Excerpt (unedited) From Loving True Coming Soon from Ocean's Mist Press

“I should have known she would be right on time.” Hayward tossed the potholder on the tabletop. His footsteps ate up the short distance between the kitchen and the front door. He couldn’t believe how excited he was about this date. He ran his sweaty palms down the front of his pants. True didn’t have a clue what a big step this was for him. Blowing out a quick breath, he opened the door. “Hi, I’m glad you could make it.”
“Thank you,” True replied.
His hand tightened around the doorknob True looked like a vision with the moonlight shining behind her. He prayed he would be able to keep his hands to himself all night. Her pink shirt hugged her every curve and didn’t leave anything to his imagination.
“Wow something smells delicious,” True uttered.
He also smelled the spicy scent of the lasagna in the oven drifted toward them from the kitchen. But that wasn’t the scent that held his attention at the moment. “Yes, you do.” Hayward groaned taking a light whiff of True’s perfume.
“Hayward, is there a reason I can’t come in?” True asked staring up at him.
He quickly took a step back. “No, there isn’t. Please come in.” He opened the oak door wider. Flashing him a smile, True brushed past his body and walked into the house. “What did you bring for dessert?” He closed the door behind them and followed her into the living room.
“I made a yellow cake with chocolate icing.”
“How did you know cake was my favorite dessert?” He asked taking the cake from her hands. “Why don’t you follow me to the kitchen?” He turned, then headed in the direction of the kitchen
“You have a breathtaking home.” True mumbled behind him. “I hate to admit that I’m a little jealous.”
He had looked at her house first before deciding to buy this one. His house design differed from hers with its vaulted ceilings. Four wide-open windows on the far wall overlooked beautifully landscapes backyard. Plus his breakfast nook was separate from the kitchen area with it’s own window.
Hayward placed the warm cake in the middle of the marble island and took one last whiff of the mouth-watering sweetness. “Thanks again for bringing dessert.” He stared at True in the kitchen doorway and his pulse quickened at the sight of her. “True, you don’t have to hover in the doorway. I won’t bite you if you come in here.”
He watched True ease away from the door and come toward him. Once again she proved she wasn’t intimidated by him. “Thank you again for inviting me to dinner. A home cooked meal bets a TV dinner any day of the week.” She commented standing mere inches in front of him.
Hayward hid his smile. “You’re welcome.” His gaze traveled over her face, then moved over her body slowly. Why did she have to look so perfect all the time? “I didn’t think you would actually show up,” he confessed. The sweet intoxicating scent of her body overwhelmed his mind and body. It was hard for him to keep a rational thought.
“How much longer until the food is done?”
“If I tell you something, you can’t laugh.”
Tilting her head to the side True stared at him and he could tell her curiosity was aroused. “Okay, I promise I won’t laugh.”
“I was so excited about our date that I turned on the oven timer, but I forgot about the oven. He glanced at her face for any kind of expression. A very tiny smile touched her lips. “Hey, you promised not to laugh.” He waved his finger toward the slight smile on her lips. “Don’t you dare laugh at me anyone could have made the same mistake.”
“I’m not laughing,” True whispered pressing two fingers to her mouth.
Hayward couldn’t take his eyes off her because the smile lit up her entire face. “Do you know how much I want to kiss you?” The second the words left his mouth, the light went out of her face. Shit, why did I have to say that to her? His brows drew into a frown when she eased away from him. He needed to save the situation fast or this date was over.