Eraser Crimson (12 page)

“No! I didn’t have–”

“Why?” she interrupted. “Why would you do that?” She was met with silence. The look of guilt on his face was palpable. After a long quiet moment she turned away from him and lifted her arm to hail a cab.

“
Please
, let me explain!” he said in a panic. He didn’t know how to justify his actions but he knew he had to try. He couldn’t just let her leave.

“I can’t talk to you right now, Nate!”
I need to get away from him.

He reached for her arm, taking hold and tugging her toward him, desperate to stop her.

“Just go!” she yelled.

She yanked her arm from his grasp. So hard that she lost her footing. Mackenzie’s ankle twisted and she cried out in pain when she landed on her side on the pavement.

“Mackenzie!”

“Leave me alone!” she screamed through her tears when he tried to help her up.

Out of anger, she kicked him in the shin with her good leg and he stumbled backwards. She quickly crawled out of his reach, catching a glimpse of something large and blue from the corner of her eye.

Searing pain tore through her body and her head hit the hard pavement. She blinked a couple of times but couldn’t focus on anything. She could hear screaming … and Nate … she could hear panic in his voice …
what’s he saying?

All she could see was blurred movement and red … and then … nothing.

“We need an ambulance … been hit by a car …” Nate heard voices around him but he couldn’t focus. He crouched down on his knees beside her. His woman, his Mackenzie. The sounds of commotion faded in and out. His hands shook as he reached for her. Her eyes were closed. Dark red was everywhere. It was blood.

So much blood.

Woah!
It sure was a challenge to write about a man with no name for the first three books of this series! Keeping it from all the people who were demanding to know was the easy part. To say, “Nope, I’m not telling you!” (totally in a sing-song voice, of course!) gave me great pleasure.

Keeping his name out of teasers, excerpts and off the pages was a little h
arder, but so far, it's worked! I’d like to challenge YOU to leave HIS name out of your reviews (which I love reading by the way, so have a go if you've never tried before).

Here's the thing,
I'M so glad the secret is out, but Nate, he’s a little concerned. You know how he likes to be in control and all ... he would love for you could keep HIS secret. He wants other readers to find out the same way you and Mackenzie did, it’s only fair.

Plus knowing a secret when others
don’t might give you ‘pleasure like you’ve never known before’. Go on try it! It would really mean a lot to me ... and even more to Sir.

Thank you.

Thank you Renee Kubisch for being my biggest cheerleader. You keep me in line with your reasoning even when I don’t want to hear it (damn you!). I appreciate all of the time you put in critiquing my work, editing, making teasers, sourcing swag … you go above and beyond and I don’t know what I’d do without you. I appreciate your friendship so very, very much!

Thank you Tami Norman for all the laughs, for your friendship and for beta reading more Sir for me.

Thank you Carrie Klein for also beta reading and for the awesome line, “Quick, long, I don’t care, you sir, may have my underwear.” I told you I’d use it! So perfectly Mack.

Special thanks to my minions, my street team. Minions Rock!

Thanks to all the bloggers that have helped to spread the word. And to every reader that has taken the time to contact me to let me know they have enjoyed my work. In particular, the ones that have written me a review.