Still struggling with amnesia, Ella questions everything she’s known about Kayden Wilkens—the alluring stranger who claims to have found her unconscious in an alleyway a month earlier. But was he truly a stranger—or did Kayden know her before his supposed rescue? Tormented by the potential betrayal he denies, with fleeting memories of a bombshell in her recent past, Ella must face a hard reality. Every action has consequences . . . and trusting Kayden, the one thing she most desires, might result in the direst consequences of all.
Excerpt
Crossing behind the couch toward the kitchen, I find myself remembering those naked, intimate moments with Kayden only a short time ago. The passion. The trust I’d felt for him. And then his words: “We both want more. Until we don’t.” The words send a surge of adrenaline and nerves through my body.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee teases my nostrils as I reach the kitchen, where I immediately find Kayden standing behind the island. But it’s not him that makes my heart lurch, as usual. It’s my gun that’s lying on the counter between us.
And when I should perhaps step backward I find myself charging forward to claim the other side of the counter.
“What is that for?”
“You thought you needed it earlier,” he says. “I want you to have it now.”
My fingers curl on the tiled counter. “Do I need it?”
“That’s for you to decide.”
“That isn’t the answer I want.”
His jaw sets hard. “If you’re expecting an answer you’ll want, you’d better pick up that gun.”
We stare at each other, a push and pull between us that has nothing to do with fear or intimidation, and everything to do with a bond we both know is being tested. “I know what you’re doing.”
“What am I doing?”
“The same thing you did outside that church, when you helped me hold the gun to your chest.”
“Which is what?”
“Offering me the façade of control.”
“You holding a loaded gun on me in no way equals a façade.”
“I know you now,” I counter. “You don’t give up control, even when you say you are.”
He rests his hands on the counter, one turned just enough for me to catch a glimpse of the hawk inked on his wrist, its wings spread, the mark of a man whose rules of many must dictate his actions. “There are two sides to this coin,” he says, his words drawing my attention, his pale blue eyes piercing mine. “The me with you, and the me with everyone else.”
“We barely knew each other at the church.”
“I’d already decided you were mine. You just didn’t know it yet.”
Although the Careless Whispers series is a continuation of Lisa’s Inside Out series,
the books from Inside Out do not have to be read first.
However, Denial, Demand and Surrender, must be read in order.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series, which is now in development for a television show to be produced by Suzanne Todd of Team Todd (Alice in Wonderland). Suzanne Todd on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy – a modern girl we all can identify with. I’m thrilled to develop a television show that will tell Sara’s whole story – her life, her work, her friends, and her sexuality.
In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin’s Press. Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at http://www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
― Stephen King
My favourite genre is PNR - yep, more than happy to admit that I’m a bit of a #parawhores...... but small town is a very close second!!! In saying that, I’ll read and review a real mix of genres - from the better known authors to new-to-me authors and everything in between.
I hope you enjoy the posts and that they might lead you to some ‘new to you’ authors.
Thanks for stopping by.
Tracy 🖤💜🖤
Book Loving Pixies 
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