Excerpt of Zero to Sixty by Marie Harte

Ivy sighed. Time to go puppy hunting again. She double- checked to make sure she’d locked the front door, then used the restroom. She left through the back hall and had just opened the backdoor to leave when a large man appeared from out of nowhere.

She gasped and jumped back.

He just stood there, looming like a giant, his hands tucked into his jean pockets. He had to stand well over six feet tall, and his frame looked massive. He wore a zipped up, padded black jacket that only enhanced his size. His short, dark-brown hair could use a cut, and his eyes remained shadowed despite the overhead patio light. She thought she saw a hint of ink along his neck but couldn’t tell because of the play of darkness over his features.

“Ah, hello,” he said in a deep voice. A shivery voice.

When he didn’t make any sudden movements, she started to relax. He backed up a step to give her more space, and she cleared her throat.

“Hello. Can I help you with something?”

“Sorry. I knocked on the front door, but no one answered. So I came around back, like the sign said to.”

A normal thing any client might do. But this man was no athlete or nine-to-fiver with tight rhomboids. This man screamed dangerous, in more ways than one. For some reason, when the light hit his mouth, she couldn’t look away, thinking how pretty his lips were in a face chiseled from granite.

“We’re closed. But if you’d like to schedule a massage, I can give you my card.”

“Um, okay.” He took another step back. “I can wait out here while you get it.”

She fished in her purse and found it, then took a leap of faith and left the office, locking the door behind her. Leaving her with this stranger, alone, in the confines of the small back patio outside the office. The one fenced in for privacy.

Ivy got a grip on her runaway imagination, sensing no real danger from the man, just overwhelmed by his presence. She held out her card. “Here you go.”

He took it, careful not to brush her fingers. But jeez, he had big hands. “Ivy Stephens, LMT.” Licensed Massage Therapist—since she’d put herself through school eight long years ago.

She nodded. “Bodyworks is closed now, but any of us here can help you. My number’s on the card.”

“Great. Thanks.” He shuffled his feet. “I’ve been thinking about getting some work done.”

“Yeah?” She walked cautiously around him and exited the side gate. She continued along the side of the building, back to the lit and populated main sidewalk. Ivy blew out a breath, trying not to feel so relieved.

“Yeah,” he said, walking next to her. “Name’s Sam.” He stopped on the side of the walk, out of the way of foot traffic, and held out a hand.

She stopped and took it, to be courteous. The heat in his humongous palm startled her. As did the calluses. She glanced down, and his sleeve rose up his arm, revealing tattoos. A look at his neck showed she’d been right earlier. He had what looked like inked vines and barbed wire creeping up his neck from under that jacket. Wow.

He let go of her hand slowly, his gaze narrowed on her face.