Title: Axle
Series: The Bang Shift #5
Author: Mandy Harbin
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: July 28, 2020
Release Date: July 28, 2020
Blurb
She’s
on a mission, but so is he…
When a
reporter seeks access outside the wire, Axle Landry isn’t happy when he’s
pulled from his SEAL team and assigned to the babysitting op. Discovering those
Bang Shift guys are behind it has him planning his payback. That’ll have to
wait until this mess is over. He has his orders. Keep her safe, and keep his
mouth shut. Should be easy enough. But the longer this smart, beautiful woman
is in danger, the harder it is for him to remain objective. She poses risks…to
his career, his life, and his heart.
Caitlin
Cooper never should’ve said anything to her friends about going on this
assignment. She knows the hazards of reporting in a war zone and doesn’t need
some brooding brute bossing her around. But that’s exactly what she got. Axle
is constantly grumpy, and worse—he’s ridiculously gorgeous. This assignment
would be a lot easier without him watching her every move. Falling in love with
him, though, makes everything a lot more complicated.
Explosive
secrets, shattered dreams, broken hearts…small town connections aren’t always a
good thing.
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Excerpt
A door
slammed, and he rose. Was she going to try to sneak away? They were on a base
for Christ’s sake. He grabbed the shirt he’d discarded and took a step toward
the door, but it flew open before he reached it.
He almost
winced at the anger rolling off her. Damn, but if she wasn’t the most beautiful
woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Even angry. There was just something about this
woman.
And he
hated himself for thinking of her like that. Yes, he was a straight, virile
man, but he was also a special operator in the military who knew how to keep
his dick in his pants, even if his cock refused his orders, too.
“I got your
favor right here.”
She yanked
her arm back and swung in his direction. He didn’t see what she had in her
hand, but he deflected whatever it was she threw at him. She yelled as she
charged. Pissed off women weren’t part of his combat training, but his skills
kicked in anyway. He grabbed her arm and spun her around, holding her by her
midsection against his body. She kicked out, her foot connecting with the door,
making it slam so hard the walls shook. She gasped out in sound of pain, and he
barely had time to notice her shoes were off because the infuriated woman had
managed to gain enough force when she connected with the door that he lost his
footing. Axle tripped over his boots, and he landed on his back on the bed,
still holding her to him. She flailed, but he refused to lessen his grip.
“Caitlin.”
“I hate
you!”
All right,
then. He twisted to his side and managed to turn her so that her back was on
the mattress, and he rolled on top of her. He grabbed her arms and pinned them
above her head.
She
growled, and he slapped his halfway free hand over her mouth. It wasn’t really
the best position to be in, her beneath him, writhing, but damn. What choice
did he have? “Would you calm down?” he said through his teeth. Her movements
were making him stir until he became excruciatingly hard.
She slowed,
but her breath sawed in and out of her body, forcing her breasts to mash
against him. Jesus, he did not need to be thinking about her body when she was
pinned beneath him.
On a bed.
While he
lost yet another battle with his wayward dick.
After
several agonizing seconds, she completely relaxed, and he chanced moving his
hand. When she didn’t scream, he pulled it away to prop himself up a little higher,
creating some space between their heaving bodies. Though his hadn’t been
because of exertion.
At least
not yet.
No. He had to focus here. He looked to the side,
willing his mind to work, and saw the object she’d hurled at him.
“If you get
this pissed when you run out of ink, I’d hate to see how you handle road rage.”
She glared
wordlessly.
“When I
told you it was a weapon, I didn’t think you’d try using it on me.”
Still
nothing. And he was glad her hands were secured far away from his gun.
He sighed,
dropping his forehead on top of hers, losing the hardest battle of his
life—resisting her. “I’m sorry,” he breathed. “I was a jerk.”
The seconds
ticked by, and somehow, he found himself closer to her. He was strong enough to
hold himself up, but the strength currently in control wasn’t led by his
external abilities, overriding the power in his arms. And he’d quickly learned
that he had no mental or emotional control when it came to this woman. It was
some other force within calling the shots.
“You’ve
been a jerk since I got here,” she said, but there wasn’t any fire in her
words.
He had his
eyes closed. A last-ditch effort to put some distance between them. He knew if
he opened them now, he would be a goner.
“You drive
me insane, baby.”
Her breath
bathed his face, and his mouth dropped closer to inhale the luscious scent that
was her. All her. He shouldn’t be doing this. He should not be holding her down
on his bed. He knew this. He fucking knew
this.
He couldn’t
move away. Every time he shifted, thinking he was creating space, he was
drawing nearer to her.
“Axle,” she
breathed. His name leaving her mouth caused her lips to brush against his. That was how close they’d gotten.
And it
wasn’t close enough.
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Author Bio
Mandy
Harbin is a USA Today Bestselling author who loves creating
stories that explore the complexities of everyday relationships…with some
kissing thrown in. She is a Superstar Award recipient, Reader’s Crown and Passionate
Plume finalist, and has achieved Night Owl Reviews Top Pick distinction many
times. She also writes young adult romance as M.W. Muse because teens like
kissing, too.
After
graduating college and working many years in technology, she threw caution to
the wind and began studying writing at the UALR. Years of trashed manuscripts
and rejections eventually led to contracts and representation. With over thirty
books published, she now serves on the board of her local writing chapter.
Mandy lives
in a small, Arkansas town with her husband and their bossy dog, enjoying her
own happily ever after…with some kissing thrown in.
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