Today we start our week long discussion with the 8 authors featured in the Sweet But Sexy boxed set, now available at all e-book retailers for $.99!!!
This morning, I'm pleased to get the ball rolling with Magdalena Scott!!!
Hi there!
I’m so happy to be here today. I
feel very fortunate to have a story included in the SWEET, BUT SEXY boxed set.
It’s always a treat to hang out with a group of sweet romance writers, and even
better when we all get to share our stories with readers.
BUILDING A DREAM is a novella set
in Legend, Tennessee. As of this writing, there are 29 published stories in
this series, with two more to release this year. Learn about Legend and the
other three authors who write about it—Maddie James, Jan Scarbrough, and Janet
Eaves—by visiting the website,
www.legendtennessee.com.
Chloe McClain is an artist, so
she’s used to creating something from nothing. This time, though, the project
is bigger than her usual canvas—this time she’s bought a big dilapidated building
to rehab into a classy art gallery. Should be easy enough; she’ll hire Greg
Andrews and his construction crew. Greg’s work has gotten good reviews from
everyone in Legend. Of course there is kind of a rush on the project…
Greg is a professional, and his
professional opinion is that Chloe’s pile of bricks should be put out of its
misery. There’s no way he can bring the place up to code by her deadline, let
alone turn it into the showplace she has in mind. But Chloe’s a McClain, and
besides a wide stubborn streak, that means deep pockets. Speaking of which,
Greg can’t keep his eyes off the back pockets of Chloe’s jeans...
When you live in Legend,
Tennessee, there are certain things to remember. People in Legend pull
together. Community before self. And you never want to take a wrong step around
a McClain—even the cute females.
****
Excerpt
“You must be kidding,” Greg said, walking
carefully around the hole he’d dropped his leg into earlier. “No way can this
be rehabbed in a month. No possible way. Mike said you had a time frame in
mind—but thirty days is plain crazy.”
“Fine,” said Chloe
McClain. “I'll get someone else.” She closed a small notebook and slid it into
the back pocket of her snug jeans, then stuck the ballpoint behind her ear. The
motion made the cascade of bell-shaped earrings tinkle softly. The sterling
silver caught what little light came through the crud-encrusted windows. There
was also a diamond stud up high in one ear. Greg had never considered ears to
be particularly sexy, but on Chloe McClain, it seemed everything was sexy. At
least, everything he'd seen. Her blonde-and-dark-brown streaked hair was wavy
and cropped close to her head, but it grew a bit long in the back, and curls
caressed her delicate neck. Her eyes were big and brown and bright as a
child's. The long lashes and dusky eye shadow had him wondering what those big
dark eyes would look like if Chloe were feeling passionate about something
besides an ugly old building. Her mouth was generous and shaped as perfectly as
any he'd seen on lipstick commercials. Even her nose intrigued him. Short and
straight, but turned up on the end. It made her look spunky, and he had an idea
it wasn’t false advertising. Her body wasn't runway model thin, but slender and
pleasantly curvy. She looked even better once you started talking to her. Then
her eyes began to snap, her head moved in emphasis to her words, the music
started from her strange earrings, and that gorgeous mouth had you looking
there more of the time than you probably should. Good thing she was nuts, or he
might be attracted to her.
“So... You’re
Mike’s sister?” he asked. Mike McClain had worked for Greg a while now, but
there were so many McClains in and around Legend, Greg couldn’t keep them
straight.
“Cousin.” She
rolled her eyes, turned on the heel of her beat-up sandal, and headed for the
door, where she flicked off the lights. Greg looked up at the half dozen bulbs
hanging from the ceiling, suspended by dangerous-looking wires. Pathetic. The
whole place was pathetic. He sure didn’t want to get into a situation of trying
to bring this dump up to code in thirty days, let alone do the project to her
unreasonable expectations.
Chloe shut the
door after them, and locked it. Right. As
if anybody in his right mind would actually want to go in there.
“Well. Thanks for
the opportunity, Miz McClain. Sorry I can't help you with this. Good luck
finding somebody else.
“Uh-huh. Thanks. Well, I've got some contacts
around. I'm sure there's somebody who could take it on. I need to have the place
ready to go on deadline, or else...” She let the sentence trail off.
“Or else?” Not that he cared. Just making
conversation.
“Or else I can't do the exhibition I've committed
to.” She pushed some round-lensed dark glasses onto her nose, and caught her lower
lip between her teeth. Frown lines marred that perfect brow, below the fall of
wispy dark and light bangs.
Exhibition.
Whatever. He needed to move on
down the street. “So what kind of exhibition is that?” He hadn’t meant to ask.
“Nothing. I need
to go.” A sultry breeze came down the street, making the bells in her earlobes
play again. She turned without another word and walked away from him into the
breeze. Greg shivered. Some brush-off. Why he cared, he wasn't sure. He enjoyed
watching her from behind until she turned the corner and was gone.
Oh well. Cute, but not my type. Dating a
cousin of Mike's would surely be more than he wanted to deal with anyway. Might
get awkward when it ended. Greg's relationships generally ended dramatically.
Yelling and name-calling were sometimes part of it, and he sure didn't need
Mike to be in that picture. It was complicated being a single man in Legend,
Tennessee.
****
The other stories in the boxed
set are
BLUE BOTTLE BEACH by Amie Denman,
ALL THAT’S UNSPOKEN by Constance Phillips, SECRETS by Jan Scarbrough, CROSSROADS
by Janet Eaves, MY BROTHER’S WEDDING by Jennifer Anderson, DOUBLE DOG DARE by
Jennifer Johnson, and HARD CANDY KISSES by Maddie James.
For a limited time, the boxed set
is only 99 cents. Just one more reason to snag a copy at your favorite ebook
retailer. Thank you for reading!
