One taste of her lips, and friendship is off the menu
Holding Out for a Hero, Book 3
Kate has always been everybody’s friend and the de-facto little sister to the Wyatt brothers. But her feelings for Todd Wyatt, the town’s hottest firefighter, run far beyond the sibling variety. Not that he’s ever noticed.
After years of nursing her crush, Kate decides it’s time to take action. Except she has one awkward little secret: she’s still a virgin. She hopes she can seduce Todd without him realizing just how inexperienced she is.
In Todd’s mind, Kate’s the sweet girl he teases and hits up for free cupcakes. One surprise kiss over the summer, though, and suddenly she’s jumped from the platonic side of his brain to the want-her-in-my-bed side. Even though the last thing he wants is to lose her friendship, his resistance to her determined seduction is slipping. Fast.
When malicious attacks on her bakery escalate, it soon becomes clear that for all Kate’s friends, she’s made at least one big enemy. And if they don’t figure it out soon, things could take a deadly turn.
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Reviews
“Ms. Stevens takes a couple who has been friends their whole lives, adds a bit of spice and turns it into a grab a fan and ice water because this one is a HOT story. She also adds just the right amount of suspense combined with a knock out romance and made this the kind of book that I will read again and again.” Fallen Angel Reviews, Recommended Read
“I would definitely recommend to any fan of contemporary romance.” Whipped Cream Reviews
“Flash Point is a delightful story centering around Kate who is a great friend and Todd who is slowly realizing that she maybe more.” Sensual Reads
EXCERPT
Silence fell between them, heavy and awkward, and the longer she kept quiet, the more she just wanted to scream. She could barely deal with Todd talking to her about the women in his life, seeing them was bad enough, but having to help him with it?
Todd seemed to sense her mood change, because any further attempts at conversation stayed firmly away from the topic of women and dating.
When the check arrived, he handled it despite her insisting that she pay half. The entire ride home, the hot ball of anger in her belly just kept expanding, until her vision was tinted with red and her hands were clenched into fists.
When they pulled up outside her house, she didn’t trust herself to say anything more than a terse, “Goodnight.”
She climbed out of the truck, slamming the door behind her as she strode toward her front door. She’d just blown any pretense of playing it cool, but so what? She heard the truck door slam again, and she flinched, increasing her pace.
Todd’s fingers curled around her elbow, spinning her around and off balance. She reached out to catch herself, just like she’d done earlier today with Walt. Only this time, there was no urge to pull away when her palms flattened against Todd’s hard, broad chest. But the fact that she was pissed, not just angry, downright pissed at Todd, had her jerking away regardless.
Todd didn’t let her go though, instead slid his hands up her arm to pull her closer to him.
Her heart lurched in her chest and her mouth went dry.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered.
She lifted her gaze to his and from the light of her porch saw the regret in his eyes.
“There isn’t a woman I’m trying to impress with baking. I made that up.”
Kate frowned, stilling in her efforts to free herself. “Why did you say that then?”
“Damn it, to keep this from happening.” His head blocked out the light as it dipped, and then his mouth crashed down on hers.
Shock ripped through her as his lips masterfully parted hers, his tongue plunging inside to taste her. She couldn’t move, couldn’t even respond for a moment. Until the tingling began and a liquid heat seeped through her veins, pooling heavily between her thighs.
She was in Todd’s arms and he was kissing the hell out of her? How long had she fantasized about this?
Kate kissed him back, pressing her body firmly against his, crushing her breasts against his chest as she gave herself over to the moment. To the power of a chemistry never before acted on. A chemistry that for so long she’d thought would always only be one sided.
He lifted his head, his breathing ragged. His gaze tormented. “Tell me to stop, Kate.”
“I can’t,” she whispered. “I won’t.”
Todd growled low in his throat and then backed her up, until she slammed into her front door. His hands that gripped her arms slid up to her wrists, jerking them above her head and pinning them against the wood in one of his hands.
Then his mouth was on hers again, while his free hand covered one of her breasts through her sweater. Her nipple beaded and the spot between her legs throbbed with need. Her mew of pleasure was caught on his tongue as it swept across hers.
Oh God, oh God, oh God.
His strong fingers squeezed her flesh, finding her nipple through the layer of sweater and bra. Her panties dampened as he twisted and pinched the tip, his tongue so far from gentle as it plundered her mouth.
She arched into him, wanting so much more than he was giving. And he seemed to know, because he delved his hand beneath the V of her sweater and under her bra to find her bare breast.
Her eyes almost rolled to the back of her head with pleasure. The feel of his rough, calloused hands against her sensitized flesh kept her mind grounded enough to know she wasn’t dreaming.
Todd pinched her nipple and arrows of pleasure shot directly from her breast to between her legs. She adjusted her stance, needing to ease the ache. There was so much more she wanted. Needed.
She tugged to free her hands unconsciously, wanting him to unfasten her jeans and slip a hand inside. Wanted to feel his fingers inside her. She’d never had that before. With any man…
Todd’s mouth jerked from hers, a guttural “Fuck” spilling from his lips.
Kate’s lashes fluttered up and she ran her tongue over her swollen mouth.
Tension had Todd’s shoulders rigid, his face twisted into an expression of frustration. She held her breath, waiting for what would happen next, as her heart continued to thunder in her chest.
Don’t stop, oh please, please don’t stop. No matter how many times she’d told herself it would be foolish to get sexually involved with Todd——having just this quick impassioned taste, it was clear her willpower was obliterated the moment he touched her.
“Ah, Kate,” he muttered, his finger stroking over the inside of her wrist. “I’m sorry.”
He was sorry? For what had just happened? Her heart did a big fat nosedive and her throat tightened.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” he continued, and released her hands from where they were still pinned above her. He took a step backward and gave a humorless laugh. “I guess we can just say we’re even now.”
“Even?” she parroted, the one word high-pitched and soft.
“Yeah. From when you stole a drunken kiss that you probably don’t even remember—”
“I remember.”
Todd’s gaze jumped back to hers and his jaw flexed. “You don’t want to get involved with me, Kate. I’m not boyfriend material.”
She swallowed hard, heat burning her cheeks. How the hell did she respond to that? Seriously. How? Say she was just looking to get laid? Because was she? It was a huge leap from virgin to one-night stand.
“I was wrong to say I don’t like that hardware store guy, Kate. You should be dating someone like that. Someone who’ll appreciate you. Respect you…”
In the morning? Who knew if they were the unspoken words to the rest of Todd’s sentence, but they fit.
Kate sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and chewed it. Why was it so crushingly disappointing that Todd had slammed the door on the possibility of sex between them?
“Why did you ask me to dinner tonight?” she finally blurted, not really knowing what else to say.
Todd sighed and shook his head. “The hell if I know. But it was a bad idea.”
“Ouch. You’re not doing much for my confidence right now.” Her laugh came out brittle as she dug in her purse for her keys.
“Damn it. Again that came out wrong. I’m sorry.”
“You know, I’m just going to go inside now, before you say something that makes me give in to the urge to drive my knee into your balls.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I think you’ve said that a few times tonight.” Which was weird, because Todd wasn’t the type to apologize profusely. She fumbled to unlock the door and shoved it open, before stepping inside. Turning to face him, she gave a strained smile. “It’s best if we just call it a night.”
“Yeah, probably.” Todd shoved his hands into his pocket and nodded. “Shit, Kate, I really am so—”
She shut the door before he could finish another apology.