Welcome friends! I'm jumpy and excited because my New Adult romance, No Promises is going live exactly one week from today! In honor of that, I'd like to share with you a special sneak-peek excerpt for your eyes only. I hope you enjoy!
A new adult romance by multi published author Nona Raines
writing as N. Raines.
She never met a stray she didn't love…
In high school, Sam
Pennywell had a massive crush on Rick Russo. But he was her cousin’s boyfriend
and strictly off-limits. Meeting Rick again years later, she can hardly
recognize the man he’s become.
As a paramedic, Rick’s career is all about helping
others. But in the line of duty, he’s become one of the injured. He’s caught in
a dark place he can’t escape on his own. He can't make Sam any promises of
love. Promises are too easily broken.
Sam
spends her life taking care of sick and homeless animals. She's never met a
stray she didn't love, and Rick is the most important rescue she'll ever make.
Excerpt:
A small, frightened
squeak greeted her as she entered the dark garage. Once again she'd forgotten
her flashlight, but Sam followed the pitiful mewling sound to the Havahart. A
tiny black-and-white kitten huddled inside the trap. It scrambled to the back
of the cage and hunkered down when Sam bent to look at it.
"Take it easy,"
she murmured. "It's okay. We'll have you back with Mom and the rest of
your family real soon."
Heavy footsteps
neared her, then stopped. Rick gave a disgruntled huff. "Thought I told
you to wait for me."
"I'm fine."
She lifted the cage. "And looks like we got our last little guy here."
Rick peered at the
kitten, who flattened its ears and hissed. Tiny though it was, it had a mighty
heart.
Rick laughed. "Hey
there, buddy. Chill out."
"Let's get him
back to the truck."
Rick took the cage. "I'll
carry him."
Sam led the way. She
unlocked both doors and slid into the driver's seat. Rick opened the passenger
door and deposited the Havahart onto the jump seat behind the front seats. But
the cage was empty.
Sam's mouth fell open
in dismay. "What happened? You didn't let him go!"
Rick climbed into the
cab. "Nah." He gave her a sheepish grin. "I just borrowed him."
A lump wiggled in the front pouch of his hoodie. A furry little head emerged
from the opening.
Rick cradled the
kitten in the crook of his arm, and surprisingly, it didn't put up a fight. "Poor
little guy. Got no mom, no friends. The last lonely one of the litter."
Sam started the
truck. "He'll see them soon enough. We'll get him all fixed up."
She hesitated as she
watched the kitten snuggle against Rick. Such a contrast, the tiny ball of
fluff and the large, muscular man. But Rick was gentle as could be, stroking
the kitten's tiny head with one finger.
Aww. So cute. Sam put
the truck in park, grabbed her phone, and took a picture.
"Hey!" He
scowled.
"Oh, come on. It's
nice." She showed him the shot she'd taken of the kitten snuggled in his
arms.
His expression didn't
change. "That's not going up on Instagram or something, is it?"
"Why, are you
embarrassed?" She relented when she saw he wasn't amused. "No. I just
thought…it was sweet."
"Sweet." He
rolled his eyes.
When they'd been
driving a few minutes, he asked, "Can we stop somewhere for a while? Get
coffee or something?"
"We should get
our friend to the vet," Sam answered, indicating the kitten.
"Just for a
little while. Hit the drive-through at the doughnut place."
That was strange. He'd
never asked to stop before. Then it hit her: he wanted to hold on to the kitten
a little while longer.
"Sure. I guess
we can spare the time."
****
No
Promises available on preorder for only 99 cents at:
No comments:
Post a Comment