The Valentine Effect
A man whose passionate heart has been torn apart. A woman who’s
never risked hers. Can love bring them a new beginning?
A Strangers in the Night story.
Carrie Morrison is resigned to spending another Valentine’s
Day alone, but Cupid brings her a surprise—packaged in
the hot body the father of one of her third grade students.
When Enrique Torres stops by her classroom to discuss his son,
sizzling chemistry erupts between them.
Ric is a widower, father, garage mechanic, and the hottest
Latin lover a woman could wish for to fulfill her Valentine
fantasies. One hot night with Carrie in his bed leaves him wanting
more, but she’s not sure if she’s brave enough for
a relationship beyond a one night stand.
But Ric isn’t about to let Carrie go that easily. She
has healed his broken heart, and he’s ready for forever.
Reviews
JERR - 4 stars, Reviewer LT Blue
"The Valentine Effect was a feel good story. I enjoyed
the vulnerability of both Carrie and Ric and felt that they
connected on a level that went beyond sexual."
Excerpt
“The Valentine effect,” she reminded
him. “This afternoon I was thinking I didn’t want
to spend the holiday alone, and then you walked in. I got swept
up in the moment. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad I
did. It’s been a wonderful night. Unbelievable.”
“But just one night. I understand.”
Wait a minute. How did we get here? That’s not what I
meant to say. Carrie tried to backpedal, to take the sting from
the ill-planned words. “No. It could be… There could
be more. I mean, if you wanted. Another date. See where it leads.”
He set his mug on the counter and turned to look at her.
“Dating a guy with a kid, that could be a very big leap.
Are you up for it?”
She met his gaze. “Honestly? I’m not sure yet.”
Nodding, he crossed the space between them and put his hands
on her waist.
“That’s all right. Let’s not worry about
what comes next, okay?”
He suddenly lifted her up on the counter and moved in between
her legs, a hand on each of her thighs, pushing the long tails
of the shirt up out of the way.
“Right now, let’s just do this.” Leaning
into her, he pressed a kiss to her neck.
Her arms went around his back, holding him close. “This
is good,” she murmured, threading her hands in his soft,
soft hair. His neck, corded with muscles, was warm beneath her
palm as she cupped her hand around it.
He pushed the shirt off both her shoulders and kissed his way
over the rounded curves. “Man, I love the way you look
in this.”
Just hearing his appreciation made her feel sexy. She imagined
how she appeared to him, soft womanly curves framed against
his big, masculine shirt. His lips nuzzled at the upper swell
of her left breast and she wondered if he could feel her pulse
pounding against his mouth.
“Mmm.” He lifted his head and gazed at her with
hungry, lust-filled eyes. “Can’t get enough of you,
baby. But we’re supposed to be having tea, and how about
some of that cake, too?”
“Sounds good,” she murmured, barely comprehending
the words. Her brain was all lust-addled again.
Ric kissed her cleavage once more, then released her waist
and stepped away from between her spread legs, leaving a cold,
empty spot. He picked up her abandoned tea, fished the teabag
out with a spoon and handed her the mug.
Crossing to the refrigerator, he brought out the white Styrofoam
box from the restaurant and got a fork from a drawer.
Carrie sipped her still-steaming tea. “I don’t
know how you can eat any more. I’m still stuffed from
dinner.”
“Burned off a lot of calories.” He forked up a
bite of cake and offered it to her with a smile. She couldn’t
refuse and opened her mouth to accept the dessert on her tongue,
where it melted in sinful sweetness.
“Mm. Fantastic. Is this made at the restaurant?”
Shaking his head, Ric took a bite of the cake. “There’s
an old woman who bakes all the desserts for the restaurant in
her home.”
“She needs to find someone to distribute and market for
her. This stuff could make her a fortune.”
“You can’t mass produce something like this. It
loses something. Besides, these old ladies guard their recipes
like gold. She’d never reveal her secrets.”
He gave her another bite then leaned in to lick any residual
frosting from her lips. His tongue slipped between her lips,
touching hers, and savoring the chocolate with her. Sweet and
hot, the kiss was a confection in itself.
Carrie felt his hand at the front of her shirt. He unbuttoned
the top button, revealing both her breasts when he pushed the
material aside. Pulling away from her mouth, he forked up a
bit of the soft, gooey icing from the top of the cake. A quick
glance at his focused gaze let her know exactly what he intended
to do with it.
Depositing a dollop carefully on her right nipple, he leaned
to suck it into his mouth. God, it was hot, the way her breast
looked decorated in chocolate, his pink tongue darting out to
taste her and his thick lips wrapping around her tit.
“Shit!” Carrie realized she still held her cup
of tea clutched in one hand when the hot liquid hit her thigh.
She set the mug on the counter and brushed the water from her
leg.
Ric released her wet nipple with a pop and retrieved a dishtowel
from the oven door handle to pat her dry. The tea wasn’t
scalding and the pain alleviated almost immediately. He leaned
to press a kiss to the slightly pinkened flesh. “Okay?”
