Marie Lavender's Writing in the Modern Age: International Authors' Day plus a Giveaway

A post about International Authors' Day, some new authors to check out and a book giveaway!  What more could you want?



Marie Lavender's Writing in the Modern Age: International Authors' Day plus a Giveaway: If you haven't noticed yet, I was taking a bit of a hiatus this month from the blog.  Obviously, that didn't really happen...

Surprise Review for LEATHER AND LACE!

I just found an awesome four star review for Leather and Lace.  How exciting!

Pretty Woman, June 18, 2014

By 

The Kindle Book Review

This review is from: Leather and Lace (Kindle Edition)

The book is a good combination of romance and action, the first part heavy on romance, the second on action.
Patrick Dreyling , a police officer meets Angie Lewis while investigating a murder. They don’t actually meet. He sees her bending over the body of the murdered man, and she runs away before he can question her. He tracks her to the Glass Slipper, a strip club where she is employed.

Patrick finds himself strangely attracted to her. There was something about her eyes that fascinated him. He rules her out as a suspect in the murder, but he wants to get to know her better. As a result, he pays for her to come to his house to dance for him in private. Dancing becomes sex. Sex leads, in this case, to love.

Angie dropped out of college when her little sister became an addict. She works where she does to pay her sister’s supplier, so that she can remain in rehab. It is an old debt, one that still haunts her. Patrick is determined to help her solve her problem, even when it puts his life in danger.

The book is relatively short and is easy to read. It is well-written and will hold your interest. It’s perfect for an afternoon at the beach!

David Burnett for the Kindle Book Review
I received a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

 

 

Character Interview with Evangeline from LEATHER AND LACE on Snow Tigra's blog!

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Character Days: Evangeline Lewis from Leather and Lace

Back from a successful week at Anime Detour where we SOLD OUT of our book Seeking the Storyteller!  So we're ordering more copies now and soon we'll also have it listed on our store, where you can get a signed copy.  Stay tuned!

In the meantime, this week we have Evangeline Lewis from another Erica Sutherhome's book Leather and Lace!  Take a read below.

Evangeline Lewis from Leather and Lace

Tell me a little about yourself and the world you live in. 

I work as an exotic dancer at The Glass Slipper to make ends meet.  Boston is my home.  I live in a small apartment on Dartmouth in the South End.

Do you like your job?

I find there is a kind of power in dancing.  I can take on a different role.  It is nice to step away from my problems for a time and lose myself in the music.

Tell us about your single most important memory.  What was it and how does it affect you now?

It was just after my parents’ car accident.  A social worker came and started talking to me and my sister Sherrie.  When the woman walked away, Sherrie looked at me and said, “Do you think they’re going to separate us?”  I shook my head and told her, “They can’t.  I promise I’ll always take care of you.  Do you believe me?”  But, life never quite works out the way you planned, does it?  I can never forget that trust I saw in her eyes then.

What type of person are you?  Are you a hero or do you shy away from conflict?  

I don’t like conflict exactly, but I have a stubborn streak.  I’m a survivor.  And I will fight for what’s right. 

Do you have any hobbies, any special talents?

I like to draw and paint in my spare time.  I used to do it quite a lot.

And in that line, what would be your ideal day?  

My ideal day would be to unwind after work, turn on some soft music and listen to it play in background while I make a good home cooked meal.

Do you have anyone close to you, any family or friends of interest?

There is my sister Sherrie, but I haven’t seen her for awhile.  No, I guess no one that close.  I get along with the girls at the club though.

What is your most prized possession?

I keep all of the letters Sherrie and I used to write to each other in a shoe box.

What initially spurred your actions in this story.  Obviously it had to start somewhere for you, give us an idea of where that starting point is and where it all started.

I saw something I shouldn’t have.  Since then, I have been in a tight place.  When I saw the crime happening, I couldn’t prevent myself from responding.  And that’s when I met Patrick.

How do you envision your future? 

I guess I don’t really think about it.  I’m just trying to live from one day to next, hoping that at some point, I can get out of this mess.

Tell us where we can read more about you?  

You can learn more about me in Leather and Lace.

Author:  Erica Sutherhome (Marie Lavender)

You can purchase the book here! 

Author's blog or website 

Don't forget, there are eleven other books by Erica Sutherhome!

Guest post on Exquisite Quills blog

Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Genesis of a Book - Leather and Lace by Marie Lavender

Start with a Title

My newest book is Leather and Lace, a romantic suspense.  It was released in November.  It is about a cop and the stripper he pursues because not only does he believe she is involved in a crime, he also can’t shake his desire for her.  But, there is a lot going on under the surface of things.  Patrick knows Angie is into something she can’t get out of, and yet she won’t tell him the truth.  His only choice is to try to gain her trust.  Angie, however, is a tricky girl and she makes him work for it.

When I first had the idea for Leather and Lace, all I had in mind was the title.  That’s not normally how I work.  The title is usually last.  But, I thought it was an awesome title and I went with it.  The premise of the story started to fall into place right away.  I had always been fascinated with women who use their sexuality to make money.  And I don’t mean prostitution, but exotic dancing.  Though I have done a strip tease (*blush) for my fiancé before, I just find it interesting that there are women comfortable enough to do that as a profession.  I don’t think I’d have the courage.

 

The fun thing about writing is that when you’re researching and composing, you kind of fall into the roles of the characters.  For a brief time, you can imagine yourself as those people.  So, it was really exciting to “become” Angie for the time I was writing Leather and Lace.  She is a multi-faceted character, and our hero, Patrick, has to work pretty hard to see those layers.  But, he was just as complicated a character and I had to not only give him cop instincts, but find out more about the location they were in.

 

I had a grand time researching Boston.  In fact, I found it so interesting, I plan to write about it again.  I wanted Patrick and Angie to live and work somewhat close to each other and after a bit of maneuvering, I figured out a way to do it.  I tried to use real places to give the story some authenticity.  For the rest, I used some creative license.  There is a restaurant that the couple goes to in the story, and I plan to go there too when I visit.  It is so amazing what you can find online these days.  I used the menu and pictures of the restaurant to describe it the best way I could.

As for Patrick, it was pretty fun researching what precinct or “district” he would work in as well as showing exactly the way a detective worked.  Patrick was not just a cop though.  He was a man with a pretty interesting background and I did my best to show that.

Overall, I found Leather and Lace to be one of my greatest joys.  I hope you find it just as exciting to read.

Blurb

 

When Detective Dreyling sees Evangeline Lewis standing over a dead body, his whole life changes. Determined to not only find out what she knows about the crime but also to make her his, he will go to any lengths, even bribe her boss, to have more time with her.

Angie fights the overwhelming desire she feels for Patrick, but there are some things in this world you can’t fight. There are rare kinds of attraction. No matter how much she tries to keep her heart from him, she can’t help the feelings that strike her.

What makes it all harder is the secret she keeps from him, the reason she has put herself in some pretty bad situations. Can she come clean with him in time or will the lie destroy any chance they have at happiness?

http://www.amazon.com/Leather-Lace-Erica-Sutherhome-ebook/dp/B00GV2W9BE

Author Bio

 

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child's play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted - to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

Since then, Marie has published eighteen books. Marie Lavender's real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories. Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them. Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel. Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.webs.com/ for further information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return; Magick & Moonlight

Erica Sutherhome: Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom; Leather and Lace

Kathryn Layne: A Misplaced Life

Heather Crouse: Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things

http://www.marielavender.webs.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Upon-Your-Return/221212331354873
https://twitter.com/marielavender1
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10a
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender
http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Lavender/e/B00C10Q94I/
http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00BFX8YLI
http://store.solsticepublishing.com/upon-your-return/
https://www.createspace.com/4284739

Guest post "Secrets" on Seasons of Love blog

A guest blog post regarding LEATHER AND LACE on Christina Cole's blog today...

Secrets by Erica Sutherhome

christinacoleromance ♦ March 7, 2014 

From Christina: Today, Erica shares a few thoughts about writing Leather and Lace and talks about the secrets her characters are keeping.

Secrets

By Erica Sutherhome

Secrets.  We all have them.  There are little things we keep from everyone.  Our innermost thoughts, desires.  Angie Lewis has a lot and in keeping them, she has made a lot of trouble for herself.

Patrick, the hero, being the cop he is, picks up on the fact that she’s keeping something from him.  He doesn’t know what it is, but he will do anything to find out including bribe her boss to spend more time with her.  Once Patrick secures his moments with Angie, he just has to dig until he finds out the truth.  Being an honorable man, he decides to earn her trust.  But, Angie doesn’t make it easy.



I had a lot of fun writing this book.  I got to take on another persona, delve into Angie’s character, into the life of an exotic dancer.  Of course, she’s not all surface.  Sure, she has a lot of tricks up her sleeve – she sure knows how to use her sexuality – but, Angie hides a lot of herself in her work.  It is up to Patrick to try to coax that out of her.

He sees her and immediately becomes obsessed with her.  It becomes more than just about the job for both of them.  The journey is full of obstacles.  Angie has enemies no one knows about.

That’s where all of the secrets come in.  I think in some ways, readers might feel this is a ploy to spice up a book.  It is true that I keep some things even from the reader at first.  But, it’s not a ploy.  As I started to write the book, all of these facets of Angie’s character came out – her background, her dreams, the danger she was in.  She came alive on the page, more than the sexy exterior she exhibits.  And Patrick, being the smart man he is, starts to pick up on these little nuances.  He knows right away there’s a lot she’s keeping from him.

The book became a game of cat and mouse by accident.  And it is this tension between the two characters that drives it forward.  I hope you love Patrick and Angie as much as loved writing about them.

* * * *

Want to win a copy of Leather and Lace?

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win an ebook from author Erica Sutherhome.

* * * *

Be sure to drop by tomorrow for excerpts from Leather and Lace.

Until then, here’s a little snippet for you:

“Are you seducing me?”

 

 

Promo on Seasons on Love

Leather and Lace by Erica Sutherhome

christinacoleromance ♦ March 6, 2014 

When Detective Dreyling sees Evangeline Lewis standing over a dead body, his whole life changes. Determined to not only find out what she knows about the crime but also to make her his, he will go to any lengths, even bribe her boss, to have more time with her.

Angie fights the overwhelming desire she feels for Patrick, but there are some things in this world you can’t fight. There are rare kinds of attraction. No matter how much she tries to keep her heart from him, she can’t help the feelings that strike her.

What makes it all harder is the secret she keeps from him, the reason she has put herself in some pretty bad situations. Can she come clean with him in time or will the lie destroy any chance they have at happiness?

Little Teaser for LEATHER AND LACE on Christina Cole's Seasons of Love blog

Thank you, Erica Sutherhome!

christinacoleromance ♦ March 5, 2014

It’s a crazy week here at Seasons of Love…and a crazy week for me at home, as well. In the midst of all the craziness, Erica Sutherhome stepped in to share one of her books with readers.



Here’s what she has to say about Leather and Lace:

"I totally admire Angie in this book.  She is a strong woman who does everything she can to survive.  It is very hard for her to let someone in after being on her own for so long.  Not to mention she has a lot of secrets.  Angie has been described by readers as a woman who “keeps her lover on his toes”.  I find that to be a pretty apt description."

Tomorrow, Erica will be back with more about the story, and I’ll have information on a giveaway she’ll be doing.
On Friday, watch for Erica’s feature post about “keeping secrets”.

For now, here’s a little snip of dialogue to arouse your curiosity:

“Who said anything about sleeping?”

Salute to Women

March is International Women’s Month so I wanted to talk about women.  Yes, we all read romances for not only the love angle, but the hunky men.  Some of us even like those alpha males.   

But, let’s not forget the women either.  I don’t know about you, but I like to read about strong female leads.  There’s nothing more satisfying for the feminist in me than to see a chick put a guy in his place.  Take that, you misogynistic jerk!  LOL.

 

What romance novels or movies come to your mind when you think of strong female characters?  I have been on a paranormal romance/urban fantasy kick of late so I think of some pretty strong female leads in J.R. Ward’s The Black Dagger Brotherhood series.  Heroines like Jane, Xhex or Payne…man, those ladies can kick butt.  And they are matched with equally strong males.  Oh, and Merit from Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series?  She is awesome.

This subject also makes me think of females who may not only be physically strong, but strong mentally.  They are matches for their males as well.  What is sexier than a woman who can take over a boardroom?   Or how about a woman in any male-dominated profession?  Or more simply, one who debates with her man about current events or politics.  I think we like to see strong female characters as much as we like those strong men in books or movies.  And I think a complex character falls into that category.  

Let’s think of real life.  Real women.  I respect women who can do multiple things in their lives -  run a home, have a career, take care of their kids.  Single mothers have my vote too.   

But, I think we don’t stop to think of the cost of everything.  Life takes its toll. Stress can wear you down.  So, for all of those strong women out there, take a breath.  Sometimes it’s a thankless job being a woman, isn’t it?   We have a tendency to just try to handle everything, to hold it all in.  Occasionally, we have moments where we can relax and let the stressors of the day flow out of us.  But, I bet that doesn’t happen often.  

If you can take a few moments for yourself, at least five minutes, to take some deep breaths and think of nothing, do it.   If you can manage to carve out more time for yourself somehow, by leaving the kids with the man or someone else for thirty minutes to an hour, do something for yourself.  Read a book you haven’t gotten around to reading.  Take a bubble bath.  Do a spa treatment.  Do something you love.  Pamper yourself.  Because we’re women and we have needs.  No…not that kind.  LOL.  But, we have the right to be ourselves, to be women without responsibilities for a time, to recognize that we are important too.

And if there any men reading this, I apologize for alienating you.  But, take heart.  Worship your women.  Appreciate them.  Do something nice for the woman in your life.  She’ll realize you appreciate all that she does.

So, this is a salute to all women out there.   

You are all amazing at whatever you do, and I appreciate you.  Let’s try to take those moments to appreciate ourselves as well, hmm?

In relation to this, I am going to post a teaser from my book Leather and Lace, currently published under the pen name Erica Sutherhome.  Angie is a strong female character willing to stand up to her man and stand up for her beliefs, and in writing about her, I think she took a piece of my heart.   I had one reviewer love this story because the heroine “keeps her lover on his toes”.  Here it is:

As he looked around the room, he could see several women dancing around poles. Others were scattered around the edges of the room, offering lap dances to customers.  The men were eager to shove bills into the dancers’ lingerie, grabbing what they could before a bouncer stepped in. There was one positive thing he knew about such establishments. The dancers were usually pretty protected, at least as long as the club’s owner felt the safety of the strippers was necessary. Since he did not know much about this club, he could not vouch for its security.

Atop one table, he finally spotted her.  Her long, brown curls fell down her back, nearly to the middle, where the hooks of her bra lay.  She wore red lacey fabric for lingerie along with thigh-length red fishnet hose, and her feet were strapped into red high heels.  Her steps were purposeful, seductive, and she was serious in her task.  Her dark brown eyes were also alluring. The makeup she wore was not heavy, but applied precisely to add a dramatic effect to her appearance.  She looked sexy yet mysterious, the way she had seemed before.  His groin tightened in response and his mouth went dry.  Satisfied that his equipment was working well, he casually inspected her.

It was her eyes that gave her away.  She was angry beneath that seductive exterior.  He wondered who she was angry with. Or, was it something she was upset about?  Was she dissatisfied with her job?  Was she angry at herself for having to resort to such a profession?  He didn’t know, but he wanted to. No, he needed to know.  He would not be able to let it go until he did know what was bothering her, how she truly felt about her job.

Suddenly, a man grabbed her hard and she stumbled into his lap.  “Come on, baby.  Make it good for me.”

Instead of screaming, she smiled.

There was something in that smile, Patrick realized.  A strange sensation ran over his body.

The woman managed to elbow the jerk in the face, then struggled back on the table.  With a well placed heel in the man’s chest, she nodded to the door. One of the bouncers shortly hauled her assailant out of the club.

Patrick was relieved. He would have stepped in, but he knew she would have recognized him.  He was only going to give it another few seconds longer, but she had handled herself.  A strange sense of pride moved through him. 

LEATHER AND LACE Chapter 6 Excerpt on Eat Sleep Write

Leather and Lace - Chapter 6 by Erica Sutherhome
February 8, 2014
posted by Adam Scull

Angie’s eyes opened slowly. The room came into focus. Patrick had decorated it in the masculine colors of dark gray and burgundy, and it was a still a pleasant room. He kept it clean, which was surprising to her. She had no brothers, but she had seen a couple of college dorm rooms that were pretty scary.
The morning light drifted through the blinds, waking her further. There was a warmth spreading over her backside and just across her middle. She was tempted to bask in just being held like this. Several days ago, she might have panicked at the intimacy. What was it about being wanted by someone that made it so compelling? She looked down at the arm resting over her belly. It was muscled and lightly sprinkled with hair. They were so different, she mused. He all hard planes and power, she with her slighter form and vulnerable. Angie didn’t admit it easily, but she knew she was vulnerable against him. Patrick could hurt her easily. He was much stronger. And yet, there was something about him that drew her to him. He was more than just power, more than his wealth. He was a good man.
She sat up and turned to look at him. Patrick’s eyes were closed in sleep, almost lending an innocence to his face. Angie traced the rest of his body with her gaze, reveling in his hard muscles and lines, everything that had brought her such pleasure the previous night. Without conscious thought, she lowered her lips to the tight muscle of his bicep. When she drew away, he still slept.
She thought of how far they’d come in the week since they’d met, or rather how much she’d changed. As she looked at him, her chest ached a little. She knew it could head no place good. Her defenses were crumbling and she was helpless to stop it. She knew she felt different. She felt more for him in the span of a week than she’d ever felt in a night with another man. He was her ultimate weakness. He’d brought out passion in her, something she hadn’t realized was missing in her life. He made her feel with his claims that he wanted more than the physical. It would be idiocy to let it go on.
Resolved, Angie rose and steeled herself against turning back. She took a shower. She told herself she was leaving. If her heart clenched at the idea, she swallowed past the lump in her throat. After she was finished with her shower, she toweled off and dressed. She ran a brush through her hair and prepared to leave the house quietly. When she began to amble down the hallway on her tiptoes, she jumped when the front door opened.
Patrick came in and grinned upon seeing her. “Good morning,” he said and kissed her. “I brought rations.”
She released an unsteady breath as he swept past her. Curious, she followed him to the dining room, where he set a bag down. He delved inside and brought out two coffees and two huge blueberry muffins. Her stomach growled.
Patrick laughed. “I can fix some eggs too, if you like.”
“No, this is fine. Thank you.”
He smiled. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“You did.” The thoughtful gesture moved her more than she cared to admit.
“Please…sit down.”
Angie did. She sipped at the coffee and ate the giant muffin quietly. When she realized where she was, her cheeks flamed. Images of her lying across the table while Patrick devoured her like a gourmet meal came to mind. She closed her eyes.
“You all right, Angie?”
Her eyes flew open. His blue gaze was disconcerting. “Yes, of course.”
“You should play hooky today,” he commented.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I have to work.”
He glanced away, but she could tell he was disappointed.
“I’ll come back tonight,” she promised.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
She nodded, then finished her coffee and muffin. Then she rose and crossed to his side of the table, where she kissed his cheek. “I really have to go.”
Patrick nodded. “I’ll see you later then.”
Angie began to leave, but turned back to glance at him. “Thank you for breakfast.”
“Anytime, Sweetheart.”
She quickly walked out of the room and left the house. She got in her car and took a few deep breaths. Why did he have to be so wonderful?

****
Patrick spent the evening alone. He had hoped Angie would arrive earlier, but she hadn’t. He imagined she was working. Eventually, he gave up and dressed down. Actually, he was ready to go to a bar and get a beer, convinced she wasn’t coming. He was just about to grab his leather jacket when the doorbell rang. He checked the clock. It was ten-thirty. With a shrug, he went to get it.
Angie was standing there with a hand propped on the frame of the door as he opened it.
“Hello,” he offered.
“Hi.”
“Did you just get off of work?”
She nodded. “Almost an hour ago.” She was wearing a long sleeved black dress that hugged her curves. It stopped mid-thigh and she wore tall, black velvet high-heeled boots. She also carried a small black purse.
His mouth was suddenly dry. “Ah…please come in.”
“Sure.” Angie eased past him, teasing him with her heady fragrance.
Patrick closed the door. When he saw her head for the living room, he went after her like a dog on a trail. For God’s sake, why did she have to be so seductive? He tried not to imagine all of the men who’d watched her or touched her at the club tonight. Of course, he wanted to do permanent damage to them all. It was her job, he reminded himself. She wasn’t going to quit it on his account.
“Do you want some wine?” he asked her in an attempt to distract himself.
She smiled slowly. “Actually, I think I will. I’m starting to like red. Like you.”
“Yeah. That’s my favorite.” He felt a little ridiculous with what he’d said so he left the room to pour the wine. When he returned, she was checking out his CD collection. He handed her the glass and she murmured a thank you. He watched her sip the wine, gazed at the line of her perfect throat. More than anything, Patrick wanted to put his hands on her, to erase any of the terrible memories she had of other men. He imagined there were quite a lot. He knew her sexual experience was limited, despite her profession. That protective instinct kicked in again.
Mine, his mind screamed. But, Angie was an independent woman. She didn’t want to be owned. She might not even want him that way. She might not want a relationship. He was serious about her, he realized. His throat grew tight. So did his chest. When the impact of his feelings finally hit him, he wasn’t prepared. With wide eyes, he gazed at her back. She might not want what he was willing to give. This was getting complicated.
“We have some of the same tastes in music,” she observed in her soft voice.
His lids slammed closed. He realized he could listen to her for hours and not get bored. He loved hearing her laugh. He loved…
He cleared his throat. “That’s good though. Right?”
“Hmm.”
Her noncommittal reply left him feeling hollow.
“I brought something for tonight. I’ll go change.”
“Angie.”
She turned to face him. “Yes?”
Patrick shook his head. “You don’t have to. I told you the money doesn’t matter. The job doesn’t. You don’t have to-“
“Don’t be silly. I want to do this. I enjoy…I enjoy this.”
“Oh.” He gripped the stem of his wineglass and forced himself to relax before it shattered. “All right.”
He watched her leave the room, then drank down the entire glass of wine. He was going to need it. He couldn’t seem to get his head straight around her.
Five minutes later, Angie returned, dressed in a black baby doll dress tied at the center with a white bow. She wore a matching g-string and had kept her boots on.
Patrick approached her and lifted her chin. Then he put his mouth on hers, gently moving his lips. He detected a slight tremble beneath him as he applied more pressure. When he heard her sigh, he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close. Then he slipped his tongue in her mouth, caressing hers just as gently as he had her lips.
She moaned. “Patrick,” she whispered.
“Yes?”
“Are you seducing me?”
He chuckled. “How am I doing?”
“Mmm…” She tilted her neck back and he raced his lips over her throat, inhaling her delicate scent. “I wanted to dance for you.”
“Yeah?” He kissed her neck. “We still can.”
“Okay.” She stepped away and looked at him.
He accepted her gaze upon him even though it was hell to his libido.
“I can still dance for you?”
Patrick nodded.
“Good. Then are you coming?” Angie asked huskily.
He frowned, but then finally realized what she meant. He followed her down the hall to the bedroom.

(This section has been cut for the excerpt on the site.)

“Tell me what it is you want, Angie,” he whispered.
Her lashes fluttered as he leaned over her. “You know what I want,” she said softly.
“Can you finally admit what it is you hate to admit then?”
Angie arched a bit as he moved a hand from her belly up between her breasts. “I want you,” she hissed.
“That’s funny. It seems we have some sort of agreement. Will you stop denying it then?”
She nodded.
He was floored for a moment. He had expected the game to continue. What was she playing at?

LEATHER AND LACE Chapter 5 Excerpt on Eat Sleep Write

*This originally posted here.

Leather and Lace - Chapter 5 by Erica Sutherhome
posted by Adam Scull
January 23, 2014

Angie finished her errands and returned to her one bedroom apartment.  It had all the basics, of course, with a small kitchenette, sitting area and a bathroom, but little else. She still hadn’t scraped enough together to buy a decent computer like she’d had before…no, she wouldn’t think of that now.

She took a shower, and did her hair and makeup carefully.  Tonight was a date, not the club.  She wanted a natural look.  With a secret smile, she chose her lingerie, then donned a long, cobalt blue, but soft maxi dress.  She went for black strappy sandals and a matching purse, and included a like-colored shawl.  Now she was ready.  She left the apartment, drove to Patrick’s house and rang the doorbell.  It was seven-thirty.  She was a punctual girl.

When the door opened, Angie saw that Patrick was dressed stylishly in a dark blue pin-striped dress shirt and black dress pants.  She wondered if he ever dressed down or relaxed.  His dark, layered hair was styled perfectly tonight, unlike the bed-mussed look he’d sported that morning.  She realized she liked it both ways.

She noticed she was staring and smiled.  “Hello, Patrick.”

“Angie…”  The word came out like a groan.  “God, you look amazing.”

“Thank you.” She felt the flutter of nerves and, baffled by it, she tried to get her breath back.  “Are you ready?”

He nodded.  “Just one moment.”

He was gone for no more than a few seconds.  When he returned, he had shrugged into a black dinner jacket.  And there was one thing more.  He held a single red rose out to her. 

Her breath caught, and she was oddly charmed by the gesture.  “Oh, Patrick.  Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome.”

She took the rose and inhaled its sweet fragrance.  “This is lovely.  Can we put it in a vase?”

“Of course.” He opened the door and she accompanied him inside.  They found a vase, filled it with water, set the rose inside and stood back to admire it.  “Shall we?” he asked.

“Of course,” she replied and followed him out.

Patrick closed the front door, then with a hand on her back, he urged her towards his car.  It was a black sedan, not luxury like she’d suspected, but still fairly new.  He opened the passenger door for her and she got in.  After he climbed in, started the car and pulled away from the curb, he flipped the music on.  Fireflight’s “Wrapped in Your Arms” came on, and startled eyes flew to him.  But, his gaze was on the road, his face composed. 

It was the same kind of music she listened to when she wanted to relax. Fireflight was one of her favorite bands. When she was feeling moody and reckless, she listened to the hard beat of the alternative songs to bring herself down.  This one, however, was softer, one that her romantic’s heart secretly yearned for.  She imagined it was a story about a love so true, it even stood the test of time.  She shook the thought away and tried to ignore the pull of the emotional lyrics.

She cleared her throat. “Where are we going?”

“I thought we’d do Italian.  You like Italian?”

“Yes, that’s fine.” She looked away, out at the quick flash of headlights from other cars that passed by.

“You seem quiet,” he commented.

 “So do you.”

He chuckled.  “You may be right.”  He cleared his throat.  “Did you go to work today?”

She shook her head.  “There really isn’t much of a crowd during the day.  The money is in the evening.”

“So it is,” he said softly.

The silence that passed was awkward as hell.

Angie worried her hands in her lap. “Was this a mistake?”

He frowned, sparing her a glance before he looked at the road again. “What do you mean?”

“You said you were interested.”

“I am.”

“But, we’re mixing business with pleasure.”

“If I’m not mistaken, your profession is all about pleasure.”

She gasped.  She couldn’t think of a reason why she should feel hurt by his comment. “You’re right. Of course.”

“Forgive me, Angie.  It’s not just about that.”

“It’s not?” she asked after a moment. “It seems pretty awkward right now. If there was more than sex, wouldn’t we have known that by now?”

Patrick was silent for a moment while she looked anywhere but his tempting presence.  “I know it doesn’t seem like it.  But, you’re not as removed as you pretend to be.  I’m a cop, Sweetheart.  I read people.  And there’s a lot more than surface to you.  Just as there’s more to me than money.”
            Angie grimaced.  “I didn’t mean to imply-“

“Of course you did.  But, I understand.  Let’s just put that behind us and try to enjoy the evening.  I want to know more about you, Angie, but I’ll give you time if that’s what you need.”

Gratitude moved through her.  She reached out to squeeze his free hand.  “Thank you.”  Willing to try, she turned the music down a little.  “So, you like Fireflight?”

He smiled and nodded.

“Me too.”

“See?  Maybe we have some things in common after all.”

“We’re both stubborn?” she quipped.

Patrick laughed, and her heart felt much lighter all of a sudden.  “There is that,” he agreed.

 Angie relaxed.

When the car slowed, Patrick parked near a two hour parking sign.  They exited the car and he took her hand as they crossed the street.  Angie couldn’t dismiss that strange flutter of nerves that returned.  She thought it might be some kind of exhilaration. 

When they stepped up to the restaurant, she could tell it was housed in one of the old brick buildings in Beacon Hill.  Ristorante Toscano was outlined in shiny black paint, and the word “Toscano” was large, drawing customers in.  The letters were painted yellow and there were two lovely symbols on each side of the word.  They reminded Angie of a fleur-de-lis.  Once inside, the din of a busy restaurant was evident.  When Patrick gave his name, they were seated promptly.  On the way to the table, her heels clicked on the wooden floor, creating a strange echo. 

The pleasant smell of Italian food wafted about.  The tables were cozy with white tablecloths and high-backed chairs outfitted in leather padding.  The décor encompassed the building’s architecture, drawing on the brick of the walls.  On the ceiling were large, random lights with an antique color and scrolled ironwork that offered an intimacy to the atmosphere.  In the middle of the restaurant a glass case sat, housing all types of wine.  Behind Angie’s seat on the wall was a circular mirror ringed in black with gold decorative accents.  It was all quite impressive.

A waiter filled their water glasses as they perused the menu. “Would you like some wine with your meal?”

Patrick’s gaze went to her.

Angie smiled.  “Of course.”

He returned her smile.  “The lady has spoken.  We will have a bottle of your Rosato Scalabrone.”

“Very good, Sir.”  The waiter left.

“You seem to know your wine,” she commented.

“I like it well enough.  This is a good restaurant too.”

She had to bite back the urge to ask if he’d been here with a girlfriend.  “Good.”

Soon, their wine glasses were filled and after sipping, they ordered. They asked for bruschetta for an appetizer and ordered Pappa al Pomodoro, or a tomato bread soup. Angie ordered wild mushroom risotto while Patrick took a chance on the sea scallops.  He also ordered broccoli on the side for them to share.

It was a pleasant meal.  During their soup course, she worked up the nerve to ask about Patrick’s romantic past.

He smiled.  “I’ve only dated a few women.  Some in college, one a couple of years back.”

“That sounds serious.”

“Hmm.  Well, it seemed like it for awhile.  The problem was she didn’t respect my job, or that I would want it.”

She nodded.  “Clearly you like being a detective.”

“Oh, I do.  It’s not always exciting.  A lot of it is paperwork.”

“Then what is it that compels you to do it?”

He sighed.  “You’ll laugh.”

“No, I won’t.  It’s important to you.  I understand that.”

Patrick nodded. “I like the puzzle, figuring out what happened. Justice doesn’t hurt either.”

            “Oh.” It crossed her mind that she might be his current puzzle he was working on, but she brushed it aside.  He had asked her out, but it was no more than a dalliance.  They were simply enjoying each other for now.  “Well, I’m glad you like your job.  So many people are unhappy in their professions.”

            “Including you?”

            Angie sighed.  “It’s not always easy.”

            There was a weird moment of silence.

            “If you weren’t working where you are now, what would you want to do? Another kind of dancing?”

            She shook her head. “It’s fun sometimes, but it mostly pays the bills, like you said.  No, I might do art.”

            “Art?”

            Angie nodded. “That was my hobby when I was growing up.  I was always sketching or painting.  I…” she drifted off, aware that she was saying too much.

            “Do you still do that?”

            She shook her head.

            “Well, why not?”

            “I don’t know.  I guess I didn’t see any point.  The colors aren’t there anymore.”

            When he blinked, she laughed. “That probably sounds crazy.”

            “No, it doesn’t.  But, if you don’t follow your passion, you won’t be happy.”

            She appreciated the sentiment, but it wasn’t realistic right now for her.

            “Angie, would you do something for me?”

            “What?”

            “If you’re ever in situation that seems dangerous, something you can’t handle, would you call me?”

            “I have pepper spray,” she protested.

            “That won’t help in every case.”

            She knew he was right.  “All right.”

            Patrick dug in his wallet and handed her his business card. “That lower one? That’s my cell phone. You call me any time, night or day, and I promise I’ll answer.”

            “Thank you,” she whispered. It really meant a lot that he was willing to protect her. Once more, she had to struggle to get her breath back. 

            “So, what about you?”

            “Hmm?” she wondered distractedly.  She took a sip of wine.

            “Have you dated much?”

            Angie shook her head. “I’m twenty-seven, and I haven’t had a long term relationship. When I was in school, I dated some guys. It didn’t really go anywhere. I don’t think they were looking for permanence.”

            “I’m sorry.”

            “Yeah. It’s okay. I’m over it.”

            He lifted a brow like he didn’t believe her.  “So…you were in college.”

            “I was.  Not anymore.”

            “I see.”

            But, he couldn’t. No one would understand why she dropped out. She’d simply had no choice.

            The rest of their food arrived, breaking the awkward moment. Angie’s risotto was to die for, and she even snagged a couple of Patrick’s scallops.  She had to admit everything was cooked to perfection. After Patrick paid, they left the restaurant.  The night was mild enough that she didn’t need a coat, and she could see the stars up in the night sky.  There was something very romantic about it all.  The sounds of an Italian opera song streamed out through the open doors of the restaurant.

            Patrick took her in his arms, drew her close to his chest.  They swayed to the beautiful music for awhile until he touched his lips to hers. Tongues danced lightly and she felt a little lightheaded with the sensation. When he drew away, he smiled.  Words weren’t necessary, it seemed.  He took her hand and led her back to the car.

            The car started and she was treated to more Fireflight.  She smiled at him.

            For dessert, Patrick took her for ice cream at the Ben & Jerry’s on Park Plaza. She went for chocolate fudge brownie for she loved chocolate. Patrick ordered cherry Garcia.  They licked at the cones in silence as families with rambunctious children poured in around them.  At one point, Patrick took a napkin and wiped her chin, where some ice cream had dripped.  She could only laugh.  That awkwardness had been chased away somehow. 

Afterwards, they went to a theater nearby, where they saw an action movie. During the particularly intense scenes, Patrick held her hand.  More than anything, she wanted to curl up against him. Did they have that kind of relationship? She wasn’t sure. She didn’t have the experience to know that. She just knew that, despite her attempts to remain professional with him, she was failing.  She was starting to like him a lot.  She couldn’t count how many times he’d made her laugh tonight, whether it was when he was teasing her about something or telling her about his mishaps as a rookie with the department. 

Patrick chose that moment to squeeze her hand.  She looked at him.  His bright blue eyes cut through her. 

Dear God, she thought.  She was in a lot of trouble.