TO LOVE LESS or...

TO LOVE YOU MORE

Harlequin Kimani Romance

ISBN: ISBN-10: 0373862555 | ISBN-13: 978-0373862559

George Simpson has never had a problem wooing women. The sexy-as-sin attorney is as commanding in the courtroom as he is in his candlelit bedroom. He's always told the truth and nothing but the truth about his personal life: flings with no strings attached. That way, no one gets hurt. Least of all him. Because George has been there, done that—and has vowed to never fall in love again.

Rachel Davis can't believe the playboy her first love, George, has become. When he broke her heart years ago, the accomplished lawyer wanted nothing more than to run away from Barbados—and from George. She knows there's no place like home—and seeing George again sends her heart into overdrive. But Rachel has a secret that may destroy their passionate reunion. Will her confessions of the past lead to a trial by fire…or a verdict of intimate seduction?

PART OF THE STORY...

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"How'd you like to go to the movies with me?" The deep, husky voice sent shivers down her spine.

Rachel Davis looked up from the book she was reading. She frowned. It was George Simpson…a boy in her class.

His eyes caressed her boldly, making her breathless and uncomfortable. She didn't like him much, found him arrogant and brash, but her body betrayed her each time he looked in her direction.

He was good on the eyes, a bit on the short side, but what he lost in his height, he made up for in a well-toned physique. She had heard he'd recently won the local bodybuilding competition for school boys and she could see why—the rippling muscles did make him blatantly sexy.

She didn't know him well, had only smiled at him on a few occasions, but she realized he couldn't keep his eyes off her.

She scowled. She had no plans of being the source of locker room boasting. Did he really think she was stupid enough to go out with him? She'd only enrolled at the school a few weeks ago, but already she'd heard enough stories about him to be wary.

"One of your girlfriends busy?" she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm. She didn't look up, hoping he'd get the message and go away.

"I'd give them all up just for a date with you," he replied smoothly, an unexpected sincerity in his voice.

"It doesn't say much about what you think of your relationships," she responded. This time she raised her head, looking him straight in the eyes. Beautiful, pale brown eyes.

"Relationships? I just have friends," he replied cheerfully. "With you, I'd want a relationship." His eyes twinkled.

"I'm sorry, I don't have time for relationships or a smooth-talking spoiled brat who feels he has to get into every girl's panties."

He cringed. She could tell she'd shocked him.

But then he grinned, a sardonic tilt of his lips.

"While the image of the panties may be stimulating, I'm going to prove to you that I can change. That player, he's not the real me and I'm willing to put him to rest," he responded, reaching a hand out to touch hers.

She jerked her hand away. "Well, I can promise you that you won't have an easy task ahead of you. I'm immune to boys like you."

He raised a single brow, the emphasis on her use of boys not lost.

"I'm fine with that. When the prize is going out with the woman I plan to marry someday, no task can be too difficult."

She snorted in disgust, an unladylike sound that made her squirm. He really was full of himself. Why did he think that any sensible girl would fall for his crap?

"While I'm enjoying the conversation," she said, her voice oozing with sarcasm, "I do have a test in an hour and need to study. Some of us are not as naturally gifted as you are."

At her comment, he stared at her sharply. With a final nod of his head, he turned and walked away.

Rachel watched his retreat. He was good-looking, more than good-looking.

And she was attracted to him, had been from the first time he'd walked, no, strutted, into the classroom, clothed in his air of importance.

It had been her first day at The Lodge School. She'd hated that her parents had wanted her to switch high schools, but she couldn't help but agree that she needed more of an academic challenge, and The Lodge School was the perfect place.

A school with a tradition of excellence didn't come close to describing one of Barbados's best. Her father had attended Lodge many years before, so the school had been the ideal choice. Already she loved it here and had finally admitted that her father had made a fine decision.

From her early teens, she had dreamed of being a lawyer, and coming here was a step in the right direction if she wanted to achieve that dream.

Then she'd seen him. She could tell that he worked out…and often. Even at sixteen, or maybe seventeen, he was well-toned with broad shoulders, a neat waist and arms that seemed as if they would burst through the white cotton shirt that was part of the school uniform. The gray trousers he wore hung loosely but did little to hide his muscular thighs.

That first day, he'd swaggered into the classroom and the eyes of every girl, and some of the boys, had devoured him.

He greeted them all with a "What's up?" and headed to the front of the classroom, where he chatted with two equally handsome boys—Troy Whitehall and Shayne Knight. Later, she would discover they were the best of friends and, when not at classes, inseparable.

And then she realized that each time she looked in his direction, he'd be staring at her, that sexy, knowing smile on his face. But he never approached her, as if biding his time, as if waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

Well, he'd finally made his move and if his reaction to her rejection was anything to go by, he'd probably not want to say anything to her again.

She watched his retreating back and noticed that, despite her rejection, he still walked with an air of confidence.

No, he wasn't one to give up.

Before he turned the corner, he stopped and looked back. And then he flashed that tantalizing grin that lit his face up and made him look oh so sexy.

In that moment, Rachel knew that if he didn't give up, he was going to win. Already, her indifference to him was melting slowly away.

George could tell Rachel liked him. She might have appeared indifferent, but he could tell that she was attracted. From the day he'd walked into the classroom and seen her, he had fallen under her magical spell.

He found himself spending most of his class time staring at her. Fortunately, he had a quick mind and could pick up the work they'd done during the day. He tried to avoid doing it too much but inevitably his eyes would stray in her direction.

One of the plusses was that she was in all of his classes and, though he had no idea what he wanted to do after graduation, a career in law was looking like the ideal choice. His decision had been partially influenced by her own revelation during a recent Social Studies class.

He'd floated some possibilities around, but when Rachel had announced that she would be studying law, he'd echoed her choice when he made his own presentation. He'd noticed her reaction.

He had no doubt that he'd get into law school. Of the students in his class, he or one of his two best friends would finish at the top. Troy held the position most of the time, but he could tell that Rachel would challenge them for the top spot. It was not going to be easy for any of them to maintain supremacy. She rattled off facts in class that left him wondering if he was dumb.

He couldn't understand why Rachel was affecting him in this way. He liked girls, enjoyed being with them and despite what everyone said, he still had his virginity intact, a decision he'd made in his early teens. While his hormones raged and he often came close to giving in to his teenage need to do it, he remembered what his mother always said. "There ain't no rush, boy. Take ya time."

But this new girl was different. There was something about her that fascinated him and made him want to make love to her. Nights were worse. He'd find himself awake and thinking about her…into the early hours of the morning.

He loved the way she wore her hair—in a short afro that made her so cute, if a bit boyish, but there was nothing boyish about her body. She was filling out in all the right places.

She was tall and slim, just under six feet and a bit taller than he was, but that didn't matter. In his early teens, he'd been a bit worried about his height, but the girls didn't seem to care.

He made love to them by perfecting the art of fore-play. When he dropped them home after a few hours of intense passion, he'd leave them drained and satiated; he didn't think they even realized they'd not gone all the way.

He'd always been amazed at what he could do with his hands and mouth and tongue that would leave them totally happy.

For him, there was no time that a woman's mouth on him couldn't take him to heaven and back.

But recently, none of those girls were on his mind.

Rachel consumed his every waking hour. At breakfast, he'd think about her, on his way to and from school, but it was in the early hours of the morning, when he'd wake, hot and horny, from dreaming about her, her scent somehow lingering. He'd occasionally have to take things in hand, but that was only a temporary solution to the need that consumed him.

He knew as sure as the sun would rise each day that they would eventually make love.

That evening as he sat in the school's cricket pavilion, celebrating the team's victory against a longtime rival, he couldn't help thinking about her.

"You're very quiet, George. You in love or what?" Troy teased.

He didn't answer. He wasn't even sure what was going on.

"Now, I said that as a joke, but you didn't answer, so something must be wrong."

George turned to Troy, hoping that his eyes did not reveal the warring emotions.

"It's that new girl?" Troy asked. "What's her name?"

"Rachel," he said without hesitation.

"What's going on, George?" He could hear the genuine concern in his friend's voice.

"Nothing. Everything. Man, I'm not even sure," he grumbled, tossing the cricket ball to the ground in frustration.

"I would not have believed you'd be the first to fall. Shayne is more that kind of guy. I always predicted that he'd be the first to get serious. Then me. But you?"

"Troy, you know me better than that," he responded.

"I do. I thought I knew you, but all of a sudden you've gone crazy for the girls. You better be using condoms. I thought we vowed we'd never let anything get in the way of our dreams. You…a lawyer. Me…a doctor ...

MEET WAYNE JORDAN

Wayne Jordan has been reading authors’ bios for years, and often dreamed of having his own Web site as a published Harlequin author. Years passed, and his dream of being published finally became a reality in 2003 when he received the call just two days before Christmas. In November 2005, his debut novel, Capture the Sunrise, was released by BET/Arabesque as part of a special 2-in-1 volume entitled Slow Motion, along with prolific author Devon Vaughn Archer.  Along with his career as a published author, Wayne is a high school teacher of literature, language arts and theatre arts. He’s a graduate of the University of the West Indies, and holds a B.A. in literature in linguistics and an M.A. in Applied Linguistics. Wayne lives on the beautiful tropical island of Barbados, which with its white sands and golden sunshine is the perfect setting for the romance stories he loves to create.

FROM WAYNE JUST FOR YOU

I’ve always loved reading and writing.  I love to get lost in stories; as a reader and as a writer.  However, I still love being a reader most.  When I’m reading I’m transformed to other worlds, other times.  I can be a cowboy in a historical romance, a vampire; a rogue; a sexy, muscular firefighter; or a very proper English Earl. I can be black or white, or Indian.  I can live in the past, the present or soar among the stars in the future. I can turn on my iPad, load my current read and relax, and forget the crazy world I live in for a few hours each day.  That’s what makes reading special.

I love writing and, at times, I don’t like it much, but the muse lies deep inside my soul so writing is very much a part of me.  When I sit in front of the computer, I get all excited, because the characters inside my head are eager to tell their stories; stories that I know my readers will want to read.  That’s what I love most about writing. 

But there are some things I just don’t like much.  Writing has taught me to be disciplined, when I really just someone who wants to do what I want to do in my own time.  Deadlines are stifling and restrictive and for a while I’m stressed and grumpy.  However, the day I write THE END always makes up for those final moments of agony.

I believe God gives us gifts and writing is one of mine.  It must be since…I’ll rather be reading, but then the heroes and heroines start inside my head keep calling me, asking me to listen to them and tell their stories and I know that I have no choice.

For a few months, I get to create that hero and heroine, allowing a reader, like me to be transported to a beautiful tropical island where the golden rays of the sun bring joy, the murmuring of the waves sooth, and the moon’s rays give rise to burning passion.

THE Q&A

ANGI: How often do you get lost in a story?

WAYNE: Always, there is nothing more exciting that losing myself in a story by one of my favorite authors or creating one of my own stories, another way to lose myself. 

ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading? 

WAYNE: I had to be a book by the English author, Enid Blyton.  I loved her mystery series…maybe one of the reason romantic suspense is my favorite genre.

ANGI: What’s your favorite “love” word?

WAYNE: Passion. 

ANGI: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

WAYNE: It would have to be my Literature teacher when I was in Sixth Form doing my A Levels (English Educational System).  He inspired in me a joy of reading.  But he was also a union leader and to this day I admire his passion, his fearlessness when dealing with government and his knowledge of the trade union movement! I also have to mention Lavar Burton.  His “Reading Rainbow” and his passion for literacy make him a very special hero. 

ANGI: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

WAYNE: Cinderella. 

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

WAYNE: Fred Flintstone…there is no one like Fred, "Yabba-Dabba-Doo!" 

ANGI: What turns you off like nothing else?

WAYNE: A very, very boring movie or television show. 

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?

WAYNE: Any love song by Karen Carpenter…another singer gone to soon.

ANGI: A man after my heart… LOVE LOVE LOVE Karen Carpenter. My hubby & I even sang one of her songs at our wedding (yes, we sang to each other). 

ANGI: Where do you read and how often?

WAYNE: In my bed and for at least an hour every night. 

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?

WAYNE: The sound of waves caressing the shore. 

ANGI: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

WAYNE: Both…I love the balance. 

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?

WAYNE: A short story at school about a slave trying to escape 

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

WAYNE: Glory with Denzel Washington

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?

WAYNE: Jeremy Irons in Die Hard With A Vengeance. 

ANGI: What is your biggest vice?

WAYNE: Watching television.  It takes away from my writing and reading time, but I’m addicted to good drama series. 

ANGI: Is there a “Blooper” in your story (it may have been changed before printing)?

WAYNE: The only Blooper I can remember is from my 2011 book, Midnight Kisses, when I give a major character’s wife a different first name for the one in a previous book

ANGI: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day?

WAYNE: Not all day since I’m a teacher, but at night when I’m writing, it allows me to take off my teacher persona and just enjoy the heat and passion I’m creating. I love it! 

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: Hi Wayne! I’d like to know about your favorite secondary character (from any of your books). You know, the character that wanted to “take over” and force you to write their story. What trouble (or additional story) has your favorite caused?

WAYNE’S GOTTA ANSWER: Ironically, George Simpson, the hero of my April 2012, has been around for four books and was definitely begging for his own story, but I wanted his to be special, so left his story to be the final one of the series which had initially be a three book, now five, series focused on two brothers and a sister.  George and Troy, the best friends of the Shayne, the oldest sibling, and hero of the first book, ONE GENTLE KNIGHT, each demanded their own stories.  However, George was the one who most took over the series.  Sexy, arrogant and brash are the words I would use to describe him. 

FIND WAYNE

Contact   Website   Facebook   Twitter

UP NEXT FOR WAYNE

“Timeless” Short Story in CAST OF CHARACTERS

Novelists Inc. Anthology

April 2012

HER HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER
Harlequin Kimani Romance

March 2013

Book 1 of “Once Upon A Time” series.

CATCH MORE WAYNE JORDAN BOOKS RIGHT NOW!  

FREE BOOKS! FREE BOOKS! & MORE FREE BOOKS!

Wayne will be giving two copies of TO LOVE YOU MORE and one copy of CAST OF CHARACTERS (digital copies from Amazon.com)

Note: Offer void where prohibited. Digital prizes awarded internationally. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize. GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the commenter publicly posts their email address.

DON’T FORGET to FOLLOW us on Twitter (#GetLostStories) or LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with all our guest authors and their prizes. And come back tomorrow for the PREMIERE of Jillian Stone’s PHAETON BLACK! ~Angi

WAYNE’S QUESTION for TODAY

How diverse is your reading?  Do you have a favorite genre(s)? Have you ever read a romance with African-American heroes/heroines?