The release day is getting closer!

So I thought it was time for a snippet...

The cockerel from Ted Pelshaw’s garden woke Emily as usual. She stirred, warm and cozy beneath the sheets. Then it struck her that she was warmer than usual. That might have had something to do with the handsome man who lay beside her, fast asleep, his breathing regular. She leaned on one arm, smiling as she gazed down at him. Jake had proved to be considerate and generous in bed, with an appetite that matched her own. She’d lost count of the number of occasions where a guy with the potential to be more than a one night stand, turned out to be focused on his own needs and desires. Not once had she felt that with Jake, and it made for a refreshing change. Let’s face it. He keeps surprising me at every turn. An idea occurred to her. Emily eased herself carefully out of bed, doing her best not to wake him. On impulse, she grabbed the white shirt Jake had dropped to the floor and put it on, before creeping around the bed and down the stairs. The least she could do was wake him up with a cup of coffee. Not that coffee was the only thing Emily had in mind… She waited for the kettle to boil, smiling to herself. Emily loved that morning-after feeling, when a glow still lingered from the previous night. Finally getting to see what Jake hid beneath his overalls had been worth the wait: he was gorgeous, all tanned skin and toned muscle, exuding a confidence that was very attractive. Intelligent, creative, handsome… The only thing Emily didn’t understand was why Jake was single. The coffee made, she carried the two mugs up the stairs. Through the open window below came birdsong, and the happy sound added to her already light heart. As the bed came into view, she was conscious of Jake’s gaze. He lay on his side, head resting in his hand, his eyes bright, his hair tousled. “You look good in that.” She glanced down at his shirt and smiled. “What is it about wearing a man’s shirt that is so…” “Sexy?” Jake suggested. “Because I have to tell you, God, woman, you are sexy as hell in it.” Emily placed the mugs on the little cabinet beside the bed, then climbed onto it. “I was just thinking about that line in Polish that you came out with. I’ve wondered since that day why you’d need such a phrase.” Jake grinned. “I was alone in Prague. It paid to be prepared for any eventuality.” “And did you get to try out your linguistic skills?” He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Alas, no.” Emily knelt at the foot of the bed. “I was also wondering about that shower you put in for me downstairs.” Jake arched his eyebrows. “What exactly were you wondering?” “Whether it’s big enough for two.” She undid the top two buttons of the shirt, slowly, her gaze fixed on his face, her pulse quickening. “Hmm. Maybe we should find out.” Jake pushed back the sheets, and Emily had to fight the urge to lower her gaze. Then she reasoned that this was no time to be coy. She looked him up and down. “As a matter of interest, did you learn to say any other useful phrases in Polish?” “Just one.” Jake crawled toward her, smiling. “Chcę się z tobą kochać.” “And what does that mean?” He reached her, gently moved her hands aside, and continued unbuttoning her shirt. Jake leaned forward and brushed his lips over her ear, making her shiver. “I want to make love to you,” he whispered as he slipped the shirt from her shoulders and kissed her there. Emily looped her arms around his neck. “I think before we take a shower, we need to get a little dirtier.” Jake’s eyes gleamed. “How much dirtier were you thinking?” She kissed him leisurely on the lips, then pulled back to look him in the eye. “As dirty as we want.” Then she forgot about showers and coffee and birdsong, her world narrowing to Jake’s mouth, his tongue, his fingers…. Coffee could wait.