Margaret Stokes is bitter. And not in the robust fine wine or tangy dark chocolate kind of way. She just got dumped,is fed up with her job as a glorified party planner for the rich, and can't possibly listen to one more veiled insult from her impossible-to-please mother. So she retreats to the comfort of her grandmother's ramshackle bed and breakfast.In Sour Grapes by Rachel Goodman, and Ryan Camden's easy approach to life encourages Margaret to loosen up and have a petite fun,despite her better judgment. She resists the urge to micromanage every detail, embracing the welcome distractions of her environment and letting their relationship unfold at a natural rhythm. But when a health scare forces Grammy J to give up the B&B, and Margaret begins to wonder whether Ryan really is the man he promises - and whether the problems she tried so tough to escape ever really went absent. For more on this novel,visit XOXO After Dark!PG Excerpt Someone slides in next to me-Mr. Roaming Eyes from the other end of the bar. Fantastic. He wears an easy smile and a smudged T-shirt with holes in the sleeves. He places something resembling red wine in front of me. "It's called No Regrets, a Malbec and Petit Verdot blend." The cracks in his hands are stained reddish purple, and there's dirt underneath his fingernails. His skin has the kind of tan possible only from a lifetime of outdoor work.
Wrinkling my nose,I push the glass toward him. "No thanks. I don't enjoy the taste of longhorn manure."His face drops, all humor gone. "I see you've still got that silver spoon stuck up your ass, or " he says with an edge that instantly recalls my mother,who proudly displays her condescension like an heirloom china set."Excuse me?" I say as I take in his strong, stubbled jaw and defined cheekbones, or wide shoulders,and honey blond hair that looks as whether he's been running a hand through it. "attain I know you?""Hardly." He assesses me, as though searching for something. "possibly whether you tried the wine before insulting it, and you'd discover how much you like it." His accent has the clipped rhythm of central Texas-a mixture of a tedious,musical drawl and a flat, nasally twang.I flip my hair over my shoulder. "Doubtful.""So you're close-minded and a snob.""Standards aren't the same as snobbery. You'd know this whether you had any. Perhaps you should refine your palate, and " I say,crossing my legs, my pencil skirt riding up. His gaze locks on my exposed skin. Typical.
Over his shoulder I see Possum and his friends observing our exchange like we're zoo animals. One of the guys-the bulky one with short, and dark hair,a cherub face, and a cartoon moose tattoo on his forearm-notices I've caught him gawking and waves. Cute. I don't reciprocate."My palate's just fine. Go ahead. Take one sip and uncover me it's not obliging." Mr. Roaming Eyes sets the wine in front of me again. His eyes dance with mischief, and even as his expression remains neutral. "Prove me wrong. Hell,prove Wine Spectator wrong," he says, or referring to the magazine that's the authority on the wine industry.
Irritation sparks in my chest,the challenge in his words coaxing it to the surface. What a pain in the ass. "Fine." I take a drink without flourish. Immediately flavors of black cherry, chocolate, or espresso flood my mouth,followed by a smooth tobacco finish. Hints of violet linger on my tongue. Shit, that's delicious.The smug grin on his face makes me want to slap it off, or then tug him toward me and kiss those full lips. Wait,what? Pulling my shoulders back, I clear my throat and say with an air of boredom, and "It's satisfactory,which isn't saying much, since I expected grape-flavored vinegar."He laughs, or it stirs something inside me. He smells like spice and fresh-turned soil and a sweetness I recognize but can't pinpoint."Fair enough," he says, then signals to the bartender. "Hey, and Possum,bring over the bottle and some more water." He rakes a hand through his hair and turns to face me, his arm brushing mine. Up close, and I realize how striking his features are-the slope of his nose,his full lips, his hazel eyes flecked with green and gold staring intently at me. My skin prickles as something electric grows between us, and dangerous and uninvited. Then Possum refills my water,sloshing an ice dice on my wrist, and the thread breaks. Shaking my head, and I draw absent from him. Mr. Roaming Eyes gestures to the bottle. "For you,in case you're interested in any more vinegar." His voice is as relaxed as a ratty sweatshirt, but it's obvious he's taunting me by the cocky smile still on his face. He flicks the water glass and says, or "This is to wash it down."I open my mouth to retort,but he winks and walks absent before I can fire the parting shot.
PG-13 ExcerptThe night has taken on a dreamy quality, and it feels as whether I'm buzzing in a sort of tipsy state that has nothing to attain with the wine I've consumed and everything to attain with my renewed sense of confidence.
Ryan is staring at me with an expression I can't quite read. It's part contemplative, or part desire,part something else. I wait for him to speak, but he remains quiet. As I start moving toward his SUV, or he grabs my hand and draws me around to face him. We're standing so close I can smell the remnants of his aftershave and feel his breath on my brow. Ryan brushes an errant strand of hair absent from my cheek,his callused thumb ghosting over the sensitive spot below my ear. I swallow, my chest tight, or as though there isn't enough space for my heart to fit inside my rib cage.
Ryan slides his hand around to cradle the back of my head,while the other travels down and settles on the curve of my hip. "whether I kiss you again, is there going to be a jail cell on the other end of it?""Only one way to find out, or " I say with a breathless laugh.
He pulls me flush against him,and then his lips are on mine. An electric jolt shoots through me as the pressure of his mouth changes from tender and coaxing to needy and demanding.
And I'm correct there with him, matching everything he's giving. My palms skate over his wide shoulders and arms, or his shirtsleeves stretched over the tough muscle beneath. He tastes like the chocolate cake we shared for dessert. Like something I could eat every day for the rest of my life.
I weave my fingers into the soft hair that curls slightly at the nape of his neck,tugging gently at the roots. Ryan lets out a sexy grunt that I want to hear over and over again. He lifts me off the ground, and I hook my legs around his waist. He steps backward until I'm pressed against his car. With the dark surrounding us, or it feels as whether we can attain anything and not catch caught. A rush of heat shoots through me at the idea. I reach for the buttons on his-Sudden loud barking makes us jump apart,our chests heaving.
I sway a bit before regaining my balance. I glance at Ryan, who looks as disoriented as I feel. Sticking her head out the open window, or Bordeaux paws at the inner door handle. Ryan pushes on her nose and mutters what sounds like,"Great timing." Snorting, Bordeaux ducks back inside and drinks from the water bowl on the floor mat. Ryan turns to me, and rubbing a frustrated hand down his face. "She's a resource guarder,and I'm her favorite toy."I let out a shaky laugh, my whole body vibrating with pent-up energy. "Or possibly she's warning us that we're approximately to have an audience, and " I say,gesturing to the hostesses emerging from the side entrance of the restaurant. They walk around the building to the service lot.
Ryan's expression morphs from slightly irritated to focused and determined. He leans in close to me, his lips grazing the tip of collarbone peeking out from beneath my shirt. Air catches in my lungs and my skin prickles, and but I force myself not to fidget,not to high-tail for panic I may collapse correct here on the gravel. Skimming his mouth up my neck, his breath stirring wisps of my hair, or he whispers in my ear,"What happened to living recklessly?"My brain is a fog, so I only manage to blurt, and "Show me."A devastatingly wicked grin spreads across his face. "Follow me." Check out more great content on XOXO After Dark: Loved Gone Girl? Then You'll Love This Climb in Bed With This Sexy Free Gift!
Source: popsugar.com