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Opposites ignite...
Champion stock car driver Brody Palmer’s bad-boy reputation has forced him into early retirement. What no one knows is that his “retirement” is actually a publicity stunt. All Brody has to do is clean up his act and settle down. Unfortunately, every single woman with a pulse is now gunning to become the new Mrs. Palmer.
Hannah Morgan needs to shake things up, and Brody is the best way to do just that. So they strike a deal—a fake relationship...with all of the sexy strings included! Brody gets his improved image, and Hannah gets a whole lot more of Brody’s unpredictable wildness. Hot days, hotter nights—it’s the perfect plan! Provided, of course, they don’t do something to wreck it, like fall for each other...
She tried to say his name...but no words came out.
Brody stood in the doorway looking equally shocked to see her after so long. His green eyes seemed glued to her. His six-foot-plus frame filled the space. He hadn’t shaved. Mussed brown hair that had been cut shorter when she’d been with him had sprouted waves, and a few curls brushed his neck behind his ears. His jaw was strong, but tense. His lips, as tempting as ever.
Then his face broke into a welcoming smile, his eyes warming from surprise to pleasure. Hannah didn’t have a chance to move away as he encompassed her in a bear hug. Soon, those delectable lips were all over hers.
His beard scratched her a little, but Hannah was so blindsided by the unexpected embrace that she held on for dear life, her internal temperature skyrocketing as Brody’s tongue parted her lips and sought out hers.
Stop this, her brain said.
Just one more minute, her very happy heart argued. It was like getting a charge from a lightning bolt.
She couldn’t help but smile into his kiss. This was Brody.
He was never what she expected. But it was always good...
If you have read I’ll Be Yours for Christmas (and if you haven’t, go get it right now!), you met racing champion Brody Palmer and accountant Hannah Morgan in the subplot of that book. When I sent these two off on a wild month in Daytona, I knew there was more to the story—what happened after that month? So Rock Solid came to be. Though not easily; these characters made sure I found the right story for them.
Writers talk about their characters making decisions about the book, and I’d never experienced that, exactly...until I wrote Hannah and Brody. When Brody made his big plot move in the middle of the book, I didn’t even see it coming, let alone poor Hannah. He really is a wild man, and he surprised us both with his daring ways. Watching him grow from a playboy into the solid man that Hannah loves was an adventure in itself.
If you want to chat about Rock Solid, or any of my Mills & Boon Blaze books, you can find me on Twitter or Facebook most days, and I’d love to hear from you.
Samantha Hunter
Rock Solid
Samantha Hunter
SAMANTHA HUNTER lives in Syracuse, New York, where she writes full-time for Mills & Boon. When she’s not plotting her next story, Sam likes to work in her garden, quilt, cook, read and spend time with her husband and their dogs. Most days you can find Sam chatting on the Mills & Boon Blaze boards at www.MillsandBoon.com, or you can check out what’s new, enter contests or drop her a note at her website, samanthahunter.com.
Thank you to Brandi H, who was named in this book in gratitude for her generous donation to the 2013 Brenda Novak Auction.
Many friends saw me through a long
winter when the writing was difficult, most specifically the ladies at Chocolate Box Writers (chocolateboxwriters.com) who fielded many emails from me with grace, patience and a multitude of helpful suggestions. You are all amazing. Lucky me.
Brilliant writers Anne Calhoun and Serena Bell, who read the manuscript at various stages, brainstormed and also helped me figure out what wasn’t working and what was—amid their own very busy schedules. So many hugs to you.
Cari Quinn offered companionship and a lot of laughs and motivation during working lunches at Panera. She also thinks it’s funny when I talk back to my book—out loud.
And always, for Mike—for everything you do,
thank you is never enough.
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