Published: June 2nd, 2015
She doesn’t need a hero. But a sexy Marine…that’ll work.
At twenty nine, psychologist Lauren Baxter has a successful counseling practice. Since becoming legally blind at fifteen, her world has been a blurry mess of colors. Her greatest fear is also her ultimate reality. One day that fuzzy realm will forever turn black. Refusing to let blindness define her, she builds a life for herself with her dog, Jack Sparrow, and best friend, Sunny Daye.
Lauren has no tolerance for pity or for Superman swooshing down and rescuing her. She is capable of saving herself just fine. That is until Gabe, the great smelling, former Marine, from Texas moves in next door. Her attraction to him is immediate and, unfortunately for her, mutual.
When Lauren’s ex-husband shows up begging for another chance, she is confused and fragile. She also finds herself in the arms of her secretive neighbor. Little does she realize that her decision for a steamy roll in the hay with Gabe will suck her into his mysterious past, thrust her ex-husband back into her life, put her in the middle of a murder investigation, and place her life in danger.
Gabriel Briggs has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Short term flings are all he can afford for more reasons than one – reasons he never plans to share. Until he moves in next door to the beautiful, green eyed, feisty, Lauren. One night with her and he’s reconsidering promises he made almost a decade ago. When a woman from his past is murdered, his world is turned upside down. Secrets are revealed and innocent lives are threatened. Can Gabe win Lauren’s love and save her life before it’s too late?
Product Warnings: Contains a blind therapist who doesn’t consider herself impaired; a meddling, erotic-novel-writing best friend; a hot ex-Marine with a shady past; and a loyal guide dog that howls “I love you” and is probably the sanest one of the bunch.
EXCERPT
Gabe locked the
front door and headed to his pickup. The decision was made. He needed to move
his pitiful ass into the cabin immediately. A woman he barely knew had him
confessing things he’d never told anyone else, and the scariest part: he caught
himself reconsidering nonnegotiable promises. Those were fantasies he couldn’t
afford. Not when other lives counted on him. He glanced over at her place and
stopped dead in his tracks.
Speak of the
devil.
Hands on her
hips, Lauren stood talking to the cabbie parked in her driveway. Her hair was
twisted in a knot. The dark blue, strapless summer dress she wore had his gaze
lingering over her long neck and tanned shoulders. His mouth watered at the
memory of how sweet her covered parts tasted last night.
There was
something about her that hooked him. Yes, she was beautiful, but there was
more. It was how her eyes crinkled when she laughed. All the smart-ass things
she’d say. The soothing way her voice melted his guard. And when she touched
him, it was as if she was sticking her hands inside him, picking up every one
of his painful pieces, and for just a little while gluing them back together.
What the fuck am
I saying?
He looked away
and continued to his truck. She’d find the right person one day, and whoever
the man was would be one lucky bastard.
“I’m sorry,
ma’am. I can’t help you,” the cabbie said.
Gabe put the
last of the supplies into the large metal toolbox and padlocked the lid.
“He’s a guide
dog. Isn’t it against the law for you to refuse services because of him?”
Lauren asked.
He bit back his
urge to help.
For him, the
girl spelled trouble.
T.
R.
O.
U.
“The sign right
there says no animals.” The driver pointed to the backseat window.
B.
L.
E.
She grinned.
“And if I wasn’t blind, I’m sure I would have seen it.”
Gabe chuckled.
He loved her fake smile. Leaning against the truck, he watched the performance.
“I’m sorry, I
didn’t—I mean, you don’t look blind.”
Still grinning,
she cleared her throat and pulled on the dog’s harness. “I am. Which is why I
need my guide dog. He goes everywhere with me.”
The beast raised
its ears and looked at Gabe. He averted his eyes, pulled off his baseball cap and
tucked it into his jean pocket. Her monster of a pet was making him feel guilty
as hell.
“I’m sorry, but
I’m allergic to animals. He can’t come in my taxi.”
“I can pay you
extra for your troubles. The place is a few blocks after the highway. It would
only be ten minutes of your time.”
“Look, ma’am.
It’s not going to happen. If you want, I’ll call another car to pick you up.”
After a long
pause, she shook her head and bit her lip. “No, it’s fine. I understand. Thank
you.”
A few seconds
later, the cab pulled away. Lauren stood cross-armed, staring out.
Gabe gripped the
truck to make sure his legs didn’t get any crazy ideas.
This is not my
problem. Maybe if he said it enough times, he’d believe it.
“Come on, Jack.
It’s time for Plan B,” she said and grabbed the dog’s holster.
Plan what?
Stunned, he
watched the two stroll down the road. She said the place was a few blocks after
the highway. Which meant they’d be walking alongside one of the busiest
boulevards in Denver for a few yards before she’d ever reach the interstate. He
looked at his watch. Four fifty, on a Friday afternoon. The two would be smack
dab in front of the I25 overpass during rush hour traffic—a dangerous situation
for anyone, much less a blind woman.
She wouldn’t,
would she?
When Lauren got to
the end of the street and turned left, he cursed under his breath.
Yeah, she would.
Goodreads ** SamhainPublishing ** Amazon
About the author:
From daring escapes by tough women to chivalrous men swooping in to save the day, the creativity switch to Kishan Paul’s brain is always in the “on” position. If daydreaming stories were a college course, Kish would have graduated with honors.
Mother of two beautiful children, she has been married to her best friend for over seventeen years. With the help of supportive family and friends, she balances her family, a thriving counseling practice, and writing without sinking into insanity.
Her novella, Taking the Plunge, is currently available in the Love Least Expected Anthology on Amazon.
I was voted Best New Author at the Smexy and Fabulous Beach Reads and Blind Love got second place in the same competition for Best Contemporary Romance. Blind Love is also voted the Best Book of June, 2015 on Goodreads and is one of the Top Ten Books of Playwire's Reviews for June.
1 comment:
Hi, Thanks for interviewing me and hosting Blind Love. I had a lot of fun!
Kish
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