Showing posts with label cop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cop. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 04, 2014

The Art Lover by Maggie Wells



Please welcome my good friend Maggie Wells!
This week she's got a treat for you. 
THE ART LOVER is free!! 
Hurry out and get your copy while the deal lasts!
 
Blurb
Starving artist Kelsey Tecato takes being The Templeton Museum's artist in residence a little too literally. By day, she puts on a show of painting for the crowds that shuffle through the galleries, but at night, her muse runs wild.

Mitch Jameson is a guy's guy. A cop moonlighting as a security guard, he has little use for the artsy-fartsy stuff, but the mysterious Ms. Tecato's sexy portraits call to him.

So does an interior alarm.

When Officer Jameson goes to investigate, he finds a paint-splattered goddess working on a self-portrait--in the nude.

A couple tubes of paint and a roll in the drop cloths later, free-spirited Kelsey helps Officer Jameson discover his passion for art.

Buy Link
Retail Price: $0.99                        Promotional Price: FREE
 March 3-7, 2014


Excerpt
His gaze traveled over the discreet placard affixed to the wall, but he’d already memorized the pertinent facts. The paintings were created by someone named Kelsey Tecato, the museum’s ‘Artist in Residence’.
Coming on shift as the museum closed for the day, he’d searched the faces of museum patrons and employees as they straggled past the security station, but he’d yet to spot the one that matched the headshot of a studious-looking brunette featured in the museum brochure. When he oh-so-casually posed the question to Bert, he learned that meant Ms. Tecato’s art was being subsidized in exchange for her participation in demonstrations and exhibitions sponsored by the museum board. The knowing twinkle in the older man’s eyes when he clarified that the ‘in residence’ part didn’t refer to the artist’s living situation was enough to make him drop the subject. Bert was too damn nosy for a guy who never managed to pass the detective’s exam.

Forcing himself to put one foot in front of the other, he left the provocative portraits behind and turned toward the west end of the building. The Templeton rambled for nearly a city block but most of the space went unused. Exhibits occupied the open center space of the two-story building joined by a pair of sweeping marble staircases. The east side had been converted to classroom space decades before, but the warren of tiny rooms on the west end were primarily administrative offices and storage.

His heart started to pound when he picked up the murmur of a deep voice. Shifting the flashlight to his left hand, Mitch reached for his sidearm and came up empty. He was a guard tonight, not a cop. His service weapon was locked up safe in his apartment. At the end of the corridor he pulled up short, pressing his back against the wall and tightening his grip on the flashlight. He wore a panic button clipped to his belt but his instincts told him he wasn’t at the panic stage yet. Breathing soft and slow, he closed his eyes and focused his energy on catching a few words. Perhaps he could figure out what the intruders were after before making his presence known.

Thirty seconds passed. His eyes popped open then rolled heavenward as the droning voice segued into a bouncy pop song. The radio. Someone had left a radio playing in one of the offices. Shaking off the rush of adrenaline, Mitch pushed away from the wall and rounded the corner, only to come to a dead stop when he saw the fan of light spilling from the office at the very end of the hall.

Two things he knew for certain: the radio hadn’t been playing when he’d made his post-closing rounds, and that door on the end of the corridor hadn’t been open. He let the barrel of the flashlight slip through his fingers until he gripped the lamp. Wielding his only weapon like a club, he crept toward the door as silently as a guy who clocked in at six-four and two-ten could. Just outside the office, he caught a flash of movement inside the room and quickly pressed his back to the wall.

“About time you showed up.”

A woman. The intruder was a woman and she’d been expecting him. Irked by the presumptuous amusement in her tone, he stepped into the open doorway, prepared to let her have it, and almost swallowed his tongue.
Screw the flashing red lights. Alarm bells clamored in his head the moment recognition clicked. Kelsey Tecato. Artist in Residence. Painter of hard-on-inducing nudes. Live and in person, standing in the Templeton Museum after hours.

And naked as the day she was born.

Author Info
Multi-published author, Maggie Wells, is a deep-down dirty girl with a weakness for hot heroes and happy endings. By day she is buried in spreadsheets, but at night she pens tales of people tangling up the sheets. The product of a charming rogue and a shameless flirt, this mild-mannered married lady has a naughty streak a mile wide.
Fueled by supertankers of Diet Coke, Maggie juggles fictional romance and the real deal by keeping her slow-talking Southern gentleman constantly amused and their two children mildly embarrassed. They are the food purveyors to three dogs, a passel of fish, and one impertinent house rabbit she claims is the love of her life. Shh. Don’t tell her husband.
You can find her online at maggie-wells.com , on Twitter @maggiewells1, or on Facebook 

Author Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1482834.Maggie_Wells

Saturday, January 05, 2013

Snippet Saturday - Emotion

When I had to pick an emotion-packed excerpt for this snippet, I knew exactly which one it should be. WITCH'S CURSE may be short, but it's full of emotion and twist. Give it a try.
 
Witch's Curse



Blurb


As punishment for using magic unwisely, Catherine Wein, ex-witch and totally cursed, is doomed to spend each year in a different woman's life. It's New Year's Eve and at the stroke of midnight she’ll make the switch to another host’s life. Catherine's determined to grab for as much happiness as she can with her remaining hours in Kindra Merlot’s body.
Enter sexy cop, Sam Cade. Dumped by his girlfriend right after Christmas, Sam isn't in the mood to celebrate until he sees the willowy beauty, Kindra. Her sensuality and sexual aggressiveness revives his lagging spirits. Is she the one for him or is she another lying, cheating woman like his ex? He hopes he has more than just one night to find out.


Excerpt


Sam twisted his head around and fumbled with the alarm on the nightstand. “It’s eleven-fifty-three. Why? Did you want to ring the New Year in?” He pressed a kiss to her hair and sucked the lobe of her ear between his teeth. “I can think of better ways to welcome in the New Year.”

Panic rose up inside her, threatening to choke off her air. “I can’t. I have to go.”

“Why?” The arm around her tightened.

She leaned into him and pressed a kiss to his chest then moved up until her lips hovered over his. “I have to.”

“When can I see you again?”

As if a knife cut into her, Catherine sucked in her breath, reminding herself that in five minutes she’d be God knew where in someone else’s body, starting all over. Swallowing hard on the lump in her throat, she sent the silent question to Kindra, Do you want to see him again?

Fear racked her, making her entire body shake. I can’t.

Catherine dropped a kiss to his lips, delving deep, knowing this would be their last. “I can’t see you anymore.” A tear slipped from her eye dropping to his cheek. Before he could form a response, she leaped off the bed. “I have to go.”

She scooped her dress from the floor and stepped into it, zipping it the best she could as she scrambled for her heels.

“What the hell?”

“I can’t explain. I can’t see you again.” She couldn’t face him, couldn’t witness the look of betrayal in his eyes.

“Are you married?”

“No.” When she spotted her shoes, she grabbed them and ran for the door. With only minutes to spare, she had to get out. But she couldn’t resist one last look.

Sam had climbed from the bed and was reaching for his trousers. His muscular, naked body was beautiful in the lamplight. She’d really miss him.

He was stepping into one trouser leg when Catherine jerked the door open. She had to get to the elevator before he did. If she left Kindra’s body before she got away, Kindra would go nuts. Catherine punched the button on the elevator, holding her heels looped over one finger in her other hand. “Hurry! Hurry!”

As the doors slid open, Sam emerged from his apartment. “Kindra, wait!”

Catherine dove into the elevator and hit the button that closed the doors. Her fingers punched the lobby button. She didn’t want to get off on her floor in case Sam followed her to Kindra’s apartment. As the elevator descended, she counted the seconds. It must be midnight by now. When would her soul float free and Kindra be on her own?

When she reached the lobby level, she could hear the happy shouts of the party-goers ringing in the New Year. This was it.

“Take care, Kindra. I love you and please give your life a chance.”

I love you too, Catherine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right.

As she stepped into the crowded lobby, Dolly descended on her. “Catherine or Kindra?”

“Both.” Catherine grabbed Dolly’s hand and held on, not wanting to go but knowing she had to.

“The clock is striking midnight as we speak.” Dolly hugged her. “I’ll always be here for you. You know that.”

“I know.” Catherine kissed her cheek. “Be happy, Dolly. And watch out for Kindra.”

“I will.” Dolly’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.

A tingling sensation started in her toes and worked its way up her legs into her torso. “Goodbye, Dolly. Blessed be.”

Though Dolly’s tears fell in earnest now, Catherine couldn’t reach out and comfort her friend. She’d risen above the gathering, weightless and disembodied from Kindra’s mortal being.

There in the middle of the dance floor stood Michael, dressed in black, his shock of white-blond hair a striking contrast to the somberness of his clothing. Invisible to all those around him, his gaze was locked with Kindra’s.

“No!” Catherine could see all that was going on, but she was powerless to do anything about it.
Kindra moved toward Michael, her steps slow yet steady.

“Kindra? Are you all right?” Dolly held onto Kindra’s arm and walked alongside her.

“I’m fine,” she answered in a monotone voice, her gaze fixed in front of her.

“Shouldn’t we go back to your room, sweetheart?” Dolly tugged the woman’s arm to no avail.

“No, I think I’d like some fresh air.” By this time, they’d reached the lobby doors exiting out onto the busy streets of Hell’s Kitchen.

Dolly held tight to Kindra’s arm. “No, you can’t go out there.”

Kindra turned to Dolly, her face set and strangely at peace. “Let me go, Dolly. It’s what I want.”

“No. Catherine made me promise.”

“Go back to the party, Dolly.” She peeled Dolly’s hands off her arm and pushed through the door.
Catherine moved to follow, knowing she could breeze through the entrance as if glass, brick and mortar meant nothing.

Behind her, she heard a male voice call out, “Kindra!”

Sam pushed his way through the crowd, a frantic frown creasing his forehead.

Kindra didn’t stop. She followed Michael out onto the street.

Catherine burst through the walls of the building just as Kindra reached the curb to the busy street. “Michael, don’t do this.”

“It’s her time, Catherine. I’ve come to collect a soul, and I won’t leave without it.” Michael held out his hand to Kindra. “Come.”

If she had a body, she’d throw it in front of Kindra to stop her, but Catherine was nothing more than a lifeless soul. “Please, Michael. If you want a soul, take mine. Kindra’s young and has so much talent. She deserves to live. Spare her and take me.”

Michael’s brows rose on his forehead. “Take you? You stole her from me a year ago today. Why should I take you?”

“I don’t know. Just do it. Kindra is a gentle soul who wouldn’t hurt a fly. She deserves to live more than I do. I’m mean and nasty. That’s why the council cursed me. I deserve to die. Please, Michael. Don’t take Kindra.”

Michael rubbed his chin for a moment and then looked up to where Catherine’s soul hovered. “No.” Then he stuck out his hand.

Powerless, Catherine watched in horror as Kindra stepped off the curb in front of a speeding car. The car hit her in the side, flinging her back to the curb like a rag doll.




Other authors participating in Snippet Saturday:
Lissa Matthews
Rhian Cahill 
Shelli Stevens
Eliza Gayle
Leah Braemel
Myla Jackson
Caris Roane
Jody Wallace
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
HelenKay Dimon
Shiloh Walker
Delilah Devlin
Lauren Dane
TJ Michaels

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Snippet Saturday - Endings

This story was not only sexy, but it tugged at my heart even as I wrote it. Imagine being a prisoner in another person's life...

WITCH'S CURSE
by Myla Jackson


Blurb

As punishment for using magic unwisely, Catherine Wein, ex-witch and totally cursed, is doomed to spend each year in a different woman's life. It's New Year's Eve and at the stroke of midnight she’ll make the switch to another host’s life. Catherine's determined to grab for as much happiness as she can with her remaining hours in Kindra Merlot’s body. Enter sexy cop, Sam Cade. 

Dumped by his girlfriend right after Christmas, Sam isn't in the mood to celebrate until he sees the willowy beauty, Kindra. Her sensuality and sexual aggressiveness revives his lagging spirits. Is she the one for him or is she another lying, cheating woman like his ex? Will he have more than tonight to find out?


Excerpt

Catherine dove into the elevator and hit the button that closed the doors. Her fingers punched the lobby button. She didn’t want to get off on her floor in case Sam followed her to Kindra’s apartment. As the elevator descended, she counted the seconds. It must be midnight by now. When would her soul float free and Kindra be on her own?

When she reached the lobby level, she could hear the happy shouts of the party-goers ringing in the New Year. This was it.

“Take care, Kindra. I love you and please give your life a chance.”

I love you too, Catherine. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right.

As she stepped into the crowded lobby, Dolly descended on her. “Catherine or Kindra?”

“Both.” Catherine grabbed Dolly’s hand and held on, not wanting to go but knowing she had to.

“The clock is striking midnight as we speak.” Dolly hugged her. “I’ll always be here for you. You know that.”

“I know.” Catherine kissed her cheek. “Be happy, Dolly. And watch out for Kindra.”

“I will.” Dolly’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.

A tingling sensation started in her toes and worked its way up her legs into her torso. “Goodbye, Dolly. Blessed be.”

Though Dolly’s tears fell in earnest now, Catherine couldn’t reach out and comfort her friend. She’d risen above the gathering, weightless and disembodied from Kindra’s mortal being.

There in the middle of the dance floor stood Michael, dressed in black, his shock of white-blond hair a striking contrast to the somberness of his clothing. Invisible to all those around him, his gaze was locked with Kindra’s.

“No!” Catherine could see all that was going on, but she was powerless to do anything about it.
Kindra moved toward Michael, her steps slow yet steady.

“Kindra? Are you all right?” Dolly held onto Kindra’s arm and walked alongside her.

“I’m fine,” she answered in a monotone voice, her gaze fixed in front of her.

“Shouldn’t we go back to your room, sweetheart?” Dolly tugged the woman’s arm to no avail.

“No, I think I’d like some fresh air.” By this time, they’d reached the lobby doors exiting out onto the busy streets of Hell’s Kitchen.

Dolly held tight to Kindra’s arm. “No, you can’t go out there.”

Kindra turned to Dolly, her face set and strangely at peace. “Let me go, Dolly. It’s what I want.”
“No. Catherine made me promise.”

“Go back to the party, Dolly.” She peeled Dolly’s hands off her arm and pushed through the door.
Catherine moved to follow, knowing she could breeze through the entrance as if glass, brick and mortar meant nothing.

Behind her, she heard a male voice call out, “Kindra!”

Sam pushed his way through the crowd, a frantic frown creasing his forehead.

Kindra didn’t stop. She followed Michael out onto the street.

Catherine burst through the walls of the building just as Kindra reached the curb to the busy street. “Michael, don’t do this.”

“It’s her time, Catherine. I’ve come to collect a soul, and I won’t leave without it.” Michael held out his hand to Kindra. “Come.”

Other Authors Participating in Snippet Saturday:

Lissa Matthews
Rhian Cahill 
Myla Jackson
Caris Roane
McKenna Jeffries
Taige Crenshaw
HelenKay Dimon
Shiloh Walker
Delilah Devlin
Eliza Gayle
Lauren Dane
Felicity Heaton
TJ Michaels