Blurb:
Tabitha Bell is the face of Chicago’s premiere matchmaking
service. At least, she hopes it will be someday, once business really takes
off. What she needs is more clients, so when she meets a sexy gamer in need of
help, it’s the perfect opportunity.
His discomfort talking to women almost cost Drew Watson his job.
He’d be happy holed up in his office, designing blockbuster video games, but
his boss considers talking to investors a nonnegotiable requirement. Who better
than a matchmaker to teach him how to be comfortable around the opposite sex?
Trouble is, Drew wants to get more than comfortable with
Tabitha, while she’s determined to keep their relationship all business.
Soon Tabitha learns that beneath the geek-chic hoodie lies six
feet of sexy physique—and the more time she spends with Drew, the more she
appreciates his brainy brand of charm. Will she succumb to his sweet-but-nerdy
charm offensive or will it be game over before he can win her heart?
Excerpt:
He padded across the beige carpet in bare feet.
Amazing how intimately naked a man could look in a polo shirt, jeans, and bare
feet. Drew knelt by the side of the divan. Took her hand in his and dropped a
soft kiss dead center between her wrist and oval opal ring on her middle
finger.
“I’d rather tell you that you’re beautiful.
Every time I look at you, it’s like a sucker punch straight to my dick. But I’ll
also admit that your mind’s as stacked as your body. So yeah, you’re brilliant.”
Tabitha gaped. She knew it because she felt the
air cut across her tongue as she dragged in a surprised breath. Sure, they’d
kissed. And she’d gotten no sleep for two nights replaying the kiss. Trying to
figure out what it meant and what to do next. But she hadn’t expected Drew to
so boldly move things forward. Not the man who believed so strongly—and so
wrongly—that he was invisible to women. Unless….he didn’t mean it. Unless the
straight-A student wanted to be sure he took home a gold star for the night.
She tossed her hair back and sat up a little straighter.
“That’s quite a compliment. But much like
earlier, wholly unnecessary. I saw how well you loosened up. How well you
interacted with Ashley and Tara and Kate. You don’t have to prove anything to
me.”
“Don’t I?” He rubbed a finger lightly across her
palm. That barest of touches sent erotic lightning bolts through her body. “I
think I do. First, I had to prove that I could handle your friends. Now, I’d
like to prove how well I can handle you.”
Part of Tabitha wanted to strip off her clothes
right then and there. Offer herself up to him on a silver platter. But the
other part of her still couldn’t quite believe the transformation. Didn’t trust
the validity of this new, alpha version of Drew. Even though it was the man she’d
seen inside him all along.
“I thought you were only this sure of yourself
on a track or behind a computer,” she tried to joke. Instead, it came out
squeaky and breathy. Because he was still doing that stroking thing on her hand
and it made Tabitha want to simply writhe.
“That’s all you’ve seen. Doesn’t mean that’s all
there is. I’m sure of myself, most comfortable doing things I’m good at. And
let me assure you, Tabitha, I excel at sex.”
His oddly blunt delivery might turn off other
women. But for Tabitha, his cocky honesty was one heck of a turn-on. Just like
every single little thing she discovered about Drew. “Prove it,” she said
recklessly.
Next thing she knew, Drew was draped half on top
of her. One hand cradled her scalp. The other pulled at her back, lifting her
off the round cushion and into his body. And his mouth—well, it took hers. No
sweet, gentle exploration. His tongue ravaged hers, delving into every nook and
cranny with long, sweeping licks that brought every inch of her body to a state
of need and want within moments.
Bio: Christi Barth earned
a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A
love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she
succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance.
Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives
in Maryland with her husband. A Matchless Romance is book 4 in her
award-winning Aisle
Bound series.