Hey Babes!

Today’s fabulous spotlight is on Samantha Chase’s new release THE ENGAGEMENT EMBARGO! About a man who loves love and adds a self imposed embargo – I wonder how long that will last? Check out the excerpt below…

“Skye, come on. I’m already dealing with all kinds of rejection issues, so can you please just spare me the chase and tell me what I did so we can move on?”

Her shoulders sagged and she let out a long breath. “Fine. It’s not you; it’s me. You and I never hang out alone and knowing what your family said to you about the whole dating embargo thing just makes me feel guilty. I mean, I know we’re not dating or anything, but…”

“Yeah, you don’t have to worry about that,” he said with a small laugh, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck. “Because…well…that’s crazy. No one would think twice about you and I hanging out together.” He let out another laugh and quickly noticed that she wasn’t laughing with him. If anything, she looked hurt.

And then she looked pissed.

“What? I just meant that we’ve been friends for so long and you’re practically family, so…”

Holding up a hand to stop him, Skye quickly stepped around him. “No, you’re right. I guess I’m just overthinking things.”

Her words made sense, but her tone told him she was definitely not happy. “Skye…”

“No. It’s fine. Really. Not a big deal.”

It wasn’t until her hand was on the doorknob that Elliott decided enough was enough. “Obviously it’s not fine!” he snapped. His patience was shot and his loud tone was enough to shock them both into silence.  “Look, maybe I’m overreacting here, but I’m telling you, the way you’re acting just seems off. And for you to be worried about anyone thinking we’re dating is just…”

“It’s what?” she asked tightly.

“Um…”

“It’s weird because I’m Josie’s friend? Or unthinkable because everyone thinks we’re like family?” Her tone was sharp and her expression fierce, and clearly he had touched a nerve. “Or…or…maybe I’m so unattractive compared to all the other women you’ve dated that it just wouldn’t be believable for you to want to date someone like me?”

Say what now?

“Skye, that’s not…no one ever said you weren’t attractive,” he quickly corrected. “You’re beautiful–probably one of the most beautiful women I know.”

“Oh, really?” And yeah, the sarcastic tone was strong.

“Yeah, really.”

She snorted with disbelief.

Elliott moved a little closer and gently grasped her shoulders. “Skye, I don’t know where any of this is coming from and I want you to know that I think the world of you. You’re a good friend and you’ve been very gracious to me during this whole wedding drama and I hate that you have some sort of issue with me–like you’re mad at me for something that I don’t know anything about.”

He felt her relax a bit under his hands and he almost let out a sigh of relief.

Instead, he stepped in closer and hugged her. She stiffened, but just for a moment, and then she relaxed against him.

Hell, she even put her arms around him and hugged him back.

And it felt good.

Really good.

She smelled like sunshine and the beach, he realized as he inhaled a little deeper. Maybe it was creepy, but he turned his head slightly and sniffed her hair and sensed a hint of coconut. He’d never cared much for that scent, but right now it was almost intoxicating.

Had he ever noticed a woman’s scent like this before?

And the answer was a big no. He had no idea what Tracy’s favorite shampoo was or what scents she preferred, but he had a feeling this was a favorite of Skye’s. He took another deep breath before he forced himself to put some distance between them because…well…this was highly inappropriate–especially after the conversation they just had.

Only…Skye didn’t release him and Elliott’s arms were still loosely around her.

This is new…

Skye licked her lips and he found himself fascinated by that small action. When his gaze met hers, it was like he was seeing her for the first time. It wasn’t his sister’s best friend standing there, but a very desirable woman.

Or maybe it’s been a few months since I’ve been near a woman and I’m romanticizing it–which is what I’m trying to learn to stop doing!

Okay, there was that, but…it didn’t feel like he was romanticizing it.

It felt real.

Genuine.

And before he could question it, Elliott closed the distance between them once again and carefully pressed his lips to hers. She was probably going to slap him or, at the very least, push him away, but…she didn’t. In an instant, Skylar melted against him and let out the sexiest little sound.

His kiss was tentative, but that one little sound from her was all the encouragement he needed to take it a little deeper.

But Skye beat him to it.

Her tongue teased at his bottom lip and his gasp of surprise was all it took for them to take the kiss to the next level. It wasn’t wild or frantic, but more of a lazy and languid exploration and it was sexy as hell.

Skye was sexy as hell.

Why had he never noticed it before?

Next, he felt her hands rake up into his hair. Her nails gently scratched along his scalp as she pressed closer to him. She was all soft curves and warm skin, and damn if he didn’t want more.

For several minutes he simply enjoyed the gentle tangle of tongues, hearing her soft sighs, and the feel of her body against his. When he broke the kiss to catch his breath, he whispered her name and went to kiss her neck when she gasped loudly and took a step back.

“Ohmygod!” she panted before a look of sheer panic crossed her face.

And before Elliott could process what was happening, she was moving around him and out the door.

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