Exerpt from Between the Lines, The Heart of Friendship

Max rushes in from the garage and drops her box of moving supplies on the kitchen table; her thoughts are not on the ringing phone and who might be on the other end, but on the sale of her house. Besides, she thinks, it’s probably just Amanda with more questions about her brother. The items in the box draw her attention again, each of them has been chosen to help with the yard sale she’s decide have to ‘downsize and de-clutter’ as her realtor suggested. What at first seemed scary and overwhelming was now feeling more like liberation from the parts of her past keeping her from moving forward. She has come to the conclusion that she may actually forgive Phillip, that he may have given her the greatest gift of their marriage by making her promise to sell the house.

The phone rings yet again and she mentally chastises herself for not turning on the answering machine. Max grabs at her unruly mop of curls and tries to shove it into the semblance of a pony-tale, mumbling under her breath. “I’m coming, keep your pants on.” She snatches the receiver from the wall.

“Hello, you’ve reached Madam Maxine’s house of wax and exotic flummery. How may I direct your call?” A smile is already forming on her face as she anticipates Amanda’s giggle. Instead there is a very confused woman on the other end of the line.

Exerpt from - Heart of the Maze

"Hsst, Devlin."

He did not want to wake. His dream had just reached a most interesting point. In it, Cilia sat astride his hips and her long hair tickled his chest.

"Devlin."

Familiar muffled giggles that had no business in his erotic dream banished the last dregs of it from his mind. His eyes opened to see his younger sister, Sophia, standing a few steps away with her hand clamped over her mouth. Her grey eyes, so much like his own, sparkled with laughter and were not nearly as scandalized as they should have been.

He grimaced, unable to believe he had slept the night through in his library with Cilia on his lap. Sophia pantomimed eating and then tootled her fingers at him. Her coltish strides carried her out, leaving him to deal with his current dilemma on his own.

A single ray of sunshine stole through the curtains. Its end touched Cilia's hair to reveal all the subtle shades of gold and copper hidden by lamplight the evening before. He wondered what that same soft light would do to her eyes. As though in answer to an unspoken wish, her lashes fluttered open. His breath caught. His heart paused, and then rushed forward. Moss green encircled rust, reminding him of autumn foliage. All thought left him then and only a thrumming need to taste remained.

The intensity of his gaze brought a flush to Cilia's cheeks. The blond stubble covering his cheeks beckoned her touch. Tentative fingers reached out and revelled in the differences between his skin and hers. His arms tightened, lifting her closer. When his lips lowered to cover hers, she forgot to think.

Passion spiralled and grew. Never before had a simple kiss enflamed him so immediately, so completely. She responded with an untutored fervour to match his. Encouraged, he let his tongue gently nudge her lips, teasing them gently to open. They parted and he thought it felt like coming home. Her one hand clung to his lapel. The other threaded through his hair at the nape of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. Their embrace intensified. Tongues tasted and explored, escalating their ardour to new heights with each stroke.



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