They say you form your first impression of someone within thirty seconds of meeting them. Or, in Mira Parrish's case, within thirty minutes of not meeting them, when said person is supposed to pick you up from the airport and never shows. This is not a perfect start to her new life. Her friend Ivy is depending on her to run a new romance store, and Mira can't afford to let her down.Sam Lyons should probably apologize. But every time he sees Mira—which is often, since his family owns the bakery next to her shop—he can't resist antagonizing her. There's something about the sexy, straitlaced woman that drives him crazy. He can't get involved, though. He has too much baggage to be any good in a serious relationship.
Despite his teasing attitude, Mira finds Sam too sweet to resist. (His hot body may be a factor.) But if there's going to be anything permanent between them, they'll need to let go of their pasts and look to the future…
An hour ago Sam would’ve slapped back at her high-handed insult. But now he’d seen a glimpse of the complicated, vulnerable woman beneath the ice princess facade. Worse, he knew he deserved the dig. His response had nothing to do with possible recrimination from Ivy for making her friend cry. It had everything to do with his genuine regret at hurting Mira. He cupped his hands lightly around her upper arms.“You’re right.”Her toned muscles tensed beneath his palms. “What?”“I made a snap judgment. It was stupid. I’m sorry.” Thick-lashed blue eyes widened at his words, but he couldn’t tell if it was from surprise or disbelief. Funny how her eyes were the same color as the miles of lake surrounding them. A man could drown in eyes that deep blue. “You don’t deserve to be judged on anything more than who you are, right now, in front of me.”At that, her biceps softened. Her entire demeanor softened, and even her lips fell into an open circle. “Oh.”Sam wiped away the last teardrop glistening on her lashes. As his thumb grazed the softness of her skin, he couldn’t resist feathering the back of his knuckles down her cheek. It made those bright red lips purse into a tighter circle, that drew him like a tempting target. One that drove away all thoughts of why this might be the worst idea ever. He dipped his head and kissed her.It only took a second to realize one kiss wouldn’t be nearly enough. Mira’s lips were cool from the wind and spray at first, but quickly warmed beneath his. Soft and pliable, they melded against his the same way her body leaned into him. Eagerly he wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her even closer. It lined everything up in a way that jacked his desire from hot to supernova. He bracketed her legs with his, making sure to keep contact with their long, smooth length. It made it easier to turn her, angle her back against the rail. He caught one last glimpse of those alluring eyes before they fluttered shut.“This is…” she whispered, barely able to be heard over the slap of the water against the hull.Sam didn’t like where that sentence might be going, so he kissed her again. “…terrific,” he said.Not satisfied with slow nibbles, Sam deepened the kiss. She tasted sweeter than his honey truffles. Mira moaned as his tongue swirled, learning the secrets of her mouth. Learning just where to apply pressure, where to linger that made her clutch at his back. Her long nails dug through the thin cotton of his shirt, but he didn’t care. Sam relished the proof he’d roused her. All he wanted was to seduce more moans, more sexy little gasps out of her.He wrapped his hand around her ponytail and tugged her head to the side. There, on the side of her neck, he licked at the spot where her pulse fluttered against the surface in a rapid triple time that matched his own. Mira wriggled, a move that threatened to pop his dick right through his shorts. The way she flowed against him, with the sinuous ease of perfectly tempered melted chocolate, made him want to drop to the deck, rip off all of her clothes and bury himself deep inside her. Another few minutes, and he wouldn’t have a choice in the matter. His below-the-belt brain would take over completely if they kept up this level of foreplay.Hell, he hadn’t even touched her breasts yet. And that was a treat he refused to skip or rush. Or shortchange her the pleasure he had every intention of bestowing. No, they wouldn’t have sex until she begged. Until she wrapped those chorus-girl legs around his waist and joined them herself. Until he’d worked her into such a frenzy that she quivered at the touch of a single finger, and screamed his name to the heavens as he lapped at her—Obnoxiously loud, the ship’s foghorn split the air. Mira’s eyes flew open. Her arms dropped to her sides.
Releasing March 11, 2013
Purchase Link: Amazon
Books in the Aisle Bound Series
Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.
Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.
Ways to stay connected with Christi Barth:
Sounds like a good read!!
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