James L. Rubart – Romantic Excerpt – Part 2 of 3

Shannon here: Romantic suspense author, James L. Rubart shares a romantic excerpt from his latest release, Memory’s Door. Comment on any post dated August 19 – 23 to get your name in the drawing for a copy. Deadline: August 31st, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s James:

Sneak Peak Romantic Scene Excerpt from Memory’s Door:
All of my novels have romance in them because I’m a romantic. Or as some people like to say, a bit schizophrenic. I love movies like Braveheart and Gladiator, but I also love flicks like You’ve Got Mail and The Lake House. So while my stories are epic and thrilling, they also are stories about men and women finding each other and most of the time, finding love.
In the Well Spring series, I have four main characters. Two of them, Brandon and Dana, have a past together that we discover in Soul’s Gate. In Memory’s Door, the seeds of a possible re-kindling of their romance are starting to grow. This excerpt might spoil a few things for you, so if you’re the type that doesn’t like to know anything, better stop here. But if you can stand knowing, please enjoy the following scene from my just released, Memory’s Door:
The next morning after a hot shower, Dana strolled up to Piñon Bothy—the cabin Brandon stayed in last night—and knocked on the door. He opened it a few seconds later and stood in the door frame, a look of surprise on his face.
“Will you join me down at the listening post?”
Brandon smiled, nodded, and grabbed a coat off his bed. They didn’t speak till they’d reached the listening post and settled into chairs on the edge of the patio overlooking the river.
“I suppose you know what I want to talk about.”
“Maybe.”
“I think you know. Because you know me. Better than anyone.” She immediately regretted the admission, and then a moment later didn’t. It was true. He did know her better than anyone else, and it was nice to be known.
“You want to talk about what happened during the battle?”
“Yes.”
Would she get used to Brandon’s new voice? Before, so smooth, now little more than a rasp, like he’d eaten sandpaper for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and midnight snacks. Yes, she would get used to it because with every syllable it would remind her of what he’d done for her. And that made his voice more beautiful than ever.
“What you did . . . ” She couldn’t say the words.
“You would have done the same.”
Would she have? Dana watched the leaves on the aspen trees starting to bud, their green shoots speaking of new life to come.
“Was it worth it? Saving me? Even with what happened to your voice?”
What was she asking for? For him to tell her he loved her again? Maybe. She chided herself for allowing the flame deep inside to flicker to life. Of course she’d known it had never completely gone out. Over the past year she’d figured out how to frequently douse it with water. But like those birthday candles that stayed lit no matter how hard you blew, whatever emotions she still carried for Brandon simply wouldn’t die. Dana reached out, put her hand on top of his, and held it there too long before pulling it away. “I don’t know how to thank you without it sounding lame.”
“Yes, it was worth it. I knew in that moment that I had to choose. My life or yours.”
“Why choose mine?”
“You know why.”
She did. The only sound for the next five minutes was the rush of the river and the wind through the trees. As she stared at the mountains across the river, she admitted how much she loved Brandon’s music—how much she had missed it after they ended their engagement. “It will be hard not hearing new songs from you.”
He let out a scratchy laugh. “Like I just said, I’m not dying. I can still write songs—it’s just not going to work to sing them like I used to.”
“That’s the best part—hearing your voice. No one sings . . . ” She hesitated. Should she be that blunt? “No one sang like you.”
She glanced at him and spoke the words she’d considered since they sat down. “You’ve asked me to have coffee with you six times over the past year.”
He nodded.
She leaned closer to him. “I’m told seven is the perfect number.”
He smiled at her, his eyes bright. “I’ve heard that too.”
They lapsed back into silence, but now they shared it and it felt so right. She didn’t worry about what would happen with the two of them in future. There was only this moment, and she would live in it fully and let the days come as they may.
Brandon stood and stepped to the edge of the patio, hands in his back pockets, the sun framing his body and dirty blond hair. “Does it frighten you to realize how close you came to dying?”
“Not anymore. I’ve seen too much. Think of the field of doors. Our gates are gone in a breath. We are such glorious flowers that fade from this earth so quickly. Lush grass that withers with one pass of the sun,” she said.
“So true. We have seen the unspeakable, Dana. We’re four ordinary people who have seen far beyond the extraordinary. And maybe this is what you’re feeling too. Those glories of eternity draw me deeper into the here and now and at the same time deeper into the life to come. I’m looking forward to going home.”
“Can I ask you something?” Brandon said.
She nodded.
“Was what Zennon said true? Have you ever had thoughts about your boss?”
Dana laughed. “Not for an instant. Zennon was grasping for anything. Trying to put thoughts in your head, maybe. I don’t know.” She paused. Should she say it? “There’s only one person I’ve thought of from time to time lately.”
Thankfully he didn’t ask who it was, but that was only because he didn’t have to. She wouldn’t have answered if he asked. She’d already said more than enough.
About James: James L. Rubart is the best-selling and Christy award winning author of, ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, THE CHAIR, SOUL’S GATE, and MEMORY’S DOOR. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing which helps businesses and authors make more coin of the realm. In his free time he dirt bikes, hikes, golfs, takes photos, and occasionally does sleight of hand. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives with his amazing wife and teenage sons in the Pacific Northwest and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman. Connect and learn more: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLRubart, Twitter: @jameslrubart, http://jameslrubart.com/
About the book – Memory’s Door:
The prophecy brought them together. But the Wolf has risen, and now their greatest battle begins.
The four members of Warriors Riding have learned to wage war in the supernatural, to send their spirits inside people’s souls, to battle demonic forces, and to bring deep healing to those around them.
But their leader Reece is struggling with the loss of his sight. Brandon is being stalked at his concerts by a man in the shadows. Dana’s career is threatening to bury her. And Marcus questions his sanity as he seems to be slipping in and out of alternate realities.
And now the second part of the prophecy has come true. The Wolf is hunting them and has set his trap. He circles, feeding on his supernatural hate of all they stand for. And he won’t stop until he brings utter destruction to their bodies . . . and their souls.
Come back August 23rd for James’ fun questions to know about your spouse!