Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Hooked -- First Excerpt

A blog party just isn't a blog party without some excerpts, don't you agree? So here's the first of them, a PG-rated introduction to the characters and the story. Enjoy!

Captain Dylan was flirting with her.

Not blatantly, of course. Just a little extra eye contact, a smile that promised more. A touch on the shoulder to steady her when the boat lurched down yet another monster wave. Some pseudo-concerned expression meant to weaken her defenses.

Her defenses were already weak enough, thank you very much.

Her face was green and her hair was limp and tangled from the constant barrage of salt spray. The smell of diesel and burnt coffee, combined with the continual roll of the boat, made her stomach heave. She was decked out head to toe in completely inappropriate “outdoorsy” resort wear, clothes so new the creases hadn’t even been worked out yet.

She looked ridiculous.

So why in the world was he coming on to her?

She glanced around at all the other passengers. Maybe the fact that she was the only female on the charter fishing trip had something to do with it.

Great. She was a target by default.

Well, this couldn’t go on. She was in town for work, not a roll in the hay. Especially with a devil-may-care fishing boat captain like Dylan. Her father’s example had taught her well—stay away from playboys.

“Look.” She swallowed down her nausea as the boat pitched down another rolling wave. “I appreciate the thought, but you’re wasting your time.”

“Excuse me?” Slate-blue eyes reflected the rich color of the ocean under the cloudy sky. A puzzled frown settled over his features.

She waved a hand vaguely between them, then clutched the slick railing again as the boat struggled its way back up the wave. “I’m sure lots of women are flattered when someone like you hits on them, but I’m not one of them.” Madison winced inwardly at the snobbish tone in her voice. Dimly, she wondered when she’d started channeling her mother.

“You thought I was hitting on you?” Amazingly, he looked almost insulted, his shoulders pulling down and back as he straightened.

“Flirting. Whatever.” She could feel a deep blush creeping up her neck. “I mean, it’s nothing personal. I’m just not interested.”

A muscle worked in Dylan’s jaw. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Madison nodded briefly, grateful that the confrontation was over. She turned to go, only to be stopped by a strong, calloused hand on her elbow. Even through the damp khaki sleeve she could feel heat spread up her arm. An unfamiliar warmth settled in her chest as her heart raced out of control. Startled, she stepped away, tugging her arm from his grasp.

“Was there something else?” Even to her own ears she sounded horribly snippy, but the embarrassment of the situation, combined with her seasickness, did away with her usual restraint.

“Just a question.”

She gave a slight nod, barely moving her head in an effort to keep her nausea under control.

“You said, ‘someone like you.’ What exactly did you mean by that?”

(C) 2008, Siren Publishing

And a quick note: I'll be off-line for the day, attending a family reunion. So, apologies in advance for not replying to comments right away. And I'll see you all tomorrow!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Loved the excerpt. I would have loved to see what happened next.

JeanMP said...

Can't wait to find out what happens next with them

tetewa said...

Enjoyed the excerpt, keep them coming!

Cathy M said...

Excerpt had me smiling, thanks for sharing it with us.

Jane said...

That gave me a good laugh.

Cherie J said...

Great excerpt! Left me wanting more.

Michelle said...

Happy Family Reunion!!!

Good excerpt especially for a PG...

cheryl c said...

Loved the excerpt...it makes me want more.

Unknown said...

Hooked sounds great! Loved the excerpt!

Anonymous said...

Great excerpt. WIll anxiously await the next installment.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed the excerpt. Have a wonderful reunion.

Caffey said...

I loved she got that spark when he touched her! That was great!

Diane Craver said...

Loved this excerpt - great description of Madison. Can't wait to read more.

Michelle B said...

This sounds so good! I can't wait to get it!!

robynl said...

Again, lol, can't wait to see what happens with Dylan and Madison.

traveler said...

Excellent excerpt. Thanks. Waiting for more.

robynl said...

that was a great excerpt, wasn't it traveler.

Anonymous said...

Great excerpt!! Can't wait to read more.