Allison North’s flight to freedom is dangerous and
desperate. As she scrambles into the stranger’s car crying “drive,” she prays
to God this is not her last day on earth. Usually not a gambler, this move is
high-stake gambling. Bruised, battered, and with no money, she needs a place to
hide and heal until she finds work as a pastry chef. When the stranger offers
her shelter, she takes it even as fear rushes up her throat and threatens to
choke her. Would she live to regret her decision?
Mason Franklin cannot believe his eyes but, with her urgent
cry ringing in his ears, he presses the gas and the car leaps forward. What had
possessed her to do such a dangerous act? He intends to find out. But no amount
of probing loosened her tongue. Just when he decides to let her go, he
accidently sees her bruised body. Angry that someone did that to her made him
want to meet the coward. He offers her shelter. Under his roof, he discovers
she is the pastry chef who could not only lift his business to the top, but who
built up a need in him that only she can satisfy. The wild passion they share
can only lead to one conclusion.
Excerpt
The cold November air hit Allison hard, chilled her bones,
and caused instant goose flesh to rise and cover her skin. She hunched over
momentarily trying to ward off the chill. Her eyes scanned the train station as
a possible place to hide, but she discarded the idea immediately. It was too open. The streets across from the
apartment were busy and not easy to cross.
Estimating her chance of crossing them before being captured, the odds
were against her. She would not have the time or the strength to do it before
they caught up with her. Moving as fast as she could, she walked across the
courtyard, down the embankment to the sidewalk.
Several cars and other vehicles waited at the stoplight.
Making a desperate decision, she stepped up quickly to a car and yanked the
handle. The door opened and she scrambled inside, slammed the door shut, and
locked it. The light changed from red to green. The driver, startled, pressed
the gas. The car leaped forward only to stop abruptly. Several horns blasted
behind him instantly.
“What the fuck!”
“Drive! Please
drive,” she begged.
The sound of her voice carried a desperation that commanded
him to obey. The car leaped forward as two people, a man and a woman, dashed
into the courtyard. They hurried through the wrought iron gate onto the
sidewalk looking up and down the street, peering into cars as they drove by.
Allison eased down on the floor of the car until the stranger’s car circled the
green and headed toward South Street. Her heart pumped furiously, and she
swallowed with difficulty. Lifting her shaky hand, she eased herself upon the
seat. She had no idea what she would say to this stranger when he stopped his
car. He must think she was insane or had escaped from somewhere. She hadn’t.
This was the first time in her life that she’d ever done anything like this.
He pulled into the parking lot at the supermarket, flung his
door open, and walked around his car to the back right door. His long strides
reached it before Allison got out. As she pushed against the door, he pulled it
open. He was furious with her for not
only scaring the living hell out of him, but for doing this unthinkable act.
What could have possessed her to do it? She’d better have a damn good reason.
With both feet firmly planted on the blacktop, she was ready
to stand, but she could not lift her body. He stood solidly in her path, one
arm resting on top of the door effectively cutting off her escape. Dressed in
black jeans, cream polo shirt, and light black jacket, his body allowed little
room for her to move.
Allison looked up at him and swallowed nervously. He was
lean and taller than Douglas, so she would say he was over six foot tall. His
face was deeply tanned, his blond hair shaped his head perfectly, and straight
brows enhanced his cold blue eyes that were not looking at her in a friendly
way. His nose was straight, jaws firm and square, his lips slightly full and
sensual. His hard eyes concentrated on her steadily. A strong current of anger radiated from him.
She felt it, and cursed Douglas fervently in her mind. There was a leached
control about him that frightened her. Most of all, she needed to be on her
way. The quicker she apologized, the faster she could leave, she decided.
“I’m sorry, very sorry, I startled you back there,” she said
sincerely. “Thank you for helping me.
Again, I’m truly sorry. I’ll leave you now.”
“Like hell you will! Not so fast,” he stated, not moving an
inch as he continued to look at her. Despite the anger that ran through him, the
sound of her voice drew his attention. It reminded him of warm honey. He liked
it, and he could hear genuine regret in her tone. She was also very nervous,
and she should damn well be, for the stunt she just pulled. He wasn’t ready to
let her walk away from him. Her skin was light brown, and he wondered what her
eyes looked like. The huge dark glasses she stared at him through hid them very
well.
His eyes on her were unnerving. She couldn’t help but move
restlessly in her seat. If only he would move. Each minute he delayed her was
making it easier for Douglas’s friend to find her.
“What made you do such a foolish thing?”
“Under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn’t have done it.” The
thought of how close she came to involving him in an accident made her stomach
turn.
“Care to describe the circumstance?”
Where To Buy
Meet The Author
I became hooked on reading romance novels during my teen
years and my attempt at writing began in high school. All of my manuscripts
were mailed under my bed. Eventually, I threw out most of them. That was
painful especially since I’d hand written them first, then typed them on my old
typewriter.
In college I majored in English but ended up with a Master
in Social Work and a Master in Education.
Though I had these different career paths, I never gave up
my passion for writing. Now I’m much more committed to it and writing full
time. I’ve drawn on my years of practicing social work to give my work
authenticity and realism.
I live in New Jersey with my family.
Where To Find G.E. Taylor
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