Join the writers at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Mine is more of Romancing the Nurse
BLURB:
Ginny’s new job as patient care coordinator at a suburban hospital is a dream come true. She can raise her daughter and young niece away from the city.
The older orthopedic surgeon who recruited her helps make the move easier. His stroke brings his son, another surgeon home to take over his father’s practice. Unfortunately, Ginny remembers him from an evening encounter at the city hospital where she worked. They had words. He also remembers that night.
They clash but beneath the anger, there is an attraction. Blake wants her in his bed and attempts to romance her. Then he discovers he wants her forever and must eat a lot of crow.
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Excerpt:
Ten minutes later, he backed his blue sports car from the driveway and headed to Le Danse. He found a spot in the parking lot and walked to the house that had been converted into a dance studio. He opened the door. Up or downstairs, he wondered.
"Manda, you can't climb the railing. Do you want to fall?"
"Pick up. Want to see Honor."
"You saw her once."
"Again."
"Baby, you're too heavy."
Blake reached the top of the steps. Ginny stood with her hands on her hips and stared down at a toddler dressed in pink tights and a red leotard. The child looked ready to throw a tantrum.
"See Honor." She stamped her foot.
"No. And no more screams or tears. Do you want to go home to Miss Nellie?"
"Can I help?" Blake asked.
The toddler turned and stared. Ginny's eyes widened. "Dr. Marshall, what are you doing here?"
"I happened to be in the neighborhood?"
A skeptical look crossed her face. "And I have wings and can fly."
Her tart answer made him chuckle. "I heard you need a weight-lifter." His gaze took in her long legs covered by black tights. He wished the large green shirt didn't cover her full breasts, narrow waist and hips
The toddler pulled on his leg. "Who you?"
"Blake."
She tilted her head to one side. Hazel eyes appraised him. How odd, he thought and wondered about her relationship to Ginny.
"Brake. I break my doll. Someone break you?"
He laughed. With her light eyes and skin, Manda bore little resemblance to Ginny. Was the child's father responsible for Ginny's wariness? "No one broke me. I fix broken people."
"Fix my doll."
"I'd have to see her."
Ginny laughed. "The doll needs more than an orthopedic surgeon. She ran her trike over its head."
"Mama fix people, too."
"She sure does." He looked at Ginny. "Do you mind if I show her the dancers?"
"Be my guest, but be prepared to hold her until class ends."
"I don't mind." He grasped the toddler and rose. "Let's see your sister." He carried her to the observation window. She peered through the glass. Her soft curls tickled his face.
She patted him. "You nice."
"So are you." She smelled of soap and baby powder. Somehow, this child felt as though she belonged in his arms.
Manda leaned forward and pressed her face against the glass. "There Honor."
Blake looked around her. He saw two black girls in the lineup. Neither had the skin coloring of the little girl he held. Genes? Two fathers? He frowned. He didn't like that idea at all.
When the class room door opened, Blake stepped back to avoid being caught in the rush of girls. Manda wiggled free. She ran to a slender girl who looked like Ginny must have as a child.
"Honor dance. Manda see. Brake hold."
Ginny put her arm around the girl's shoulders. "Honey, you were great. Do you like the class?"
"Oh, yes."
Manda grabbed Blake's hand. "This Brake."
"Hello, Honor." He saw the same uncertainty in her dark eyes as he'd seen in Ginny's. "I'm pleased to meet you. I work at the hospital with your mother."
Honor edged closer to Ginny. "Is your name really Brake?"
"It's Blake. I stopped by to see if the three of you wanted to join me for dinner at the Pizza Castle." He felt a twinge of guilt about using this vulnerable child.
"Yes," Honor said. "That's my favorite place to eat."
Ginny's eyes darkened to the color of obsidian. Blake swallowed. "Better ask your mother."
"Pizza. Pizza." Manda skipped around them.
Honor looked at her mother. "Mama, can we go please?"
The glare Ginny shot at him made Blake retreat a pace. All's fair, he thought. Except love wasn't on his mind.
Finally, she nodded. "We can this time, but in the future, I'll decide. Since I planned on the Pizza Castle for dinner, I guess Dr. Marshall can come with us."
Manda held out her arms to Blake. "Pick up. Carry."
He lifted her. She hugged him. A strange feeling settled in his chest. The only children he'd ever held had been sick and in pain. They'd never caused his chest to tighten and ache. He watched Ginny. Her rigid spine and braced shoulders declared her disapproval of his tactics.
Trapped, Ginny thought. He'd manipulated her, but if she had turned him down, she would have had to deal with the girls' sulks. Though he'd left arrogance at the hospital, she knew that quality lurked beneath the surface of his smile. Going to dinner with Blake Marshall with or without the girls hadn't any place on her list of things to do.
4 comments:
Ah, the old "use the kids against her" tactic! Works almost every time. Interesting how he reacts to the prick of jealousy.
You've posed a couple of great puzzles for the reader: why the girl's wariness and what's with the racial mix?
Ed, You are so right about the puzzles.
Holly, it may work but then again, it could produce more dilemmas
I'm curious to see how their meal goes.
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