Harper’s Place
by Sheryl
Winters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harper
Grey is fed up with over-bearing men. Her father wants to sell the family
hamburger joint to her brother because a woman could never make it successful.
Harper
knows she has the same flair for business as her mother, and sexy Navy SEAL
Patrick O’Brien dares her to prove it to the world.
When duty
calls and Patrick must leave her side, will Harper be strong enough to make her
dream a reality?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
“How would you bring in new business, though?”
I’m amazed that he seems to find our conversation
interesting. He’s an audience willing to listen and I’ve not had that in a long
time. Damn this crush of mine. It won’t be easy to tame after tonight.
“New menu items, specials, things like that. Start
serving dessert, like pies. Easy cook items. With the new burgers I’ve created
and a new décor, I’d open in the summer when the air is fresh and everyone is
happy to be out of the snow, hungry for grilled food. I think we could do
fine.”
“What’s your hold up?”
“Tony, Dad. It’s complicated.” I shrug. His arm
feels good, and I have the overwhelming urge to nuzzle against it. "Did
you kiss Amy Parker when you were twelve? She still brags about it." Did I
just ask him about kissing? What is wrong with me? Will this mouth of mine
never shut up? Stop it, Stop it, stop it!
"That I did, in a closet over at Robert
Anderson’s house."
"Ew."
"I was twelve and desperate. You can't blame
me. I do blame that stupid soda bottle.
And your first kiss?" There is a challenge in his voice.
"Kevin Monroe at the Klines Movie Theater. He
sent me a six-page note the next day about how much he loved me, and I freaked
out and dumped him."
"Any regrets?"
I choke back a giggle. "Naw, ‘cept I remember
I liked his cologne. It could have been aftershave, but it was nice." It’s
not half as nice as the Aramis that Patrick has on. Something about it sends a
shiver up my spine that has nothing to do with the zombie waiting in Dad’s
office.
"The dark isn't so bad, now is it?"
"I guess not."
Silence surrounds us. The fear that enveloped me
seems to disappear.
"Are you seeing anyone?"
"No." It sounds terrible now that I've
said it out loud. Like I’m admitting to being a desperate and dateless leper.
"So," he drawls out, "ever thought
of dating a military guy?" He squeezes my fingers.
Is he serious?
His fingertip smooths over the rough callouses I've
gained from years of hard work. Suddenly my wasted evening of not going out to
celebrate is starting to look better. "I think it would depend on which
military guy."
"You're killing me. You know that, don’t
you?" His strangled tone only sets off a case of the giggles.
"Are you asking me out, Patrick?"
"Trying to, but you're not making it easy.”
The challenge is back in his voice.
"I wouldn't mind a date or two,” I manage to
squeak out. Breathe, Harper, just breathe, calmly through your nose, out your
mouth. Sainted Mother of God, Patrick asked me out! I hit the jackpot! Now all
I have to do is not hit him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
I
never set out to be an author. Only a storyteller. Some days I succeed better
than others.
Links:
Website:http://sherylwinters.weebly.com/
Buy
Links:
Roane
Publishing: https://www.roanepublishing.com/product-p/hp-01.htm
Amazon
(UK)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XT6VPHK
Barnes
and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1126040154
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/713416
Bookstrand http://www.bookstrand.com/harpers-place
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
Sheryl will be awarding a
$25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the
tour.
3 comments:
Thanks for hosting!
Great to have you visiting today.
Thank you for hosting!
Post a Comment