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It’s time to head back to Magnolia Bay for Mick Atwell and Lucy Waverly‘s story in Stealing Hearts by Erika Marks! Who remembers Mick from his appearance in A Very Married Christmas?
As a special treat, we have another exclusive excerpt below for you. To enter the giveaway for a chance to win the prize pictured below, (an anthology of Southern Born Books, a mug with hot cocoa for two, and lots of reader swag!) leave a comment here and tell us what you love about this moment between Mick and Lucy!
Winner will be announced here on Friday, February 13th. Good luck!
Excerpt & Giveaway
Speaking of Mick…She glanced toward the bar, hoping to touch base with him. When a few customers left the bar, allowing for a thin opening, Lucy grabbed her chance and slipped into the gap, leaning across the bar to search for Mick. She found him at the other end with Tim who’d lost his chef’s hat, not to mention loosened his collar.
She waited until Mick looked up before she waved, fast enough to catch his attention. A moment later, he came down to meet her.
“How’s business over here?” she asked.
“Busy. Loud. Crazy.” He grinned. “Otherwise known as an opening night dream.”
She took another survey of his outfit, reminded again of how especially sexy he looked in his suede vest and cowboy hat. “I’ve been taking bets on how many women have asked you to read them their rights tonight.”
“I’ve gotten a couple of “Looks like there’s a new Sheriff in town” and the obligatory requests to see my gun.”
She’d bet.
He leaned forward on his elbows, rolling closer toward her. She felt his arm brush against her hand. “Funny thing, though…I can’t stop thinking about this Cat Lady who’s been slinking around the bar. All black. Great tail.” He grinned. “I’m hoping she’ll let me take her home later.”
“Only if you have some catnip.”
“I think I have some around here somewhere.”
“I’d settle for a few candy hearts. It is Valentine’s Day, after all.”
“Which reminds me…Don’t go anywhere.”
He didn’t have to worry about that, she thought as she watched him disappear back down the bar. Barely two minutes later, he returned with a slightly fizzy garnet-colored drink, a curl of orange peel hanging off the rim, and a small pile of pomegranate seeds at the bottom of the wine glass.
“A little something I made up for the opening. It’s sangria—with a kick.”
She brought the sparkling scarlet drink to her lips and took a small sip, tasting his secret ingredient at once. “Tabasco!”
“I got inspired to heat things up.”
She leaned in. “I thought we already did that last night.”
“Exactly.”
God, did he want to kiss her as badly as she wanted to kiss him? Lucy searched his eyes, trying to decide. Maybe if the world could just dissolve around them for ten minutes. She’d even settle for five.
She wanted to ask him why he hadn’t told her the truth about Emily, to tell him she was sorry his heart carried such a heavy load. She wanted to help him lighten it. She wanted him to let her.
She wanted to tell him how much she longed for his kiss, his body, his touch.
She wanted to tell him that she was falling in love with him.
She wanted him to tell her the same thing.
But her wishes were dashed in the next moment when Tim called down the bar for rescue.
Mick grinned. “I’ll find you later, kitty.”
“Wait—before you go.” She reached over into one of the dishes of conversation hearts they’d placed along the length of the bar instead of nuts to honor the night’s theme and plucked one out.
She set the candy heart down in front of him. I’M YOURS.
“Your tip,” she said.
He scooped it up and dropped it into his vest pocket. “Best one I’ve gotten all night.”
