Heart Melter (27 page)
Authors: Sophia Knightly
“I, um well…” She was interrupted by a bolt of lightning followed by a loud crack of thunder. The air between them crackled with more electricity than the storm outside. She ran to the large window to get away from him and get ahold of her bearings. “Must be the outer rain bands. Storm’s almost here!” she announced breathlessly as the gusting wind swirled outside and the heavy rain pelted the house. “We’re in for a downpour.”
Nick lumbered forward and joined her at the window. His fingers closed around her elbow. “Time to leave,” he said firmly.
“Haven’t you been tracking Tropical Storm Abby?” she asked, disengaging from his grip. “It’s sure to be the first hurricane of the season. When was the last time you ventured into town?”
“That’s none of your business. Why did you show up here knowing it was heading this way?” His deep voice started off low and increased with each word. While he wasn’t exactly yelling, he wasn’t whispering either.
Veronique took a step back from Nick’s imposing form. “Do you even watch TV?” she blurted out.
“Not if I can help it.”
“Why own one if you don’t watch it?”
She sucked in a nervous breath. Maybe he didn’t know the reason she’d been hauled out of her high-status job as foreign correspondent in Ace TV’s London bureau and sent back to the States to report filler stories. She could only hope. It hadn’t been her fault that Eric, the fact-checker, had fed her erroneous information on a major political scandal involving a prominent, conservative Senator and a call girl reported to be a spy. When the truth was revealed that she wasn’t a spy, but his longtime mistress, Veronique had been demoted and Eric fired.
She missed the excitement of investigative reporting. Not that she minded doing human interest stories, but they weren’t as challenging or adrenaline-inducing as breaking a controversial case wide open. She’d had success in cases she’d worked on in the past including exposing a pyramid scheme among top senators, a child porn sting in a Bible belt community, and a heroin operation cover-up in a prestigious private university. The one case she’d tripped up on because of inaccurate fact checking from her trusted co-worker had sidelined her rising career and put her credentials in doubt.
Damn the media and the public for their fickle ways
. One day she was at the top of her game and the next, kicked to the curb. Whether Nick realized it or not, she could relate to how he felt.
“I watch it once in a while, but not every day,” he said, bringing her to the present. He frowned. “Quit stalling and get going. I want you outta here before the hurricane hits.”
“Pfft. Hurricanes don’t scare me,” she scoffed.
And you don’t either.
“They’re pretty exciting. I covered a few and even went surfing just before Hurricane Olga hit. What a rush!”
Nick grabbed the remote control and switched on the news. Five seconds later, when the anchorman said the storm was strengthening into a hurricane, he flicked it off.
“Before you go—and you will soon,” he promised curtly. “Tell me how the hell you found me. Nobody knows where I live.”
“Well…I wouldn’t say
nobody
…” Veronique hesitated.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I know for damn sure Fred wouldn’t give you my address. You must’ve done major snooping in your step daddy’s office to find my whereabouts.”
Veronique grimaced. “Who said anything about Fred? He’s your lawyer, for God’s sake! He would never divulge that information.”
“Damn straight he wouldn’t.” Nick’s deep voice rumbled out of his chest like thunder.
Veronique eyed the front door when he stepped closer. It was time to retreat and formulate another plan ASAP.
USA Today bestselling author, Sophia Knightly, loves to cook up hot romance and delicious humor in her feel-good stories. Whether it's romantic suspense, romantic comedy or chick lit, her books are fun and sexy contemporary romances that feature hot alpha heroes and strong, smart women.
A two-time Maggie award finalist and a P&E Readers' Poll finalist, she is traditionally published by St. Martin's Press, Kensington and Samhain Publishing. Her popular Tropical Heat Series books,
Wild for You
and
Sold on You
, have consistently been on multiple Amazon bestselling lists and sold over 100,000 copies.
When not writing or reading, she loves walking the beach, exploring museums, going to the theatre, enjoying good food, and watching movies. One of her favorite pastimes remains simply watching people, especially those in love!
Sign up for her "new release" newsletter at:
http://sophiaknightly.webs.com/newslettersignup.htm
Write to her at:
[email protected]
Follow her on Twitter
@SophiaKnightly
"Like" her Facebook author page at:
http://on.fb.me/vGfJ5t
Visit her website at:
www.SophiaKnightly.com
WILD FOR YOU Book Trailer:
http://youtu.be/XtVlFBdaHvs
SOLD ON YOU Book Trailer:
http://youtu.be/X20NbJElrvM
GRILL ME, BABY Book Trailer:
http://youtu.be/6Y07iUPt3rg
HEART RAIDER (Heartthrob Series, Book One)
by Sophia Knightly
Stranded together during a rampaging hurricane...
Hot passion explodes between a reclusive billionaire and a headstrong reporter seeking his exclusive story...a story that could get her killed.
Hunted by someone desperate to silence her...
Daredevil TV reporter Veronique "Ronnie" Whitcomb is charismatic, fun-loving, and loyal to a fault. Especially to the man she fell in love with fifteen years ago. He's now a self-made billionaire, and at the center of a public scandal so hot and juicy, Ronnie must get an exclusive interview...an interview that will vindicate him and expose the real criminal behind the scintillating headlines. Her life is in jeopardy, but her love for Nick might cause the real danger.
He'll risk his life - and his heart - to keep her alive...
Financial whiz, Nick Cameron rose from an underprivileged life to become one of America's youngest corporate billionaires. Now he's laying low on a barrier island, far away from the raging media storm that nearly destroyed him. When little Ronnie Whitcomb shows up on his doorstep, all grown up and heart-stoppingly beautiful, he tries to deny his feelings for her, but a hurricane strands them on the island together. Keeping Ronnie at arm's length becomes impossible.
* * *
WILD FOR YOU (Tropical Heat Series, Book One)
To Love, Honor and Protect
Detective Clay Blackthorne has his hands full when he promises to safeguard an old college pal's sister without letting her know what he's up to. He never imagines that lively Marisol Calderon will knock his socks off and put a ring on his finger--and all at his suggestion! Their marriage of convenience is meant to protect her and Clay doesn't plan on being hitched for long to the tempting beauty. But the honeymoon sure feels real to him...
Sassy Marisol is used to doing whatever she wants--and right now her plan is to shake up the hot detective's hard-edged demeanor. But the fun turns to danger when a mystery stalker bent on marrying her marks her as his prey. Temporarily becoming Clay's wife seems like a practical way to thwart the stalker. But as passion ignites and Marisol falls for the tender heart buried beneath the tough detective's chest, Clay's true identity is revealed and she begins to wonder who--if anyone--she can trust...
* * *
SOLD ON YOU (Tropical Heat Series, Book Two)
Just Say Yes!
Confirmed bachelor Dr. Marcos Calderon is in hot water. He needs to come up with a fake fiancée fast or he'll disappoint his beloved grandma who's arriving on the next flight to meet her. Proper social worker Gabriela Morales should fit the bill--but tonight, in that sexy, slit-to-there red evening gown, she looks anything but proper.
Gabriela only volunteered for the hospital's charity bachelorette auction to benefit a cause dear to her heart. Now she's reeling from the hot doctor's bid of fifteen thousand dollars for a weekend date with her! She's not sure what Dr. Handsome has in mind, but the smoldering look in his eyes is unmistakable...
* * *
GRILL ME, BABY
The heat is on…
Raised among women who taught him to cook at his family's Buenos Aires restaurant, master chef Paolo Santos deftly works his culinary wiles--and his gypsy charm--on posh Flamingo Island's female clientele.
The tastiest tidbit on the island, though, is cool, elegant Michaela Willoughby. The redhead's slender curves are as enticing as her rabbit-food menus are maddening. And she's his main competition for the chance of a lifetime.
Michaela overcame her own weight issues to become Flamingo Island's premiere spa chef. Now she has a chance to share her innovative recipes for healthy living on a new cooking show--if she can somehow outshine Paolo. His sizzling, Latin-lover looks are more heart stopping than his decadent cooking. And she'd love nothing better than to stick a fork in his outsized ego.
When the stage lights ignite, so does the competition...and a sexual chemistry no one--least of all Paolo and Michaela--saw coming. Suddenly, separating business from pleasure is as impossible as separating a scrambled egg. And the big question isn't whose knife cuts fastest...it's whose heart can take the most heat.