***
Lauren Walsh, a divorcee and elementary teacher, wanted to
feel sexy again, after her ex tossed her aside for a younger woman. Her
teaching partner and best friend encouraged her to sign up for The Playhouse--a
renowned dating agency.
Mac Thomas remained trapped in a marriage to a money
grubbing socialite. Forced to stay away from his young son, Mac lost the
ability to trust. After the death of his wife, he returned to care for his son
but his sister wants more for him. She sets him up with The Playhouse.
Passion ignites but Mac’s a parent of one of Lauren’s
students. A teacher and a parent dating could cost Lauren her job and her
chance at happiness. Will Mac be able to convince the school and Lauren, that
love is the most important thing?
EXCERPT
Mac sat at the beautiful mahogony bar nursing his first
beer. I’m more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a rocking chair
factory. The last place he belonged was somewhere as opulant as this.
He ran his fingers up and down the condensation on the beer glass. Even though
he grew up in a family with a great deal of money, his parents taught him the
benefit of working hard and doing what you love. At eighty, his dad still
worked in the stables every morning, grooming his horse or was out in the pasture
feeding the cattle.
Claire never understood his family. Money wasn’t important
to them unless the cash could be used to befit someone else. Mac shook his
head. Sure, he used his family’s money to get inside some of those war-torn
countries but only so he could show the world the truth.
He’d worked hard to be impartial but his soft heart swayed
him. Seeing any amount of suffering hurt, making him known as a compassionate
emmisary in those challenging countries.
With Claire gone, his life had changed once again. He took a
job as a reporter at the local station affilliate, reporting on the important
events happening in his community so he could be at home with Todd. Realizing
how much poverty and conflict existed in his own hometown left him cold. They
say charity begins at home. Well, he was determined to find a way to help,
while setting a good example for his son.
He took a look at the clock on the wall. Where was she?
Maybe she took one look at him and ran for the hills.
Mac turned on his barstool in time to see a gorgeous
brunette walk into the bar. Her steps seemed to match the beat of his pulse.
Shifting in his chair, he adjusted his now tight, uncomfortable pants. Maybe
it’s a good thing he was meeting a woman tonight, if she shows.
He twisted his stool around farther to get a better look at
the hottie.
If only she was his date. The woman’s blue dress hugged her
curvy body and he couldn’t take his gaze off those legs that seemed to go on
forever.
Oh no!
One minute she remained all grace, next her poise went down
the drain as her shoe broke. Mac lurched to his feet and ran over to help the
stunning woman.
“Are you hurt?” He reached his hand out to help but instead
of the tears he expected, Mac heard laughter coming from under the waterfall of
hair which hid her face. He ached to touch the burnished bronze length. She
reminds me of Dad’s favorite colt, a little skittish but feisty. I like
spirited women.
Not wanting to see her sitting there on the floor, Mac
scooped her up in his arms.Whoa. She was like a foal, all legs, and
she fit perfectly in his arms. He could hold her all day.
“Sir, is the woman okay?” The bartender stood in front of
Mac. He couldn’t tell if the guy wanted to grab her out of his arms for himself
or to protect his hotel from a lawsuit.
Mac couldn’t help but growl like a dog defending his
territory. “I haven’t checked yet. She appears fine. Why don’t you get her a
glass of water?” Anything to get rid of him. He wanted to keep her in his arms.
Mac pulled her close to his chest. At the thought of letting
her go, his heartbeat sped up. Maybe I can convince her to have a drink
with me. He reluctantly set her down in a chair at one of the bar
tables.
“Are you okay?” Mac brushed the hair back from her face.
The strands felt like silk between his fingers. Images of
brushing this woman’s hair while they lay naked on the bed danced through his
mind. Reluctantly, Mac pulled his hand from her and took a deep breath. He
didn’t understand what had come over him. He didn’t have this strong of a
reaction when he met Claire.
Like uncovering a present on Christmas morning, he could
hardly wait to see her face. He watched as the woman lifted her head to meet
his gaze. Mesmerized by the light dusting of freckles across the woman’s nose,
his breath stopped. Her beautiful green eyes sparkled with merriment. Her
tantalizing laughter danced across his skin making his slacks already tight
very uncomfortable.
PURCHASE LINKS:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of
interest in the world of writing. She’s
a member of the Romance Writers of America and EPIC. Melissa is always interested in improving her
writing through classes and seminars.
She also believes in helping other authors and features authors and
their books on her blog.
Melissa doesn’t believe in down time. She’s always keeping busy. Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary
school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as
an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch,
without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of
laundry. She loves to write stories that feature “happy endings” and is often
found plotting her next story.
Melissa loves hearing from readers!
Recipe:
Frozen Daiquiri
•½ teaspoon of sugar ½ ounce of lemon or lime juice
•Dash of maraschino liquor 1 ¼ ounce of white rum
•Mix with fine cracked ice on an electric mixer or shake
well by hand. Pour unstrained into champagne saucer and top with a cherry.
*You can add fresh or frozen fruit to your mix and blend in
a blender for more flavor.*
In Chalkboard Romance, Lauren Walsh meets Mac Taylor for an
arranged date. On the date, she orders a fruity daiquiri. These drinks allow
her to relax and flirt with Mac. It also lowers her inhibitions giving her the
passionate night she was looking for. I’ve included a homemade recipe for
Frozen Daiquiri from my mom’s old recipe book. It’s the perfect drink to enjoy
on a hot summer day!
3 comments:
Thank you for having me over today Lacey! I hope your readers enjoy the snippet of Chalkboard Romance!!
Love the excerpt! I can't say I was ever strongly attracted to a student's father, but it definitely makes for a huge conflict. As for the recipe, do you have any suggestions for a non-alcoholic version?
Thanks Patty for stopping by. I would skip the rum and liquor and use frozen strawberries or other frozen fruit instead. It should be just as yummy. After all daiquiris are more like fruit smoothies when you blend them in a blender.
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