From Chapter Two
"Oh, wait. There's someone here to see you."
He frowned. "I don't have time today."
"I know, I know." Martha looked apologetic. "I tried to explain that your schedule is packed, but she insisted on waiting—"
"She?"
Martha glanced down at a pad on her desktop. "A Ms. Whitlock. Tyne Whitlock."
Lucas stared. Blinked. Then he reached up and tugged at his tie, wondering who the hell shut off the room's air supply.
"She's waiting in your office. I tried to tell her your schedule was full, but…" Concern sharpened Martha's tone. "Are you all right? She said she knew you. That you were old friends. That she'd only take a minute of your time. Should I not have let her in?"
Martha droned on and he watched her lips move, but he didn't hear a word of what she said. A blind-sided punch wouldn't have stunned him more than hearing that name. He lifted his hand and nodded at Martha to let her know everything was okay even though he had no idea if it was or not, then he turned and headed down the corridor.
"Don't forget Larry and Nate. They're waiting!"
Martha's warning sounded like a distant echo.
Tyne. Here. In this building. In his office.What had it been? Twelve, thirteen… no. Sixteen years. He scrubbed his fingers across his jaw.
He turned the corner and came to an abrupt halt. At the end of the corridor, the door of his office stood ajar. He saw Tyne's perfect profile as she sat in a straight-backed chair staring at something out of his line of view.
In an instant, Lucas was catapulted into the past.
Darkness surrounded them like a cloak. Tyne's soft sobs tore at his heart. Of all the girls he'd dated—and there had been more than a few—only she brought out in him a fierce compulsion to protect.
He swiped away her tears, the dark color of his thumb a stark contrast against her creamy white skin.
"I don't understand them, Lucas. I never will."
"Don't worry," he crooned. "It's going to be all right. Trust me, babe. They can't keep us apart. You'll be eighteen soon too. We can do what we want then. Go wherever we want."
He cradled her, his back supported by the massive pin oak. And when she stopped crying, she pulled away from him and gazed into his eyes. Her sweet face wrenched his heart and caused heat to spark his desire. Never had he wanted a girl the way he wanted Tyne. Raw need coursed through him.
She cradled his face between her palms and drew him to her. Her lips were hot against his. The kiss grew hungry, their breathing labored.
"Our love will last forever," she whispered against his mouth.
He heard the question in her quavery tone, responded to her need for reassurance.
"Forever," he groaned, tugging her down onto the mossy ground.
Lucas tilted his head to stare at the carpet in front of his shoes and gulped in the artificially-cooled air as he dragged his way out of the past. The grip he had on his attaché case made his hand throb almost as much as the memory had caused his groin to go all achy and needful.
Of course, their love hadn't lasted forever.
He was within steps of the door when Tyne glanced in his direction. Nuances of various emotions passed across her face. And it was a striking face, Lucas couldn't deny it. The years had refined her features—
She stood, smoothing her palms across the fabric of her skirt.—and ripened her body. Her eyes were the same vivid blue he remembered, and her white-blond hair was still long and straight. He could easily recall the silky feel of it brushing against his bare chest. As teens, he'd thought of them as the perfect juxtaposition: she, all sunshine and light, he, dark like the night.
He forced his gaze back onto her face.
"Tyne." He entered his office, puzzled by the strain in his voice. What really confused him was the fact that he couldn't seem to get his tongue to form anything more.
"Hi, Lucas. It's been a long time." Her lush mouth pressed into a nervous smile, and his gut tensed.
He wanted to smile back. He truly did. With every fiber of his being. To let her know that he'd survived the sprawling interim since they'd parted just as well as she obviously had. But he couldn't smile. Couldn't speak. Couldn't think.
Author Q&A
1. What attracted you to writing in the first place?
I came to writing from my love of reading. While growing up, I lost myself in books in order to escape an unhappy childhood.
2. What genre are you most comfortable writing?
Romance. I wrote for Harlequin for 20 years, writing sweet romance (as Donna Clayton) and women's fiction/contemporary romance (under my own name). I have self-published some of my back-list Harlequin books. The Merry-Go-Round was never published by a traditional publisher, so I guess that would be my first indie-published book. Reclaim My Heart is the second of my front-list indie-published titles.
3. How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
I think authors who face a lot of pain and anguish seem to write stories with great depth, with honesty and compassion. It could be that dealing with trauma brings out the best (or worst) in people. I believe that losing my mother at such a young age had a huge impact on me not just as a writer but as a human being. I became, I don't know, more maternal towards my family, my friends, heck, towards everyone I meet... more giving of myself. I'm not sure. But I know that the loss could have made me bitter and angry. I'm just so grateful that the exact opposite seems to describe me.
4. Where do you get your inspiration and ideas from?
My mind is always on the alert. I take ideas from everything I see, hear, read, experience. I have been known to take a snippet of conversation overheard in an elevator and turn it into a book (Return of the Runaway Bride), or from a location (His Wife for a While), or from a person I met (Taking Love in Stride). So be careful! If you interact with me, you might end up in one of my novels.
5. What’s your favorite place in the entire world?
I have visited so many beautiful places. The South of France, the rolling mountains of Italy, the Mediterranean Sea, the cobbled streets of Brussels, the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona, beautiful Morro Bay, California, and I spend lots of time in Ocean City, Maryland. I obviously can't pick a favorite. Besides, there are so many places waiting to be seen!
6. What was your favorite part of this book to write? Which part was the hardest?
I really enjoyed writing the love scenes. In my sweet romances, all the 'spice' takes place behind closed doors. So this was very fun. And which part was hardest? The "kitchen love scene" (naughty pun intended!).
7. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you “grew up”?
I wanted to be a teacher. My aunt attended college and earned her teaching degree. I always idolized her.
8. If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
Teacher. I love kids, and I often include them in my stories. I always say that children are very honest and outspoken. Kids inject a great deal of fun into a book.
9. If you could live inside the world of a book, which book would you choose?
Pride and Prejudice. Love that Mr. Darcy!
10. Give your fans three fun facts that they may not already know about you.
I love to cook! (I often post recipes on my blog.)
My reading tastes are crazy-eclectic. I read anything and everything.
I'm a little on the chubby side.
11. Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?
Depends. If we're talking ice cream, then vanilla… and I love mine topped with sliced banana and warm caramel sauce. If we're talking cake, then chocolate, and don't forget the fudge frosting. If we're talking milkshakes, then strawberry. Wow, now I'm hungry.
12. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
I put my heart and soul into this Reclaim My Heart, and I think it shows… in the characters and in the story.
13. So what’s next for you as an author? Any last words?
I'm thinking of writing a book that revolves around three friends in different stages of marriage, but I'm not sure yet. I've worked very hard on Reclaim My Heart and I'm going to take a few days off. Then I'll get back to work!
I want to thank you for hosting me, and I want to thank your followers for taking the time to read about Reclaim My Heart.
About the Book:
Sixteen years ago, Tyne Whitlock cut all ties to her past and left town under the shameful shadow of a teenage pregnancy. Now her fifteen-year-old son is in trouble with the law and she is desperate for help. But reaching out to high-powered attorney Lucas Silver Hawk will tear open the heart-wrenching past in ways Tyne never imagined.
Forced to return to the Delaware Indian community where Lucas was raised, Tyne and Lucas are tempted
by the heated passion that consumed them as teens. Tyne rediscovers all the reasons she found this man
irresistible, but there are scandalous secrets waiting to be revealed, disgraceful choices made in the past that
cannot be denied. Love is a powerful force that could heal them both—if the truth doesn't rip them apart.
About the Author:
Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17.
What others are saying about Donna's books:
"...complex, funny, and realistic..." ~Wilmington News Journal
"Excellent!" ~Bookreview.com
"Could not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is well written, the
characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author."
~Elizabeth M. Caldwell on Amazon
"...a fast paced riotous look at family life today. Donna Fasano is right on target!" ~Donna Zapf, SingleTitles.com
GIVEAWAY:
Grand Prize winner has their choice of 3 titles from Donna’s Backlist in format of choice (eBook, Paperback or Audio-Book)
Second place winner has their choice of 3 titles in eBook format from her backlist and
Third place winner has a choice of 1 eBook title from backlist .
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Other stops in the tour can be found here:
http://iam-indeed.com/cover-reveal-for-donna-fasano/
Follow Donna Fasano:
Author Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/DonnaFasanoAuthor
Author Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/DonnaFaz
Author Website/blog: http://DonnaFasano.blogspot.com
Goodreads author/book page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1111480.Donna_Fasano
Link to Pinterest: http://www.Pinterest.com/DonnaFaz
Buy Links:
Goodreads and Shelfari – Formatted links
Goodreads & Shelfari – direct URL
