Romancing the Hop!

Welcome to my HOP STOP

Besides the great prizes listed below, I'm offering a prize, too.

Read on!

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!

See the movie in there toward the left, ONE FINE DAY? It's hiding a bit, can't see George Clooney's handsome mug (*pout*) or Michelle Pheiffer's beautiful face, but that's my contribution. Actually, I'm not too upset George is hidden--those abs to the right deserve front billing, right? Anyway, One Fine Day is one of my favorite romantic comedies and the scene at the end where he's going in for that first kiss just melts my heart every time I watch, which has been more than a few times.

The movie itself contains kids and isn't overly romantic in a flowers and candlelight way, but the back and forth between the two characters is what really draws me in, like most of my favorite romantic movies do. Here's an excerpt from my contemporary western and though it's not overtly romantic in the classic sense of the word either, I'd be pretty happy if my hubby ever wanted to re-inact this scene, um, minus the pain of a dislocated shoulder... *grin*

CHASIN' MASON

AMAZON, BN, SW, ARe, KOBO

Catch the stallion ~ win the ranch. A simple competition between bitter enemies until passion flares in the simmering Texas heat.

Tripp strode in with the bucket of hot water, only pausing a second when he saw her at the sink, the bowls dripping in the drain rack on the counter. She turned away to reach for a drying towel, listening to his booted footsteps cross the floor to the bathroom. Moments later, he stood next to her and removed the towel from her shaky fingers.

Go.”

Afraid his expression would match his cold tone, she headed straight for the bathroom. No more than she closed the door, she realized she needed her pajamas for after she was done washing. He turned around when she stepped back out.

“Do you need help?”

His grudging offer surprised her, as did the warm flicker of concern in his blue eyes. Until the picture of him removing her shirt flashed so vividly that she panicked and her “No!” came out fast and sharp. His gaze hardened again. Tossing aside the towel, he left the cabin without another word.

Forcing herself not to give in to self-pity, she took out her tank pajama top and shorts, but realized she’d never be able to raise her injured arm high enough to put on the top. Pushing it back in her bag, she pulled out a short-sleeved cotton shirt with small buttons. After she’d washed, and won the struggle to put on and fasten her clean clothes, she stared in the mirror at her tangled, dusty curls. There was more than enough water left for a wash, and the last thing she wanted to do was go to bed with dirty, grimy hair.

Managing to carry the bucket from the bathroom to the larger kitchen sink, she took a few moments to get everything ready and within reach for when her head was upside down in the sink to rinse. But then she paused. How the hell was she really going to do this one-handed? The pills she’d taken had dulled the pain to a bearable ache for now, but bending over that sink would be mighty uncomfortable.

She lifted her uninjured arm to run a hand through her curls, thinking maybe she could get away with a good brushing. Only a few inches past her hairline, the tangles impeded her progress. An attempt to force her fingers through the mess only resulted in pulling at her now itchy scalp. She set her jaw with stubborn determination; washing was the only option.

Unfortunately, by the time she got her hair wet, the ache in her shoulder had increased to an insistent throb again. She measured her breaths and kept going, resolved to get the job done now that she’d started. A reach for the shampoo bottle accidently knocked the handle of the pan of water she’d set on the counter for rinsing. The pan spun, teetered on the edge, then fell to the floor with a loud clang.

Her automatic grab for the pan jolted her shoulder. “Ow. Damn it all.”

After a deep breath and a glance at the water all over the floor, she admitted this was not going to work. But, crap, now her hair was soaking wet.

Boots sounded on the porch and the door banged open.

“What the hell are you doing in here?”

Reggie stiffened, mortified at how she must look with her butt sticking out as her head hung in the sink. “I’m washing my hair. Now get out.”

Silence followed, but she didn’t hear Tripp’s boots or the door.

“And how’s that going for you?”

The smirk in his voice made her feel like even more of an idiot. “Tripp, please, just go, okay?”

She heard a soft sigh. He moved then, only it was toward her.

“Tripp—”

“Shut-up and let me help.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw him grab a chair with one hand, lifting it easily to carry it to her side.

“Turn around and sit so you can tip your head back.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she did as he ordered while he held her hair over the sink. Her neck rested against something soft, and she realized he’d put a towel across the edge of the basin for her comfort. Still, she cringed, adjusting her position as he picked up the pan from the floor and refilled it from the warm bucket of water. Sitting was better than bending over, but the hard chair back added pressure against her sore shoulder.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

“You’re making a face. Does your shoulder hurt?”

“A little,” she admitted, but then smoothed out her expression and tried not to wiggle anymore. He strode across the room for a pillow on the bed and returned to her side, motioning for her to sit forward. After he slipped the cushion behind her, she settled back with relief.

“Better?”

Her heart thudded at the sight of his steady blue gaze staring down at her, full of concern. She managed a quiet, “Yes, thank you.”

“Good.” He reached for the shampoo bottle. “Now scoot down some and tilt your head back.”

He poured peach-scented shampoo into his palm and rubbed his hands together before leaning over to ease his fingers into her still-dripping hair, starting along the hairline. Her eyelids drifted shut as his fingers began to knead her scalp. Wow. As he worked his way from her forehead all the way to the base of her neck, she fought a wave of tiredness. His massage was too good to sleep through.

She opened her eyes for a peek to find his chest above her face as he worked the shampoo along the roots and down the length of her curls.

Her senses filled with the mingled scent of peaches and Tripp, Irish Spring soap from his bath and warm male. A tingle spread down her neck, across her shoulders into her arms. It took over her entire body when he massaged backward, from her neck to her forehead again.

“Mmmm.”

The moment she heard her own aroused sound of pleasure, she cut it off. Damn it. Heat flooded her cheeks. Without opening her eyes, she knew he was watching her reaction, could feel his gaze as if it touched her. Her nipples tightened at the thought, and she swallowed hard. His muscled leg shifted against her arm a moment before a steady stream of warm water flowed over her scalp.

He rinsed her hair thoroughly and squeezed the water out. When he told her to sit up, the rougher than usual rasp of his voice sent a sensual ripple along her nerves. A towel fell over her head and his hands began to massage again. Aching shoulder or not, she was ready to jump him right here.

If only the idiot hadn’t thrown the condoms in the fire.

~*~

Condoms in the fire?? Yep! Pick up a copy of CHASIN' MASON and you can find out what the heck is up with that?!

AMAZON, BN, SW, ARe, KOBO


Now that I've teased you with my excerpt, to be entered into my hop stop giveaway, there's two things I'm going to ask.

1. REQUIRED: Leave a comment telling me the most romantic gesture you've ever received and DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS...if you win, we need to be able to contact you!

2. REQUESTED: Follow my blog, or join my newsletter (email staceyjoynetzel @ gmail (dot) com) so I can keep you up to date on all the fun stuff on my Coming Soon page! There's a lot coming up and I've got a shelf full of prizes and books coming your way.

What's my prize you ask?

One lucky commentor will win this set of mini-barrel jar candles from Party Lite to set the mood for your next romantic evening.

Scents: Apricot Daisy and Bamboo Mist

Thank you so much for swinging by and Happy Hopping!
(Make sure to stop at all the other locations for some more great prizes! The more you comment, the more chances you have at the Grand Prizes. Good luck!)

Oh-and one more thing: Several fab  author friends are also participating in the hop. You won’t want to miss– Kristine Cayne #28, Alicia and Roy Street #57, Natalie G. Owens #159, Dana Delamar #60, Diana Layne, L.C. Giroux #159, *lizzie starr #79, Christina Routon , and Lily Silver. 

Stacey Joy Netzel