Love’s Last Kiss A Romantic Suspense by Sharon Wray, Deadly Force Series it occurs between Every Deep Desire (book 1) and One Dark Wish (book 2), and is Available Now on all platforms! Keep reading for Giveaway & Excerpt!
Title: Love’s Last Kiss
Series: Deadly Force
Author: Sharon Wray
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 17, 2022
Is love worth risking everything for?
Rose Guthrie, a reluctant erotic dancer, hasn’t trusted anyone since her parents’ death. Yet, to make money for her brother’s heart transplant, she agrees to deliver a sealed box to a mysterious buyer. Until the box—and the seller—disappear. Not surprised by the betrayal, her situation becomes more dangerous when she learns that a brutal arms dealer, known as the Prince, also wants the box and will kill everyone she loves for it. With one clue left, she breaks into Doom—Savannah’s violent, illegal fight club. Unfortunately, Doom’s referee—the sexy, ex-Army Ranger, Kade Dolan—stands in her way. Although she harbors a secret attraction to Kade, she can’t let him stop her. If she doesn’t deliver the box on time, she’ll lose everything. Including her own life.
Rose doesn’t trust disgraced Army Ranger, ex-con Kade Dolan, but that’s okay—he doesn’t trust himself either. Why? Because he lies to everyone about everything, including his time in Leavenworth and his job as an illegal fight club referee. Then there are his two side gigs. The first as an informant for the Prince, the leader of a secret, two-thousand-year-old private army. The second, loving from afar the beautiful, secretive Rose Guthrie. After the Prince discovers Rose is the courier of a lost 18th century artifact, he orders Kade to help her find the box before their greatest enemy does. If they succeed, Kade must return it to the Prince. If they fail, Kade must kill her.
Betrayal or death. When faced with an impossible choice, Kade can’t lie anymore, at least not when it comes to what he’s about to do the woman he loves. But when Rose uncovers Kade’s lies, they learn a terrible truth—the 18th century box holds a secret far deadlier than they imagined. A secret that could destroy them all.
"A thriller romance with plenty of action. A fast paced story that takes hold of the reader and won’t let go until the end." - Goodreads Reviewer
"Just when you think the Deadly Force series couldn’t get any better, this standalone book blew my mind. This book has more intrigue, masterminding, secrets, military and missionary accounts and just good ole come to life mystery. If you like books like this, run don’t walk and read this series. You won’t be sorry and will get hooked from page 1." - Goodreads Reviewer
Kade dropped Rose’s hand and began to pace the hospital’s hallway, taking his heat with him. The air around her felt cooler, and she took a few more deep breaths.
He ran his hand over his head and continued moving as if on a private mission. As if he couldn’t stop himself. As if afraid of what would happen if he did stop. Deke, the club’s manager, is asking questions about the time you’ve been taking off. You’re the best the club has, but there is a line of women who’d love to take your place.
Because the money was so good. Yes. She knew. She leaned her shoulder against the cold, concrete wall, grateful for the reprieve from Kade’s body temp. She was glad he’d pulled away. The last thing she needed was another complication.
She focused on the long stretch of silent hallway behind him. Hopefully Timmy can come home tomorrow. As long as he’s stable, I’ll be at the club every night for the rest of the week. That should shut Deke up for a while.
Kade paused in front of her, stared at her lips, and paced again. Deke is also busy tormenting the two new bouncers he hired. They’re smart and strong. Two things Deke hates about other men.
Great. Deke feels threatened. That will make life easier for all of us. She swallowed and lifted her chin. That might explain the weird text Deke had sent her earlier, asking if she needed another way to make money. She wanted to hear what he had to say, though, before giving him a firm answer.
Kade stopped in front of her for a third time and started to reach for her face but dropped his hand. That’s when she noticed a series of scars along his forehead.
She closed her eyes and licked her lips. What was she doing? Noticing such personal things about a man she barely knew? Rose. Her name came out as a plea hidden beneath a whisper, and she opened her eyes.
He moved closer. So close that his lips hovered over hers. So close that everything around her heated up again. So close that she had to raise her head to meet his blue gaze. How can I help? You can’t.
His eyelids lowered, and she felt his short, choppy breaths brush her cheek. You don’t have to do what you’re doing. There are other jobs—
There aren’t. She stood taller, despite shame’s heavy weight.
She’d do whatever was needed to save her brother. I barely finished high school and need to make money as quickly as I can. Besides Timmy’s medical bills, I also have legal fees and everyday living expenses.
He took her elbows and drew her in until she leaned against his chest. He was so much taller, and her head barely reached his chin. She inhaled his masculine scent—a combination of leather and bourbon—and a tear traced her cheek.
Slowly, she moved her hands to his waist. Kade wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his chin on her head.
She fought against drawing herself in closer when all she wanted was to burrow into his warmth and cling to his strength. That was the thing with shame. It didn’t just strip away your dignity, it left you cold and alone.
Shame left you naked while reality snapped the whip. And in her case, reality was a bully named Deke who managed Rage of Angels, Savannah’s infamous Goth nightclub.
You don’t always have to be strong. Instead of laughing at his ridiculous statement, she tried to pull away. Kade tightened his hold and whispered against her hair, It’s going to be okay.
You don’t know that. She didn’t say the words because she didn’t want to move, didn’t want to break the peace of the moment. She’d met Kade nine months ago when she’d started working at Rage of Angels, and she still knew nothing about him.
While he’d helped her get the second waitressing job at the hotel where he bartended, they’d never dated, nor flirted, nor even held hands.
Yet, in the past few weeks, she’d become hyperaware of his presence. No matter if he was bartending or bouncing, she always knew where he was and what he was doing.
She’d even begun looking forward to seeing him at work. A miracle since the club was the sleaziest—and most violent—place in town.
When she heard his indrawn breath, she withdrew from his embrace and wiped her eyes, disappointed that he wouldn’t meet her gaze. Instead, he stared down the hallway.
She turned just as the overhead fluorescents flickered. For a brief moment, in between the blinking lights, it looked like a man in a black T-shirt was coming toward them with a…gun.
The lights went out. Kade threw her against the wall, using his larger body to shield hers. When the red emergency light flared, she noticed another man behind the gunman.
The second man wore a black hoodie and a white eye patch. He also held a thin sword against his thigh.
The red emergency bulb, tucked within an iron cage, pulsed. The man in the hoodie now held the gunman with one arm and slipped the thin sword into his neck.
The gunman fell to the ground, and she screamed until Kade covered her mouth. Slowly, the man with the sword lifted his head to stare at her.
Then he wrapped one arm around his waist and bowed. A moment later, the emergency light burned out and everything went black.
©Sharon Wray 2022
Sharon is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes of novels of suspense, adventure, and love. A caretaker of Donut the one-eyed rescue dog, she's addicted to snapping photos and eating Oreos.
She writes the bestselling Deadly Force romantic suspense series where smart, sexy women teach their alpha males that Grace always defeats Reckoning.
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