Author Marilyn Brant recently released her latest novel, Holiday Man. Let me just tell you how excited I am to read this novel! I have yet to read a book by Brant that I did not devour. Even though this kissing scene does not take place under the mistletoe like the rest in this series, it is filled with such heat and desire, I just had to share it! Enjoy!
Excerpt from Holiday Man by Marilyn Brant
Bram pulled into the
Holiday Quinn parking lot at 6:47 p.m. Christmas Eve, turned off the car engine
and opened the driver’s side door, taking several fortifying breaths of the
wintry air.
The scent of snow
mingling with pine grounded him in the moment. And the flashing holiday lights,
which surrounded the inn with color and brightened up the dark December sky,
reminded him that it was, in fact, supposed to be a time of celebration.
He’d been on the road
much of the day, driving with a feeling of nervous anticipation usually
reserved only for big corporate takeovers or long sit-down conversations with
his father. Since it had been several years since he’d experienced either, the
tense edginess that had been lurking inside of him all day could only mean one
thing: Shannon.
He wasn’t a man prone to
doubting himself or second guessing his decisions, but he’d been mentally
running scenarios for hours about how it would go seeing her again after nearly
two months apart. Would they fall right back into the patterns they’d begun
when they first met…or had that only been an illusion? How well did they know
each other really? And was he a fool to care so much about what she
thought of him? Or to imagine that they had a shot at a life together?
Bram didn’t know the
answers to any of these questions, but he was determined to find out once and
for all.
He stepped out of the
car, grabbed his bag and, with determined strides, marched toward the front
entrance.
It was like the movie set
of Holiday Inn come to life. When he walked inside, it seemed as though
they’d imported the soundstage for the film and transplanted it to eastern
Wisconsin.
Guests milled around the
lobby like cast members, dressed in cozy winter garments and sipping cups of
cocoa with candy canes as stirring sticks.
Snowflake clings adorned
every window and the soft sounds of “White Christmas,” complete with jingling
bells, played in the background along with the hum and chatter of the happy
couples.
There was a hint of
peppermint in the air (from the candy canes, no doubt) melding with the scent
of pine from the large Christmas tree in the corner. A beautifully decorated
blue spruce, lavishly trimmed with tiny white lights and silver and gold
ornaments.
Bram saw an angel in
white atop the tree, complete with gossamer wings, a fur-lined cloak and
glinting silver sequins…but he knew the real angel was dressed in a red
sweater and standing behind the counter, checking in the guests.
“Ah. Hartwick, you’ve
returned,” Jake the Prick said coldly.
The chill from behind him
made Bram shiver as he turned to stare down the guy. He gave his best attempt
at a Machiavellian scowl. “Yes,” he said slowly. “Yes, I have.”
There was something
different about the assistant this time, though, Bram realized as Jake stared
back. He couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was, but he felt a definite
undercurrent of change behind Jake’s expression. Almost as though the assistant
knew something that he felt gave him an advantage. He looked bolder as a
result.
The mask is fully off.
The jester has gone into fighting mode, Bram thought.
He intensified his glare
at the other man and watched as Jake’s green eyes twinkled with a brighter
light of cunning than Bram had ever seen.
One side of The Prick’s
mouth quirked upward. Then, as if laughing at an inside joke that Bram wasn’t
in on, the assistant said, “Hope you’ll enjoy your final stay.” There
was a significant pause. “Of the year.”
Before Bram could
respond, he heard his name. He looked up and saw Shannon waving to him from
behind the counter. When he glanced back at Jake, he found the other man had
disappeared. Odd.
He walked up to Shannon.
It’d been too long since he’d last seen her in person. Not that he’d forgotten
anything, just that she was more vibrant, more alluring than even
he had remembered. He had to tell his heart to slow down, force himself to take
deeper breaths before he could speak.
“It’s good to see you,
Shannon,” he managed. “Very good.”
She didn’t reply at all
at first. She just smiled at him. That was enough.
Then, finally, she said,
“It’s good to see you, too.” She fiddled with the computer for a moment before
handing him his keycard. “The Astaire Suite is waiting for you.”
He took the plastic card
from her, caressing her hand in the process. He could see her pause. Hold her
breath. Swallow a time or two. A line was beginning to form behind them. He
knew he had her attention for only a moment more.
“When will you be free?”
he asked in a low voice.
“Ten-thirty,” she
murmured. “The evening events should be over no later than that.”
Bram picked up his few
items and leaned across the counter until his head was only a few inches from
hers. “Until then, Shannon.”
***
Her heart pounded in
double time as she knocked on the door to the Astaire Suite. Seeing Bram again,
just a few hours ago, brought rushing back every single memory they’d shared
since February.
Shannon was surprised by
how many there were, despite the fact that they’d only gotten together in
person on scattered holiday weekends. But it was amazing how fast you could get
to know someone if you were motivated…
Or, at least, think
you’d gotten to know someone.
Nervousness made her
almost turn away, but Bram was quick to open the door. Too quick.
“Hi,” he said, his voice
deep and husky, his eyes trained on her face. His white dress shirt was
unbuttoned all the way down the front, and his feet were bare below his black
slacks.
“Hi,” she whispered back.
He motioned her inside the
room. “What have you got there?”
Lost in the intensity of
his stare, she’d almost forgotten the basket she was carrying. It was a gift of
sorts, being that tonight was Christmas Eve and all.
“A present for you,” she
replied, setting it down in a nearby corner. “For later.”
One of his dark eyebrows
rose to mid-forehead and a smile tugged his lips upward. He closed the door
behind them and then nodded at the table closest to the bed, where a
gift-wrapped package sat prettily in wait.
“Got one of those for
you, too. Thought we’d save it until Christmas morning, though.” He took a step
toward her and pulled her into his arms with a smooth, proprietary movement.
“Unless—well, unless you aren’t planning to be here then.” His voice held an
unasked question.
She met his gaze and held
it. “Bram, my plan was to stay with you tonight. Unless, of course, you’d
rather—”
But he cut her off,
blanketing her mouth with a kiss so passionate she felt its heat singe her
toes.
Shannon wrapped her arms
around him, underneath his open shirt so she could run her palms against his
bare skin, and let herself be consumed by the flames of their reunion.
“That’s all I needed to know,” he said in her ear.
I suggest picking up a copy of Holiday Man to find out what happens next for Bram and Shannon! I am curious to know what their Christmas presents for each other are!
***GIVEAWAY TIME***
Because I simply LOVE everything I have read by Marilyn Brant, and this novel is no exception, I am giving away ONE ebook copy (Kindle or Nook) of Holiday Man to one luck commenter! To enter, simply comment on this post and fill out the Rafflecopter form! Good Luck!! Open Internationally!
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From the Publisher:
A Year of Holidays...
Shannon Quinn is the small-town girl who runs "Holiday Quinn" -- a holiday-themed inn and resort based in scenic Door County, Wisconsin.
One winter evening, wealthy Minneapolis businessman, Bram Hartwick, blows into town along with the fast-falling snow. The sparks Bram and Shannon create succeed in heating up the chilly Midwestern night, not to mention plenty of holiday weekends in the year that follows...
But is their relationship only for special occasions, or might it be the elusive everyday love that neither of them thought could be found?
Author Bio:
As a former teacher, library staff member, freelance magazine writer and national book reviewer, Marilyn has spent much of her life lost in literature. She’s been told — and not always with the intent to flatter — that she’s “insatiably curious” and “a travel addict.” Marilyn has traveled to 46 states and over 30 countries (so far — she’s not done yet!), but she now lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family. When she isn’t rereading Jane’s books or enjoying the latest releases by her writer friends, she’s working on her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry.
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