Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Release Day--Beneath the Surface by MJ Fredrick


I'm so excited---today is the release of my third full-length novel. I loved writing this book so much, and am very proud of how well it turned out. Also, LOOK at that cover. Gorgeous, right?


Beneath the Surface

Release date: September 1

Buy link: www.samhainpublishing.com


BLURB In retrospect, perhaps archaeologist Mallory Reeves shouldn’t have delivered the divorce papers to her estranged husband mere weeks before her marriage to another man. She knew seeing Adrian again would stir up memories, but she didn’t expect so many of them to be good, not after the mess they both made three years ago. She also didn’t expect to want to stay at the dig site on the Yucatan Peninsula. But the lure of the ancient ship and, yes, her sexy ex provide more of a draw than the white picket fence she thought she wanted. Marine archaeologist Adrian Reeves has good reason to trust no one. His former partner—and former best friend—made off with his last archaeological find. And his wife left him, frustrated by his obsession for professional revenge. Now both Mallory and his nemesis have returned, and it can’t be an accident that they’ve turned up in the middle of the most important excavation of his career. Seeing her again unearths old pain—and rekindles never-forgotten desire. Now he has to decide if he can trust Mallory again. More importantly, if he can trust himself with her.


EXCERPT:

Adrian stood a distance away, like a sea god, his arms raised, hands folded behind his head, the water lapping at his bare hips She turned and unbuttoned her blouse, unhooked her bra to wash the mud embedded in the lace. Dropping to her knees and crouching to hide beneath the water, she scrubbed at the fabric, lamenting the effect the mud and salt water would have on the expensive garment.


“I can help you with that,” Adrian said, too close.


She whipped around, wrapping her arms around herself. Cautiously lifting one hand, she shoved her

muddy hair back from her face and glared.


He moved toward her, and her eyes were drawn to a deep dimple in his cheek beneath the reddish

stubble. Okay, actually her eyes were drawn elsewhere, but she forced herself to focus on the dimple.


“Go. Away.”


“A fine way to treat the man who saved your life,” he teased.


The tide flowed out and she caught a glimpse of bare hip. She had to get away from here, now. She

didn’t trust her hormones. They remembered Adrian and wanted to party. Distance. She needed distance.

Still underwater, she tugged on her dirty T-shirt, giving herself another layer of defense. It wasn’t

enough. His eyes flicked to the bra in her hand and she flushed. Damn it, she would not let him get to her.

She rose and moved deeper into the water, holding his gaze, daring him to keep his eyes on hers and not

glance at her breasts, no doubt clearly defined under her wet shirt.


He met her dare, his eyes only flicking to her cheek. “You have mud just there.”


Slipping his hand under her wet hair, he stroked his thumb over her cheek. She lost the will to pull

away, slap him, any of the things she should do. She just looked into his eyes helplessly as he lowered his

head.

A wave swept past them, and her ring floated free of her shirt, floated between them on its chain.

Only then did she find the strength to yank away.


“Adrian,” she said, at once chiding and regretful. “It’s—it would be a mistake.” She walked out of the

ocean, her shorts still full of mud. Maybe Linda was right. Maybe this site was cursed.


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