#MFRWHook – I Like This Too Much

Book Hooks is a weekly meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog. Readers have the chance to jump from one author to another who share hooks from their current WIP (work in progress) or any previously published books.

For this week’s edition of Book Hooks, I give you a teaser from Thanks to You, story one in the Thanksgiving Collection, a chance-meeting contemporary romance.

She’s from the boundary waters of Northwestern Ontario, and he’s from a place his people call Waiekwakitchigami in northern Minnesota. Neither expects to meet, much less spend Thanksgiving together.

Desperate for a Minneapolis getaway to prove she can break out of her by-the-numbers and by-the-book, disciplined life, divorcée Paulina Natawance doesn’t expect to have her truck break down outside the casino in Cloquet where she’s had lunch. Nor does she expect to encounter a handsome man with long, flowing black hair, ebony eyes, and a smile that could melt the ice cream she’s holding.

While finishing up his shift at the Big Bear Casino, widower Tripp Beargrease isn’t looking forward to going home to celebrate Thanksgiving alone…again. But when he encounters a stunning Anishinaabe-kwe with legs to her neck, a tiny waist, and a pink, wet tongue licking an ice cream cone standing helpless at her dead vehicle, he’s more than willing to paddle his canoe to her rescue like a true warrior should.

With the garage closed for the holiday and the hotels booked because of Thanksgiving, Tripp generously offers his dinner table for Paulina to dine at, and his spare bedroom for her to sleep in. And maybe, just maybe this proper woman can repair his broken heart. But her truck is ready the next day, and Paulina has a big decision to make—return to the boring, predictable life she’s created for herself, or throw away her day planner and take a huge gamble on Tripp.

Genre(s): Multicultural, contemporary romance, adult.
Heat Rating: Level 3
Publication Date: November 8, 2019
Publisher: eXtasy Books

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Tripp hovered over the roaster in the kitchen just as the spare bedroom door closed. He tugged at the buttons on his uniform. This was insane. What had possessed him to invite Paulina here? Because he was sick and tired of being alone. Sick and tired of eating alone. Sick and tired of staring at the TV when the sun set, watching a show alone.

Even crazier, why had such a no-nonsense, orderly woman accepted his offer?

He’d better get the rest of dinner started and hit the shower. After pulling a twelve-hour shift, he most likely reeked. Usually, he slept when he got home. But his eyelids weren’t taking on their usual heaviness.

He headed for the bedroom to grab fresh clothes so he could change in the bathroom. Wearing a towel after getting out of the shower would scare the shit out of Paulina or upset her. He didn’t intend on offending her. She was a woman stranded until tomorrow without a vehicle or a hotel room. And not panicking or swearing a blue streak.

Once Tripp had showered and changed, he opened the door to find Paulina standing at the picture window, gazing outside. Her hands were clasped behind her back. She’d traded in her crisp black pants and turquoise sweater for yoga pants and a snug, long-sleeved purple top.

“You look…” He couldn’t compliment her appearance, not as a guest in his home. “You…err…changed.”

“Yes.” She smoothed her clothes. “I hope you don’t mind. I wanted to get comfortable.”

“Not at all. The shower’s available if you wanna have one.”

Pink flecked her cute chipmunk cheeks. “It’s okay. I’ll wait until the morning when we leave for the garage. Or do you have to work?”

“Nope. I finished my shifts for the week. I don’t go back until Monday.”

“You have the holiday weekend off then?”

“Yeah.” He hadn’t been excited at first, having always worked over the holidays, and he hadn’t minded at all.

The dog door opened. Shaman trotted inside.

“Oh, he has his own door.” The pink faded from Paulina’s cheeks, and she squatted, petting the dog.

“I’ve been lucky so far. He’s the only one who uses the door. I haven’t come home to porcupines, skunks, or racoons hanging out yet.” He ambled to the kitchen to check on the potatoes.

Paulina’s light laughter was as prim and demure as her. She came up behind him, the rich scent of women’s perfume lingering under his nose. “Did you need any help?”

“Have a seat. You’re the guest. I’m almost finished up here.”

She pulled out a chair.

Tripp stifled the sigh. Not a sigh of disgust, impatience, or sadness, but a I like this too damn much sigh. Probably because Paulina looked at home at his kitchen table, belonging here with him and Shaman. But she didn’t. She lived in Canada and had a life in another country waiting. Yes, they were North American Indians. Under the Jay Treaty, she could live in Canada or the States, but…