My blog posts are few and far between these days. Preparing for the big Romantic Times convention, which is in Pittsburgh this year, is eating up huge chunks of time. Figuring out what to pack (and realizing the contents of my closet needed updating, then shopping) has eaten up the last 2 weekeneds. Getting the things I want to bring set aside or shipped in advance, making appointments, ensuring I’ll catch up with friends, etc. I know some people will blog about things like: I’m thinking of painting my office orange or I played outside today with my cats or…whatever. I’m not good at that, admittedly. I’d rather SAY something. Or try to.

You all have been incredibly patient of late while I’ve been drowning in organizational stuff. So I’ll give you two things and promise a third!

First, here’s some man candy. I was going to save it for next week, but I figure what the heck…

Um…howdy to you too! I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I’d be happy to see him–any part…every part. Wow, drool. Off to daydream land…

Ahem. Back now. I said I’d give you one other thing. One month from today, Samhain will be releasing A Perfect Match, so here’s an excerpt:

Excerpt A PERFECT MATCH
© Shelley Bradley LLC
Samhain Publishing
Release: May 13

She climbed out of the truck and heard Mitch following suit. He followed her up the stairs to her front door, carrying her bag. Even without contact between them, his presence loomed strong, tickling her every nerve with awareness.

Dang it! Her horoscope this morning indicated it would be a great day for romance. She had hoped the astrologer was wrong.

Maybe she could still make a clean getaway. Juliette withdrew her key from her purse and opened her front door. Great. No lights on; no TV blaring. No Kara. She’d been hoping her little sister would play watchdog and ensure she kept her hands off Mitch. Instead, Kara had probably gone out with her girlfriends. Juliette was on her own.

Stay cool, calm and professional, she reminded herself, drawing in a deep breath. Knowing that attitude would be easier to maintain outside her door than inside, she hovered in the threshold.

“Thanks for a lovely time.” She held out her hand to him. “I enjoyed myself and hope you got lots of positive material for your next article.”

He set her bag down and grasped her palm. His warmth seared her fingers. An electric tingle screamed along the length of her palm, up her arm.
“I had a great time, too,” he said, his gaze riveted on her face.

He wanted to kiss her; his sultry dark stare said so with eloquent silence. All light-hearted replies fled Juliette’s mind. Instead, she stood in her doorway, her hand clasped in Mitch’s.

Wind whistled around them in a winter song. Juliette stared back at Mitch, watching the play of her porch light shadow his face. God, he was gorgeous…and kind, and fun, and smart.

He held her gaze in the snare of his own, and she couldn’t find the will to look away.

“Juliette,” he murmured. “Honey, don’t look at me like that. It’s taking every ounce of control I have right now to walk away.”

His admission sent a fire zinging to her belly—and lower.

Mitch seemed smart. Was there any chance he was right, that she was blowing their differences of security and stability out of proportion?

Maybe, as he suggested, she shouldn’t run from her true feelings, either. Living a lie would only cheat her, right? She would hate to look back at this missed opportunity and wonder what might have been. She had to know if her fantasies about Mitch had any reality.

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

He sucked in a breath. “Are you sure?”

His question only made her more certain she had to know the truth, before giving Andrew her answer…before it was too late.

“We’ve got to prove or disprove that old wives’ tale about first kisses, don’t we? For your article, I mean.” Juliette tried for flirty, but feared she sounded breathless and nervous.

At least that’s how she felt.

Mitch didn’t hesitate, didn’t ask more questions. He just slid his hands up her arms, then cupped her face in his hands. He stared for a long moment, and Juliette sank into the dark lure of want burning in his gaze. The gong of her heartbeat flooded her ears and he leaned closer, closer.

His lips brushed her temple, her cheek, her jaw, so gently, like she was the most fragile thing he’d ever touched. Her insides were clawing for more, for his mouth on her own.

A moment later, his stare made his way back to hers. His fingers tightened at the back of her neck, holding her right under him.

Then his lips crashed over hers. Sensually. Perfectly. Juliette melted as his teeth nipped her lower lip. He tasted like passion, needy, possessive, as he urged her lips apart and sank deep…

Last, I promise to come home from RT with lots of juicy details about all I saw and did!

Have a great week!