Taking Chances
By Loni
Flowers
Genre: Adult
Contemporary Romance
Date of
Publication: March 1st, 2012
ISBN: 978-1468184587
ASIN: B006X6FTJC
Number of
pages: 315
Word Count:
86,000+
Blurb/Book
Description:
Turning her back on a life she can no longer deal
with, Clair Davidson has been on the streets for six months wandering aimlessly
from town to town. But when a hitchhiked car ride lands her back in a familiar
town, and a terrifying encounter puts her in the arms of someone too good to be
true, Clair almost starts to feel like she could belong somewhere again.
Almost.
Alexander Frazier knew what it felt like to live on the streets, up until he
received a helping hand from a stranger. After saving Clair from a vicious
attack, it’s not long before he realizes she’s a lot like he used to be—lost.
Alex soon learns he will risk everything to keep her safe and get her life back
on track… even if it means his heart.
But fresh starts are new to Clair and not something she’s certain she’s ready
for. Clair’s had her share of people walking out of her life and she doesn’t
trust her heart in Alex’s hands. Can his love give her the second chance she
never saw coming?
Excerpt
Alex
walked around and opened Clair’s door, helping her out as she jumped down. He
followed her as she walked to the far end of the yard and sat in the grass.
Lying back, she looked up toward the black sky. Alex laughed as he looked down
at her. “You know, if you’re that tired,
I can get my blanket out of the car for you.”
Clair
gave a small smile, tapping the grass beside her with her hand. “I miss it, ya
know?”
“Miss
what?” he asked, sitting beside her.
“I don’t
know, the quietness, the stars. It’s just different. I know, it sounds stupid…
it’s just, I’ve been on my own for so long without anyone caring. It’s a little
overwhelming having someone care about me now; especially when they hardly know
me. Everything Roz has done, I mean, who even does that?”
Alex
watched her. She was so animated when she talked. Her face lit up with
expressions, her hands waved through the air as if she needed them to help her
communicate. Everything was light and
easy going until dinner was over. Since the drive home, Clair seemed sad, but
Alex let her ramble, venting whatever was bottled up inside her.
“And
you,” she said, looking over at Alex, “if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be
here.” Clair sat up, crossing her legs up under her. “And this date—I mean,
this hanging out we did tonight. It was the best night I’ve had since I left
home. Thank you for that.” She picked blades of grass with her fingers, tearing
them into tiny pieces. “You didn’t have to take me out, but you did it anyway.”
His eyes
traveled up her arms to her neck. Her skin looked so fair and soft under the
moonlight, it made him want to run his hands over it. “You don’t have to thank me. I wanted to take you out tonight. I’m
happy you said yes. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been out on date.”
Yes, a date. He didn’t want to just “hang out”; no, he wanted to know
everything about her. To hold her hand, touch her skin, and taste her lips. But
would she want the same things as he? He still didn’t know.
“Oh, and
this,” she said, holding the charm out from around her neck, “you shouldn’t
have bought me this. But I do love it. Thank you.”
Alex
leaned forward, taking the charm between his fingers. “I’m glad I saw you
looking at it. It looks perfect on you.” He laid the charm down against her
chest. Lightly, he traced his fingers up the side of her neck, her hair cupped
around her face. Alex stared straight into her eyes, dark under the night’s
sky. Her lips parted slightly and Alex could feel her breath quicken on his
skin. He wanted nothing more than to feel her lips on his. He slipped his hand
further up Clair’s neck and heard her breath catch as if she’d stopped
breathing. With his face only inches away from her mouth, he whispered, “If you
don’t want me to kiss you right now, you’d better tell me.”
Author Bio:
Loni
Flowers lives in Eastern North
Carolina with her husband; two wild toddlers, who never slow down for a second;
and three couch-potato dogs, who only raise an eye when foods around. She
spends her days working full-time for a well-known bank and when Loni isn't
there, you can find her playing on the internet. Chatting on Twitter and Facebook
is her weakness!
She loves to read and write, though can't see to find time to do them both at
the same time! Balance... she has none!
An easy reader, Loni loves most genre, but she's a definite sucker for a good
romance story!
Contemporary romance is her writing genre of choice but she's not opposed to
writing something different should an excellent idea strike.
Some of Loni's favorite authors include: L.J. Kentowski, Stefne Miller,
Cassandra Clare, J.K. Rowling, and Karen Marie Moning, Nicholas Sparks, and
Jodi Picoult... just to name a few.
