I’m super excited to announce my latest contemporary romance, Passion Storm. Set in the lush Bahamas, it’s a fun and sexy tale about an unlikely pair.
BLURB
A looming hurricane has nothing on the storm raging inside…
Karina Valdez loves a good adventure, but jetting off to the Bahamas with a complete stranger is taking it to the extreme. She can’t believe her meddling best friend entered her in a radio dating contest. Even more shocking? Karina won! A tropical getaway she can do. Making a love connection with a hot local bachelor, not so much. Especially when she’s not looking for a man.
Meteorologist Andrew Romano is psyched over winning the radio contest. He’s ready to settle down and get married, prove once and for all that he’s not a player. The contest will surely help his chances—he’s been matched with his perfect woman. Too bad she doesn’t want him. To make matters worse, an erratic storm has shifted direction and is whirling toward them. Andy will do whatever it takes to win over the elusive beauty and keep her safe. He can handle a hurricane. But what about the other storm waiting to be unleashed?
EXCERPT
Andy had never felt happier. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. Karina in the Bahamas, and staying right next door. It hadn’t been easy getting her here, but he wouldn’t dwell on the past when the present offered way more excitement. Just him and her. No tricks. No games. A man and a woman with a weeklong vacation to get to know each other. He’d let things evolve naturally. If his suspicions were true, that’s all he would have to do. Karina would come around. She’d learn what he already knew. Overly optimistic? Maybe. But he’d always been a positive guy.
Early evening now, he figured she had to be hungry for dinner. He took the initiative and made all the arrangements. “Want some company?” he called out to Karina, who sat on her deck sipping a cocktail. She watched as he climbed the wooden stairs. “Food?” He stepped onto the patio and flashed his biggest smile. With a bottle of wine and a picnic basket in hand, he said, “You can’t say no this time.”
“Actually, I can.”
He looked at her pretty lips. “Yeah. But you won’t.”
Instead of tossing his ass down the stairs, she laughed. “I’ll let you stay this time.” She took the wine from him.
Without saying a word, he popped open his basket and began to extract all kinds of goodies. First he draped a white cloth over the table. Then he lit a lavender candle. He fished out two crystal goblets and set them down. Next he laid a foil-covered plate in the center. When he removed the aluminum, a tangy aroma engulfed the deck.
“What is that?” She set down the wine and hovered over the scent.
“That’s Bahamian maki rolls with conch, and this is mango and cucumber with pickled ginger.”
Karina studied the plate. “Smells good.”
“Last time we ate together we couldn’t see.” Chuckling, he slid out a colorful chair. “Have a seat.”
“No thanks. I’d rather stand.”
“Okay. I’ll stand with you.”
“Fine, I’ll sit,” she said, dropping into the chair.
He uncorked the wine and filled their glasses. “We couldn’t find our mouths,” he said, handing her a drink.
“We still managed.”
“We did, didn’t we?” He analyzed her more carefully. Her hair looked different tonight. Long bangs that were usually swept to one side were clipped back. It emphasized the shape of her oval face and made her striking eyes stand out even more.
“What is this again?”
He lifted a roll and brought it to her mouth. “Here. Taste it.”
She gave him a look. “We’re not wearing blindfolds. I think I can feed myself.”
“Right,” he said, and stuffed the piece into his own mouth. He let out a pleasurable moan. “Good stuff. You’re missing out.”
She picked up a roll and tore off a hearty bite. “Am not.”
Unlike the blind date, this time they watched each other intently. For every bite he took, she took two. First she polished off her cocktail. Then she killed the glass of wine. Without taking his eyes off her, he refilled her glass. They played their little food game until every crumb had been eaten.
“What is it with us and food?” He liked their form of foreplay. At least, that’s how it felt to him.
She shrugged her shoulders. “This is an awesome place. The radio station got one thing right.”
“They got more than one thing right.” Angling his face, his eyes met hers and he winked. “No regrets here.”
“Well, I have one or two.”
He laughed at her bold spirit, her fight. A captivating mouth turned him serious again. She had the most amazing lips. How long would it take to kiss her again? Not long, if he had any say in the matter.
BUY LINKS
Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords
AUTHOR BIO
Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, Diane Escalera makes her home in coastal North Carolina. The sultry surroundings are a steady source of inspiration for her hot love stories. Diane is married, has two children and a super cute dachshund she can’t get enough of. She writes contemporary romance and is published with Kensington Publishing and Lyrical Press
Facebook.com/DianeEscaleraOfficial
Social
