{"id":6292,"date":"2016-07-23T01:05:20","date_gmt":"2016-07-23T05:05:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kate-hill.com\/blog\/?p=6292"},"modified":"2016-07-16T14:15:41","modified_gmt":"2016-07-16T18:15:41","slug":"guest-blogger-melissa-belle-austens-independence-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kate-hill.com\/blog\/?p=6292","title":{"rendered":"Guest Blogger: Melissa Belle – Austen\u2019s Independence Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"mbaustens-independence-day-thumbnail\"<\/a>Who Will Set Jane Austen\u2019s Ghost Free?<\/p>\n

Melissa Belle is a contemporary romance author of a recently released Austen-inspired novel titled\u00a0Austen\u2019s Independence Day. Austen\u2019s Independence Day takes place in Austen (not to be confused with Austin), Texas in a small town where Jane Austen\u2019s ghost now resides (that\u2019s right, Jane Austen\u2019s ghost is stuck in Texas?!?). Today, Melissa is sharing\u00a0a little excerpt from her book! Enjoy!<\/p>\n

Intro:<\/p>\n

Macey Henwood and Morgan Thornbrush are lifelong friends with occasional benefits, who accompany their friends to Vegas for a wedding. But when Macey and Morgan wake up married, she insists on a divorce, telling Morgan he\u2019s the last person on earth she\u2019d ever give up her independence for. Fast-forward six weeks later: Morgan\u2019s engaged to another woman and Macey never signed the divorce papers. In the following scene at The Cowherd Saloon & Chapel\u2014Macey\u2019s family bar where the ghost of Jane Austen is legendarily locked up in a jail cell\u2014Morgan has stopped by to get his divorce papers. Macey\u2019s a little preoccupied\u2026<\/p>\n

Excerpt:<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Macey, you want to meet my fianc\u00e9?\u201d<\/p>\n

I look up at Morgan sharply, and then down. Thank God for this dishrag. I look at the bar counter in front of me and go vigorously after a large stain.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that wipe down a yes?\u201d Morgan says. \u201cOr just polite country slang for \u2018no thank you?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

His mouth turns up in a smile, but I stick my tongue out at him and grab two beers. But as I go to open the first one, the beer fizzes and comes out forcefully, soaking my dress.<\/p>\n

\u201cShit!\u201d I hold the can away from my body too late and look down at the enormous wet stain all over the front of my Maid of Honor dress.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have clothes in your office?\u201d<\/p>\n

I hesitate. \u201cYeah. But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

But\u2026I can\u2019t take this dress off without help. It has no zippers and is one of those irritating gowns that have to be lifted over the head. Oh, why is this happening?<\/p>\n

Morgan\u2019s watching me. And, like always, he proves to be a Macey Henwood mind-reader. \u201cYou need some help?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d I squeeze my hands around the wet fabric, trying to wring it dry somehow.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, come on. I know Eloise and Helena Rattles are already fit to be tied that you walked out of the store in that thing. Don\u2019t give them another reason to be mad at you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know I came from the store?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides the fact that you don\u2019t normally walk around town in a God-ugly bridesmaid\u2019s dress?\u201d<\/p>\n

I give him a dirty look.<\/p>\n

\u201cGinny texted me that you were coming. Like a warning.\u201d He smirks.<\/p>\n

We walk to the liquor room and I pour some cat food into the customized \u201cMr. Bingley\u201d food bowl that Mama ordered for our adopted bar kitty.<\/p>\n

When I can\u2019t think of any other way to avoid the inevitable, I slowly turn back to Morgan, who\u2019s leaning casually against my desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what\u2019s up?\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

I try to sound nonchalant. \u201cThings have changed. Apparently Mayor Huggins doesn\u2019t have faith that Daddy can kick the habit, and he won\u2019t let him run the bar if he can\u2019t be trusted. So he amended the contract.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor what? Another six months?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor forever.\u201d I look away from him as I say it because I\u2019m scared if I look into his eyes it will make me cry.<\/p>\n

\u201cForever!\u201d Morgan says incredulously. \u201cWhat the fuck is that, like eternal imprisonment?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is what it is right now.\u201d I resist his eyes again by focusing on the cell behind him. \u201cDaddy has agreed to sell, but only if the imaginary ghost of Jane Austen goes free from that jail cell. So I guess that\u2019s where you and your new lover come in to save the day.\u201d I reluctantly turn to him. \u201cAnyway\u2026no peeking. Just\u2026\u201d I reach for the hem of my dress. \u201cI\u2019ll lift it up to my waist, and then you\u2019ll have to take it from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morgan nods and I add: \u201cBut once you start, don\u2019t stop halfway or else it will get stuck and that really freaks me out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry.\u201d He winks at me. \u201cYou know I never stop halfway.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Morgan steps closer I can smell his cologne. That manly moss scent just about covers up\u2014but not quite\u2014the equally intoxicating aroma of hay and horse and cattle that\u2019s a part of any cowboy.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get this over with.\u201d I raise the hem to my hips, and then feel Morgan\u2019s strong hands on me as he gently touches my waist and takes hold of the dress.<\/p>\n

The gown comes off far more easily than it did the last time Eloise helped me, and before I know it, I\u2019m standing in front of Morgan in a bra and underwear.<\/p>\n

Austen’s Independence DayI step to the side of my desk and manage to reach into my top drawer while I avoid his gaze and look instead at his farmer tan and that solid chest I\u2019ve leaned on for comfort so many times before. I get hold of my jean shorts and wriggle into them, knowing he\u2019s watching every move I make. Finally, I allow my gaze to meet his, and my body tightens and sways in response to the undisguised heat in his eyes.<\/p>\n

Morgan coughs and steps backward hastily. His lips are parted and his glazed eyes are still locked with mine. I try to play it casual, but my damn legs are trembling. I reach out and put one hand on his chest for balance, then I grab a shirt out of my drawer and pull it over my head, before I lean back against the desk and cross my arms over my heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo.\u201d I clear my throat. \u201cTell me how you and Gigi met.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSh\u2014\u201d Morgan swallows and blinks to break the eye contact with me, then starts over. \u201cShe was in Fort Davis with her father. They flew there on a private jet.\u201d<\/p>\n

I unconsciously straighten my ponytail and smooth back the hairs that have fallen out from the humidity. Pretty cool to be able to flit around the country just for fun. Pretty cool to not have to worry about working, ever.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about tomorrow at seven, Mace\u2014we\u2019ll meet here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Morgan lowers his head to force me to make eye contact.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always found that disconcerting, especially when I really don\u2019t want the person to see what I\u2019m feeling inside. I usually try to look away quick, before they can catch me in a gaze, but Morgan\u2019s pretty much caught me good. We stare at each other and I thank God for the background buzz of the air conditioner, or else I know I\u2019d be able to hear him breathing. I\u2019d probably be able to hear his heart beat, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d I say as I go to walk him out. \u201cTomorrow at seven. See ya, Mr. Darcy.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

So, Morgan is Mr. Darcy\u2026but who will be his Elizabeth Bennet? Read the rest of Austen\u2019s Independence Day to find out!\u00a0 purchase here<\/a><\/p>\n

\"melissa_belle\"<\/a>Connect with Melissa:<\/p>\n

website<\/a><\/p>\n

facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

goodreads<\/a><\/p>\n

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