***This is a new adult
contemporary novel and contains sexual content and graphic language. It is not intended for young
adult readers.***
A tattoo gets them in
trouble… He will get them out.
After years of cultivating
an undercover identity, Brody West is finally off the case and free to live a life of his own. All that time
spent in the company of criminals and killers left him a little jaded… and with an identity crisis. He isn’t
sure who he is anymore, or who he wants to be.
To give him time to think,
he takes a few days off to go fishing. On his way out of town, he makes a routine stop at the bank and
finds himself flirting with the girl behind the counter.
But his flirtation is cut
short when criminals burst into the bank and shoot her right before his eyes.
In attempt to administer
first aid, Brody reveals a tattoo on his upper arm. A mark that will drag him and the girl into the kind of
situation he was trying to get away from. But he can’t walk away because he’s the only thing capable
of keeping Taylor alive and bringing down the guys who shot her—guys who are seriously dangerous.
The inside of the bank
greeted me with a blast of cold air and was just as brightly lit as the sidewalk outside. The walls in here
were white and so were the glossy tile floors. I stepped through the roped off line, lining up behind
several others already waiting. Four tellers stood behind the long wooden counter, each with their own
computer.
It seemed like I stood in
line forever and I grew irritated because I just wanted to get the hell out of here and onto the open
road.
Finally it was my turn and
I moved down the counter toward the last window on the end. I yanked my wallet and bank card, then
looked up.
Suddenly the amount of
time I waited didn’t seem like such an inconvenience. In fact, if I had known she was the person waiting
for me at the end of this counter I would have waited longer.
Her light scarlet hair was
long and filled with loose curls that fell over her shoulder and down her chest. Her complexion was
flawless with the flush of fresh peaches and her lower lip was fuller than the top, making it appear as
though she had a permanent pink pout.
“How can I help you
today?” she asked, politely, glancing up with crystal green eyes. I watched them widen slightly and rich
satisfaction flowed through me. I wasn’t pretty like her but I wasn’t completely lacking in the looks
department.
“Hey,” I said, leaning on
the counter with both my elbows. The movement brought me a little closer to her. “I need to make a
withdrawal.”
She glanced down at the
bank card and ID I extended between us and then back at me. I gave her a lazy smile and she cleared
her throat, taking the cards. She looked them over and then her polished fingernails flew over the
keyboard.
I glanced at her chest,
being distracted by her nice rack but my eyes finally finding the nameplate pinned to the front of her
top. Taylor.
“How much would you like
to withdrawal?” she asked.
“Four hundred.”
She inputed the amount
without saying anything.
“So,” I said, leaning toward
her again. “You come here often?”
She rolled her eyes, but a
small smile played on her lips. “Just the days I feel like earning a paycheck.”
I grinned. “Paychecks are
overrated.” I drawled. “I’m going fishing.”
“Says the man with a huge
bank account,” she quipped. Then she winced and looked up. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t-”
I laughed. The chagrin on
her face and the way her cheeks bloomed with bright pink spots was entirely amusing. “Never said I
didn’t work, just said I thought it was over rated.”
She relaxed when she
realized I didn’t give a rats ass that she knew how much was in my account. “You should bait your hook
with hot dogs. Fish love them.”
She was right, surprise
rippled through me. “You can’t tell me a girl like you likes to fish.”
“And what,” she asked,
arching a red brow in my direction, “is a girl like me?” she hit a couple keys and the little dispenser to my
right started flinging out cash.
“You’re withdrawal is to
your right.” she said professionally.
I let the cash sit there.
“Are you a tomboy in disguise?” I whispered conspiratorially. I enjoyed the emotion, the animation that
played over her features. She was beautiful that was no doubt but it seemed that she also had a lot
beneath that pretty exterior.
“Don’t tell anyone,” she
whispered back handing me a receipt. Her teeth were really white and really straight. I got this sudden
craving to run my tongue along their smooth surface.
“You’re secret is safe with
me.” I tore my eyes away to pocket the cash, not bothering to count it. Oddly, I trusted her. I never
trusted anyone.
Behind me a loud banging
sound boomed through the room and I tensed, spinning on my heels. Four guys pushed through the
entrance, each of them pulling out a gun.
I couldn’t even get away
from this shit on vacation.
Adrenaline spiked my
system and began pumping through my veins and accelerating my heart. It didn’t take an idiot to guess
why they were here. This was a bank and they had guns. I looked over my shoulder at Taylor who was
watching the men with wide eyes.
“Get down!” I ordered
quietly. “Hide. Hide good.”
Cambria Hebert is the
author of the young adult paranormal Heven and Hell series, the new adult Death Escorts series, and the new adult Take it Off series. She loves a caramel latte, hates math and is afraid
of chickens (yes, chickens). She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and
ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. She
currently lives in North Carolina with her husband and children (both human and furry) where she is
plotting her next book. You can find out more about Cambria and her work by visiting http://www.cambriahebert.com
Torch (Take It Off #1):
amazon / amazon ca / amazon uk / barnes & noble
Tease (Take It Off #2)
amazon / amazon ca / amazon uk / barnes & noble
Tempt (Take It Off #3)
amazon / amazon ca / amazon uk / barnes & noble
Text (Take It Off #4)
amazon / amazon ca / amazon uk / barnes & noble
Tipsy (Take It Off #5)
amazon / amazon ca / amazon uk / barnes & noble
Tricks (Take It Off #6)
amazon / amazon ca / amazon uk / barnes & noble / smashwords
No comments:
Post a Comment