Excerpt of Hostage Heart by Chelle Cordero

"“Finally, you’re awake.” He walked over to her and pulled
the tape from her mouth. It stung. “Why the hell you
couldn’t just lie there and mind your business? What’s your
name?” He stood over her. Her porcelain skin was in stark
contrast with her dark hair and even darker eyes.

She looked at him in fear. “Deanna. Deanna Blair.”

“Well Miss Deanna Blair,” he mocked her southern accent.
“You really screwed us. Kidnapping is a federal crime. We
never planned to take any real hostages.” He shook his head
as he looked at her. He realized he could easily stare at
her for hours. There was no way he wanted this kind of
complication in his life. The last thing he wanted was to be
attracted to her, to be distracted from the things he had to
do.

“I thought you were in trouble.” He looked even taller and
broader from this angle. “I thought you needed help.”

He exhaled loudly. “Crimes happen every day in New York and
no one ever wants to get involved. And then Miss Goody-Two-
Shoes has to come along. Damn!” Now he felt responsible for
her.
"