Title: Protect Me
Series: Spotlight Collection #2
Author: Cary Hart
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 21, 2018
Blurb
Who will you be when no one is watching... when the lights go down?
Penny
I donât know who I am anymore. Itâs been so long since Iâve been allowed to think for myself. And now that I can, all I can think about is him. My protector. His massive build which should frighten me but makes me feel safe. And his intense eyes that linger on me when he thinks Iâm not looking. But why would he want me? Iâm broken.
Shapiro
I vowed never to get close to anyone again. Do the job, get paid and survive. Thatâs all. Then sheâs thrown into my life, needing a place to hide. She thinks sheâs damaged, but she just needs someone to show her how strong she really is. Damn if I donât want to be that man. But Iâve got a past of my own, and no good deed goes unpunished.
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Excerpt
Shapiro - POV
She wraps her arms around my neck and lets her body collapse against mine. Her front sliding down. Her legs wrapping around my waist before she hits the floor.
âI didnât like you locking me in here.â
âI didnât like locking you in here either. I didnât know what else to do. If you would have left and something happened to you . . .â
âI wouldnât have left.â
I know sheâs drunk, but this conversation has sobered up fast.
âNo?â
âNo.â She nods slowly. A small grin creeps up on her face.
Penny looking at me like this has me losing all resolve. Itâs all I can do to keep from slamming her against this wall, but she deserves better.
âWhy donât we lock up and get you to bed.â
I reach to pull her arms off and set her down, but she resists. For being drunk she sure does have a lot of strength.
âDonât put me down. Iâm dizzy.â
âThat drunk, huh?â
âDrunk on you.â She reaches up to tap my nose.
Okay so maybe drunk Penny is kind of cute.
âIs that a smile, Frances.â
I canât help it. This girl, she makes me feel things I have never wanted to feel before. So I smile.
âThere it is.â She reaches between us to trace my lips with her finger.
Iâm sure in her head she is being soft and sensual, but in real life, she keeps jabbing her finger against my teeth.
âTime to lock the door.â
I walk us over and prop her up against the wall with one knee as I free a hand to lock up.
âOh!â Her eyes go wide. âThat feels so good.â
âWhat does?â I ask as I stretch up to slide the lock into place then set the alarm.
âThis.â She puts all her weight onto my leg and grinds.
Fuck Me!
âYouâre killing me.â I glance down and see Pennyâs eyes hooded and filled with lust. âI think itâs time I take you to bed.â
âHey! Remember that movie? Oh, what was it?â She taps my temple. I guess to help her think. âYou know that one where they sing that song about fire balls or balls of fire.â
âNo clue.â
I bounce her up to shift her weight. Wrong move. With all her grinding Iâm hard as a rock.
âOh yes!â she shouts as she flings her head back.
I lose balance, and she slams it against the wall. âOuch!â
âYou okay?â
I snake my arm up the base of her neck and into her hair. Massaging her scalp.
She leans into my touch. Closing her eyes for a brief second before they spring open.
âTake me to bed or lose me forever.â
I know itâs a movie quote, but damn, donât I want those words to mean something. Standing there with her body wrapped around mine I would give anything to push her up against that wall and takeâ
Her mouth crushing to mine interrupts my thoughts. My mind is telling me to pull away but my body is screaming for me to stay.
Kissing her back? Nothing good could come from it. My guard would drop, and she would become even more vulnerable. I canât do that.
âShapiro.â Penny moans my name against my lips. Begging me to kiss her back the way she is kissing me.
I canât. I wonât.
I try to keep repeating those words in my head.
âPlease.â
âFuck,â I growl
I donât know what comes over me, in that brief moment, but the tension that had been building since I met her became unbearable. I had to let go.
Grasping her cheeks, I took control of the kiss. Owning it. Fusing our mouths together while our tongues intertwine I turn her around and pin her against the wall.
Her body stiffens, and I freeze.
âIâm sorry.â
âNo. Itâs totally me.â She breathes out an excuse. âI just . . . I donât know. I guess I . . .â
âLetâs go to bed.â I swing her legs around and hold her in my arms.
âOhh!â She giggles.
Sheâs so drunk.
âIâm a princess.â Her smile crooked, yet bright.
I kissed a drunk girl breathless. Great. Maybe she will be so out of it she doesnât remember.
âYes, you are.â I agree as we walk into the bedroom and I lay her down gently. The mattress barely dipping. âHere, lift up.â
âWhy? Ohhhhh,â she coos staring at me with her doe eyes.
I know what she wants, but it canât happen. The kiss was a mistake. Maybe if it happened another time. After this was all over with it could be more, but right now. It just canât be.
Yanking the covers down, I let her get adjusted before I pull them back up.
âGet some rest.â
âI donât want rest. I just want you.â She untucks her arms and makes grabby hands like you see in those memes.
Shaking my head. âYou are something else. You know it?â
âI know it.â Her smile sleepy.
âNight.â I turn to leave the bedroom to get as much distance between us as possible, but Penny? She has other thoughts.
âYou didnât tuck me in. Tuck me in, Shapiro. Tuck me inreal good.â Penny turns over onto her side, throwing the covers off.
âWhat are you doing to me?â I moan, rubbing my face.
I swear this girl is going to be the death of me.
âDonât make me beg,â she whines.
âFine.â
Closing the distance, I reach for the blankets and pull them up as I go. Tucking them under her chin. Stepping back, I admire her from a distance.
Distance is safe. Itâs needed.
âMore?â
âYou sure?â
âYes.â
âOkay then.â
I start from the bottom and tuck the blankets under her like sheâs a burrito. âSnug as a big in a rug,â I whisper.
Her lips pucker and I walk out.
Tonight is definitely a moment to remember. Iâm just hoping she forgets.
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Cary Hart hails from the Midwest. A sassy, coffee drinking, sometimes sailor swearing, Spotify addict, lover of all things books!
When not pushing women down the stairs in the fictional world, Cary has her hands full. Soccer mom in all sense of the word to two wild and crazy, spoiled kiddos, and wife to the most supportive husband. In addition to writing full time, she enjoys binge watching Netflix, laying around in her hammock and baking up cookies for her family and friends.
Cary writes real, raw romance! In her stories the characters deal with lifeâs everyday struggles and unwanted drama, they talk about the ugly and they become the broken. Everyone deserves a happy ending, but sometimes before you can appreciate the light, there has to be darkness.
As a child, if someone would have told her she would become a writer, she wouldnât have believed them. It wasnât until she got her hands on her first romance novel, that the passion grew. Now, she couldnât imagine her life any other way â now her dream is her reality.
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Jeanette's Review
Protect Me by Cary Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Such an addictive and beautiful read!! Penny and Shapiro's story drew me in from the very beginning and kept me reading until the very end. Their story is different, unpredictable, and full of every emotion possible. Penny's escape from a toxic relationship with help from some friends leads her to Shapiro who becomes her protector. The way that this man would do anything to protect her and to keep her safe will win your heart over. This is truly an amazing story that is a must read and I highly recommend. This can be read as a standalone without having to read book 1 so don't let that stop you from reading this book. Happy Reading Everyone!! View all my reviews
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When do the words "I'm sorry" mean nothing? When his words hurt more than his touch? What happens when leaving is harder than staying? Fear. The lines between right and wrong have become so blurred...accepting who you’ve become is not an option. Shame. Escape is the only way to fight back...finding someone willing to fight with you is something you never saw coming. Hope. But before you can conquer love, you have to battle your past...
Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU Title: Love Conquer: A Standalone Romance – (Battlefield of Love, Book #3) Author: Cary Hart Genre: Contemporary Romance [vimeo 251234628 w=640 h=360] Love Conquer by Cary Hart from Bibliophile Productions on Vimeo. REVIEWBOOK EXCERPTNina’s POV “Hey, you with me?” Kyle’s voice is soft, concerned. Flipping down the mirror, I examine myself. Eyes puffy and bloodshot. This is no good. Twisting in my seat, I frown, pointing at my face. “I can’t go out looking like this.” “I think you look beautiful.” His smile is crooked and kind. “How can you say that?” I turn back to the mirror, tugging at the corners my eyes. “I look—” “Like someone who just let me in a little.” Kyle reaches over the center console, holding out his hand, palm up. “Hand hug?” He gives me a sideward glance, wiggling his fingers. Folding up the mirror, I give him my full attention. “You want me to hold your hand?” “Well, I guess if you want to hold on a little longer than a hand hug is supposed to last…” His grin is back, dimples and all. “I wouldn’t mind.” He winks. How can I resist that? He has seen all kinds of crazy in the last few days and each time I begin to push, he pulls. Not in a possessive, you will be mine kind of way, but an I get it one. Reaching out, I intertwine my fingers with his, closing my eyes, accepting what he has to offer. Understanding. “See? Hand hugs are just as effective, don’t you think?” He gives mine a little squeeze. “They are.” I’m lost in him, in this moment, forgetting the events that had taken place. “Well, how I see it, since this makes three hugs, we can either part now, taking the chance we may need another soon, or we can make this one long, drawn-out hug. Soaking up all its superpowers, saving the others for later.” He brings my hand up to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “I’m thinking this hug has turned into handholding.” I raise an eyebrow, curious. Kyle’s lips purse, his eyes squint into slits. “I can see where you get that, but I’m still saying hand hug.” He nods, face relaxing. I can’t help it. I have a real smile on my face. Not the kind where it’s forced, but a smile from being happy. This man is sitting beside me doing everything he can to set me at ease. I accused him of so many things…but instead of pointing fingers as I have experienced time and time again, he’s showing me that it’s not that serious. Sometimes situations are just that. Situations. Nothing more and nothing less. You just deal and move on.About the AuthorCary Hart hails from the Midwest. A sassy, coffee drinking, sometimes sailor swearing (Shhh… don’t tell.), wine sipping, Spotify addict, lover of all things books! When not pushing women down the stairs in the fictional world, Cary has her hands full. She is blessed to be the sports mom of two wild and crazy, spoiled kiddos, and wife to the most supportive husband (took a few years to train). In addition to working full time, she bakes cookies on the side to fund her newly found love of writing and to keep her Sephora VIB Rouge status. The addiction is real, folks! Believe it or not, writing was never a dream for Cary. Reading was something she never enjoyed growing up. All it took was one friend, who went MIA for a weekend on a book binge, to share her passion and loan an ebook, lighting a fire inside her. Two years, and hundreds of ebooks later, she connected with one of her favorite authors, who patiently listened to her plot ideas. Her encouragement and saying those three little words “You write it!” changed everything! So, welcome! Hop on board, and enjoy the ride!Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | Bookbub Website | Newsletter | Fan Group (Cary's Sweethearts) |
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