Note: Check the bottom of this post for giveaway information!
In two weeks, my newest romantic adventure, Acceptable Risks, will be released by Carina Press (available wherever e-books are sold AND as an audiobook from Audible.com).
Acceptable Risks
by Natalie J. Damschroder
Carina Press | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Audible (Coming Soon)
When security expert Jason Templeton's team is ambushed while protecting a weapons manufacturer vital to U.S. interests, he risks his life to save the man's daughter…and loses. Unbeknownst to Jason, his mentor had been funding experimental medical procedures after losing his young wife. Using the untested drugs, Jason is brought back to life, stronger and faster than before, but also vulnerable in new ways. He's determined to find the traitor in their midst, who is after the miracle drug.
That means protecting the brilliant scientist Lark Madrassa. Their attraction and compatibility are undeniable, but Jason tries to deny his growing feelings for her, thinking he is too damaged. When Lark's father is kidnapped they have to rely on each other in a dangerous plot to uncover the double agent. Before, Jason always accepted the risks–but what about when the life of the woman he loves is on the line?
EXCERPT
Jason waited until he had some open highway and was positive they weren’t being tailed before he studied Lark. He knew she wasn’t sleeping. She’d never been able to sleep while traveling. That could have changed, but her breathing stayed light, her body held taut, if not tensely.
He let out a breath. Sh**, she’d grown into her potential. Matt had shown him pictures so he’d be sure to recognize her when she wasn’t wet. The photos displayed plastic beauty. Perfect skin, brilliant teeth, smooth forehead, and glossy dark hair covering a hard shell and projecting little substance. In person, though, she was different. Her ancestry—as far as he knew, a mix of Middle Eastern, Native American, and Far Eastern origin—gave her exotically shaped dark eyes and dark hair that was almost a living color, it had so many variations. Her beauty appealed to him more than he’d have expected, and it took him off guard, even after he’d adjusted his mental image of her from coltish teenager to sophisticated woman.
Jason had watched Lark with Isaac, as he’d slipped up behind him in her greenhouse at work. She’d resisted but kept her head, didn’t do anything foolish, and had shown no fear. She’d probably kept up some self-defense training; that gave confidence in a confrontation. Plus, Donald probably was blind, but she wasn’t freaking out at what she’d done. The combination was a bigger turn-on than anything had been in a long time.
He glanced at her again. She had the glossy hair and the perfect skin the pictures displayed, but she also had dark dirt under her fingernails and streaking her pants. Her shirt was worn denim, and hid a body that had felt small but strong under his arm when he caught her earlier. He had a feeling she kept good care of herself out of practicality rather than vanity. She hadn’t packed a lot of makeup and junk when they were at the apartment.
He stared at the road ahead, trying to ignore the feeling filling him now. He’d conditioned himself against adrenaline-fueled attraction once he hit the management track. He worked with—and was the boss of—too many women to risk indulging it, even as a quick rush. This wasn’t like that, anyway. Not superficial excitement pumping through him, but something deeper, more complex. F***.
He’s your best mate floated through his brain. Jason tried not to imagine Matt’s reaction if he ever found out. He was ten years older than Lark, for one thing. Even though Matt was ten years older than Jason, he still saw them as peers. That would affect how he saw the age difference. Matt took pride in never interfering in his daughter’s choices, but Jason knew a relationship with her would damage their friendship. Not worth it, especially now.
He rubbed a hand down his face, not quite believing his thoughts. He should be planning. Trying to get into Isaac’s head. Figuring out his next move, so he could both keep Lark safe and stop the man from achieving his goal.
Not lusting after his best friend’s daughter.
***
Lark felt the weight of Jason’s eyes on her and knew she wasn’t fooling him by pretending to be asleep. That was okay. He wasn’t going to tell her anything until they got to the safe house, and she didn’t want to pepper him with questions. It would annoy both of them, and if her eyes were open, she wouldn’t be able to help herself.
Not that she needed to open her eyes to look at him. She had a perfect mental image of his body up against hers, his face looking down on her like some big damn hero. He was as well defined as any Navy SEAL, the snug knit shirt and jeans he wore showing off his muscles to perfection. He’d moved fluidly, running with ease and comfort. Whole.
A frisson of excitement made her shiver. Based solely on the miracle, of course. Not on Jason’s body and how he used it. Only on the fact that he was alive.
It had f***ing worked. Excitement lifted her again. She’d tried not to pin too many hopes on her compound. Tried to make it enough that discovering the plant’s properties could lead to bigger breakthroughs in medicine. It had qualified her for the fellowship, which brought new possibilities. But here in this car was proof she’d been right. And that she’d sold it to the right people, people who could develop it. Who had developed it.
A little bubble of sadness welled and popped, tempering her giddiness. It came from a pool that was always there, something she knew she’d never get rid of. Her mother hadn’t needed such revolutionary technology when she fell from a horse. Whatever they’d used to put Jason back together wouldn’t have prevented her mother’s infections, or the complications, or the stream of surgeries that had left her vulnerable. She’d been one of those pure-of-heart, fragile-of-body women to begin with, and never recovered fully from the fall. She’d died of the flu, of all things, when Lark was sixteen.
So Lark couldn’t play “what if.” She couldn’t imagine that her findings or the amazing things they led to could have ever saved her mother. But they could help, maybe save, other people. Maybe helped save Jason. And that validated everything. Her choice to say no thanks to her father’s business, though he’d built it—and kept the silly name—as a testament to her mother. Her seemingly random venture into botany after a couple of science-related internships and summer jobs. Her focus on work and lack of social life, most of the time.
She couldn’t wait to get her hands on Jason’s medical records. His recovery was amazing. He didn’t seem to have any stiffness or creaky joints or misshapen bone. She wondered if anything hurt, and if it had all healed right. If the regeneration therapy had been enough, and if not, what else they’d used on him.
We can rebuild him. God, it was real.
Okay, he wasn’t bionic. She didn’t think. No computer chips controlling his super movements or nanites boosting his senses. But he’d been dead, or almost. Questions flooded her brain. Her eyes popped open and she quickly shut them again. In time, she whispered to herself. He’ll tell you in time.
She’d make sure of it.
GIVEAWAY
I have a whole slew of giveaways today! One commenter (randomly chosen from any of my posts) will receive a digital advance reader copy of Acceptable Risks. EVERY commenter will receive some type of author/book swag (while supplies last). AND, if I get over 20 comments total (not including my own), a separate winner will receive a $10 Amazon gift card! Comments on any of my posts will count. One swag item per commenter. Please leave your e-mail address with your comment so I can contact you, or be sure to check back to see if you're a winner.
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Text Copyright © 2012 by Natalie J. Damschroder. Cover Art Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited. Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.
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