Cover Reveal and Excerpt: Now and Then by Brenda Rothert

 

 

 

 

Now Emmaline Carson has settled into her career as a graphic designer, though she’d rather be painting or shopping with her sister Layla. But then – in the years before she went to art school in Paris – she was a shy, awkward teenager with frizzy hair, a flat chest and a massive crush on the boy across the street, Cole Marlowe. Too bad her incredibly hot neighbor only had eyes for Layla.

Cole is now a confident, laid-back attorney who’s even hotter than he used to be. He’s planning to stay single while working his way up the corporate ladder – until he’s knocked off course by a chance run-in with Emma.

Everything is different between Cole and Emma now. He finally sees her in a way she only dreamed of, and their hot chemistry is fueled by a growing friendship. But Emma’s deception of her sister – who wants Cole for herself – and the secret Cole’s been keeping for more than a decade threaten to tear apart what’s only just begun. Because sometimes the only thing standing in the way of now is then.

 

If the blurb didn't get you, this smexy excerpt may!

The red traffic light gave Cole a chance to admire the way Emma’s long, bare legs looked against the dark leather of his passenger seat. Her black dress was riding up on her from sitting, allowing him an ample view of her creamy skin.

She looked stunning, with dark, smoky eye makeup and her hair falling loose and wavy over her shoulders. The open back of her dress exposed lines of her he’d never seen before. He didn’t think just a kiss would be enough tonight.

“You really don’t mind eating after?” she asked. “It might be pretty late.”

“No, I’m used to late dinners. Is that the place up ahead?”

“That’s it.”

He maneuvered into a small parking lot and tried to hurry around the car to open Emma’s door after he parked, but she got out too quickly. He leaned toward her to push her door closed, picking up on a clean, exotic scent that sent his pulse into overdrive.

“You left your sweater, do you want it?” he asked as he locked the car.

“I’ll be okay, it’s warm tonight.”

“I think you should grab it.”

Emma looked at him, puzzled.

“I’ll be fine,” she said.

There was a flash of excitement in her eyes as he stepped closer to her, and it made him want to jump back into the car and take her straight to his place, where he’d have that dress off within fifteen seconds.

“You smell so fucking good, Em,” he said, forcing her back against the car as he pressed his body against hers. Her tiny moan let him know she didn’t mind. He pressed his face against her neck, taking in her scent up close, and brushing his lips gently over her collarbone.

Her ragged exhale made him want more of her, and he slid a hand up the side of her thigh, under her dress. His lips lingered in front of hers, and he reveled in the sensation of her warm breath against his mouth. It was Emma who initiated the kiss, with another moan as he returned her passion.

He didn’t care who saw, and it drove him crazy that she didn’t seem to, either. He ran a hand into her thick, silky hair, wanting to feel it against his bare chest. Though he didn’t want to move fast with her, there was something about her that made it hard to hold back. Literally.

“Mmm, Cole,” she said softly, reaching between his legs, “I can’t take you in there like this or some other woman will make off with you.”

He laughed, though the feel of her fingers on him was pure torture.

“Okay,” he said, backing off. “I’ll do my best to lose the hard-on if you’ll cover up that sexy back so some guy doesn’t make off with you.”

She smiled and the light flush he found so erotic spread across her cheeks. As she leaned into the car to get her sweater, he craned his neck to watch her dress creep up in the back. Realizing that wouldn’t help him get rid of his erection, he turned to watch the cars passing by instead, exhaling deeply as he adjusted himself.

“I’m so glad you’re with me tonight,” Emma said as they made their way toward the gallery.

“Me, too,” he said, placing his hand against her lower back and working it underneath her sweater. Her skin was soft and warm, and he had a deep craving to feel every inch of it.

Add Now and then to your GoodReads now because it comes out in August!

Brenda Rothert lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three sons. She was a daily print journalist for nine years, during which time she enjoyed writing a wide range of stories.
These days Brenda writes New Adult Romance in the Contemporary and Dystopian genres. She loves to hear from readers by email at bjrothert@sbcglobal.net.