Coming Home to Love
by Katie
O’Boyle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
With
his health deteriorating and his spirit dying, Justin Cushman has come home to
the Finger Lakes to assist his injured nephew Joel. Sick of accumulating wealth
for its own sake, Justin knows that his life is meaningless without a loving
relationship and a purpose for his billions. On a whim, he visits Joel’s spa,
looking for a massage to relieve his pain. Gianessa Dupioni is a gifted
masseuse who starts the boss’s irritable uncle on a journey of health and
happiness. Too bad for Justin that Gianessa is devastated by personal losses
and strictly focused on rebuilding her career. Justin may be a master
strategist in the financial world, but can he persuade Gianessa to let love in?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt
Gianessa stepped aside as he brushed past her. She drew in a
deep breath, preparing to take charge, but his scent threw her off—cloves and
sandalwood and something she couldn’t identify. Justin Cushman had a force
field nearly as strong as hers, and she didn’t like it one bit. His eyes were
all over her, appreciating and assessing at the same time. That’s my role—to
evaluate his body.
When his gaze fastened on her necklace and one eyebrow rose,
she forgot to breathe. Okay, she was out of uniform, she had led a client to a
shamefully tiny treatment room and she was wearing outrageously expensive
jewelry. Is he making a case to fire me? Nonsense. She was doing him a favor.
Gianessa squared her slender shoulders and tapped her foot
in protest.
He met her gaze, and a smile tugged at the corner of his
mouth.
She blushed. Enough. No more games. She was in charge here,
and he needed her finest care.
“You’ve come home to support Joel’s recovery, I assume. Do
you—?”
Both eyebrows arched in surprise. “And I assume you are the
physical therapist and healer my nephew brought to the Manse to reconceptualize
his spa. Aren’t you overqualified as a massage therapist?”
“—know what illness is wasting your body?”
His eyes flashed a warning. “I asked for a massage.”
He’s more vulnerable than I thought. She soothed him with
her voice and her smile. “I will give you a massage, but we will talk about
your body, Mr. Cushman, if not today, then soon. Joel would expect it, and I’m
sure I can help you. I see from your reaction that you’re not in denial about
being very ill.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe I’ve lost a little weight.”
“Forty or fifty pounds.”
He looked around the treatment room. “What is this space?
Ten by twelve?”
Testing. “Seven by nine. Which is why it’s never scheduled.”
“Yet you’re slender enough to move around the table.” His
gaze softened. “And kind enough to go the extra mile for me.”
She admired the way he had shifted his energy, from
defensive to open. She relaxed her shoulders and gave him a warm smile.
His gaze penetrated. “You know, Gianessa, I’ve been seen by
experts in three countries, but if you can figure out what my doctors haven’t
figured out, I’ll be glad to hear it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Born in the
upstate-New York village known as the Birthplace of Women’s Rights, Katie
O’Boyle loves the Finger Lakes in every season. She enjoys lunch with friends
at charming inns, and she cherishes the lakeside porch as a place for intimate
sharing, laughter, and inspiration. To the outside world, she is a tech-savvy
college professor. In her soul, she is a passionate author of warm-hearted
romance. She is hard at work on book four of the Lakeside Porches romance books
and novellas.
Meet Katie
O’Boyle:
on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katie.oboyle.author
on
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TompkinsFalls
Buy Link:
Katie will be awarding a signed-by-the-author print copy of Book One of the Lakeside Porches series by Katie O’Boyle, Stepping Up To Love (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGreat to be here! Thanks for hosting Justin, Gianessa and me. Here in the Finger Lakes it's snowing steadily-- pretty flakes that cover the evergreens and lawn. How is it where you are? Keep warm-- katie o'boyle
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt, definitely a different setting for romance.
ReplyDelete