Welcome to Tuesday Tales, a weekly blog featuring diverse authors who post excerpts from their works in progress based on word and picture prompts. We’re a book hungry troop that enjoys reading as much as you do. Today our word prompt is lemon. My excerpt is from one of my books in progress, Hannah’s Haint, a vintage paranormal romance set in a small town in the 1950s. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
At the sound of a commotion, Nate bounded up the stairs toward the attic landing. Hannah sped toward him, no hint of recognition on her features. He gripped her shoulders. When she tried to jerk away, he held on to keep her from tumbling down the stairs.
“Let me go!”
Her frenzied state alarmed him. “Calm down, Miss Ross. It’s Nate Larkin.”
She stared at him, unseeing.
“Hannah, it’s me. I’ve got you. You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What has happened?”
“Nate?” She collapsed against him.
He wrapped his arms around her, peering around with trained attention. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but he’d clear the space once he got her settled. No one would hurt her on his watch. Her nearness and soft warmth caught him off guard. His eyelids fluttered. The sugary lemon of her hair tantalized his senses. He breathed in the scent as if it were oxygen he’d been missing. Her body trembled. Protectiveness washed over him, merging with his heightened state.
After a few moments she pulled away. A rosy tint stained her cheeks. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Larkin. Please forgive me.”
“Nate.” He wouldn’t let her dismiss him. “You’re still distraught, Miss Ross. Come downstairs and sit down.” He maneuvered her down the steps. “Careful now.”
“I’m fine.”
He led her to the settee and lowered himself beside her, not wanting to loom over.
She focused on a spot on the wall and took several deep breaths. She seemed to gather in her distress, steeling her features into normalcy and calm. Only then did she turn her face to his. “I’m fine now. Truly. Thank you for your help. I’d better get busy. I have things to do.”
He raised a brow. “Not until you tell me what scared the daylights out of you.”
I hope you enjoyed the snippet based on the word prompt lemon. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the other fabulous authors at Tuesday Tales.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic in Romance
Great tease. Can’t wait to find out what Nate’s going to do to clear the area.
I’m anxious to know that, too, Susanne, since I don’t imagine he has his revolver on him.
OKay, now I need to know what did scare her? Great snippet. Love your writing.
Thank you, Jean. Your comments are much appreciated!
Nate isn’t the only one who wants to know what scared Hannah. I want it, too!
Hahaha, thanks, Carmen!
The more of this i read the more I want it now!
Thanks, Cathy! I appreciate your comment.
A wonderful set-up for building suspense. I’m eager to know what gave her such a terrible fright. Well done, Flossie!
Thank you for stopping by and the supportive comments, Mae!
What a great snippet!
Thank you, Vicki!