Excerpt of Just Beyond the Garden Gate by Dawn Marie Hamilton

Laurie opened her eyes a crack. Her head pounded, her pulse
raced. This wasn't good. Those couldn't be two, huge,
leather–clad feet inches from her face.

She opened her eyes wider. Raised her gaze higher.

Those feet—the ones that couldn't be there—was
it possible they were attached to two muscular calves
wrapped in soft napped animal skins?

Higher still. Bare knees. Plaid wool and saffron linen.

Farther up, she took in all of the man who towered over her.
Piercing blue eyes blinked. Crinkles appeared in the
corners. He was grinning. Not outwardly. The perfectly
shaped lips remained tight and straight, but something
within this gorgeous man was pleased.

She gasped with recognition. This was her man, the one from
her heated dreams and visions. The man she didn't believe
existed. The man who made her insides flip–flop.

Unsure what had just happened, she gave her head a firm
shake. Mistake. Dizziness hit in waves. She swallowed hard.
When the nausea passed, she pushed her palms against the
ground and rose to her feet. Unsteady, she swayed. The
stranger's image blurred.

Large calloused hands gripped her arms. A strange though
familiar jolt of energy coursed through her, causing her
heart to beat too fast.

He quickly released her. He must have felt it too.

Again, she swayed. She reached for his support at the same
time he took hold of her upper arms.

She blinked to clear her vision and moistened dry lips. The
flash of desire in his eyes made her shiver. He smiled for
real this time, leaned forward, placed a hand behind her
head, and brushed her lips with his. Gentle at first, then
with vigor, his tongue delved into her mouth.

Instinct insisted she struggle. Holding her body rigid, she
fisted her hands, which he'd trapped within his embrace. She
forced her fingers open and pressed her palms against his
hard chest—a vain attempt to push him away.

The current flowing between them became overpoweringly
seductive. No man had made her feel this way before. For
several moments, she wavered between fighting him—a
familiar stranger—and succumbing to the delicious
sensations swamping her. He deepened the kiss, and the
internal battle ended. Desire won. She clasped hold of the
front of his shirt with shaky hands and kissed him back with
pent–up passion.

Satiny lips anchored her in a storm of unfamiliar sensation.
Pleasure vibrated along her body. She opened her eyes a
slit. The intensity of the man's shocking kiss matched the
masculine power burning in his startling blue eyes.

His grip tightened. His fingers burned through her clothing,
searing her skin. She closed misty eyes and sank into the
reality of her dream lover's embrace.