‘I’m not looking for anything more than a couple of laughs, some fun.’
Lu continued, ‘I’m not a complete idiot. I know that you’re only going to be around for three months and that was just a little bit of getting carried away by the moment. And, frankly, I’ve just come out of a decade-long relationship with two boys and I gave them every last bit of energy I had. I just want to have some company. I thought maybe you could do with the same.’
Company? What was she offering? Company company or sex company? ‘Does the company involve getting naked?’ he asked in his most prosaic voice.
Judging by the shock that jumped into her eyes, she’d hadn’t reached the bedroom. But then her eyes smoked over and he knew that she wasn’t far behind him. Unfortunately along with seeing I-want-get-you-naked there was a healthy dose of I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing as well.
And, anyway, what was he thinking? Hadn’t he just decided to try something different while he was here in Durban? Yet here he was, sliding right back into old patterns and habit reactions.
‘Ah … um … well …’ Lu stuttered. Good God.
‘Actually, I had thought about it …’
Dear Reader
I am so enjoying the Modern Tempted™ series, and I wait in eager anticipation (as I’m sure you do too) to download the new releases every month.
Rugby is a big deal in my part of the world, and we are passionate about our teams—from schoolboy rugby to our national team the Springboks. I was watching a post-match interview by one of the coaches and I thought, Mmm-hmm … he’s pretty cute. I love being a romance novelist, so admiring handsome men can be classified as research! What if he were super-hot and an ex-bad boy of rugby made good …? And the story started to take shape in my head.
Will comes to Durban on a three-month contract to be the caretaker coach of the city’s superstar Stingrays rugby team. Lu, with the twin brothers she raised now at university, is at a loss about what to do now. She wants to revive her flagging career, and by meeting Will manages to land a job as the Stingrays’ press photographer. Will, challenged by his best friend Kelby to do something other than bundle a woman into bed and then walk, thinks that Lu would be good fun to hang with, to help him pass the time in a foreign city. Lu, who has been dared by the twins to have some fun, thinks that Will would be the perfect companion to ease her into a new life without the daily responsibility and company of her brothers.
They both think that they can ignore the fact that their hair almost catches on fire from the sexual heat they generate … ha-ha-ha!
As per usual, I had the best fun writing this book, and nothing makes me happier than to guide two sexy, headstrong people to their happy-ever-after. Enjoy!
With my very warmest wishes
Joss xxx
PS Come and say hi via Facebook: Joss Wood, Twitter: @josswoodbooks or at Josswoodbooks.wordpress.com
Too Much of a Good Thing?
Joss Wood
JOSS WOOD wrote her first book at the age of eight and has never really stopped. Her passion for putting letters on a blank screen is matched only by her love of books and travelling—especially to the wild places of Southern Africa—and possibly by her hatred of ironing and making school lunches.
Fuelled by coffee, when she’s not writing or being a hands-on mum, Joss, with her background in business and marketing, works for a non-profit organisation to promote the local economic development and collective business interests of the area where she resides. Happily and chaotically surrounded by books, family and friends, she lives in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, with her husband, children and their many pets.
Other Modern Tempted™ titles by Joss Wood:
IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT …
This and other titles by Joss Wood are available in eBook format—check out www.millsandboon.co.uk
A little over a year ago, on the same day that I found out that my dream of becoming published was about to come true, my sister was involved in the most horrendous car accident.
Because she is the bravest, strongest, most incredible person I know, this book is dedicated to her.
Love you, Di.
Contents
ONE
‘Laptop and mobile chargers packed? Did you check the oil in the car?’
Lu Sheppard stood in the east coast early-morning sunshine and, because she knew that throwing her arms around the hairy knees closest to her and hanging on tightly wouldn’t be appreciated, jammed her clenched fists into the pockets of her faded denim shorts. Turning her head away, she swallowed furiously before digging deep and yanking out her patented, much practised I’m-OK-you’re-OK smile.
‘Lu, you did,’ answered Daniel, the younger of her twin brothers. ‘Twice.’
That was right. She had. And she’d ticked it off on the list she’d made for them. Not that either of them had looked at it. Lord, how was she going to do this? These boys had been her life and her focus for the past decade. How was she supposed to just let them get into their car and drive across the country to university and, to all intents and purposes, out of her life? She’d yelled at them, cried with them and cried over them. She’d provided meals and lifts, helped with homework and bugged them to talk to her. She’d been father, mother, sister and friend.
She was twenty-nine years old and not only was she unable to stare empty nest syndrome in the eye, it was also kicking her non-sexy butt. But, like so many other emotions she’d experienced over the past ten years, the boys didn’t have to know that...
Daniel leaned back against the door of his jointly owned car and cleared his throat. Lu saw the look he gave Nate and felt rather than saw the nod Nate gave in reply. Nate moved to stand next to his non-identical twin, equally tall, equally good-looking.
Daniel cleared his throat again. ‘Lu, we are grateful that you stepped