Today I'd like to welcome Lila Munro and say Happy Anniversary to Private Pirouette!!
Private
Pirouette had been sitting for about a year finished before I turned it loose
and passed it into the hands of Jenn over at Rebel Ink Press. I had so many
irons in the fire it had been shoved to the bottom of the pile more than once.
Originally it was slated to be a series, but was ultimately released as a
stand-alone. One of the reasons it was shoved to the bottom of the pile so many
times was book 2 Private Impropriety wasn’t going so well and I doubted it
would ever make it off the drawing board as more than an idea. Not a few days
after Private Pirouette debuted, however, reader demands started coming in as
to what was going to happen to the other two heroes, Chaney and Brady.
Okay,
maybe there would be a book two…then again maybe not. I dragged it out and
started working on it, to no avail. It still wasn’t right. Book 2 is Chaney’s
story and I had him originally paired with the Jenni, one of Piper’s friends.
The problem with Jenni is she’s just too much of a mess. I know right? The
queen of conflict and realmantic having issues with someone with too much baggage? Never thought you’d
see that one huh? While preparing the promo pack for Private Pirouette, I went
through my files and guess what caught my attention? Yes, Private Impropriety
hopped out at me. However, I think I’ve since found the problem—a huge one
actually which will nearly require a complete and total rewrite, but one I’m
willing to deal with if this story can get off the ground. It seems Chaney is
better fitted to Piper’s sister Lacey—there is a scene in Private Pirouette
when it seems they may hit it off, but then the nearly absent father of Lacey’s
baby reappears and puts the brakes on that…I’m thinking that little pipsqueak
needs to go. He’s a loser and Chaney would make a great husband and daddy…we
shall see…I know this will make my readers happy to finally get their hands on
book 2.
In
the meantime, Private Pirouette can be
yours for a mere $0.99 from Amazon September
16-18…Come watch the dance readers
fell in love with and so did Alec…
Piper McGee can smell a set up a
mile away. She can smell a Marine even further. Born to a dual-enlisted couple
who divorced before she was old enough to remember a single family holiday
together and proceeded to redefine the very definition of family through
several marriages and even more step-siblings, Piper has made it her life’s
promise to herself to never become involved with one of the few and the proud.
They’re among the most irresponsible people she knows, leaving destruction in
their wake and broken hearts paving the way to their next duty station. And in
her opinion, Alec Douglas is just another example, until he pries her heart
open along with other parts of her, making her question everything she's ever
let herself believe about honor, courage, and commitment.
What does a man do with six month’s down time and no warm body to share his
bed? For Sergeant Alec Douglas, contemplating that question led him to fall
prey to his two best friend’s plan to find him that very thing. They know Alec
has yet to stay with any one person for more than a few dates. They also know a
tragedy from his past created the problem and while that haunts him, making it
nearly impossible for Alec to trust his heart to anyone, they also know he’s a
sucker for a challenge. Will the enticement of a few thousand dollars riding on
him breaking his own rule be just the thing to break his cycle? Taking their
bet might be profitable, but is winning the money they’ve dangled under Alec’s
nose worth losing himself to the girl they’ve picked out for him?
In his quest to get her to say yes to his crazy proposal, he tracks her all
over town only to discover the beautiful, long-legged blond isn’t the studious
book worm he mistook her for. In fact, she's one of Jacksonville’s finest in
the form of Orchid, exotic dancer. Her rejection only spurs him to make sure
her dancing days are over and she only performs her private pirouette for him,
and only him, for the rest of their lives if he has his way.
Please enjoy an excerpt:
With all the shades
drawn in her tiny apartment, it was still relatively dark at nine when Piper
left her bed. After a quick shower, she
slipped on her soft worn robe and padded into the kitchen to start her day with
her usual Coke Zero and chocolate glazed donut.
Alec was lying on her couch on his back with one foot on the floor, one
arm dangling beside him, and his mouth hanging open. She wanted to make a lot of noise just to
irritate him, but then had second thoughts.
As long as he slept, she could sit in the chair beside the tiny couch
and stare at how good looking he was.
Too bad he was a
Marine. He was definitely someone she
could grow accustomed to looking at. In
the dim light of the room, the auburn stubble running over his jaw only added
to his rugged handsomeness. She caught
herself staring at his lips, trying to remember the last time she’d been
kissed. Had it been so long she couldn’t
recall? God, how she needed a life. Just not at the expense of her goals.
She was putting her
empty bottle in the recycle bin sitting near the door when she heard her guest
stir and groan. Served him right. He
should be miserable.
“Oh, shit.” He moaned
and rubbed his head.
“Good morning, Prince
Charming,” Piper whispered, leaning over him. “It’s time for Orchid to get
ready for work. Therefore, you need to
get up so I can drop you off on my way.”
His eyes flew open and
darted around, finally focusing on her face just inches from his.
“In case you forgot,
I’m Piper, AKA Orchid, and you’re two first names—Alec Douglas.”
“Yes, I remember who
you are and my own name.” He eased up and sat back with his hands on his head.
“You wouldn’t happen to have something for a headache around here would you?”
Piper disappeared and
came back with two red and blue capsules and a glass of water.
“What, are you
rationing?” His nose twisted up and he sounded annoyed.
“No, that’s how much
one should take.” She sat in the chair again and pulled her legs up under her.
“Okay, now explain this plan of yours to me thoroughly.”
“What plan?”
“Your plan to make me
almost rich by the end of the year.”
“Did we discuss
that? Is that why I’m here? Which is where by the way?” With the glass
empty, Alec got up, made his way around the couch, and wandered into the tiny
galley kitchen behind it.
“This is my apartment
and yes, we discussed it. You’re here
because you threw up in my car last night and weren’t able to tell me where you
live.”
Alec shook his head,
drank another glass of water, and filled the tumbler again. “It’s very simple
really. Chaney and Brady each put up a
month’s pay to be turned over to me once I complete the mission, which is stay
with one girl for six months before we deploy again. That’s where you come in. They picked you at
the restaurant yesterday.” He sat once again. “Simple enough, you pretend to be
my girlfriend until then and we win an easy fifteen hundred each.”
“What’s wrong with
you?” Piper accused.
“Excuse me?” Alec
said, scrunching his eyebrows together.
“I said…What? Is?
Wrong? With? You?” she repeated slowly as if talking to a child. “Aside from
either you can’t hear from too much artillery fire or you have a problem paying
attention.”
“There’s nothing wrong
with me,” he defended.
“Then why? Why do you
need them to choose someone and what’s the problem they can’t believe you’d
stay with someone for that long? Are you a man whore?” Piper accused, tapping
one foot waiting for his answer.
“I…um…I’ve never
stayed with one person for longer than a few dates,” he admitted.
“So you are a man whore,” she concluded.
Thanks
for spending a few of your realmantic moments with me, Alec, and Piper
today…happy reading!
