Dead Air Series - Book Tour and Giveaway

Shockwave
Dead Air Series Book 1
by Amy Romine
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Special Agent Kate Weiss is hiding from a kidnapping she doesn’t remember.

Jack Tucker’s life as a morning radio host is uncomplicated, attachment free, and without regret.

Brought together by a mutual friend, the pair are at odds from the moment they meet. She finds his confident swagger arrogant and beyond reproach, while he in turn sees her as a self-righteous controlling dictator.

As Kate struggles with her confidence, Jack begins to realize his life without strings is missing something, or someone. Adversity quickly becomes attraction. Jack and Kate find themselves flirting with the flames of unexpected desire.

As emotions rise, scars are revealed and secrets are uncovered. Will the reality of their very different worlds bring them together or rip them apart?


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​Heated bodies were pushed together like fish caught in a very expensive net. Jack maneuvered his way to the bar, and requested a whiskey sour. He stood waiting patiently, his eyes staring unfocused at the design etched into the marble top of the bar. He felt a heat on his back. He turned in curiosity when his shoulder smacked into something.
“Whoa,” he heard, and then saw Kate, her drink dripping from her hand.
“Sorry,” He found himself staring at her, a lump in his throat, his neck heated. “I didn’t see you.”
“It’s okay.” She moved to the spot next to him at the bar. She placed her drink on the bar and began to clean the alcohol from her hands and dress.
“You should know better than to try and navigate through a crowd with a full drink.”
“I’ll make a note for next time, thanks.” She tossed the used napkins on the bar and then looked back to him. “This is quite a place.”
“It stands out.” His focus went back to the crowd.
“Are you having a good time?”
“Can’t complain.”
“I haven’t seen Chris. Is he having a good time?”
“Wouldn’t know, he disappeared about an hour ago.” The bartender arrived with his drink. Jack laid some money on the bar before grabbing the glass.
“I’d better get back to Mike.” She excused herself stepping away from the bar.
“I’ll go with you.”
What are you doing?
They made it halfway across the floor, before engulfed in a deadlock of people. Jack instinctively grabbed Kate’s hand pushing a path through to the other side. Not realizing the warmth of her hand within his until they reached Mike, he quickly released and shoved his own in his pocket.
“Hey, Jack, I see you found her,” Mike said with a grin, scotch in his hand. “I thought you got lost.”
“Not exactly, just delayed.” Mike’s Blackberry lit up and he grabbed it and began to read.
“Crap,” Mike said, looking to Jack and Kate. “There’s a problem at the station. I have to go. Jack, will you do me a favor and take Kate home?”
“I can grab a cab, Mike. Jack doesn’t need to--”
“You’re not taking a cab, Kate,” Mike looked to Jack for support.
“It’s fine,” Kate’s expression crinkled in discomfort. “We have plenty of room.”
Kate finally nodded in agreement and Mike smiled.
“Great, you guys have fun and I’ll see you later.” He stepped forward squeezing Kate’s hand. Mike moved away from them and Jack looked to Kate, his heart pounding uncontrolled.
“We should probably get back to the VIP room.” The area around them began to fill with an overflow of people.
“Okay.” Jack led the way to where their party was congregating. Once again, they ran into traffic between point A and point B. Jack consciously kept his hand to himself, letting her push her way through behind him. The crowd swayed taking them with it and he found himself trapped against the far wall.  He looked to his left and saw Kate in the same situation. She made her way along the wall toward him. A tornado of thrashing dancers erupted around them and Jack instinctively used his body to protect her. The crowd once again crashed like a wave against the wall. He felt the pressure lessen and he looked down meeting her emerald eyes.  His body tingled, reacting to the softness against him. “They really need to do something about crowd control.”
“I’ll be sure to mention it in my review,” he said, her scent filling him.
Peaches
“Should we try and move?” She pushed her hair off her shoulder, revealing a gently curved neck begging to be nibbled.
“I don’t know.” Catching her eyes. “Usually, this where I get thanked for my selfless act of chivalry.”
“You’ve already gotten one blow-job this evening, Tucker,” she hit back. “I would have thought the Viagra would’ve worn off by now.”
Her eyes breathed fire. She shoved him away and dove into the crowd. Jack followed and arrived on the steps of the VIP area a few moments behind her arrival. He saw Melissa meet her with a wide smile.
“Kate!” Melissa cooed while embracing the woman. “I was looking for you, when did you get here? Where’s Mike?”
“He had to take off. Kate is going to hang out with us for the remainder of the evening. I offered to give her a lift home,” Jack said with a little too much enthusiasm. Like a dog that caught a rabbit and was proudly displaying it to his master.
“Awesome, this gives me a chance to introduce you to some of our friends!”
Melissa whisked Kate away to fashion and celebrity heaven.

Backlash
Dead Air Series Book 2

This book picks up where Shockwave left off…

They were worlds apart, drawn together by an undeniable passion. Ripped apart by fear, they ran from each other and now struggle to stand alone. Tragedy descends and they are pulled together in search of a killer.

Kate returns to Dallas in search of Mike’s killer. Within hours of her arrival, events quickly spin out of control. Jack struggles to keep his distance, but when Kate becomes a suspect, his instincts take over and he rushes to her defense. As danger looms, all of the reasons they walked away from each other disappear, leaving the passionate fire that brought them together.

Unknown forces set their sights on Jack and Kate and the pair soon realizes that their names are next in a long line of victims. In a desperate search for the truth behind Mike’s murder, they fight their way through the lies, discovering that not all is as it seems.


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​Kate Weiss pushed her way through the doors. She just wanted to get this over with. After three weeks of being undercover, she’d gotten the collar and closed the case. Now all she wanted was a glass of wine and a nice long, hot, bath.
She would have to wait, paperwork first, always. She made it halfway through the bullpen when she heard her name. She turned seeing Andy waving her down.
The sight of him stabbed at her, the memory of her return from Dallas creeping from the back of her mind. She tried to push the memories of her time in the lone-star state out of her head. It was the whole reason she’d jumped back into work. Taking the first deep cover assignment she could get. It was ironic really she’d gone to Dallas to regain her memory. Not only did she fail at that attempt, but she also managed to mangle her own heart in the process.
Jack She pushed it away and made a u-turn toward Andy’s office. “What’s up?” “Come in and close the door.” “Is everything okay, you don’t look like the boss of someone who just broke a two year old case?”
“Kate, there is something I need to tell you.” His face was hard and set in a pained expression. Her stomach immediately dropped when he met her eyes, and she pushed the air from her lungs.
“What is it, what’s wrong?” “Kate...I...” “What is it, Andy? Spit it out!” “Mike’s dead.” Kate felt all of the blood draining from her face and her body became unbearably heavy. “How?”
“He was shot in the head, it looks like a hit.” She was speechless. She stared at him, feeling the walls closing in and sat in the chair behind her. Clasping her hands together, she tried to collect her thoughts and bring her buzzing mind under control. “There has to be some kind of mistake, Andy. There’s no way...”
“It’s been confirmed. They just finished the autopsy. We should have the ballistics in a few days.”
“What— wait, autopsy? When did this happen?” “Ah...we got the news last week.” “Last week, and you are telling me now?” “Kate, there was no way to get a message to you without compromising your cover.”
“God damn it, why didn’t you...” Her body began to shake but she reeled herself back in, not wanting to show the weakness in front of him. “So I assume Washington is handling the investigation?”
“No, the Dallas office is handling it,” he replied looking at her, somehow knowing she was going to object. “Don’t start, there is no way to transfer it here I have already asked.”
Kate decided to leave it. The less she involved him the better. “Do we know when the funeral will be?” “Not yet. I have a call into the AD in Dallas. A lot of it is going to depend on when they release the body.”
“Yeah.” She stood from the chair hiding the shaking of her limbs. “You okay?” “Yeah,” she said with a nod. She watched him move around the desk. He touched her arm before pulling her toward him.
Andy wrapped his arms around her, and she reluctantly let him. He was trying to comfort her, so she humored him, laying her head on his shoulder. They stood silent before she pulled back. “Thanks, Andy.”
“Why don’t you take the rest of the day off? Let it settle in,” he suggested and she nodded in agreement. “I’ll stop by later and see how you are doing, okay.”
“Call me if you hear anything else?” “Definitely.” Kate opened the door and exited the office. She moved through the bullpen, grabbed her things from her desk, and headed out of the building. Once she reached her car, she pulled out her cell and dialed.
“Jane. Hey, it’s Kate. Are you busy, I need a favor?” *** Jack’s cell rang and he answered seeing the number from the mortuary. “This is Jack Tucker,” he said into the phone as he cleaned out the coffee pot. “Yes. Yes, please that is fine. Thank you.”
The entire situation was frustrating, and he was glad it was almost over. Everything was put on indefinite hold until the FBI released Mike’s remains. Something they were told would take a few days had dragged on for over two weeks. He'd found his boss and friend dead in his own kitchen two weeks ago. He had dropped by to deliver his laptop as requested and that was when he found him. The memory chilled him to the bone, and everything since had been a dizzy haze. Mike had no immediate family, so Jack and his on-air radio co-host, Melissa, took it upon them-selves to make all of the funeral arrangements. This, if nothing else kept them both busy, stalling the impending shock of emotion going to rain down soon enough. His mind went to Kate. He'd attempted to call her several times with no response. He wasn't sure why he would have expected her to answer. He'd gone to California to apologize for the way he rejected her when he discovered she was an FBI Agent, but she shut him down and walked away. Telling him that she wasn't who he thought she was. Despite their recent history, he was sincerely worried about her. Jack knew how much she meant to Mike, he could only imagine that the feeling was reciprocated.
Jack shook himself out of his head and immediately got to work. His first order of business was to call Melissa, and let her know that they were a go. He started at the top of the list and worked his way down. He had accomplished half of it when his phone rang.
“This is Jack.” “Jack, it’s Elisa.” “Hey, what’s up?” “The FBI is here, and asking about Mike’s laptop. Do you still have it?” Her voice was strained and he could only imagine how she was handling things. She was, after all, Mike's assistant. All of this must have been horrible.
“Ah, yeah, do they want me to bring it there?” Jack heard her asking someone something in the background, and then she came back to the phone.
“They want you to bring it to the field office downtown.” “Yeah okay I can run by there. No problem.” “Okay, I’ll tell them, thanks.” He decided it was a good excuse to get out of the house, and he grabbed his keys. Half way to the federal offices, his phone rang again and he saw Melissa’s smiling face.
“Hey Miss, what’s up?” “Are you busy?” “Not really, I was just going to drop something off downtown. What do you need?”
“I am at the funeral home and I have no idea what I am doing,” she replied sounding frustrated and breathless. “Do you think you could come by and help me with all of this?”
“Sure, where are you?” Melissa gave him the address and he veered off course to the funeral home. When he arrived, she was shaking her head in indecision. He didn’t offer any suggestions just acted as a sounding board and support. This enabled her to make the necessary decisions.
Two hours later, he was able to walk out of the funeral home knowing that the arrangements were all made. Now it was his job to send everyone the information. He wanted to put together a respectful email so he decided to head to the federal office and then back home. Melissa wanted him to meet him for dinner later, so if he hauled ass he should have time to get everything done, and be able to clean up before dinner.
Jack pulled into the parking lot, grabbed the laptop off the back seat, and headed to the main doors of the federal office. As soon as he walked in, he saw a reception desk. He stood behind a man, and a woman, who were both waiting their turn while the receptionist talked on the phone.
A few minutes later, it was his turn and he looked to her with a smile. “Hi, my name is Jack Tucker. I was asked to bring this down,” he said, motioning to the laptop.
“Mr. Tucker,” she said scanning her computer screen. “There you are. They are expecting you. Just go through security and up to the fifth floor. Talk to the receptionist, and ask her to direct you to Agent Mitchell.”
“Great, thanks.” He turned and moved to the security station. Once through, he made his way to the fifth floor. “Hi I’m here to see Agent Mitchell, my name is Jack Tucker.”
“Mr. Tucker, if you can fill this out for me I can take the laptop for you.” The receptionist handed him a clipboard and a pen. He looked over the form and began to fill it out. Abruptly Jack heard the faint echo of shouting voices followed by the slamming of a door. Looking up, he watched a suited man cross the room of cubicles. The man, seemingly irate, stopped, yanking open the door of a glass walled office. “Get Andy Whitaker in Los Angeles on the phone now!”
Jack watched in curiosity while the surrounding agents scurried through the cubicles like frightened mice looking for a place to hide.
“All set, thanks for bringing this down, Mr. Tucker.” “Sure, no problem,” he replied with a nod before turning toward the elevator. “Carol, Nighton wants the files on Kate Weiss,” a man said as he leaned over the counter. A chill went up Jack’s spine, and he turned to get a look at the man. He was a bald middle age man, but he quickly disappeared into the maze of cubicles. Jack turned back to the elevator and stepped on just as an angry male voice bellowed through the office...

Fallout
Dead Air Series Book 3

Jack and Kate struggle to navigate through the web of lies surrounding them. Chasing shadows, the truth is closer than they realize. Isolated and hiding from unknown forces, can they uncover the buried secrets that killed Mike and put a price of their heads? When Kate makes a deal and leaves Jack behind, will she make it back, or will one misstep destroy all of their hopes for the future?


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​Speechless, Jack watched her turn away, and flee to the back porch. He stood staring, her words piercing him like a molten blade. He wanted to back her up, be the man. He didn’t care what happened to him, and when she said she didn’t want him to go he assumed it was because he was a hindrance.  It was completely beyond him that she didn’t see him that way at all. Her decision was defensive. She was protecting him, to protect herself.
Her decision of not allowing him to go with her had nothing to do with him and everything to do with her fear of losing him.
Jack’s stomach dropped and he felt like an idiot.
Taking a breath, he reigned in his guilt and self-induced frustration, before moving to the back door. Stepping out the cool lake air hit him and a chill ran up his spine. He breathed it in seeing her stare out at the water.
“It’s cold out here.”
“I’m not changing my mind, Jack.”
“I know.” Jack caught her shining eyes in the moonlight.
Her gaze was open and trusting of him. There was nothing hidden, just her, and his heart stopped in devotion.  He caressed her cheek, wiping away the tear that slid across it. Jack encompassed her within his arms before caressing her lips with a loving tender kiss. He pressed his forehead to hers and she closed her eyes against him. “If you say I need to stay here, than that is what I need to do. You go do what needs to be done and I will be here when you get back.”
“Ja--”
“I just want to love you, Katie. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Her emerald eyes opened looked up at him in complete love and hope. He brushed her lips again, and she melted into him. The cold around them disappeared. He wanted to stop the moment in time and keep it forever. After losing themselves in each other they took a breath. His arms held her tightly against him, and a grin spread across his face. “It’s really cold out here.”
She hugged him a little tighter. “Oh it’s not that bad.”
“My nose is frozen.” She laughed and he released her before taking her hand leading her back into the house. “Time to go inside.”
He led her back inside and she ventured into the kitchen starting a pot of coffee. Jack loaded some logs into the fireplace and Kate appeared next to him with a cup of coffee. Jack took it, and put it on the table. Then he took hers and did the same. She smirked at him before he pulled her down against him.  He claimed her lips and didn’t let go. Her softness against him was intoxicating. His body burned and her passionate kisses fueled the fire. He tugged on her shirt before raising it over her head. She unbuttoned his shirt and he nibbled on her neck. He lifted his torso upright, her legs wrapping around his waist. She pushed the shirt off his shoulders.  He shrugged it away, his hands lining her spine. He undid the clasp of her bra sliding the straps down her arms. He dropped it on the floor, the sight of her beautiful body taking his breath away.
Her nails curled into his hair and he lined her collar bone with soft kisses.  His mouth led a trail down to her sternum before he pushed a heat breath across her nipple. He kissed the delicate bud before swirling his tongue over the tip. Her head fell back with a moan and his arms braced her back.  
He sucked her nipple between his lips, nipping gently with his teeth. Her hips ground against him and he increased the suction.  She cried out and gasped. He released the inflamed bundle from his mouth. His palm rolled against the now overly sensitive breast. His mouth latched onto the neglected nipple, while his hand continued to tease.
Jack shifted, tucking her beneath him. She arched her back and he unbuttoned her jeans. His mouth left her breast, kissing his way down her body he nibbled on her hip before tugging her jeans off her legs.  His dick rubbed against his jeans and he gulped back the need to be within her body. The anticipation was likely going to kill him. He pulled her to the edge of the couch, her dewy pussy making his mouth water.
He licked her lips before dipping his tongue into her, she growled lifting her hips.  He gently placed his hand on her mound, pressing her back onto the couch. He explored her pussy with his tongue until she was almost crying.
In a swift move, his finger slipped into her pussy and his mouth covered her clit.  A few flicks of his tongue, he curled his finger against her G-Spot and she exploded.  
Jack brought her down, made his way back to her beautiful eyes, and captured her small whimpers against his mouth.   Her hands freed his aching cock. He rose, discarding his jeans and boxers. She moved while he wasn’t looking. Her lips wrapped around the head of his cock and he thought he was going to explode. Her hand stroked him while her mouth teased.  She must have known he was close. She held his base, and gave his cock a final wet kiss. He devoured her mouth, guiding her to the arm of the couch. He propped her up, her legs wrapping around his hips. He knelt on the couch teasing her clit with the tip of his cock. She squirmed, her breath coming in heavy gasps.
She wrapped her arm around his neck. “Jack, please…I want you inside me.”
“You want me to fill you up?”
“Oh God, yes.”
He dominated her mouth, his fingers digging into her hips. She tilted her pelvis and he pushed into her warmth. He groaned and she whimpered at the union. She used her grip on his neck as leverage to move her pelvis against his cock.  It felt incredible, and his entire body shivered in rising pressure. “Jesus, Kate.”
His hands rested on the arm of the couch, he shifted his weight and took back control. His hips moved, his cock filling her completely. Her head fell back, her back arched and he pulled back and then pushed in again. His cock stroked her pussy as it gripped him. Each movement within her body brought him closer to heaven.  “Harder, Jack, fuck me…”
Her call sent a thrill up his spine and his movement became longer and harder, he filled her again and again without restraint. Her pussy tightened around him and she screamed in ecstasy. The pressure in his cock reached its peak. She pulsed around him and he exploded.
Coming down from the euphoria he pulled her close, and her arms wrapped around his neck. He lay back into the couch, her head on his chest as they both caught their breath.  He felt her shiver and pulled the blanket from the back of the couch. Jack shifted onto his side, facing her and the back of the couch. Her head on his arm she looked at him with a grin.  He traced the line of her hair and her grin turned into a bright smile.
“I love it when you smile.”
“I love it when you touch me.”
“Well that’s good because it happens to be one of my favorite things to do.”
“I love you, Jack.”
He lined her cheek with his thumb, pressing a gentle kiss on her pink lips. “I love you too, Katie.”
They kissed and caressed, relaxing into the couch. Eventually her eyes closed in exhaustion. Her warmth against him, he reveled in the softness of her skin. She laid still, her beautiful, fragile, body curled against him. His heart raced when his thoughts drifted to what was ahead of them. Of all they had to lose. He desperately wanted to shield her from it but knew he couldn’t. He trusted her to do the right thing and come back to him. Jack did his best to let it go and savor her in his arms. He pushed the outside world away and continued to stroke her hair until he eventually drifted off.

Amy Romine has always wanted to be one of the good guys. From playing Charlie's Angels in the backyard of her Macungie, PA home as a child to the pages of her unending projects, Amy has always dreamed of adventure and romance. Her need to make the characters truly deserve their happiness takes us on many a twisted journey. From serial killers to demons, Amy holds nothing back in the name of true enduring love.

A mother of three, Amy has spent the past sixteen years working in Operations for Ricoh America's Corporation. She is an avid movie fan and enjoys books, television, theater, her dog Pip and all things romance.


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The Kiss - A Pivotal Scene in Any Romance
By Amy Romine
Romantic Suspense Author
@AmyJRomine

Little girl’s dreams are built around it. Boys brag about it, and it's the force driving every book I write. Romance all about the kiss, not just any kiss, ‘the kiss’.  Sounds like a pretty weak way to drive anything, but that is my focal point. The first kiss and then the renewal kiss. 
In any romance the basic bare bones plot is usually the same.  Boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back.  Obviously, there are a million variations of this but the core is the same. So, for a writer to truly translate their vision we must have a focus.
In my latest erotic novella, the entire novel started out as a single moment. A passionate, unexpected, but wanted moment between two professional people. I focused on the single image rolling all of the possibilities in my head, why wouldn’t they be able to fulfill their desires? What was holding them back and what would make them so desperate to act? Where did the need to be in the others embrace stem from? What were the consequences if they acted on their desires? The answers to each of these are of course endless, but in the end You Never Could Be was born. The two people became Sara and Will.

​Will finished his conversation, and hung up his phone, having booked himself on the next available flight. Highway assistance had solved their lug nut challenge, and they were back on the road to the airport. Sara saw the exit and glanced at him with a grin, her stomach churning. His phone beeped and he glanced at the screen with an audible sigh.
“Is everything okay?”
“Uh, yeah, it’s fine.”
“You don’t sound so convinced.”
“I’m not.” His focus went toward the window a deafening quiet lying between them once again.
“Are you going out of the same terminal?”
“Yeah, I think so, American.”
She grabbed her drive-through pass and headed to the terminal. The curb side thorough-way was closed. She pulled into the garage and found a space. Sara was unwilling to break the boundary of silence he’d put up, and wordlessly popped the hatch.
“Make sure you get a new tire. You shouldn’t be driving on the donut for longer than a day.” He came around the side, pulling his luggage from the back.
“I will.” She pulled her fingers against her hair. The tension was killing her, and she’d had enough. “Will…”
“They’re replacing me.” Her blood turned to ice.
“What?”
“The phone call, it was Regan. They decided to split the departments, and my position has been absorbed into the transition.” Unable to deal with the news without emotion, she turned away from him. “There are a couple of positions available in Phoenix. They are setting up interviews for me.”
“When?”
“I’ll announce it Monday. They want me to work through the transition so probably a few weeks.”
“I can’t believe this is happening. Will, you’ve been—“
“It’s okay Sara. It’s not personal. We knew with all the changes' stuff like this was going to happen.”
“Yeah, but not to us.”
She saw him take a deep breath before he closed the hatch. Her emotions rose to her chest and she wasn’t sure what to do. She did her best to gulp it back.
“Well at least, you’ll be around for the next few weeks, so I can still harass you when needed.” She meant for the statement to be light, but it came out like a final farewell. “You’ll have to come up with an excuse to come visit. I’m sure the group of us can come up with a plausible justification.”
“I’ll be around.”
“I know you will. You're always around when I…we need you.” His eyes bore through her, and her body involuntarily tightened. “You’d…uh…you’d better get moving or you’re going to miss your plane again.”
“Yeah, I think I would have a hard time using the flat tire excuse twice.”
“Have a safe trip.” She stepped into him, wrapping her arm loosely over his shoulder in a hug. Her heart raced at the solid heat of his body against hers. “Let me know if you need anything. Seriously, if you need anything just call.”
“You too.”
She nodded and went to step back, his hand lingering on her hip. She hesitated. He moved, and she took another step. He threw his laptop case over his shoulder and unfolded his luggage before waving good-bye.
Heaviness settled on her chest, forcing a deep sigh. Her mind felt thick, and she pulled herself away, getting in her truck. She lifted the handle when the smacking of hurried footsteps against concrete got her attention.
“Sara!”
She spun on her heel following his voice around the truck.
“Did you forget something?” He didn’t respond just kept walking, a startling determination in his eyes. She waited in open confusion. He kept coming and before she could react, his hand curled on the back of her neck. His mouth crushed hers with a heated demand and she had no choice but to give in. She opened beneath him, and his tongue diving into her mouth. He shifted his arm, wrapping it around her waist, resting on the small of her back. His mouth still dominating her attention, his overpowering torso pressed her against the truck. She was trapped, unable to escape his possessed siege of her mouth.
The kiss broke, and they both gasped for air. His eyes searched her face, his fingers kneading her neck. He wordlessly pulled at her lips, and her hands balled against his chest. She took another gasp of air, looking up into his heavy-lidded eyes. "Don't go.”


In my first romantic suspense series, ‘Trust Me’, we have two people, breathless and desperate to kiss each other but unable to act on their feelings. The two people became Rebecca and Eric, the scene wound up in a very different place than I imagined it and the consequences were shattering to both of them.

​Eric sat for a moment, letting the advice settle in his gut before he rose from the table. He made is way down the hall and over to the kitchen. He popped a few quarters in the vending machine his mind heavy in thought.
Just promise me, if you find her you won't walk away…
Then the world literally stopped. I looked up and there she was smiling at me as she said hello.
I wish that were true…
He made his way back to the conference room, two sodas in hand. He rounded the corner and bumped into someone. He heard a gasp and he turned. Her blue eyes looked at him in terror.
"Beccs."
He'd scared her again.
Damn it what was she doing out here alone?
She was breathless and he watched her body begin to quake. Her eyes watering, she looked to him helpless. He grasped her hand and scanned his ID before he led her into an empty conference room. She propped herself against the wall and he shut the door. Her trembling worsened while tears slid down her cheeks.
He pulled her into his chest wrapping his arms around her protectively until the trembling passed. She clung to him and he pulled her tighter against him, kissing the top of her head.
After a few minutes she seemed to calm. He looked down at her, his hand grazing her hair. She met his gaze, her cheeks still wet with tears.
"Okay?" He gently wiped her tears away with his thumb.
A quiet desperation shone back at him and he drowned in her eyes. His heart refused to be ignored. The walls he'd so carefully built crumbled like ash. Eric leaned down pressing his lips against hers, his hands pushing into her hair. He covered her mouth and a rush of fire swept through him. Her lips were warm and sweet. She opened up to him and he pulled her closer to him devouring her mouth. They melted together into one enduring embrace.
She pull away, their lips parted, and his heart screamed in protest.
"We can't do this," she said in a breathless whisper. His forehead rested against hers, eyes closed, fighting the need to kiss her again. "Eric…"
"If it was anyone else…" his voice a deep growl talking his way back from her warmth, "Rebecca I--"
Her warm hand rested against his cheek and stabs of pain pushed at him like his heart was being ripped from his body. He tried to catch his breath. Her eyes were brimming with life, pain, and unquenchable warmth.
She rose up on her toes. His arms still wrapped around her, she kissed him once more. Full of emotion and regret, her lips fit within his. She broke away and lowered herself back to the ground. Unable to pull away from her eyes, he could see the strain and exhaustion she fought to hide. His hand grazed her hair and her eyes closed.
Like the screaming of an alarm, his cell phone rang. Her eyes opened looking at him with strength, hiding the pain and fear only he could see. Her shoulders squared, her back stiffened and her arms dropped from his chest.
Eric kept her resilient but anguished gaze. He dropped his arms from their protective position around her. She took a step back. His cell phone rang again. She took another step and turned toward the door. He struggled with not being able to touch her, or hold her. She glanced back but within seconds she disappeared. It was a torture beyond his imagination and it was killing him.
His phone rang again and he pulled it from his pocket.
"This is Detective Stiles."


So that was the beginning of the Trust Me series, or at least the kernel of inspiration.  Now that was not the first kiss, nor would it be the last, but it is a crucial part of the plot. First kisses as I stated are of monumental importance to me. They have to be perfect. They have to feel honest, real and natural. One of my pet peeves is to have a kiss feel rushed or awkward, or when as the reader I am saying – where the hell did that come from. There has to be a build up, tension and finally the explosion that lifts the characters story to the next level.

In Shockwave, the first kiss is the turning point in the novel. It is the place where the reader is finally satisfied by the flirt. Kate Weiss and Jack Tucker are from two different worlds, he is always in the spotlight and she is always behind it. In the beginning of the story Jack and Kate hate each other until Kate is attacked by a group of thugs.  From there, the flirt is on and in this scene the readers are given what they have been hoping for…

​It took a little time, but they managed to make their way out and hail a cab back to the hotel. Stumbling into the hotel laughing, they managed to navigate their way to the elevators. They stepped in, and concurrently forgot the floor of their rooms.
“Twenty-three Three is sticking in my brain.” She leaned against the back of the elevator.
“Twenty-three Three it is,” Jack pushed the button and leaned against the wall next to her.
“You’d think they would put it on your key or something.”
“What’s your room number?” His brain flipped like a coin in mid-air.
“2509.” He looked at her with a smile. “Seriously?”
She reached forward, pushed the button for twenty-five. He laughed.
“What’s your room number, Tucker?”
“Ah…I…well…I have no fucking idea!”
“See!” She stepped back leaning next him. “So I don’t want to hear any sass out of you about my 23!”
“My sass will remain closed.” The heat of her body made his head spin more than it already was.
“That’s why!”
“Why what?”
“I finally understand why she calls you Sass. I didn’t see it before, but now I definitely agree that you are…”
Abruptly the doors opened, and they turned to move out of the elevator. He realized they were on the wrong floor and pulled her back.
“What are you doing?”
“Twenty-five remember, not twenty-three.”
“Oh yeah,” She turned to him with a lopsided smile. It hit him like a hammer. He realized it was the first time he had ever really seen her smile.  It lit up her face, and he couldn’t help but smile back. “Do you know that saying?”
“What saying?”
“The whole, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas thing.”
“Yes, I am familiar with it.” The doors of the elevator opened again, and he gently turned her around moving her forward into the hallway.
“Well you need to make sure you understand that saying because well…” She rummaged through her pockets for her key. “I am breaking so many rules right now you wouldn’t believe.”
“Rules?” She stopped at her door leaning against it, key card in hand.
Jack watched her struggle to maintain her mental and physical balance.
“Yes, rules. Many, many rules.”
“What kind of rules?” Warmth enveloped him. Her scent and deep eyes drew him in, and he was powerless to resist.
“Important rules.” His palms rested on the door trapping her between his arms, and a deep sigh escaped her lips. “Very important rules.”
“Kate,” He breathed her in, just inches away from her lips, her emerald eyes shining brightly up at him.
“Yes?”
“Forget the rules.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb, his heart pounding against his chest. Jack let go of his fear, and covered her mouth with a passionate kiss.
He expected the moment of surprise. Then she kissed him back, her arms wrapping around his neck pulling him closer. After a hesitant but passion filled exploration of the other's lips, their touch parted, and he bit back a groan. He didn’t want to stop. He wanted to keep kissing her forever.

****
A little steamy, right-- Well all that flirting tends to build up a little tension…and POW!

The kiss is a powerful weapon in the romantic suspense, more so than in other genres. The kiss is a prize, a reward for hard work and a job well done. You have managed to stay alive, here is your treat…you get the girl / guy!
Every writer has something that propels them forward, the kernel of truth they search out.
I ask you, with the utmost sincerity, what is more honest than a kiss? You cannot fake a kiss, not a real one anyway. It has the power to sway opinions, cease and cause wars, make you faint, swoon and or gag. For me, the kiss is the first breath of love, it is an act of passion and most of all awareness.  There is no way to deny, retract or ignore a real kiss, not even if you want to.
The core of my writing is the kiss in all its glorious forms, whether is it a first kiss or a kiss goodbye, it is always memorable. It is my job to make you remember why.
Come Find Me!

​

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