Title: Bygones Be Damned
Author: Jules Parker
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher The Wild Rose Press
Book Blurb:
Facing years in prison, Marcelina Page leaves her fate in the hands of her sexy, tough-as-nails lawyer, Walker Bishop. But she’s holding back a secret past that may ruin her chances in court...and her chances with Walker. When an opportunity to guarantee her freedom arises, she fears there is no choice but to enter the very world of organized crime she has tried so hard to avoid.
Walker is used to dealing with difficult clients, but never one that threatens to penetrate his heart the way Marcelina does. Her forbidden mouth captures the unwanted attention of his criminal enemies as well, prompting a deal from the DEA that could work in everyone's favor…if not for his own selfish desire to keep Marcelina for himself.
Excerpt:
Walker Bishop stopped dead in his tracks. His freshly-shaven face popped out from behind the towel. As soon as he registered her presence, he let out a thick curse and covered his privates.
“I knew there was more to you than just a stiff suit,” she teased.
He dove toward the walk-in closet. “Dammit, Marcelina!”
“What?” She cocked her head, soaking in his sculpted posterior before the closet door closed and blocked her view.
“You broke into my house,” came the muffled reply. “I’m pretty sure that’s a crime.”
“Your front door was open. Besides, I’m a criminal. It’s in my file, which you probably haven’t touched for weeks now.”
“Get out of my bedroom!”
The anger in his tone had turned to annoyance, but Marcelina knew she was safe before walking through the front door. Her court-appointed attorney had a soft spot for her somewhere beneath that tough exterior. She’d seen it in his reluctant smiles, his annoyance and even his anger. It was the only reason he’d agreed to take her case when he clearly wouldn’t win it, sullying his stellar track record.
With a sigh, she pushed out of the chair and approached the closet. “I’m not leaving, Walker. Not until we talk about my case.”
A resigned sigh. “Wait for me in the living room. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Taking his naked image with her, Marcelina obeyed. Damn. The real crime was that he was completely off limits, bound by some canon of ethics that prevented lawyers from dating their clients. And, yes, he’d gone over his own strict rules of propriety, more than once since he’d had to remind them both of it a few weeks back when she’d responded to his lingering, appreciative gaze with one of her own. An undeniable attraction had grown between them over the last eight months, but he fought the idea with fierce conviction, so much that he’d avoided her since then.
***
Making herself at home, she turned on lights and scoped out the place while she waited. It was small but open, with curves and alcoves to break up the boxy feel. Light walls and throw rugs contrasted heavily with the dark floors and modern furniture that Walker favored. A black-granite-topped bar was all that separated the kitchen and its cherry cabinetry from the great room. A quick search of the cabinets yielded little food, meaning this particular part of the home wasn’t used nearly enough. So, once the coffee was brewing, she made good use out of the last two eggs and a bag of shredded cheese. By the time Walker emerged from his bedroom, the whole place smelled like breakfast.
“That was completely out of line, Marcelina,” he barked behind her. “Seriously, what’s gotten into you?”
With her back still turned, she shrugged out a half- hearted apology. It was hard to be truly sorry when the rewards had been so worth the risk. “If it helps, I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“I’m not embarrassed, damn it. I’m pissed off and I want you to leave.”
“But I’m making you some protein,” she argued, fully confident in her abilities to sway him. “Oh, and the coffee’s ready.”
She could feel his glower on her back. Marcelina granted him an over-the-shoulder look of shame that had him rolling his eyes. Though his white dress shirt was properly buttoned, he’d forgotten the undershirt this time, allowing the outline of his solid pectorals to peek through, which danced when he attempted to put socks on while standing.
The man was clueless as to what that small oversight did to her—made her want to drag him back to that bedroom and have her way with him despite his damned ethics. “Forgive me?” she asked.
He shot her a brief glance through dark lashes that were just as black and glossy as his still-damp hair. “I’m just wondering what happened to that model client you promised to be.”
“I did knock first.”
“And when I didn’t answer, you helped yourself.”
There was a thick Italian heritage in there somewhere, Marcelina thought. Something fiery to back his commanding nature, blue eyes, and fair complexion. When she realized she was fantasizing again, she cleared her throat and turned off the burner. “How else was I going to get your attention? You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I haven’t been avoiding you. I’m a criminal defense attorney which means I spend a lot of time in court.”
The toaster popped. Marcelina added two slices to his plate of eggs then rounded the bar and set the food on the table next to his coffee and tub of butter. “Sit down and eat, Bishop.” Her tone of voice told him to relax a little. “I swear I’ll be good.”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
The Wild Rose Press: https://wildrosepress.com/product/bygones-be-damned/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bygones-be-damned-jules-parker/1145630717?ean=9781509256136
Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509256136
Indie Bound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/bygones-be-damned-jules-parker/21541868?ean=9781509256136&ref=&source=IndieBound&title=
Author Biography:
Jules Parker is a longtime lover of action movies, fast cars, and good books. She picked up her first romance novel at the age of 12 and has been crafting white-knuckle love stories ever since. Having published 10 romantic suspense novels under the pen name J.A. Dennam, she took a short break to focus on health and family, and is returning with a fresh set of ways to deliciously torture her characters. Her favorite thing is to immerse herself within the creative confines of her she-shack, though she is also known to ride motorcycles and cuddle chickens.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.JulesParker.com
Twitter: @JParkerBooks
Instagram: julesparkerbooks