I wanted to give you a taste of what's to come in my new book, Overgrowth, set for release March 25 from Midnight Frost Books. Here's a scene from early in Andrea and Lee's first date.
“Vivaldi’s is just a block away. We’ll walk, if that’s all right. I’ll be out in just a couple of minutes.”
“Is this a date couple of minutes?”
Andrea opened the bedroom door. “I am a superheroine, Lee. I know how to change clothes fast. You can even time me, if you want.”
Lee checked out Andrea’s derriere. “I’ll just enjoy the anticipation.”
Andrea smiled over her shoulder as she entered her bedroom, locking the door behind her. She’d checked on Lee, but she still wasn’t taking any chances, especially when she’d be the most vulnerable she’d been in months in under a minute.
Andrea’s brow furrowed as she looked at the dress she’d placed on the bed beforehand. She was bluffing about knowing how to change clothes fast. Andrea Carlin wasn’t much of a secret identity. Her life was her lab work. No one ever came to the lab. She had done scientific convention speeches, but none since she became Overgrow. She generally wore one of her Overgrow costumes under her street clothes. Lately, she wasn’t even messing with the street clothes, except for a lab coat.
Slipping out of her costume, Andrea slid into the red sheath minidress, a brighter shade of red than most of the Overgrow uniforms. She slipped on the matching spike-heeled shoes, taking a moment to get a feel for them. She hadn’t worn heels much over the last fourteen months. Then she finished prepping her shoulder-length blonde hair with a quick comb and quickly applied her makeup before grabbing her purse and returning to Lee.
Lee stood beside the mantle, looking at the photo he’d mentioned earlier. He smiled at Andrea. “Well, this was worth waiting for.”
“Sorry I kept you waiting.”
Lee strode across to Andrea. “Weren’t you listening? You look amazing.” He stepped a little closer than seemed appropriate to Andrea, but it felt so good to her she didn’t care.
Andrea realized she was blushing slightly. “Let’s go.”
Lee took her hand. He led her to the door, beaming down at her. They exited the building and walked to Vivaldi’s.
As they entered, Andrea looked up at Lee. He was beaming down at her. He was so handsome, so very tall. She could feel the strength of his arm like this almost as much as she had felt it when he scooped her up at her apartment. She smiled at him before looking away, biting her lip for a second.
They were escorted to their table quickly, where they sat and ordered from the menu. Vivaldi’s was the best restaurant in this part of town. The choices were a mix of traditional Italian and some more exotic cuisine.
After their drinks were served, Andrea smiled at Lee. “So, did you always want to be a lawyer?”
Lee shook his head. “It just kind of happened. I started out pursuing a degree in theater, believe it or not.”
“Actually, I can see the connection between the two. Being able to mask your personal feelings, your real feelings, is an asset in both professions. You have to put on your mask, too.”
Lee nodded. “Somewhere around my sophomore year, I realized I could make a good living as an attorney. I also realized I loved all the detail work, the ins and outs of the law, the little quirks.”
Andrea tilted her head. “That sounds more like some other kinds of law, like government law or contract law. How did you wind up a public defender?”
Lee shrugged. “It was what was available out of law school. It’s just kind of where I wound up.”
“Do you like it?”
Lee sighed. “I guess I do. There are other things I’d rather do within the law, but I’m a practicing attorney, and it’s definitely a unique experience.” Reaching across the table, he patted Andrea’s hand. “And it does have its perks, like getting to be rescued by a sexy superheroine.”
Andrea looked down, smiling. “I like that part, too — but not where your life gets threatened.”
“Yeah, that part kinda sucks.”
They both chuckled.
“Vivaldi’s is just a block away. We’ll walk, if that’s all right. I’ll be out in just a couple of minutes.”
“Is this a date couple of minutes?”
Andrea opened the bedroom door. “I am a superheroine, Lee. I know how to change clothes fast. You can even time me, if you want.”
Lee checked out Andrea’s derriere. “I’ll just enjoy the anticipation.”
Andrea smiled over her shoulder as she entered her bedroom, locking the door behind her. She’d checked on Lee, but she still wasn’t taking any chances, especially when she’d be the most vulnerable she’d been in months in under a minute.
Andrea’s brow furrowed as she looked at the dress she’d placed on the bed beforehand. She was bluffing about knowing how to change clothes fast. Andrea Carlin wasn’t much of a secret identity. Her life was her lab work. No one ever came to the lab. She had done scientific convention speeches, but none since she became Overgrow. She generally wore one of her Overgrow costumes under her street clothes. Lately, she wasn’t even messing with the street clothes, except for a lab coat.
Slipping out of her costume, Andrea slid into the red sheath minidress, a brighter shade of red than most of the Overgrow uniforms. She slipped on the matching spike-heeled shoes, taking a moment to get a feel for them. She hadn’t worn heels much over the last fourteen months. Then she finished prepping her shoulder-length blonde hair with a quick comb and quickly applied her makeup before grabbing her purse and returning to Lee.
Lee stood beside the mantle, looking at the photo he’d mentioned earlier. He smiled at Andrea. “Well, this was worth waiting for.”
“Sorry I kept you waiting.”
Lee strode across to Andrea. “Weren’t you listening? You look amazing.” He stepped a little closer than seemed appropriate to Andrea, but it felt so good to her she didn’t care.
Andrea realized she was blushing slightly. “Let’s go.”
Lee took her hand. He led her to the door, beaming down at her. They exited the building and walked to Vivaldi’s.
As they entered, Andrea looked up at Lee. He was beaming down at her. He was so handsome, so very tall. She could feel the strength of his arm like this almost as much as she had felt it when he scooped her up at her apartment. She smiled at him before looking away, biting her lip for a second.
They were escorted to their table quickly, where they sat and ordered from the menu. Vivaldi’s was the best restaurant in this part of town. The choices were a mix of traditional Italian and some more exotic cuisine.
After their drinks were served, Andrea smiled at Lee. “So, did you always want to be a lawyer?”
Lee shook his head. “It just kind of happened. I started out pursuing a degree in theater, believe it or not.”
“Actually, I can see the connection between the two. Being able to mask your personal feelings, your real feelings, is an asset in both professions. You have to put on your mask, too.”
Lee nodded. “Somewhere around my sophomore year, I realized I could make a good living as an attorney. I also realized I loved all the detail work, the ins and outs of the law, the little quirks.”
Andrea tilted her head. “That sounds more like some other kinds of law, like government law or contract law. How did you wind up a public defender?”
Lee shrugged. “It was what was available out of law school. It’s just kind of where I wound up.”
“Do you like it?”
Lee sighed. “I guess I do. There are other things I’d rather do within the law, but I’m a practicing attorney, and it’s definitely a unique experience.” Reaching across the table, he patted Andrea’s hand. “And it does have its perks, like getting to be rescued by a sexy superheroine.”
Andrea looked down, smiling. “I like that part, too — but not where your life gets threatened.”
“Yeah, that part kinda sucks.”
They both chuckled.
Here's the blurb:
Andrea Carlin made herself into the superheroine Overgrow in an effort to save the man she loved. She failed. Taking her first steps to love again, she begins dating the handsome Lee. But is she so strong now she must become weak to keep his love?
Andrea Carlin made herself into the superheroine Overgrow in an effort to save the man she loved. She failed. Taking her first steps to love again, she begins dating the handsome Lee. But is she so strong now she must become weak to keep his love?
Keep watching for more information, including about chances to win a copy of Overgrowth!