Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog! Today’s guest is Alanna Lucas who has an excerpt from her novel When we Dance . This cover is just lovely, isn’t it? We hope you enjoy this scene. Happy reading, my lovelies!
Excerpt:
At ten minutes of eight, Nigel was still wandering through the halls, looking for the Yellow Dining Room, when he spotted Artemisia exiting the Green Parlor. She wore a simple gown of pale yellow that accentuated her olive skin. Long auburn tendrils caressed her neck. She was breathtaking.
“May I escort you to dinner?” Nigel extended his arm, waiting for her to accept.
“Why are you here?” Her tone matched her eyes, uncaring and harsh. It was not the manner he had hoped for, but more like the one he knew he deserved.
“I’ve come to make amends.”
She eyed him with contempt. “I don’t want apologies. I just want you to leave me alone.”
“That is the furthest thing from my mind.” It was a bold statement, but he wanted to make his intentions at least somewhat known.
Artemisia started to slide away from him, but Nigel grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace. He held her there, felt her breathing increase against his chest. She was close, close enough to kiss. He felt a subtle stirring deep in his groin. Damn. He had to refrain. Well, at least for the time being.
He took in a slow breath to steady his thoughts, then leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Truce.”
She gave him a wary look. The distrust in her eyes unsettled his nerves.
“I did not come here to cause you grief.” He waited for some response or retort. When none came, he added, “Can we at least pretend to be civil for your aunt’s sake?”
Her features softened. He’d known that she would not want to do anything that would upset her aunt. Releasing her, but still blocking her passage, he offered his arm once again, giving her little opportunity to reject him.
She took his arm with caution. “Truce.”
She was like a skittish puppy, and he was going to have to earn her trust. The problem was, he didn’t quite know where to begin. Confess all his past sins? No, that would only serve to push her away. He wanted to win her over, show her that he had changed and was not the rake the world thought him to be.
He led her down the hall, glancing into each room they passed. Unfortunately, none were lit. Where the bloody hell was the dining room?
“You don’t know where the Yellow Dining Room is, do you?”
Laughing at her frankness, he confessed, “I’ve been roaming these halls for almost half an hour and have yet to discover where the elusive, newly renovated, Yellow Dining Room might be.”
Artemisia joined in his laughter. It was not the delicate, prissy laugh that all the young ladies of the ton affected, and that he detested. It was rich and hearty and came from deep within.
“And what do you find so amusing?”
“You obviously have forgotten my aunt’s quirks. You could roam this house for days and never find a dining room with a décor that is yellow.”
“You’re right, I did forget.” When he laughed again, he felt her fingers stroke across his sleeve. Desire shot through him. Stamping down the urge to pull her back into his embrace and kiss her senseless, he tried to focus on the conversation. “So, what color is the Yellow Dining Room?”
When she glanced up at him, he was struck by how alike her crystal blue eyes were to her father’s. He had never noticed the similarity before. But where Lord Germayne’s gaze was unsettling, set against her enticing olive skin, Artemisia’s was seductive and mystical.
She must have sensed the direction in which his mind was traveling. In the next moment, she tried to withdraw her hand, but he placed his on top of it. Caressing with a gentle stroke, he leaned in and murmured into her ear, “Truce, remember?”
When she finally answered his question, her response was short and curt. “Blue.”
When We Dance
By Alanna Lucas
Shall we dance?
Left at the altar, Artemisia Germayne’s humiliation is made twice as worse by the presence in the congregation of the man who’s the bane of her existence. Why does Nigel Rochefort take such pleasure in mocking her? As rumors of Artemisia’s abandonment—and also the sudden disappearance of Philippa, her younger sister—swirl about the ton, she flees to her elderly aunt’s home in the countryside.
Nigel has always taken his good fortune for granted, so when the woman for whom he has a secret tendre is about to marry his friend, the only logical thing to do is break up the wedding. But his reputation as a rake, together with his well-intentioned giving of solace to Philippa Germayne in a London park, have started yet more scandal brewing. Nigel must first clear his name to assure Artemisia’s affections.
This is no simple country dance or game of seduction, but an unstoppable waltz of desire—and true love.
*Reissued in a new series with a beautiful new cover!
Buy Links:
https://www.amazon.com/When-We-Dance-Waltz-Destiny-ebook/dp/B09XKSW21Q
https://books2read.com/u/4jgwx2
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/when-we-dance-2
https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1618814293
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-we-dance-alanna-lucas/1120440793
About the Author:
Bestselling, award-winning author, Alanna Lucas pens Regency-set historicals filled with romance, adventure, and of course, happily ever afters. When she is not daydreaming of her next travel destination, Alanna can be found researching, spending time with family, tending to her garden, or going for long walks. She makes her home in California with her husband and children, and too many books to count.
Just for the record, you can never have too many handbags or books. And travel is a must.
Links for website and social media:
Website: www.alannalucas.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlannaLucas/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alannalucas27