see what was under her panties? Did she want him to?

“You’ve been drinking. It’s been made clear you can’t handle your liquor.”

He did have a point. She’d proven that at the bachelorette party. However, she didn’t want to put herself in the same position as that night. While she knew he wouldn’t hurt her, it still brought up memories she was desperately trying to forget. She wasn’t drunk now and didn’t need rescuing.

“I’m not drunk, Jake.”

He pulled her closer, causing her to let out a startled cry, and letting her feel every part of him, even the bulge pushed against his zipper. She couldn’t help but look down and notice she was all but rubbing up against him. It was the only natural thing to do.

Oh…God…what was happening here…in a public place no less?

She could barely croak out, “Ja-ke.”

“You feel that?” he asked. “Answer me, damn it. Do you feel what you do to me?” he demanded when she didn’t answer.

And if her brain hadn’t been made of mush she might’ve jerked out of his hold, demanding he never speak to her that way again. But because she was having trouble thinking and speaking at the same time, she let him get a pass. And because, after all, this was her Jake, a man she’d loved so much at one time that he’d had the ability to hurt her badly.  She knew he was thinking with one part of his anatomy and not thinking about his tone.

All she could muster up was a slight head shake. This was too much for her.

He was too much for her.

“This is what you do to me every time I think of you, whether you’re in the room or not. So can I please drive you home?”

“Yes.”

* * * *

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