Blind
Love by Kishan Paul
Genre:
Contemporary Romance
Date
of Publication: June 2, 2015
Book
Description:
She
doesn’t need a hero. But a sexy Marine…that’ll work.
Though
Lauren Baxter’s world is a blurry mess of colors, she has no
tolerance for pity. With the help of her guide dog, Jack Sparrow,
she’s built a good life for herself. She has everything she wants:
her PhD, a thriving counseling practice and her independence.
When
she meets her new neighbor, the man’s warm Texas accent and clean
male scent weaken her knees. Her attraction to the former Marine is
mutual and, unfortunately, a complication she doesn’t need.
Gabriel
Briggs carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He has his
reasons for indulging only in short-term flings, but the feisty,
green-eyed Lauren makes him want to forget every one.
In
a rare moment of fragility, Lauren winds up in Gabe’s arms. One
night together can’t break their self-imposed rules, right? But
when a woman from Gabe’s past is murdered, the reasons he should
have stayed away become painfully clear, threatening innocent lives
he may not be able to save—especially Lauren’s.
Product
Warnings
Contains
a blind therapist who doesn’t consider herself impaired; a
meddling, erotic-novel-writing best friend; a hot ex-Marine with a
shady past; and a loyal guide dog that howls “I love you” and is
probably the sanest one of the bunch.
Excerpt:
Gabe locked the
front door and headed to his pickup. The decision was made. He needed
to move his pitiful ass into the cabin immediately. A woman he barely
knew had him confessing things he’d never told anyone else, and the
scariest part: he caught himself reconsidering nonnegotiable
promises. Those were fantasies he couldn’t afford. Not when other
lives counted on him. He glanced over at her place and stopped dead
in his tracks.
Speak of the devil.
Hands on her hips,
Lauren stood talking to the cabbie parked in her driveway. Her hair
was twisted in a knot. The dark blue, strapless summer dress she wore
had his gaze lingering over her long neck and tanned shoulders.
His mouth watered at
the memory of how sweet her covered parts tasted last night.
There was something
about her that hooked him. Yes, she was beautiful, but there was
more. It was how her eyes crinkled when she laughed. All the
smart-ass things she’d say. The soothing way her voice melted his
guard. And when she touched him, it was as if she was sticking her
hands inside him, picking up every one of his painful pieces, and for
just a little while gluing them back together.
What the fuck am I
saying?
He looked away and
continued to his truck. She’d find the right person one day, and
whoever the man was would be one lucky bastard.
“I’m sorry,
ma’am. I can’t help you,” the cabbie said.
Gabe put the last of
the supplies into the large metal toolbox and padlocked the lid.
“He’s a guide
dog. Isn’t it against the law for you to refuse services because of
him?” Lauren asked.
He bit back his urge
to help.
For him, the girl
spelled trouble.
T.
R.
O.
U.
“The sign right
there says no animals.” The driver pointed to the backseat window.
B.
L.
E.
She grinned. “And
if I wasn’t blind, I’m sure I would have seen it.”
Gabe chuckled. He
loved her fake smile. Leaning against the truck, he watched the
performance.
“I’m sorry, I
didn’t—I mean, you don’t look blind.”
Still grinning, she
cleared her throat and pulled on the dog’s harness. “I am. Which
is why I need my guide dog. He goes everywhere with me.”
The beast raised its
ears and looked at Gabe. He averted his eyes, pulled off his baseball
cap and tucked it into his jean pocket. Her monster of a pet was
making him feel guilty as hell.
“I’m sorry, but
I’m allergic to animals. He can’t come in my taxi.”
“I can pay you
extra for your troubles. The place is a few blocks after the highway.
It would only be ten minutes of your time.”
“Look, ma’am.
It’s not going to happen. If you want, I’ll call another car to
pick you up.”
After a long pause,
she shook her head and bit her lip. “No, it’s fine. I understand.
Thank you.”
A few seconds later,
the cab pulled away. Lauren stood cross-armed, staring out.
Gabe gripped the
truck to make sure his legs didn’t get any crazy ideas.
This is not my
problem. Maybe if he said it enough times, he’d believe it.
“Come on, Jack.
It’s time for Plan B,” she said and grabbed the dog’s holster.
Plan what?
Stunned, he watched
the two stroll down the road. She said the place was a few blocks
after the highway. Which meant they’d be walking alongside one of
the busiest boulevards in Denver for a few yards before she’d ever
reach the interstate. He looked at his watch. Four fifty, on a Friday
afternoon. The two would be smack dab in front of the I25 overpass
during rush hour traffic—a dangerous situation for anyone, much
less a blind woman.
She wouldn’t,
would she?
When Lauren got to
the end of the street and turned left, he cursed under his breath.
Yeah, she would.
Excerpt 2:
The banging and
Jack’s barking grew louder. Lauren ran her hands through her hair
and made her way down the stairs with Sunny close behind.
At the door, her
best friend leaned over her and peeked through the blinds.
“Oh Sweet Baby
Jesus, who’s that?” she whispered.
Lauren pushed her
away and blocked the entrance with her body. “If I could see, I’d
tell you.”
“It’s a man.
Open the door,” she ordered and tried to pull Lauren’s hand from
the knob.
“No! We don’t
know who he is,” she hissed.
“Lauren, it’s
Gabe.” The way her name sounded in the baritone voice of his had
her stomach doing the funny flipping thing again like it did
yesterday in the backyard.
“Yes, Lauren, it’s
Gabe,” Sunny imitated. “Now open the fucking door.”
“Hi, Gabe.
Everything okay?” she asked, her voice huskier than she’d like.
“I heard screams.
I tried calling a couple times and when you didn’t answer, thought
I’d come over and check things out.”
“The neighbor with
the power tools?” Sunny hissed. “The man is eye candy beautiful.”
“That doesn’t
mean he’s not a rapist or serial killer,” Lauren hissed back.
Boney arms wrapped
tight around her waist, lifting off the ground and planting her a few
feet away from the entrance. Disoriented, Lauren was still figuring
out which direction she was facing when the door rattled and opened.
“Hey,” Sunny
said in her most seductive tone. After rolling her eyes, Lauren
walked toward her friend’s voice.
“Hi,” Gabe
cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, I was looking for Lauren.”
“I’m right
here.”
“Sorry to bother
you two. Like I said, I heard screaming…”
“So sorry; we were
having a disagreement,” she answered before Sunny got a chance to
give her interpretation of events.
“I’m Sunny.”
Her voice sounded deep and breathy. Lauren cringed and resisted the
urge to hit her.
“Hi, Sunny, I’m
Gabe.”
“Nice to meet you,
neighbor with the power tools.”
“Anyway, we’re
fine. Thanks for checking.” Lauren reached over to shut the door
but Sunny wouldn’t let it go.
“How sweet. Did
you hear, Cat? He came here to see if you needed to be saved.”
Since when did she start speaking with a Southern accent?
“I don’t need to
be saved,” she muttered.
“That’s all
relative now isn’t it, sweetheart? Why don’t you come in, Gabe? I
just made some fresh coffee.”
“I’d love some.
But if you don’t mind, let me go put some clothes on and I’ll be
right back.”
A few seconds after
he disappeared, Sunny blew out a breath and closed the door. “Honey,
I do mind if you put on more clothes.”
“What’s wrong
with you? You can’t let strangers into my home,” Lauren growled.
“Rule number one:
When a man who looks like him walks up in nothing but hard muscles
and a thin pair of boxers, you invite him in. Rule number two: Keep
rocking those low-cut tank tops and short biker shorts, ’cause he
couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”
“Oh God,” Lauren
pulled up the neck of her tank and rushed upstairs.
“Overweight and
missing his front teeth,” Sunny muttered as she followed. “What
the hell is wrong with you?”
Grabbing a pair of
jeans and a shirt from the drawer, Lauren pulled them on over her
sleepwear. “Not important. He was pushy and like I said, he’s
been watching me.”
“No. Not true.
He’s not watching you, he’s lusting after you. Here, let me paint
him for you.”
Sunny had a knack
for description. She’d taken on the responsibility of being
Lauren’s eyes when she lost her vision and made it a point to
reference people and movies they both remembered.
“About six feet
two, a mouth full of perfect white teeth, and ripped.” A lovely
image of Gabe took shape. “If I didn’t have Scott, I’d have run
my fingers down those hills and valleys right to the elastic band of
his sweet black shorts and…”
“No sex fantasies,
please, only facts.”
“Okay, fine. A mix
of Matt Damon’s face from Goodwill Hunting, but better looking, and
Tom Cruise’s body from Mission Impossible Two when he hung from the
cliff, remember?”
Lauren bit her lip
and nodded.
“But bulkier and
much, much taller. He has this tribal tattoo around his right bicep.
It’s a bunch of shapes, but looks hot. Dark hair buzzed short,
strong jaw line, deep blue eyes, full lips I’m sure are capable of
making some lucky woman, more specifically you, scream…”
She shook her head
and pushed her sex-addicted friend aside while she made her way
downstairs.
About
the Author:
From daring escapes
by tough women to chivalrous men swooping in to save the day, the
creativity switch to Kishan Paul's brain is always in the 'on'
position. If daydreaming stories were a college course, Kish would
graduate with honors.
Mother of two
beautiful children, she has been married to her best friend for over
16 years. With the help of supportive family and friends, she
balances her family, a thriving counseling practice, and writing
without sinking into insanity.
To
keep in touch with Kish:
