Mar 29, 2018 | Blog, Blog Tour, Elizabeth Hayley, March 2018
***MISADVENTURES ARE STANDALONE ROMANCES THAT CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER***
The Whole Latte
Misadventures with My Roommate by Elizabeth Hayley starts off strong with hilarious one-liners, an opening scene with chemistry that sparks, and a fast paced story that leaves you planted in your comfy chair till the last page. If you’re a fan of the Misadventures series, one-click now. Be sure to grab a latte or whatever your coffee house favorite is and start reading now!
Blake Monroe is a woman who lives life without a care for your opinion. Every day is a different adventure, she has no filter, and she doesn’t care what you think. Is that whey her revolving roommate situation has become a problem? A tough woman can let life roll on, but that’s all about to change. A character with a tough exterior is waiting to be loved, valued, and have someone tell her she matters. Will it be the hottie at work?
Gavin Gibson has made sacrifices to live life his way, on his own terms. Yet, he is still troubled that his family has yet to accept his choices. What will it take for them to accept the man he is? When one door closes, another one opens and he jumps at the opportunity. When Gavin decides to take Blake up on her offer, he has no idea his life is about to change. It’s one of the best adventures he’s ever going to take, he just doesn’t know it yet.
Will Gavin and Blake finally feel worthy, be accepted and move beyond their pasts? Get ready, it’s moving day and the adventure is here.
Scorchin – Caution, may lead to unexpected need to turn on the A/C.
Meet the Author
Elizabeth Hayley is actually “Elizabeth” and “Hayley,” two friends who love reading romance novels to obsessive levels. This mutual love prompted them to put their English degrees to good use by penning their own. The product is Pieces of Perfect, their debut novel. They learned a ton about one another through the process, like how they clearly share a brain and have a persistent need to text each other constantly (much to their husbands’ chagrin).
“Elizabeth” lives with her husband, daughter, and nutjob of a dog. “Hayley” lives with her husband, son, and her own crazy dog. Thankfully, their children are still too young to read.
Elizabeth Hayley’s writing motto is best captured by the words of Patrick Dennis: “I always start with a clean piece of paper and a dirty mind.”
http://www.authorelizabethhayley.com/home-page.html.
Mar 20, 2018 | Blog, Blog Tour, Lauren Blakely, March 2018
✮✮✮WANDERLUST is here! Grab your copy today! ✮✮✮
From #1 NYT bestselling author Lauren Blakely comes a sexy new standalone romance!
The Whole Latte:
Paris is the city of love with magic cooked into the food, the art one-of-a-kind, and the buildings unique and breathtaking. Wanderlust by Lauren Blakely is a whirlwind adventure for Joy and Griffin in Paris with a delicious meet-cute that is both memorable and creative. So, order a croissant, a chocolat chaud and pull up a chair at the outdoor cafe to start your bookcation. .
Joy has left everything behind for an opportunity to live and work with the best in her field in Paris. Could you do that? In order to make her work transition easier, her employer hires a translator to help her ease into her new job. It’s amazing at how a slight shift in pronunciation can change the meaning of a word. Lauren has written realistic scenes that are witty, refreshing and full of zing. I’ve walked along the same sidewalks that Joy has, and I can see it in my mind with such accuracy that readers are going to enjoy the sensory experience of this book.
Griffin is ready to live life and do all the things he always dreamed of. A tragic event pushes him to live outside his comfort zone with a list that isn’t for the faint of heart. What will happen when his new client is beautiful, charming, and the one thing that isn’t on his list? Can he keep his professional and personal life separate or will he risk destroying the reason he moved to Paris? Are you ready to be charmed? Are you ready to be romanced? Griffin is here to show you Paris through his eyes and it’s anything but ordinary and predictable.
While it’s been years since I’ve walked along the landscape of Paris, the attention that Lauren gives to the tiny details bring me back to those days where I strolled the cobblestone streets with the man I love, holding hands breathing it all in. As Joy visits a cafe, I take a seat and sip my coffee. I’m transported to the my favorite cafe eating all the things. There are little nuggets in this book that made the journey even more enjoyable. I highly recommend a stop at Berthillion and stroll Paris for whatever you’re looking for, I’m sure you will find it ;).
I’ve read many of Lauren’s backlist and this one is my favorite. Perhaps because it’s in a city that I love, or with characters that we can all connect with, or the total sensory experience it brings. Whatever your reasons are for reading you will find a satisfying read. I received this ARC from Inkslinger PR and the author for a fair and honest review.
Scorchin – Caution, may lead to unexpected need to turn on the A/C.
Check it out with this excerpt:
~JOY~
Forget oysters. Screw candlelight and champagne. A sexy accent is the truest aphrodisiac. I’m talking a weak-in-the-knees, flutters-all-over, fast-track to euphoria.
I’ve tried to analyze precisely why the sound of a man’s words can elicit this reaction in, frankly, millions of women. But when I break down an accent and study it like a chemical reaction, it’s nearly impossible to draw a logical conclusion. The ingredients in and of themselves don’t seem swoontastic enough.
And yet, accents have been known to induce major swooning.
That’s why, in my professional opinion, the sounds aren’t the rocket fuel for the tingles. Instead, it’s the associations evoked. Italian is food, wine, and days drenched in the pleasures of the senses. Australian is the laid-back twang of a surfer. A Southern drawl says a man will take his sweet time. Oh, yes, darlin’, will he ever.
But British? Dear God. A delicious British accent to my oh-so-American ears triggers wave after wave of goose bumps across my skin. My knees wobble. My stomach swoops. My skin heats. All the turned-on centers in my body are cranked to high.
A British accent is James Bond in a bottle. It’s sex, it’s style, it’s sophistication, and it’s the man who’ll find his way out of any jam, save the damsel, and do it all with silver cuff links on.
Wait. Make that platinum.
Charmed, indeed.
That’s why I say it’s a damn good thing I’m moving to a country that won’t be chock full of my personal vocal kryptonite, since I don’t have the time or inclination for distractions in my life right now. Look, I don’t have a single problem with the French accent whatsoever. A hot French man canvoulez-vouscoucher avecmoi, if you know what I mean.
But it’s a British accent that turns me to Silly Putty, so in Paris I’ll be mighty fine.
Then, I meet him.
About Lauren Blakely:
A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 90 times, and she’s sold more than 2.5 million books. In March she’ll release WANDERLUST, a sexy new standalone romance.
Mar 18, 2018 | Blog, Blog Tour, Jamaila Brinkley, March 2018, Rebecca Norinne
The Vitner’s Vixen by Rebecca Norinne and Jamaila Brinkley satisfies all the senses. An inviting cover starts the story off right giving you a hint of what’s to come so give it a quick swirl and take it all in. Sip it gently to enjoy all the flavors. How does it make you feel? It’s time to pour yourself a heavy glass of your favorite beverage and enjoy!
Noah Brandstone can’t escape the constant meddling and disapproval from his family. After years of working on his own terms, a huge mistake will force Noah to reach out to the one person he thought he’d never need to ask advise from. If that weren’t enough, his new neighbor is about to change everything, it’s about to get hot in River Hill.
Angelica Travis needs a change from the Holllywood scene and a business investment in sunny River Hill is the perfect location. Unfortunately not everyone takes kindly to strangers or change. Can she escape and live life the way she always desired? Not even in town for ten minutes, and things are already heating up with her neighbor. Can she find a way to cool them both off? I love the opening of this book. It’s full of all the emotions to kick-start these two characters on their journey.
When reading a book it’s important to have characters that are layered and take us along with them. I don’t want to be told what’s going on, I want to see it, feel it and envelope myself in their world. Will Noah find a way to work with Angelica to salvage his business? The attraction between them is electric and seriously intoxicating. They will have to find a way to work together without letting it get personal. Ahhh, perhaps they need to revise their contract terms and find a loophole?
Many authors collaborate and write books together, this one presents a solid story where the chapters blend so well together that I can’t tell where one writer begins and the other ends. Now, add wicked chemistry, witty dialogue and a tease of characters that you want to read more about, it’s the perfect recipe to begin a new series. If you enjoy your stories with small town charm, great food and drinks, neighbors that are sure to provide ample entertainment and a healthy does of spice, head over to River Hill.
I received this ARC from Inkslinger PR and the authors for a fair and honest review. Spicy – Best enjoyed with your favorite iced-beverage, a cozy chair, and maybe a fan.
——————————-
About the Authors
USA TODAY bestselling author Rebecca Norinne writes steamy contemporary romance featuring strong, determined heroines and sexy, dominant heroes. If you love books filled with heart, heat, and happily-ever-afters, she’s got a story for you.
When not writing, Rebecca is watching rugby, drinking craft beer, and traveling the globe in search of inspiration for her next story. She lives in Dublin, Ireland, with her husband, but is originally from California.
You can reach Rebecca at email@rebeccanorinne.com or at any of the social media sites listed below. You can also subscribe to her newsletter by clicking here.
Author Links
Jamaila Brinkley writes historical romance with a hint of magic. Her Wizards of London series features thieves, duchesses, witches, and more indulging in mayhem and romance in Regency England. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, and was a finalist in the Romance Through the Ages contest in 2015.
Jamaila came to romance as an avid reader of fantasy and science fiction, and found that her favorite historical romances seemed ripe for an injection of magic. Her favorite historical period is currently the Victorian era, and she’s never happier than when immersed in a multi-book family series.
Jamaila lives outside Baltimore, Maryland in a house that is perpetually under renovation with her husband and twin toddlers. You can find her blogging about romance, writing, parenting, cooking, and more on her website at www.jamailabrinkley.com, and posting pictures of her lunch on Twitter as @jamaila.
Author Links
Mar 18, 2018 | Blog, March 2018, Rowan Worth, The Extra Shot
Welcome to The Extra Shot, a weekly Sunday post featuring EXCLUSIVE content from Authors who have books releasing in the near future.
Books I Love A Latte is a book review blog focusing primarily on the romance genre, fiction, and women’s fiction. In addition, we periodically review products to keep you organized and more productive as writers and readers.
Stay connected with Rae Latte and Books I Love A Latte for Book Reviews, Excerpts, Teasers, Coffee With (Interviews), Giveaways, Authors Dish, Book Sales, and other Tasty Tidbits.
Today we’ve got an EXCLUSIVE excerpt to jump start your week along with a fabulous giveaway too!
She was across the room in seconds. It was like watching a racquetball game where she was the ball. Esme never stopped moving. She tugged at her shirt collar as she crossed to another wall and whirled. “Damn it; I hate wearing other people’s clothes. They never fit right. I swear they’re going to choke me . . . Whi-iip! Damn it. There has to be something I can do to keep myself busy until he comes back.
“It’s staying in this house.” There was a sudden cunning edge to her voice. “That’s what’s wrong. I’ve just been cooped up too long. How about if I go for a nice long walk . . . jog . . . run. I could run for a while. Just keep running . . .”
“Esme, honey, you’re not going out. Not like this.” Ripper took the brunt of her irritation as she whirled on him, asking who gave him the right to tell her what she could and couldn’t do. Natalie and Ripper had gotten home a half hour earlier. Dr. Ryan had been out of the office indefinitely. The staff wasn’t giving explanations, and there were enough annoyed women there in various degrees of pregnancy trying to reschedule or get referred to another doctor that the Forester couple had given up.
Bay tuned out the argument and walked over to Serena, notepad in hand. “How long has she been like this?”
“It started about an hour after you guys—well, no, after Whip left—let’s be honest. It was just pacing at first; like she’d had two too many cups of coffee or something. It’s been getting steadily worse. Where is Whip?”
“I asked Steel to tell him to wait outside until he called. I wanted to see if Esme was doing the same thing . . .”
“Whip’s like this too?” Appalled, Serena looked from one male to the other.
“Can you do anything?” Steel asked his friend.
“Hell, I don’t even know what’s wrong with her. It could be she’s coming off the drug, whatever it was. This could be the equivalent of withdrawal.”
“After one dose? And what about my nephew? How the hell did it get in his system?”
“Who knows? That’s the problem. We just don’t know. It could be a side effect . . . it could be anything.” Bay’s concern sharpened his tone.
“I want Whip. NOW!”
The front door slammed open, making everyone jump as Whip stalked into the room as if summoned by her words. His face was tight and sheened with sweat as his head turned from side to side, searching, tracking. His gaze was dangerous as he prowled into the room. His attention locked on Esme. Even as he took in her pale, sweaty complexion, she launched herself across the room at him with a moaning noise that was a cross between a whimper and an exclamation.
The other Foresters looked on as the couple tried to devour each other. Wild kisses deepened. Esme’s legs were locked around Whip’s waist, but she was equally sealed into place by his arms locked around her back. His large hand cupped her skull, fingers splayed to cover as much as he could, as if he expected her to try to break free of his ravenous mouth.
There was no chance of that. Even the spectators could see that she was doing her best to crawl inside him.
“Where have you—?”
“Damn, I missed you—”
“God, how could I—?”
“. . . long, too long . . .”
Whip’s shirt fell to the floor.
“Uh, guys.” Serena grabbed her uncle’s arm. “We need to get out of here. NOW.”
The two men looked at her, their faces blank.
“Damn. Natalie! Pheromone alert! Help me out here!”
Instantly, Natalie grabbed Bay by the hand while she used a full-body bump to rouse Ripper from his stupor.
“Come on. They are not going to stop. We are not going to watch. We need to get out of here. Now.”
Steel swore softly as he shook his head to clear it. He glanced over his shoulder at the oblivious, now half-clad couple in the living room. “Bay, should we try to stop—?”
“No.” His voice thick, the doctor steered them through the kitchen and outside. “The state they’re in—I don’t want to be responsible for what would happen if we tried to take her away from him right now. Whether it’s the drug affecting him somehow or ‘just’ her, at this point he’d go wolf on us. And we know it’s the drugs with her; we just don’t know what it would do if we, uh, interrupted. Her heart was racing and her blood pressure was doing weird things before he showed up. Frankly, I’m hoping this acts like another dose and actually stabilizes her.”
“And we need to find out what the hell she was drugged with. If it can affect us third-hand, two days later, halfway across a room, we have to stop it.”
“Or build those two an igloo,” Ripper muttered, even as he tugged at Natalie’s hand and pulled her up the back stairs toward their room.
CLOSED
ONE e-book of Past Imperfect by Rowan Worth is up for grabs.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
In case you missed it, my Coffee With Rowan Worth
Author Info:
Rowan Worth lives in Virginia where she writes both contemporary and paranormal romantic suspense and adventure. Romance…Suspense…and a Touch of Paranormal Heat…you’ll find all of that and more in The Foresters, an ongoing series featuring a family of shapeshifters trying to stop an enemy intent on destroying their small pack. The first book, PAST IMPERFECT, is available now!
Rowan is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), and its Washington (D.C.) Romance Writers (WRW) and Futuristic, Fantasy, and Paranormal (FF&P) chapters. She currently serves as President of the WRW board. Her manuscript LACY’S GIFT (now TOUCH OF LIES) placed second in the esteemed Georgia Romance Writers “Maggie” contest for unpublished authors and recently finaled in the Wisconsin “Fab 5” contest. She is represented by Miriam Kriss, Vice President, at the Irene Goodman Agency.
Find out more about Rowan at her website and subscribe to her newsletter Worth Reading! for all the latest release information, fun shapeshifter trivia, and a peek at some delicious upcoming covers: http://rowanworth.com
Newsletter subscription form: http://eepurl.com/bpwPFj
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Mar 17, 2018 | Blog, Blog Tour, March 2018, Samantha Chase
We are thrilled to be bringing you the release of Samantha Chase’s GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN today! This brand new story set in the Enchanted Bridal world is sure to please any and all lovers of contemporary romance. Be sure to grab your copy today!
The Whole Latte About GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN
Friday nights are more fun with Samantha Chase in her world of glam, glitz, and anything bridal. Glam Squad &Groomsmen burns slow and leaves an imprint in your heart forever.
Penny Blake dreams of one day doing more to help brides have the best wedding ever. Until then, she continues to work at Enchanted where there is never a dull moment and the customers are always full of surprises.
Ahh, surprises. What would you do if you ran into an ex wearing the one thing that was meant for your special day. What if that ex was the one man you thought you’d spend forever with and now he’s ruined you for anyone else? Let the fun begin.
Spencer Buchanan returned to town because his sister needed him, for wedding duties. One chance encounter with Penny opens up unresolved emotions. Can he fix what went wrong and give them what they both want?
Family, friendships, and trust weave seamlessly in a tale of two souls who must come to terms with who they are and what they really want. Expectations are a beast when dreams overpower them. Samantha tackles the childhood sweethearts reunion delicately, will they get a second chance? Sometimes love needs a little nudge and a few years to sort itself out.
Every time I read a book from Samantha I am rewarded with a love story that is not cliched and leaves me satisfied. I’m filled with all those emotions that leave you humming for hours and wishing I’d had my own Enchanted Bridal experiene when I was engaged.
If you need help for your wedding, head to Enchanted Bridal for tips, tricks, and advice from women who know the trends. Samantha, I will never look at a tape measure the same way again ;). What do you do with your Friday nights? Spend it with the gals at Enchanted Bridal.
I received this ARC from Inkslinger PR and Samantha Chase for a fair and honest review.
Sinfully Sweet – Hotter than sweet with bedroom romance that tingles in all the right places, and a dash of spice to satisfy that slightly spicy craving.
Read an excerpt from GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN
For a minute, he thought she was going to scream and the expression on her face said that she certainly hadn’t been expecting him. Actually, he hadn’t been expecting her either. His plan had been to come in for a tuxedo fitting – something he was seriously jumping the gun for Eva’s wedding – and figured it would be a legit excuse to see Penny. He’d casually stop in at the bridal shop and say hello and then…
“Spencer? What are you doing here?”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Doing a test run on tuxedoes to help Eva and Brett out.”
At first he didn’t think she believed him, but then she visibly relaxed. “Oh. Okay.”
“So what are you doing in the tuxedo shop? I didn’t think you worked in here too.”
She quickly explained about the owner needing to get home to a sick child – again – and then she stepped away and began to explain to him about the tuxedo options that had been pulled for him.
If he didn’t know any better, he’d swear she was nervous and that pleased him a little. If she was nervous around him, that meant that she wasn’t unaffected by him – or by their kiss.
Good to know.
Because kissing Penny had been all he could think about all week. He should be back in Atlanta right now.
But he wasn’t.
He should be working on reports for the building he was designing.
But he wasn’t.
What he was doing was trying on tuxedoes when he didn’t need to just on the off-chance he could see her again. How twisted was that?
By now Penny was standing next to a dressing room and holding a tuxedo hanger in her hand. “Martin already placed a shirt and shoes in the fitting room for you,” she said, “and this is the first tux he pulled for you to consider based on your measurements.”
“I never gave him my measurements,” Spencer said.
“Um…what?”
He nodded. “All I did was call and ask if I could come in and try some on,” he explained. “No one asked for any sizes or measurements. I guess I can try this on and we can go from there, right?”
Then he watched as her shoulders sagged and she sighed. But she immediately went back into sales mode and gave him a nice but professional smile. “Okay, we’ll need to get your measurements first. No need for you to try to fit into a suit that isn’t your size. That’s just crazy.” She stepped away and hung up the suit she had in her hands. “Why don’t you step up on the platform over there by the mirror and I’ll go get the measuring tape.”
Wait…measuring tape? Couldn’t he just tell her what size he normally wore? That would certainly make things easier – especially since Brett hadn’t made any decisions on tuxedos and he wasn’t planning on ordering anything tonight. Then again, if he did happen to go in that direction, there’d be no need for him to stand up on the platform for measurements. And that would mean…
“Just step up on there and face the mirror,” she said. “I’ll need to make a note of your shirt and sleeve size, waist, outseam…”
Then he felt bad for giving her extra work. “Wouldn’t it be easier to give you at least some of my sizes so you don’t have to go through all of this?” he asked and hated that he was quite possibly depriving himself of some extra time with her.
“Under normal circumstances, yes,” she explained. “But for this sort of thing, we require specific measurements. Every designer is cut just a litter differently so it makes everyone’s job easier to just go by what the measuring tape says.”
“Ah…gotcha.” Doing his best to hide a grin, he simply stood and did as he was told as Penny’s hands roamed all over him – in a completely professional way – as she took the needed measurements.
Best. Friday. Night. Ever.
At first, he felt all kinds of wrong that even though there was nothing sexy about what she was doing, it was still mildly arousing – her hand skimming down his leg…her arms wrapped around him to get his waist measurements…
He cursed the fact that they were in the middle of a tuxedo shop and that he had on so many damn clothes!
Once she was done, she moved around the shop and pulled tuxes in his size and then sent him back to the dressing room to start trying them on.
They didn’t talk about much – she kept all of the conversation focused on Eva and Brett and their wedding and tuxedo style questions. Not that he cared. Basically, this was all going to be Brett’s decision and right now, Brett had no idea that Spencer was even looking at tuxes.
No one did.
If his sister caught wind of what he was doing, he knew he’d get her approval and possibly her help. And as much as he knew he was going to need some of that where Penny was concerned, he wanted to do it in his own time and in his own way.
He just never thought trying on tuxedos was a length he’d ever have to go through in order to spend time with a woman.
“Let me know how that first one fits,” Penny called out to him.
And as he closed the dressing room door, he figured he had at least an hour to try to break down some of her defenses and convince her to go out with him again.
About SAMANTHA CHASE
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
Website /
Mar 16, 2018 | Blog, March 2018, Samantha Chase
We are thrilled to be bringing you the release of Samantha Chase’s GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN today! This brand new story set in the Enchanted Bridal world is sure to please any and all lovers of contemporary romance. Be sure to grab your copy today!
Read an excerpt from GLAM SQUAD & GROOMSMEN
It was one thing to fantasize about touching Spencer.
It was quite another to actually be doing it.
I love my job.
“How does the jacket feel?” she forced herself to ask as she continued to smooth imaginary wrinkles. “Is it too tight? Too loose? Can you move comfortably?”
Spencer’s expression was serious as he took in his reflection. Stepping back, she let him move his arms and shoulders to get the feel of the suit jacket. It looked good on him. Really good on him. But then again, Penny had a feeling that anything would look good on him. He was tall and lean, she noticed, with just the right amount of muscle – he’d filled out in all the best ways in the last ten years. And as much as she hated to admit it, he was just…
Perfect, she inwardly sighed.
“It feels all right,” he said, his voice deep and just a little gruff. “Can we try the next size up? I think it’s just a little snug in the shoulders.”
“No problem,” she replied softly as she went to pull another jacket from the rack. After taking all of his measurements – neck, sleeve, waist, outseam, and shoulders – she had been fairly confident that she picked the right size for him. But if he wasn’t one-hundred percent comfortable, who was she to argue?
Stepping over to him, she helped him remove the jacket he had on before handing him the new one. He was mesmerizing to watch. Some guys could come in and try on jackets and it would register zero on her radar, but watching Spencer Buchanan try on a jacket was borderline porn for her right now.
Quickly, she turned away, hung up the jacket and placed it to the side in case he wanted it back for comparison. She seriously needed to compose herself before going any further. If she could, she would have stepped outside to fan herself or grab something cold to drink because it suddenly felt very warm in the shop.
Pull yourself together!
Stepping back up on the platform with him, she began her tasks of smoothing and gently tugging and adjusting and helping him get the true feel of the garment. She wanted to smack herself because she knew she was being a little excessive in the touching department but…she couldn’t seem to help herself.
“How about this one?” she asked, smiling at him in the mirror and hoping he didn’t hear the slight tremor in her voice. “Is this one more comfortable?”
“This one definitely feels more comfortable,” he said, interrupting her thoughts. “I’m not crazy about these trousers, though.”
Her heart kicked a little and she felt a slight flutter in her belly at those words. It was one thing to be able to touch his back, his arms, his shoulders…but to be kneeling down and running her hands over his legs and waist? Well…it had been a little awkward when she was measuring him a few minutes ago and she wasn’t sure she’d survive it a second time.
Clearing her throat, she forced herself to focus. “All of your measurements will go to our warehouse and everything will be custom-tailored for you. The inventory we have here is just the basics, so they won’t necessarily fit you like this.”
He nodded but didn’t really look at her; he was still studying his reflection. “I think the measurements on the outseam weren’t quite right. I’d like to try a pair of different shoes and then measure again if that’s all right with you.”
Um…yes please, she thought and immediately wanted to smack herself. Honestly, she had no idea if any of this was the norm for getting a tuxedo fitting – she’d never had to do quite so much before, but right now she couldn’t find the will to stop any of it.
“No problem,” Penny replied. “Would you like to go pick out another pair?”
For a few minutes, Spencer walked around and tried on shoes while Penny made notes in his file. When he stepped back onto the platform, she was ready with her measuring tape. Standing to his left, she carefully kneeled – not an easy feat in her navy pencil skirt and heels. Doing her best to stay balanced, she carefully measured the outseam with minimal amounts of running her hand along his muscled calf. Standing slowly, she went and did the same on the right.
This time when she went to stand, Spencer stopped her.
“Isn’t it customary to measure the inseam as well?”
Oh. Right. The inseam.
“Um…yes. Yes. You’re right. Sorry about that,” she nervously stammered. “I’m not fully familiar with all the procedures.” With a steadying breath, she moved until she was in front of him. “Can you…um…just widen your stance a little?”
His gaze was a little intense as he looked down at her. Doing as she requested, he asked, “Like this?”
Was it wrong that she could barely remember how to speak because she was eye level with…well…what was a rather impressive part of him?
“That’s fine,” she murmured and did her best to hold the tape measure at the top of his inseam as she ran her other hand down his leg. By the time she got that measurement and did his other leg, she was practically sweating.
Mentally, she was about to congratulate herself on doing the job without embarrassing herself, but as she went to straighten, she lost her balance and cried out as she felt herself about to fall. “Oh!”
Spencer quickly swooped down and banded an arm around her waist to catch her and pulled her to her feet. Chest to chest, her heart racing, Penny looked up at him and knew she was blushing.
“You okay?” he asked, a small smile tugging at his lips.
She couldn’t speak. Up close, he was even more handsome than she wanted to admit. His jaw was rough with a day’s worth of stubble. His lips looked incredibly soft, and when she looked into his eyes, she noticed just a hint of gold in those clear blue depths. Swallowing hard, she nodded.
But he didn’t release her right away. And Penny certainly didn’t feel any rush to move.
It was kind of the perfect moment, she thought. She had no idea what was going on outside, but inside, it was just the two of them and she felt like her heart was beating just a little too hard. Hopefully Spencer would think she was just nervous from almost falling and not from having her hands all over his inseam!
One minute passed, then two – at least that’s what it felt like – when she finally took a step back. His grip didn’t release easily and it was a thrill to think that he was as reluctant to let her go as she was to move away. “Um…thanks,” she said softly, before walking over to the desk to mark down his measurements. “So…I think that’s everything. I have all of your measurements noted and on file. Martin will have them here for you whenever Brett comes in with the rest of the groomsmen.”
Her voice was slightly high-pitched and shaky but…dammit, he made her nervous. Normally, Penny was extremely confident – especially at her job. And yet the last thirty minutes with Spencer had reduced her to a quivering mass of hormones!
Again.
There. She said it. She was nervous being around him and beyond turned on.
Author Info:
About Samantha Chase
Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
Website: https://www.chasing-romance.com/
“Elizabeth” lives with her husband, daughter, and nutjob of a dog. “Hayley” lives with her husband, son, and her own crazy dog. Thankfully, their children are still too young to read. 
