Jamie Beck: Unexpectedly Hers Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway
UNEXPECTEDLY HERS by Jamie Beck
By day, bashful wallflower Emma Duffy works at her family’s bed-and-breakfast. By night, she secretly pens erotic romance hot enough to melt the snow in their cozy Rockies town.
But Emma’s real life is about to heat up when her mother books the entire inn to a professional snowboarder, hoping the publicity will put them on the map. In a karmic twist of fate, that guest is Wyatt Lawson, the man with whom Emma had shared the secret one-night stand that became the inspiration for her novel and its dreamy hero. Worse, a film crew is documenting his comeback just as her debut is about to hit the shelves. Emma’s only saving grace is that Wyatt doesn’t remember her—and hopefully he never will.
About the Book
Title: Unexpectedly Hers
Author: Jamie Beck
Release Date: February 21, 2017
Publisher: Montlake Romance
By day, bashful wallflower Emma Duffy works at her family’s bed-and-breakfast. By night, she secretly pens erotic romance hot enough to melt the snow in their cozy Rockies town.
But Emma’s real life is about to heat up when her mother books the entire inn to a professional snowboarder, hoping the publicity will put them on the map. In a karmic twist of fate, that guest is Wyatt Lawson, the man with whom Emma had shared the secret one-night stand that became the inspiration for her novel and its dreamy hero. Worse, a film crew is documenting his comeback just as her debut is about to hit the shelves. Emma’s only saving grace is that Wyatt doesn’t remember her—and hopefully he never will.
When Wyatt arrives in Sterling Canyon for several weeks of intense training, the last tumble he expects to take is falling for a girl, especially one as shy as Emma. Unlike groupies with their hidden agendas, she isn’t using him—or so he believes…until the film crew uncovers Emma’s pen name and steamy novel.
Wyatt’s comeback run can withstand a fall or two, but can his heart recover from this crash and burn?
Exclusive Excerpt – Unexpectedly Hers by Jamie Beck
On her way back downstairs, Emma heard the murmur of voices and the scuffle of bags coming into the lobby. She dashed around the corner to the welcome desk and then froze. It. Can’t. Be!
Dallas, er—Wyatt. Wyatt Lawson—famed slopestyle snowboard International Games and Rockies Winter eXtreme Games gold medalist, among other titles—stood in her lobby.
She vaguely registered other people, too, but her gaze locked on Wyatt’s exotic face. Although born and raised in Vermont, he looked Brazilian with his wild, wavy black hair that hung to his jaw, his bronzed skin, his dreamy hazel eyes set deeply beneath straight, thick brows. She couldn’t actually see those eyes while staring at his profile, but she still remembered them from their one incredible night together. The one she’d relived over and over while writing and editing her book.
Her heart lodged itself in her throat. Please, God, don’t let him recognize me.
Emma had never told a soul about that night, and would be mortified if her mother or friends ever learned about her brief walk on the wild side. If they knew she’d acted like some kind of cougar, picking up a guy six years her junior. Even she still couldn’t believe she’d done it.
Of course, Wyatt wouldn’t associate Emma with Alexa—the alter ego she’d adopted for a few hours to break free from being Emma Duffy.
Unlike Emma, Alexa had no qualms about her sexuality. Alexa had confidently worn a silky black dress that barely covered her chest and butt. Alexa had rocked high-heeled, knee-high boots, had had her thick, red hair professionally styled, and had worn smoky makeup and loopy earrings. Yes, Alexa had been a bona fide siren that night.
Wyatt had been celebrating his victory when she’d spotted him in the bar. Targeted him, truthfully. Carefree, happy, drunk Wyatt—young and proud and on the prowl. He’d been the perfect man for her singular one-night stand. And they’d had quite a night, until she’d woken at five o’clock and ducked out of his hotel room without a trace.
But she couldn’t quite regret it because that night had given life to a story, and naturally, Wyatt’s image—and certain other things—remained the inspiration for her hero’s character. For three years, she’d thought of him as Dallas. Thought, fantasized, spent way too much time filling Pinterest boards with his image . . .
Wyatt now turned those greenish-brown eyes her way and smiled at her—the kind of smile he’d give a friend’s little sister. Her hot cheeks meant her fair skin had turned almost as red as her hair.
“Good morning. I’m Wyatt.” Wyatt stepped aside to make room for a young guy with a cane wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. Wyatt patiently followed him to the check-in desk. “This is my brother, Ryder, and that’s the film crew, Jim, Buddy, and Mari. Looks like we’ve all descended at once.”
Emma remembered briefly seeing Ryder that night in Aspen. He’d been an up-and-coming snowboarder, although he hadn’t hit the podium. Sadly, the following year he’d finally made headlines when a snowboarding accident caused a traumatic brain injury. She’d read that Wyatt had left competition to help his family, and that Ryder had spent a few months in the hospital following his accident.
Looking at Ryder now, she sensed he hadn’t fully recovered—physically or otherwise. A pang of empathy for the brothers settled in her chest.
But surely neither he nor Wyatt would connect her to Alexa, assuming Wyatt even remembered that night. No doubt he’d had many such meaningless encounters on the competition circuit.
For the briefest moment, sadness gripped her, forcing her to acknowledge that a major turning point in her small life had been a mere blip in Wyatt’s. She shook off the wistful musing before anyone noticed.
“Welcome,” Emma said, her gaze roaming the group without making direct eye contact with Wyatt. “We’re so glad to have you. I’ll be at your disposal during your stay, so anything you need, just ask.”
♥
About the Author
Jamie Beck is a former attorney with a passion for inventing stories about love and redemption. In addition to writing novels, she also pens articles on behalf of a local nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and strengthening families. Fortunately, when she isn’t tapping away at the keyboard, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.
Website – http://www.jamiebeck.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JamieBeckBooks
Twitter – https://twitter.com/writerjamiebeck
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8020971.Jamie_Beck
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