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. "