Charmingly Yours by Liz Talley: Excerpt & Giveaway
Charmingly Yours
by: Liz Talley
Release Date: May 24, 2016
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
For Rosemary Reynolds, life in tiny Morning Glory, Mississippi, is just like the fabric store she runs: it seems she’s always waiting around for someone else to make the first stitch. Then a dear childhood friend passes away, leaving behind a gift that sends Rosemary on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Despite her mother’s protests, Rosemary heads to New York City for a stay in her cousin’s trendy SoHo loft. On her first day in town, a wrong turn leads her to Little Italy…and into the arms of handsome, outgoing Sal Genovese. Sal’s mother wants him to marry a longtime family friend, but to him, Rosemary is a breath of fresh country air, and he’s happy to show her a good time. Soon, Rosemary is swept up in a world she thought only existed in movies. To turn a two-week fling into a forever thing, she and Sal will have to make every moment count.
Exclusive Excerpt from Charmingly Yours
“Thank you for bringing me here. I’ll never forget tonight.”
And she wouldn’t. When she was on her deathbed, she’d probably remember the way he smelled, the way he held her, and the way they’d talked for hours. The impromptu date had been magical.
“Yeah, me, too,” he said, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear.
Oh, God. Was he going to kiss her? Her heart pounded in her throat and suddenly her mouth went dry. She licked her lips. He watched her lick her lips.
Slowly he leaned toward her.
Time stood still.
He was going to—
Suddenly he pulled back.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said.
“Weren’t you going to kiss me?”
He gave a self-conscious laugh. “Well, I was, but I wasn’t sure.”
“About what?”
“Whether you wanted me to or not. I mean, you’re a nice girl.”
Rosemary sighed. “Nice girls like kisses, but if you’d rather not, I under—”
She couldn’t finish because his lips had covered hers. Then his arm swept her to him, enveloping her in his total maleness. His other hand cupped her jaw, tilting her head.
The kiss was sweet, nearly innocent, but she felt it all the way down to her toes.
He lifted his head and met her gaze, his dark eyes questioning, revealing a teeny flash of something. Something she wanted to know more about.
But he lowered his head again, capturing her lips, nudging them apart so he could taste her better.
Liquid warmth pooled in her belly, drenching her in sweet instantaneous desire. Maybe it was the wine. Or the fact she’d danced to Etta James and Nat King Cole standards. Or maybe it was the seduction of the city, but she’d never felt such an immediate flash of all-out need.
She needed this man.
His tongue moved against hers, giving her a taste of the yeasty beer he’d drunk earlier.
“Mmm,” she murmured, sliding her hands up his shoulders, brushing the dark hair at his collar. His hand cradled her waist then dipped several inches lower to the rounding of her butt, pressing her closer to his hardness.
After a few seconds, he broke the kiss.
If his gaze and kicked-up breathing were any indication, Sal was as turned on as she was.
“Damn, I’m glad nice girls like kissing,” he said, still holding her. She wanted to stay in this moment forever.
“Nice girls love kissing,” she said eyeing his lips again. “In fact, if you want to come—”
“Better get you home,” he interrupted.
The invitation she’d been about to extend died on her tongue. Disappointment nudged desire out of the way. Managing a nod, she said, “That’s probably a good idea.”
He released her, stepping away. He put two fingers against those delicious lips and did that whistle thing she had never mastered, though she’d tried to learn it when she was twelve. A cab pulled up less than ten seconds later. He was as magic as Carrie Bradshaw. Had to be a New Yorker thing.
Sal pulled open the cab door, standing back so she could slide inside.
She hesitated, narrowing her eyes at the idling cab.
“It’s easy. Just tell him where you need to go,” Sal said.
“You’re not coming with me?”
Oh.
She could see his thoughts. He thought she’d asked him something she wasn’t asking. Or rather something she’d decided against asking. Seconds ago it had been a possibility. But it was midnight and her pumpkin idled. Cinderella out. “Are you staying here or something?”
“I live in Brooklyn. It’s that way.” He pointed over his shoulder.
The cab driver made an impatient noise in the back of his throat and then flicked a bunch of switches on the dashboard, making the meter light up.
“Yeah, of course, I knew that.” But she hadn’t wanted the evening to end this way. And besides, she’d never ridden in a cab before. Did she pay the driver first or when they arrived at her cousin’s walk-up? How much was she supposed to tip? And did Sal want to see her again? Or was this it?
“So I hope you’ll come by the restaurant again,” Sal said.
To eat? Or for something more?
“I’ll try to,” she said. What else could she say? Don’t end it this way? Stay with me? I’ll forget about being exhausted and we’ll keep the night going?
He’d kissed her and she’d thought it had been good. But maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe she sucked at kissing. She sat down in the cab a little too hard.
Sal watched her before he leaned in. His kiss was short, sweet, yet somehow a balm to her torn thoughts. “You’re beautiful. I want to see you again, but I don’t want to freak you out or make you feel pressured. The ball is in your court, southern girl.”
About the Author
Liz Talley is the author of sassy contemporary romances, including the RITA-nominated The Sweetest September. A finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award in the Regency romance subgenre, she made her debut in contemporary romance in June 2010 with Vegas Two-Step. She went on to publish fifteen more titles. Her stories are set in the South, where the tea is sweet, the summers are hot, and the men are hotter. She lives in northern Louisiana with her childhood sweetheart, two handsome children, three dogs, and a mean kitty. Readers can visit her at www.liztalleybooks.com to learn more about her upcoming novels.
Website: http://www.liztalleybooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liztalleybooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyliztalley
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3849442.Liz_Talley
