Southern Diva Network

TITLE: The Past Between Them

AUTHOR: Stephanie Morris

AUTHOR URL: http://www.stephaniemorris.webs.com

GENRE/THEME: Contemporary African American Romance

PUBLISHER: Sugar and Spice Press

URL TO THE BUYING PAGE:

http://www.sugarnspicepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=77

EXCERPT RATING: PG-13

BLURB:

Tovah Warren is devastated when she loses her father. Things get worse when she loses her job. Just when it seems that the world is already crashing down around her, the attorney of her father’s nemesis’ son shows up on her doorstep insisting that her father still owes money to Jefferson Incorporated. With the all the bad blood between the Warrens and the Jefferson’s, Tovah can’t be sure if this is just another underhanded ploy or not. What she does know is that she isn’t going to pay Cordell Jefferson one penny. The debt is her father’s, not hers.

Cordell Jefferson is infuriated when his attorney returns with the torn pieces of a notification to Tovah Warren informing her of the debt that her father still owes to his company. Their families have been feuding for decades, but that wasn’t his concern. He wants to collect the money owed to his company and move on to the next debt. Tovah makes it clear that she doesn’t plan to cooperate. Cordell decides to take matters into his own hands, only the instant he meets her, the reason he wants her to cooperate changes…

Excerpt:

“Tovah Warren?”

His voice sent little shivers through her. It sounded every bit as refined and sexy as he looked. The time that had passed since that day when she had watched him playing basketball had only enhanced his appeal. What had once been youthful good looks had matured into breathtakingly handsome features combined with a captivating appeal that reached her on the most primal level. And his eyes…she couldn’t remember those milk chocolates being so intense. They were the type of eyes that could delve into the very core of a person’s existence and uncover the innermost secrets hidden there. A sudden shortness of breath took her by surprise. It was easy to see why so many women fell all over themselves in an attempt to get close to him. She shook away the unwanted thoughts and tried her best to rein in her rush of sexual excitement.

“Yes, I’m Tovah Warren.”

Calm down, girl, breathe slowly. He is only a man.

Her instructions to herself went by the wayside when his gaze traveled from her face down her body to her feet, then slowly moved upward, caressing her from her bare legs to her face again. There was no mistaking the sensual look that covered his face. It was an expression that said he liked what he saw. It was the sort of look that made her feel naked and exposed while offering the promise of unspeakable pleasures.

If only she had known he was going to show up at her place. She would have changed out of the beige cotton slip dress and slipped her bare feet into a pair of sandals. If she had changed clothes, maybe she wouldn’t feel as if he was studying every curve of her body. A shocking jolt of excitement hit her—a sensation as frightening as it was undeniably lustful.

"I’m Cordell Jefferson.”

It was a struggle, but she found her voice. Still she couldn’t keep the contempt out of her voice when she spoke. “I know exactly who you are.”

Surprise flickered across his face, then rapidly disappeared. “You were quite rude to my attorney earlier. In fact, Jack stated it was the first time a woman instilled fear within him. I’m afraid your actions have left me with no choice but to take matters into my own hands.” He studied her for a long moment, and then the corners of his mouth curled upward…a heart-stopping, sexy smile that emphasized perfect white teeth in sharp contrast to the mahogany hue of his face. “It seems we have some pressing business to wrap up.”

She couldn’t prevent the immediate sharp intake of breath as a response to his smile, his closeness to her and the overwhelming strength of his masculinity. It took every ounce of her inner fortitude to maintain a minuscule amount of self-control while responding to his statement. “No, I believe you are mistaken. We don’t have anything to discuss.”

“Oh, we most certainly do, Ms. Warren.” He completed another blatant scan of her physical attributes, head-to-toe before recapturing eye contact with her. “We have quite a bit to talk about.”

The sensual shimmer in his gaze frightened her as much as it excited her. Her poise slipped away quicker than she could keep hold of it. The last thing she wanted to do was come across as uncertain or wavering in front of Cordell Jefferson.

“May I come in?”