A Hot Winter by C.J. Lake
Publication date: December 2nd 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Publication date: December 2nd 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
*Story contains explicit/steamy scenes that are intended for mature readers.
**All books in C.J. Lake’s Attraction Series are standalone novels with NO cliffhangers.
It was supposed to be a simple job. A favor for a friend, nothing complicated. But that was before I realized who Emma was. I knew I wasn’t imagining the tension between us–still there and getting stronger every second. She wanted to keep things professional now. I suppose we’d have to try–because if we gave in…once would never be enough…
I never thought I’d see Matt Winter again, and now here he was. Working on my house! Making me nervous, flustered, and almost breathless. Disarming me and making me feel things I haven’t even considered since my husband died four years ago. No, I don’t want to want him. My life was in order before he came, and I’m leaving Boston anyway. Forget Matt. It’s the only logical option. So…why can’t I stay away from him?
**All books in C.J. Lake’s Attraction Series are standalone novels with NO cliffhangers.
It was supposed to be a simple job. A favor for a friend, nothing complicated. But that was before I realized who Emma was. I knew I wasn’t imagining the tension between us–still there and getting stronger every second. She wanted to keep things professional now. I suppose we’d have to try–because if we gave in…once would never be enough…
I never thought I’d see Matt Winter again, and now here he was. Working on my house! Making me nervous, flustered, and almost breathless. Disarming me and making me feel things I haven’t even considered since my husband died four years ago. No, I don’t want to want him. My life was in order before he came, and I’m leaving Boston anyway. Forget Matt. It’s the only logical option. So…why can’t I stay away from him?
Excerpt:
“All right, honest conversation,” she said after a moment
that was quiet, but rife with tension. “Yes. I was flirting
with you in the store--but only because I never thought I’d see you again.”
“You never wanted to see me
again?” He sounded somewhere between incredulous and insulted.
“Damn, Emma!”
“No, no,” she clarified, rapidly
shaking her head, “this is coming out wrong. I just meant I thought you
were a random handsome guy with a hot body, end of story.”
Every male impulse in him intensified
when he heard those words. Handsome? Hot body? This was
definitely going to happen.
“I never knew you’d end up working at
my house…and driving me crazy everyday,” Emma mumbled partly under her
breath. Still, Matt heard every word. And he was itching to grab
her.
He stepped closer--close enough for
their bodies to touch. Finally. His cock stiffened as his
chest grazed Emma’s back. “Driving you crazy?” Matt repeated, bringing
his mouth closer to her ear. “Here I thought I was being nice all this
time.”
She let out an unsteady breath.
“You know what I mean.”
“No,” he said, his voice low and urgent
as his hands slid onto her waist. “Explain it to me.”
Already he felt the sexual tension
burning between them; what would it be like once he kissed her? She had
to feel it, too. Though she still stubbornly had her back to him, she
hadn’t moved away, not even a centimeter.
When she spoke, her voice was a soft,
breathy sort of whisper that sounded as aroused as he felt. “I admit I find
you…attractive…”
“Mmm-hmm,” he murmured, tugging her
lower body against his as he leaned down to nuzzle her neck.
Softly, Emma gasped, before continuing,
“But…since I’m moving in just a couple weeks, there’s no point
to…anything…” She let out a tiny little moan when Matt grazed her neck
with his teeth. “I-I hope you understand.”
“I understand perfectly,” he said, his
mouth against her ear. “You’re attracted to me,” he recapped, skipping
the rest of what she’d said.
“But--”
“And I’m deeply attracted to you,” he
murmured, as he tightened his grip on her waist and nudged her bottom with his
cock. When Emma moaned again, Matt seized the opportunity. He slid
a hand into her hair and angled her head toward him, urging her to turn around.
“Matt, please…” she implored,
half-turned, her greenish eyes looking almost troubled as she gazed up into his
face.
Pausing, he tried to regain his
sanity. Obviously he’d never want to push Emma into something she didn’t
want. “Are you saying you don’t want me to kiss you right now?” he asked.
“What I want doesn’t matter.”
“Like hell it doesn’t,” he nearly
snapped. Why was she making this so complicated?
“It’s part of being an adult,” Emma
said, casting her eyes down, her voice faint. “We can’t always have what
we want. That’s life.”
“Believe me, I know that,” Matt told
her. “If I could have what I want, then we wouldn’t be having this
conversation--I would’ve been kissing you all this time. I would be doing
the crossword puzzle with you every morning. I would be fixing that
screwed-up weather-stripping, just so you’d be warm. I would grab you and
pull you onto my lap…” With her eyes widening, Emma’s mouth fell open, as
Matt dipped his head lower and finished, “If I could have what I want, then I’d
already be running my hands inside your panties right now.”
“Matt…” she whispered helplessly, wetting her lips as
her face rose to meet his.
Excerpt:
Wordlessly, she handed him the
check. Folding it, he shook his head. “Man, I’m so glad nothing
happened between us last night,” he muttered as he stuck the check in his
pocket.
Emma’s face crumpled. “What?”
she said, feeling insulted and hurt (even though she’d basically given him the
longer version of the same sentiment).
With a short, humorless laugh, Matt
said, “I don’t need this drama.”
“No one has ever accused me of being
overdramatic.”
“If you give me this big of a hassle
over a bill, God knows what you’d do to me in bed,” he said.
“I wouldn’t do anything to you!
Wait--I didn’t mean it the way it sounded…” she fumbled.
“You’d probably tell me I’m doing it
wrong.”
Rage boiled inside her, as she
struggled for a comeback. “I’d only tell you that if you were.”
With a cocky laugh, Matt leaned his
face toward hers and said, “I do it just fine.”
She pasted on a patronizing
smile. “Well good for you.”
“It could have been good for you, too,”
he remarked plainly. “But that ship has sailed.”
At first, Emma’s mouth dropped
open. Then she let out a shocked sort of laugh. “Oh my God! I
hope you’re not seriously trying to use reverse psychology to get me to sleep
with you?”
Impatiently, Matt said, “Emma, aren’t
you listening? I don’t even want to sleep with you anymore.”
With her fists balling at her sides,
she said, “Good. Actually, that works out well, because I really don’t
want to sleep with you.”
“Uh-huh, sure, okay,” Matt said
briskly. “Well, I’m glad we’ve cleared that up now.” He turned
toward the door, adding, “Now it won’t have to be unclear when I cross paths
with you again someday.”
“Don’t worry, you probably won’t cross
paths with me anyway,” she called after him. “I’m leaving remember?”
At that, Matt paused, looked back at
her. His expression seemed more solemn. “Right, I forgot, well…good
bye, Emma.”
“Wait.”
With his hand on the doorknob, Matt
turned.
Impulsively, Emma reached for the stack
of envelopes that was sitting on hutch by the stairs. She flipped through
it and pulled out the one with Matt’s name on it. “Here,” she said,
walking toward him. At first he just eyed the envelope, confused.
“It’s a Christmas card,” Emma explained offhandedly. “You might as well
take it now.”
Wordlessly, Matt shifted his gaze from the envelope to
Emma’s face. His dark eyes burned into her. She swallowed feebly,
still holding the card out for him. “To hell with this,” he uttered
gruffly, and slid a hand around her neck, pulled her to him and kissed her.
Purchase:
Q&A with C.J. Lake
What was the inspiration for A Hot Winter?
I didn’t originally intend to write
this story, but Matt and Emma seemed to have instant chemistry in my first
book, Constructing Us, so I was compelled to explore them as a
couple. They ended up being perfect for
each other (though it’s a ride to get there!).
What makes Matt & Emma such a great couple?
There’s a current of attraction between them when
they first meet, but neither knows who the other is. Once they discover the connection (to Tragan
and Andy), they try to dial it back--especially once Matt begins work on Emma’s
house. But it’s virtually impossible not
to be aware of each other or to keep their distance. That initial attraction is always there--and
building every time they’re together, despite Emma’s determination to keep
things platonic. Something that works in
their favor is that while Matt is four years younger than Emma, he is strong
and responsible, with a maturity and a protective nature--exactly what she
needs!
If you had to choose, what is your favorite scene?
Well, here’s a very
short excerpt from it:
“Jesus, Emma,”
Matt rasped, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. “Why do you torture me?”
Gazing
into those intense, dark eyes, Emma became overwhelmed by a longing that was
almost painful. She reached up and
brushed her lips across his. “I didn’t
mean to,” she said softly, and it was the truth. “Don’t go,” she whispered, digging her
fingers into his hair and keeping him close.
Lightly she bit his lower lip.
“Don’t go…”
>>I love this
whole scene; it’s erotic and emotional and represents a major turning point for
Matt and Emma. Also, it’s literally just
the beginning of their first intense night together…
Can you pick a favorite
quote?
Hmm…maybe this:
“Being
with Matt did something to her. It
brought back a younger version of herself, a younger time in her life.”
>>This is a theme
that’s played implicitly throughout the story and a concept that Emma wrestles
with and embraces at the same time.
She’s only twenty-seven, but has responsibilities that make her feel
older and more settled than that. Matt
taps into her youthful, fun-loving spirit and almost makes Emma forget the
reasons why they shouldn’t be together…
Did you have a music play list for this book?
Yes! My “soundtrack” for A Hot
Winter includes songs that fit Matt & Emma so well. Like “Teenage Dream” (Katy Perry), “Safe and
Sound” (Capital Cities), “Am I wrong” (Nico & Vinz), “Everybody Talks”
(Neon Trees), “Green Eyes” (Coldplay), and “Everything Has Changed” (Taylor
Swift).
What else should readers know?
- A Hot
Winter is set in one of my favorite places: snowy
- Tragan & Andy, along with other familiar faces from Constructing
Us, are back.
- Though my books have overlapping characters, they are all
standalone novels--no cliffhangers!
What’s next?
In 2015, look for Sky High (Book 3 in The Attraction series). Sky High
is a fast-paced, romantic and sexy New Adult romance, featuring Jamie from
Books 1 & 2. Stay tuned for more
updates, both on Amazon and Twitter (@brightbluesurf) -- plus, readers can
email me at: writercjlake@gmail.com.
AUTHOR BIO
C.J. Lake is a storyteller who is passionate about art, surfing, and skiing/snowboarding. Residing near the coast of Massachusetts, C.J. is working on a new book that will feature Tragan Barrett's friend, Matt Winter. Readers can get in touch via email (writercjlake@gmail.com)
Blitz-wide giveaway (US only) A $15 gift card to Amazon + a signed copy of C.J.'s first book, Constructing Us.
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Sounds like a great story. Thank you for this! :) (signed up as Amber M)
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