She did not want thisâbut she hungered for itâ¦
Jebâs mouth was on hers, delicious as salted caramel. Haley knew that this was an experience she would never forget: the sound of the billowy sails flapping in the Atlantic breeze; the July sun beaming down bright and hot, shining a million tiny fractured lanterns over the choppy caps of blue water; the smell of briny ocean spray; this handsome man, hard with muscles and a gorgeous smile, kissing a practical woman whoâd forgotten what it was like to have fun.
She should break off the kiss. She knew it. Do something! Anything! Just stop kissing him!
But she did none of those things.
Instead, she twined her arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of her.
Haley couldnât think straight. Acting like this was so unlike her. She felt as if she were channeling some spritely mermaid turning the tables on a handsome fisherman by catching him in her net. Oddly thrilling, that image.
You are in such trouble, whispered her brainâ¦
Dear Reader,
One of the fun things about being a writer is the research. On the surface, research might sound boring. Dry and dusty. Hours spent poring over books. Except, thatâs not the kind of research Iâm talking about. For Smooth Sailing, my research entailed going to a marina and asking to be taken out on a sailboat. It meant taking a class in sailing and spending hours talking to avid sailors. Now thatâs just downright fun.
I learned boating safety, the difference between the sails, the names of all the ropes, the way to properly launch a sailboat, how to trim the sail, how to throw a line, tie up the boat, how to recover from a capsize and how not to panic if you fall overboard. What I took away from this experience is that sailing is really complicated and I have a whole new respect for the sport and the people who sail.
What I hope is that my dedication to research paid off and youâll be able to experience sailing right along with the hero and heroine of Smooth Sailing, Jeb Whitcomb and Haley French, who fall in love on the high seas. Itâs a grand adventure and I thank you for taking the ride with me.
Smooth Sailing is the second book in the STOP THE WEDDING! series. I hope youâll be on the lookout for the final installment in the trilogy, Crash Landing. Until next timeâ¦
Happy reading,
Lori Wilde
LORI WILDE is a New York Times bestselling author and has written more than forty books. Sheâs been nominated for a RITA>® Award and four RT Book Reviews Reviewersâ Choice Awards. Her books have been excerpted in Cosmopolitan, Redbook and Quick & Simple. Lori teaches writing online through Ed2go. Sheâs also an RN trained in forensics and she volunteers at a womenâs shelter. Visit her website at www.loriwilde.com.
To my students, past, present and future.
Helping you has made me a better writer.
Thank you.
ForwardâToward the bow
A PEACOCK COULDNâT have strutted more gloriously than Jeb Whitcomb taking the outdoor makeshift stage. A self-satisfied grin graced his tanned handsome face, his blue eyes crinkled seductively at the corners as he joined the governor at the podium. The sleeves of his white work shirt were rolled up to his elbows, revealing powerful forearms dotted with hair a shade darker than the milk-chocolate locks swept rakishly off his forehead.
âIn appreciation of your hard work, dedication and monetary contribution to rebuilding the island of St. Michaelâs, we are bestowing you with the first Jeb Whitcomb humanitarian award,â Governor Freemont announced and passed the gilded trophy to Whitcomb.
From the audience, Haley French, R.N., rolled her eyes. Whitcomb might have everyone else on the island snowed, but Haley saw through the charming smile and sexy swagger. He hadnât really come here to help the residents of St. Michaelâs; his visit had all been about plumping up his ego. Whenever there was a camera about, Whitcomb was in front of it.
Cameras flashed. Reporters tossed questions. The crowd applauded.
Haleyâs best friend, Ahmaya Reddy, poked her in the ribs with her elbow. âDonât be rude. Clap.â
Halfheartedly, Haley joined in the applause, but she frowned. âHeâs grandstanding.â
Whitcomb launched into what was clearly an off-the-cuff speech.
âHeâs a bona fide hero,â Ahmaya argued. âSt. Michaelâs couldnât have recovered as quickly without him.â
âHeâs self-centered.â
âOh, yes, self-centered people give up a year of their life to rebuild islands they have no connection to.â
âThatâs precisely my point. He has no connection to St. Michaelâs. Who anointed him our savior? I question his motives. Ever notice how he always has hangers-on following him?â
Ahmaya shrugged. âHeâs handsome, rich and fun to be around. Who wouldnât want to hang on?â
âRebuilding an entire island wiped out by a hurricane shouldnât be fun.â
âYouâd think not, but somehow he managed to get everyone to pull together. Thatâs why heâs getting the attention, not to mention the award. His ability to get people to work in harmony.â